N04354:78
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.
These, Sir, are the Motives that you are to be influenced by, to endeavour to be a burning and a shining Light in the Work of the Ministry. As to the Things of this World, you are not to expect outward Ease, Pleasure and Plenty: Nor are you to depend on the Friendship and Respect of Men; but should prepare to endure Hardness, as one that is going forth as a Soldier to War. But they are higher Things than these, more excellent Benefits than the World can afford, that Christ offers to those that approve themselves to him in this Work.
God in his Providence has brought you far from your native Land, and from your Friends and Acquaintance there; but you will have Reason notwithstanding to acknowledge the good Hand of his Providence towards you, if he is pleased to make you a burning and shining Light in this Part of his Church, and by the Influence of your Light and Heat (or rather by his divine Influence, with your Ministry) to cause this Wilderness to bud and blossom as the Rose, and give it the Excellency of Carmel and Sharon, and to cause you to shine in the midst of this People with warm and lightsome, quickening and comforting Beams, causing their Souls to flourish, rejoice and bear Fruit, like a Garden of pleasant Fruits, under the Beams of the Sun.
By this Means you will be to their Souls the Vehicle of the Influences and Blessings of the heavenly World which is a World of Light and Love, shall be ever held in Christ's right Hand, and shall be terrible to the Powers of Darkness; and shall see more and more of the Light of Christ's Glory and Grace in this Place, with you and this People, and shall hereafter not only shine your self, as the ⟨p. 20⟩Brightness of the Firmament, but shall meet with them in Glory also, who shall shine there around you, as a bright Constellation in the highest Heaven; where they shall be your everlasting Crown of Rejoicing.