1 Kings xxii. 8. / hate him; for he doth not speak good con- cerning me, hut evil.
IT is generally supposed that sentiments adopted by the great mass of mankind, especially if they be maintained also by those who from their personal advantages and official character are considered as best qualified to judge, must, of necessity, be right. But, whatever deference may be due to the opinions of others, we cannot concede to any man, or to any number of jnen, that measure of confidence which is due to God alone. Even in relation to arts and sciences, we frequently find that universally received axioms are at length exploded, and systems of a very
different aspect established in opposition to them. In rehgion there is but one standard, to which every thing must be referred ; and how numerous or learned soever the persons may be who would impose their sentiments upon us, we must bring them all " to the word and to the testimony," and discard every thing which accords not with that unerring test. On a subject of great importance to the kings of Israel and of Judah, no less than four hundred prophets were consulted : and they all, with one voice, gave their judgment in such a way, as to flatter the pride, and gratify the inclinations, of those who consulted them. But there was one poor despised prophet, Micaiah, whom Ahab had intentionally kept in the back-ground, because he dreaded the advice which he might give : and, when inquiry was made respecting him, Ahab said, "I hate him; because he doth not speak good concerning me, but evil."
Now, though this saying had respect to one indivi- dual, and may therefore be supposed to be confined to him, the reason assigned by Ahab is of a general nature, and is applicable to all who faithfully declare the mind of God. This saying therefore of Ahab will furnish me with a fit occasion to shew,
I. The necessity imposed on every faithful minister —
A servant of God must declare the truth with fear- less and impartial freedom. Fidelity is essential to his very character.
1 . God requires it of us —
[Ministers are ambassadors from God, and must deliver feitlifully the message intrusted to them. An unfaithful man may be called a servant of God ; but he is, in fact, a servant rather of the devil, who assumes in him the appearance of " an angel of light^." St. Paul's representation is this : " Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful ''." And to every such character God gives this solemn charge : " He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfvdly. What is the chaff to the wheat *^?" We are not to fear the face of man, but to
'■' 2 Cor. xi. 13, 15. ^ 1 Cor. iv. 1,2. '' Jer. xxiii. 28.