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ARE Souls so precious, then certainly the means and instru∣ments of their Salvation must be exceeding precious too, and the removal of them a sore Iudgment.
The dignity of the subject gives value to the instruments imploy'd about it. It is no ordinary mercy for Souls to come into such a part of the World, and in such a time as furnisheth them with the best helps for Salvation. Ordinan▪ces and Ministers receive their value not only from their
Author, but their Object: they have a dignity stampt upon them by their usefulness to the Souls of men, Acts 20.32. it is the seed of life, 1 Pet. 1.23. the regenerating instru∣ment. It is the bread of life, Iob 23.12. more than our necessary food. The Word is a Light shining in the dark World to direct our Souls through all the snares laid for them, unto Glory. It is the Souls Cordial in all fainting fits, Psal. 119.50. What shall I say of the Word and Or∣dinances of God, the Sun that shines in Heaven to give us light, the Fountains, Springs and Rivers that stream for our refreshment; the Corn and Cattel on the Earth, yea the very Air we breathe in, is not so useful, so necessary, so precious to our bodies, as the Word is to our Souls.
It cannot therefore but be a sore judgment, and a dread∣ful token of Gods indignation and wrath to have a restraint, or scarcity, of the means of Salvation among us; but should there be (which God in mercy prevent) a removal and to∣tal loss of these things, wrath would then come upon us to the uttermost. What will the condition of precious Souls be, when the means of Salvation are cut off from them? When that famine, worse than of bread and water, is come upon them? Amos 8.11. When the Ark of God (the Sym∣bol of his Presence) was taken, it is said, 1 Sam. 4.13. That all the city cryed out. When Paul too•• his leave of Antioch, and told them they should see his face no more, how did the poor Christians lament and mourn, as cut at the heart by that killing word, Acts 20.37, 38. It made Christs bowels to yearn and roll within him, when he saw the multitude scatter'd as sheep having no shepherd, Matth. 9.36.
Matthew Paris tells us in the year 1072. when preaching was supprest at Rome, Letters were then framed as coming from Hell, wherein the Devil gave them thanks for the mul∣titude of Souls sent to him that year: but we need no Let∣ters from Hell, we have a sad account from Heaven in what a sad state those Souls are left from whom the means of Sal∣vation are cut off: Where no vision is, the people perish, Prov. 29.18. and Hosea 4.6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
'Tis sad when those Stars that guide Souls to Christ (as that which the Wise-men saw did) are set, and wandring
Stars shall shine in their places. O if God remove the gol∣den Candlestick out of its place, what but the desolation and ruine of millions of Souls must follow?
We account it insufferable cruelty for a man to undertake the pilotting of a Ship full of Passengers, who never learnt his Compass; or an ignorant Empirick to get his living by killing mens bodies; but much more lamentable will the state of Souls be, if ever they fall (which God in mercy prevent) into the hands of Popish Guides, or blind Leaders of the blind.