Images de page
PDF
ePub

seal of God set upon every recipient; a seal of the covenant voluntarily assumed on the part of the believer, and pledging him to the fulfilment of his covenant stipulations; binding him to renounce utterly, and oppose forever, all rivals and competitors of his God and Saviour; and engaging him to be the Lord's, in all that he has and is-in body, soul, and spirit, for time and for eternity. In a word, as our Larger Catechism teaches, "the parties baptized are solemnly admitted into the visible church, and enter into an open engagement to be wholly and only the Lord's."

It would be a lamentable error, my young friends, if any of you who were baptized in infancy, should think, or say in your hearts, that you have been subjected to a grievous hardship by your pious parents, when in this ordinance they offered you up to God in your infancy, and had you sealed as his property, and engaged for you, so far as their influence, efforts and example could avail, that you should do and be all that is implied in the baptismal covenant, as now explained. You would not have thought it a hardship, if your parents had, by acting in your behalf in your non age, secured to you the eventual possession of a large and valuable worldly estate, on condition of your doing and acting, in your coming years, in a manner most reasonable in itself, and most worthy of yourselves. But infinitely more and better than this, did they do for you, when they devoted you to God in infant baptism, and placed you under the bonds of his gracious covenant. Nothing can be so reasonable in itself, and so worthy of your rational and immortal nature, as that you should renounce the world, the flesh, and the devil, cordially embrace the great salvation of your redeeming God, and walk before him to your life's end, in obedience to all his command

ments, and in the observance of all his ordinances and institutions: and doing this, you will be the sure possessors of an inheritance infinitely richer than all the treasures of the world-an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, in the mansions of eternal bliss. Oh, may none of you be guilty of the sacrilege of alienating yourselves the property of God-from his service to that of his adversary! May you all esteem it your privilege, as well as your duty, to be consecrated unreservedly to the Lord, and make your parent's act your own, by your voluntary choice and assumption; and thus insure to yourselves. all the blessings and benefits of heirs of God and joint heirs with his own Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

I close this extended lecture by quoting from our Larger Catechism, the admirable statement it contains of the improvement that ought to be made of their baptism, by all who have received it. "The needful, but much neglected duty of improving our baptism, is to be performed by us all our life long, especially in the time of temptation, and when we are present at the administration of it to others, by sérious and thankful consideration of the nature of it, and of the ends for which Christ instituted it, the privileges and benefits conferred and sealed thereby, and our solemn vow made therein; by being humbled for our sinful defilement, our falling short of, and walking contrary to, the grace of baptism and our engagements; by growing up to assurance of pardon of sin, and of all other blessings sealed to us in that sacrament; by drawing strength from the death and resurrection of Christ, into whom we are baptized, for the mortifying of sin, and quickening of grace; and by endeavouring to live by faith, to have our conversation in holiness and righteousness, as those that have therein given up their names

to Christ, and to walk in brotherly love, as being baptized by the same spirit into one body."

BY WHAT

[ocr errors]

MEANS MAY MINISTERS
BEST WIN SOULS?

We have found a discourse in
reply to the above question, by
the Rev. Robert Traill, in con-
nexion with his sermons on
"The
throne of grace," one of which has
been given in the last two num-
bers of our Miscellany. The first
part of this discourse we insert in
our present number, and in our
next the remainder may be expect-
ed. We entreat our readers not
to pass over this discourse as
something put in for the purpose
of filling up, or as some antiquated
stuff, that happened to hit the fan-
cy of the editor of the Christian
Advocate. No, truly. We insert
it as an article of rare value, well
adapted to edify every attentive
reader. It is, indeed, particularly
calculated to benefit theological
students, and young ministers of
the gospel; and those of our read-
ers who are of this character-
and we have a good many such-
we beseech to mark and weigh
every sentence, as replete with
matter worthy of their serious re-
gard. But it is fitted to profit pious
readers of every descripton. It
may be particularly useful to show
those who have occasion, as many
now have, to choose a pastor un-
der whose ministry they and their
children are to sit, perhaps for life,
what are the qualities or charac-
teristicks which they ought chiefly
to look for, and most highly to
prize, in the man who is habitually
to minister to them in holy things.
This discourse was originally
preached and published as a se-
quel to the well known" Morning
Exercises." It abounds in thought;
and every important position is
sealed and sanctioned by a perti-
nent quotation from the oracles
of God. Oh, that those who

thirst for doctrinal preaching, of a philosophical character, would read and regard it!

Quest. By what means may ministers best win souls?

1 TIM. IV. 16.

Take heed unto thyself, and unto thy doctrine: continue in them: for in doing this, thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

These words are a substantial part of the good counsel and direction the apostle giveth unto Timothy, and in him unto all the ministers of the gospel.

In them are two things.

1. A threefold duty laid on gospel-ministers, Take heed unto thyself, and unto thy doctrine; continue in them.

2. A double advantage consequent upon the discharge of this duty: For in doing this, thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

1. Ministers' duty is in three things here.

1st, Take heed unto thyself. Thou art set in a high office, in a dangerous place; take good and narrow heed, look well to thyself, thy heart and way.

2dly, Take heed unto thy doctrine. Though thou be ever so well gifted, and approved both of God and men; though thou be an extraordinary officer, (as Timothy was); yet take heed unto thy doctrine. These two we pass at present; because we shall resume them at greater length, when we take their help to the resolving of this question.

3dly, Continue in them. This hath relation, it appears, unto ver. 12, and 15, as well as unto the preceding part of this verse. I shall dismiss this part of the verse with these.

(1.) Continue in thy work. Thou who art a minister, it is a work for thy lifetime; and not to be taken up and laid down again, according as it may best suit a

man's carnal inclinations, and outward conveniences. The apostles that laboured with their hands, have, by that example, set the conscience of a minister at liberty, to provide for the necessities of this life by other employments, when he cannot live of the gospel; yet certainly no man that is called of God to this work, can with a safe conscience abandon it wholly. Paul, for example, obliged by necessity, both preached, and wrought in a handy-craft. As preaching doth not make working unlawful, so neither should any other business of a minister make preaching

to cease.

(2.) Continue in endeavours after greater fitness for thy work. No attainments in fitness and qualifications for this work, can free a man of the obligation that lies on him, to increase and grow therein more and more. It is not enough that a man study and be painful ere he enter into the ministry, but he must labour still to be more fit for his great work.

(3.) Continue in thy vigour, and painfulness, and diligence. Young ministers, that are sound and sincere before God, are usually warm and diligent in the first years of their ministry; and many do decline afterwards, and become more cold and remiss. This exhortation is a check thereunto: Continue in them.

2. The second thing in the word, is, the double advantage proposed to encourage ministers to this hard duty.

1st, Thou shalt save thyself. Thy own salvation shall be promoted and secured thereby.

How becoming is it for a minister to mind his own salvation! and to mind it so heartily, as to be animated from the hopes of it unto the greater diligence in his ministry!

But how doth faithfulness in the ministry of the gospel further the minister's salvation?

(1.) Faithfulness in a man's generation-work, is of great use and advantage to salvation. Well done good and faithful servant, from the Lord's own mouth, is a great security; and diligence and faithfulness in improving the talents we are intrusted with, through grace, procure that testimony.

1

(2.) Thou shalt save thyself from the guilt of other men's sins and ruin, if thou be faithful in the ministry; Ezek. xxxiii. 9. Thou hast delivered (or saved) thy soul, saith the Lord to the Prophet, in the case of unsuccessful faithfulness. So Paul, Acts xviii. 6. 1 am clean, your blood be upon your own heads: and Acts xx. 26, 27. take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men: for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Every minister pledgeth his soul to God, that he shall be a faithful servant; and he that is such, may freely take up his stake, whatever his success on others be.

(3.) Faithfulness and painfulness in the ministry of the gospel, promotes a man's own salvation, in so far as the work of Christianity is woven in with the right discharge of the office of the ministry. Many ministers can say, that if they had not been ministers, they had in all appearance lost their souls. The subject of the minister's work is the same with that of a Christian's; and above all men should he be careful of his heart and intentions, that all be pure and spiritual. No man in any work he is called to, is under so strict a necessity of dependance on the influence and assistance of the Holy Ghost, both for gifts and grace. And are not all these great helps unto our own salvation.

2dly, The second advantage is, Thou shalt save them that hear thee. There is little hope of that man's being useful to save others, that minds not his own salvation; and

therefore the apostle puts them in this order, thyself, and then, them that hear thee.

This description of the people, them that hear thee, saith, That the principal work of a minister is preaching; and the principal benefit people have by them, is to hear the Lord's word from them; though there be a seeing (i. e. of their holy conversation) that is also useful, Phil. iv. 9. But the apostle knew no such ministers as were only to be seen in worldly pomp and grandeur, and seldom or never heard preaching.

Thou shalt save them. The great end of both preaching and hearing, is salvation; and if salvation were more designed by preachers and hearers, it would be more frequently the effect of the action. Thou shalt save them. Thou shalt, by the Lord's blessing on that ministry, be successful in converting sinners, and in building up of saints in holiness and faith unto salvation. Not that ministers are of themselves able by all their endeavours to carry on this great end; they are only God' tools and instruments, 1 Cor. iii. 6, 7. Concerning this,

(1.) We find, that the Lord hath appointed this great ordinance of the gospel-ministry for this end, the saving of men, Eph. iv. 11, 12, 13. It is through their word that men believe, John xvii. 20. And divine appointment of the means, declares both it to be useful, and the end to be hopeful.

(2.) He hath also given many promises of his presence, blessing, and success, to follow and attend them whom he sends on this great errand. Christ's first calling of the apostles, had this promise in it, I will make you fishers of men; which not only declared what that employment was he called them unto, but it assured them of success in it. At his leaving of them, Matth. xviii. 20, he promised to be with them unto the end Ch. Adv.-Vol. X.

of the world. And this promise is as good to us as it was to them.

(3.) He hath also revealed much of his mind about ministers' duty, in order to this end of saving men. This also makes the end more hopeful.

(4.) We find, that the Lord doth qualify and fit them whom he makes successful. He makes men able ministers of the New Testament, the word of life, 2 Cor. iii. 5, 6. And still, according to the success that the Lord hath a mind to bless a man with, gifts, and qualifications, and assistance, are proportionably given. The apostles, that had the greatest harvest to gather in, were made the strongest labourers: and, though in a far inferior degree, the same method is observed by the Lord in dealing with and by ordinary ministers. It is true, that always the most able and learned ministers are not most successful; yet, generally, the most skilful labourers are most blessed. Neither are the most learned and able men for parts, most fit and skilful in dealing with souls at all times.

Now, having opened the words, we shall return to the question to be resolved,

By what means may ministers best

win souls?

In speaking to which, I shall, 1. Show what this text saith unto this purpose. And then,

2. Give some further account thereof from other Scriptures. And,

3. Apply it both to ministers and people.

1. What this text speaks about this matter. It looks two ways upon this question. 1. It gives a direct answer unto it: and points forth duty. 2. It gives an encouraging promise of the good effect and fruit of the discharge of the duty. I shall carry on both together.

1. Take heed unto thyself. Wouldst thou be a saved and suc3 I

cessful minister? Take heed unto thyself. Such warnings imply always a case of difficulty and danger wherein he is that gets them. Take heed unto thyself in these things.

1st, Take heed that thou be a sound and sincere believer. The

importance of sincere godliness in a minister, is written in the deep

wounds that the church of Christ hath received by the hands of ungodly ministers. It hath been made a question, Whether an ungodly man can be a minister? but it is none, that such men are in a most desperate condition: Matth. vii. 22, 23. Depart from me; not because you ran unsent, or preached error instead of truth, or preached poorly and meanly, (all great sins in themselves;) but because you work iniquity; the usual expression of entire ungodliness. What use the Lord may make of the gifts (for great gifts he gives to the worst of men) of ungodly men, even in the ministry of the gospel, is one of his deep paths. But no man can reasonably imagine, that a walker in the way to hell can be a fit and useful guide to them that mind to go to heaven. If a man would have peace in his conscience, and success in his work of the ministry, let him take good heed to this, that he be a sound Christian. There is a special difficulty for a minister to know his grace. Gifts and grace have deceived many with their likeness; although the difference be great, both in itself, and to an enlightened eye.

2dly, Take heed to thyself, that thou be a called and sent minister. This is of great importance as to success. He that can say, "Lord thou hast sent me;" may boldly add, "Lord, go with me, and bless me. It is good when a man is serious in this inquiry. It is to be feared that many run, and never asked this question; so is it seen in their speed and success.

Jer.

xxiii. 32. I sent them not, therefore they shall not profit this people at all, is a standing rule to this day.

These things, if found, may serve to satisfy a minister's conscience, that Jesus Christ hath sent him

(1.) If the heart be filled with a single desire after the great end of the ministry, the glory of God in the salvation of men. Every work that God calls a man to, he makes the end of it amiable. This desire sometimes attends men's first conversion. Paul was called to be a saint and an apostle at once, Acts ix.; and so have many been called to be saints and ministers together. If it be not so, yet this is found with him that Christ calls, that when he is most spiritual and serious, when his heart is most under the impressions of holiness, and he is nearest to God in com

munion with him; then are such desires after the serving of Jesus Christ in the ministry most powerful.

desire is also to be examined; and And the sincerity of his when it is found, it adds greatly to a man's peace: when his heart bears him witness, that it is neither riches, nor honour, nor ease, nor the applause of men, that he seeks after, but singly Christ's honour in the saving of men.

(2.) It helps to clear a man's call, that there hath been a conscientious, diligence in all the means of attaining fitness for this great work. That love to the end that doth not direct and determine unto the use of the appointed means, may justly be suspected as irregular, and not flowing from the Holy Ghost. Even extraordinary offi

cers seem not to have been above the use of ordinary means, 2 Tim. iv. 13, old dying Paul sends for his books and papers.

(3.) A competent fitness for the work of the ministry, is another proof of a man's call to it. The Lord calls no man to a work for

« PrécédentContinuer »