An event had taken place at Jerusalem, in which every son of Adam on the wide surface of the earth was interested, which was to bring unnumbered multitudes to Heaven, and thus greatly to influence the records of eternity. And Christ, looking steadfastly upon the faces of his chosen followers, and thinking of the multitude of sinners which then thronged this miserable world, and of the countless generations then unborn, who afterwards were to be blessed by his salvation, uttered these most emphatic words: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.”
At the induction of Dr. Thomas Smith as successor to the late Rev. Dr. Duff in the chair of Evangelistic Theology, in the New College, Edinburgh, Dr. Begg, who addressed the newly appointed professor, made the following very admirable remarks on the true source of ministerial usefulness and success.
The Word of God strongly enforces the duty of Christian benevolence, by promises on the one hand, and alarming threatenings on the other. The subject is at all times worthy of our serious consideration, but especially at this inclement season, when we are called upon to open our hearts and hands to one-fifth of our countrymen, upon whom famine—that fearful judgment of God—has fallen with deadly severity.
The sacred writer informs us that “Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon. And offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them; and they died before the Lord.” This was truly a most distressing event, and one that was calculated to produce a deep and indelible impression on the minds of all concerned. The day of the occurrence was that on which the tabernacle, so long in building, was first opened.
For a considerable number of years previous to 1842, many belonging to the Established Church of Scotland believed that the Civil Courts of the country were interfering with and encroaching on the jurisdiction of the Church in matters spiritual; and at the General Assembly of that year, a Claim, Declaration, and Protest was adopted, setting forth the interference and encroachment of which the Church complained, and seeking redress from the Queen and Parliament.
