The first point in order is, the fear & ecstasy into which the Lord drove his holy Prophet, which the Lord did not in his anger, but in his love unto him, not for a punishment of sin, but as an evidence of his further love: for the intent and purpose of God in striking this fear into him, was to enable him to be a true prophet, & a fit messenger for himself. It may seem a strange course, which God taketh to confirm & raise up his servant in zeal and courage, to strike him into an extreme fear, even to astonish and amaze him, and yet we see it is the course which the Lord taketh: out of which practise of the Lord, we learn this doctrine: That all true 1Ministers, especially such as are deputed to the greatest works in his church, must be first of all stricken into a great fear, in consideration of the greatness of their function, yea, into an amazement and astonishment, in the admiration of Gods glory & greatness, whose ⟨p. 62⟩room they occupy, & whose message they bring, & the more they are afraid and shrink, so it be under the contemplation of Gods Majesty, and their own weakness, the more likelier it is that they are truly called of God, & appointed for worthy purposes in his Church: but he that steps to this function without fear, he may thrust in himself, but its doubtful whether he be called of God, as here the Prophet was: Nor is it so here alone, but every where when God called any of his servants, to any great work, be first drove them into these fears and a mazements, as is evident ain Moses, in bJeremiah, in cS. Paul and others. The reason of this dealing of the Lord is plain: namely, because mans nature is always ready to take enough and too much unto it self, God therefore in his wisdom puts a bridle unto the corrupt nature of man, & astonisheth it, least it presume too much, & take too much upon it self: Again▪ a Minister is to preach unto the people, fear & reverence of the Lord: but how can he do so to others, when he hath not ⟨p. 63⟩tied that bond in his own conscience, nor was ever cast down in admiration of Gods glory & Majesty:
The first point in order is, the feare & extasie into which the Lord droue his holy Prophet, which the Lord did not in his anger, but in his loue vnto him, not for a punishment of sinne, but as an euidence of his further loue: for the intent and purpose of God in striking this feare into him, was to inable him to be a true prophet, & a fit messenger for himself. It may seeme a strange course, which God taketh to confirme & raise vp his seruant in zeale and courage, to strike him into an extreame feare, euen to astonish and amaze him, and yet we see it is the course which the Lord taketh: out of which practise of the Lord, we learne this doctrine: That all true 1Ministers, especially such as are deputed to the greatest works in his church, must be first of all striken into a great feare, in consideration of the greatnes of their function, yea, into an amazement and astonishment, in the admiration of Gods glory & greatnes, whose ⟨p. 62⟩roome they occupy, & whose message they bring, & the more they are afraid and shrinke, so it be vnder the contemplation of Gods Maiestie, and their owne weaknes, the more likelier it is that they are truly cald of God, & appointed for worthy purposes in his Church: but he that steps to this function without feare, he may thrust in himselfe, but its doubtfull whether hee bee cald of God, as here the Prophet was: Nor is it so here alone, but euery where when God called any of his seruants, to any great worke, be first droue thē into these feares and a mazements, as is euident ain Moses, in bIeremie, in cS. Paul and others. The reason of this dealing of the Lord is plaine: namely, because mans nature is alwayes ready to take enough and too much vnto it selfe, God therefore in his wisdome puts a bridle vnto the corrupt nature of mā, & astonisheth it, least it presume too much, & take too much vpon it selfe: Againe▪ a Minister is to preach vnto the people, feare & reuerēce of the Lord: but how can he do so to others, whē he hath not ⟨p. 63⟩tyed that bond in his owne conscience, nor was euer cast downe in admiration of Gods glory & Maiestie:
- 1Doct. Best Ministers most amazed at their entrance.Doct. Best Ministers most amazed at their enterance.
- aExod. 3. 11. & 4. 10. 13.
- bJeremiah 1. 6. 7.Ieremie 1. 6. 7.
- cAct. 9. 6. &c.
