N01685:26
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.
2. When People Pray under the prevailings of discouragement Some Persons Pray that God would bless the Ministers; Conscience of duty ⟨p. 17⟩makes them do it, they can't satisfy their own hearts to neglect it: but they think it is not worth the while to insist upon it, for there is very little hope of obtaining any great matter, for things are growing worse and worse in the Country; we grow more and more Proud and Worldly, and Intemperate, and there seems to be a blast upon Ordinances, and People hold fast deceit, and refuse to return to God. We seem to be like the People of Judah, to whom God sent the Prophets, Rising early and sending them, but they would not hear; they conclude that the Country will degenerate more and more; they say Temptations increase and are greatly multiplied; a spirit of rudeness and profaneness doth abound in the Land; and they are ready to say, God seems to have little regard to Prayers of this Nature; that God has forgotten us, and that our bones are dried, as they say, Ezek. 37.11. Things look so dark that they are out of hope of obtaining any great matter; they think the Country will grow a wicked Country; they grow out of heart, and don't seek earnestly that it may be otherwise.
2. When People Pray under the prevailings of discouragement Some Persons Pray that God would bless the Ministers; Conscience of duty ⟨p. 17⟩makes them do it, they can't satisfie their own hearts to neglect it: but they think it is not worth the while to insift upon it, for there is very little hope of obtaining any great matter, for things are growing worse and worse in the Country; we grow more and more Proud and Worldly, and Intemperate, and there seems to be a blast upon Ordinances, and People hold fast deceit, and refuse to return to God. We seem to be like the People of Judah, to whom God sent the Prophets, Rising early and sending them, but they would not hear; they conclude that the Country will degenerate more and more; they say Temptations increase and are greatly multiplyed; a spirit of rudeness and prophaness doth abound in the Land; and they are ready to say, God seems to have little regard to Prayers of this Nature; that God has forgotten us, and that our bones are dryed, as they say,