To you is this word of Salvation sent, (saith holy Paul, Acts 13.26.) not come or brought, but SENT; and that as a message from our heavenly Father, without whose providence a Sparrow falleth not to the ground. Now it concerneth you to see what use you will make of it: Sermons dye not with the breath in which they were uttered; If the dust of the Preachers feet bear witness against the despisers of the Gospel, their Sermons much more; Matth. 10.14, 15. Wherever the Word is preached, 'tis [Greek or Hebrew]; for a testimony; how for a testimony? ⟨image 4⟩either to them, Matth. 24.14. or against them. Mark. 13.9. God keepeth exact account or reckoning what means and advantages each place or people have enjoyed: Three years have I come seeking fruit, Luke 13.7. alluding to the three years of his own Ministry, which then were fully elapsed. This SECOND Miracle did Jesus in Canaan of Galilee, John 4.54. He taketh notice of a first and a second; so 2 Pet. 3.1. This SECOND Epistle write I unto you; and Jer. 25.3. These THREE AND TWENTY years have I spoken the Word of the Lord, rising early, &c. You see God keeps a Memorial how many years the Gospel hath been amongst a people, yea, every day is upon account; for so it is added, even unto this day. What pressing Exhortations you have had; how many, and how long you have enjoyed them, all is upon the File; therefore it concerneth you to see that all this be not without fruit, and some notable good effect; that your account may be with joy, and not with grief and shame.
To you is this word of Salvation sent, (saith holy Paul, Acts 13.26.) not come or brought, but SENT; and that as a message from our heavenly Father, without whose providnece a Sparrow falleth not to the ground. Now it concerneth you to see what use you will make of it: Sermons dye not with the breath in which they were uttered; If the dust of the Preachers feet bear witnesse against the despisers of the Gospel, their Sermons much more; Matth. 10.14, 15. Wherever the Word is preached, 'tis 〈non-Latin alphabet〉; for a testimony; how for a testimony? ⟨image 4⟩either to them, Matth. 24.14. or against them. Mark. 13.9. God keepeth exact account or reckoning what means and advantages each place or people have enjoyed: Three years have I come seeking fruit, Luke 13.7. alluding to the three years of his own Ministry, which then were fully elapsed. This SECOND Miracle did Jesus in Canaan of Galilee, John 4.54. He taketh notice of a first and a second; so 2 Pet. 3.1. This SECOND Epistle write I unto you; and Jer. 25.3. These THREE AND TWENTY years have I spoken the Word of the Lord, rising early, &c. You see God keeps a Memorial how many years the Gospel hath been amongst a people, yea, every day is upon account; for so it is added, even unto this day. What pressing Exhortations you have had; how many, and how long you have enjoyed them, all is upon the File; therefore it concerneth you to see that all this be not without fruit, and some notable good effect; that your account may be with joy, and not with grief and shame.
