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APPROPRIATE ADDRESSES TO DISTINCT CHARACTERS
TO investigate and unfold the expressions of Holy Writ is an office in the discharge of which a minister renders most essential service to the Church of God: and hence it constitutes a very great portion of a minister’s labours; so far, at least, as respects his public addresses to his people. But the eliciting of characters, as portrayed in the inspired volume, is also a work of great importance; inasmuch as it enables a multitude of persons to behold themselves, as it were in a glass, and to arrange themselves under the different classes to which they belong. It is this latter office which I shall endeavour to discharge at this time. Here are three distinct characters brought to our view, with distinct addresses to each. On the particular terms that are used, I shall say but little; my intention being rather to take the subject in one collective view, and to suggest reflections upon it as a whole.
Let us, then, contemplate,
I. The characters here presented to our view—
They all express different measures of regard for Christ and his Gospel: the first is all willingness; the second is all reluctance; the third is a compound of the two former, being partly willing, and partly reluctant, to obey the Gospel call.
The first professes the utmost willingness to follow Christ—
[“Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.” This is well spoken, on a supposition that it convey the deliberate purpose of the heart. Such a state of mind as this is a counterpart of heaven itself; where all the redeemed are said “to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth [Note: Rev_14:4.].” But, from the answer of our Lord to him, it is evident that the man knew not what he was undertaking. He had not considered what conflicts he would have to maintain, what sacrifices to make, what self-denial to exercise. The very confidence with which he expressed himself argued a sad ignorance of his own heart, and a very partial acquaintance with the duties which he was so ready to engage in. He seems to have been under an impression that the Lord Jesus was about to establish a temporal kingdom; and, like the mother of Zebedee’s children, to have contemplated a pre-eminence amongst his followers, as a post of worldly honour, and of enviable preferment.
Now, amongst ourselves, also, there are many who are under a similar delusion. They think of nothing in religion, but its joys and honours. As for “entering into it by a strait gate,” and finding it “a narrow way,” they seem never for a moment to have contemplated it in such a forbidding aspect. Like the stony-ground hearers, they have received the word with delight, and appear at once to experience all its fructifying powers. In a moment, as it were, they seem to have attained a high measure of grace, and to have made a considerable proficiency in the divine life: but their want of “root in themselves” will soon be made manifest, and their profession speedily be found to have been nothing but an empty boast.]
The second manifests a great degree of unwillingness—
[It is here particularly to be noticed, that this second character had received from Christ an express command, “Follow me.” This, therefore, should have been obeyed in the way that Matthew had obeyed it at the receipt of custom, and the sons of Zebedee amidst their father’s nets. But he pleads for delay, as feeling that he had an occupation which, at the present at least, was of superior importance. Whether his father was really dead, or only aged and in dying circumstances, is, amongst commentators, a matter of doubt. I confess I incline rather to the latter opinion; because the circumstance of his being engaged in attending the ministry of our Lord at that time, in a country where the funeral followed so closely on a man’s decease, gives just reason to think that his father, though aged or sick, was yet alive: and in this view, the apparent harshness of our Lord’s answer vanishes at once. There were persons in plenty to perform the last offices for his father; and, however commendable the exercise of filial attention was, the immediate call of God was of sufficient authority to supersede it; and “to love father or mother more than Christ,” was to shew that he was “unworthy of the kingdom of God.”
But of this description, also, are many amongst ourselves. They may, possibly, really feel the obligations due to parents: but, in making filial duty a plea for delaying to obey the Gospel, they betray a total ignorance of what they owe to God. It is said of Levi, that, when commanded to go through the camp and slay the worshippers of the golden calf, he executed the commission without any partiality or reserve: “he said to his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor know his own children [Note: Exo_32:26-28. Deu_33:9.].” And, however self-denying the office to which we are called may be, we are to discharge it instantly, without deference or regard to any human being. But many who hear the Gospel, and acknowledge their obligation to obey it, are yet kept back, from a mistaken idea, that respect even for a father, and that father in the most trying circumstances, will justify a delay in obeying the call of God. In saying, “Suffer me first to do” any thing under heaven, they actually rebel against God; who commands us “to seek, first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” and to “hate even father and mother” in comparison of Christ [Note: Luk_14:26].]
The third professes a willingness to follow Christ, but pleads for permission to delay it—
[It is probable that the person who desired to “go home and bid farewell to his friends” had in his view the history of Elisha, who had made this request to Elijah, and received his permission to execute his wish [Note: 1Ki_19:20.]. But the danger which this man would encounter was incomparably greater than Elisha’s; for he might be sure that his friends would exert all their powers to divert him from his purpose.
A similar mistake proves fatal to multitudes at the present day. They wish to conciliate the regards of their earthly relatives, and for that end subject themselves to temptations which they are not able to withstand. Their friends know not how to give them up to follow a course which, to say the least, is so unpopular, and, with respect to this world, unproductive also; and, in order to retain their hold of their vacillating friend, they use every effort of intimidation, of raillery, of contempt: and thus they prevail on the unstable Christian to relinquish his holy profession, and to go back again to the world.]
These several characters will appear in their true light, whilst we consider,
II. The appropriate answers successively addressed to them—
To the first, our Lord sets forth the difficulties attendant on the Christian life—
[The man, it should seem, had expected little but outward prosperity; and our Lord informs him how unfounded this expectation was; since he himself, though Lord of all, was destitute of every earthly accommodation: and it could not be expected that “the servant should be above his Lord.” The same would I say to those who are forward to engage in a profession of religion, and to number themselves amongst the Lord’s people. In making such a profession, you are incomparably more likely to meet with want and shame, than fulness and honour. The Apostles of our Lord, and particularly the Apostle Paul, were exposed to cold, and hunger, and nakedness, and perils of every kind: and thousands of others, in different ages of the Church, have been called to experience the same: and though persecution for righteousness’ sake is not carried to the same extent amongst us, we are not authorized to expect any earthly comfort, of which the men of this world can deprive us. A pre-eminence in our Lord’s kingdom will, in the eyes of the ungodly, entitle us to nothing but preeminence in sufferings and reproach. And the man that will not follow religion on these terms must relinquish Christ altogether: for “if we take not up our cross daily to follow him, we cannot be his disciples.” Let every one, therefore, that would be saved by Christ, be prepared to participate with Christ in his wants and sufferings; and let him “follow Christ without the camp, bearing his reproach,” yea, and “glorying that he is counted worthy to suffer shame for His sake.”]
To the next, our Lord declares that every consideration under heaven must give way, when we are plainly called to serve and honour him—
[This I conceive to be the real meaning of that expression, “Let the dead bury their dead.” Our Lord did not mean to discourage the performance of our relative duties, and least of all the duties which we owe to our parents. Both the Law and the Gospel concur in this, even in enforcing obedience to earthly parents. This was “the first commandment with promise;” and, “if we obey it not,” whatever we may profess, “we are worse than infidels.” But our duty to God is of paramount obligation. And, if we say, Who then shall perform the duties which we neglect? I answer, There will always be found enough of worldly people to attend to worldly duties: and we may well leave them to discharge what they supremely affect. We may “leave the dead to bury their dead.” If we have a clear call to preach the Gospel, or to embrace it in such a way as shall be incompatible with those carnal occupations which may as well be performed by others, we may well leave those occupations to others; and, at all events, we must never so follow them as to let them interfere with the discharge of our higher duties: and if any one blame us for this, our answer must be, “Whether it be right to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye: for we cannot but do the things which he requires.”]
To the last, our Lord administered a solemn caution—
[It seemed that this person was more sincere than the others; though still by no means sufficiently aware of the danger to which, by the step which he contemplated, he would be exposed. The man who would finally be accepted of God, must “not only set out well, but must endure unto the end.” He must take care of hankering after the flesh-pots of Egypt, which he has left. “Lot’s wife” is a standing monument to all ages, and warns us all, not so much as to cast a look of regret at the vanities we have once renounced. A man at plough will execute his work but ill, if he look back in the midst of it: and a man who is working for eternity will never be judged fit for the kingdom of God, if he be not continually intent upon that which is before him, and carefully prosecuting his destined work. Let those, therefore, who plead for worldly gratifications, consider their tendency, and dread their effects. I grant that there are many things both seemly and innocent, if abstractedly considered, which yet a man in earnest for heaven will do well to avoid; lest by means of them he should be ensnared, and diverted from his proper course. The man in a race will not only free himself from encumbrances, but will gird about his loins the garment that would obstruct his way. And in like manner we also should “cast away every weight, and the sin which either does, or may, more easily beset us, and run with patience the race that is set before us.” It were “better never to have known the commandment at all, than, after having known it, to depart from it.”]
Permit me, then, to recommend to every one of you,
1. Consideration—
[Take not up religion in a light and thoughtless way; but consider carefully, what duties it prescribes, what exertions it requires, what sufferings it entails; and, “before you begin to build the tower, sit down and count the cost, and see whether you have wherewith to finish it.” If you will possess “the pearl of great price, you must sell all that you have, and buy it.”]
2. Decision—
[Whether you be of a higher or a lower rank, it matters not; you shall surely find, that if you will live godly in Christ Jesus, you shall suffer persecution. David experienced this, after he sat on the throne, no less than whilst he fled from the face of Saul. You must expect it. You must expect it in its utmost possible extent, even to martyrdom itself. And you must be “ready either to be bound or die for the name of the Lord Jesus,” if such a sacrifice should be called for at your hands. In nothing must you “consult with flesh and blood.” To “follow the Lord fully” must be the one deliberate and determined purpose of your soul.]
3. Constancy—
[Never are you to be weary of well-doing. “If you draw back, God can have no pleasure in you:” “you will draw back to certain and everlasting perdition”. You must “be faithful unto death, if ever you would obtain a crown of life:” “he only, that endureth unto the end, ever will, or ever can, be saved.”]