The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

In the first place consider, What Reasons may be for this; Why God will use such workers with him, he needeth not the parts or gifts of any. It's but his word, and all things by it are wrought in Heaven and Earth: Yet both in the Old Testament and New, he hath appointed some, by whose outward Ministry, he would gather a people to himself. And

¹First, This is a fit, and an accommodated way to our natures. When God sends men of the same mould, and subject to the same affections; this may the more easily draw us. When God delivered the Law himself, it was with such terror and majesty, that they desired, that God would not himself speak any more to them; so that mere men would not be able to bear the immediate approaches of the Divine Majesty to them. Hence in the Old Testament, when any divine apparition was made; they presently concluded, they should die immediately, Can any see God and live? Thus then it's Gods goodness and love to appoint men of the same mould to be his messengers, to importune you in his stead. ⟨p. 111⟩This is more suitable to you. As the Fowler catcheth many birds by one decoy, a bird of the same feather: or rather as the Apostle argueth concerning Christ, It became us to have such an High-priest, that could be sensible of our condition, and compassionate with us, Heb. 7. Thus it is here, it becometh us to have such to bring us home unto God, that are affected with our estates, that have the same temptations in them, as other men. Hence the more experience, Gods Ministers have of the work of grace, the temptations of Satan, the deceitfulness of sin, the more fit they are to comfort others, or to deliver them out of snares. As face answereth face, so the heart of man answereth another, Prov. 27.19.

¹First, This is a fit, and an accommodated way to our natures. When God sends men of the same mould, and subject to the same affections; this may the more easily draw us. When God delivered the Law himself, it was with such terrour and majesty, that they desired, that God would not himself speak any more to them; so that meer men would not be able to bear the immediate approaches of the Divine Majesty to them. Hence in the Old Testament, when any divine apparition was made; they presently concluded, they should die immediately, Can any see God and live? Thus then it's Gods goodnesse and love to appoint men of the same mould to be his messengers, to importune you in his stead.