II.
A Church is only so far a witnessing Church as it is thus baptised with the Holy Ghost. The connection between the two is plainly pointed out in the text: “Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me.” The Redeemer does not send skilful orators, but witnesses, such as have seen with spiritual eyes and heard with spiritual ears. A witness must know what he testifies, and he has little liberty to speak of what the Lord has not wrought in him; he believes, and therefore speaks. Witnesses shall testify, while the world stands, of the love of God in Christ — of redemption through his blood, and of the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace. Their sound must go into all the earth; but they do not testify what they have heard, or read, or thought out upon the things of God, for the Holy Ghost gives them a savoury experience of the tidings of great joy which they proclaim to others. Many called ministers have nothing they can testify; for can he be a witness unto Christ, whose heart is not filled with the presence, the love, the life, the Spirit of Christ? Can he be a witness of the cross of Christ, who does not daily look to the dying Lamb for pardon, peace, and cleansing? Can he be a witness of the Lord’s abiding with his people to the end of the world, who knows not in his heart a daily intercourse with Jesus — who has not the witness of the Spirit that he is a child of God?
They who have Christ in them, therefore, can alone bring men into living contact with God. Christ makes it plain that a new unction must visit his followers before the blessing spreads to the impenitent; and to look for an awakening, therefore, before we ourselves receive that baptism is repeatedly renewed; and to hold forth, like many declining cannot long continue to display a living testimony, unless this fresh holy baptism of the Spirit, that make a witnessing Church. However, not Churches of the Reformation, a form of sound words, when the Spirit is sinned away, is but like a removed sign-post carried down a swollen river. For it is not protests, or creeds, or formularies, but living souls under the baptism of the Spirit, that make a witnessing Church. However, not apostles alone, but every believer waited for the Spirit before Pentecost. And nothing, it seems to me, will strike the heart of this callous age, but new holiness in believers’ lives — the awe-inspiring spectacle of men glowing with love to their Lord, openly separating from the world. But can those believers be witnesses for Christ, who trifle with the Spirit’s presence — who tremble not at decays in holy communion with God — who do not hourly rekindle their torch in God’s own presence? Can those believers be really witnesses for Christ, whose life savours of the spirit of the world more than of God — who lie in doubts and fears, with no peace within and no zeal for God? May they not tremble to see how many, by their worldliness, they keep at ease on the brink of an eternal hell?
Why do we so seldom see a Pentecost, a day of the Lord’s right hand, when Jesus still lives as Lord, and the Spirit is waiting to descend? Times there are, indeed, when believers are anew baptised with glowing first love, and continue pleading for the salvation of the Christless, as if this were their only work, when breathless assemblies are hushed in death-like stillness before the felt presence of the Lord Jesus; and the awe on every soul is only chequered by the bright joy of reconciled countenances. Times there are, when the sharp arrows of the King pierce many hearts — when heaven and hell seem to open before our face compelling many to decide amid all men’s overwhelming earnestness — when the general feeling is, the Lord is here, and a wide-spread fear prevails lest others should be taken and they be left. But why, O why, are such times so rare? Is it because our desires are so slender, our expectations so narrow? Is it because we too much select the post in which we choose to serve? Is it that, without being hourly led by Jesus as a child is led — without waiting for the Lord’s direction — without following his guidance and complying with his Spirit, we trust to our own wisdom and to our own power — alas! found unavailing in the kingdom of God? “Awake, awake, O arm of the Lord” — awake as in the ancient days, for our toil and study end in nothing. We may yet be far from testifying with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, but who, in reviewing the past, will not exclaim. Had I given the same proportion of my days and nights to prayer which I gave to toil, to other pursuits, or even to study — had I fallen down at the feet of Jesus, pleading for the Holy Ghost, till my lips were touched with fire, and my heart with love — till he shewed me how to do his work, it might have pleased him to make use of me. Had I not run without this unction from on high — had prevailing prayer for the Spirit gone before all my work and followed it, I should not have spent my strength for nought. The review of the past shows what our present course should be; but let us not faint or be discouraged. The disciples were not to testify at all before they were anointed. They would not have succeeded in awakening a soul had they not waited for the shower from heaven. And can we succeed without the precious method that the Saviour has enjoined? Without this fiery unction the disciples were not to go forth; and with child-like dependance on Christ’s grace and power, we too are to follow the same rule. O if we would take him at his word, and let him act! If we waited for the Spirit, should we toil in vain? They only who are chosen vessels, themselves baptised with the Spirit, can preach the gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven — can be unto God a sweet savour of Jesus Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish. This coming of the Spirit with unction and power, with light and life, made the word quick and powerful, piercing to the dividing of soul and spirit, and discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart. No sooner were the disciples replenished, than others, yea thousands were inflamed. It was said by the holy Livingston, “There is sometime somewhat in preaching that cannot be ascribed either to the matter or expression, and cannot be described what it is, or from whence it cometh, but with a sweet violence it pierceth into the heart and affections, and cometh immediately from the Lord. But if there be any way to attain to any such thing, it is by the heavenly disposition of the speaker.”
To the same purpose said the heavenly-minded Brainerd, “When ministers feel these special gracious influences on their hearts, it wonderfully assists them to come at the consciences of men, and as it were to handle them. Whereas without them, whatever reason or oratory we make use of, we do but make use of stumps and not of hands.”
Fathers and Brethren, in fulfilling our testimony, this church is in special danger of settling down upon its lees. Is there no danger lest we take the wonderful prosperity of this Church as a compensation for the spiritual glory of a church? Is there no temptation to be less dependent upon God amidst success —to say my mountain standeth strong — than when apprehensions of unknown evil beset us on every side? The Lord breathes over Israel the affecting complaint, “I remember thee, the kindness of thy love, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness; what iniquity have your fathers found in me that they are gone far from me?” And is there no danger lest we too surrender ourselves to carnal slumber, content with past exertions, and enjoying an inglorious repose before the rest of eternity arrive? Is there no risk of beginning in the Spirit, but seeking to be perfect in the flesh? If not watchful unto prayer, may we not ere long be surprised with sleep, and grow weary of well-doing, or give way to a reaction? The eminent Hooker, on embarking to New England with the pilgrim fathers, thus expressed his apprehensions, destined too soon to be realised: “Farewell, England, I expect now no more to see that religious zeal and power of godliness which I have seen among professors in that land. Adversity has slain its thousands, but prosperity its ten thousands. I fear that those who have been zealous Christians in the fire of persecution, will become cold in the lap of peace.” May the Lord keep this Free Church awake at whatever cost!
But another temptation, no less perilous, is the expenditure of time and energy on thankless schemes and delusive enterprizes. Should it not be the answer of this Church to every such allurement, I am engaged in a great work and cannot come down? Perhaps the most powerful temptation with which the enemy can ply this Church, is to cast ourselves down from the pinnacle of the temple, in the presumptuous hope, that, because protected in positions which our Master chose for us, we shall be equally protected in those chosen by ourselves. May we be kept from the seductive idea that we could render better service in some other post than in that which the Omniscient Saviour bids us occupy. It is a blessed discharge from every kind of work that forces us back on this land for which we are especially responsible, till we see the reception of our message. Let schemes be as bright and captivating as they may which divert us from our post, which draw us off, I suspect them, and the quarter whence they come; and while we confess our readiness to fall asleep at our post, or to be seduced from it, let us at every interval afresh resume our work — let us ever and anon encourage one another to greater love, and zeal, and faith, and prayer — let us fall back afresh on the humiliation, the devotedness, the vows of other days, when we were most sensibly baptised with the Holy Ghost as with fire.
In sending forth this discourse, let me briefly add, that all who have the Spirit of Christ, ought equally with ministers to stand forth as witnesses, and feel that they are kept for a season on the earth to do a work for God, after their title to the heavenly joys is secured. Would not God’s people tremble, if they saw how many their lukewarm lives embolden to abide in sin? God will be with us while we are with him, nor will he withdraw the Spirit till we sin him away. And what if God’s own people themselves mar his glorious displays of grace and power in this dark age, because the salt is losing its savour when the land needs it most, and their love is waxing cold through abounding iniquity, when, if ever, it should burn most brightly? Say not, O that a dead world were quickened; but, O that I myself were quickened. Do not many grow weary and faint in their minds, because the example of those most eminent for gifts and graces tends not to encourage, but to dishearten them.
Nor can I omit a call to prayer. When an ardent desire is cherished for the Holy Ghost — when the spirit of extraordinary supplication is poured out from on High — the time to favour Zion, the set time, is come. But the prayer that breaks through the clouds, and opens heaven, asks on a scale no lower than according to God’s riches in glory, and expects, with joyous confidence, such great things as Christ’s great merits can procure, and as it is God-like and worthy of God to bestow. For all the persons of the Godhead are the more highly honoured by the greatness of the benefits conferred. While God’s glory is the highest end in prayer, let us, with believing hearts, hold up the one-prevailing name of Jesus, neither expecting an answer for the inward peace, the enlargement, the fervour of the holiest frame; nor apprehending a denial for an uncomfortable frame, for the merits of that name that prevails with God is evermore the same. Let us look at the prayers in Scripture, and we find that God’s glory, the Church’s growth and welfare, her holiness and progress, were ever highest in the thoughts and breathings of the saints of God. And if we are animated with any other frame — if that weighs lightly with us that weighs most with God — if our aim does not harmonize with God’s in seeking the glory of his name — neither can it be prayer taught by the Spirit, nor prayer offered up in the name of the Son. For the prayer which is of God maketh intercession according to the will of God. (Rom. viii. 27.). The greatest work, perhaps, that some can do for God — and who does not long to do something for him? — is to give him no rest, and never to keep silence, till the Spirit is sent like floods upon the dry ground.