Ifz ._.... Dotl,1. Doti.z. Ephe'fiáns,Chap.i> VE effect which the confideration of it wrought inhim; Which reacheth to the end ofthis chapter, wherein two things maybe obferved. r. The occafion, in this 15. werfe, 2 The fairì; which bath twoparts. 1. His thankefgiving. z. His prayer. Concerning the latter ; firff we have fet downe that he prayed. i. What he prayed, in the end of the x6. verf. andfodownward. In fitting 'downe the occafion :1. We are to con- fiderthe Apoftle his hearing ofthem.z. What he heard ofthem,which was, firft their Faith, fet downe with the object ofit,iit the Lord bps : fecondly,their Love,which is amplified from the objeót,toSaints, from the quantity and extension ofir, to al!Saints. The verf hath nothing difficult tobe explained. Obferve firft from this, that Paul getteth hear-fayhow the matter ofgrace went amongft them ; that Minifters muff labour toknow how gracegoeth forward in thofe with whom they are to deale.This was the newes that Paul asked after ; his defire was to becertified of this before all other things. Thus Epaphras told him ofthe Colofflanseftate; thus he learned out the famous faithof theRomanes ; thus he learned by fome ofthehoufe ofClee,the Rateof the Corinthians:Naturall men will inquire and hearken after the health oftheir friends, how they are in body and eftate: Thus this fpirituall man, hewas Hill learning how the foules ofthe. Churches profpered; It behovethShepheards to know their flocke. Naturall parents if they have children at the Univerfiry, they will inquirehow they goe on in learningand vertue : Thus this Fa. theeòf foules abfent from them,could doe no other, but be delighted to learnhow they didgrow toward God. Which thing may checkmany Paftors now-adaies, whofeEpiftles if one read, you (hall finde nothing they liften after, but newes, like thofe Athenians,Atls, x y.newes fitter for men that follow the Exchange, then for thofe who are Fathers in Churches. Againe, this doth flew how wide they are, whothink it curiolty inMiniflers, ifthey looke into the manners moreneerelyoftheir people:Whatneed they bufie themfclves, and thruft their oare into other mens boats ±Fora private perfon with- out any callingto be fo ìnquifitive, and to ptie into others, that I may knowhow to come over them, aft fomething in their teeth, ifthey a little difpleafeme, is great wickedneffe ; but for Milliner, to theend, he may difchargehis duty more fruitfully,it is noother thingthenGod requireth for the goodofpeople. Somewho would hear nothingbut amnia bene, wouldhave Minifters quiet men, flop their cares withwaxe, andnever weare their eyes about them, but when they have a book in their hand ; but alas, they confider not that Minifters are fhepheards, watchmen, over-feers, &c.and that this is thekeywhich openeththem the way into all the parts of their l tic , viz. the knowledge oftheir ftates to whom they areto fpeak. Secondly obferve about what thefaith of thofeEphefians wasoccu- pied , even aboutthe LordJefus Chrift. We read fometime the faithof Chrift,fometime thefaith onChrift, fometime faithin Chrift, ashere; they note much the fame thing , but that the firft may bee con- ceived,
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