N01684:40
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. › Application 3: USE. III.
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.
THERE are four things that Ministers should labour in to prevent the Corruption of the Land.
1. THAT there be a good number of the People savingly Converted. Ministers should labour to convert as many as possible, not only out of a respect to the Salvation of their Souls, but to prevent the Corruption of the Land. If Men are converted they will lead holy lives. 1 Joh. 3.9. He that is born of God sinneth not. Men that are converted are not so apt to drink in false Doctrine as other Men; and they will have a great influence ⟨p. 23⟩upon the conversation of others; but an unconverted generation will be a corrupt generation. Judg. 2.10, 11. Converted Men will teach their Children the ways of God, and discountenance sinful practices: Converted Men will be good Examples: yea, they will savour of divine things, and thereby stir up that light that is in the consciences of others. If Men that are converted have power, they will improve it for God.
2. THAT godly Men be kept in a flourishing condition. Converted Men may be in a withering condition, and be carried away with a worldly spirit; but Ministers should be careful to keep them in a thriving way, that their Souls may be in a prosperous condition, that they may be in an healthy estate, and enjoy much of the presence of God. If godly Men be under decays, as sometimes they are, Rev. 2.4. Losing their first love, that will be a damage to the religion of a country. When they flourish they will walk more exactly according to the rules of the Gospel, they will be more zealous for God, they will more strongly resist temptation, they will be more savoury, and their discourses will be more edifying.