Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

grace, gifts, and fruit. If he have the grace of God, it will appear in his
holy life and godly conversation. If to this he add genuine abilities he will
give full proof of his ministry: and if he give full proof of his ministry he
will have fruit; the souls of sinners will be converted to God through his
preaching, and believers will be built up on their most holy faith. How
contemptible must that man appear in the eyes of common sense who
boasts of his clerical education, his sacerdotal order, his legitimate
authority to preach, administer the Christian sacraments, &c., while no
soul is benefited by his ministry! Such a person may have legal authority
to take tithes, but as to an appointment from God, he has none; else his
word would be with power, and his preaching the means of salvation to
his perishing hearers.
What should ministers of the gospel feel on such subjects? Is not their
charge more important and more awful than that of Moses? How few
consider this! It is respectable, it is honourable, to be in the gospel
ministry; but who is sufficient to guide and feed the flock of God? If
through the pastor's unfitness or neglect any soul should go astray, or
perish through want of proper spiritual nourishment, or through not
getting his portion in due season, in what a dreadful state is the pastor!
That soul, says God, shall die in his iniquities, but his blood will I require
at the watchman's hands! Were these things duly considered by those who
are candidates for the gospel ministry, who could be found to undertake
it? We should then indeed have the utmost occasion to pray the Lord of
the harvest to thrust out labourers into the harvest; as no one, duly
considering those things, would go, unless thrust out by God himself. O
ye ministers of the sanctuary! tremble for your own souls, and the souls
of those committed to your care, and go not into this work unless God go
with you. Without his presence, unction, and approbation ye can do
nothing.
Who is capable of these things? Is it such a person as has not intellect
sufficient for a common trade or calling? No; a preacher of the gospel
should be a man of the soundest sense, the most cultivated mind, the most
extensive experience, one who is deeply taught of God, and who has