MINISTERS COMPARED TO SPOKESMEN. Book IV. to the Lord J efus; as Abraham's Servant was employed to ob:ain Rebecca for Ifaac. It is the main Work of a M ini(\er to wjn Souls, and bring them over to Chrift. Note, Minii\crs may fitly be compared to Spokeftnen. S l M I LE. I. A Spokdinan is a Friend to the Lover, one char knows his ·secrets, and is judged faithful, a P erfon that he confides in, and is therefore truf\ed with his great and moO: weighty Concernments. Abra– bmnhad great Confidence in his Ser– vant, and therefore cholc· him for thac Work, viz. to go and take a Wife for lfaac. II. A fa.thful Spokefm1n is vny in:ent and diligent in his Bufinefs. Abraham's ~ervan t would nor eac nor driok, until he had ddivered his Mdrage, or told his l::.rrand. Ill. A Spokefi11an ufes mony Arguments to engage rhe Affe{ti– ons of the Perfon "' whom he is fent; he doth fer forth the Menrs, Riches, and Worthinefs of the Perfon who is the principal Suiter. PARALLEL. I. MINISTERS are the Friends of ChriO:; I have called yott Friends. They know the Mind of Chrift: <J"he Secrets of the Lord are with them. All 'Things, f•ith Chri!t, that I have beard of my Father, I have made known unto you. You bave not chofen me, but I have cboftn you, John xv. 14, 15, 16. Chri!l: chufcs none to this Work, fuch as are faithful: And ]thank Chrifl Jefus our L ord, who bath accounted me faitbful, puttmg me into the Minijlry, 1 'J'im. i. 1 2 . 11. So a faithful Minifter is very diligent about his Maf\er's Work. Peter and Jobll fodook all, and followed Chrifl. tle gives himldf whol ly up to the Work of the Gofptl. They cfleem, wid1 holy 'job, the Vvords of his Mouth more than their necdfJry Food, Job xxiii. I z. lll. So MiniO:ers may ufe many weighty Argu– ments tO perfuade Sinners to fall in love with, and elpoufe thcmfelves to the Lord J efus, to accept of the Offers of his Grace and divme Favor, being not willing to take any Denial, if pofflble. They pray, woo, and befeech in Chrifl's Name ; andfome of the Arguments they ule are Ihcfe, viz. 1. They fet forth the Greatnefs of Iheir Lord and Mafter. I-le is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, faith Paul ; the Lord of Life and Glory, faith Peter. 2 . They fer forth his great Riches: Unto me, who am lefs tban the leaft of all Saints, is this Grace given, that I jhould preach among the GentilfS the unfearchable Riches of Chrifl, Eph. iii. 8. See how Abraham's Servant pleaded, when he came to court the Damiel: <fhe Lord bath blef!ed my Mafter greatly, and he is become great ; and be bath given him Flocks and Herds, &c. Silrer and Gold, and Man Servants, and J\.1aid Servants, and Camels, and AJ!es. And Sarah my Mafter's Wife bare a Son to my Maft<r, whm jhe was old, and unto him he hatb given all that be bath, Gen. xxiv. 35• 36. 0 how rich and "rear, faith .a Minif\er, is God! The Cattle of a thoufand Hills are his: <J"he Earth is the Lord's, .and the Fulnefs thereof A nd ChriO:, fait h he, is appointed Heir of all Thin<>s. All'l'hings that the Father hath, are mine, John xvi. I 5· and xiii. 3· He knew~ that the Father had given all Things into his Hands. 3· They fet forth nor only the Greatnefs and Riches of Chrift, but alf(> his admirable Beauty: He is fairer than the Cbildrm of Men, Pfal. xlv. 4· They fct forth the Grearnefs of IllS Love, Jo far as they can conceive of 1r, or make ir known; for the Breadth, Length, Dt>pth, and Hei"ht of iris wonderful, as Paul :hews, and pa!feth Knowledge, Eph. ii1. I8, '9· 5· J"hey fet forth his Power and Sovereigmy: He bath all Power in Heaven and Earth; he is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth ; nothing is roo hard for him tl) do; Men and Devils, Wind and Seas are ar his Command. 6. They fer forth his great Wifdom : He is the Power of God, and the Wifdom of G•d, I Cor. i. 24· Saith the Apofi.le, i>l him are hid all the <freafures of Wifdom and Kuowledge, Cot. ii. 3· 7 . They fer forth his great and glorious End in coming into the World, which was, that we mi"ht have Life, and to bet,oth us to himlelf for ever. 8. They fet forth the Grearn~fs of his Sufferings, ·his wonderful Abafemeot, the Nature of his bloody An– gui!h he fufl"'cred npon the T ree. \.Yhat I cloth not this Jefus, faith the Servant of God, that comes to you through a Sea of Blood, deferve your Affec'lion? &c. 9· They ufe Argnments of another .Nature, fuch as are taken from the Confideration of the Sinners dead, curfed, and m1ferable State W>thout Inm; the Blelfednefs of fnch as do embrace him, and efpo.ufe themlelves to him; and divers others, too many here for me to reckon up. IV. So
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