The same that you have heard in this Chapter, you have it again in the beginning of the next Chapter. The Apostle having the word again and again; that it is the Ministry of Reconciliation that is committed to them. After that he tells them, that he beseeches, and prays in Christs stead & then he comes over it again in the beginning of the next Chapter, as if he had not done enough. O this Ministry of Reconciliation! it is the Grace of God unto people; O we beseech you saith the Apostle, Do not receive this Grace of God in vain, the Apostles, & so other faithful Ministers satisfy not themselves merely in performing a task (yet they can come & speak an hour, and speak to people such things as may please their Ears) but they look after what they do to be solicitous, and earnest for fear it should be in vain. O! then we as Ambassadors &c. And I will show you another Text that is very remarkable, in the 1. Col. 25. I am made a Minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you to fulfil the word of God, and then he falls a commending of this Ministry of his in the Mystery that hath bin hid from ages, and from generations, but now is made manifest to the Saints. It may be carnal hearts look upon it as a mad and unsavoury thing: But it is made manifest to the Saints; to whom God would make known, what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery amongst the Gentiles. Now then mark how our point comes in, in the 28. ver. the Apostle would fain gain every man; he is loth to lose any one of his Auditors; every man, every man, every man, three times in one verse, Whereunto also I labour striving according to his working which worketh in me mightily. What Phrases are here heaped one upon another? I do not ⟨p. 311⟩make the work of the ministry an idle work; as if I went about all the day from one company to another; from Tavern, to Tavern all the week, and then think to come and preach upon the Lords day to you, and so make it an idle business: but it is my labour, and not only so, but I strive, and how doth he strive? (not merely according to humane strength, he strives beyond that) I labour striving according to his working; It is the word of God I confess, and my labour, and striving, it is according to his working. Yet still this is not enough, according to his working which worketh in me, Which worketh in me mightily.
The same that you have heard in this Chapter, you have it again in the beginning of the next Chapter. The Apostle having the word again and again; that it is the Ministry of Reconciliation that is committed to them. After that he tels them, that he beseeches, and prayes in Christs stead & then he comes over it again in the beginning of the next Chapter, as if he had not done enough. O this Ministry of Reconciliation! it is the Garce of God unto people; O we beseech you saith the Apostle, Do not recive this Grace of God in vain, the Apostles, & so other faithful Ministers satisfie not themselves meerly in performing a task (yet they can come & speak an hour, and speak to people such things as may please their Ears) but they look after what they do to be solicitous, and earnest for fear it should be in vain. O! then we as Embassadors &c. And I wil shew you another Text that is very remarkable, in the 1. Col. 25. I am made a Minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you to fulfil the word of God, and then he fals a commending of this Ministry of his in the Mystery that hath bin hid from ages, and from generations, but now is made manifest to the Saints. It may be carnal hearts look upon it as a mad and unsavory thing: But it is made manifest to the Saints; to whom God would make known, what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery amongst the Gentiles. Now then mark how our point comes in, in the 28. ver. the Apostle would fain gain every man; he is loth to lose any one of his Auditors; every man, every man, every man, three times in one verse, Whereunto also I labor striving according to his working which worketh in me mightily. What Phrases are here heapt one upon another? I do not ⟨p. 311⟩make the work of the ministry an idle work; as if I went about al the day from one company to another; from Tavern, to Tavern al the week, and then think to come and preach upon the Lords day to you, and so make it an idle business: but it is my labor, and not only so, but I strive, and how doth he strive? (not meerly according to humane strength, he strives beyond that) I labor striving according to his working; It is the word of God I confess, and my labor, and striving, it is according to his working. Yet stil this is not enough, according to his working which worketh in me, Which worketh in me mightily.
