To My Younger Brethren Part 15

"Hee is not to rest in generall Doctrine, although never so much cleared and confirmed, but to bring it home to speciall use, by application to his hearers: Which albeit it prove a worke of great difficulty to himselfe, requiring much prudence, zeale, and meditation, and to the naturall and corrupt man will bee very unpleasant; yet hee is to endeavour to perform it in such a manner that his auditors may feele the Word of G.o.d to be quick and powerfull, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart; and that if any unbeleever or ignorant person bee present, hee may have the secrets of his heart made manifest, and give glory to G.o.d.

HOW THE MESSAGE IS TO BE APPLIED.

"In the Use of Instruction or information in the knowledge of some truth, which is a consequence from his Doctrine, he may (when convenient) confirm it by a few firm arguments from the Text in hand, and other places in Scripture, or from the nature of that Common place in Divinity, whereof that truth is a branch.

"In Confutation of false Doctrines, he is neither to raise an old Heresie from the grave, nor to mention a blasphemous opinion unnecessarily; but if the people be in danger of an errour, he is to confute it soundly, and endeavour to satisfie their judgements and consciences against all objections.

"In exhorting to Duties, he is, as he seeth cause, to teach also the meanes that help to the performance of them.

"In Dehortation, Reprehension, and publique Admonition (which require speciall wisdome) let him, as there shall be cause, not only discover the nature and greatnesse of the sin, with the misery attending it, but also shew the danger his hearers are in to be overtaken and surprised by it, together with the remedies and best way to avoyd it.

"In applying Comfort, whether generall against all tentations, or particular against some speciall troubles or terrours, he is carefully to answer such objections, as a troubled heart and afflicted spirit may suggest to the contrary.

"It is also sometimes requisite to give some Notes of tryal (which is very profitable, especially when performed by able and experienced Ministers, with circ.u.mspection and prudence, and the Signes cleerely grounded on the Holy Scripture) whereby the Hearers may be able to examine themselves, whether they have attained those Graces, and performed those duties to which he Exhorteth, or be guilty of the sin Reprehended, and in danger of the judgments Threatened, or are such to whom the Consolations propounded doe belong; that accordingly they may be quickened and excited to Duty, humbled for their Wants and Sins, affected with their Danger, and strengthened with Comfort, as their condition upon examination shall require.

"And, as he needeth not alwayes to prosecute every Doctrine which lies in his Text, so is he wisely to make choice of such Uses, as by his residence and conversing with his flocke, he findeth most needfull and seasonable: and, amongst these, such as may most draw their soules to Christ, the Fountaine of light, holinesse and comfort.

"This method is not prescribed as necessary for every man, or upon every Text; but only recommended, as being found by experience to be very much blessed of G.o.d, and very helpful for the people's understandings and memories.

IN WHAT SPIRIT THE PREACHER IS TO WORK.

"But the Servant of Christ, whatever his Method be, is to perform his whole Ministery;

"1. _Painfully_, not doing the work of the Lord negligently.

"2. _Plainly_, that the meanest may understand, delivering the truth, not in the entising words of mans wisdome, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, least the Crosse of Christ should be made of none effect: abstaining also from an unprofitable use of unknown Tongues, strange phrases, and cadences of sounds and words, sparingly citing sentences of Ecclesiasticall, or other humane Writers, ancient or moderne, be they never so elegant.

"3. _Faithfully_, looking at the honour of Christ, the conversion, edification and salvation of the people, not at his own gains or glory: keeping nothing back which may promote those holy ends, giving to every one his own portion, and bearing indifferent respect unto all, without neglecting the meanest, or sparing the greatest in their sins.

"4. _Wisely_, framing all his Doctrines, Exhortations, and especially his Reproofs, in such a manner as may be most likely to prevaile, shewing all due respect to each mans person and place, and not mixing his own pa.s.sion or bitternesse.

"5. _Gravely_, as becometh the Word of G.o.d, shunning all such gesture, voice and expressions as may occasion the corruptions of men to despise him and his Ministry.

"6. _With loving affection_, that the people may see all coming from his G.o.dly zeale, and hearty desire to doe them good. And

DOCTRINE AND LIFE.

"7. _As taught of G.o.d_, and perswaded in his own heart, that all that he teacheth, is the truth of Christ; and walking before his flock as an example to them in it; earnestly, both in private and publique, recommending his labours to the blessing of G.o.d, and watchfully looking to himselfe and the flock whereof the Lord hath made him overseer. So shall the Doctrine of truth be preserved uncorrupt, many soules converted, and built up, and himselfe receive manifold comforts of his labours even in this life, and afterward the Crown of Glory laid up for him in the world to come.

"Where there are more Ministers in a Congregation than one, and they of different guifts, each may more especially apply himselfe to Doctrine or Exhortation, according to the guift wherein he most excelleth, and as they agree between themselves."

SPIRITUAL POWER IN PREACHING.

I have little to say after the recitation of this pa.s.sage of pregnant and solemn counsel. That little shall be given to a supreme aspect of the whole subject; I mean, Spiritual Power in Preaching. Who that knows the Lord, and contemplates the preacher's work, does not long for Spiritual Power? By that longing he means no ambitious wish to be remarkable, nor any unwholesome craving to be a leader in scenes of religious excitement. He means the deep desire to be an effectual messenger of his Master; to be the living channel of the Holy Spirit's energy in His converting, sanctifying, strengthening, perfecting work.

He knows that it is possible to be truly orthodox, and yet not to be this; to be eloquent, to be impressive, to be impa.s.sioned, and yet not to be this; to be unimpeachably truthful, reasonable, intellectually convincing, and yet all the while not to be this. How shall he be a vehicle of spiritual power?

THE OPEN SECRET.

The Scriptural answer is very simple, but it goes deep. If a man would have spiritual power with men, and prevail, he must be real with his Lord. What he says, he must first know, he must first live. As regards HIM who is at once his Master and his Gospel, he must indeed "_know_ whom he has believed," [2 Tim. i. 10.] and, in calm but entire simplicity, "_submit himself_ under His hands." Granted a true creed, and a humble faith in its Subject, he must, in quiet reality, "yield himself unto G.o.d," if he would be used by Him. Observe the Apostle's phrase; "Yield yourselves," [Greek: parastesate heautous]: not, "yield to G.o.d" (though that is implied), but, "yield _yourselves_, hand yourselves over, to G.o.d," as you would hand over a tool, a weapon [Rom.

vi. 13.]. And another aspect of the same thing appears in the same Apostle's later words: "_If a man_ _purge himself_ of these, he _shall be a vessel_ unto honour, sanctified (to), and meet for, the Master's use," [Greek: hegiasmenon euchreston to Despote]. [2 Tim. ii. 21.]

The deepest secret of spiritual power, in G.o.d's sense of the phrase, lies there. Let the man be watchful over his Scriptural creed, and let him discipline his life, and let him toil in his study, and among his people. None of these things can be spared; they are all vital. But the central secret, which they as it were enclose and protect, lies in the words _Surrender in faith_. And the Christian man's heart must be its own inquisitor, before G.o.d, in the inquiry after the point, or points, where you, where I, need to make that surrender for ourselves.

In the void thus left, in the chasm thus cut deep into our ambitions, into our self-love, the mighty Spirit in His tranquil fulness will spring up. And then, whether we know it or not, we Ministers of the Word shall a.s.suredly be vehicles of spiritual power, to our Lord's praise.

FAREWELL.

So let me close these fragmentary words spoken "to my younger Brethren."

May G.o.d's mercy be upon the writer. Upon the readers, whom he loves in the Lord, may grace and peace come every hour and day, in secret, in society, in holy ministration of Word and Ordinance. And in due time, when they are no longer juniors but, if the Lord will, veterans and leaders in the work, may they in turn pa.s.s on the message to those who follow, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

"CHRISTIANITY is so great and surprising in its nature that, in preaching it to others, I have no encouragement but in the belief of a continued divine operation. It is no difficult thing to change a man's opinions. It is no difficult thing to attach a man to my person and notions. It is no difficult thing to convert a proud man to spiritual pride, or a pa.s.sionate man to pa.s.sionate zeal for some religious party. But to bring a man to love G.o.d, to love the law of G.o.d while it condemns him, to loathe himself before G.o.d, to tread the earth under his feet, to hunger and thirst after G.o.d in Christ, and after the mind that was in Christ, this is impossible. But G.o.d has said it shall be done; and bids me go forth and preach, that by me, as His instrument, He may effect these great ends; and therefore I go."

CECIL.

FORDINGTON PULPIT:

A PREACHER'S WEEKDAY THOUGHTS,

_Written, in 1878, in the Church of the Author's Baptism, and where he first Ministered as his Father's Curate._

Many voices yester-even Made these walls and arches ring With their high-sung hopes of Heaven, And the glories of its King; Now my footfall sounds alone On the aisle's long path of stone, Save that yonder from the loft, With a solemn tone and soft, Beating on with m.u.f.fled shock, Conscience-waking, speaks the clock.

Holy scene, and dear as holy, Let me ponder thee this hour, Not in aimless melancholy, But in quest of Heaven-given power; Seeking here to win anew Contrite love and purpose true; Near the Font whose dew-drops cold Fell upon my brow of old, Near the well-remember'd seat Set beside my Mother's feet; Near the Table where I bent At that earliest Sacrament.

Let me, through this narrow door, Climb the Pulpit's steps once more.

Blessed place! the Master's Word, Child and man, I hence have heard; Awful place! for hence, in turn, I have taught, so slow to learn.

To the silence now to hearken Here I mount and stand alone, While the s.p.a.ces round me darken And the Church is all my own; While the sun's last glories fall From the window of the tower, Tracing slow their parting hour On the stones of floor and wall.

Seems a secret Voice to thrill All the dusky air so still; Turns a soul-compelling gaze On me from the sunset haze: Sure the eternal Shepherd's hand Beckons me awhile apart, Bids me in His presence stand While He looks me through the heart.

Sinful preacher, ask again In this nearness of thy Lord, How to HIM has rung thy strain, When it seem'd to speak His Word.

'Midst thy brethren's listening numbers Hast thou felt, with heart sincere, How, in thought that never slumbers, This great Listener stood more near?-- Listening to His own high Name Spoken by His creature's breath; How from out the Heavens He came, How He pour'd His soul in death, How He triumph'd o'er the grave, How He lives on high to save, How He yet again shall come, Lord of glory and of doom.

Has He found thy message true?

Truth, and truly spoken too?

Utter'd with a purpose whole, From a self-forgetful soul, Bent on nothing save the fame Of the dear redeeming Name, And the pardon, life, and bliss Of the souls He bought for His?

Think!--But ah, from thoughts like these Hasten, sinner, to thy knees.

_Printed by Hazell, Watson & Viney, La., London and Aylesbury._

_BY THE SAME AUTHOR._