Fenner - Houston-Packer Collection BX5037 .F46 1651

1 ATt'eatifeoftheAffet1iorrs. 1 93 ment of all elements, and therefore if there be any feeling at all in you, the Word is able to flir you, even as if ye' had a fire in your bowels. Beloved, either we that are Gods Miniflers are unskilful to handle the Word, or elfe ye are fenfeleffe and Ilupid, if ye do not fit upon hot coals for to hear it : itwill make the drunkards heart ake to hear what this Word fayes to him': it will make the worldlings heart ake, and the fecure Chriflians heart eke. The Word is fire, Did not our hearts burn Within us, While he opened to us the Scriptures ? Luk. 24 3 2. The Word did fo inflame their af- fecfions, that their hearts burned to hear it. Does not the godly heart burn to hear the Iweetneffe of Gods pro - mifes ? and burn when the Scriptures are opened to dired thee ? And fo on the other fide, does not the Ufurers heart burn, when the Scriptures are opened that rip up his fins ? Does not the carnal profeltors heart burn now and then as he fits, when the Scriptures are opened to Phew him his rottenneffe? there be fuck fcorching texts in the Word; texts of death, texts of judgement, texts of hell and dam - nation, they may well make a Wicked heart burn for to hear them ; and therefore the Word being fo full of aflec hon, a Minifler that preaches it, mull needs be an affectionate preacher, if he be a true preacher, otherwife he cloth not preach the whole Word. Secondly, As the Word is full of affel'eion it fell, fe it Tl vo,d looks that a manJhould be fug ofaf feIlion that obeys it. Gcti by loves no other obedience, but obedience with aWeclion; he be ,b,ycd loves. a, cheerfulgiver. 2 Cor. 9ì7. So God loves a cheerful with ,ffe obeyer, a cheerful repenter, a cheerfu.l:beleever ; Whatever 411,15, ' we do in his fervice, he loves we fhould do it with affec5tiori Should a Minifler preach without any affection; happily ' he may reafon *men out of many of their fins, and prevail with them to take up the duties of religion, bot all would be formality, Without any áffeïi,on.- It is, a good laying ;of Aujlin, the godly mull have affeelions;in,obedience,àthe s. wife they are not obedient. N 3 There

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