N01685:30
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. He would have them encourage themselves in hope of His Presence. The very design of these words is to Comfort & Encourage their hearts. He speaks these words to support them, that they may go cheerfully about their work. He would have them set this Promise against the difficulties of their work. He speaks these words to answer their Temptations, and the Objections that might arise in their hearts. If He says, He will be with them, He will not call it Presumption for them to hope for His Presence, but He will be angry with them if they do not. Not to be encouraged is to neglect the proper use of these words: These words, I will be with you, are a good foundation for them to Pray in Faith for it.
2. He would have them incourage themselves in hope of His Presence. The very design of these words is to Comfort & Incourage their hearts. He speaks these words to support them, that they may go chearfully about their work. He would have them set this Promise against the difficulties of their work. He speaks these words to answer their Temptations, and the Objections that might arise in their hearts. If He says, He will be with them, He will not call it Presumption for them to hope for His Presence, but He will be angry with them if they do not. Not to be incouraged is to neglect the proper use of these words: These words, I will be with you, are a good foundation for them to Pray in Faith for it.
3. Christ is under bonds to grant His Presence to the Ministry. This Promise is absolute to the Ministry. I can't say that Christ is absolutely bound to make every Minister an instrument of the Conversion of Souls. A Minister may die quickly; or a Minister may prove a very corrupt man; or if God should not make a Minister an instrument to Convert Souls, yet ⟨p. 22⟩He may make him very Successful as to establishing and comforting of Saints; or to reform the Place; or to clear up some Divine Truths that were not acknowledged. But this Promise, That Christ will be with the Ministers, and make use of them for the Conversion of Souls, is absolute to the Ministry; there is no condition expressed, neither is there any to be understood, for it is by the Service of the Ministry that He intends to carry on His Work, & build up His Church in all Generations.