Morning Star

MORNING STAR.
For the Morning Star.
THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY:
A CHARGE ADDRESSED TO MR. JOHN BATEY, ON HIS BEING SET APART TO THE PASTORATE OF THE GENERAL BAPTIST CHURCH, CHARLES STREET, LISSON GROVE, LONDON. BY REV. J. BURNS.
"And say to Archippus, take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it." Col. 4:17.
My Dear Brother :—
As the services of this evening must be greatly abbreviated, there are many things usually included in the charge to a minister, which I shall greatly abridge or omit altogether. I shall not dwell on the importance of piety to the Christian minister. Surely we must take this for granted. If any man's piety should be decided, high-toned, and unsuspected, it is that of the minister of Jesus Christ. It is expected he should speak of the things he has known and handled, and be a living witness of the power and sanctity of the truth he declares to others.
Every attribute of lofty piety should distinguish his character. There should be the ardent signs of sanctification in his life and conversation. There should be the graces of lowliness and godly humility. There should be spirituality of mind and holy fervor of spirit. There should be manifest love to God, and a burning zeal for his glory.
Neither do I mean to enlarge on the nature of the true call to the ministerial work. For years you have felt it your duty to preach the gospel to sinners and the Wesleyan section of the Christian church, a considerable time ago. [Your brethren] deemed you fit to be employed in that sacred vocation. Your testimony to-night too will satisfy all present that there is no reason to doubt, that it is the will of God you should labor in the word and doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I wish therefore to recognize you this evening in connection with your study, the pulpit, the pastoral office and your relationship to the Catholic church of Jesus, and the benevolent institutions of the day.
I. IN REFERENCE TO YOUR STUDY.
Of course you will acknowledge the importance of duly studying God's blessed word and making full and careful preparations for the exercises of the pulpit. I know some profess to dispense with all study, and they plead the promise of God to teach them what to say in the hour of need. My own conviction is that the church might dispense with all such teachers without any loss to itself or disadvantage to the world. The age of miraculous interposition is past, and the man who will not labor in his study, will most certainly be any thing rather than an efficient and acceptable minister of Jesus Christ.
In the age of miracles the Apostle thus wrote to his beloved son Timothy, "Study to show thyself," &c. 2 Tim 2:15. He exhorts him also to give attention to reading. And how can ministers speak according to the oracles of God unless they make them the subject of their devout and constant study? (1.) In the study there must be the reading of general works on theology and the study of these. (2.) The especial and prayerful reading of the sacred Scriptures. In them the Christian minister must meditate almost day and night. (3.) The selection of topics for the ministry, and the composition of the subjects to be publicly delivered. It is not for me to say what time you should devote to them, or the fitest seasons for this department of your duty. Much must depend on your own mind, and on the circumstances in which you are placed. But from a deep sense of the greatness of your work, you will feel the necessity of giving all the time and all the attention which you can possibly command. Remember neglect here will soon be observable in your pulpit ministrations, and will greatly frustrate the end of your important calling.
In your study and preparation for the pulpit, (1.) Endeavor to remember the state and condition of your people, and thus there will be appropriateness in your discourses. (2.) Seek the gracious help of God's blessed spirit, and then you may expect that there will be a holy fragrance connected with your discourses. (3.) Be resolved to aim at usefulness and God's glory only and then you will be delivered from many ministerial snares, from the condemnation of conscience and the curse of God. I would just add, endeavor in preparing for the pulpit, (1.) To do justice to your theme—explain, illustrate and apply the texts you select. Do not let some striking portion of God's word be a mere motto, and scarcely that on which to hang some religious and moral essays. But give the sense, meaning, and design of the Scripture on which you treat, labor to be a good textuary, and your people cannot fail to be instructed in the counsel of God. (2.) Aim at variety in subject, matter and manner. The storehouse of your spiritual work is boundlessly furnished—there need be no sameness to the apt and diligent student. The streams of life are ever fresh and ever flowing; and if there be barrenness in your sermons, the cause must be sought in yourself and not in the divine word.
Allow me to add, different themes should have a variety of style as to their composition, and should be delivered in a manner that should harmonize with their character and spirit. Let me direct your attention,
II. TO YOUR LABORS IN THE PULPIT.
Here you have to declare the whole counsel of God. To preach the gospel of glad tidings to your perishing fellow creatures. To exalt the cross of Christ and urge sinners to trust in its efficacy for life and salvation.
All your studies and private meditations must be made to bear on your pulpit exercises. The work of the pulpit seems included in one short sentence, "Preach the Gospel." Make known to men that great truth which is worthy of all acceptation. Declare how that Christ has died according to the scriptures, for their sins. Assure them God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. Enter into the emotions of the great Apostle of the Gentiles who said, 2 Cor. 5:20, "Now then we are ambassadors," &c. If you preach the gospel, Christ will be the sum and substance of your discourses. His Godhead. his humanity, his mediatorial character. his offices. his sufferings, his work, his resurrection. his glory, his kingly authority and headship over the church. His right to reign from the rivers to the ends of the earth.
Preach the whole gospel. Withhold no part of the great salvation from your hearers. Preach the gospel fully. Dwell on its infinite treasures, both of grace and glory. Preach it to every sinner. This is the great charge. Allow no feelings of doubt to influence your mind, in making known to every hearer the overtures of redeeming love. Preach the gospel in its variety of blessings as exhibiting pardon, peace, righteousness, sanctification and eternal life.
Preach all the precepts of the gospel. All the ordinances of the gospel. All the requirements of the gospel. Preach the gospel harmoniously—showing that every part of the gospel has its distinct place, and that every part forms one beautiful whole, one grand system of glory to God and happiness to man.
Preach the gospel with all possible plainness and simplicity. You will have chiefly to do with the unlettered. therefore use great clearness and great plainness of speech. Preach the gospel earnestly, You have to excite attention. You have to make impressions. You have to produce conviction. You have to save your hearers. Then cherish intense ardor of spirit, and preach with all the earnestness of a dying man to dying men.
Preach the gospel with a due sense of the responsibility you incur. O feel for souls : put on bowels of mercy. Remember that you labor as one who must give an account. I just add, in all your preachings cherish a spirit of entire dependence upon God's promised blessing. Pray for it, believe for it, wrestle in constant supplication until you enjoy it. With this you shall be instant in season and out of season. With this your work shall be your joy. With this you shall overcome the fear of man and resist the temptations of the devil. With this you shall be adequate to your work and fulfill your ministry in the Lord.
III. As TO YOUR PASTORAL OFFICE.
Here you will have to preside over the meetings of the church, and to rule over it in the fear of God. This part of your office will require much wisdom, that (1.) You administer the laws of Christ rightly in reference to his church. (2.) You will require much of the spirit of fidelity, that you be faithful to the crown of Christ and the souls of his people. (3.) Much affection, that you may sympathize with the tempted, the poor, the tried, and disconsolate of the flock. (4.) Much patience and forbearance, for probably do what you will some will murmur—some will misrepresent—perhaps will malign. The best of ministers have been wounded, like their Lord. in the house of their friends. To suffer this in Christ's spirit and for his glory, much grace will be required. Labor so among your people that each one of your flock may seek your guidance in perplexity, your sympathy in sorrow, and your friendship at all times. Visit your flock as much as you can to their edification. Observe strict, yet kind discipline, both in the admission of members, in their suspension, or exclusion from the church.
I hope you will be blest with wise praying men to help you in your onerous duties.
IV. IN REFERENCE TO YOUR CONNEXION WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF CHRIST AND THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS OF OUR TIMES.
Allow me to urge upon you 1. To avoid a sectarian spirit. Let your whole ministry be worthy of the present occasion, when ministers of several denominations unite in your pastoral recognition. Sectarianism which has been the bane of the church and the curse of the world is doomed. Good men of all evangelical parties are drawing nearer together. Cherish this spirit of the times, live and breathe in the noble atmosphere of Christian liberality. Doubtless you are decided in your doctrinal views, and as to the great principles of church government, Be it so; forego none of these, but allow others to think for themselves, and love all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and in truth. Do not covet the members of other churches. If you succeed in proselyting, you do nothing really for the cause of truth. Cast your net into the ocean of the world. Aim at the conversion of souls, and live in peace and harmony with the whole Christian brotherhood.
2. Throw your energies into the great movements of the times. Give your first and best attention to your own flock and congregation; but in addition, give a helping hand and a burden-bearing shoulder to the great movements of morality and benevolence around you. You cannot be actively engaged with all, but you may do much for many. I know you will not neglect Sabbath schools. How important these to the rising generation. I am glad that you are connected with the temperance reformation. Drunkenness is the crying sin of our nation. Do all you can to preach it down and to live it down. Let no dabbler in spirits or beer plead your example. Abstain for your own sake and for the sake of the myriads around you.
Think of the dying heathen. Urge your people to aid in sending the gospel to the ends of earth. Help to diffuse the scriptures and evangelical tracts among the ignorant, and such as are out of the way. In one word,—be a public man, exhibit a public spirit and do all the good you can in your day and generation
IN CONCLUSION,
Do not weary in the day of toil do not turn aside from the good old way of sound evangelical truth. Do not allow your motives to deteriorate by cherishing any unworthy aims. Do not abandon the spirit of prayerful circumspection. Take heed to the ministry you have received in the Lord. Be vigilant, be watchful. Be faithful unto death. Think of your dying day, and so labor that the retrospect of your ministry may comfort and not disturb your peace of mind amid the anxieties of dissolution.
Think of the day of judgment, when we all shall meet, and when every man must account for his stewardship before God. May God grant that you may surrender up your account in that day with joy and not with grief. Amen.
And before him shall be gathered all nations ; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. Matt.25:32.