Secondly, It is a great mercy to a People, for God to grant 1his Prophets among them to reveal his mind to them. What ⟨p. 346⟩would all the world be but as a dungeon of darkness, were it not for the Prophets and Ministers of God […]ey are as the Light of the World, and the Salt of the Earth, the World would rot and be unsavoury were it not for 2the Ministry of the Word in the World; and so we find that when God-would make a special Promise to his People, he promises them, that they shall have their Teachers, in Isa. 30. 20. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy Teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy Teachers; Oh! here's a promise to a gracious heart. But to another it's nothing, What, Shall the Ministry of the 3Word countervail the loss of my estate? God doth not say, I'll take away from you your afflictions, Oh no, but your eyes shall see your Teachers; perhaps your eyes shall never see your Money, and Estates again, but your eyes shall see your Teachers. And we know when Christ was ascended up on high, in his Coronation Day; Kings in their Coronation days use to give great Gifts to show their magnificence, then the Conduits will run Wine sometimes. Now when Christ ascended up to be crowned on high, What was the great thing that he gave in the world? He gave gifts to men, Some to be Prophets and Apostles, 4and some Pastors and Teachers, that's the great gift of Jesus Christ upon his Ascension into Heaven and taking the Crown of Glory, as if Christ should say: Shall I give a magnificent gift to the world like a Prince, like the King of Heaven? I'll give gifts to men, I'll give them 5Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers, that's the great magnificent gift that Jesus Christ hath given to the world, Oh! that we could learn to prize it. I remember I have read in Chrysostoms time, that the godly men when he was silenced, they were so affected with it, that they had rather the Sun did withdraw his beams and not shine in the world, than that the mouth of Jo. Chrysostom 6should be stopped; They did so prize the Word of God by ⟨p. 347⟩his mouth. Oh that men could learn to prize it more, at a higher rate.
Secondly, It is a great mercy to a People, for God to grant 1his Prophets among them to reveal his mind to them. What ⟨p. 346⟩would all the world be but as a dungeon of darkness, were it not for the Prophets and Ministers of God 〈…〉ey are as the Light of the World, and the Salt of the Earth, the World would rot and be unsavorie were it not for 2the Ministry of the Word in the World; and so we find that when God-would make a special Promise to his People, he promises them, that they shall have their Teachers, in Isa. 30. 20. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy Teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy Teachers; Oh! here's a promise to a gracious heart. But to another it's nothing, What, Shall the Ministry of the 3Word countervail the loss of my estate? God doth not say, I'le take away from you your afflictions, Oh no, but your eyes shall see your Teachers; perhaps your eyes shall never see your Money, and Estates again, but your eyes shall see your Teachers. And we know when Christ was ascended up on high, in his Coronation Day; Kings in their Coronation daies use to give great Gifts to shew their magnificence, then the Conduits will run Wine sometimes. Now when Christ ascended up to be crowned on high, What was the great thing that he gave in the world? He gave gifts to men, Some to be Prophets and Apostles, 4and some Pastors and Teachers, that's the great gift of Jesus Christ upon his Ascention into Heaven and taking the Crown of Glorie, as if Christ should say: Shall I give a magnificent gift to the world like a Prince, like the King of Heaven? I'le give gifts to men, I'le give them 5Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers, that's the great magnificent gift that Jesus Christ hath given to the world, Oh! that we could learn to prize it. I remember I have read in Chrysostoms time, that the godlie men when he was silenc'd, they were so affected with it, that they had rather the Sun did withdraw his beams and not shine in the world, than that the mouth of Jo. Chrysostem 6
- 1Obs. 2.
- 2Matth. 5. 13.
- 3Isa. 30. 20. Noted.
- 4With Eph. 4. 8, 9, 10, 11.
- 5The Ministry a magnificent gift.
- 6Chrysostom how esteemed in his Ministry.Chrysostom how esteemd in his Ministry.
