N01668:21
A sermon wherein is showed, I. That the ministers of the Gospel need, and…A sermon wherein is shewed, I. That the ministers of the Gospel need, and…
A sermon wherein is showed, I. That the ministers of the Gospel need, and ought to desire the prayers of the Lord's people for them. II. That the people of God ought to pray for his ministers. : Preached at Roxbury, October 29. 1718. When Mr. Thomas Walter was ordained a pastor in that church, by his grand-father, Increase Mather. D.D. : [Seven lines of Scripture texts]A sermon wherein is shewed, I. That the ministers of the Gospel need, and ought to desire the prayers of the Lord's people for them. II. That the people of God ought to pray for his ministers. : Preached at Roxbury, October 29. 1718. When Mr. Thomas Walter was ordained a pastor in that church, by his grand-father, Increase Mather. D.D. : [Seven lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland for J. Edwards, 1718
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.
2. THE Ministers of the Gospel reed the Prayers of the Lord's People for them, considering they are subject to the like Infirmities with other Men. They are indeed called Angels. Among the Jews the Chief Ruler in the Synagogue, was called Shaliac Tsibbor, the Angel of the Congregation. Thus the Pastors of Churches are called, the Angels of the Churches. That Name should put them in mind of their Duty, that they should endeavour to live Angelical lives. But they are Angels not in respect of Nature, but Office. Angel signifies a Messenger. A Minister is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But he is an infirm Creature, and has not the strength of an Angel to work with. It was well spoken by one that was Ordained in a particular Church, who said, he hoped the Church which had called him, would consider that they had not called an Angel, but a poor frail Man, who needed their Pity and Prayers. Ministers are subject to the same natural infirmities with other Men. The Apostle advises Timothy, to drink no longer water, but to use a little Wine for his stomachs sake, and often infirmities, 1 Tim. 5. 23. He counsels him not to continue to drink Water alone, but to mix a little Wine with his Water, for that might conduce to his Health, who was often subject to Infirmities. Ministers are as subject to Bodily Sicknesses and Diseases as any other Men. Epaphroditus a Faithful Minister of the Gospel was Sick nigh unto Death, but God had mercy on him, and restored him to Health again. It ⟨p. 6⟩is said of the Prophet Elisha, that when Joash wept over him, he was Sick of the Sickness whereof he dyed, which seems to intimate that he had been Sick of other Sicknesses before that, which did not prove mortal to him. Nor are Ministers of the Gospel free from moral Infirmities, as long as they are in this World. The Prophet Elijah was an extraordinary Man, nevertheless, it is said of him, He was Subject to like Passions as we are, Jam. 5. 17. The holy Man discovered too much of Passion and Impatience, when being Persecuted by a cursed Queen, he requested for himself that he might dye, and said, Lord take away my life, 1 Kin. 19. 4. Jonah was a famous Prophet, his Name is honourably mentioned in the Book of God.