Chap. 3 3. An Expoftion upon the Book of J o B. Verf. a 3. 373 out by C1,rifL As myfather hathfens me,fofendIysu, faid Chrifi CO his Apoftles ( Johnzo. 2 t.) And though that Title of Apoftle, which fignifierh One feat, ora Meffenger, be moll properlyattri- buted to thofe, who were immediately called and infpired by Chrill, yet in an allayed fence it may be applyed,commodioufly enough,to any true Mtntfier of the Gofpel, for he alfo is fent ; he hach both his million and commiflion mediately from Chrifi; ®Jlo[ar hiP Yea the word Apofile is applyed in common toall or any that are non ecili Pent upon bufinefs (;3ohn 13. i 6.) He that is feat ( let himbe mums, fed who he will or upon what occafon foever he is fens) is not generate na- greater then he that fends him. men efß,m um So then, the Miniflers of theGofpel are called the meffe ogerf eummud= of Chrifl ; Firfl,Becaufe they are fent byChrifi, and have aCom- fro millionfrom him. Secondly , They are his mefengers becaufe they are inftrueled by Chrifl, and carryforth his mind : theymay not fpeake their owne words, nor their owne fence, butthe word which they bring, is or ought to be, what they have received, or what Chrifi bath put into their mouthes, that s their duty. And the meífengers of'Chrifi are to fpeak his mind. Firfi, Plainly (t (ór: 2.4.) In thedemonlration ofthe Spirit Secondly , boldly, not flattering theperfons, norfearing the faces of men. Thirdly, They lhould fpeakauthoritatively, though they befeech,and beg, andpray, yet they are todoe all as having . a warrant forwhat they doe, and as being cloathed with power fromon high. Ifany manffea4( faith the Apofile,i Pet.4. ix.) let him fpeah,ias the Oracles ofGod. As he is to fpeak the Oracles ofGod, fo as the oracles of God. Some fpeak,who- doe not fpeak the oracles of God, but their owne opinions. Others fpeak the oracles of God materially, that is, they deliver divine truths, yet they doe not fpeak them as the oracles ofGod; with that au- thoritywhich becomes the Gofpel ; we fay of forge, They marr their tale in the telling; Though they report, or tell-the mindof him that fent them, yet they fpoyle it in reporting it The Mini hers of the Gofpel fpoyle their meffage, unlefre they report it - plainly, boldly, andwith Authority. Thirdly , If Miniflers be the meífengers of Chrifl, ill rely 'then, ' they are to be heard, and their meffageIs to be received ; if God fends a meifenger tous, (hall we not open the doore to hinì if friend fend a mefienger to us, he takes it very ill (and well het.e ir
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