A50170:91
The triumphs of the reformed religion in America the life of the renowned John…
The triumphs of the reformed religion in America the life of the renowned John Eliot, a person justly famous in the church of God, not only as an eminent Christian and an excellent minister among the English, but also as a memorable evangelist among the Indians of New-England : with some account concerning the late and strange success of the Gospel in those parts of the world which for many ages have lain buried in pagan ignorance / written by Cotton Mather.The triumphs of the reformed religion in America the life of the renowned John Eliot, a person justly famous in the church of God, not only as an eminent Christian and an excellant minister among the English, but also as a memorable evangelist amoung the Indians of New-England : with some account concerning the late and strange success of the Gospel in those parts of the world which for many ages have lain buried in pagan ignorance / written by Cotton Mather.
Boston: printed by Benjamin Harris and John Allen for Joseph Brunning, 1691
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Article III. His way of Preaching.
Such was he in his less•r Family! and in his greater Family, he manifested still more of his Regards to the rule of a Gospel-ministry. To his congregation, he was a Preacher that made it is care to give every one their meat in due season. It was Food and not Froth; which in his public sermons, he entertained the souls of his people with, he did not starve them with empty and windy speculations, or with such things as, Animum non dant, quia non habent; much less did he k•ll them with such poison as is now too commonly exposed b• the Arminian and Socinian Doctors that have lately too often sat in M•ses's chair. His way of preaching was Very plai•: so that the very Lambs might wade, into his Discourses on those texts and themes, wherein Elephants might swim; and herewithal, it was very powerful, his Delivery ⟨p. 53⟩was always very graceful and grateful; but when he was to use Reproofs and Warnings against any Sin, his voice would rise into a warmth which had in it very much of Energy as well as Decency; he would brandish the Swords, and sound the Trumpets of God against all Vice, with a most penetrating Liveliness, and make his Pulpit, another Mount Sinai, for the flashes of Lightning therein displayed against the Breaches of the Law given up n that burning Mountain. And, I observed, that there was usually a special Fervour in the Rebukes which he bestowed upon Carnality, a carnal frame and life in Professors of Religion; when he was to brand the Earthly-mindedness of Church-Members, and the Allowance & the Indulgence which they often gave un•o themselves in sensual Delights, here he was a right Boanerges; he then spoke, as 'twas sa•d one of the Ancients did, Quot verba tot Fulmina, as many Thunderbolts as Words.