things natural how much more in the spiritual? When we think of the infinitely desirable end of our ministry-the glory of God in the salvation of men-we are bound to long for its accomplishment. Is it required of us to go forth and sow the "precious seed" without desiring that the fruits of righteousness should appear? Can it be commendable in us to take the arrows of truth from God's own quiver and use them without looking for their glorious effect in the hearts of the King's enemies? Is it God-pleasing for us to go forth as ambassadors for Christ with our embassy of peace, and yet be quite regardless as to whether our hearers are reconciled to God? By no means. "The want of ministerial success," says Robinson, "is a tremendous circumstance, never to be contemplated without horror." We ought, I believe, to desire and expect success in the gospel. The end of the ministry is that upon which God's own heart is set; its prosperity is the expectation of our ascended Lord-and no marvel, for the mercy-seat which we exhibit in the gospel is sprinkled with his own blood; and the ministry of the New Testament is that of "the Spirit which giveth life." Should we not, therefore, look for glorious issues? Moreover, the true minister is appointed of God, who upholds those whom he calls, as it is said of David, "With whom my hand shall be established mine arm also shall strengthen him." The preacher of the gospel is, therefore, warranted to have great expectations, and the longing to be successful cannot be removed from his heart. He rightly desires that the gracious ends of his ministry to men-even "to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light"-be abundantly realized." Success, then, being so desirable, by what means is it attained? I believe it is linked with obedience to the divine will. There is a popular way of quoting and commenting upon the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant," in which it is implied that we may be faithful servants, yet unsuccessful. But, after all, is it really so? What seems to be failure may not be so in reality. Judged according to our estimate of success, we often fail; but when all is viewed in God's perfect estimate, will it not be found that the faithful servant has been truly successful? It will be manifested that he who has walked in conformity to the divine will has really been prospered. The Master himself seemed to fail. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not;" but we do not admit that in any true sense he was unsuccessful. There is not the shadow of failure in the great end of his mission. It approaches blasphemy even to think of him returning to his Father having failed in his undertaking. The word of promise was fulfilled, "The pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.' The Stone which the builders rejected became the Head-Stone of the corner. On the resurrection morning he stood on the shores of his red sea, and the words were royal on his lips, "Sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously." He ascended a Conqueror. So shall it be with all those who imitate him in faithfulness to the divine will. He may not be popular-that is different from success. He who ploughs the land-if that be his mission is just as successful as he who reaps the grain. Granted, then, that we have found our sphere in which the Master would have us serve, we shall find that conformity to his will in all things will ensure true and abiding prosperity. Let me advance one or two reasons for this conviction. The secret of prosperity is to have God with us. In our search for the causes of it we may not overlook that which is the only real one, and the fountain of all the others. It lies in that fact which is affirmed of several in the Scriptures, "The Lord was with him." This is the blessing at once indispensable and incomparable; the sum of our need and the assurance of our success. 66 Now the entire testimony of Revelation is, that God is with the righteous. He approves their path; he smiles on their ways. He orders their steps; he establishes their goings. He crosses the wicked in their path, brings their counsels to nought, and turns their way upside down; but the just are established by him. Conscious of this truth, the Psalmist who said, "When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever," could add, resting in the unfailing righteousness of his God; But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil," and, "The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon." When the angels of God hasten on their holy errands, Jehovah delights in them, and they return to praise him. But why? Because they are "ministers of his that do his pleasure." And when his feeble servants on earth are doing his will, his smile will not be withheld. The same Lord reigneth; as in heaven, so on earth. "Thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield." : Again. In conformity to his will God's servants are brought into harmony with his own purpose. Take Joshua as an instance. Marvellous things were accomplished by him, and yet not marvellous when we learn. that Jehovah's purpose was one with the aims of his servant. The destruction of Jericho and the other victories, and the allotment of the land to the Israelites, are traced to their real source when we know "it was of the Lord" to give Israel the land. Joshua was successful, and his charge and promise are given to us also, and given us joined together. "This book of the law (God's revealed will) shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein for THEN thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good 66 Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, prospered at Corinth, and for an obvious reason, God's own purpose: I have much people in this city." Ah! when Gideon's sword is also "the sword of Jehovah," there is a sure victory. And, brethren, when the rivulets of our aims run into the river of God's purposes, who can hinder their falfilment ? Once more. Walking in conformity to the will of God puts us in possession of the mighty power of prayer. The strength of prayer lies in obedience. We marvel when we note how the ancient saints had the ear of God, and what mighty works were wrought in answer to their petitions; but we must note also how their ear was opened to him as his obedient servants. The facts are placed side by side in the words, "Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the Lord, and he answered them. He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them." How true it is! God hears those who hear him: if we listen to his word, his ear is open to our cry. Some men can obtain what they like from God, because their likes are in accordance with his will. On the other hand, we are often, I fear, striving to bring God to our mind, and of course we fail, whereas, by subjecting all to his will we should succeed. When the Bible is our prayer-pook, i.e., when we pray in accordance with what God would have us be and do, then we shall obtain the desires of our heart. "Whatsoever we ask," says the apostle, "6 we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." A commander whose heart is set upon carrying out the king's own project may obtain any supplies for his service, and if our business is in the King's name, whatsoever we shall ask he will do it. It is after God's own heart that we should be holy, that his people should be holy, and that sinners should be converted unto him; and are not these our best desires? To pray as if God were unwilling to fulfil them is to forget what the will of the Lord is. He will hear when we call upon him. Just one word more. The President, in his opening address of this conference, alluded to one cause of non-success in the upbuilding of God's people, viz., our lack of personal holiness. This, of late, I have felt most keenly. Many are successful in conversions, but how little success in making men Christ-like! This is humbling. Obedience includes faithfulness to all God's appointed means, and one great means of the sanctification of God's people is the holy life of their pastors. We have to be "Ensamples to all that believe." We cannot expect the people to have more of Christ than they see in us. There is deep solemnity in such words as these: "The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity." And yet there is a spring of comfort in such Scriptures, for we see in them how these two things-obedience and prosperity-are joined together. Their teaching makes our way simple and clear: our aim is to work in obedience to the Father's will, and in so doing to have the comforting assurance that his rich promises will be fulfilled in us. We shall thus obtain the portion of the blessed man depicted in the 1st Psalm: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful: (he is separate froin all evil). But his delight is in the law of the Lord; (he is fond of God's Word) and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (Then see the beautiful picture of him!) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." A Fresh Bait. CITY pastor, in July, The season of vacation, When tired pastors gladly fly In quest of recreation, Turned from the din of crowded streets, He with his fishing-tackle, Had sermons packed, in easy reach, Probation after Death was one; The third-a web of words fine spun- Stale bait with which to fish for men ! Most heard him once, went home, and then With rod, and reel of shining brass, One day the parson overtook With string of trout and bent-pin hook; Each stared the other in the face; Will take my hook this season ?" Yer painted hooks won't fetch 'em." "Perhaps," thought he, "my gospel hook I wonder how God's truth would look Ob, reverend fishers, use live bait : Author not known to us. |