Charles Bridges
13 articles · 5 topics
Charles Bridges (1794–1869) was an Anglican evangelical minister and a leading voice in the Church of England's Evangelical Party. He is best remembered for his 1829 treatise The Christian Ministry and for his widely-used expository commentaries on Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Psalm 119.
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The Comforts and Encouragements of the Christian Ministry
IT is of the utmost importance to grasp the whole compass of the Christian Ministry. The view of one side only of the prospect (whichever side that may be) must necessarily give an imperfect and inaccurate representation. Painful and habitual experience constrains us to be with our people 'in…
The Dignity of the Christian Ministry
THE Divine original of the Christian Ministry has already opened a view of its dignity far above any earthly honour or elevation, and such as the infidel scoff can never degrade. An institution—introduced into the world, and confirmed to the Church, with such solemn preparation—conversant with the…
The Divine Origin and Institution of the Christian Ministry
THE Church is the mirror, that reflects the whole effulgence of the Divine character. It is the grand scene, in which the perfections of Jehovahare displayed to the universe. The revelations made to the Church—the successive grand events in her history—and, above all—the manifestation of the glory…
The Qualificaitons of the Christian Ministry
MR. NEWTON'S important remark may be considered as an axiom-'None but he who made the world can make a Minister of the Gospel.' He thus proceeds to illustrate his position (for it cannot be thought to need any proof) -'If a young man has capacity, culture and application may make him a scholar, a…
The Trials and Difficulties of the Christian Ministry
OUR Lord's illustration of the necessity of a previous counting of the cost in important undertakings forcibly applies to the Christian Ministry. Too often has the neglect of serious and prayerful calculation given awful power to the temptation to draw back from so momentous a work. Indeed no…
The Uses and Necessity of the Christian Ministry
BECAUSE the nature of things consisting, as this doth, in action, is known by the object whereabout they are conversant, and by the end or scope whereunto they arc referred; we must know that the object of this function is both God and men: God, in that he is publicly worshipped of his church; and…
Preparations for the Christian Ministry - Employment in the Cure for Souls
“EXERCISE thyself unto godliness”–was one of the wise rules of the Apostle to his beloved son, for the course of his Ministry; a rule, which bears with most important application to the noviciate. Its connection with the rule of study in the succeeding context is worthy of remark. “Giving…
Preparations for the Christian Ministry - Habits of General Study
'GIVE attendance to reading' is the Scriptural rule for Ministerial study. It is obviously of a general character; nor is there any reason for restricting its application to the Sacred Volume. 'Paul the aged,' in sending for his 'books and parchments,' (which, it may be presumed, he wanted for…
Preparations for the Christian Ministry - Habits of Special Prayer
LUTHER long since has said-'Prayer, meditation, and temptation, make a Minister.' No one will hesitate to admit the importance of the first of these qualifications, who has ever realized the weight of Ministerial responsibility, who has been led to know that his 'sufficiency is of God,' and that…
Preparations for the Christian Ministry - Special Study of the Scriptures
THE connection of this section with the preceding, is peculiarly important. Habits of General study, however well regulated and perseveringly maintained, will reflect no light or spiritual apprehension of the Gospel, independent of the special study of the sacred volume. Nor is it sufficient merely…