Chapter V. The Comforts And Encouragements Of The Christian Ministry.
CHAPTER V. 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.” 107 The opposition of the world—the inconstancy of the wavering—the inconsistency of the mere professor108—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 warfare at our own charges,” 109 we should “be pressed out of measure, above strength.” 110 But such are “the contradictions meeting in our work,” that, though it is a sorrow, it is yet “a sorrow full of joy.” 111 “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 sufferings of Christ abound in us, our consolation also abounds by Christ.” 112 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. How cheering is the recollection of our office, as the ordinance of Christ, and as the standing proof of his love for 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 he that sent us not furnish us for our work? May we not plead his ordinance, as the ground of dependence upon him for all necessary assistance and encouraging acceptance?
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How ample also are our sources of encouragement within the compass of our work! 113 If we depended on the failing support of human agency, or upon the energy of mere moral suasion—we would cry out, prostrate in heartless despondency—“Who is sufficient for these things?” 114 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 we have received mercy, we do not faint.” 115 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 honoured instrument of communicating the life of God to the soul of man, with all its attendant privileges, can only bring with it a reflex delight of the most exalted character.116
The spiritual and permanent fruits of our Ministry must rank among our highest consolations. The repentance of a single sinner, is an event that causes rejoicing in heaven117 (the only recorded instance of heavenly interest connected with our lower
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world); and therefore it 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. Also, the subsequent walk of our people in the faith, hope, and love of the Gospel, forms our ground of unceasing thanksgiving to God, our chief joy, and the very life of our life. “We have no greater joy than to hear that our children walk in truth.” 118 We turn to them in the expression of parental anxiety and delight—“Now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.” 119
The interest we 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,” 120 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 for their sakes, and in their sender, made consoling to our own souls.121 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.” 122
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.123 Such is the
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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.124 Often the “man after God’s own heart,” when engrossed with the cares of his kingdom, seemed to envy the Ministers of the sanctuary their particular privilege of a nearer approach to their God, and a constant abiding in his work.125 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;” 126 there are so many weeds of worldly growth and rank luxuriance, “choking the word,” when it has given fair promise of fruit, and is even advancing “to perfection,” 127 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 search 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 waters is watered also himself.” 128 And thus, the devotion of time, the concentration of attention, and the proper use of talents and opportunities, 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 the daily routine of a spiritual ministration. The 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 efficacy, as manifested in “the
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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.” 129
The certainty of success must not be forgotten (though the subject will be considered later130) 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.131 This, therefore, secures to us—that “the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in our hand,” and quickens us to be “steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for we know that our labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 132
But it is the prospect of eternity that consummates our hopes and joys. Then indeed the inspired aphorism will be fully illustrated—“He that wins souls is wise”—when “they that are 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 does not fade away.” 133 Our recompense is measured not “according to” our success, but “our labour,” 134 and as with our blessed Master, granted even in the failure of our ministration.135 And though we are 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, if its claims were insisted on, instead of exalting him to the favour of God, it would cover him with “shame and everlasting contempt?”
Admitting, therefore, that we are called to difficult and costly service; we still have 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 always, even to the end of the world.” 136 ‘The officers he employs in every age’—observes an excellent Minister addressing a
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brother—‘are entitled to this treasure, as well as those of the first age.—Keep your mind’—he added—‘believingly attentive to this “always”—Lo, I am with you, to qualify and succeed you in whatever work I call you to. “Lo, I am with you” to comfort you by my presence and Spirit, when your hearts are grieved. “Lo, 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 for fear or faintness. You need no other encouragement. This you shall never lack, if you continue faithful: and on this you may conclude—‘The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom.’ 137
Thus every view of our office encourages us to increased exertion and devotedness;138 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. If I had a thousand lives, I would willingly spend them in it: and if I had as many sons, I would gladly devote them to it.’ 139