N01685:13
The presence of Christ with the ministers of the Gospel, opened & applied in…The presence of Christ with the ministers of the Gospel, opened & applyed in…
The presence of Christ with the ministers of the Gospel, opened & applied in a sermon preached at Swampfield, January 1st. 1717[/]18. Being the day of the gathering of the church, and the ordination of the Reverend Joseph Willard their pastor. / By Solomon Stoddard, A.M. & Pastor of Northampton.The presence of Christ with the ministers of the Gospel, opened & applyed in a sermon preached at Swampfield, January 1st. 1717[/]18. Being the day of the gathering of the church, and the ordination of the Reverend Joseph Willard their pastor. / By Solomon Stoddard, A.M. & Pastor of Northampton.
printed by B. Green, 1718
Title page typeset from the transcription.
The Presence of CHRIST WITH THE Ministers of the GOSPEL. › 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. Quest. How do Ministers need the Presence of Christ?
Answ. 1. To furnish them with Gifts for their Work. There was need of extraordinary Gifts in the beginning of the Gospel, for the removal of Prejudices: both Jews and Gentiles by reason of their Education were under Prejudices, and there was need of Miraculous Gifts to prepare them to consider impartially the Doctrine ⟨p. 5⟩taught by the Apostles. And Ministers now need Christs presence to furnish them with Gifts: there is need of a great deal of Wisdom to find out acceptable words Eccl. 12.10. The Preacher sought to find acceptable words. They need a great deal of Knowledge to accomplish them for their work: The Minister needs great Knowledge in the Scripture to enable him to answer all Cases of Conscience that may be put to him; to help Persons that are in the dark to judge aright of their Condition, to enable them to see their Sincerity or their Hypocrisy; they need a great deal of Light from Christ, that they may understand the Truth in things that are controverted, and lead the People in the right way: there be abundance of Mistakes among Men in Matters of Religion, some of them very dangerous, all of ill consequence; and Ministers need Light from God, that they may not be blind guides: they need Divine Teaching, that they may be able to convince Men that do oppose the Truth; and to establish them that do receive it He must be able to convince gainsayers, Tit. 1.9. There is a great deal of darkness among Men about Matters of Faith, about Moral Rules, and about Divine Institutions; and Ministers need to be taught of God that they may teach People the good and the ⟨p. 6⟩right way. It is not enough for a Minister to be able to make some Edifying Discourses; he should be able to set those points that are more intricate in a true light, and to speak accurately, to all those Cases that the Souls of Men need help in.