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I. WHAT IS SUPPOSED.

1. The vast importance and responsibility of the work assigned to ministers with a view to the welfare of their people. Ministers are to take the precious from the vile; to separate the wheat from the weeds; to distinguish the dross from the gold.

2. That there are some essential distinctions between right and wrong, good and evil, truth and error.

3. That there is a standard of truth. As the office of a judge is not to make but declare the law, so that of a minister is not to burden the ears of people with his own doubtful disputations, but to declare the whole counsel of God.

4. That these characters are closely intermingled, and that there is a great disinclination in mankind to have the truth fully told them, and to be brought to the decisive test.

5. That it is of the utmost consequence to both parties that the separation should be made. Take forth the precious from the vile, and the most advantageous results will immediately accrue to each.

(1) Is it not desirable to the children of God to know that they are so — that they are heirs according to the promise — that they are precious in His sight and honourable?

(2) If the distinction be valuable to the precious, it would be scarcely less advantageous to the vile themselves. To be robbed of the cloak of a false profession would be no loss, for we know it does them no honour and brings them no peace.

II. WHAT IS DEMANDED OF MINISTERS WITH A VIEW TO THIS SOLEMN DISCRIMINATION?

1. A plain and decisive exhibition of the truth as it is in Jesus. We are to contend earnestly for the faith — to vindicate it from the blasphemies of the infidel, the perversions of the worldling, the mistakes of the Pharisee, and the corruptions of the Antinomian.

2. A fearless application of Scripture truth.

(1)  To the careless and thoughtless.

(2)  To the apostate.

(3)  To the young.

(4)  To the aged.

(5)  To the precious.

(6)  To the vile.

3. To point ourselves and our hearers to the only Agent who can make the Word effectual.

III. WHAT IS PROMISED? "Thou shalt be as My mouth." The accredited and approved servant — to speak in accordance with His will — be the organ of His clemency — all His authenticated messages crowned with success. Mighty and blessed such a ministry.

(S. Thodey.)

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KJV: Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.

WEB: Therefore thus says Yahweh, If you return, then will I bring you again, that you may stand before me; and if you take forth the precious from the vile, you shall be as my mouth: they shall return to you, but you shall not return to them.