A steward in an household must be faithful to his charge : and so must a minister be in the Church of God : he must be faithful,
1. To his Master —
[He is to receive instructions daily from his Master, and to carry them into effect to the utmost of his power. He must never be doing his own will, or following his own way : he must " in no respect seek his own things, but invariably the things of Jesus Christ." He must so act, as if the eye of his Master were immediately upon him ; and so that he may be able to give a good account of his stewardship, when- soever he shall be called into his Master's presence
He must never be swayed by any thing but his Master's will : there must be no vacillation in his conduct, as arising from carnal hopes or fears ; nor any negligence, as arising from sloth. What his Master has appointed, he must do : and " whatever his hand findeth to do, he must do it with all his might,"]
2. To his fellow-servants —
[He must make a due inquiry into their state and circum- stances, in order that he may know what to apportion to each, in a way either of work or sustenance. Having his eye on all, he must deal out to them severally that measure of approba- tion or displeasure, which may be a sure criterion and earnest of the award which will be assigned them at the coming of their Lord. He is never to aim at *' pleasing them, except for their good to edification :" I say, he must speak and act, at all times, " not as pleasing men, but God, that trieth the hearts." He must indeed " speak the truth in love ;" but the truth he must speak at all times, " commending himself to every man's conscience in the sight of God." He must "never prophesy smooth things:" but "reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine;" " doing nothing by partiality, and never preferring one before another." The express com- mand of God to him is, " He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat*?" The word which he is entrusted to dispense must be in his mouth " as a fire, and as a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces'"." He must consider his own soul as at stake : and must so "de- clare the whole counsel of God, as to be pure from the blood of all men," and, at all events, to " deliver his own soul ;" that, if any have perished under his ministry, he may himself at least be approved of his God.]
* .ler. xxiii. 2S. '' .Ter. xxiii. '29.
1952.] Paul's indifference to men's judgment. 145 Address —
1. Be thankful for the privileges which you enjoy —
[You have, I hope I may say, a faithful ministry. But you need to be cautioned against the error which obtained in the Corinthian Church. You know, that wherever there are more ministers than one, there is apt to arise an undue par- tiality for one above another : and this sometimes verges on an idolatrous attachment on the one part, and a contemptuous indifference on the other. But the Apostle tells us, that this is a very reprehensible carnality. For, granting that you find one more profitable to your soul than another, " what is any man, but a minister by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?" Look through men to God. All of them are " earthen vessels, and the treasure they dispense is God's :" if you look to man, God will withhold his blessing from you : but if you look simply to him, he will, by one as well as by another of his faithful servants, comfort and enrich your souls.]
2. Be faithful, on your part, in making a due improvement of them —