Finally; It may be, a Spirit of Hatred and Railing against the Faithful Ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ, hath Seized some among you. God hath given over a Sinful man, to Sin, and Death, when he comes to say, about a Faithful Minister of God, in 1 King. 22.8. As for that man, I hate him. There are many Ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose whole Design and Business it is, to Glorify their Lord, and Edify His people. There is not the worst Enemy they have in the World, but they Love that man, and would gladly Serve him either by Day or by Night. The very Conscience of ⟨p. 41⟩the worst Enemy they have in the World, makes that man to own, That these are Good men, and Love nothing so much as to Do Good continually. Well, If such Ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ, were duly Held in Reputation, God would probably make their Ministry wonderfully profitable to you; their Ministry might vastly Help your Faith, your Joy, your Everlasting Salvation. Why then, are so many of you, given over, to Persecute the Servants of God with cruel Reproaches? If a Minister, do but his Duty, as he will answer it unto the Son of God, […] the prevention of Sinful Apostasies in the Churches, Why must he be Barked at, with Names, that can't come out of a Christians mouth? If a Minister do but carefully and watchfully use his Opportunities, to be Serviceable, as knowing that he must give an Account, Or, If a Minister do but Preach with a Zeal that becomes the Oracles of God, Why must the Infamous Taverns ring with the most odious Titles there Smoked out upon him? Silly Souls, Can you do Us any Hurt, think you? Indeed you would, if you could: We Forgive you with all our Hearts: Oh! Our Father, Our Father Forgive them, for they know not what they do! But alas, you Hurt your selves in all of this; And, Oh! if our Tears, tho' they were Tears of Blood, might but Save you, from thus Wronging of your own Souls. In this your Sin, the ⟨p. 42⟩Great God is punishing of you: He Gives you over to all, of this Malignity, because of your •arrenness under our Ministry. The Calls of Heaven in our Ministry, have not been duly Entertained; and now God Leaving you, to a Raging and Foaming Madness against Us, may seem to say, Never shall that Ministry, or any other be of much Benefit, unto those miserable Souls; Thus will I punish them, for their getting so little Benefit heretofore! O consider of it.
Finally; It may be, a Spirit of Hatred and Railing against the Faithful Ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ, hath Seized some among you. God hath given over a Sinful man, to Sin, and Death, when he comes to say, about a Faithful Minister of God, in 1 King. 22.8. As for that man, I hate him. There are many Ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose whole D•sign and Business it is, to Glorify their Lord, and Edify His people. There is not the worst Enemy they have in the World, but they Love that man, and would gladly Serve him either by Day or by Night. The very Conscience of ⟨p. 41⟩the worst Enemy they have in the World, makes that man to own, That these are Good men, and Love nothing so much as to Do Good continually. Well, If such Ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ, were duely Held in Reputation, God would probably make their Ministry wonderfully profitable to you; their Ministry might vastly Help your Faith, your Joy, your Everlasting Salvation. Why then, are so many of you, given over, to Persecute the Servants of God with cruel Reproaches? If a Minister, do but his Duty, as he will answer it unto the Son of God, 〈…〉 the prevention of Sinful Apostasies in the Churches, Why must he be Bark'd at, with Names, that can't come out of a Christians mouth? If a Minister do but carefully and watchfully use his Opportunities, to be Serviceable, as knowing that he must give an Account, Or, If a Minister do but Preach with a Zeal that becomes the Oracles of God, Why must the Infamous Taverns ring with the most odious Titles there Smok'd out upon him? Silly Souls, Can you do Us any Hurt, think you? Indeed you would, if you could: We Forgive you with all our Hearts: Oh! Our Father, Our Father Forgive them, for they know not what they do! But alas, you Hurt your selves in all of this; And, Oh! if our Tears, tho' they were Tears of Blood, might but Save you, from thus Wronging of your own Souls. In this your Sin, the ⟨p. 42⟩Great God is punishing of you: He Gives you over to all, of this Malignity, because of your •arrenness under our Ministry. The Calls of Heaven in our Ministry, have not been duely Entertained; and now God Leaving you, to a Raging and Foaming Madness against Us, may seem to say, Never shall that Ministry, or any other be of much Benefit, unto those miserable Souls; Thus will I punish them, for their getting so little Benefit heretofore! O consider of it.
