1 Coi*. ix. 16. IFoe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel !
RESPECTING men's call to the ministerial office, it would be difficult to speak with any degree of cer- tainty. That of the Apostles was clear and unques- tionable : that of individuals, amongst ourselves, must be judged of by many circumstances, known only to the persons themselves, and but indistinctly known even to them. But the obligation to discharge the office with fidelity, when once it has been undertaken, is as manifest in relation to us, as it was in reference to St. Paul himself: a dispensation having been com- mitted to us, we may every one of us say, *' Woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel ! "
In discoursing on these words, I will endeavour to explain,
I. The office of ministers —
This, in one word, is to " preach the Gospel." And here let us distinctly mark,
1. What is meant by the Gospel —
[The Gospel imports glad tidings ; and it is particularly to be understood of the glad tidings which are brought to men respecting a salvation provided for them, a salvation through the blood and righteousness of our incarnate God. Such a salvation has been effected for us by our Lord Jesus Christ,
who expiated our guilt upon the cross ^and now lives in
heaven to complete the work which he began on earth
and offers salvation to all who will believe in him
This is the Gospel : nor does any thing but this deserve the name ]
2. The duty of ministers in relation to it — [They must preach it, as God's heralds and ambassadors:
they must preach it fully, in all its parts; freely, without any mixture of self-righteous conceits ; and constantly, making it the one subject of all their ministrations. If they preach the law, it must be in order to prepare men for the reception of the Gospel. If they preach obedience, as doubtless they must, is must be as flowing from the united influence of faith and