Review: "The Gospel Ministry" by Thomas Foxcroft

I used to work in a “Christian” bookstore, and one thing I tried hard to do was to be up on what materials were available and what materials were good and biblical. I’ve often thought of compiling lists of “best books” in this area and that – maybe some day I will.

One book that would make it to that list of “best books” would be The Gospel Ministry by Thomas Foxcroft. This book (87 pages) is actually the sermon that Foxcroft delivered at his own ordination and installation at the First Congregation Church in Boston from 1717 to his death in 1769. (Such action and length would likely mean the automatic firing of a minister today!)

This is a book I would recommend to every man “considering” the ordained ministry, and it would be mandatary reading for every seminary student. I have found that many seminary students believe there is no difference between social work and the ordained ministry. While it is true that Christ transforms the culture through His Church, the Gospel is not “how to be moral,” but “Christ and Him crucified” – that is what must be preach every time the minister opens his mouth.

The sermon is divided into five sections:

“The Minister as Preacher” – Foxcroft writes, “The observation here is this: Preaching is one great and noble part of the pastoral duty” (2) and the subject matter must be Christ (4). He goes on to explains what that means and to condemn any other so-called “preaching.”

“The Minister as a Pastor” – here Foxcroft argues that the character of the minister if of vital importance: in everything the minister does, he must strive for holiness, not only in doctrine, but action.

“The Minister and His Flock” – much like Richard Baxter, in his Reformed Pastor, argues that ministers must visit and know their flock if they are going to do good for them. It is by knowing them that he knows their strengths, weaknesses, struggles, and triumphs. These he must then address through the Blood of Christ. He must lift them up, rebuke sin, defend them against heresy, and rejoice with them.

“The Work of Ministry” – “Laborious diligence, fervor, and indefatigable application should be the character of ever gospel minister” (52). Would that every person who think a minister works an hour a week or every seminarian who has learned the sermon can be composed the night before or the morning of worship would read this section! I’ve been laughed at for saying that, done rightly, the Gospel Ministry is the most difficult and life-consuming work. But, if one is called to it, it is also his joy! The substance of this labor is the edification and conversion of humans as part of the minister’s glorification of God (58).

“The Source of Strength for the Work of the Ministry” – Christ is our strength. Thus the minister ought to be much in prayer. He ought to be thankful for what and who God has given him. He ought, in all humility, recognize that the minister is the instrument of God, and the Power of the Gospel is from God, not the minister, his rhetoric, etc. We must bow before Christ and see Him work through us in our congregations. Ours is to be obedient in ministry; it is God’s to bring the results He has ordained.

Foxcroft did not write this sermon to tell the congregation that he had accomplished all these things, but to let them know what he believed was God’s Call on him and on all ministers. He wanted them to understand the bar that God had placed before him, that he had received, and that they should expect from him. Would we be so brave to put this high standard before our congregations and tell them to help us keep to it?

Read this book; give it to those in ministry and those in seminary and those “discerning” a call.

(I also urgently recommend that the same read William Perkin’s The Art of Prophecy. This is a Puritan preaching manual paired with a smaller work on “discerning” the call to ministry. Urgently necessary today.)