Document 4.7 Gilbert Tennent, The Danger of an Unconverted Ministry, 1739

Gilbert Tennent | The Danger of an Unconverted Ministry, 1739

Gilbert Tennent, one of the most important New Light ministers of the Great Awakening, underwent a religious conversion at the age of twenty. Tennent became convinced that all true believers—especially ministers—needed to undergo the same type of conversion experience. His attacks on the intellectualism of Old Light ministers, highlighted in his famous sermon “The Danger of an Unconverted Ministry,” contributed to the division of the Presbyterian Church into the Old Lights and the New Lights. Tennent eventually tried to heal this divide and helped to reunite the New York and Philadelphia synods in 1758.

And let gracious Souls be exhorted, to express the most tender Pity over such as have none but Pharisee-Teachers; and that in the Manner before described: To which let the Example of our LORD in the Text before us, be an inducing and effectual Incitement; as well as the gracious and im­mense Rewards, which follow upon so generous and noble a Charity, in this and the next State.

And let those who live under the Ministry of dead Men, whether they have got the Form of Religion or not, re­pair to the Living, where they may be edified. Let who will, oppose it. What famous Mr. Jenner ob­serves upon this Head, is most just, “That if there be any godly Souls, or any that desires the Salvation of his Soul, and lives under a blind Guide, he cannot go out (of his Parish) without giving very great Of­fence; it will be tho’t a Giddiness, and a Slighting of his own Minister at home. When People came out of every Parish round ­about, to John [The Baptist], no Question but this bred Heart-burning against John, ay, and Ill-will against those People, that would not be satisfied with that Teaching they had in their own Synagogues.” . . . But tho’ your Neighbors growl against you, and re­proach you for doing your Duty, in seeking your Souls Good; bear their unjust Censures with Christian Meekness, and persevere; as knowing that Suffering is the Lot of Christ’s Followers, and that spiritual Benefits do in­finitely overbalance all temporal Difficulties.

And O! that vacant Congregations would take due Care in the Choice of their Ministers! Here indeed they should hasten slowly. The Church of Ephesus . . . is com­mended, for Trying them which said they were Apostles, and were not; and for finding them Liars. Hypocrits are against all Knowing of others, and Judging, in order to hide their own Filthiness; like Thieves they flee a Search, because of their stolen Goods. But the more they endeavour to hide, the more they expose their Shame.

Source: Gilbert Tennent, The Danger of an Unconverted Ministry Considered in a Sermon on Mark VI. 34 (Philadelphia: Benjamin Franklin, 1740).