540 The Preachersplea, the fpeechesoffome:it is worththemarking, howSatan inhisfubtilty under thecolour ofallowing andvrging found preaching, wouldouerthrow diligent preaching ? therein building vpon a falle ground , namely , thata man cannot preachoften, andpreach foundly too ; whichhow falfeit is, the vnreprouea- ble laboursofmany indu[trious Minifiers in this land, are a fufficient witneffe. It is a wifeand holy fpeech ofSalomoa,and may be wellapplied to thispurpofe, ¡Prou. io. 4. 4flethfa/bandmakithpeore,bat the handofthediligentmaktb rich is andagaine; There that fcattereth and umore iaereafed: Met beethatfparetbmeretho ,isright, ;Chap,It.z4..farelycommeth to pommy.. Menofexcellent gifts many times, while(t, either in nicenelfe(fearing to but t their bodies)or in pride ( being asit were vnwilling tomake themfelues too common) they are more fparing in this exercife of preaching(which is the gloryof a Miniffer) through thelull judgement ofGod lofe their former perfedhoti , and as through difule they grow leffe willing, getting a kinde ofhabiteofnegligence, foallo they becomeleiTe able to doe good in the! hutchof God then they were before. Now , whenpreaching (through default ofoften inuringthemfelues onto it) becommeth more itk- fome (they being to feeke inmany things when theyfall to make preparation fori.)thenflrait ,becaufeof their mimevnaptnes (the MCI punifbmeutofidle- nellë) trey conclude, thatthofewho preach fooften (as they call it) preach carelellywithout lady andwithout learning. On the other fide,men (it may be) of meaner(yet commendable) gifts, whoremembring theneeerywhich le srCor.y.r6, Worn them, and the woe which (hall follow, iftbeypreaehnot theGef,ld*,doe cues denote themfelues and all their ftudies and endeauoors to the feruiceof bPhil.1.0. theChurch, anddoe fo lingafter their people from the thyheart room in left. b, that for theirfpirituali furtherance'. hey couldbeteametodeale men theirowes e t Thef.s. S.fades c vnto them : filch Ifay, through the bindingof God upon their holy la- bours, doe foincreafein judgement andinzeale, and haue (ucha¿toreofvtte. el Col. 4f. raneeopened voto then., tofpeakethemiller,ofChriffa, that as they themfelues, placing a kind offelicity inthe doingof their duty, find in themfelues acerten faculty in that heauenly exercife, fo theChurch ofGod committedto them, is inftr%Redby their foundne(feofdo&rine,and whetted onby their zealousex- hortations. So that to fay , that found preaching is for the peoples behoofe, and not frequent preaching,isa meerecolluíon, prefuppofing that which is molt falfe,namely,that fouadneffe ofdoetrine, and oftaeffe ofteachingcannot goetogether. How littleI approueofrallradventuring upon this kindofexer- cife , thatwhich Ihaue fpoken formerlymay witneli'e : and howfmallreafon there is tofeparate thefetwo, profitablepreaching and oftenpreaching, I re- . ferre it toany indifferent judgement. Nymph. Rothecaafe famethat are minded learned,afirme that aftenpreaching not fomuchfar thepeoplesprefit: /herome l prayyore foamgood reafento thecoatrary,tbat Imar beablebath toprenaileapingmineownebackwardneo,wben Ibegin togrowwea- rièofdiligenthearing,andtoFranke othersalfa, when qua thema, it wereglat- tedwithmahitadeof fermane. Epaph.Thereis a certaine difeafe which weare all moreorleffe infe64edwith: etuk.a., ar; ourSauiour Chrift calleth itflownefe of heart e: this euill fickneffe beeing ac. Theaectlliry companiedwith akinde of fpirituall fleepineifeand lethargy, makethvs (as it o£ofteaprea- were) a very lumpe offluggilhneffe, flow inattention, flow invnderfianding, "mg' flow inremembring, flow inpradhiliug. Fief+ forattention, we fee it by every dalesexperience how like the moll ofdar hearersareunto the idols ofthe hea. fPfal.t11.6. then,ofwhom the Pfalmefaith,that theyhane earet andhearsnet f:-Itis truethat %Iub 33.14. LimboPaid to lob; Godf)eaketb once ertwice , andone feethit nett: many excellent things are fpoken which wee obferue not we heartgenerallywith the hearing blob4s: I, of the carob fo that wee haue all neede to haue that of the Prophet often ikreek327. Vroed, geethat hearetb,let hint heire r that fo weemight cndeauourrofetch vp
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