The errand, therefore, or embaffy, on which minifters are employed, is to publish, and ex plain, and enforce the chriftian revelation, to preach the mysteries of the kingdom, that is, the gofpel, both as to the duties it injoineth, and the privileges it conferreth. And in this fenfe our Saviour ufeth the expreffion, when his disciples came and asked him, why he spoke to the multitude in parables." Becaufe,' faith he, it is given unto you to know the "myfteries of the kingdom of heaven, but "to them it is not given As if he had faid, You have all the truths which concern the state of the gospel and the kingdom of the Mesfiah clearly and fully explained to you; yet the mixed multitude are not worthy, or difpofed, to receive fuch a discovery.

This then is the province of the minifters of Chrift: to "declare to his people the whole "counsel of God," and to " keep back nothing "which is profitable to them;" as ftewards of the household, difpenfing, out of the stores and provifions of the great mafter of the family, what is fuitable to the exigencies of every member of it; "giving to every one his portion in due fea"fon;" feeding them not with chaff, but with crecy, to the initiated, were, on that account, filed myfteries. And all the derivations of the word lead us to this one uniform idea of it, as denoting a fecret not yet divulged; in which sense it is used both by the facred and profane authors.

* Matt. xiii. II.

pure

pure wheat; and adminiftering " milk to them "who are weak and only babes in Chrift, and "meat to them who are of full age," and of a vigorous and athletic conftitution; to all, as they are able to bear it," that "we may ἐσ present every man perfect in Chrift Jesus."

We are not fent to inftruct you in matters of science or points of fpeculation, to reconcile the jarring opinions of fages and philofophers, or to make you wife according to the wisdom of this world. "For it is written," faith St,

Paul, I will deftroy the wisdom of the wife, "and will bring to nothing the understanding "of the prudent. Where is the wife? where "is the fcribe? where is the difputer of this "world? hath not God made foolish the wif"dom of this world? for after that, in the "wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew "not God, it pleafed God by the foolishness of

preaching to fave them that believe. For "the Jews require a fign, and the Greeks feek "after wifdom; but we preach Chrift cruci

fied, to the Jews a ftumbling-block, and "to the Greeks foolishness, but unto them "who are called, both Jews and Greeks, "Chrift the power of God, and the wisdom "of God *." And accordingly he saith, "brethren, when I came to you, came not "with excellency of fpeech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the teftimony of God. For

I Cor. i. 19-24.

E

I,

"I de

"I determined not to know any thing among

you, fave Jefus Chrift and him crucified +. Not that the apoftle was always difcourfing and infifting on one fingle article or branch of divine revelation, however important and interefting, or however feasonable it might be at that time, and to those who were yet Jews or Heathens, or but newly converted to the chriftian faith; but while he laid Chrift as the foundation-ftone, and the only foundation, he endeavoured to raise a noble fuperftructure thereon, and to "make the man of God perfect in every good work;" not only inforcing obedience to the divine will in the general, but requiring the practice of those particular duties, and the exercife of thofe graces and virtues, which are the fruits of faith; and which are not only ornamental, but effential to the chrifian ftate.

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Thirdly. The title, minifters of Chrift and stewards of the myfteries of God," pointeth out, to whom we are accountable for our fidelity and diligence: namely, to him. who employed us, and whofe ftewards we are. Agreeably hereunto, St. Paul declareth to the Corinthians in the words immediately following the text, that it was "with him a very small "thing to be judged of them, or of man's judgment;" knowing that to them he was not accountable; "for he that judgeth me, is the +1 Cor. ii. 1, 2.

"Lord."

"Lord." And elsewhere he declareth, "We "labour," that is, we who preach the gospel, labour, that whether prefent or abfent, we "may be accepted of him; for we must all appear before the judgment feat of Chrift, that "every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore "the terror of the Lord, we perfwade men ." A reverence and awe of him, to whom we are accountable; of his authority, of his omnifcience, and of his ability to difcern and reward our fidelity, or punifh our remifsnefs or unfkilfulness, and especially our breach of trust; is a ftrong and awakening motive to difinterestednefs, to diligence, to conftancy and integrity in our work. St. Paul speaking of his own conduct faith, that " in all things he endeavoured "to approve himself the minister of God in "much patience, in afflictions, in neceffities, "in diftreffes, in ftripes, in imprisonments, in "tumults, in labour, in watchings, in fast"ings; by purenefs, by knowledge, by long"fuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost,

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by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by "the armour of righteoufnels, on the right "hand and on the left, by honour and difho"nour, by evil report and good report *.' For" seeing we have received this miniftry," faith he, "we have renounced the hidden "things of difhonefty, not walking in craftiness 2 Cor. v. 9-11. * 2 Cor. vi. 4-8.

"or handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifeftation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's confcience in the fight of God." For we are not as many, "who corrupt the word of God, but as of fincerity, as accountable to God, and as "acting in his fight, fo fpeak we in Christ Je"fus." This is a brave and noble declaration, worthy an honeft man and chriftian minifter. And it had been well for the chriftian church, if all, who have claimed the honourable title of ftewards of the mysteries of God, had acted in like manner, had, like Mofes, been faithful "in all God's houfe as fervants," had kept their eye continually fixed on that account which must be given by them to the great master of the family, when coming to reckon with his fervants, he fhall fay, "Give me an account of your ftewardship, for ye fhall be no longer "ftewards ." But this bringeth me

In the SECOND place, to enquire what this character may be fuppofed to challenge and deferve, when the apoftle defireth, let a man fo account of us. And I obferve,

Firft. It plainly entitleth us to no regard any further than as we produce Chrift's warrant and commiffion for what we deliver and enjoin.

† 2 Cor. iv. 1, 2.

7

2 Cor. ii. 17.

Luke xvi. 2.

A steward