The Duty of Gospel Ministers to Preserver a People from Corruption, Application 3
USE. III.
LET this be the care of Miniſters. Miniſters muſt do their Office in being the Salt of the Land. We find great complaint of the Jewiſh Miniſters before the Babyloniſh Captivity, in Iſaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. And after the Captivity in Ezra, Nehemiah, and Malachi. Miniſters muſt not only be careful that they don't corrupt the Land by evil manners and falſe Doctrine; but alſo that they don't by their negligence ſuffer the People to corrupt themſelves. It is a great fault in Miniſters when they don't diligently ſtudy the mind of God, but ſpend their time in viſits and wordly buſineſs. 1 Tim. 4.15. Meditate upon theſe things, give thy ſelf wholly to them. And it is very blameable in them, when they Preach things that they have not duly ſtudied. And it is a great ſin in them, when they are afraid to deal faithfully, and to bear a teſtimony againſt the ſins of the Land. If the Land be corrupted by their default, they will bring down the Anger of God upon themſelves: if they countenance the ſins of the Land, if they do not their duty for the preventing the ſins of the Land, they will make themſelves partakers of other Mens ſins; and it will be a dreadful thing for God to charge the ſins of the Land on them. As, Mal. 2.8. Ye have cauſed many to ſtumble at the law. But if they be ſerviceable according to their place, to keep the Land from being corrupted, God will reward them for it: He will be ready to acknowledge their ſervice. As, Mal. 2.6. The law of truth was in his mouth, iniquity was not found in his lips, he walked with me in peace and equity; and it will be a great honour and comfort to them, that they have been inſtruments of the holineſs of the Land: when the Sons of Levi are purified, the offerings of Judah will be acceptable to God. As, Mal. 3.3, 4.
THERE are four things that Miniſters ſhould labour in to prevent the Corruption of the Land.
1. THAT there be a good number of the People ſavingly Converted. Miniſters ſhould labour to convert as many as poſſible, not only out of a reſpect to the Salvation of their Souls, but to prevent the Corruption of the Land. If Men are converted they will lead holy lives. 1 Joh. 3.9. He that is born of God ſinneth not. Men that are converted are not ſo apt to drink in falſe Doctrine as other Men; and they will have a great influence upon the converſation of others; but an unconverted generation will be a corrupt generation. Judg. 2.10, 11. Converted Men will teach their Children the ways of God, and diſcountenance ſinful practices: Converted Men will be good Examples: yea, they will ſavour of divine things, and thereby ſtir up that light that is in the conſciences of others. If Men that are converted have power, they will improve it for God.
2. THAT godly Men be kept in a flouriſhing condition. Converted Men may be in a withering condition, and be carried away with a worldly ſpirit; but Miniſters ſhould be careful to keep them in a thriving way, that their Souls may be in a proſperous condition, that they may be in an healthy eſtate, and enjoy much of the preſence of God. If godly Men be under decays, as ſometimes they are, Rev. 2.4. Loſing their firſt love, that will be a damage to the religion of a country. When they flouriſh they will walk more exactly according to the rules of the Goſpel, they will be more zealous for God, they will more ſtrongly reſiſt temptation, they will be more ſavoury, and their diſcourſes will be more edifying. Pſal. 45.1. Their hearts will endita good matter, and their tongues will be as the pen of a ready writer. They will be more exemplary, and others, will be loath to grieve them.
3. THAT the Conſciences of natural Men be kept tender. Miniſters muſt labour to poſſeſs Men with a deep ſenſe of the jealouſy of God, and of the terrible Judgments that God executes for ſin; they ſhould be often ſetting matter of terror before Men, remembring them of Eternal puniſhments, of the awful ways wherein God takes vengeance on impenitent Sinners, that they may be afraid of Sin. 2 Cor. 5.11. Knowing the terrors of the Lord we perſwade men. If their conſciences be awakened, they will reſtrain them from ſinful practices, and bridle in their corruptions. Mat. 19.20. All theſe things have I done from my youth. Their fear will diſpoſe them to lead a religious life, and make them forbear ways of iniquity: Though deſtitute of Grace, yet they will carry themſelves commendably.
4. THAT they be well principled againſt the errors and vices of the age. Ignorance expoſes a People to corrupt carriages: if Mens principles be erroneous they will carry badly, whether they be godly or ungodly. 2 Tim. 2.16. If Men miſtake the rule, conſcience will allow them to break it; yea, will force them to break it: But if Conſcience be duly informed, many natural men will not dare to go againſt their light. Therefore Miniſters ſhould be careful to principle the People aright, about the nature of true Converſion, about true ſigns of Grace, and about moral duties. Many Men are carried away with the corrupt practices of the Land, into ways of pride, injuſtice, and licenciouſneſs, becauſe they think they are lawful. If they were well taught they would reform. The Word of God would be like fire in them; they would not dare to do ſuch things as now they do. When any ill practice prevails, the Miniſter ſhould do as John did, Mat. 14.4. John ſaid to him it is not lawful for then to have her.
FINIS.
End of the text · Solomon Stoddard, The Duty of Gospel Ministers to Preserver a People from Corruption (1718)