SPOKEN AND WRITTEN MINISTRY

Now what is true of those who labor for the profit of the church of God with their tongue, is true also in good measure of those who labor for the same end and in the same spirit with the pen. We say “in good measure,” for we by no means intend or wish to place the tongue and the pen on the same level. The preaching of the gospel as the special ordinance of the Lord, stands apart by itself, and claims the just pre-eminence over every other means of edifying the body of Christ. It is the especial display both of the wisdom and power of God, by “the foolishness of preaching,” as men deem it, “to save them that believe.” The ministry of the gospel is a divinely appointed means of communicating faith, and through the means of faith thus given to become the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. Writing cannot stand upon this foundation, nor rise to this level, for it has not the same divine appointment, and therefore does not inherit the same promised blessing. And yet few who fear God, and have derived benefit from the works of good men, would wish to deny that writing has, in the hands of the blessed Spirit, been made an instrument of edification to the church of God, only second to the ministry of the preached word. Indeed, in some respects the works of men of God have been made of greater and more enduring service to the church of Christ even than their words, as being both more widely spread and more endur-ingly permanent. Whatever abundant blessing in their day rested upon their ministry, Bunyan and Owen would have been now mere names, if so much, Hart and Huntington but traditions, had not these men of God been writers as well as preachers. But by means of their writings, the light and knowledge, grace and gifts, which were blessed to their generation are also blessed to ours, and will be handed down to our children’s children when we shall have passed away.

Assuming then that writing, when the Holy Ghost inspires the pen, is an instrument of edification to the church of Christ only inferior to preaching when the Holy Ghost inspires the tongue, does not this conclusion follow, that those whose place and calling it is to write should as much seek the glory of God and the profit of His people as those whose place and calling it is to preach? ... If these views be correct, in harmony with the word of truth and the experience of the saints, may not a writer, let him be only the editor of a fugitive and fleeting periodical, which may die tomorrow and leave no trace behind—may not even a writer who occupies so temporary a position, yet who feels the life and power of God in his soul, and who seems in the providence and by the grace of God called to the work of the pen, equally labor to the same end and in the same spirit, equally seek the glory of God and the good of His people, equally desire to set forth the same gospel, exalt the same dear Redeemer, and find his main reward in the blessing of God upon his labors? In this spirit, then, the spirit of faithfulness and love, let us seek to address ourselves to the hearts and consciences of those who are willing to receive a few words from us in the simplicity of truth.

A minister on speaking of the brevity of life quoted the words of the Psalmist who said “My days are as an handbreadth.” He then held up his hand to illustrate his meaning and beginning with his little finger he said that this could be compared to childhood, the second finger to youth, the middle finger to middle life and the last finger to old age. This illustration of the Psalmist’s is a constant reminder to all of the brevity of our lives.

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