Chap." 3 3. ales E Priore upen the B04_1 o 'i. Yerf. z3. righteoufnefs. Their skill and daty is tira toexplaine what the Covenant is, and rightly to lay down how the finners reconciliati- on toGod is wrought. Secondly, to make a futable and feafona- ble application of ir, or to bring it home CO the fouls. and confci- ences ofpoor (inners, as they find their &ate ro be. And as the Minilters of Chriff are Gods interpreters tohis people, fo they are the peoples interpreters unto God. They are the former,twa wayes ; Firit, by opening the mind of God to his people ; Se- condly, by urgingand pretfing them to receive it both for their direction and confolation. They are the latter four wayes : Fir¡t, by laying open and fpreading the peoples wants, and weakneffes before God. Secondly, by confefling their fins, and tranfgreflions ro God. Thirdly, by inrreating the Lord for them, or bypraying formercy, pardon, and forgivenefs in their behalfe, for fins com- mitted. Fourthly, bygiving thanks in their name for mercies re- ceived. Thus they are firft, Godsmouth to the people in preach- ing & declaring the Gofpel;Secondly, the peoples mouth to God inprayer and thanksgiving. And in both performe the werke and Office of an interpreter. And ifthe Minifters of the GofpelI are interpreters; Then, Firft, Every Minifter muff be acquainted with the mind of God. He mutt have skill in the myftery of the Gofpel. Hor fhall he be able to interpret themind of God to finners, who is not acquainted with the mind ofGod ? Fle&tee the mind of (brill (faith theApoftle of himfelfe and his fellow-labourers in the Gofpel (a Cor, a. r6.) and when he faith, we have the mind ofChriP, his meaning is not only this, that they had the mindof Chrift written in abook,. but they had a cleare under- ¡landingof it, and fo were fitted to interpret it roothers. Secondly, Asiie muft have the knowledgeofthe myftery,fohe tnuft havethe tongueofthe learned (Ift. 50. 4.) That he may be able to fpeak, a word infeafon to him that'Ac weary that is, to the wounded, and troubled in confcience ; 1lsi .is_ ! e' interpreter intendedby Ellhu. He isone that bath learned, and is taught cf God. Humane learning, theknowledge of Arts, and Sciences, is good, and bath inure ; but divine learning,or' learning in divine things, that is to be divinely learned, ('cis poffible for one to have learning in divine things, andMt ro be divinely learned ) is abi is ely neceffary tomake him an interpreter. It is not C c c enough 377
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