xxx. 9-11. _This is a rebellious people, &c._
Many wish to be deceived. They have made truth their enemy and shrink
from the light, desiring present relief and peace, even at the
expense of future happiness. Many a man does not like to be told the
truth about his business or his health. The Jews did not like to be
told the truth about their national prospects. The incessant
reference of the prophets to the holiness of God was offensive to
them, and they tried to silence their faithful monitors. Faithful
ministers of Christ meet with the same reception from many of their
hearers. These cannot bear to have their consciences roused, their
fears alarmed, and their minds rendered uneasy.
I. THE TRUTHS WHICH ARE USUALLY OBNOXIOUS TO SUCH PERSONS. The
spirituality and unbending strictness of the Divine law, the deep
depravity of human nature, the exceeding sinfulness of man's conduct,
the universal necessity of regeneration, the inefficacy of works for
justification, the indispensable obligation to a separation from the
world, the holiness of God, His irreconcilable hatred to all sin, and
His irrevocable purpose to punish it, and the awfulness and
interminableness of the doom of the impenitent. Such subjects call up
the enmity of the carnal mind. They distress those who are wrongfully
at ease in Zion, and they demand that the preacher shall leave them,
and discourse on more pleasing themes.
II. THE CAUSE OF THE DISLIKE OF MINISTERIAL FIDELITY. 1. _Unbelief._
Multitudes who admit in gross the authority of the Bible deny it in
detail. Its unpalatable truths are rejected. 2. _The refinements of
modern society and taste._ It is allowed that the curses of a
violated law may be uttered in barns or churches for the poor, and
may fall on the rude ears of the multitude, but the doctrine and
style of preaching to the congregations of rank and fashion must be
smooth and soft. 3. _Wounded pride._ Persons of outwardly blameless
life hate the doctrine which disturbs their self-complacency, and
revile the man who attempts to sink them in their own esteem.
4. _Painful forebodings of future misery._ Resolutely cleaving to
their sins, they do not like to be reminded of the doom to which they
are hastening.
III. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS DISLIKE OF MINISTERIAL FIDELITY.
1. It is _foolish._ Is it wise in the victim of vice to ask the
physician to tell him that he is in good health, and is carrying on a
harmless course of indulgence, &c., &c.? No concealment of the
situation of the sinner can alter his condition in the sight of God
or change the relation in which he stands to eternity. 2. It is
_sinful._ (1.) In its origin. It springs from a determination to go
on in sin. (2.) In its nature. It is a love of falsehood, a desire to
confound the distinction between sin and holiness. Nor is this all;
in aiming to suppress the voice of warning, he acts the part of that
infatuated and cruel wretch who would bribe the sentinel to be silent
when the foe is about to rush into the camp, or would seduce the
watchman to be quiet when the fire had broken out at midnight and was
raging through the city. The attempt to induce the preacher to utter
"smooth things," is an attempt to induce him to destroy himself and
to contribute to the destruction of them that hear him. (3.) In its
consequences. Notwithstanding the most faithful warnings, they are
hurried on by it to ruin. Like infatuated Balaams, they force a
passage to destruction. 3. It is _dangerous._ It leads men to close
their ears to what it concerns them especially to know. It is only by
a faithful disclosure of their situation that they can escape, but
they will not hear it.
APPLICATION. 1. _To ministers._ (1.) The guilt of ministers who do
not discharge the duties of their office with uncompromising fidelity
is indescribable. They are mere pulpit agents of the devil, receiving
the wages of the sanctuary while they do his work; keeping all still
and quiet among his slaves, preventing all attempts to throw off his
hateful yoke by flattering them with the idea that they are the
servants of God. (2.) The conversion of sinners should be the chief
object of every minister of Christ. They constitute the majority of
every congregation; they will soon be beyond the reach of salvation.
(3.) The conversion of the impenitent must be sought by suitable
means. What may be called the alarming style of preaching is most
adapted to convert the impenitent. Not gross and revolting
descriptions of eternal torment; these are offensive and disgusting,
and generally defeat their purpose, especially when done in a harsh,
unfeeling manner. But a minister's habitual preaching should be so
discriminating as to leave no unconverted sinner at a loss with whom
to class himself, whether with believers or with unbelievers; and it
should not unfrequently contain those allusions to and descriptions
of the wrath of God which, like the distant rumblings of the
gathering and approaching storm, should drive men to the refuge
provided by infinite mercy in the cross of Christ. (4.) It is at our
peril that we soften down the terror of the Lord to please any man;
we must not shun to declare the whole counsel of God; we must stand
clear of the blood of the rich as well as of the poor. Did Paul
regard the feelings of Felix? 2. _To professing Christians._
(1.) Many would have the preacher confine himself to words of
comfort, and object to everything searching and practical as legal.
Upon their principles, all parts of God's Word but the promises are
unnecessary; they are useless to believers, for they are above them
by privilege; useless to sinners, for they are below them in respect
to obligation. What is this but a requesting that the Holy One of
Israel may cease from before His people? (2.) Inconsistent professors
are likewise anxious that the preacher should confine himself to
consolatory topics. Hypocrites! he gives you that which belongs to
you. Consolation would be to you a deadly poison, a fatal opiate.
(3.) Sometimes even those who have only the ordinary imperfections of
even the best men wish to hear less of the alarming parts of Divine
truth. But have you no concern for the salvation of others? Besides,
who can tell but what you dislike may be necessary for keeping you
awake? (4.) Let those who cannot bear to hear the descriptions of
future punishment think with themselves how they shall be able to
endure it.--_John Angell James, Sermons,_ ii. 181-214.