Four useful discourses viz. ... /Four usefull discourses viz. ... /

First, The Supposition, If the Son of Peace be there. Here there is a Supposition, That when the Lord sends the Ministry of the Gospel unto any place, that there will be some Sons of peace; it were a hard thing if we should come and find no Sons of Peace. If the Son of Peace be there: As if Christ should say, It is hopeful you ⟨p. 160⟩may find some Sons of Peace. From whence the Point of Doctrine is this:

That when God doth send the Ministry of the Gospel to any place, there is hopes that there is some Sons of Peace there.

That when God doth send the Ministery of the Gospel to any place, there is hopes that there is some Sons of Peace there.

There may be hope to Ministers and others, that they shall find some that will entertain their Gospel: In Acts 18. 9, 10. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night, by a Vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: For I have much People in this City. When God sent Paul to Preach, there was a great deal of Opposition: Well, saith God, for all that Opposition, you shall Preach in this place: Why? For I have much People in this City. So that when God by His Providence, shall order the Word to come to any place, there is a hopeful Argument at least, that God hath People in that City. In Mat. 10. Where you have Christ sending of the Apostles to Preach, He bids them in ver. 5. Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into the Cities of the Samaritans, enter ye not, saith Christ: But go rather to the lost Sheep of the House of Israel. As if Christ should say, As for the Gentiles, and the Samaritans, I have yet none to Call there; the time is to come for the Gentiles to be Called: I would not therefore have you go thither, I would not have you lose your Labour: But go unto the lost Sheep of the House of Israel. There are many of the House of Israel, that are as lost Sheep, that are wandering from God, and their own Happiness: I would have you go thither, saith Christ; thereby Intimating that there were some to be Called there, rather than in the other place. The Ministry of the Gospel, it is the great Gift of Jesus Christ, that He gave when He