A81890:91
Christ crucified, or, The marrow of the gospel, evidently holden forth in LXXII sermons,…
Christ crucified, or, The marrow of the gospel, evidently holden forth in LXXII sermons, on the whole 53. chapter of Isaiah wherein the text is clearly and judiciously opened up ... / by ... James Durham.
Edinburgh: printed by the heir of Andrew Anderson, 1683
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
He standeth as the great End of Preaching, not only that Hearers may have Him known in their Judgments, but may have Him high in their Hearts and Affections, 2 Cor. 3.4. We preach not our selves, that is, not only do we not preach our selves as the Subject, but we preach not our selves as the end of our Preaching, our scope is not to be great, or much thought of, but our end in Preaching is to make Christ great. 4. He standeth in relation to Preaching, as He is the Power and Life of Preaching, without whom, no Preaching can be effectual, no Soul can be captivate and brought in to Him; hence 1 Cor. 1.23. he sayeth, We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, they cannot abide to hear him, and to the Greeks foolishness, but to them that are saved, the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
He standeth as the great End of Preaching, not onely that Hearers may have Him known in their Judgments, but may have Him high in their Hearts and Affections, 2 Cor. 3.4. We preach not our selves, that is, not onely do we not preach our selves as the Subject, but we preach not our selves as the end of our Preaching, our scope is not to be great, or much thought of, but our end in Preaching is to make Christ great. 4. He standeth in relation to Preaching, as He is the Power and Life of Preaching, without whom, no Preaching can be effectual, no Soul can be captivate and brought in to Him; hence 1 Cor. 1.23. he sayeth, We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, they cannot abide to hear him, and to the Greeks foolishness, but to them that are saved, the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Use 1. For Ministers, which we shall forbear insisting on; only 1. Were Christ the subject and substance of our Report, were we more in holding out Him, it's like it might go better with us. 2. There is need of wariness, that the Report we make, suit well the Foundation: And 3. the neglect of this may be the cause of much powerless Preaching, because Christ is not so preached as the subject-matter and end of Preaching, many Truths are (alas) spoken without respect to this end, or but with little respect to it.