Christs alarm to drowsie saints, or, Christs epistle to his churches by William Fenner.

Revel. 3. 1.

And unto the Angell of the Church in Sardis, write: these things, saith hee that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven Starres. I know thy works, that thou hast a name, that thou livest, and art dead.

These things, saith hee, that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven Starres.

THese words contain the Description of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom this Epistle is sent unto the Church in Sardis, and in particular to the Minister there, who is here called the Angell of the Church in that place. And the description does instance in two royalties of our Sa∣viour Jesus Christ.

First, That hee hath the seven Spirits of God, that is, he hath the Holy Ghost, and all his spirituall graces in his hands, to give to whomsoever hee pleases, for the quickning of them, and the sanctifying of them, that if any of his mem∣bers want spirit, or any spirituall good, hee hath it for them: These things saith hee that hath the seven Spirits of God: This wee handled the last day.

Now wee proceed to the second Royalty of our Lord Je∣sus Christ, That hee hath the seven Starres, hee speaks of the seven Churches of Asia, Christ hath all their Ministers in

his hands, and hee calls them starres.

First, because the starres doe direct: Its a great help when Mariners can see a starre in a dark night. When Paul and they that sailed with him could see neither Sun nor Starre, the company were without all hope of comming safe to Land, Act. 27. 20. they knew not what to doe, when there was not a starre to bee seen: The starres serve for direction in the night. So good Ministers are for direction unto people, they serve to direct people to Christ. Like the starre in the East; When the Wisemen saw the starre, they rejoyced with ex∣ceeding great joy, Matth. 2. 10. that starre directed them to Christ, it went before them all the way, and shewed them where to finde Christ: so a poore soule rejoyces to finde a godly Minister; O thinks hee, he is a starre to direct mee to Christ.

Secondly, Because the starres doe shine, so good Ministers doe shine forth, and hold out a light, to give light to them that sit in darknesse, and in the shadow of death. Yee are the light of the world, sayes Christ, Matth. 5. 14. when a man sits in a dark house, hee cannot see to doe any thing, but if one come and open a window, or a casement, and letteth in light, now hee may see to goe about his businesse: so, Be∣loved, people that dwell in dark Parishes, where no sound Ministery of the Word is, they know not what to doe to bee saved: they erre, they wander, they grope, they stumble and fall, they see not how to bee godly, and happy for ever∣more. But when a faithfull Minister comes, now light is let in, and those that have a minde to goe to Heaven, now they may see the way thither, so that in this sense too, Mini∣sters are starres.

Thirdly, Because starres have influence upon these infe∣riours bodies, as God sayes of the Pleiades and Orion, which are a company of starres in the heavenly Orbe. Canst thou binde the sweet influences of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Job 38. 31. the starres have influences into things here

below. The Pleiades open the earth, they make herbes and flowres grow, the spring is when they arise once, Trees begin to sprout, and the plants do waxe green; Orion, it pro∣duces cold, the Winter comes when that shews it self; the starres have a great influence into sublunary bodies, so it is with Ministers. Bad Ministers are like the starres of Orion, they serve to coole peoples hearts, and dead them to all goodnesse. But good Ministers are as the starres of Pleiades, no soule can have any minde in him to that which is good, but they doe exceedingly help and further, they quicken the heart, they warme and fructisie the soules of Gods Elect.

Againe, the Starres doe hang high, so the Ministers of Christ are set high; they hang high, that all the people may have the benefit of their glistering. Zachany calls them the Prophets of the most High, And thou childe, shalt bee called the Prophet of the most High, Luk. 1. 76. But I have handled this Point in effect, when I spake of Ministers being Angels, and therefore I will omit it now. Thus yee see the Ministers are starres. Now hee calls them seven, because hee speaks of seven Congregations, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thy∣atira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Seven Churches, seven Congregations, and every one had their severall stars. Whence wee see that every Parish should have a particular faithfull Minister. Paul appointed Titus, to ordain Elders in every City, Tit. 1. 5. The Apostles ordained Pastours, and El∣ders in every Church, Act. 14. 23. So it was in the time of the Law, as the Text sayes, Moses of old time hath in every City them that Preach, being read in the Synagogues every Sab∣bath day, Act. 15. 21.

The Reason is, first, because those Towns that have not a faithfull Ministery in it, generally doe all perish. I doe not deny, but some soules in such blinde places may come other∣wise to bee converted and saved, but generally they perish for ever, that live in such places: as the Evangelist sayes of Galile. True, they had sorry Priests, but they had not a

faithfull Ministery. sayes hee, The people sate there in the region and shadow of death, Matth. 4. 16. that is, till they had a better Ministery, they were in a damnable estate. So that it is a pitifull thing, when any Town or Parish are without a faithfull Ministery, no starre of Heaven shining among them.

Secondly, because when people have no faithfull Mini∣ster of their own, generally they care not for removing of their dwelling, neither will they goe a mile or two for the meanes, they content themselves with what fare they have at home, though it starve them to death: Like the people under the false Prophets, they liked them well enough. My people love to have it so, Jer. 5. 31. Nay, they love such pro∣phets better than them that would deale plainly with them; Nay, there bee many, that when they have a faithfull Mini∣ster at home, will bee sneaking out, to a drunken Minister abroad, they would rather live under such a one.

Thirdly, Another Reason why every Church should have its particular Starre; every congregation had need of a faithfull Ministery of their own: Because, if there be any godly Soule, or any one that desires the salvation of his Soule, and lives under a blinde guide, hee cannot goe out, without giving very great offence, it will bee thought a gid∣dinesse, and a flighting of their own Minister at home; now if every Parish had a sound Ministery in it, this would not bee: When people came out of every Parish round about un∣to John, they had no Pastour of their own, but they came flocking unto John, no question but this bred heart-burning against John: I, and ill-will against those people, that would not bee satisfied with what teaching they had in their own Synagogues. Now, I say, if every Parish had its severall shining Starre, this would not bee.

Fourthly, When some Parishes have their Starres and ma∣ny have not. This casts in a bone of discord between Mi∣nisters, for they that are idle, and vain, and scandalous, will

envy them that spend themselves in giving light. Again, the people of such Parishes have many times occasion of con∣versing together, and falling into one anothers company. Now, how will this harden one anothers hearts, when peo∣ple shall say, Gods blessing on our Ministers heart, hee does not meddle or make with us, wee may doe what wee will for all him! who would dwell in such a Parish as yours is? wee hear hee keeps a horrible stirre with you, hee will not let you alone, you cannot bee merry now and then, but you are sure to heare of it: hee is so strict forsooth, and so precise, you must have preaching, forenoon and afternoon, and there is such adoe to get precise Constables, that you cannot bee quiet. What a wofull thing is this? how does this harden the Countries hearts?

The Use of this is; first, this shews what a miserable thing* 1.1 it is, when a Land is darkened, that hath but a few starres; May bee here one and there one, but most places are in dark∣nesse, and have none: Beloved, this is a sign of the wrath of God. God is wroth with such a Land, and powres his wrath upon such a people, as the Prophet sayes. Through the wrath of the Lord of Hoasts, is the Land darkned, Esa. 9. 19.

Again, secondly, you that have your stars shining among* 1.2 you, how are you to blesse God, when there are so many places in the world that have none! Suppose the Harvest should bee comming, and the earth hath great need of rain, to plump up the eares, the Corn is quite spoyled for want of rain: if it doe not rain; Alas! our Corn will bee burnt up, and prove little worth. Now if God should rain upon your fields, and not upon your Neighbours: Your Closes, and Leizes have raine, but on the other side of the hedge there is none; What a speciall mercy is this unto you? As God sayes, I have caused it to rain upon one City, and caused it not to rain upon another, one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not, withered, Amos 4. 7. is not this a great

mercy to the owner of that ground where the rain falls, and does not fall else-where? so, my Brethren, you that have the spirituall rain in your particular parishes, what a mercy of God is it unto you? when so many Parishes have not one drop of it.

Again, thirdly, let us take heed lest those few starres that* 1.3 yet bee, set upon us, and so wee bee all in darknesse, wee have a little rain yet, here and there some. O let us repent and be more forward to bring forth more fruit, if wee continue to provoke God with our unfruitfulnesse, as wee doe, that little shall be taken away from you. When Gods Vineyard in Judah became barren, and brought forth no grapes, but wild ones; What sayes God? I will command the clouds, that they rain no rain upon it, Esa. 5. 6. q. d. I will take away all the rainy clouds: yee shall have clouds still, but they shall be clouds without rain, starres without light and heat, Mini∣sters that shall doe you no good, this is a fearfull case, and yet God will bring it upon us, for a certain▪ if wee doe not take heed.

There be six signs of all the starres vanishing away, that God will take away those few starres, those few godly Mi∣nisters away, that are left.

First, when people will not walk in the light, while they have the light. As our Saviour Christ sayes: Yet a little while is the light with you, walk while yee have the light, lest darknesse come upon you▪ Joh. 12. 35. q. d. yee have the light; a little while the Lord lets you have it, hee lets it stay with you a little while longer, but if ye will not walk in the light, the light shall bee gone, and yee shall bee in darknesse, this is an evident signe that the light will surely away from us: what a deale of light is yet held before our faces, and scarce any have a heart to walk in it! When servants are idle, and will not mend their cloathes, in the day time at spare houres, why should the Master allow them any candle? so, we have a day among us, and people will not bestirre themselves,

they goe all rent and tottered in their garments, they care not for doing of their businesse, therefore, the Lord will al∣low them no candle, he will put out all the lights.

Secondly, when people grow deader and deader, when they forsake their first love, they were once more earnest for heaven, more tender in Conscience, more eager for good things, more lively in Prayer, more zealous in holy duties, but now they abate, and slacken, they are told of it, and yet they doe not amend, when it is once come to this passe, the Lord will remove the faithfull Ministery of his Word. To what end should he let it stay any longer? as Christ sayes to Hphesus, Remember from whence thou art falne, and repent, and doe the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy Candle-stick out of its place, except thou repent, Rev. 2. 5. this is another signe of the Ministeries departing away from us, Candle and candle-stick will away, for wee will not amend. Wee have been told of our formality, we have heard whole Sermons against our luke warmnesse, and against our declinings, and yet nothing wil fetch us up again. Wee will not think soundly from whence wee are falne, we will not bee perswaded to doe our first works, our hearts are grown senselesse, and nothing can pluck them up, therefore how can wee hope but our candlestick will bee removed, and quickly too.

Thirdly, when people wax weary of Gods Ordinances, they are even cloyed with them, like the Israelites there in Amos, when will the New Moon bee gone that wee may fell corn? when will the Sabbath bee over, that wee may set forth Wheat? Amos 8. 5. q. d. here is such adoe with Lectures, and Ser∣mons, wee can hardly have time for our Markets: such adoe with the Sabbath, it is so tedious, so irksome, wee are not a∣ble to hold out, Prayers in the Family come so fast about, and duties come so thick, wee have hardly any space for our other businesses. Ministers require so much of us, Sermons are so strict, Sacrifices are so often, we can have no breath∣ing:

thus people are cloyed, they are full fed, they care not much if they had lesse, nay, some will not stick to say it, and others that in their hypocrisie will not say it, yet they have no stomack, no appetite, there is so much Word, that they are not able to digest it, neither have they any minde to con∣coct it; therefore mark there what follows. Behold! the daies come, saith the Lord, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord, ver. 11. that is, you are more afraid of a famine of bread, yee would bee more troubled if you had no Bread to eate, nor liquour to drink, you care not so it bee not that famine. But think what you will, I will send you a worse famine than that, a famine of hearing of Gods Word. Yee shall have Preaching little enough. Little enough food for your soules, seeing yee will bee filthy, yee shall be filthy; seeing ye will be heartlesse towards heavenly things, ye shall bee heartlesse; yee shall be hardned, yee shall be let alone; and the blinde shall lead the blinde, and both shall fall into the ditch; the wicked shall lead the wicked, wicked Mini∣sters the wicked people, and both shall perish together: and then though yee would never so fain have a Sermon that may come to the Conscience, yee shall be long enough be∣fore yee shall hear it: Yee shall starve for want of spiritu∣all knowledge: starved to death for want of life: Seared in your sins; yee shall have no Sermons to dispossesse you of Satan, no teaching to purge your hearts, to humble your soules before God, or to minister the Spirit unto you, yee are weary of the sound Ministery of the Word, therefore ye shall not bee troubled with it. This then is another sign that God will take away those few Stars that are yet remaining. And then woe bee to you.

Fourthly, when there are hardly any sonnes of peace, that the Ministers peace may light upon, then the Lord bids them pack away: Like the Market folkes, when they see their Commodities lie upon their hands, they take up their

Commodities lie upon their hands, they take up their Commodi∣ties, and goe home. O say they, people will give nothing, they will not give our price, wee and our children will have them for our own selves, rather then wee will part with them for nothing. So they goe away, so, Gods Ministers goe away, when the Market is dead, no Customer will come to their stalls. So Paul and Barnabas went away from the Jews, Yee put off the word from you, and therefore, lo, wee turn unto the Gentiles, Act. 13. 46. q. d. yee will have none of it, wee have offered it to you, and we were bid to doe so, but ye put it off from you, therefore fare yee well. Die in your sins. So people now put off the word of God, our Doctrine sinks no where almost; one puts it off from him, another puts it off from him: Like as the Cities of the Philistims did with the Ark. The men of Ekron, they cryed out, and doe you bring it to us? and so the men of Ashdod, said, and it shall not abide with us. 1 Sam. 5. 7. Every one put it off, they would have none of it.

Fifthly, when people oppose, they are so farre from re∣penting at the preaching of the Word, that they fall to op∣pose, and to mis-use the bringers of it, as the Jews did Saint Paul. The Text sayes, Hee shook his rayment at them, and told them, your blood bee upon your own heads, and away hee went, Act. 18. 6. when people lay their heads together, how they may heave out the Minister, many times God gives them leave for to doe it, that they may bring evill on their own heads, the Lord lets them have their cursed wills, to their own utter destruction and condemnation.

Sixthly, when God hath sent all his Ministers that ever hee means to send: Hee sent one Minister, and they would not hear him, hee sent another after him, and they would not hearken to him neither, a man would wonder, surely God will send no more, well, may be God in his great goodnesse sends another good man, and he does what he can, but the people will doe wickedly still. Yea, but when God hath sent all that Hee means to send, now he will send no more;

as God did with Judah. I have sent unto you all my servants the Prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, return from your evill wayes, but yee have not inclined your eare unto me, Jer. 35. 15. when God had sent all, then hee would send no more.

You will say, how can this bee a signe? when God hath sent all that he means to send: who can tell that?

I Answer, Beloved, God may shew it plainly, that God hath sent even all that he means to send; when he blocks up the way, that more cannot bee suffered to come to us, then those that are come, when such courses are laid, that ne're a faithfull one more is permitted to enter; when Gods faith∣full ones are forbidden to Preach, as Paul sayes, They forbid us to Preach. When people will have Pashur's, and not Je∣remiah's: When there be Laws made, Look yee speak no more in his name: When they say to the Seers, see not, and to the Prophets prophesie it. When the good Levites are made to goe away, and to leave their own places, as it was in Jero∣boams time, 2 Chron. 11. 14. Again, when the shadows wax long, it is a signe that the Sun is going down.

The reason why God will take away all his Starres, when matters are come to this passe, is,

First, because it is but lost labour, and Cost cast away, to administer phisick to such patients whose diseases are despe∣rate: my Brethren, God is a wise phisician, and he knows whom hee hath to deale with: when hee sees men rend in pieces his Prescripts, and pull off his plaisters, and vomit up his wholesome potions, that he gives them for their good; he gives them up for gone, hee will bee their Physician no lon∣ger. This was the reason why God did leave Judah, Thy disease is incurable, Jer. 30. 12.

Secondly, because it is not only lost labour, but it is worse then lost, to let such people have the Ministery of the word: it makes them much worse. Why should yee bee smitten any more? yee will revolt more and more, Esa. 1. 5. why should

yee bee preacht to any more? yee will, &c.

Thirdly, Because if men will needs goe on in their sins, God would rather they should doe so without his word, then with it: as a husbandman, if the ground bee stark barren, he would rather never plough it, and sow it with seed, then to have it barren after the seed sown; when people will needs bee wicked, God would rather have them doe all their wick∣ednesse out of his sight, then in it, I will cast you out of my sight, Jer. 7. 15. God cannot abide to look upon a people, that will have their own wayes; they anger him more, when they commit all their wickednesse under his Word; God looks towards a people when hee sends them his holy Word, hee looks upon them to doe them good, hee looks towards them in pity, and calls them to repentance, that they may finde favour with him, and therefore, if they doe evill now, this provokes him more a thousand times. A drunkard where the word is truely preached, an adulterer there, a muck-worm there, a proud person there, a profane wretch there; I say, this angers him more a thousand thousand times. The times of ignorance, God wincked at, Act. 17. 30. If your sins were committed in blinde Parishes, God would winck at you, in a manner, that is, your damnation should bee lesse. God would excuse you himself, in some measure. Alas! poore creatures, they know not what they doe; let them have lesse hell, they do not deserve so many plagues; he wincks at the wicked that live without his Word: But you that live un∣der the word, he cannot winck at you. Hee will punish you to the full. O! Beloved, above all things, the Lord cannot abide that people should bee wretched and vain under his Word: But I will passe over this point. Thus yee see they are seven Starres, every Congregation had its Starre, every Church had its Minister.

Now in the next place, we see here that Christ hath these seven Starres. These things saith hee that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven Starres. Christ hath the seven starres.

Christ is said to have the seven starres, in five respects.

First, in respect that they have their mission from him, se∣condly, in respect they have their Commission from him, thirdly, in respect they have their abilities from him, fourth∣ly, in respect they have their successe from him, fiftly, in re∣spect they have their Protection from him; of these in their order.

First, they have their Mission from him. It is Christ that sends forth all true Ministers: As my Father hath sent mee, so send I you, Joh. 20. 21. it is Christ that sends Ministers to the Church, as hee told Jerusalem: Behold I send unto you Prophets, and Wisemen, and Scribes, Matth. 23. 34. Hee called the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two, &c. Mark. 6. 5. So hee called the seventy and sent them also, Luk. 10. 1. so it is Christ that sends Ministers to this day. True, the Church does ordain them; I, but if they be not sent by him too, they are intruders. Now when hee sends them, they are his Ministers, though it bee the Church that puts them into Orders. As it is with a true Constable, though the Parish choose him, yet hee is the Kings Officer, and does things in the Kings name; so it is with every true Minister, Christ hath the sending of him, he is the Minister of Christ, as the Apostle sayes, Let a man so account of us as the Ministers of Christ, 1 Cor. 4. 1. and therefore look what wee doe in our Office, wee doe it in his name. As hee said, in the name of Jesus Christ rise up and walk. So we say unto Gods Elect, in the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walke. In the name of Jesus Christ Repent of all your wicked wayes, and Beleeve, and though the world will not stirre at our speech, yet they that are elected of God doe stirre: they are none but the Reprobate, that lie still in their sinnes, sometime or other wee get all▪ the Elect for to heare us.

The Use of this is; first, for comfort to us that are true Ministers, Christ hath the sending of us, therefore certainly

hee will bee with us in all his errands, the world may bee against us, we may meet with many wolves: Behold! I send you as sheep among Wolves; people may threaten and speak their words against us, a foot and a half long; what need wee care for all their great speeches, as long as Christ sends us? Christ will bee with us for the good of his Elect, in all the course of our Ministery, be it short, or be it long: Wee shall bee usefull to them what ever the world doe: if there be any that belong to God, wee shall finde them out, no matter for others. Christ will bee with us in the Pulpit, in the prison, in the dog-hole, if yee would put us into it, as Christ told his Ministers, Goe and teach all Nations, Baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost, and lo I am with you to the end of the world, Matth. 28. 19, 20. this is our comfort that Christ will bee with us, and this is the Elects comfort, they shall bee sure to finde him with us in our Ministery.

Secondly, if Christ hath the sending of us, wee must bee* 1.4 sure wee doe his message, that we perform the work he sends us to doe, every messenger should doe thus, nay, Christ himself did thus. I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent mee; Joh. 5. 30. If a Merchant should send a servant beyond Sea, to bee a Factor for him, if that servant should goe and trade for himself, to get monies for himself, and an estate for himself, and neglect his Masters businesse; hee may look for a cold welcome home: so when Christ sends us to bee Factors for him, to see what Soules wee can gain unto him; if wee should now seek our selves, how to be rich, how to bee some-body in the world, how to get preferment, and so leave his businesse undone; wee may look for a cold welcome home, when wee shall bee brought before God. Certainly, if Christ sends us, we should minde his work, glorifie Christ, labour to reveale Christ, to win Soules to Christ; this is our businesse to doe. When David sent Hushai to Absalom, to bee a factor for him, wee see how

well hee did the message, hee turned the counsell of Achito∣phel into foolishnesse, hee marred all that wicked wretches plots, he did all for David: so we should doe all for Christ, wee should labour to turn the devils plots into foolishnesse, to undermine Satan, and where God hath any to save, wee shall prevaile.

Thirdly, If Christ hath the sending of us, wee must give* 1.5 him account when wee have done. When Christ had sent his Disciples to preach, they returned again, and gave him account of what they had done, Luk. 10. 17. Lord even the Devils are subject unto us. Lord I have done thus and thus, I have declared all thy whole counsell, I have kept nothing back: I have done thy message, and such and such have heard mee, but such and such will not hear me. A messen∣ger is bound to give an account unto him that sends him: nay, the devill himself returned to give an account: when the Lord sent him to tempt Job, hee came again, and told what hee had done, Job 2. 1. when the children of Dan sent spies to search the land, they came and gave up their account. The very devill may teach us this lesson, to goe and give Christ account of what wee have done. Wee see there how they that had received the Talents, how they came and gave in their accompt, Lord thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

Fourthly, another Use is to you; what a great mercy is* 1.6 this, that Christ should send unto such as you bee? If Christ had sent unto you, when yee had sought him and turned un∣to him, it had been very much, but that hee should dispatch messengers to you, when yee had not a thought of him; nay, when yee sinned against him, O what a great mercy is this! It was a great kindnesse, that Joseph would send unto his Fa∣ther, and his Brethren, and bid them leave all, and come in∣to the Land of Aegypt, and willed them that they should not care for their stuffe, for the best of the Land of Egypt shall bee yours, yee know his brethren were unkinde unto him. Beloved, Joseph was never so unkindly dealt with by his

Brethren, as Christ hath been by us, and yet that he should send to such wretches as wee are: O leave all, and come unto me, regard not your stuffe, regard not your profits, ne∣ver trouble your selves with this thing and that thing, for all the best of heaven shall be yours; O what an infinit kind∣nesse is this! when hee will send such treasures of his to us, by his Ministers. As Joseph filled his brethrens sacks with corne, which they carryed to their fathers house, in Canaan, to preserve them alive till they came over to Egypt; So the Lord Jesus Christ, hath put his spiritual treasures into a sack, and given them his Ministers to dispence them to their bre∣thren, to nourish them, and preserve them, untill they come home to him: hee fills his Ministers sacks every week for us, they come with sack-fulls of heavenly and divine truths eve∣ry week to us, with sack-fulls of food to feed our soules un∣to eternall life, and when that is spent, hee sends us every Sabbath more; and therefore how should we esteem a true Minister that comes to us from Jesus Christ! He is one of a thousand, as Elihu speaks, if there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one of a thousand, to declare unto man his righteousnesse, then hee is gracious unto him, Job 33. 23, 24. that is, then is God gracious to us indeed, such a one is one of a thousand, such a one declares to us our righteous∣nesse, he brings to us the righteousnesse of Jesus. This the Lord Jesus Christ sends unto us, when hee sends us a true Minister, hee sends us an excellent present, even his own righteousnesse and merits, and the glad tidings of peace, how we may live and be saved: So that we should be thankfull unto God, that Christ sends to us his Ministers, with such precious things. If the King should send to any one of us but five pound, O how would we wonder at it, who ever were the messenger, we would bid such a one welcome, and, what! does the King take notice of mee? such a poore man as I? who would have thought that ever hee should send such a token to me? what a condescending is this! I tell thee, if

thee, if the King should do thus for thee, thou wouldest make very much of it, I, and talk of it too, where ever thou com∣mest; nay, it would make thee glad, and a very joyfull man, and it would make thee think thy self highly preferred. O Beloved, and what a horrible shame is this, that the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords, should send a messenger to us every day almost, not with five pounds a-piece to every one of us, but with all the riches and treasures of heaven, to en∣rich us for ever, to make us happy for ever, Blessed that ever wee were born, and yet that we should not be affected hard∣ly! My Brethren, we that are the Ministers of God, wee come with heavenly and glorious things, every day from our Lord Jesus Christ: though wee have them but in earthly vessels, yet they are things that the whole world is but drosse and dung in comparison of, and therefore think how yee should come to Church; think how ye should come to hear Sermons: Now I come to hear a message from Christ, now shall I hear an Embassadour from heaven, that will break o∣pen Christs Letter to me, a reproofe from Jesus Christ, a counsell from Christ, Directions from Christ concerning the framing of my life, Lessons from Christ, how I may come to glory. O, sayes the Apostle, He hath given to us the Ministery of reconciliation with God: to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not impu∣ting their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then wee are Embassadours for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, wee pray you in Christ his stead bee reconciled unto God, 2 Cor. 5. 18, 19. 20. q. d. Ah yee poore creatures, God and you are out, yee are enemies of God, by your evill works, the wrath of God hangeth over you, wrath for all your sinnes; wrath for your drunkennesse; wrath for your covetousnesse; wrath for all your carnall courses; yee lye under the wrath of God, wrath that will damne you, and undoe you for ever. Now the Lord of Heaven and Earth hath sent us as Heralds of Peace,

wee come Embassadors from the Lord of all glory, we have the word of reconciliation, the word that wee preach, will make God and you friends, if ye will beleeve it. O, wee pray you in Christ his stead consider of it, and bee reconciled un∣to God, heare our message, imbrace our Embassage: O doe not slight what wee say to you, we speak to you from Christ, doe not receive it as a word onely from our mouthes, but as indeed it is, the Word of the great God. This is the onely Word that can make God and you friends, O how highly does it concern you to submit hereunto!

How will this judge the world, that the Ministery of the Word, is no more regarded or heeded! When God sends his Ministers unto people, and because forsooth, their flesh and blood does not like it; they look little after it: Where∣as this containes eternall life, and if ye reject this, ye reject eternall life. I beseech you judge what I say: Doe you meet with a reproofe, that crosses your corrupt lusts? I pray you reason the case thus with your own Soules, O let me not put off this reproofe, it reproves me of my drunken doings, it re∣proves me of my security, it reproves me of my sins: if I put it off, I put off the word of reconciliation: This is one of those truths, that comes to reconcile me to God: I stand out in rebellion, and desiance against God, if I doe not take it home. So of any other passage of the Word. Still when the Prophets would speak unto the people, this was their voyce, The Lord sent mee: so sayes Isaiah, the Lord sent mee; and Je∣remiah too, the Lord sent mee. When they refused to hear what he said: O, sayes hee! Surely the Lord sent mee to speak thus unto you. One would think it were enough to strike ter∣rough into the hearts of men, to put off any Sermon, any re∣buke, any exhortation, of Christs Ministers, when they know the Lord sends them. May bee, the Minister is as poore a creature as one of you; O, but remember who sends him, as Christ sayes, hee that heareth you, heareth mee, and hee that de∣spiseth you, despiseth mee, and hee that refuseth mee, refuseth him that sent me, Luk. 10. 16.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Use 1.
• * 1.2

  Use 2.
• * 1.3

  Use 3.
• * 1.4

  Use 2.
• * 1.5

  Use 3.
• * 1.6

  Use 4.