THE DIGNITY AND DUTIES OF THE MINISTRY,* ROMANS 11:13. I magnify mine office. It will not be alleged by any one acquainted with the character of Paul, that this was the language of ostentation or selfimportance. Distinguished as he was, by his transcendent talents, his literary attainments, his ardent piety, his labors, privations and sufferings, and by his unparalleled success in preaching the gospel; nevertheless, in his own view he was "less than the least of all saints," and "not worthy to be called an apostle." Under a deep and humbling sense of his own unworthiness, he is overwhelmed with the condescension of God in "in putting him into the ministry." It is in view of the dignity, the honor and importance of the office to which he was called, that he utters the language of the text. "I magnify mine office." I glory in it; I esteem it my highest honor. However others might despise, or hate, or account the preaching of the cross as "foolishness," he was not ashamed of it, but gloried in the blessed employment. The words suggest, for our consideration, I. The dignity and importance of the ministerial office. I. The dignity and importance of the ministerial office may appear, from the several names and titles by which it is designated in the word of God. They who bear the sacred office are styled ministers, because they are the servants of God, and of the church. Bishops or pastors, because they are called to perform the duties of the pastoral or shepherd's office. They are styled ambassadors, because they are the representatives of the King of Heaven, authorized to negotiate between rebels and their offended sovereign; and in "Christ's stead," to propose to their fellow-sinners a treaty of peace, written with his hand, * Delivered in the Third Presbyterian Church, in Pittsburgh, at the installation of the Rev. DAVID H. RIDDLE, Pastor. 66 and sealed with his blood. They are called stewards of the mysteries of God, because intrusted with the keys of knowledge and discipline; authorized to dispense divine ordinances, and to bring forth out of their treasures things new and old." They are called watchmen on the walls of Zion, because they are to sound the alarm of danger, and to watch for souls, as they that must give account." Angels of the churches, because they bear the messages of the living God to dying men. O, how important is this relation! How unspeakable the honor of such an office! 66 The honor of this office, however, is not of this world. It is not such as worldly men either covet or appreciate. It consists not in external pomp, or splendor, or wealth; not in dignities and titles derived from an unhallowed alliance with secular power; not in shining in the circles of fashion; not in filling the " uppermost rooms at feasts," nor receiving "greetings in the market," nor in being" called of men, Rabbi." No; the honor of the faithful ambassador, is of a higher and nobler kind. It consists in bearing a resemblance to his blessed Master, who "went about doing good." His laurels consist in conversions, and the jewels which shall decorate his crown, are souls saved by his instru mentality, who shall shine as stars, when all earthly honors shall have vanished forever. 2. The importance of the ministerial office is manifest, from its powerful influence on all the best interests of man, for time and eternity. "Like An enlightened, pious and devoted ministry, such as the gospel requires, always has had, and always must have, the happiest influence on human society. Look the world around, and you will find the state of society elevated or degraded, ac cording to the character of the ministers of religion. priest. like people," is a proverb founded on just observation of facts. What nations or communities are most distinguished for civilization, intelligence and refinement? for domestic virtue and social order, and every improvement adapted to promote the happiness of man? Where is knowledge most generally dif fused? Where do common schools, and academies, and colleges most generally flourish? Where are liberty and the rights of man best understood and maintained? Precisely in those nations or communities where the people are, or have been, favored with an enlightened and faithful ministry. It is the peculiar glory and excellence of the religion of the bible, that it provides for the instruction of the mass of the peo ple. The dogmas of the heathen were confined to their philos ophers and priests, while no provision was made for general instruction. But "the poor have the gospel preached to them." It provides a Sabbath of rest, as a stated season for universal instruction. The whole community is converted into a school. A class of men are set apart as instructors, and are required to "preach the gospel to every creature." The sacred treasures of divine truth are not to be locked up from the common people-but all classes are permitted and required to hear and read the oracles of God. And while the stated assembling of the people of every class, in a manner solemn, decent and orderly, naturally tends to refine their taste, to cherish the social affections and to promote morality, at the same time opportunity is afforded of communicating the most important instruction to a mass of mind, with a facility and cheapness, impracticable on any other plan. The effect has been such as might be expected. Look at Scotland, and the "land of the pilgrims," as contrasted with pagan nations, and with nations nominally christian, but destitute of a pure, enlightened, faithful ministry, where "ignorance is the mother of devotion!" But it is principally from its influence on the spiritual and eternal welfare of mankind, that the gospel ministry derives its importance. It has pleased God, by the "foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe." The glory of God, in the salvation of the soul, is the great, the supreme object of the sacred office. And who can compute the worth of the soul-endless in its existence-boundless in its capacity of improvement— destined to ceaseless progression in happiness, or in woe!" The redemption of the soul is," indeed, "precious." For this, the Son of God came down from heaven, and expired on the cross. We are "not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ." But this redemption will avail only to those who believe. And "how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" However useful and indispensable other instrumentalities may be, the living teacher must accompany them, to give energy, and action, and direction to the whole. 3. The employment itself, is one of the most interesting and delightful, in which we can be engaged. It is adapted to call forth into vigorous action, all our intellectual powers, to exercise every grace, and virtue, and generous affection of the heart: and amidst all the difficulties, toils, privations and sorrows which attend it, there are pleasures which the world" cannot give nor take away." Even in the most painful, and self-denying labors of his office, in scenes which present to the eye of a common observer, nothing but what is repulsive, the minister finds some of his purest satisfaction. When, like an angel of mercy, he visits the abodes of poverty, disease and affliction, ministering consolations to the distressed, he enjoys a luxury which "strangers intermeddle not with;" the luxury of sympathetic affections-the luxury of "doing good." He need not resort to the fictions of fancy, "for the lovely joy of tears." The miseries of real life afford abundant occasion for the exercise of tender sympathies, not to vanish with the momentary scenes of fictitious distress, leaving the heart more cold and callous than before, but to be succeeded by the lasting pleasures of active benevolence. His resort is not to scenes of gayety and jovial mirth, but to scenes of suffering; to families in affliction; to beds of agony and death: and how delightful to apply the healing balm to the wounded spirit; to comfort the widow and the fatherless in their affliction, and pour into the agonized soul the consolations of the gospel. With regard to the exercises of the pulpit, there is surely no employment which can furnish greater scope for every power of the soul. Every department of literature may be made subservient to the pulpit, while its more immediate and appropriate subjects are the most interesting which can be conceived. What subjects can there be, in themselves so grand, and to human sinners so worthy of their deepest consideration, as those presented in the sacred volume? The existence and attributes of the great Jehovah; the awful realities of eternity; the infinitely important relations of men; the resurrection and the judgment; the glories of heaven, and the terrors of hell; above all, the wondrous scheme of redemption, through the incarnation, agony and death of God's eternal Son? Here are themes for reasoning, the most profound, and eloquence the most pathetic and sublime. Here, if any where, the orator may put forth the utmost energies of his soul. Here he may indulge his imagination in its loftiest darings, and infuse into his subject all the affections of his heart, without extravagance or excess. His range is not confined to the paltry concerns of property, the petty conflicts of individual interests, or the more important concerns of nations. He pleads the cause of God. His object is the advancement of a kingdom which will survive the wreck of every other kingdom. He pleads not for the property, or life, or liberty of his fellow-men, but for the eternal salvation of their souls and bodies; their deliverance from eternal bondage, infamy and torment; and their advancement to glory, honor and immortality."* And when God is pleased to bless the labors of a minister"to pour out his Spirit," and accompany the word with almighty power, with what intense interest does he witness a "shaking * Dr. Gray. among the dry bones;" stubborn sinners, pierced with the arrows of conviction, crying what shall we do? anxious crowds thronging the gates of Zion," weeping as they go;" and with what thrilling delight does he share in the joy of angels, rejoicing over the conversion of sinners! II. We are now to consider the corresponding qualifications and duties of the ministerial office. On a subject of such variety and extent, our remarks must be limited to a few topics. The qualifications may all be included in two particulars, cultivated talent, and piety. It is required that this trust be committed "to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others." A good measure of natural talent is obviously indispensable. Neither education, nor grace, nor both combined, can supply a radical defect of genius. Talent, to be useful, must be cultivated. The mind must be trained, and disciplined, and furnished with an appropriate fund of knowledge, to "be able to teach others." It seems now to be generally admitted, that literature is desirable, if not necessary, to a minister of the gospel. There is no branch of knowledge which may not be useful to him, and there is much that is indispensable. Studies, apparently the most remote from theology, have afforded assistance in solving difficulties in the sacred scriptures, or in repelling the assaults of adversaries. He, who is "set for the defense of the gospel," should be acquainted especially with the languages in which the scriptures were originally written, with antiquities and oriental customs, to which there are so many allusions in the sacred writings. He should be well versed in the history of the world, and of the church, to illustrate the wonderful providence of God, and the exact fulfilment of prophecy. He should have a comprehensive knowledge of the phenomena of nature, as exhibiting the wonderful perfections of God, and he should certainly not be ignorant of the philosophy of mind, as unfolding the intellectual powers of man and his infinitely important relations as a moral and social being; especially should he be well versed in theology, in all its branches, that he may be prepared to maintain the truth and meet the objections of infidelity, scepticism and heresy in all their varied forms: and that he may be "apt to teach," and communicate his thoughts with interest and effect, he should possess and cultivate a taste for style, composition and oratory. He who would approve himself as a scribe, richly furnished and prepared to bring forth out of his treasures “ things new and old," must be a student, a diligent, persevering student, to the end of life. Paul himself, though a giant in intellect, brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, and well versed in the literature of his time, did not remit study, even in his old age. We |