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SERMON

PREACHED AT NEEDHAM, NOVEMBER 7, 1792,

WHEN THE

REV. STEPHEN PALMER

WAS

ORDAINED PASTOR OF THE CHURCH AND FIRST SOCIETY

IN SAID TOWN.

Rev.

BY JASON HAVEN, A. M.

PASTOR OF THE FIRST CHURCH IN DEDHAM.

PRINTED AT THE

APOLLO PRESS, IN BOSTON,

BY BELKNAP AND HALL.

B

SERMON.

2 TIMOTHY ii. 2.

"And the things which thou hast heard of me, among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."

THE apostle Paul employs no small part of his epistles to Timothy and Titus, in giving directions for the introduction of proper persons into the work of the evangelical ministry, and for the due performance of the duties of that station. If we are not able minutely to determine, how far the character and office of these first ministers of Christ may apply to Christian pastors and teachers, at the present day, yet all will allow, that it is especially from these epistles, that we are to collect what the duties of the pastoral office are; and what qualifications are requisite in those who enter into it. Two leading ones, which may indeed be comprehensive of all others, we find in the words which I have now read. Faithfulness and ability. They must be "faithful men, able to teach others." To such only Timothy is directed to commit the gospel, as a sacred deposit.

By the expression, the things which thou hast heard of me before many witnesses, the apostle undoubtedly intends the gospel, in the great doctrines and duties of which, Timothy had been instructed by him. The same, says he, commit thou to faithful men. This passage hath often been adduced, by Episcopal writers, as an argument, that the people are to have no voice in choosing their religious teachers. Timothy, they say, was bishop of Ephesus. In him was vested the sole power of setting ministers over certain churches, within his diocese. I humbly conceive the passage contains no argument of this sort. It only proves that Timothy had power to ordain. This he had as an elder or bishop, which terms, every honest man acquainted with the original language of

the New Testament, must acknowledge are used to denote the same office. There is no intimation, that the people had not liberty to choose their ministers, and present them to Timothy, who was authorized to set them apart to the work to which they had been chosen, by ordaining them, and solemnly committing to them the gospel of Christ.

It seems he was to be acquainted with the characters of those to whom he committed this important trust; and be satisfied that they were faithful men, and able to teach. It will be the business of the following discourse, to explain these qualifications, and then to add some practical remarks, and particular addresses, suitable to the subject, and to the present occasion.

First, they who are introduced into the office of public Christian teachers, must be faithful men. Faithfulness signifies sincerity and uprightness, by which temper of mind a person should be influenced, both in entering into the pastoral office at first; and in performing all the duties of it, through the course of his ministry.

Faithfulness implies sincere, good, and upright views and motives, in entering into this sacred employment. The faithful man's desire and design must be, the promotion of the great ends of the gospel ministry, which are to honor God; to build up the kingdom of Christ, and advance the salvation of men.

Now, in order to his being truly governed by these motives, is it not evidently necessary, that he be a man of real goodness of heart, of undissembled piety and religion? Must not a man, who is destitute of renewing grace, if he is acquainted with the springs of action, in his own mind, be sensible, that he hath no real concern for the glory of God, and the advancement of the kingdom of his Son? How can he then, from upright and faithful motives, take upon him the pastoral office? Can he honestly consider himself qualified to serve Christ, in this employment, when he hath no consciousness of a sincere affection to him? Can he view himself as a fit person, to preach those doctrines, which are, in general, disagreeable to the governing temper of his mind; and the sanctifying influence of which he hath not experienced on his own heart? Can he justly conceive, that he is a suitable instrument, to inculcate and promote that holy, spiritual, and divine life, to which he is a stranger, and which he refuses to maintain? Certainly not.

Must not that faithfulness then, which should possess a man who enters into the work of the ministry, imply that he finds in himself, a sincere and ardent love to his divine Master, in whose service he is engaging? That he hath diligently endeavored to become acquainted with that service, and feels an affection to it? That he hath reason to think that, through grace, he is in some good measure qualified to perform it? And that he finds a

readiness to devote all his powers and abilities to it? And finally, that he hath formed solemn resolutions to promote it to the utmost of his capacity, depending on the spirit and grace of Christ to assist him in, and carry him through it? Will not such be the views, and motives of the faithful man, in undertaking the work of the gospel ministry?

Faithfulness will also appear in prosecuting this work, and performing all the parts of it. Let me here mention some particulars.

1. He will be faithful in his studies, that he may rightly understand the doctrines and duties of that holy religion of which he is a teacher. His studies indeed must have been employed upon these subjects, previous to his undertaking the work; otherwise he could not undertake it with integrity and uprightness. But his diligence in studying the sacred Scriptures, before he took upon him the pastoral charge, will not excuse him from it, through the whole course of his ministry. There will always be room for improvement in religious knowledge. If his mind is agreeably furnished, it may, by proper industry, be more richly and abundantly furnished, with those treasures of wisdom and knowledge which are inexhaustible, in the sacred oracles. He will not imagine that he hath arrived at perfection, in his acquaintance with divine truth, and that there is no room for further light to enter into his mind.

Fidelity in studying the inspired writings, will dispose him carefully to guard against all prepossessions in favor of, or in opposition to, particular religious tenets. He will not, as may be too much the case with some, search the Scriptures, with a view to find arguments, in support of a system of doctrine, which he had before adopted; or endeavor to force them to speak a language agreeable to it; but he will yield himself up to the word of God, to be led by its light, though in consequence of it, he should be obliged to renounce some favorite sentiment, which he had long entertained, or to embrace others, against which he had been prejudiced. He will take his religious opinions from the sacred volume, and not wrest it, in order to vindicate those which he had before adopted.

Diligence in his studies will also be necessary, in order to provide useful entertainment for the people of his charge; from one season of public instruction to another. He could not content himself, if he could satisfy them, by delivering broken, incoherent discourses, which cost him no labor. He will prepare" beaten oil for the sanctuary;" well-studied and correct compositions, suited to impart clear light, and important edification. This is one thing, in which his faithfulness will appear.

2. It will also, by a care to preach the pure, uncorrupted gospel. He will not be of those who corrupt the word of God,

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