A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

In this particular threatening, three points are to be observed: one concerning the Minister; the second concerning the whole body of the church: the third concerning every private man. Touching the Minister note this: If he shall decay in love to God, to his word, or to his brethren, or if he lye in any one sin known to himself, it is a means to deprive him either of his calling, or of Gods gifts bestowed on him: for this threatening is here directed especially unto the Angel of this Church of Ephesus. When Jeremiah had been wanting in delivering the Lord• will unto the people, partly for fear, & partly through impatience: then the Lord becomes a Prophet unto him, saying, If thou ^(a)return, I will bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me. Whereby he would give him to understand, That if he returned not, he should cease to be a Prophet unto him. The same thing is true of all Gods Ministers: if they decay in love, fail in their duty, or lye in any sin, they must speedily renew themselves by repentance, or else God will deprive them either of their calling, or of the gifts thereof. True repentance and the renewing thereof is needful unto all Christians; but especially to Gods Ministers, if they would continue in his favour, and stand before him, becoming his mouth unto the people.

In this particular threatening, three points are to bee obserued: one concerning the Minister; the second concerning the whole body of the church: the third concerning euery priuat man. Touching the Minister note this: If he shall decay in loue to God, to his word, or to his brethren, or if hee lye in any one sinne knowne to himselfe, it is a meanes to depriue him either of his calling, or of Gods gifts bestowed on him: for this threatening is here directed especially vnto the Angell of this Church of Ephesus. When Ieremie had beene wanting in deliuering the Lord• will vnto the people, partly for feare, & partly through impatience: then the Lord becomes a Prophet vnto him, saying, If thou ^(a)returne, I will bring thee againe, and thou shalt stand before me. Whereby hee would giue him to vnderstand, That if hee returned not, he should cease to be a Prophet vnto him. The same thing is true of all Gods Ministers: if they decay in loue, faile in their dutie, or lye in any sinne, they must speedily renew themselues by repentance, or els God will depriue them either of their calling, or of the gifts thereof. True repentance and the renewing thereof is needfull vnto all Christians; but especially to Gods Ministers, if they would continue in his fauour, and stand before him, becomming his mouth vnto the people.