Hieron - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133.H54 S4 1624

`IhePre4cbers plea. 509 Epaph. The fecond reafon which Ihaue for the maintaining the efficacyof preaching aboue reading, is grounded vpon the ability topreach , which the Lord requirethircueryMinifter: For this being taken for granted, that the Lord would both in the richesof hislone, and the depthof hiswifedome, fee downethat courfewhich (honldbe moll forthe behoofeof his Church: it mull needs follow,thatifhe hauenot thoughtitfufficient foraMinift r tobe able to read , but toperforme Come furtherduty ofinftruding , then furely there is fomething more inpreaching then in reading, andmore profit like tofollow by opening the texr,thenby bare propoundingit. ' Nymph. Towreafonesgeod,ifyorebe ablete prwre t :foritfeernethtofew et bare doítrine,tofay,that Gadrequiretheaery Miuifter entheGbitrchtobe abletotreetth,and thereforeInibyeamay be able tomake itgood Epaph. How hard foeuer and incredible it may feemetofotne, yet I doubt ay,a,M,t notbut toproue it, efpecially ifweebee contentto Yland to the rudgetnenrn ,ç of the Scripture,andto thatfarewerdas S. Petercalletbiso; endeauouring'by ra ypaed, a reuerentkindcofexamination , to fearchout theleerer andhidden meaíiingBaal. Epic. ofGodsSpirit.Andfirltofall, I will place in thefront asitwere ofthis proof, xEét'r'`di that worthy place in the tenth chapteroftheEpilileto the Romans; Howthat!L., jpe- they beleeueis him ofwhom they base not beard , aadhow/hallthey bearewithout a Preacher, midbow(ball tbeypreachexcept they be feet? Thefurnme ofthe place Epip.sa.9a. isthis: that the hearing of aPreacherwhich is fent,is the ordinarymeanes o,- Neeox?vµpci dainedof Godto beget faith. From thence arifeth another point that hee p0 a;'xvea" whore Miniftermuff be themeanesand initrument to begetfaith , muff bee a To despiel. man lent ; for, How can theypreach except they be feat?Onely that man isaPreft. toSaltacaps Cher, whichisfenr. Now ifwe(hall examinewhat it is to beefeat, it will ap.. Theopening peare to be true, that afufficient Minifter to call Gods people, mutt bee a of the plaeq manof better quality thena bare reader cf the Scripture. To beefewthere- 13'"1"4" foreis this , to beeappointed and&pod of God, and (as the Lord fseaketh of Jeremy) fanllified o , or (as Paid faith of himfelfe;) pet apart to thatfernecez.ieremr.f. Wereit not nowa prefumptuous and over-bold imputation, ofa certaindif- äsueari a'wr. lolute carelefites unto the wirer/ andmolt provident Godto fay orthinke that i.ltom, t.r. he wouldputany man inthielatticea,for the works ofthe tylfinjPeryb vnleffe the aITi,a.l.rá; fame were fogifted and qualified, as is meet forthe difchatge of fo weightya bEpheL4.na. bufineffe?Saloson faith, that Hethatfended. awoke by tbehandof foie , (that is,ofaman vnable to deliver the tenorofhis meffage , andto openit tohim to whom it is fent,) re ar hethatcatteth effthefeet e. hisas if he lhouldbida man cProu,26.4 goe, andyet chopoff his fee; wherewith hellroald-erarseil. APrincepin-poring an ambaffageto another Prince, thinketh it not enough that the manwhom he will employ in thatferuice,be able tocarryhis errandwritten in apaper,and faithfully to definer it accordingto dire&ions (for that every ordinary Cutlet and common Port may doe,) butheemaketh choifeofone thatbathhad the bell breeding, ámanof good vnderftanding,of gooddifcourfe,ofgoodbeha= ufour,atdofno 'eredìfcretion,who is in there refpe&sableto debateaud ma- nagechoregreat affaires, asmaybe molt for the behoofe and honourable ad- vantageof him that fendethhim. Shall wee thinke God tobeeleffe carefnll for thebufineffe of his Church, then earthly Princes bee for theirState entifes? Shall a manof the belt quality bee fought out for the caryingofa meffage from onemanto another?And fhall one ofthe meaner/fuffìciencyhaue themi, aßeryofreconciliation betwixtGodand man giueuvetobiw ,? Godforbid. Lee aCor:.r8, all theft things then be puttogether:Fitft, that hewhofe Miniftery (hallbe the i meanestobreed faith,is asa man fenr,which the textanoucheth.Secondly,that tobe fese, is tobe gifted in thatmealare, as agreeingtothe weight offogreat acalling,whieh common fenfe will not Puffervsrodeny ,Thirdly,: hattobea. bic onlyto wade the Scripture,is acommongift,anda faculty ofnogreatnote, Zz 4 which

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=