davejonescue
Puritan Board Junior
Hello all. I am working on a book I have been wanting to do for some time because I have heard such great things about William Fenner. The one I am working on now is "Christs Alarm to Drowsy Saints" Parts I & II. I'm about 3 sermons in and he has been pretty much dealing with Pastors; while I am sure I will eventually find out the answer to my question, just wanted to know if any off the top would know if this is a Pastoral Manual or if he will deal with both the Pulpit and the Pew? The book deals with Rev. 3:1-2, I believe the letters to the Seven churches. One of his stances in dealing with Ministers as such is that Minsters are as the Angels, and reflecting how some of the issues related to the churches can be a result of the sin of the congregation, but also of the Minster. Below is a small quote from the book:
"Fourthly, General Preaching is deceitful, Est dolus in generalibus, as we say, there is deceit in the generals, we Preach that people must love God, and fear him, and thank him, and they must be new men, and they must leave their sins, and they must Pray, and hear the Word, and they must do everything to God's glory. Now mark what deceit there is in such preaching as this; this is in the general: People go away, and deceive themselves in the particular. They think they serve God, and they love God, or else they were not worthy to live; they think they say their Prayers every day, and that they are thankful unto him, they never eat their meat, but they say Grace, they never recover out of sickness, but they bless God; Whereas if we should deal with these men in particular, it would appear, they are haters of God, they are graceless and unthankful wretches; they never prayed true Prayer to God in all their lives: hence it is that people generally like a general Minister, Why? They can go along with such a man and be heart-whole. But now if a particular Minister should come and tell them they are worldly, and mockers of God and all goodness, as they are in very good deed; they cannot abide him, they would say wherein? Such were the Jews under the overly Ministry of the Priests. When Malachi dealt particularly with them, saith he, Ye have despised the name of the Lord: Wherein say they? Mal. 1:6. Ye have wearied the Lord with your words: Wherein, say they, have we wearied him? Mal. 2:17. Ye have robbed God: Wherein have we robbed him, say they? Mal. 3:8. Your words have been stout against the Lord, yet their answer was, Wherein have we spoken so much against the Lord? Mal. 3:13. Alas, alas! Their Priests had taught them only in general, and therefore when the Prophet was to deal particularly with them, and told them what vile courses they took, they cried, wherein? And whereof? And why do you say so of us? He was forced to come to particulars. Otherwise they would have gone away and blessed themselves."
William Fenner - "Christs Alarm to Drowsy Saints."
"Fourthly, General Preaching is deceitful, Est dolus in generalibus, as we say, there is deceit in the generals, we Preach that people must love God, and fear him, and thank him, and they must be new men, and they must leave their sins, and they must Pray, and hear the Word, and they must do everything to God's glory. Now mark what deceit there is in such preaching as this; this is in the general: People go away, and deceive themselves in the particular. They think they serve God, and they love God, or else they were not worthy to live; they think they say their Prayers every day, and that they are thankful unto him, they never eat their meat, but they say Grace, they never recover out of sickness, but they bless God; Whereas if we should deal with these men in particular, it would appear, they are haters of God, they are graceless and unthankful wretches; they never prayed true Prayer to God in all their lives: hence it is that people generally like a general Minister, Why? They can go along with such a man and be heart-whole. But now if a particular Minister should come and tell them they are worldly, and mockers of God and all goodness, as they are in very good deed; they cannot abide him, they would say wherein? Such were the Jews under the overly Ministry of the Priests. When Malachi dealt particularly with them, saith he, Ye have despised the name of the Lord: Wherein say they? Mal. 1:6. Ye have wearied the Lord with your words: Wherein, say they, have we wearied him? Mal. 2:17. Ye have robbed God: Wherein have we robbed him, say they? Mal. 3:8. Your words have been stout against the Lord, yet their answer was, Wherein have we spoken so much against the Lord? Mal. 3:13. Alas, alas! Their Priests had taught them only in general, and therefore when the Prophet was to deal particularly with them, and told them what vile courses they took, they cried, wherein? And whereof? And why do you say so of us? He was forced to come to particulars. Otherwise they would have gone away and blessed themselves."
William Fenner - "Christs Alarm to Drowsy Saints."
