412 The T condBooke of Diuinitie, CH AP. ?, God) it pleafed God by thefoolifhneffe ofpreaching, to feu. t RCtn.r.t6, thole that beleewe: as inanother r place he faith , tbat the preachingof Chrift is the power of God vnto faluation toe- u Inmes r.tä, oery one that beleeueth. And IAME s,u Becaufe hee would, bee begat vi by the Wrdof Troth: for this caufe heecal. Iamec t.tr. loth it, x The ingraftedword, becaufe by the Miniaerie thereof , God changcth vs anew : and the Scripture y 31atth.r3,4. i elfewhere compareth it to feed, that as no haruetf can bee without (owing of the ground , nor no generation % Mott.13.13. without the feede ofour fl filly Parents , no more z can any Faith without hearing;oftheWord , nor any Rege- neration, without the feed oftheWord ofGod.i.Pet. r. 23, 24. Being borne againe, not of corruptible [cede, but of incorruptible. That is the Word of God , who lineth and a.. bideth for ewer, which maketh much to commend the excellencie and ueceffitie of Gods holy Ordinance of Preaching. Not that preachinghath this fruit and effe by any a Rom.ro.cy. naturall vertue or power that is in it but by the a Or. dinance and Bleffing of God , who vfeth to hide and conceale his ovine fupernaturall orke in our conuerfi- on, as it is the glorieof God to hide his counfcll , Pro_ c orbs 25. 2.' Neither in laying fo,doewe tic Godvnto the meanes, as though without Preaching it could not bee wrought at all : fdr as in the.thinfs ofNature, he is not tycd vnte themeanes,b( ing himfdfe the Lordof nature : no mort mut+ we fudge him in this worke abouenature, where- inhe taketh glorie to himfrlie, to deale how and which way hee will in an extraordinarie fort. Sometimes in refpc& of the times , fometimes in refpe61 of the per- fans. In the ruinous elate of the Church , when there wanteth a let and fiablifhed forme of gouernmenr, it pleafeth himmany times to bleffe the very found of theWord , though it beebut read or talked of, and Come-
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