صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

VII.

The Christian Ministry, its ultimate Object and present Duties.

PREACHED IN THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST. LEONARD,

SHOREDITCH,

ON SUNDAY, DEC. 9, 1821.

On occasion of the Author's entering upon his Office, as Lecturer of that Parish.

THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY,

ITS

ULTIMATE OBJECT AND PRESENT DUTIES.

1 TIM. iv. 16.

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.

DEARLY beloved in the Lord, various are the sensations with which I appear before you this day, to enter upon the duties of that office, in which your kindness has placed me. But while, I trust, unfeignedly thankful to Almighty God, for having blessed and prospered your unwearied efforts in my favor; and while tendering also to you my grateful acknowledgments for those exertions, allow me freely to confess, that a feeling, very different from exultation, now occupies my mind; even the pain

ful sense of my own insufficiency, to fill aright an office, of which the duties are so sacred, and the responsibilities so awful.

To stand up in the name of the Majesty of Heaven; to be an ambassador of the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible; to be intrusted with a message, which none may hear with indifference, or reject with impunity; but which will prove to all a savor of life unto life,or of death unto death,—might lead us to tremble, even were it only a very limited number among whom we had to open our commission. But when we have to bear the humblest part in the ministerial duties of a parish, containing a population of between fifty and sixty thousand souls, well may we exclaim with St. Paul, Who is sufficient for these things? Our anxieties are however alleviated by the recollection, that it was to this very individual, who, though not a whit behind the very chiefest of the Apostles considered himselfnot worthy to be called an Apostle, that the great Head of the Church was pleased to declare, My grace is sufficient for thee; my strength shall be made perfect in weakness.

But, feeble and unworthy as the minister of Christ acknowledges himself, he would ever remember he has an important task to perform; and how to perform it aright, is the subject of his perpetual solicitude and unceasing inquiry. To such an inquiry the text gives a plain and important answer: Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. In this passage we have two things presented to our notice.

I. THE GLORIOUS OBJECT OF THE

CHRISTIAN MINISTER'S AMBITION. II. THE ONLY MEANS BY WHICH THAT OBJECT CAN BE REALIZED.

I. THE GLORIOUS OBJECT OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTER'S AMBITION.

Is it the accumulation of wealth? Alas! what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul, through having neglected to warn those committed to his care? Is it the applause of the multitude? What, though he could speak with the tongues of men and of angels !—what, though

« السابقةمتابعة »