196 IATTEfN FOR A DISSENTING PREACHER. taught the gospel of Christ in that day, in opposition to the po- pish religion, were called new teachers, " as in Bishop Burnet's History, their ministry was very different from that of the Romish priests and friars, andpeople were se: upon the enquiry, for God opened their eyes; their doctrine was according to the gospel, their form and manner of preaching was warm and zea lous, practical and experimental, and the Spirit of God was with them. This is therefore the first effect Of the ministry of Christ, and will be the natural effect upon the multitude, when a divine preacher, that is distinguished from thecommon indolent teachers of the times wherein he Iives, shall be called of God topreach ill his name to sinners for the salvation of men. 2. Let us 'consider the effect that the preaching of Christ had upon his own chosen ones. It wrought a mighty and won- derful change upon them. Some of them were great and grie- vous sinners, and they were converted into saints. Some of them loved the world too well, but afterwards they loved, God. and Christ above all, and renounced this world, in the hope and pursuitof a better. Mary Magdalene, who is represented as a vile wretch, comes and sits weeping at the feet of Jesus, ac- knowledging her sins, she receives large forgiveness, and loves her Saviour much; Luke vii.'38, 47. Behold her now humble and mourning, in a quite different frame, form and temper, than what before you might have beheldher among thecrowds of lewd persons. .Zaccheus the publican, behold he distributes his goods to the poor, and restores fourfold to those whom he had wronged by his former violence, he comes and waits as adisciple of Jesus, receives this new doctrine, and accepts the salvation ; Lukexix. 8. There was a power that attended the preaching of Christ, whereby they were effectually persuaded to give up themselves to his conduct. Matthew ,forsakes the receipt of cus- tom, where perhaps he got many an unjust penny, to follow our Lord Jesus Christ, and abandon his gainful office: Peter, An- drew,' James and John, left their nets and fishing Boats, and followed the Lord at his call. Those that were ignorant were made learned in the truths of God, in the law and gospel. The poor of the people received the gospel and divine grace, and sin- ners wereconverted, sanctified and saved. Sublime and saving truths were they taught by the Father, under the preaching of Jesus his Son. For flesh and blood did not reveal these things to them, but myFather which is in heaven, says our Lord ; Mat. xvi. 17. Now there were scarce any such instances at this time under the preaching of the Jewish doctors, because the Lord seemed to have left them : and their hearers being trained up in a formal and customary round of ceremonies, which they took to be true religion, they went on its a blind hope of the favour of
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