SERMON XXII.

SALVATION OF ALL A DOCTRINE OF REPROACH.

DELIVERED IN PHILADELPHIA, ON MONDAY, JUNE 2, 1828,

1 TIM. IV. 10.

"For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

THE gospel ministry, being a dispensation of divine benevolence, requires labours to be performed upon the most benevolent principles. It is founded on that love which our heavenly Father has manifested towards such as are enemies to Him by wicked works. It does not inquire after those who will applaud its exertions, but seeks to find those who need its favours. "God hath commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins." If man had not been unreconciled to God, there could have been no necessity for a dispensation of favour to reconcile him; but the gospel ministry is a dispensation of reconciliation. "All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech

you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

The gospel ministry, being of the character here set forth, recommends itself on the same principle on which all genuine benevolence proceeds. True benevolence will not be diverted from its path of kindness because the object of its favour is opposed to its measures, nor because it receives reproaches from those whose benefit it pursues. The wise and provident father of a family, having concerted plans and measures for the prosperity of his temporal interest, that he might thereby benefit his children, whom he loved, would not be dissuaded from his plans because his unwise and inexperienced children might be opposed to them. And should they so far indulge their folly, as to reproach their venerable father with grievous accusations, though he might find it necessary to chastise their ingratitude, he would not withhold from them that loving kindness which was the moving principle of all his measures.

In order to improve this subject, in a manner appropriate to the present important occasion, we propose to consider, 1st. The labours to which the gospel minister is appointed: 2d. The occasion and peculiar character of the reproach which his faithful labourers are sure to receive: And 3d. Set forth the speciality of salvation enjoyed by those who

believe.

The work in which the minister of Christ is employed, is that of reformation. To teach and reform men is the great object at which he aims. In doing this he follows the example set by the divine master. The Saviour of the world was a "teacher sent from God;" and the work in which he laboured was the work of giving instruction, of correcting the errors of religious people, and of dissuading all from evil practices. To this work he applied himself in earnest, and prosecuted it with

a zeal corresponding with its importance. For the promotion of this vast work he employed his apostles; and to render them successful, he furnished them with a mouth and wisdom against which no opposition could prevail. When, in a miraculous manner, the Saviour called Saul, the persecutor, to be a minister of his word, he said to him, "Arise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness, both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive the forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."

By the assistance of a few reflections on this ap pointment of the Apostle Paul to the ministry, we shall see its agreement with the benevolent principles set forth in the introduction of this discourse. The great head of the church appointed this Apos tle to labour among the Gentiles, for the purpose of opening their eyes, of turning them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. But notwithstanding his labours were designed to be thus beneficial to the people; though it was designed to put them in possession of an invaluable inheritance, it was signified to him that they would oppose and persecute him, but that he should be delivered from them. How infinitely benevolent, how divinely merciful, is the ministry of Christ! How preposterous and ungrateful is the opposition with which it contends!

When the Saviour called Simon Peter, and Andrew his brother, from their occupation of fishers, he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." And in one of his parables, he represents the gospel by a net with which fishes are caught. By such emblems (lid the divine mas

ter represent the labours by which his disciples should accomplish the designs of their ministry, in gathering men into the gospel kingdom of righteousness and peace.

After his resurrection, Jesus held a most interesting conversation with Peter, who thrice denied him on the memorable night in which he was betrayed. By the sea of Tiberius, after the disciples had refreshed themselves with food, Jesus said to Peter, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, yea Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my lambs. He saith again unto him the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, yea Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, feed my sheep."

And in his last, his farewell charge to his disciples, the Saviour said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: And lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world, Amen."

These instructions, which were given to the Apostles, clearly set forth the nature of the work to which it is the duty of a christian minister to attend.

2dly. According to promise, we may now notice the occasion and peculiar character of the reproach which faithfulness in the gospel ministry is sure to provoke, from those for whose benefit it is designed. That we may avoid embarrassment, by keeping at a distance from the superstitions of our own times, we may begin this inquiry by asking what

occasioned the reproaches which were suffered by Christ and his Apostles? Never was a teacher more reviled, never was one more reproached, than was the blessed Jesus himself. And what seems as the most peculiar trait in the character of that enmity, which was so much excited and brought into action by him who spake as never man spake, is that it became the most pungent, and put on its worst rage, at those benevolent acts, which were the most evident marks of the divine power and goodness. That astonishing miracle, which gave sight to a man who was born blind, elicited from the enemies of Jesus their most care. ful scrutiny. They first contended that this man had not been blind; and to make it out that he had not, they called his parents to testify respecting the fact. They held over the parents the dreadful lash of excommunication; having established an ordinance, that if any should have the temerity to confess Christ openly, they should be cast out of the synagogue. They would be willing to allow people the rights of the synagogue, who believed in Jesus, if they would be hypocrites and deny him. But the parents were cautious enough to elude their wicked designs, and told them that their son was truly born blind; but as he was of age to answer for himself, respecting the means by which he had received sight, they might put their questions to him. Having learned from the man himself, that it was Jesus who had bestowed on him this inestimable favour, they replied, "Give God the glory; as for this man, we know he is a sinner." When their vigilant enemies were con vinced, by occular demonstration, that Jesus had cast out a most inveterate demon, they blasphemously asserted that he cast out devils by Beelze bub, the prince of the devils. Simon, the Pharisee, perhaps with an intention to draw a teacher who was so much followed by the people, away from wicked company, invited Jesus to his house to dine. But he had not been there but a short