Preaching of the Gospel, and the Word of Gods grace, is a special and great means of growth: it's called the rain of plenty, or the plentiful rain. It is a true speech, It is the year, and not the soil, that doth make the fruit: if the rain falls seasonably, and the sun shines seasonably, then you have fruit. Now Beloved, I appeal to you; have you not had a fine time of it here? have you not had a sweet season of Gospel-preaching amongst you? The Lord knows what plentiful rain hath fallen upon you: Oh, great engagements are upon you all for to grow in grace; and if you, this people, shall not after all your engagements this way, and opportunities ⟨p. 25⟩to grow; if you shall not grow in grace, Oh how will you appear before God your Father at the great day! how, how will you give an account of those talents that you have had? We read of him that had but one talent, he wrapped it up in a napkin; but the Parable speaks there wer• five left, and two left; but it is not said that he that had the five, or the two, wrapped them up in a napkin; but he that had but the one talent, he wrapped it up, and you know what became of him; but now when those that have five talents shall wrap them up in a napkin, Oh what will become of them! Beloved, you have not had the one talent, you have not had the two talents: you have had the five talents: and if there was such a miserable end of him that wrapped up his one talent, O what will become of us that have five talents, and wrap them up, and do not improve them! You know what the Lord Christ said to the Church of Ephesus, how he threatened that Church: I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast lost thy first love: remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place. God knows whether your first love be not left, or no; I am sure the Lord hath taken away a burning and a shining light from among you; and certainly, if you do not grow and thrive under all those opportunities of grace, and growth in grace that you have had, and still have; how soon the Lord may quite remove his Candlestick from you, and leave you quite in the dark, he only knows. Wherefore, Beloved in the Lord, you have received much, Oh much is expected from you, much ⟨p. 26⟩is expected from you.
Preaching of the Gospel, and the Word of Gods grace, is a special and great means of growth: it's call'd the rain of plenty, or the plentiful rain. It is a true speech, It is the year, and not the soyl, that doth make the fruit: if the rain falls seasonably, and the sun shines seasonably, then you have fruit. Now Beloved, I appeal to you; have you not had a fine time of it here? have you not had a sweet season of Gospel-preaching amongst you? The Lord knows what plentiful rain hath fallen upon you: Oh, great engagements are upon you all for to grow in grace; and if you, this people, shall not after all your engagements this way, and opportunities ⟨p. 25⟩to grow; if you shall not grow in grace, Oh how will you appear before God your Father at the great day! how, how will you give an account of those talents that you have had? We read of him that had but one talent, he wrapt it up in a napkin; but the Parable speaks there wer• five left, and two left; but it is not said that he that had the five, or the two, wrapt them up in a napkin; but he that had but the one talent, he wrapt it up, and you know what became of him; but now when those that have five talents shall wrap them up in a napkin, Oh what will become of them! Beloved, you have not had the one talent, you have not had the two talents: you have had the five talents: and if there was such a miserable end of him that wrapt up his one talent, O what will become of us that have five talents, and wrap them up, and do not improve them! You know what the Lord Christ said to the Church of Ephesus, how he threatned that Church: I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast lost thy first love: remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place. God knows whether your first love be not left, or no; I am sure the Lord hath taken away a burning and a shining light from among you; and certainly, if you do not grow and thrive under all those opportunities of grace, and growth in grace that you have had, and still have; how soon the Lord may quite remove his Candlestick from you, and leave you quite in the dark, he onely knows. Wherefore, Beloved in the Lord, you have received much, Oh much is expected from you, much ⟨p. 26⟩is expected from you.
