And on the part of him, or of any of us who are called to the ministry, undoubtedly it is incumbent upon us so to behave ourselves, and so to approve ourselves, as that we may own ourselves to be a gift of Christ unto the church, and be owned by the church as a gift of Christ. I do not know, for my own part, a more trembling thought that a minister hath, or can have, in the consideration of his office, work, and duty, whereunto he is called, than this one, "How shall I approve myself, so as to be looked on as a gift from Christ given unto the church?"
There are three things that are required in every one who may be esteemed to be a gift given by Christ unto the church: — 1. An
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imitation of Christ; 2. A representation of him; and, 3. Zeal for him : —
1. An imitation of Christ, as the great shepherd of the Hock, in meekness, in care, in love, in tenderness towards the whole flock. So Christ is described, Isa. xl. 11, "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd ; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." Here is the great pattern, here is an example for all who are shepherds of the fiock under Christ (who intend to give an account with comfort unto the great shepherd of the sheep, when he shall appear at the last day), — in meekness and condescension giving out help and assistance, bearing with all things, that cannot particularly be insisted upon; and especially conforming unto him who knows how to have compas- sion on the ignorant, and them that are out of the way.
2. There is required a representation of Christ, and that in all his offices : —
(1.) A representation of him in the rule and conduct of the church ; that the church, under our rule and conduct, may be sensible that the government of Christ is spiritual and holy. What a woful re- presentation of Christ is made by men who undertake to rule the church of God with rods and axes, with fire and fagot ! Is this to represent the meek and holy King of the church, or rather a devour- ing tyrant, unto the world ? It is our great work, in what interest Christ hath given us in the rule of the church, to represent him as spiritual, as holy, as meek, — as universally tending to edification, and not to destruction.
(2.) To represent Christ in his prophetical office. He was the great teacher of the church; and the principal work of ministers is, "to preach the word in season and out of season ; " — by all means to cany on the church in the knowledge of God, and of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. " I will give them ' pastors that shall feed them with knowledge and understanding/ " Those who take upon themselves to be pastors, and neglect this work of feeding the flock, may, at as cheap a rate, and with equal modesty, renounce Jesus Christ.
(3.) Christ is to be represented in the imitable part of his sacer- dotal office; which is, to make continual prayers and intercession for the church, — and that church, in particular, whereunto we belong. So the apostle speaks, Col. iv. 12, " Epaphras, who is one of you" (that is, he was one of their elders and teachers), " a servant of Christ, sa- luteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." It is a great work thus, in all these things, to represent Christ in all his offices unto the church; and, indeed, who is sufficient for these things? I might add.
438 THE MINISTRY THE GIFT OF CHRIST.
3. Zeal for Christ. He that comes as an ambassador from Christ, in Christ's stead, will have zeal for all the concerns of Christ in the church ; — for his worship, for the purity of his ordinances, for the con- version of souls, and for the building up of the saints. This is re- quired of them who are thus a gift from Christ.
This is the first thing that my text doth suggest unto me, — namely, that the ministry is the gift of Christ.
And having proceeded so far, I will here stay a little, and desire the church would attend to their work and duty. After which, if God give strength, I will speak somewhat more unto the eminency of this gift, according as it is set out in this text.
[Then the church assented to the election, by the lifting up of their hands ; and the Doctor went on.]
I have showed you that the ministry and ministers are a gift that Christ himself gave the church. I shall now show you (which was the second part of my proposition), that it is a great and eminent gift, or an eminent fruit of the exaltation and mediation of Christ : —
First. It appears to be so from the " great and glorious prepara- tion" that was made for it. When did Christ give this gift? " When," saith he, " he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." The words are taken out of Ps. lxviii. 17, 18, " The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast as- cended on high, thou hast led captivity captive : thou hast received gifts for men." The words, you see, in the first place are spoken of God himself, and applied by our apostle to Christ, upon these two grounds: — 1. Because it was peculiarly the Son of God who appeared so to the fathers under the Old Testament. It was he who appeared to Abraham, and gave him the promise ; and to Moses in the bush ; it was he who gave the law at mount Sinai; and appeared to Joshua for the conquest of Canaan, where the church Avas to be set up; — so it was still the same person, though the articles were varied. 2. Be- cause Avhatever was done in a way of solemnity under the Old Tes- tament, was a representation, or a means of introducing of things that were to be done under the New. How did God lead " captivity captive," on the glorious giving of the law upon mount Sinai? That was the day wherein he made his people free. They had no rule, no order, no polity before that, but were under the relics of that cap- tivity which they underwent in Egypt. God now had conquered Pharaoh, and triumphed gloriously over him in the Red sea, — over him and his host who had kept the people so long in bondage. He led captivity captive, and brought forth his people into liberty, — though it was but an initial liberty : it was a bondage in comparison of what was to ensue ; but it was the beginning of liberty to them. And all