thee, as it was once to Jeremiah. Thou mayest, indeed, be mocked by some, but thou wilt be reverenced by more : yea, even they that wag their heads at thee, carry that in their conscience which will make them fear thee : they are the flattering preachers who become base among the people, Mai. ii. 9.
Fifthly, Consider, if thou be not now bold for Christ in thy ministry, thou canst not be bold before Chiist at his judgment ; he that is afi-aid to speak for Christ, will certainly be ashamed to look on his face then. ' We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,' &c., 2 Cor. v. 10. Now what use doth Paul make of this solemn meditation ? ' Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men,' ver. 11. It is not wisdom to provoke the judge, by flattering the prisoner. A serious thought of that day, as we are going to preach, would make us shut all base fear out of the pulpit. It is a very small thing to be judged by man now for our boldness, but dismal to be condemned by Chi'ist for our cowardice. This is man's judgment-day, as Paul calls it, 1 Cor. iv. 3. Every one dares tax the preacher, and pass his sentence upon him, if he pleaseth not his itching ear ; but Christ will have his judgment-day also, to judge them, who now take upon them to judge others, and his sentence will easily reverse theirs ; yea, even those that now condemn thy freedom to reprove, would be the first to accuse thee for thy sinful silence. Some at the last day may accuse their cowardly ministers, and say, that if they had told them of their danger, they had not run into it ; if they had been bold to reprove their sin, they had not been so impudent as to live in the practice of it, which now hath brought them to everlasting shame and misery.
Sixthly, Consider how bold Christ was in his ministry ; his very enemies were forced to give him this testimony ; ' We know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly,' Luke xx. 21. He spared not the proudest of them, but to their head reproved them, and denounced the judgment of God against them. When in the midst of his enemies, he was not daiuited with their high looks or furious threats, but owned that very truth, which they made his capital crime. Matt, xxvii. 11, John xviii. 37. Hence Paul saith, that he witnessed a good confes- sion, before Pontius Pilate, 1 Tim. vi. 13 ; and useth this as the most powerful argument to conjure Timothy to be faithful in his ministry. What greater in- centive to valour can the soldier have, than to see his general before him with imdaunted coui'age where the bullets fly thickest ? It is impossible we should be dastardly, if instructed by Christ, and actuated with his spirit. When the high-priest and elders saw the boldness of Peter and John, they soon knew where they had got this heroic spirit ; for it is said, ' They took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus,' Acts iv. 13.
Seventhly, Pray, and beg prayers for this holy boldness. Thus did the apos- tles come by it ; their boldness was not the product of any natural gi'eatness of spirit they had above others, (you see what stout soldiers they were in them- selves, by their poor-spirited behaviour when Christ was taken, — they all ran away in a fright, and left him to shift for himself,) but it was the child of prayer not bred in them, but granted from heaven unto them at their humble suit; see them praying hard for it; Acts iv. 29, ' Now, Lord, behold their threatenings, and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word.' Mark, they do not pray against suffering, but for boldness to preach, whatever it may cost them. They desire not to be excused the battle, but to be armed with courage to stand in it ; they had rather be lifted above the fear of suffer- ing, than have an immunity from suffering ; let God but give them boldness to do their duty, and they have enough. Now see how soon God answers their prayers ; ver. 31, ' And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.' The grace they desired, dropped into their bosom, in a greater measure than ever they had it. If this be thy sincere request, God will not deny it. See them also sending others to God upon this errand for them. Col. iv. 3, and here in the text. The minister hath a difficult duty to perform ; but it is a necessaiy one, both for him and the people : he cannot be a faithful minister, that dares not deliver all his message. When Mauritius, the emperor, had inquired Phocas's disposition, he said. If he be timorous, he is a murderer. He that fears his people's faces is the man that is
FOR WHICH I AM AN AMUASSADOR. g ] 5
the most likely to murder their souls ; so that you pray for yourselves, while you endeavour to pray down this gift upon your minister.
CHAPTER XI.
THE minister's DIGNITY AND DUTY SHEWN.