A64984:108
The death of ministers improved. Or, an exhortation to the inhabitants of Horsley on…
The death of ministers improved. Or, an exhortation to the inhabitants of Horsley on Gloucester-shire, and others, on the much lamented death of that reverend and faithful minister of the Gospel, Mr. Henry Stubs By Tho. Vincent, John Turner, Rob. Perrott, M. Pemberton. To which is added a sermon upon that occasion, by Richard Baxter.The death of ministers improved. Or, an exhortation to the inhabitants of Horsley on Glocester-shire, and others, on the much lamented death of that reverend and faithful minister of the Gospel, Mr. Henry Stubbs By Tho. Vincent, John Turner, Rob. Perrott, M. Pemberton. To which is added a sermon upon that occasion, by Richard Baxter.
London : s.n., Printed in the year 1678
Sermon › Application 1: USE 1.Sermon › Application 1: VSE 1.
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.
II. If God, Christ, grace and glory be no• enough for you, and seem not a sufficient portion unless you have also prosperity to the flesh undertake not the Ministry, nor profess Christianity: For without self-denial, contempt of the World, taking up the Cross, and forsaking all, you have but the delusory name and image of Christianity. Absolutely devote your selves to God, and hope not for great matters in the world: except nothing from ⟨p. 33⟩him, suspect and fear the hypocrites reserves, serve Christ and trust him: trust him with estate, and liberty, and life, and Soul and all: study your duty for your part, and cast your care on him for his part. Take no thought what ye shall eat or drink, but seek first Gods Kingdom and the righteousness thereof. You will never finish your course with joy, if you be not absolutely devoted to God.
II. If God, Christ, grace and glory be no• enough for you, and seem not a sufficient portion unless you have also prosperity to the flesh undertake not the Ministry, nor profess Christianity: For without self-denyal, contempt of the World, taking up the Cross, and forsaking all, you have but the delusory name and image of Christianity. Absolutely devote your selves to God, and hope not for great matters in the world: except nothing from ⟨p. 33⟩him, suspect and fear the hypocrites reserves, serve Christ and trust him: trust him with estate, and liberty, and life, and Soul and all: study your duty for your part, and cast your care on him for his part. Take no thought what ye shall eat or drink, but seek first Gods Kingdom and the righteousness thereof. You will never finish your course with joy, if you be not absolutely devoted to God.
III. Preach to your selves first, before you Preach to the people, and with greater zeal. O Lord save thy Church from worldly Pastors, that study and learn the art of Christianity, and Ministry; but never had the Christian Divine nature, nor the vital principle which must difference them and their services from the dead. Do you love other mens Souls more than your own? will a dead nurse give warm and vital milk? Nothing doth more to make you good Preachers, than that which doth most to make you good Christians: I thank the Lord for the Method of his grace and providence, that cast me divers years into the care of my own Soul, before I purposed to Preach to others, and made me read over the most of all our honest English practical Divines, to make me a Christian indeed, before set my self to the artificial part. I repent ot of this unusual method.