N01685:24
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.
There be three faults contrary to this.
1. When People Pray for them for Forms sake. ⟨p. 16⟩Many People have got a custom when they make their Prayers, to say something in a cursory way for their Ministers: but it is not upon their heart that God would be with them. We have many People that are violently carrying on worldly designs, that are panting after the dust of the Earth, that make light of the Gospel, and go one to his Farm and another to his Merchandise: these Men are but formal in their Prayers for Spiritual Blessings; they spend it may be the greatest part of their time in Prayer about Spiritual Blessings, but their hearts don't go with their words. So they Pray for their Ministers, but it is only of course, because it is their manner: their hearts are not much in it that the labours of their Ministers be blessed, either to others or to themselves; when the words are out of their Mouths they have done with it, they think no more on it; they don't look after their Prayers to see what answer God gives them; if they be not heard they don't trouble themselves, their hearts are not on the prosperity of Religion; there is much of Gallio's Spirit in them: They care not for those matters, Acts 18. 17.
1. When People Pray for them for Forms sake. ⟨p. 16⟩Many People have got a custom when they make their Prayers, to say something in a cursory way for their Ministers: but it is not upon their heart that God would be with them. We have many People that are violently carrying on worldly designs, that are panting after the dust of the Earth, that make light of the Gospel, and go one to his Farm and another to his Merchandize: these Men are but formal in their Prayers for Spiritual Blessings; they spend it may be the greatest part of their time in Prayer about Spiritual Blessings, but their hearts don't go with their words. So they Pray for their Ministers, but it is only of course, because it is their manner: their hearts are not much in it that the labours of their Ministers be blessed, either to others or to themselves; when the words are out of their Mouths they have done with it, they think no more on it; they don't look after their Prayers to see what answer God gives them; if they be not heard they don't trouble themselves, their hearts are not on the prosperity of Religion; there is much of Gallio's Spirit in them: They care not for those matters,