INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE.

I COR. ix. 16.

Though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for neceffity is laid upon me; yea, wo is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel.

OUR bleffed Saviour emphatically described the purpose of his ministry, when, applying to himself a remarkable prophecy of Isaiah, he declared; "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, "because he hath anointed me to preach the

Gofpel to the poor." And he employed the fame appropriate expreffion, when, having delegated to the Apoftles the commiffion, which he had received from his Father, and having conferred upon them the gift of the Holy Ghost, he bade them, " Go into all the world, "and preach the Gospel to every creature'.'

Agreeable to the example and commandment of the Mafter was the conduct of the Apostles: both of thofe, who received their

a Luke iv. 18.

b Mark xvi. 15,

commiffion at his hands, before he afcended; and of him, to whom a fimilar difpenfation was miraculously committed, after the afcenfion of Chrift. To the Jew firft, and afterwards to the Gentile, they were indefatigable in preaching the Gofpel: in the execution of this office, they confidered and represented themselves to be acting, as they really were, in obedience to the express commands of God: they executed it, therefore, as a matter, not of choice, but of neceffity: not as a voluntary exercise, of the performance of which they might boast; but as a folemn task, by the omiffion or neglect of which they would be difgraced: not as a gratuitous undertaking, for which they might claim a recompence; but as a bounden duty, which it were criminal to relinquish. Though I preach the Gospel," fays St. Paul, in the energetic lan"I have nothing to glory. my text, guage of "of: for neceffity is laid upon me; yea, wo " is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel."

Nor did they esteem themselves more bound to preach the Gospel in general, than to preach it in its purity; uncorrupt, and unperverted. If difgrace and wo were to be their lot, should they neglect to preach it; an equal punishment appears to have been apprehended by them, if they departed from its fimplicity, and blended falfehood, or error, with the truth

of Chrift. Such is the purport of the autho ritative fentence of the fame animated Apoftle. "Though we," he pronounces to his Galatian converts, "Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto

you than that which we have preached "unto you, let him be accurfed." And, as if he were fearful that the fentiment would not be fufficiently impreffed upon his difciples, he deliberately repeats it in the following fentence with equal clearness and precifion: "As we faid before, fo fay I now again, "If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that which ye have received, let "bim be accurfed."

Diftinguished from the first preachers of Christianity, inasmuch as they neither derive their commiffion immediately from Christ, nor are empowered to confirm the word "by figns

and wonders and mighty deeds," the fucceeding ministers of the Gospel are yet on the fame footing with the Apoftles in a very important respect. To them, in common with the Apostles," a dispensation of the Gospel is "committed "." Neither felected from their brethren by the personal interpofition of Chrift on earth, nor called to be his minifters by the special appointment of a voice from heaven,

< Gal. i. 8, 9.

d1 Cor. ix. 17.

they have not their office impofed upon them by that neceffity, which affigned to the Apoftles their more diftinguished stations. To undertake the miniftry of the Gospel is voluntary on the part of its preachers now. But when they have been once legitimately called and ordained to that ministry, and have willingly taken upon themselves the duties which are annexed to it, it is then no longer matter of choice, whether or not they will be preachers of the Gospel. As opportunities present themselves of publishing the good tidings of falvation through Christ, and of leading men to the knowledge of the truth in him, it is the duty of us, who are engaged in the ministry, to be found active at our pofts. "Our hand "is to the plough," and it is not permitted us to "look back "." The fword of the Spirit is intrufted to us; and it is our business to wield it. Thus inlifted under the banner of Chrift, "Though we preach the Gospel, we have nothing to glory of: for neceffity is laid upon "us; yea, wo is unto us, if we preach not "the Gospel."

Like its first preachers alfo, we are bound to preach it in the fame purity, wherewith it hath been delivered to us from the fountain of light and truth. The will of God, which was

e Luke ix. 62.

revealed to the Apoftles in general by the mouth of Chrift, and to St. Paul in particular by a more fpecial difpenfation, is delivered down to us in authentic documents, written under the infpiration of the Holy Ghoft. From thofe documents the matter of our preaching is to be drawn; and wo unto us, if we preach any other Gofpel, than that which we have fo received.

Under these circumftances, no charge can be devised against the minifters of Christ, of a more difgraceful or a more capital nature, than that they are not Preachers of the Gofpel. As therefore it is of fo grievous a character to those, against whom it may be directed, it proportionally becomes every man, who may be difpofed to advance it against any minifters of Chrift, to be well affured of the grounds, on which he advances it. Whereas they call us heretics," observed a learned apologist of the English reformation, "that is so grievous a fin, that unless it can "be seen, unless it can be handled, unless it " can be grasped by the hands and fingers, it ought not early to be believed of a Christian "man"."

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f Nam quod nos appellant hæreticos, eft illud crimen ita grave, ut nifi videatur, nifi palpetur, nifi manibus digitifque teneatur, credi facile de homine Chriftiano non debeat. Juelli Apologia. Enchiridion Theologic. vol. i. p. 200.