The wells of salvation opened, or, Words whereby we may be saved

3. This reproveth such who blemish their Ministry by an Ungodly Conversation; when God honoureth Ministers so as to employ them to preach the Gospel, rather than Angels, God doth expect that they should be Angelical in their Doctrine, and Angelical in their Lives; some there are that be so in their Doctrine, but their Lives are so loose and intemperate, that they both cast a blot upon their Function, and invalidate their Doctrine, yea are hereby instruments of hardening the wicked more effectually than if they could not preach at all. I have heard of a woman who sate under the Ministry of one who preached very powerfully, but lived very wickedly, whereupon she was tempted to Atheism; of which she gave this reason to him upon demand of the cause, that it was from himself, That when she heard him preach so like an Angel, and saw him live so like a Devil, she was thence prone to believe that there was no God. We read of the wickedness of Eli's Sons, who were Priests, which made the offering ⟨p. 20⟩of the Lord to be abhorred, 1 Sam. 2.17. And so the drunkenness, uncleanness, covetousness, oppression, and profaneness of many in our days, who call themselves Ministers, maketh the administration of Gods Ordinances by such persons to be abhorred by many serious and sober-minded Christians. None are more honourable than such Ministers as tread in their Masters steps, as are holy and exemplary in their conversation: But wicked Ministers of all others are the vilest and most contemptible; they are spots and blemishes in the body of the Church; they are the scum, the filth, and off-scouring of the pot; the foam and froth of the water; they are Trees without Fruit, Salt without savour, Candles without light; they are a deep pit, full of mire and dirt; they are Clouds without rain, for whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

3. This reproveth such who blemish their Ministry by an Vngodly Conversation; when God honoureth Ministers so as to imploy them to preach the Gospel, rather than Angels, God doth expect that they should be Angelical in their Doctrine, and Angelical in their Lives; some there are that be so in their Doctrine, but their Lives are so loose and intemperate, that they both cast a blot upon their Function, and invalidate their Doctrine, yea are hereby instruments of hardening the wicked more effectually than if they could not preach at all. I have heard of a woman who sate under the Ministry of one who preached very powerfully, but lived very wickedly, whereupon she was tempted to Atheisme; of which she gave this reason to him upon demand of the cause, that it was from himself, That when she heard him preach so like an Angel, and saw him live so like a Devil, she was thence prone to believe that there was no God. We read of the wickedness of Eli's Sons, who were Priests, which made the offering