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

First, That he shall be an Instrument of the Glory of God. For one to live to be Instrumental of the Glory of ⟨p. 209⟩God must needs make his Life comfortable, whatsoever he suffer. Now there can be no such Glory that any Creature can be made a greater Instrument of, than the Glory that God hath from Souls that are Saved by Jesus Christ. It is the highest Glory that God hath from all His Creatures, that there should be some Souls that should understand Jesus Christ, that should admire at Him, should glorify God in Jesus Christ. It is the highest Glory that God doth Enjoy in Heaven, next unto the Glory that He hath in Himself, and in His Son; that is, in the Trinity: But for the Glory that He hath, Ab extra, from His Creatures, that is the highest Glory that ever God had, or shall have. Now for the Lord to make a Man to be an Instrument of this, To bring some Souls to be Eternally Glorifying God for Jesus Christ: O, It is worth all a Mans Strength, though he should shorten his Life Seven Years; yet if there be but One or Two Souls brought by his Ministry, that shall Enjoy the good things in Christ, this is well worth the Labour and Pains. For, indeed, in this the Lord doth honour Men more than Angels: The Lord hath not put the Angels in Heaven, upon such an Honourable work as this, to be the Ambassadors of God and Christ, for Reconciliation: The Lord hath not committed the Word of Reconciliation to Angels, to go and Preach that in an Ordinary way: They are not Deputed by Christ, to be as His Officers. We never read of any such thing in the Word of God, though they be sometimes Appointed to be Ministering Spirits for the good of Gods Elect, to Help them, to Comfort them, to Avenge them of their Enemies; but we never read that the Word of Reconciliation was Committed to them, and to the Ministers of the Gospel: And therefore there is no such Glory that they ⟨p. 210⟩can bring to God, as the Lord is Pleased to make Man to be an Instrument of. In this the Lord doth Honour Man more than the Angels, that he shall be Appointed to be the great Ordinance under Jesus Christ, for the bringing of Souls unto Jesus Christ; and so the bringing of them to Magnify the Infinite Riches of the Grace of God in Christ, to all Eternity. Now, Is not this worth any ones Labour and Life? O what Encouragement is this, whatsoever one suffers in it.

First, That he shall be an Instrument of the Glory of God. For one to live to be Instrumental of the Glory of