We are to distinguish between an outward call and an inward call. The outward call is what is done by men, according to the appointment of Christ, after examining the person…with solemn prayer and laying on of hands, for the ministry….The inward call is the Lord signifying His mind… inwardly to the man…that He is calling and appointing him to the ministry, not only equipping him… but also powerfully and sweetly inclining his mind…to willingly take up this employment…serv[ing] Him in the work of the ministry.

The work of a minister in Christ’s church is wide-ranging and burdensome. As an office with weighty responsibility, those who become ministers will inevitably fail in the work unless they have had a real calling. But what does the call to the ministry consist of? What is the person called to, and how can a genuine call be recognised? In the following updated extract John Brown of Wamphray explains the connection between the work, the office, and the church as well as distinguishing between different kinds of call.

There Is Such a Thing as the Visible Church

A visible church exists and is continued in the world. A call to the ministry has an undoubted relation to the visible church. It is in the visible church that this ministry is placed by God (1 Cor. 12:28). It is over the visible church that overseers are set by the Holy Ghost (Acts 20:28). It is the visible church that ministers must feed, by dispensing the ordinances of God. It is towards the visible church that ministers must act the part of watchers, messengers, ambassadors, administrators or stewards, co-workers with God, fathers, rulers, overseers, nurses, teachers, stars, angels, friends of the bridegroom, labourers, pastors, builders, and so on.

All their ministrations are for such a company. Their work is to convert strangers, to confirm and build up believers, to instruct the ignorant, to strengthen the weak, to bring home those who wander out of the way, etc, as also to keep up, and lead others in, the public worship of God. There cannot be a call to the ministry without a visible church.

The Visible Church Has an Ongoing Ministry

There is a standing, ongoing ministry in the visible church. A call to an office, presupposes the office, otherwise the call would be to a nonentity. It would be ridiculous to debate about a call to an office, if the office itself is in question.

This standing ministry in the house of God is necessary, and must not be laid aside, or annulled. It is an ordinance and institution of Jesus Christ, and must be recognised as such, and preserved and kept pure as such. If it was not ordained by Christ, it would be no great matter if it was completely laid aside, and all debate about a call to it would be utterly needless.

Ministers Need a Call to the Ministry

No one ought to take upon himself the office of being a minister in the house of God, without a lawful call. If everyone who pleased, could take on him this office, why would there need to be a call to it? If we agree that a man needs a call, this means we agree that some particular persons, and they alone, must be authorised to take up this office, and that in an orderly way.

Just as none may take this office upon themselves without a lawful call, so no one may do the work which is proper to this office, if they are not called to the office. The call to the office is only appointed in order to lay a bar in the way of others from taking upon themselves to do the work belonging to the office.

Neither the office, nor the work proper to the office, is common to all the members of the church. If the work was common to all, what use would there be of a special office for this work, and why would there need to be a call, authorising some but not others to do the work of that office?

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