SERMON V.

THE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY.

BY THE REV. CHAUNCEY RICHARDSON, A. M.,

EDITOR OF THE TEXAS WESLEYAN BANNER.

Delivered in La Grange, on Lord's Day, Jan. 7th, 1849, before the Texas Annual Conference, and published by its unanimous request.

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.—Acts xx: 24.

Reverend and dear Brethren: Standing before you on this imposing and peculiarly interesting occasion-our ninth Conference festival, in obedience to your unanimous appointment; to what theme could I more appropriately direct your attention, than to that of the Apostolic Ministry? This is a theme of universal interest and of paramount importance.

The necessity of a ministry, the separation of a body of men to be the guides and teachers of the people in things pertaining to God, has been admitted from time immemorial by nearly every branch of the Christian Church. It has been appropriately remarked by an eloquent divine, that "without the public solemnities of devotion, private and individual piety would quickly languish and expire. The lamp of religion must be trimmed and replenished by the aid of human diligence and zeal, as well

as by the Spirit's presence from above; without the former, it would yield but a glimmering light amidst the darkness of a corrupt world; without the latter, it would emit only the fearful glare of superstition, or the fitful, delusive flashes of enthusi

asm.

The divine wisdom and mercy are therefore especially displayed to the world in the appointment of an order of men to preach the gospel-to administer its holy sacraments-to be stewards of the mysteries of God, and the dispensers thereof-to be ambassadors. for Christ to a rebellious world, to stand at the gates of the sanctuary and invite all men to come and taste the goodness and grace of the Lord-to rebuke the ungodly-to admonish the careless, to comfort the afflicted-in a word to do the work of evangelists.

The Christian or Apostolic Ministry is marked by features peculiar to itself. The religion of the heathen world, though they have a priesthood, yet they have no office corresponding to the ministry of the gospel, nor even had the Jewish Church; it had it is true a holy priesthood to offer sacrifices, but their office pertained to outward forms and ceremonies, the shadows of better things to come. Holy prophets were raised up from time to time. to bear testimony against wickedness and idolatry, and to foretell the righteous judgments of God. But where were the practical expositions of God's word? Where were the friendly admonitions to individual sinners? Where was the watchful care over souls as a charge to be accounted for to God? Where have these peculiar features of the gospel ministry ever been found, but in the Church of Christ?

Isaiah, who is emphatically the Evangelical Prophet, looking through the vista of more than seven hundred years, surveys the labors of the gospel ministry, and with enraptured delight exclaims, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"

Though I may not be able to throw any new light upon this

sublime theme, yet a noble end will be attained, if I succeed in putting you in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God that is in you which was committed unto you by the Holy Ghost, which dwelleth in us. It is especially my aim to elevate in your esteem that high and momentous function, which proposes to save souls from death, and to wreath their brows with unfading crowns of glory. For the moment you think lightly of the sacred office, your right arm is withered, you are shorn of your moral power, your glory is departed, and nothing remains, but imbecility, relaxation and sterility. For no man ever excelled in a profession to which he did not feel an all absorbing and entrancing attachment. The text, which is a part of St. Paul's thrilling address to the elders of the Ephesian Church, most forcibly directs our attention to the APOSTOLIC MINISTRY.

I. In the divinity of its source.

II. In the sublimity of its spirit.

III. In the importance of its testimony.

IV. In the felicity of its completion.

May the Spirit of Eternal Truth, shed his heavenly influences upon us, to bedew, to warm and expand our affections, to illuminate our minds and to guide us into all truth.

The Apostolic Ministry claims our attention,

1. In the divinity of its source:-"Received of the Lord Jesus." This vital truth was boldly declared from the very commencement of the gospel dispensation. Christ addressing those whom he appointed to the sacred office, said, "As my Father hath sent me, so send I you. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth, Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you alway even unto the end of the world."

St. Paul most fearlessly asserts the divinity of his apostleship. "I certify you, brethren, that the gospel, which is preached of me is not after man, for I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by revelation of Jesus Christ, whereof I was made

a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which is committed to my trust. And I thank Jesus Christ our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry."

The agency of the Holy Ghost was evidently concurrent with that of Jesus Christ in the appointment of the apostolic ministry. Christ commanded his chosen apostles not to depart from Jerusalem until they should receive the promise of the Father, the bap. tism or anointing of the Holy Ghost. But said he to them, "Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth."

How eminently were the apostles anointed with the Holy Ghost for the work of the ministry, when there appeared unto them cloven tongues, as of fire, sitting upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost!

We have another striking example of the concurrent agency of Christ and the Holy Ghost in the appointment of Paul and Barnabas to the ministry. Having received their commission from Christ, "As the prophets and teachers in the Church at Antioch ministered and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they being sent forth by the Holy Ghost preached the word of God."

Whatever might be peculiar in the commission of the Apostles it is evident that the principle of the divinity of its source is represented as an essential quality of the gospel ministry. Consequently the several grades of the ministry are equally of divine appointment. "Christ gave some apostles, and some prophets and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.'

It is the special prerogative of Jesus Christ, the Supreme Head