1§<%>^ J LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.)* ^%^ '■ A .3.... i r \ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, f I T E S MINISTER OF CHRIST FOR THE TIMES, JDrcram from % ^oltj Scripturte. BY CHAELES ADAMS. .m*u^ PUBLISHED BY LANE k SCOTT, 200 Mulberry-street. JOSEPH LONGKING, PRINTER. 1850. ' >•, v v* S$ INTRODUCTION. An effort is made in the following pages to delineate, with simplicity and brevity, the Scriptural picture of a Christian minis- ter. Many excellent books have appeared, at different periods, specially designed for the aid and benefit of the ministry ; yet with none of these, it is hoped, will this volume interfere. A mere description is its scope, — an humble endeavour to mark the ambassador of Christ by the infallible notes of inspiration. It is a growing con- viction of the author, that we cannot too constantly and sacredly abide within the Bible atmosphere, in order to the clear per- ception of saving truth. All here " is pro- fitable." Here is true wisdom and eternal life. Declining from this to any human standard of ministerial qualifications and character^ we put in peril the truth on so important a theme, and may expect, at 4 INTRODUCTION. the best, but a partial approach toward the genuine ideal of an ambassador of the Lord Jesus. Who shall portray for us one of God's ministers but God him- self? " Should not a people seek unto their God ? To the law and to the tes- timony : if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." But the book here presented to the pub- lic assumes, by no means, to be the first to exhibit the Biblical idea of a gospel minis- ter. Nor does it at all assume to have developed this idea more exactly, fully, or happily, than it has been done before by wiser and better men. The author only claims to have taken his eye away from most that men have thought and written, and to have inquired at the mouth of God. In publishing the results of such inquiry, he is aware that he lays himself open to criticism. The form of the composition may be deemed peculiar, and not answer- ing faithfully to the canons of correct taste. The style may, in some respects, seem INTRODUCTION. 5 equally peculiar ; while, also, there will be discerned a degree of repetition, as well of remark as of Scripture quotation, arising mainly from the plan of the book. Nor, further, would it be strange if some excep- tions should be taken at what might seem too great a minuteness of detail in respect to the traits of character enumerated. The author begs leave, in forestalling these and similar strictures, simply to re- fer again to the object in view ; namely, with materials drawn from that volume which belongs to the race, and to the latest age of probation, to bring out a straight- forward, perspicuous, and faithful view of a perfect Christian minister — a minister for the times, and for all time. Nor is he disposed to conceal that - • the times " have not been without their influ- ence in prompting him to this effort. He was reminded that the sun of this pass- ing century is hanging in awful sublimity near its meridian ; — that his own years, and those of his brethren, are hastening by, and are about to be finished ;— that, 6 INTRODUCTION. meanwhile, the sounds from the four winds are unusual. Nations are heav- ing — thrones are tottering — barriers are breaking — freedom is advancing — anti- christ is weeping — angels are looking ; — and if, in this world's history, there was ever a time for Christ's ministers to be awake — to be strong, and labour, and hope, is it not at this Present ? With impressions like these, the author wrote what follows. Such as the book is, it is submitted to a candid public, and especially to his younger brethren in the ministry, with devout prayer that it may interest and encourage some one or more that are longing for the largest usefulness. June 1, 1849, CONTENTS, PART L THE MINISTER FOR THE TIMES AS A MAN. Pardon Page 13 Dedication 15 Death to the world 17 Regeneration 19 Adoption 21 Commission 23 Singleness 24 Faith 26 Sobriety 29 Sorrow 30 Rejoicing 32 Earnestness 34 Quietness 35 Patience 36 Humility . 38 Wisdom 39 Gentleness - 41 Fearlessness 43 Affection « „ , . . . 45 Purity 47 Conscientiousness 48 Concealment 50 Oonspicuousness 51 Solitude. •'-..- 53 8 CONTENTS. Sociality Page 54 Reputation 57 Hospitality 58 Temperance 60 GlFTEDNESS _. „ 61 Order 63 Industry 64 Strength 67 Readiness 69 Disinterestedness 70 Self-denial 72 Watchfulness. « 74 Prayer 76 Praise 78 Aggressiveness 80 Catholicity 83 Dignity 86 Health 87 Independence 89- Manliness « 91 PART II. THE MINISTER FOR THE TIMES AS A STUDENT* Study 95 The Bible 99 Theology 102 Church History 104 Preaching 106 Mankind - 108 Diligence 110 Faithfulness 112 Perseverance ,.. 113 CONTENTS. 9 PART III. THE MINISTER FOR THE TIMES AS A PREACHER. Preaching Page 119 Intellectual 122 Instructive 123 Experimental 125 Doctrinal 127 Practical. •. 129 Biblical 131 Various 133 Simple 134 Definite 136 Feeling 138 Serious 140 Bold 141 Faithful 143 Cautious 144 Discriminating 146 Able 147 Affectionate 149 Believing 150 Joyous * „ 152 Eloquent 153 Evangelical 154 Acceptable 157 Spiritual 158 Successful » 160 PART IV. THE MINISTER FOR THE TIMES AS A PASTOR, Pastorate 165 Intelligence 168 Circulation „ ».. 170 10 CONTENTS. System Page 171 Consecration 173 Vigilance 174 Lowliness 176 Discretion 178 Skill . 179 long-suffering i 180 Accommodation 182 Discipline 183 Benevolence 185 Courteousness 186 Sympathy 188 Charity « : 189 Impartiality „ 191 Peaceableness 192 Consolation 194 Mindfulness of the Young 196 Spirituality 198 EXEMPLARINESS 199 CONCLUSION 203 |3art lirat. THE MINISTER FOR THE TIMES AS A MAN. NOTES THE MINISTER OF CHRIST FOR THE TIMES. " Being justified" — Rom. v, 1. The minister for the times is a pardoned man. He has repented of sin, and forsaken it. He has sought mercy, and obtained it. He has entered into the great and mysterious grace of justification by faith. He has seen himself an utter sinner — he has beheld his moral nakedness. He has compared himself with the law of God, and has clearly beheld his native and practical character to have been that of a transgressor. He has seen himself, by the law, utterly, irretrievably, and eternally condemned. He has profoundly felt that of himself he is lost, and, under this conviction, has fled to another. He has looked to Christ, as the wounded Israelites looked upon the brazen serpent. He has contemplated another's righteousness — the " righteousness of God:" — a righteousness perfect — sublime — infi- nite. This righteousness has been proffered to him- self, with which, as with a garment of celestial 14 MINISTER OF CHBIST beauty, he may clothe his nakedness. This gar- ment he has ventured to receive, — this he has trem- blingly put on. To his utter astonishment he has understood and felt that Christ, who knew no sin, has been made sin for the sinner, that he might be made the righteousness of God in Christ. In other words, the infinitely righteous Saviour has come to the sinner — exchanged robes with him, taking upon himself the spotted garment, and throwing upon the "ungodly" His own celestial adorning. Infi- nite Justice looked, and was satisfied. The dark catalogue of "sins past" sunk as to annihilation. They were not imputed more, but became as though they had never had an existence — as far removed as from angel beings, while he who committed them was counted blameless as angel innocence. Ay, more than this ; he is accounted righteous also. For, when the Psalmist writes of the blessedness of the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniqui- ty, Paul observes to us that David is describing the blessedness of the man to whom the Lord imputeth righteousness. Thus he is pardoned ;— thus he is counted righteous through Christ by faith ; know- ing the grace of Him who, though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we, through his poverty, might be rich. He is pardoned. Nor does he live and act in dark uncertainty touching this his gracious state. He has sought and obtained a faith, amounting to a blessed persuasion, that God is reconciled. He knows in whom he has believed. He counts him- FOR THE TIMES. 15 self justified. From the righteousness of God — from the almighty grace of Christ abounding to- ward him, he removes his eye never. He looks- sees — believes. Under this persuasion he acts; while every act is strangely modified by such per- suasion. II. " Christ is all" — Col. iii, 11. The minister for the times is a dedicated man. He has committed himself and everything to Jesus Christ. He has given his being to the Lord, and Christ is his life. He exists, and moves, and acts in Him, because for him to live is Christ. Every thought bends toward Christ, for he has set the Lord always before him. His devotion is full — his dedication is perpetual. His union with Christ is as that of the branch with the stem. Christ is in every word — -in every breath. He is ever looking into the glorious countenance of his Saviour. He feels His heavenly breath — he constantly hears His voice. Each whisper of the breeze — each murmur of the brook — each song of sprightly bird — each season as it advances and retires — each storm and calm — each sun and cloud — all men and plants be- low, and every star of heaven above — all, as they meet the contemplations of this man, are, in his mind, wedded to Christ, the Lord of all, in loved and holy association. With him, nothing is sepa- 16 MINISTER OF CHRIST rate from the great Sun and Centre of salvation. His eye traces carefully one and all of those golden threads which connect this scene of things with Him by whom and for whom they are and were created. Deeply in his heart he purposes to know nothing save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. He dwells with Christ as with an elder brother, and often, often speaks to Christ ; while Christ responds as often in heavenly whisperings. He looks into his Bible, and certainly hears Christ speaking to him there. He kneels in his closet, and is assured that Christ is listening. Like Isaac, he goes out to meditate at eventide, and Christ is at his side, and he walks with God. He lies down upon his couch, and Christ communes with him in the night-watches. He rises and applies himself to his studies, and has Christ for his teacher. He goes out on his pasto- ral visits, and in whatever house he enters, whether its inmates be friends or foes, Christ is sure to be one of the company, and hear and approve that faithful warning, or that kind consolation. With Christ he enters the sanctuary, and there his eye is filled with the Lord of the temple. Christ is in every song — in every prayer — in every instruction, lifting up the heart of the consecrated minister with the delicious hope of glory. His head reclines ever- more upon the bosom of Jesus, and his every move- ment is as by the pulsation of that immaculate heart which loved, and pitied, and bled for the world. He ever tends Christward. He ever looks — ever desires — ever receives. He converses with his Lord FOR THE TIMES. 17 as a man converses with his friend. He loves Christ with all his soul, and longs for nothing in the uni- verse so much as to be in all things completely con- formed to his Master's will. III. "Loss of all things." — Phil, iii, 8. The minister for the times is an unworldly man. Dedicated to Jesus, he has, of course, renounced the pomp and glory of this transient world. It enchanted him once, — rising to his vision in all the fascination of brilliant promise, joyous hope, and transcendent beauty. Here was his heaven — the desire of his heart — the idol of his being. In his dream, he forgot that life is a vapour — that time is a span — that beauty and music die — that heaven is all. It is different now. He is transformed in the spirit of his mind. God has met him and touched him. Boundless grace, employing one or another instrumentality, has renewed him. A kind and gentle baptism, like the shower of softest dew, may have fallen upon him; or, more likely, his heart was crushed by disappointment, — -earth be- came suddenly wrapped in gloom, — he turned away, burdened, and weary, and sick, and gave his mortal interest up, and died to earth, and lived henceforth to heaven. The change was complete, and his treasure is no longer on earth, nor his affections or his hopes. Now he is a stranger and a pilgrim, 2 18 MINISTER OF CHRIST He is passing, and his home is away in heaven. He meddles not with earthly riches or gain. His desires for fame are crucified. Even his hopes of renown as a Christian and Christian minister, are dismissed. He has set himself as steel against every alluring influence breathed over him, and by which so many beauteous lights have become quenched forever. He receives the great grace, that causes to perish out of his heart the last lin- gerings of woiidliness. Living in the world, he yet lives above it, — treading beneath his feet its plea- sures and its prospects. What things were gain to him, those he counts loss for Christ ; — yea, doubt- less, he counts all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord. The position of this minister relatively to this world and its attractions, is very much as we might imagine would be that of an angel spirit who might be de- puted to reside here, for a time, on some mission of heavenly mercy. That celestial being, we might suppose, would hasten to accomplish his work. While here, he would feel himself abroad in a fo- reign and stormy world. He would seek no con- nexion with earth, other than what might be neces- sary for the fulfilment of his mission. He would no more think of becoming wedded to this scene of things, than would the weeping exile dream of an attachment to the wild and frightful wilderness where, far from his native home, he roams forlorn. Fading and empty must appear such a world to the visitant from above, and he would long to fin- FOR THE TIMES. 19 ish his work, that he might hasten away to mingle in the far more lovely and desirable scenes of his heavenly home. Thus the minister for the times. A great and solemn work is before him on earth. He retires presently. The world above waits, with its ex- ceeding rewards, for his coming. He relinquishes earth. IV. " Born again!' — John iii, 3. The minister for the times is a renewed man. Christ met him in justification, and gave him the right- eousness of God ; whereby his sins were buried, and "the ungodly" was counted righteous. This astonishing work was wrought for him, and external to him ; yet, simultaneously with this process, God also wrought in him. He changed his habits — his character — his heart. He washed him with the washing of regeneration, and renewed him with the renewing of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit of God came, and worked in him mightily — creating in him a clean heart, and renewing in him a right spirit. His views are changed ; for whereas he was once blind, he now sees, and he looks not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. His desires are changed ; for they have risen from the sensual to the spiritual — from earth to heaven. His are unutterable yearnings toward God and Christ. " Whom have I in hea- 20 MINISTER OF CHRIST ven but thee, and there is none upon the earth that I desire besides thee," is his earliest and latest song. His tempers and affections are changed. The rough is made plain. The lion is become a lamb. The injurious is become innocent, and the fruits of the Spirit are manifested in him: — love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meek- ness, and temperance. There is a fresh creation. Old things are passed — all is new. The change from winter's cold and storms, to summer's sweet bloom, is not so great. The change from one world to another world, is not so great. The change from chaos to the new-formed paradise and the green earth, was not so great nor so illustrious. " For, behold, I create a new heaven and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered, neither come into mind. But be ye glad, and rejoice for- ever in that which I create ; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and my people a joy." Such is the great and radical change that has passed over this minister of the Lord Jesus. The image of Jesus he bears — His spirit he breathes — His mind he possesses — in His nature he partici- pates — with His soul he sympathizes. God has wrought a wondrous work for him, for his pardon is written in heaven. God has wrought a wondrous work in him, for he is washed ; — he is sanctified, as well as justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of his God. Now, as he preaches, he will call men to holiness. He will preach that men should repent. He will turn the hearts of the FOR THE TIMES. 21 people to the Lord their God. He will aim to pre- sent every man perfect in Christ Jesus ; and, being a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, much people will be added to the Lord. V. " Sons of God." — 1 John iii, 2. The minister for the times is an adopted man. He is adopted of God, and a member of the family of heaven. Once a stranger and a foreigner, an alien from the commonwealth of Israel, he is now not only renewed, but exalted to be a son, a child of the Lord. He has received the spirit of adoption, and cries, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself bears witness with his spirit that he is a child of God. This, his sublime relation, he never forgets. The contemplation hereof works its influence amid all the steps and movements of his ministry. It aids his renunciation of this world, for here is not the home of his Father's family. It aids his entire consecration to that Christ who has purchased for him such an amazing honour. It aids to produce unbounded trust in that Father who will not suffer one of his little ones to perish. It aids to all-en- rapturing views of the heavenly inheritance ; for what will the Lord Almighty not provide for his sons and daughters ! It aids to flee from all un- cleanness — to cultivate all holiness ; for such are they to whom He will be a father. It aids to peace- 22 MINISTER OF CHRIST ableness, gentleness, meekness, modesty, patience, long-suffering, forgiveness, and charity ; for these are the qualities of such as are the children of God. It aids him to endure chastening without despising it, and rebuke without fainting ; for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. It aids him thus not only to endure, but to rejoice exceedingly in all the tribulations laid upon him — furnishing him, as they do, so impor- tant an evidence of his being a child of God; for what son is he whom his father chasteneth not? It aids him to follow hard after the Spirit's blessed influences ; for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. It aids him to run a mighty race for the souls of men ; for he would elevate all mankind to the same exalted privilege of being the sons of God. It aids and sustains all love and zeal toward God ; for he contemplates God as his father. It aids immeasurably to excite his astonishment in view of the great grace of the gos- pel ; for behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God ! It aids this minister to look down upon all worldly distinctions, honours, and plea- sures as of no account ; for he is a member of the heavenly kindred — and his mansion is prepared on high — and angels are his associates — and Christ is his brother — and God is his everlasting Father. Such is his sublime relation. He may go forth, and never despond again. He will act, along these eventful years, as a son of the Highest. Let him FOR THE TIMES. 23 lay his hand in his great Father's. He will go with him; and, if he be faithful, he shall be gathered when the righteous shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. VI. " Called of God."— Heb. v, 4. The minister for the times is a commissioned man. He has not assumed the solemn work and respon- sibility of a Christian minister without the requisite warrant. He has not presumed to "take upon himself " this honour, as one would undertake a mere worldly profession. He enters not upon this work because earthly kindred may have thus de- signed, or because the partiality of friends may have judged him adapted and called to so momen- tous a mission. He has felt himself moved, by a voice above all that is human, to take upon himself this office and work. The Spirit of God has call- ed him ; — moved him to prepare body, mind, and heart ; — mightily aided his efforts for such prepa- ration ; — endued him with power from on high ; — lodged the gospel word within his heart as fire shut up in his bones ; — filled him with faith and the Holy Ghost, and sent him forth. Advancing thus, the Lord goes with him, and is with him always even unto the end, and works with him with signs following. Opening his mouth, he speaks with au- thority, and his speech and his preaching are not 24 MINISTER OF CHRIST * with enticing words of men's wisdom, but in demon- stration of the Spirit and of power. The saints are instructed— -animated — sanctified. The inquirer af- ter salvation sees Christ " set forth," and believes. The slumberer awakes, and asks what he must do to be saved. This labourer in the gospel never la- bours in vain, because he is doing the work to which God has called him. A dispensation of the gospel is committed to him. Nor is it optional with him whether he shall proclaim this blessed message, or be silent ; for there is a wo upon him if he preaches not the gospel. " Go thou and preach," is the voice of God to him. Should he decline, it would be at the peril of his happiness ; and going " wil- lingly," his reward is before him. VII. " One thing I do!' — Phil, iii, 13. The minister for the times is a single-minded man. He has settled the matter fully and forever, that oneness of pursuit is indispensable to distinguished success in any important enterprise. Salvation is his one sublime purpose, as it was the purpose of his great Master. Here is the goal toward which all his energies tend. He takes no step — touches no book — holds no conversation — writes no line — indulges no recreation, inconsistent with this all- controlling point. A hundred things which many good men, and many ministers, allow in themselves, FOR THE TIMES. 25 this minister cuts off entirely. His meditations are upon the things of his ministry. He gives himself wholly to them, and continues in them. He deter- mines not to know anything among the people save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. His eye looks right on, and his eyelids straight before him. Each book — essay — conversation — anecdote ; — each pro- vidence, prosperous or adverse ; — all heaven, earth, and hell, are laid under contribution for the effect- ing of his object. He is a man of one work — com- prehensively of one book— one thought — one wish. True, he has various accomplishments, and acts amid varied scenes and in varied capacities ; still his mind wavers not — the " mark " is before him, and fills his eye, while he presses toward it ever- more. Christ came into the world — to save sin- ners. Paul made every innocent compliance — that he might, by all means, save some. Mills deter- mined — that he would savingly influence the world. Martin ran after — the glory of God in the salvation of sinners. Wesley girded himself for — a univer- sal revival of religion. This, exactly this, is the genius of the minister for the times. Perhaps never were there greater allurements presented to the minds of ministers, to tempt them to a division of affection and pursuit. Abundant libraries — attract- ive lectures — literary and theological discussions — ingenious theories — fascinating circles — honourable appointments — flattering commendations — these, and the like, combined with native downward ten- dencies, are far too prone to cloud the spiritual 26 MINISTER OF CHRIST vision, and induce the minister to forget the one great purpose of his mission. There is wanting now a race of ministers of singleness of soul — of one, indomitable purpose, — living and running for salvation only ; — in whose minds all else, whether in the literary, social, or physical world, is as the dust of the balance. This is the greatest want of the world. Greater talents are not needed. Learn- ing, there is an abundance of it. Theologians — writers — scholars, are not lacking. A concentration is demanded, of energies already in the ministry, to the one great pursuit — the salvation of the race. Man of God, what now ! A sinner is about to perish forever. Christ has found a ransom. He commissions you to publish it to that sinner, that he may be saved. Shall anything hinder ? Shall aught else come into mind ? VIII. "Established in the faith" — Col. ii, 7. The minister for the times is a believing man. He believes God. He believes God speaking through the prophets of olden time. He receives the wit- ness that was thus given to the coming Messiah. He believes Christ speaking personally in the gos- pel message, and by inspiration through his apos- tles. He receives the Bible, and the whole Bible ; undertaking not to prescribe what God ought to say, but to understand what he has said, and then FOR THE TIMES. 27 to believe. The great central truth of revelation — Christ crucified — is full in his eye. Here he looks and believes, while he wonders and triumphs. All other essential faith follows of course ; for this great truth, as it were the sun of the universe, illu- minates all else that God hath spoken. In the splendour of its rays, it is easy to see and believe the doctrine of the Godhead — that of the fall and inherent corruption of man — of repentance — of pardon by faith — of regeneration, and entire holi- ness by the Spirit's baptism — of a coming judg- ment, followed by eternal life and glory to the be- liever, and final and irretrievable ruin to the neg- lecter of the great salvation. Such is the sublime system of truth believed firmly by the minister I am describing. And not only is it pictured, in vivid colours, upon his mind, — it is written, as with the point of a diamond, upon his heart, for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness. His faith makes the things believed to be great and divine realities. It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It mightily influ- ences his whole character, spirit, and conduct. He believes, and therefore speaks — acts. "He loved me, and gave himself for me" is his thorough per- suasion ; and, believing, he rejoices with joy unspeak- able and full of glory. " He gave himself a ransom for all," is also his thorough persuasion, and he flies to bring all the world to the feet of Jesus — to remis- sion, and sanctification, and salvation. He not only reads and hears of a judgment to come, but he sees it. 28 MINISTER OF CHRIST The trump of God — the mighty angels — the great white throne — the Son of man in his glory — the far-reaching multitude — the strange separation — the all-eventful sentences of welcome and rejection — these rise on his vision, not as poetry or dreams, but as grave realities ; and knowing the terrors of the Lord, he persuades men. Hell, with him, is no fiction. The devil and his angels — the undying curse — the torment — the utter despair — the pit, — these he contemplates, and warns the sinner to flee from the wrath to come. Heaven — its mansions of rest— its river of life — its tree of immortality — its robes of white — its forms of beauty — its crowns of honour— its songs of glory — its angelic society — its sinless, tearless, endless happiness ; — these, all these, though not seen, are yet " substance " to this minister. Living as in eternity, sure prospects are before him, through Christ, such as are most asto- nishing ; — prospects of a destiny more enchanting by far than have ever "sages told or poets sung." We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen ; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. FOR THE TIMES. 29 IX. "Be sober."— 2 Thess. v, 6. The minister for the times is a sober man. He is sober in spirit, and always sober. Not that he never smiles ; — not that he is gloomy, and without cheerfulness ; — not that he possesses not one of the gladdest hearts among men. But he never trifles ; — his thoughts are serious — his mind is grave. His meditations are not occupied with empty and frivo- lous topics. They habitually linger rather with great and weighty themes. He is sober in conversation. Not that he is for- bidding, or dull, or heavy. He may be inferior to none in vivacity, ease, and attractiveness ; but he is not volatile — he does not jest. His words are not very many; but they are well chosen, graceful, gracious, and uttered with cheerful seriousness. His conversation never does harm — its influence is always salutary. He is sober in his general aspect and manners. He never flirts. He does not hurry nor worry. He is not greatly agitated or disturbed. He avoids eccentricities and oddities. He is ever found the same serious, solid character. He is sober in the sanctuary — he is sober in de- votion — God is there ; sober in sentiment, he avoids every untenable theory, every unscriptural or vain speculation ; sober in manner, he speaks neither too long nor too loud. He bdulges no gesture 80 MINISTER OF CHRIST unsuitable to the pulpit, or incongruous with his theme. This minister is sober. How, otherwise, could he pray, and praise, and rejoice evermore ? How could he travel amid the great truths of revelation ? How could he qualify himself to preach? How could he watch for souls, and save his people ? " He that negotiates between God and man, As God's ambassador, the grand concerns Of judgment and of mercy, should beware Of lightness." X. " Sorrowful!' — 2 Cor. viii, 10. The minister for the times is a sorrowful man. Nor is this a new thing. It was thus with holy ones of old. David's sorrow was continually before him as he contemplated the enemies of righteousness; while rivers of waters ran down his eyes because men kept not God's law. Jeremiah desired to be, day and night, dissolved in tears for the wickedness of the people. It was in sorrow and in suffering that Christ redeemed the world. He was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. Exceeding sorrowful was his soul, even unto death. His dis- ciples, too, were to weep, and lament, and be sor- rowful, while the world would rejoice. Paul had continual sorrow of heart because of his Jewish brethren, and was in afflictions and distresses "often," FOR THE TIMES. 31 So the man who is the minister for these times. He will not look abroad upon the multifarious forms of sin without weeping. He will see God dishon- oured here and there, and he will mourn. While beholding infinite riches of grace laid at the sinner's feet, and rejected by that sinner, his heart will burst. Contemplating vast multitudes tending straight to- ward ruin, he will weep and cry in secret places. Hanging over the congregation with the gospel message, it will be often as a mourner that so few take hold of the path of life. He sorrows also for himself. Alas ! how much of the past has been squandered ! How many gold- en days are lost forever ! How sad his felt defi- ciencies this moment ! He weeps for himself — weeps for the world. He is, in a sense, a partaker of the sufferings of Christ. He is abroad in a sin- ful, stormy world — a revolted province of the King of kings. Rebellion is rife — righteousness is pros- trate — an eternal enemy riots and triumphs, and leads captive at his will. The voice of warning is met with the delusive cry of peace and safety. Blindness and darkness cover the earth, while the sure prospect seems to be that millions must perish forever. The minister is sorrowful. At times a deep and awful amazement seizes him. He looks up, and sighs, and cries for the salvation of God. "Drop down, ye heavens, from above/' he sighs, " and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together." 32 MINISTER OF CHRIST XI. 'Always rejoicing." — 2 Cor. vi, 10. The minister for the times is a rejoicing man. It is not all sorrow with him ; — it is never sorrow, so as to exclude joy and rejoicing. He weeps over the prevalence of sin, and the wretchedness, present and eternal, following in its train. Yet he is a be- lieving, a sanctified man. He has peace with God, and joy in the Holy Ghost. The peace which pass- eth understanding is his. The life of God is in his soul. His sins past are hidden — his name is writ- ten in heaven. He loves Christ perfectly, with the glorious assurance that Christ loves him. The mys- tery of salvation perpetually astonishes his mind, and ravishes his heart. The cross allures, and charms his soul forever. Such is his vision of the grace of Christ, that all things else grow dim to his eye. He counts all as loss for the excellency. All language is beggarly to express the glory he contemplates. The natural eye hath not seen it ; to the unsanctified mind it has never occurred ; but to him the Spirit of God has revealed it. The heirs of heaven are scattered here and there ; while up- ward, amid the multitude, shoot the songs of the redeemed, rising on the ear of God. The Sabbath is there, and the sanctuary is open, whither he walks in company with the excellent of the earth — those dearest to him, dearest to heaven. The Scriptures are opened to him more and more, sanctifying him FOB, THE TIMES. 33 more and more deeply ; dispelling the mists along his pathway, as he hastens to the bright morning of immortality. Meanwhile, a sinner repents on the right hand or on the left, and, though earth is silent, he must needs sympathize with the joy of angels ; and, trusting the sweet visions of prophecy, he sees a great company coming up from many dark nations, to be given for an inheritance to Christ. Then why should not his eye turn often away toward the hills of life? There is his treasure — there is his heart — there his home. He approaches the New Jeru- salem. Already soft breathings, at times, from those sacred regions, seem wafted to meet him ; while voices thence, dearer than all below, whisper along the air, "We wait thy coming." Out of dark sorrows and afflictions here, is about to emerge, as from some cold eclipse, a sunshine of supernal radiance and immortal beauty — a far more exceed- ing and eternal weight of glory. Always rejoicing, then, always praising, onward this minister passes. A thousand worldly, guilty eyes pursue him, wondering at his blessedness ; while backward on their hearts rolls the stern con- viction that he has a joy beyond their own, as the heavens are above the earth. The minister for the times is a rejoicing man. Write it, ye heralds of Jesus ! Ye behoove to fly on your heavenly errand with sprightly, joyous wing ; and those trumpet notes with which ye sum- mon a slumbering world to life, should be glad and brilliant, as though an angel sounded. 3 34 MINISTER OF CHRIST XII. "I run." — 1 Cor. ix, 26. The minister for the times is an earnest man. He has a great zeal for God. He has fixed his eye upon the most extensive salvation possible. The Spirit of the Lord is upon him ; and under the in- fluence of this baptism, in union with deep and pro- tracted ponderings amid the Holy Scriptures, his soul is enkindled — his heart has grown "warm with holy fire." He is awake, and erect, and glowing, and flashing. He feels a strong and divine impulse urging him forward and upward. He is ready to run through a troop, and leap over a wall. He is girded to chase a thousand. He rims a race ; and the past is forgotten, and the goal is before him, and he presses toward the mark. The general movements of this man are spirited, and strong, and definite. His step is firm and elastic. His motion is quick. His countenance is erect and direct. His eye is steady, his voice is decided. He is not an ordinary man, for he strikes for a great object — one that takes up and absorbs his being; and how is he straitened till it be accomplished ! He has caught the spirit of the era through which he is passing. The world is in earnest. Myriads of spindles fly at every waterfall. Commerce mantles the ocean. Moving villages are rushing in every direction through the country. Companies, bearing their habitations with them, are hastening to the utter- most parts of the earth to search for gold. The FOR THE TIMES. 35 mysteries of Science are unfolding daily before the untiring zeal of her devotees. All is in motion — all is in earnest. The true minister sympathizes. Elijah girds up his loins and runs with Ahab ; — ay, outstrips him even. But the " hand of the Lord " is upon him. XIII. "Be stilir— Psa. xlvi, 10. The minister for the times is a quiet man. Quiet is he, not as opposed to the fervency and fire just delineated — not as opposed to all holy movement. But he is quiet instead of all graceless hurry ; — in- stead of all that is bustle merely ; — instead of all running where God leads not ; — instead of all fear that hath torment ; — instead of all distrust in the ever faithful God. He is quiet as ISToah, when, in good earnest, he prepared for the coming storm ; — quiet as Abraham, when, believing God, he jour- neyed to Moriah to make the mysterious offering ; — quiet as Joseph, waiting in the Egyptian prison- house ; — quiet as Moses, when, with the flood be- fore them, and the hostile hosts behind them, he cried out to the Israelites, " Stand still, and see the salvation of God !" — quiet as David, when he not only hoped, but " quietly waited ;" — quiet as Paul and Silas in thHr nrd night worship in the inner prison ; — quiet, i say, as Paul, when, with his eye full upon coming bonds and afflictions, he exclaim- 86 MINISTER OF CHRIST ed, " None of these things move me ;" or, when the axe of martyrdom was brought in, he writes, " I am ready." The minister for the times has the quietness which is one of the direct and beautiful progeny of faith. He that belie veth shall not make haste — he enter- eth into rest. It is the quiet of the eagle's wing, — a wing of movement mighty, yet gentle and noise- less as the pendulum's vibrations. Thus onward he moves, equable and peaceful, amid the rough- nesses of the minister's career. Enemies may arise, labours multiply, difficulties thicken, error stalk abroad, persecutions rage, and dungeons open ; yet he abideth under the shadow of the Almighty, and is quiet from the fear of evil. XIV. " In much patience? — 2 Cor. vi, 4. The minister for the times is a patient man. There are evil-doers ; — he frets not because of them. There are deep sufferings peculiar to the minister ; — he endures them without murmuring, and is pa- tient in tribulation. The servant first acts, and then is rewarded ; — he is patient that, after he has done the will of God, he may receive the promise. A great cloud of witnesses hang over him, as he strives for heaven ; — he runs the race with patience. The Lord is coming; — he is patient with the long pa- tience of the husbandman, knowing that the day is FOR THE TIMES. 37 nigh. He patiently studies the Holy Scriptures; for no otherwise can he expect to bring thence new things and old. He patiently waits for a fuller manifestation of things which are now wholly or partially mysterious, not doubting that all will be plain in due time. He patiently instructs the peo- ple ; knowing that line upon line, and precept upon precept, are needful to their edification and salva- tion. He patiently visits his flock, remembering the apostolic example of going from house to house, as well as of teaching in the temple. He bears up under diversified complaints — against all calumny and persecution — against the loss of all things ; be- ing assured that Jesus smiles upon him, and that all shall be well in the end. Storms fall upon him, and beat hard against him ; a horror of thick dark- ness overshadows him; his familiar friend lifts up his heel against him ; he bows, and suffers, and waits, not doubting that these heavings and dash- ings are lifting him upward to where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary be at rest. Meanwhile, is any earthly suffering too long, or too heavy to be borne, for the welfare of those for whom Christ died ? 38 MINISTER OP CHRIST XV. " Clothed with humility!' — 1 Pet. v, 5. The minister for the times is an humble man. The native and active corruption of his heart has been portrayed to his eye. He has counted a few of his transgressions. He has known and pondered him- self. The result is, that he has deliberately placed himself at the last end of the race. " Less than the least of all saints," and " chief of sinners," are formulas which he feelingly understands and un- feignedly applies. Hence there is no saint, how- ever lowly, poor, or neglected, to whom he would not count it an honour to administer. There is no work pertaining to Christ's ministry to which he considers himself superior. There is no place, no neighbourhood, where he would not reckon it a privilege to publish Christ's gospel. No prefer- ence of others to himself disturbs him ; for, in his estimation, all are better than he. No obscurity of position distresses him; for any opportunity to serve Christ, he feels to be more than he deserves. To the honours, distinctions, as well as to the hopes of this world, he has become crucified. He walks in a lowly vale, and lingers at the feet of Jesus. He has given his reputation to God, submitting to be as the filth and offscouring of all things, and con- senting that his name should be cast out as evil. Pride is hidden from his heart. He is humble, and God gives him grace, while he knows the proud FOR THE TIMES. 39 afar off. He is one of the " contrite ones ;" and He who inhabiteth eternity — dwells in the high and holy place — dwells with him, to revive his spirit and his heart. This man asks not what the world approves or disapproves — what it honours or de- spises; but what God wills — where duty calls — what the world demands. He serves the Lord with all humility of mind. He walks humbly with his God. XVI. " Wise as serpents." — Matt, x, 16. The minister for the times is a wise man. We mean that he strikes for a noble end, and is skilful in the choice of means for its accomplishment. His end, as we have seen, is the salvation of men. His efforts are correspondent and appropriate. He preaches ; — preaches the truth of God ; — preaches extensively and faithfully. With an eagle eye he watches the effect of his preaching, marking the first favourable impression, and aiming to deepen it and render it effectual. He goes from house to house. His gracious conversation follows hard after his sermons. He utters few words other than what tend to salvation. He enters the circle of prayer and sacred conference, and on the wings of holy devotion, he strives to bear all the company away to God. He flies to the weak, the doubting, the tempted, and lifts them up in the name of the Lord, and puts the adversary to flight. He reproves, re- 40 MINISTER OF CHRIST bukes, exhorts, and exerts himself in whatever may conduce to the progress of evangelical reformation. He abides in the Spirit, and labours incessantly to bring all others to the same position. And while thus operating strongly — reaching forth to touch every active means for promoting salvation, it is with the mind and spirit of the Lord Jesus. There is no pride — no obtrusiveness — no ostentation — no unnecessary noise or clamour. He asks for no sounding of trumpets before him. He comes not with a rod, to drive men into the king dom of God. He would win them rather, and by every prudent means, and every wise and Scriptu- ral manner. He is not too rigid to bend, except from the line of righteousness and truth. He will cheerfully embrace every innocent conformity to different tastes and varying temperaments. He will thus adapt himself to Jew or Greek — high or low — learned or unlearned — aged or young — one or another name. He will become all things to all men, that he may by all means save some. His object is the greatest, the sublimest in human thought. His unceasing study is to accomplish it ; and the devoted student of Jesus fails not to be- come eminently wise in the things pertaining to the salvation of the race. FOB THE TIMES. 41 XVII. "Harmless as doves" — Matt, x, 16. The minister for the times is a gentle man. This servant of the Lord is no striker. He does not strive, but is gentle to all men of every class and description. There is no anger, wrath, blasphemy, but the peace of God rules. There is the wisdom which is pure and gentle. There is the gentleness which is as that of the nurse, as she cherishes her children. There is the soft answer that turneth away wrath. There is the soft manner which never needlessly offends. Gentleness here goes hand in hand with earnestness. There is fiery zeal, yet never overleaping the bounds of truth, propriety, and decorum ; — a mighty and undying fervency, yet ever accompanied by a gentleness mild and beautiful as when the soft sunbeam plays along the swelling billow. I have known a man that prayed as though he spake with God face to face, and preached as though he had just alighted from eter- nity to deliver that sermon, and retire again forever at its close ; and spake to his fellow-men, as he met them, as though he were some heavenly being sent to whisper to them of eternal realities ; and hasted from place to place, and from church to church, as though he were the angel of the apocalypse flying with the everlasting gospel to preach ; and yet, with all his unearthly fervour and devotion, with all his flaming, burning zeal, his, too, were the mild- 42 MINISTER OF CHRIST ness and gentleness of the unweaned lamb. He was a flaming fire, and yet he was a bland and lovely light, the rays whereof were soft and deli- cious as the outbeamings from celestial forms. He was a mighty man of God, and yet he was a little child, and his accents were those of tenderness, sim- plicity, and love. As he warned the multitudes that flocked to his preaching, it was with a solem- nity and awfulness of countenance, as if before that countenance were rising, in open vision, the dread realities to which he pointed the anxious hearer. And yet those features knew how to relax into the smile of friendship, or to be moistened by the tear of sympathy and affection. So with the minister who is adapted to this present age. He is destined to see much whose tendency is to disturb. He will meet a thousand unreasonable and wicked men. A multitude of disciples, worldly, weak, faltering, and erring, will pass before him. Divers provocations will assail him on the right hand and on the left. Full many a strong sermon, and solemn warning, and mighty exhortation, and tender entreaty, will seem to be as if " wasted on the desert air." Yet, amid all, he will move softly ; — he will possess his soul in patience and in gentleness. He will more often weep than scold ; — he will beckon rather than drive ; — he will entreat rather than chastise. With gentleness he combines meekness. His eye is upon the conspicuous and beautiful example of Christ and the apostles. Reviled, he reviles not again. If hunted as a partridge upon the moun- FOR THE TIMES. 43 tains, he is peaceful toward his enemies. Smitten upon one cheek, he turns the other also. Injured and oppressed, he blesses his persecutors. De- spitefully used, he prays for his vile adversaries. Defaming is recompensed with entreaty — reviling with blessing — hostility with hospitality — evil with good. Revenge is unknown with him. Every evil communication is dispensed with. The mind of Christ — the mind of meekness, forbearance, and long-suffering — is embraced and exemplified. XVIII. " Be not afraid, but speak? — Acts xviii, 9. The minister for the times is & fearless man. He is not dismayed at the faces of men. He girds him- self to go where God calls, and to speak what God commands. Infinite grace has made him a de- fenced city — an iron pillar and brazen walls, against all that do wickedly. He is not afraid of evil men, nor of their words, nor dismayed at their looks, though briers and thorns be with him, and though he dwell among scorpions. He fears not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. If Peter and John are forbidden to speak in the name of Jesus, they hearken to God rather than to men ; while, with all boldness, they speak his word. Paul speaks boldly, disputing and per- suading the things concerning the kingdom of God ; and if chains are clanking, and fires are burning, 44 MINISTER OF CHRIST he is ready not to be bound only, but also to suf- fer death for the name of the Lord Jesus. His glory is, that Christ should be magnified in his body, whether it were by life or by death. The faithful and fearless minister of the gospel runs not uncalled into danger. He exposes not himself without necessity to the insults or displea- sure of the enemies of God. But these insults — this displeasure — frighten him never from the line of usefulness and duty. He has died to the world. He has resigned his reputation to Christ, and sub- mitted to be a fool for his sake. He is moved by lofty contemplations and views, and knows himself to be enlisted in the ranks of righteousness and truth. He knows that God is infinitely good and gracious ; while man is vile, and his face straight to- wards death and ruin. He knows there is a great salvation, by which the race might be actually re- deemed and blessed forever. He knows that all the affairs of earth are nothing in comparison with this. He knows that all men, without exception of age, rank, station, or capacity, should at once lay hold of life ; and that to bring all up to the heavenly glory, is, under God, the great work of the Church on earth. Fear, under such circumstances, is utterly mis- placed. The true minister is a soldier. He buckles on the harness, and braces up his heart, and puts on strength, and wars a good warfare. He opens his mouth wherever it is proper, and speaks boldly, as he ought to speak, the great things of God and FOR THE TIMES. 45 salvation. He keeps back nothing that is profita- ble, but declares the whole counsel of God, regard- ing not the smiles or the frowns of men, but " look- ing unto Jesus," and to the sublime work he came to earth to accomplish. XIX. " Ye were dear!' — 1 Thess. ii, 8. The minister for the times is an affectionate man. He loves his neighbour as himself ; that is, he loves his fellow-men with a love that is great, and con- stant, and earnest, and practical. It is the love, not of a natural man, but of a minister of the Lord Jesus. It is kindred to the love that impelled Je- sus to this world, and impelled him to the cross, and that impels his unceasing intercessions in the Holy of Holies. It is identical with that apostolic love which flowed forth, a stream divine, upon all the world. We read of a love seeking not its own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved ; — a love that suffereth long and is kind — that behaveth not itself unseemly — is not easily provoked — thinketh no evil— beareth, belie veth, hopeth, endureth all things. There is a love that courts the largest, deepest earthly sacrifices, if man shall thereby be benefited and redeemed. There was a man, bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh, who could wish himself accursed from Christ for his brethren — his kinsmen according to the flesh ; — 46 MINISTER OF CHRIST who counted not his life dear unto him that he might compass man's eternal weal; — who, year after year, ceased not to warn every one, night and day, with tears ; — who coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel; — who sought not theirs, but sought themselves ; — -who was " affectionately de- sirous " of the people, not for himself, but for them ; — who was willing to impart unto them not the gospel only, but his own soul, because they were dear unto him ; — who exhorted, and comfort- ed, and charged, as a father, his children ; — who very gladly spent all, for the rescue and happiness of lost men. This is the love we mean. This is the love which is born of God's Holy Spirit, and lives only in a gra- cious heart. It is the appropriate love glowing in that minister who is specially adapted to these eventful times. He has a love bearing him above all sordid considerations — all human and puny dis- tinctions — all opposition — all discouragements and weariness ; — a love that forever asks, " What shall I do that I may bless mankind?" — a love that wakes early and late — that is planning and contriv- ing evermore — that seizes upon all rational expe- dients — that forgets all neglect and injury — that asks not whether it shall be reciprocated, but whether it can bless — that swells with emotions unutterable for a world's immortal happiness — that weeps often in secret places — that yearns over the race with infinite longing — that triumphs, as with an angel's joy, when a sinner repents — that is ever FOR THE TIMES. 47 rejoicing with them who rejoice, and weeping with them that weep — that glows and burns incessantly ; — a love that is strong as death — a flame most ve- hement, which many waters cannot quench, nor many floods can drown. This man passes swiftly on his strong career, for his flight is by love's resistless impulsion. His wing never falters, for it moves by an interior, un- earthly agency, " working mightily. " That voice — ! how beautiful are its notes ! for a living coal, lifted by celestial hands from Heaven's altar, hath touched his lips. XX. " With all purity" — 1 Tim. v, 2. The minister for the times is a pure man. He has sought and obtained the cleansing grace of Christ. Confessing his sins, God is faithful and just to for- give him his sins, and to cleanse him from all un- righteousness. His heart has become the habita- tion of the Spirit. God dwells with him and in him, ever creating him anew, and transforming him after the image of the heavenly. By infinite grace all carnal affections die in him, and all things be- longing to the Spirit live and grow in him. He is a garden sealed. He turns away his eye from be- holding vanity, and is deaf to the fascinating song of sin. He tastes not — handles not — touches not. He leans each moment upon boundless grace, to 48 MINISTER OF CHRIST avert from him every whisper, every breath of cor- ruption. With all his might he flies after God, and after good. He gives place to evil— no, not for a moment ; while he solicits to his mind all beautiful and holy associations. His heart is pre-occupied with whatsoever things are honest, just, pure, love- ly, and of good report. On these he thinks. These are the themes of his meditations when he rises at early morning — when he acts, studies, converses. All day long, and upon his couch in the night- watches, he is still with Christ. He is ever walk- ing and conversing with Him who is infinite purity and excellence ; while every day witnesses in him a nearer assimilation to the Holy One. Thus he " sees God ;" — sees him in air, earth, and sky ; — sees him in all the Scriptures ; — sees him in every providential event, whether great or small, whether joyous or sad. Moving hither and thither among men, he breathes a sacred influence on all, and his savour is that of righteousness and goodness. XXI. "A good conscience. — 1 Pet. iii, 16. The minister for the times is a conscientious man. In his profound and protracted study of the Holy Scriptures, he has come to possess elevated views of Christian and ministerial obligations. On the one hand, he has pondered the estate of man, fall- en and sinful, with eternal ruin in prospect. On FOR THE TIMES. 49 the other hand, he has discerned the grace of God through Christ, as being fully commensurate with man's disaster, and a perfect antidote, if received, to his woful calamity. Then, again, he has con- templated himself as commissioned to stand be- tween the living and the dead, to proclaim authori- tatively the proffered mercy of God to the rebel- lious race, and, by every appropriate means, to urge their compliance with the conditions of par- don and everlasting life. He has perceived that much, very much, is depending upon his diligence and fidelity in this sublime work. He is aware that every step of his is influential either for weal or for wo. He is set for the rise or fall of many. He beholds the salvation of his fellow-men commit- ted, in a very serious sense, to his hands ; — that on his faithfulness or neglect hangs the salvation or ruin of many a precious soul. The Holy Spirit has baptized his conscience. He not only sees his duty, but is mightily drawn to its accomplishment. Every sin, of every kind and degree, is of awful magnitude in his eye ; and, should temptation urge, his response is, " How can I do this great thing and sin against God?" Christ is his all; — how can he suffer the least cloud to hang between him and his Saviour's countenance ? How can he bear to lie down at night, reflecting, as he presses his pillow, upon. time misspent, souls neglected, duties omitted ? As he passes onward through time, and approaches, each moment, the judgment-seat, how can he bear that any good remain unaccomplished 4 50 MINISTER OF CHRIST which he might have possibly secured ? He aims thus to live in all good conscience before God. He exercises himself to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward man; and as his rejoicing, he would have the testimony of his conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity — not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God — he has his conversation in the world. XXII. " Hid with Christ"— Col. iii, 3. The minister for the times is a hidden man. He is God's, and God is his hiding-place. How is the minister to go out amid the frowns, insults, dan- gers, and fiery trials incident to a faithful herald of the cross ? Goes he forth all exposed and un- protected ? No ! Christ is with him alway, even to the end of the world. Walls of fire are around him — a canopy of love is over him. Though in- visible to a worldly eye, yet the chariots of God fill all the mountain round about Elisha. The true minister's shield is God. His tower, his rock, his stronghold, is the Holy One of Israel. His dwell- ing is the secret place of the Most High — his abode is beneath the shadow of the Almighty. The wings of God cover him, and his refuge and his fortress are there. The terror of night, the arrow, the pestilence, the wasting destruction, have no alarms for him. The ruin on the right hand and on the FOR THE TIMES. 51 left comes not near him. Angels have him in charge, and keep him as he goes. He is hidden from the fascinations of the world and of sense, for he is ingrafted into Christ. He is a branch of the heavenly stem, and a partaker of the divine nature. He is hidden with the Saviour, and the glory of the divine and spiritual life engrosses all his affec- tions. He outrides every storm, for the anchor of his soul is away within the veil. " He has re- nounced self, and naturally seeks a low place, re- mote from public observation, and unreached by human applause. When he is silent to human hearing, he is conversing with God ; and when he opens his lips and speaks, it is the message which God gives, and is spoken with the demonstration of the Spirit. When he is apparently inactive, he is gaining strength from the divine fountain — drink- ing nourishment into the inmost soul ; and when he moves, although with quiet step, the heart of the multitude is shaken and troubled at his approach, because God moves with him."* XXIII. " Compassed about with — witnesses" — Heb. xii, 1. The minister for the times is a conspicuous man. Though hidden with Christ, and feeding upon hid- den manna, and partaking of joys which this world knows not of, he is yet a public man. He is a * Professor Upham. 52 MINISTER OF CHRIST spectacle to the world. He is no hermit or recluse, and withdraws not himself from the walks of men. No man is more seen — no voice is more familiar. He stands aloft, and a thousand eyes are upon him, and his trumpet is with him, and its notes are clear and constant. His position and bearing are known and read of all men. He is not seen in every as- sembly. He is never, without necessity, in the crowd. Yet, in whatever gathering Christ is to be honoured — pure morality is to be advanced — a soul is to be saved — there is this minister. He is a com- missioned man — an officer of the Lord of hosts — a captain in Israel. He is constantly in the field, and is the earliest and strongest to fall upon the enemies of righteousness and heaven. He is the shining mark against which the arch adversary of men aims his most fiery — his sharpest, deadliest darts. He is ever flying hither and thither, rous- ing and encouraging the ranks of God ; — leading them on with rejoicing valour to charge the strong- holds of Satan and his angels. Witnesses, not from beneath only, but from worlds unseen, are marking his lofty career. Spirits saved, bending from their spheres of light, behold him ; and angel beings, in shining ranks innumerable, compassing him afar, watch him as he runs the race for life eternal. Many, especially among the good and humble of this world, are acquainted with his name ; — a name which is often mentioned in the heavenly circles, and is written in the book of life. In far-off ages, and when the judgment-day shall have long since FOR THE TIMES. 53 passed, this man will be conspicuous in heaven ; — conspicuous as the brightness of the firmament, — resplendent and beautiful as the stars forever and XXIV. " Enter into thy closet." — Matt, vi, 6. The minister for the times is a solitary man. He is much and often alone. He seeks long, solitary- sittings with the Holy Scriptures ; and in stillness and thoughtfulness labours to inform his under- standing, and impress and sanctify his heart, with the sacred truths of revelation. He communes in solitude with the righteous dead, and listens to their solemn voices, and thinks over what they once thought, and feels again what they once felt, and kindles with the fire that was wont to glow in spirits singing now in paradise. He loves, too, to commune with his own heart ; and, when every human eye and ear are absent, then to converse with himself alone — then to make solemn inquiry whether all be well — whether sin is dead, and faith, and hope, and love are living ; — whether flesh is crucified, and all the Christian vir- tues are blooming and flourishing ; — whether Satan is cast out, and Christ is formed within, the hope of glory ; — whether this world is relinquished, and the spirit is longing for God and heaven ; — whether all possible efforts are put forth to save the world. 54 MINISTER OF CHRIST He loves especially to be alone with God, and pray to his " Father who is in secret." There he tells him all, unfolding his whole heart to the great Searcher. He confesses — repents — supplicates — intercedes — weeps. He pours forth his soul in a thousand strains of holy devotion. He strives after the excellent glory. Laying hold of unearthly strength, God meets him, and talks with him, as with Ezekiel in the field. He blesses him as Jacob, when, being left alone, the patriarch had power with God, and prevailed. He manifests himself as to Peter, when, by himself, he prayed upon the housetop. He touches him as Daniel when he made supplication, and the angel flew swiftly. He is prepared for new victories. He is adorned with salvation, and rewarded openly. XXV. 11 In conversation." — 1 Tim. iv, 12. The minister for the times is a social man. He is much alone, and yet is much in company. He is not seen in every circle. He seeks not conversa- tion merely that he may pass pleasantly a leisure hour. It is not simply relaxation and enjoyment that is coveted ; but he throws himself amid society in order to prosecute still the great end from which his eye never, never wanders. He contemplates all men as travellers to a destiny of infinite importance FOR THE TIMES. 55 — a destiny which his own influence is to modify and exalt to the utmost. He has contemplated, too, the wonderful power of speech ; and that not only in the studied address, but in the more fami- liar aspect of the social circle. He has learned that careless men are sometimes " won by the conversa- tion' ' of righteous companions and friends; while the Bible has taught him of a species of words that "minister grace to the hearers." This is enough with a man, the passion of whose soul is to save the lost, and lure them to eternal life. He converses largely and faithfully. They are mostly gracious words that proceed out of his mouth. The topics that are wont to engross the conversation of most men, are, in the comparison, lightly esteemed by him. The great themes of the Bible are those on which he mainly expatiates ; aiming, by direct re- mark, or by attractive allusion or illustration, to press upon the attention the things of God. He cultivates an abundant facility of bending worldly conversation heavenward. He aims that Jesus should enter and stand in the midst, though the " doors were shut ;" or, if there be companies where his Saviour may not be admitted, he speed- ily retires. Why should the minister — one of the watchmen of these solemn times — parley with the things that have an end ? What conversation, what word has he, except for Christ and heaven ? Are not thousands listening to his conversation — mark- ing, scrutinizing the tenor of all he says ? Knows he not that, by his use of the social talent, he will 56 MINISTER OF CHRIST be judged by multitudes ? — and that, by this, every- one that knows him will be quickened or hindered in respect to the most important of all interests? Is he ignorant that the power of his preaching is mysteriously enhanced or prejudiced by his good or ill conversation ? All this is plain. Hence, he converses much, and converses evangelically. As necessity may be, he instructs, or warns, or reproves, or encourages, or exhorts, with all long-suffering and doctrine. He converses impartially, forgetting not the poor, the ao-ed, and infirm — even the evil and unthankful. He neglects not the remote, but flies where they are, bearing the divine message. He converses constantly. Few days pass over him in which he does not breathe a heavenly savour by his conversation. From house to house he passes as an angel of goodness, bearing ever the sweet bur- den of his spirit — the salvation of the lost ; and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. He converses judiciously and timely, studying earnestly the selectest modes and opportunities for impressing sacred and saving truths upon the heart. When mourning and bereavements come — when riches take wings — when awful Providence en- o shrouds this world in gloom, and shuts away its hopes forever, — in such times especially will be heard the whisperings of the man of God, pointing to a better and more enduring substance. He converses modestly and carefully, and, as oft- en as may be, " privately ;" adapting himself to the FOR THE TIMES. 57 prejudices, ages, stations, or infirmities, of the varied multitude. He converses benevolently and affectionately ; for he loves the sinner — loves his eternal good ; while his whole aspect and every word bespeak a soul overflowing with profound affection and good-will toward the souls of men. And yet he converses faithfully and earnestly. His eye is upon success. He longs to compass his end, namely, a saving influence. He wants the soul for heaven — to place him a star in the Redeemer's crown ; — to see him saved from hell ; — to listen to his harp in the New Jerusalem. XXVI. " A good report" — 1 Tim. iii, 7. The minister for the times is a reputable man. It is meant that, so far as known, he is known favour- ably. No stain whatever attaches itself to his cha- racter. He is a blameless person — a son of God without rebuke in a crooked and perverse genera- tion. No one has reasonably any evil thing to say of him. No fatal abatement enters to nullify or prejudice the holy influence which Heaven designs him to exert. His is a fair and unsullied name, linking with itself all pure and hallowed associa- tions. In whatever Christian circle that name is mentioned, it is with profound respect and appro- 58 MINISTER OF CHRIST val. It is emphatically a "good name," that is preferable to great riches, and is better than pre- cious ointment. To the good, such a man is ever welcome ; to the evil and unbelieving, he is a living argument in favour of pure and undefiled religion. His unspotted character gives him influence where- ever he moves, and would stand instead of many a merely intellectual accomplishment. All serious people are ready to listen to his instruction, his ex- hortations, and persuasions ; and he goes in and out before them a good man, without spot, unrebuka- ble, and blameless. XXVII. " Given to hospitality" — 1 Tim. iii, 2. The minister for the times is a hospitable man. His earthly mansion is not a splendid one. He dwells not in a palace, for he is not a rich man. Yet his humble abode is open, and his table is spread for the necessity of saints. The stranger does not lodge in the street, nor are the doors closed to the tra- veller. He deals bread to the hungry, and brings the poor that are cast out to his house. He is not forgetful to entertain strangers ; for it is remembered that thus some, as Abraham and Lot, have enter- tained angels unawares. The " little chamber" is provided ; and the bed, the table, the stool, and the candlestick, are ready for the man of God when FOR THE TIMES. 59 he turns in thither. He remembers the good Oba- diah, who hid a hundred prophets from the wicked Jezebel, and fed them with bread and water ; and Martha, who received Jesus into her house ; and Aquila and Priscilla, who entertained Apollos, and expounded to him the way of God more perfectly ; and Lydia, who constrained Paul and Timothy, if they judged her faithful, to abide in her house. This minister counts it not a misfortune to be called to entertain a stranger. There is a clearer vision. He recognises a providential hand in this apparent interruption, and sets himself to watch narrowly the good that is to ensue, either as accruing to him- self, or to the stranger. Often he goes abroad to find objects on whom his blessing may rest. Now one has entered his door, and sits down at his ta- ble. What "excellent gift" does the God of pro- vidence design him to impart to this stranger? "What special counsel, encouragement, instruction, sympathy, does he need — and which, if it may be afforded him, shall prove a blessing never to be for- gotten, and never to die ? or what may be the gem which this stranger is to leave behind him ? What sentence, what word, will he utter, that will be a seed of mighty growth, whose harvest shall be the joy of millions? Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth ! 60 MINISTEK OF CHEIST XXVIII. " Temperate in all things!' — 1 Cor. ix, 25. The minister for the times is a temperate man. Such is he who strives for the mastery in worldly contests. Such is the one who strives for excellence in the most sacred and elevated calling among men. He is temperate in meats and drinks, and has no partiality for sumptuous fare. Eating and drinking are held, with him, as very subordinate matters. He eats to live ; hence he asks for plain food, and that in sufficient quantities only. He would pre- serve his body sound and vigorous ; and that, too, as a duty not to himself only, but to the Church and to God. He desires not, dares not, for a mo- mentary gratification, to impair, in the smallest de- gree, the complete strength, activity, and elasticity of the physical man ; nor does he dare, by intem- perance in food or drinks, to dimmish aught from his intellectual energy and fire. He cultivates a sound mind in a sound body. In the quality and quantity of his food he never forgets the intimate connexion between temperance in the bodily appe- tites, and the present and long- continued healthy action of the mind ; nor does he forget the equally close, and equally important connexion between such temperance and the spirit of prayer and praise — the spirit of Christian zeal and holiness — the spirit of faith, hope, and charity — yea, every gra- cious quality. He looks steadily toward the full FOR THE TIMES. 61 and constant perfection of his powers, in order that he may deal the very heaviest blow against Satan and sin, and touch the farthest extremity of upward influence for which Providence had destined him. Contemplating a flight lofty, mighty, and protract- ed, he scorns that any fleshly and mean indulgence should, for one moment, cripple those wings, or retard that shining progress. XXIX. " The gift that is in thee."—l Tim. iv, 14. The minister for the times is a gifted man. Not that he is necessarily one of those who are said to possess more than ordinary native abilities. Not that he is, in the technical sense, a great man. But it is meant that he is endowed with talents or gifts which, with the appropriate cultivation, are adapted to the great work of the gospel ministry. The God of nature has given him a mind possessing common sense — a common understanding. He is gifted with, at least, common powers of attention and memory. In the general, he is gifted with natural abilities competent, in their cultivated state, to exert a posi- tive and strong influence upon his fellow-men. It is not necessary to suppose him a genius. Neither is he an ordinary man. There is something in him elevating him above the mass. He is not entirely common. He is not jejune or commonplace ; — not 62 MINISTER OF CHRIST weak, nor dull, nor tedious. There is that in him, be it more or less, which stands out from what is merely customary ; — a feature or features of the not merely good, but of the attractive, the useful, the noble. This age of strong excitement, and of un- wonted activity, asks for ministers who, in the pul- pit, in the more social worship, and in the usual walks of pastoral effort, evince positive excellencies ; and if their natural gifts are only such as are com- mon, yet, at least, superior grace, acting upon these, and enkindling and vivifying them, leads them out into unusual and intense action, and thus advances their possessor to a position and character beyond what is merely ordinary. It is not sufficient for the minister of these times that he be as men in general. He must have and evince something more. In the good sense, he must be distinguished and marked ; — he requires to be an extraordinary man ; — a man who, without any native deficiency of in- tellect, has also acquired a correct and strong dis- cipline, and varied and extensive learning ; — who has improved his powers to the utmost, and who still permits no day to pass without his realizing further progress and higher perfection. FOR THE TIMES. 63 XXX. "All things — in order." — 1 Cor. xiv, 40. The minister for the times is an orderly man. He is orderly in his person. His garb is neat and be- coming, and his whole aspect is orderly, pure, and without offence. He is orderly in his closet devo- tions. These have their regular times, and those times are occupied accordingly. There he regu- larly offers his supplications, prayers, and thanks- givings. Himself — his family — his people — the poor — the distressed — the ignorant — the heathen — all are every day remembered in his prayers to heaven. He is orderly in his family religion. Every morning and evening all business in his house is suspended ; — the Bible is presented and read in or^ der, brief and pertinent remarks are made, the song of praise, and the prayer of faith, ascend to God. He is orderly in his studies and investigations. His books and papers are in order. His plan of study- ing is settled. He undertakes deliberately ; — what is undertaken is prosecuted regularly and syste- matically, and finished promptly. His mind is or- derly, and his thoughts duly arranged and simpli- fied. The association of his thoughts is well regu- lated and pure. He is orderly in retiring, sleeping, rising, eating, drinking, and recreating. He is or- derly in the performance of his pastoral duties — calling regularly upon the people without respect to persons, and giving prompt notice to every spe- 64 MINISTER OF CHRIST cial case requiring his attention. His aim is to have a time for everything, and to do everything in its time. He is orderly in his various appointments for preaching and expounding the Holy Scriptures, and in respect to all other meetings for promoting the cause of God. He is orderly and punctual in instructing the children, and in endeavouring to lead them in the way of life. All his business, so far as possible, is systematized. Each article has its place, and each work its hour. Nor yet is he a slave to his orderly plan of arrangements. Such a plan is always made subordinate to the great object of his efforts and his life. Hence there is no im- patience at any necessary or unexpected interference with his usual order. All such interruptions are wont to be hailed, rather, as providential — from which he habituates himself to expect some special good, either to himself or to others. While aim- ing at perfect order in his efforts, he yet recognizes himself as the servant of all — ever ready to act for their happiness and salvation as the gracious Hand shall direct. XXXI. " With thy might" — Eccles. x, 12. The minister for the times is an industrious man. His hours and moments are, in his eye, of more than golden value. In respect to time, he is rigidly parsimonious. He is systematic, as seen above ; and FOR THE TIMES. 65 honours his system by a diligence which is untiring and intense. The Scriptural precept to gospel min- isters is never forgotten or disregarded. Attend- ance is given to reading — to exhortation — to doc- trine. He meditates upon these things — gives him- self wholly to them. He preaches the word, and is instant in season, out of season. He makes full proof of his ministry. The Scripture examples to gospel ministers are also before his eye. Jesus is contemplated, as he went through all the cities and villages, teaching, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and every disease among the people. And it is not forgotten, that besides His recorded acts, there were many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written, every one, even the world itself might be imagined incapable of containing the books which should be written. He also thinks of the man who solemnly called upon the elders of Ephesus to remember that, by the space of three years, he ceased not to warn every man night and day with tears. He remem- bers the man who, from Jerusalem round about to Illyricum, fully preached the gospel of Christ. " In other words," says one, " Paul, by preaching, evan- gelized Syria, Phenicia, Arabia, Cilicia, Paraphilia, Pisidia, Lycaonia, Galatia, Pontus, Paphligonia, Phrygia, Troas, Caria, Lycia, Ionia, Lydia, Thrace, Macedonia, Thessalonica, and Achaia, besides the islands of Cyprus and Crete. Or, of modern times, he remembers Calvin ; of 6 66 MINISTER OF CHRIST body lean, worn, spent, and wearied, yet reading, every week of the year through, three divinity lec- tures ; every other week, over and above, preach- ing every day, giving, as some reckon, one hundred and eighty-six lectures, and two hundred and eighty- six sermons annually ; sitting, every Thursday, in the Presbytery ; every Friday, explaining divers difficult texts to ministers ; solving a thousand doubts and questions proposed to him by various churches as well as pastors ; and, over and above all these employments, bringing out, almost every year, some great volume in folio, or other size ; and still driving his prodigious industry into the very midst of his dying illness. Or, he remembers Wesley, who, as an angel of mercy, flew in every direction through the United Kingdom, preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ; — who studied, and laboured, and prayed, to an extent almost unparalleled in the history of man ; — who continued his labours from the com- mencement of manhood, long after fourscore years had bleached to snowy whiteness his flowing locks ; — who, for more than half a century, rose at four, preached two, three, and four times in a day, and travelled four thousand five hundred miles annual- ly ; — who, in addition to all his travels and preach- ings, wrote what would require an ordinary life to read ; — and who, by his indomitable industry, joined to his great talents and sublime piety, exerted upon the destinies of mankind an influence far-reaching and incalculable. FOR THE TIMES. 67 Contemplating such lofty examples — the great work to be done — the few transient years that re- main — the startling bearings of every pious effort, this good minister is never, never idle. Whatso- ever his hand finds to do, he does it with his might. XXXII. "Be strong? — 1 Cor. xvi, 13. The minister for the times is a strong man ; that is, he is strong in God. He has the strength that ac- companies a full perception of his native weakness and utter nothingness. It is the strength of un- clouded faith. The man believes, and therefore speaks — therefore acts and labours with an energy and power which ordinary men never evince. Like Abraham, he is strong in faith, giving glory to God. Like Joshua, he is strong and of good courage in making war upon the enemies of righteousness. Like the Baptist, he is strong in spirit, and goes forth with a measure of the spirit and power of Elijah. Like Timothy, he is strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus. This strength character- izes all his spirit and conduct. It imparts energy and decision to every movement and every thought. lie is strong to feel ; for his heart is touched by the mighty Spirit of God. He is strong to pray ; for his prayers are uol dull, and scattered, and ineffi- cient, but there h offered up supplication with strong 68 MINISTER OF CHRIST crying and tears. He is strong to praise ; for his vision is clear, and the goodness and grace of Christ are seen to be vast as infinity. Strong is he to in- vestigate the Scriptures ; for these have become the book of his life. He is strong to preach ; for it is counted the greatest privilege and honour to pro- claim the salvation of Christ to perishing men. He is strong to converse ; for it is out of the abundance of his heart. He is strong to endure ; for he is pledged to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ. He is strong in suffering ; for all is received at God's hand — received as a portion of his earthly disci- pline, and Grod's grace is sufficient for him. He is strong to plan for the advancement of genuine re- ligion and piety, and strong to urge such plans to full execution. This minister is spiritually mighty. He may, at times, be shaken in respect to questions of human policy ; but, touching the great cardinal points of Christian doctrine and action, his mind never fal- ters, never wavers. Planting himself immovably upon the Holy Scriptures, he stands fast as upon the eternal rock ; and the rains descend, and the floods rush, and the winds blow, while he emerges from the storm unscathed and unharmed. FOR THE TIMES. 69 XXXIII. "A. ready mind" — 1 Pet. v, 2. The minister for the times is a ready man. While strong for every duty of the ministry, he is likewise ready. His mind being calm, subdued, humble, and happy, he is ready to meditate and to study. His affairs and movements being ordered by rigid system, there is a readiness for each effort as its appointed time arrives. If sudden emergencies arise, the power is secured of commanding and summoning his thoughts, and of directing his in- quiries to the case in hand. Especially is he ever ready to engage in his appropriate work — that of preaching Christ. If opportunity offers, he is " rea- dy to preach the gospel" wherever men will listen to the sound. Here rarely, if ever, is there backward- ness, or any request to be excused. Great and weighty reasons press upon him, and forbid him to shrink from so divine a work. Great results often hang upon a single godly instruction, and he be- wares how he withholds when it is in his power to communicate. By every suitable means, he is prompt to stand in defence of religion ; for there is always a readiness to give a reason of the hope that is in him, with meekness and fear. He is undaunt- ed by every prospective difficulty, persecution, and suffering ; for he is ready not to be bound only, but also to suffer death for the name of the Lord Je- 70 MINISTER OF CHRIST sus ; and if that death be actually pending, he is ready to be offered. Nothing is more certain than that these times re- quire ministers who are awake and ready. They behoove to be men whose intellects are well fur- nished and strongly disciplined — men of elastic spirits and holy hearts — possessing a glad will and ready mind for the duties and conflicts of the min- ister of righteousness. Now is the time for the lingering, the tardy, the faint-hearted and reluctant to stand aside, and let there come up to fill the apostolic ranks a host of burnished soldiery, ready armed, and of ready step and perfect discipline, who shall be ever prompt to do battle for the Lord of Hosts. XXXIV. "Not yours, but you" — 2 Cor. xii, 14. The minister for the times is a disinterested man. Here also he has the mind of Christ, whose love and efforts for the race of man were of a character the most perfectly disinterested. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, though he- was rich, yet, for our sakes, became poor, that we, through his poverty, might be rich. Such, too, was the spirit of the holy apostles, who, through great personal disadvantage and sacrifice, laboured for the happiness and eternal salvation of the na- tions ; who very gladly spent their substance, and FOR THE TIMES. 71 spent themselves, for others ; and that, too, though the more abundantly they loved others, the less they might be loved by them. So the apostolic minister of this present age labours, at whatever personal and temporal loss, to bring men to Christ, and to present them spotless before G-od with ex- ceeding joy. He has resigned the idea of worldly prosperity and wealth. Preaching the gospel, he expects only to live of the gospel. He wishes and demands no more than what is necessary for a com- fortable subsistence, so as, without distraction, to prosecute his untiring labours for the world's re- generation. He seeks not theirs, but them. If the conversion of his fellow-men breathes, as it does, a salutary influence upon his own happiness, it is not, however, any beautiful result like this that capti- vates his eye, and urges onward his strong endea- vours. All other and subordinate considerations are lost in the longing of his heart for the holiness and happiness of men, and for the glory of God in their everlasting life. He knows, it is true, that a great reward of his faithful labours will, in the se- quel, accrue to himself ; yet this thought, sublime and lovely though it be, is far from being the main- spring of his vehement activity. Love — burning, resistless love — love to Christ and to the souls he has purchased— this is the constraining principle — this is the fountain whence every refreshing stream pours forth ; here is the quenchless fire whence every warming, gladdening influence is ever radi- ating. " Let me act," saith this minister, " or else 72 MINISTER OF CHRIST I die. My soul fainteth for the longing which it hath for the souls of men. I could wish myself, as it were, accursed for my brethren — for those who are bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. Let me aid them up to happiness and heaven, though my poor name should be blotted out of the book of life, and though all remembrance of me should perish forever. Let my hand, though unseen — unthought of — unsolicited — undesired and unloved, — let it still labour night and day, and until it shall grow cold in death, to promote the great salvation.'' XXXV. " Let him deny himself" — Luke ix, 23. The minister for the times is a self-denying man. All things, with him, are rigidly held as subservient to the cause and honour of the Lord Jesus. Espe- cially is this so of all things pertaining to his own personal enjoyment. He refrains, as a habit, from sumptuous fare ; for it is not consistent with the health, intellect, and piety of a Christian and Chris- tian minister. He refrains from extravagant and costly apparel ; for its strong tendency is to ad- minister to the pride of life. He occupies no costly mansion, indulges no splendid equipage, even if means are at command ; for he would be an exam- ple of simplicity, and, at the same time, cut off every superfluity, so as to augment, to the utmost, FOR THE TIMES. 73 his means of good. He retires from all recreations, however innocent and pleasant, except so far as is necessary to the soundness of the physical and in- tellectual man. He resigns all reading, however attractive and beautiful, which does not aid him in the great purpose of his life. He shuts himself out not only from all company that is dangerous to his purity and his heart, but from social enjoyments of every sort that interfere with the constant and stren- uous prosecution of his high calling. No precious moments are yielded to sleep beyond what nature, trained and invigorated by strictest temperance, re- quires. Personal ease and comfort, however im- portant in the estimation of most, are ever placed by him in the class of secondary considerations. He submits to no criminal or needless exposure ; yet, because of heat, or because of cold, and winds, and rain, he would rarely disappoint a waiting as- sembly — or fail to reach a sick man's door — or to stand, with his welcome presence, in the midst of forlorn and suffering ones to administer the needed cordial. Not his profit, but the profit of the many, is the rule of his life, and the object of his heart. If learning and fame allure, he is determined to know nothing save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. If the opulent and the refined solicit him, he turns away to preach the gospel to the poor. If with him, as with others, there are preferences and par- tialities, he yet, in whatever is non-essential, be- comes all things to all men, that he may by all means save some, In much patience, in afflictions, 74 MINISTER OF CHRIST in necessities, in distresses, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, and, if necessary, in stripes and imprisonments, he approves himself as a minis- ter of God. He chooses to suffer affliction with the people of God, and esteems the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. He denies himself — turns his back upon the world — loses his life, and finds it. XXXVI. " Take heed unto thyself." — 1 Tim. iv, 16. The minister for the times is a watchful man. He takes heed to himself. He sets a watch over all his heart, keeping it with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. He guards his spirit — his thoughts — his wishes and hopes. He watches with severe scrutiny the motives by which he is actuated, marks his evil tendencies, and guards against them with never-failing vigilance and care. Especially is he awake to the sin which easily besets him, flee- ing from it as for his life. He is alive to the agency and influence of Satan ; who desired to sift Peter, who often withstood Paul, and who sought to over- throw Jesus himself. He takes heed to all his con- versations and interviews with others. In company, whether with his family, or with less familiar asso- ciates, he is never off his guard. He has pondered the never-ceasing influence of a single expression or FOR THE TIMES. 75 word — of a gesture or a glance, and amid all cheer- ful or earnest converse he is recollected. His dili- gent industry is guarded, that it never decline. With a thoughtful eye is noticed the flight of time, that no moment pass without being seized for good. All his conduct is circumspect ; for the eyes of the world are upon him, and " God is o'erhead." He watches his faith, that it be ever living and grow- ing — his love, that it be ever full and abounding — his joy and rejoicing, that it be unceasing — his zeal, that it be ever glowing — his long-suffering, gentle- ness, patience, and meekness, that they be never weary. On the other hand, he watches to detect whatever remains in him of the carnal mind, that every hateful thing may be brought to a perfect crucifixion. He watches if there be any lingerings of unbelief, of pride, of dulness, of sloth, of impu- rity, of self-will, of malice, of envy, of love of the world, of fear of man, of covetousness, or of idol- atry ; that every stain may be laid open to the pre- cious blood of sprinkling. In a word, he watches in all things. With eternal vigilance, the whole inward and outward man is guarded. He watches that he " enter not into temptation " — that he " may not fall" — may be " steadfast in the faith" — may ''walk circumspectly" — may "make full proof of his ministry," and nobly fulfil his high commission. 76 MINISTER OF CHRIST XXXVII. " He prayeth" — Acts ix, 11. The minister for the times is a praying man. He speaks to God and tells to him all his heart, and pours into his ear his fervent supplications and prayers. If we would describe this minister in the fewest words possible, perhaps we could hardly do better than to say of him that " he prayeth" Pray- er is his habit — his characteristic — his life — his breath. What of a true minister of the Lord Je- sus ? Re prays. He is a man that walks and con- verses with God. He lives to heaven; — breathes into the bosom of Jesus ; — has no wish that he tells not to him ; — has no thought that bends not thith- erward ; — has no plan that does not begin, progress, and end with Christ. Of his minutest, smallest matters, he whispers to his Saviour ; and every trial, and perplexity, and sorrow, and care, are passed over to the great burden-bearer. He is careful for nothing ; but in everything, by prayer and suppli- cation, with thanksgiving, makes known his suppli- cations unto God. "In everything by prayer" — ■ this is the true presentation. In reading — in medi- tating — in sermon-making — in writing — in preach- ing — in visiting — in exhorting — in disciplining — in travelling — in recreating — in reposing — in all by prayer and supplication. This is one of the watch- men upon the walls that never hold their peace, FOR THE TIMES. 77 day nor night. He always prays, and faints not ; — prays with all prayer and supplication in the spirit ; — night and day praying exceedingly, offering sup- plications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks for all men ; — praying everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting ; — in behalf of the saints, bowing his knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he would grant to them, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in their hearts by faith ; that they, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and depth, and length, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth know- ledge, that they might be filled with all the fulness of God. Behold here the stronghold of the genuine gos- pel minister. He prays — prays exceedingly — prays incessantly- — prays in everything. Detect there the secret of his power — of his Christian balance amid every wind and flaw — of his overflowing and all- pervading baptisms — of his knowledge of the deep things of God — of the unction of his preaching — of his gracious conversation and bearing — of the intensity of his love, the glow and constancy of his zeal, and the loftiness of his joy. 78 MINISTER OP CHRIST XXXVIII. u Glory to God in the highest!' — Luke ii, 14. The minister for the times is a praising man. If he prays without ceasing, so in everything he gives thanks. To his purified vision, reasons for praising God arise constantly as his breath — multitudinous as the drops of the ocean, and important as eter- nity. The attitude of thanksgiving is his habit ; — - this is the tendency, the shape of his soul. Praise is never absent from his spirit, though varying fre- quently in its action ; — now " sitting silently," now towering aloft, expanding the soul to its utmost tension ; breathing upward to God in many a tri- umphant song, and almost impatient to break away from earthly fetters, and seize upon mightier pow- ers and nobler instruments with which to trumpet forth the high praises of God and the Lamb. His God is reconciled. Hell has opened its mouth, but failed of its prey. His past sins are as though they never were. Infinite grace has chang- ed him. He is already in the kingdom — a fellow- citizen of the saints, and of the household of God. Thousands and millions have entered before him, and millions more are coming — a multitude which no man can number. His name is among those of the blessed ones ; he is nearing the heaven of eter- nal praises. The spirit of that world flows forth to meet him. He already sympathizes with the FOR THE TIMES. 79 heavenly glory, and kindles as he approaches. He hastens, and aspires to be a seraph on high. With open face beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, he is changed into the same image from glo- ry to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. He catches the sweet notes, first struck on earth from lips inspired, and rolling down through long gene- rations. He joins in the song of Moses and Israel, and his heart dances at the notes of Miriam's tim- brel. As he listens to the voice of Deborah, say- ing, " I will sing unto the Lord," from afar he an- swers back, "I will praise the God of Israel." While Hannah sings, " Holy is the Lord," — " No rock is like our God," is his glad response. On the identical strains that were swept from the harp of Israel's bard, his spirit rises every day to God. If, listening with the shepherds, he hears angelic notes rolling in mid-air, and singing, " Glory be to God," his rapturous soul responds, " Amen ! Ho- sanna in the Highest !" If, standing without those cold prison- walls, he hears Paul and Silas far with- in, singing praises to God, he catches the apostolic notes and apostolic fire, and is ready to go to prison and to death. With every holy song, whether past, present, or future, — whether sung on earth or in happier worlds, his whole being sympathizes. All praise is not too great — all is not sufficient. A " thousand tongues " would be inadequate — an an- gel's harp too faint and slow. The great chorus of the ransomed, as they shall come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads — all, 80 MINISTER OF CHRIST all will be as nothing when compared with the in- finite righteousness — the boundless grace — the di- vine glory. XXXIX. "In the regions beyond!' — 2 Cor. x, 16. The minister for the times is an aggressive man. "All the world," is one of the capital ideas in the apostolic commission. The world God loved — the world Christ came to ransom — for the world he died — to the world, all the world, he directed his gospel to be carried. In each minister's charter it is written, " Compass and save the world to the utmost extent possible." Accordingly, the true minister reaches out and abroad. He neglects not his more special charge. He takes heed to the par- ticular flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made him overseer ; yet, meanwhile, the world is on his heart. He feels, and weeps, and labours for the race. He refuses to confine himself to his own special locality. He passes out into the highways and hedges, throws himself amid waste places, wakes up the joyful sound where Christ is not named, and helps, as a wise master-builder, to lay foundations of uprising churches, and permits no space within the limits of his consecrated powers to lie without the field of heavenly cultivation. He struggles to enlist his church into the same spirit FOR THE TIMES. 81 of aggressive and holy enterprise. The good which, by himself alone, may not be compassed, he will reach, if possible, by the co-operation of others. He forgets not those desolate regions where Christ is known but partially, or where he was never named. His spirit is identical with that of the mis- sionary ; of all whose sorrows, trials, joys, and suc- cesses, he is an active partaker. Himself and his church take strong hold of the work of the world's evangelization and conversion. This is recognized as the great, the high commission of the Church militant. He knows no gospel — no Church — no salvation, designed to be retained in any one coun- try or continent. The fire of heaven, that warms his heart, is, in its very nature, expansive and ag- gressive. It has "free course," — it "runs every- where." The righteousness of Zion goes forth as brightness — the salvation thereof, as a lamp that burneth. Gentiles see it, and kings behold its glo- ry. He is a watchman that keeps not silence, and gives the Lord no rest till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. " Freely ye have received- — freely give," is written in letters of light upon the escutcheon of Christianity. Expan- siveness is inseparable from its genius. It is a fire, and it spreads all around. It is light, and it flashes in every direction. It is love, and the race all its object. It is a mustard-seed, and it germinates and grows, a tree on whose branches the fowls of the ah* come to lodge. It is a sound, and it runs into all the earth, and its voice to the end of the 6 82 MINISTER OF CHRIST world. It is power, and its mighty impulses fly through the earth. The minister for the times is this principle of heavenly electricity in personification. In a sense not merely poetical, the world is his parish. He is wedded to man. The world, as a generation of immortal beings, is in his arms — pressing upon his heart — living in his prayers — passing in review in his meditations — and acted upon by whatever sa- cred agency is within his reach to wield for the ef- fectuating of their undying welfare. No time is to be squandered ; but every moment is to be bought up, not for the momentary happiness of an indi- vidual, but for the everlasting life of a world. Every fragment must be gathered — no superfluity of expense must be indulged, in order to swell to the utmost the stream of mercy that is to flow for the refreshing of the nations. It is the seed-time, and it is brief, and the harvest following is the har- vest of eternity, and they who sow largely shall reap also largely, and they who sow sparingly shall reap sparingly. It is the harvest-time, and the field is the world, and it is white, and he that reapeth receiveth wages, and he shall bring his sheaves with him, and the fruit he gathers shall be to fife eternal. FOR THE TIMES. 83 XL. "All are yours" — 1 Cor. iii, 22. The minister for the times is a catholic man. He has his tastes and preferences. His principles of theology and Christian polity are well defined and settled. He approves not eveiy peculiarity exist- ing in other denominations, any more than he com- mends everything among those of his own name. In no institutions merely human does he look for perfection ; yet sect and party are, with this man, among the things which are held in low estimation. It is one of the things attaching to the Christian world, which he would fain forget forever. The divisions in the body of Christ constitute one of his deepest, sorest griefs, and tend to mantle his cheek with shame in behalf of a frail and imperfect Church. In fostering and prolonging the spirit of sect among Christians, he takes no part whatever. His dignified and spiritual mind towers above all such earthly and grovelling movements. He aims to forget that he belongs anywhere save with the great brotherhood of saints. It has ceased to be his first care that a particular party should be in- creased and prosperous. To bring the world to Christ and to heaven, is the idea that engrosses his thoughts and plans, and absorbs his soul. By the rule of sacred Scripture he aims to quadrate all his views, regarding no human speculation — accept- 84 MINISTER OF CHEIST ing no theological symbols that do not conform to this infallible standard. So, also, he looks not to any given party as the sole enclosure of Christ's disciples. He doubts not that there are those, of various folds, who are equally dear to the great Shepherd. Partition walls rising between different ranks of Christians, are nothing in the eye of the Master save an offence ; and in a similar manner are they viewed by the true and enlightened ser- vant. His eye of simplicity glances over the com- monwealth of saints, omitting, if possible, to discern the barriers which themselves have erected in the midst. Neither his Bible, his conscience, his rea- son, nor his heart, dictates or urges him to recognize these. He knows, of a certainty, that they are not of the precious metals, and belong not to the hea- venly edifice. He sees clearly that they are, rather, hay, wood, and stubble ; and the fire shall one day consume them, so that so much as a vestige shall not remain. Hence, he loves not sect, but the Church of the living God, wherever existing. He claims kindred, he proffers union, wherever two or three are gath- ered together, not in the name of a party, but in the name of Christ. With that spirit which cla- mours for Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, — one, to the exclusion of the rest, — he has no fellowship. He glories not in man, nor in man's carnal envying, strife, and divisions. Not one, merely, — all are his ; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the World> or life, or death, or things present, or things to FOR THE TIMES. 85 come ; — all are his possession, and he is Christ's. This heavenly minded minister dwells and expa- tiates above the noise of party. His contemplations and employments are better than this, as the hea- vens are better than the earth. His eye is too much upon Christ — too much upon salvation — too much upon that blessed world where all are one, that he should, for a moment, condescend even to imagine there could be a party line drawn between himself and one of the disciples. No ! He blesses the Church, and the whole Church, of the living God. He rejoices in the equal goodly fellowship glowing in his soul for every saint of every name and of every land. He seizes the apostolic bene- diction, and shouts, " Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen!" He rejoices as, with the old prophetic vision, he sees them coming from the east and west, from the north and south, to sit down in the kingdom of God. He triumphs in the glad gathering, within the heavenly temple, from every nation, and kin- dred, and tongue, and people. 86 MINISTER OF CHRIST XLI. 11 A vessel unto honour" — 2 Tim. ii, 21. The minister for the times is a dignified man. And yet there is no affectation of dignity. There is no studied stiffness — no pomp or display. There is no ceremonious gait — no excessive preciseness of speech, countenance, or general manners. It is a dignity without a consciousness of its existence. It is an easy, simple, and, withal, an extremely graceful garment. It is a godly, evangelical dig- nity. It is that which unfailingly attaches itself to a man who has more to do with things eternal than with things temporal ; — who studies, as a habit, the deep matters of God's providence and grace ; — who is an inhabitant of the world of the Bible ; — who is pledged to Christ alone ; — who spends no time for the meat that perishes ; — who is asking not after momentary results, but whose speculations and inquiries " wander through eternity;" — who has resigned this world and embraced heaven; — whose incessant reaching is for everlasting life. Such a man — such a minister, is dignified. There are none but will be impressed with it. Few will trifle in his presence, for he is believed to be one that has much to do with G-od. All will respect him, for it is clear that the motives by which he is influenced are far higher and purer than what actu- ate most men. His is the dignity of holiness — of FOR THE TIMES. 87 purity — of death to the world. It is the dignity of faith ; — he believes God, and is not ashamed. It is the dignity of love ; — God is the centre of his soul, and he loves his neighbour as himself. It is the dignity of hope ; — for his is the hope of glory. It is the dignity of action ; — he lives to save the souls of men. It is the dignity of relation ; — he is a child of God. It is the dignity of prospect; — he is an heir of heaven. It is the dignity of sta- tion, for he is an ambassador of the King of kings ; — the dignity of knowledge, for he knows the only living and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he has sent ; — the dignity of rank — his crown awaits him ; — the dignity of beauty — he is a new creation ; — the dignity of safety — angels encamp around ; — the dignity of happiness — God is his portion ; — and the dignity of permanence — he shall never be moved. XLII. " He was sick — but God had mercy on him." — Phil, li, 27. The minister for the times is a healthy man. It is not meant that no minister of feeble health is adapt- ed to do good to the present generation ; for some of this class are well known to be among the most useful labourers in the vineyard of Christ. Though faint, they yet pursue. Their energies, though slen- der and declining, are all laid upon the altar, and are crowned with the blessing of Heaven. Yet 88 MINISTER OF CHRIST these times require of the minister who would be fully adapted to meet all their demands, that he be in full possession of bodily health and activity. Great labours are expected of him. Calls for min- isterial effort are various, as well as arduous ; and the minister of this age should attempt much, and accomplish excellent things. Hence, let him be a man whose physical machinery is perfect. Let his blood flow cheerily, and his nerves be firm, and his muscles " strong as iron bands," and his limbs never lack energy and elasticity. Let his countenance be fresh, and fair, and animated, and joyous. Let his lungs be strong and perfect, and his voice as a tried and well-tuned instrument. To him let the wind be as delicious music, and the storm a plaything, and the cold refreshing, and the heat congenial. To his healthful and glad eye let every day, whether of clouds or sunshine, breathe but enchantment; and as he springs, at early morning, from his couch of repose, let it be as a giant refreshed, and as a strong man rejoicing to run a race. Thus let the good minister abide firm amid gathering years. Let him not make haste to decline. He must grow old ; but, so far as possible, let it be like the old age of Moses, the eye not being dim, nor the natu- ral force abated. For this, he will, of course, be temperate in all meats and drinks — in all labours and excitements. All will be regular within. The conscience will be void of offence. Hope will live in perennial bloom. Faith will be constant as the breath. Prayer and FOR THE TIMES. 89 praise will abound. Every faculty will be in strong, yet temperate exercise. There will be no rusting, on the one hand, nor wearing on the other ; but, as a select instrument, he will move and accomplish his earthly destiny, when the wheels of life shall stand still. All which the God of Nature, Provi- dence, and Grace designed in his sojourn upon earth, is accomplished. He shakes himself for a great, a strong, and protracted effort. He begs of God to give him a long and a good day, that he may fight manfully and finish his course, and leave his mark, or, rather, impress his Saviour's image on the world. XLHI. "Am I not free?" — 1 Cor. ix, 1. The minister for the times is an independent man, He calls no man master upon earth. His inde- pendence is discerned in his searchings of the Holy Scriptures. In those solemn and responsible stu- dies, he forgets, in a sense, all human authorities and human sects, and rises above all differing creeds and varying systems. He respects, of course, the profound theologians of past ages. He acknow- ledges there were " giants in those days ;" yet he reeognizes but one master — that is, Christ. He yields to no view of any passage of the Holy Scrip- tures, for the reason that it is the view of any un- inspired man. On all the Scriptures he labours to 90 MINISTER OF CHRIST form an unbiased judgment in the matter of inter- pretation ; while, at the same time, he refuses no aid that may be proffered or afforded. If an emi- nent apostle treated with earnest disdain any at- tempt, on the part of the Corinthian Christians, to arrange themselves as parties, whether under him- self, or Apollos, or Cephas, with the more propriety does the true minister refrain from identifying him- self with the opinions of any conspicuous leader, or with any religious or doctrinal party ism. He will " not be brought under the power " of any such in- fluence. And while independent in his theoretical views of divine doctrine, he has equal independence in preaching and teaching them. He preaches what he believes, regardless of fear or favour; and, in his general movements and character, his great in- quiry is, not what will be merely pleasing or ac- ceptable, but what is duty. This is the great pole- star of his life, from which his calm yet earnest eye never, for one moment, wanders. If, while duty is secured, he may likewise please all men, he will not fail to do so. He will run all lengths for this, and make any sacrifice, and study every adaptation to differing tastes and prejudices, so long as right and duty be not infringed. But, for the sake of pleas- ing all men — for the sake of concentrating upon himself the smiles of a world, he will not transgress — he will not be unfaithful to the great trust com- mitted to his keeping. His is a determined inde- pendence, yet not that which is obtrusive and of- fensive ; — not so much that which is outward and FOR THE TIMES. 91 ostensible, as that which impregnates the spirit of the man, and whose movements are mostly unseen and noiseless. You will read it not by insulated and prominent outbreaks, but as you read true dig- nity, adorning every thought, and motion, and action. XLIV. " Quit you like menV—X Cor. xvi, 13. The minister for the times is a man. In him is nothing weak and sickly ; — he has a vigorous, sound, and healthy spirit. In him is nothing mean, or low, or grovelling ; — he is honest, high-minded, honour- able. There is no whining and complaining ; — he is forever rejoicing that men and things are better than they might have been. He is no croaker, for he constantly knows that if wickedness abounds, so does righteousness also ; and that, on the whole, no former days have witnessed greater efforts than the present for the spread of Christ's kingdom. He descends to no strifes or bickerings — the world has other and more elevated demands upon him. Stoop- ing not to participate in the transient hopes of time, the world's regeneration is alone sufficient to fill his eye. He is manly in his views of saving truth ; for his ear is ever turned toward God, to hear what he will speak. Man may err, but " thy word is truth." He is manly in his notions of duty and action — viewing that here God's voice is to be heard, and, 92 MINISTER OF CHRIST being heard, is to be obeyed, though the " heavens fall." He is manly in the feelings and sympathies of his heart; — manly in the action and results of his intellectual nature ; — manly in the spirit and bearing which he always and everywhere exhibits. His conduct is manly ; and that, too, whether he be alone, or with the multitude; — whether in his own family, or amid the families of his congrega- tion. He is manly in conducting the ceremonies of public worship, and in the humble exercises of the conference-room and the praying circle. He is manly in all his dealings with men ; — manly in his studies and recreations — in his instructions of the young and of the more mature. He is manly in his intercourse with Christians, and with those who are " without ;" — manly in his adherence to his own religious sentiments, and in all his deportment to- ward ministers and Christians of other names, and toward all mankind. He is manly in his plans, and manly in their execution. He is manly in rebuking, exhorting, persuading, sympathizing, weeping ; — and there is no act, or word, or spirit, or motion, pertaining to him, which does not accord entirely with the true and proper dignity of a man. J} art JStfonb. THE MINISTER FOR THE TIMES AS A STUDENT. THE MINISTER OF CHRIST FOR THE TIMES. PART II. I. "Meditate."—! Tim. iv, 15. The minister for the times is a student. The case appears a very plain one. In the first place, in ad- dition to a sound mind as a basis, certain qualifica- tions are necessary for the minister. Secondly, those qualifications should be, as nearly as possible, those of the first preachers of Christianity, saving, of course, the miraculous gifts with which they were endowed. Thirdly, such qualifications must be secured in one of two ways : either by revela- tion, superadded to ordinary study and acquisition, or by the latter mode alone ; — accompanied, it is true, and essentially aided, by the blessing of God, humbly and constantly sought. That ministerial qualifications are, in these days, to be conferred by immediate revelation, whether in the mode, or to the extent, in which extraordinary aid was afforded to the apostles, is, I suppose, not expected by any rational mind. These qualifications, therefore, must be obtained in the ordinary modes of acquisition. 96 MINISTER OF CHRIST In other words, they are to be the result of patient, close, prolonged, and prayerful study. But what are the acquired qualifications suited to a minister for these times ? We answer that they are, so far as possible, such qualifications as were acquired and possessed in the beginning ; and no- thing less must be esteemed appropriate or ade- quate. This view appears amply confirmed not only by the inspired picture of an " able minister/' but also by the apostolic charge to Timothy, whom Paul solemnly addresses, saying, " The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." This means that the apostolic learning was to be communicated to their successors, and received by them ; and this with a view to their competency for instructing others. What, then, was this apostolic learning ? It was the learning of men who had been long, and large- ly, and personally instructed by the Great Teacher ; — men who, for years, had sat at the feet of " Him that speaketh from heaven," and whose speaking was such as never man uttered ; — men who often wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth ; — men that were the companions of Jesus as he went through cities and villages teach- ing, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom ; — men who drank deeply at the very fountain-head of truth and wisdom, — to whom thus the great book of revelation was unveiled, — who listened as, begin- ning at Moses and all the prophets, Christ expound- FOR THE TIMES. 97 ed unto them, in all the Scriptures, the things con- cerning himself, until their hearts burned within them as he talked with them, and opened to them the lively oracles. The apostolic learning is that of men who were the companions of the Lord Jesus all the time that he went in and out among: them, beginning from the baptism of John to the very- day that he was taken up ; — men to whom he " ex- pounded all things," — who saw and heard the " many other " things which Jesus did and spoke, by far too numerous to be written, and too aston- ishing for a sinful world to believe. Judge, then, what must have been the learning of the first gospel ministers. They were eye-wit- nesses from the beginning, and " had perfect un- derstanding of all things from the very first. " Are there any privileges greater in this age for securing the qualifications adapted to a preacher of the gos- pel ? Are the most studious and profound in this generation any better prepared — can they be better prepared to perform this solemn ministry ? Can they know more of Christ — of his doctrine — of his spirit and practice — and of the best modes of in- structing and persuading men so as that they may be saved ? What, then, is the inference ? This, simply ; that if the deepest and most diligent study will not, to say the least, bring us farther than to the standard of apostolic learning, then any less de- gree of study will leave us less qualified than were they for the great ministerial work ; and what they taught and preached, we shall not be fully " able 7 98 MINISTER OF CHRIST to teach others also." In other words, this minis- try will not, and, without miracle, cannot, be per- fectly accomplished in us and by us. Thus the conclusion is irresistible, that the good and able minister — the minister for these times — is, and must be, a diligent, faithful, earnest, and un- tiring student. Aiming at nothing less than primi- tive acquirements and excellence, he will give his mind and heart to the things of God, and, by all appropriate means, pursue after divine knowledge. He studies not everything. Thousands and thou- sands of books he never reads ; but he looks earn- estly for every acquisition — every ornament suitable and needful for his most important work. To these he devotes himself unreservedly, rigidly adapting his means to the end in view. He expects no mi- raculous interference to qualify him suddenly, and without his own strong effort, for the minister's work. If he desires to speak or read in "other tongues," he thinks of no way to do so other than hard study, with God's blessing. If he would un- derstand all saving truth, he looks for no angelic teacher to appear for his special benefit; but he gives himself to this truth, and searches as for hid treasure, and ponders, and weighs, and com- pares spiritual things with spiritual. Longing to find out all appropriate modes of approaching men with a view to their instruction, awakening, and sal- vation, he sets his mind to think and inquire for these with a zeal which nothing can quench. He is ever and always searching for the " new things FOE THE TIMES. 99 and old " — pondering the fairest shape in which to present them to the attention of the multitude — - running hither and thither in his mind after every appropriate and powerful illustration, and examin- ing long and carefully to make sure of the exact spirit and manner of communication, that he may thus be a scribe well instructed — a minister ap- proved of God — a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. He is, in a word, a reading, meditative, thoughtful man. His mind is on the alert, — it is awake and alive to one thing. "My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee ; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thy heart to understanding ; yea, if thou criest after know- ledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding ; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasure ; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God." XL " Mighty in the Scriptures" — Acts xviii, 24. The minister for the times is a student of the Holy Scriptures. He has gone over the Bible carefully, critically, and prayerfully, — searching diligently what was the mind of the Spirit in every book and in every passage. The Bible is, comprehensively, 100 MINISTER OF CHRIST the book of his life — the grand centre and subject of his studies. His labour in all study is to become as familiarly and extensively acquainted with this book as, in his circumstances, is possible. This is his principle — this is his practice. He seizes every moment, and every means, and every privilege, for extending his acquaintance with the divine oracles. Not satisfied with a knowledge of the original tongues of the Bible, he seeks all necessary histo- rical knowledge of the several writers of the Scrip- ture books, and of the times in which they lived ; also, a knowledge of the principles of criticism. He will attain, either from the books themselves, or from more recent authors, as competent a know- ledge as may be of the things treated of, and al- luded to, in the sacred writings. Hence, he fa- miliarizes himself with Sacred Geography, Chro- nology, Civil and Political History, and Archaeolo- gy. In other words, he labours to understand whatever respects the literature and climate of the places and countries w^here the events related in the Bible transpired ; and whatever defines the times when such events took place, as well as of other matters mentioned or alluded to, together with their manners and customs. — Prof. Stuart. It is his aim, as he reads the Scriptures, to understand everything, so far as it may be, and ought to be, understood. He would bring himself up, as near as possible, to the perception of that very meaning which was in the mind of the sacred writers themselves when they penned those books. Differences of time, FOR THE TIMES, 101 place, climate, scenery, education, manners, cus- toms, and government, — differences which tend to throw obscurity around many passages of the Scrip- tures, he labours assiduously to overcome. By ap- propriate and comprehensive reading — by deep, Christian, and careful study and meditation, he en- deavours to throw himself back amid Scripture times. Scripture names are, with him, as house- hold words. Scripture localities are, to his eye, very much as the remembered groves, and hills, and fountains of his native abode. His purified imagination pictures forth, in vivid perspective, the hallowed scenes of sacred story. The hills of Ju- dea, the plains of the Jordan, the excellency of Carmel, the glory of Lebanon, the shores of Gen- nesareth, and the richness and beauty of Gilead and of Bashan, are to him as familiar objects. And he roams with patriarchs and prophets, and long and deeply listens to the bard of Israel, and mingles with the apostles, and walks with Jesus, and is charmed and subdued with the eloquence which flowed with celestial fulness from lips inspired. He has sought, in a sense, the mind, the ear, the infor- mation, the associations and feelings of an intelli- gent Jew, who may be supposed to have listened to the strains of David, Isaiah, or Jeremiah, — to the visions of Ezekiel, Daniel, or John, — to the sim- plicity of Matthew, or the logic of Paul. He has acquired a capacity to live in past and distant ages, inhale their atmosphere, and move and dwell fa- miliarly with their realities ; and, without embar- 102 MINISTER OF CHRIST rassment, to converse with scenes long past away. And this capacity was reached, not by miracle, but by a pure and devoted mind, acting with a strong and well-directed effort, put forth with constancy and long perseverance. III. "Take heed — unto the doctrine" — 1 Tim. iv, 16. The minister for the times is a student of Theology. Systematic Theology is u such a methodically ar- ranged form of the great truths and precepts of religion as enables the theological student to con- template them in their natural connexion, and thus to perceive both the mutual dependence of the parts and the symmetry of the whole." By careful and prayerful study, the faithful minister aims to ascer- tain what are the doctrines of the Bible. He seeks to understand clearly and familiarly the various ar- guments drawn from Scripture and from reason for the establishment of each specific doctrine, as well as the objections to each that may have been urged, together with the refutation of such objections. He receives the exhortation of the apostle, to take heed to himself and to the doctrine, and perceives clearly that on his being competent here depends very much his ability and success in the great work to which he is called. He establishes himself in the truth. The great doctrines of the Christian scheme FOR THE TIMES. 103 stand forth in living, breathing, divine forms before the eye of his mind. He contemplates them in their separate existence, as also in their mutual re- lations, properties, and affinities. For he recog- nizes not the doctrines of revelation merely as insu- lated blocks, standing apart from each other, but rather as parts of one majestic and glorious struc- ture. " Like the stones of a well-constructed arch," says a living writer, " every part of the doctrine of revelation is not only essential to the rest, but oc- cupies the exact place which gives union and sta- bility to the whole. The different doctrines cohere. They all unite in the guilt and corruption of man, and in the incarnation and sacrifice of Christ. If any one part be taken away, the remainder becomes disjointed and useless. For what is the doctrine of redemption without the fall ? or that of the fall without the doctrine of redemption ? And what is the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, unless sustained by both of the preceding ? And what is the infinitely holy character of God, if separated from the other doctrines of which it is the key-stone — the essen- tial primary part which knits the whole arch to- gether?'' — Bishop Wilson, of Calcutta. Thus the true minister not only studies the doc- trines of the Bible, each by itself, and that with the utmost care, precision, research, and candour, but he studies them as a system — each having its ap- propriate position and use, and, in their united ca- pacity, constituting a magnificent plan whose author is God, and whose development is destined to evolve 104 MINISTER OF CHRIST the eternal happiness of millions of the race. He has no idea of fulfilling his commission, especially as a teacher and preacher, without great effort here. So far as industry, and every appropriate means, can make him such, he is evangelical, accurate, ju- dicious, and profound, as a theologian. Every day he is pushing his researches, reviewing the great doctrines of the cross, applying them deeply to his own heart, and laying hold of every aid, that he may perceive the truth in all its extent, and in all its relations. He cultivates a strong, vigorous, well- balanced, theological mind. He is a zealous, hum- ble, untiring student of the things of God ; and, taking heed to himself and to the doctrine, he both saves himself and them that hear him. IV. " Walk about ZionV — Psa. xlviii, 12. The minister for the times is a student of Church History. He is aware that an accurate and exten- sive knowledge of the history of the Church is as important to a minister, as such a knowledge of civil and political history is to the statesman. He would trace the causes of the prosperity and de- cline of Christianity. He looks after the origin, progress, and effects of religious persecution. He examines the origin and history of religious errors,, and the means by which they have been promoted* FOR THE TIMES. 105 and especially the measures by which they have been subdued or checked. He searches that, by a familiar acquaintance with the history of the Church, he may seize upon numerous interesting and pow- erful illustrations for enriching and adorning- dis- course, and enforcing truth. He would thus, also, confirm his faith, and learn the importance of sta- bility and calmness in troublous times. He would, by profound attention to these studies, promote his piety, improve his memory, imagination, and rea- soning powers, and greatly enlarge his knowledge of mankind. — Prof. Emerson. Nor, in examining the history of religion, and of religious opinions, does he confine himself to ages long past away. He watches carefully more re- cent and present aspects of religious belief ; for he is aware that the religious history of the past tends strongly to illuminate that of the present, while what is now transpiring essentially aids to account for many religious phenomena of former ages. Then he knows, also, that a knowledge of the present re- ligious opinions, as well as of those of other times, is indispensable to any proper and effectual defence of the truth as it is in Jesus. The minister for the times discerns the present age to be rife with reli- gious errors. Most of these, indeed, are not new, but simply a revival of old and putrid error, such as the history of the Church assures him sprang up centuries ago, and died, to be resuscitated in after ages by new races of enthusiasts and fanatics. Yet he sees that these modern editions of former here- 106 MINISTER OF CHRIST sies, together with any revisions and alterations they may have undergone, are all necessary to be known by the preacher, and must form a part of his read- ing and studies, in order that he may be qualified to meet and overthrow them. " Opinions, in some respects new, — new, at least, to the common peo- ple, — are almost daily introduced. And besides, old errors are sustained by new sophistries; and the preacher who would keep pace in minute acquaint- ance with the march of novelty in the theological world, especially at this day, when the means are so multiplied for accelerating the progress of thought through society, will find sufficient occupation for all the time he can well spend from the immediate business of his calling." — Dr. Skinner. V. "Study to show thyself — a workman." — 2 Tim. ii, 15. The minister for the times is a student of Preach- ing. It is easy to conceive that a man may be deeply learned in the Holy Scriptures, and in the- ology, while yet he may essentially fail as a preach- er. It is one thing to know, and another thing to communicate ; — one thing to be learned, and a dif- ferent thing to be eloquent. And far too numerous have been the examples of radical deficiency in the great work of preaching, where learning and piety were not wanting. Hence the wise minister recog- FOR THE TIMES. 107 nizes preaching as one of his prominent departments of study. He inquires diligently after the elements of efficiency and power in public discourse, and es- pecially in religious discourse. Eager to detect each and all of these, and keeping them ever before his eye, he labours, by the appropriate studies and dis- ciplinary exercises, to correct every error, improve every faculty, and supply every deficiency. With him there is special importance, not only in the question what he shall bring before the people, but also in the inquiry how it shall be presented. What is the exact shape that will be the best possible, and the most effectual, in the accomplishment of the great object ? What is the right method with this and the other theme ? What is the most ap- propriate style in every case ? What is the action ? And how is it to be acquired, and what the obsta- cles to be overcome ? In a word, wherein lies the ability to proclaim the glorious gospel in ways and modes the most instructive, impressive, persuasive, and saving, that is possible in human instrument- ality? A great question ! worthy of the severest, most eager, and constant scrutiny of the minister of right- eousness. A divine accomplishment ! worthy the largest labours and sacrifices to attain. Nor with- out such labours and sacrifices is it likely to be se- cured. " The business of choosing, adapting, and analyzing subjects of discourse ; — of arranging, com- paring, correcting, and applying discourse itself, and of so living, and so disciplining the heart, as to keep 108 MINISTER OF CHRIST one's self in the necessary mood and tone of mind for the just enunciation and delivery of discourse, — this is work to be no otherwise done by any man than by laborious and indefatigable application." " Let no one suppose that anything will ever make it easy work to speak well in public. Occasions and circumstances may rouse the mind into high action, and the result may be surprising displays of eloquence without much specific effort at prepa- ration ; but life is not made up of occasions of ex- traordinary excitement. Let all persons who de- sign to be efficient and successful speakers in pub- lic, bid adieu to sensual indulgence, resist all temp- tations to mental sloth, and make a covenant with labour, as their portion and pleasure under the sun." — Dr. Skinner. VI. "Prove your own selves" — 1 Cor. xiii, 5. The minister for the times is a student of man. A profound knowledge of mankind is one of the in- dispensable qualifications of the successful minister. He must know, to an eminent degree, " what is in man." As a preacher, he should especially know what are the directest avenues to the mind and the heart. In other words, he must know, without mistake, what it is that generally interests the minds of men. and what it is that moves, and affects, and sways their hearts. He must ponder well the springs FOR THE TIMES. 109 of human sympathy and action. He must be fa- miliar as well with their antipathies as their partial- ities. Contemplating a given result, he must know the means, and all the combinations of means, that are necessary to produce it. He must know how to avoid defeat, on the one hand, and how to ensure success, on the other. To this important end the good minister studies deeply his own mind. Aware that the great principles of human nature are com- mon to all, he seeks to know himself, that he may thus know all others. He marks the diversified agencies that move and affect his own heart — he notices the thoughts and modes that impress and convince his own mind, as well as those which fail of such an effect. He examines well all that con- tributes to the result, when he himself is pleased for his good to edification, or when the opposite influence is realized. Thus it is, that while disposed to be useful, he possesses, also, the requisite ability ; and is skilful to please all men, not seeking his own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. The good minister, then, studies man. He com- munes with his own heart. He examines, and proves himself. For the same end he converses — he pe- ruses history and biography, especially biographies of eminent and successful ministers. He is deeply read in intellectual science and ethics, and in the Holy Scriptures. Always, and everywhere, he stu- dies mankind ; and his profiting herein is manifest hi ail his public and private ministrations. 110 MINISTER OF CHEIST vn. " The prophets have inquired and searched diligently." 1 Pet. i, 10. The minister for the times is a diligent student. He redeems time to the utmost. He realizes that every waking, conscious moment is to send after him its eternal echo, as he shall traverse the cycles of interminable ages. Hence, he longs with a great desire that every passing moment may receive from him the fairest, holiest impress. He is diligent — he is never unemployed — he is never employed tri- flingly. He buys up every precious hour and min- ute, that he may finish his course with joy, and the ministry he has received of the Lord Jesus. He seizes the early morning ; and while thousands, less resolute and diligent, are slumbering, he is pushing rapidly and strongly the great work of his life. Dr. Doddridge owed the production of his " Fa- mily Expositor," and most of his other writings, to his rising at five, instead of seven o'clock in the morning ; and he correctly computed that such a difference in the hour of rising, maintained during forty years, would, reckoning eight hours a day, add ten years of time for study to a man's life. So many precious years the good minister may not sacrifice for the sake of any graceless self-indul- gence. He hastens to redeem them ; for, in so many redeemed years, he may, with God's help, FOR THE TIMES. Ill make an impression on the world that will affect the latest ages of time, and gather for himself glory that will never fade away. John Wesley, in one of his sermons, writes that, sixty years before, he began to rise at four, instead of seven or after, and that he had continued to do so ever since. Thus, on the principle of reckoning above alluded to, he redeemed twenty-two years and ten months, which, during those sixty years, and with his former habits, would have been lost, and worse than lost. So, also, an eminent living- writer of our own country, who has blessed the Church with some of the most precious writings in our religious literature, gave to those writings, al- most exclusively, his early morning hours. So diligent — so covetous of time, is the minister who is adapted to this generation. He denies him- self, takes up his cross, sells all that he has, and buys — time. And having bought it, and made it sure, then he uses it. That solemn page — the page that is to be reviewed at the judgment — is well filled and pure. He labours with his might. Every en- ergy is rallied to the subject or point under inves- tigation. If the thoughts wander for a moment, they are immediately summoned anew, and led on with increased energy and power, until the allotted task is finished, and the mind has triumphed. 112 MINISTER OF CHRIST vm. " If thou seehest her as silver" — Prov. ii, 4. The minister for the times is a faithful student. While he studies diligently, he studies effectually and successfully. He does not trifle with his mind, nor with the great matters on which he undertakes to meditate. If he reads, he reads so as to possess himself fully and clearly of the views of the writer, and gives the proper arrangement and classification to whatever he may acquire. Hence, he reads de- liberately, attentively, and cautiously, — suffering nothing to escape his observation that may be of use to him in his professional work, or in the gene- ral improvement of his mind and heart. If he writes, he does justice to his theme to the full extent that his abilities will allow. He gives no place to restlessness or impatience; — none to sloth, or dulness, or improper haste. He carefully investigates and compares. He guards against any defective reasoning and doubtful conclusions. He thinks as patiently, as justly, as profoundly, as pos- sible. He gives due attention that his style may accord with his sentiments, and that the whole per- formance be as nearly perfect as may be. If he is preparing for preaching, he has the same spirit of faithfulness as when in the actual work of preaching. There are similar aspirations for the welfare of souls — the same awful sense of respon- FOR THE TIMES. 113 sibility. There is the same Holy Spirit prompting, encouraging, helping him. He is faithful in his theme, and in the views he adopts. He searches the Scriptures with eagerness and candour. He labours to find out the mind of the Spirit. He goes after all appropriate thought, argument, illus- tration, and embellishment. He renders his dis- course as strong, as evangelical, as persuasive and finished, as he is able to render it. With the means at his command, he spares no pains in this all-im- portant branch of his studies. The faithful minister is a faithful student. Whe- ther his opportunities for study be many or few, and whether the amount of his studying be greater or less, he studies faithfully. He never contents himself with half -formed notions. He scorns to be superficial. For the half day, or the half hour, he gives himself wholly to his work ; and the general integrity, conscientiousness, and uprightness of his character, are as active in the department of study, as in any other department of his ministerial labours. IX. " Continue— "— 1 Tim. iv, 16. The minister for the times is a persevering student. When has a gospel minister finished up, and laid aside, his important studies? When is the Holy Bible, in language and style — in poetry and song — 8 114 MINISTER OF CHRIST in vision and prophecy — in parable and simple de- scription — in narrative and epistle — in argumenta- tion and exhortation — in ethics and divinity — when is it all comprehended and understood, and to be laid aside as a concluded study ? When is all Christian doctrine canvassed — all its relations seen — all its true arrangement decided — all its applica- tions perceived — ail its arguments marshalled and weighed — all objections met — all its sublimity and glory appreciated — all its wondrous power realized ? When is all preaching perfected — all Christian and gospel themes spread forth in transcendent beauty and power — all elements of holy eloquence seized, and woven irreversibly into the contexture of the preacher's being — all soul-subduing efficiency and force guarantied to every presentation from the put- pit — and every sermon such, that were it otherwise than what it is, it must inevitably be inferior ? Questions such as these require, of course, no answer. All of us are children ; and, in respect to progress, immensely more is the ground we have to traverse, than what we have already passed. If the mighty Newton — the intellectual Coryphaeus of the human race — contemplated himself as hav- ing but picked up a pebble or two on the shore of the great ocean of truth, much more should Christian ministers assume to themselves but to have com- menced the sublime ascent of knowledge and at- tainment. The minister for the times, then, is a student now, and a student always. In this respect, he is ever FOR THE TIMES. 115 reaching forth to the things that are before him. He never esteems himself to have become suffi- ciently learned in the things of God, nor sufficiently competent, without further study, to deliver per- fectly the gospel message. And even when old age has come over him, and his eyes are " darken- ed," and his mind enfeebled, and all his powers weary and faltering, he still communes deeply with the Holy Scriptures, and is a glad and humble stu- dent and learner at the feet of the great Teacher. $art ©Ijirtr. THE MINISTER FOR THE TIMES AS A PREACHER. THE MINISTER OF CHRIST FOR THE TIMES. PART III. "Preach?— 2 Tim. iv, 2. The minister for the times is a Preacher. Preach- ing is the vocal and public proclamation of the gos- pel ; and this is the capital office and work of the minister — and of the minister for these times, as well as for all time. It was thus that the gospel dispensation commenced. Christ was announced by preaching. When He appeared, he came preach- ing. He passed through all the cities and villages, teaching, and preaching the gospel Gf the kingdom. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, anointing him to preach the gospel to the poor. The apostolic commission was to preach. Paul was called, by God's grace, to preach Christ among the heathen. This was his special work ; for Christ sent him not to baptize, but to preach the gospel. Thus this apostle writes of those who were begotten through the gospel. Peter writes of such as were born not of corruptible seed, but by the word of God ; and James writes of himself and others being begotten 120 MINISTER OF CHKIST with the word of truth. And how shall men be- lieve in one of whom they have not heard ? And how shall they hear without a preacher ? This is the divinely appointed instrumentality for the awa- kening and salvation of the race. Its importance, either from too much inadequate preaching, or from the multiplication of benevolent agencies, or from the degeneracy of the times, may have come to be more lightly esteemed than formerly. Yet preach- ing is still the great agency — the grand means for the world's regeneration. It is true now, as ever of old, that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing, by the proclamation of the word of God. Nor is he at all the minister for these times who hopes to save the souls of men by other means as effectually as by the preaching of the gospel. He- lms forgotten the ancient landmarks. He is strik- ing out another path than that which He devised who gave the great gospel commission. Converse he should, at every opportunity. Write he should, wherever his pen may awaken, or guide, or com- fort. The press he may use, so far as he has time, to aid the great cause for which he lives and acts. But let him not forget that preaching — preaching \s his great business — his high calling — his hea- venly ordnance — his celestial sword — his burnished weapon of warfare — his strong staff of accomplish- ment. Preaching has done wonders from the day of Pentecost to the present ; and that, because it is God's own select instramentality. Immeasura- bly the greater proportion of saints in Paradise, and FOR THE TIMES. 121 of the great multitude now travelling thither, were brought to salvation by gospel preaching. Preach- ing awoke them at first — led them on to repent- ance, faith, conversion, sanctification, and perseve- rance ; while its solemn voice, like some strange, invisible power, is ever lifting the Christian toward God, — dying away on the pilgrim's ear only when the everlasting doors have shut him within the hea- venly city. To the Jew, it may be a stumbling- block ; to the wise of this world, it may appear as foolishness ; while yet by such foolishness hath it pleased God to save them that believe. 'This is still the power of God and the wisdom of God ; — this will still be the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes. What, then, of the minister adapted to these times ? He is a preacher. This is his work. For this he studies, and prays, and converses, and re- creates, and eats, and drinks, and lives. This, in his mind, is the most weighty and important of all human transactions and efforts. By this, men are saved from an eternal hell, and exalted to immortal life. This is the joyful sound. This is the hea- venly heralding. This is the startling note, effect- ively warning millions on millions away from the wrath to come. This is the solemn trumpet, echo- ing from hill-top to hill- top, — waking the " isles of the south,'' and shaking the nations. Above all voices running along the earth, this is the voice which " devils fear," — the voice which hushes to peace the heaving billows of grief and despair. 122 MINISTER OF CHRIST This is tlie music which charms the world, and transmutes terrestrial nature into the enchanting scenery of paradisiacal loveliness and glory. n " Not a novice" — 1 Tim. iii, 6. The minister for the times preaches intellectually. He has clear mental conceptions of the several doc- trines of the Bible, and of the general system of revealed truth. In other words, he is, as before seen, learned in the Scriptures, and all his discourses give evidence of such learning. As he dwells upon any given point of Scriptural doctrine or precept, his preaching contravenes not any other truth or precept. He is not a novice, but possessed of strong and manly understanding of the great charter of salvation. As he speaks, you discern the truth pre- sented ; — you observe the pertinency of the argu- ments and illustrations adduced in its support. You will perceive, to a greater or less extent, its relation to other truth. You will understand its applica- tions and uses. What is preached is not mere rhap- sody. The preaching goes not out in words. It is not an unstudied and ill-digested harangue, but it is an intellectual exercise. The intellect found full employ in its preparation, and has full employ in its delivery, and gives vigorous and healthy ex- ercise to the minds of the hearers. They are con- FOR THE ITVW. 123 vinced that the man who addresses them possesses mind and judgment. They feel the force and pro- priety of his reasoning. They cannot deny him to be a " workman ;" nor can they refuse him that re- spect which intellect fails not to command, and which every minister of the gospel should be com- petent to secure. ni "A teacher of the Gentiles" — 1 Tim. ii, 7. Hence, the minister for the times preaches instruct- ively. His preaching is perpetually instructive in the great and important things pertaining to reli- gion. It is not a mere repetition of what is already known to the congregation. The preaching, it is true, has much to do with old and familiar truths ; yet, even here, his discourse is instructive. Some new view is presented — or some new aspect rises to the eye — or some fresh confirmation is afforded to what was before partially doubtful — or some in- ference, previously unthought of, is deduced — or some new, distinct, and important impression, is stamped upon the mind and heart. There is brought forth from the treasury of God's word things new as well as old. Thus, while the understanding of the hearer has been addressed and exercised, it has been instructed also. The attentive hearer retires from the sermon a wiser, as well as a better man. 124 MINISTER OF CHRIST The new warmth and courage of his heart, inspired by the preaching, has much to do with the sacred instruction which has thus been fastened upon the mind. And how does the minister gain this " aptness to teach ?" He gains it, and gains it only, by his strong and unwearied diligence in sacred study and in prayer. He dwells very much with his Bible, and upon the appropriate modes of exhibiting gos- pel truth. He studies for constantly increasing power to teach and preach the glorious gospel. He meditates upon these things, and gives himself wholly to them. He is a successful scholar in the school of Christ. The treasures of sacred learning are unlocked to him. The kingdoms of Nature, Providence, and Grace, are open to his inquiring and ardent mind. His days and nights being thus employed, he advances with rapid strides in divine knowledge, and becomes a scribe well instructed. His mind is " thoroughly furnished ;" and when he stands up to preach Christ and salvation, it is as one who has pondered deeply the things of God. He speaks of " excellent things." All the words of his mouth are in righteousness. Blessed is the man that heareth him ; for his instructions are bet- ter than silver, and the knowledge of his lips than choice gold. FOR THE TIMES. 125 IV. " Understandest thou?" — Acts viii, 30. The minister for the times preaches understand- ingly. Not only has he an intellectual view of the scheme, proportions, and relations, of religions truth ; but he has felt the influence of this truth as it has impressed and transformed his heart. His soul has been sanctified through the truth. Hence it is that he preaches not only with a clear head, but with a feeling heart. Preaching the depravity of man, he is able not only to present the Scripture view, and its abundant confirmation from the history of the race; but especially does the history of his own heart answer back to the inspired presentation, and affords him indispensable aid in unfolding and im- pressing this essential truth. Preaching repent- ance, he preaches what he has felt, and still feels ; and, therefore, knows how to explain and enforce. Preaching faith, he points to that Saviour in whom he has himself trusted, and still trusts, from mo- ment to moment. Preaching pardon, he proclaims that which he knows, and testifies that which he has seen and felt in his own experience. Preach- ing renewal of heart and life, the blissful change in his own soul gives a glow and impressiveness to such discourse which is never seen where " know- ledge " is absent. Preaching the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, he tells of a heavenly, mighty influ- 126 MINISTER OF CHRIST ence, that has touched and fired his own heart with unearthly aspirations. Proclaiming the danger of wicked men, his thoughts are deeply coloured by the clear vision he has had of his own peril. Por- traying the joys of piety, every feature upon the canvass receives a tinge and glory from the rejoic- ing spirit that is giving existence to the picture. Preaching Christ in all his offices and relations to man, all such preaching is essentially modified by his own position relatively to the Lord that bought him. It is no longer a dead letter. It is not a mere disquisition or essay. It is a discourse, rather, breathing with life — animated with the Spirit of God inhabiting the preacher's heart — glowing with heavenly love begotten within the man by Him who "maketh his ministers a flame of fire." Fi- nally, if he expatiates upon the prospects of the Christian, and turns the eyes of the congregation toward " everlasting life," all discern at once that it is not a mere theory with which he lingers, but that he is giving joyous expression to his own blessed hope, cast as an anchor within the veil. FOR THE TIMES. 127 "In the word and doctrine" — 1 Tim. v, 17. The minister for the times preaches doctrinally. He presents in his preaching the several doctrines of the Holy Scriptures. Especially does he exhibit, largely and fully, what are termed the fundamental or essential truths of Christianity, and what are con- nected inseparably with holy conduct and character. Such was the preaching of Christ Jesus, and the multitude was astonished at his doctrine. Such, too, was the preaching of the apostles, who were early charged with filling Jerusalem with their doc- trine. Accordingly, the primitive disciples were firmly indoctrinated in respect to the vital truths of the cross ; for they are represented, even in the early stages of their Christian course,, as continuing steadfast in the apostles' doctrine. The Roman Christians learned the apostolic form of doctrine, and obeyed it from the heart; while they were earnestly exhorted to mark those who cause divi- sions and offences contrary to the doctrine which they had learned, and avoid them. " Thou hast fully known my doctrine," writes Paul to Timothy ; and he entreats him, as he would be a successful minister, to take heed to the same thing ; and charges Titus to be uncorrupt, grave, and sincere in doctrine. Peter was of the like spirit and practice ; for he was not negligent to put Christians always in remem- 128 MINISTER OF CHRIST brance of these things, and that, too, though they might already know them, and be established in the present truth. The true minister of this age fails not to follow examples and instructions so exceedingly appro- priate. He holds up the truth of God, and sus- tains it by competent authority, and explains it by all necessary amplification and illustration. He sees this to be indispensable. Aware that " doctrines of devils" are still taught and cherished among men, he would forestall these lies with all possible diligence, and establish every mind in the truth of God. If there be gainsayers, he would, though prudently, yet mightily resist them, and, by the inculcation of all necessary truth, banish error from the minds and hearts of the people. Those doc- trines which are melancholy and unwelcome he is careful not to omit, but to preach thep fully and faithfully; for all Scripture is profitable for doc- trine ; and all Scripture doctrines are profitable, in one way or another, for the perfection of the man of God, and that he may be thoroughly furnished to every good work. " Indeed, these are the grand bases of all profitable instruction. The character of God, the character of men, the way of salvation by Christ, and the kindred doctrines involved by necessary connexion with these, are subjects which our hearers must be brought to understand, or they are taught nothing to any valuable purpose. "— Dr. Porter. FOR THE TIMES. 129 VI. " That we may present every man perfect? — Col. i, 28. The minister for the times preaches practically. In every sermon, whether doctrinal or otherwise, he aims at practical effect. He would do good. This is his "ruling passion" — his great purpose in preaching the gospel of Christ. He aims to preach so that the gospel shall have its legitimate effect. He would enlighten the eyes — make wise the sim- ple — rejoice the heart. He would have the word, as a hammer, breaking the rock in pieces. Hear- ing — Faith — Salvation — this is the Scriptural chain which the good preacher forever labours to link with his preaching. He looks that the word of God be quick and powerful — sharper than a two- edged sword ; piercing, even to the dividing asun- der of the soul and spirit — of the joints and mar- row. He looks that, under every sermon, souls should be begotten by the word of truth. He watches for the answer of Christ's prayer, that the people may be sanctified through the truth. He exerts himself for the " pricking of the heart," and for the inquiry, "What must I do to be saved?" Such being the shining mark, from which he never removes his eye, the modifying influences thus exerted upon his preaching is obvious to every one. He preaches practically. The saving effect is not forgotten in the selection of the text, in the 9 130 MINISTER OF CHRIST arrangement of the sermon, in the character and extent of his meditations upon a given point, in his mode of reasoning and illustration, in the manner of application of his theme to the audience, or in the spirit and gesture which accompanies the whole performance. For this man to pronounce a merely learned and orthodox discourse in the shape of a sermon, would be deemed by him a lost effort ; and such a Sabbath would be registered, in his calendar, as a lost day. He has no time for such a mode of preaching. To others is left the service of merely pleasing the ear, and giving entertainment to the intellect. He must save a soul ere it perishes for- ever. He must feed some one hungering for the bread of life ; — encourage and refresh some pilgrim weary and fainting ; — bind up some heart broken and bleeding. He must plant a seed that shall germinate and grow, to yield an immortal harvest. He must preach a sermon which some forlorn tra- veller shall hear, and then go home to die. He must, possibly in the next sermon, announce to some spirit the last warning or consolation ere that spirit meets its God. FOR THE TIMES. 131 VII. " Preach the word" — 2 Tim. iv, 2. The minister for the times preaches biblically. In accordance with the motto of this paragraph, he preaches the word. He preaches the doctrines and precepts of the Bible, and preaches them after a Scriptural manner. If his sermon be topical, his point is a Scriptural one, and embraced in his text. If the point is to be substantiated more fully, the considerations adduced from the Scriptures will al- ways hold the prominent place in the argument. If the point is to be illustrated rather than demon- strated, the Scriptures will be a capital source of illustration and embellishment. If, again, the point is to be treated as a basis of inferences, these will also be shown to be harmonious with the divine oracles. Or, if the sermon be a textual discourse, its scope will be exhibited as consonant with the general tenor of the Scriptures. The several ideas or doctrines will be presented in the Scriptural order, and so as to bring out the genius of the text. They will severally be compared with other Scriptures, there- by evincing the harmony of inspiration ; while such light as the Scriptures generally throw upon the whole text, or any of its parts, will be carefully col- lated and exmuiccJ lu the hearers. Or, often leaving single texts or propositions, he 132 MINISTER OF CHRIST will dwell upon more extended portions of the Scriptures, following the track and spirit of the di- vine teaching, and aiming, by brief and judicious comment, to echo the exact mind of the Spirit as He moved the " holy men of old." Thus he will stand back, and permit God himself to speak ; and the preacher's aim is, that the sermon be as if pro- ceeding from the lips of Him who spake as never man spake. Indeed, it will be a prominent study with this minister to detect, by Scripture itself, the most ef- fectual modes of teaching and impressing the Scrip- tures. The various history, prophecies, discourses, instructions, parables, and epistles of the Bible, will be carefully examined, analyzed, and studied, with this important object fully in view. The humble and wise minister distrusts his own skill and genius, even in the matter of shaping and constructing his discourses. He would serve as a good steward of the manifold grace of God. Opening his lips, he would speak as the oracles of God. Ministering the word of life, he would do it as of the ability which God gives, that God may in all things be glorified through Jesus Christ. He seeks not to come with excellency of speech or of men's wis- dom, declaring the testimony of God ; but in de- monstration of the Spirit and of power — by the effectual mode of preaching which the Spirit dic- tates and inspires. FOR THE TIMES. 133 VIII. "All Scripture — is profitable." — 2 Tim. iii, 16. The minister for the times preaches variously. This is as obvious as the truth of the preceding paragraph. Adopting the topical, the textual, and the expository forms of preaching and studying the Scriptures, with a special view to learn all appro- priate ways and modes of illustrating and impress- ing sacred truth, his preaching will hardly fail of variety. Inclining to no one class of truths or doc- trines to the neglect of others, but giving to all due prominence and proper attention, the diversified wants of the hearers will be generally supplied. The Bible is the world where the good minister breathes, sees, and contemplates ; — where he tra- vels, explores, discovers, and wonders ;— where he beholds God and angels, and ponders man's eter- nal history ; — where a strange array of mighty men, and sublime scenery, and astonishing events, and enchanting visions, pass before the eye ; — where, as he listens, truth falls upon his ear by every ap- propriate manner of inculcation. Here he meets with " profound reasonings — short prudential, mo- ral, and religious maxims — plain and pithy precepts — orations in form — poetry of every species, and every high degree of excellence — familiar letters — private journals — history, both general and bio- graphical — together with most other approved 134 MINISTER OF CHRIST modes of communication. "— Dr. Dwight. Thus, tlie minister finds endless variety in the book of God, while all is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect — thoroughly fur- nished to all good works. Thus he learns, and from the highest possible authority, all various per- tinent and successful modes of preaching the glo- rious gospel. Thus he becomes qualified for every necessary adaptation, whether in public or private teaching. His mind is rich, Scriptural, scripturally balanced, and fruitful. In his preaching he reflects the inspired subjects, forms, and costumes of holy instruction, warning, and consolation. He is a well- instructed scribe. He is a wise builder. He gives to each his portion in due season. IX. " We use great plainness of speech" — 2 Cor. iii, 12. The minister for the times preaches simply. In other words, he preaches artlessly and plainly. The design is to benefit and save all of every class, and of every grade of intellect and of education. He feels it to be entirely indispensable that he be understood. Hence, he preaches with simplicity. His plan of discourse is simple. Intricacy, and multiplicity of heads and divisions, are avoided. FOR THE TIMES. 135 His scheme has unity and definiteness. His ar- rangement is natural and orderly. The main point of the discourse, as well as the principal heads, are laid down with perspicuity, and with as much brevi- ty as possible. Then the style of the whole per- formance is simple, though always dignified and chaste, and never descending to any vulgar or mean expression or word. His terms are popular, rather than scientific or technical. Every word is as sound and good as it is simple and plain. His sentences are idiomatic and easy — -not long and in- volved, and are understood as soon as uttered. He uses no superabundance of words and expressions ; but announces his thoughts plainly and directly, and there ceases. If imagery be employed, it is always with due moderation and caution, and with a preference for that drawn from the " lively ora- cles." His elocution, too, corresponds to the sim- plicity of his style. As much as possible he avoids all mannerisms. He speaks distinctly, properly, and naturally ; — not as a man acting a part, or per- forming a piece of mere professional service, but as one who greatly desires to be understood by every hearer, and who is solicitous to impart as well the. impressions and emotions of his soul, as the ideas of his intellect. With such a speaker, all modes and ways will be avoided whose influence is to di- vert attention from the appropriate impression and purpose of the sermon. The whole arrangement, style, elocution, and gesture, are such as to be for- gotten by the audience ; while the thoughts, the 136 MINISTER OF CHRIST soul, of the discourse fasten all eyes, and arrest all hearts. The preacher is simple. In his eye, externals are trifling — the Word, everything. That Word, there- fore, he preaches with the simplicity of the primi- tive preaching. However profound as a reasoner, and mighty as a preacher, he prefers to speak five words with his understanding, that he might teach others also, than ten thousand words either in an unknown tongue, or in a style and manner not more easily understood. X. " That they may be saved." — 1 Cor. x, 33. The minister for the times preaches definitely. It has already been written that there is a lofty and mighty purpose in this man's, mind, which actuates him by night and by day ; and this purpose is es- pecially living and breathing in connexion with his preaching. He preaches with the purpose firmly in his mind to bring all that audience to the feet of Christ. This is his well-defined object, and nothing less than this. Here is the point toward which the theme — the plan — the sentences — the words — the imagery — the argument — the illustration — the elo- cution — the gesture — the sermon — the preacher's mind and heart — all are directed, as the needle to the pole. He will " save some "—he will save all* FOR THE TIMES. 137 if possible, and will save all in that hour. That hour — that occasion, is one whose importance eter- nity alone can measure. It is, perhaps, the last with some hearer — he knows not whom. He must gather them all while he may, and now is the ac- cepted time. This being his point, his mind and thoughts are steady. What is appropriate to his purpose he seizes, and omits the rest. The sim- plicity — the plainness already described, is sponta- neous. All disposition to wander — all mere blan- dishments, whether of learning or of w^it, are sacri- ficed. His eye looks right on, and he would draw every other eye in a single direction. In those hours in which he is preaching Christ to sinners — ■ calling upon the lost, and proclaiming the great and eternal refuge — then, if ever, he seeks, and ear- nestly longs, for the profit of many, that they may be saved. Then, if ever, he would strike precisely. Then, if ever, he reaches after the wisdom that " winneth souls." Then his soul is in perfect sym- pathy with His who came into the world to save sinners. Then he is always reminded to present every one perfect in Christ Jesus, 138 MINISTER OP CHRIST XI. u — His ministers a flaming fire!' — Psa. civ, 4. The minister for the times preaches feelingly. The great truths of the gospel have possession not only of his understanding, but of his affections also. His heart is touched, and graciously moved, by what God has spoken. He has not merely specu- lated upon God and Christ — upon depravity and redemption — upon pardon and holiness — upon a judgment to come and eternal retribution. He has felt, also, and with profound feeling. He car- ries this deep feeling into the pulpit. His soul is baptized with the spirit of his theme. All his heart, all his powers, are enlisted. He kindles and glows with the enrapturing themes of gospel grace. Preaching faith to the inquirer and the doubting, his preaching is poured forth from a heart actively , exercised with the joys of trust, and triumphing in the Lord of life. Announcing the remission of sins, he freely proffers to others what he feels that he- has freely received. Expatiating upon all the pious and moral duties of the Christian, he exhibits it as an object most dear to his heart, that all Christians should adorn their profession by a beautiful life and conversation. Dilating upon the prospects of the righteous, he evinces that he habitually walks and converses with the sublime future — dwelling as in eternity; and feels within himself the earnest of FOR THE TIMES. 189 the heavenly inheritance. The unregenerate he persuades to repentance and salvation, with a deep feeling of "the terrors of the Lord." His view of the world is the Bible view. He contemplates but two great classes. He anticipates the awful judg- ment scene, and the final and unalterable destinies. He sees no hope for finally impenitent men, and preaches accordingly. Beholding the city of un- righteousness, he weeps over it. As far as in his power, he enters into the estimate of the soul's value, and realizes that for its loss there can be no possible compensation or alleviation. Hence, with the deepest emotion, he urges the sinner to escape, and make no tarrying, lest he be consumed. He most affectingly invites him to the great refuge — the all-sufficient Saviour of lost men — and joyfully bids all to come and receive the promised salvation. His is a feeling as well as instructive sermon. The thoughtful hearer listens, and, retiring, his heart struggles and weeps. He cares not to look to the right hand or to the left, but walks silently, while the external world is forgotten. The affecting words of the preacher have sunk deeply into his soul. He is filled with solemnity. His enkindled spirit seizes upon high resolves, and from that day he is a better man. 140 MINISTER OF CHRIST XII. " Shotting — gravity — sound speech!' — Titus ii, 7-8. The minister for the times preaches seriously. Preaching the gospel of Christ is, in every aspect of it, the most serious of all earthly transactions. That work whose object is nothing less than that men may not perish, but have everlasting life — that work which is the divinely designated means for this sublime result, — must assuredly, in gravity and importance, hold the highest rank among the doings of mortals. And he who performs this work as he should, makes serious preparation in his study ; and, opening his lips, he speaks serious- ly. His whole heart is sober — his whole message is weighty — his whole manner is grave. He would realize that his business in the pulpit is as serious as the salvation of men. He forgets not that, fail- ing more or less in his preaching, the most disas- trous consequences may very probably result, and his mind anticipates the account he shall one day render of himself to God. His subjects, then, are all serious, and so is his manner of discussing them. Careless words and expressions, quaint illustrations, and all " lightness in his speech," are avoided. His voice and action are far removed from everything like vanity or display. He preaches 4< As though he ne'er shall preach again, And as a dying man to dying men." FOR THE TIMES. 141 Such was all the preaching and discoursing of the inspired preachers. All the Scripture exam- ples are solemn and weighty ; nor does there occur to the writer's mind a solitary note of a different character in whatever Christ or his apostles spoke or wrote. XIII. " Great is my boldness of speech* — 2 Cor. vii, 4. The minister for the times preaches boldly. We have seen that he fears not man. It is true* he has great respect for the congregation ; yet the same considerations, in part, that inspire his respect, dispose him, also, to boldness in dispensing the gos- pel of Christ. He respects men as human, intelli- gent beings — as those for whom Christ died — who are passing swiftly to the spirit world — who are shortly to commence an eternity of unspeakable happiness or wretchedness. Yet these are thoughts to inspire boldness in the gospel preacher ; while the love he bears to Christ, and to the honour of God, and to the souls of men — the longings of his heart for salvation, forbid him to fear. The bap- tism of the Holy Ghost is upon the heart of the true minister; and that powerful influence, above everything else, animates his preaching with holy boldness and assurance. He believes, and there- fore speaks. All worldly considerations and influ- ences have little regard from him. He is a man of 142 MINISTER OF CHRIST God ; and the will of God, and the things of God, engross all his mind and heart. He looks not at visible, but at invisible objects. He dwells above those considerations that are wont to generate the fear of man. He loves the praise of God more than the praise of men, and therefore boldly an- nounces what God has revealed. Although aware that, in preaching the truth of God, some will be offended ; yet he also knows that such preaching is necessary to the awakening and salvation of these same persons. At the same time, he considers those examples of preaching which were faultless. He ponders the boldness of Christ and his forerun- ner, as they preached to the rebellious Jews ; — the example of Paul, who spake boldly in the name of Jesus, and besought from the Ephesians incessant prayer in his behalf, that he might speak boldly, as he ought to speak. He considers the boldness of Peter, and John, and Stephen, as they charged upon the Jewish rulers the murder of the Messiah. Finally, he discerns how essential this quality of preaching is deemed in all the Scriptures ; and that the servants of God, from ancient times, were re- quired not to be dismayed at the faces of men, lest they be confounded. FOR THE TIMES. 143 XIV. u — Speak my word faithfully r ," — Jer. xxiii, 28, The minister for the times preaches faithfully : To this the boldness of the last paragraph is essential. Faithful in his investigations of the Holy Scriptures, and in ascertaining what God has spoken to men, he is equally conscientious and faithful in declaring the truth to the congregation. He rightly divides the word of truth, giving to each his portion in due season. In his conversation and acquaintance with the people, he discerns what may be needful, and brings it forth from the divine word regardless of fear or favour. No offence, if possible, will be given, whe- ther in the matter or manner of his preaching ; but he will not be false to his trust to save his life. He will preach the word — being instant in season, out of season ; reproving, rebuking, exhorting with all faithfulness. With Jeremiah, he girds up his loins and speaks to the people all that God commands, " diminishing not a word." With Ezekiel, he speaks all that God tells him, whether men will hear or forbear. With Timothy, he will study to show him- self approved unto God, With Paul, he keeps back nothing that is profitable : " Wherefore I 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. * * * Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space 144 MINISTER OF CHRIST of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears," The true minister would be able to say, at the conclusion of every sermon, " I have done all that I could rationally do. I sought out a discourse acceptable to God, and useful to the people. I preached with all possible ability of mind, and all possible fervour of soul, and all possible purity of motive ; and I have done my utmost to breathe a saving influence over all the cong relation.' ' xv. " — In fear, and in much trembling." — 1 Cor. ii, 3. The minister for the times preaches cautiously. He is as cautious, as thoughtful, as careful, as he is bold and faithful. Having meditated deeply up- on the laws of human influence, he remembers that the result of a single sermon— nay, even of a single expression of a sermon — may be momentous and eternal. Its influence, under God, may be to save a soul from death, and to hide a multitude of sins. It has been known that, to a youth long dispirited and without hope, a certain sermon came as a heal- ing balm to his fainting spirit, and he arose from that hour, and shone a star of the first magnitude ; and his voice, during these two hundred years, has been instructing thousands and millions of the race. FOR THE TIMES. 145 A young man, twenty-seven years of age, once preached a sermon in Scotland, under the influence of which about five hundred persons were changed ; while through these, doubtless, thousands more became savingly influenced.* On the other hand, a sermon, or a single expres- sion of a sermon, or some peculiar manner of its delivery, may result in consequences forever disas- trous. It may present some false view. It may exert an influence to harden, rather than to win and subdue. It may prove untempered mortar. It may lure to peace, when there is no peace. It may be the starting-point whence an inquiring soul shall decline and wander till he stumbles into ruin. An influence for good, or for evil — for eternal good, or eternal evil, is liable to spring forth from a sin- gle discourse, and that according as its matter, its manner, and spirit may be. Amazing thought ! And what will be the caution — the carefulness per- vading the preacher in such circumstances ! Surely he will meditate circumspectly, and will preach thoughtfully. Like Luther, he will never ascend the pulpit without trembling. He will not be in haste to speak. His words will be deliberate, ma- ture, and acceptable ; — his thoughts, all weighty and evangelical ; — his spirit, all prayerful and holy ; — his manner, all chaste, simple, sincere, and pure. He will forever guard against every prejudicial re- sult;— -he will labour that every discourse, and * See Prof. Park's admirable Introductory Essay to his " Preacher ' and Pastor." 1