N01684:13
The duty of Gospel-ministers to preserve a people from corruption. Set forth, in a…
The duty of Gospel-ministers to preserve a people from corruption. Set forth, in a sermon preached at Brookfield, October 16. 1717. Being the day wherein the church was gathered, and Mr. Thomas Cheney, was ordained Pastor. / By Solomon Stoddard, A.M. and Pastor of Northampton.
Boston: printed for Samuel Phillips, 1718
Title page typeset from the transcription.
The Duty of GOSPEL-MINISTERS to preserve a People from Corruption. › DOCTRINE.
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.
Consider 1. THAT People are very prone to grow corrupt. As the Bodies of Men if they be not duly looked after, will grow corrupt, so will the Souls of Men. A professing People are in great danger, many of them are in their natural condition, and godly Men that are among them, are but in part sanctified; and there are a great many young ones growing up among them, that are born in sin, and abundance ⟨p. 5⟩of temptations; and there is a great deal of danger that in a little time they will be corrupted. As Buildings are subject to decay, and Fields to be tainted, so People are to be corrupted. Isai. 1.21. How is the faithful city become an harlot.
Consider 1. THAT People are very prone to grow corrupt. As the Bodies of Men if they be not duly looked after, will grow corrupt, so will the Souls of Men. A professing People are in great danger, many of them are in their natural condition, and godly Men that are among them, are but in part sanctifyed; and there are a great many young ones growing up among them, that are born in sin, and abundance ⟨p. 5⟩of temptations; and there is a great deal of danger that in a little time they will be corrupted. As Buildings are subject to decay, and Fields to be tainted, so People are to be corrupted. Isai. 1.21. How is the faithful city become an harlot.
1. IN respect of the Principles of Religion. The Church of God is called the pillar and ground of truth, 1 Tim. 3.15. And if they don't hold fast the form of wholesome words, they will quickly run to ruin. The practice of Religion doth depend upon the principles; if they loose the knowledge of the truth, they can't make due improvement of it. Blindness is a corruption and it leads to corrupt practices. And that they are in danger of,