First, If they be faithful in the Ministry of the Gospel, and God go along with them (as he will if they be faithful) then Oh! how many souls should bless them ⟨p. 314⟩if at any one Sermon; if perhaps they go into a strange place and work upon a few souls, they shall hear their souls blessing God for them every time they go into Gods presence. Now what a wonderful encouragement is it for a Minister to be painful in the work of the Ministry of the Gospel. This is a greater matter than to have a Bishopric, to have but one soul bless God for one that God hath been pleased to work upon, and this is no other than we challenge to be our due, if we by any means may be poor instruments of God to reveal Christ to any of your souls. This is due in justice that you should ever mention us before the throne of Grace, and that the blessing of your prayers should be upon us; and this is a mighty encouragement to make them earnest (not only to make a Sermon) but to be striving to reveal the mysteries of Christ to their souls, and as they will be blessing of Christ here, so (by this means) those that are faithful, they should give a good account at the day of Jesus Christ, and they shall be able to behold the face of Christ when he shall appear, who is the great Bishop of their souls. He will come with his visitations one day; and when that is come, then they shall not have encouragement that have read Service, and wore Surplices every day: But they shall be able to look upon his face with joy that have been faithful in the work of the Ministry of the Gospel, and those that they have done good unto shall be their joy, and their Crown at that day. In 2. Phil. 16. Saith the Apostle to the Philippians (amongst other exhortations) he exhorts them that they should hold forth the word, the word of life; do thus, and thus (saith he) Oh! manifest the power of the Gospel in your lives, that I may rejoice in the day of Jesus Christ that I have not run in vain nor laboured in vain. It is an argument to prevail with people to embrace the Gospel that they may recompense those that labour amongst them with this recompense that they may have joy in the day of Jesus Christ, that they may be able to come ⟨p. 315⟩to Christ, and say, blessed Saviour here am I, and those whom thou hast given me; here are reasons enough. I will pass therefore brethren from the point, only thus much.
First, If they be faithful in the Ministery of the Gospel, and God go along with them (as he wil if they be faithful) then Oh! how many souls should bless them ⟨p. 314⟩if at any one Sermon; if perhaps they go into a strange place and work upon a few souls, they shal hear their souls blessing God for them every time they go into Gods presence. Now what a wonderful encouragement is it for a Minister to be painful in the work of the Ministery of the Gospel. This is a greater matter than to have a Bishopprick, to have but one soul bless God for one that God hath been pleased to work upon, and this is no other than we challenge to be our due, if we by any means may be poor instruments of God to reveal Christ to any of your souls. This is due in justice that you should ever mention us before the throne of Grace, and that the blessing of your prayers should be upon us; and this is a mighty encouragement to make them earnest (not only to make a Sermon) but to be striving to reveal the misteries of Christ to their souls, and as they wil be blessing of Christ here, so (by this meanes) those that are faithful, they should give a good account at the day of Jesus Christ, and they shal be able to behold the face of Christ when he shal appear, who is the great Bishop of their souls. He wil come with his visitations one day; and when that is come, then they shal not have encouragement that have read Service, and wore Su•plices every day: But they shal be able to look upon his face with joy that have been faithful in the work of the Ministery of the Gospel, and those that they have done good unto shal be their joy, and their Crown at that day. In 2. Phil. 16. Saith the Apostle to the Philipians (amongst other exhortations) he exhorts them that they should hold forth the word, the word of life; do thus, and thus (saith he) Oh! manifest the power of the Gospel in your lives, that I may rejoyce in the day of Jesus Christ that I have not run in vain nor laboured in vain. It is an argument to prevail with people to embrace the Gospel that they may recompence those that labor amongst them with this recompence that they may have joy in the day of Jesus Christ, that they may be able to come ⟨p. 315⟩to Christ, and say, blessed Savior here am I, and those whom thou hast given me; here are reasons enough. I wil pass therfore bretheren from the point, only thus much.
