Whereby wee are given to understand, that one of the greatest things that provokes the wrath of God, is the contempt of his Ma∣jesty in the preaching of the Word. When they heard, they pro∣voked him to anger: therefore take heede how yee heare: if ye de∣spise the messengers, by whom God speaketh, if ye regard not their word, God will be mightily offended with you.
They made God bitter against them.
Furthermore whereas he saies some, not all, it teaches us that the word of God is never without some fruite: some or other profit by it. The thorny ground, the stony, the ground by the high way side received not the seed, yet some good ground received it, and brought forth fruit. When the booke of the Law was read, the hearts of all that heard it, were not hardned. Iosiahs heart melted at it. The great∣est part of the assembly at Athens, the wise and learned Philoso∣phers mocked at Saint Paul, when he preached Christ, and the resur∣rection: yet some believed at his Sermon, as Dionysius: amongst the women to whom Saint Paul spake, one Lydia believed. Let this encourage us that be Christs Ambassadours: our labour is not alto∣gether fruitlesse, we shall carry some sheaves or others into the barne of the Kingdome of heaven. Though many in a towne, where the word is preached, provoke God to anger, they heare, and regard it not: yet some there be in whom we may rejoyce; and though there were none, yet our reward is with God. A fisherman is to bee commended for his painefulnesse in his calling, though he get never a fish: So God will reward us His Spirituall fishermen: though we should not catch one fish in the net of the Gospell; yet for the most part there be some in the worst towne that is, that profit by the ministery of the Word: these some though they be few, shall be our crowne of rejoycing at the latter day. Againe, heere we see the estate of the Church militant: the bad are alwayes mingled with the good, Cockle and Corne in the field, chaffe and wheat in the barne floore. In this house there be earthen, and golden vessels. In the Church triumphant no uncleane thing; all dogs, enchanters, &c. stand without, and are not admitted in: but in the militant Church, there be many dogs, prophane persons, as Esau was: there is a Cain, as well as an Abel; a Saul, as a David; an Ishmael, as an Isaac; a Iudas, as a Peter; neither let us be discouraged at it.
It hath been so from the beginning, and it shall be so till the day of judgment, when Christ shall come to purge this floore of his. Moses, whom God used as his hand to carry them out of Aegypt. God will not have those famous instruments to be buried in silence, whom he hath used for our good: the sword of the Lord and of Gideon. S. Paul thankes Priscilla and Aquila: and heere an honourable mention is made of Moses, though he were dead long agoe. We in England were lead out of the Spirituall Aegypt of blindnesse, superstition and ignorance by Queene Elizabeth and other good Princes of worthy memory: therefore let them bee remembred still with thankes∣giving to GOD.