N05154:50
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.
It is not only our great Duty, but will be our greatest Honour to imitate Christ, and do the Work that he has done, and so act as Co-workers with him.
There are two kinds of Persons that are given to Christ, ⟨p. 21⟩and appointed and devoted of God to be his Servants, to be employed with Christ, and under him, in his great Work of the Salvation of the Souls of Men; and they are Angels and Ministers. The Angels are all of them, even the most exalted of them, subjected of God the Father to our Redeemer, and given to him as his Servants, to be subservient to the great Designs of his saving and glorifying his Elect; Heb. i. 14. Are they not all ministering Spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be Heirs of Salvation? And doubtless, they were created for this very End; God made them for his Son, to be subservient to him in this great Work; which seems to be the chief Design of all God's Works. And the Employment of Ministers of the Gospel in this Respect, is like that of the glorious Angels. The Principalities and Powers in heavenly Places, esteem it not any Debasement, but their great Honour, to be employed as Christ's Ministers in this Work; for therein they are employed as the Ministers of God, in the greatest and most honourable of all God's Works; that Work of God wherein his Glory is chiefly displayed, and which his Heart was chiefly upon from Eternity. 'Tis the Honour of the Son of God himself, that he is appointed to this Work. It was because God the Father infinitely loved his Son, and delighted to put Honour upon him, that he appointed him to be the Author of that glorious Work of the Salvation of Men. And when we consider the Greatness, Importance and Excellency of it, we have Reason to be astonished at the Condescension of God, that he would ever improve mere Creatures as Co-workers and Ministers of Christ in this Affair; for who is sufficient for these Things? 2 Cor. ii. 16. Who is fit, or worthy? Who is equal to a Work of such Dignity, and vast Importance? Especially have we Reason to wonder that God will employ not only holy and glorious