Man ashiv le-Yahoweh, or, A serious enquiry for a suitable return for continued life, in and after a time of great mortality, by a wasting plague (anno 1665) answered in XIII directions / by Tho. Doolitel.

SECTION V.

[ III] * 1.1SUch should improve the time (that God hath given them from the Grave) in right Preach∣ing of the Word, and Administration of the Sacra∣ments unto the People: God hath not spared them to Eate and Drink, and Sleep, and live at Ease; but to be painful in their Work. God hath laid (in this time) some of his Ministers in the Dust; and, they are silent in the Grave, whilest others have opportunity to speak for God, in Preaching to the People: and, God doth ex∣presly charge them so to do, 2 Tim. 4.1. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appear∣ing, and his kingdom. Vers. 2. Preach the Word, be instant in season, and out of season; reprove, re∣buke, exhort with all long-suffering and Doctrine: and, there is a woe unto them, if they do not Preach the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9.16. and are descri∣bed to be such as are apt (as well as able) to Teach, 1 Tim. 3.2. And if they do forbear to warn Men of their sins, those Men shall die, but God will require their blood at their hands, Ezek. 3.18. And though God (in Judgment to a Peo∣ple) may make his Ministers dumb, and cause their Tongues to cleave to the roofe of their mouthes, that they should not be Reprovers to them, because of their sin, Ezek. 3.26. Yet, such

as are dumb, through Ignorance, that they can∣not, or through Negligence, that they will not speak to Men to save their Soules, is a great charge of God against them, Isa. 56.10. His Watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant, they are all dumb Dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Vers. 11. Yea, they are greedy Dogs, which can never have enough: and they are Shep∣herds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain from his quarter. Vers. 12. Come ye, say they, I will fetch Wine, and we will fill our selves with strong Drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abun∣dant. And God sharply reproveth such for this neglect, Ezek. 34.2. Son of Man, Prophesy against the Shepherds of Israel, Prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the Shepherds, Woe be to the Shepherds of Israel, that do feed themselves, should not the Shepherds feed the Flock? Vers. 3. Ye eate the Fat, and ye cloath you with the Wool; ye kill them that are fed, but ye feed not the Flock. Vers. 4. The Diseased have ye not streng••hened, neither have ye healed that which was sick; neither have ye bound up that which was broken; neither have ye brought again that which was driven away neither have you sought that which was l••st; but with force and cruelty have ye ruled them: Vers. 18. Seemeth it a small thing to you to have eaten up the good pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foule the residue with your feet? Vers. 19. And, as for my flock, they eat that which ye have troden with your feet, and

they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.

Ministers diligence in Preaching the Word (which, such should be awakened to, much more by Gods late Providence) is pointed at by God, in those several Names, and Appellations; with which, they, and their Work, is Metaphorically set forth, as they are,

• * 1.21. Labourers. Mat. 9.38. Therefore must not loyter, but should work as day-labou∣rers.
• 2. Builders, 1 Cor. 3.10. Must repair Gods Buildings.
• 3. Husbandmen, 1 Cor. 3.9. Must Plow up the fallow ground, that they sow not among thornes: they are Gods harvest-Men, and that is hard work.
• 4. Watchmen, Ezek. 33.7. Must see the danger, and indure the cold, and give warning.
• 5. Stewards, 1 Cor. 4.1, 2. Must deal to eve∣ry one their portion.
• 6. Fathers, 1 Cor. 4.15. 1 Thes. 2.11. In begeting, and bringing up Spiritual Chil∣dren for God.
• 7. Guides, Rom. 2.19. Must direct lost Men into their way.
• 8. Nurses, 1 Thes. 2.7. Must seed the Babes in Christ.
• 9. Physitians, Jer. 13.12, 13. Must heale the Spiritual Sickness of Mens Soules.
• 10. Embassadours, 2 Cor. 5.20. Must Parley with Sinners, to make Peace betwixt God and them.

After such a Providence as this, those in this Office should labour to be more in the most ef∣fectuall manner of Preaching; as,

1. In Preaching with more self-denial; not seeking themselves, nor their own Applause, but more the Glory of God, and the good of Soules: 2 Cor. 12.14. For, I seek not yours, but you. 1 Tim. 3.3. Not greedy of filthy lucre. 1 Thes. 2.5. For, neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is wit∣ness.

2. With more plainness to the capacity of the People; Not with enticing words of Mans Wis∣dom, but in demonstration of the spirit, and of power, 1 Cor. 2.4. Lest such seem to Preach themselves, and not Christ; and to speak one word to shew the excellency of Christ, and ten to shew the excellency of their own Parts.

3. With more experience of the things they Preach upon their own hearts.

4. More particularly, coming down to the particular cases of the Peoples Soules: Dolus la∣tet in universalibus.

5. More compassionately; if possible, shewing the greatest desire after the Soules of them they Preach unto: When you stand in your Pulpit, remember, many of them you Preached to the other day are now in their graves, and are entred into Eternity; and, those that are before you must shortly follow after▪ you have not long to Preach unto them; those that are now alive be∣fore you must shortly die, and be damned or sa∣ved; be received to Glory, or thrust down to

Misery: such actu••l believing thoughts as these woul•• move great compassion in Ministers hearts unto their People.

6. More Livelily; as those that believe the things themselves which they Preach unto others; remember you are Preaching to Men that must sho••••ly die, and yet eternally Live: and, for ought you know, if you do not prev••il with them by this Sermon, they may perish for ever: and, will you be luke-warm in such a case of so great importance?

7. What is most necessary to the salvation of their Soules: Press more the misery of Man by Nature; the necessity of seeing the evil; and be sensible of the burden of their Sin; the necessity of Christ; of Regeneration; of Holiness of heart and Life; of Justification by Faith in the blood of Christ; of Judgment to come; of the happi∣ness of Heaven; of the torments of Hell.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Preaching.
• * 1.2

  10 Appel∣lations, shewing the work of Mini∣sters.