N01684:22
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.) BY instructing them in the Principles of Religion, and the Rules of God's Word. The light of nature teaches Men some things concerning God and His Attributes, and it teaches them the difference concerning many things that are morally good and evil; but this light shines but dimly, and the characters that are written in the heart are much blurred and obliterated, and they have need to have those things clearly inculcated. But the way of Salvation by Christ is a thing of pure revelation. Natural reason is utterly silent about ⟨p. 10⟩it. The Gospel is called the Wisdom of God in a mystery, and bidden wisdom, 1 Cor. 2.7. And the work of the Minister is to feed Men with the sincere milk of the word. Joh. 21.15, 16. to Feed the Sheep, and Feed the Lambs. And it is not enough that Men are able to say their Catechize by rote, but the Minister must labour in it, that they may have a confirmed knowledge of the truth: that they may have a clear, distinct and explicit understanding of the Doctrines of Religion: they must take pains to make them understand. Heb. 5.12. Ye need that one teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God.
(2.) BY solemn Warnings. That was Pauls practice. Act. 20.31. I ceased not to warn every one of you night and day with tears. That is the duty of the Watchman, Ezek. 33.8. There is great danger many times of public calamities, because of the abounding of Sin among them; and he must warn them and reprove them. Isai. 58.1. Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, show my people their transgression, and the house of Israel their sins. Godly Men are in danger to provoke God and bring sorrow upon themselves; and the Minister must warn them. Many lie in a natural condition, and in danger of damnation; they had need be warned.