The Comforts and Encouragements of the Christian Ministry

It is of the utmost importance to grasp the whole compass of the Christian Ministry. The view of one side only of the prospect (whichever side that may be) must necessarily give an imperfect and inaccurate representation. Painful and habitual experience constrains us to be with our people “in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.“ The opposition of the world — the inconstancy of the wavering — the inconsistency of the mere professor — the difficulties that beset the inquirer’s path — our frequent disappointments with the hopeful — combined with the recollection of what we are — what we ought to be — and what we ought to do — all this fearfully acts upon our weakness and depravity. Did we carry on” the warfere at our own charges,“ we should” be pressed out of measure, above But such are ‘’ the contradictions meeting in our work,” that, though it is a sorrow, it is yet “a sorrow full of joy.“*” Temptations ’ indeed “take us, besides such as are common to man.” We have a painful pre-eminence above our fellow Christians in bearing a double share of “the burden and heat of the day.” But if “the suflerings of Christ abound in us, our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” This happy equipoise of conflict and support, of responsibility and privilege, invigorates every effort in the exercise of simple dependence and patient hope.

We must acknowledge that the grounds of support and encouragement are fully commensurate with the momentous difficulty of the work. Hoic cheering is the recollection of our office, as the ordinance of Christ, and as the standing proof of his love to his Church! For will he not honour his own institution, and secure its appointed end, in the glory of his name and the prosperity of his Church? Will not he that sent us furnish us for our work? May we not plead his ordinance, as the ground of dependence upon him for all needful assistance and encouraging acceptance?

1 1 Cor. ii. 3. 2 ibid. ix. 7. 3 2 Cor. i. 8.

See an exquisite hymn on Ministerial Experience in the Olney Collection, Book iL 26. Compare also 2 Cor. vi. 6 — 10. 5 2 Corinthians i. 5.

How ample also are our sources of encouragement within the compass of our work /’ Did we depend upon the failing- support of human agency, or upon the energy of mere moral suasion — we should cry out, prostrate in heartless despondency — “Who is sufficient for these things?“* But the instant recollection — that” our sufficiency is of God” — “lifts up our hearts in the ways” and work of the Lord. Added to this — “the character of our ministration — as that “of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit,” — the cheering joys connected with the ministration of life and righteousness — together with our own personal interest in its blessings — all combine to invigorate our faith and expectancy under all apprehended difficulties. Therefore, seeing we have this Ministry (so far exceeding in glory” the preceding dispensation) ‘’ as %ce have received mercy, we faint not.“^ We have the fullest assurance, that “the life-giving Spirit” employs our Ministry as the vehicle of conveying his heavenly influence “to open the blind eyes,” and to quicken the spiritually dead. And to have his Divine seal to our work, as the honouied instrument of communicating the life of God, with all its attendant privileges, to the soul of man, cannot but bring with it a reflex delight of the most exalted character.

The spiritual and ‘permanent fruits of our Ministry must rank amo7ig our highest consolations. The repentance of a single sinner, is an event that causes rejoicing in heaven.’ (the only recorded instance of heavenly interest connected with our lower

1 Witsius’ spirit on entering upon the duties of his professorship was full of encouragement — ‘Quidni ergo jucundissima mihi ilia Domini verba applicein, quibus servum suum Josuam quondam affatus estl ‘Nonne ego precepi tibil Confirmare igitur et fortis esto; quia tecum est Dominus Deus tuus quocunque iveris.’ Licet infirmita lis me me* conscientia anxiuiu reddat, rcficit tamcn Divina; gratiaj, nunquam suos descrcntis, ad sustentandum promjita faciUtas — illius autem gratite, cui lubitum est virtutem suam in inftrmitate confirmare, quteque abjectissimis sffipe et rei gerendiE minime idoncis instruinentis utitur. ut totius opcris gloria in soliduin ac iliibata sibi remaneat.’ Oratio De Vero Thcologo. Misc. Sacra, ii. 851, 852.

2 2 Cor. ii. 16. 3 jbij. ni. 59; iv. i.

‘I will remind you,’ says Cotton Mather, — ’ that one of the greatest personages (an Archbishop and a Lord-Keeper) in the English nation (Archliishop Williams) once uttered this memorable speech. ‘I have passed through many places of honour and trust both in Church and State, more than any of my order in England for seventy years before: but were I assured, that by my preaching I had converted but one soul unto God, I should herein take more comfort, than in all the honours and offices that have ever been bestowed upon mc.’ You are entering upon a work, that will keep you continually in the way of this incomparable satisfaction; and I hope .... that the saving, or cnUuhtenlng and edifvang of one soul, at any time, will be a matter of more joy unto you than if all the wealth of Ophir should flow in upon you.’ Mather’s Studentand Pastor, pp. 159, 160. It was a golden sentence of Dr. Hammond, well worthy to be recorded, ‘Oh what a glorious thing — how rich a prize for the expense of a man’s whole life were it, to be the instrument of rescuing one soul from ruin!’ Indeed the Christian Pastor — as Bowles remarks — would readily make with the hireling the compact of the king of Sodom with Abraham, — “Give me the persons, and take the goods t.: thyself.” (Gen. xiv. 21.) Lib. iii. c. 9. 5 Luke xv, 10.

world); and therefore may well be conceived to bring no common pleasure to the Minister’s heart. Indeed, one such instance is a spring of encouragement even in the sinking contemplation of the mass of ignorance and sin that surrounds us. The subsequent walk also of our people in the faith, hope, and love of the Gospel forms our ground of unceasing thanksgiving to God, our chief jo/, and the very life of our Ufe. “We have no greater joy, than to hear that our children walk in truth.“^ AVe turn to them in the expression of parental anxiety and delight —” Now we live, if ye standfast in the Lord.^’^

The interest tve possess in the affectionate sympathies of a beloved people is also a subordinate source of comfort and encouragement. Rich indeed, and heart-gladdening is “the consolation in Christ, the comfort of love, the fellowship of the Spirit,”^ which we enjoy in communion with a flock, to whom God has owned our labours. In this love — the most touching love that this world affords — we find a full compensation for the scorn of an ungodly world, and the secret spring of many an hour of support and enjoyment, by which we are carried forward in our painful course. The Christian and intelligent part of our flock well know, that we are “men of like passions with themselves,” that our path is strewn with snares, and our hearts are often keenly wounded with sorrow and temptation. Christian sympathy engages them to “communicate with our affliction.” A sense of duty and privilege calls forth their exertions, and directs their conduct, so that, as far as possible, all just grounds of complaint or grief may be removed; and our labours fJi’ their sakes, and in their service, made consoling to our own souls.* Our debt of obligation to the secret expressions of their love at the throne of grace is reserved among the discoveries of the great day, to add dignity and emphasis to the acknowledgment now made “in part,” and then to be more fully proclaimed; that “we are their rejoicing, even as they also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.”*

Another comfort and encouragement in our work, of a more individual character, deserves to be mentioned — its special advantages for the cultivation of personal religion.* Such is the

1 2 John 4. 2 1 Thess. iii. 7 — 9. 3 Phil. ii. 1.

Quesnel thus beautifully expresses the mutual relation between the Pastor and the people — ‘The latter ought to alleviate the troubles which attend the pastoral function, by a filial respect, “obedience and fear.” The former ought to make a suitable return on all occasions by his care, and continually to cherish the flock by fresh testimonies of satisfaction, jo/, and tenderness.’ On 2 Cor. vii. 15, 16. Also on 2 Cor. ii. 3. Phil ii. 26. 5 2 Cor. i. 14.

8 See this clearly illustrated by Bishop Burnet — Pastoral Care, ch. lra. Mr. Boston, the well-known author of ‘The Fourfold State,’ dates his earliest thoughts and desires of deadening influence of secular callings upon the concerns of eternity, that without special exercises of watchfulness and prayer, the Christian cannot maintain his high elevation.’ Often did the “man after God’s own heart,” when engrossed with the cares of his kingdom, seem to env’y the Ministers of the sanctuary their peculiar privilege of a nearer approach to their God, and a constant abiding in his work.^ And what exercised Christian does not mourn over the necessary secularities of his calling, as abridging him of his spiritual enjoyments: and distracting even those seasons, which, by the active habit of self-denial, he is enabled to consecrate to communion with his God? It is so difficult to be employed, without being “entangled, with the affairs of this life f there are so many weeds of a worldly growth and of a rank luxuriance, “choking the word,” when it has given fair promise of fruit, and is even advancing “to perfection,”^ that the comparative freedom from these embarrassing hindrances is not among the least of our privileges. Add to this — while secular occupations have a tendency to divert us from God, this holy employ naturally draws us to him. In calling us to the search of the rich mines of Scripture, to heavenly contemplation, and spiritual devotedness, it furnishes the appointed means for the salvation of our own souls; so that “he that watereth is watered also himself”* And thus — the devotion of time, the concentration of attention, and the improvement of talents and opportunities — when applied in simplicity to that employment, which is the present and eternal rest of the soul, forms and matures the character for a richer supply of heavenly communications, and for more extensive usefulness in the Church of God.

We remark also the confirmation, afforded to our own faith by cf the daily routine of a spiritual Tninistration. 1’he palpable / display of the blindness and enmity of the natural man — the necessity of a radical change of heart and habit — the means by which this change is effected — its beneficial influence upon the whole character — its sustaining eflScacy, as manifested in” the

the Ministry from the consideration — ’ because of all men ministers were most taken up about spiritual things.” Is it not our unspeakable advantage, beyond all the gainful and honourable employments of the world, that the whole work of our particular calling is a kind of living in heaven; and, besides its tendency to the saving of the souls of others, is all along so proper and adapted to the purifying and saving of our own!’ Leighton’s Letter to the Clergy of Dumblane. Compare also his Works, ii. 452. We shall afterwards (Part. iii. ch. viii.) be led to remark upon the peculiar hindrances arising from this iource. Yet these — be it remembered — are the workings of temptation, acting upon a corrupt nature; while the direct tendency of a spiritual function must be the advancement of spiritual religion in the heart.

1 Compare Psalm cxix. 25, with Isaiah xl. 31.

2 Compare Psalm lxv. 4; lxxxiv. 4. 3 2 Tim. ii. 4.
* Luke viii. 14. Proverbs xi. 25.

patience and faith of the saints” — all meet us on every side in our closer and more familiar survey of man; strengthening our own personal faith in the Scriptural revelation, and enabling us to set our seal with stronger confidence, that in our official testimony “we have not followed cunningly-devised fables.”^ la The certainty of success must not be forgotten (though the

subject will hereafter come under consideration*^) as one of the main-springs of Ministerial support. All the covenanted engagements made to our great Mediator are mainly fulfilled through the instrumentality of the Christian Ministry.^ This, therefore, secures to us — that “the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in our hand,” and quickens us to be” steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as we knoio that orir labour is not in vain in the LordJ’*

But it is the prospect of eternity that consummates our hopes and joys. Then indeed will the inspired aphorism be fully illustrated — “He that winneth souls is wise” — when “they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” “When the chief shepherd shall appear, they shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.“^ Our recompense is measured not” according to” our success, but “our labour,“*’ and as with our blessed Master, vouchsafed even in the failure of our ministration.’’ And though we be only the instruments of the Divine purpose, and the organs of Almighty agency — yet is it as rich and full, as if the glory of the work were our own. What clearer proof is needed, that the rewards of the Christian dispensation are of ‘•’grace and not of debt” — the indulgence of free and sovereign mercy, wholly irrespective of man’s desert — which, were its claims insisted upon, instead of exalting him to the favour of God, would cover him with “shame and everlasting contempt?”

Admitting, therefore, that we are called to difficult and costly service; yet have we abundant cause to be satisfied with the sustaining support and consolation provided for every emergency. All indeed may be included in the single promise — “Lo,^I am with you alway, even to the end of the world.”* ‘The officers he employs in every age’ — observes an excellent Minister addressing a

1 2 Peter i. 16. See this point admirably drawn out in a somewhat varied view in the Bishop of Chester’s interesting sermons on the Christian Ministry, pp. 37 — 44.

2 Part ii. c.l. 3 isaiah hii. 10 — 12, with 1 Cor. i. 21; 2 Cor.l 20. 1 Cor. xv. 58. 5 Prov. xi. 30. Dan. xii. 3. 1 Peter v. 4. For a magnificent view of the glory of the

ministerial crown, see Hall’s Sermon on the Discouragements and Supports, &c. pp. 51

1 Cor. iii 8. ‘2 Cor. ii. 15, 16, with Isaiah xlix. 4. Matt, xxviii. 20 brother — ’ are entitled to this treasure, as well as those of the first age. — Keep your mind’ — he added — ’ behevingly attentive to this ‘• alvmys“’ — Lo I am with you, to quahfy and succeed )^ou in whatever work I call you to. “Lo, I am with yoxi^ to comfort you by my presence and Spirit, when your hearts are grieved.” Loi I am with you’ to defend and strengthen you in trials, though all men forsake you. While he stands with you, there can be no just cause of fear or faintness. You need no other encouragement. This you shall never want, if you continue faithful: and hereupon you may conclude — ‘The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me imto his heavenly kingdom.’*

Thus does every view of our office encourage us to increased exertion and devotedness so that in the midst of many painful exercises of faith and patience, we can “thank God and take courage.” None, who have devoted themselves in simplicity to the work, will hesitate in subscribing to Mr. Scott’s testimony — ‘With all my discouragements and sinful despondency; in my better moments, I can think of no work worth doing compared with this. Had I a thousand lives, I would willingly spend them in it: and had I as many sons, I should gladly devote them to it.’^