The Book Readers Guild: Orthodox Convictions of Ethereal Thinkers

Below is an article submitted by Dr. Garry E. Milley. Former Professor of Church History and Theology and currently lead Pastor at Church in the Oaks. Enjoy. A PURITAN PERSPECTIVE ON PREACHING BY Garry E. Milley Preaching is the chief task of the minister for it is the supreme method of awakening faith in those who hear. Preaching is a timeless technique. It is never out of date. Even in our digital age the spoken word still has the power to change lives. Those who aspire to the pulpit be humble and wise enough to learn from the learned how rightly to use such power. RICHARD BAXTER: OLD MOLD FOR NEW MODELS One such learned preacher was Richard Baxter, that seventeenth- century Puritan, who had many profound things to say to prospective pastors. He was a master preacher and provides a pattern and philosophy of preaching worthy of note. The popular preaching of his day consisted of...

This posting incorporates a lot for the reader to digest. The final chapter of the book is extensive. However it is well worth the read if one wishes a sampling of this book. The chapter continues to endorse the duties of personal catechism and discipleship while addressing many responsibilities facing the Lord’s servant as under-shepherd to His flock. Titled “Application”, it begins with an examination of attitudes of the heart and ends with the same as it relates to the work of a shepherd and the needs of the flock. Consistent and fruitful ‘Application’ is of course fueled by the hearts' affections and godly convictions. This chapter leaves no stone unturned, or so it seems, as it attempts to qualify a passionate argument the Church's leaders, in Baxter’s mind, need to hear. Of the many arguments this chapter presents I have chosen to focus primarily on two: pride and unity. Grab your coffee and prepare to be challenged. Lets begin with Baxter’s admonishment towards hu...

Recognizing God’s Ordination of Men: “It is the Holy Ghost that hath made us overseers of his Church, and, therefore, it behoveth us to take heed to it. The Holy Ghost makes men bishops or overseers of the Church in three several respects: By qualifying them for the office; by directing the ordainers to discern their qualifications, and know the fittest men; and by directing them, the people and themselves, for the affixing them to a particular charge. All these things were then done in an extraordinary way, by inspiration, or at least very often. The same are done now by the ordinary way of the Spirit’s assistance. But it is the same Spirit still; and men are made overseers of the Church (when they are rightly called) by the Holy Ghost, now as well as then. It is a strange conceit, therefore, of the Papists, that ordination by the hands of man is of more absolute necessity in the ministerial office, than the calling of the Holy Ghost. God hath determined in his Word, that th...

This chapter is divided into three sub-headings; the nature, the manner and the motive of oversight. It transitions from a wary self-inspection emphasized in chapter one, to that of a detailed accounting of ministerial obligations and objectives. Within these we discover Baxter’s overall appraisal of ministerial work and his two chief passions; evangelism of the unconverted and discipleship of the believing community. To these Baxter purports, the lives of God’s servants should be spent. What follows is a very detailed and precise delineation of pastoral duties and their structure; from visitation to church discipline. Instead of trying to capture by the way of analysis, every nuance this chapter offers, I have opted to post various quotes found throughout the sections. Hopefully these will reveal the chapters’ essence and stir interest, perhaps even some noteworthy remarks. The Nature, Manner and Motive of This Oversight Concerning the Unconverted: “We mus...