N01667:208
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. › USE.
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.
I shall only conclude with a Word of Exhortation and Advice to such as are designed for the Work of the Ministry. I suppose there are some Scores of such here before the Lord, whose Parents have sent them to the College, in order to their being prepared and qualified for the Service of Christ in his Churches. It becomes me in respect of my Age, (as well as on the account of my having many Years formerly, sustained the Presidentship over this Academy) to give you Advice.
1. My first Word of Advice to you, is, Do not Enter on the Work, especially engage not in a Pastoral Charge before you have attained such a Measure of Knowledge as may render you able Ministers of the New Testament. First fill and then empty. It is reported concerning Basil, and Gregory, that they spent thirteen Years in preparing for the Work of the Ministry, ⟨p. 129⟩before they would undertake it. I advise not to so long a delay, for a Young Man may be called to be a Prophet, Zech. 2.4. But it is certain that a large Stock of Learning is needful to make a Minister that shall be able to defend the Truth against the Sophistry of Learned and Subtle Adversaries. The enemies of the Truth know this. Julian the Apostate destroyed all Public Schools of Learning among Christians, because (said he) Their Learned Men Wound us with our own Weapons. The Mahometans are enemies to that which is called humane Learning: They are afraid that the light thereof might be a Means to discover the falsity of their dark Religion. Some of the Papist have been great enemies to Academies. The Jesuits in their private Instructions have this for one, We most teach that Learning is needless in a Parish Priests, so do they Jewishly term a Minister of the New Testament. They know that if they could bring it to that pass that there should be no Learned Men to oppose them, the World would be theirs. That admirably Learned & Holy Man Mr. Chauncey, who did for many Years Preside over this College, Published a Sermon on those words, in