OBSERVATIONS.
1 Ministers may sometimes preface as occasion requires, so did Paul, Act. 13.16. Men of Israel hear, and yee that fear God, give audience. But of this before on Amos 4.1.
2 Obs. Ministers must not preach their own inventions, but what God commands them. Hear the word which God com∣manded mee to deliver to you. But of this at large before on Amos 4.1.
3 Ministers must preach Iudgement as well as Mercy. Law as well as Gospel, and Lamentation as well as consolation. See Amos 6.1.
4 Tis our duty to bee affected with the miseries of Gods people, whether they be imminent or present; we must weep with them that weep; and as fellow members of the same mystical body, wee should have compassion one of another, Rom. 12.15. 1. Pet. 3.8.* 1.1 Especially this concerns Gods Ministers to com∣miserate the sad condition of Gods people, and to intercede for them at the Throne of Grace, Ier. 9.1. and 18.20. Ioel 2.17. So did Moses for Israel, Exod. 32.31, 32. and Samuel for Saul, 1 Sam. 15. ult. Ieremy writ a whole book of Lamen∣tations for Ierusalem, and Christ wept over it, Luke 19.41, 42. Hence the Lord so oft commands the Prophets to take up a Lamentation for the Princes of Israel, Ezek. 19.1. yea for Tyre, Ezek. 27.2. and for Egypt, Ezek. 32.2.16. and threatens such as neglected this duty, Ezek 13.5. and 22.30, 31. How great then is the sin of those wicked men who mock at such as mourn for them, who hate those which help to keep off judgements from them, who seek the destruction of those which seek their salvation, and desire their death, who use all means to bring them to life; such horrid ingratitude shall not pass without some signal vengeance.
5 Obs. Such as contemn Gods Iudgements, shall at last la∣ment their folly.
These obduratesi nners scoft at the Prophets Threatnings,