Theqoffiell ii ChrUis o'neTover. 1.1.1m men that are let inhis dead, preach him, and not our felves. Therecan bee no greater facrilege in the world, than to put our owne image upon the Ordinances of Chrifl, than tomake another Gofpell than we have re- ceived. Saint Patel dual not tpleafe men, becaufe hee was the fervant of Chrift ; neither durfi he preachhim- felfe, becaufe hee was the fervant of the Church. For hereby men doe even jufile Chrifl out of his owne throne, and, as it were, thatch theScepter ofhis king- dome out ofhis ownehand, boldly intruding upon that facredand uncommunicabk dignitie which the Father bath given to his Sonne onely, which is to bee the Au- thour ofhis Gofpell,and the totall and adequateObje6 of all Evangelicall Preaching. This facrilege of felfe- preaching is committed theemanner of wayes : Firf+, when men make thenifelves the Authors oftheir owne preaching,when they preach theirowne inventionss and make their owne brains the feminaries and forges ofa new faith ; when they fo gloffe the pureWord ofGod, as that withall theypoifon and pervert it. This is that which the Prophet calleth /Tying vstions, and dreams: of mess owns hearts, which Saint.Peter cals perverting, or maketh crooked the rule offaith, and Saint Tau/ the huckftering,adulterating,and ufing theWord° fGodde- ceitfay. Which putteth mee in tninde ofa fpecch in the Prophet, The Prophet is thefnsre ofa fowler in all hid way's. Birds wee know ufe tobecaught with the fame Mlle wherewith they are ufually fed, but then iris ei- ther adulterated with Come venernous mixture which may intoxicate the bird, or clic put into a gintic which Ihallttnprifonit; sand fuch were the car: all Preachers in the Prophets and in Saint Paul: time, who turned the truthofChtift into a fnare, that by that *wanes they might bring the Church into bondage-; The circa& ons and originals of this perverfe humour are, %rt.+, withommen,the feducements of Satan, untovvluch by the 251 VERSE 2. t GaLLIO. Ezek.13.1,9,r7 ler.4.24, 2. PC113,16.. COrs2. 7,, 2 Cor.4.z. Hof9. 8. Ga1.2.4. Mic.;.c,6. Klitg.2,233.
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