N01684:14
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.
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,
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 wholsom words, they will quickly run to ruin. The practice of Religion doth depend upon the principles; if they loose the knowlege 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,
(1.) By Ignorance. A knowing People may in time become an ignorant People. The People of Greece were some of the learnedest People of the World, in former Generations. Corinth and Athens were called the two eyes of the World, but since that they are become very ignorant. Darkness many times succeeds where there was a great deal of light. If the present Generation be knowing Men, in a few years many of them may die, and the young Generation, if they have not suitable means of instruction will be very ignorant; though they grow to years of understanding, ⟨p. 6⟩may be ignorant of the principles of Religion. Parents may bequeath their Estates to them, but they can't bequeath their Knowledge to them. If their Teachers be blind and ignorant, as the complaint is, Isai. 56.10. no wonder if the People be ignorant. The People of Israel grew in continuance of time a very ignorant People.