N05154:27
Christ the great example of Gospel ministers. A sermon preached at Portsmouth, at the…Christ the great example of Gospel ministers. A sermon preach'd at Portsmouth, at the…
Christ the great example of Gospel ministers. A sermon preached at Portsmouth, at the ordination of the Reverend Mr. Job Strong, to the pastoral office over the South Church in that place, June 28. 1749, / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the First Church in Northampton.Christ the great example of Gospel ministers. A sermon preach'd at Portsmouth, at the ordination of the Reverend Mr. Job Strong, to the pastoral office over the South Church in that place, June 28. 1749, / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the First Church in Northampton.
Boston: printed by T. Fleet, 1750
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.
1. In general, Ministers should follow their Lord and Master in all those excellent Virtues, and in that universal and eminent Holiness of Life, which he set an Example of in his human Nature.
The Ministers of Christ should be Persons of the same Spirit that their Lord was of: The same Spirit of Humility and Lowliness of Heart; for the Servant is not greater than his Lord. They should be of the same Spirit of Heavenly-mindedness and Contempt of the Glory, Wealth and Pleasures of this World: They should be of the same Spirit of Devotion and fervent Love to God: They should follow the Example of his Prayerfulness; of whom we read from Time to Time of his retiring from the World, away from the Noise and Applauses of the Multitudes, into Mountains and solitary Places for secret Prayer, and holy Converse with his Father; and once of his rising up in the Morning a great while before Day, ⟨p. 10⟩and going and departing into a solitary Place to pray; Mark i. 35. and another Time, of his going out into a Mountain to pray, and continuing all Night in Prayer to God, Luke vi. 12. Ministers should follow Christ's Example, in his strict, constant and inflexible Observance of the Commands which God had given him, touching what he should do and what he should say; he spake nothing of himself, but those Things which the Father had commanded him, those he spake, and always did those Things that pleased him, and continued in through Obedience and the greatest Trials, and through the greatest Opposition that ever there was any Instance of. Ministers should be Persons of the same quiet Lamb-like Spirit that Christ was of, the same Spirit of Submission to God's Will, and Patience under Afflictions, and Meekness towards Men, of the same Calmness and Composure of Spirit under Reproaches and Sufferings from the malignity of evil Men, of the same Spirit of Forgiveness of Injuries; of the same Spirit of Charity, of fervent Love and extensive Benevolence; the same Disposition to pity the miserable, to weep with those that weep, to help Men under their Calamities of both Soul and Body, to hear and grant the Requests of the needy, and relieve the afflicted; the same Spirit of Condescension to the poor and mean, Tenderness and Gentleness towards the weak, and great and effectual Love to Enemies. They should also be of the same Spirit of Zeal, Diligence and Self-denial for the Glory of God, and Advancement of his Kingdom, and for the Good of Mankind; for which Things sake Christ went through the greatest Labours, and endured the most extreme Sufferings.