Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

dead who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust, that he will yet deliver us. I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things, which happened unto me, have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel, so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places: and many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear." Hence, "we glory in tribulations ; knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience, experience; and experience, hope and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Blessed be God, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ."

If those who are honoured with a commission to publish the Gospel were fully convinced how gracious and powerful a Master they serve, instead of being alarmed at the sight of those labours and dangers, which await them in the exercise of their ministry, they would stand prepared to run all hazards in his service; as courageous soldiers, who fight under the eye of a generous prince, are ready to expose their lives for the augmentation of his glory. Can it become good pastors to manifest less concern for the salvation of their brethren, than mercenary warriors for the destruction of their prince's foes? And if the Romans generously exposed themselves to death, in preserving the life of a fellow-citizen, for the trifling reward of a civic wreath, how much greater magnanimity should a christian pastor discover in rescuing the souls of his brethren from a state of perdition, for the glorious reward of a never-fading crown?

K

TRAIT XXXII.

THE GRAND SUBJECT OF HIS GLORYING, AND THE EVANGELICAL MANNER, IN WHICH HE MAINTAINED HIS SUPERIORITY OVER FALSE APOSTLES.

THE disposition of a faithful pastor is, in every respect, diametrically opposite to that of a worldly minister. If you observe the conversation of an ecclesiastic, who is influenced by the spirit of the world, you will hear him intimating either that he has, or that he would not be sorry to have, the precedency among his brethren, to live in a state of affluence and splendor, and to secure to himself such distinguished appointments as would increase both his dignity and his income, without making any extraordinary addition to his pastoral labours you will find him anxious to be admitted into the best companies, and occasionally forming parties for the chase or some other vain amusement. While the true pastor cries out in the selfrenouncing language of the great Apostle: "God forbid, that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."

If the minister, who is really formed to preside in the church, was singled out from among his brethren, and placed in an Apostolic chair, he would become the more humble for his exaltation :.... if such a one was slighted and vilified by false Apostles, he would not appeal, for the honour of his character, to the superiority of his talents, his rank, or his mission; but rather to the superiority of his labours, his dangers, and his sufferings. Thus, at least, St. Paul defending the dignity of his character against the unjust insinuations of his adversaries in the ministry...." Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool). I am more." But in

what manner did he attempt to prove this? Was it by saying, I have a richer benefice than the generality of ministers; I am a doctor, a professor of divinity, I bear the mitre, and dwell in an episcopal palace? No instead of this, he used the following apostolic language. "In labours I am more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. In journeyings often, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils by the heathen, in perils among false brethren: In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, In fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those things, that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory in the things, which concern mine infirmities. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Such are the appeals of holy prelates. But for a man to glory in having obtained a deanery, a professor's chair, or a bishoprick, is in reality to boast of his unfaithfulness to his vocation, and to prove himself unworthy of the rank, to which he has been injudiciously raised.

Ye who preside over the household of God, learn of the Apostle Paul to manifest your real superiority. Surpass your inferiors in humility, in charity, in zeal, in your painful labours for the sal vation of sinners, in your invincible courage to encounter those dangers, which threaten your brethren, and by your unwearied patience in bearing those persecutions, which the faithful disciples of Christ are perpetually called to endure from a cor rupt world. Thus shall you honourably replace the first christian prelates, and happily restore the church to its primitive dignity.

TRAIT XXXIII.

MIS PATIENCE AND FORTITUDE UNDER THE SEVE

REST TRIALS.

"CHARITY is not easily provoked;" but on the contrary thinketh no evil. Full of patience and meekness, Christ distinguished himself by his abundant love to those from whom he received the most cruel treatment. Thus also the ministers of Christ are distinguished, who, as they are more or less courageous and indefatigable in the work of the ministry, are enabled to adopt the following declaration of St. Paul with more or less propriety: "Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat : we are made as the filth of the world, and are as the off-scouring of all things unto this day, Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed but in all things approving ourselves, as the ministers of God in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, by pureness by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left," which enables us to attack error and vice, while it shields us from their assaults; " by honour and dishonour; by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed, as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things."

Far from being discouraged by the trials, which befal him, the true minister is disposed in such circumstances to pray with the greater fervency; and

according to the ardour and constancy of his prayers, such are the degrees of fortitude and patience, to which he attains. "We have not received," saith St. Paul," the spirit of bondage again to fear; but we have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself," amidst all our distresses, "beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities. For we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. I besought the Lord thrice that this trial might depart from me. And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake for when I am weak, then I am strong. I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth

me."

What an advantage, what an honour is it, to labour in the service of so gracious and powerful a Master! By the power, with which he controuls the world, he overrules all things" for good to them, that love him." Their most pungent sorrows are succeeded by peculiar consolations; the reproach of the cross prepares them for the honours of a crown; and the flames in which they are sometimes seen to blaze, become like that chariot of fire, which conveyed Elijah triumphantly away from the fury of Jezebel.

* 2

« VorigeDoorgaan »