Character & Reward of the Faithful Minister

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"Therefore, as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of the Messiah, and also a participant in the glory about to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you: shepherd God's flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but freely, according to God's will; not for the money but eagerly; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory." (1 Peter 5:1-4)

No circumstance has contributed so much to the rise and progress of infidelity—as abuses in the Christian ministry. When, instead of the holy, spiritual, humble, laborious pastors of the apostolic age, were seen the proud, ambitious, avaricious and domineering ministers of succeeding centuries, it is not to be wondered at that men of corrupt minds, who were looking around for objections to the truth as it is in Jesus, should find one so near at hand and so specious, as the vices of its ministers; and without stopping to enquire whether this was the necessary consequence, or the wicked corruption of Christianity, should resolve the whole into priestcraft and imposture. Infidelity, if not actually generated by the sins of ministers, has been fed by them, and by the retributive justice of God they have been doomed to suffer most from its venom, since against them have been chiefly directed the attacks of its ridicule, malignity, and sarcasm.

How much concern, then, should be felt by all who bear the sacred office, to exhibit it in its native simplicity, spirituality, and benevolence; and with what eagerness should we avail ourselves of every opportunity to exhibit to the public eye the character of those who have the testimony both of their own consciences and of others. "For our boast is this: the testimony of our conscience that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshly wisdom but by God's grace." (2 Corinthians 1:12)

Such an opportunity Divine Providence has furnished us this day by the removal of the Rev. John Berry, whose life was an exemplification of Peter's directions in the context, and whose death conducted him to the glorious reward so beautifully described in the text. As I shall enter pretty much at length into the context, it may possibly be thought by some that such a passage is more suited for an ordination charge, than a funeral discourse. But what, I ask, are sermons for the dead, when properly conducted, but charges to the living; charges delivered not so much from the pulpit as from the tomb; not so much by men of like passions with ourselves, as by viewless monitors who address us from the world of spirits. I wish to day to preach to myself, and I am sure that the sons of our deceased friend, who sustain the ministerial character, (of whom there were three present, besides several other ministers.) will not think this an untimely discussion of such a subject, as it comes home to their hearts enforced not only by the weight of divine authority, but by the remembrance of his living example.

I. The nature, qualifications, and duties of the ministerial office, as stated in the text. "The elders which are among you, I exhort," said the apostle in the first verse. The term "elder" was primarily addressed to people of advanced years; but by an easy transition it was applied as a title of esteem and dignity to those who, whatever their age, were eminent for the qualities usually looked for in declining life; and eventually it became a term of office, and was the appellation of those who filled any station of importance, it being assumed that they would be eminent either for years or wisdom. It is one of the terms by which the ministers of the gospel are designated, for the reason last assigned. But they are also denominated bishops, "Feed the flock, taking the oversight thereof," or, "acting the part of bishops towards them." By implication they are also designated pastors or shepherds. The first term is a title of dignity, the second describes their duty as appointed to overlook the church, and the third conveys the same meaning as the second, expressing it by a figure taken from rural affairs. It is this last view of the ministerial office, which I shall now illustrate, by setting forth the qualifications and duties of the pastoral character. (It is an unanswerable argument that the words bishops, elders, and pastors, mean precisely the same officers; that in this passage, as well as in Acts 20:17-18, they are all applied to the same people.)

The flock which is committed to their care is the "God's flock"—which is thus denominated to teach us that believers are the special property of Christ, which he owns, loves, and protects—in distinction from the wicked (who, in comparison with the righteous, are a kind of wild beasts in whom he has neither peculiar property nor pleasure), and are thus denominated also to teach us that Christians are not to live solitarily and unconnected, but are to unite themselves with each other in visible communion and brotherly love, and are to submit to the guidance and directions of their great Shepherd, and in all things to manifest the simplicity, harmlessness, and innocence of which the sheep is the natural emblem.

1. I shall consider the DUTIES which this figurative description of the pastoral office implies. It is incumbent on a Christian shepherd to FEED the flock. This is expressly enjoined by Peter, who, in such admonition, does but echo the thrice repeated injunction addressed to himself by his risen Lord. The principal part of a shepherd's duty is to provide food for the sheep. In summer you will see him conducting them to the verdant pasture; and in winter, when the snow has covered the herbage, or the frost has withered it, you will behold him supplying them with fodder, anxious and laborious to satisfy their craving appetite with plentiful and suitable supplies. Such is the beautiful and instructive emblem by which the Christian shepherd is taught his duty, and admonished to perform it.

And what is the provision with which he is to feed them? Food for the mind and heart, suited to their condition as rational beings, as fallen sinners, and as immortal creatures—the truth as it is in Jesus. He is not to offer them the mere flowers of rhetoric, or the dry husks of criticism, or the thorns of controversy, but "wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the doctrine which is according to godliness," whereby they may be nourished in faith, righteousness, hope and love—to everlasting life. He is to spread before them the whole counsel of God, and to keep nothing back which is profitable for them.

The doctrinesare to be explained and proved, the duties stated and enforced. In the corrupt phraseology of some misguided Christians, the termfood is restricted to the doctrinal parts of divine revelation, while the duties of religion, however evangelically they may be treated by the minister, are regarded in the light of useless chaff. But where, we would like to know, is such restriction of the term to be found in the Word of God. There we are taught that all which God has revealed as truth—is food for the soul, whether in the way of fact, of doctrine, or of duty. That Christian is fed, in the best sense of the term—who has his filial fear excited, his love kindled, and his zeal quickened, whether it be by promise, or by threatening, or by precept.

To provide this food is one of the chief anxieties of a Christian pastor. He will not, if he be worthy of his name and office, scatter before them the mere common-place thoughts of a superficial theology, which he has innumerable times previously repeated to them. That would be to gather up and spread again before the flock fodder which they had often refused and trampled upon before. He will study the sacred Scriptures in his closet, and give himself to reading, meditation, and all sacred learning. He will ever labor to gain clearer, and more enlarged, and more affecting views of divine truth, that he may lead his people onward in the path of understanding. He will not be satisfied merely to get through his sermons in any manner, and feel himself sufficiently rewarded by escaping the language of complaint, but will mourn as having labored in vain until he sees them growing in grace, and in the knowledge of God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

INSPECTION of the state of the flock is another duty implied in this elegant figure. A shepherd examines into the condition of the sheep, and adapts his conduct to each individual case. It is a beautiful description which the Divine Pastor gives of his own conduct, and it should be imitated by everyone of his servants. "I will feed my flock, and cause them to lie down. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick." Yes, we should know the circumstances of our people—the sorrows which oppress them, the cares which perplex them, the sins which beset them, the temptations which assail them, and the difficulties which sink them, in order that we may give to each "a portion of food in due season."

The pulpit should not be the only scene of our labors, but uniting the pastor with the preacher we should ascertain exactly, either by our own personal examination or by the aid of competent assistants, the character and circumstances of each member of the flock. There are peculiar cases, which require peculiar treatment. This part of our duty, I am aware, is very difficult in the present age of the church, but ought not to be neglected.

Duties cannot be in opposition to each other, and therefore no man can be under any obligation to go so much away from home, even in the cause of religion, as necessarily to interfere with the claims of his own flock. I am sure that more is expected in this respect, from many ministers, than they either can or ought to render. (In large towns, where the sphere of a minister's duty is wide, and he, from peculiar circumstances, is necessarily much from home, the liberality of the church should provide him, or enable him to provide himself, with a suitable assistant to bear a part of the burden of pastoral and ministerial cares. Unhappily this has not always been found to be practicable on other grounds than those of financial difficulty.

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