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The True Excellency Of A Gospel Minister
by Jonathan Edwards
August 30, 1744, at the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Robert Abercrombie,
to the work of the gospel ministry.
John 5:35, "He was a
burning and a shining light."
THAT discourse of our blessed Savior we have an account of in this
chapter from the 17th verse to the end, was occasioned by the Jews’
murmuring against him, and persecuting him for his healing the impotent
man at the pool of Bethesda, and bidding him to take up his bed and walk
on the sabbath day. Christ largely vindicates himself in this discourse
by asserting his fellowship with God the Father in nature and
operations. And thereby implicitly showing himself to be Lord of the
sabbath, and by declaring to the Jews that God the Father, and he with
him, did work hitherto, to even to this time. Although it be said that
God rested on the seventh day from all his works, yet indeed God
continues to work hitherto, even to this very day, with respect to his
greatest work, the work of redemption, or new creation, which he carries
on by Jesus Christ, his Son. Pursuant to the designs of which work was
his showing mercy to fallen men by healing their diseases, and
delivering them from the calamities they brought on themselves by sin.
This great work of redemption God carries on from the beginning of the
world to this time; and his rest from it will not come till the
resurrection, which Christ speaks of in the 21st and following verses:
the finishing of this redemption as to its procurement, being in his own
resurrection; and as to the application, in the general resurrection and
eternal judgment, spoken of from verse 20 to verse 30. So that
notwithstanding both the rest on the seventh day, and also the rest that
Joshua gave the children of Israel in Canaan; yet the great rest of the
Redeemer from his work, and so of his people with him and in him, yet
remains, as the apostle observes, Heb. Chap. 4. This will be at the
resurrection and general judgment; which Christ here teaches the Jews
was to be brought to pass by the Son of God by the Father’s appointment,
and so the works of God to be finished by him.
And inasmuch as this vindication was so far from satisfying the Jews,
that it did but further enrage them, because hereby he made himself
equal with God, Christ therefore refers them to the witness of John the
Baptist; whose testimony they must acquiesce in, or else be inconsistent
with themselves; because they had generally acknowledged John to be a
great prophet, and seemed for a while mightily affected and taken with
it, that God after so long a withholding the spirit of prophecy, had
raised up so great a prophet among them and it is concerning him that
Christ speaks in this verse wherein is the text, “He was a burning and a
shining light; and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his
light.”
In order to a right understanding and improvement of the words of the
text, we may observe,
1. What Christ here takes notice of in John, and declares concerning
him, viz. That he was a burning and a shining light. He was a light to
the church of Israel, to reveal the mind and will of God to them, after
a long-continued dark season, and after they had been destitute of any
prophet to instruct them for some ages. He arose on Israel, as the
morning star, the forerunner of the Sun of righteousness, to introduce
the day-spring, or dawning of the gospel day, to give light to them that
till then had sat in the darkness of perfect night, which was the shadow
of death; to give them the knowledge of salvation; as Zacharias his
father declares at his circumcision. Luke 1:76-79, “And thou, child,
shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the
face of the Lord, to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation
unto his people, by the remission of their sins, through the tender
mercy of our God; whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us,
to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
And he was a burning light, as he was full of a spirit of fervent piety
and holiness, being filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb,
having his heart warmed and inflamed with a great love to Christ, being
that friend of the bridegroom that stood and heard him, and rejoiced
greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice; and was glad that Christ
increased, though he decreased, John 3:29, 30. And was animated with a
holy zeal in the work of the ministry: he came, in this respect, in the
spirit and power of Elias. As Elias was zealous in bearing testimony
against the corruption, apostasies, and idolatries of Israel in his day,
so was John the Baptist in testifying against the wickedness of the Jews
in his day. As Elias zealously reproved the sins of all sorts of persons
in Israel, not only the sins of the common people, but of their great
ones, Ahab, Ahaziah, and Jezebel, and their false prophets; with what
zeal did John the Baptist reprove all sorts of persons, not only the
publicans and soldiers, but the Pharisees and Sadducees, telling them
plainly that they were a generation of vipers, and rebuked the
wickedness of Herod in his most beloved lust, though Herod sought his
life for it, as Ahab and Ahaziah did Elijah’s! As Elias was much in
warning the people of God’s approaching judgments, denouncing God’s
awful wrath against Ahab, Jezebel, and Ahaziah, and the prophets of
Baal, and the people in general; so was John the Baptist much in warning
the people to fly from the wrath to come, telling them in the most
awakening manner, that the “axe was laid at the root of the tree, and
that every tree that brought not forth good fruit should be hewn down
and cast into the fire; and that he that came after him had his fan in
his hand, and that he would thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his
wheat into the garner, and burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
John the Baptist was not only a burning but a shining light. He was so
in his doctrine, having more of the gospel in his preaching than the
former prophets, or at least the gospel exhibited with greater light and
clearness, more plainly pointing forth the person that was to be the
great Redeemer, and declaring his errand into the world, to take away
the sin of the world, as a lamb offered in sacrifice to God, and the
necessity that all, even the most strictly moral God, and the necessity
that all, even the most strictly moral and religious, stood in front of
him, being by nature a generation of vipers. And the spiritual nature of
his kingdom, consisting not in circumcision, or outward baptism, or any
other external performance or privileges, but in the powerful influences
of the Holy Ghost in their hearts, a being baptized with the Holy Ghost,
and with fire.
In this clearness with which he gave knowledge of salvation to God’s
people, John was a bright light, and among them that had been born of
women there had not arisen a greater than he. In this brightness this
harbinger of the gospel day excelled all the other prophets, as the
morning star reflects more of the light of the sun than any other star,
and is the brightest of all the stars.
He also shown bright in his conversation, and his eminent mortification
and renunciation of the enjoyments of the world. His great diligence and
laboriousness in his work, his impartiality in it, declaring the mind
and will of God to all sorts without distinction; his great humility,
rejoicing in the increase of the honor of Christ, though his honor was
diminished, as the brightness of the morning star diminishes as the
light of the sun increases; and in his faithfulness and courage, still
declaring the mind and will of God, though it cost him his own life.
Thus his light shone before men.
2. We may observe to what purpose Christ declares these things of John
in the text, viz., to show how great and excellent a person he was, and
worthy that the Jews should regard his testimony: great are the things
which Christ elsewhere says of John the Baptist, as in Mat. 11:7-14. He
speaks of him as a prophet; and more than a prophet; and one, than whom,
there had not risen a greater among them that had been born of women. He
observes how great and excellent a light he was in the text, to show the
Jews how inexcusable they were in not receiving the testimony he had
given of him; as you may see (John 5:31-33).
Therefore that which I would observe from the text to be the subject of
my present discourse is this:
It is the excellency of a minister of the gospel to be both a burning
and a shining light.
Thus we see it is in Christ’s esteem, the great Prophet of God, and
Light of the world, Head of the church, and Lord of the harvest, and the
great Lord and Master, whose messengers all ministers of the gospel are.
John the Baptist was a minister of the gospel. And he was so more
eminently than the ancient prophets. For though God at sundry times, and
in divers manners, spake the gospel by them; yet John the Baptist was a
great minister of the gospel in a manner distinguished from them. He is
reckoned in Scripture the first that introduced the gospel day, after
the law and the prophets, Luke 16:16, “The law and the prophets were
until John; since that time the kingdom of God is preached.” And his
preaching is called the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the son
of God, Mark 1:1. He came on that errand, to give knowledge of salvation
to God’s people, through the remission of their sins (as his father
Zacharias observes, Luke 1:77), and to preach these glad tidings that
the kingdom of heaven was at hand.
John being thus eminently a minister of the gospel, and a burning and
shining light, being taken notice of by Christ as his great excellency,
we may justly hence observe, that herein consists the proper excellency
of ministers of the gospel.
I would, by divine assistance, handle the subject in the following
method:
I. I would show that Christ’s design in the appointment of the order and
office of ministers of the gospel is that they may be lights to the
souls of men.
II. I would show what is implied in their being burning lights.
III. I would show what is implied in their being shining lights.
IV. I would show that it is the proper excellency of ministers of the
gospel to have these things united in them, to be both burning and
shining lights.
V. I would apply these things to all that Christ has called to the work
of the gospel ministry, showing how much it concerns them earnestly to
endeavor that they may be burning and shining lights.
VI. Show what ministers of the gospel ought to do that they may be so.
VII. Say something briefly concerning the duty of a people that are
under the care of a gospel minister, correspondent to those things that
Christ has taught us concerning the end and excellency of a gospel
minister.
I. I would observe that Christ’s design in the appointment of the order
and office of ministers of the gospel was, that they might be lights to
the souls of men.
Satan’s kingdom is a kingdom of darkness. The devils are the rulers of
the darkness of this world. But Christ’s kingdom is a kingdom of light.
The designs of his kingdom are carried on by light. His people are not
of the night, nor of darkness, but are the children of the light, as
they are the children of God, who is the Father of lights, and as it
were a boundless fountain of infinite pure and bright light. 1 John 1:5;
Jam. 1:17.
Man by the fall extinguished that divine light that shone in this world
in its first estate. The Scripture represents the wickedness of man as
reducing the world to that state wherein it was when it was yet without
form and void, and darkness filled it. Jer. 4:22, 23, “For my people is
foolish, they have not known me: they are sottish children; and they
have non understanding: they are wise to do evil; but to do good they
have no knowledge. I beheld the earth, and lo, it was without form and
void; and the heavens, and they had no light.” But God in infinite mercy
has made glorious provision for the restoration of light to this fallen
dark world. He has sent him who is the brightness of his own glory into
the world, to be the light of the world. “He is the true light that
lighteth every man that cometh into the world,” i.e. every man in the
world that ever has any true light. But in his wisdom and mercy, he is
pleased to convey his light to men by means and instruments. And has
sent forth his messengers, and appointed ministers in his church to be
subordinate lights, and to shine with the communications of his light,
and to reflect the beams of his glory on the souls of men.
There is an analogy between the divine constitution and disposition of
things in the natural and in the spiritual world. The wise Creator has
not left the natural world without light. But in this our solar system
has set one great light, immensely exceeding all the rest, shining
perpetually with a transcendent fullness and strength, to enlighten the
whole. And he hath appointed other lesser, subordinate, or dependent
lights, that shine with the communications and reflections of something
of his brightness. So it is in the spiritual world; there God hath
appointed Jesus Christ as the Sun of righteousness. The church of God
has not the sun to be her light by day, nor for brightness does the moon
give light to her, but the Lord is her everlasting light, and her God
her glory. The new Jerusalem has no need of the sun, nor the moon; for
the Lamb is the light thereof. And the ministers of Christ are, as it
were, the stars that encompass this glorious fountain of light, to
receive and reflect his beams, and give light to the souls of men. As
Christ therefore is in Scripture called the Sun, so are his ministers
called stars. So are the twelve apostles, the chief ministers of the
Christian church, called, Rev. 12:1, “And there appeared a great wonder
in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet,
and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.” And so are the ordinary
ministers of the gospel called, Rev. 1:16, “And he had in his right hand
seven stars.” And verse 20, “The mystery of the seven stars which thou
sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks; the seven
stars are the angels of the seven churches.” Here also ministers of the
gospel are implicitly compared to those lamps that enlightened the
temple at Jerusalem, upon the tops of the golden candlesticks: and more
expressly in Zec. 4:2, “I have looked, and behold a candlestick, all of
gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon.”
These lamps have all their oil from Christ, and are enkindled by his
flame, and shine by his beams; and being thus dependent on him, they are
near to him, and held in his right hand, that they may receive light
from him, to communicate to others.
The use of a light is threefold; to discover, to refresh, and to direct.
The first use of a light is to discover things, or make them manifest.
Without light nothing is to be seen. Eph. 5:13, “Whatsoever doth make
manifest is light.” Ministers are set to be lights to the souls of men
in this respect, as they are to be the means of imparting divine truth
to them, and bringing into their view the most glorious and excellent
objects, and of leading them to and assisting them in the contemplation
of those things that angels desire to look into. The means of their
obtaining that knowledge is infinitely more important, and more
excellent and useful, than that of the greatest statesmen or
philosophers, even that which is spiritual and divine. They are set to
be the means of bringing men out of darkness into God’s marvelous light,
and of bringing them to the infinite fountain of light, that in his
light they may see light: they are set to instruct men, and impart to
them that knowledge by which they may know God and Jesus Christ, whom to
know is life eternal.
Another use of light is to refresh and delight the beholders. Darkness
is dismal. The light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is to behold the
sun. Light is refreshing to those who have long sat in darkness. They
therefore that watch and keep awake through a dark night, long and wait
for the light of the morning; and the wise man observes, Pro. 15:30,
“That the light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart.” Spiritual light is
especially refreshing and joyful. Psa. 97:11, “Light is sown for the
righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.” They that see the
light of Christ, the star that hath arisen out of Jacob, are refreshed
and do rejoice, and the wise men that saw the star that showed them
where Christ was, Mat. 2:10, “And when they saw the star, they rejoiced
with exceeding great joy.”
Ministers are set in the church of God to be the instruments of this
comfort and refreshment to the souls of men, to be the instruments of
leading souls to the God of all consolation, and fountain of their
happiness. They are sent as Christ was, and as coworkers with him, to
preach good tidings to the meek, to bind up the broken-hearted, to
proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them
that are bound, and to comfort all that mourn. They are to lead those
that “labor and are heavy laden” to their true rest, and to speak a word
in season to him that is weary. They are set to be ministers of the
consolation and joy of the saints. 2 Cor. 1:24, “We have not dominion
over your faith; but are helpers of your joy.”
The third use of light is to direct. ’Tis by light that we see where to
go. “He that walks in darkness knows not whither he goes,” and is in
danger of stumbling and falling into mischief. 'Tis by light that men
see what to do, and are enabled to work. In the night, Christ tells us,
no man can work. Ministers are set to be lights to men’s souls in this
respect also. As Zacharias observes of John the Baptist, Luke 1:79, “To
guide our feet in the way of peace.” Ministers have the record of God
committed to them that they may hold that forth, which God has given to
be to man as a light shining in a dark place, to guide them in the way
through this dark world, to regions of eternal light. Ministers are set
to be instruments of conveying to men that true wisdom spoken of Job 28,
“Which cannot be gotten for gold, nor shall silver be weighed for the
price thereof; which cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the
precious onyx, or the sapphire.”
I proceed now to the
II. Thing proposed, viz. to show what is implied in a minister of the
gospel’s being a burning light.
There are these two things that seem naturally to be understood by this
expression, viz. that his heart be filled with much of the holy ardor of
a spirit of true piety; and that he be fervent and zealous in his
administrations.
First, that his heart be full of much of the holy ardor of a spirit of
true piety. We read of the power of godliness. True grace is no dull,
inactive, ineffectual principle. It is a powerful thing. There is an
exceeding energy in it. And the reason is, that God is in it; it is a
divine principle, a participation of the divine nature, and a
communication of divine life, of the life of a risen Savior, who exerts
himself in the hearts of the saints, after the power of an endless life.
They that have true grace in them, they live; but not by their own life;
but Christ lives in them. His Holy Spirit becomes in them a living
principle and spring of divine life; the energy and power of which is in
Scripture compared to fire. Mat. 3:11, “ I indeed baptize you with
water; but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am
not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with
fire.” True piety is not a thing remaining only in the head, or
consisting in any speculative knowledge or opinions, or outward
morality, or forms of religion. It reaches the heart, is chiefly seated
there, and burns there. There is a holy ardor in everything that belongs
to true grace. True faith is an ardent thing, and so is true repentance.
There is a holy power and ardor in true spiritual comfort and joy; yea,
even in true Christian humility, submission, and meekness. The reason
is, that divine love or charity is the sum of all true grace, which is a
holy flame enkindled in the soul. It is by this therefore especially,
that a minister of the gospel is a burning light. A minister that is so
has his soul enkindled with the heavenly flame. His heart burns with
love to Christ, and fervent desires of the advancement of his kingdom
and glory. And also [it burns] with ardent love to the souls of men, and
desires for their salvation.
Second, the inward holy ardor of his soul is exercised and manifested in
his being zealous and fervent in his administrations. For he is a
burning light. [This] implies that his spiritual heat and holy ardor is
not for himself only, but is communicative and for the benefit of
others. He is ardent, as he is a light, or in the performance of the
duties of that office wherein he is set to be a light in the church of
Christ. His fervent zeal, which has its foundation and spring in that
holy and powerful flame of love to God and man, that is in his heart,
appears in the fervency of his prayers to God, for and with his people.
And in the earnestness and power with which he preaches the Word of God,
declares to sinners their misery, and warns them to fly from the wrath
to come, and reproves and testifies against all ungodliness; and the
unfeigned earnestness and compassion with which he invites the weary and
heavy laden to their Savior; and the fervent love with which he counsels
and comforts the saints; and the holy zeal, courage, and stedfastness,
with which he maintains the exercise of discipline in the house of God,
notwithstanding all the opposition he meets with in that difficult part
of the ministerial work; and in the diligence and earnestness with which
he attends every duty of his ministerial function, whether public or
private.
But I hasten to the
III. Thing proposed in the handling of this subject, viz. to show what
is implied in a minister’s being a shining light.
There are three things that seem to be naturally signified by it.
First, that he be pure, clear, and full in his doctrine. A minister is
set to be a light to men’s souls, by teaching, or doctrine. And if he be
a shining light in this respect, the light of his doctrine must be
bright and full. It must be pure without mixtures of darkness. And
therefore he must be sound in the faith, not one that is of a reprobate
mind. In doctrine he must show uncorruptness; otherwise his light will
be darkness. He must not lead his people into errors, but teach them the
truth only, guiding their feet into the way of peace, and leading them
in the right ways of the Lord.
He must be one that is able to teach; not one that is raw, ignorant, or
unlearned, and but little versed in the things that he is to teach
others; not a novice, or one that is unskillful in the word of
righteousness. He must be one that is well studied in divinity, well
acquainted with the written Word of God, mighty in the Scriptures, and
able to instruct and convince gainsayers.
And in order to be a shining light, he must be one that really knows
what religion is; one that is truly acquainted with that Savior and way
of salvation, that he is to teach to others, that he may speak the
things that he knows, and testify the things that he has seen, and not
be a blind leader of the blind. He must be one that is acquainted with
experimental religion, and not ignorant of the inward operations of the
Spirit of God, nor of Satan’ s devices; able to guide souls under their
particular difficulties. Thus he must be a scribe well instructed in
things that pertain to the kingdom of God; one that brings forth out of
his treasures things new and old.
And in order to his being a shining light, his doctrine must be full. He
must not only be able to teach, but apt to teach, ready to instruct the
ignorant, and them that are out of the way, and diligent in teaching in
public and private; and careful and faithful to declare the whole
counsel of God, and not keep back anything that may be profitable to his
hearers.
Also his being a shining light implies that his instructions are clear
and plain, accommodated to the capacity of his hearers, and tending to
convey light to their understandings.
Second, another thing requisite in order to a minister’s being a shining
light, is that he be discreet in all his administrations. The fervent
zeal that thus should animate and actuate him in his administrations
should be regulated by discretion. He should not only be knowing, and
able to communicate knowledge and formed to do it; but also wise, and
know how to conduct himself in the house of God, as a wise builder, and
a wise steward. And as he is one that God hath sent forth to labor in
his field, and committed the care of his vineyard to, so he should
conduct himself there as one whom his God doth instruct to discretion.
He should not only be as harmless as a dove, but as wise as a serpent;
showing himself a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth; and one that knows how to govern the church of God,
and to walk in wisdom towards those that are without.
Third, another thing implied in a minister’s being a shining light is
that he shines in his conversation. If he shines never so much in his
doctrine and administrations in the house of God, yet if there be not an
answerable brightness in his conversation, it will have a tendency to
render all ineffectual. Christ, in Mat. 5:14, 15, 16, says to his
disciples (having undoubtedly a special respect to those of them that
were to be sent forth to preach the gospel), “Ye are the light of the
world: Men do not light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.” And
how does Christ direct them to give light to others? “Let your light,”
says he, “so shine before men, that others, seeing your good works, may
glorify your Father which is in heaven,” And he tells the same disciples
again, John 15:8, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much
fruit.” And how should they bring forth fruit? Christ tells them, verse
10, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love,” and verse
14, “Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
God sent his Son into the world to be the light of the world these two
ways, viz. by revealing his mind and will to the world, and also by
setting the world a perfect example. So ministers are set to be lights,
not only as teachers, but as ensamples to the flock, 1 Peter 5:3.
The same things that ministers recommend to their hearers in their
doctrine, they should also show them an example of in their practice.
Thus the apostle says to Timothy, 1 Tim. 4:11, “These things command and
teach,” and then adds in the next verse, “Be thou an example of the
believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in
purity.” So he directs Titus, in his teaching, to recommend sobriety,
gravity, temperance, patience, and other virtues, in the beginning of
the second chapter of Titus. But then adds in the 7th verse, “In all
things showing thyself a pattern of good works.”
We see in natural bodies, that when heat is raised in them to a high
degree, at length they begin to shine. And, as I observed before, a
principle of true grace in the soul is like an inward heat, a holy ardor
of a heavenly fire enkindled in the soul. This in ministers of the
gospel ought to be to that degree, as to shine forth brightly in all
their conversation. And there should as it were be a light about them
wherever they go, exhibiting to all that behold them, the amiable,
delightful image of the beauty and brightness of their glorious Master.
I proceed to the
IV. Thing proposed, which is to show that the excellency of a minister
of the gospel consists in his being thus both a burning and a shining
light.
This is manifest in two things:
First, herein his ministry is acceptable and amiable in the sight of God
and men.
When light and heat are thus united in a minister of the gospel, it
shows that each is genuine, and of a right kind, and that both are
divine. Divine light is attended with heat. And so, on the other hand, a
truly divine and holy heat and ardor is ever accompanied with light.
It is the glory of the sun that such a bright and glorious light, and
such a powerful, refreshing, vivifying heat, are both together diffused
from that luminary. When there is light in a minister, consisting in
human learning, great speculative knowledge, and the wisdom of this
world, without a spiritual warmth and ardor in his heart, and a holy
zeal in his ministrations, his light is like the light of an ignis
fatuus, and some kinds of putrefying carcasses that shine in the dark,
though they are of a stinking savor. And if on the other hand a minister
has warmth and zeal, without light, his heat has nothing excellent in
it, but is rather to be abhorred; being like the heat of the bottomless
pit, where though the fire be great, yet there is no light. To be hot in
this manner, and not lightsome, is to be like an angel of darkness. But
ministers by having light and heat united in them, will be like the
angels of light; which for their light and brightness are called morning
stars. Job 38:7, “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons
of God shouted for joy.” And because of that holy ardor of divine love
and zeal with which they burn, they are compared to a flaming fire. Psa.
4, “Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flaming fire,”
and are therefore called seraphims, which is a word that is derived from
a root that signifies to burn. So that by ministers of the gospel being
burning and shining lights, the angels of the churches will become like
the angels of heaven, and those stars held in the right hand of Christ
here below, will be like those morning stars above, and which is much
more. Hereby ministers will be like their glorious Lord and Master; who
is not only the Master of ministers of the gospel, but is the Head and
Lord of the glorious angels, whom they adore, and who communicates to
them the brightness in which they shine, and the flame with which they
burn, and is the glorious luminary and sun of the heavenly world, from
whence all the inhabitants of that world have their light and life, and
all their glory. In this Sun of righteousness is that light, whose
brightness is such that the light of the sun in the firmament in
comparison of it is as darkness, yea, black as sackcloth of hair. For he
is the infinite brightness of God’s glory; and of him it is said, Isa.
24:23, “Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the
Lord of hosts shall reign in mount of Zion, and in Jerusalem, before his
ancients, gloriously.” And accompanying this bright light in him, is the
infinitely intense flame of love. There is no love to be compared to
his; nor ever was love both to God and man so manifested, as has been in
what Christ has done and suffered. For herein was love! Ministers, by
being burning and shining lights, become the sons of God, of whom we
read that he is light, and that he is love. 1 John 1:5, “This then is
the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God
is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” And chap. 4:16, “And we
have known and believed the love that God hath to us: God is love, and
he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him.”
Therefore it must needs be that ministers, by being burning and shining
lights, are acceptable and amiable in the sight of God, as he delights
in his own image and in the image of his Son. And hereby also they will
be honorable and amiable in the sight of men, all such as have any sense
of that which is truly excellent and beautiful. And it is the way to
have their ministry pleasant and delightful to those of this character
that sit under it.
Second, herein a minister of the gospel will be likely to answer the
ends of his ministry. By this means his ministry will not only be
amiable, but profitable. If a minister has light without heat, and
entertains his auditory with learned discourses, without a savior of the
power of godliness, or any appearance of fervency of spirit, and zeal
for God and the good of souls, he may gratify itching ears, and fill the
heads of his people with empty notions. But it will not be very likely
to reach their hearts, or save their souls. And if, on the other hand,
he be driven on with a fierce and intemperate zeal, and vehement heat,
without light, he will be likely to kindle the like unhallowed flame in
his people, and to fire their corrupt passions and affections; but will
make them never the better, nor lead them a step towards heaven, but
drive them apace the other way.
But if he approves himself in his ministry, as both a burning a shining
light, this will be the way to promote true Christianity amongst his
people, and to make them both wise, good, and cause religion to flourish
among them in the purity and beauty of it.
When divine light and heat attend each other in ministers of the gospel,
their light will be like the beams of the sun, that do not only convey
light, but give life. And converts will be likely to spring up under
their ministry, as the grass and the plants of the field under the
influences of the sun. And the souls of the saints will be likely to
grow, and appear beautiful as the lily, and to revive as the corn, and
grow as the vine, and their scent to be as the wine of Lebanon; and
their light will be like the light of Christ, which is the light of
life, John 8:12.
If the sun should shine upon the earth with the same brightness that it
doth now, yet if it were without any heat, it would give life to
nothing. The world would be a desolate wilderness, with nothing growing
in it. The death of every living thing must be the consequence. And the
sun’s light could be of no service to us, but to cause us to see our own
and others’ misery, without being able to help ourselves or them. On the
other hand, if the sun diffused the same heat that now it does, but the
world was destitute at the same time of any light, it would be equally
unserviceable. Mankind having no light to guide them in their business,
in tilling the field, or gathering the produce of the earth, we should
be like the Egyptians in the three days’ darkness, who saw not one
another, nor rose from their place. And thus also death would be the
unavoidable consequence. But by light and heat accompanying one another,
the whole face of the earth becomes fruitful, and is adorned, and all
things are quickened and flourish, and mankind enjoy both life and
comfort.
I proceed to the
V. Thing proposed in handling the doctrine, to apply these things to all
here present, that Christ has called to the work of the gospel ministry,
observing how much it concerns such to endeavor to be burning and
shining lights.
Our office and work is most honorable, in that we are set by Christ to
be lights or luminaries in the spiritual world. Light is the most
glorious thing in the material world, and there are, it may be, no parts
of the natural world that have so great an image of the goodness of God,
as the lights or luminaries of heaven; and especially the sun, who is
constantly communicating his benign influence to enlighten, quicken, and
refresh the world by his beams; which is probably the reason that the
worship of the sun was (as is supposed) the first idolatry that mankind
fell into. But so are ministers honored by their great Lord and Master,
that they are set to be that to men’s souls, that the lights of heaven
are to their bodies; and that they might be the instruments and vehicles
of God’s greatest goodness, and the most precious fruits of his eternal
love to them, and means of that life, and refreshment, and joy, that are
spiritual and eternal, and infinitely more precious than any benefit
received by the benign beams of the sun in the firmament. And we shall
be likely indeed to be the instruments of those unspeakable benefits to
the souls of our fellow-creatures, if we have those qualifications,
which have been shown to be the true and proper excellency of ministers
of the gospel. Herein our glory will answer the honorable station Christ
has set us in. And hereby our ministry will be likely to be as
beneficial as our office is honorable. We shall be like Christ, and
shall shine with his beams. Christ will live in us, and be seen in his
life and beauty in our ministry, and in our conversation, and we shall
be most likely to be the means of bringing others to him, and of their
receiving of his light, and being made partakers of his life, and having
his joy fulfilled in them. And this will be the way for us hereafter to
be as much advanced and distinguished in our reward, as we are honored
in the office and business we are called to here. In this way, those
whom Christ has set to be lights in his church, and to be stars in the
spiritual world here, shall be lights also in the church triumphant, and
shine as stars for ever in heaven. Dan. 12:3, “And they that be wise,
shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many
to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever.
But if we fail of the proper excellency of ministers of the gospel, we
shall not be in the sight of God the more worthy or honorable for our
high office, but the more abominable and inexcusable. Our wickedness
being aggravated by God’s great goodness and condescension to us, and
the peculiar obligations that he laid upon us; and instead of being
eminently beneficial and great blessings, as lights to reflect the beams
of Christ’s glory and love, we shall be so much the more hurtful and
pernicious, for our being in such a station. And so shall be likely
hereafter to suffer a so much more dreadful punishment. The devils in
hell are so much the more odious to God, and more the objects of his
wrath, because he set them in the dignity and glory of angels, the
excellency of which state they are fallen from. And it is likely that
those in hell that will be nearest to the fallen angels, in their state
of misery, will be those that Christ once set to be angels of the
churches, but through their unfaithfulness, failed of their proper
excellency and end.
Here I would apply myself in a few words to the person whose intended
ordination, this day, to the great work of the gospel ministry, is the
occasion of this discourse.
You have now, dear sir, heard something of the nature and design of that
office to which you are this day, in the name of Christ, to be solemnly
set apart. You are therein called to be a light to the souls of men, a
lamp in God’s temple, and a star in the spiritual world. And you have
heard wherein, in Christ’s esteem, consists the proper excellency of one
in that office, and how in this a minister of the gospel becomes like
his glorious Master, and glorifies him, and is likely to be the
instrument of the salvation and happiness of the souls of men, and to
receive a glorious reward from the hands of God.
These, sir, are the motives that you are to be influenced by, to
endeavor to be a burning and a shining light in the work of the
ministry. As to the things of this world, you are not to expect outward
ease, pleasure, and plenty; nor are you to depend on the friendship and
respect of men; but should prepare to endure hardness, as one that is
going forth as a soldier to war. But they are higher things than these,
more excellent benefits than the world can afford, that Christ offers to
those that approve themselves to him in this work.
God in his providence has brought you far from your native land, and
from your friends and acquaintance there. But you will have reason, not
withstanding, to acknowledge the good hand of his providence towards
you, if he is pleased to make you a burning and shining light in this
part of his church, and by the influence of your light and heat (or
rather by his divine influence with your ministry) to cause this
wilderness to bud and blossom as the rose, and give it the excellency of
Carmel and Sharon, and to cause you to shine in the midst of this people
with warm and lightsome, quickening and comforting, beams, causing their
souls to flourish, rejoice, and bear fruit like a garden of pleasant
fruits under the beams of the sun.
By this means you will be to their souls the vehicle of the influences
and blessings of the heavenly world, which is a world of light and love,
shall be ever held in Christ’s right hand, and shall be terrible to the
powers of darkness; and shall see more and more of the light of Christ’s
glory and grace in this place, with you and this people, and shall
hereafter not only shine yourself, as the brightness of the firmament,
but shall meet with them in glory also, who shall shine there around
you, as a bright constellation in the highest heaven; where they shall
be your everlasting crown of rejoicing.
But I hasten to the
VI. Thing proposed, which was to show what course ministers of the
gospel ought to take, or what things they should do, that they may be
burning and shining lights.
And here I shall be just mention things, without enlarging.
And in order to this, ministers should be diligent in their studies, and
in the work of the ministry to which they are called; giving themselves
wholly to it; taking heed to themselves that their hearts be not
engaged, and their minds swallowed up, and their time consumed, in
pursuits after the profits and vain glory of the world.
And particularly, ministers should be very conversant with the Holy
Scriptures; making it very much their business, with the utmost
diligence and strictness, to search those holy writings. For they are as
it were the beams of the light of the Sun of righteousness; they are the
light by which ministers must be enlightened, and the light they are to
hold forth to their hearers; and they are the fire whence their hearts
and the hearts of their hearers must be enkindled.
They should earnestly seek after much of the spiritual knowledge of
Christ, and that they may live in the clear views of his glory. For by
this means they will be changed into the image of the same glory and
brightness, and will come to their people as Moses came down to the
congregation of Israel, after he had seen God’s back parts in the mount,
with his face shining. If the light of Christ’s glory shines upon them,
it will be the way for them to shine with the same kind of light on
their hearers, and to reflect the same beams, which have heat, as well
of as brightness. The light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the
face of Jesus Christ, is the treasure the apostle speaks of, that
ministers have, as in earthen vessels. 2 Cor. 4:6, 7, “For God, who
commanded the light to shined out of darkness, hath shines into your
hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the
face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels.”
This was probably typified of old, by the burning lights and lamps which
Gideon’s soldiers had in one hand in earthen pitchers, while they held a
trumpet in the other, with which they sounded (typifying the preaching
of the gospel). And thus with the sound of these trumpets, and these
burning lights or earthen vessels, they overcame the enemies of God and
his people.
Ministers, in order to their being burning and shining lights, should
walk closely with God, and keep near to Christ; that they may ever be
enlightened and enkindled by him. And they should be much in seeking
God, and conversing with him by prayer, who is the fountain of light and
love. And knowing their own emptiness and helplessness, [they] should be
ever dependent on Christ; being sensible with Jeremiah that they are
children, should sit as children at Christ’s feet to hear his word, and
be instructed by him. And being sensible with Isaiah that they are men
of unclean lips, should seek that their lips may be, as it were, touched
with a live coal from the altar, as it were by the bright and burning
seraphim.
I come now to the
VII. And last things proposed, to say something very briefly concerning
the duties of a people that are under the care of a minister,
corresponding with these things that Christ has taught us concerning the
nature and end of this sacred office. And here I would have a special
respect to the people of God in this place, who are about to have the
care of their souls committed to him, that is now solemnly to be set
apart to the work of the ministry.
If it be, as you have heard, the proper excellency of a minister of the
gospel to be a burning and a shining light, then it is your duty
earnestly to pray for your minister, that he may be filled with divine
light, and with the power of the Holy Ghost, to make him so. For herein
you will but pray for the greatest benefit to yourselves. For if your
minister burns and shines, it will be for your light and life. That
which has been spoken of, as it is the chief excellency of a minister,
so it renders a minister the greatest blessing of anything in the world
that ever God bestows on a people.
And as it is your duty, to pray that your minister may by this mean
become such a blessing to you, so you should do your part to make him
so, by supporting him, and putting him under the best advantage, with a
mind free from worldly cares, and the pressure of outward wants and
difficulties, to give himself wholly to his work. And by all proper acts
of respect, and kindness, and assistance, [you are] to encourage his
heart, and strengthen his hands. And to take heed that instead of this
you do not take a course to obscure and extinguish the light that would
shine among you, and to smother and suppress the flame, by casting dirt
upon it; by necessitating your minister by your penuriousness towards
him, to be involved in worldly care; and by discouraging his heart by
disrespect unkindness. And particularly when your minister shows himself
to be a burning light, by burning with a proper zeal against any
wickedness that may be breaking out amongst his people, and manifests it
by bearing a proper testimony against it in the preaching of the word,
or by a faithful exercise of the discipline of God’s house, instead of
taking it thankfully, and yielding to him in it, as you ought, does not
raise another fire of a contrary nature against it. Viz. the fire of
your unhallowed passions, reflecting upon and reproaching him for his
faithfulness. Herein you will act very unbecoming a Christian people,
and show yourselves very ungrateful to your minister, and to Christ, who
has bestowed upon you so faithful a minister. And will also, while you
fight against him, and against Christ, fight most effectually against
your own souls. If Christ gives you a minister that is a burning and
shining light, take heed that you do not hate the light, because your
deeds are reproved by it. But love and rejoice in his light; and that
not only for a season, like John the Baptist’s apostatizing hearers; and
come to the light. Let your frequent resort be to your minister for
instruction in soul cases, and under all spiritual difficulties. And be
open to the light and willing to receive it. And be obedient to it. And
thus walk as the children of light, and follow your minister wherein he
is a follower of Christ, i.e. wherein he is as a burning and shining
light. If you continue so to do, your path will be the path of the just,
which shines more and more to the perfect day, and the end of your
course shall be in those blissful regions of everlasting light above,
where you shall shine forth with your minister, and both with Christ, as
the sun, in the kingdom of the heavenly Father.
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