by Rev. Robert Murray McCheyne
(Ordination of Rev. P. L. Miller, Wallacetown, Dundee, 1840).
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Tim. iv. 1, 2.
I. Where faithful ministers stand — “Before God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” There is not a more awfully affecting situation in the whole world than that in which a faithful minister stands.
(1) Before God — This is true in two ways:
1st. As a sinner saved by grace — He was once far off, but is now brought nigh by the blood of Jesus. Having “boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh,” he draws near. He stands within the veil — in the holiest of all — in the love of God. He is justified before God. A faithful minister is an example to his flock of a sinner saved. God says to him as He did to Abraham, “Walk before me, and be thou perfect.” He can say with Paul, “I was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious, but I obtained mercy.” A faithful Minister is like Aaron’s rod, that was laid up beside the ark of God and budded there.
2nd. As a servant — In the East, servants always stand in the presence of their master, watching his hand. The Queen of Sheba said to Solomon, “Happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee and hear thy wisdom.” So it is said of the angels, that “they do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” Even when most engaged in the service of the saints, they feel under his all-seeing, holy, living eye. So ought faithful ministers to feel. They should feel constantly in his presence — under his soul-piercing, gentle, guiding, holy, living eye. “I will guide thee with mine eye.” “The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous.” Ah! How often we feel we are before man. Then all power withers, and we become weak as other men; but oh! how sweet to feel in the presence of God, as if there were no eye on us but God’s. In prayer, how sweet to feel before Him; to kneel at his footstool, and to put our hand upon the mercy-seat — no curtain, no veil, no cloud between the soul and God! In preaching, how sweet to say, like Elijah, when he stood before Ahab, “I stand before the Lord God of Israel!” To stand at his feet, in his family, in his pavilion, oh believers, it is then we get above the billows! The applause of men, the rage and contempt of men, then pass by us like the idle wind which we regard not. Thus is a minister like a rock in the ocean; the mountain-billows dash upon its brow, and yet it stands unshaken.
(2) Before Jesus Christ — This also is true in two ways:
1st, The faithful minister has a present sight of Christ as his Righteousness. He is like John the Baptist. Seeing Jesus coming unto him, he saith, “Behold the Lamb of God!” Or like Isaiah, he saw “his glory, and spake of Him.” His own soul is ever watching at Gethsemane and at Golgotha. Oh brethren, it is thus only we can ever speak with feeling, or with power, or with truth, of the unsearchable riches of Christ! We must have the taste of the manna in our mouth, “milk and honey under our tongue,” else we cannot tell of its sweetness. We must be drinking the living water from the smitten rock, or we cannot speak of its refreshing power. We must be hiding our guilty souls in the wounds of Jesus, or we cannot with joy speak of the peace and rest to be found there. This is the reason why unfaithful ministers are cold and barren in their labours. They speak, like Balaam, of a Saviour whose grace they do not feel. They speak, like Caiaphas, of the blood of Christ, without having felt its power to speak peace to the troubled heart. This is the reason why many good men have a barren ministry. They speak from clear head-knowledge, or from past experience, but not from a present grasp of the truth — not from a present sight of the Lamb of God. Hence their words fall like a shower of snow — fair and beautiful, but cold and freezing. The Lord give us to stand in the presence of the Lord Jesus.
2nd. The faithful minister should feel the presence of a living Saviour. A minister should be like the bride in the Song; “Leaning upon her beloved.” This was Jeremiah’s strength (i.8): “Be not afraid of their faces, for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.” So it was with Paul (Acts xviii.9, 10): “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee; for I have much people in this city.” So Jesus told all the disciples: “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me not; but ye see me; because I live, ye shall live also.” And again He says expressly: “Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world.” Yes, brethren, Christ is as truly walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, as truly in this place today, as if you saw Him with your bodily eyes. His humanity is at the right hand of God — appearing in the presence of God for us. His Godhead fills all in all. Thus He is with us — standing with our right hand, so that we cannot be moved. It is sweet to know and feel this. Thus only can we be sustained amid all the trials of the ministry. Are we weary? we can lean, like John, upon his bosom. Are we burdened with a sense of sin? we can hide in the clefts of that Rock of Ages. Are we empty? we can look up to Him for immediate supply. Are we hated of all men? we can hide under his wings. Stand before the Lord Jesus Christ, and then you may smile at Satan’s rage, and face a frowning world. Learn here also the guilt of refusing a gospel ministry: “He that refuseth you, refuseth me; and he that refuseth me, refuseth Him that sent me.”
(3). Within sight of judgment — “Who shall judge the quick and dead.” Ministers and their flocks shall meet together before the throne of the Lord Jesus. That will be a solemn day. They have many solemn meetings on earth. An ordination day is a solemn day. Their meetings from Sabbath to Sabbath are solemn meetings; and sacrament days are very solemn days. But their meeting at the judgment-seat will be by far the most solemn of all. Then,
1st. The minister will give in his account, either with joy or with grief. He will no more meet to plead with the people, or to pray with them, but to bear witness how they received the word. Of some he will give account with a joyful countenance — that they received the word with all readiness of mind — that they were converted and became like little children: these will be his joy and crown. Of most with grief — that he carried the message to them, but they would not come — they made light of it; or perhaps they listened for a while, but drew back into perdition. He will be a swift witness against them in that day. “Depart, ye cursed.”
2nd. Then the people will give in their account of the minister. If he was faithful; if he made it his meat and drink to do the will of God; if he preached the whole truth with seriousness, urgency, love; if he was holy in his life; if he preached publicly, and from house to house; then that minister shall shine like the stars. If he was unfaithful; if he fed himself, but not the flock; if he did not seek the conversion of souls, did not travail in birth; if he sought his own ease, his own wealth, his own praise, and not their souls; then shall the loud curses of ruined souls fall on that wretched man, and God shall say, Take the unfaithful servant, and bind him hand and foot, and cast him into outer darkness. Oh! believers, it is the duty of ministers to preach with this solemn day in their eye. We should stand, like Abraham, looking down on the smoke of Sodom; like John, listening to the new song and golden harps of the new Jerusalem. Would not this take away the fear of man? Would not this make us urgent in our preaching? You must either get these souls into Christ, or you will yet see them lying down in everlasting burnings. Oh! brethren, did I not say truly that the place where a minister stands is the most solemn spot in all this world?
II. The grand business of the faithful minister — described in two ways: First, Generally — Preach the Word; Second, More in detail — Reprove, rebuke, exhort.
(1). Preach the Word — The grand work of the minister, in which he is to lay out his strength of body and mind, is preaching. Weak and foolish as it may appear, this is the grand instrument which God has put into our hands, by which sinners are to be saved, and saints fitted for glory. It pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe. It was to this our blessed Lord devoted the years of his own ministry. Oh, what an honour has he put upon this work, by preaching in the synagogues, in the temple, and by the blue waves of Galilee, under the canopy of heaven! Has He not consecrated this world as preaching ground? This was the grand work of Paul and all the apostles; for this was our Lord’s command: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel.” Oh! brethren, this is our great work. It is well to visit the sick, and well to educate children and clothe the naked. It is well to attend presbyteries. It is well to write books or read them. But here is the main thing — preach the word. The pulpit is, as George Herbert says, “our joy and throne.” This is our watch-tower. Here we must warn the people. The silver trumpet is put into our hand. Woe be unto us if we preach not the gospel.
The Matter — The Word — It is in vain we preach, if we preach not the word — the truth as it is in Jesus.
1st. Not other matters — “Ye are my witnesses.” “The same came to bear witness of that light.” We are to speak of nothing but what we have seen and heard from God. It is not the work of the minister to open up schemes of human wisdom or learning, not to bring his own fancies, but to tell the facts and glories of the gospel. We must speak of what is within the word of God.
2nd. Preach the word — the most essential parts especially. If you were with a dying man, and knew he had but half an hour to live, what would you tell him? Would you open up some of the curiosities of the word, or enforce some of the moral commands of the word? Would you not tell him his undone condition by nature and by wicked works? Would you not tell him of the power of the Holy Spirit? These are the essential things which a man must receive or perish. These are the great subject-matters of preaching. Should we not preach as Jesus did when He went to Emmaus, when He began at Moses and all the prophets, and expounded to them the things concerning himself? Let there be much of Christ in your ministry, says the excellent Eliot. Rowland Hill used to say, See there be no sermon without three R’s in it: Ruin by the fall, Righteousness by Christ, and Regeneration by the Spirit. Preach Christ for awakening, Christ for comforting, Christ for sanctifying. “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
3rd. Preach as the word — I would humbly suggest for the consideration of all ministers, whether we should not preach more in the manner of God’s word. Is not the word the sword of the Spirit? Should not our great work be to take it from its scabbard, to cleanse it from all rust, and then to apply its sharp edge to the consciences of man? It is certain the fathers used to preach in this manner. Brown of Haddington used to preach as if he had read no other book than the Bible. It is the truth of God in its naked simplicity that the Spirit will most honour and bless. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
(2). Reprove, rebuke, exhort — The first work of the Spirit on the natural heart is to reprove the world of sin. Although He is the Spirit of love — although a dove is his emblem — although He be compared to the soft wind and gentle dew — still his first work is to convince of sin. If ministers are filled with the same Spirit, they will begin in the same way. It is God’s usual method to awaken them, and bring them to despair of salvation by their own righteousness, before He reveals Christ to them. So it was with the jailer. So it was with Paul; he was blind three days. A faithful minister must lay himself out for this. Plough up the fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. Men must be brought down by law work to see their guilt and misery, or all our preaching is beating the air. Oh! brethren, is this our ministry? Let us do this plainly. The most, I fear, in all our congregations, are sailing easily down the stream into an undone eternity, unconverted and unawakened. Brethren, they will not thank us in eternity for speaking smooth things — for sewing pillows to their arm-holes, and crying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. No, they may praise us now, but they will curse our flattery in eternity. Oh for the bowels of Jesus Christ in every minister, that we might long after them all!
Exhort — The original word means to comfort — to speak as the Comforter does. This is the most difficult part of the Christian ministry. Thus did John: “Behold the Lamb of God.” Thus did Isaiah: “Comfort ye, comfort ye.” Thus did our Lord command: “Go, preach the gospel to every creature.” It is true this makes the feet of the gospel messenger beautiful on the mountains. He has to tell of a full, free, Divine Saviour. And here I would observe what appears to me a fault in the preaching of our beloved Scotland. Most ministers are accustomed to set Christ before the people. They lay down the gospel clearly and beautifully, but they do not urge men to enter in. Now God says, Exhort — beseech men — persuade men; not only point to the open door, but compel them to come in. Oh to be more merciful to souls, that we would lay hands on men and draw them in to the Lord Jesus!
III. The manner.
(1). With long-suffering — There is no grace more needed in the Christian ministry than this. This is the heart of God the Father towards sinners: “He is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish.” This is the heart of the Lord Jesus. How tenderly does He cry, “Oh! Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I,” etc. This is the mind of the Holy Spirit in striving with men. He will not always strive, but oh how long He does strive with men! Dear believers, had He not striven long with us, we would this day have been like Lot’s wife, monuments of grace resisted. Now, such ought ministers to be. Above all men we need “love that suffers long and is kind.” Sometimes, when sinners are obstinate and hard-hearted, we are tempted to give up in despair, or to lose temper and scold them — like the disciples calling down fire from heaven. But, brethren, we must be of another spirit. The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Only be filled with the Spirit of Christ, and it will make us patient toward all. It will make us cry, “How often would I,” etc.
(2). With doctrine — Some good men cry, Flee, flee, without showing the sinner what he is to flee from; and again, they cry, Come, come, without showing plainly the way of pardon and peace. These men act as one would do who should run through the streets crying, fire, fire, without telling where. In the preaching of the apostles you will observe the clear and simple statement of the truth preceding the warm and pathetic exhortation. This has always been followed by the most judicious and successful divines. It behoves ministers to unite the cherub and the seraph in their ministry — the angel of knowledge and the angel of burning zeal. If we would win souls, we must point clearly the way to heaven, while we cry, flee from the wrath to come. I believe we cannot lay down the guilt of man — his total depravity — and the glorious gospel of Christ too clearly; that we cannot urge men to embrace and flee too warmly. Oh for a pastor who unites the deep knowledge of Edwards, the vast statements of Owen, and the vehement appeals of Richard Baxter.
(3). With urgency — If a neighbour’s house were on fire, would we not cry aloud and use every exertion? If a friend were drowning, would we be ashamed to strain every nerve to save him? But alas! the souls of our neighbours are even now on their way to everlasting burnings — they are ready to be drowned in the depths of perdition. Oh! shall we be less earnest to save their never-dying souls, than we would be to save their bodies? How anxious was the Lord Jesus in this! When He came near and beheld the city, He wept over it. How earnest was Paul! “Remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears.” Such was George Whitfield; that great man scarcely ever preached without being melted into tears. Brethren, there is need of the same urgency now. Hell is as deep and as burning as ever. Unconverted souls are as surely rushing to it. Christ is as free — pardon as sweet as ever! Ah! how we shall be amazed at our coldness when we do get to heaven!
(4). At all times — Our Lord went about continually doing good; He made it his meat and drink. “Daily in the temple.” So should we. Satan is busy at all times; he does not stand upon ceremony; he does not keep himself to Sabbath-days, or canonical hours. Death is busy. Men are dying while we are sleeping. About fifty die every minute; nearly one every second entering into an unchangeable world! The Spirit of God is busy. Blessed be God, He hath cast our lot in times when there is the moving of the great Spirit among the dry bones. Shall ministers then be idle, or stand upon ceremony? Oh that God would baptise us this day with the Holy Ghost and with fire, that we might be all changed as into a flame of fire, preaching and building up Christ’s church till our latest, our dying hour!
“I know I ought to fit myself in the best manner I can for public service; but this is my misery — I study and prepare, that I may consume it upon my own pride and self-confidence.”
David Brainard.