MINISTERS, SERVANTS OF THE CHURCH.
Gifts and office make no men sons of God; as so, they are but
servants; though these, as ministers and apostles, were servants of
the highest form. It is the church, as such, that is the lady, a
queen, the bride, the Lamb's wife; and prophets, apostles, and
ministers are but servants, stewards, laborers for her good.
As therefore the lady is above the servant, the queen above the
steward, or the wife above all her husband's officers, so is the
church, as such, above these officers.
GIFTS AND GRACE IN MINISTERS.
A tinkling cymbal, 1 Cor. 13:1, 2, is an instrument of music with
which a skilful player can make such melodious and heart-inflaming
music, that all who hear him play can scarcely hold from dancing;
and yet behold, the cymbal hath not life, neither comes the music
from it, but because of the art of him that plays therewith; so then
the instrument at last may come to naught and perish,--though in
times past such music hath been made upon it.
Just thus I saw it was and will be with them that have gifts, but
want saving grace: they are in the hand of Christ, as the cymbal in
the hand of David; and as David could with the cymbal make that
mirth in the service of God as to elevate the hearts of the
worshippers, Christ can so use these gifted men, as with them to
affect the souls of his people in his church; and yet when he hath
done all, hang them by, as lifeless, though sounding cymbals.
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