honor them.
thing—but as a very great honor, "that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ."
The observation that I shall speak to is this: That the office of a minister or preacher is honorable.
For the understanding of this point, premise with me two things:
First, That by a minister, I understand one who is qualified according to gospel rules, and who is internally called by God, and externally called by the people of God, to the ministerial office.
The second thing that I would have you premise with me for the understanding of the point is this, that the common appellation of those who are set apart for the preaching of the gospel in the New Testament is ministers. So in 1 Cor. 3:5; 2 Cor. 3:6, and chapter 6:4, and chapter 11:15, 23; 1 Tim. 4:16, and in many other places, the word minister is a title of office, service, or administration given frequently to the preachers of the gospel. As for the names of ambassadors, stewards, and the like, wherewith they are often honored, they are figurative, and given to them by allusion only.
These two things being premised, we shall now proceed to the opening of the point.
1. And, in the first place, I shall prove that the office of a minister is an honorable office.
2. And then, in the second place, I shall show you what honor is due to them.
3. And then, in the third place, I shall show you how you are to honor them.
4. And then, in the last place, we shall bring home all by a word of application.