13 That ye have them in singular love, for their works sake: be at peace among your selves. ⟨p. 194⟩They which exhort you, and warn you, and are over you in the Lord: they be shepherds, and husbandmen, and watchmen for you. They feed the Lords flock, plough the Lords ground, and watch the tower of the God of hosts. You are Gods sheep, ye must be fed, else you cannot live. You are a field, you must be ploughed, else you will be overgrown with brambles, and stand unfruitful, and lie waste. You are the Lords tower, you must be watched, else the enemy will break in upon you, and so you should be destroyed. They labour and travel in your behalf: they must give an account for your souls: they are ambassadors sent from God: they come to tell you the truth: they preach not themselves, but Christ Jesus: they speak to you in the name of the Lord. Although you reckon them fools, unlearned, and simple, they are the messengers of the great King: even of him that is Lord over all. Saint Paul saith: It pleased God 1by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. The heavenly treasure is brought to you, in poor, broken, earthy vessels. The vessels are simple, but the treasure is heavenly. The messenger is weak, but his word is the word of life, which can cast down every high thing that is exalted against the glory of God. Whatsoever they ⟨p. 195⟩•eeme to you, they are the eyes of the Church, and the mouth of God. Christ saith unto them, whom he appointeth to this ministry, As my father sendeth me, so send I you. They 2have the same commission be they never so poor. He that heareth you, heareth me, and 3he that despiseth you, despiseth me: and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me, saith Christ.
13 That yee haue them in singular loue, for their workes sake: be at peace among your selues. ⟨p. 194⟩They which exhort you, and warne you, and are ouer you in the Lord: they be shéepeheards, and husbandmen, and watchmen for you. They féede the Lordes flocke, plough the Lordes ground, and watch the tower of the God of hosts. You are Gods shéepe, ye must be fedde, else you cannot liue. You are a field, you must be ploughed, else you will be ouergrowen with brambles, and stand vnfruitful, and lie waste. You are the Lordes tower, you must be watched, else the enimie will breake in vpon you, and so you shoulde bée destroyed. They labour and trauell in your behalfe: they must giue an account for your soules: they are ambassadors sent from God: they come to tel you the truth: they preach not themselues, but Christ Jesus: they speake to you in the name of the Lord. Although you reckon them fooles, vnlearned, and simple, they are the messengers of the great King: euen of him that is Lord ouer all. Saint Paul saith: It pleased God 1by the foolishnesse of preaching to saue them that beleeue. The heauenly treasure is brought to you, in poore, broken, earthie vessels. The vessels are simple, but the treasure is heauenly. The messenger is weake, but his word is the word of life, which can cast downe euerie high thing that is exalted against the glorie of God. Whatsoeuer they ⟨p. 195⟩•éeme to you, they are the eies of the Church, and the mouth of God. Christ saith vnto them, whome he appointeth to this ministerie, As my father sendeth mee, so sende I you. They 2haue the same commission be they neuer so poore. He that heareth you, heareth mee, and 3he that despiseth you, despiseth me: and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me, saith Christ.
- 1[…]. Cor. 11.〈…〉. Cor. 11.
- 2Joh. 20.Ioh. 20.
- 3Luke. 10.
