N04354:52
The true excellency of a minister of the Gospel. A sermon preached at Pelham,…The true excellency of a minister of the Gospel. A sermon preach'd at Pelham,…
The true excellency of a minister of the Gospel. A sermon preached at Pelham, Aug. 30. 1744. Being the day of the ordination of the Revd Mr. Robert Abercrombie to the work of the Gospel ministry in that place. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the First Church in Northampton. ; [Two lines from Deuteronomy]The true excellency of a minister of the Gospel. A sermon preach'd at Pelham, Aug. 30. 1744. Being the day of the ordination of the Revd Mr. Robert Abercrombie to the work of the Gospel ministry in that place. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the First Church in Northampton. ; [Two lines from Deuteronomy]
Boston: printed by Rogers and Fowle for W. McAlpine, 1744
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
And in Order to be a shining Light, he must be one that really knows what Religion is, one that is truly acquainted with that Saviour and Way of Salvation, that he is to teach to others, that he may speak the Things that he knows, and testify the Things that he has seen, and not be a blind Leader of the Blind: He must be one that is acquainted with experimental Religion, and not ignorant of the inward Operations of the Spirit of God, nor of Satan's Devices; able to guide Souls under their particular Difficulties. Thus he ⟨p. 13⟩must be a Scribe well instructed in Things that pertain to the Kingdom of God; one that brings forth out of his Treasures, Things now and old.
And in Order to his being a shining Light, his Doctrine must be full, he must not only be able to teach, but apt to teach, ready to instruct the Ignorant, and them that are out of the Way, and diligent in Teaching, in public and private; and careful and faithful to declare the whole Counsel of God, and not to keep back any Thing that may be profitable to his Hearers.
And in Order to his being a shining Light, his Doctrine must be full, he must not only be able to teach, but apt to teach, ready to instruct the Ignorant, and them that are out of the Way, and diligent in Teaching, in publick and private; and careful and faithful to declare the whole Counsel of God, and not to keep back any Thing that may be profitable to his Hearers.
Also his being a shining Light implies that his Instructions are clear and plain, accommodated to the Capacity of his Hearers, and tending to convey Light to their Understandings.