While doing History with my sister yesterday, I came upon this excerpt of Rev. Nathanial Appleton's election sermon in 1742. It's a very inspiring exhortation; and yet at the same time, it's discouraging how far America has drifted from these Biblical convictions....
"As for you my Fathers and Brethren in the Ministry... surely it concerns us to be ready Scribes, well instructed in the Law of our God, and in the Gospel of his Son... Surely then, it is absolutely necessary for the Ministers to be well acquainted with the holy Scriptures. Not only to have some certain Portions of Scripture by rote, to use upon all Occasions, but to understand the Meaning of Scripture, and to be able to give the Meaning of it to others -- And it was a Concern for a learned as well as godly Ministry, that stirred up such an early Care in our Fathers, to encourage Schools, and to erect a College, which has now for a Century of Years, conferred academical Honour upon the learned Youth, that have been trained up in it. God forbid, that an ignorant, and unlearned Ministry should ever rise up in this Land, especially a Ministry that should be ignorant of the Holy Scriptures; or that should think or speak disparagingly of them, or that should insinuate the Uselessness of them to unconverted Men;... And no less dangerous is it to insinuate, as if the Bible was not very necessary for the Saints, by Reason of their having the Spirit to enlighten and direct them... Accordingly we who are the Ministers of Christ, and have the Glorious Gospel committed to our Trust, should be upon the Watch-Tower, to spy out every Thing of such a dangerous Tendency, that we may give seasonable Warnings thereof."-----------------------------------------------
- America's Providential History by Mark A. Belies & Stephen K. McDowell
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