N00446:98
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. ; [Two lines from Luke]
Boston: printed by Benjamin Harris for Joseph Brunning i.e, 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 lesser 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 nor Froth; which in his public sermons, he entertained the souls of his people with, speculations, or with such things as, Animum non dan•, quia non habent; much less did he kill them with such poison as is now too commonly exposed by the Arminian and Socinian Doctors that have lately too often fat in Moses's chair. His way of preaching was Very plain: so that the very Lambs might wade, into his Discourses on those text and themes, wherein Elephants might swim and here withal, 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 •a•mth which had in it very much of Energy as well as Decency; he would brandish the Swords, and sound the […] of God against all Vice, with a most penetrating Liveliness, and make his Pulpit, another Mount Spirit, for the flashes of Lightning there in displaced against the Breaches of the Law given upon that burning Mountain. And, […] observed, that there was usually a special Fervour in the Rebukes which he bestowed upon Carnality, a carnal frame and life in Professions of Religion; when he […] to brand the Earthly mindedness of Church-Members, and the Allowance & one Indulgence which they other gave unto themselves in sensual Delights, here he was a right Boanerges; he then spoke, as 'twas sad one of the Ancients did, Quot vba […] Fulmina, as many Thunderbolts as Words.