Free Church Presbyterianism, by Rev. James Begg, D.D.
Closing Address: SPECIAL DUTIES AND DANGERS OF THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.
Part 3: (Duties)
DUTY OF SEEKING OUT DEVOTED AND ABLE MINISTERS.
ONE
of these is the securing, by God's blessing, not only a sufficient
number of ministers to supply our vacancies, but of men of the right
stamp and quality, and thoroughly imbued with Free Church principles.
The people of Scotland knew the Disruption ministers mainly by this,
that, generally speaking, they were the most zealous and devoted, the
men of missionary spirit, and the best preachers. They were the picked
and tried men of the Church; and these antecedents would warrant us in
insisting, and the people in expecting, that our regiment should, if I
may so speak, always be one of Scots Greys, — six feet men, and nothing
less. [Laughter and applause.]
Much and just anxiety has been
manifested in regard to the supply of funds for the support of the
ministry, and a much more adequate maintenance is undoubtedly greatly
required. Our strenuous attention cannot be too much devoted to this;
but I am confident that there is another matter of even more urgent
importance, and upon which the procuring of funds mainly depends, viz.,
the securing of a soul-searching and heart-enriching ministry. [Applause.] Let the spiritual sustentation of the people be well
attended to, and, by the blessing of Him to whom the silver and the
gold belong, the sustentation of the ministry will not be long
neglected. [Applause.] I am thankful to say that we have many noble
specimens of young ministers amongst us; perhaps as a body our
ministers are equal to any in the world: but to this subject too much
attention and care cannot be devoted.
Someone has said, "The Church
was corrupted by wealth before it was corrupted by power" — [hear,
hear]; and, on the other hand, the saying of Matthew Henry, which is
also true, has often been quoted, — "A scandalous maintenance makes a
scandalous ministry;" but the converse is also true in all unendowed
Churches, and we may make a new proverb, and say, "a feckless ministry
makes a feeble maintenance.'' [Applause.] The matter here which
requires the greatest care and attention on the part of the Church is,
first the selection, and then the careful training, of men for the
ministry; the object being, not merely to secure numbers, although that
is important, but sterling gifts and solid piety.
There are three
things, as has been often said, which go to make up a minister's
qualifications. These are piety, talent, and attainments.
The two first — piety and talent — can only be supplied by God; and whilst they call
for earnest prayer, they bear directly on the question of selection.
They are by far the most important. The third, viz., attainments, can
be supplied by men in almost any degree. These are essential in their
own place, although worthless, if not mischievous, without the others.
The Church of Christ has suffered deeply from the want of learning, but
quite as much at least from unsanctified talent and attainments. The
tendency which we have inherited from the Established Church, moreover,
is to do little in the way of the selection of men of gifts and graces,
but to be most particular — and in its own place we cannot be too
particular, especially in the present day — in inquiring about
attainments.
No doubt there is a difficulty in inquiring very minutely
into matters so manifestly personal, and the utmost discretion is
necessary; but the paramount interests of the Church, and especially of
such a Church as ours, require that this matter should be fairly and
fully faced. The Apostles make these qualifications, — gifts and
graces, — first and paramount; and the production of men so endowed
ought to be matter of constant and earnest prayer.
"The harvest truly
is plenteous, the labourers are few. Pray ye the Lord of the harvest
that He would send forth labourers into His harvest." A heaven-sent and
heavenqualified ministry is the constant and paramount need of the
Church.