Ihtgreat Bet2e4t of4 Godly Mixilby. 419 an filch a people have, that any thing Thal do their fouls any good ? for is not the Miniary of Gods faithful fervants the power of c.aod to falvation, and the triinttiration of the Spirit ? Cot, 3.8. That is that Minillty whereby the fpiric of grace and holinefs is infufed into the hearts of the Fathet's chof.n ones in thrill J.:fus. The Poet freaks of excellent Muficians , who , by the power of thei mufick made. Hones to leap into a wall. A godly, faithful Mini[tryl aAi done more, it bath taken the Bone out of mans heart , and h, th given themnew hearts ; it bath made all the commandements of God eatie tomany a poor foul, becaufe it loves its Father, its Redeemer, and Comforter. There is a kindof obedience in a god y faithful Ivlinifter; and if this will not do, nothing will, as in Lathe. 16. 31. 3. Is not the caufe of the non-proficiency of iuch a people under fuch a Minifity in themfelves ? Oh,men do hinder the frur, of the woad in their own fouls, the powerful operation and vvork-lig oc the worth!) their own fouls I. the Lord prophecies that fentence on the (./VatO. 13. 14. lie layes allThe blame on themfelveq, and affigns their own fins, and the reafon and caufeof it, as in Verire 13. And thus our bleffed Saviour expounds the PaJ able of the- Sower, fhew;ng howmany that hear the word are never the better for it; and he layeth the blame on themfeives, as in Lunt 8.14. what then , haft thou norprofired undeLthe Miniary of the Lords faithful fer- vants ? Oh lay the blame on thy feV.- 4. Confider, bath not the Lord himfelf a hand in the proficiency, ornon-proficiency under fuch a Miniflry ? furely the Lord bath a chiefhand in making the Mirifiry of his feivants fruitful or nor fruit- ful to them that enjoy it : Now to enjoy and nor enjoy , is it not a fearful fign that ye are not of God ? as John 8.47. Is it not a fign that thou zit Lot of Gods Ele& , at haft of Regeneration ? But youWO fay , did not the jevol hear Gods word ? Yes , they did, with their bodily cares, but they heard it not with faith, fubmiffion, and fruitfulnefs and therefore cur bleffed Saviour tells them , they were not ofGod,, that ic, theywere at kat in an unregenerate , nor in a reprobate condition : And fo 10. 26. re are thole gtats ( faith Chritl ) tbat (i :landat my t<ft- banal in thlf great day And then Unbelievers {hall refle& on themfelves , not on 'Chrifis 'Mini- i}ry by themouths of his fetvarts; But if any fhould fay , what then , will you fay that all of us are Reprobates that are not wrought on by your Miniflry ? I fay not fo; fo that feed which heth been fawn on you, may do your fouls good hereafter, thouhh it bath done them littleor no good as yet. But
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