Art of Manfishing by Thomas Boston (Available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Conclude Part 2.
Today we look at four more things in Christ that manfishers should imitate.
Firstly, Christ was much in prayer: 'Thou hast much need to pray before thou preachest. Be busy with God in prayer, when thou art thinking on dealing with the souls of men. Let thy sermons be sermons of many prayers.'
Secondly, Christ contemned the world: 'He slighted it as not meet for any of his followers. He became poor, that we might become rich (Matt. 8:20). He gave himself entirely, at least after his inauguration, to matters that concerned the calling he had to the work of the gospel (John 9:4). All, especially preachers, are to follow Christ in the contempt of the world.'
Thirdly, Christ was useful to souls in his private converse: 'Thus he dealt with this woman of Samaria. He took occasion from the water she was drawing to tell her of the living water, etc. Thus being at a feast, he rebuked the Pharisees that chose the uppermost seats, instructing them in the right way of behaviour at feasts.'
Fourthly, Christ laid hold upon opportunities of public preaching when they offered.
Boston gave us an excellent list of things to pray for before preaching:
'(1) That thou mayst have a word from the Lord to deliver unto them; that thou mayst not preach to them the product of thy own wisdom, and that which merely flows from thy reason; for this is poor heartless preaching.
(2) That thy soul may be affected with the case of the people to whom thou preachest. If that be wanting, it will be tongue-preaching, but not heart-preaching.
(3) That thy heart may be inflamed with zeal for the glory of thy Master; that out of love to God, and love to souls thy preaching may flow.
(4) That the Lord may preach it into thy own heart, both when thou studiest and deliverest it. For if this be not, thou shalt be like one that feeds others, but starves himself for hunger; or like a way-mark, that shows the way to men, but never moves a foot itself.
(5) That thou mayst be helped to deliver it with a suitable frame, thy heart being affected with what thou speakest, faithfully, keeping up nothing that the Lord gives thee, and without confusion of mind, or fear of man.
(6) That thou mayst have bodily strength allowed for the work, that thy indisposition disturb thee not.
(7) That God would countenance thee in the work with his presence and power in ordinances, to make the word spoken a convincing and converting word to them that are out of Christ; a healing word to the broken; confirming to the weak, doubting and staggering ones, etc.; that God himself would drive the fish into the net, when thou spreadest it out. In a word, that thou mayst be helped to approve thyself to God, as a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.'
We cannot undervalue the importance of placing prayer before our seed-sowing.
A small little book primarily giving us insights on how to be evangelists by looking at Christ's example.
Begin Bunyan's Holy War (Available from Amazon or free here) by reading the letter 'To the Reader' and Chapter 1.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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