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EXCELLENCY OF THE PASTORAL OFFICE.

and public spirits; shining in golden holiness, and going forth with undaunted courage and zeal for God: inspired with burning love to Christ, and the souls of men; inclined to prefer the good of Jerusalem to their chief joy." What do we see already? "What hath God wrought?" Men willing to run all hazards by sea and land; to venture all that is dear to them in the world; and content to spend and be spent to increase the kingdom of Christ.

Thus we see how closely the "Pastoral Office" is connected with the church's glory, and the world's redemption.

Lastly.

We see "the excellency of the "Pastoral

Office" in THE PRESENTING OF THE SAINTS, PERFECT BEFORE THE THRONE OF CHRIST, TO RECEIVE ETERNAL

GLORIFICATION. "Whom we preach warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." Col. i. 28.

This is the greatest reward, and highest honour of the faithful pastor; to present the seals to his ministry, and the souls for his hire, before the eternal throne, who shall be his "joy, and stars in the crown of his rejoicing." O that none may 66 run in vain, neither labour in vain.”

CHAPTER V.

DEFECTIVE AND CORRUPT PASTORS.

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits."-MATT. vii. 15, 16.

THE most excellent things when corrupted, become the worst; and of all things, the corruption of religion, and the ministers of religion, are the most corrupt.

Perhaps it might be considered more curious than profitable, to pursue the enquiry-whether the visible church first became corrupt, and so corrupted the "Pastoral Office," or, whether the order of deterioration was from the Pastors to the church.

The only important point is to shew, that when the "Pastoral Office" exists only in name, without the spiritual qualifications; without the care, vigilance, self-denial, and labours; its efficacy and utility are lost, and it can only be assumed by such persons, because it is an honourable and lucrative profession or merely for literary, political, or worldly purposes.

The "Pastoral Office" must therefore, ever be kept

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from degenerating into a secular profession; and must maintain its high and heavenly character, as a divine vocation.

We are called upon by Christ, to "beware of false prophets which come in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Many things may corrupt and enfeeble true ministers; but some are represented as false apostles, essentially wrong; wolves even inwardly, ravening, hungry greedy wolves. Pretty shepherds, to protect the flock.

When ministers are ignorant and unenlightened they are corrupt Pastors. Every man ought to understand, and be able to make others understand, what he undertakes to teach. If a man unacquainted with mathematics or classics was to undertake to teach them; every one would be struck with the absurdity of his profession. And so a man being acquainted with one kind of knowledge, will not enable him to teach another.

Christ there

fore by the Spirit selects his ministers, not from acadamies of learning, but from the true, vital church. We do not deny, but that education, and a theological training for young ministers may be beneficial and beautifying; but it is not essentially necessary. The education of ministers is not from apostolic injunction, but from a prudential regulation of the church; which may be good or evil in proportion to the piety and care taken in their training.

The Scriptures however, caution the church from laying hands suddenly on any one. "Not a novice, lest being liftup with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil.”

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The apostles themselves were for several years, as disciples under our Lord's personal instruction, before they were appointed to the office of apostles.

The apostle Paul therefore exhorted the Corinthians to "covet earnestly the best gifts." "I believed, and therefore have I spoken. We believed, therefore speak.”

Pastors are not called merely to teach the science of divinity; although this is part of their employment: but also to teach, the working of repentance, of faith, and of love; to reconcile sinners to God, and to prepare believers by true holiness for everlasting life.

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It is wrong to say, that learning necessarily corrupts the ministry; nor would it be right to say that without classical and mathematical learning, ministers cannot be efficient and useful; for facts both with prove, and without the learning of the schools, are "able ministers of the New Testament," "not of the letter only, but of the spirit;""whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

many

"But it is supposed by many, (says a pious clergyman,) that good sense, diligence, and learning are all that can be wanting, to give any man that knowledge of the scriptures, which is requisite for personal salvation or public usefulness. The idea, of any thing more being necessary, is To talk of being discarded as being absurd and extreme. illuminated by the Holy Ghost, and of being taught of God, is likely to be offensive to those who boast of their learning and erudition, and are proud of their intellect; let such learn the meaning of these words. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him be

come a fool that he may be wise; for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.' We say not this with a view to the disparagement of human learning, which may be improved to the best account, but as a caution to those who are in danger of valuing it too high, and of arrogantly supposing they want no other aid.” (T. Robinson.)

Another says "divine knowledge is more to be likened to spiritual sensation than intellectual science."

So that when ministers are so ignorant and unenlightened as to be termed "blind leaders of the blind,” they are corrupt pastors, obtruding into things they know not, 66 a lie is in their right hand."

Political agitators are corrupt pastors. When men are Ishmaelites in spirit, their soul is all discord. It was not to disturb and destroy the peace of nations, that the Prince of Peace came into the world. Nor is it by wrath and by wars that his kingdom shall be directly extended. "Think not (says a Scotch Divine,) that struggling with your rulers, and striving with your neighbours will promote the prevalence of peace. But to promote peace on earth, and good will among men, should be the aim and end of true ministers." And though in one sense, Christ came not to bring peace upon earth, but a sword; the sword was to be steeped in the blood of a non-resisting church, not used by the church." "Christianity (says Stillingfleet) is a religion which is next to a miracle men should ever quarrel or fall out about; much less that it should be the occasion, or at least the pretence of all that strife and bit