N01684:6
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.
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.
The Duty of GOSPEL-MINISTERS to preserve a People from Corruption.
MATTH. V. 13. Ye are the Salt of the Earth.
CHRIST JESUS having been Baptized and after that tempted of Satan for Forty days, doth in a more eminent manner enter into the execution of his Prophetical Office, and Preacheth his Sermon in the Mount contained in this and the two following Chapters. He begins his Sermon by teaching them, who are blessed Men; and their in this and the next verse he teaches his Disciples what is their Office, and the work which they are to do as his Ministers. First ⟨p. 2⟩he tells them, they are the Salt of the Earth: First it may be enquired, who he speaks to? Some think that it is spoke of professed Christians; but that doth not seem proper. For then when Countries come to be Christianized, there would be no difference between the Salt and them that are Salted. Christ knew that whole Nations would entertain the Christian Religion; and who then would they be Salt unto? But I judge that he intends the Apostles, and it may be the seventy Disciples, if they were at that time present; tho' they were not yet called to their Office, yet Christ designed them to it. We find a distinction, ver. 1. between his Auditors and his Disciples, Seeing the Multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set his Disciples came unto him. Again we may enquire, Why doth Christ compare them to Salt? Ans. Salt has many useful qualities, it has Medicinal virtues in it, applied outwardly or inwardly; but it hath two properties especially, one is, that it savours Meats, gives a grateful relish to them, makes them more acceptable to the stomach, takes away their crudeness and is an help to digestion.