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

And for Ezekiel, do but read Chap. 2. of that Prophecy, and there you shall find, that God tells him before-hand, that He did send him to a Rebellious House; yea, God told him that he should Live among Briars and Thorns. And yet it is observable, That this Prophet Ezekiel, did Prophesy in the time of their Captivity, was sent unto the People of Israel, when they were in Captivity. One would have thought, that in the time of their Affliction, that if ever they would have attended to the Word of the Lord, then they would. No: But in the time when they were in Captivity, when God had fulfilled the words that were Threatened by the former Prophets; though they saw how God had made good His Words by the former Prophets, yet they continued a Rebellious People. O this was an extreme thing! It was not so much for them to reject Jeremiah, that did Prophesy of their Captivity; I, he tells us of nothing but Judgments, but we hope God is a more Merciful God; and upon that perhaps they rejected Him, I, but surely when they were in Captivity, now they should, one would have thought, acknowledged that to the Lord belongs Glory, but to us nothing but Shame and Confusion. No: But yet their Hearts continued hard, as a Brick in the Fire, it is harder for the Fire; and so were their Hearts in the time of their Affliction. I shall not need to Instance in any further particulars, it is clear that God sends the Ministry of the Gospel to places sometimes, where it may be it will be rejected. Now for the Opening of the Point, there are these Two things I intended.

And for Ezekiel, do but read Chap. 2. of that Prophesie, and there you shall find, that God tells him before-hand, that He did send him to a Rebellious House; yea, God told him that he should Live among Bryars and Thorns. And yet it is observable, That this Prophet Ezekiel, did Prophesie in the time of their Captivity, was sent unto the People of Israel, when they were in Captivity. One would have thought, that in the time of their Affliction, that if ever they would have attended to the Word of the Lord, then they would. No: But in the time when they were in Captivity, when God had fulfilled the words that were Threatned by the former Prophets; though they saw how God had made good His Words by the former Prophets, yet they continued a Rebellious People. O this was an extream thing! It was not so much for them to reject Jeremiah, that did Prophesie of their Captivity; I, he tells us of nothing but Judgments, but we hope God is a more Merciful God; and upon that perhaps they rejected Him, I, but surely when they were in Captivity, now they should, one would have thought, acknowledged that to the Lord belongs Glory, but to us nothing but Shame and Confusion. No: But yet their Hearts continued hard, as a Brick in the Fire, it is harder for the Fire; and so were their Hearts in the time of their Affliction. I shall not need to Instance in any further particulars, it is clear that God sends the Ministry of the Gospel to places sometimes, where it may be it will be rejected. Now for the Opening of the Point, there are these Two things I intended.