What we shall think of it then, the Lord knows; but surely it seemeth now to us a matter of very sad consideration, that we must be brought in as witnesses against the souls of our neighbours and friends in the flesh. Those whom ⟨p. 50⟩we now unfeignedly love, and would do any thing that we were able to do for their good, whose well fare is dearer to us then all worldly enjoyments: Alas, that we must be forced to testify to their faces for their condemnation! Ah Lord, with what a heart must a poor Minister study, when he considereth this, that all the words that he is studying must be brought in for a witness against many of his hearers! with what a heart must a Minister Preach, when he remembereth that all the words that he is speaking must condemn many, if not most of his hearers! Do we desire this sad fruit of our Labours? No: we may say with the Prophet, Jer. 17.16. I have not desired the woeful day, thou knowest: No, if we desired it, we would not do so much to prevent it: we would not study, and preach, and pray, ⟨p. 51⟩and entreat men, that if it were possible we might not be put on such a task▪ And doubtless it should make every honest Minister study hard, and pray hard, and entreat hard, and stoop low to men, and be earnest with men in season and out of season, that if it may be, they may not be the condemners of their peoples souls. But if men will not hear, and there be no remedy, who can help it? Christ himself came not into the world to condemn men, but to save them, and yet he will condemn those that will not yield to his saving work: •od takes no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but rather that he repent, and return, and live, Ezek. 18.23.32. and yet he will rejoice over those to do them hurt, and destroy them that will not return, Deut. 28.63. And if we must be put on such work, he will make us; ⟨p. 52⟩like-minded. The holy Ghost tells us, that the Saints shall Judge the world, 1 Cor. 6.2, 3. and if they must Judge, they will Judge as God Judgeth; you cannot blame us for it sinners: we now warn you of it before hand, and if you will not prevent it blame not us, but your selves. Alas! we are not our own Masters. As we now speak not to you in our own names, so then we may not do what we list our selves, or if we might, our wills will be as Gods will. God will make us Judge you, & witness against you: Can we absolve you, when the righteous God will condemn you?
What we shall think of it then, the Lord knows; but surely it seemeth now to us a matter of very sad consideration, that we must be brought in as witnesses against the souls of our neighbors and friends in the flesh. Those whom ⟨p. 50⟩we now unfeignedly love, and would do any thing that we were able to do for their good, whose well fare is dearer to us then all worldly enjoyments: Alas, that we must be forced to testifie to their faces for their condemnation! Ah Lord, with what a heart must a poor Minister study, when he considereth this, that all the words that he is studying must be brought in for a witness against many of his hearers! with what a heart must a Minister Preach, when he remembreth that all the words that he is speaking must condemn many, if not most of his hearers! Do we desire this sad fruit of our Labours? No: we may say with the Prophet, Jer. 17.16. I have not desired the woful day, thou knowest: No, if we desired it, we would not do so much to prevent it: we would not study, and preach, and pray, ⟨p. 51⟩and intreat men, that if it were possible we might not be put on such a task▪ And doubtless it should make every honest Minister study hard, and pray hard, and intreat hard, and stoop low to men, and be earnest with men in season and out of season, that if it may be, they may not be the condemners of their peoples souls. But if men will not hear, and there be no remedy, who can help it? Christ himself came not into the world to condemn men, but to save them, and yet he will condemn those that will not yield to his saving work: •od takes no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but rather that he repent, and return, and live, Ezek. 18.23.32. and yet he will rejoyce over those to do them hurt, and destroy them that will not return, Deut. 28.63. And if we must be put on such work, he will make us; ⟨p. 52⟩like-minded. The holy Ghost tels us, that the Saints shall Judge the world, 1 Cor. 6.2, 3. and if they must Judge, they will Judge as God Judgeth; you cannot blame us for it sinners: we now warn you of it before hand, and if you wil not prevent it blame not us, but your selves. Alas! we are not our own Masters. As we now speak not to you in our own names, so then we may not do what we list our selves, or if we might, our wills will be as Gods will. God will make us Judge you, & witness against you: Can we absolve you, when the righteous God will condemn you?
