Christ is sometimes preached only as the means of advancing some personal and carnal ends.
Some, alas ! preach Christ for gain ; and make the procla- mation of his Gospel an office, in the discharge of which they are to obtain a livelihood. Yes, " for filthy lucre sake " do multitudes engage in this service, and not " of a ready mind :" and, if there were nothing but a bare subsistence to be gained by it, they would leave the whole world to perish, rather than go forth to enlighten and to save them. Under this head, I must rank those also who engage in the sacred office as a mere profession (like that of law or medicine), in which they may occupy somewhat of an ostensible post, and sustain a re- spectable character in the world, at the same time that they desire only to pass their days in polished ease and carnal indolence.
There are others who preach Christ for popularity. It is found that there is nothing which so interests the feelings of mankind, as the Gospel ; and wherever that is preached with any degree of clearness and energy, there people will flock to hear it. Now, to our fallen nature, distinction of any kind is gratifying : and, if a person can see himself followed by multi- tudes, who hang on his lips, and express delight in his ministra- tions, he will feel himself repaid, quite as well as by pecuniary compensation : and that many are actuated by this kind of ambition, whilst they profess to be led on by higher motives, there is too great reason to fear. Few, indeed, would acknow- ledge that they were influenced by such vanity as this : but, if they would mark what inordinate satisfaction they feel in a crowded audience, and what disappointment in a thin attend- ance, they might see, that, to say the least, their motives are very questionable. And, indeed, this very motive often gives a tone and direction to the ministrations of men, who will gratify a particular taste, not because they judge that style of preaching to be most scriptural, but because they see it to be most accordant with the public feeling: and they dare not to enter fully into what they themselves would think most need- ful, lest they should give offence to their hearers, and lessen the popularity which they supremely affect. Base is this motive, which prefers the estimation of men to the real wel- fare of their souls.
But there are others who more exactly resemble the per- sons whom the Apostle describes as " preaching Christ of contention." Yes, even at this day it is no uncommon thing to preach Christ chiefly with a view to undermine the influence of some popular minister. Let a pious minister arise in the Established Church, and what labours will be used to draw away his people : preachings, prayer-meetings, societies, will all be formed for this very end ; and persons of popular talent
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