N01668:29
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.
1. WE may Reason from the Relation which there is between the Pastors of Churches, and their People. Such as are in Office Relation chosen by a particular Church, Christ has made them Rulers therein. Heb. 13. 17. Obey them that have the Rule over you. It is true that the Ministers of the Gospel have no disputeck Authority. Nevertheless, they have Spiritual Authority, which ought to be regarded. They are Hagoumenoi, as the Original Word there is, they are Leaders and Captains, under Christ their General, when in their Ruling they obey Him, they ought to be Obeyed. All Rulers ought to be Prayed for. Pray for all in Authority. It was well spoken by one of the Reformed German Divines, That if People instead of censuring and finding fault with their Rulers, which they are very apt to do, would Pray more for them, it would be better for their Rulers, and for themselves too. Shall Rulers in the Civil State be ⟨p. 12⟩subjects of Prayer? And shall not those whom God has appointed Rulers in His Churches be so? Moreover, they are Fathers. 1 Tim. 5. 1. Rebuke not an Elder, but entreat him as a Father. Which doubtless is to be understood not only concerning Elders in respect of Old Age, but of Office. It is not unbecoming the greatest Man in a Congregation to esteem his Pastor as a Father. When the Prophet Elisha was Sick and on his Death Bed, the King of Israel visited him, and wept over him, and said, O my Father, my Father, the Chariot of Israel and the Horsemen thereof, 2 Kin. 13. 14. Are not Fathers to be Prayed for?