Two Sermons Preached in the Parish Church of Nonington, Kent, January 17, 1864 being the Sunday following the Funeral of John Pemberton Plumptre, Esq.

This leads me to observe one view which every Christian ought to take of his position. He is called to be a guide in the faith—by his life, if not by his words.

Now, brethren, I am aware that this is held to be almost exclusively the duty of ministers. The text is usually so applied. I have no wish to shift off the responsibility from them. They, if any, ought to go before the flock. Nor do I wish to put young Christians out of their proper place.

But I do hold very strongly that this responsibility of ministers is shared by all the servants of Christ. Whatever their position—whatever their measure of grace or gifts, they are called of God to lead on others in the faith, in some measure. One star may differ from another star in glory, or degree of brightness. One member of the body may differ from another in size and shape. But the least star has its place and power, and the least member its work and fitness for that work (1 Cor. xii. 21, 22). And so of each Christian. “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Your standing as a Christian may not be advanced. Your measure of grace, to your own thinking, may be somewhat scant—but your working and example up to the extent of that grace, are necessary for the well-being of the whole body. To you, as well as to others, is this word spoken “Ye are my witnesses,” and by you, as well as by others, may comfort be afforded to some soul not yet gathered, some sheep yet straying upon the dark mountains. None are too small in God’s sight to be useful. None are so low down but they may help to lift up others. Every atom has a shadow. Every Christian has an influence. Believe me there is no such thing as an idle life—you are either a blight or a blessing.

This, then, I say, is one view which every Christian ought to take of his position. If he has faith, he has a faith to be followed. And this, too, is the view which others are to take of every such Christian. Wherever any such have realised their high calling, and risen to it, there would God have us remember them, and follow, or imitate, their faith.

But whilst I say this of all, it is emphatically true with respect to those who, by the grace of God, were, in faith, what they were.

Need I say that, until very lately, we had one in our midst who did take a right view of his position, and who has left a pattern of faith which we should be only too glad to follow.

Looking at him as a Christian, I might justly use the words in which his spiritual helper of former days (Bishop Wilson) described Mr. Cecil: “All the finer materials which distinguished him as a man, were wrought up, if I may so say, and sanctified by the Holy Ghost.” But as it was more especially as a man of faith that he stood out before the world, it is in this character that I would ask you to look at him.

And, here let me say once for all, that in speaking of him to-day, I desire to speak of him as God’s handywork.

I have no wish to exalt the creature. You know how he would have loathed any approach to that. But I do wish, however faintly, to set forth what God’s grace did for a poor, weak, sinful, erring man, of like passions with us. To that grace he owed all, and to the honour of that grace alone, I ascribe all his eminence as a guide in the faith.

He believed through grace. I am not aware of the exact time, or of the exact circumstances of his conversion, but I have reason to believe that for fifty years he had believed, and known Him in whom he believed.

The ground and warrant of his faith was the sure Word of God.

The object of it was _God in Christ_—a reconciling Father, a sufficient Saviour, an ever-present Counsellor and Comforter. He received that which was delivered to him—as it is also to us—that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” This all-perfect, all-satisfying substitution and atonement of the Lord Jesus was from the first, and to the last, the one foundation of his trust, the one source of his life and strength. He felt this, and nothing less than this, to be necessary. He found this, and this alone, to be sufficient. He realised it. He rested on it. He rejoiced in it.

For among the more leading features of his faith, these two stand out:—its fixedness, and its joyousness.

It was a fixed faith. Having received the Word of God, he dealt with it as the Word of God. He submitted himself to its declarations with the simplicity of a little child. Where it warned, he took heed. Where it led, he followed. Where it promised, he took hold. And so having found it written therein that “they who believe are justified,” he believed, and was justified.

His faith grew into a full assurance, for assurance is but faith intensified. As such it wrought wondrously. By it he became what he was. It helped him to choose for God, and to be decided for the right. It enabled him to confess Christ before man, and to be steadfast when others were wavering. By this he overcame the world when it bid fair and high for his service, and by this he attempted not a few things for God, in a day when there were but few to stand by him. From this came his calmness in the midst of trouble, and from this his confidence in the hour of death. For thus he could say whilst passing into eternity:—“Were it not for mercy I should be lost; but by the mercy of God in Christ I am saved. Wonderful!” And again, “What should I do without Christ. Such a poor sinner! but complete and accepted in the Beloved! Such a sure foundation. Such a great salvation!” “He will never leave me nor forsake me.” “I am complete in Him!”

It was a joyous faith. He did not barely know and assent, and rely—he delighted. Christ was the joy of his soul as well as the soul of his joys. His heart ran over with gladness as he thought of the freeness and sufficiency of the great Salvation. The grace that brought it—the power that wrought it—the blood which bought him for it—and the love which taught him how to use it—were the subjects of his unceasing thankfulness and praise.

The result of all this was a very sunny Christianity. He was not without his trials—what Christian is? But, with all, he seemed to have real enjoyment of his religion. The good news was good news to him, and he shewed it. “He joyed in God.”

O for a few more Christians of the same sort—men and women who believe, and live as if they believed! What a reproach would be rolled from the faith if we could but hold up our heads a little more! We do not want any alteration of doctrine to make Christian truth more attractive, but we do want more attractive cheerfulness in those who believe and know that truth.

Such, then, brethren in outline at least, is the faith which you and I are to follow. God would have us remember this guide, who thus spoke to us His word, and imitate, or copy, his faith.

Are you, at this present speaking, an unbeliever? Solemnly and personally, God calls upon you to believe. Do not say that it is out of the question for such an one as you are. Here was one who, like yourself, was once a stranger to God. But he obtained mercy. “The grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant toward him in faith.” That grace is offered to you—can work in you. Go to God for it as he went. You are invited to come. He is waiting to be gracious. He cannot deny you. Tell Him that you have come in Christ’s name, for the blessedness of those who know the joyful sound, and you will go forth walking in the light of His countenance.

Are you weak in faith? Be encouraged by this example, to believe more fixedly, more confidently. You have the same warrant, the same ground for your faith to rest upon—the word of truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. That assures you that all is done for you,—that a double punishment has been laid for you upon the Surety,—a double satisfaction rendered on your behalf by Him (Isaiah xl., 2), “Look at Christ set before you in the Gospel, and faith will come into exercise.” Then you will come to rest where our departed friend rested. It is no impossible attainment, no act of presumption. When the Lord is saying “Eat, O friends, yea drink—drink abundantly, O beloved,” surely we ought not to reply to His large-hearted offers with any other response than a large-hearted confidence.