PREACHED BEFORE

The Synod of LOTHIAN and TWEEDDALE,

At Edinburgh, November 8. 1763.

2 CORINTHIANS,

vi. 3.

Giving no offence in any thing, that the miniftry be not blamed.

T

HESE words defcribe the behaviour of Paul, and of Timothy, his beloved fon in the faith; and are intended, not only to do justice to

their character, but to prefent gospel-minifters, in all ages, a fair pattern to copy after, if they would profper in their arduous work. The conduct of these excellent men was, in the main, fo circumfpect and exemplary, that it could give no juft caufe of offence to Jews, to Gentiles, or to the churches of Christ. They carefully avoided whatever might increase the prejudices of unbelievers against the gospel, or might impair the reputation and fuccefs of their miniftry, by laying a ftumbling-block, or occafion of offence, in their brother's way.

I intend, in difcourfing on this paffage, first to explain the duty of giving no offence; then to inculcate upon myself and my brethren in the miniftry the prac

tice of that duty; and, lastly, to conclude with some practical reflections on what may be delivered.

I. I am to explain the duty here recommended to minifters, Giving no offence.

To preach and to act fo as that, in fact, none fhall be offended, would indeed be a hard, or rather impoffible, task. We cannot govern the sentiments and paffions of others; and that can never be our duty which is wholly out of our power. The tastes of our hearers are fo oppofite, that what is relifhed by one fet of them will neceffarily disgust another. So changeable are the humours of not a few, that what yesterday they approved, to-morrow they condemn. The weak and captious will cenfure our not doing what was either impoffible or unfit to be done. Not visiting the fick when we were altogether ignorant of their fickness; vifiting one person oftener than another; preaching a little longer than ufual, or a little fhorter; infifting often on fubjects of general importance, or infifting feldom on fubjects of lefs extenfive ufe; repeating the fame fermon in different pulpits; borrowing useful obfervations from the compofitions of others; refufing to spend that time in company, which duty requires us to devote to our ftudies: nay, circumstances ftill more infignificant than these; our parentage; our wealth; our poverty; our drefs; our neceffary recreations; every thing that relates to us; every thing we fay or do, however innocent; every thing we omit, however needlefs, may, by one or other, be found fault with. To fuch trifles, triflers alone can conftantly attend. If people will take of

fence

Fence where no shadow of offence has been given, his foul must be groveling, and his time and pains poorly employed, who, in fuch low inconfiderable matters, can entirely guard against it. Even truth and holiness give offence. If any truth is contrary to generally-received opinions, many will be our enemies for telling them that truth. If vice is honestly reproved, the obstinate tranfgreffor will be provoked. But if men take umbrage at us for doing our duty, it becomes us to of fend man rather than God. When we hold on fteadily in the paths of truth and righteousness, amidst these unjust reproaches, the testimony of God and of a good confcience will afford us unspeakable fupport and delight. The faithful minifter, though reviled by an ungrateful generation, as a troubler of Ifrael, and a turner of the world upfide down, is glorious in the eyes of the Lord. Though his character may, for a season, be under a cloud, God will at length bring forth his righteousness as the light, and his judgment as the noon-day. It is evident, therefore, the duty of giving no offence, only means the giving no just cause of offence, by doing any thing unbecoming our profeffion as Chriftians, or our office as minifters of Chrift. But it is proper to defcend to particulars.

1. Our life and converfation fhould be inoffenfive. Our station is elevated and confpicuous, and expofes us to the most ftrict and critical infpection. Many eyes are upon us, and the fame allowances will not be made for our mifcarriages as for thofe of others. Though we could fpeak with the tongues of men and angels, we fhall hardly charm our hearers into a life

of piety, and convince them that religion is beautiful, unless we exhibit her beauties in a regular well-ordered converfation. A diffolute life cannot fail to make us bafe in the fight of the people. When our practice is manifeftly inconfiftent with our doctrines, the brighteft parts will not protect our character, the fineft accomplishments will not fcreen us from deserved reproach.

Nor is it enough, that we are not chargeable with fcandalous wickedness. If we indulge ourselves in practices of a fufpicious nature; venture to the utmoft bounds of what is lawful; needlessly frequent the company of fcoffers at religion; or, at least, spend more of our leifure-hours with the gay and thoughtless, than with fober ferious Chriftians; if our conduct indicates a crafty, political, intriguing fpirit; if we difcover no relifh for retirement; are often and unneceffarily in the tavern, feldom in the clofet; and referve little of our time for reading, meditation, and prayer; if a word fcarce ever drops from us in ordinary conversation, that can either inftruct or edify, we tranfgrefs the precept of giving no offence. With whatever force of argument, and feeming warmth, we recommend from the pulpit heavenly-mindedness and devotion, humility, felf-denial, weanedness from the world, uprightnefs and integrity, the careful improvement of time, and a tender circumfpect life, few who obferve our behaviour will be charitable, or rather, will be blind enough, to fancy us in earneft. The judicious will fhrewdly fufpect that pleasure, gain, or honour, is dearer to us than God's glory and the falvation of fouls. Good men will be offended; and even bad

men,

men, whatever they pretend, will, in their hearts, despise us. We move in a more exalted sphere than others; and if we would fhine as lights of the world, had need to avoid every appearance of evil, and to confider well, not only what is juft and pure, but what is lovely and of good report. The world expects that we should do honour to our profeffion, act up to the dignity of our character, and, with the great apostle of the Gentiles, magnify our office, by acquiring, cultivating, and exercifing every accomplishment, gift, and grace that tends to promote our usefulness in the church of Chrift. Many things, abftractly confidered, may be lawful, which yet are not expedient, and edify not. Duty indeed fometimes obliges us to contradict the humours of our people. But it is neither acting a wife nor a good part to contradict them for contradiction's fake. In matters indifferent, we should become all things to all men, that we may gain the more; and deny ourselves the use of our lawful liberty, when, by indulging it, our brother would be ftumbled, or offended, or made weak.

2. We should give no offence by chufing injudiciously the fubjects of our sermons. When we preach what is the refult of mere human reason, or teach for doctrines the commandments of men; when we urge uncertain fpeculations as warmly as if falvation depended on the belief of them; puzzle our hearers with new schemes unfupported by fcripture-evidence, or, by forced unnatural interpretations, torture the infpired writings to speak our mind; when the things we teach, though poffibly true in themselves, yet are not important religious truths, explained and inforced

in