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

Use. To show peoples duty, how much they are to pray unto God for their teachers, that they may be directed into all good thoughts for their souls good. Thou gettest no more profit, thou canst not understand, thou art not affected, Oh see, if this be not a just reward for thy want of prayers for thy guide! How often doth Paul desire the prayers of the people he writes to? how happy is it when the Ministry is profitable to thee, and thou art profiting to it? As God must be with the Preacher, so he must be with the hearer: a coal of fire on his tongue to purify it, and a coal of fire on your ears to cleanse them. Oh then how ungodly are they, who instead of praying, curse, grudge, and nourish malice, for the Ministers work sake merely, when that should make him honourable! Consider, why is the Ministry good to others and not to thee? why is it the word of power and wisdom to others, but of weakness and folly to thee; See if all this cometh not by thy profane neglect and contempt of earnest prayer for to make it so to thee? it's honey to others, but gall to thee, it's a savour of life to others, but death to thee. Some sin or spiritual judgement is upon thee, and therefore be afraid.

Ʋse. To shew peoples duty, how much they are to pray unto God for their teachers, that they may be directed into all good thoughts for their soules good. Thou gettest no more profit, thou canst not understand, thou art not affected, Oh see, if this be not a just reward for thy want of prayers for thy guide! How often doth Paul desire the prayers of the people he writes to? how happy is it when the Ministery is profitable to thee, and thou art profiting to it? As God must be with the Preacher, so he must be with the hearer: a coal of fire on his tongue to purify it, and a coal of fire on your eares to cleanse them. Oh then how ungodly are they, who instead of praying, curse, grudge, and nourish malice, for the Ministers work sake meerly, when that should make him honourable! Consider, why is the Ministery good to others and not to thee? why is it the word of power and wisdome to others, but of weakness and folly to thee; See if all this cometh not by thy prophane neglect and contempt of earnest prayer for to make it so to thee? it's honey to others, but gall to thee, it's a savour of life to others, but death to thee. Some sinne or spiritual judgement is upon thee, and therefore be afraid.