Chapter I. The Scriptural Warrant And Character Of Ministerial Success—Together With The Symptoms Of Lack Of Success.
CHAPTER I. THE SCRIPTURAL WARRANT AND CHARACTER OF MINISTERIAL SUCCESS—TOGETHER WITH THE SYMPTOMS OF LACK OF SUCCESS.
A few remarks upon these preliminary topics will introduce the discussion of the general subject.
I. It may be laid as the ground of our inquiry—that the warrant of Ministerial success is sure. This indeed is involved in the character of our work, while it supplies the motivation to diligence and perseverance in it.288 In the spiritual, as in the temporal harvest, the field is prepared for the reaper’s sickle. The providential dispensations, appointing to the several labourers their work, have the same security of successful results;289 these are not grounded on any efforts of human wisdom, zeal, or persuasion, but on the “word forever settled in heaven.” Indeed every fertilizing shower is the renewed symbol and pledge of the Divine promise.290 Thus fruitfulness ever attended the labours of the Old Testament Ministers.291 It was the end of the ordination of the first Christian Ministers.292 It is the seal affixed to Ministerial devotedness.293 The terms of the promise are most express.294 The day of Pentecost exhibited a large display of its faithfulness;295 and the apostles ever afterwards (whether preaching to persecuting Jews, or to blind idolaters) found the same seal of their apostleship;296 so that wherever the Gospel was sent, and so long as it was continued, the work of success invariably proceeded.
Now, as bearing the same commission, we have the same warrant of success—the sure foundation of “the word of the Lord,” which “endures for ever.” The Divine Sovereignty (to which we would bow with the most implicit and adoring subjection) is the righteous government of a faithful God. Therefore, we must not place his sovereignty in opposition to his faithfulness. A measure of success is assured to our work. Some seed shall fall on the good ground, as well as by the way-side, or upon the stony or
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thorny soil.297 “There shall” at least “be a handful of corn in the earth on the top of the mountains.” 298 The purpose is beyond all the powers of earth and hell to defeat—“All that the Father gives me shall come to me.” 299 The promise is sealed to the exercise of faith; though the distribution of it in measure is often marked by an unsearchable, but infinitely wise and gracious, appointment.
II. In marking the specific character of this warranted success, we may observe that visible success is various. There are some that plant—others that water;300 some that lay the foundation—others that build upon it.301 Some are designed for immediate—some for ulterior, work. Yet all have their testimony and acceptance in the Lord’s own time and way. Success is not limited to the work of conversion.302 Where, therefore, the Ministry fails to convert, we may still be assured that it convinces, reproves, exhorts, enlightens, or consoles, someone in some measure at all times. It never “returns to God void” when delivered in the simplicity of faith; nor, even under the most unpromising circumstances, will it fail to accomplish his unchangeable purpose.
But we must remember also, that present success is not always visible. Apparent must not be the measure of the real result. There is often an under-current of piety, which cannot be brought to the surface. There may be solid work advancing under ground, without any sensible excitement;303 as we observe, the seed that produces the heaviest grain, lies the longest in the earth. We are not always the best judges of the results of our Ministry. Mr. Scott thus encourages a clergyman from his own Ministerial experience: ‘My prevalent opinion is that you are useful, but I do not see the effect. Even at Ravenstone, I remember complaining in a New Year’s Sermon, that for a whole year I had seen no fruit of my preaching; yet it appeared within the course of the next year, that not less than ten or twelve had been brought to “consider their ways” during that discouraging year; besides others, I trust, that I did not know of.’ 304 The sick and death-bed often gladden our heart with the manifestation of the hidden fruit of our work. And though something is graciously brought out for our encouragement, yet much more is probably concealed to exercise our diligence, and from a wise and tender regard to our besetting
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temptations. Indeed who of us may not detect the principle of self mingling itself alike with depression and exultation, greatly needing our Master’s rebuke for our more valuable effectiveness? Under all our trials, therefore, we must be careful, that no present apparent failure weakens our assurance of the ultimate success of faithful and diligent perseverance.
Symptoms of success are also frequently mistaken. These are doubtful signs at best: if our people crowd to hear the word 305—if they love our persons 306—admire our discourses 307—and are brought to a general confession of sinfulness,308 or to a temporary interest in our message.309 Nor, on the other hand, should we too hastily conclude anything from their apparent lack of diligence in the means of grace or in our parochial system. Family hindrances or outward crosses may restrain the proper use of Christian privileges. The lack of tact, the influence of retired habits, or the necessary demands of the domestic sphere, may impede communications with our plans; so that often “the kingdom of God” may be established in real “power,” and yet with little outwardly “observed.” The complaint of inefficiency may therefore sometimes be unwarranted, as the disappointment of a too optimistic mind; or as the failure of efforts, calculated upon our own wisdom, and attempted in our own strength; or as the collapse of expectations, indulged without due consideration of a Scriptural basis; or from individual or local difficulties.
Referring also to subordinate benefits—“Our manifestation of the truth, commends itself to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” 310 Here is a Christian standard of morals that is opposed to the principles of the world. Here is a Divine rule taking cognizance of the heart, charging guilt upon numberless items that before had passed as harmless, and thus laying the foundation for more evangelical conviction. Here, therefore, is the restraint and counteraction of much positive evil, and a large infusion of wholesome moral obligation throughout the mass. Besides—as regards the Gospel—constantly dwelling on the Saviour’s name and work makes him familiar to our people as a refuge, and as a friend in time of trouble. It is no small advantage in the storm to know where to look for safe anchorage; and who can tell how many have found such a refuge in distress from the recollections of the Gospel previously neglected, but now applied with sovereign power to their hearts?
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More directly also, Ministerial success must be viewed as extending beyond present appearances. The seed may lie under the clods till we lie there, and then spring up. “That saying” of the prophets of old “was true; One sows, and another reaps;” they sowed the seed, and the Apostles reaped the harvest. As our Lord reminded them—“Other men laboured, and you have entered into their labours.” And is it no ground of comfort that our work may be the seed-time of a future harvest? Or should we neglect to sow because we may not reap the harvest? Shall we not share the joy of the harvest, even though we are not the immediate reapers of the field? 311 Is it not sufficient encouragement to “cast our bread upon the waters,” that “we shall find it after many days?” “In the morning” (as the wise man exhorts us), “sow your seed, and in the evening do not stay your hand; for you do not know which shall prosper, whether this or that; or whether they both alike shall be good.” 312
It has been admirably observed on this subject—‘In order to prevent perpetual disappointment, we must learn to extend our views. To seek for the real harvest produced by spiritual labours only in their immediate and visible results, would be not less absurd, than to take our measure of infinite space from that limited prospect, which the mortal eye can reach; or to estimate the never-ending ages of eternity by a transitory moment of present time—It often happens, that God withholds his blessing for a time, in order that, when the net is cast in “on the right side,” it may be clearly seen, that “the multitude of fishes” inclosed are of the Lord’s giving; lest men should attribute their success to a wrong cause, and should “sacrifice unto their own net, and burn incense unto their own drag.” 313 We may add to this the recollection of the extensive results from “the day of” small things.” Only two souls appear as the immediate fruit of the vision of “the man of Macedonia;” but how fruitful was the ultimate harvest in the flourishing Churches of that district! 314 Our plain and cheering duty is therefore to go forward—to scatter the seed—to believe and wait.
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Yet must there be expectancy as well as patience. The warrant of success is assured—not only as regards an outward reformation—but a spiritual change of progressive and universal influence. The fruit of Ministerial labour is not indeed always visible in its symptoms, nor immediate in its results, nor proportioned to the culture. Faith and patience will be exercised—sometimes severely so. But after a pains-taking, weeping seed-time, we shall bring in our sheaves with rejoicing, and lay them upon the altar of God, “that the offering of them might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.” 315 Meanwhile we must beware of saying—“Let him make speed, and hasten his work that we may see it.” 316 The measure and the time are with the Lord. We must leave him alone with his own work. Ours is the care of service—His is the care of success.317 “The Lord of the harvest” must determine, when, and what, and where the harvest will be.
III. But notwithstanding this justly warranted expectation, the lack of Ministerial success is most extensively and mournfully felt. We are sometimes ready to believe and to complain that none labour so unfruitfully as ourselves. Men of the world expect their return in some measure proportioned to their labour. Alas! with us, too often, “our strength is labour and sorrow;”318 and at best attended with a very scanty measure of effect; and we are compelled to realize the awful sight of immortal souls perishing under our very eye; dead to the voice of life and love, and madly listening to the voice that plunges them into perdition!
It may be well to state a few of the most decisive symptoms of this unfruitfulness. When our public services are unprofitable;319 when “iniquity abounds,” and the mass of our people continue in an impenitent and ungodly state;320 when there is an unconcern among us for the honour and cause of God: 321 when there is a general lack of appetite for the “sincere milk of the word.” 322 and the public worship of the Sabbath and the weekly lecture (if there is any) are only thinly attended; when there are no instances of conversion in our Sunday Schools, and but few of our young people are drawn into the “ways of pleasantness and peace;” when the children of deceased Christian parents, instead of being added spiritually to the Church, continue in and of the world: 323 when small addition 324 is made to the select flock, who truly commemorate the
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death of their Saviour in the Holy Sacrament—these and similar appearances may well agitate the question with most anxious concern—“Is the Lord among us or not?” 325 Symptoms so dark and discouraging loudly call for increasing earnestness of supplication—“Oh! that you would rend the heavens; that you would come down, that the mountains might flow down at your presence! O Lord, revive your work!” 326
Among the more general causes of this failure, we may mark the withholding of Divine influence—the enmity of the natural heart—the power of Satan—local hindrances—and the lack of clearness in the Ministerial call. Each of these will now come before us.