Christian Duties

by Zenas Trivett

Christian Duties, originally entitled Plain Christian Duties Recommended, is an address Zenas Trivett gave at the establishment of a new Baptist congregation in 1791, in which he lays out the various responsibilities of a faithful member of a local church. Trivett emphasized that congregational polity was “the alone [only] plan of the New Testament,” though he urged his hearers never to dream that “all true religion [is] confined to your own denomination.” He particularly urged the congregation to often “meet together . . . for prayer and conversation,” for believers who come together “destitute of the spirit of devotion,” Trivett noted, have “their cold affections warmed.”

Rediscover this timeless exhortation Trivett delivered to eighteenth-century Christians, and let it stir your heart to prove the authenticity of your conversion to Jesus Christ through the simple act of obedience to the Word of God. 

Zenas Trivett (1753–1831) was a little-known but faithful Baptist minister who pastored for forty years in Langham, Essex. His involvement in various Baptist endeavors brought him into the circle of such contemporaries as John Ryland Jr., Thomas Steevens, and Andrew Fuller, who treasured his friendship.

98 pages, Paperback

Published June 22, 2021

Reviews

[Robert Cale · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is good and I would recommend it to anyone becoming a member of a church. However, I would remove chapter 15 (Separation) from the book and teach members a more biblical approach to separating themselves from worldly passions and desires. This book teaches that as a Christian you should remove yourself from the world. I find this to be in direct violation of Matt 5:14-16. To be an example to the world, we have to live like Christian’s in the world. I believe the intentions of the author were good but it needed to be wrote in a different manner. I find his approach to separation antiquated and unbiblical. Other than that, the book was spot on and could be a great help to a new Christian joining a church and even a man becoming a deacon.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

My pastor distributed this book to each of us to read. I recommend every Christian read this book. If we all did our best to follow the advice written within, God could really do great things in our churches because our hearts would be committed to him in the way they should be.

[Ivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pastoral word to a congregation on Christian duties (love, self denial, humility, prayer, watchfulness, and so on). 1791

[Jesus Salgado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful!