Works (Vol 4) - Bates - XVI - Sermon on the death of Jacomb commenced

Required reading
The Works (Vol 4) by William Bates (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence 'A sermon on the death of Thomas Jacomb' by reading up to the paragraph commencing 'II. We are to show upon what accounts our service is due to Christ.'

My summary
This week we start a sermon for the minister Thomas Jacomb on 'If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour' (Joh 12:26).

Bates' proposition from the text is that God will crown the fidelity and constancy of Christ's servants with the highest honour.

To manage his proposition Bates will consider in his sermon:
(i) what the service of Christ implies;
(ii) upon what accounts it is due to him;
(iii) the final reward that shall certainly attend it;
(iv) bring it home to our own bosoms by application.

This week's reading only involves the first point: what the service of Christ implies. 

Bates tells us that service of Christ implies obedience to his will as the rule of our actions, with aims at his glory as the end of them.

Then Bates explains that this service is shown in the:
(i) church;
(ii) various conditions of life in this world;
(iii) special offices, such as the civil magistracy and the spiritual ministry.

What grabbed me
Bates made an excellent point about the need for a minister to include the gospel in his sermons: 'The matter of their sermons must be the doctrine of the gospel revealed from heaven to reduce men to their duty, and restore them to felicity.  This is the tenor of the commission given by our Saviour to his apostles, "Go teach all nations, to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."  The preaching unrevealed or trivial things, impertinent to the salvation and perfection of souls, is directly contrary to the end of their office.'

A minister who doesn't preach the gospel is no minister of Christ.

Next week's reading
Conclude 'A sermon on the death of Thomas Jacomb'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.