1 The " indelible character " is the dogma of the church of Rome; — that a man ordained to be a priest ■within its pale never can lose his priestly character; and though he even cease to be a Christian, cannot cease to be a Christian bishop, priest, or deacon, if he has previously held any of these offices in the church. The dogma can be traced no farther back than the days of the schoolmen. The Council of Nice decreed that certain bishops and presbyters, who had been ordained by Miletius, a deposed bishop, should be re-ordained before they could exercise their office. Dr Campbell, in his " Lectures on Ecclesiastical History," reviews at some length the discussions on the " indelible character." Speaking of those who argued for the unreiterable sacraments, to which ordination, according to the church of Rome, belongs, he remarks (lecture xi.), " The whole of what they agreed in amounts to this, — something, they know not what, is imprinted, they know not how, on something in the soul of the recipient, they know not where, — which never can be deleted." — Ed.
462 THE EXCELLENCY OF CHRIST.
converting souls to Christ. We had a glorious ministry in the last age, — wonderful instruments for the conversion of souls. Did they convert them as gifted men, and not as ministers? God forbid. I say, it may be done by them who have received gifts, and not [been] called to office ; but I know no ground any man hath to give up him- self to the constant exercise of ministerial gifts, and not say to the Lord in prayer, " Lord, here am I ; send me."
Had I time and strength, I should tell you of the duty of pastors and teachers in administering of the seals, and what is required there- unto ; and their duty in directing and comforting the consciences of all sorts of believers; — what prudence, purity, condescension, and patience are required in it, as a great part of our ministerial duty.
I should show you, also, their duty in the rule of the church. Not that ever Christ intended to commit the rule of the church to them alone, — to take them off from that great and important duty of preach- ing the gospel ; but as time and occasions will allow them, to attend to the rule of the church.
And lastly, in exemplary conversation, and in assembling with other churches of their order, for the managing church communion.
" Who is sufficient for these things?" Pray, pray for us; and God strengthen us, and our brother, who hath been called this day to the work! It may not be unuseful to him and me, to be mindful of these things, and to beg; the assistance of our brethren
SERMON VI.1
To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song
of loves. " My heart is inditing a good matter : I speak of the things which I have made
touching the King ; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer," etc. — Ps. xlv.
1-3.
The whole Book of Psalms hath a peculiar respect unto Jesus Christ, either directly or in the person of David, who was his great- est personal type, next to Aaron and Melchizedeck ; but there are some psalms that are altogether directly prophetical of him and of his offices, — namely, the 2d psalm is prophetical of his kingdom ; the 1 6th psalm, of the work of his mediation and obedience to God therein; the 22d, of his priestly office, his sufferings, death, his re- surrection, and intercession; the 40th, of his oblation and suffering; 1 This sermon was preached June 7, 1674, at Stadham.
THE EXCELLENCY OF CHRIST. 4G3
the 72d, of his kingly and prophetical power and glorious regard unto his people; the 68th, of his glorious exaltation; and this 45th psalm is a prophecy and description of his person, and his kingly office, and of the espousals of him and his church.
The title of the psalm is, " To the chief Musician upon Shoshan- nim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves."
" To the chief musician;" so D^o? is generally rendered, — "To him that excels." As nV^ signifies eternal, I have sometimes thought it might be as well rendered, " In perpetuam rei memoriam ;" — " For an everlasting remembrance." But we may take it in the common accep- tation,— that it was recommended unto him that did preside over the rest of the Levites in the worship of God in the temple, by singing on instruments of music.
" Upon Shoshannim." The word signifies lilies; whether it was a musical instrument or a certain tune, we know not, neither do the Jews.
" For the sons of Korah." Who these were we may see, 1 Chron. ix. 19, " The Korahites were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle," etc. What were they else? Verse 33, " These are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who re- maining in the chambers were free;" for they were employed in the work of singing the praises of God with instruments of music day and night.
David was the first who brought musical instruments into the so- lemn worship of God ; not but that they did occasionally make use of timbrels and cymbals in the praises of God before, but he was the first that brought in a great number of musical instruments into the worship of God. And he speaks expressly, in 1 Chron. xxiii. 5, of praising God with instruments of music, " which," says he, " I made." He did it by the direction of the Spirit of God ; otherwise he ought not to have done it: for so it is said, 1 Chron. xxviii. 12, when he had established all the ordinances of the temple, — the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit. And verse 19, " All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern." It was all revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, without which he could have introduced nothing at all into the worship of God. The Lord prepared him for this service while he was a shepherd; at which time he had attained great skill in singing on musical instruments.