An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…

Fifthly, Take away those, who though they are neither of these, neither ignorant, nor idle, nor unsound, nor scandalous, yet are but mere formal preachers, such as only speak words, deliver the out-side, and skin of the Gospel, but have no acquaintance with the marrow and power of it. Take away these five sorts from among Ministers, and surely this expression of Elihu will be but too much verified, The interpreter is but one among a thousand. Abstract all that are ignorant, idle, unsound, scandalous, formal dispensers of the word, from those who are commonly called Ministers, and then, they who remain will be very few, so few, that every one of them, may be reckoned, one among a thousand. And we shall be forced to say, that Elihu hath not said without cause, whether we respect their excellency or their scarcity, that any faithful messenger or interpreter is one among a thousand.

Fifthly, Take away those, who though they are neither of these, neither ignorant, nor idle, nor unsound, nor scandalous, yet are but meere formall preachers, such as only speake words, deliver the out-side, and skin of the Gospel, but have no acquaintance with the marrow and power of it. Take away these five sorts from among Ministers, and surely this expression of Elihu will be but too much verified, The interpreter is but one among a thousand. Abstract all that are ignorant, idle, unsound, scandalous, formall dispencers of the word, from those who are commonly called Ministers, and then, they who remaine will be very few, so few, that every one of them, may be reckoned, one among a thousand. And we shall be forced to say, that Elihu hath not sayd without cause, whether we respect their excellency or their scarsity, that any faithfull messenger or interpreter is one among a thousand.

This is not spoken by Elihu here, nor ought it to be taken up by any of the most faithful Ministers of Christ, to draw honour and respect upon themselves, or that their persons may be had in admiration who are faithful; this were a pitiful design of holding ⟨p. 383⟩out such a truth; but it serves for this end, that the people of God may see, they have a blessing where any are faithful; and may learn how they ought to prize those faithful messengers, whom the Lord sends among them, yea how readily they should receive the grace of God which is tendered in their ministry. These are not only each of them, one messenger, or interpreter, but each one of them is one of a thousand. A soul-convincing, converting, quickening, comforting Minister of the Gospel is worth thousands, and one among a thousand. The Prophet saith (Isa: 52.7.) How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings, &c. By their feet he meaneth their coming, feet being the instruments of their coming to bring this glad tidings; yet when he saith, their feet are beautiful, it may have a greater emphasis, for (the feet being the lowest part of the structure of mans body) it may intend thus much, that even that which is lowest and meanest in a messenger of the Gospel, his feet wearied and wet, yea foul and dirty with travel, have a beauty upon them, how much more his face and countenance; for if the very feet of such news-bringers, of such messengers, and interpreters, should be acceptable and lovely (so beauty is) to all men, how much more should their persons and most of all their message and tidings be? And doubtless, if men did but understand it, they would acknowledge, that God hath committed such a treasury to them, as is better and more beautiful, then all the gold and precious things of this world, and would cry out, O what a mercy is it to have such a News-bringer? and what Greedy News-mongers would they be? The one among a thousand would be more desirable then many thousands of Gold and Silver.