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THE CALL OF FOUR APOSTLES
IT has pleased God on many occasions to give marks of his special approbation to persons while they were employed in their worldly callings. David was taken from his father’s sheep-folds, when he was appointed to feed and govern the kingdom of Israel. The shepherds were watching over their flocks by night, when a choir of angels announced to them the Messiah’s birth. And four of the Apostles were occupied in spreading, or in mending their nets, when the Lord Jesus selected them for his stated and most intimate attendants. We do not mean to say, that a discharge of earthly duties can merit any thing at the hand of God, or that he will have respect to it in that view: but certainly, to fulfil the duties of our respective stations is a service highly pleasing and acceptable unto God; nor are we ever more likely to receive blessings from God, than when we are occupied in performing the offices which he himself has assigned us.
But it is not so much to the season when these Apostles were called, as to the call itself, that we now propose to direct your attention. For this end let us inquire,
I. How far the call given to them is applicable to us—
We must consider our Lord’s address to them as relating, in part, to the high office to which he had destined them as his Apostles. The world at large were not called to renounce their worldly occupations, and become itinerant ministers of the word: on the contrary, the great body of Christians were repeatedly bidden to “abide in the calling wherein they were called,” yea, “to abide therein with God.” Thus far, therefore, the command given to them is not properly applicable to us. But, in part, the command referred to their general duty as Christians: and in that sense it is given to every one to whom the Gospel itself is sent. We may consider our Lord as at this moment addressing us, and requiring us,
1. To embrace his religion—
[We cannot follow Christ one single step, without first coming to him as the Saviour of the world. We must regard him as the true Messiah; we must view him as invested with all power in heaven and in earth, that he might redeem us to God by his blood, and deliver us by his almighty grace. We must consider him as having all fulness treasured up in him for us, that we may receive out of it, according to our respective necessities, “wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” It is not merely to give an assent to certain truths that we are called, but to realize them, and to live upon them. We must not merely acknowledge that Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life,” and that “he has reconciled us to God by his blood,” but we must determine, with the Apostle, to know nothing but Christ crucified, to trust in nothing but his righteousness, and to glory in nothing but his cross — — —]
2. To walk in his steps—
[Next to our believing in him is that obedience which we are to render to his commandments. If faith in him is the root, obedience to him is the fruit, which must immediately and with increasing abundance, proceed from it. Our blessed Lord came, not only to save us by his meritorious death and passion, but, to “set us an example that we should follow his steps.” To follow him, therefore, we must “walk as he walked.” Behold his zeal for the glory of his God and Father; it even “consumed him,” so ardently did it burn within him: such should be our zeal also: it should be “our meat and drink to do our Father’s will.” Behold his humility [Note: Joh_13:4-5; Joh_13:15.], his self-denial [Note: Php_2:5-8.], his meekness [Note: Joh_18:23.], his patience [Note: Isa_50:6; Isa_53:7 and 1Pe_2:21-23.], his compassion [Note: Luk_19:41.], his love [Note: Eph_5:1-2.]: in all of these we are to resemble him; and to be progressively “changed into his image from glory to glory by the Spirit of our God” — — — O that all who profess themselves his followers were more like Him in the whole of his spirit and temper! It is this that marks the Christian: all without this is hypocrisy and delusion.]
3. To devote ourselves openly to his service—
[It is well to be Christians in our secret chamber: but we must remember, that “our light is also to shine before men.” We must confess Christ before men: and if we are ashamed or afraid to do so, we cannot be his disciples. “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; but with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” His name, his cause, his people are despised by an ungodly world: and we must share in their contempt: we must “follow him without the camp, bearing his reproach.” There is no occasion to affect singularity in trivial matters; (that should rather be avoided:) there are points enough of importance in which we must be singular; we cannot resemble him without being singular; because the ungodly world are as opposite to him as darkness is to light: of course, therefore, we must be “as lights in a dark place, as cities set upon a hill.” Nay, we are not to be contented with “abstaining from fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; we are actively and boldly to reprove them;” and must shew ourselves on the Lord’s side; endeavouring to maintain his honour, and to advance his interests in the world — — —]
These are points of universal and unalterable importance: and we are required to follow Christ in these respects, no less than the Apostles themselves. This call, I say, is given equally to us; and it becomes us all to inquire,
II. In what manner we should obey it—
We need only notice the conduct of these holy Apostles, and we shall be at no loss how to regulate our own. The command itself is plain; and we must obey it,
1. Instantly, without delay—
[We see not the smallest hesitation in any one of those whom Jesus called, in our text. Elsewhere we find that one expressed a wish “to go first and bid farewell” to his friends; and another desired to “go first and bury his father [Note: Luk_9:59-61.].” But there is no time for compliment on an occasion like this. The call of God is of paramount obligation: nothing is for a moment to interfere with our obedience to it. We know not but that it may be the last call we ever shall receive. The persons invited to the marriage supper wished to excuse themselves for that time; but they were never invited again: on the contrary, the founder of the feast resolved, that “no one of them should ever taste of his supper [Note: Luk_14:18; Luk_14:24.].” A similar resolution may at this very moment be formed by the Lord Jesus Christ, if we now refuse to become his followers. “His Spirit will not always strive with man.” There is “a day when the things which belong to our peace may be for ever hid from our eyes;” and our “God may swear in his wrath, that we shall never enter into his rest.” O that that day may never come with respect to us! O that we may not foolishly dream of “a more convenient season,” which shall never arrive! But let us “to-day, while it is called to-day,” comply with this divine call. Let us imitate the man after God’s own heart, whose experience is recorded in those memorable words, “I made haste, and delayed not, to keep thy commandments.”]
2. Fully, without reserve—
[Whilst some are wishing to defer their compliance with this command, others make exceptions against it in some particulars, and would gladly have it lowered to their taste and convenience. Thus it was with the Rich Youth, who, when required to “sell all and give it to the poor, and to look for his treasure in heaven,” accounted it a hard saying, and parted with Christ and heaven rather than with his wealth. “One thing he lacked;” and that one thing as effectually ruined him, as ten thousand would have done. O that we may learn from his fate, not to make any exceptions or reserves; but to “follow the Lord fully,” even as Caleb and as Joshua did! It was a great trial to Peter and Andrew to leave their nets; and to James and John to leave their father also: but the grace of Christ was sufficient for them;, and they willingly forsook all for him. Thus must we do: we must give a preference [Note: Mat_10:37-38.], a strong and decisive preference [Note: Luk_14:25-27; Luk_14:33.], to Christ, above all earthly relatives, or worldly possessions. We cannot now be called to act as Levi did; but the zeal of Levi must be in us [Note: Deu_33:9-10.], and all things, not excepting parents or life itself, must be hated in comparison of Christ [Note: Mat_16:24-25.]. We are plainly warned respecting the terms on which alone our Lord will consider us as his [Note: Act_20:24; Act_21:13.]; and we must “count the cost,” gladly parting with every thing, that we may obtain “the pearl of great price.”]
3. Perseveringly, without end—
[Religion is not for a day or a year, but for the whole of our lives. “Our hands being once put to the plough, we must look back no more:” God warns us, that, “if we draw back, his soul shall have no pleasure in us.” “It is he who endures to the end, and he only, that shall be saved” at last. As for a temporary obedience to this command, it would be worse than a continued opposition to it: “It were better not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to depart from it.“” The latter end of an apostate is worse than his beginning.” We are particularly told to “remember Lot’s wife,” who was made an everlasting monument of his vengeance, not for going back to Sodom, but for looking back, and thereby shewing, that her heart was yet cleaving to the things which she had left behind. Happy will it be for us if we bear her in mind, and consider the danger of departing even in heart from the Lord — — — If our trials be multiplied, we must cry the more earnestly to God for help, that through his all-sufficient grace we may say with David, “All this has come upon us; yet is not our heart turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way [Note: Psa_44:17-19; Psa_119:51; Psa_119:157.].”]
Address—
1. Those who think that such obedience is impracticable—
[See how powerfully the word of Christ wrought on them — — — It is no less powerful now — — — Pray that it may come to your hearts in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.]
2. Those who are hesitating whether to obey or not—
[If it appear formidable to you to follow Christ now, think what it will be to be hidden to depart from him hereafter — — — That you will meet with trials is certain: but your losses shall be repaid a hundredfold in this life, besides a proportionable weight of glory in the world to come [Note: Mar_10:28-30.]. Thousands can attest the truth of this — — — O choose the better part, which shall never be taken away from you!]
3. Those who are engaged in following the Lord—
[Though you may not be called, as preachers, to be “fishers of men,” yet in your several stations God will make you instrumental to the salvation of men. A holy life will operate on many who would never have been wrought upon by the preached word [Note: 1Pe_3:1-2.]. None prove such stumbling-blocks as you, if your lives be unsuitable to your profession, and none such blessings, if you walk worthy of your high calling — — — “Seek therefore more and more to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things [Note: Mat_5:13. 2Co_3:2-3. 1Pe_2:12; 1Pe_2:15.].”]