A20559:443
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
So 1. Sam. 12. 23. The people being affrighted with Gods fearful sign and seeing their sins, then they come unto Samuel the prophet of God, (as commonly it is the practise of men in time of prosperity to set light by the minister, and not to regard him at all, but in time of adversity where misery pincheth, it is often seen, that men will send for him and be content to hear him and crave his direction) so in affliction they come to Samuel, and earnestly desired him to pray for them. Then his answer is, God forbid that I should sin against God, and cease praying for you: showing that it is a great sin against God in the ministers if he be not frequent in prayer for his people. So that though the minister study diligently, preach painfully, and walk religiously, in all good conscience; yet if he do not pray to God, and beseech him earnestly to amend those faults that he sees in them, and to convert their souls unto him, and do not also give thanks when he perceives any good thing wrought in them, and pray for the continuance and increase of it, he doth sin against God, and fail in a special duty that he owes to his charge. For all planting and watering is in vain, unless God give the increase. And how can he respect any blessing of God, unless he do both often and earnestly seek for it, and render most hearty thanks for it as he finds it granted?
So 1. Sam. 12. 23. The people being affrighted with Gods fearefull signe and seeing their sinnes, then they come vnto Samuel the prophet of God, (as commonly it is the practise of men in time of prosperitie to set light by the minister, and not to regard him at all, but in time of aduersitie where miserie pincheth, it is often seene, that men will send for him and be content to heare him and craue his direction) so in affliction they come to Samuel, and earnestly desired him to pray for them. Then his answere is, God forbid that I should sinne against God, and cease praying for you: shewing that it is a great sinne against God in the ministers if he be not frequent in prayer for his people. So that though the minister studie diligently, preach painefully, and walke religiously, in all good conscience; yet if he doe not pray to God, and beseech him earnestly to amend those faults that he sees in them, and to conuert their soules vnto him, and doe not also giue thanks when he perceiues any good thing wrought in them, and pray for the continuance and encrease of it, hee doth sinne against God, and faile in a speciall dutie that he owes to his charge. For all planting and watering is in vaine, vnlesse God giue the encrease. And how can he respect any blessing of God, vnlesse he doe both often and earnestly seeke for it, and render most heartie thanks for it as he findes it granted?