C v.a.7. CdCommentarie vpon the `424. t better, andmore eligible,then to hue honefiv,andnot ro preach,feeing the former bringeth ruine upon himfelfe alone , this tarter both vpon himfelfe and his people. Secondly, as there mull be good doélrine, fo there mull be good life too: for a Minillcr may not chimike hebath done enough, when he hath taught others, if himfelfe yet remaine vntaugh t : like tome flatue which poinreth the way topaffengers , but it Idle tlandech a flocke fill and mooues nor: but he mull fire be a goodman, and then teach others fo to be. In the old Teftament,thePrief mull firll be cleanfed himfclfe,and then cleanfe others : fire wafh himfelfe, and then fprinkle others; firfl fanaifie hitniclfe, and then others : fo in the new, we mull fire become lights our felues,and then enlightenothers,firCt approach neereGod our felues, and then bring others before him : for this is the propertie of a good fhepheard,to goe beforehis fheepe,that they may follow him. But all this whilewe maynot thinke that the authority oftheword flandeth vpon the good or bad life amen which hash a better botrome of his owne to fand vpon, but yet it is a further fink of the truthof it vpon the fimple,and that fundry wayes,which I will not fand vpon. Thefe two make a fweete harmonie, efpecially within a mans owne confcience, when he can appeale vntohis fellow- miniliers,as Paul to 2.Tim.3.10. Timothie,and fay you hamefish knowne my doElrine , my manner or liming, &c. and ynro the confciences ofGodspeople, calling them to witncffe bothof hi Painfmllpreaching, t .The(!.2.9. asalto ofhis holy and vnblame- able bchauiour, veri.t o. yea euen vino Gods tribunall,withmuch corn- fort at the ende ofhis daies,as Paul did, A&1.zo.t9.zo.2.6. Which two as they mull confpirc,fo the miniller is to be anexample in botha.Tim. 4.12. be an example in trord, conmerfatian,&F. The Apofles were as s.Pers.g, lights vpon hills,as farres in the heartens. Paftots are called to be pat- ternixto theirflocks: the great Pallor of the fheep our Lord lefus,fet him- kit rj 1s felle a coppievnto all Chrifians , both in holydoélrine, and in bleffed exampleoflife.Great is the force ofgodly example,efpecially in thePa- flor,both to the bciceuer,to prouoke him,and to the vnbeleeucr, either to bring him ro a liking ofthe religionofGod, or to condome him, who bath both Peen and heard,and yet bath not beleeued; euen as Noah condemned theold world by makingof the Arke : which are the rea- fons, why the Lord bath euer fcatteredfome of his children here and there,a faint or twoeuen in Neroes houfe,a Lot in Sodome;and as a filly rifeth vp fometimes among thornes,fo do the fonnesofGod in the mid- def ofa froward gencration,that theymight thine as purer lights in the darknes ofthe world round about them. Note, ofa true Al VII. s. Thefe are truenotes to difcerne a true Miniferb pure do- imfter. y, &rtne,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=