First, The opposition of Enemies from abroad. Secondly, The obstinacy and stubbornness of the Hearts they work upon; Satan is a jealous Prince, and will raise all manner of outcries and oppositions against those heavenly Heralds, that come to Proclaim a new Prince in his Dominions, and withdraw his miserable Subjects from their cursed Allegiance to him. What is it to Preach the Gospel (said Luther) but to derive ⟨p. 39⟩the fury of the World upon the Head of that Preacher? But this would be easily supportable, did our Work but prosper upon the hearts of our hearers; but this alas, is the killing consideration of all; we know the worth of Souls, and how great a service it is to save them from death, James 5. 20. We also know the terrors of the Lord, which excite our utmost endeavours to persuade men, 2 Cor. 5. 11. We feel the compassions of Christ stirring in our own bowels, which makes us long after their Salvation, Phil. 1. 8. We preach, we pray, yea, we travail again as it were in birth until Christ be formed in them, Gal. 4. 19. And when we have done all, we find their Hearts as Iron and Brass, Jer. 6. 28. We mourn in secret when we cannot prevail, and oft times our Hands hang down with discouragement, and we are ready to say with the Prophet, We will speak no more in his name, Jer. 20. 9. But here is our relief, under all discouragements from abroad and at home; the Work is Christs, the Power is his, he is with us, and we are Workers together with him. There was a time when Three thousand Souls were born to Christ at one Sermon, it may be now Three thousand Sermons may be preached and not a Soul Converted: Yet let us not be discouraged, a time of eminent Conversions is Promised, and to be expected in these latter days, Ezek. 47. 9. when the living waters of the Gospel shall make every thing to live whither they come. And when the Fishers (i. e.) the Ministers of Christ shall not fish with Angles as now they do, taking now one, then another single Convert, but shall spread forth their Nets, but enclose multitudes at a draught; When they ⟨p. 40⟩Shall flee as a Cloud, and as the Doves to their Windows. God now opens a door of opportunity beyond expectation; Oh that the Hearts of Ministers and People were suitably enlarged, and the People made willing in the day of his Power.
First, The opposition of Enemies from abroad. Secondly, The obstinacy and stubornness of the Hearts they work upon; Satan is a jealous Prince, and will raise all manner of outcries and oppositions against those heavenly Heraulds, that come to Proclaim a new Prince in his Dominions, and withdraw his miserable Subjects from their cursed Allegiance to him. What is it to Preach the Gospel (said Luther) but to derive ⟨p. 39⟩the fury of the World upon the Head of that Preacher? But this would be easily supportable, did our Work but prosper upon the hearts of our hearers; but this alas, is the killing consideration of all; we know the worth of Souls, and how great a service it is to save them from death, Iames 5. 20. We also know the terrors of the Lord, which excite our utmost endeavours to perswade men, 2 Cor. 5. 11. We feel the compassions of Christ stirring in our own bowels, which makes us long after their Salvation, Phil. 1. 8. We preach, we pray, yea, we travail again as it were in birth until Christ be formed in them, Gal. 4. 19. And when we have done all, we find their Hearts as Iron and Brass, Ier. 6. 28. We mourn in secret when we cannot prevail, and oft times our Hands hang down with discouragement, and we are ready to say with the Prophet, We will speak no more in his name, Jer. 20. 9. But here is our relief, under all discouragements from abroad and at home; the Work is Christs, the Power is his, he is with us, and we are Workers together with him. There was a time when Three thousand Souls were born to Christ at one Sermon, it may be now Three thousand Sermons may be preacht and not a Soul Converted: Yet let us not be discouraged, a time of eminent Conversions is Promised, and to be expected in these latter days, Ezek. 47. 9. when the living waters of the Gospel shall make every thing to live whither they come. And when the Fishers (i. e.) the Ministers of Christ shall not fish with Angles as now they do, taking now one, then another single Convert, but shall spread forth their Nets, but inclose multitudes at a draught; When they ⟨p. 40⟩
