283. A stumbling block removed. Many men stumble at this stumbling stone, that those who teach well, live ill; the good Lord remove the offenders, and the offence: Tush ⟨p. 116⟩say they, we know them too well to think they are in earnest. Alas! alas! indeed 'tis true, they that Preach the Gospel of truth, should practise the truth of the Gospel; but if they will not, wilt not thou? is the truth the worse, because they are bad? the Doctrine which they Preach, may save thee, if thou believe it, and do it, though they that Preach the Doctrine may not be saved themselves. If they be so bad to go to Hell, wilt thou be so mad to follow them there? What said our Saviour of the Pharisees, (bad men in good employment) after their sayings do ye, Matth. 23. and as the Proverb says, do as they say, and not as they do, unless they do as they should do; 'tis not so much the Preachers Practise, as the Preachers Doctrine, that thou art to mind; if they teach what they should, that's to thee, if they do not, what they teach, that's to themselves. But oh all you that speak ⟨p. 117⟩in the name of the Lord, let me beg you, that we may all be living and walking Gospels; Our work is not only to be Heavenly in the Pulpit: Shall we Preach Christ to others, and be without proof of Christ living in us? Shall we make our selves transgressors, by destroying the things that we build? How can we think that others will learn of us, if we will not learn our selves? Do we think to go Heaven any other way? Shall it always be said in reproach, that when in the Pulpit, 'tis pity they should come out; but when out, 'tis pity they should come in? What! shall we bring up an evil report upon the good Gospel? shall we take his name into our mouth, and not be reformed? shall we that say to others, live holily, live wick edly? shall we that teach Gospel-faith, not believe and tremble? shall we that call upon others to have their conversation ⟨p. 218⟩in Heaven, mind Earthly things, and become enemies to the Cross of Christ? shall we that make our boast of the Law, through breaking of the Law dishonour God? for by this the name of God is blasphemed among men. Oh that therefore we may be an example of the believers, not only in word, but in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith and purity, and so take heed to our selves, and our Doctrine, that we may save our selves and them that hear us.
283. A stumbling block removed. Many men stumble at this stumbling stone, that those who teach well, live ill; the good Lord remove the offenders, and the offence: Tush ⟨p. 116⟩say they, we know them too well to think they are in earnest. Alas! alas! indeed 'tis true, they that Preach the Gospel of truth, should practise the truth of the Gospel; but if they will not, wilt not thou? is the truth the worse, because they are bad? the Doctrine which they Preach, may save thee, if thou believe it, and do it, though they that Preach the Doctrine may not be saved themselves. If they be so bad to go to Hell, wilt thou be so mad to follow them there? What said our Saviour of the Pharisees, (bad men in good employment) after their sayings do ye, Matth. 23. and as the Proverb saies, do as they say, and not as they do, unless they do as they should do; 'tis not so much the Preachers Practise, as the Preachers Doctrine, that thou art to minde; if they teach what they should, that's to thee, if they do not, what they teach, that's to themselves. But oh all you that speak ⟨p. 117⟩in the name of the Lord, let me beg you, that we may all be living and walking Gospels; Our work is not onely to be Heavenly in the Pulpit: Shall we Preach Christ to others, and be without proof of Christ living in us? Shall we make our selves transgressors, by destroying the things that we build? How can we think that others will learn of us, if we will not learn our selves? Do we think to go Heaven any other way? Shall it alwaies be said in reproach, that when in the Pulpit, 'tis pity they should come out; but when out, 'tis pity they should come in? What! shall wee bring up an evil report upon the good Gospel? shall we take his name into our mouth, and not be reformed? shall we that say to others, live holily, live wick edly? shall wee that teach Gospel-faith, not believe and tremble? shall we that call upon others to have their conversation ⟨p. 218⟩in Heaven, minde Earthly things, and become enemies to the Crosse of Christ? shall we that make our boast of the Law, through breaking of the Law dishonour God? for by this the name of God is blasphemed among men. Oh that therefore we may be an example of the believers, not onely in word, but in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith and purity, and so take heed to our selves, and our Doctrine, that we may save our selves and them that hear us.
