The ¶reachrrsp /c4a 507 cell in emery One that to called to the Rlinfery. Experience is fometimescalled the tint:rifleoffooles, but byit in thispoint wifemenmay learne agood le(foutfirfl ofall, ifthere bea: view takenof all the places andParllhes where there hathbeen ondy reading , and ofthofc which hanc been furnilbed with a feticd preaching Mini(}er , wholecare bath been to dex,d,: thewordoftrietharight o , the different efiate of the places will .foone a' Tun. xs 5* make knowne the worth ofpreaching above reading ; for lookeinto chafe wholiaueever reled themfelues fatisfiedwith areadingMini(ler, neitherfeet kingnor caringfor better meanes ofinftm&ion, and you )hall finde them áe- nerally to beewofully ignorant,lamentably blind in the matters ofGod, alto- gether children im vndoß4ndingb, popish, fuperflitious, heathenilh., in one br Cáraq.ao word(to fpeake with theApollle)walkiag inthevanity oftheir minde, haaingtheir cogitationsdarkned, andbeingfraagersfrow the l:feefGod, thromgb the ignorancethat them, beeaafeofthe hardaefeof theirhearts` .. This is the genereli condition Ephei 417. offuch perlons. But looke againe tothofe, whohave been tanghrMike word a, d G 61.6. 6. and haue made confciencetoprofit by the good meaneswherewith God bath bleffed them, there fhall you fee the Seale a of theMiniflery, euen the con- e r Cor.y.í. nerfionof foules , comfortable knowledge and confcionable carriage , the Lords Sabbath fantlified, his word accountedprecious, the Sacraments- re- uetently vied,, private families trainedvp in the infin e!Wonandinformationof the Lord',, andeuenavery Mach in emery hemfeo. Iknow indeed thatthere arefEPhofe,4; many goodpeople dwelling inparifhes wantingpreaching, and manyigno- gPtulem;z, rant andungodlyones in places well Equifhed with teaching. For Godfome. times cauleth his word tobeefpoken to Morewbicb mamahears, neither indeed willceafeh : But yet let there cireumllances notedbymee bee remembred, of refting well enough fatisfied with barereading, and ofreioycing in the bene- fit of anable preacher , and then it will bee foundtrue whichI haue faid , and be a fnfficiem teftimoayofthe power ofpreaching above reading. Secondly, whereas the Scripture is a witnes ofthe bad opinionwhich theworld-will haue hEce z, L oftheminifleryof the word, affuringthem thatare calledto thatoffice, that thefaithful] difehargeof theirduty fhaliberewarded withaffiiúiani, with ha- iSTim,z,3: eredk,withallma,inerofmill lofts' ; lee any man examinehisowneobleruati- kiohar6.3; On, andfee In whichof the two the Readeròr.thePreacher, this is belt veri- ohntt.y, fled. It is an old laying, Oat by the marketb falkesyom'hall vnder¡fandbow l Mar. fat. themarket geeth. Take see therefore a common man whom you meete by chance, andqueflion withhim touching theplace wherehe dwelled), and a: bouthis Minifler; ifhebe butaReader, you Ihall haue him lay lirait, Teso!y wee base agood hone() quiet man, wary indeed :be cannot Preach, but.be limetb peaceably and medleth with no man, and is very wel-belomed amongf} vs t far wby,he as afellow-likeman,rbc. But put cafe the Minifterbe apainefull preacher; One that feeketh to drawthe people from their godies and fitperftirious cour- fes,to the knowledgeofGod,then you shall hearehim inanother tune; hewill fay then , There we ham a man, famefay bee islearned , but furs lam.. bee bath trembled vs all , a good many o fvt wilbbee had metier some amongflvs , wee were all pie: before, but now pll . is one offrame; there is feel, reproauing and fin- ding offand:, :andbringing vp ofnew fafbiens and orders, that we krrnw nos what ro doe, force of the deflofour parefh will'deewhat they ran to remorse him a thefe and the likeare the thoughts and fpeechesofno fmall many, andthe fame no fooles in the riesofthe world, who doe indeed iuflifie preaching by condem- ning itm, and fhew it tober;e power ofGod by refitting it. Thirdly, for one mans1317. otherfpecialtydrawne from experience ; Iwillappeále -unto mensconfcien- ces, whether they be fucb as (care Godor otherwife. They syhich fore God, an. trembleat hiswords', anddoe in humilitydelre to knowthe Lords,floesa, nifayea. a. cannot but acknowledge, that they doe much more increafeboth in theknsse_' z'a5'4 Z 3 ledge,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=