Gospel reconciliation, or, Christ's trumpet of peace to the world

CHAP. 59.

Use. 2

Ʋse. 2

IN the second place, labour you to inform your selves in this; when you see any faithful Minister earnest in this work of his ministration, know what the ground is (perhaps some of you wonder at it, why he cannot content himself as some others) know where the ground lies, In this; from whence it comes, it is the Ministry of the Gospel that is committed to him, and he knows it is a Glorious Ministry, and he sees much of Jesus Christ in it, and the Glory of God shines in it, and if he be faithful, and hath any love to Christ, and Saints, and their souls; it is impossible but that he must needs be earnest in it. Paul was so earnest that the people thought him mad, and that in this very Chapter where my text is verse 13. You may think we are besides our selves; well it is for your cause, and it is the love of Christ constrains us; we cannot but do that we do, as the Apostle Peter, saith in another please. So saith any faithful Minister (think of it what you will,) we cannot but speak what the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ is; what it is that we have seen; and what it is that we have heard out of the Ministry of the Gospel our selves, and the love of Christ constrains us, and then in verse, 11. knowing therefore the terror of the Lord (then much more the grace of the Lord) we persuade men. If so be that God would but convince you of this, that when you hear any thing of the mystery of the Gospel opened to you, and any earnestness of spirit manifested in it, I say, if you were convinced that the ground, and principle of it is this; the apprehension of the glory of this ministration (as it is such in an excellent Ministry) Therefore it is that all