Saint Pauls Legacy. the long manuring of the field, looks for Fruit from the field: Who is the`hou(bolder in the Parable that planted a Vine- Matth.:I. yard- but the Lord ?'What is the Vineyard but the Church ? and what is the Vines but the feverall members of the Church ? Who are the fervants , but the Minifters whom God fends to dreffe his Vineyard ? and what is the fruit which God there expe &s;'but knowledge, faith, repentance, the fruit of his Minifters Iabours in the foules of his fervantt ?' The Shep- heard looks for increafe from the flocke which he watcheth, feedeth, condu ð anddefendeth : the Husband looks for children from the wife whom he efpoufeth, the fruit of his wedlock ; and God, the husband and Shepheard of our foules,looks for fruit from us ; over whom, by his Mini - tiers, he watcheth whom by their labours, he feedeth, con - duð and defendeth,and efpoufeth to hirnfelf.The Teach- er expeð learning from hisSholer;and herein(fäithChrift) is my Father glorifed,tbatye beare much fruit, fe(hallye be my Dij- Io'n 15 8. riples. In regard of honouring and glorifying the Word, and 3. Minifters-thereof : The frnitfulnefTe of the field is the glory of the feed fown in it, and of the husbandman which (owed it the wife which is as the Vine by the fides of the houfe,and the chi.- Pfai.i 18.3. dren f anding like Olive plants round about the Table, are the glory of the houle and husband : happy is he thn hath bis quiver fail! Pca1;I1.5. of them (faith the Pfalmift) he (ball not be afüamed. The fruit - fulnefl'e of the people, when the Congregation is full of fpi- rituall fruit,"like a Vine growing by the houle fide, and the feverall members thereof fat and flouritliing in grace,like O- live plants, then the Word is glorified, then the Minifter is honoured : happy is that Mefienger of God that bath his quiver, the houle of his Miniftery, full of them: It is faid of the Gentiles, that they beard, and glorified the Word of God, and Aas i 3,48, as many as were ordained unto life, beleeved. They glorified the Word of God, by acknowledging the truth ofit, by beleev- ing the promifes of falvation propofed in it, by fubmitting themfelves to the power and authority ofit,by walking an- fwerably to it. Mans obedience is the glory of Gods ordi- nance: the fruitfulnefs of the hearers is the crowne of Gods Meffengers. X, 3 1 t
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