N01667:209
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.
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 Amos 2.12. I raised up of your Sons for Prophets, and of your Young Men for Nazarites: in which he shows how useful and necessary it is that Preachers should be Learned Men. Especially you should labour after a large measure of Scripture Knowledge. And since ⟨p. 130⟩the Scriptures of the Old Testament were written Originally in the Hebrew Tongue, and the New Testament in Greek, a Competent Knowledge in both these Languages is needful, otherwise we see with other Mens eyes, and take all upon trust and report from others, if we are not able our selves to consult the Originals. Some of the Ancients (called Fathers) would not have mistaken in the Interpretation of diverse Scriptures so as they have done, had they consulted the Original. Moreover, Knowledge in the Liberal Arts is a good handmaid to Theology. A Preacher should have a body of Divinity in his head.