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…

As faithful Ministers of the Gospel are not only Ministers to the Church, but dignified Members of the Church, that Spouse of the King of Glory, on whom the most glorious Angels, the highest Ministers in the Court of Heaven, are appointed to attend. And then Christ seems especially to delight to carry on his Work of the Salvation of Souls, through the Ministrations of Men, who have that Nature that Christ is united to, and that are of those Sons of Men with whom he had his Delight before the World was made. So it is by the Ministration of Men, that the Scriptures are given; they were the Penmen of the holy Bible; and by them the Gospel is preached to the World: By them Ordinances are administered, and through' their Ministrations especially Souls are converted. When Christ himself was employed in the Work of the Ministry in the Time of his Humiliation, but few comparatively were brought home to him, immediately by his Ministrations: It pleased Christ to reserve this Honour for his Disciples and Ministers after his Ascension, to whom he promised that they should in this Respect do greater Works than he, Joh. xiv. 12. and accordingly it was by their preaching that the Gentile World was converted, and Satan's Kingdom overthrown. Thus God delights to perfect Praise out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings, that he may still the Enemy and the Avenger.

As faithful Ministers of the Gospel are not only Ministers to the Church, but dignified Members of the Church, that Spouse of the King of Glory, on whom the most glorious Angels, the highest Ministers in the Court of Heaven, are appointed to attend. And then Christ seems especially to delight to carry on his Work of the Salvation of Souls, through the Ministrations of Men, who have that Nature that Christ is united to, and that are of those Sons of Men with whom he had his Delight before the World was made. So it is by the Ministration of Men, that the Scriptures are given; they were the Penmen of the holy Bible; and by them the Gospel is preached to the World: By them Ordinances are administred, and thro' their Ministrations especially Souls are converted. When Christ himself was employed in the Work of the Ministry in the Time of his Humiliation, but few comparatively were brought home to him, immediately by his Ministrations: It pleased Christ to reserve this Honour for his Disciples and Ministers after his Ascension, to whom he promised that they should in this Respect do greater Works than he,