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

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 ⟨p. 161⟩Ascended on high: And to what end did He give it? Mark, in Ephes. 4. 11, 12. to what end it is: And He gave some Apostles: And some Prophets: And some Evangelists: And some Pastors and Teachers: For the perfecting of the Saints: (So it is Translated in your Books:) But the Word in the Original is, For the Jointing of the Saints; the putting of them into Joint: At first, to put them into Christ, (and then that they may grow up) For the Work of the Ministry, for the Edifying of the Body of Christ. For the Building up of the Body of Christ. And this Text is quoted out of that Prophecy that we have in Psal. 68. 18. Thou hast ascended on High, Thou hast led Captivity Captive, Thou hast received Gifts for men, &c. Here's a Prophecy of Christ clearly: And the Apostle doth apply it in