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SERMON IX.

PREACHING.

1 CORINTHIANS, ix. 14.

"Wo is unto me if I preach not the Gospel."

THIS is a most awful sentence. Deeply, no doubt, did the holy Apostle feel the nature of the charge which he had received of the Lord Jesus; and deeply must it be felt by every one, who, with inferior powers, and without that special grace which he had received, and the promises made immediately to him, without the support derived from those revelations, which had almost enabled him to walk by sight, enter upon even a small portion of the task laid on him. And if these words are calculated to fill the minister of Christ with fear, should they not sound solemnly in the ears of those among whom he ministers, and touch their hearts with holy awe? If there be "a necessity," as the Apostle speaks, laid upon the one to preach the Gospel, is there not a reciprocal obligation imposed upon the other

to hear, and lay up the word spoken in their heart and soul? If a wo be denounced against those who are unfaithful in word and doctrine, is there not much to be feared for negligent and unprofitable hearers? "Let these sayings," then, and such as these (to use the language of our Lord), "sink down into your ears, brethren, for they are words by which we must be saved or perish at the last day. The Gospel" is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;" and by preaching it faithfully the minister of Christ is to "save himself and them that hear him."

It will be readily understood that the expression in the text is not to be taken literally in the sense in which the word is for the most part now used that of delivering a discourse from the pulpit. The phrase, so often employed, of preaching the Gospel, is expressed in the original by one word, signifying literally the publishing of good tidings; and here, as elsewhere, is to be understood of making known the great blessing of salvation, by whatever means that may best be effected. It may be well used, however, for the particular mode which consists in giving public instruction in the congregation. This is the last particular in those portions into which the regular service of the Lord's Day may conveniently be divided; and having heretofore discussed the other heads, I proceed now to make a few remarks upon this.

The subject now before us, if handled in

its several parts, might extend to a very inconvenient length. The two principal heads are, the subject matter of our discourses, and the manner of handling it. The latter of these I shall dismiss with a very brief observation, viz. that it should be the object of the preacher to be useful and instructive; to inform the understanding and touch the hearts of his hearers. His guiding rule is laid down by the Apostle, "we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord." He is to fix the eyes of men upon Jesus Christ; and when he fails in this, he is guilty (if it be a wilful failure) of a high offence against Him whom he is bound to serve. If he seek only to please or amuse his hearers, to display his learning, or draw their eyes upon himself in vain admiration, he is unfaithful. His business is to do all things unto edifying. And let me entreat you, brethren (the caution is highly important in a day when there is so much desire to seek a favourite preacher and indulge an itching ear), to "take heed how you hear," as our blessed Lord speaks; to take heed that you hear with a desire to profit, not to be pleased. The graces of elocution are captivating, no doubt; and, perhaps, we neglect them too much: but the absence of them is abundantly compensated by the weighty matter which we inculcate, and by a plain simple enunciation of divine truth. Ånd he is but a poor disciple in the school of Christ, who is dissatisfied with this, for it was thus that the blessed Jesus taught. His teach

ing, however, was much calculated to touch the heart (as that which is simple is almost sure to be affecting), and this is a great part of a preacher's business; that which is perhaps the most difficult, though it ought to be the most easy. But here, no doubt, the great enemy of souls is constantly at work, to block up those avenues through which the word should enter; to oppose it by stirring up some selfish feeling of pride or fastidiousness, and prevent the good seed from taking root and springing up unto everlasting life. Open your hearts, brethren, to the convictions which, from time to time, are pressed upon you. Be persuaded to think that to root out an evil desire, or make progress in some christian grace, is more important than all the knowledge that learning can convey, and all the delight that the most exquisite taste can give. Faith may be strengthened, and growth in godliness be promoted, by the most inartificial discourse, if the heart be softened by grace to receive it, and it be cherished by meditation. And well do we pray, as is customary, at the conclusion of our sermons, "that the words heard with our outward ears may be grafted inwardly in our hearts." Need I add, that the word of admonition or exhortation, which is spoken generally, must be applied individually by every one who hears it, or it will be spoken in vain. And such personal application, which may bring our thoughts home upon ourselves, and lead to the searching of our own hearts, and

examining of our state, is in truth the one great end of all our teaching, and may be taken as the surest proof that we have spoken rightly, and that you have listened well.

But my chief purpose is to dwell on the matter of our discourses, not the style or manner of them. And here the words of the text furnish one great and comprehensive rule. We are to preach "the Gospel ;" and wo is unto us if we preach it not. For though the Apostle is here describing generally the object of his life, yet preaching, as the term is now for the most part employed, is not to be excluded. On the contrary, that which was the commanding principle, upon which all his instruction proceeded, must be the rule of this the appointed and established mode of giving instruction publicly. Now, the Gospel is a large and comprehensive term, and it may be well to seek an illustration of it in other passages of the New Testament, and observe how the subject matter proper for a Christian teacher is described elsewhere. Our blessed Lord, while he was upon earth, sent forth his apostles to " preach the kingdom of heaven," and they went forth, and preached every where that men should repent." Repentance, therefore, i. e. a change of heart and life, and obedience to the laws of Christ as our King, are leading points, on which his servants must dwell. Again, when he was about to quit the earth, he gave his apostles charge to "go and teach all nations, baptizing them in

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