The servant and messenger of God must so speak, as God speaketh. God speaketh deeply, and to the heart. He lanceth the spirit, and ⟨p. 51⟩woundeth the inward parts. He biddeth Isaiah them the people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins: God himself saith, I visit the sin of the fathers upon their children, 1unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me. Again he saith, If ye shall 2despise my ordinances, either if your soul abhor my laws, so that ye will not do all my commandments, I will set my face against you, and you shall fall before your enemies, and they that hate you shall reign over you. But unto those that repent them of their sins, and turn […] to him, God saith, Turn unto me, & ye shall 3be •aved. Again, Thou disobedient Israel, return, 4saith the Lord, and I will not let my wrath fall upon you. So must the minister of God, he must •hew forth the mercy of God, & not hide his judgements. He hath the Lords business in band, he may not do it negligently. A flatterer maketh it his greatest care to please men, he seeketh their favour, he feareth to displease, and dareth not speak that that will be evil taken. When he seeth a thief, he runneth with him, & is partaker with the adulterers: he soweth pillows under the arms of sinners. Whosoever saith, nay, his nay is ready: & if any say yea, he is ready to say, yea: he changeth often as the weathercock: he dareth not strive against the stream: his hart is at the will of others: he seeketh some ⟨p. 52⟩gain, he seeketh his own glory, and not the glory of God. They which are such, are called in the Scriptures, hirelings, dumb dogs, that cannot bark. They deny God, betray his truth, and deceive the people. They lock •ppe the truth in lies. Of such the spirit of god saith: Woe unto them that have a double heart, and 5to the wicked lips. And, A double minded man, is inconstant in all his ways. And, He that 6is not with me is against me: And, He that gathereth 7not with me, scattereth. And, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord 8be God, follow him: but if Baal be he, then go after him. And again, What communion 9hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? Cursed is he which •attereth the people, and is unfaithful in the Lords work.
The seruant and messenger of God must so speake, as God speaketh. God speaketh déeply, and to the heart. He launceth the spirit, and ⟨p. 51⟩woundeth the inward parts. He biddeth Esaie them the people their transgressions, and the house of Iacob their sinnes: God himselfe saith, I visite the sinne of the fathers vpon their children, 1vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me. Againe he saith, If yee shall 2despise my ordinances, either if your soule abhorre my lawes, so that yee will not doe al my commandements, I wil set my face against you, and you shal fall before your enimies, and they that hate you shal raigne ouer you. But vnto those that repent them of their sins, and turne 〈…〉 to him, God saith, Turne vnto me, & ye shal 3be •aued. Againe, Thou disobedient Israel, returne, 4saith the Lord, and I wil not let my wrath fall vpon you. So must the minister of God, he must •hew foorth the mercie of God, & not hide his iudgements. He hath the Lords busines in band, he maie not do it negligently. A flatterer maketh it his greatest care to please men, hée séeketh their fauor, he feareth to displease, and dareth not speake that that will be euill taken. When he séeth a theefe, he runneth with him, & is partaker with the adulterers: he soweth pillowes vnder the armes of sinners. Whosoeuer saith, nay, his nay is readie: & if any saie yea, he is ready to say, yea: he chāgeth often as ye weatherecock: he dareth not striue against ye stream: his hart is at the wil of others: he séeketh some ⟨p. 52⟩gaine, he séeketh his owne glorie, and not the glorie of God. They which are such, are called in the Scriptures, hirelings, dumbe dogs, that cannot barhe. They denie God, betraie his truth, and deceiue the people. They locke •ppe the truth in lies. Of such the spirit of god saith: Woe vnto them that haue a double heart, and 5to the wicked lippes. And, A double minded man, is inconstant in al his waies. And, He that
- 1Exod. 12.
- 2Levit. 26.Leuit. 26.
- 3Isaiah 45.Esay 45.
- 4Jerem. 3.Ierem. 3.
- 5Eccle. 2.
- 6James. 1.Iames. 1.
- 7Luke 11.
- 81. King. 18.
- 92. Cor. 6.
