I JZ./n ,oS from f 0e feifirarp of (professor ^amuef (gtifFer in (gtemorp of 3ubge ^amuef (tttiffer QjSrecftinrtbge (presenfeb f$£ ^amuef (tttiffer (jBrecfttnribge &ong to f(}e feifirarp of (princefon £0eofoc$tcaf ^emtnarg /SA7 ."LECTURES ON TIIK NATURE AND END OF THE SACRED OFFICE and on the DIGNITY, DUTY, QUALIFICATIONS, AND CHARACTER, OF THE SACRED ORDER. BY JOHN SMITH, D.D. ONE OF THE MINISTERS OF CAMPEELTON, BALTIMORE, PUBLISHED BY A. NEAL, BOOK SELEEPv, WATEB- STREET. Magill and Clime, Printers. 1810. preface- About fifteen years ago, the writer of the following sheets having been appointed to preach before the Annual Meeting oi the Sy- nod of Argyll, was led, by this circumstance, to cast his eye on such books as fell in his way, relative to the Nature and End of the Sacred Office. He was disappointed in not finding that any treated of the subject fully and in a distinct and regular manner. He thought it might be of use to the cause of re- ligion in general, and especially to young di- vines, to have the nature, extent, and impor- tance of those duties which the ministers of religion are called to discharge, and of that character which they are called to bear, deline- ated and exhibited in one connected view. With this impression upon his mind, he laid down his plan, and filled it up with the most important thoughts which occurred to him upon the different parts of it, supported occasionally by the sentiments of others on the same sub- ject. But the greatest difficulty still remained. The scriptures, from which he wished to take IV TREFACL. his view of the Nature of the Sacred Officey seemed to him to point out a higher walk than what is sometimes pursued; and, while he wished to point to the same path, he was afraid that what was really a labour of love, might be considered by some as a censure. In order to get over this difficulty, and to avoid the imputation of assuming more than belong- ed to him, he wished to publish these discour- ses under the veil of a feigned name, as the supposed lectures of a teacher of former times ;* to whose age and manner of thinking and act- ing, some things contained in them might ap- pear more suitable than to the fashion of the present times* But some of his friends, for whose judgment he has the utmost deference, urged him to strip them of this little machine- ry, and to speak in his own name. The times determined him to comply, and to bear any animadversion, if such awaited him, for ha- ving discharged what he considered as his duty, and the duty of all who are engaged in the same cause ; which is, to provoke one ano- ther to love and to good works. * Of St. Columba, the venerable Abbot of lona, and the Apostle and Patron Saint of the Ancient Scots, an ac- count of whose life was intended to be prefixed to them, but which is now published apart PREFACE, The times are awful, almost beyond exam- ple. A justly offended God threatens to de- prive us, as he did our neighbours, of that holy religion, of which too many have little more than the name and mere profession; and all ourna- tional efforts are vain, if his favour is not first obtained. Our only safety lies in effecting a reconciliation with him, by repentance and re- formation of manners. And, in this work, the ministers of religion should take the lead, and stir up all the spirit that is in them. u Nunc 11 omnes vocat ultimus labor." The axe is laid to the root of the tree, and we may fear it shall be cut down, if it bear not more and better fruit. We, it is to be feared, as w r elLas the peo- ple, if weighed in the balance, will be found wanting. What though our morals should be al- lowed to be correct, and our doctrines to be pure., may we not still be wanting in what is no less absolutely necessary, especially at present, strenuous exertion and ardent zeal ? Have not we, conforming ourselves too much to the fa- shion of the times, fallen from our first love, as well as the people? And does not the voice of Providence sound in our ears, as well as in theirs, Repent, and do the first works, or else I will come quickly ? True religion is at a low ebb ; and boch open enemies and secret foes attempt to destroy the VI PREFACE. little of it that remains. But, if we exert our- selves, it is impossible to say what we may yet effect. The best, and the greatest number too, I trust, are yet disposed to show favour to reli- gion, and capable of being roused to support- it, if we raise our voice aloud, and awake them. Zeal and exertion may yet save us. By zeal and exertion, a very small number once con- verted the whole nation to Christianity ; and, by the like means, through the blessing of God, we may yet effect a task much less ardu- ous than theirs. The laws of our country sup- port us ; and the rich and great, if they know even their worldly interest, will encourage our zeal, and co-operate with our exertion; for they may now see, that, on the existence of re- ligion, their existence too depends. The poor will applaud our zeal, and listen with pleasure to our more animated strain of preaching : For, what have they remaining, if fashionable philo- sophy and novel doctrines should succeed in taking away from them the consolations of reli- gion ? Although the following sheets relate chiefly to the Sacred Order, it is hoped they may be perused by others also with advantage. All christians, in all stations, should consider them- selves as persons who expect sqor to be priests PREFACE. Vll land kings with God; and should be concerned to promote his glory, and their own salvation, by giving every aid in their power, to the revival of a spirit of piety, devotion and reli- gion. In such a period as the present, they should rouse themselves up from that torpid in- difference to religion, which has unhappily per- vaded all ranks of people, and endeavour to rekindle the decaying flame, lest either the lamp should of itself go out, or lest God should, in judgment, remove the candlestick out of it's place. How dark and full of horror would be the night that should then ensue ! Should the sun be torn from the firmament, the world would not be in so dismal a state, as that in which it should be left, if the light of Christianity should be extinguished, and only the dim taper of rea- son substituted in it's place. This taper which owes all it's boasted light to borrowed beams, would be of little avail, if the sun should set. The human mind would soon be debased by the grossest superstition, and the most polish- ed nations would sink again into barbarism, ignorance, and idolatry. Such is the tenden- cy of the spirit which is at present work- ing, and of those principles which are at pre- sent spreading. The danger of their preva- lence is great and urgent, and every lover of viii PREFACE. mankind should do all in his power to oppose them. This is a duty which admits of no de- lay, and calls for every exertion. If the follow- ing pages shall in the smallest degree, contri- bute to rouse pastor or people to a higher sense of ther duty and their danger, and to a great- er regard for religion, the author has his wish. In any event, he has the present satisfaction, and expects the future reward, of having in- tended well. May God endow all Christians with the spi- rit of their calling, and with a warmer zeal for Christianity J May he endow all Ministers of the Gospel with the spirit of their office ! And, as he has ordained them to be the light of the world, may their light so shine before men, that they, seeing their good w r orks, may glorify their Father which is in heaven ! CONTENTS Page Lecture I. Introduction. — Of the Nature and End of the Sacred Office, and the Qualifications ne- cessary for the Discharge of it, 1 II. That a Minister of the Gospel should be a Man of Prudence, 7 III. That he should be a Man of Knowledge, 13 IV. That he should be a Man of Piety, £3 V. That he should be a Man of Prayer, 31 VI. That he should be a Man of Self-Denial, 47 VII. That he should be aManof Heavenly-Mind- edness, 55 VIII. That he should be a Man of Heavenly Con- versation, 05 1^. That he should be a Man of a Holy and Ex- emplary Life, 78 X. That he should be a Man of Meekness and Lowliness of Mind, 89 XI. The same Subject continued, 101 XII. That he should be a Man of Zeal and Dili- gence, 109 XIII. The same Subject continued, 124 XIV % That he should be a Man of intense Love to his People, 131 XV. That he should be a Man of Sympathy and Sensibility of Soul, 139 XVI. That he should be a Man of Faithfulness in Declaring the whole Counsel of God, 149 XVII. The same Subject continued, 157 XVIII. That he should be attentive to Clearness of Method and Plainness of Stile, 1 1% CONTENTS, Page Lec. XIX. That he should be attentive to Proper Enun- ciation and Action in the Delivery of his Sermons, XX. That he should be at Pains to repeat, and not Read his Sermons, XXI. That a Minister of the Gospel should be soli citous about the Success of his Labours, XXII. That he should be attentive to the Daily Du- ties of his Function. — 1 . Catechising, XXIII. Continued. — 2. Pastoral Vists, XXIV. Continued. — 3. Visiting the Sick, XXV. Continued. — 4. Discipline, &c, XXVI. That he should be attentive to Domestic Du- ties, or family Religion, XXVII. Of the Relaxations of a Ministerof the Gos- pel, XXVIII. Of the Duty of attending to the Ordination and Discipline of the Sacred Order, 274, XXIX. Address to Candidates for the Ministry, f 83 181 194 203 209 222 228 23& 250 25* LECTURES ON THE SACRED OFFICE OF THE GOSPEL MINISTRY LECTURE I, Introduction Of the Nature and End of the Sacred Office, and the Qualifications necessary for the Dls charge of it. MY DEAR BRETHREN, When we put others in mind of their duty so of- ten, it cannot surely be improper to be sometimes ad- monished of our own...." It is readily allowed (may u some one say) ; but what right have you to assume " the office?" I claim no peculiar right to it, my dear brother ; nor do I set about it from any vain persuasion of being possessed of any sanctity or ta- lents superior to yours. No ; to speak in a becom- ing manner of the most august office under heaven, and to address the most venerable of the sons of men, would, I well know, require gifts and graces which heaven has not yet been pleased to bestow on me. And if any other had stood forth to discharge a duty, which all must allow to be proper, and which some will deem to be necessary, or at least to be sea- sonable, I should have gladly sat down at his feet and listened. For I am sensible that I need the counsel B Z LECTURE U which I give, much more, perhaps, than the greater part of those who may receive it ; and, therefore, a sense of it's being a duty incumbent upon all of us, to admonish one another, and to provoke unto love and to good works, is that alone which prompts me to un- dertake this labour of love at present. t In the pro- secution of it, I am aware I must, like many other preachers, endure a degree of self-reproach, for falling short of that holiness, or moral excellence, which I reckon my duty to recommend. But this pain I shall willingly endure, if I may be able to persuade others, or myself, to a greater degree of diligence in our calk ing than we have hitherto attained. And, as I would utter nothing inconsistent with that respect and regard which I feel for my brethren, so I hope to be forgiv- en if 1 speak my sentiments also with that undisguis- ed freedom which may be justly expected from the character which we all bear ; for we are all ambassa- dors for Christ, Ambassadors for Christ ! how august the title ! how high the character ! What may not God and men expect from those who are called to the honour of bearing it ! The idea suggests at once every thing that is venerable, every thing that is holy. It directs us to look for qualifications of the highest order ; for a conduct of the purest kind. For, if stations of hon- our and trust among men require persons of know- ledge, fidelity, zeal, and the like accomplishments, to iiil them, much more does our office require that we should be possessed of qualifications corresponding, in some measure, to the high and holy vocation where- with we are called. t Nee prerogativa mihimet scientise, si haec meis consa- ccrdotibus charitatis intuitu prserogem, vindicabo, aut vitae perfectac me esse fateor, cum de vita perfecta alios moneo ; sed potiuseum haec ad illosloqui ati(,leo, simul cum illis pupe- lorjuor aimia,m, £) Ambro-s. de. Drgn. Sacerd. LECTURE L £ and to ihe precepts of His gospel ; and charge us to suffer none who will not do all this to have lot or part in the holy office. Such, my brethren, arc our Master's and his apos- tles' precepts, in regard to the qualifications requisite for the sacred office, and the proper manner of dis- charging it : and wc shall have frequent occasion to see, in the sequel, that in their own lives they were all exemplified. The office is still the same, and the same qualifications arc required of all who come forward to serve in it. The sum of these is, to be as holy as possible ourselves, and as diligent and zealous as pos- sible, to make others also holy. To have always this clear and fixed view of the end of our office, would be of great moment towards enabling us to discharge aright all its duties. It w r ould direct us what to say, and how to say it, so as may best answer the purpose. It would furnish us with a just standard for estimating every thought, and teach us what to receive, and what to reject, when we compose our sermons. This, if duly attended to, would lead us to the most useful and interesting sub- jects, to the most cogent and convincing arguments, to the most earnest and affecting manner, and to the most powerful and persuasive language. It would entirely banish from our pulpits those cold and un- important disquisitions by which we make a show of learning, and those glittering and rhetorical harangues by which we make a parade of speech. It would make us anxious to edify and to persuade, rather than to please or amuse, and to recommend our cause, and not ourselves, to those to whom we preach. Yes ; for he whose only aim is to save souls, is in no danger of falling into those fatal, but common errors. To please or get applause, is never the object with him, but to convince, to persuade, to profit.' Wholly devoted to his heavenly office, he 6 LECTURE t. cares for nothing but what tends to make himself and others better and wiser. Be this, therefore, the star by which we shall ever direct our course, and let us keep our eye continual- ly fixed upon it ; if we wish to save our own souls and those that hear us. This premised, we go on to consider, in a more particular manner, the qua- lifications necessary for those who would discharge the sacred office aright, and be not only in name, but in deed, the ministers of the gospel of Jesus* LECTURE 11. That a Minister of the Gospel should be a man of Prudence. WITH a just and fixed view of the end of our of- fice must ever be connected that prudence and good sense which is so necessary to conduct us through it. This is, I may say, the first requisite in a minister of the gospel. On this foundation must all the other parts of the sacred character be built, otherwise the superstructure will never stand. Without prudence, indeed, few or none of them have any value. With- out prudence, learning and eloquence are so far from being useful, that they too often do harm. Without prudence, zeal may degenerate into fury, and piety itself into fanaticism or mental delusion. In a word, without the spirit of wisdom and a sound mind, a minister, whatever may be his other gifts and graces, will be more likely to prejudice the cause of the gos- pel, than to do it real or essential service. It is with reason, therefore, that we are required to be watchful and circumspect in all things, to take heed to ourselves, and to be wise as serpents, as well as to be innocent as doves.t The vast importance of our office indispensibly requires us to be so. Yes ? my brethren, when we sail a stormy and tempestu- ous sea, in a vessel which bears so precious a cargo (if I may so speak) as the souls of immortal beings-, and when we have taken upon us to pilot this vessel to the port, and to steer her through the rocks and shallows in which we are in so much danger ol" making shipwreck ; heavens ! what skill and pru- dence must be necessary for a post of such hazard t STifla. iv. S, Luke xr, ?, 8 LECTURE II. and trust, in order to make a happy voyage, and save our own souls and those of others ! Take any other view which you please of our of- fice, and you will find that it always calls for the most consummate prudence. Yes, my brethren, when we fight with principalities and powers, for the great prize of immortality, and take upon us to lead a hand of souls, in this holy warfare, to warn them of the assaults and stratagems of a powerful, artful, and invisible enemy, and of the no less formi- dable danger to which their own vicious inclinations and passions expose them ; and when we, moreover, urge them to the necessary discipline and duty of their warfare, is not the highest prudence, even the wisdom that is from above, indispensibly necessary, to make us acquit ourselves properly in so very impor- tant a station ? Add to this, that the tempers, humours, and cir- cumstances of men, are so various ; and the methods to be used for gamins them so different ; the regard to time, place, and character, so much to be observ- ed ; and a nice discernment in all these matters so absolutely necessary, that a minister, of all the men ii> the world, has most need of perfect prudence, in order to conduct himself with propriet}' on every oc- casion, both in his private and public capacity. In his private capacity (if we may use the phrase in speaking of a minister), the prudence of an angel would hardly guard him from censure. If he is studious, retired, and reserved, some will call him morose, unsocial, and distant ; if he is cheerful, fond of society, and ready to mix with the world, others will charge him with levity and profaneness ; if a calm and cool temper be a predominant feature in his character, he will be suspected of lukewarmness and indifference ; and if he be warm, earnest, and animated, he will, by some, be called a bigot and en- thusiast. Some will blame liim if his sanctity is not LECTURE U\ 9 more than human, while others quarrel with him only for being over-righteous. Thus, the Jews censured alike the austerity of the Baptist, and the familiarity of the Saviour.* For John came neither eating nor drink- ing, and they said, he hath a devil. The son of man came eating and drinking ; that is, partaking of the innocent enjoyments of society, and they said, Be- hold, a man gluttonous and a wine biher, a friend of publicans and sinners. So crooked and perverse a generation (and the race will never be extinct) are iitly compared to fro ward children in the market- place, who would not be pleased with either the mer- ry or mournful songs of their associates. A minis- ter, therefore, in order to give as little ofience as pos- sible, must utter every word of his conversation with caution, and order every step of his life with circum- spection. Wherever he goes, he must take prudence hand in hand with him : And prudence, wherever she is guide, if not to man, at least to God, will al- ways justify her children. In his public teaching, in like manner, it is pru- dence that must direct a minister in the choice of proper subjects, and in treating those subjects in a manner suited to the exigencies and capacity of his audience. It is prudence that must preserve him in his public, as well as in his private walk, from doing or saying any thing that might give cause of offence, or that might be construed into such ; that the minis- try may not be blamed. But it is not only in his private life, and public teaching, that a minister has need of prudence. In every part of his intercourse with his people, he stands equally in need of it ; particularly in main- taining discipline and order. His office calls on him to watch over every member of his flock, to preserve or recover them from sin and error, to instruct the * Matth. xL 18, 19 C .iU t.ECTURE II. ignorant, excite the negligent, confirm the weak, comfort the afflicted, satisfy the doubting, encourage (he desponding, admonish and rebuke the disorderly. It calls on him to accommodate himself to every