A treatise of the divine promises in five bookes : in the first, a generall description of their nature, kinds, excellency, right use, properties, and the persons to whom they belong : in the foure last, a declaration of the covenant it selfe .../ by Edvvard Legh ...

Promises to faithfull Ministers.

1. For sufficiency and a com∣petent measure of the blessings of this life.

GOD promiseth this as a blessing to his Church, that in the plenty and aboundance he would give to his people, his Ministers also should be plentifully provided for: And I will satiate the soule of the Priests with fatnesse, and my people shall be satisfied with goodnesse, saith the Lord, Ier. 31.14.

Levi hath no part nor i••heritance with his brethren, the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy GOD promised him: Deut. 10.9.

2. Of protection and delive∣rance from trouble.

I will cloath her Priests with sal∣vation, Ps. 132.16. I am with thee; saith the LORD to Ieremy, to deliver thee. Ier. 1.18, 19. See 7. & 8. ver∣ses,

Jer. 15.19, 20. & 20.11. Ezek. 2.6. & 3.9.

He holdeth the starrs in his right hand, Rev. 2.1. by which is signified his power in protecting and go∣verning his Ministers.

2. GOD will take their part a∣gainst their enemies and revenge their wrongs.

He suffered no man to doe them wrong, yea he reproved Kings for their sakes, saying, Touch not mine Annoynted, and do my Prophets no harme, Ps. 105.14, 15. Hitherto be∣longeth that benediction and pro∣pheticall prayer that Moses made for Levi: Blesse LORD his substance, and accept the worke of his hands, smite thorow the loynes of them that rise against him and of them that hate him, that they rise not again, Deut. 33.11.

4. GOD hath promised to give good successe to their labours.* 1.1

He walketh in the middest of

the seven golden candlesticks, Rev. 2.1. by which action is noted, his presence in the middst of his Church, guiding and blessing his Ministers with all the mem∣bers therof.

Loe I am with you alwayes, e∣ven unto the end of the world, Matth. 28.20. CHRIST was present with his Apostles, and now is with their Succes∣sours by his protection of their persons, and co-operation in their worke. But if they had stood in my counsell, and had cau∣sed my people to heare my words, then th••y shoul•• have turned them from their evill way, and from the evill of their doings. Jeremy 23.22.

* 1.25. Their reward shall bee great.

They shal receive a crowne of glory that fadeth not away, 1 Pet. 5.2, 4.

Their reward is with God. Esa. 49.4,

6. They shall agree together, and joyne force against the com∣mon Adversary.

It is promised, as a blessed fruite of the Gospell,* 1.3 That E∣phraim shall not envy Iudah, and Iudah shall not vexe Ephraim: But they shall fly upon the shoul∣ders of the Philistines towards the West.

Notes

• * 1.1

  It was pro∣mised, Esa 6.13. that a tenth should returne.
• * 1.2

  1 Tim. 4.16. Rev ••1 18. Dan. 12.••. Mat. 24.45, 46.

  2 Tim. 4 7, 8 Secundum laborē acci∣pient, non secund um pro∣ventam, saith Bernard.
• * 1.3

  Esay 11.13, 14.