498 ofConverfon, or TurninçufltoGod, S a c T.X. tell thgfe things that are true; andGod doth thus wifely and jualy permit there things, to try people whether they be foundly rooted, or not. But fecondly,a falfe Prophet or Minifter is he,who thoughhe havea true Cal,yet preacheth falfe and corrupt matter topleafe finners : Thus chelehere arecondem- ned for both : They run, and I fent them not, they were forward, andyet had no Call. Thus they preach,d peace toobtlinate finners,and encouraged them in their wickedneffe. Marvell not at it, if the Sons of Levi fometimesneed to be purified, odd. 3. And theDevils main deign is tither to overthrow theMiniarie, or cor- rupt it. Laatytherefore, if fo be that Miniaers would find the fpiritualeffet of their Miniftry; and that Gods promife and power might go alongwith their Office, they are here direfted to (land inGods Counfels,that i', wholly to be inquiring of him, and direfted by him : for to convert fouls being it 'elffupernatural, the means alto muft be lupernatural,and that can beknown onlyby divine Revelation. What coun- fd therefore is it,which God giveth them, in the exercilewhereof this comfortable tff.i l may be produced P And, Fira,That Which to to be done beforeall other thingt,ie to reform their own lives;That What Mini- the world may fay, they believe that to be crue which they preach to others. That hers mu$ doe they are to be anexample of all uric chaRit meekneffe,faith, tem erance hea- that their Mr Y P purity, Y> P ' niflric may hr venlymindednelfe. Nor but that wickedmen will cavill and find fpots in the Sun. eífea.aa. You fee ChriR and the Apoilles were much traduced, and they walked through I. good repart and bad; but let them approve their works tothe Lord, and then theyalah have comfort. Thus the ApoRie roTimothy e.g:tendtothy felf,aadto thy Doíiritte, I Tim. 4. t ;. fo lhalt thou laveothers : To himfelf fire, and then hisDoftrine ; the lifeof a man preacheth ; eirerons gels hungat his feet. What an uncomely tiling is it to fee a foul deformed Painter todraw a curious lovely Image? No leife is ittohear a prophase Minderperiling his people topurity ; a diffolute Minder ro urge his people to (friftnes : and thereforeGod threacned in Malachy, To make the Prieflt contemptible, andanDungg, becate/á they had not kept Me Word, t Val..3. This is woful : But when the Minffrie, for their faithfulnels andoppo- fition to the wickednefte in the world, are thenas the Apoales were, made theoff fcouring of the 'Yorld; this is glorious. 1. Secondly, To sake Counfell from god, is when they preach true Scripture, found D, u rine, which is after God lineffe ; for fo the Apatite defcribeth ir, Which uafter godlierfe : iopleafe your ears, or delight the fancy, is not anacceptable work to God t no more than if a Priefl in the old Law in Read of offering a Lamb, or Bul- lock, (hall Sacrifice a Butter file, or a Peacock, becaufeof the radiant colour. No, you are to feel it as a two-edged tword, as an hammer; and the negleftof this folid Scripture-Preaehing,hath mademanyMinifters through carnal affeftation vent themfelves into vapors and weer froth ; and the peoplehave been fed with wind, infteadof folid food. what bath the Chafftodo with theWheat? faith the Prophet in this Chapter. As it wasfaid,He had made great Progrcae inRhetorick, towhole Palate Dillies phrale waspleafing, whichis not Co fwelling and a:fcfted as Tomeo- ther : So he is a good judicious hearer, and like to get good by preaching,to whom the Scripture matter appeareth found , admirable full of Majetie andworth. Thirdly, e.4s he is thou to preachfoundD al?rine,fo thereare feveralqualifications Whichare likewhetting, to make thus two -edged(woreenter the morepowerfaUy. Such 3 are our zeal and tender compaffìontomens fouls, to cryout with Rebecca, Give me Children, orelfifdye. Our SaviourChria, when he raw multitudesof people, though they enjoyed the Teaching of the Scribes and Pharifees, which had fume goodufe in ir, elfe our Saviour would not have direfted the people to hoar them; yet its laid, Flat Bowels Were movedwithcompanion towards them,when befan them, as Sheep without a Shepherd Zeal makes the fpiritual meat hot, and fo the fitter fordigeftion. s. Boldnelle to reprovefin ; Rebuke with all authority. Ieremym*R not feaf c `
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