96 Chap.2. ACommentarievpon 4 gels.Forthevertue to renewor regenerate , is not in it , as in a fubiett,but in the godhead ofthe fonne. The fccocd caution is,that grace is not infcparably annexed,and tycd,tothe word preached ,for to fomc it is tht fauour ofdeath,to dcath.The third is,that the preaching of the word is an extert}all'afro. , ment of faith,and regencration:andthe proper fiet`ì of tt,is to declare, or fignifie.And it is aninfrumentìbecaufe , when the mtnifters of the word, doeby it fignifie and declare, what is to be.donc,and what is the will of GoJ, the fpirit of God in. wardly.inlightens the mindc,and inclines the heart to bclecue, to and obey. Hencewe Iearne that it is a magicall'fiEtion , to fup pole that fine words, For this id my ',die, fhould tranfubftanti. ate the brcad,into thebodie ofChaff. Secondly , we learne, that the Sacraments doe not confereegrace,exopereopen. to, by the moredone.For the word and Sacraments, arc both of one it nture(Sacramentsbeeing a vifble word.) Now theword,& thepreachingofit,doth.not conferrc grace , but onclydeclare what God will conferre . Thirdly, by this it ap.peares, that charmes or fpels , haue not force in them to cure difeafes,and to worke wonders, but by fatanicall operation. For the bell 20 wordofall,euen the wordpreached,hath it not. Lally,we arc here to beputin mind,that we loofe no time in hearing ofthe word;for it is ameatus whereby we arc deniedand renewed. &eerybranch that bringethforthfruit,Godpurgeth it byhis word I, and other meanes,that itmay bringforthmoref;site, Ioh. z 5. 2 It is a thing tobe obferued , that the Apofiles at lerufalem,' $ acknowledged Paul tobe anApoftie :becaufe he had the gift ofan Apof'}te,and becaufe his minifteric was powerful! anög theGentiles.Therefore,theywhich haue thegift ofteaching, by whome alto God ispowerfull in the conuerfion offlutters, 30 arc MinifterscertenlycalledofGod. Let them thinke on this, that vtterly condcmne the minifterie ofthe ChurchofErig- land.For many teachers amongvs, can (hew both thegift of teaching,and the power,or efficacyoftheir miniftery. It is worth the marking all() , that the Apoffles are called 35 Pillarr.Here wefee,what is the charge ofthe minifters of the word,namely, tofuftaine and to vphold the Church, by do- trine,praier,counfel,good life. Elizeus is calledofloas, The charretsandhorfemen oflfrael,2.King. s 3.4. And theChurch ofGodvpon earth., is called the Pillar andgrowloftretetth,in rctpod
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