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that full developement of St. Paul's character which we have in the Holy Scriptures. He never willingly set about to commend himself; but he was sometimes compelled to vindicate himself against the accusations of his enemies, and to make known his own principles and conduct, in order to prevail on others to tread in his steps. It was with this latter view that he made his appeal to the elders of Ephesus, when he was about to take a last farewell of them at Miletus.

Let us consider,

I. The appeal he made to them

His stay among them had been of three years' continuance; so that during that time they had had abundant opportunities of knowing every thing respecting him. To them therefore he appealed respecting,

1. The exercises of his mind

[He had "served the Lord with all humility of mind," conscious of his own utter insufficiency for so great a work as had been committed to him, and willing to make himself the servant of all, if by any means he might promote their eternal welfare

With this humility of mind he had blended compassion for their souls; so that whether he thought of those who rejected the Gospel, or those who walked unworthy of it, he had wept much on their account, both in his addresses to them, and in his supplications in their behalf---Moreover, he had persevered in his efforts for their good, notwithstanding such difficulties, as had often proved a severe trial to his faith and patience d -e]

2. The labours of his life

[He had exerted himself for them with fidelity and diligence: in all his communications, consulting, not what might

a 2 Cor. ii. 16.

b 2 Cor. iv. 5. and 1 Cor. ix. 19. c Rom. ix. 2. Phil. iii. 18. 2 Cor. ii. 4.

d ver. 3. and Acts xiii. 50, 51. xiv. 5, 6, 19, 20. and xvii. 5. e This subject should be differently enlarged upon, according to the occasion on which it should be delivered. If it were a Visitation or Ordination Sermon, the duties of the Ministry should be inculcated agreeably to this model: if it were a Funeral Sermon, the character of the deceased, as far as it accorded with this pattern, might be set forth: or, if it were a Farewell Sermon, a similar appeal might be made by the preacher, as far as it might be done with truth.

please, but what would "profit them:" and delivering to them his sentiments, not merely in public addresses, but privately and personally in their own houses, whenever an occasion offered -]

3. The subject of his ministrations—

[He had never entertained them with unprofitable speculations, but had uniformly endeavoured to instruct them in the two great fundamental doctrines of Christianity, "repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." These he inculcated on all, whether they were self-righteous Jews, or philosophizing and contemptuous Gentiles: he inculcated these things, I say, on all, as being equally necessary, and equally sufficient, for all the human race---]

As the making of such an appeal to them may, to a superficial observer, appear to savour of pride, let us consider,

II. The end for which he made it

We may be well assured that he sought not to advance his own glory: no; he had higher ends in view: he endeavoured to SHEW them,

1. How much they were indebted to God for the privileges they had enjoyed

[To have such a ministry of the word so long continued to them, was a greater blessing than to be loaded with all the temporal benefits that could have been bestowed upon them. By means of his ministry, vast multitudes had been "turned from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God:" now therefore that they were about to be deprived of those blessings, it became them, not so much to grieve at the loss they were to sustain, as to adore God for the benefits they had enjoyed. In reviewing his labours amongst them for the space of three years, they would see how greatly they were indebted to God above other cities, which had enjoyed only a transient visit of a few days or weeks; and would feel themselves bound to render to the Lord, according to the benefits he had conferred upon them -]

2. How carefully they should guard against departing from the faith

[Notwithstanding all the instructions they had received, they might, and would, if left to themselves, depart from God. St. Paul knew, that, "after his departure, grievous wolves would enter in among them;" and that " even from among themselves men would arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." This, alas! is what frequently

takes place at the removal of a faithful minister, unless there be substituted in his place an Elisha, on whom the mantle of Elijah has fallen. When Moses was on the mount only forty days, the people, even with Aaron at their head, departed from the Lord, and made a golden calf. What then must not be expected, where the bereavement is of long continuance, and the people are left without any such distinguished saint to superintend and controul them? ---O let all of you take care, "lest any root of bitterness spring up and trouble you, and thereby many be defiled!"

3. How earnestly they should strive to promote the interests of the Church

[These elders were the same as in a subsequent verse are called "overseers," or bishops; and, as their peculiar duty called them "to feed the Church of God," he charged them to "take heed both to themselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost had placed them," even that Church, which our incarnate "God had purchased with his own blood." What weighty considerations does he here urge, to stimulate them to a diligent discharge of their high office! O that every minister felt their full influence, and were actuated by them in the whole of his conduct!

But we must not suppose that ministers alone are interested in this charge for every member of a Church may do much towards the establishment of his brethren in faith, and love, and holiness. All should watch over one another for good; and this duty is still more imperative, when a faithful pastor is removed, and scope is thereby afforded for the entrance of contentious persons to distract and divide the Church

f The course of discussion in this Sermon depending so entirely on the occasion on which it should be used, little more is afforded to the reader, than an outline, to be filled up as the occasion may require.

MDCCXCIX.

DUTY OF MINISTERS.

Acts xx. 24. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God.

OF all the employments under heaven, there is not one so honourable or so useful as that in which the ministers of the Gospel have the happiness to be engaged. The government of kingdoms has respect

only to the things of time; whereas the ministry of the Gospel, both in its ordination by God, and its exercise by men, refers altogether to the concerns of eternity. We mean not to depreciate other offices; or to place the common office of a pastor on a footing with that of a Prophet or an Apostle: but still we must be permitted to "magnify our office" beyond that of any earthly magistrate, as far as things visible and temporal are excelled by things invisible and eternal.

But the trials with which a faithful discharge of our duty is attended are proportionably great. Fallen man does not like to be reclaimed: he wishes to banish God from his thoughts. If warned of his guilt and danger, he is indignant; and says to us, "Prophesy unto us smooth things; prophesy deceits; and make the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us." From the days of Cain, even to the present hour, has the exercise of vital godliness been an occasion of offence: and the more the Divine authority has been asserted, the more offence has been given to an ungodly world. Hence Prophets and Apostles have all, in their respective ages, fallen a sacrifice to their fidelity. St. Paul, at his first appointment to the apostolic office, was told what great things he should suffer for the Lord's sake; and his trials far exceeded those of any other Apostle: but, in a review of all that he had endured, and in the prospect of all that he was yet taught to expect, he could say, "None of these things move me," &c.

From these words I shall take occasion to shew, I. What is the office of a minister

The office of every minister is, "to testify the Gospel of the grace of God."

This was the one employment of the Apostle

[He proclaimed, with all fidelity," the Gospel" of Christ, or, in other words, the salvation which the Lord Jesus Christ has wrought out for us by his own obedience unto death This he proclaimed to be altogether" of grace," in the first appointment of the Lord Jesus to be a Mediator between God and man; in the acceptance of his sacrifice as an

expiation for sin; in the bestowment of faith on the individuals of mankind; and in the completion of the work in the souls of all that shall be saved. From the beginning to the end, in all its parts, this salvation was traced by him to the free and sovereign grace of God---Of these things, also, he "testified with much contention." He was constantly opposed by Judaizing teachers on the one hand, and by conceited philosophers on the other; and he was constrained to exert himself with all earnestness, in order that the truth of the Gospel might be fully known, and be established on the firmest basis. The Epistles to the Romans and to the Galatians are the best comment on these words; and must fully evince the energy with which the Apostle maintained his testimony, whether against dissembling friends or violent opponents.]

This, also, is the employment of every faithful minister

[To make known the way of salvation is the very end for which ministers are ordained. They come as heralds of the Most High God, to proclaim mercy to a ruined world, through the vicarious sacrifice of the Son of God But against

the testimony of a faithful minister all the prejudices and passions of mankind will rise; and he will be constrained to maintain his ground by a constant appeal to Holy Writ, as the only standard of truth, and the only arbiter that is competent to decide the controversy. In his disputations he must be firm, in order to support the honour of his God, whose grace alone must be exalted from first to last. If an angel from heaven were to broach a doctrine which derogated from this, he must withstand him to the face, and pronounce him accursed. Whatever truths he may have occasion to bring forward, he must always mark their bearing upon the doctrines of grace; shewing how they lead to those doctrines, or arise out of them; that so the truth of the Gospel may be kept inviolate, and "Christ may be exalted as all in all." In a word, he must determine, throughout the whole of his testimony, to "know nothing, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."]

Whilst in this passage we see what the ministerial office is, we behold also,

II. How it is to be discharged

We have reason to be thankful for the trials he sustained; since they drew forth from him a full statement of his feelings in relation to them. From

a Gal. i. 8, 9.

b Col. iii. 11.

1 Cor. ii. 1, 2.

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