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his selection of the delegates of his commission, and the representatives of his person, is an act of grace;
every step in the way of our salvation hath on it the print of infinite majesty, wisdom, and goodness;
From each of the Sacred Persons in the Godhead did this holy office originate:
Tracing therefore this sacred ordinance to the footstool of the eternal throne, with what prostration of soul should we bind ourselves to its solemn obligations!
The office of "fellow-worker with God" would have been no mean honour to have conferred upon the archangel nearest the everlasting throne.
How can we think of this vast commission—this momentous trust, but as an act of most undeserved favour?
while we speak to men, we speak in God's stead.'
A sense of the dignity of our office—accurately formed, carefully maintained, and habitually exercised—is therefore of the highest importance.
The "office" will be "magnified" in perfect harmony with the lowliest personal humility—and, indeed never more eminently displayed, than in the exercises of genuine humility;
So that the sum of our whole labour in this kind is to honour God, and to save men.
The ministry of the word was ordained for the planting and watering of the church.
There was not only a foundation to be laid, but a building to be raised.
If the church be called a flock, the Minister is the pastor
to shepherd
If the family of Christ be an household, the Minister is " the faithful and wise steward,"
If the Church of God be a city, he is the watchman
If it be a husbandry, he is the ...
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If it be a building, he is the " Master-builder,"
If there be a treaty of peace to be negotiated between the Majesty of heaven and a world of rebels, he is the ambassador,
without a Ministry there should be no hearing of the word—consequently no faith in the only Saviour of whom it speaks—no calling upon his name—no salvation.
This, therefore is the ordained means of conversion, and of subsequent establishment in every stage of the Christian life; and its necessity must continue, while there is a single sinner to be brought into the family of God, or a single grace in the heart of the saint to advance to perfection.'
the difficulties of this work to the considerate conscientious mind must exclude any expectation of temporal ease and comfort.
Except we realize a high estimation of the Church, the constraining influence of the Saviour's love, and the upholding prop of Almighty grace, what is there to preserve us from sinking in despondency?
The kindness of the world is far more formidable than its enmity. Many, who were prepared to stem the torrent of its opposition, have yielded with compromising indulgence to its paralyzing kindness.
It is not easy to overcome our natural love of ease, our indisposition to self-denying devotedness, and our false tenderness in flinching from the declaration of unpalatable truths.
while we bear upon us the marks of our apostacy, we cannot advance without a constant, and sometimes most painful, effort.
We must labour, when our hearts are in a cold an...
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Symptoms of success, unless tempered with personal abasement and habitual watchfulness, excite to self-confidence.
None of us will find this "pleasure of the Lord to prosper in our hands," except every effort is grounded upon the practical conviction, that no strength but the arm of Omnipotence is sufficient for the work.
"We must work, like Nehemiah and his men, with the trowel in one hand and the sword in the other. The progress of the work would be stopped by the laying down of the trowel.
Faith links our weakness in immediate connexion with the promises of Almighty aid; and enables us to say to the mountain of difficulty—" Who art thou, O great mountain?
discouragements, properly sustained and carefully improved, become our most fruitful sources of eventual encouragement while love to our work bears us on above all our difficulties.
This happy equipoise of conflict and support, of responsibility and privilege, invigorates every effort in the exercise of simple dependence and patient hope.
The repentance of a single sinner, is an event that causes rejoicing in heaven,
and therefore may well be conceived to bring no common pleasure to the Minister's heart.
The subsequent walk also of our people in the faith, hope, and love of the Gospel, forms our ground of unceasing thanksgiving to God, our chief joy, and the very life of our life.
Rich indeed, and heart-gladdening is " the consolation in Christ, the comfort of love, the fellowship of the Spirit," which we enjoy in communion with a flock,
In this love—the most touching love that this world affords—we find a full compensation for the scorn of an ungodly world, and the secret spring of many an hour of support and enjoyment, by which we are carried forward in our painful course.
while secular occupations have a tendency to divert us from God, this holy employ naturally draws us to him.
it is the prospect of eternity, that consummates our hopes and joys.
Our recompense is measured not " according to" our success, but " our labour," and as with our blessed Master, vouchsafed even in the failure of our ministration.
Admitting, therefore, that we are called to difficult and costly service; yet have we abundant cause to be satisfied with the sustaining support and consolation provided for every emergency.
While he stands with you, there can be no just cause of fear or faintness. You need no other encouragement.
None but he who made the world can make a Minister of the Gospel."
They must be given from above, or they cannot be received."
As to spiritual qualifications, we would be careful neither to lower, exceed, or deviate from, the Scriptural standard.
We must therefore distinguish between what is desirable and what is essential—between
The Ministry of our Lord was distinguished by the dignity of God, and the sympathy of a man and a brother—by the authority of the commissioned delegate of his Father, and yet by the humility of a servant, who " came not to be ministered unto, but to minister."
if the ministry be a spiritual work, a corresponding spiritual character seems to be required in its administrators.
moved by none of the afflictions that await them; neither counting their life dear to them, so that they might finish their course with joy, and the Ministry which they have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."
