254. I The Well is art 4onePoorer. WEIRS 2. Hof.s 9.7,8. kr,Z3.2. ,29. Mat.13 5z. 1 Cor.3Ia. Mato,z.zz,46. z Cor,e.3. (u 17.2,217.3. till they WMutterly defiroied, and blinded the two Tribes till they were led away captive by the Babyloni- ans : fo horrid are the confequencesof raking away the Golpell ofChrifi from him, and making it the Rodnot firength, but of our ovine pride or paffion . Wee mull therefoN alwayes remember that the Golpell is Chrifis owne, and that will encourage us to fpeake it as we ought to fpeake. Firil,with authoritie andboldneffe,withouefilence or connivence at the finnesofMeV. Though in our private and perfonall relations we are to (liew all modetlie, hu- militie, and lovvlinefie of carriage towards all men, yet in our mailers bufineffes, wee =it not refpea the per- Ions, nor bee daunted at the faces ofmen; Paul a pri- fouer was not affraid to preach of righteoufneffe and temperance, and judgement to come before a corrupt and lafcivious Prince, though it made him tremble. Secondly, with wifedotne as a Scribe infirmied to the kingdome of heaven. This was Saint Pauli care to workeas a wife mailer-builder : When Chrifisenemies watched him to picke fomething out ofhis mouth,wher- by they might accufe him, wee finde fo much depth of wifedome in the anfweres and behaviours of Chrifl, as utterly difappointed them of their expeaations ' and firooke them withfilch amazement that they neverdurfl askc him queflions more : So fhould wee endeavour to . behave our (elves in fuchmanner as that our minifleric may not be blamed, nor the truth of God expofed to cenfure or difadvantages : for facred truthes may bee fometimes either fo unfeafonably,or fo indigefledly, and uncoherently delivered, as may rather open than flop the rnouthes of gain-Payers, and fooner difcredit the truth than convert the adverfary. The ApoIlle faith that we arc tomakea aVerence to,fing tomewith convaliou, others with feare. This is to fpeake a word indue eafou, and as our Saviour did, tofpeake sae mrx ar4 able to bore; to
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