all the learning of the Jews, and of other nations; and he alfo was called by the grace of God; yet he does not ascribe his being a minifter of the gospel to either, or all of these, but to a gift which he had received; a peculiar gift, fitting and qualifying him for this important work; for, fpeaking of the gospel, he fays, whereof I was made a minifter according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me; with which agree the words of the apostle Peter, as every one bas received the gift, even so minister the fame one to another: in fome this gift may be greater, in others lefs; but in all where it is, it more or lefs qualifies for the fervice of the miniftry: having then gifts, differing according to the grace that is given unto us, whether prophecy, let us prophefy according to the proportion or analogy of faith; that is, let us interpret the fcriptures, or preach the word, agreeable to the tenor of it: Now this gift lies in a competent knowledge of the fcriptures, and of the things contained in them, and of a faculty of interpreting them to the edification of others; for the work of evangelical pastors or teachers, is to feed the churches with knowledge and understanding; which, unless they have a confiderable share of themselves, they will not be able to do with any profit and advantage to others: these are spiritual men, who having spiritual gifts, are capable of making judgment of all things neceffary to be known unto falvation; of this knowledge and of this gift the apoftle is fpeaking, when he fays, whereby when ye read ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ ». But now, befides this fhare of knowledge and furniture of the mind, there must be a capacity of expreffing it to others, to make up the minifterial qualification; a man must not only have wherewith to teach others, or matter to inftruct them. in, but he must be capable of doing it in an apt and fuitable manner; that tends to edification; which the apoftle means by utterance, which is a gift, and by mens being able to teach others alfo, and by being apt to teach'; for it fignifies... little what a man knows, or how great foever is the furniture of his mind, or the largeness of his ideas, and the compass of his knowledge, if he is not capable of clothing his ideas with apt and fuitable words to convey them to the understanding of others. So then this gift confifts of knowledge and elocution; and: on whomfoever this gift is beftowed, whether on a gracious or a graceless perfon, on a John or a Judas; or whether on a learned or unlearned man, on a Paul " • Ephes. iii. 7. Ephes. iii. 4. e. 1 Peter iv. 10. Jer. iii. 15. or * Judas had the fame call and mission from Chrift to preach the gospel with the rest of the apoftles; and had the fame gifts ordinary and extraordinary qualifying for it; and behaved so well in his office, that the rest of the difciples rather diftrufted themfelves than him, on Chrift's declaring, one of them fhould betray him, faying each, Is it 1? Matt. x. 1—8. and xxvi. 21, 22. And, though I am of opinion, that for the most part, God gives special grace to thofe on whom he bestows gifts for the ministry, yet not always; as the inftances in Matt. vii. 22, 23. Phil. i 15, 16. fhew, and is a cafe the apostle fuppofes, 1 Cor. ix. 27. and xiii. 1, 2. and fuch may be the means of the converfion and edification of men: the reafon of which is, it is the word of God they preach, and God can and does make ufe of his own word, to fuch purpofes, by what inftruments he pleafes. or a Peter; on a man of good natural parts or one of a meaner capacity; that is it that qualifies for the miniftry; where indeed grace, learning, and natural parts all meet together in a man with this gift, they make him a very considerable and distinguished man. Now, there are various things that are requisite, in order to the due and regular exercife of this gift to usefulness. 1. There must be a call to the exercise of it: befides the inward call or difpofition of the mind to such service, and which must be submitted to others; for the fpirit of the prophets is fubject to the prophets; there must be an outward call by the church: it being notified to it by fome means or another, that such an one is thought to have a gift for the miniftry, the church calls him to the exercise of it, tries his gift, and judges of it; and upon approbation, fuch are feparated and fent forth into the ministry, as Saul and Barnabas were; for no modest man will take this honour to himself, or thruft himself into this work, unless he is called to it; though in this rambling age of ours, there are many run who were never fent, and take upon them this work, without having a gift qualifying them for it, or a call from God or men unto it. 2. Where there is a gift, diligence and industry must be used to improve it; for otherwise it may decline, become lefs, and in length of time useless; yea, may be entirely lost or taken away; for gifts are not like grace; grace, though it may decline as to exercife, can never be loft; but gifts may, as appears from the parable of the talents, by which I understand ministerial gifts; the man that had one talent wrapped it up in a napkin, and hid it in the earth, that is, he neglected it, and made no ufe of it; wherefore orders are given to take it from him, and give it to others; for unto every one that hath shall be given, and he Jhall have abundance; every one that hath a gift, and is diligent and constant in the use of it, that fhall increase; but from him that hath not, who, though he has a gift, is as if he had none, neglecting to cultivate it, and make use of it, fhall be taken away even that which he bath!. Gifts, like fome metals, unleís. frequently used, become rufty and good for nothing; hence the exhortation of the apostle to Timothy, not to neglect, but to stir up the gift of God that was in him", as you ftir up coals of fire, that they may give more light and heat; fo gifts by ufe become brighter and brighter, and more beneficial. 3. Faithfulness is neceffary to the due exercife of this gift; thofe that have it, are, or should be, good stewards of the manifold grace of God; and now it is required in ftewards that a man be found faithful"; to difpenfe the mysteries of God, of which they are ftewards, unto others; and when God has counted a man faithful, putting him into the miniftry, he ought to continue faithful to him that 1 Tim. iv. 14. 2 Tim. i. 6. * 1 Cor. xiv. 32. 1 Matt. xxv. 29. has has put him into it, to the fouls of men committed to his care, and to the gofpel, and the truths of it he is entrusted with. For he that bath my word, let him fpeak my word faithfully: what is the chaff to the wheat? faith the Lord of bofts". 4. Wisdom and prudence are also very requifite in the exercise of this gift, ] both in the choice of fubjects, and in the manner of treating them; a man that is a steward must be wife as well as faithful, to give to every one of the houfhold their portion of meat in due feafon; and a man that labours in the word and doctrine fhould be fkilful in the fcriptures, that he may rightly divide the word of truth'; and he that has to do with perfons in various cafes, and different circumftances, had need to have the understanding and tongue of the learned to speak a word in season to him that is weary'. 5. Ministers of the word ought to be careful of their lives and converfations; or otherwise, let their gifts be what they may, they will become useless and unprofitable; they therefore should take heed to themselves, to conduct and behave becoming their work and office; and fo to walk as to be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity"; and to take care they give no offence to the church, nor to the world, that the miniftry be not blamed"; for it is a moft fhameful thing, that they which teach others not to fin, but to guard against it, should be guilty of the fame themfelves; fee Rom. ii. 23, 24. where the apostle enlarges on this fubject. Fourthly, Confider the means that are to be made ufe of for the cultivation and improvement of the ministerial gift; and for the better discharge of the work and office to which you have been called and ordained. The directions the apostle gives to Timothy on this head, are well worthy of your notice, and should be closely pursued; give attendance to reading; to exhortation, to doctrine. -Meditate on these things, give thyfelf wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all in the first and chief place study the Bible, read that attentively, compare one paffage with another, spiritual things with spiritual, parallel places together; and particularly those that are more dark and obfcure with thofe that are more clear and plain; that thereby you may know more of the mind of the Spirit of God and Chrift in the facred pages; for the infpired writings are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works; for these will furnish out fufficient matter, both for things doctrinal and practical, to be infifted on in the miniftry of the word; and with whatfoever may be neceffary for the discharge of the minifterial office. Read alfo the writings of good men, for thefe are not preferved and tranfmitted to pofterity for nothing, but for ufe; but then read them with care and caution, as human writings, liable to miftakes, and having their imperfections; compare them with the word of God, and fo far as they agree with that, and are confiftent with themfelves, regard them, and not otherwife. Meditate much on divine things, on the fcriptures, and the doctrines contained in them: it is the character of every good man, that he meditates in the law, or doctrine of the Lord continually; and he finds his account in it; his meditation of God, of Chrift, and of fpiritual things, is Sweet, and delightful to him; and much more fhould it be the conftant work and employment of a minister of the word. Luther, as I remember, it is faid of him, that he used to fay, "Meditation, temptation, and prayer, make a "divine." For prayer is also very neceffary to be frequently repeated, fiace this goes along with the miniftry of the word, and is fo very ufeful in respec of it. The apostles defired to be eafed of the worldly concerns of the church, that they might give up themselves to prayer, as well as to the miniftry of the word; and to the former in order to the latter. Minifters of the gospel should pray often, not only in public, but in private; not only for others, but for themselves; that they might be more qualified for their work, as well as be more successful in it; that they might have more fpiritual light, knowledge, and understanding, and be more capable of instructing and feeding the people under their care; that they might have the eyes of their understandings more enlightened, to behold the wonderful things that are in the law, or doctrine of the Lord; and be better able to point them out to others. Fifthly, Confider on the one hand the difficulties and discouragements that attend the minifterial work; and on the other hand, the encouragements to proceed on in it. 1. The difficulties and difcouragements that attend it; thefe, I would obferve, not to distress you in, or deter you from your work; but that, when you meet with them, they may not feem as though some strange or uncommon thing had happened unto you. There are fome, which come from within a man's felf; from in-dwelling fin, from a law in the members warring against the law of the mind; you will find when you would do good, evil is present with you, as particularly to hinder you in the purfuit of your ftudies; you will find a kind of flothfulness and difinclination to the work; nay, fometimes when the Spirit is willing the flesh will be weak, and will make excufes to put off preparation for it to another time. Sometimes you will be in darkness, and under divine desertions, and be in very uncomfortable frames; yet ftill you muft go on, and prepare, in the best manner that you can, for inftructing and comforting z Pfalm i. 2. ■ Pfalm civ. 34. • Matt. xxvi. 41. b Acts vi. 4 ing others; this is hard and difficult work, but it must be done: and difficulties and discouragements fometimes arife from Satan's temptations, who is very bufy with all good men, especially with minifters of the gofpel: he defired to have Peter in his hands; he buffeted the apostle Paul; he levels his arrows at those who are the most fruitful, flourishing, and ufeful; as the archers that shot at Jofeph, that fruitful bough by a well, and grieved him, though his bow abode in ftrength, the arms of his hands being made strong by the mighty God of Jacob. You muit expect Satan's temptations; he will tempt you to that which is unbecoming your character and office; he will tempt you perhaps to entertain groundless jealoufies of one or other of the members of the church; he will tempt you to drop your ministry, or however, in this place, and to do it in a pet and humour: thefe, and fuch like temptations, fhould be guarded againft. Other difcouragements will arife from the world, and the men of it, from their revilings and reproaches, wrath, rage, and perfecutions in one shape or other; but none of these things fhould move you from your work, or caufe you to defert it. Remember you are chofen, and called to be a foldier of Jesus Christ; and, as a good one, should endure hardness, hard words, and hard ufage, for his fake: yea, the difficulties and difcouragements of gofpel-ministers are increased by profeffors of religion themselves; not only by thofe of other communities, who may traduce and speak ill of fuch, who are not altogether of the same principles with themselves, but by the members of the churches over which they are pastors; fome of which are very weak and imprudent, and oftentimes make a minister very uncomfortable and uneafy by their words and actions; though these things fhould be confidered as their weaknesses and infirmities, and to be bore with; for we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not please ourselves; yet these must be reckoned among a minister's difficulties and difcouragements; but, 2. You are to confider the encouragements to go on in your work, notwithstanding what may be met with in it which is difficult and difcouraging; and which is a fuperabundant counterbalance to that. Remember the gracious promises Christ has made of his prefence with his ministers, and of his protection of them, and of his affiftance in their work, and of a reward, though not of debt, yet of grace, that fhall be given them: he has promifed he will be with. his ministers in fucceffive generations, unto the end of the world, to supply and support them; he holds them in his right hand, and will not fuffer any to fet upon them, to hurt them, until they have done the work he has called them to, and is defigned to be done by them; his power and grace are fufficient to bear E 2 them d Rom. xv. I. |