West-Jersey pioneer., 1873-03-21
SABBATH AFTERNOON.
COMMERCE. ST. NJ. E. CHURCH.

not ourselves, but Christ the Lord"
| One general design in the mind of the
Apostle, was to vindicate his ministerial
character, and authority, against the claims
of false teachers. He had suffered by false
accusations, yet he hesitated not to compare
him with his enemies and show in what re-
Spects he was superior to them in character
and the elements of devotion, which should
always mark the teacher of righteousness.
| The Apostles ministry was always un-
selfish and faithful.
He entered Immediately upon the du-
ties.
What is true ofhim is true OF every minis
| ter, called of God. To this day we can
| say, "we preach not ourselves, &C."
| The term servant, is literally ono who
waits on the commands of another. Where
ever there is servant there is mas
ter. The Church recognizes Christ, the
Great Head, as Master.
| He calls, and He only has right to call
at this glorious work.
He called the Twelve, and continuing
the bright succession, has called every min.
ister since. We remember, when far down
the streams Of time, there came a voice from
the skies. almost audible.
The servant must consult the will and
pleasure of his master. This is illustrated
IN the record of the Apostle Paul; his nobil-
Ity, dignity and self-sacrifice, was such as
the world never produced.
Illustrated in our pioneer fathers. Glori-
Gus men . whose record on the page of his
tory is blaze of glory. How they renounc-
ed health, wealth and honor. Had they
not the common aspirations of men? Had
they not capabilities to fill any position?
rhey had but they counted all things but
| lost.
Has their characteristic left the ministry
of to day? The servant must be untiring
| III his labors. A lazy servant will not be
| tolerated
The ministerial profession is regarded as
a very easy one. Those of limited concep-
ton say, ''tlleir life is an easy one." They
know not the fearful, crushing, terrible re-
| sponsibility that rests upon his heart. Bish
op Soule who suffered severely, would Of
ten go to the open door for a little fresh
air; the brethren often said to him, '.you
ought to retire" And I've never forgotten
| the trembling of that good old mans chin
when he said Brethren l shall have time
enough to rest when get there" These
|! ri, .hon tbo nf t,o iio on,
their oars, when seas are calm and no dan
ger nigh, the man of business when he fears
| no liabilities may journey to distant coun-
| tries for pleasure or comfort and there will
be no one to charge him with neglect. Not
so the minister, but some one will suffer
for it some immortal spirit may sink into
eternal despair. He must always be
at it, till the Great God calls him to como
up higher.
He breaches not himself. He hides behind
the cross always. He brings all his noblest
powers and consecrates them upon that
altar, sancitifed by the blood.
He breaches Jesus Christ as Sav iour, by
experience, and the grand object of the
ministry would fail of accomplishment with
out it. care not if you sing in my ear
syren song that lifts me, only to let me fall
the deeper; I care not for you fine spin
nings; the world will be in no wise benefit
ed if we stop at the theoretical.
We teach men to know that they may be-
come heirs of God, and rejoice with JOY un-
speakable. ''Tongue cannot express, &C."
The minister iabors for the profit Of all
to whom he may have access. 'Your SER
vant," not for men of refinement and dis
tinction, no; but ''your servant" Us of
God. And he is never SO happy as when
blessing others.
He turns from the joy of that happy cir
Gle, he calls his home, and goes to that
hovel to shed tear for the suffering, to say
to the fallen, ''my brother, look at the
cross and live." Like that infinite benef-
cence that moved God for the benefit of our
race.
The subject of that ministry is Christ.
He breaches The great Truths that lie at the
foundation of our hopes for this world and
that to come.
Some may regard this Office of preaching
as little beneath the dignity of true man.
hood. There are young men who are looking
at the emoluments of the legal profession,
|. against which 1 say nothing, rather than
weld to the call of God. A sad mistake.
Dishonorable? The most honorable and
dignifed that man was ever appointed TO,
God has stamped it with Importance.
Ten thousand times ten thousand tongues
can't tell the joy of a soul through life as,
it passed along the highways of Christian
experience. A present, full, complete sal
vation is the privilege of every believer in
Jesus.
We preach Christ as the comforting hope
to the soul through the great triumph of
His resurrection, "Because live, ye shall
live Also" l thank God we are permitted
to make this announcement There comes
back from the Majesty on high, the voice
'sye shall live." When the darkness OF
death is gathering around him, at last as
object after object passes away, just as ut
ter and hopeless extinction threatens,
there comes that voice again, because,
live, and the soul rejoices in the very death
struggle.
What glorious subject is that Of the
Gospel ministry! It far exceeds the Mosaic
and the Abrahamic. Bringing Christ
from the cross directly before the vision of
diving men This is the only lever that has
turned the world upside down. Preaching
with Latin, and Hebrew, and Science un-
baptised will accomplish nothing.
There never was minister who did much
for the conversion of souls, who did not
rely much on Christ cruciied.
This was the secret Of power In such men
a sLuther, McCeype, Rutherford, aud Wes- !