2. There is the public preaching of the Word; And this necessarily supposeth a formed and stated Church, wherein are Governors and governed▪ Those who by Office preach, and those who by duty hear. This public Ministry in the Church of God, is not for convenience, or good order merely, but it is an institution of Christ, and hath several effects attributed to it, as conversion of such who are in their natural condition, the edifying of those, who are converted; for instruction, that men be not led aside with errors and strange Doctrine; for rebuke and reproof of such who walk disorderly, &c. And therefore because of the necessity of it, those who have commission to do it, have manifold directions about it, To preach in season and out of season; and the reason seemeth strange, Because there are many, who will not endure sound Doctrine, 2 Tim. 4. 2. Yea, there is a woe to them, if they be negligent herein, 1 Cor. 9. 16. And in all this they are to be instant and industrious, it being a cursed thing to do the work of the Lord negligently. The matter they preach, must be holy, savoury and nourishing, compared therefore to food: You are to come to a Sermon with an hungry stomach. Yea, as new born children, ye are to swallow down the sincere milk of the Word. And therefore to preach froth and mere fanciful things is as absurd, as if a man should invite another to a dinner, and provide him nothing but the pictures of some meat. It's compared to seed; the Husbandman will not sow his ground with chaff: Yea, it's compared to a two-edged sword, that is quick and piercing into the very secret thoughts of mens hearts. It is for want of such soul-piercing and soul-saving preaching, that people are lulled, or sleep in their sins; that there is nothing but formality and customariness in most men. The word of God is to flash in your faces like so much lightning, and to make even the proudest and the most scornful to tremble within them. They must speak as the Oracles of God. What is that, but as men filled with the Spirit of God, breaking out like fire from them? And with such proportionable affections are you to hear: This is to meet as the Church of God, no man sleeping, no man drowsy, or wandering, and roving in his mind; but to say with the Centurion, We are all here, to hear what God will say to us.
2. There is the publick preaching of the Word; And this necessarily supposeth a formed and stated Church, wherein are Governours and governed▪ Those who by Office preach, and those who by duty hear. This publick Ministry in the Church of God, is not for convenience, or good order meerly, but it is an institution of Christ, and hath several effects attributed to it, as conversion of such who are in their natural condition, the edifying of those, who are converted; for instruction, that men be not led aside with errours and strange Doctrine; for rebuke and reproof of such who walk disorderly, &c. And therefore because of the necessity of it, those who have commission to do it, have manifold directions about it, To preach in season and out of season; and the reason seemeth strange, Because there are many, who will not endure sound Doctrine, 2 Tim. 4. 2. Yea, there is a wo to them, if they be negligent herein, 1 Cor. 9. 16. And in all this they are to be instant and industrious, it being a cursed thing to do the work of the Lordnegligently. The matter they preach, must be holy, savoury and nourishing, compared therefore to food: You are to come to a Sermon with an hungry stomack. Yea, as new born children, ye are to swallow down the sincere milk of the Word. And therefore to preach froth and meer fancifull things is as absurd, as if a man should invite another to a dinner, and provide him nothing but the pictures of some meat. It's compared to seed; the Husbandman will not sow his ground with chaff: Yea, it's compared to a two-edged sword, that is quick and piereing into the very secret thoughts of mens hearts. It is for want of such soul-piercing and soul-saving preaching, that people are lulled, or sleep in their sinnes; that there is nothing but formality and customariness in most men. The word of God is to flash in your faces like so much lightning, and to make even the proudest and the most scornfull to tremble within them. They must speak as the Oracles of God. What is that, but as men filled with the Spirit of God, breaking out like fire from them? And with such proportionable affections are you to hear: This is to meet as the Church of God, no man sleeping, no man drousie, or wandering, and roving in his mind; but to say with the Centurion, We are all here, to hear what God will say to us.
