ATreatifeof the Affeetions. llol felf : when Eli his Eons were wicked, and Eons of Belial, I the Text (ayes, the people loathed Gods offerings. The finne of ¡ the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering,of theLord, r s4m.a.ì7. At the bell, the people, though never fo greedy otherwife for to hear, yet if the Minifter do not as he faies,they have fmal affeéti- on to hear him: Chrift knew this by his Difciples,who were willing to hear him whenfoever he preached, but he knew they had little affeftion to hear a Sermon of the Pharifees, who Paid and did not, And therefore he was fain to com- mand them not to be offended at that, but to hear them. It was not then in vain,that the Apoffle exhorts Tim to look to his own life. In all things Aew thy felf a pattern, fayes Tu.a.7. he,a patern of good works.For if the Minifter that preaches be not a good pattern to his people, his Sermons will not be fo able to flit up affeEtions in their hearts. Pafce verbo, pàfce exemplo, fayes Gregory : we muff feed them by do- Grcgory. Brine, and feed by our example : this is the way to Itir up affe rions in our hearers. It is true, theppeople ought to be Itirred up by the Word, in whole mouth foever it be, and it is their fault that they,be not, but yet it will never be fo : the Minillers contrary life in any particular, as it is turfed of God, fo likewife it is a fcandalous thing unto others, and an infinite occalion of offence, and takes off the edge of the Word. Yea; commonly it does more hurt then all Ithe preaching can`do good. For thus men will argue, If it be neceffary to live as be fayes, then why does not he live fo himfelf ? He bath more learning then I, and the like nay, they call the Word into queftion, and hoodwink their I fouls with prefumptuous pretences. Thus millions of fouls' are gone to hell with their Minifter for company : Malus Minifier eft nifus Djaboli, It is a true faying of a Father, An evil Minifter is the devils Gof -Hawk or Sparrow-Hawk. He goes a birding for hell. But why fpeak 1 of thefe things among you whorl it concerneth not.? Yea, it concerns you i much every way.. For as it is a curfe to a-Parifir thata nMi- p 3 flaky
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