Book IV. MINIsTERs COMPARED TO cL 0 u D s. S I M I LE. 'IV. A faithful Spokefman is not fatisfied, to fee the Perfon to whom he is in the Behalf of his Mafler a Suiter, to be only ready to hear, and feem to approve of the Motion he makes, unlefs fhe at !aft be brought to a ready and willing Compliance, and fay With Rebecca; I willgo along with this Man; that jt;, I am rtfolved w becomr: lfc-tac's · wife, Gen. xxiv. 58. PARALLEL. IV. So Chrifl's faithful Mini(lers are not fatis– fied to fee Sinners hearken to the \ Vord, and feem pleafed with the DoCtrine of the Gofpel, which ;hey daily preach, unlefs they leave their Sins, and become newCreatures, and clofe in in good Earneft with Chri(l, giving themfelves to him. It is faid of the Saints, <£hey gave themfelves to the Lord. If a Man be a Suiter to a Damfel, and fhe feem to like him, and be pleafed with the Motion he n1akes, and yet never confent eo become his Wife; will thi' plea it- him? furely no: Neither doth it pleafe Cbnft, nor his Minifterc:, to ke Sinners go from Place to Place to hear Sermons, and write Sermons, and commend this and that Preacher, if they do not make a real Contract, and become efpoufed to the Lord Jefus. lt is nothing lefs than a thorough VVork of Grace, Regeneration, or a rrue Converfion, that will fatisfy one of Chrirl's faithful Spokefmen. V. It grieves a faithfu l SpokefV. So it grieves a faithful Minifler, when Sinman, when he finds his Mafler is ners night the Melfage and Tenders of Grace in Oightecl, and his dear and noble the Gofpel; when Chri(l is not embraced, nor L ord that fent him, rejeCted, and a clofed in with; when they only take him into their bale and poor Fellow entertained, Lips, but keep him out .<Jf their Hearts. 0 thi• and delighted in, inflead of him wounds their Souls! Shall Sin, faith the Servant who is fo wonhy. of God, that bale and filthy l:nemy of my Mafter, be entertained and delighted in? Shall the Devil have the Rule and Pre-eminence in you? and t he L ove of the World be fo fweet, which is Enmity to God? And fhall Chrift, who d ied for you on the Crofs, he who i' fo excellent, who is able to make you happy for ever, be Dighted and rejeCted by you? What! will you prefer your b.:fe Lulls above all that unconceivable Good there is in God the Father, in Chrifl his only begotten Son, in the H oly Spirit, and in the Way of Holinefs? VI. A Spokefman, when he fees he cannot prevail, returns, and gives his Mafieror friend tharfent him, an Accounr how Matters go. VI. So Chrifi's faithful Minilters in the Day of Judgment, fhall doubtlefs be brought in as Wit– ndTt·s againft ftubborn and impenittnt Sinners, to whom they preached the Gofpd. And now, faid Abraham's Servant, if )'OU will deal kindry and trury with m_v Majler, tell me; if not, tell me; thot I ll?a)' turn to the Rigbt-ha11d, or to the Left, Gen. xxiv. 49· that is, that I may give my Mafier an Account of my Errand; what fhalll fay to him that fent me? ::,o laith Chrift's Servant, if you will deal kindly and truly with my Mafter, tell me; if not, reil me, that l may turn, &c. I mu![ de– clare to the L ord Jefus, in the great "nd dreadful Day, how you have Dighted or not regarded the Mdfage I am lent about; how you are re!olved to keep ro your other Lovers, and remain in your Sins, being carnal, Iooft, ungm~l}'; and that Chrift is not precious in your Eye, nor will you be perfuaded to torlake all, and follow him, nor l1t made fenftble of that Glory and Beamy that is Holinefs. And what a fad Thing will this be, when a Minifrer mufl: appear againft this Man, and that Man, and fay, Lord, I fpoke to them again and again, I preached an hundred Sermons to them to engage their Hearts to thee, but non" of them would take place, as thou feeft, upon their Hearts, &c. ' MINIsTERs COMPARED TO CLOUDS. Mj Dollrine Jba/l drop as the Rain, &c. Deut. xxxii. 2. I alfo will command the Clouds, that the)' raht 110 more Rain upon it, !fa. v. 6. CLOUDS have divers metaphorical Notations in the holy Scriptures : 1. For Calamities or great AffiiClions: How bath God covered the Daughters of Zion with a Cloud I Lam. ii. ' · 2. Becauf~
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