Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

2 Corinthians 6

2 Corinthians 6:4

---

COMMENTS/CONTEXT

This morning in Sunday School, the teacher mentioned how difficult reading someone like Matthew Henry can be. Afterwards, I had a moment to speak to him and relate an experience from many years ago: one of my adult Bible study participants said, “You sure like a lot of old dead guys.” Of course, we speak of Puritan men like Jeramiah Borrows, Richard Baxter, John Bunyan, Stephen Charnock, Jonathan Edwards, John Gill, and the list continues.

I am currently reading Jeremiah Burroughs’s The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment (London: W. Bentley, 1651). What is the attraction to these 16th and 17th century men? Simply put, they aimed to worship God in the purest form possible—a goal worthy of anyone calling themselves a believer today.

They painstakingly searched the Bible and wrote volumes of commentaries, lengthy sermons, and letters expounding upon the word of God to ensure proper worship. Paul writes to the Church in Corinth, leading to today’s main text, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME.” Now is the time to become acquainted with those who desire worship without fanfare, simple, concentrated, and consecrated to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Unfortunately, many pulpits today are filled with men and women for all the wrong reasons. For some, it is a job; for others, it is fame, fortune, security, etc. The Apostle Paul, in his writings to the church at Corinth, makes clear his reason for serving God in verses 2-10

Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”– 3we put no obstruction in anyone’s path, so that the ministry will not be discredited, 4but we commend ourselves in every way as servants of God: in great endurance, in sufferings, in hardships, in distresses, 5in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in sleepless nights, in hunger, 6in purity and sincerity, in knowledge and spiritual insight, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, 7in [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [like holding the sword to attack] and for the left [like holding the shield to defend], 8amid glory and dishonor; by evil report and good report; branded as deceivers and yet [vindicated as] truthful; 9as unknown [to the world], yet well-known [by God and His people]; as dying, yet we live; as punished, yet not killed; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, yet possessing all things.

Likewise, John Angell James made a similar charge to his brother, Thomas James, at his ordination as head of the Independent Church assembling in City Chapel, London. That is the matter of today’s sermon.

---

SERMON

Ministerial Duties Stated and Enforced

A pastoral charge by John Angell James, delivered to his brother Thomas James, at his ordination over the Independent Church assembling in City Chapel, London.

(Editor’s note. With regard to the sermon, the editor cannot refrain from remarking that the author himself lived up to all which he here enjoins, and that he owed all his success as a minister and an author to his observance of the rules which he here lays down. And the editor does not recollect hearing from him any important maxim as to a minister’s duty or conduct—which he has not met with in this sermon. The author here tells the secrets of his own success, which exceeded that of most ministers. When this charge was given he was a young unknown man, but all his subsequent experience confirmed the opinions which it contained. In the author’s peculiar manner, he goes into particulars not often treated on similar occasions, yet not the less important; and these counsels, enforced by his own practice and its results, during more than forty years after they were first uttered, will, the editor trusts, by this re-publication of them, long benefit the denomination which his father so loved and labored for.)

My Dear Brother,
I rise to address you under circumstances at once most interesting and most embarrassing to myself. I have undertaken, at your particular request, an office usually assigned to much older ministers than myself. The grey head is thought to add weight and emphasis to that part of an ordination service denominated the charge. This glory does not encircle my brow. Compared with many by whom I am surrounded, and at whose feet I should thankfully sit to receive instruction, I am but young in the Christian ministry. What I lack in age and experience, however, if a substitute may be admitted, I will endeavor to supply by affection. You are my brother, not merely by the ties of religion and of office; the same mother bore us, the same father was the guide of our youth; whose sainted spirits, perhaps, now bend from their celestial thrones to witness the scene of this morning; and I shall direct no admonition to your heart, my brother, which is not full fraught with the affection of mine. In order to do away every appearance of presumption, I wish to be considered as publicly recognizing the vows which, more than ten years ago, I pledged in circumstances similar to those in which you now stand. I wish to feel addressed by my own charge, thrown back in echo upon my own spirit; and have therefore selected a text which, though I am the speaker, associates me with you in the exhortations it conveys...