N01667:183
Practical truths, plainly delivered
Practical truths, plainly delivered: wherein is showed, I. That true believers on Jesus Christ, shall as certainly enjoy everlasting life in heaven, as if they were there already. II. That there is a blessed marriage between Jesus Christ the son of God, & the true believer. III. That men are infinitely concerned, not only to hear the voice of Christ, but that they do it, to day. IV. The work of the ministry, described, in an ordination sermon. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Seven lines of Scripture texts]Practical truths, plainly delivered: wherein is shewed, I. That true believers on Jesus Christ, shall as certainly enjoy everlasting life in heaven, as if they were there already. II. That there is a blessed marriage between Jesus Christ the son of God, & the true believer. III. That men are infinitely concerned, not only to hear the voice of Christ, but that they do it, to day. IV. The work of the ministry, described, in an ordination sermon. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Seven lines of Scripture texts]
printed by B. Green for Daniel Henchman, 1718
The Work of the Ministry described, in an Ordination Sermon.
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.
and the Ministry of the Word is the ordinary Means of Conversion. Rom. 10.7. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God: And it is said, How shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a Preacher? and how shall there be a Preacher except there is one sent? When there are Believers, the Ministers of Christ are usually the Instruments by whom they are made such. 1 Cor. 3.5. Who is Paul, & who is Apollos, but Ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every one. There are few Congregations but there are some Unconverted ones therein. It is the ⟨p. 109⟩Ministers duty to apply himself accordingly. It is a vain Opinion which some have, that the Pastor of a Church is only to Endeavour the Edification of Saints, but not the Conversion of Sinners; he ought to do both, as the next words to my Text intimate, For the Edifying the Body of Christ. When a Sinner is Converted, the Body of Christ is Edified, there is a New Member added to his Church which is his Body; another living Stone is laid in that Sacred building. And truly what greater Service can any Minister, or any Man in the World do for Christ, than to make those that have been slaves to Sin and Satan, to become faithful Subjects in Christs holy Kingdom, to the Eternal Salvation of their Souls. He that Converts a Sinner shall save a Soul from death. Jam. 5.20. And what can any Man do that will be more for his own Joy & Comfort? I have often thought of a Passage which a renowned Historian relates concerning Dr. Williams the Arch-Bishop of York, who had been before that the Bishop of Lincoln, and Lord Keeper, and sustained other Places of Honour and Dignity; when a Minister came to him for Ordination, he said to him, I have passed thorough many Places of honour in Church and State, more than any of my Order in England; could I be assured that by my Preaching I had Converted one Soul, I should have more comfort in that than in all the Honours and Offices that have been bestowed on me. Without doubt there are some who ⟨p. 110⟩will have a greater degree of Glory conferred on them at the last day, than others shall. Among these faithful Ministers of Christ will be found, who have been the happy Instruments of Converting many Souls to God. Witness that blessed Scripture: