Secondly, such ignorant Ministers do grievously sin, in 1that they presumptuously take upon them, this great office, unto which they are not called of God; for whomsoever the Lord calleth to any function, those he enableth in some measure to discharge the duty which he requireth of them, for his calling is effectual & ministereth efficacy to those whom he calleth, to effect those duties whereunto he calleth them. As soon as he called Aholiab and Bezalcell, to build his 2Tabernacle, he endued them with wisdom and skill fit for the work; and how much more will he furnish with knowledge, and spiritual wisdom, those whom he chooseth to build up his Church? There is no wise man, will choose him for his Carpenter, who is ignorant in building; or for his Husbandman, who hath no skill in husbandry; or for his Shepherd, who hath no discretion to feed his Sheep: and shall we think God less wise or provident then mortal man? No assuredly, those whom he appointeth to be lights he first illumina•••, that so they may give light unto others: those whom he maketh eyes in the spiritual body of the Church, he endueth with the sight of knowledge, whereby they may be enabled to guide and direct the members of the body: the mouths of his making for his own use and service, are not dumb nor tongue-tied: those messengers and ambassadors which are of his sending, are wise and willing to deliver his message; for he that condemneth this in others, 3will not approve it in his own practise: those whom he appointeth nurses to his children, have the milk of knowledge ⟨p. 148⟩in their breasts, neither would the Lord commit his little infants, to such as would starve them for want of milk: he never made them his shepherds, who have no food for his sheep; nor them his stewards who have no provision in store, nor wisdom to give fit nourishment to his family: he never made blind men to be his guides; nor fresh-water soldiers to be his Captains: and the salt of his making is savoury in it self, and fit to season that which is unsavoury. It followeth therefore, that seeing they are not called of God; that they run before they are sent, like those false Prophets Jer. 14. 14. 15. and are gross intruders into those offices in 4which they have no skill; for which intrusion, they shall one day make a fearful account.
Secondly, such ignorant Ministers doe grieuously sinne, in 1that they presumptuously take vpon them, this great office, vnto which they are not called of God; for whomsoeuer the Lord calleth to any function, those he inableth in some measure to discharge the duety which he requireth of them, for his calling is effectual & ministreth efficacie to those whom he calleth, to effect those dueties whereunto he calleth them. As soone as he called Aholiab and Bezalcell, to builde his 2Tabernacle, hee endued them with wisedome and skill fit for the worke; and how much more will hee furnish with knowledge, and spirituall wisdome, those whom he chuseth to builde vp his Church? There is no wise man, will chuse him for his Carpenter, who is ignorant in building; or for his Husbandman, who hath no skill in husbandry; or for his Shepheard, who hath no discretion to feede his Sheepe: and shall we thinke God lesse wise or prouident then mortall man? No assuredly, those whom he appoynteth to be lights he first illumina•••, that so they may giue light vnto others: those whom hee maketh eyes in the spirituall body of the Church, he endueth with the sight of knowledge, whereby they may be enabled to guide and direct the members of the body: the mouthes of his making for his owne vse and seruice, are not dumbe nor tongue-tyed: those messengers and ambassadours which are of his sending, are wise and willing to deliuer his message; for he that condemneth this in others, 3will not approue it in his owne practise: those vvhom he appointeth nurses to his children, haue the milk of knowledge ⟨p. 148⟩in their breasts, neyther would the Lord commit his little infants, to such as would starue them for want of milke: he neuer made them his shepheards, who haue no foode for his sheep; nor them his stewards who haue no prouision in store, nor wisdome to giue fit nourishment to his family: he neuer made blinde men to be his guides; nor fresh-water souldiers to be his Captaines: and the salt of his making is sauoury in it selfe, and fit to season that which is vnsauoury. It followeth therefore, that seeing they are not called of God; that they runne before they are sent, like those false Prophets Ier. 14. 14. 15. and are grose intruders into those offices in 4which they haue no skill; for which intrusion, they shall one day make a feareful account.
- 1Ignorant Ministers usurp an office unto which they are not called.Ignorant Ministers vsurpe an office vnto which they are not called.
- 2Exo. 35. 30. 31.
- 3Prou. 26. 6.
- 4Jer. 14. 14. 15.Ier. 14. 14. 15.
