WITH

AN INQUIRY INTO THE CAUSES OF ITS INEFFICIENCY.

BY THE REV. CHARLES BRIDGES, A.M.,

VICAR OF OLD NEWTON, SUFFOLK, AND AUTHOR OF

AN EXPOSITION OF PSALM CXIX.'

FROM THE SIXTH LONDON EDITION.

NEW YORK:

ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS,

No. 285 BROADWAY.

1850.

PREFACE

CONTENTS.

PAGE

vii

PART I.

GENERAL VIEW OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

CHAP.

I. The Divine Origin and Institution of the Christian Ministry

III. Uses and necessity of the Christian Ministry

11

11

14

17

IV. The trials and difficulties of the Christian Ministry

GENERAL CAUSES OF THE WANT OF SUCCESS IN

THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

71

II.

I. The Scriptural warrant and character of Ministerial suc-

cess; together with the symptoms of want of success

The withholding of Divine Influence the main cause of the

want of Ministerial success.

III. The enmity of the natural heart a main cause of the want

of Ministerial success

81

IV. The power of Satan a main hindrance to Ministerial success

83

PAGE

CHAP.

V. Local hindrances to Ministerial success

85

VI.

The want of a Divine call a main cause of failure in the

Christian Ministry

88

PART III.

CAUSES OF MINISTERIAL INEFFICIENCY CONNECTED

WITH OUR PERSONAL CHARACTER

101

I. Want of entire devotedness of heart to the Christian Ministry 102

II. Conformity to the world

107

IX. The defect of family religion; and the want of connection

I. The institution and importance of the ordinance of Preach-

SECT. I. The preaching of the Law-its character-uses-

and obligations

203

II. The connection of the Law with the Gospel

. 208

CHAP.

PAGE

IV. The Scriptural preaching of the Gospel

SECT. I. Doctrinal preaching of the Gospel

217

223

234

238

243

250

II.

PART V.

THE PASTORAL WORK OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY 307

I. The Nature and importance of the Pastoral work

Treatment of cases in the Pastoral work.

308

323