The Greatness of the Mystery of Godliness, Sermons · Sermon 8
SERMON VIII.
1 TIM. 3.16.
Preached unto the Gentiles, &c.
YOU have heard of the myſtery of Godlineſſe in the former particulars, in the inward nature of it, as it is acted in the perſon of Chriſt, and ſeen and admired by the Angels, you ſhall heare it, in regard of the outward manifeſtation of it to the world, As it was preached to the Gentiles. God would have all the creatures adore this myſtery; therefore firſt, he preſents it to the Angels, diſcovers the perſon of Chriſt to them, they indeed were the fitteſt creatures to dive in to it, and be taken with it; but it is not only ſeen by them, but it is preached unto the Gentiles, diſcovered to the whole world, and this is the myſtery that all the New Teſtament is filled with, and that God would have took up all the time of the world to preach it in all Nations. Full hearts long for vent, and cannot hold, but muſt open themſelves every where. God's heart is full of myſteries of love and ſalvation, and he cannot keep it in, but firſt he muſt ſhew it to the Angels, ſee how they would be taken with it, and muſt have it even preached to the Gentiles alſo, that they might be taken up into it; and this is alſo a part of the myſterie, that God ſhould let Angels ſee it and preach it abroad to Gentiles.
Yet obſerve the difference, it was but ſeen of Angels, they had but a glimpſe of it, it was diſcovered to them, to raiſe their admiration, but not as a myſtery properly for them; but it was preached to the Gentiles, proclaimed to them, as if God meant to open his whole mind only to them. Preaching being a ſet way of diſco-of very of a mans mind, the great and ſet way its manifeſtation, was not to be unto any, but the Gentiles: This did ſwell up the glory of it, in the former expreſſion, that it was a ſight that the Angels were taken with, worthy to be preſented to them, yea, and as that which was beyond all their attainments; what wiſe men and great men, are taken up with the ſtudy of, and ſtand gazing on, we judge to be ſome ſtrange and prodigious ſight; they uſe not to ſay out their thoughts on common things, or caſt their eyes ſlightlie on everie thing, ſee what the Angels, theſe glorified, and metaphyſicall ſpirits ſhall look on with aſtoniſhment, and long to ſee, muſt needs be ſome ſupercaeleſtiall glory, a myſterie of the greateſt depth and fulneſſe; But this is farther, that this myſterie ſhould be preached unto the Nations of the world, that God ſhould make the great declaration of it to ſuch creatures, as a myſterie for them.
This the Apoſtle may well call a great myſterie; the ſumme of it is this: That the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as God manifest in the fleſh, and juſtified in the ſpirit, and admired by Angels, ſhould be preached to ſinfull creatures, and open himſelfe unto them in the working of his love and righteouſneſſe: this is one of the great myſteries of Godlineſſe.
Here be two things in this one ſentence, that make it a myſterie indeed.
1. That Chriſt ſhould be preached, that Chriſt ſhould take ſuch a way for the manifeſting of the myſteries of his glorie which is ſo un apt and weak to doe it.
2. To whom he is to be preached, not to Angels, not to pure and ſpirituall ſouls, but to the Gentiles, that is, either firſt ſinners in generall, the Gentiles being the great ſinners of the world; but eſpecially to the Gentiles, in diſtinction from the Jewes, the Gentiles being the out-caſt of the world: this is the proper meaning of the word here, though the other is comprehended in it; both theſe have a great emphaſis; the Goſpell hath but few words in it, but vaſtne of matter, and fulneſſe of emphaſis in the expreſſion.
I ſhall open them both, and ſet out the myſterie in them.
Firſt, That Chriſt ſhould be preached (foreign) manifeſt this myſtery in a greater myſtery, diſcover inviſible glory, by outward expreſſions, the riches of his love & life ſhould come out of the mouths of ſinfull creatures; as it was to be manifeſted to ſinners, ſo even by theſe that were ſinners themſelves, to have this treaſure in earthen veſſels, the way it ſelfe is a myſtery. So the Apoſtle (1 Cor. 1.21.) after that the world by wiſdome knew not God, that is, by all their parts and learning, which they accounted the greateſt wiſdome, yet all could not bring them to know God: It pleaſed God by the fooliſhneſſe of preaching, to ſave them which believe. It was a fooliſh way, and that not only becauſe the world accounts it ſo, but becauſe in it ſelfe it was a weak and unſuitable way to ſave ſoules by, that by the breath of a mortall man, he would break hearts, and breathe in life, make ſoules believe, and build them up to heaven, by earth to convey heaven; for one by the outward expreſſion of words, to ſet forth inward glorie, is but as if one would write in Characters for plainneſſe; ſpeak a mans mind in Hieroglyphicks. Now, that all the things of Heaven ſhould be opened in ſuch a dark and weak way, ads to the myſterie. God might only have ſhin'd out the glory and opened the nature of Chriſt, purely and ſilently by his ſpirit, and then it would bee no myſterie to conceive how things are manifeſted, but that he will have the ſpirit reveale them in outward expreſſions, thorough the mouths of the ſinners, to whom it muſt be revealed; this is a myſtery of it ſelfe: if a man ſpeak a plaine ſentence in an unknown tongue, he ſpeaks a myſterie, ſo ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 14. he that ſpeaks in an unknown tongue, is as a Barbarian to me, and I to him; juſt ſo it is here, for Chriſt a Heavenly man to be expreſt in words and writings, and God who is not to be ſeen by any creature, ſeen in ſuch and ſuch words; it may well be put in the ranck of theſe great myſteries; if God had made uſe of Angels, as he did at Chriſts birth, to preach theſe things, it had not been ſo much, they might have come in ſtate, and proclaimed Salvation to the ſonnes of men, have brought downe the glory of Chriſt unto our eyes; and if Chriſt himſelfe had come in his glorified body, accompanied with Angels, as he ſhall at the laſt day, ſuch a way would not have been myſterious; but for Chriſt to be preached by poor men, to make that an inſtrument of the richeſt diſcoverie, and to make words to convey life, and our tongues to ſpeak Chriſt into mens hearts, is a myſterie indeed.
Againe; That Chriſt ſhould be preached, that is, firſt an open way, it is the proclamation of a thing, what is preached is known of all, Chriſt would not have his mind hid, but preached to all the world, he would have every ſoule take notice of his love, and of his glory; he proclaimes it as on the houſe top; he would have the great myſtery of the Goſpell preached to all; let all the world know he hath a deſigne of ſalvation on them; ſo Chriſt gave in commiſſion to his Apoſtles, Mat. 28. when he ſent them abroad to preach; go preach the Goſpel to every creature, except none; I will have them all to know that life and immortality is brought to light. Chriſt is a generall good, and therefore is preached to all; he would not have the things of heaven be whiſpered in the eare of ſome ſelect ſoules, but preached as on the houſe top, that if all the world will they may heare with their owne eares the voice of the Lord Jeſus, as from heaven, ſpeaking myſteries.
2. It is a ſolemne way, as it is publique, ſo it is ſerious, that Chriſt is to be preached; It is to be the great work of Miniſters to lay him out; the things of the Goſpel are to be preached with the greateſt ſolemnity that can be: Preaching is nothing elſe but men ſpeaking Gods mind in their own language.
2. But that which doth indeed make it ſo great a myſtery, is, that Chriſt is preached to the Gentiles; the word (foreign) is uſed promiſcuouſly, ſometimes for to expreſſe ſinners in generall, ſometimes properly; for all the world in diſtinction from the Jews, of the Jew firſt, and alſo of the Gentile: theſe two names comprehending the whole world, I ſhall open them both, whereby you may ſee what a great myſtery it is, that Chriſt ſhould be preached to the Gentiles; that is,
1. To ſinners, that the great diſcovery of this Chriſt, who is ſo glorious, ſhould be preached and proclaimed to Gentiles, the worſt of creatures in regard of ſin. So the name Gentile is put to expreſs all kind of ſinners; therefore the Apoſtle when he would expreſſe the condition of the Gentiles, he cals them ſinners of the Gentiles, becauſe the Gentiles walk'd in nothing but ſin, knew not God, Gal. 1.15. So when the Apoſtle would aggravate the fornication of the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 5.12. he ſaith there was ſuch fornication among them as was not named, (foreign) among the Gentiles, that is, among the worſt and moſt notorious ſinners, ſuch as the Gentiles were: Yet this Chriſt, and all the myſtery in him, is to be preached unto ſinners, not to Angels but Gentiles. That God ſhould ever have a thought of goodwil to ſuch, is above al our apprehenſions, God being ſo infinitely diſpleaſed with them; but that he ſhould make ſinners the ſubjects of the utmoſt diſcovery of all this glory, terminate and center as it were his heart in them, and let them know that which Angels admire and long to know, this makes up a myſtery of it ſelfe: for God to make a throne, and ſet himſelfe up in the fulneſſe of glory, to preach and proclaime his own riches to ſome pure and unſpotted ſoules, whoſe hearts might preſently fall down before it, this were ſomething ſutable; but that ſinners, who are the children of wrath, ſhould be this deſigne; all this myſtery is to be preached to them as a myſtery, to be acted only towards them.
Oh how much glory is in this! God is here preaching life, and reconciliation, redemption, glorification, and laying out himſelfe in waies of wiſdome, righteouſneſſe to the worſt of ſinners; nay, which is more, God in this myſtery is preached as the peace, the life, the righteouſneſſe, the propitiation for poore ſinners; what is this but the myſtery of free grace acted in infinite wiſdome and love to ſuch ſoules. The Apoſtle when he doth but thinke of it he cannot hold, this is a faithfull ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chriſt came to ſave ſinners, of whom I am the chiefe, ſaith he, 1 Tim. 1.
But ſecondly, as to ſinners in generall, ſo to the Gentiles; the whole world beſides the Jews; this is the proper meaning of it, reſpecting the calling in of the Gentiles by preaching, and rejecting the Jews; This the Apoſtle alwaies makes a great myſterie; the Apoſtle tels the Coloſſians, Col. 1.27. that Gods great intent was to make known the riches of the glory of the myſtery among the Gentiles. It was a myſtery that this ſhould not be preached to the Angels, but to ſinners; but herein is a farther myſterie, that it ſhould be preached to the Gentiles, not the Jews. The Jewes were owned by God as his own people, he pick'd them out from the whole world, put the viſible ſtampe of his glory on them, ſeemed not to care for the whole world, but they, let them ſinke or ſwim they had the Oracles of God among them, the Covenant, Promiſes, Propheſies, Gods Preſence: But the poore Gentiles, out-caſts, for ſome thouſands of yeares left of God in blindneſſe and darkneſſe to ſerve Devils and their own luſts, not a ſmile of God on them; yet for the Jews to be caſt off, have ſcarce a glimpſe of this myſterie, but thoſe Gentiles to be called to the riches of the myſterie, and have preached among them, the Jews had the firſt offer and refuſe of the Goſpell, but they ſoone diſcharged it; and now for God to leave his darling people, and let them have but the out-ſides of the Goſpell, the ſhadows of it in Types and Ceremonies, and the offer of the ſubſtance of it but in groſſe as it were; and for God to preach this Chriſt among the Gentiles, thoſe whom the Jews abominated as ſinners, ſtrangers from the Commonwealth of Iſrael, and without God in the world, that theſe ſhould be brought under the diſpenſation of the rich and precious myſterie of the Goſpell, may well be put in to greaten the myſterie of Godlineſſe. The Apoſtle in Eph. 3. when he would magnifie his Office in the Miniſtery, puts in theſe, that he was ſent to preach to the Gentiles, as the higheſt favour & glory that could be; for he ſaith in ver. 2. that he had it by revelation: and he cals it a myſterie, and a myſterie of Chriſt, and a myſterie which in other ages was not made known unto the Sons of men; and he ſaith, it is now only made known by the ſpirit; what is that which all this is ſpoken of?
That the Gentiles ſhould be fellow-heires, and of the ſame bodie, partakers of his promiſe in Chriſt by the Goſpell, v. 6. That ever ſuch a blind, miſerable, forlorn people, among whom the devils ruled from the beginning of the world, that they ſhould have the promiſe of Chriſt made to them, and be fellow-heires with the Jews, this is a myſterie that the Apoſtle boaſts of that he is ſent to preach it, and therefore he goes on, as one that could not containe, ver. 8. To me who am leſſe than the leaſt of all Saints is this grace given, that I ſhould preach among the Gentiles the unſearchable riches of Chriſt; (Among the Gentiles) there he laies the ſtrength of the priviledge; as if he had ſaid, that I ſhould be ſent to open the myſterie of heaven to ſuch a ſtupid and blind people, to preach the riches of Chriſt to theſe poore Gentiles, this is a diſpenſation, and a grace indeed. So in another place, Foraſmuch as I am the Apoſtle of the Gentiles I magnifie my Office, Rom. 11.13. This muſt needs be a great myſterie, that the Apoſtle thought it ſo high an honour, and ſuch a peculiar grace given him, that he ſhould but preach unto Gentiles; And in another place, the Apoſtle ſpeaking of the manner of his call to this worke, he ſaith, Gal. 2.8. that the ſpirit of God was mighty in him towards the Gentiles, it was a mighty and great worke, and the Apoſtle was mightily, and with exceeding actings of powers moved to it.
This was a new deſigne, never expected to be acted, that God ſhould in the latter end of the world cauſe the Sun to come into that part of the Zodiack it never was, after it had run its courſe three thouſand yeares, to make a noone-day in the remote and darke places of the world, and leave the habitable parts of it; that Chriſt ſhould at laſt be preached in the fulleſt riches of his glory to thoſe who had not a benigne aſpect of his face in ſuch a time. Many generations of them went down to hell in multitudes, in droves, not knowing God or Chriſt, never dreaming of a Saviour, and now for the Lord Jeſus to come and ſet up his throne among them, open the moſt precious Cabinets of his love and riches to theſe poore creatures, here is a myſterie indeed. It was propheſied of Jeſus Chriſt, and put down as one of the bleſſedeſt ends of his comming, wherein he ſhould be moſt glorious, He ſhall be a light to the Gentiles, Eſa. 42.6. Herein lay the glory of Jeſus Chriſt in the Goſpell, that he ſhould be ſet up as a Sun to enlighten the darkeſt part of the world. Nay, yet further, none ever thought that Chriſt ſhould have been preached to them; for when he firſt called his Diſciples, ſent them abroad to preach, and gave them a Commiſſion to go into every City and preach peace, Mat. 10.5. He makes a particular exception, and gives a ſpeciall charge, Go not into the way of the Gentiles; as if he had ſaid, Go any where but among them, there is no peace to be ſpoken to them, as they have been miſerable, ſo they ſhall be. And yet at laſt for the richeſt diſcoveries of peace and love to be made to them, Chriſt preached only to them, this is the myſterie, thoſe which were no people to be made a people; for God to be found of thoſe which ſought him not, is a wonder.
This is that paradox by which the Apoſtle aggravates the Jewes condition; Rom. 9.30, 31. What ſhall we ſay then, that the Gentiles which followed not after righteouſneſſe have attained unto righteouſneſſe, yea, even the beſt righteouſnes, that which is of faith: But Iſrael which followed after the Law of righteouſneſs hath not obtained it. The Gentiles they never ſought after righteouſneſſe, they never minded ſuch a thing, yet obtained it; Chriſt came to be a righteouſneſſe to them, and left the Jewes, who ſought to be righteous by their owne workes and endeavours without righteouſneſſe. The newneſſe and ſtrangeneſſe of this, that Chriſt ſhould be preached to the Gentiles equall with the Jewes, and be brought into the ſame priviledges, and of the ſame body, was that which ſtumbled the Jewes, even againſt Chriſt himſelfe; they thought it could not be poſſible that ſuch a generation ſhould ever be looked on by God, or ever taken it to Covenant with him. The Apoſtle when he doth but thinke of the greatneſſe of this myſterie, that Chriſt ſhould be preached to the Gentiles, and the Jewes caſt off, cries out, Oh the depth of the riches both of the Wiſdome and Counſell of God, how unſearchable are his judgements, &c. Rom. 11.33. As if he had ſaid, here is a contrivance of wiſdome, and a depth of mercy and love indeed, that God hath ſhak'd off his old friends, and taken in ſtrangers, to be teachers of all his riches.
Thus you have the ſumme of what this ſentence holds forth, and the opening of a great myſterie; the Goſpell, which opens the myſterie of God, is in it ſelfe a myſterie, in regard of the manner and object of its manifeſtation. The former two expreſſions hold forth what the myſtery is, with the glory of it; this is the way of the manifeſtation of it with the perſons, to whom, it is by preaching, and unto the Gentiles; and this likewiſe goes to make up the greatneſſe of the myſterie it ſelfe. But I ſhall rather make uſe of it, then open it further.
1 Ʋſe. If this be ſo, it may informe us, firſt, how open the heart of God is towards us; he cannot containe his love and grace within himſelfe, it is ſo vaſt and ardent, he cannot keep his own counſels that are for our good, but muſt manifeſt it to us, and that in the openeſt way, preached and proclaimed, all the myſteries of the Goſpell, though there be ſo much of the glory of God in them, yet they are not hid, Chriſt is laid out to open view. God keeps nothing hid, he will have it preached, let every poor ſoule know this, that though all the things in the Goſpell be ſecrets in themſelves, yet he will have them opened, he is not ſhie of ſpeaking any thing, which may be for your good; Heaven is opened, God's heart is proclaimed to ſinners. Thus light and immortality, is brought to light by the Goſpell, God hath ſet all his glory out in the light, that men may ſee how they like them, what they are worth, none ſhall be coſen'd with Chriſt, they are brought to light, Heaven is brought home to your owne doors, you need not goe out to ſeek righteouſneſſe, it is brought to you, peace Preached to every houſe. Chriſt will have nothing of his love kept backe, he will have all known what he is, and what he hath done; goe preach the Goſpell to every Nation, except none, and preach not only this and that, but preach the Goſpell; what ever may bring joy and gladneſſe to poor ſoules; go to them. Chriſt preached to the Gentiles, what is it but this, that he would have all his glorie laid out before them? Oh Brethren, how cheap are the myſteries of the Goſpell! you may have them for taking, you may know them, if you will lend an eare to them; the word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth; Chriſt is proclaim'd in the ſtreets. Oh what love is in this, that God ſhould manifeſt Chriſt and his deepeſt myſteries to us, by ſuch a familiar and ſweet way! to tell his mind to us, by ſuch a courſe medium! open his heart to us! by our own mouths, it doth manifeſtly demonſtrate to us, how willing he is, that we ſhould know all his heart. Let me therefore exhort you, to come and buy milke without money, Chriſt is laid open for every mans good, he is for every mans pennie; Chriſt deales not underhand with you, you ſhall ſee what you buy, he is not ſhie nor cloſe in his ſpirit, but is preached to you. What doth the Goſpell ſay? but here is Chriſt, as wiſdome, righteouſneſſe, &c. Take him, and doe what you will with him: Preaching is but a declaring this, that life and light is in Chriſt for you, that eternal love waits for you; that what ever may do you good is provided for you. Oh will ſoules now refuſe Chriſt, when he is brought to their very eares, they may heare him ſpeak of his riches, and glorie, and love to them: Oh neglect not ſo great ſalvation.
2. It informes us, what is the worke of Miniſters, to preach Chriſt, to open the myſterie of the Goſpell, to ſinners; what ever men preach beſides Chriſt, is but by the bie, the great duty is to lay out Chriſt. Miniſters muſt draw out Chriſts blood freely; let the Goſpell be preached as it is diſcovered, without any limitation of merciemercy and love, without any exception of ſoules from Chriſt.
3. It informes us, to whom Chriſt muſt be preached, unto ſinners, not only Saints, but ſinners; unto Gentiles, who were the worſt of ſinners. Chriſt muſt be laid out before the eies of ſinners, offered to ſinners, as ſinners, in their loweſt condition, notwithſtanding all their vileneſſe.
But it may be ſome may ſtumble at this, therefore I would cleer it up, that ſinnes are the proper ſubject, to whom the Goſpell muſt be preached, without any qualification, but beleeving and laying hold upon Jeſus Chriſt. Chriſt is to be firſt offered unto ſinners, under no other conſideration but as ſinners; when it is ſaid here, that this myſterie was preached to the Gentiles, what is the meaning of it, but life and ſalvation was preached, that is, offered to them.
Chriſt muſt be preached according to the end and intent of his death, and of his offices; now Chriſt dyed for ſinners, for the ungodly, he came on purpoſe to ſave ſinners, therefore he muſt be offered firſt to ſinners, as ſuch as he ſuffered for. He dyed not for ſuch and ſuch ſinners ſo humbled, ſo qualified, but for ſinners abſolutely to take away their ſin. When we preach Chriſt, what doe we declare but Chriſt as dead, and riſen againe, for life to ſinners.
And the truth is, men are capable of the Goſpell, under no other notion but as ſinners; for it offers righteouſneſs and free juſtification, reconciliation and redemption, which reſpects purely ſinners; none need Chriſt but only ſuch, a righteous Chriſt is for a ſinfull creature.
When Jeſus Chriſt comes to any ſoul, he finds him ungodly, and yet juſtifies him; though ſtill this is to be taken in, though Chriſt be to be preached unto ſinners, yet none but ſuch and ſuch ſinners doe receive him; or beleeve upon him, whoſe hearts he moves, and makes ſee the need of him; though Chriſt belongs to ſinners, and came into the world on purpoſe to ſave them, yet theſe ſinners which he doth ſave, he convinceth and humbleth, and makes beleeve; yet we muſt preach Chriſt, according to the true intent, and proper end of Chriſts miſſion and commiſſion, which was to ſave ſinners, and if men beleeve not, and are not ſenſible of their need, and want of Chriſt, we muſt ſhake off the duſt of our feet.
2. Uſe. If this be ſo, then let no ſinne diſcourage thee from beleeving, and going to Chriſt, Chriſt is given to thee, on no other termes, then as thou art a ſinner, and he a Saviour; let thy condition be what it will, it cannot be worſe then the Gentiles was: what if thou haſt lived long in ſin, haſt been a ſtranger from God, yea, worſhip… the very Devils as they did? Chriſt and all the myſterie of the Goſpell is to be preached to thee, and if preached, thou mayeſt beleeve. Let all the world know, that grace is not circumſcribed, that Chriſt is not daintie of his love. We are commanded to proclaime peace, even to thoſe which are afar off, even curſed Gentiles. Oh except not your ſelves out of the termes of the Goſpell, when the worſt of ſinners may come and be welcome to the richeſt things of Jeſus Chriſt, yea, to drinke of Chriſt's owne heart blood. What a ſad thing is this, that thou ſhouldſt be more ſhie of Chriſt, then he of thee; what is Chriſt but a Saviour? for whom hath he done all for, but for ſinners, ſuch as thou art? ſuppoſe but any righteouſneſſe in thy ſelfe, or any thing but ſinne, and thou layeſt a ground worke of deſtroying the end of Chriſt's comming: If thou haſt no ſinne, God hath done nothing for thee; if ſinne hinder thee from Chriſt, it is, becauſe thou knoweſt not what Chriſt is made for thee. We can doe no more then preach Chriſt to the Gentiles, offer him as a full and compleat Saviour for ſinners, and if you being ſinners, keep you from Chriſt, it muſt be, becauſe you thinke not Chriſt to be a Saviour. We have commiſſion, not to over-heat Chriſt's blood, but give it to ſoules, as they can take it; and I here profeſſe this day, that if thou be a Gentile, the verieſt wretch that ever the world bore, Chriſt is preached unto thee, and thou art one, who mayeſt have all the myſterie of the Goſpell diſcovered to thee. Stand not mincing of the Goſpell, make not criticall exceptions againſt Jeſus Chriſt; it is ſufficient thou art a ſinner, thou needeſt adde no more ſins; and if thou be a ſinner, Chriſt is offered unto thee. I, this myſtery is a deſign of free grace, and knows no other objects to act upon but ſuch as thou art. Oh lye at Chriſts feet; lay thy eare at the mouth of the Goſpell, it ſpeakes nothing but myſteries of love and life to thee.
Laſtly, If it be ſo, here is a new object for your admiration; that God ſhould contrive ſuch a myſterie, and manifeſt it unto us, that we, we wretched ones ſhould be the ſubjects of ſuch tranſactions, what reaſon have we to bleſſe and admire the love of God to us? Free grace hath no bounds: It hath not only wrought in Gods heart, but it breakes out to all the world, ſtands up and cries, grace, grace to all the world; how ought we to prize the preaching of the Goſpell, which is a revelation of the myſtery of Chriſt to us? God could have revealed all this immediately to his Elect, and have made no more ado; but he will have it preached, this ſhall be the ordinary and common way of the manifeſtation of the great myſteries of the Goſpell, and thoſe which caſt off preaching renounce the way of God, whereby he will open his hidden treaſures.
Oh brethren! thinke what cauſe you have to admire that Chriſt is preached to you, his love manifeſted in ſuch a way; you have Chriſt taught in your ſtreets, the ſweet ſound of the Goſpell in your eares; what ſhould take up your hearts but this? What better newes unto ſinners than to heare of a Saviour? The Goſpell ſpeakes nothing but glad tidings to poore ſoules; it gives out the ſpirits of life and immortality to refreſh the ſoule. You that were Gentiles, Chriſt is preached to you, beleeve, and cloſe in the Goſpell, leſt it happen to you as to the Jews, that Chriſt be preached no more to you; when Chriſt declares ſuch great things he lookes for attendance, and woe to thoſe ſoules that obey not ſuch a Goſpell.