Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

BAPTIST MAGAZINE.

FEBRUARY, 1825.

Sketch of a Sermon preached to the Northern Education Society at their Annual Meeting, by the Rev. J. Jarman, of Nottingham.

MATT. xiii. 52. Therefore, every scribe instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasures things new and old.

The office of a Christian minister is the most honourable, and the most important that can be sustained by mortals. Paul, the great apostle of the gentiles, with all his flattering worldly prospects, and literary advantages, regarded it as a special favour to be employed in preaching the gospel to his fellow-men. Eph. ii. 8. And yet, when he contemplated the arduous nature of his work, and the momentous consequences resulting from it to the eternal interests of men; he was overwhelmed with a sense of his own inadequacy to it, and exclaimed, "Who is sufficient for these things." 2 Cor. ii. 16.

which they replied in the affirmative. He, therefore, concluded with another parable, relating, more immediately, to their office in the church; "Every scribe, &c." In discoursing on these words,

I. Let us advert to the nature and design of the ministerial office. In the text, our Lord employs two terms, both allusive; the one to what is sacred; and the other, to what is secular; scribe and householder.

1. A Christian minister is compared to a scribe. The scribes among the Jews, were persons who addicted themselves to literary pursuits; they were the interpreters of the law, and the instructors of the people. Matt. ii. 4. Hence, Ezra, who was so zealous in explaining the law to the Jews after the Babylonish captivity, is distinguished by this appellation, "the scribe."

If our minds are properly affected As the scribes were public teachers with these solemn and interesting under the Jewish dispensation, so views of the Christian ministry, we the apostles were to be instructors. shall avail ourselves of every repre- under the Christian. In the comsentation contained in the scriptures, mission which our Lord gave to of the nature of that office, and the them, he commanded them to teach qualifications requisite to fit us for all nations; and this work they were the successful discharge of its duties. to perform by preaching the gospel The words I have read are well to every creature. And in the hissuited for these purposes, and ac- tory of their labours it is stated, cord with the design of this service. that they preached the gospel, and They were spoken by our Lord to taught many. Acts xiv. 21. Such his apostles apart from the multi- is the office of the Christian scribe, tude. He had inquired of them, if to expound the will of God to men, they understood the things intended to lay open the treasures of Divine by the preceding parables; to knowledge contained in his word,

VOL. XVII.

F

and to guide men into the way of peace, of holiness, and happiness.

2. Christ further illustrates the nature and design of this office, by an allusion to that of an householder. A reference to the manners of the times when Christ was upon the earth, will show the propriety and beauty of the similitude. The Israelites were a plain and frugal people, who derived their subsistence chiefly from the produce of the field; and their wealth principally consisted in their houshold treasure, their stock of provision and apparel. To a people thus circumstanced, it was requisite that the head of the family should keep in store all such things as were required to feed or clothe those under his care; and, as his stock would be constantly diminishing by consumption, he would find it necessary to be making continual additions to it. Thus, he had things "new and old" laid up in his store, or treasury, from which he brought forth for the supply of the exigences of the respective members of his family.

To this Jewish householder, thus furnished and prepared for all occasions, our Lord compares the Christian scribe. The church of Christ is the house or family of God, and the business of the Chris tian minister is to feed them, and supply them with the means of support and defence. If it be an office of great importance in the head of a family to provide for the wants of its different members, surely it is incomparably more so to supply the souls of men with the bread of life; and to give to every man a portion in due season. It is true, it is no part of our business to form the necessary treasures; but what skill, diligence, and fidelity, are required to dispense them aright. Such is the nature of the Christian minister's work; and this leads us to consider,

II. The qualification indispensa

bly necessary in those who sustain that office. If he is to teach, he must himself be previously instructed; and if it is his business to dispense to others, he must have a treasure from which he can communicate. "The priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts." Mal. ii. 7. Let us attend, i. To the nature of this qualification," instructed unto the kingdom of heaven."

This comprehends a distinct knowledge of the gospel dispensation. "The kingdom of heaven" is a phrase, which signifies the gospel economy, as opposed to the Jewish dispensation. The one was a system of promises and prophecies, the other is a record of events in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Saviour; which accomplished the prophecies, and fulfilled the promises made to the fathers-the one of types and sha dows, the other of the antitype and substance: the one the ministration of condemnation and death, the other of righteousness and life. The law came by Moses, but grace and truth by Jesus Christ. To be instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is to understand its doctrines, its laws and ordinances, its promises, and the final prospects opened to all who are interested in its blessings. Every scribe who is instructed in this glorious scheme of grace and mercy, is an "able minister of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit."

It implies a knowledge of the connexion which subsists between the different branches of Divine truth, and of their dependence on each other. Divine truth is not revealed in the scriptures in a systematic form, yet there is a relation between one part and another, and a mutual dependence in the whole.

The doctrines of Christianity are connected with the facts of the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Saviour. This observation applies with equal force to the whole system of Christian duties, as to the doctrines of the gospel. The first act of acceptable obedience, and that which prepares for, and stamps every other with value, is to believe on the Son of God; for, "without faith, it is impossible to please God;" but where Christ is cordially received and submitted to with the obedience of faith, the mind is prepared for the exercise of every Christian grace; and for the cheer. ful performance of every Christian duty.

But, it is not a general or superficial knowledge of Divine truth, that will form the scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven; it is necessary that he who is a teacher of others, should possess an intimate acquaintance with the Christian system; that his views be enlarged, and that his mind be well stored with the treasures of Divine know ledge. There are some who attempt to teach others, who need themselves to be taught the first principles of the oracles of God; their views are limited and confused, and they cannot impart to others what they themselves do not possess. It is necessary then, that the word of Christ dwell in us richly, that we may be able to warn every man, and teach every man in all wisdom.

ii. The means by which this qualification is to be attained, are,

1. The study of the word of God. The apostles were trained up for their work under the ministry of Christ; the scriptures are designed to supply the place of his personal instructions. 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. Hence Paul exhorts Timothy to give attendance to reading, and to meditate on those things he had taught him, to give himself wholly

to them; that his profiting might appear unto all. The knowledge of general literature is highly desir able in the minister of the gospel, but this is an attainment of very inferior moment, when compared with our intimate acquaintance with the oracles of God; and should never be pursued, but in subordina tion to this indispensable qualification. The sacred volume must be the man of our counsel, and its truths incorporated with our habits of thought. In the study of the holy scriptures it is proper to avail ourselves of every human help within our power, as those who wish to acquire the knowledge of any science, would read the works of those who had written the most ably upon it. But we should learn truth, as much as possible, immediately from the word of God; that our faith may not stand in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God. This will impart a holy savour to our ministrations, and inspire us with that confidence, which is the result of personal inquiry and conviction. And, hence it is highly desirable, that ministers should be able to read the scriptures in the original languages in which they were written; as this will enable them to see more of their beauty, and enter more fully into their contents. In order to perceive the beauties of the scriptures, the language, the history, antiquities, customs, and laws, of the nation to whom the oracles of God were first given, must be understood. A man thus prepared, does not depend on the fidelity of a translation, but reads for himself the very words of prophets, apostles, and of Christ himself; he does not merely admire a foreign fruit which retains much of its flavour, but goes into the land of promise, and gathers with his own hand from the tree of life.

2. To the study of the scriptures,

it is necessary we add observation and experience. Not only is it important that the minister of the gospel should study the book of God, but, also, the book of man; that he may understand the moral nature and constitution of those to whom he is to preach, and how to apply many parts of the scriptures. By a careful observation of the principles and dispositions of men, as they are developed in their temper and conduct, he will see the testimony of God to the character and condition of man fully confirmed and exemplified; and by an attentive regard to the operations of his own mind, and the feelings of his own heart, he will see the perfect adaptation of the provisions of the gospel to meet the wants and miseries of sinners. Nothing qualifies a minister for his work more, than an intimate acquaintance with religion by experience; in its operations and effects on his own mind: for the heart of the wise teacheth his mouth. Then he will be able to say with the apostle John, That which we have seen with our eyes, looked upon, and handled with our hands, that declare we unto you.

3. With reading and observation, it is necessary to connect fervent and habitual prayer. A devotional spirit is of the first importance in every stage of the life and labours of the Christian minister, but never more so, than when engaged in a course of preparatory studies. It is true that the most devout frame of heart will not be adequate to form the scribe, well instructed in the kingdom of heaven, without the diligent employment of the proper means of acquiring Divine knowledge. But, its influence is, in the highest degree, favourable to the attainment of religious knowledge. It frees the mind from slavery to those passions and prejudices which obstruct the light of truth, it

strengtheus and invigorates the faculties, it brings us near to the fountain of light, and connects with it, the promise of Divine teaching; to guide into all truth. When the heart is led forth in holy admiration of the character and perfections of God, and in supreme desire of bis favour; when the soul is clothed with humility, and filled with holy tenderness; when the breast is warmed with love to Christ, and expanded with benevolence to men, then we possess a frame of heart congenial with Divine truth, and we shall know the things which are freely given to us of God; even the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. We hasten to consider,

III. The value of this qualification in the performance of the duties of the Christian ministry. Thus furnished, he will be able to bring out of his treasures things "new and old."

The well instructed scribe will be able to adapt his ministrations to the wants of his hearers— to warn the careless of his danger

to combat the objections of those who oppose the truth-to undeceive the deluded-to guide the inquirer-to comfort the mournerto establish the wavering, and to supply the Christian with that spiritual aliment, which, under the Divine blessing, may nourish bis faith and hope, and lead him from strength to strength in the way to Zion. This is a highly important and responsible part of the ministerial office; for, if the wicked be not warned, he will perish, and his blood will be required at our hands; if the mourning penitent be not shewn the allsufficient ground of hope revealed in the gospel, he will yield to despair; if the tempted believer be not fortified by the motives and promises of the scripture, he will relinquish the contest, and resign himself to the power of sin and Satan;

and if the wavering be not confirm ed by the exhibition of the evidence of the truth, he will be led away by the error of the wicked. But, if a minister does not possess a fund of Christian knowledge, and wisdom to apply it, how can he adapt his instructions to the ever-varying and pressing necessities of the church of God? But, if he be informed, he will be capable of suiting his addresses to the diversified circumstances of saints and sinners, rightly dividing the word of truth, and giving to every man a portion of meat in due season.

He will, also, be qualified to impart instruction with a pleasing and useful variety. The phrase, things new and old, may refer to the Old and New Testaments, and the scribe well instructed, will be able to illustrate the one by the light of the other, and thus shew the harmony of both. But the leading idea is that of variety in our ministrations. Considering the constitution of the human mind, and the diversity of taste, nothing is more desirable in a public instructor, in order to his acceptance and usefulness, than this qualification. This will enable him to bring forth old and common truths, and by his illustrations place them in a new light. For want of a more ample store of Christian knowledge, many ministers are perpetually insisting on a few leading topics, and nearly in the same words; hence the hearers become weary and disgusted. It is true, the first principles of the gospel ought to find a place in almost every sermon; and, whatever be the text, the doctrine of the cross should be clearly exhibited. There is, in the ministry of some men, a vain attempt at originality, which leads off the attention of their hearers from the common salvation; thus they lose sight of the most important truths of the gospel, and indulge in

a spirit of curious speculation, by which their preaching becomes a mere display of their own skill, rather than the means of diffusing the savour of the knowledge of Christ. As the most common blessings of Providence are, by far, the most valuable, so the plainest truths of Christianity are the most important, and universally interesting to the souls of men. The gospel is the daily bread of the Christian, that on which he lives, in every cireumstance in which he is placed, and the minister who knows and relishes it himself, will be anxious to dispense it to others.

But while, in our public ministrations, we uniformly regard the leading principles of the gospel, they will admit of the most pleasing variety in their statement and illustration. The doctrine of Christ crucified displays the manifold wisdom of God, and the riches of the Saviour are unsearchable. These mysteries of redemption, into which the angels desire to look, will afford ample matter for the research of the strongest powers. If our minds are well stored, we shall be able to maintain, in perfect consistency with a constant exhibition of the first principles of the gospel, a variety as pleasing as that of the seasons of the year, which never weary; or that of the rising and setting sun, which is perpetually gilding and diversifying the clouds which hang around and adorn his path. Such a minister will come forth, displaying a vigour of mind, a comprehension, and depth, and variety in his knowledge, which will make even the common-place topics of Christianity appear as new. Thus, a scribe instructed into the kingdom of heaven, will be like an householder, bringing out of his treasures things new and old. In conclusion, we observe,

The utility of Academical Insti

« FöregåendeFortsätt »