Ministerial Duties Stated & Enforced 5
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D. By PRUDENCE. This is a virtue inferior in importance only to piety, and still more rare even than that. It is almost the first grace we need, and generally the last we acquire. Imprudence is one of the greatest enemies of the pastoral office, and considering the mischief which it frequently occasions when exhibited in such a situation, approaches so near to immorality, that the most skillful philosopher might be challenged to point out the line of distinction. It is a most melancholy reflection how often the greatest talents have, as to all their beneficial influence upon society, been completely neutralized by the imprudence of their thoughtless possessor. On the other hand, it is most encouraging and instructive to mark with how slender a portion of knowledge, many a minister has done extensive good in the world, because what little stock of ideas he possessed, was disposed of to the best advantage by a cautious and prudent temper. Thus, while the former blazed and wandered like a comet through an eccentric career, to little visible advantage, though attended for a season with much public admiration; the latter, although dim perhaps, yet remained steady as the polar star, which guides the mariner, though it may never have excited his wonder.
Our blessed Lord set a high value upon this qualification, when he enjoined his disciples to "be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Without degenerating into an insincere, hypocritical, crafty, intriguing disposition; or freezing, by a cold, selfish, and calculating temper, the genial current of benevolence; endeavor to acquire a cautious, deliberative, predictive sort of mind, which, with the quickness and the certainty of instinct, shall show you the consequences of action before you act.
E. By a KIND, affectionate disposition. "God is love, and has commended his love towards us" in a manner that will fill the universe with astonishment through everlasting ages. Can we approve ourselves the ministers of such a God without that "love which is kind?" Is not his love the theme of our ministrations? Shall we carry about in us this balm for healing the world, and the vessel partake none of its fragrant aroma? It was a beautiful picture which a deistical physician drew of the late Dr. Gillies, of Glasgow, when he said he believed that John Gillies would be glad to carry all mankind to heaven in his bosom. May no deist ever be able to say anything worse of you. It is of immense importance, that as ministers we should be distinguished by "whatever things are lovely." There should be a kindness of heart, a sweetness of disposition, a gentleness, in those who have to win souls to Christ, suitable to the instruments of reconciliation. Amiability of temper and manners—carries all the gifts of the mind, and all the graces of the heart—to their highest polish and beauty. In the church there are some men of very excellent talents, who, are unfortunately of such rough, churlish, and petulant dispositions, that it requires an effort, like getting through a thorn hedge, to gather any fruit from their ministry.
E. By a habit of importunate PRAYER. I have no need to instruct you in the necessity of a divine influence to renew and sanctify the human heart. Of this doctrine you have just publicly avowed your entire conviction. But I would just remind you, that on this important article of your faith, rests the incumbent duty of prayer. Ah, my brother, we need more of the spirit and grace of prayer. The acknowledgment of the Psalmist ought to belong to us, "I give myself to prayer." The spirit of supplication should insinuate itself into all our habits, our plans, our labors and ministries. Those who honor God in secret, God will honor in public. It has been very generally remarked, that the most successful ministers have been the most eminent as men of prayer. Luther, it is said, devoted three hours every day to devotional exercises. Queen Mary of Scotland used to say of John Knox, "I fear that man's prayers more than the English army." The story of Mr. Bruce is well known. One sabbath, being unusually late before he appeared at the house of God, a messenger was sent to hasten him, who, upon coming to his study door, heard him distinctly and vehemently affirm, "I will not go hence except you go with me."
Unwilling to disturb what he considered to be a conversation, the messenger returned with the report that Mr. Bruce was not likely to come soon, for he had heard him declare that he would not stir, unless a person who was in his study, and who seemed very reluctant to stir, would come with him. At length the man of God appeared, when such an unusual solemnity, unction, and effect, attended his words, as left no doubt upon the minds of the auditory who the Stranger was with whom Mr. Bruce, like another Israel, had wrestled and had prevailed. A man of prayer is always known without erecting his oratory at the corners of the streets, or proclaiming the hour of his retirement by the sound of a trumpet. If we are much with God, the effect, in a spiritual sense, will be very similar to the vision of his glory upon the face of Moses, when the people beheld the radiance of his countenance, and gazed with veneration upon the man who had seen the Lord.
By such conduct and such habits approve yourself as a minister of God. Any considerable defect in your ministerial conduct will be more quickly seen, and more powerfully felt, than in many other situations. You are called to occupy the pulpit of a man whose praise is in all the churches, and who being dead, yet speaks by the remembrance of his distinguished virtues, and the instructions of his valuable works. If unwearied application as a student, exemplary piety as a Christian, and unceasing attention to all the duties of the pastoral office, can render any one a model for his successor, then may you remember with affection, and imitate with advantage, the example of the late Mr. Buck. Thus may you cause your people, who so highly revered him, to rejoice that his mantle, which dropped as he arose, has been found by you, and that although they have lost their Elijah, the excellences which rendered him a blessing, survive and flourish in the character of his successor.
I trust you have made up your account to meet with trials. If Satan allows you to go on without anything to try your faith and your patience, it is a sign that he despises your efforts. If you bruise the head of the serpent, he will hiss! If you attack the lion in his den, he will roar! The world will perhaps revile you, and even friends may desert you. Your success may not be equal to your desires, and oftentimes the fairest blossoms of your ministerial hopes may be nipped. As a spiritual father, some of your own children may be peevish and rebellious. As a physician, who has to do with the maladies of the soul, you must expect that under the power of delirium, they will often treat you with the greatest unkindness, when engaged in the tenderest offices to restore them to a "sound mind."
Against these gloomy suggestions, I oppose others of a more encouraging nature. You have far more to enliven your hopes, than to excite your fears. Yours is the "ministry of reconciliation." You are to be employed on an 'embassy of peace'. It is your honorable and delightful business to be engaged as an instrument in reconciling man—to God, to himself, and to his fellow creatures.
Nor are you left to labor alone and unassisted. The promise of Jesus Christ, your great master, accompanies you to the spot you are to occupy and to cultivate in his vineyard, "Lo, I am with you always!" Yours is the ministration of the Holy Spirit. The clouds of heaven, "big with blessings," are already floating over the scene of your husbandry, ready to descend in fertilizing showers upon the seed you scatter.
Should your hopes be realized and your labors blessed, though in ever so small a degree; should you be the means of saving but one soul from everlasting death, you will "rejoice in the day of Christ that you have not run in vain, nor labored in vain." It was a saying of Owen, that the salvation of a single soul was worth preaching to a whole nation for, during a long succession of years. But I trust many will be given to you who shall be "your joy and your crown of rejoicing." Then what a scene awaits you.
In that illustrious day, when even the mighty works of Bacon, of Newton, of Milton shall be consumed by the general conflagration, and scattered with the ashes of the globe; when the most splendid productions of human genius, with all the choicest flowers of art, of literature, and of science, shall serve but to crown the funeral pile of expiring nature, and shall leave the scholar and the artist without a single ray of glory to distinguish them amidst the crowds thronging the bar of judgment; when the names of the philosophers, and warriors, and legislators, who for thousands of years have been emblazoned in the annals of mankind, shall all be passed over in silence; then shall your name, my brother, be announced to assembled worlds, as having accomplished an immortal work; and when observing millions shall be awaiting the triumphs of that day, one glorified spirit, dressed in the robes of righteousness and salvation, shall advance from the right hand of the Judge, followed by another, and another, and another; while all together pointing to you, with transports of delight, shall exclaim, "Behold the minister, to whose faithful labors, under God, we owe our salvation!"
Then, when the eye of the universe shall be fixed upon you, and the voice of all that multitude, as the voice of many waters, shall rejoice over you, the great Master whom you serve will acknowledge your labors with smiles of ineffable delight, and those words of mysterious condescension, "Well done, good and faithful servant, having approved yourself in all things a minister of God, enter into the joy of your Lord!"
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