33a DoEfor HOrtOn'S Sermon lure. 'Tis faid of'thofe that fate wader yokts Biiptifts idiniffry, that they.rejoyced but for a while, and that is the condition and mifery of many. The City of Samaria when they had received the Gofpela 'tis faid they had great joy, AE. 8. 9- Be careful to keep and preferve it, for it is a treafure, and thereforewe muff treafure it up in our hearts; and the rather becaufe it will, keep us. It keeps (as C'he,afafionaa faith) the houfe where it is ; other treafures cannot fecure themfelves, but if we keep this treafure it will fecure us. Thfcretion fhall preferve thee, and under- Bonding (hall keep thee, Pray. 2 t. i thus you fee the excellencyof this fpiritual wifdom. So much for the first thing confiderable in the firit branch, via,. the Depefitum, the treafure. The fecond thing confiderable is, the Repofrory, h. e. Earthen Veffels, or Veffels of Earth, earthenPitchers : thefe are the Repofito- ry, but' e have this treafure in earthen Veldt-, &c. Earth is a word of diminution, and difparagement, and that in three regards ;° 1. In regard ofits meannefs and bafenefs. 2, Iii regard of its foulnefs and pollution. 3 . In regard of its frailty and tranficorinefs. 'Tis palling away in all refpeafs ; thefe earthenveffels in the-Text, is to be underftoodathe ApoltlesandMinders ofJefuSCilia, in re Bard of their outwardman are fo called, and are fo aCCording to this threefold notion. I. In regard of their meannefs ; their outfide is mean, either for perfon, or fometimes for eftate, body, and outward deportment. This was the condition ( you know ) of the first Minders of shrift, mean and ordinary perfons outwardly God made ufeof. Nay our . Meter, our bleffed Lord and Saviour was mean in regard ofhis hu- mane birth, and reckonedofby molt men according to his birth and parentage. So it is with the fervants ofChrift, they are in theirper- fons generally bafe, mean, low, and accordingly rendred defpicable to the eyes of the World. II. In regard e,f foulnefs and pollution; Minders are called earthen Veffels, theyhave many weakneffes, they are men futaje& to the like pal-I-ions as others. 'Tis true the Minders of Chrilt have greater advantages than others, in regard of their education, know- ledge, gifts, and imployments, being more free from thofe defile- ments and fnares that others are intangled in : yet through the re- mainders of the flefli in them, theyhave many infirmities : fo Satan watches themmore then others, lays more fnares for them in regard of their parts and imployments ; fo that they are more fubjeat to his temptations than others. Satan bath a defite lift them (as theApo- itle
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