406 An Expofation upon Chap. io high and excellent fun&ion (in fpiri- tuall account and refpc&,) then to be the Ambaffador of the greateft man in the world, by how much heaven is higher theta the earth,and the counfell of God higher then thewil and pleafure of men,and falvation pafð all humane and worldly affaires. T i M What ufe is to be made hereof ? , S t L. It mull flay men from rafh en- tring into fo high and holy a vocation, before they have fitnefíe thereunto; which were a fearefull prefumpti Se condly,it admonifheth fuch as tltini- fters,to do the work whereunto they are called,tkat is, the work of Gods Am- baffadors, to preach the word with an holy importunity, 2 Tim. 4.2. Thirdly, it convifts the Popifh Church of error, in that they will have the greateft worke of a Minifter, to be to minifter the Sa- crament of the Altar, to facrifice Chrift again, Fourthly it reproves fuch as will continue Minifters, and yet are un- meet for this duty of proclaiming Gods word. Laftly, it warneth to lay hands haftily on no man, i Tim. 5.22. T t M. What meones this queftion, [ How canthey bear without a Preacher ?] S t L. It cannot be that one can hear unleffe the word be preached and made to found in the care by lively voice: Ì for there is a relation between hearing and fpeaking. T i .M What Dolfrine arifeth from hence ? S r L. That unto the hearing of the word, the preaching of it is neceffary; even as hearing is neceffary to faith,and faith to prayer,and prayer to falvation, fo it is neceffary that there be prea- ching that men may hear. The reafon hereof is, becaufe there is a relation or mutual! refpe& between the fenfe of hearing,and the obje& thereof,which is a found or voice, We can hear no- thing but a found, and therefore there muff be fome to preach and teach that others may hear. Thus oftentimes are preaching and hearing in Scripture fit down for Correlatives. Secondly, it is the good pleafure of God, now no otherwife to call his people to his king - dome, the fight of the creatures'and workes of God is fufficient to leave us without ex- cule, Rom. 1.20. but unfufficient and et- fe &uall to breed faith.And becaufe rea- ding belongs to a few, and hearing is common to all, therefore even by Paule owne teitimony, ¡it hath :the prehemi- nence ; fo as better it were to lofe all our finks, then to miffe this alone. Se- condly, it fetsforth the miferable eftate of Popifh Recufants, which flop their cares like the Adder,and will not hear; allóofAtheifts, who thereby do barre themfelves of the meaner of faith and falvation.Thirdly,it exhorts us to dili- gent hearing,with all care and confci- ence, to hear With our belt attention, Peeing faith is dropt into us by the eare. Fourthly, it reproves fleepy, drowfie, and careleffe hearts, who do as it were !hut out faith, that it fhould not enter. But let us not look that God will open our heart, except we keep open our cares. Fiftly and lafily, it is matter of great comfort for wandring loft finners co underftand that there is yet a way, even by hearing the word, to recover and fave themfelves, and therefore they ought to live, in thofe Countries and places where they may be partakers of hearing, and that they hearken unto the laving do&rine ofthe Gofpell,with de- fire to underftand and obey it. T o M. Come we now to the tit fiep, and tell ue what is here meant by Preacher? S t L. It fìgnifieth one that is the Embaffadour of God, to fpread abroad his word, and with a loud voice to de- clare it. T t M. What it the office ofa Preacher ? S i L. To interpret the word of God, by the word ofGod, Nehe. 8. IS. and to make application of the word to the ufes of Gods people, by do &rine, exhortation, and comfort, i Cor. 4.3. Alfo by a reproofe and confutation, 2 71tn. 3. 16. T i M. What is our leffon from this word [Preacher - ?] S r L. That the Office of a Minifter isof great dignity,becaufe it principally conhfts in publifhing and declaring the word of God, which is a far more DoEfrine. Reafon. Vfe. Dot#rine. Reafon
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