Verf. 14. Doubt. Solution. vfe. tbe Epite to tbG R Qmá.iis. 4°7 dome, then by Preachers: therefore Preachers of the word are need ittil, for we cannot be Paved, iunleffe we be cal- led to the Faith of Chriff; and there is no way to call us, but either by God himfelfe immediately, or by his Mini - tiers med ately : but he bath ceafed now to fpeake to us immediately from himfelfe.Therefore, if we will be faved, we muff heare Gods Minifers fpeake to us out of his word ; and thus much we may gather from filch Téxts of Scripture, wherein the holy Ghoff doth often joyne preaching and beleeving together, as in John 17. 20. Aar 8. 12. and I¢. 1. And moreover, it fervcth to teach us, that if we defire to beleeve and be faved, we mutt attend 'preaching and hearing of Senn ons;and this is therea- fon, why God would never Puffer his people in any age,to want outward vo- cation by his Minifers. 1oh was a preacher of righteonfneffe, Abraham a Prophet. God gave unto the Jewea Moles his Prophet, and after him the Prieus and Levitef, to teach Ifrael his Law,and extraordinarily raifed up ma, ny Prophets; and at laft he Pent his Sonne, to declare his will for the falva- tion of the world. He gave moreover force to be Apofiles, Prophets, Evan - gelifts, and others, to be Palors and Teachers to the end of the world, for the gathering of the Saints, Ephef. 4. T I M. But cament God give Faith and falvation, without preaching and hearing ? S t L. Yes, he both can and doth it to ele& Infants fo dying, and to many Chrifian exiles which live in continual banifhment from his Church; but we are to confider not what hee is able to do, but what his will and appointment is, namely, to fave us by the word prea- ched, i Car. 1. IS. t Tim. 4. 16. How admirable and gracious is Ge,d, who can wrap fuch potter in the voice and words of men,as Thal kindle Caving faith in the hearts of the hearers ? Stoope to this holy ordinance. T r M. What profit is to made of this dolirinc? S I L. This teacheth how wife- rabic that people is which want thc or- dinary preaching of the word , they . muff needs fall into the ditches, which have none but blinde or eareleffe guides to lead them t they cannot but decay which have no vifion, Prov.29.18. As the Lampe is extinguifhed without oil , fo religioh and knowledge will decay without preaching, which is as the oyl to the lampe : as graffe withers without rain, and our bodies farve without food, fo do our foules without found doctrine feafonably given, which is as raine and food to the foul. Second- ly, here is an admonition to all Magi - urates, namely, Patrons of benefices; whom it concerns to provide the peo- ple of Preachers, otwhom they may heare inftruCtions of life, as they will anfwer to God for their foules. And thirdly, to the people that they do ear - nefflydefire and Peek to live under the preaching of the Golpell, where they may heare the doptrine of falvation; for where preaching may ordinarily be had, God never woe kes an inward cal - ling,without an outward vocation,nor is known to give faith without hearing. Therefore as men be careful! to dwell in placeswhere there is good aire, wa- ter &c. becaafe there things are health - full for the body fo, as they covet the health of their foules, let them much more feat thentfelvts where the prea- ching of the word is to be had, in con - itant courfe from Sabbaths to Sabbath. If God would not give nor encreafe faith in the Eunuch,and the Samaritans but by the hearing of Philip; to Paul at his conveilion, but by the hearing of Ananias ; nor to Cornell us, but by the hearing of Peter, kit 9. and I o. Let not any clan then prefìtme that he can be a beleever,itifhe negle& to he a con- flan t and attentive hearer of the word preached. Oh that men would beleeve and confider this truth, and do accor- dingly. T I ta. What it meant by [finding ?' S 1 L. The vocation of God, calling force forth from others, and furnilhing them with gifts to preach his word, Aar to. 38. as he fent fsenaleei to build the Tabernacle, Aloft's, Samuel, Flay, and the Preaching ot the word is as oil, faith as the lamp. As the lamp with- out ail goeth our, fo faith . without preaching.
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