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FIrst, those that have committed to them the Minist∣ry of Reconciliation, as it is of the Appostles (hav∣ing it put into us) [the Ministry of Reconciliation]
First, that that makes them so earnest, it is the love they have to God: for they know that this is the great glory of God; this that shines in the Ministry of Recon∣cilliation in that that they go to declare to the world, & except that the Lord have his glory in that, (the truth is) he hath his glory in nothing in Comparison, and the••e••ore that they might testifie their love to God; that the God whom their Souls love, may have his glory, in that which is indeed his glory, and his Master-piece of al his works. O! this it is that makes them earnest; they thinke if the lord hath not his glory here, where shal he have his glory? O! it is infinite pitty that so great a work (wherein so much of the glory of God doth appear) that the Lord should have no glory in that work.
And again, their dear love to Jesus Christ, every faith∣ful Minister of Christ doth bear a deer affection towards Jesus Christ, and their soules would faine that Jesus Christ might be lift up in the world: now there is nothing that lifts up Jesus Christ in the world so much as the Ministry of the Gospel, those that have any love to Christ that know what Christ hath done for them, they desire to lift up his name: and besides the honor the work puts them upon, it is the Ministry of Reconciliation, and an honorable worke it is; and therefore the Apostle Paul Rom. 15. hath a notable expression for that purpose; honor of the work, it is the Ministry of the gospel, in verse 20. the word in the Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifies to love the honor of it; those that understand the language it is a word that signifies to love the honor of a thing: I was ambitious to preach the gospel, (that is the phrase)
and so it may be translated, I was ambitious to preach the gospel. So that Paul was not ambitious for a great living, or to be brave, or in power, or a Justice of peace, or a Lord, and the like, (as many ministers of late have been) but his ambition was to preach the gospel; looking upon that, as the greatest preferment that any of the sons of men were capable of, or that he could desire in the world.
And then again, besides, the Consideration of the Ministry of the Gospel makes them earnest in love unto their Bretheren, and to the souls of the people to whom they pre••ch: for they know that souls are utterly undon except they come to know God in Jesus Christ; except they come to have the mistery of the Gospel revealed: whatsoever excellencys they have in this world; what parts of nature they have: yet they are lost, undone, mi∣serable creatures for ever, and better they had never been born; better they had never breathed in the aire except Jesus Christ be revealed unto them. Now it is impossible for any man that knows the necessity of the Revelation of Christ: but that if the Ministry of the gospel be committed to him, he must needs be earnest and faithful in the work of the ministry.
And there may be some argument from love to them∣selves, those that have the Ministry of the gospel Com∣mitted, to them, (some way) God gives them leave to love themselves, they cannot love themselves any way so as to be earnest in the Ministry.
First, If they be faithful in the Ministery of the Gos∣pel, and God go along with them (as he wil if they be faithful) then Oh! how many souls should bless them
if at any one Sermon; if perhaps they go into a strange place and work upon a few souls, they shal hear their souls blessing God for them every time they go into Gods presence. Now what a wonderful encouragement is it for a Minister to be painful in the work of the Ministery of the Gospel. This is a greater matter than to have a Bishopprick, to have but one soul bless God for one that God hath been pleased to work upon, and this is no other than we challenge to be our due, if we by any means may be poor instruments of God to reveal Christ to any of your souls. This is due in justice that you should ever mention us before the throne of Grace, and that the blessing of your prayers should be upon us; and this is a mighty encouragement to make them earnest (not only to make a Sermon) but to be striving to reveal the mi∣steries of Christ to their souls, and as they wil be bless∣ing of Christ here, so (by this meanes) those that are faithful, they should give a good account at the day of Jesus Christ, and they shal be able to behold the face of Christ when he shal appear, who is the great Bishop of their souls. He wil come with his visitations one day; and when that is come, then they shal not have encou∣ragement that have read Service, and wore Su••plices e∣very day: But they shal be able to look upon his face with joy that have been faithful in the work of the Mini∣stery of the Gospel, and those that they have done good unto shal be their joy, and their Crown at that day. In 2. Phil. 16. Saith the Apostle to the Philipians (amongst other exhortations) he exhorts them that they should hold forth the word, the word of life; do thus, and thus (saith he) Oh! manifest the power of the Gospel in your lives, that I may rejoyce in the day of Jesus Christ that I have not run in vain nor laboured in vain. It is an argument to prevail with people to embrace the Gospel that they may recompence those that labor amongst them with this recompence that they may have joy in the day of Jesus Christ, that they may be able to come
to Christ, and say, blessed Savior here am I, and those whom thou hast given me; here are reasons enough. I wil pass therfore bretheren from the point, only thus much.