dt the Fantral ofMr. Nalton; 34/ cious perfons; but gracious perfons are Veffels of honour as it WAS laid of the Giants of old, fo it may be faid of thefe, They are men of Renown, and fo we fhould efieem ofthem. Worldly men look at the outfide, and fo efleem of them; fo was (Thrift dealt with, Is not thle the Carpenters Son ? So rhofe Teachers in Corinth , endeavoured to render St. Paul his prefenceweak;and his leech contemptible. 2 Cor. 10. f I That fo they might make his MiniRry contemtnible alfo. But this glorious 7-reafure is in Earthen Veffels ; You know (faith Sr. Paul) Gal. 4. I 3. that through infirmity of the flelh I preache4 the Goifiel unto you at firjf. 7-his was their commendation, V. I4 But my .temptation which w,u in my flefh, you deg);fed not, nor rcjeaeol, but received me as an Angel of God, even as jefgs ChriJ. All his weakneffes , andwhat ever was matter of difcouragernent, they did not defpife , but honourably entertained him even as Chrifi himfelf. So it was the commendation of the ThePlonians , i Thef. 2. a 3. That they received not the word as the word of man, but (as it is in truth ) the word ofGod , looking to the mighty God to make it effeaual fo fhould all others do upon this confederation. 2. Seeing Miniflers are earthen Veffels in regardof moral infir- mities which adhere to them : in refpea of their corruptions and weakneffes judge of them as men : but eneem of what is righteous in them ; though they have great advantages againfi fin , and be very careful spina' , yet notwithflanding they are not totally exempt- ed and freed from fin, as they are Milliners, fo they are men. 3. In regard that Minitiers are earthen Veffels in refpe& of their frailty. Seeing then they are fo frail and tranfitory, therefore accor- dinglyyou fhould make ufe of them deal kindly and affe&ionately with them, in that theyare quickly broken. What is fooner broken then a glair, or an earthly ve{fel ? Milliners are quickly taken away, and therefore you fl000ldbe tender of them while you have them. Where are all the Fathers ? Do the Prophets livefor ever ? the word of the Lord indeed endureth for ever, but the Preacher of it. doth not ; the Gofpel is eternal , but the Difpenfer is mortal : the Cal.. ling is laning , but the Mininer is transitory ; and the'efo-e you fhould carry your felves with all tendernefs and refpe& to theme rake heed of grieving their fpirits , feeing they are fo loon broken. Endeavour alfo to improve by them, and to get as much good as you can by them. It is a great argument to worwhile it is day, ke- eatifi ,he night con4r when no si earl- work) what+. God affords means and opportunities, mal{eilfedefthem: weaft$irtP.;ffagers; therefore this is a great ground for youtb,enclertour- to get all the good you cap by your Miniaers, fceing they are frail. Lailly
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