Art of Manfishing by Thomas Boston (Available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Begin by reading the Introduction and Part 1 (The promise and the duty).
In the introduction Boston tells us the text he will be expounding: 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men'.
Then in Chapter 1 Boston looks at how Christ makes manfishers:
(i) by their office;
(ii) by their success
Then in Chapter 2 we are shown why unconverted men are compared to fish in the water: 'because as the water is the natural element of fish, so sin is the proper and natural element for an unconverted soul.'
Finally, in Chapter 3 we see how ministers use the gospel as their net to catch men. Their nets are:
(i) spread out;
(ii) taking fish unexpectedly;
(iii) touched by fish that then draw back;
(iv) escaped from by some fish;
(v) struggled against by all fish taken;
(vi) resistant to struggling when the net is fast enough;
(vii) made up of many meshes;
(viii) held right in the water by pieces of lead;
(ix) not made with over-wide meshes;
(x) not made with meshes that are too neat and fine.
I liked the importance placed on the power of God that needs to be with every sermon: 'Be concerned then, in the first place, O my soul, for the presence of God in ordinances, and for his power that will make a change among people (Ps. 110:3). When thy discourse, though ever so elaborate, shall be but as a lovely song, O set thyself most for this. When thou studiest, send up ejaculations to thy Lord for it. When thou writest a sermon, or dost ruminate on it, then say to God, "Lord, this will be altogether weak without thy power accompanying it."'
So right. Every sermon is weak without God's power. As manfishers we must beg God for his accompanying power as we fish.
Commence Part 2 by reading Chapter 1 (What following Christ supposes and implies).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment