Gospel Reconciliation, Chapter 56
CHAP. 56. The third Doctrine (propounded in the 45. Chapter) proſecuted, Viz. The excellency of the Goſpel make the Miniſters earneſt in their Miniſtration.
THe former part of this verſe treated of ſeveral Concluſions in it. A third Doctrine propounded in the 45 Chapter is,
That the conſideration of the excellency of the Goſpel that is committed to the Miniſters of it to preach, makes them that are faithful to be very earneſt in their Miniſtration.
Now unto us is committed the word of Reconciliation. Now then we are Emboſſadors for Chriſt, as though God did beſeech you by us, we pray you in Chriſt ſtead &c. Now then upon this that the word of Reconciliation is committed to us, and we pray you in Chriſt ſtead, O! it is this that puts us on to the earneſtneſs that you ſee in us.
Firſt, that the conſideration of the excellency of the Goſpel that is committed to the Miniſters of it, is that that ſhould make them earneſt in their miniſtration, and to labor with al their might to draw people to that love of the Goſpel.
The ſame that you have heard in this Chapter, you have it again in the beginning of the next Chapter. The Apoſtle having the word again and again; that it is the Miniſtry of Reconciliation that is committed to them. After that he tels them, that he beſeeches, and prayes in Chriſts ſtead & then he comes over it again in the beginning of the next Chapter, as if he had not done enough. O this Miniſtry of Reconciliation! it is the Garce of God unto people; O we beſeech you ſaith the Apoſtle, Do not recive this Grace of God in vain, the Apoſtles, & ſo other faithful Miniſters ſatisfie not themſelves meerly in performing a task (yet they can come & ſpeak an hour, and ſpeak to people ſuch things as may pleaſe their Ears) but they look after what they do to be ſolicitous, and earneſt for fear it ſhould be in vain. O! then we as Embaſſadors &c. And I wil ſhew you another Text that is very remarkable, in the 1. Col. 25. I am made a Miniſter, according to the diſpenſation of God which is given to me for you to fulfil the word of God, and then he fals a commending of this Miniſtry of his in the Myſtery that hath bin hid from ages, and from generations, but now is made manifeſt to the Saints. It may be carnal hearts look upon it as a mad and unſavory thing: But it is made manifeſt to the Saints; to whom God would make known, what is the riches of the glory of this Myſtery amongſt the Gentiles. Now then mark how our point comes in, in the 28. ver. the Apoſtle would fain gain every man; he is loth to loſe any one of his Auditors; every man, every man, every man, three times in one verſe, Whereunto alſo I labor ſtriving according to his working which worketh in me mightily. What Phraſes are here heapt one upon another? I do not make the work of the miniſtry an idle work; as if I went about al the day from one company to another; from Tavern, to Tavern al the week, and then think to come and preach upon the Lords day to you, and ſo make it an idle buſineſs: but it is my labor, and not only ſo, but I ſtrive, and how doth he ſtrive? (not meerly according to humane ſtrength, he ſtrives beyond that) I labor ſtriving according to his working; It is the word of God I confeſs, and my labor, and ſtriving, it is according to his working. Yet ſtil this is not enough, according to his working which worketh in me, Which worketh in me mightily. The work of God that worketh in me mightily according to that I labor, & ſo again writing to the Theſſalonians in the firſt Epiſtle, 2.2.4. O! this is the truſt that is committed unto us; we are allowed of God to be put in truſt with the Goſpel; even ſo we ſpeak, not as pleaſing men, but God, we are upright in that we dare not be but faithful in ſo great a truſt which is committed to us, and then upon this he tels them in verſe 8. we were willing to impart our own ſouls; becauſe this Goſpel, we knew it would be to excellent. We might be very large in this; I wil give you the ground of it in a very few words.