^4 t8 ThegreoBenefit ofoGodly Minitry. are the Lords Metiengers and Einbaiiactors in matters concerning the foul, the precious, immortal , never dying foul of man, not in the matters of this life, but for the foul. Now this is no meanemploy- ment, to treat with God for the foul. T. They are called the Lords Husbandmen. Gods Church is his husbandry, I Gar. 3. 9. And Mufflers are Gods Husbandmen nat wally we are like a barren wildernefs ; now the Lord fends his Husbandmen to thofe barren vvilderneffes , to make it afruitiul Pa. radife : Now for Gods Husbandmen to plow , fovv , and harrow and yet no fruit, no crop, 1R. g. 6. When Gods Vineyardbrought forth no fruit, / tak, away ailiheir rainy thuds, faith God ; you (hall have clouds, but you (halt lye clouds without rain ; you ilia have Knitters Gill, but fuch as fhall never do your fouls anygood. Well, you fee the titles given to thAn in Scripture : they are cal- led the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World, and Scars, and the Lords Meffengers, and Embaffadors, and Husbandmen; all which cloth import a very great ob'igation lying on a people who live tinder fuch a lvkinitier , andwho live under, and:praaice every com- manded duty. a. hfere; c.. 2. Dangerous 'and fearful is the elate of chore who have enjoyed, and lived under, and have not been wrought u on by fuch a : And this will appear if we confider, I. li-mr fea rf4 a fentence the Lord J bath given to thofe that live under , but defpife, and profit not by the Miniary of his faithful fer- va-ts , t o. 14, 15'. And do not think that Chrill faid this itouchil. the Ministry of the Apotiles only, certainly the Lord Chria wou Ia'ln .ve it robe underttood of the Minittry of all 11is Ftirbful fer- yants, whs,m he fendeth to teach his people, John 13. zo. vvhomfo- ever he ; and ib , He der reth whomevcr I Fend, depijeth ms. Then a the meff,g: of the Lords faithful Meffengers received aright , whenpeople do not only hear it , but receive it , and bring forth fruit , as our bleed Lord fpeaks of good hearers , (A.tart._ 4, 21). Thofe are they that hear, and receive the fruits fown it good grouf.d : And thus our blefled Lord expounds hiinfelf , (Afoul,. L.T. 24* He telleth us there, that they of CaFerrraum (hall be in a worfe cafe than they of Sodom and Gomorrah ; and why ? becaufe they re- pented not-at Chrias Sermons and Miracles they were not mix feen their ives , norvvithflanding Ch rift; Mini thy, notwithflancl- i-g Critts preaching; and his mi,acles among them, they did no a- mend their hearts and waves : Oa how fearful a fentence bath our Lord Jefus CHfl denounced againa fuch ! 3, If a people be not wrought upon by fuch a Miniftry, what hope can
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