A77593:1418
The Unsearchable Riches of Christ
Ton anexichniaston plouton [sic] tou Christou. The unsearchable riches of Christ. Or, Meat for strong men. Milk [for] babes. Held for th in twenty-two sermons from Ephesians 3.8. By Thomas Brooks, preacher of the Word at Margarets New-Fishstreet.Ton anexichniaston plouton [sic] tou Christou. The unsearchable riches of Christ. Or, Meat for strong men. Milke [for] babes. Held for th in twenty-two sermons from Ephesians 3.8. By Thomas Brookes, preacher of the Word at Margarets New-Fishstreet.
London: printed by Mary Simmons for John Hancock, 1655
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Obey them that have the rule over you. The word that's 1rendered Rule over you, in the seventh and seven-teenth verses, signifies Captains, Guides: Faithful Ministers are your Captains, they are your Guides, they are your Chieftains, they are your Champions that bear the brunt of the Battle, the heat of the day, and therefore you must obey them, even as Soldiers do their Captains. So in 2 Thess. 3. 14. And if any man obey not our words, note that man, and have no company with him. Brand him as infamous, beware of him, let him see a strangeness in you towards him, that all may avoid him, as one whose company is dangerous, and infectious. Ah Christians! by your submission to their doctrine, you highly honour them, and you make their heavy task to be easy and sweet unto them. Christians, it will be your honour and happiness in the day of Christ, that you have lived out what they have made out to you. I suppose you remember that happiness is not entailed to hearing, or knowing, or talking, 2but to doing, If you know these things, blessed and happy are you, if you do them. There are some diseases that are called 3(Opprobria Medicorum) the reproaches of Physicians; and there are some people that may be truly called (Opprobria Ministrarum) the reproach of Ministers, and those are they that are great hearers, and talkers, and admirers of Ministers, but never obey the doctrines delivered by them. The Corinthians were Paul's honour, they were his living Epistles, they were his walking Certificates, they were his Letters testimonial, 2 Cor. 3. 2, 3. The obedience and fruitfulness of the people, is the Ministers testimonial, as the profiting of the Scholar is the Masters commendations. Oh what an honour is it to a Minister, when it shall be said of him, as one said ⟨p. 324⟩of Octavius, When he came into Rome he found the walls all of base materials, but he left them walls of Marble. So, here's a Minister that found the people dark and blind, but left them enlightened; he found them dead, but left them alive; he found them a proud people, but hath left them humble; a profane people, but hath left them holy; a carnal people, but hath left them spiritual; a worldly people, but hath left them heavenly; a wavering people, but hath left them settled and rooted, &c. No honour to a faithful Minister, like this. And thus you see what honour is due unto them, &c.