368 Of thec514ini.lerie. They that teach not themfeluesyAre vnfitto teach others : And thecatife why mu, profit.not in theword is,becaufethey pray nottohaue their hearts ltriken therewith, W attobrew 3 Inall effentiallpoyntsof theMinitterie we mufhin no cafe followman : but inacci - pi, dental( circmnftances Chriftian loueIùffereth many things,fo that on the one fide we to- leratenot too much,andon the other fide fuffer too little. 4 Like asifwe moderatelyftreineawomansbreafh ,therewill iffüepure and holefome tLsk. milke,and by violent wringingof it, weeprouoke bloodallo, and vnholefome matter to comeforth : euenfo in our modeftand naturali applyingof the wordwee yeeld thehole. Comeand puremilke ofGodsword,but inour immoderatewrefting ofit wee ftreineout ourowne corruptions,and deliuervnpure dottrine. Yoprayfir the p When neitherMtnillers rebuke finne,not Magifhratespunifh it, there it crieth to . aimfcrne. heauen that God might punilhit. Woe thenbe tothemwho thinke themfelues atgood quiee,whentheir ftnnes crie out for vengeance in heauen, albeit theyhue in great peace on earth. 6 k is a fearefullthing to lofe thecompanie ofthegodly.Andthough the worldthink they areat good quiet, yet when Noah and Lotthat rebuked their hones are departed, thenare men molt fitfor Gods iudgements tofall vponthem. 7 Where a people handyderive byprayer the minilterie ÒfGodsword, the Lordwill fendthem faithfull ones, and will multiplie his graces in them : but becaufe people arefa full ofcarnalifecuritie, the Lordfends them filch aseither for abilitiecannot, orfor affe- dtionwill not deliuer the wordofGod vntothem. 8 The Miniftersof God aremoredifcouragedbythe difobedienceoftheir ownepeo- ple,thanby themalicioufneffe oftheir énemies,be they neuer fomightie.But let Gods mi- tQttooffenda niftersknow,thattheymuft cuerhataefometorefufe them:butleEeuerychild ofGod take AY `91in1- heed,that heoffendnot hisgodly Minifter : and ifhe bathoffended, let himwith fubmiC- liion feeke to pleafehim: for as Paulfiith,IfIbe furiewho canma !meglad,but thofby whom ;Mouebeen madefurie ?And let the Minifterof theLord remember,that the fruitsofhis la- boursamongft the people,be asit werethe life and crowneofhisnúnifterie : fo Paultea chethalfo in hisowne example : I doe lisoe,ifChrtJldoe line layon. y The lfraelitesmurmured againftthe Lord,thouglt theyTeemed to repine but againft Aloft: & Aaron.Chrift faith,Hethat hearethyon,hearethme,&c. Solongas theMiniftersof GodCroft notin themfelues,nor doeanythingofthemfelues,but that whereunto theyare calledand ordained : iftheyberefitted, the Lord in them is refitted ; and ifwerefufe lush, weerefufe the Lord,i.Sam. i z. But when they be notordainedofGod, norbringnot word ofGodwith them,thcn thecurfe caufeleffeMall not fall. But ifwe be alluredoftheir calling, or perfwaded oftheir doctrine: or if doubting and fearching by the Scriptures we findeic true,then ifwe obey not,the Lord is highly difhonoured. ro It is neceffarie that the Minifterof God,doe very fharply rebuke the people for their finnes,andthat he lay before them Gods grieupus iudgements againft finners:for lb Tr.t.n.tz.t3 the A oftlecommaundeth: Rebukethemfharply,thattheymayhefnndinthefaith. And a- The áfinifIer gaine,t.isneedfullforthepeoplethattheyhauetheirconfciencestouched ,andtheirharts waftrepprose made knowne vntothem, that fotheymaycome out oftheirfinnes, and preuent the lea. (lanesfhorply. nit iudgetnentofGod. tr The lfraelitëswere fometimesattheir witsend,and thereforecould' notpray:fothat they hada fingularblefiìngto haveMofer toprayfor thé.So had whéAbrahampraied for him: So had the Ifraelites when Samuel,Phineas,and Eliaswere ready to pray for them. This muff teachvs to fetmuch byGodsferules amongvs,which pray forvs, & notto haue th8. inftnall account. Eccl.faith,Thegodly inproferity itnotregarded,bnt in adrterfrty theyare fooeghtvnto.And indeed they areour chiefeft helpe,as is faid ofElias,that he was theçhariot andhorferoflfrael. &this is notonly profitablefor whole countries,but for eueryparticu- larman,ÿwhen hecannot pray,but hath(as itwere)his heart &tongue fart locked vp,yet then Gods feruantsdo pray forthé,that aftertheymaypray thentfelues.Whereforeletvs euer be readyto pray fòr others, though theybewicked,and hauedonenodutie to vs,yet it is Godsgracethat we ftand,that we might reach ahand to thesn;andthoughthey haue reic&e4
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