The Christian Ministry 2
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1. For WHOM do you work?
The ministers of the gospel work for GOD, who is carrying on the grand scheme of salvation in our world. His immediate service is the peculiar business of their lives. Their office calls them to minister at his altar, while others are called even in duty to mind the labours and pursuits of this world. Of them it may be said, in a peculiar degree, what holds true of Christians in common in a lower sense: "For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live—we live to the Lord; and if we die—we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die—we belong to the Lord." Romans 14:7, 8.
Now, who would not work for that God who made them, who gives them all their blessings, and who alone can make them happy through an immortal duration? Who would not work for so good, so excellent, so munificent a master? Oh! how good a work is this!
Ministers also work for JESUS CHRIST. It was he who originally gave them their commission; it was he who assigned them their work; it is he who is interested in their success. It is his work they are engaged in: the great work of saving sinners, in which he himself worked for thirty-three painful, laborious years; and to promote which, he suffered all the agonies of crucifixion. And blessed Jesus! who would not work for you! for you—who worked and suffered so much for us! Oh! while we feel the constraints of your love—who can forbear crying out with Isaiah, "Here am I—send me!" Isaiah 6:8. Send me to the ends of the earth; send me among savage barbarians; send me through fire and water; send me where you will—if it is only for you! Here, Lord, I go! I would undertake the hardest work—if only it is for you! For oh! what work can be so good, so grateful, so pleasant!
Again, the ministers of the gospel work for the SOULS of MEN. To do good to mankind, is the great purpose of their office. It is their business to serve the best interests of others, to endeavour to make men wise and godly, and consequently happy, in time and eternity; to make them useful members of society in this world; and prepared as heirs of the inheritance of the saints in light. In short, to refine and advance human nature to the highest possible degree of moral excellence, glory and happiness.
Is not this the most noble and beneficent office in all the world? And how good, how pleasing, and how delightful must it be, in this view—to a benevolent soul! It is an office the most friendly society, and the happiness of the world in general. And if some ministers have often proved firebrands in society, and disturbers of the peace of mankind—it has not been owing to the nature, design, and tendency of their office—but to their being carried headlong by their own avarice or ambition, or some other sordid lust—to abuse it to purposes directly contrary to those for which it was intended and adapted!
Every minister of the gospel ought to have a benevolent, generous spirit, and be the friend of human nature, from noble and unselfish views: otherwise, his disposition and his office appear a shocking contrariety to each other. But when they agree, he is apublic blessing to the world, and an immortal blessing to the souls of men. Thus, you see, this office is a good work, if we consider for WHOM the work is done.
2. Let us next consider WITH whom the ministers of the gospel work. And we shall see how good their employment is.
They are workers together with GOD, 2 Corinthians 6:1, engaged in carrying on the same gracious design which lay so near his heart from eternity; for the execution of which, he sent his Son into the world; has appointed various means of grace, under the various dispensations of religion, during the space of some six thousand years; and manages all the events of time, by his all-ruling providence.
They are also co-workers with JESUS CHRIST. They are promoting the same cause, for which he became man; for which helived the life of a servant, and died the death of a malefactor and a slave. Jesus, their Lord and Master, condescended to be their predecessor in office, and to become the preacher of his own gospel. They are engaged, though in an humbler sphere, in that work, which HE is now carrying on, since his return to his native heaven.
And whenever the pleasure of the Lord prospers in their hands, he actually works with them, and is the author of all their successes! He sends his Spirit to convince the world, by their means—of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement, John 16:8, and to make his gospel powerful for the salvation of those that hear it. Oh! were it not for his working—all the little true religion which is in the world would immediately expire; and the united efforts of all the ministers upon earth, would not be able to preserve one spark of it alive.
They may also be called fellow-workers with the HOLY SPIRIT, whose great office it is to sanctify depraved creatures, and prepare them for the refined happiness of heaven. While they are speaking to the ear—He speaks to the heart, and causes men tofeel, as well as to hear, the gospel of salvation.
They also act in concert with ANGELS; for what are these glorious creatures but "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation." Hebrews 1:14.
An angel once condescended to call a minister of the gospel his fellow-servant. "I am your fellow-servant" said the angel to John, (the fellow-servant) "of your friends who have the testimony of Jesus!" Revelation 19:10. And when these servants of an humblerorder have finished their painful ministration on earth, they shall join their fellow-servants of a higher class in the court of heaven, and perhaps, share in the much more exalted forms of angelic ministration. This seems implied in that text where the angel of the Lord protests to Joshua the high priest, saying, "Thus says the Lord Almighty: If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here." Zech. 3:5-7. And who are those who were standing there? You are told, "The angel of the Lord stood there." Among these, therefore, Joshua had places given him to walk, as the companion and fellow-servant of angels!
Ministers also are engaged in that work, in which the APOSTLES went before them. In this good cause, they travelled over sea and land, they laboured, they spent their lives, and at last gloriously departed. Yes, my fellow-labourers, they felt the generous toils, and braved the heroic dangers of your office—long before you. In this good cause, thousands of MARTYRS have shed their blood! And thousands of ministers, in various ages, and in various countries, have spent their strength, their life, their all.
In short, ALL the godly people who ever have been, who now are, or ever shall be upon earth—concur in the same good work with you, according to their respective characters. To make men wise, holy, and happy, is their united effort—the object they have in view in their prayers, in their instructions, in their lives, and in all their endeavours.
All HOLY beings, in the whole compass of the vast universe, befriend your design—and none are against it but fallen spirits on the earth and in hell. And must not this be a good work in which such a glorious company concur? and oh! who would not work in such company—with God, with Christ, with the Holy Spirit, with angels, with apostles, with martyrs, with all godly men upon the face of the earth? Who would be so shocking a singularity as not to join with this assembly in the work. Or who can question its goodness, since such a holy assembly joins in it?
The office of a bishop will farther appear a good work, if it is considered WHAT it is, that ministers work for. They do not indeed work for a reward upon the footing of personal merit; but they hope for it on the plan of the gospel, through Jesus Christ. In this view, they are like Moses, "He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward." Hebrews 11:26. God will not forget their honest, though feeble, and frequentlyunsuccessful labours in his own work. "Those who turn many to righteousness, shall shine as the stars forever and ever!" Daniel 12:3.
If a cup of cold water, given to the lowest disciple of Christ, shall not be unrewarded, then what rich rewards must be prepared for those who employ all their time, all their abilities, all their life—in the most important, benevolent, and laborious services for his church which he has purchased with his own blood! Crowns of distinguished brightness, and thrones of superior dignity are reserved for them! And in proportion to their labours here—will be their glory and felicity in the world to come.
In serving their divine Master and the souls of men—they are also serving themselves; and in promoting the interests of others—they most effectually promote their own. Thus, their duty and interest—the interest of mankind and their own—are wisely and graciously united, and mutually promote each other. And thus it appears, their laborious and painful work is good—good in itself, good for the world, and good for themselves.
To sum up the whole—whatever contempt the ministerial office has lain under; however much it has been disgraced, and rendered useless, and even injurious, by the unworthy conduct of such as have thrust themselves into it, from base and mercenary views; yet, it is in itself, and in its natural tendency, the most noble, benevolent, and useful office in the world!
To be the minister of Jesus Christ, the King of kings, and Lord of lords—is a greater honour than to be the most illustrious monarch upon earth! To save souls from death, is a more heroic exploit—than to rescue enslaved nations from oppression and ruin! To make a multitude of wretched, perishing souls—rich with the unsearchable treasures of Christ—is a more generous charity—than to clothe the naked, or feed the hungry! To refine depraved men, and improve into a fitness for the exalted employments and enjoyments of heaven—is a higher pitch of patriotism, than to civilize barbarous nations, by introducing the arts and sciences, and a good form of government among them! To negotiate a peace between God and man, and prevent the terrible consequences of the unnatural, unequal war, which has so long been waged between them—is a more benevolent and important service than to negotiate a peace between contending nations—to stop the current of human blood, and heal the deadly wounds of war!
Let those, therefore, who are called to this blessed work, join with Paul, and thank the Lord Jesus Christ, who has enabled them, for "that He counted them faithful, putting them into the ministry!" 1 Timothy 1:12. Let them "magnify their office," not by assuming airs of superiority, or by making ostentatious claims to powers that they have nothing to do with—but by rejoicing more in it, than in crowns and thrones—by acting up to their noble character; and by so exercising it, as to render it an extensive blessing to the world. This will be the best expedient to keep themselves and their office above contempt, and to gain the approbation of both God and man.
But when we reflect upon the dignity, the importance, the difficulty, and the grand consequences of this noble office—it will render us who sustain it, peculiarly sensible of our constant need of supplies of Divine grace, to enable us to faithfully discharge it. Alas! we know nothing of ourselves, if we imagine we are equal to it. Paul, with all his apostolic abilities, humbly acknowledges, "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant." 2 Corinthians 3:5, 6.
"Who is Paul," says he, "and who is Apollo's—but ministers by whom you believed—even as the Lord gave to every man?" Observe, their success was just as the Lord gave to every man. "Neither is he who plants anything, neither he who waters; but God who gives the increase." He is all in all. 1 Corinthians 3:5-7. "If I laboured more abundantly than others," says he, "it was not I—but the grace of God which was with me!" 1 Corinthians 15:10.
Thus, my friends, it befits us to be always dependent upon Divine grace. It befits us to be often on the knee at the throne of mercy, petitioning for divine help and success. And if we are, in any measure, blessed with either, we should arrogate nothing to ourselves—but ascribe all the glory to him, who condescends to distribute gifts to men, and to crown these gifts with his Divine blessing.
Hence, also, my friends of the LAITY, you may see how much ministers need the assistance of your prayers. Even the great Paul did not disdain to ask the prayers of common Christians—but repeats his request over and over. And I, from much more urgent necessity, as the mouth of these my friends—beg this charity of you for both myself and them. Surely, you cannot deny it, especially as yourselves will reap the advantage in the outcome; for whatever ministerial abilities God may bestow upon us, in answer to your prayers—they are to be employed for your service. And it is our being so poorly qualified to serve you, which extorts this request from us, and is the cause of many a weeping, bitter hour to us.
You must, also, hence see, that it is your concern to work with ministers of the gospel in promoting the benevolent and important ends of their office. Endeavour so to attend upon their ministrations, as that you yourselves may be saved by them. And endeavour by your life and example, and all methods in your power—to make them useful to others.
Oh! let us all, ministers and people, form a noble confederacy against the kingdom of darkness, and make a vigorous attack upon it, with our united forces! Let us all enlist volunteers—as good soldiers, under Jesus; and in our post, whether high or low—do all we can to promote his kingdom! Amen.
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