PART II. GENERAL CAUSES OF THE WANT OF SUCCESS IN THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY. THE Complaint of the prophet, "Who hath believed our report,"* has been applicable to every successive Ministry in the Church of God. It was echoed in reference even to the Ministry of Him who "spake as never man spake ;" who retained a listening multitude hanging upon his lips, and "wondering at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth." It was again repeated under the Apostolic dispensation, clothed as it was, "with the demonstration of the Spirit, and with power." And it has ever since been expressive of the experience of faithful labourers in the Lord's harvest. A young Minister indeed-speaking his message from the feeling of a full heart, and without an accurate previous calculation of the costmay anticipate a cordial conviction and reception of the truth, as the almost immediate result. But painful experience will always correct such unwarranted expectations. The power of Satan, the current of sin, and the course of this world—all combine to give the character of a spiritual conflict to our work. But, as complaint should lead to inquiry (and surely no inquiry can be more important), we will proceed to mark a few of the more general causes that operate unfavourably upon our work. * Isa. liii. 1.. † John xii. 37, 38. Rom. x. 16. A FEW remarks upon these preliminary topics will fully introduce the discussion of the general subject. I. It may be laid as the first ground of our inquiry that the warrant of Ministerial success is sure. It rests not upon any efforts of human wisdom, zeal, or suasion, but upon the "word for ever settled in heaven." God has renewed the symbol and pledge of his promise in every drop of rain that falls to fertilize the earth.* The terms also of our Master's promise are most express, and the history of his fulfilment most uniform. The day of Pentecost exhibited the first seal to its faithfulness.; and the Apostles, whether preaching to persecuted Jews or to maddened idolators, every where found the same "seal of their apostleship." In Thessalonica " some believed and consorted with them."§ At Athens, where "some mocked," and others hung back in suspense, "howbeit certain clave to Paul and believed." At Rome, 66 some believed the things that were spoken, while some believed not."¶ By the same power attendant upon their Ministry, "the churches were then established in the faith, and increased in number daily."** Now, as bearing the same commission, we have the same sure warrant *See Isa. lv. 10, 11. See Mat. xxviii. 20. Acts ii. 37-39. Ib. xxviii. 24. § Ib. xvii. 4, 5. || Ib. xvii. 32-34. ** Ib. xvi. 4, 5. of success. Indeed were it otherwise we could have no ground for the exercise of faith. Faith cannot rest upon an uncertainty, or upon any less sure foundation than "the word of the Lord," which like himself, endureth for ever." The Divine Sovereignty, (to which we would bow with the most implicit and adoring subjection) is the righteous government of a God, who hears and answers prayer. We must not therefore place his sovereignty in opposition to his faithfulness. A measure of success is assured to our work. Some seed shall fall on the good ground, as well as by the way-side, or upon the stony or thorny soil.* "There shall" at least "be an handful of corn in the earth on the top of the mountains."† The purpose is beyond all the powers of earth and hell to defeat. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me." The promise is sealed to the exercise of faith, but the distribution of it in measure is often marked by an unsearchable, though infinitely wise and gracious, appointment. II. In marking the specific character of this warranted success, we may observe that visible success is various. The successful dispensation of the word is not limited to the work of conversion. St. Paul seems to have fixed his heart with great intensity upon imparting to the Christians at Rome some spiritual gift "for their mutual establishment and consolation."§ For the same purpose, when he could no longer forbear, he sent Timotheus "to the Thessalonian Church to establish them, and to comfort them concerning their faith." Where therefore the Ministry fails to convert, we may still be assured, that it * Matt. xiii. 3-8. Psa. lxxii. 16. 10 John vi. 37. 1 Thess. ii. 1, 2. convinces, reproves, exhorts, enlightens, consoles, some one in some measure at all times. It never "returns to God void," when delivered in the simplicity of faith-nay even, when not preached in faith, God will not neglect to put honour upon his own word "Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy But we must remember also, that present success is not always visible. Mr. Scott thus encourages a clergyman from his own Ministerial experience: 'My prevalent opinion is, that you are useful, but do not see the effect. Even at Ravenstone, I remember complaining in a New-Year's sermon, that for a whole twelvemonth I had seen no fruit of my preaching; yet it appeared within the course of the next twelvemonth, that not less than ten or twelve had been brought to "consider their ways" during that discouraging year; besides others, I trust that I did not know of.' The sick bed also, frequently brings to light much that had been effected unconsciously to us in the secret sanctuary of the heart; and much more doubtless remains for "the day to declare," which would have been disclosed as a matter of present discovery, but from a wise and tender regard to the susceptibility of our hearts to self-elevating temptations. Ministerial success may also be viewed, as extending beyond present appearances. We may be successful, even though we should not live to see it. Of the prophets of old that "One soweth and another reapeth ;" seed and the Apostles reaped the harvest. Thus our Lord reminded them-" Other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours." saying was true; they sowed the * Psalm cxxxviii. 1. † Scott's Life, p. 387. And is it no ground of comfort, that our work may be the seed-time of a future harvest? Or, should we neglect to sow, because we may not reap the harvest? We shall share the joy of the harvest, even though we be not the immediate reapers of the field. "He that reapeth, receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal, that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together."* It is sufficient encouragement to "cast our bread upon the waters," that "we shall find it after many days." "In the morning," as the wise man exhorts sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that; or whether they both shall be alike good."+ us, 66 It has been admirably observed on this subject, "In order to prevent perpetual disappointment, we must learn to extend our views. To seek for the real harvest produced by spiritual labours only in their immediate and visible results, would be not less absurd than to take our measure of infinite space from that limited prospect which the mortal eye can reach, or to estimate the never-ending ages of eternity by a transitory moment of present time-It often happens that God withholds his blessing for a moment, in order that when the net is cast in " on the right side," it may be clearly seen that "the multitude of fishes" are of the Lord's giving, lest men should attribute their success to a wrong cause, and should "sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag." To the same purport Calvin *John iv. 36, 38. † Eccles. xi. 1, 6. Bishop of Winchester on the Ministerial Character of Christ, pp. 426, 429. |