aicr. t~tJ. -----------------------~-"---""-""'"'""·--·~ ! the :z.. Chdp.ojthe ~eveI. . 2. 77 I ~I A pi< dedy in Joue tb Cod 1 to tdigloh, ond to their brethren; or doe lie in-any cotnmon li.n;· theyprocur~ hereby the remoUing of the gof. he will come thorrly v~1to vs, l.nd chat by mo!t fearcfull iudg:emems. For this was written to the Church of Ephelits, to be odirec1lo" not oncly vnto them, hut to all Churches to the end ofchc world, that be in the like or worfe cofe.Wbai lhall we then doe? pc! from thC,&: the abol1D1ing oftrue rcl1g1btl. ' ! b Ti~< ProRhct w 4 Joo/e ( Guh the Lord)\ bHot 91 and the mar. of rhe JPirtt u maddr: This" ~sa I Our duty is taught vsin thefc \\'ords(ffn.rj that is, if thou reptJit n:oc. V+le mufl prcucnt the Lords comming in iuclgcrhcnt by vnfamcd rcpemancc: cuery man and eucry family apart mufirepentpriuatly, and the whole Cht•rch openly ond.publickdy: no way clfc we lraue,to ftay the Lords comminzr, againfi vs by his tCar.;.. gr<'at Jnd fearcfuJI wdgcmcm: buc IT'atk:e the caufc; .All u for thr~r rmqfl1t1~ rh~t 1s, fot the J1nne of the "hole Church doth God fend fOol1!11 nundlcrs.lfchJs be fo,thcn wehauc mfll uufc 1n our Church ro fcare the rc:rnoom1~g of the Co{pcl from vs,fbr there IS :'1 gcncr<1l de:.·c'ly l ?flouc in many, anJ in the uwH bo lot:c <!t :~11.! full iudgemems. . The .fccond part of~thb' rr.afon, is a rho re 1 parcicular thrC'att.ling then the former: '4»d B ,.,;t/ "'""'.'" thy Candlrjficf<! oitt of hu pi•«. Where he lheweth wiih whatporti~u1ar iu"dg– mem he will punifh his Church: namely, by remoouing aWaJ tb(tttndlrffickJ. The meaning whereof moy be gathered nut of ti-re ·former chapter,where panicular Churches w·c.rc called candleftickcs; thcr:eforc here he threatn.eth to remoduc his Church from the cide ofEphe– fus: to take away the Mini!lcrie of his Gofpd, and the profeffion thereof;ond in his iull iudg– ment to fend among them, Ignorancc,ApoHafic, and hcrcfic, in Heedof the knowledge of his truth. This particular iudgcmcnt muA: be referred to thcfirfi words, Ifnot; that is,ifthou repent nor, this will I doe; I will make thee to bee no Church, ond cake my Gofpcll from thee. Many fcorne and conrcmne true rcligicn, :md ' h. ate the profcffors there.~f. In tcg:lrd vvhc1 cuf,, 1 wee may wonder at the great patience of God,that yet conrinucth his GofpCIam·011g ,.s~ For ;t God gtiuthmm 'V? to flrong delufonJ, IC .. ·, r ,; heltcHt i}l'J, bccr:ufo they IDtiC not the rrHth. ! i./.T..(., ~~Vhcrcforc being in this datJgc:r,our dutic is,to I vfe all good mcancs toprcuent this iUdgcmcm of God:whic~l ca11 no other·way be donc,then by true :md vnfained rcpcn~:ncc by the"' hole Church in l!encroll : ond by <tiery man 'P"'/ 1 and euery family apm. For \\hen God fhol I fpe~kc fuddenly ::~gainfi a nation or kingdomc, to rootc it vp,and ro <idlroy it: if that people' repent of their wkkcdne{fe , the l.ord" ill rr– pcnt of the plague and iudgrm<'nt "'·hieh hcc thought to bring vpon-t~cni,lrr,m.:· 8.7.8.. In this particular chre-atning, thrce.points are to be-obfcrued; one concerning the Mini– ller: the feeond concerning the whole body of the Church; the third Concerning C!J.ery priuat man. Touching the Minifter note this; Ifhce fhall decay in loue to God, to his wotd, or to his brethrcn,odfhe lieinanyonclinne known tohimfelfe,it is ame.ancs to dcpriuc him either ofhis calling, or of Gods gifts bellowed on him; forthisthreatning i; here dire_ctcd cfpe– cially vnto the Angel ofthis Church of Ephe– fus. When leremte had becne wanting in deliuering tl!c Lords wil vmo the peoplc,part– ly forfc:ire,otid partly through impa'tience;the the LorP becomc-s aProphet vn to him, faying, lfthou1 rettU7te, I will bring rhee againe, and thor< fhaltjlandbefore mee. Whereby hc·would giue him toVndcrfl:and,that ifhc returned not he lhould·i:eafe to be aProphet vmo him.The fame thing is true of all Gods minificrs ; if they decay in louc, f.,ilc in their dutic, or lie in any finne, dtey muft fpcedily rcil'~w them– fclucs by repentance, or clfe God ·wifdt-priue them either 'Of thei? calling. or of the gifts thereof. True repentance and the.renewing is needcfull vnto ail Chriflhlns : bur: cfpecially to Gods mi"illen, ifthey would continue in his fauour, 3nd ftand before: him becoftll!'Jing hi' mouth vmo thC' people. ' The tCcond point concerneth the whole ~mlyof a Church; to\~ it,ifaChurch or pcoThe third point conccmeth euery priu:uc' C man1 and it is this: Ifany man dec:ty in !ouc, or · want loue to God antl to his brethren, or He in I any finne knowne.to himfclfc:This is -:1. (ncancs– to rcmooue the cindldlickc fi'otn himt; to dc– priuehimofhis knowledge& other gr:ices of ' Goci. The affection of loue in the heart is likr the watchof the clocke: ifthe w:atch fl:::md,rhe whecles lhnd;as the watch gorrh fall orfoftly fo goc the whccles anfwerobly. And fo it is in man : ifhis loue to God and to his Cofpcl doe cncrc:afe, then doth hisknowledge and Q[her graces of God encreafe in his heart: bur ifthis louc decay,thcn other grace$dcC"ay;and ifloue be gone,then farewell all pietic and true relig:~ ! on. If wewould know the caufe ofluch palpa– D , ble ignorance as is in many that hauc Ions I heard the Gofpcl preached, it isnothing hUt wont of loue. Hebr. J.ll.J 3· the holy Gholl lhcwethbywhat degrees men come ro fall a– V;'a'y' fromGod. Firfr, !inne decciues them, by drawing them to commit it : then their hearts arc hardned by the cu!lomc offinning.Thencc followcs ,·nbelcc:fc in many points ofreligion: •nrl fo they make Apo!lacie from God, and fer l thcmf<lues agoinfi his truth. Take hcod there– fore of lying inany fin.for that is the high w~y to fin:tll ApoR::~cil!: rather fhiu e to cncreafc in : roue VntO God and vmo hiswoid , and !0 \ 01a.ll al his good gr~cc!i cncreafe in thine hc;trr. I Our ofthis }1:\fticular thrcaming fOme ga– ther,That am:m may becut offfromChrifl ,and falawayfinallyf:omtrucfaith and repent:~.nee. For (Coy they) tf awhole Church ""Y be cut -------------~o[f I f ! i I I l i I I. I t I I I I I
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=