How the unconverted are addressed in the Bible.
Issue: Issue 5
ADDRESSING THE UNCONVERTED A letter by John Newton 1725-1807 Sir, In a late conversation, you desired my thoughts concerning a scriptural and consistent manner of addressing the consciences of unawakened sinners in the course of your ministry. It is a point on which many eminent ministers have been, and are, not a little divided; and …
REPENT 1) Vain man, thy fond pursuits forbear; Repent, thine end is nigh; Death at the farthest can’t be far; O, think before thou die! 2) Reflect, thou hast a soul to save, Thy sins how high they mount! What are thy hopes beyond the grave? How stands the dark account? 3) Today, the Gospel …
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6.37.
And he said. Come in thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standest thou without? Genesis 24.31.
THE GOSPEL CALL The largeness of the gospel (more properly termed, the ministerial) call does by no means imply the universality of grace. A fisher throws his net into the sea at large; not from an expectation of catching all the fishes that are in the sea, but with a view of catching as many …
MINISTERS Gospel ministers should not be too hasty and eager to wipe off every aspersion that is cast on them falsely for Christ’s sake. Dirt on the character (if unjustly thrown), like dirt on the clothes, should be let alone for a while, until it dries; and then it will rub off easily enough.
SPIRITUAL ADVANTAGE Want of spiritual comfort is often attended with spiritual advantage. A person who walks in the dark is usually the more cautious and careful where and how he treads.