thus become curses to ue, 88 were the Christian profession of Ananias and the apostle- ship of J udn.s. Even Obrist may become "a stone of et urn bliog and a rock of offence" (1 Pet. ii. 6-6; John ix. 40), and bis ministers "a savour from death unto death" (2 Cor. ii. 16). As John Howe says," When the gospel becomes deadly to a man, that is a most terrible sort of death; to die by a gospel plague is a most terrible way of dying." Vers. 6, 1.-The qualifications and objects of (Jhristian ministers. Aaron and the original priests of the house of Levi are here held up as a pattern to their degenerate descendants. Reference is made to the higher departments of the priest's work, for teaching is a nobler work than sacrificing, even according to a divinely appointed and typical ritual. Allusions to this work of teaching by priests or Levites may be found in Lev. x. 11 ; Deu t. xxxiii. 10; 2 Chron. xv. 3; xvii. 8, 9; N eh. viii. 9; Micah iiL 11, etc. This work, being common to Jewish priests and Christian ministers, makes the application we have given to the words quite legitimate. We are reminded of the following qualifications and aims essential for a minister of Christ. L A MESSAGE FROM GoD. "He is the messenger of the Lord of hosts." We are sent to the world by our Divine Master with definite instn1ctions. There is a "glorious gospel of the blessed God committed to our trust." That gospel embodies the doctrines of" the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints." If we have no definite gospel to preach, for which we are willing to contend, to suffer, and if needs be to die, we had better hold our peace, for we are not "messengers of the Lord of hosts." "Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing thou bast no tidings ready ? " (2 Sam. xviii. 22); "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied" (Jer. xxiii. 21). A self-styled ambassador, with no instructions from his monarch, would be an object hardly less pitiable and contemptible than a speaker a.rroga.ting the position of Christ's minister, but quite uncertain as to what to speak in Christ's Na.me. The burden of our message is not, "Thus I think;" but, "'l'hus saith the Lord;" " Hear what the Spirit sa.ith to the Churches." Christ bids us to teach men "to observe all things whatsoever I Lave commanded you." When men gather around us they should be able to say, "Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God." ·we a.re thus reminded of the need of: I. Careful study of the La.w of God, like Ezra (vii. 6, 10), Daniel (ix. 2), Timothy (1 Tim. iv. 13). We must be scribes "instructed unto the kingdom of ,heaven," lest we should misread and misunderstand our message. 2. Of close communion with God; for errors that arise from sources that are spiritual may be more dangerous than those that are merely intellectnal (see John ili. 2); v. 44; vii. 17; viii. 43; xii. 42, 43; Heb. iii. 12). II. FIDELITY IN DELIVERING IT. We learn this from: 1. The unalterable claims of truth (ver. 6). All truth bas the authority of a. law. We must be prepared to teach others a.nd to learn for ourselves that rather than deny God by a lie in business or any sphere of life, it would be better to be burned alive. A martyr's spirit is essential to a minister's character. If this is true of us, we may urge the same on our hearers, for there are no two sta.nda.rds of morality, one for the clergy the other for the laity. All a.re required to love the Lord their God with all their heart, and therefore never to "hold down the truth in unrighteousness'' (Rom. i. 18). The urgent duty of fidelity on the part of Christ's ministers is seen further because of: 2. Our responsibility &a "stewards of the mysteries of God." So fa.r as those "mysteries," first revealed to the world by inspired apostles, a.re understood by us, we are stewards of them. And "it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful" (1 Cor. iv. 1, 2). We are to "keep knowledge" for those who at any time may '' seek the law" at our mouths. If others teach "another gospel" which may be more popular and acceptable, we are to decline popularity, "not as pleasing men, but God which trieth the heart." "l<'or if I plea.sell men I should not be the servant of Christ" (see Jer. xxiii. 28, 29; 2 Cor. ii. 17; iv. 1, 2; Gal. i. 10; 1 Thess. ii. 4). 3. Our relation to the souls of our hearers. Their object should be to seek God's law from our lips that they may do it, and ours to turu them from iniquity. Our one object should be to declare the whole counsel of God so clearly, faithfully, and affectionately, that, whether men will hear or forbear, we shall be free from the blood of all. Elihu's words arc an e:x:cellent motto for a preacher 26 THE BOOK OF M;ALAC¥,
(Job xxxiii. 3). The word_s, "Death and life are in the power. of the tongue," suggest solemn thoughts as to fidelity on the pa'rt of preachers. 'What nl!ed of car,,, both in public and private, in den.ling mth "seeking" souls, to point the'm direct to Christ, and not to any ceremonies or sacrament!! (Acts xx. 20, 21; 1 Cor. ii.' l';;-'6), lest at some critical point in their spiiitunl history our lips should fail t.o impart the" knowledge" "the law," the message from the Lord of hosts which they need, and thev ~hould be 0