42.6 Thegteat Benefit ofa Godly Mint.firy. From the general unflexibleneffe, and uncrattableneffe of peo.., nie under the minifiry of the Word For t his very caufe the Lord plagued, and poured his vengeance upon the fen Tribes as in .Kins 17. from ver. 13. to /9. The Lord teftified againft Ifrael6y all the Prophets, and `y allthe Seers,faying, Thrn you f om your evil wayes ; notwithflanding they would not hear. And for this very caufe did c he Lord afterwards plague all Judah, as Prem. 29. 17, 18,19. And for this very reafon did the Lord Jefus Chria remove Paul from jerufalem, becaufe the people were a (tiff-necked people, and they would not receive Paul's teilimony concerning jefris ; as 2.1(il a. I S. Patel had a great defire to Ctay ar Jerufalem, as appeared by his reafoning with the Lord, ver. 19.20, Buc what faith the Lord Chrifi ? ver. 21. Nom can England, can London plead not guilty of this hainous provocation, a general unflexibleneffe, untra&ableneffe, under a Confcience-ranfacking , a Confcience-fearching Minifiry ? What (hall the Lord do with fuch a people, under fuch a Miniflry ? Lit not jut+ with God to let them alone that are prophane and fu- peraitious ? let there be like people, like Priefls ? let the blind lead the blind, and lathewicked, rebellious Minitler, lead a wicked,loofe people, that both may perifh together everlatiingly. 3, Theunfruitfulneffe, formality, lake-vvarmneffe, declining of Gods own people ; and 'for this the Lord threatens the Church of Ephefies, Rev. 2. 4, 5. I have (faith Chria ) fonsewhat againft thee, thou hail left thy grit love; though not abfolutely for nature,, yet eminently for meafure : And can England, can Londonplead not guilty of this fad provocation ? Now indeed we cannot but obferve, and approve of your flocking to the Lords Ordinances; as Doves to the holes.of a window ; 'but did you do fo fomemoneths agon Oh your voluntary, and fearful diaradions avocations, diverfons from the worfhip and fervice of God ! And it not jull with the Lord to take away that abundance, and choice of fpiritual helps a people had, when they approved not of them, yea, when they undervalued, and defpifed, and abufed them ? Oh the Lord God help us all toaf. !lea our fouls, and to lay our felves low beforehis all-feeing Majefly for our provoking him to do this ! and endeavour to be duly appre- henfive, and deeply fenfible of the infliling caufe, and meritorious caufe thereof. 1. Take heed ofa prophane delight in tools, lewd, wicked, diff6lutt LA/Unifiers. And here wewill prernife two or three things. /. Too many people are too ready to cavilat man?, t.24 nifters with- out a wile. The life of our bleffed Lord and Saviour, was it not traduced ? did not Some fay that he was a friend to Publicans and finneis
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=