3. Because the Apostles and all who believed at Jerusalem, did
so, by selling their goods, houses, and lands:
4. Because without this Dedication, it is impossible to receive
the command,--"Love thy neighbour as thyself":
5. Because, while it obviously tends to the general extension of
Christ's Kingdom upon earth, it does also, in an equal measure
contribute to the happiness and usefulness of the individual, by
extirpating carefulness and sloth, and causing to grow in
abundance[17] the peaceable fruits of righteousness and love.
Should I be asked, what I understand by giving up all for Christ, my
reply would be that I believe this surrender to be made, when any
individual, following whatever lawful vocation he may, labours and
contrives therein, with all the assiduity and indefatigable diligence
of which he is capable, to accomplish the known--the recorded will of
his Lord and Saviour. If that will requires that he should labour for
the souls, as well as the bodies of men; that he should strive to
make his fellows happy in time, and in eternity; that he should
impart to them the knowledge of Him who is "the way, the truth, and
the life"; he will labour with time, talents, means, and prayers, for
the attainment of these ends, as diligently as others labour from
motives of simple covetousness, or with a view of making provision
against future contingencies for themselves or for their families. If
any object to selling "houses or lands" it remains for themselves to
distinguish[18] between the motives, which induce them to retain
their property, and those which induced the "young man" to retain
his. If they retain it from any private affection unsupported by the
word of truth, and if it is not their own full conviction--that, in
so doing, they are pursuing the path most directly tending to fulfil
the mind of Christ; neither the myriads of those who embrace their
views and follow their plans, nor the learning and authority by which
they are supported, will prove them to be wise, or true, or eligible,
in that day when the judgment shall be set, and the books shall be
opened. The principle I have here endeavoured to establish from the
sacred volume, demands of no man the relinquishment of a present
sphere of usefulness, till he is himself conscientiously convinced
that he is called to another, where he may accomplish more for the
great cause for which he lives--the exaltation of Jesus, and the
gathering his sheep. But though it does not require a relinquishment
of present occupations, it is most uncompromising as to the end to
which they must be directed.[19]
That the hearty reception of this principle may be connected, by
natural consequence, with many and great difficulties in this
life--no one, who knows any thing of human nature, as opposed to the
nature of Christ's kingdom, or the Gospel History, can doubt. In this
world's history, great things are not accomplished but by great
sacrifices. A life free from sufferings and sacrifices our Lord has
not promised, and the Apostles did not enjoy. Such a portion they did
not even expect, but were always prepared to live on the remembrance
of the "faithful saying--If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign
with Him". It should therefore be no question of ours whether, in
literally fulfilling our Saviour's command, we shall be subjected to
many sufferings and privations, or not. The question is--Is it the
command of Him, who loved us too well to enjoin any thing but for our
good; and whether in his sovereign arrangement, the embracing of it
may not be connected with the advancement of His Kingdom, and
promotion of His glory? It would at least elevate the church from the
disgraceful position in which she now stands, striking hands with
Geshem and Sanballat, to raise up the walls of Jerusalem. She would
then rejoice to say: "We will do the Lord's work ourselves." Another
question is, whether the gathering in the sheep of Christ out of a
lost world, or even of a single one, be not worthy of all the
sacrifices we are called upon to make; and whether the means we have
pointed out have not, in the appointment of the Lord, a tendency to
the accomplishment of this end? If, from the word of truth, we can
answer--"Indisputably"; troubles, dangers, and difficulties, should
be as nothing. "Not my will but thine be done."
If the world esteem this madness, we must say with the
Apostle,--"Whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God; or whether
we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ
constraineth us: because we thus judge, that if one died for all,
then were all dead [therefore all died]: and that he died for all,
that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but
unto him who died for them and rose again" (2 Cor. 5. 13).
Thus I leave the question to those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in
sincerity; who desire that his name may be a praise in the earth; and
who, seeing that the harvest is truly plenteous, but the labourers
few, are constant in prayer to the Lord of the Harvest that he would
send forth more labourers into it and that he would more abundantly
pour out his Holy Spirit upon his Church, that it may more fervently
desire, and more assiduously labour for, the coming of that day, when
the Lord shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired
in all them that believe. And may the Lord direct all our hearts into
the love of God, and patient waiting for Christ, that if we should be
alive and remain at his coming, we may be caught up to join the
saints who are to come with their Lord in the clouds; and so be ever
with the Lord; or if we go before, may we come with Him in the day of
His glory. Amen.