with an enlightened apprehension, could enter upon such an awful service; or, if entered, continue in it?

But how solemn is the sanction-infinitely above all human authority-stamped and engraven upon the sacred office! And how tremendous the guilt of rejecting its commission !" He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me." 1

CHAPTER II.

THE DIGNITY OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY.

2

THE Divine original of the Christian Ministry has already opened a view of its dignity far above any earthly honour or elevation, and such as the infidel scoff can never degrade. An institution-introduced into the world, and confirmed to the Church, with such solemn preparation-conversant with the interests, and entrusted with the charge, of immortal soulsordained as the main instrument for the renovation of the world, and the building up of the Church-cannot be of inferior eminence. The office of "fellow-worker with God" would have been no mean honour to have conferred upon the archangel nearest the everlasting throne. It formed the calling, the work, and the delight of the Lord of glory during his last years of abode upon earth; and was established by himself as the standing ordinance in his Church, and the medium of the revelation of his will to the end of time. He has not indeed (as the judicious Calvin observed)- called his ministers into the function. of teaching, that, after they have brought the Church under, they may usurp to themselves the government; but that he may use their faithful diligence to associate the same to himself. This is a great and excellent thing, for men to be set over the

1 Luke x. 16.

21 Cor. iii. 9. 2 Cor. vi. 1. This association is evidently that of a Minister with God -and not, we think, (as Doddridge and Macknight have supposed)—of one Minister with another. Comp. Rom. xvi. 3, 9, 21. Phil. ii. 25, iv. 3. Philemon 1,24. "Yet all is of God." For this co-operation is "God working in us to will and to do." The strength for the work is imparted--not natural; nor was there any "fellow-worker" in the first principles of strength, or in its subsequent increase. Eximium elogium Ministerii, quod, cum per se agere possit Deus, nos homunciones tanquam adjutores adsciscat, et tanquam organis utatur.' Calvin in 1 Cor. iii. 9.

2

3

Church, that they may represent the person of the Son of God.'' The dignity however of the sacred office belongs to a kingdom "not of this world." It is distinguished therefore, not by the passing glitter of this world's vanity, but by eternal results, productive, even in their present influence, of the most solid and enduring happiness. For surely it is the highest dignity, if not the greatest happiness, that human nature is capable of here in this vale below, to have the soul so far enlightened as to become the mirror, or conduit or conveyor of God's truth to others.' 4 The chastised apprehension of this high calling, so far from fostering a vain-glorious spirit, has a direct tendency to deepen self-abasement and reverence. For can we help re

coiling from so exalted an office-from handling such high and holy things? What! We to convey life, who ourselves are dead! We, so defiled, to administer a service so pure, so purifying! "Woe is me "-said one of old, when contrasting this honour with his personal meanness-" for I am undone; for I am a man of unclean lips." 5 How can we think of this vast commission-this momentous trust, but as an act of most undeserved favour ?6

But let the remembrance of this sacred dignity give a deeper tone of decision to our ministrations. A Pastor'-remarks Bishop Wilson- should act with the dignity of a man, who acts by the authority of God'7-remembering, that while we speak to men, we speak in God's stead.' And this is the true Scriptural standard of our work-"As we were allowed of God" said the great Apostle-"to be put in trust with the Gospel," (the highest trust that ever could be reposed in man) "even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts." 8 Let it also connect itself with its most responsible obligations-that we disgrace not the dignity-that we

1 Calvin on John iii. 29.

2 John xviii. 36.

3 Burnet beautifully illustrates the honourable designations of the holy office. Pastoral Care, ch. 1. Compare also, Chrysostom De Sacerdotio, book iii. Gregory Nazianzen's Oration, appended usually to Chrysostom, and Bowles' Pastor Evangelicus-1665. 12mo. Pref. An old writer expatiates upon no less than forty-three Scriptural appellations of its dignity and usefulness. Sal Terræ. cap. ii. by T. Hall. 12mo. Francof. 1658. Another writer counts sixty names, more or less applying to "the diversities of operations," in the Ministry. Hottingeri Typus Pastoris Evangelici. 12mo. Basil. 1741. The remark of one of the Reformers carries with it a valuable lesson,-"De nomine observandum-vocari Ministerium non Magisterium.' Buceri De Vi et Usu S. Min. 4 Mather's Student and Pastor, p. 161. 5 Isa. vi. 5.

6 See Eph. iii. 8. 1 Tim. ii. 12.

live under the constraint-of our high calling-" Ye are the salt of the earth. Let not the salt lose its savour. Ye are the light of the world.—Let your light shine before men”—are the impressive exhortations of the Great Master.'1 "Neglect not " -said the great Apostle-"the gift of God that is in thee stir it up" by the daily exercises of faith, self-denial, and prayer. Quesnel observes- What courage, what boldness, what freedom ought the dignity of the Ministry to give a bishop or priest; not for his own interests, but for those of the Church; not through pride, but fidelity; not while he employs carnal means, but while he makes use of the armour of God." 3 'The moment we permit ourselves to think lightly of the Christian Ministry, our right arm is withered; nothing but imbecility and relaxation remains. But let the weight of this dignity be relieved by Evangelical encouragement—The ministration of the Spirit and of righteousness constitutes the chief glory of the evangelical economy. "Therefore," says the Apostle, after an exhibition of its preeminent excellency-" seeing we have this Ministry"—so richly endowed so freely vouchsafed-" as we have received mercy, we faint not."5

A sense of the dignity of our office-accurately formed, carefully maintained, and habitually exercised-is therefore of the highest importance. It elevates the standard of Christian consistency even in the prospective consideration and choice of the work. For what is unsuitable to the Ministerial character is obviously unsuitable to the probationer for the Ministry. In the actual discharge also of duty, the mind will thus be excited to a more solid and devoted consecration; and the whole man will be gradually formed in this heavenly mould— exalted, not elated. Dignity of character will thus correspond with dignity of station. The "office" will be "magnified" 6 in perfect harmony with the lowliest personal humility—and, indeed never more eminently displayed, than in the exercises of genuine humility; the man invested with these high responsibilities sinking in the dust as an "unprofitable servant."7

'Matt. v. 13-16. See an awakening appeal in the conclusion of Bishop Taylor's first sermon on the Minister's duty in life and doctrine. Works, Vol. vi. 21 Tim. iv. 14. 2 Tim. i. 6.

3 On 2 Cor. iii. 8. Comp. Daven. in Col. i. 1.

4 Hall on the Discouragements and Supports of the Ministry, p. 51. 5 2 Cor. iv. 1, 6 See Rom. xi. 13.

7 The views of Philip Henry were truly worthy of his high office. Thus he wrote on

CHAPTER III.

THE USES AND NECESSITY OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY.

BECAUSE the nature of things consisting, as this doth, in action, is known by the object whereabout they are conversant, and by the end or scope whereunto they are referred; we must know that the object of this function is both God and men : God, in that he is publicly worshipped of his church; and men, in that they are capable of happiness by means, which Christian discipline appointeth. So that the sum of our whole labour in this kind is to honour God, and to save men. 1

The ministry of the word was ordained for the planting and watering of the church. The epistles were written to the respective churches, which had been planted by the preaching of the gospel-to supply the place of an oral ministry-to reduce them to church order and unity-to confirm them in Christian stedfastness, and to advance them to Christian perfection. The several individuals also addressed were the fruits of this ministry. Timothy, Titus, and Philemon appear to have been "begotten in Christ Jesus," through the ministry of Paul; as were probably "the elect lady and her children," and the beloved Gaius, "the seals of the apostleship" of

John. 3

Thus has this great ordinance of the Gospel regard to the continual progress of the church, both in its collective body, and in the several states of its individual members. It was given the day of his ordination-I did this day receive as much honour and work as ever I shall be able to know what to do with. Lord Jesus! proportion supplies accordingly.' Two scriptures he desired might be written in his heart. 2 Cor. vi. 4, 5. and 2 Chron. xxix. 11. And so influential were these views in maintaining a course of deep-toned humility, that he laid himself out with as much diligence and vigour,' in a very contracted sphere, as if he had the oversight of the greatest and most considerable parish in the country.'P. Henry's Life, (Williams's Edition) p. 38; which Dr. Chalmers has justly characterized, as one of the most precious religious biographies in our language.' Oh! for a large supply of such Ministers in every department of the Church of God!

1 Hooker, book v. 76. The Divine purpose respecting the Church most harmoniously combines these two ends-" I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory." Is. xlvi. 13. 2 See 1 Cor. iii. 6.

3 See the inscriptions to the several epistles to those individuals, and Philemon 19.

"for the perfecting of the saints, for the edifying of the body of Christ." There was not only a foundation to be laid, but a building to be raised. Elementary truths were to be carried to perfection. Constant superintendence was needed even in the most flourishing churches. The administration of the word was the appointed remedy to "perfect that which was lacking in the faith" of the Thessalonians. Peter wrote his second epistle to those that "were established in the faith;" yet "he would not on that account be negligent to put them always in remembrance of these things." For the same reason the beloved disciple wrote to the church; "not"-said he -" because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it."5

The primary use, therefore, of this holy function is, as we have already observed, the channel of communication from the Head. to the several members of the body. Its more specific uses may be readily collected from the various scriptural illustrations of the office-each bearing a relation to the nature of the ministration, and the necessities of the charge. If the church be called a flock, the Minister is the pastor to "seek that which is lostto strengthen the diseased-to heal the sick-to bring again that which was driven away;" in a word, to shepherd the flock in all the exercises of tenderness, consideration, and care, that belong to this endearing character. If the family of Christ be an household, the Minister is "the faithful and wise steward," who dispenses the provision of the house according to the necessities of its several members. If the Church of God be a city, he is the watchman to wake and warn slumberers of their peril. If it be a husbandry, he is the "labourer," to plant and water the soil-to cleanse the earth-to watch the growth of the plant-and instrumentally to bring forward the harvest. If it be a building, he is the "Master-builder," 10 to build upon the "sure foundation" lively stones-a spiritual house-"growing into an holy temple of the Lord, builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." If there be a treaty of peace to be negociated between the Majesty of heaven and a world of rebels, he is the ambassador, entrusted with "the Ministry of