Divine efficacy without humane power. Opened in a sermon preached at St. Margarets Church…

2. When the Prophet brings no other then the Word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, It is his duty to hear it, Princes and Magistrates, men of highest place and authority, must receive Gods counsel from the mouth of his Messengers, and be contented to be directed, comforted, encouraged by their Ministry. David, though himself a Prophet, was not without his Seers, Gad, Heman, Asaph, Jeduthan, Nathan to admonish, reprove, comfort him as his condition required. So we find Shemaiah a Prophet sent to reprove Rehoboam, Oded and Azariab to encourage Asa, Jehu and Jahaziel to threaten and comfort Jehoshaphat. We read of the writing of Elijah to Jehoram, of the threatening of Zachariah to Joash, of the Prophet Isaiah counselling and rebuking Ahaz, comforting and encouraging Hezekiah, ⟨p. 24⟩Jeremiah and Ezekiel denouncing judgements against Zedekiah; Hosea and Amos, against Jeroboam; Jonah sent to the King of Nineveh, and John Baptist to Herod. And though great difference is to be used in the manner of our application to great and to ordinary persons, yet the same fidelity is due unto all. Cum eadem omnibus debeatur Charitas, non eadem omnibus adhibenda medicina, as Saint Austin speaks. If a Minister must show all meekness to all men, much more must he deliver his message with all Reverence and humility, with all awe and tenderness, with all honour and prudence, unto those great persons, whose dignities do as well call for our veneration, as their consciences for our fidelity, we must be so true to their souls, as that we be not rude and uncivil to their persons. Meek and humble preaching, in this case especially, is like a fall of snow, ¹unto which Homer compares the eloquence of Ulysses, which soaks and sinks more kindly then a hasty shower.

2. When the Prophet brings no other then the Word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, It is his duty to heare it, Princes and Magistrates, men of highest place and authority, must receive Gods counsel from the mouth of his Messengers, and be contented to be directed, comforted, encouraged by their Ministry. David, though himself a Prophet, was not without his Seers, Gad, Heman, Asaph, Jeduthan, Nathan to admonish, reprove, comfort him as his condition required. So we finde Shemaiah a Prophet sent to reprove Rehoboam, Oded and Azariab to encourge Asa, Jehu and Jahaziel to threaten and comfort Jehoshaphat. We read of the writing of Eliah to Jehoram, of the threatning of Zachariah to Joash, of the Prophet Isaiah counselling and rebuking Ahaz, comforting and encouraging Hezezekiah,