judgments, O Lord, have we waited for Thee; the desire of our soul is to
Thy name, and to the remembrance of Thee. With my soul have I desired
Thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me, will I seek Thee early;
FOR WHEN THY JUDGMENTS ARE IN THE EARTH, THE INHABITANTS OF THE WORLD
WILL LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS.” {196b} How “instant in season, and out of
season,” must all the ministers of the Gospel be, that through the
blessing of God, they may make the Divine visitation, which has fallen on
the land, conducive to the religious improvement of their several flocks.
The very fear of the consequences of intemperance, as being considered to
predispose the system towards this dreadful disease, has, in many places,
operated to the production of a great external reformation of the habits
of life; let then the favourable moment be seized, and every means used,
that the inner man may be converted to God. It is not sufficient, that
the pestilence should be considered as a judgment, and thus made the
occasion of private and public exhortation; the press should teem with
tracts on this most important and engrossing subject; and there should be
diffused throughout the country, under every form, and adapted to every
rank in life, admonition and entreaty for all to improve to their soul’s
health the spread of a pestilence, which so often destroys the body which
it attacks. Every clergyman has his own sphere of influence within
which, at least, his labours may be beneficially exercised; and if, by
publishing, he benefits only those who are principally dependent on him
for religious instruction, he should consider himself well repaid:—but
who know how far they may be instruments in God’s hands for good to their
fellow men? The Almighty often selects feeble agents to accomplish great
results, that it may be seen, that “neither is he that planteth any
thing, neither he that watereth: but God that giveth the increase.” {197}
And oh! what a source of joy there is to the true believer in hoping he
may be an humble instrument in God’s hands of “winning souls to Christ.”
The excellent Doddridge, in the preface to his “Rise and Progress of
Religion in the Soul,” says, he should consider his labour far more than
amply compensated, if his work, through the Divine blessing, be made
instrumental to the conversion _of one sinner_. What a field is now
opened to the ministers of the Gospel, in which they may hope, through
God’s grace and blessing, “_to turn many to righteousness_;” for in times
of great national apprehension and danger the cause of true religion
often advances and flourishes. And oh! how sweet in such seasons, how
doubly blessed—blessed both to those who minister, and to those who are
ministered unto—is the faithful and zealous discharge of the duties of
their high and holy calling, who are commissioned to pour the balm of
consolation on the wounded spirit, to bind up the broken-hearted, to
sooth the terrors of affrighted conscience, and to lead the humble, and
contrite, and heavy-laden, to the Saviour, that they may take His yoke
upon them, and find rest unto their souls.
Archbishop Leighton, the bright ornament of Scottish Episcopacy, has
forcibly stated the nature and obligations of the Christian ministry, in
commenting upon that most instructive passage in the First general
Epistle of St. Peter, “Feed the flock of God, which is among you, taking
the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy
lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage,
but being ensamples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd shall
appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” {199}
“The duty enjoined,” writes the Archbishop, “is, _Feed the flock of God_.
Every step of the way of our salvation hath on it the print of infinite
majesty, wisdom, and goodness; and this among the rest, that men, sinful,
weak men, are made subservient in that great work of bringing Christ and
souls to meet; that by the foolishness of preaching (or what appears so
to carnal wisdom), the chosen of God are called, and come unto Jesus, and
are made _wise unto salvation_; and that the life which is conveyed to
them by the _word of life_, in the hands of poor men, is by the same
means preserved and advanced. And this is the standing work of the
ministry, and this the thing here bound upon them that are employed in
it, _to feed the flock of God that is among them_. Jesus Christ
descended to purchase a Church, and ascended to provide and furnish it,
to send down his Spirit: _He ascended_, _and gave gifts_, particularly
_for the work of the ministry_, and the great use of them is, _to feed
the flock of God_.”
“Not to say any more of this usual resemblance of a flock, importing the
weakness and tenderness of the Church, the continual need she stands in
of inspection, and guidance, and defence, and the tender care of the
Chief Shepherd for these things; the phrase enforces the present duty of
subordinate pastors; their care and diligence in feeding of that flock.
The due rule of discipline not excluded, the main part of feeding is by
doctrine, leading them into the wholesome and _green pastures_ of saving
truths, revealed in the Gospel, accommodating the way of teaching to
their condition and capacity; to be, as much as may be, particularly
acquainted with it, and suit diligently and prudently their doctrine to
it; to _feed the sheep_, those more advanced; _to feed the lambs_, the
younger and weaker; to have special care of the infirm; to learn of their
Master the Great Shepherd, to _bind up that which is broken_, _and
strengthen that which is sick_, {200a} those that are broken in spirit,
that are exercised with temptations, _and gently to lead those that are
with young_, {200b} in whom the inward work of grace is as in the
conception, and they heavy and weak with the weight of it, and the many
difficulties and doubtings, which are frequent companions and symptoms of
that work. Oh! what dexterity and skilfulness, what diligence, and above
all, what affection, and bowels of compassion, are needful for this task!
_Who is sufficient for these things_? {200c} Who would not faint, and
give over in it, were not our Lord the _Chief Shepherd_; were not all our
sufficiency laid up in His rich fulness, and all our insufficiency
covered in His gracious acceptance?” {201} Animated by a high sense of
duty, and enlightened, strengthened, and guided by an abundant outpouring
of Divine grace, may all the “pastors and teachers,” who have been
ordained, “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ;” “Preach the word, be
instant in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all
long-suffering and doctrine;” “Till we all come in the unity of the
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto
the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we henceforth
be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind
of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they
lie in wait to deceive: but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into
Him in all things which is the Head, even Christ: from whom the whole
body, fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint
supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every
part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love.”
God grant that none of His servants may faint or grow weary under the
increased weight of duty laid upon them by the circumstances of the
times! May they all labour, and “pray without ceasing for the church and
people of God,—remembering that the effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much!” When faithful to their great Master, they
have high encouragements to excite, holy consolations to cheer, and
heavenly aid to direct and bless their unremitting exertions in His
service, whose weak and “unprofitable,” but still faithful and attached
“servants” they are. Let not any such fear but that they will obtain a
blessing on their labours, an answer to their prayers, from that gracious
Being whose ministers they are, and the advancement of whose kingdom they
seek. Never did the Lord fail his servants; His “exceeding great and
precious promises” are all sure and steadfast, are all “yea and in him,
Amen.” “For He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee; so
that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what
man shall do unto me:” {202a} He hath said, “Lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world, Amen.” {202b} May each individual pastor
of the Church of Christ have grace to receive and act upon, as addressed
to himself, the concluding admonition of St Paul to Timothy: “Watch thou
in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make
full proof of thy ministry:” then “The Lord shall be unto thee an
everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.” {202c} And when the time of
his earthly stewardship is on the eve of completion,—the period of his
allotted ministry about to expire, then he may hope that upon his last
hours will be poured some portion of the joyful testimony of an approving
conscience; some measure of that blessed assurance of confirmed faith,
which cheered and supported the dying Hooker; “I plead not my
righteousness, but the forgiveness of my unrighteousness through His
merits who died to purchase pardon for penitent sinners. Let not mine, O
Lord, but Thy will be done! God hath heard my daily petitions; for I am
at peace with all men, and He is at peace with me. From such blessed
assurance, I feel that inward joy which this world can neither give nor
take from me. My conscience beareth me this witness; and this witness
makes the thoughts of death joyful.” Then he may hope that the approach
of the dark shadows of death will be illumined by some beams of that
light from above, which, with the full blaze of triumphant faith, shed a
holy flood of radiance and glory over the close of the ministry of the
great Apostle of the Gentiles: “I am now ready to be offered, and the
time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have
finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up
for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge,
shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all those who love
his appearing.” {204a}
Let the laity also be reminded of what they owe to God and society at
this eventful time. There are various modes by which they can advance
the cause of religion. The value of their services in co-operation with
the Clergy in forming visiting societies, has been already stated. But
as their situation and engagements in life preclude many from taking an
active part in any work of Christian charity, it must be a high
satisfaction to them who are humble disciples of that blessed Lord, “who
went about doing good,” {204b} to have an opportunity of endeavouring at
once to follow His example, and obey His commands, by means of public
societies and institutions. The best interests of man would be much
promoted, if the noble, and great, and affluent in the land, who fear
God, would make a more decided demonstration of their sentiments; and
give the full weight of their rank and influence, and contribute
liberally, to the support of societies, the object of which is the
advancement of true religion. In such times as the present, it is awful
to witness the apathy, supineness, and indifference in the cause of the
Lord, which prevail so extensively in the world, amongst those who
profess themselves to be His servants. But disregard for the spiritual
wants of others, at all times highly sinful, is doubly so now; and
unwillingness, through fear of ridicule or misconstruction, to manifest a
warm zeal for the honour of the Lord and a decided devotion to His
cause—at all times a wretched weakness—must, when His enemies are active
and powerful, be peculiarly offensive to Him, who has said, “Whosoever,
therefore, shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous
and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when
he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” {205a} Let,
therefore, all lukewarm professors of religion be addressed in the words
of Joshua, “If it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose this day
whom ye will serve:” {205b} let them be warned in the words of the
Saviour, “He that is not with me, is against me, and he that gathereth
not with me, scattereth abroad.” {205c}
It is the high and peculiar distinction of our country, that we have not
only charitable institutions for the prevention and cure of many of the
physical evils, and for the relief and solace of many of the moral evils
of life; but we have societies for the supply of the religious wants of
our home population, of our colonies, and of the whole family of man,
wherever British commerce, and, with it, British influence, extend. This
is not the place to enter upon the subject of all these societies; their
bare enumeration, with the most brief statement of their several objects,
would fill many pages; perhaps, therefore, to particularize any, where
all have merit, may be deemed unjust towards others; but every consistent
member of the Church of England is bound strenuously to support, and
every clergyman zealously to advocate, societies, whose professed object
is the inculcation of doctrines which he firmly believes, the use of a
ritual which he fondly loves, the observance of ordinances which he
highly values and reverences. Of these it may be right to make some
brief notice, not only because some of them have not received that
encouragement and support to which their importance entitles them, but
because they are peculiarly calculated to remedy the existence, and to
prevent the recurrence, of many of the evils which at present endanger
our civil and religious institutions. First in order stands the National
Society for promoting the education of the poor in the principles of the
Established Church. Then, ascending to a higher grade in society, we
have an institution, King’s College and School, to supply the youth of
the middle classes, in the metropolis, with a liberal education, founded
on the basis of religious knowledge. This institution is only in its
infancy, but if properly supported, it might extend its ramifications
throughout the kingdom, diffusing every where the beneficial fruit of
true religion, sound learning, and useful knowledge. It is much to be
wished that similar colleges and schools, in connexion with King’s
College, were established in all our great towns, in like manner as
schools every where throughout the kingdom have sprung from that prolific
parent, with which they are in union, the Central School in Baldwin’s
Gardens. Our National Schools are well calculated early to train
children in the path of godliness; to accustom them to habits of
cleanliness, neatness, and order; to excite them to industry and
application, to habituate them to proper restraint and discipline, to
supply them with the knowledge suitable to their station in life; and,
above all, to impress deeply the mind with the great truths of the
Gospel, and to store it richly with passages of Scripture, which, once
thoroughly learnt, are rarely forgotten, but may, in after life, prove in
the hour of temptation a safeguard, and in seasons of sickness or of
sorrow, a sweet and never-failing solace. If the minds of our
manufacturing and agricultural population had been fortified with the
principles which are now instilled in these schools, into the children of
the poor, the success of the teachers of infidelity and sedition would
have been far different from what it has unfortunately proved. The
system of instruction adopted in King’s College is precisely the one
which has been recommended as alone affording any security that education
will be rendered conducive to the advancement of the best, the eternal
interests of man. Every facility is afforded for the acquisition of
knowledge, but the relative importance of its several departments is
steadily kept in view, and the balance of studies is carefully adjusted,
that, if possible, none may be pursued to the neglect of others, but all
receiving their due degree of attention, religion and morals, literature
and science, may occupy their proper place in the plan of education.
This institution, through the Divine blessing, may be of great value in
checking the progress of unsettled and unsound opinions amongst a class
of men which is daily becoming more influential in society; whilst there
will be also a better safeguard for the future, in the foundation of
sound religious principles, which is designed to be laid; and which
should ever be a primary object, for not only is the prevention easier
than the cure, but the poison may spread where the antidote is never, or
fruitlessly, applied. If we view then in connexion, our Infant,
National, and Sunday Schools, in full operation; King’s College adapted
to branch into similar institutions in our great towns; and our
old-established Grammar Schools and Universities continuing to flourish;
we shall see that these are calculated to form one vast chain, which, in
its concatenation, would unite the great bulk of the population of the
country with the established Church.
Nor is the attention of the Church confined to the education of the youth
of her communion. She has a Society also to afford the poor adequate
accommodation when attending religious worship, of which, in some places,
the great proportion of them were long deprived, from the increase of
population, and want of free seats, in the parish churches. Parliament,
with proper liberality, has at different timed placed certain sums at the
disposal of Commissioners; to assist in remedying this great evil, which
has inflicted the severest injury on the moral and religious character of
the lower classes in England. Much has, therefore, been done, but still
more remains to be done; and though perhaps the least regarded, still the
Society for building and enlarging churches is of great importance to the
interests of religion, and therefore well deserving of the support of the
friends of the Establishment. The valuable and venerable Society for
Promoting Christian Knowledge completes the work of Christian charity and
instruction, by accompanying, as it were, the poor man to his home,
supplying, either gratuitously or at very reduced prices, the Holy
Scriptures, the book of common prayer, and tracts and works designed to
correct erroneous opinions and immoral habits, and to promote soundness
of faith and holiness of life. Nor is this the utmost limit of the
Society’s labours among our home population: parochial lending libraries
have been also established by it; that in every parish where the desire
of knowledge has been called forth by the national schools, works which
combine amusement with instruction—works which inform the head and
improve the heart—may be accessible, free of all cost to the poor man, in
his hour of leisure. It is thus these two most valuable Societies,
acting in co-operation, aid in the due and effective discharge of their
important duties the parochial clergy, who are thereby enabled to diffuse
amongst the indigent and ignorant of their several parishes—to a degree
far beyond what the exertions of individuals, however pious and wealthy,
are likely to effect—the blessings of Christian education and Christian
knowledge. Great are the claims, therefore, of these societies upon the
members of the Church of England, for their support, that all of her
communion may be educated, nourished, and preserved in those principles
of saving faith and holy obedience, which, drawn directly from Scripture,
are summed up in the articles, embodied in the liturgy, and explained in
the homilies of our pure and reformed branch of the church of Christ.
The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge extends her operations
beyond our home population: in co-operation with the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, it has laboured most
diligently and with very encouraging success, in the wide and waste field
of our numerous colonies. Missionaries, catechists, and schoolmasters,
are sent into every land where we have possessions; and congregations
have been formed and churches built where the glad tidings of the Gospel
had never before been heard. But, however cheering what has been done
and is doing for the spread of Christianity may be, the painful
confession must be made that this country has never yet, in any adequate
degree, discharged the religious obligations she owes her colonies. {211}
The sceptre of Great Britain rules over one hundred millions who are said
to be ignorant of the Gospel. Great and splendid have been the instances
of individual liberality, but as a nation we have not made those
strenuous exertions, those sacrifices which duty requires: we have been
unmindful of the heavy debt of gratitude and service which we owe to the
Ruler of nations. Why are we to suppose that Divine Providence has
bestowed upon us such a vast colonial empire? Not to swell the pomp and
increase the power and wealth of a little island, which has been proudly
styled,
“The Island, Empress of the Sea:”