Christian Activity

A sermon preached by John Angell James, in Queen Street Meeting house, Wolverhampton, at the formation of the Staffordshire Association of Independent Ministers and Churches, on December 27th, 1814.

"I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day—the night comes when no man can work."

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58

The chapter which closes with the exhortation in the text, is one of the sublimest pieces of composition ever written by an inspired or uninspired pen. It throws a blaze of radiance upon the darkness of the tomb, and predicts the utter demolition of his throne, who, in language of gloomy majesty, is denominated the king of terrors. The apostle, like a wise master-builder, has founded the duty of Christian zeal upon the doctrine of the resurrection. The belief of this great event, connected as it is with a state of eternal existence beyond the grave, is the source of all those sleepless energies which move in the soul of the Christian philanthropist.

His activity is the result of that faith "which is the substance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." "I believed, and therefore have I spoken," is his reply to everyone who enquires for the motive of his actions. A lurking doubt of this truth is the paralysis of zeal. How can he be persuaded to seek either his own salvation or the spiritual benefit of others, who fears that the streams of his piety and pity are rolling forward like the waters of the Jordan, to be lost in the sea of death? In proportion as we firmly believe and steadily contemplate the grand and impressive scenes described in this remarkable chapter, all the springs of Christian activity will be set in motion. Lukewarmness, wherever it prevails, must be attributed to the the weakness of faith.

The apostle having brought before the imagination of the Corinthians the solemn scenery of the last day; having sounded in their ears the blast of the archangel's trumpet, and presented to their eyes the countless millions of the dead bursting into life, delivers, under the impression of these events, the exhortation in the text. In the consideration of which, I will first explain the nature of the duty here stated. We are commanded to do "the work of the Lord."

Whatever the Word of God has enjoined, whether it is a duty more immediately relating to ourselves, or to others, might, in a general sense, be considered the work of the Lord, as being the service we owe to Christ, our divine Master.

Still, I apprehend that a more definite meaning attaches to the present use of the expression. Here it refers to Christian zeal. It is an exhortation to activity in the cause of Christ at large, an injunction requiring us to advance the glory of the Redeemer, by promoting the spread and the influence of his gospel in the earth. In the very next chapter the phrase is undoubtedly employed to express this idea, "Now if Timothy comes unto you, see that he may be with you without fear, for he works the work of the Lord as I also do." Let no one, however, imagine that he can do anything acceptable unto the Lord in the way of zeal, except his zeal be the offspring of true faith.

Our first duty is our own salvation. We must first "give our own selves to the Lord." To attempt to do his work until we are reconciled to God by the blood of his cross, is but to thrust ourselves among his servants while we are yet his enemies. The exertions of an unconverted man in the cause of Christ, with whatever benefit they may be attended to others—for we deny not that in some instances God employs the instrumentality of the wicked—will to himself be profitless and vain. There is just ground of apprehension, that in an age happily characterized by an enlightened and vigorous activity, not a few will be found guilty of the ruinous inconsistency of contributing to send the gospel to others, while their own hearts are strangers to its influence; and thus resemble the workmen of Noah, who helped to build an ark for others, but perished in the flood themselves.

No liberality, however diffusive, no zeal, however ardent, can be a substitute for "repentance towards God, faith in Jesus Christ, and that holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Should we ultimately perish for lack of these great and necessary prerequisites for heaven, will it assuage the agony of the deathless worm, or allay the fury of the quenchless fire, or render the bottomless pit more tolerable, to remember that we had been the means of plucking others from the place of torment? Oh no! even in the presence of Satan we shall blush for the hypocrisy, and curse the folly of choosing heaven for others, and hell for ourselves! A personal and experimental acquaintance with the gospel must be the starting point in the career of religious benevolence. Thus qualified let us do the work of the Lord.

I. In assigning a few reasons why this employment is so denominated 'the work of the Lord', I shall be advancing, at the same time, the most powerful MOTIVES that can induce a real Christian to engage in it.

1. It is work in which the Lord himself was employed. In attempting to extend the empire of truth and holiness in the world, and to build up the kingdom of Christ with souls redeemed from the guilt of sin, and disenthralled from the bondage of corruption—we imitate the greatest and the best of the human race. We enter the sacred enclosure where patriarchs, prophets, and apostles have been our predecessors; and there the most illustrious individuals that future ages shall produce, will be our successors. Low and groveling indeed must be the heart that feels no ambition to join this honorable band. Still there is a brighter glory resting on this cause than can be reflected from the harp of the prophet, or the crown of the monarch; than the patriarch or the apostle can possibly impart. It is the work of the Lord.

He came from heaven "to seek and to save that which was lost." Once his lips declared, and always his conduct, "the zeal of your house has consumed me." This was the work on which his heart was set when it beat in the babe of Bethlehem, and when it bled on the thrust of the spear; when he flew from the throne and ascended to the cross. Whether he endured the noise and fatigue of the city, or sought the retirement of the village; whether he wept or prayed; whether he agonized in Gethsemane, or expired on Calvary; one object stood present to his mind, one concern occupied his heart, one work employed his hand.

Here, disciple of Emmanuel, here behold your model, and your motive in the work of the Lord; and here behold your honor too. How does it stimulate the faithful servant to see his master laboring by his side; and what servant is he who can devote himself to personal ease, or guilty idleness, while his lord is toiling in the field? It is our honor, and it ought to prove our excitement, that when engaged in the work of enlightening the world, we are, in a humble sense, the satellites of the Sun of Righteousness, forming, in part, the train of his glory, and acting, in measure, as the instruments of his beneficence.

2. It is work which the Lord has commanded. Besides the pursuit of our own personal salvation, we are enjoined, by the authority of our divine Master, to seek the advancement of his cause by every means that prudence can suggest, or diligence apply. This is included in the great precept, "To love our neighbor as ourselves." This is enjoined by the most solemn of all methods of injunction in the form of prayer; and it is somewhat remarkable that the first petition of what is denominated the Lord's Prayer, relates to this duty, "May your kingdom come." The apostle informs us that this was the very purpose of our being brought to a participation in the benefits of redemption. "Christ died for all, that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again." And in the spirit of this passage he has commanded us, in another place, "Not to look every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."

From hence it is evident that he who does nothing for the cause of Christ at large, however sincerely or however ardently he may be engaged in the pursuit of his own salvation, performs but half the service which he owes to his heavenly Master. The church was never designed by its Founder to be a spiritual monastery, where its members, secluded from the world, should dwell amidst the hopes and privileges of the Gospel, in selfish and indolent repose. It is, on the contrary, represented as "a city, whose gates are open continually," and within which all is activity, and union, and commerce. I have yet to be informed in what version of the New Testament that Christian can have learnt his duty, who imagines he owes nothing to Christ in respect of those places which are yet destitute of the light of truth.

3. It is denominated the work of the Lord, because he will be glorified in its results. One of the most sublime and interesting views we can take of the work of redemption, is to conceive of it, as preparing a crown of eternal glory for the head of Emmanuel. When, therefore, we propagate his Gospel in the world, and are successful in converting sinners from the error of their ways, we collect his tribute, and gather his reward. We are the honored instruments of multiplying the jewels which are to compose his regalia, and the gems which are to sparkle forever in his diadem of beauty. Can we be insensible to the force and pathos of this motive? Have we no desire, or can we be satisfied with a faint one, to extend his fame, to multiply the hearts that shall love him, and the tongues that shall speak his praise; can we indeed know the loveliness of him who is altogether lovely; can we love him as we ought, and yet feel no concern that others should know and love him too? Our success is his honor; his honor should be our reward.

4. It is the work of the Lord, because he only can give success to our exertions. "It is not by might or by power, but by his Spirit," that the conversion of sinners can in any case be effected. The vivid recollection of this important truth is peculiarly necessary in the present age, when amidst the number, the magnitude, the adaptation, the combination of instruments, we are so much in danger of losing sight of the almighty Agent. Institutions have arisen for the propagation of the truth as it is in Jesus, which, while they astonish us by their grandeur, excite the most lively expectations as to their results.

Let us beware of being seduced by their imposing appearance from that unlimited dependence upon divine grace for success, which is as necessary amidst the greatest plenitude of means as in the greatest scarcity. The work is the Lord's—this it is no less our encouragement than our duty to remember. This is the consideration which levels the mountains and fills the valleys, with which our fears and our sloth would arrest our career. This is the consideration with which our zeal should answer every objection, smile at every difficulty, and rejoice like a strong man to run a race. Every society formed to disseminate divine truth should be regarded as a fresh call to earnest prayer, and felt as a new excitement to lively hope. Every motive, every obligation, every hope is concentrated in this one expression, "The work of the Lord."

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