'1$4 SERMONS upon Serm.32, Bphef. 6.20. For which I am. an Ambaffador in Bonds. There is his Ambaffadotlhip, and his Bonds ; the greatnefs of his Office, and the lraitnefs of his Condition ; his Digni- ty before God and thè Church, and his Shame and Difgrace in the World. Vfe 3. Reproof to thole that wrong Chril's Meffengers, their Perfons with Re- proach and Violence, or their Elate by Sacrilegious Hands, Peeking to deprive them of their Maintenance. Take heed what you do, the Perfons and Goods of Ambafla- dors are privileged. You rob God and Chrift, whole receivers they are, and to whom there things are confecrated. Rom. 2. 2a. Thou that aJhorrefi Idols, dolt thou commit Sacrilege? God will wink at the Superlition of former Times,that had no better Light, when he will not at the Unthankfulnefs, Rapine, Avarice, and Róbbery of dtele Times, and therefore take he what you do. . I. The Affronts you putIllipon them, redound to Chrift, whole Deputies and Proxies they are. They reprelent his Perlon, therefore he takes it as done to himfelf. Luke ro. r6. He that defpifeth you, defpifeth me g and he that defpifeth me, defpifeth him that feat me. It goes up to God himfelf, from Meffengers to Chrift, from Chrift to God. As the Lord tells Samuel, I Sam. 8. 7. They have not rejee'ed thee, but they have rejefled me, that I fhould not reign over them. Chrift counts it as done to himfelf in his own Perron. 2. It fheweth you do not prize the Word, when you hate the Meffengers of it, when you offer Violence to their Perlons, and rob them of their good Names. Ifa. 52.7. How bekutifid upon the Mountains are the Feet of him that bringeth good Tidings, that publifheth Peace, that bringeth good Tidings of Good, that publifheth Salvation, that faith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth ! The Meffengers of Chrift are precious to thole that have received benefit by them. If ever you tarred the Power of the Word, certainly you would love the Inlruments more. Take heed of rotten Hypocrify. You profefs you deter the Perfecutions of former Times, of Pagans, and Antichril, that fo fu- rioufly perfecuted the Church ; and alas ! you do the fame, when you oppofe God's Meffengers, that live in your Age, whom Chrift hath put into Office, to deliver his Counfel to the People. So the Scribes and Pharilees, Mat. 23. 29, 30. WO unto you Scribes and Pharifees, Hypocrites ; becaufe ye build the Tombs of the Prophets, and garnifn. the Sepulchres of the Righteous; Andfay, if we had been in.the day of our Fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the Blood of the Prophets. Dothan and Abiram were as odious and accurfed to the wicked Jews in Chril's Days, as the memory of Judas and Julian can be to us. Therefore do not flatter your (elves, that you deter the Perfecu- tion of former Ages, when your Heart is carried out,with fuch Rage and Malice againl the Meffengers of Chrift now. 3. God will not always fuffer it. Prophet- hating is a deadly Sin. It is raid of He- rod, Luke 3. 2o. He added yet this above all, that he flint up John in Prifon. So, 2 Chron. a6. so. Then Ala was wrath with the Seer, and put him in a Prifon -hour 5 for be was in a rage with him becaufe of this thing. Were there Scriptures written for our Inftrudion, and yet are you guilty of Prophet- hating, that leek, by SacrilegiousViolence, to rob and deprive Minilers of that which is. their Portion before God and Men ? So, Holes 4.4. This People are as they that Jirive with the Prieji. Enter your Proteft. againl ir, have no'hand in this Sin. SERM.
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