Metap11ors., .Allegories, Similes, ' I)pes, ·&c. ·,THAT R E·S P.E C T rr. The true Minifters I :. I ,of the Goipel. H. Falfe MinHl:ers. HI. .Falfc Churches. 'M 'IN 1ST 'E 'R s ·COMPARED TO AN iG :E .L s. c<fhe ftven Stars are the Angels of the [even Churches, &c. .Rev. i. 2 • •Unto the Angel of the Church of Epbefus, c&c. . Rev. ii, .x. MIN·ISTERS aFe called .Angels. AN G E 'L S. 'I. ANGELS are endued with moO: eminent Power and :Dignity,, they .excel in ·Strength. II. Ano-els are God's Meflen– :gers, and"'are often fent·to bring aood ·News to Men; the Angels · brought the fir!1:T-idings ofChri£rs Nativity. Ill. Angels.are very wife; .Da– 'Vid was faid to be wife, according ·to the 'Wifdom of an Angel of 1God, 2 Sam. xiv. 22 . IV. Angels deore to ·pry into ·the My!l:eries of Grace and Mcr– ,cy,, by Jefus Chrift, 1.Pet. i. 12. V. Angels are lively, beautiful, and fhining. When Angels appear– ·ed to divers Perlims, of whom·we read, their Brightnefs and Glory was very great. VI. Angels.are very obedient.to ,God, they do his Commands,.and wait for his Word, VII. Angels .are fwift in .exe– .curing their .Bufinefs; hence .latd ;to have Wings. VIII. Angels have made·known .much of the Mmd of God tO the ·Sons of Men. IX. Angels admire, reverence, and ac!ore the glorious M<jdry of 'P A 'RA L L EL '1. so hath ·God e~d~ed • his Mini!l:e_rs with great Power and Dtgmty, they are-hts Sub!litutes .on Earth, they reprefent Chrifl:·himfelf; and Patil .faith, He could do all 'Ihings througb Chrifl that jtrengthmed him, Phi!. iv. ' 3· ll. So the Mir,ifl:ers of the Gofpel are Chrifl:'• Meffengers, they are called the Meffengers of the ChurGhes, and the Glory of Chri!1:, thev brino– rhe glad Tidings of.Peace and Salvation, by Cnrift~ 2.-Cor. viii. 23. Ill. Minifters of .Chrifl are, or ouo-ht to be, wife M•n, they underfl:and t he Myfterie~ ofChrift", and .open them -to others. The 'Secrets of the Lord are with them, the Angels themfdves under– Jta:nd the manifold Vvifdom of·God by his Saints, and Mini!ler.<of the Gofpel, Eph. iii. 10. IV. Chrift's true Mini!l:ers, make it their great Bufinefs to !1:udy Chrift, to di" and dive into the hidden Myfteries; -I determined t-o know nothing among )'OU'btcrChrifl, andhim·crucified, 1 Cor. ii. 1, 2. 'N. Chrifl:'s true Minifl:ers are lively, and very beautiful; when the Spirit of the Lord is emi– nently upon them, they fhine gloriouOy in Grac~ and Holinefs : St(pben, .vho w.as a glorious .Preacher, was f.1id ro fi1ine like the Face of an Angtl, ACisvi. 15. VI. The faithful Preachers .of the Gofpel are very ready to obey .God's Commands, though they .are thereby expoled to great Danger, if ·God bid them go, they go, Rom. i. . I 5· VII. The Mini!lers of the Golpel are fwifr in their fpiritual Motion, they are faid to fly in the Midfl: of Hea:ven, hav.ing the ever.lafl:ing Gofpel to preach, &c. Rev. xiv. 6. VII!. Ghrift's tr.ue Minifl:ers daily .make known the Mind and Will af God, it is one great Part of their Work ond Bufinels. IX. The Minifl:ers of Chrifl:, and all true ,.Chriftians.admi1.e and adore God, and his glor!ot!• .JVJ",' fty.
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