234 The V f ouerse ofHypccrfe. herethree things to confider : fire, the natureofit, it is an Axepat to the root, of trier : fecondly,the vfeof it, to(hewwhat trees be vnfruitfull, and tohem them down; thirdly,the iffue ofthofetrees,which notwithftanding thecontinual! exit. rifeof the word,are found vnfruitful,ihy (halbecafl intothefire.°fthefe inorder. And Ft&ofthe natureoftheWord preached, an Axepat to the rooteoftrees. Firft, it isan Axe. As in buildingthe carpenter isaprincipal! workman;fo in the workof the carpenter,theaxe is a principal) inftrnment : It ("mesas ina gene. rainy to cutandpare, fo in particular to frame and fafhion everyrecce veto his dtCor.i 9, proper place.The Church ofGod isGods baildinga; itisbuilt thcfeande:ion e Bph.z.zo. ofthe Apoflletand Prophets,7rfoi Chrifl himfelfe being thechiefe cornerfirne .The Miniftery of theWord is (as it were) the axe in Godshand, by whichhegathe- rWife zr. rich together his Saints, &makes them togrowvpiñto anholy temple inthe Long.. Doctrinea. Hence it followeth, that it isofa fharpe and cutting nature,and that it isapplied by God for the framing and fafhioningof his people, tobecome true parts and membersofhis Church. That it isof a lharpe andcutting nature, is manifefted both by Scripture, andby experience. For Scripture therein is called the Swordof g Eph.óa r, the Spirit s:it is fa idtobe mighty in operation,andfharper then any twoedgedfrsxrdh. hh Hrb.4,1i, And as forexperience, the fury and rage ofesill menagainft it, is a teftimony i Chip. I. for it, that it cots. In theReae/etion'mention is madeofcertaine Preachers which the Lord did promife toraifevp, even in the midisofthe kingdome ofAntichriit. After, it is faid, that by the crueltyofthe times they Ihould be liaise,and that the people thould rcioyceat theirdeaths, and ja tokenofgladnefl, Iliosid fendgifts one toanother: For (faith theText, giuing areafon ofit) Chofe Prophetsvexed them that dwelcon the earth; the word that was preachedby them,pierced them to thequick, galled them, and tormented them exceedingly. And fowe feeevery day howmen ofcorruptminds repineand kick againft thetruth,there is nothing that troubleththemmore then the hearing ofit, nothing that theydoe more de. fire robe freed from, then theordinary vfeofit. It cutteth theSabbath-breaker, toheart his profaneneffe ftilferied outupon : Itcutteth theadulterer, to hears his vicioufnes continually found fault with: Itcutteth the drunkard,tobeam his exceffe fo often threatned: Itcutteth the ryotorandvoluptuous liver, that his courfe thould euerand anonbe fo eagerly reprooued. And fo in theother parti- culars, it Both men enragemenshearts, that the word of God dothfomeet with them(as it were)at euery tame; and itcaufethmany tocome toheart it nomore than they needs multe,becaufe though they het a face upon it, andwouldmake themfelues and othersbeletue that it is not fo; yet this fame fharpe axe of the Word, when the edge thereof is turned towards them, doth !hike tome wound orother into them almoll atevery Sermon. So that as Scripture bath avouched it, fo commonviewill not Puffer it to beevntrue, that thettinifteryof theWord isa (harp exe,whichbath a'bytingedge,andcutteth, andpiercethwhere itgoeth. The vfeof it in a word, is toiuftifieand tomaintainc to the facesofall gain. fayers, that that very Wordwhich they hearedaily, and whichthey wouldfaint make themfeluesand others beleeue, is but an idleWord, is indeedand in troth the veryWordofGod. For I doebut demandof thy confcience, which doeft monwithftand, or whichare the greaten contemner, whether to thy feeling it bath nota Ibarpe edge,whether thoudoer not perceiue it tobe nill chopping,ro topofffomeone corruption or other that is in thee: doth it not many rimes come foneere thee, that thouwouldeft thinke it wereby the Speakerefpecially intended to thyperfon?doth itnot inwardly troubleanddifquiet thee,andbreed a kindeofchafinganddifcontenrment inthee? Is it not/till linking&piercing, till it come to the very quicke,as if it were a thing whichcrept into thy bofome thoukneweft nothow ? Whywilt thou then fay, this isnot theLords, it is none Ofbia Word, whenas it bath even in thine owoe appreheufion,that cuttingna- tute,whichnothingcan hone, but the livelyanu piercingvoyceofGod. There. fore
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