á.Coi,f , 2o.. Thegreat ton- temptefGods minißcrs, a frgne thatfire profit by their neiniflerie. a:Cór,s. 14. 344 O f thefgnesand in fatlli6le notesofour &&Rion earthour enemie, who is able euery minute to defroy v with the breath ofhisnoflrels; and it hath pieafed the Lord to fend his embaffadours,not only to offer peace, but alto to befeech vs that wee would be reconciled vetohim,as the A- pof}le fpeaketh, 2.Cor..2o; and vpon this reconciliation, hee aflurethvsofthe riches ofhis kingdome:who therefore receiuingand beleeuing this atnbaffàge, will not loue the Embaffadoursthat bring thefe bleffed tidings vnto theta? Who canbeeaffitred of fuch ineflimable benefits, and yet Phewno tokenofthankfulneffe towards them, whoare the meanes whereby they are deriued vnto them? Where by the waywe may note, howfew the number is in thefe daies,who receiue the Lordsambaffage to their fpiritu- all comfort ; how few they are towhom it iseffe&ual for the begetting in thetn.the gracesofGods fpirit ; how fewhere- bycome to the trueaffùrance of theretniflion of theirlimes and euerlaflinghappineffe:feeing thenumber is foexceeding finall who loueand refpea the Lords ambaffadors in regard oftheirambaffage. Nay rather themof},euen for their mini- flerie fakedoe contemne thofe,whomotherwife in refpedl of their learning,wifedome and other excellent gifts ofbodie and mind, they would refpea and highlie efleéme if they were not oftheminiflerie. So that their honourable calling, which aboueall things fhouldcommend. them, doth abone all things make them bale and contemptible:and- noniaruel, feting the moil are fiefh andnotfpirit,the children ofMam- monand 'not the childrenofGod:and therefore,fauoringon- ly things ofthe flefhandnotperceiuing thethings ofthe fpirit ofGod,they feeme fooliflines vnto them,and the prea- chersofthem föoles, and men offhallow conceits. Butlet 'Cor.i.t"B, fuch know, that Godbathchofen thefoolifh thin oftheworld to confoundthe zvrfesand:reake things to-conföundmighty things; andvile things oftheworldand things that aredelperdbath God chofen, and things,that arenot, to bring to nought things that are; that no flelhfhould reioyce in his prefence, as it is r-.Cór. r.verf.27.2.8. Let them know that this their contempt,or at Icafl ftnall regard ofGods ambafladors, is a moll'mani- fe(} fgne thatthey neuer receiued goodby their ambaffage-: for: +41.
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