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SERMON IX.

THE OFFICE OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY.

2 COR. 2. 14, 15, 16.

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish to the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

IF St. Paul, in the midst of his triumphant thanksgiving, was forcibly reminded of man's insufficiency for the office of ministering in the Gospel, how much more need has such an one as he who is now addressing you, to reflect, with pain and confusion of face, "Who is sufficient for these things?" Alas, not I. And never did I more deeply feel my insufficiency, than now, when, in the expectation of

removal, I have endeavoured to review the fruit of my ministry among you, during these ten years past, and more. Which be they, who have become Christians indeed? Which be they, who have learnt to love with all their hearts the Lord that bought them? Which be they, who both learn how they ought to walk, and also abound more and more? Which be they, who by a consistent walk in holiness of life are now gladly shewing forth the praise of their Redeemer, and becoming fit to partake of his heavenly glory? Alas, I dare not say of many, that I know them to be altogether such as I would have them. I dare not say of any, upon their proficiency in the Gospel as the result of my own labours in the ministry. Nor is it meet I should. Satisfaction such as this is, I feel, ill deserved by labours such as mine. And when I take for my text the words of St. Paul, "Thanks be unto God which always causeth us to triumph in Christ," it is because they express what I ought to feel as your minister, not what I have really felt.

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Observe then in this text, that it was in Christ that St. Paul triumphed. And learn hence one of the first duties of the Christian minister, not to glory in himself but in his heavenly Lord. And observe in this discourse, devoted to setting forth the nature and the objects of the Christian ministry, it is mine office that I magnify, not myself; the ordinance of God, not the unworthy instrument by which that ordinance is carried into effect. It is a heavenly treasure; though it is committed to "earthen vessels." (2 Cor. 4. 7.) And it is good for you to be put in mind of the honour, which God gives to the office of your ministers, in order that you may "esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake;" (1 Thess. 5. 13;) not for what they themselves can do, but for the sake of the heavenly work, which God is pleased to do by their means. Remember then that it is in Christ that they ought to triumph, if at all; not in themselves. Magnify not their gifts or graces, but the strength of Him, whose ministers they are, and of

whose mysteries they are stewards. (See 1 Cor. 4. 1.) And when you rejoice in any benefit arising from their ministry, triumph, not in them, but in Christ.

This I say is one of the first duties of the Christian minister, this ought to be one of the marked features in his character, that he triumphs in Christ. When he begins to glory in himself, he is robbing Christ of his honour, and he may expect to be soon cast aside, as useless to his Master. Or if the people committed to his charge give to him the honour due unto his Lord, if they look not beyond their pastor upon earth to the great Shepherd of the shepherds in heaven, Christ again is robbed of his glory, and the man who is thus exalted must reckon upon being soon put down. Never may you be guilty, never may those who minister amongst you incur the guilt, of thus triumphing in any other than in Christ Jesus! When sinners are converted, when saints are edified, when the word of God's Gospel has free course and is glorified, ever may all the glory be

ascribed to our only God and Saviour praise be ever to Christ Jesus our Lord!

The next point which I have to dwell upon in the office of the Christian minister is this, that we are witnesses of the truth. "Now thanks be unto God," says the apostle, "which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." It is our office to make manifest the savour of the knowledge of God. Every where we are to bear testimony to the truth as it is in Jesus. In all places, and at all times, we are to be engaged in making known, and making acceptable, as far as in us lies, the way of salvation from sin and death, the way of holiness, the way of life eternal. God has indeed made these things known by written documents. But He has thought fit also to appoint living active witnesses. He has ordained that men should be set apart, to teach and preach the Gospel, and to testify unto all men every where that they should believe it, and obey it.

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