Use 2

USE II.

Pity and pray for, and encourage Christ's Ministers in their work. They need no man's envy, but every man's compassion, and prayers too: they that are sensible of the weight of duty lying on them, do earnestly desire it of every one that fears God. How often have we Paul importunately asking it of the Churches whom he writes to? Little do you know the sore temptations, mighty discouragements, and many sinking thoughts which these Servants of Christ struggle withal, through sense of their own frailty, and the greatness of the work incumbent on them, and the solemnity of the charge under the awe whereof they are, and the trembling thoughts of the amazing account they must shortly give in to the Lord Jesus Christ: give them then many a lift, by your ardent supplications for them. One of the Ancients was wont to say, he often wondered how it was possible that any Minister should ever be saved: and truly, it is rich grace that their hopes can only rely upon. Encourage them in their work; let them know, that their labor is not in vain in the Lord.

3. We may here also observe, that Ministers may be faithful in their places, and yet be unsuccessful. We find that the Owner of the Vineyard seeing the unfruitfulness of his Fig-tree, finds no fault with the Vine-dresser, lays nothing of it to his charge; but his whole complaint and threatening is against the tree itself. And he would not have treated so familiarly with him, if he had not esteemed him to be faithful: and yet for all this, here is a barren tree in the Vineyard. And we find that if men under the watch of the Ministry do perish through their default, God will require their blood at their hands (Ezekiel 33:8). But yet they may do their work conscientiously, and men for all that perish; but now they are quit, verse 9. Here observe;

1. A Minister is then to be acknowledged faithful to his office relation, when he does conscientiously attend all the duties of it, as he has opportunity and ability. Fidelity in any duty, of any relation, must be looked upon in an evangelical sense, else the [illegible] must cry, Lord enter not into judgment. Faithfulness appears in a care to mind the work we are in, to discharge the trust reposed in us, to spend and be spent in the work of Christ, and for the good of souls — to be instant in season and out of season. To divide to every one the portion belonging to them, rebuke to whom rebuke, &c. And all this as God gives them strength and advantage, not shunning any thing which God has commanded them to do.

2. That there are such placed by Christ in his Church, is evident. The love and care which Christ has for it, cannot but put him upon it to provide such for it: and when his people have been never so degenerate, and offered the greatest affronts to such as these, he has yet sent them, and enabled them to bear all, and discharge their duty notwithstanding. It is he that thrusts out labourers into his harvest; and he can make them labourers indeed. There have been such formerly; Paul was so, he could appeal to the consciences of the Ephesians (Acts 20:26, 27). And he has the residue of the Spirit with him. Men may put others in, and he may providentially suffer it, for their punishment; but he has required all to be such, and all that he sends in mercy are so: there are none without their infirmities, but there are those that are wise, and sincere, and diligent, and have his Spirit upon them.

3. That these notwithstanding all their faithfulness, may miss of the desired success of their Ministry. This is signified in the text, and witnessed to by the Scripture, and constant experience; and there may be a rational account given of this, if we consider,

1. That it is not their fidelity, but God's blessing which gives the success. They are but instruments used by God: their desires may be sincere, their endeavours hearty, and industrious; but the hearts of men are not to be wrought upon by them, but require Almighty Power to influence them. If they neglect their duty they deserve blame, but, though Israel be not gathered, if they are faithful, their work and their recompense is with the Lord: and they shall be acknowledged by him. They always renounce themselves as to efficacy, only they endeavour to do service; they plant and water, but they refer the increase to God (1 Corinthians 3:5, 6). We have Christ himself complaining that his work was unsuccessful (Isaiah 49:4). God dispenses his grace at his pleasure. John was a burning and a shining light, but he was despised. Christ taught as never man did, but they would not come to him that they might have life (John 5:40), and he gives us a reason for it, chapter 6, verse 44.

2. That God sometimes sends his faithful servants on the most unsuccessful errand. The direct end of the Ministry, is the conversion and salvation of men; but God sometimes judicially orders it otherwise. What a famous industrious and evangelical Prophet was Isaiah? And yet see how his commission runs (Isaiah 6:9, 10). And when God leaves men to their own lusts and hardness of heart, the most softening means shall harden them the more, and the Gospel whose proper scope is life, shall become a savour of death (2 Corinthians 2:16). The more is laid out upon them, the worse they grow: and yet even in this too will God be glorified, and his servants shall not lose their reward, they are still a sweet savour to God.