Ours is a time of great emphasis on evangelism when world congresses are convened to talk about evangelization. And so we ask whether or not the Puritans were evangelistic in their preaching? If they were, how did they go about the work of persuading souls to believe in Jesus Christ? Did they have conversions? Did they address unbelievers in a personal face to face way? What did they say?
These excerpts are from Erroll Hulse's article entitled:
"Add to the Church: The Puritan Approach to Persuading Souls", on apuritansmind.com website:
Since the [17th century] Puritans believed in the spiritual inability of unbelievers to repent, did they not find themselves restricted? Did their belief in election, predestination and particular redemption, that is that Christ died to save His people only, shackle or confine them in their efforts to persuade the lost to be saved?
A short answer to these questions is that the Puritans followed the apostles. They were evangelistic in outlook and in their preaching. They were blessed with conversions. Of William Gouge, minister at Blackfriars in London, it was said that God made him 'an aged father in Christ... .for thousands have been converted and built up by his ministry'. Alexander Groshart says of Thomas Brooks that 'he was the instrument in the hand of God for the conversion of many souls', and the same can be said for many others. Belief in the spiritual impotence of sinners to turn to God by their own strength, and the sovereignty of God in election, did not inhibit the way in which they addressed unbelievers in their preaching. Like the apostles they saw preaching as God's way of adding to the church. For them all, preaching was to a greater or lesser degree evangelistic in character. Yet at the same time preaching for them involved the declaration of all God's Word, not some parts only.
The preaching of the Puritans was both doctrinal and evangelistic. Preaching the Word meant preaching the whole of revealed truth as a unity. We do not find the Gospel oversimplified, reduced to a minimum, or turned into a simple formula.
For the Puritans the Gospel could never be divorced from the revelation of God as a whole, and this whole which we call 'the Word' is evangelistic either explicitly or implicitly. By evangelistic we mean that it conveys the fact that all men everywhere should turn to God in repentance and faith. Let me cite an example. Thomas Brooks' treatise The Necessity, Excellency, Rarity and Beauty of Holiness of some 410 pages' length in the 19th century reprint is evangelistic throughout in the implicit sense. Robert Bolton put it this way, 'The Lord Jesus Christ is offered most freely, and without exception of any person, every Sabbath, every sermon'. . .
The preacher at the beginning or at suitable points during the preaching or, as is most commonly the case, at the end, may make direct and personal application of the truth to unbelievers, but even if he makes no such application this does not mean that his preaching is not evangelistic. 'To preach,' declared Sibbes, 'is to open the mystery of Christ: to break open the box that the savour may be perceived of all.' . . .
How did they offer the Gospel to the unconverted? I avoid the word 'present' the Gospel. They did not merely 'present' the Gospel, they entreated, they besought, they reasoned, they urged and they offered the Gospel. Some are disposed to contend that the word 'offer' is unsuitable as it implies creature ability or gives the impression that God is less than omnipotent to change hearts. Others say the word does not mean now what it meant in Puritan days. But Richard Sibbes uses a word indicating a condescension stooping lower than any such meaning implied by the word 'offer' which word I would contend has not changed. On II Cor. 5:20 Sibbes declares, 'This is the manner of the dispensation in the gospel, even to beg of people that they would be good to their souls. Christ, as it were, became a beggar himself, and the great God of heaven and earth begs our love, that we would so care for our souls that we would be reconciled unto him'.
The Puritans addressed men in the wholeness of their being: mind, heart, conscience, memory and will. If such preaching did not succeed to persuade, then they had nothing else to resort to and nothing to add by way of devices to induce a decision; no raising of hands, coming to the front, or signing cards. Preaching was for them supreme for they viewed it as the means by which God regenerates souls. . .
[We] must not miss the lesson that the Puritans showed great confidence in preaching. Why is it that we lack this confidence? Where is the fervor and passion to persuade souls today? The greatest need in the world today is not for more oil, or more coal, or more food. The greatest need of all is for a return of powerful preaching, preaching which is not only proficient in presenting truth as truth, but preaching which is vigorous, bold and full of Holy Ghost unction. Such preaching must address the unbelieving world. As the Scripture contains a wide variety of address: command, reason, invitation and entreaty, so ought our preaching to contain these aspects if souls are to be persuaded for these are the means which God has ordained and which He uses to His glory. . .
James wrote - "Since the [17th century] Puritans believed in the spiritual inability of unbelievers to repent, did they not find themselves restricted? Did their belief in election, predestination and particular redemption, that is that Christ died to save His people only, shackle or confine them in their efforts to persuade the lost to be saved?"
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. -Matthew 4:17
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. -Luke 13:3
1. If, as you say, unbelievers have a spiritual inability to repent, why did Jesus command people to repent?
2. Re: "Christ died to save His people only..."
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. -2 Peter 2:1
The ungodly, including those who deny the Lord and are false prophets/teachers, those with damnable heresies, were bought by the blood of Christ.
James wrote - "By evangelistic we mean that it conveys the fact that all men everywhere should turn to God in repentance and faith."
Again, I ask you... how can God command that "all" men everywhere should turn to Him in repentance and faith, when He has created those Hell bound souls who have no option? Either God is commanding the impossible of all men or "all" doesn't mean "all" in that verse as well as others that you say are for elect only. How can God expect something from man that is not 'within' man [those created for Hell]?
James wrote - "'The Lord Jesus Christ is offered most freely, and without exception of any person, every Sabbath, every sermon'. . ."
No; you don't offer the Lord Jesus Christ most freely. Freely for you is an offer for only the 'elect'. You offer Christ selectively by believing that His death is for a selective elect. "Without exception of any person...."? Really? How can you say you offer Christ freely and without exception of any person when your belief is contrary to this?
I have a problem with "begging" and "pleading". To explain :
Did Jesus let the rich young ruler walk away, or did Jesus go after him and plead with him not to go?
Or ...
even better :
When many deserted Jesus when He said they must eat His flesh and drink His blood. Did Jesus say " Hey, wait guys, come back, you misunderstood my metaphor", did Jesus plead with them?
James you see where I am going with this?
This should be a lesson when sharing the Gospel with others : If the Grace of God evidenced by the death and resurrection of Jesus and the working of the Holy Spirit isn't bringing them, then pleading and begging isn't going to bring them, and even if it did, it wouldn't be sincere.
Love them and present the Gospel, they either come or not, that's how Jesus did it.
James wrote - "YES, IT IS. We are to preach to gospel to everyone, correct?"
Correct. But again... your Gospel is not for all unbelievers. It cannot be applicable to all unbelievers. Your belief determines it.
James wrote - "full of lies"? Wow.
Yep. Full of lies. Your Gospel truth is not Truth for all you witness to.
James wrote - "Since 1. I am told in Scripture to preach the gospel to ALL creatures, and 2. there is no way of knowing who will accept Jesus and who won't... Then HOW EXACTLY am I "full of lies"??? We are told to preach the gospel to everyone so we do...."
Maybe you're not reading or understanding what I'm saying here.... You believe in selective election/salvation. And while you don't know who will receive the gift of Salvation, your belief tells you that your message of Salvation is not a gift that can really be offered to all because God has created some for damnation through no choice of their own.
So let's say you are "offering" the Gospel to Joe Sinner. But Joe Sinner is actually one of God's created for Hell souls. In that case, the Gospel is not for Joe Sinner. The Cross is of no effect to Joe Sinner. It is out of his reach because he is not fortunate enough to be one of the 'elect'. So you lied by offering the Gospel to him in an attempt to convert his soul, when it was never God's intent for him to be one of His, because Christ dying for all is limited to 'all the elect' only. Not only that, but you make the Word of God a lie in that you presented Salvation to the wrong person. God's Word regarding Salvation is null for Joe Sinner's soul. Christ did not die for him. Did you tell Joe Sinner that Christ died for him? Knowing that your belief dictates that Christ did not die for all, but only the 'elect'? The lie is born when telling Joe Sinner Christ died for Him, when in reality He didn't, because Joe Sinner is not 'elect', whether you know he is or not.
Shared ~ That was the verse the author was talking about,
2 Corinthians 5:20 NKJV
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God [ were ] PLEADING* [ through us: ] we [ implore you ] [ on ] Christ�s behalf, be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God [ did ] beseech* [ you by us: ] we [ pray you ] [ in ] Christ's stead, be [ ye ] reconciled to God.
Definition of BESEECH
�verb (used with object)
1. to implore urgently: They besought him to go at once.
2. to beg eagerly for; solicit.
�verb (used without object)
3. to make urgent appeal: supplication : Earnestly did I beseech, but to no avail.
