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A
Threefold
motive in
Pads
bonds.
Don.
It
is
a
glorious
thing to
fuller
for Chrilt.
The
care
of
our
Paitouts
to
initru&
us;
And
their
death approa-
ching,tpeeially
ifthey
fuffcr
for
Miff,
challengeth
of
us
afpeciall
re-
gard
of
their
initruftions.
Don.
Doe.
Minifters
aft
ufe
in-
treaties
and
gentle
perfwa-
lions
with
people.
i;
is
the
f
etch
co4rfc.
rr.
Labourfor the
gift
ofperfwa-
Gon.
Colt.
4.
tc.r.a.r.
Epheflanr,
Chap.
4.
V
E
R.
F.
And
if
this
be well
weighed, there
is
a
threefold
confederation
which
might
move
both them and us.
Flrff, the authority
of
the
Apoflles bonds; for it
is a
glorious thing
to
fuller
for
Chrift:
theMartyrdome of
Saints being more glorious
in
the
eye
of
Faith, then
the fcarlet robe
is
tothe eye
of
flefh.
Secondly,
that
Pad
though
in
bonds,fhould
give himfelfe
to write,
itdózh
testify
the diligent
care he had
towardsthem
, and
the
church
in
,them,
to
the end
of
the
world.
hirdly,it
isforcible
to
perfwade,as in which
fecretly
the
proximity
of
neareneffeoldie
Apostle his
diffoiution
is
fit
before them
;for
there
bonds
did
tlyedtim
till
death did depart.
Now
this
is
a
great
reafon
why we
fhould
regard
all
this Epiftle,becaufe,Paul
was
now
aged
,Paul
ready
to
give
uphimfelfe for
the reffimony
of
the Gofpell: Now
we
know
a
candle never flameth more
thenwhen
it is
ready
to goe forth,
Again, the words that
Our
friends doc
fpeak
before their departure,
they
areof
all
other molt worthily
remembred
:
fo
that
wherefoever
we
fee
God doth
let men
be graced
with
fuffering
for
his
Name,
this
muftmake
things
fpoken
by
fuch
to be
of
great
authority;
when
wee
fee
the diligent
labour
and care
ofour
Miniflers
in
this
or that thing;
this circumflance mutt move
us
to
receive
their doctrine where
they
labour, when
we
fee
they draw
neare
their end,
(as
doe the Prophets
live alwayes,f) then
we mutt be molt
careful! to treafure
up
the words
they utter.
a.
Isis
to
be marked
how that the Apo(lle doth
befeech
them:
Ob-
Ccrve
hence, How
the
Minifters
of
God
muff ufe intreaty and
gentle
perfwafìons
with their people.
Iithe
higheft order
of
Apottles
muff
intreat, much more the ordinary
Pallor
and Teacher.
2
Tim. 2.
54.
15.
The
fervant
of
the
Lord
muff
bee
gentle
towards all
min,
infrutiting
with
meekfseffe,
¿ze.
Tit.
3.
2. (hewing all
meekneffe
towards
all
men.
a
Cor.
5. r
p.
We
as
Embaffaders
for
Chrifi
be
fetch
you
that
ye
be reconci-
led.
It
is
to be marked
that
Noah
prophecyed
,
God
perfwade lapheth
to
dwell
in
the tents ofSem.
And
in
Ho[ea
a.
r4.
He faith,
Bee will
allure
his
Church, he will fpeak friendly
to
her,
as
one
that
would
whine
the
love
ofa
virgin
;
and
the
Apoftles accordingly being the Paranymphs
of
this great
God
ouf Saviour, doe befeech
us
and intreat
us
gently,
And
this dealing
is
mall
fit
for this covenant,
wherein
not the
(pith
of
bondage, but the
fpirit
of
adoption, the
free fpirir,is
moll
abundant-
ly
to
be
pawned out. Mott
fit
for
us,who
mutt not
he fo much fervile,
as a
free-
hearted people
,
a
willing
people,
Pfal.
Ho.
3.
Rom. 8.
Wce
have
not
received
the
/ßirit
of
bondageto
feare
againe,
but the
ff
iris
of t.4-
deption,
¿rc.
and therefore
muff
not
fo
much
be preffed and confirai-
ned,asintreated.
This
therefore
we
mutt labour for, that
God
would
give
us
the
Ipi-
rit ofperfwafion;
for
he is
the bell
Minifler
that
hath the iargeft porti-
on herein:
True
it
is
there
is
a
orteavar.yía,
enticing
fpeech,
which
humane
wifdome
teacheth,
and a
;ernstrsyía,
which leducers affe6t,
an ex
ce leney
of
fÇeecb;
but good
gold
is
no
leffe
worth
becaufe
there
is
forne
coun-