A Model for Every Gospel Preacher (Puritan Writings Series)

Drawing sinners to salvation in Christ is undoubtedly the dedication and desire of every true believer. Since we love Christ, we cannot help but long for others to love Him too. Since we were brought out of a terrible condition of sin's dominion and slavery, we cannot help but yearn for others to also come into the true freedom that is in Christ. Since we love the souls of men, that eternal spark of human beings, which have only two different eternities to go to—hell or heaven—we cannot help but seek for them to go to eternal bliss and avoid eternal destruction.

And one of the comparisons, then, for carrying out this task is that set forth by our Lord in Matthew 4:19: "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." A verse by which the author of this book sets forth our call to be fishers of men, following our Lord's example.

First, the author presents the way Christ calls men to be fishers of men, in terms of their office and their success. Then, by way of comparison, he equates unbelievers with fish, and ministers with fishermen in different aspects of these.

Second, the author expounds on the essence of being a fisher of men, which has to do with following Christ. For this reason, he presents different presuppositions of following Christ, and also the things in which we must follow Christ, if we truly want to be effective fishers of men.

The small writing that the reader holds in his hands is one that will prepare him to go out and fish for men, to seek to draw souls to Christ. Both ministers and people dedicated to evangelism will benefit from it. And we pray that this work may be of great edification for the people of God, stirring us to carry out this task of fishing for men for God.