The Christian Ministry

by Charles Bridges

Preaching, in order to be effective, must be reduced from vague generalities, to a tangible, individual character—coming home to every man's business, and even to his bosom.

The general sermons, that are preached to everybody, in fact are preached to no body.

The property of a good portrait well describes a good sermon—that it looks directly at all, though placed in different situations, as if it were ready to speak to each—"

The method of perpetual application, therefore, where the subject will admit of it, is probably best calculated for effect—applying each head distinctly; and addressing separate classes at the close with suitable exhortation, warning, or encouragement.

One great end of our preaching is, distinctly to trace the line of demarcation between the Church and the world.

As ministers of the word, we recognise but two classes among men—those that are of God—and the whole world that lieth in wickedness."

Every part of the Christian character has its counterfeit. How easily are the delusions of fancy or feeling mistaken for the impressions of grace!

A practitioner, who had one sovereign remedy for every complaint, without regard to the patient's age, constitution, or habit, would be thought, as Baxter says, ' a sort of civil murderer.'

THE power even of a Scriptural exhibition of truth is often materially weakened by an indecisive mode of statement.

For it is only when we stand upon the whole ground of Scripture, that we can make those strong and constant appeals " to the law and to the testimony," which characterize a decided view of the Gospel, and enable us to deliver it in a clear and decided manner.

on the grand fundamentals, an authoritative decision of statement becomes us; not allowing a doubt to belong to our message, any more than to our own existence.

The Apostle considered the charge of indecision, even in ordinary matters, to be so grave an accusation, and so injurious to his Ministry, that he felt himself justified in calling his God to witness, that in no respect had his word been fickle among them; but that his testimony had been consistent, decided, and unwavering.

For such is the fullness of the Gospel, that there is no part or proposition of God's word, which does not admit of rich and appropriate elucidation from it.

The course of exposition however, should not be too long; the subjects should be selected with a special regard to our own resources, and to the circumstances of our people;

Let no man attempt to preach without book, till he has patiently written all, and the whole of his discourses for seven years; let him then begin sparingly and gradually.

Rarely do young men unite sound judgment with a lively imagination; and therefore ordinary sermons, without any pains of composition, would be a mass of inanimate matter, deficient in apt illustration and pointed application.

a man cannot expect a good habit of preaching thus, without much study and experience. Young beginners should use themselves to a more exact and elaborate way.

It will readily be granted, that a judicious and animated system of reading (no very infrequent case) is better than an ill-conducted and unfurnished habit of extempore speaking

The conscientious Minister will consider the nature of his situation, the temper of his people, the character and suitableness of his individual talent—which mode is most adapted to subserve his own Ministerial efficiency.

For what can be more degrading to our Divine commission, than that we should fear the face of men?

The independence, that disregards alike the praise and the censure of man, is indispensable for the integrity of the Christian Ministry.

To keep offensive doctrines out of view, or to apologize for the occasional mention of them, or to be over-cautious respecting the rudeness of disquieting the conscience with unwelcome truth; to compromise with the world; to connive at fashionable sins; or to be silent, where the cause of God demands an open confession—this is not the spirit which honours our Master, and which he " delighteth to honour."

It should, however, be always aimed at the sin, not at the sinner.

This Ministerial boldness is fenced on either side by warning and encouragement.

Christian boldness awes the haters of our message, and secures the confidence of the true flock of Christ, and the approbation of our conscience in the sight of God.

We may be useful without learning, but not without wisdom.

The wisdom of our public Ministration includes the character of our compositions—that they should be such, that the lowest may understand, and the intelligent may have no cause to complain; that the weak may not be offended, nor the captious gratified.

And though we would not ascribe innate efficacy to the best disposition of our great subject, yet we must deal with rational man through a rational medium.

discussion—when there is but little moulding of the mind into the spirit of the subject—want of clearness, sympathy, and power of application is the result.

He will guard equally against confounding what God has distinguished, and putting asunder " what God hath joined together;"

Great indeed is the wisdom required in setting forth the analogy of faith, and the connected chain of doctrine.

The foundations of holiness have been weakened, by severing the doctrine of grace from its use and end; by leading men to rest upon its notions, while they neglect its holy influence;

The wise Ministration of the Gospel connects the full display of mercy with a deep and humbling sense of sin. A free pardon will be watered with tears; forgiven sin will be detested and crucified; and the Gospel will be clearly seen to be the only principle of holiness both of heart and life.

In doctrine it should be remembered, that every truth is not of equal importance; and that no single truth, unconnected with the rest, constitutes the Gospel.

we should here be careful not to set our standard too low, or too high; to insist upon nothing as evidence of the Christian character, merely because it belongs to a decorous, amiable, natural disposition; and on the other hand to bring forth the lowest germ of sincerity as a decisive evidence of the work of God; distinguishing between the existence and the degrees of grace; and remembering that there are babes, as well as young men and fathers, in the family of God.

How observable is the difference in our Lord's discourses to the Scribes and Pharisees, to the multitude, and to his disciples; as well as in his more private treatment of individual cases!

Thus must the Minister not only state his commission, but adapt it to the different temperaments of his people

most unskilful would he be, were he to apply to the humbled sinner the corrosives of the Law, instead of the balm of the Gospel; or to spread before the desponding soul a full view of his difficulties; instead of administering the cheering cordials and sustaining encouragements of the Gospel.

The Calvinist from the abuse of his principles may be in danger of security, and may need some wholesome exhortations to holy fear from the opposite system; while his own system may furnish to the Arminian some important views of the Sovereignty of God, and the freeness and simplicity of the Gospel, to neutralize the principles of self-dependence and self-sufficiency.

It will not indeed be always wise to persevere in the same treatment with the same cases.

it is not enough to cultivate his own gift—whether for the Church or for the world—(which, however valuable, grasps only half the compass of his sphere) he must set himself in diligent prayer and industry to cultivate the opposite gift.

The gospel is not taught by one or more lessons, so as to render further instructions unnecessary.

It is the duty of Ministers of the Gospel to take care, not only that the doctrine which they preach be true, but also that it be seasonable with respect to the state and condition of their hearers.

In doctrine," let us " show uncorruptness; " in mode, acceptableness;

so consistent is Ministerial conciliation, when it does not lead to compromise, with Christian wisdom.

We must deal out " present truth" —truth, (like the doctrine of justification under the existing circumstances of the Galatian Church) adapted to the present emergency.

It is natural, and under due regulation important, to carry the peculiar bias of our mind into our Ministry.

THE spirit of preaching consists in its adaptation to the subjects of instruction.

A plain style is most suitable for the expression of plain things. Here probably many of us have much to learn.

never use a hard word, where a plain one can be found; giving proper words in their proper places; short sentences, and specially simple ideas;