Dr. Thomas Jacomb's Funeral Sermon. are dedica ted to that Work, are his Servants in the mort proper Scnfe, and are to follow him, the mort excellent Example, and highert Marter in that Divine Work. This I w111 more particu~arlv. infift upon, be~np; fuitablc to ~he prefent occafio.n, and Jay down fame Rul es d~reftmg how the Mmtfl:ers ofChnrt may fervc him acceptably, fo as to be rewarded in the Heavenly Glory. · 1. They murt by fcrious rtudy furnifh themfeh·cs with Divine Knowledge, and filbftantial Learning, for the Difcharge of all the parts of their Office: To inrtruct the Ignorant, to refute the Erroneous, to reform the Unholy, and to comfort the Hum- ""· 'l · p. ble and Difconfolate. Our Sa,•iour compares the Minifl:ers of the Gofpelu11to ,, Mon that ir mt Houfholdcr, which bri11gs forth out ofhk Treajitre, things uew aud old; 'Tis M><.,,. .,. l1i s Duty to ~ive to the Flock Meat ill due ftofon, for which not only Fidelity but Wif1 Tim. i· 1 '~-· dom is requifite. 'Tis the Apoftle's charge to Timothy ; Give attenda11ce to Reading-, IS. io Exhortatio11, to Dot1rinc; meditate oJt thefe thi11g.r, J?,ive thy felfwholly to them, that thy profitinf( moy appear before o/1. lfTimothy who had fupernatural Gifts by Infpiration, was obliged to be intent and dil igent in the application of his Mind to the Myfter ies ofGocllinefs; how much more 010uld thofe who muft acquire Knowledge by ~~~~1~::~~e}~~~~;7,~ ~~adt~~e:,~~~~~1!1~2,~~ :~~he\~St~!n~~ur~~~i~e;:~;tr~:f= ing and Contemplation, and Prayer in their Retirements, obtain the Knowledge of Divine Things, which they convey in their Sermons to the People. With the Notional, an Experimental Knowledge of Divine Truths, is abfolutely nece!fary to a Minifter to fave himfelf, and moft ufeful to [ave others. 'Tis not a perfect Syftemc of Divinity in the Head, not an univerfal Knowledge of ' fpiritual Things confined to the Brain, that has a faving Efficacy : 'Tis not compofing a Sermon with exgnifite Art, and the delivering of it like an Orator, that makes l1im accepted with God. For without a cordial Scnfe of Divine Truths, he only l ends his Tongue in that holy Service; like a Reciter in a Scene, all he does is but external Appearance. God fees and requires the Heart: without it neither the Head nor the Tongue of a Mirrifter, tho l1is Speculations are fublime, and his Words drops of Gold, are of any value. And ufually the Sermons offucharc without profit to the Hearers. The found of Words only reaches the Ear, 'tis the Mind convinces the Mind, and the Heart perf,vadcs the Heart. He that is ftrongly convinc'd of the Truth ofeternal Things, he will fpeak of them with a!furancc, as an Eye-witnefs, and in a Jively manner : He that is burning in his own Breaft, will inflame others; but if there be no fpark of Celeftial Fire in the Minifter's Breaft, if he does not value the Confequence ofDivine Trnths, hefpeaks of them without a deep concernment; and a cold Preacher makes a carelefs Hearer: and the Sermon is loft in the Air betweett the Lips of the one and the Ears of the other. 2. TheMatter oftheir Sermonsmuil: be t he Doctrine ofthe Gofpelrevealed from Heaven to reduce Men to their Duty, and reftore them to Felicity. This is the Tenor of the Commiffion given by our Saviour to his Apoftles, Go teach ol! Notio11s, to obferve all things whatfoever I have conm~~tnded yo11. The preaching unrevealed or trivial things, im,pcrtinent to the Salvation and PerfeCtion of Souls, is direCtly contrary to the end of their Office. The wifeft Method of recovering loft Sinners is to unfold the two Covenants, and reprefent the two Worlds to them. The firft Covenant was with Man. created in natural Righteoufnefs and Holinefs, bnt was of a lhort continuance: For by his rebellious Sin l1e made a deadly forfeiture of the Image and Favour of G()d; of Con!munion with him the Fountain of our Felicity. He is cut off from that blt!fed Life, and muft remain ii1 the ftate of Corruption and Death for ever without redeeming Mercy. Tis a necc!fary preparative forrhe Converfion and Recovery of Sinners, to cmiv!nce themof the guilt, pollution, and dominion ofSin, and theeverlafting Hell tha.t follows it, that they may be ronfed out of their Security to ftJ front th~ Wrotb to come. The T errorsef the Lord make the firrt Breach into the Hearts of Men, and Grace victoriouOy enters, and fubdues the reluCtant Will . After the Conviction of Sin, 'tis feafonable to convince them of the all-fnflicient R.igl1teoufnefs of Clirift; that he is the Tree of Life, for the reviving dead Sinners, that he is Wifdom, Righteoufi1efs, Sanctification, and Redemption, a univerfal Remedy for all th< Evils that lie upon Man in his fallen State. And 'tis requifite to open the Terms upon w)lich God offers his Mercy, the Law of Faith in the Gofpel, (bat confifts of Co11mumds aud Promifcs, both to cl1eck Prefumption that flatters fo p1any into Hell, and to prevent Defpair that works as dangerouOy, though not fo frequently, W tho ' Ruin_ofSouls. Thnt Men may not from corrupt Mmds and carnal AffeCtiOns mJfinrdrprct the Gofpel, to live at eafe in their Sins, a faithful Minifter muft !hew them, . that
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