re drewfe SAINTS. 199 Beare them, yet their Miniftry was little better they no Mini - «ry; as the Text (heroes, the people that fate under their Minittry, are laid to be at Peephavinn s . Sbepbeadd, Mat.9 . 36: They preacht as if they did not preach ; people might come to their Sermon; and be neere a jot moved ; nay, fuch as came with a aefire to be quickned, could get no quickning at all under them, Matthew layes they fate under darkneffe yet for all them. Tbefeare 'doll Shepheards; ff'v to the Ido11 Shepheards, Zach. 1 . t 7 . Thirdly, a dead Miniftry does doe little or no good ; thoughit be never Io true; yet it is very unfruitfull ; it does tot awaken any of the Auditory, it does not Rattle any of the hearers, it does not rowze up mens hearts, it does not grapple with the Obfîinate, it does not pull down the Proud, neither is it fitted to,work upon the Confcience; you may fee an example of this in the Angell of theChurch of Sardis, a dead Minifter, a dead people, as he was dead himfelfe, fo his peo- ple were dead too ; a lively lvlinifiry does a great dealt of good, It even Is the favour of life unto life unto theft that be of Ged,or elfe the fawns of deathtorte death, unto theft that be not of God, 2 Cor.2.s 6. it ever workes one way, either it makes people rage, or it fats people up, or ellé it drives people home unto God ; which way fo ever it works, it is a fweet favour unto God , it glorifies God; but a dead Miniftry does neither, it is a flat weapon and cuts not, it is a blunt Sword and wounds not; may bee it bath the true words of GOD, but they are not in a wife work -mans hands to make them as Goads and (harp Nayles ; partly good points , but not pointed to prick any bodies heart ; it is Paid when Patel Preacht,fome went' away converted, others vreataway blafphedtiug, Aft., 3.45.4s. Fourthly, a dead Miniftry God feldome goes along . with it, nay, that's the life of a Minifiry, when the Mi- r-rifler leckes God so goe along with him; now a dead Miniltry God goes not along with it , a lively \tiniftery Chrift goes along; with it, 'So 3 am with ru to the im of Rtaf.3 ea .4.
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