Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

dantly compensate all his present delays and discouragements; and "that this trial of their faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, shall then be found unto praise, and honour, and glory." But the most essential part of the character of those to whom the second appearance of our Lord shall be comfortable, is, in the

4th and lust place, An habitual preparation for this event. They will endeavour "to have their loins girded about, and their lights burning, and themselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately." The best evidence which we can give that we truly look for him with faith and love, is our being diligent, that we may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. As the proper improvement, therefore, of all that hath been said, let me address to you this concluding exhortation. "Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure."-"Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares."-" Let your whole conversation be such as becometh the gospel of Christ." Never think "that you have already attained, either are already perfect; but forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, press towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."-"Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth, that when he who is your life shall appear, ye may also appear with him in glory." Amen.

[blocks in formation]

266

SERMON LIV.

Preached at the Author's admission at South Leith.

1 CORIN. iv. 1, 2.

Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of CHRIST, and stewards of the mysteries of GOD. Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.

THE just conception and faithful discharge of the reciprocal duties in society, are the foundation both of private and public happiness. In this respect, the church of Christ is not different from other communities among men. Although Christians acknowledge but one supreme Master, yet they are taught to acknowledge among themselves subordinate degrees of authority on the one hand, and of submission and respect on the other. The God whom we serve is a God of order, not a God of confusion; and he hath pointed out, both in his word and in his providence, the necessity of doing all things decently and in good order. The text, and the occasion likewise, lead me to speak of the mutual regards and duties which ought to subsist between a minister of Christ, and the people committed to his charge; in doing which I shall, through divine assistance,

First, Explain the account given us in the text, of the nature of our office as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. And,

Secondly, Point out the corresponding obligations in

cumbent on Christians, with regard to those entrusted with this ministry.

The illustration of these particulars will tend to produce a just conception, and I trust, through the blessing of God, the faithful discharge of those important duties which you and I will henceforth owe to each other.

I am first, to explain the account given in my text, of the nature of our office as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

And in order to have clear apprehensions of this subject, it will be necessary to look back to the origin of the office, and see wherein it differed, at its first appointment, from the circumstances in which it exists at present. I set out with observing, that the ministry of the word is in all essential points the same, ever since it was ordained as an employment. At the same time it is plain, that several circumstances attending it are considerably varied. The ordinary call to the office, which now takes place, is very different from the miraculous mission by which men were consecrated to it in former times. Their Vocation was more immediate, more striking, attended with more ample powers, as well as more splendid effects. From their immediate inspiration, an authority was derived to their words, to which none of us can justly pretend. They promised, and the blessings of time and eternity were conveyed with their words; they threatened, and vengeance from heaven followed without delay. Besides, the first teachers of the gospel enjoyed from their divine Master the communication of his own powers over nature. "Having called the twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, and to heal all manner of sickness and disease." According ly, the whole history of their lives is one train of miracles, verifying the reality of these powers, and display

ing the fulfilment of that splendid promise, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall be do also, and greater works than these shall he do, because I go to my Father." All these extraordinary powers have now ceased. The pastors of the Christian church, in these later ages, are neither possessed of the immediate inspiration, nor of the power of working miracles, enjoyed by the apostles. They are now men in all respects like yourselves, to whom God hath conveyed, by the hands of other men, authority to preach the word, to dispense the sacraments, and to preside over the congregations in which his providence may place them. Here then is a very manifest difference, and an evident inferiority on our side. Still, however, the original proposition stands true, that the office is in all essential points the same as exercised both by them and us. For it is easy to conceive, that the superior prerogatives which have been mentioned, vary some circumstances in the ministry only, but do not in any degree alter its nature. The essence of this sacred office, the foundations of the pastoral authority, remained unimpaired. The mission is one and the same by Jesus Christ, to all his faithful servants in this employment. His promise is unalterable, "Behold I am with you always, even to the end of the world." From his holy hill, where he sits as King of Zion, he provides for the perpetuity of his church, "giving some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

This then is the origin of that sacred office, which is still exercised among you. This is the source from which the authority is derived that is necessary for sustaining the character. It is this which constitutes our mission

the same with that of the apostles, and confers on the truths which we deliver the authority of the word of God. So that if the doctrines which we set forth are agreeable to the Scriptures, if the morality which we enforce is a conversation becoming the gospel, we are in all respects to be accounted of as "ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.”

But these titles, so ennobling to him who supports them, are not without very solemn considerations to correct the levity of confidence and self-applause. "It is required in stewards," saith the Apostle, "that a man be found faithful." What a variety of important duties are included in this requisition? When we speak of a faithful minister, we speak of the rare and happy union of ability and attention, of zeal and knowledge, of meekness and firmness, in the same character; for all these are necessary to sustain the office with propriety. And are these qualities to be attained with a slight degree of application? Is it a small demand on the conscience of a man, to give its testimony to his faithfulness, in such arduous and important respects? These considerations may well give rise to that emphatical question, “Who is sufficient for these things?" especially when to all this we take likewise into view the awful threatenings denounced against the unfaithful discharge of this office. "Son of man," saith the Almighty to each of us, as he said to his prophets of old, "I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel, therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die, and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thine hand. Wo be to the shepherds of Israel that do

« ZurückWeiter »