Chapter I. Lack Of Entire Devotedness Of Heart To The Christian Ministry.
CHAPTER I. LACK OF ENTIRE DEVOTEDNESS OF HEART
TO THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY.
The paragraph in 1Tim. 4.13-16 condenses in the smallest compass the most important body of appropriate instruction and encouragement to Ministerial devotedness—“Give yourself wholly to these things, that your ‘profiting may appear to all. Take care to yourself and to the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this you shall both save yourself, and those that hear you.” The effect of the Apostles’ resolution to “give themselves to prayer, and to the Ministry of the word” exhibited the influence of Christian devotedness upon Ministerial success.458 The great Shepherd, indeed, gave himself for, and gave us to, the flock;459 and there is no more responsible thought connected with our work, than the obligation of giving ourselves to our people so that they will be led to prize us as a gift from Christ. Oh! that we might be able to tell them ‘We belong to Christ, and he has given us to you; we owe our whole selves entirely to you; 460 we are “your servants for Jesus’ sake;” 461 we have given ourselves to the work, and we desire to be in it as if there was nothing worth living for besides: it shall form our whole pleasure and delight. We will consecrate our whole time, our whole reading, our whole mind and heart to this service.’ We cannot suppose it to be less necessary for us than for Archippus, to “take heed to the Ministry which we have received in the Lord, that we fulfil it,” 462 or that the Apostolic exhortations to unremitted diligence are less applicable to us than to the beloved Timothy.463 Do the privileges and immunities of our admirable Establishment furnish a plea for self-indulgence? Or shall we be satisfied with a routine of outward service, sufficient to justify us in the eyes of our Diocesan;464 while, as respects any painful exercises of self-denial, we are “serving the Lord with that which costs us nothing?” 465 We are to be labourers, not loiterers, in the Lord’s vineyard; we are not doing his work with a reluctant heart, as if we did not do it, as if we feared becoming losers by him, or as if we were giving him more than
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he deserved. ‘The pastoral dignity is really the condition of a servant. It obliges a man to devote himself entirely to Jesus Christ, and to his Church. Both the Minister and the Ministry are only for the Church. He who is in this state, and does not apply himself entirely to the service of the Church, will be treated as a thief, and a sacrilegious person. Whoever does not have the spirit of his Ministry, renders useless all the talents and advantages which he has received to serve the Church. A pastor ought to have nothing at heart but the work of God and the salvation of souls. This ought to be his delight, his meat, and his life.’ 466 Let us remember that, as Ministers, we are not only, like our fellow-Christians, “bought with a price,” but we are set apart, indeed, devoted to this work. We have, therefore, no right “to entangle ourselves with the affairs of this life,” so as to hinder our entire consecration to the Church. So strongly was this obligation felt in the primitive age, that Cyprian gives the judgment of the Church, that a presbyter should not entangle himself with the office of an executor. If however unadvisedly they made an absolute rule, the principle was still excellent—that the Minister’s constant employment in spiritual affairs, precluded him from giving the necessary attention even to important secular duties.467
Our responsibilities demand an entire devotedness of spirit to every soul, as if it were the sole object of our care. ‘Therefore it ought to be our solemn and cheerful determination, to refrain from studies, pursuits, and even recreations, that may not be made evidently subservient to the grand purpose of our Ministry. The Apostle would remind us, in our visits, journeys, the common intercourse of life, never to forget, not only our Christian but our Ministerial character. All must be stamped with its holiness: all must be a part of a system strictly adhered to, of being constantly learning, and waiting the opportunity to impart what we have learned in the things of God.’ 468 Mr. Cecil used to say, that the
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devil did not care how ministers were employed, just so that it was not in their proper work. Whether it was hunting or sporting, cards and assemblies, writing notes on the classics, or politics, it was all one to him. Each might please his own taste. In contrast to this mind, how manly was Nehemiah’s repeated answer to his subtle enemies, when they would divert him from the immediate service of his God—“I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down!” 469—And does the building of the spiritual temple not require the same concentrated devotedness of heart, the same sense of primary obligation? And are we, in a similar spirit, ready to answer the suggestions of a corrupt heart, of pride, indolence, love of ease, worldliness, and unbelief—‘I may not—I must not—I dare not—“I cannot—come down?” ‘In the true spirit of our work we shall “let the potsherd strive with the potsherd of the earth “—indeed, even “let the dead bury their dead,” rather than allow the business of this life to detain us from the present and imperative duty—“Go, and preach the gospel of God.” 470
Bishop Burnet refers to ‘the great notion of the Pastoral care, which runs through our Ordination Service—that it is to be a man’s entire business, and is to possess both his thoughts and his time.’ ‘What greater force or energy’—the Bishop asks—‘could be put in. words than in these? Or where could any be found that are more weighty and more express to show the entire dedication of the whole man, of his time and labour, and of separating himself from all other cares, to follow this one thing with all possible application and zeal? There is nothing in any office, ancient or modern, that I ever saw, which is of this force—so serious and so solemn.’ 471 The Clergy ‘have a double account to settle—an account with God, as well as an account with man; and it may happen that, although the latter party have nothing to object against them, yet their functions may not have been adequately discharged in the sight of the great High-Priest of the Church. Even if their engagement is not exactly in the nature of a conditional contract, as far as man is concerned, yet there are certain extra-official obligations—certain undefined though not less binding duties, which every man who is set apart for the Ministry has undertaken to fulfil.472 His work must not be looked upon as
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an ordinary profession, to be conducted on that principle of reciprocity which governs the common dealings of mankind. He desecrates his high calling when he considers it in the light of a mere commercial transaction, in which a bargain is struck for a certain return of services upon the payment of a certain price. Like his heavenly pattern, he will be constantly about his Master’s business; he will avail himself of times and seasons and topics, and present the truths of which he is the depository, in so judicious and pertinent a manner that his “speech “may at all times “be seasoned with salt, and that no man may be able to accuse him of neglect, or inquire like Esau, in the tone of mingled regret and reproach—“Do you not have a blessing for me also?” 473
Our “heavenly pattern”474 did indeed furnish a striking illustration of the true spirit of the Christian Ministry—“doing with our might.” His whole soul was in it—intent upon one thing—subordinating relative obligations,475 personal convenience,476—and even present necessity,477 to the main business. No time was wasted upon trifles. Such unblushing activity! Never was an opportunity of usefulness lost. Even the common courtesies 478 of life—public occasions 479—were used as vehicles of the most important instruction. The thought of relinquishing his work was intolerable.480 Through most sinking reproach and tribulation, he persevered to the end.481 The labours of single days were unprecedented in Ministerial annals;482 and a lengthened course was compressed within the contracted space of three years.
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In a large measure of the same spirit, the great Apostle followed his blessed exemplar. His very soul and spirit were set upon his work. Never did any hireling long for preferment, as he did, to be made the organ of spiritual blessings 483 to the church. He had a heart and tongue to speak wherever there was an ear to hear—even at Rome itself.484 His account of one of his courses informs us that he commenced his work the very “first day he came into Asia “—“publicly and from house to house “—“declaring the whole counsel of God “—“keeping back nothing that was profitable”—“warning every one night and day for three years”—outwardly exposed to the “temptations” of his enemies,485 and inwardly “pressed in his spirit “by a tenderness, fervour, and compassion which could find no vent but in “tears “—and determined at whatever cost to pursue his course with undaunted perseverance.486 Thus he could testify—“God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the Gospel of his Son.” 487
And might we not ask—Is “God our witness?” Does he mark in us—we are not saying any particular frequency of preaching—but does he mark the purpose, frame of heart, and stamp of a faithful Ministration of the Word—the spirit of a “pastor after God’s own heart?” 488 A devoted Minister feels that there is sufficient employment for his whole life in his work; that so far as he lives in the spirit of it, it is his highest pleasure; and he can never rightly perform its duties unless he is wholly given to it. He will therefore
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find time for nothing except what is more or less connected with this main end.
The lack of Divine influence on our work should therefore suggest a close and searching scrutiny—Is the whole heart in singleness of purpose consecrated to the Christian Ministry? Mr. Brown’s death-bed has given a most encouraging testimony on this subject—the result of forty years’ experience—‘Oh! labour, labour,’ (he said to his sons) ‘to win souls to Christ. I will say this for your encouragement—When the Lord led me out to be the most earnest in this way, he poured the most comfort into my own heart, so that he gave me my reward in my bosom.’ 489 To the same purport was the earnest exhortation of the excellent Bishop Beveridge—‘As for those, who come to take upon them the office of deacon or priest, in the Church of Christ—let me now beseech them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose servants they are now to be, that from this day forward they look upon him as their great Master, and lay out themselves wholly in the service to which he calls them. And. whatever difficulties they meet with in it, let them follow the Apostle’s example—do not faint, nor be discouraged, but go on with cheerfulness and alacrity, as remembering that they serve the best Master in the world; one that will not only stand by them and assist them, but reward them at last with a crown of righteousness.’ 490