1 TIMOTHY iv. 12, 13. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. THE office which we bear as Christian ministers is so honourable in its work, and yet lays us under so weighty a responsibility to God and man, that it is not easy to say whether we ought more to rejoice in our sacred calling, or tremble under it in the fear lest it suffer injury at our hands, and our discharge of it fall short of our obligations. As to our office itself, it is, in every point of view, a high and excellent one. To us is given to be messengers and teachers of Divine Truth; stewards of God's word and sacraments; and to minister to Him in holy things for the instruction and edification of souls in the faith of our Lord and Saviour Jesus S Christ. Our comission is briefly described in that affecting address to the pastors of the Church at Ephesus: "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, "and to all the flock, over the which the Holy "Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church "of God which He hath purchased with His own "blood."k And if this be our charge, what other calling can there be named which would confer upon us so gracious a work, directed to such noble ends, embracing alike the glory of God and the welfare of man? We have cause therefore to congratulate ourselves upon the preeminence of our calling, and its duties; and adopt the devout feeling of the apostle in "thanking our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath enabled 66 us," in this our day, by the public authority of His Church, and so far "counted us faithful, putting us "into the ministry.”1 But if we look more deliberately into the nature and extent of the obligations which attach to this our office, it is likely that reflections of another kind will succeed to those we had entertained before. When we consider how much industry, self-command, patience, and faithfulness it requires; what are the difficulties which beset us in the discharge of it; what the hinderances arising from the infirmities and failings of our own minds within; what the un k Acts xx. 28. 1 1 Tim. i. 12. |