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Christ, The Example Of Ministers
by Jonathan Edwards
It is not only our great duty, but will be our
greatest honor, to imitate Christ, and do
the work that he has done, and so act as
co-workers with him.
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 applause of the
multitudes, into mountains and solitary places,
for secret prayer, and holy converse with his Father.
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
afflicted; the same spirit of condescension to the
poor and lowly, tenderness and gentleness toward
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 for his kingdom, and for
the good of mankind; for which things sake
Christ went though the greatest labors, and
endured the most extreme sufferings.
And in order to our imitating Christ in the work
of the ministry, in any tolerable degree, we should
not have our hearts weighed down, and time filled
up with worldly affections, cares, and pursuits.
The duties of a minister that have been recommended,
are absolutely inconsistent with a mind much taken up
with worldly profit, glory, amusements, and entertainments.
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