The national whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1847, 1847-07-17


he speaks as messenger from the eternal
God to men. Who that gazes upon the
Divine model, can introduce light and tri-
fling subjects into his solemn ministrations,
aud dwell ON non essentials instead Of the
bread of life for souls ?
2. in the manner Of preaching and in
style, Christ is the minister's example. We
have supposed there was always something
in the manner Of Christ, solemn and stri-
king THAT while he was dispassionate and
calm, there was an earnestness and an
JUNCTION which led his hearers tofeel that
the preacher felt what he proclaimed. IN
manner impressive, solemn, inspiring re-
spect for himself, and especially for his
teaching, Christ could never be an example
IN subject or manner, to such preaching as
should excite in his hearers theEvain and
risible feelings of our nature. He who
never laughed, would not preach to make
men smile. And in style Christ is our pat
tern. Always simple and plain, yet elegant
and often sublime, he always spoke in such
language, and employed such metaphors
and illustrations as his hearers could easily
comprehend And this is the style Of the
best ministers and is to be sought for, ra-
Their than pedantic and studiously learned
style. The great mass Of your congrega-
ton are to be instructed, not the fancy Of
the few gifted. s.
3, Ia boldness and fidelity, Christ is a
model for every Christian minister. The
gentle Saviour, whose tenderness would
not break the bruised reed, knew well
when to proclaim the truth il words that
burn. Sins were attacked, and the guilty
addressed with Eye generation Of vipers,
how can you escape the darnnation Of hell y
lie laid the axe at the RooTfoF THE TREE,
and did not content himself, or think to
fulfil his ministry, by gently looping off
the branches, and leaving the tree Of sin
fulness yet standing. No matter whether
IN ligh or low places, sin was faithfully re-
buked, and no matter whether Pharisee OF
a Publican, thou art the man, Numbered
out upon the guilty conscience. So il was
with the Apostles so shouldit be with the
faithful minister of the Cross now. Now
what lesson should the fidelity of their
Master impart to the time-seryjng minis
tiers, who, dumb on the great sins Of the
s''t.~SS Ssiu6S 0nu 4udu UcloIS OIL cifcDSOuo
public opinion, succnmb to ask certain men
in the society what they shall preach, aud
fear to- come boldly to rebuks sin, as the
messengers Of God to men. Notso do we
learn Of Christ. s5
II a. In Aaliness Of life, and in conservation
lof has ,Uork, is Christ an example 10 gospel
ministers, In holiness and In consecration
more than in sparkling talents, lies the sue
cess Of the ministry ef reconciliation.
Men ofmuch ferveDt prayer, men Of deep
toned piety, are the-men who have been
| wise to win souls, and the most successful
ambassadors Of Jesus Christ. Mybrethren,
here we have Christ our glorious example;
and in no other feature does he more stri-
kingly become our example, and in no other
respect is II more important that we copy
out the example, than in his holiness and
conservation to his work. Our success must
depend essentially9o on this point. Let Us
rise higher in holy life, and allow. nothing
to interfere with our conservation to the
ministry, and then we shall not run nor la
Dor in vain.