We learn, firstly, from these verses, that one effect of a faithful ministry is to set inen thinking. "We read con- cerning John the Baptist's hearers, that "the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not."
LTJKB, CHAP. ni. VER. 15 — ^20. 95
• The cause of true religion has gained a great step in a parish, or congregation,' or family, when people begin to think. Thoughtlessness about spiritual things is one great feature of unconverted men. It cannot be said, in many cases, that they either like the Gospel, or dislike it. But they do not give it a place in their thoughts. They never " consider." (Isaiah i. 3.)
Let us always thank God when we see a spirit of re- flection on religious subjects coming over the mind of an unconverted man. Consideration is the high road to conversion. The truth of Christ has nothing to fear from sober examination. We court inquiry. We desire to have its claims fully investigated. We know that its fitness to supply every want of man's heart and con- science is not appreciated in many cases, simply because it is not known. Thinking, no doubt, is not faith and repentance. But it is always a hopefiil symptom. When hearers of the Gospel begin " to muse in their hearts," we ought to bless God and take courage.
We learn, secondly, from these verses, that a faithful minister will always exalt Christ. We read that when John saw the state of mind in which his hearers were, he told them of a coming One far mightier than himself. He refused the honour which he saw the people ready to give him, and referred them to Him who had the " fan in his hand," the Lamb of God, the Messiah.
Conduct like this will always be the characteristic of a true " man of God." He wiU never allow anything to be credited to him, or his office, which belongs to his divine Master. He will say like St. Paul, " we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus, the Lord, and ourselves
96 BXPOSnX)RY THOUGOtS.
your servants foif Jesus' sake.'* (2 dor. iv. 5.) To oommend Christ dying, and rising again for the ungodly, — ^to make known Christ's love and power to save sinners, — ^this will be the main object of his ministry. '^ He must increase but I must decrease," will be a ruling principle in all his preaching. He will be content that his own name be forgotten, so long as Christ crucified is exalted.
Would we know whether a minister is sound in the faith, and deserving of our confidence, as a teacher ? We have only to ask a simple question. Where is Christ in his teaching ? — ^Would we know whether we ourselves are receiving benefit from the preaching we attend? Let us ask whether its effect is to magnify Christ in our esteem ? A minister who is really doing us good will make us think more of Jesus every year we live.
We learn, thirdly, from these verses, the essentMl dif- ference between the Lord Jems and even the best and holiest of Sis ministers. We have it in the solemn words of John the Baptist : — " I indeed baptize you with water : — ^He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost"
Man, when ordained, can administer the outward ordinances of Christianity, with a prayerfiil hope, that God will graciously bless the means which he has Him- self appointed. But man cannot read the hearts of tiiose to whom he ministers. He can preach the Gospel faithfully to their ears^ but he cannot make them receive it into their consciences. He can apply baptismal water to their foreheads, but he cannot cleanse their inward nature. He can give the bread and wine of the Lord's Supper into tihieir hands, but he cannot enable them to eat Christ's body and blood by faith. Up to a certain
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point he can go, but he can go no farther. No ordination, howerer solemnly conferred, can give man power to change the heart. Ohrist, the great Head of the Church, can alone do this by the power of the Holy Ghost. It is His peculiar office to do it, and it is an office which He has deputed to no child of man.
May^we never rest till we have tasted by experience the power of Christ's grace upon our souls ! We have been baptized with water. But have we also been bap- tized with the Holy Ghost. — Our names are in the baptismal register. But are they also in the Lamb's book of life ? — ^We are members of the visible Church. But are we also members of that mystical body of which Christ alone is the Head P — All these are privileges which Christ alone bestows, and for which all who would be saved must make personal application to Him. Man cannot give them. They are treasures laid up in Christ's hand. From Him we must seek them by faith and prayer, and believing we shall not seek in vain.
We learn, fourthly, in these verses, the change that Christ mil work in Sis visible Church at Sis second appearing. We read in the figurative words of His forerunner, *' that he will throughly purge his floor, and gather the wheat into his garner ; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable."
The visible Church is now a mixed body. Believers and unbelievers, holy and unholy, converted and imcon- verted, are now mingled in every congregation, and often sit side by side. It passes the power of man to separate them. False profession is often so like true, and grace is often so weak and feeble, that, in many cases, the right