The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1891-04-15

bring?" Your one hope of saving
these dead sinners rests therefore
on the electing purpose of God.
And | call you to notice that this
was the very thing with which the
Lord encouraged Paul to prosecute
the work which founded the Church
in that headquarters of corrupt
heathendom, the city of Corinth.
" Be not afraid but speak and hold
not thy peace for l have
much people in this city" Here in
the strongest sort of statement, is
the doctrine of election, putting its
sturdy arms beneath the discour-
aged apostle to lift him from his
slough of despond. And so with
other Scriptures which might be
cited if space would permit. From
these Calvinistic Scriptures ring
out the trumpet notes which ami
mate the soldier of the cross in the
thickest of the fight.
But passing from this general
view, l think it will be clear that
it is these doctrines of theoretical
Calvinism which give meaning and
power to those outlines of pastoral
theology which | have endeavored
to trace in the preceding articles
You need hardly be reminded that
two things were laid down as first
principles of pastoral theology
evangelism as the chief end of the
ministry, and the gift of the Holy
Spirit as the means to this end
Now without the truths of election
and regeneration, these would be
meaningless to my mind When |
set before me the saving of souls as
the chief end of my ministry. |
must also believe that my Master
has His elect people, whom it is my
business to seek, and by His grace
to save. So, too, the gift of the Holy
Spirit would be little worth, and the
power from on high be only an
empty name, if that Holy Spirit of
promise, who thus deigns to link
His agency with mine, did not
exercise His power to raise dead
souls into newness of life, It is
thus an applied Calvinism which
gives its vital energy to that system
of practical theology which 1 have
endeavored to set forth. And a
most beautiful thing to my own
mind, is the way in which the great
principles of dogmatic Calvinism
that furnish the matter of preach
ing, and these principles of pastoral
which should guide a.
naaGer of it, blend together as th +
theoretical and practical comp
ments of each other. Notice "a
very brief form, how it seems to NE
these should lie together in eveCy
preachers mind. % God MS,
amid the mass of lost humani,-
his elect people. ~ l am com
as an evangelist 60
gather in the elect. (3) God gath
ers in His elect people through the
etfectual call of the Holy Spirit.
(4) In this | am fellow-workcr
with the blessed Spirit by virtue of
the promise of the Father, the con
ditions of which promise, | earnest
ly endeavor to fulfill And to me
there is nothing more grandly in
spring than thus to see linked to-
gether the sovereignty of God and
the invincible grace of His Holy
Spirit with the daily round and
common task" of even the humblest
preachers life.
| think | can show how we are
thus workers together with God"
in still clearer light. by familiar
New Testament illustration. When
the Lord Jesus stood over the
palsied man MARK ii: 1, seq. } He
occupied a position to which that of
His ministers before a congregation
Of unconverted men is closely
1t was Christ's merciful
purpose to give new life and strength
to that helpless sufferer; Just as it'll
is now ordinarily Gods gracious
purpose to raise some of these un-
believing sinners to the new life of
faith. You viii notice that i'm ac-
His purpose of mercy,
Jesus told the paralytic, "rise, take
up thy bed and walk"-a command
which lie was physically unable to
obey just as we now i'm the name of
Jesus say to impotent sinners, ere
1ent and believe the gospel'-a
command which they are spiritual
" unable to obey. And yet, to the
lmazement of all beholders, the
oaralytic did rise and walk lust as
row when we preach, Gas many as
are ordained unto eternal life be-