4. Another obligation on clergymen to be faithful in their stewardship, arises from the regard which they ought to have to their own characters, and to the dignity of the order to which they belong.

It is always considered, by virtuous people, whose estimation alone is worth regarding, to be a disgrace and reproach to a man to act inconsistently with the profession he makes, or the station he fills. Such persons are supposed to be void of principle, and destitute of com mon prudence; and no one places much confidence in them. Now a clergyman, at his ordination, declares, that he is moved by the Holy Ghost to take that work and ministry upon him; that he is influenced by an earnest desire of promoting the salvation of souls; and that he will apply himself diligently and faithfully, by the help of God, to the duties of his sacred office, according to his best ability.* It would, therefore, be the lowest baseness to disregard such awful professions, and so solemn a promise voluntarily made; and to the sincerity of which the divine Omniscience was called to bear witness.

And

The station also which clergymen fill in the church is of the highest dignity. Veneration and reverence are annexed to their order by the common courtesy of christians, out of regard to God, whose ministers they are. this veneration is justified by the general good conduct, and faithful labours of those who belong to it. But when a clergyman departs from that propriety of behaviour which he ought to maintain, and becomes less distinguished for his care and fidelity in his duty, than for his inattention and negligence, he brings reproach, not only on himself, but on his brethren also: Good people are filled with suspicions and apprehensions, and they who are otherwise with mirth and exultation. The former are checked in their christian course-the latter encouraged in their evil practices. The faithful steward shares in the disgrace, and finds his usefulness lessened by his brother's ill conduct. These considerations will have their proper weight on ingenuous minds, and, taken together, lay the

* See the offices of ordination.

strongest obligations on the ministers of Christ, to remember that it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful' that their ministry is a talent committed to them by their Master and Lord, and unless it be faithfully improved, they cannot expect to receive the approbation of their Judge, or ever to hear the joyful voice of Christ, Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."*

Thus strong and weighty are the obligations which the 'stewards of the mysteries of God' are under to be faithful. Let us next see in what particular instances we may reasonably expect their fidelity should be principally

shewn.

1. It must be their duty faithfully to declare the whole will of God, and fully to make known the economy of redemption to the people of their charge, according to the scripture; persuading and intreating them to receive it, and warning them of the danger of rejecting it.

The gospel, which makes known the economy of the redemption and salvation of men through Christ, contains those mysteries of God of which his ministers are the stewards. Fidelity, therefore, requires that they declare, when circumstances make it proper, the whole gospel, without keeping back or disguising any part of it: That they endeavour to explain and illustrate it, as the subject shall permit, so as to give common capacities the best chance to understand it: That they persuade people to receive it, by such motives as are proper to it; and caution them against rejecting it, by such reasons and arguments as the nature of the case shall furnish: That they make the holy scriptures, especially the new testament, the rule of their preaching, and the standard of all the doctrines they shall teach: That they, therefore, study the scriptures, and endeavour to come at their true meaning by comparing one part with another, and keeping their general scope in constant view; that so they may make all particular doctrines uniformly consistent with each other, and with the general design of God's dispen.

* Matthew xxv. 21,

sations, to men. They will also take care to give every particular doctrine its proper place and due weight, laying the greatest stress upon fundamental points and essential principles, and enforcing all with just and candid reasons, and sober, dispassionate arguments; such as may convince the judgment, without exciting resentment or prejudice.

2. Fidelity will require that they preach the gospel sincerely, that is, purely; without mixing with it any thing which does not belong to it.

St. Paul cautions preachers against mingling vain philosophy with the doctrines of the gospel, and calls it corrupting the word of God; intimating that such preachers acted like knavish inn-keepers, who mix their wines to obtain the greater gain.*

Some people have a natural or acquired taste for nice distinctions, and subtile definitions; but a minister of Christ should remember that metaphysics and philosophy have their modes; whereas the gospel is always the same. What is approved philosophy at present, fifty years hence may be exploded; but sound divinity now, will be sound divinity to the end of the world.

The

And, if philosophical points which are foreign to the gospel ought to be avoided, certainly every other matter that is equally foreign ought to be avoided also. gospel preacher will therefore refrain from all political and party subjects. As a minister of Christ he can have nothing to do with them. My kingdom,' said Christ, 'is not of this world;'t consequently, his doctrines ought not to be drawn from their true scope, to accommodate them to worldly purposes. God has placed the management of worldly affairs in other hands. Our business is with the things of eternity. Let every one keep in his own sphere, and serve God faithfully in that station to which his providence has called him.

Young men of all professions are apt to be biassed by the authority of great names. Against this propensity clergymen should guard themselves. Deference is un

doubtedly due to the judgment and opinions of men eminent for their abilities and learning: But their sentiments should not be adopted merely on account of their names, without some previous examination, and comparison with the sacred oracles. In this sense, they are to call no man on earth master, 'for one is' their master, even Christ ;'* and his revelation is their school-his Spirit, their instructor. Fidelity to this master requires that they abide humbly in his school, and then they need not doubt the influence of his Spirit to lead and direct them in the way, of truth. Again;

Men of a speculative turn of mind get sometimes deeply engaged in a particular theological system; and, persuading themselves of its truth, are too ready to warp particular expressions of scripture, or pare them away, so as to make them apparently coincide with their favourite scheme. Positiveness and obstinacy too often follow. They are sure they are right- the scripture is on their side, and they must declare the truth. To them, their plan becomes the gospel, engrosses their thoughts and conversation, is made the general subject of their sermons, → and when they gain a proselyte from the truth, they flatter themselves they have gained a convert to Christ. To il lustrate this remark, by particular instances, would appear invidious; and, I persuade myself, little needs be said to guard those ministers of Christ, who are disposed to be faithful, against so preposterous a conduct.

Let me however remark, that the author of the text has, in this epistle,† expressed himself in such a manner, as gives us his full sentiments in a similar case. He declares that in his preaching at Corinth, he had laid the true foundation of their faith- Christ crucified-that if the preachers who came after him built on that foundation with good and proper materials, gold, silver, precious stones,' denoting sound doctrine and principles, they should, from their master, receive the reward of their fidelity. But if they built with wood, hay, stubble,'

Matt. xxiii. S.
VOL. I.

Chap. iii. 10-15.

E

1 Cor. ii. 2.

denoting doctrines and principles which were not truly christian, but the effects of human invention or heretical error; they did it at their peril, and must abide the consequence. It would be difficult to assign a good reason why all errors in doctrine may not be fairly included in this decision of St. Paul. For though the best commen. tators* suppose, that by the day, which the apostle says should reveal,' and make manifest,' every man's work, is meant the time of the destruction of Jerusalem, and that the fire he mentions signifies the extreme distress of that period, which, as fire tries gold and silver, would try and prove every man's real state, whether he were a true and faithful christian, or only an hypocritical or heretical professor; the former of whom only would be able to endure the trial of that day: Yet, as the destruction of Jerusalem is a type and figure of the final destruction of the world, we may safely conclude, that in that tremendous day, when not only the open practices of men shall be brought into judgment, but the thoughts of all hearts shall be revealed; the faithful ministers, who have adhered to the true foundation, and have built on it with the true and catholic doctrines of christianity, shall, from their Lord and Master, receive a suitable reward: While they who have erred from the truth, and have raised on this foundation doctrines and principles which belong not to it, shall suffer loss'-shall lose the reward which awaits the faithful minister. Yet they themselves, provided they have not destroyed the foundation-denied the faith of Christ crucified...but only built with unsuitable and perishing materials, shall be saved; yet so as by fire'-through extreme distress, and with great difficulty and danger. This danger every prudent minister would wish to avoid, and will, therefore, be careful not to mix his own fancies with the doctrines of Christ, nor raise a superstructure of erroneous and doubtful doctrines upon the foundation which the holy apostles have laid; but will determine with St. Paul, to know nothing among' his people, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified,' and

Dr. Hammond, and Dr. Whitby.

† 1 Cor. ii. 2.