Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-09-16
JOHN THE BAPTIST.

John the Baptist was the connecting INK
between the two dispensations. He enjoyed
greater privileges than any of the public min
listers of religion under the Old Testament
times. Hence, it is said, he was "greater than
a prophet" Still, as he stood at the threshold
of New Testament times, he was "the least in
the kingdom of God" John the Baptist was
sent as witness for Christ. He came as an
agent, or instrumentality,' divinely chosen, to
bear witness of Christ, that all men, through
him, or through the witness which he bore of
Christ, might believe in Christ. Hence he is,
with propriety, called the forerunner, or the
one who runs before his master and announ-
ces his coming. John the Baptist, however,
had another very important part to act in the
gospel dispensation. He is pattern to all
gospel ministers, both as to who they are and
what are their duties. If we answer correct.
ly the questions, "Who was John the Baptist,
and what we're his duties ?" we will have
correct answer to the same questions, when
asked respecting minister of the New les
lament.
John the Baptist was man. His fathers
name was Zacharias, and his mothers Eliza
beth. He was of priestly origin, but still he
was man. Like all other men, he was, by
birth, sinner, and by actual transgression, a
sinner in the sight of God. Like David, he
could have sal: : II was shapen in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me-" Ps
51:4. So is every other minister of the gos-
pei. He is nothing but mere man. He
can boast of no higher origin than that he was
born in SIM But, although John the Baptist
was man, he was "a man sent by God."
He was not what he was by his own choice,
although he assumed his office and discharged
its duties voluntarily. Neither was he what
he was, by the example of his pious parents,
or by the course of discipline to which he was
subjected, although both these were insepara-
bly, connected with his Office ; but he "was
sent of God" He was born, educated and
prepared, in body and mind, for his work, by
the peculiar interposition of God as God Of
providence and grace. He was sent, not by
any created being, but by God. So it is with
every true minister of the gospel. He is sent
by God. He has Gods work to do, and God
prepares him and sends him to the work. He
is not simply a graduate Of some literary COL
lege and of theological seminary; but he is
"a man sent by God" Colleges and theolog-
ical seminaries cannot make preachers. They
may be to those sent by God what the desert
was to John the Baptist-a place that God
chooses to fit them for doing his work; but,
unless God sends them, all the schools in the
world cannot make them ministers of the New
Testament. 1t is grand mistake for parents
to suppose they can make preachers of their
sons. God alone makes preachers. All men,
made preachers are, in the language of the
scriptures, "hirelings and have no care for the
flock"
The duties incumbent on John the Baptist,
are briefly but explicitly stated thus: "There
was man sent from God whose name was
John. The same came for a witness, to bear
witness of the Light, that all men through him
might believe" John |: 6, 7. All he had
to do was to testify that Jesus Christ was the
Messiah, the Saviour and the only Saviour of
sinners. 1t was through his testimony that
men we're to believe, and not through the i'm
mediate and direct interposition of the Holy
Spirit. No man could believe without the in
terposition of the Holy Spirit; but still it was
through the preaching of John, that the spirit
operated. So it is with every minister of the
gospel. His work is stated in the language
quoted respecting the work of John the Bap-
tist. The minister of the gospel is simply a
witness.bearer for Christ. Sabbath after sab
bath he must bear witness for Christ, the light
of the world. The sermon, the woof and warp
of which is not Christ and him crucifed, is a
goddess harangue. 1t may be beautiful in fig
ures and in choice of Words it may be thrill
ing in description. it may be grand literary
production; but it is, .withal, an empty ha-
rangue. Preaching is simply 'bearing witness
of the Light"
| 1t is important that we give the clause,
"that all men through him might believe" its
proper emphasis God has ordained and fixed,
by an irreversible decree, that by the foolish
ness of preaching, He will save them that be-
lieve We are not warranted in saying that