Essay 02

(Same source)
The ministry

There is a great need that ministers should be careful as to the matter and manner of their sermon, and that the people should mind what and how they hear. There is great danger lest the preachers should be worldly and light, and the hearers should be carnal and indifferent.

1 The situation of ministers is awe-ful, and their office most responsible as to endless consequences. A poor insignificant man standing up to address multitudes of his fellow-creatures, as a messenger from God, to make known God's mind; yea, all His revealed will to man, and nothing else but this manifestation; yea, publishing it to men, who are creatures accountable to God, transgressors of His law, enemies to Him every way, who are under condemnation already, and to be judged by Him in the last day. This messenger is to tell these people, honestly and faithfully, their awful state before God, and also the way in which He has in His sovereign grace contrived to save such creatures. He is to call on them to repent of their dreadful rebellion, and to invite them to reconciliation with God. He is to make known to them the way to be reconciled; and he is to preach the Lord Jesus Christ, publishing His death, the doctrine of the cross. But he is not to preach with words taught by human wisdom, but by the Spirit of God. Indeed, he is to make known to his hearers all the counsel of God, and to teach Christians how to walk and please God. He should most earnestly seek wisdom and strength from the Lord to enable him to fulfil his ministry and to make it useful to his hearers. He is to remember always that he is nothing in himself.
There is a great defect in the manner of many preachers. It can scarcely be said that the Gospel is preached by them. Their sermons are very confused; they contain many expressions which are not taught by the Holy Ghost; and subjects are so clothed with new words, that it is difficult to know what is meant. Though these preachers may not be accused of saying what is false, yet, alas, they neglect stating weighty and necessary truths when opportunities offer. By omitting those important portions of truth in their natural connection, the Word is made subservient to subjects never intended. The hearers are led to deny the truth which the preacher leaves out of his sermons. Omitting any truth intentionally in a sermon leads to the denial of it. Indeed, there are several deficiencies in many ministers; some acknowledge and lament them. There is room to suspect that those defects are intentional in others. I will name some things I consider as deficiencies in preachers.
There is need of shewing more of the greatness, purity, and justice of God, and the purity and spirituality of His law. It is impossible, without this, to shew the great evil of sin, and the demerit of sinners in suffering eternal punishment for sin. The great depth of the fall, and the total depravity of man, and his awful misery, are not exhibited in many sermons in scriptural language. It is not plainly declared that all the human race are by nature, 'the children of wrath,' and that the 'sentence of condemnation' is passed on every one; that none can save himself; that no one deserves to be rescued, and that none will come to Christ to have life. There are but few ministers that fully show that salvation springs entirely out of the sovereign grace of God, and that grace shines illustriously in the plan, work, and application of salvation. Salvation, we know, is entirely, in every respect, for the praise of the glory of his grace. There is too much of some dark, human mixture in many a sermon, under the name of preaching Christ. He is not, alas, preached clearly and scripturally as a complete Saviour. The glory of His person, the appointment of Him in the place of sinners, the performance of His mediatorial offices according to the covenant of redemption, the completeness of His atonement, the perfection of His righteousness, are not clearly set forth. The expressions respecting the imputation of Christ's righteousness to them that believe are often very dark, confused, and wretched.
Few ministers speak clearly of the necessity of the Spirit's work in order to save sinners, and of the nature of His operations on those that shall be saved. How seldom do we hear of dying to the law, in sermons, and of the necessity of being born again, and being partakers of the divine nature, and that man does nothing that is truly holy, except it proceeds from a pure principle! There is but little said respecting the necessity of being taught, led, and strengthened by the Holy Ghost in everything, and the need of His blessing the means of grace. Ministers should tremble for fear their hearers deceive themselves under their ministry, and lest their sermons should give them ease and strength in their delusions. It is a great thing for a minister to be 'free from the blood of all men' that have heard him. One thing necessary for this, is declaring 'all the counsel of God' revealed to us in His holy Word. And the way for a minister to 'save both himself and those that hear him' is by 'taking heed unto himself and unto the doctrine, and continuing in it.'

2. It is a matter of the greatest importance that people observe what and how they hear. Hearing the Word of God is an ordinance of His appointment for the reception of faith and life. Isaiah 55.3. Romans 10.17.
Hearers should consider what they hear, for there are false teachers, and diverse and strange doctrines. Therefore they ought to search the Scriptures daily, like the Bereans, and see whether those things are as the preacher says.
They should also observe how they hear, what is their end and frame of mind in hearing. There are several kinds of hearing that are not for the glory of God nor the benefit of the hearers; such as to hear for the sake of the gifts, eloquence, and fluency of the preacher, or to feed the desires of their own conceited curiosity, or for the sake of carnal gratification. But they ought to hear with reverence what the Lord saith, trembling at His Word, understanding and receiving it, believing His testimony, obeying His commandments, keeping and hiding His sayings in their hearts.
There is nothing more proper and becoming for a preacher and hearer, than to converse about the doctrines of the Gospel in an humble spirit, willing to be taught of God, taking His Word to settle every dispute.
Shun the idea of submitting the Word of God to the judgment and reason of corrupt man. Avoid asking about anything God says in His Word, saying, 'Is that reasonable, proper, or correct?' To know what the Lord says respecting everything is enough for us; all His words are solid truths: there is infinite wisdom and perfect consistency in them all.

Fron, January 16 1840

Essay 01

Found here

On preaching the Gospel

Much at present is said about preaching the Gospel. It would not, therefore, be unprofitable for preachers and hearers to examine themselves, and see whether they understand what is the nature and end of preaching the Gospel. Not every one who is called a minister of the Gospel preaches it. What he delivers may not be the Gospel, though so called. It may not be good news to a sinner who sees his miserable state before God. Let us consider then-
What it is to preach the Gospel. It is to declare and publish good tidings respecting the way of saving sinners from their sins and the wrath of God, shewing that salvation springs out of the sovereign grace and love of God. Luke 21.10,11. Acts 20.24. John 3.16. It is to preach Christ, in His person, offices, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and intercession. It is to 'preach Christ crucified.' 1 Corinthians 1.23. It is to preach the blessings that are to be received through Christ's merits, reconciliation, forgiveness, justification, sanctification, full salvation. It is to publish Christ as everything which a sinner needs. It is indeed 'the Gospel of our salvation.' 1 Corinthians 1.30; Ephesians 1.13. It is to invite lost sinners to Christ; to urge them to believe in Him, to receive Him, and to make use of Him. Acts 10.36,43; 16.31. Romans 3.22; 10.9,10. It is only by the Gospel that the Holy Ghost works savingly on the souls of men. It is the ministration of the Spirit: He works powerfully by it. If we expect Him to work on the souls of men, we must preach it purely and fully. Galatians 2.5. 2 Corinthians 3.8. 1 Thessalonians 1.5; 2.13. Romans 1.16.
2 Let us next consider who are to preach the Gospel. Doubtless those whom Christ has called and sent for that purpose. He received gifts for men, and He gives shepherds and teachers to the church. The body of Christ is not made up by any but by those who are sent by Him. Those whom He sends to preach the Gospel have themselves been brought to understand, believe, and experience its truths. He does not send any persons to warn sinners of their danger and their ruin but such as have known their own miserable and lost state by nature, and the terrors of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5.11. He does not send enemies as messengers of peace but those that are able to say, 'We have peace with God, who hath reconciled us to himself, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.' Romans 5.1; 2 Corinthians 5.18,19. He does not send any to commend and exalt Christ who are ignorant of His greatness and saving excellences, but such as have seen His glory in some degree, and have tasted that the Lord is gracious. John
1.14. 1 Peter 2.3. Those who are sent by God to preach the Gospel do not set forth themselves but Christ. They seek not their own glory, nor wish for the praise of men on account of their gifts, skill, and eloquence or anything else. John 7.18. 2 Corinthians 4.5. 1 Thessalonians 2.6. They are examples to the flock; they are patterns in soberness, godly sincerity, simplicity, humility, and self-denying and every holy virtue. 1 Peter 5.3. 1 Thessalonians 2.10. Philippians 4.8,9; 2 Corinthians 6.6.
3. Let us next observe what are the ends of preaching the Gospel. It s to exalt and magnify the sovereign grace and love of God. The chief end He has in view in all his works is to glorify Himself, and to glorify His grace in the salvation of men. Therefore we preach among the Gentiles the 'unsearchable riches of Christ,' shewing the wonders of divine love, the abundance of mercy, and the riches of grace. As it is the chief end of God to glorify His grace in man's salvation, it should be the end of those that preach the Gospel of peace to exalt the grace of God. They exalt and glorify Christ, preaching Him, His cross, and death, shewing forth His excellences, and suitableness as a Mediator and Saviour of sinners. Christ will be exalted when the Holy Ghost works by the ministry of the Gospel. We cannot preach the Gospel, leaving the Saviour out of the question, or making Him some secondary thing in the sermon. 2 Corinthians 4.4. John 16.14. Another end is saving sinners. It is called 'the Gospel of our salvation;' publishing salvation. It was intended as a means to save souls. When the Spirit works by it, the Gospel becomes the power of God unto salvation. 'God, by the foolishness of preaching, saves them that believe.' Ephesians 1.13. Romans 1.16. 1 Corinthians 1.21.
4. As it is one end of the Gospel to save souls, ministers should preach in a very sober and earnest manner. They should shew their hearers that they are guilty, vile, and lost sinners. Then they .should preach Christ as a complete and willing Saviour to such. They should invite lost sinners, sensible of their misery, to flee to Him, and shew that none who believe in Him shall be lost. They should also declare that it is a great sin and folly to reject Christ; that the Spirit overcomes the obstinacy of men, and makes them willing to believe in Christ. Ministers should also shew that faith works by love, produces obedience, and brings forth every good work.
There is, however, room to fear that not every speaker in the pulpit, though very fluent and respectable, preaches the Gospel; and that many who intend entering the ministry do not consider its nature and great importance. Many think that, if they can speak boldly and fluently on some religious subjects, they may then preach the Gospel, when perhaps they knew but little of it themselves. They may take pains to deliver their speeches well and in a manner acceptable to the people, without any sincere aim or desire to set forth the excellences of Christ, and the grace of God in the salvation of sinners.
Ministers should preach the Gospel in a clear, intelligent manner, in plain expressions, easily understood by the people; words taught by the Holy Ghost; speaking them as the words of God in the manifestation of the truth, and in the demonstration of the Spirit. If so, there will be no mixing it with philosophical reasoning and tales, or curious perplexing expressions, contrivance of the flesh or the wisdom of the world. 1 Corinthians 2.4,13,14; 2 Corinthians 4.2.
They should preach it experimentally. It is true that none but God can teach them to preach in that way. It is possible to please the curious and the whole-hearted with a dry human harangue. But in order to 'speak a word in season to the weary' there will be need for the teaching which is from above. The speaker must be acquainted with the misery of man by the fall, and his conviction of sin, dying to the law, fleeing to Christ for life and acceptance, and also with the succour of grace and joy of the Holy Ghost; being able to speak to the people the things he has seen and experienced. Isaiah 54.13; 50.4.
Ministers should preach in a practical manner: indeed all the doctrines of the Gospel should be preached so. Things relating to man's salvation should be known and possessed, to benefit him. They never were intended to be discussed and argued as curious points. It is a useless work for a minister merely to please, though it be as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, amusing his hearers without bringing them to believe and to act. But let us teach them to do everything which the Lord hath commanded, and exhort them to attend to duties on evangelical principles. Ezekiel 33.32. Matthew 28.19,20.
Ministers should preach in the way of application, speaking to the people, not only concerning them, but also questioning them in such a manner as this, 'Do you see your ruined state, and the value of the Gospel and its treasures? Do you believe the Word of God? Do you receive Christ? Have you experienced the virtues of the Gospel, and imbibed them? Do you bring forth good fruits to God, conducting yourself as becoming the Gospel of Christ'? Titus 2.10-12. Romans 7.4. Galatians 2.19. Philippians 1.27.
Ministers ought to distinguish their hearers, appropriating to each his own portion, thus 'rightly dividing the word of truth,' and separating the precious from the vile; giving their own share to believers, the ungodly, and hypocrites, yea, to the people of God in various circumstances and trials. Preachers should not address any of their hearers as reasonable creatures that are not very sinful. If so, they would be like men beating the air, addressing such persons as are not to be met with. But they should accost their hearers as fallen and lost sinners, totally corrupt, shewing them their misery and the way to escape. They may address other persons as those that had been lost, but now are found; that had been far off, but were made 'nigh by the blood of Christ;' yea, now as in Christ, having received the reconciliation, being born of God. They should show the great happiness of such, and their obligation to set forth the goodness of Him that called them, and to walk as the children of light.
O that every preacher would consider the unspeakable greatness of his work! Then levity, frivolity, and pride would no more appear in them, and the conceit of being great personages would cease. They would exclaim, 'Who is sufficient?' None, we are sure, but those whose sufficiency is of God. 0 that God would be pleased to raise up powerful ministers, each like the angel that flew through the heavens, having the everlasting Gospel.'
5. There is a great necessity that the hearers should consider the nature and end of preaching the Gospel. Without this, they cannot understand how they should hear. It is to be feared that many have but poor ends in going to hear, and an unsuitable and unbecoming manner in hearing the Word. Though there are great deficiences and even wretchedness in ministers, yet, it is painful to say, 'the people love to have it so.' Many 'turn away their ears from the truth, and are turned unto fables.' Many delight in hearing carnal preachers that use 'enticing words, according to man's wisdom.' Jeremiah 5.31. 2 Timothy 4.4. 1 John 4.5. Many go to the house of God as matter of custom, hearing nothing to profit; others come to admire the talents and eloquence of the preacher. Others come from some carnal curiosity; expecting something new and extraordinary. Few come with a view to hear and know 'what the Lord says,' hearing the servant of the Most High declaring the message of his Lord to them. O that God would be pleased in mercy to draw near to us, pouring His Spirit upon us, that His Word may be preached, heard, and received as the Gospel of His grace, and experienced as the 'power of God unto salvation,' by many sinners!

Fron, 1841