Bridges The Christian Ministry

Bridges The Christian Ministry is an old Anglican work on the Ministry. It is 418 pages long. The author has some unique insights.

THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY;
WITH
AN INQUIRY INTO THE CAUSES OF ITS INEFFICIENCY.
This work has particular reference to the 19th c. Church of England,
but it is generally applicable to all reformed churches – WHG.
BY THE REV. CHARLES BRIDGES, A.M.,

VICAR OF OLD NEWTON, SUFFOLK, AND AUTHOR OF
‘AN EXPOSITION OF PSALM 119/
FROM THE SIXTH LONDON EDITION.
NEW YORK:
ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS,
No. 2S5 BROADWAY.
1850.

Contents

PREFACE…………………………………………………………………………………………………..v
ADVERTISEMENT TO THE FOURTH EDITION…………………………………………………………..vii
ADVERTISEMENT TO THE SIXTH EDITION…………………………………………………………..viii
PART I. GENERAL VIEW OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY…………………………………………..1
CHAPTER I. ITS DIVINE ORIGIN AND INSTITUTION MINISTRY…………………………….1
CHAPTER II. THE DIGNITY OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY……………………………………4
CHAPTER III. THE USES AND NECESSITY OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY……………6
CHAPTER IV. THE TRIALS AND DIFFICULTIES OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY……9
CHAPTER V. THE COMFORTS AND ENCOURAGEMENTS OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY…………..14
CHAPTER VI. THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY…………………18
CHAPTER VII. PREPARATION FOR THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY…………………………..24
SECTION I. HABITS OF GENERAL STUDY………………………………………………………….25
SECTION II. SPECIAL STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES…………………………………………..39
SECTION III. HABITS OF SPECIAL PRAYER……………………………………………………….46
SECTION IV. EMPLOYMENT IN THE CURE OF SOULS………………………………………49

PART II. GENERAL CAUSES OF THE LACK OF SUCCESS IN THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY..53
CHAPTER I. THE SCRIPTURAL WARRANT AND CHARACTER OF MINISTERIAL
SUCCESS—TOGETHER WITH THE SYMPTOMS OF LACK OF SUCCESS………………53
CHAPTER II. THE WITHHOLDING OF DIVINE INFLUENCE, THE MAIN CAUSE OF THE LACK OF MINISTERIAL SUCCESS…………………….58
CHAPTER III. THE ENMITY OF THE NATURAL HEART IS A MAIN CAUSE OF THE
LACK OF MINISTERIAL SUCCESS………………………………………………………………61
CHAPTER IV. THE POWER OF SATAN A MAIN HINDRANCE TO MINISTERIAL SUCCESS……………………………………………………………………………………….62
CHAPTER V. LOCAL HINDRANCES TO MINISTERIAL SUCCESS………………………….65
CHAPTER VI. THE LACK OF A DIVINE CALL IS A MAIN CAUSE OF FAILURE IN
THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY………………………………………………………………..67

PART III. CAUSES OF MINISTERIAL INEFFICIENCY CONNECTED WITH OUR
PERSONAL CHARACTER……………………………………………………………………………..78
CHAPTER I. LACK OF ENTIRE DEVOTEDNESS OF HEART TO THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY……….78
CHAPTER III. CONFORMITY TO THE WORLD………………………………………………………..83
CHAPTER III. THE FEAR OF MAN …………………………………………………………………90
CHAPTER IV. THE LACK OF CHRISTIAN SELF-DENIAL……………………………………….94
CHAPTER V. THE SPIRIT OF COVETOUSNESS…………………………………………………….102
CHAPTER VI. NEGLECT OF RETIREMENT…………………………………………………………..107
CHAPTER VII. THE INFLUENCE OF SPIRITUAL PRIDE………………………………………..112
CHAPTER VIII. ABSENCE OR DEFECT OF PERSONAL RELIGION……………………….114
CHAPTER IX. THE DEFECT OF FAMILY RELIGION, AND THE LACK OF CONNEXION OF THE MINISTER’S FAMILY WITH HIS WORK…………………………….122
CHAPTER X. LACK OF FAITH……………………………………………………………128

PART IV. THE PUBLIC WORK OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY……………………………….137
CHAPTER I. THE INSTITUTION AND IMPORTANCE OF THE ORDINANCE OF PREACHING………………137
CHAPTER II. PREPARATION FOR THE PULPIT…………………………………………………….140
I. —COMPOSITION OF SERMONS………………………………………………………………….144
II. —HABITS OF MEDITATION……………………………………………………………………….153
III. —SPECIAL PRAYER…………………………………………………………………………………155
CHAPTER III. THE SCRIPTURAL MODE OF PREACHING THE LAW……………………163
I. THE PREACHING OF THE LAW—ITS CHARACTER—USES—AND
OBLIGATIONS………………………………………………………………………………………..164
II. THE CONNEXION OF THE LAW WITH THE GOSPEL…………………………………168
CHAPTER IV. THE SCRIPTURAL PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL………………………….176
I.—DOCTRINAL PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL………………………………………………..181
II—EXPERIENTIAL PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL…………………………………………..190
III. —PRACTICAL PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL……………………………………………..193
IV. —APPLICATORY PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL………………………………………….198
V. —DISCRIMINATING PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL……………………………………..204
VI. —DECIDED PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL…………………………………………………..207
CHAPTER V. THE MODE OF SCRIPTURAL PREACHING……………………………………..209
I.—TOPICAL AND EXPOSITORY PREACHING………………………………………………….209
II.—EXTEMPORE AND WRITTEN SERMONS……………………………………………………211
CHAPTER VI. THE SPIRIT OF SCRIPTURAL PREACHING…………………………………….219
I.—BOLDNESS—THE SPIRIT OF SCRIPTURAL PREACHING……………………………219
II.—WISDOM—THE SPIRIT OF SCRIPTURAL PREACHING………………………………221
III.—PLAINNESS—THE SPIRIT OF SCRIPTURAL PREACHING…………………………228
IV.—FERVENCY—THE SPIRIT OF SCRIPTURAL PREACHING…………………………235
V.—DILIGENCE—THE SPIRIT OF SCRIPTURAL PREACHING………………………….239
VI.—SINGLENESS—THE SPIRIT OF SCRIPTURAL PREACHING………………………242
VII.—LOVE—THE SPIRIT OF SCRIPTURAL PREACHING…………………………………246
PART V. THE PASTORAL WORK OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY…………………………..252
CHAPTER I. THE NATURE AND IMPORTANCE OF THE PASTORAL WORK……….252
CHAPTER II. TREATMENT OF CASES IN THE PASTORAL WORK……………………….265
I.—THE INFIDEL…………………………………………………………………………………….265
II.—THE IGNORANT AND CARELESS……………………………………………………………….267
III. —THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS………………………………………………………………………….268
IV. —THE FALSE PROFESSOR……………………………………………………………………..270
V. —NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL CONVICTIONS………………………………………………271
VI—THE YOUNG CHRISTIAN…………………………………………………………………………..273
VII.—THE BACKSLIDERS…………………………………………………………………………..277
VIII.—THE UNESTABLISHED CHRISTIAN………………………………………………………..278
IX.—THE CONFIRMED AND CONSISTENT CHRISTIAN……………………………………279
CHAPTER III. THE VISITATION OF THE SICK………………………………………………………282
CHAPTER IV. PASTORAL MINISTRY OF THE YOUNG…………………………………………289
I.—CATECHIZING……………………………………………………………………………………..290
IL—THE SUNDAY SCHOOL—ITS IMPORTANCE—CONSTITUTION—AND SUPERINTENDENCE….292
III. —INFANT SCHOOLS…………………………………………………………………………301
IV. —WEEKLY SCHOOLS………………………………………………………………………..303
V. —THE TREATMENT OF THE YOUNG IN A HOPEFUL STATE OF IMPRESSION……………….305
VI.—YOUNG MEN……………………………………………………………………………….307
VII.—PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS ON CONFIRMATIONS ………………………………..310
CHAPTER V. SACRAMENTAL INSTRUCTION……………………………………………321
I.—BAPTISM………………………………………………………………………………………328
II.—THE LORD’S SUPPER……………………………………………………………………….333
CHAPTER VI. CLERICAL AND CHURCH COMMUNION……………………………………….338
I.—CLERICAL COMMUNION…………………………………………………………………………….338
II.—CHURCH COMMUNION………………………………………………………………………340
CHAPTER VII. THE OFFICE AND USES OF HELPERS…………………………………………..350
CHAPTER VIII. MISCELLANEOUS…………………………………………………………………357
PART VI. RECOLLECTIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY………………………………….362
I. Do we honour our work?………………………………………………………………………………………..362
II. Do we feel the responsibility of our work?………………………………………………………………364
How do we feel with regard to our talents?………………………………………………………………365
How do we feel respecting the completeness of our Ministry?……………………………………366
How, again, do we feel the responsibility of our pulpit preparation?……………………………366
III. Do we earnestly desire and expect success in our work?…………………………….370
IV. Are we laying ourselves out for our work?…………………………………………..372
V. Does the Spirit of love characterize our Ministrations?………………………………………376
VI. Do we pray for our flock?……………………………………………………………381
ADDRESS TO THE IRISH CLERGY……………………………………………………………………………388
INDEX…………………………………………………………………………………………………400
SCRIPTURES ILLUSTRATED…………………………………………………………………………………….408

Excerpts

“If a young man has the capacity, then culture and application may make him a scholar, a philosopher, or an orator; but a true Minister must have certain principles, motives, feelings, and aims, which no industry or endeavours of men can either acquire or communicate. They must be given from above, or they cannot be received.” (Newton’s Works).

In our discussion of this subject, we assume a suitable measure of natural and intellectual endowments, as well as their conscientious use. As to spiritual qualifications, we would be careful neither to lower, exceed, or deviate from, the Scriptural standard. It is obvious that all requisites (though none without bearing upon the efficiency of the Ministration) are not of equal moment. We must therefore distinguish between what is desirable and what is essential—between what is lacking from immaturity or inexperience, and what is lacking in the substance and character of the man—and again, between that deficiency which incapacitates for the work, and that comparative measure of unfitness, as contrasted with Ministers of acknowledged eminence. “There are diversities of gifts” and “differences of administration” of the same gifts under “the same Spirit and the same Lord.” 3 But under all circumstances, the Divine call to this sacred office will be evidenced by a supply of competent qualifications for its discharge.

“Exercise yourself unto godliness” —was one of the wise rules the Apostle gave to his beloved son for the course of his Ministry; a rule which bears with most important application to the noviciate. Its connexion with the rule of study in the succeeding context is worthy of remark. “Giving attendance to reading,” without active energy, would form a most incomplete and inefficient ministry. The lack of exercise is as hurtful to the spiritual as to the bodily system; nor will “reading” communicate any benefit, unless its results are operative in Christian activity. Equally important is the combination with prayer. In fact, study, prayer, and exercise, may be said to form the minister. Study stores the mind, prayer infuses a divine influence, exercise carries out the resources into effective agency.

On the whole, it is most important to mark the combination of these three Sections of Ministerial preparation—Study, Prayer, and Exercise. The omission of one of these, whichever it may be, weakens the practical influence of the rest. Study furnishes the materials—Prayer sanctifies them—Exercise suitably distributes their application to the several cases brought before us; nor suppose they are necessary only for the probationer.

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