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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	aaron_n	bring_v	work_n	37	3	4.9934	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91944	The figg-less figg-tree: or, The doome of a barren and unfruitful profession lay'd open. In an exposition upon that parable: a certain man had a figg-tree planted in his vineyard, &c. Luke 13. 6,7,8,9,10. / By Nehemiah Rogers, a minister of the Gospel of Christ.	Rogers, Nehemiah, 1593-1660.	1659 (1659)	Wing R1823; Thomason E973_1; ESTC R203371	458,183	541

thereof In this life he will reward with glory and honour Cant. 7.17 A fruitful Christian carryes a Heaven in his heart Joy and Comfort Cant. 7.17 a happy and blessed communion there is betwixt Christ and him and hereafter there is a Blessing abides him for ever Heb. 7.8 Heb. 7.8 And thus you have heard what reason we have to be fruitful both in respect of others and of our selves as well as others Lastly If we cast our eyes upon the whole Creation and every creature therein that God hath made we may be stirred up and provoked to fruitfulnesse The Heaven the Earth the Sea and all therein are fruitful in their kind and shall man be barren and fruitlesse for whom all these are fruitful Doth not the Sun come forth as a Bride groom out of his Chamber daily Psal 19. rejoycing as a Gyant to run his course to enlighten the earth wi●h his beams and nou●ish and cherish all things with the heat thereof The Moon and the Stars quicken this lower World by their operative Influence The big-bellied Clouds which tly up and down on the wings of the wind deliver their moist burthens on the earth and showre down their seasonable dews to cool and moisten it that it may bear fruit Doth not the Earth make a thankful return and yield her fatness and riches to innumerable creatures that live on it and depend upon her as their common Mother for maintenance and what creature is there that lives on it but yields some fruit Beasts Trees Plants all bring forth after their kind for the good of man that man may bring forth fruit to God for whose Glory he was created Let these considerations prevail with us that we may in some sort answer the Lord's expectations from us he looks for fruit let him find it in us Oh that it could be said of us as it was of the Land of Canaan Deut. 8.7 8 9. Deut. 8.7 8 9. It is a good Land a land of Brooks of Water of Fountains that spring out of the Valleys and Hills A Land of Wheat and Barley and Vines and Figg-Trees and Pomegranates A Land of Oyl Olive and Hony A Land whose stones are Iron and out of whose Hills thou mayst dig Brasse We have Springs of means to inform our minds and Brooks of knowledge to direct our course Our good works should stand like those fields of Wheat and Barley Vines Figg-Trees and Pomegranates let be our fruitful Meditations Oyl and Hony the Grace of our lips our Understanding full of good things our whole life Wells and Vineyards to comfort both our selves and others our very rocks should be Iron and our hills yield brasse our most barren works should be profitable to others our very Falls others warnings to prevent high-mindednesse And so Use 3 We may gather much comfort from our fruitfulnesse which sweetly seals up our Calling to glory and virtue as the budding and bringing forth of ripe Almonds did Aaron's Calling to the Priest-hood It may assure us that we are regenerated set into Christ quickned by his Spirit and that we live in him out of whom we could not be fruitful in good works Good Fruit is an undeniable Argument of a good Tree for that a corrupt Tree cannot bring forth good fruit as our Saviour tells us Mat. 7.18 I know the most fruitful Christian comes far short of that fruitfulnesse that should be in him and his defectivenesse in holy duties both to God and man may sometimes cause him to question his estate Mat. 4.28 but that should not too much deject the spirits of any of us for the fruit of the Spirit like the fruits of the Earth ripens by degrees and much of it is nipped in the bud and blossome and comes to nothing but a little fruit if it be of the right kind proves that Tree to be good and the promise is that if there be any fruit at all God will purge that branch and help it against corruption so that it shall bring forth more fruit Joh. 15.1.2 But when there is no good Fruit to be found under our leaves that is a miserable sterility indeed Joh. 15.1 2. And yet such was the sterility of the Figg-Tree mentioned in my Text. He came and sought fruit thereon and found none Text And found none Shews of fruit it made but brought forth nothing lesse It was like the deceitful ground that mocked the Husbandman Expectata seges vanis elusit avenis Virg. Had there been here a Figg and there a Figg like the shaking of an Olive Tree two or three in the top of the uppermost boughes or outward branches the Husbandman had not been altogether deceived in his expectation albe it that had not answered his cost and pains bestowed on it but there was none no not one Figg that could be found growing upon it Thus you see Where God hath well deserved Doct. there many times he is ill requited The Gentiles who lived without the Pale of the Church are charged with this sin of Ingratitude Rom. 1.21 Rom. 1.21 God had bountifully declared himself unto them even by the light of Nature and the Book of the Creatures so as they knew there was a God and that he was most wise good just punishing the bad and doing good to the good and that this God ought to be worshipped according to his Will but they worshipped him not as God not conceiving of him as God ought to be conceived of nor giving him that Glory which was suitable to his Infinitenesse and divine perfections and so were unthankful to God for hose bl●ssings which they had received which caused God to punish th t ingratitude of theirs by delivering them up to all manner of uncle●nnesse and brutish lusts Ver. 25.26 ver 25.26 A fearful punishment indeed none greater can be inflicted out of the place of torment But what speak we of the Gentiles Ingratitude is not all without the Pale In God's own Vineyard it may be found Hear what Moses speaks at large unto the poynt Deut. 37.7 19. Explained Deut. 37.7 19. God had done much for his people Israel never more no not so much for any Nation under Heaven His mercies are mentioned and declared first more Generally ver 8 9. When the most High divided to all Nations their Inheritances that is to those seventy Nations reckoned Gen. 10. He ●spied out the Land of Canaan which was the Glory of all lands Ezek. 20.6 for those seventy souls of Israel Eze. 20.6 mentioned Gen. 46.27 Deut. 10.22 these were to him as his portion and peculiar Inheritance Exod. 19.15 Isa 19.25 1 Pet. 2.9 Deut. 7.78 Exod. 19.15 Isa 19.25 1 Pet. 2.9 them he made choice of above all people of the World for his yet not for any desert of theirs but out of his own meer love Deut. 7.78 Then more particularly he reckons up the blessings and mercies bestowed on them ver

every Figg-Tree that God hath planted in his Vineyard Who are meant by the Figg Tree you have before been shewed and what is to be understood by this Plantation in the Vineyard you have likewise heard It remains now to give you to understand what kind of fruit it is that is expected which being done we will then come to the Confirmation and Application of the point This word Fruit is very fruitful of signification saith one and that truly For it is taken Properly or Improperly what Fruits are Gen. 1.11 12. 4.3 Psal 67.7 M●t. 21.19 Deut. 28.4 Ps 127 3. 232.11 Lam. 2.20 Luk. 1 42. Act. 2.30 Mat. 7.17 Gal. 5.22 Ver. 19 20. Pro. 12.14 Rom. 15.28 Phil. 1.11 4.17 Col. 1.10 Jam. 3.15 Hos 10.1 Amos 6.12 Mat. 7.16 12.33 34 Isa 3.10 Prov. 8.19 31 33. Psal 127.13 Pro. 12.14 Gal. 5.22 Heb. 12.10 Jam. 3.17 18. Rom. 6.22 in the proper and native sense we all know That encrease which cometh of the Land Trees or Cattel and other Creatures is Fruit Properly but in a general sense so Gen. 1.11 12. 4.3 Psal 67.7 But more strictly it is taken for the last issue of Trees and so it is opposed to leaves and blossomes So Math. 21.19 that Figg-Tree which grew by the way had leaves many but fruit none and therefore Christ curied it Improperly the word is used and applyed either to Persons or to Things To Persons so Children are termed the fruit of the Body and of the Womb as Deut. 28.4 Psal 127.3 132.11 Lament 2.20 Luke 1.42 Act. 2.30 And that first because they are derived from the bodies of their Parents and proceed from their loins as fruit from a Tree Secondly for that they are delightful to the Parent as the fruit of the Tree is to the Palate It is applyed unto Things both to Actions and Rewards To Actions both Good and Bad Good Actions are termed Fruit so Inward habits of the Spirit whence good Actions do proceed Gal. 5.22 And of the Flesh whence had Actions issue ver 19.20 And outward works issuing from those habits whether good of which we read Prov. 12.14 Rom. 15.28 Phil. 1.11 4.17 Colos 1.10 Jam. 3.15 Or bad whereof we read Hos 10.1 Amos 6.12 Math. 7.16 12.33 34. Rewards that follow upon our Actions are likewise termed Fruit so the Reward that come●h of well-doing is fruit Isa 3.10 Prov. 8.19 31.33 This Reward is either in Blessings Temporal Psal 127.3 Prov. 12.14 Or in Blessings spiritual Gal. 5.22 Heb. 12.10 Jam. 3.17 18. Or eternal Rom. 6.22 The Reward of Evill works is likewise termed Fruit Prov. 1.31 Jer. 17.10 Jer. 6.19 Jer. 21.14 Mich. 7.23 Rom. 6.2 Prov. 1.31 Jer. 17.10 So that which they suffer in this life is termed the Fruit of their thoughts as Jer. 6.19 and the fruit of their doings Jer. 21.14 Mich. 7.13 And that which they shall suffer hereafter is Fruit too Rom. 6.21 What fruit had you in those things for the end of those things is death The fruit here spoken of is not to be taken literally but figuratively Nor yet for Persons but Actions Our good works are the fruit and that not in a strict sense as opposed to thoughts and words as Jam. 2.17 But in a larger sense Jam. 2.17 Jer. 17.10 Rev. 2.2 3.1 for thoughts words and Actions as Jer. 17.10 Revel 2.2 3.1 Again good works are ranked into two files Offices of Devotion as A●ms and such like which be Opera Misericordiae And Duties of Religion as Faith Repentance Obedience Prayer c. these be Opera justitiae The former be manuum Sacrificia the latter cordium Sacrificia In the first the withered hand is onely healed in the la ter the Dead is raised both sorts are expected Fruits Inward as good thoughts purposes desires c. and all those good Affections mentioned Gal. 5.22 23. Gal. 5.22 And Fruits Outward good words good works c. These are aptly termed Fruits First for that they spring from a Good Root the Righeousnesse of God in us Phil. 1.11 that is Phil. 1.11 such as spring out of the righteousnesse of God in us we must be righteous by the righteousnesse of God in us before we can bear any good Fruit having the inherent righteousnesse of Christ imputed to us and righteousnesse inherently wrought in us by the Spirit of God Righteousnesse is the Tree and good Works the Fruits of the Tree Secondly for that they are in the sapp of Faith Mat. 4.28 hidden in the heart which buds and puts forth first in blossomes then in leavs then in fruit and so ripens by degrees as we read Mark 4.28 Thirdly for that they prove life in the Tree as fruit doth Indeed buds and blossoms are indications of a Tree's growth but not of a Christian's There must be more than purposes and inten●ions and outward profession to prove life in a Christian Thus having shewed you what that fruit is which God expects we shall now prove it unto you that God doth expect such fruit from every Christian I went down into the Garden of Nuts saith Christ Cant 6.11 to see the fruit of the Vallies Cant. 6.11 and to see whether the Vines flourished and the Pomegrantes budded Had he not expected fruit from those plants of his he would not have gone down to see the growth and progress of them He expected fruit from them and went down to see if they answered his expectation So Cant. 7.12 Cant. 7.12 Let us get up early to the Vineyards saith the Church to Christ let us see if the Vines flourish and whether the tender Grapes appear and the Pomegranates put forth She calls upon her Beloved to visit with her the Assemblies of her believing Children that to their mutual comfort they might be witnesses and partakers of all the signes and fruits of Grace which they yielded and was by them expected should be produced This is farther set forth by a comparison betwixt Solomon's Vineyard and God's Cant. 8.11 12. Cant. 8.11 12. Solomon expected frui● from his Vineyard that he had planted in Baal-Hamon but by reason that he was not able to dress it and mature it himself he was enforced to let it forth unto others who went away with some part of the encrease for their paines yet he expected the greatest part of the profit as well he might But I saith Christ reserve my Vineyard in my own hands I dresse it with my own labour And therefore if thou O Solomon canst receive from thine so large a Rent I expect more from my Vineyard and that the gain and profit thereof should arise wholly only to my self For further and clearer proof Isa 5.4.7 read Isa 5.4 God having bestowed so much paines upon the House of Israel his Vineyard in plan●ing fencing stoning of it and discharging all the parts of a good Husbandman about it He tells us what he expected

audaciously foolish as to step into the Throne and offer to Rule the Nation in that respect And is it safe for any except those who are thereunto called by God to enter upon the Priest's Office because they are styled Priests in Scripture But I may spare my breath in speaking of these There is a fourth and last sort that indeed give to their Ministers this double honour both of Reverence and Recompence and that for their work 's sake and these onely are they who entertain aright the Servants of the Lord and may expect a blessing It is possible for a man to give his Minister both honour of Countenance and Maintenance for by-respects as for Birth Education Learning Urbanity Peaceablenesse good usage in payments c. But unlesse the work of the Ministery be that which drawes affection that thou canst say I reverence and honour this Minister that God hath set over me for that he teacheth me to know God to fear God c. He informs me of my duty reproves me for my faylings therefore I reverence him thou honourest him not as thou shouldst And to be thus honoured and preferred in the hearts of our People for our Work and Labour is the highest preferment on Earth that we should seek after But I shall proceed no farther at this time on this un relishing Use Dresser Text We have done with the Name but not with the Number why Dresser seeing there are many of them propter unitatem saith the Glosse All being of one heart and mind as were those Believers mentioned Acts 2. 5 32 Thence we inferre The Dressers of Gods Vineyard should be as one in their Master's Work Doct. One I say not in respect of Power and Jurisdiction for in that sense a parity in the Ministry is very dangerous the Mother of Sects and Schism● which to prevent saith Calvin Calv. Instit lib. 4. c. 4. Sect. 2. 4. the Elders that were the Ministers of the Word did chuse but one of every City from amongst themselves unto whom they gave the Title of Bishop Ne ex aequalitate ut fieri solet dissidia nascerentur Lest by equality as usually it happens dissentions should arise And in that very Text brought by those who are otherwise minded Mar. 20.25 Mat. 20.25 we find a Maximus and Minimus amongst Christ's Disciples He that is greatest amongst you let him be as the least and he that is chiefest as him that ministreth so the grea●est became as the least to serve and minister to the rest and therein One in the work of the Ministry All have Idem Ministerium saith our Reverend Jewell albeit diversam potestatem Christ granted to none of his Disciples any Primacy or Superiority in that respect Episcopatus non suscipit magis minus saith Hierom Hier. ad Evag One Bishop may be richer than another or more learned than another but he cannot be more a Bishop than another Bishop is When Christ gave unto his Disciples their Commission he gaue it equally and generally to them all Math. 28.19 Ma● 28.19 Joh. 20. 19 20 22. Go and teach all Nations So Joh. 20.19 20 22. Christ stood in the midst of his Disciples and breathed on them all saying Receive ye the Holy Ghost whose ever sins ye remit they are remitted c. He leaned not to Peter nor to James nor to John nor to any one of the rest did he give the Authority of binding and loosing particularly but he stood in the midst of them all and gave the same power to them all This the great Apostle of the Gentiles confesseth 1 Cor. 3.9 1 Cor. 3.9 We together are God's Labourers one of us as well as another we work together with and for the Lord. St. Paul was a wise Master-Builder and had a higher degree of Ministry than others for he was an Apostle and so a degree above an Evangelist yet he did account of the Evangelists as of his fellows and equals in the work of the Ministry and joyns them with him as his Assistants 2 Cor. 1.1 Phil. 1.1 Colos 1.1 1 Thes 1.1 as we read in sundry of his Epistles 2 Cor. 1. 1. Phil. 1.1 Colos 1.1 1 Thes 1.1 Nor did he onely esteem thus of those who were Evangelists but he esteemed of Pastors a degree lower then the other as his fellow-Labourers So he calls Epaphroditus his companion in Labour and fellow-Souldier Phil. 2.25 Phil. 2.25 Col. 1.7 4.7 So others Epaphras Tychichus Clement c. he terms his fellow-Servants and fellow-Labourers Colos 1.7 4.7 acknowledging those who were his Inferiours in degree to be the same that he was in the Ministerial Function For the further clearing and confirming of the Poynt let me shew you first wherein they are to shew themselves One in their Ministerial Function Secondly The Grounds and Reasons of it why they should be as one in their Master's Service Of the first Ministers should manifest their Vnity and Onenesse three wayes especially First in Doctrine they are to teach the same Truth and be of the same mind and Judgment at least in all fundamental and necessary Poynts Gal. 1.8 9. Gal. 1.8 9. Explained If any other preach any other Gospel then that which you have received let him be accursed saith the Apostle and left he might be thought to go too far in so saying he reiterates it As we said before so say I now again If any man preach another Gospel unto you than that which you have received let him be accursed By another Gospel he meaneth any Doctrine divers from the Fundamentals which they had laid as is plain in that coming to explicate the Gospel to which the Galathians were turned he pi●cheth onely upon that one poynt of Justification by works or the necessity of keeping the ceremonial Law in all Believers Such a care had the Apostles that there might be a consent in their teaching as that they drew the maine Articles of the Gospel into a Comp●nd called the Symbol of the Apostles by which all Doctrines should be regulated or if not they yet certainly it was done by Apostolical men in the most pure and ancient times of the Church And in respect of this consent God's Servants are said to have one mouth Luk. 1.70 as he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets Luk. 1.70 Isa 52.8 not mouths And one Voyce Isa 52.8 Thy Watchmen shall lift up the Voyce with the Voyce together shall they sing which though literally the words are to be applyed to Israel's delivery out of captivity which the Prophets should publish with great freedom and consent of Spirit Calv. in loc yet saith Calvin they have respect to the times of the Gospel also shewing the great union that shall be 0 betwixt God's faithful Ministers in the work of Christ unto his second coming Secondly As they are to be one in Judgment so in Affection they are to be as one

hang any Vessel thereon Lo such is Israel saith God if it bare good Fruit it would be dear and precious unto me but being barren and unfruitful it is of no use unfit for any service Many Comparisons and Resemblances are used in Scripture to set forth the unprofitablenesse of a barren Professor Psal 1.5 Jude v. 12. They are resembled to Chaff to Thorns and Thistles to Clouds without water Trees withered without fruit and such like Amongst others that of our Saviour is very pertinent who resembles such to Salt that hath lost its savour which is good for nothing Mat. 5.13 but to be cast out and trodden under foot Math. 5.13 Other things when they have lost their savour recover it by the virtue of salt applyed unto them but if salt if self have lost its savour nothing is able to fetch it again There is nothing in nature that can restore it to its former quality Other things even after their corruption may be useful for some purposes Sowre Wine makes Vinegar Raggs Paper Soyl and Rubbish is good to fat the ground but savourlesse salt is good for nothing but the Dunghill nor is it fit for that and therefore must necessarily be trodden under foot as utterly unprofitable which is not onely a thing Calamitous but extreamly Ignominious Neither is the dumb and unprofitable Minister onely this unsavouty salt albeit Christ directed that Speech to his Apostles but every Professor of godlinesse that hath denyed the power thereof whose spirit is barren of the Fruit of good Motions 2 Tim. 3.5 The Understanding barren of the Fruit of good Meditations The Will barren of the Fruit of good Resolutions The Sensitive Appetite barren of the Fruit of good Affections The whole man barren of the Fruit of good Works every such a one is as this Figgless Figg-Tree burthensome to the Earth and cumbersome to the ground that bears them Secondly As they do no good and are cumbersome in that respect so they do much harm and so become unprofitable burthens and that many wayes First To the Soyl whereon they grow the very Earth is the worse for a fruitlesse Figg-Tree It was the sin of man at first that caused God to curse the Earth to Thorns and Thistles Gen. 3.7 and ever since he hath turned a fruitfull Land into barrennesse for the wickednesse of those that dwell therein Psal 107.37 Jer. 23.10 Hos 1. 4. The sins of those within the pale are they for which a Land doth mourn Hos 1. 4. So is it in the Vineyard of the Lord Let a barren and unprofitable Figg-Tree have his standing wheresoever the ground shall be the worse and not the better for him Let Rehoboam be rooted amongst the Kings in the Land of Judah 1 King 14.37 and the Sheilds he finds of Gold he will leave of Brasse Let Balaam be numbred amongst the Prophets and Judas amongst the Apostles and the Vineyard of the Lord shall find cause enough to say of such a Figg-Tree that it cumbers the ground The Church suffers by the growth of such Trees it loseth her heart and fatnesse Her Beauty and Glory is much blemished by the growth of such plants in it Secondly Such barren Trees are cumbersome and burthensome to other Trees and Plants that grow or might grow in the Vineyard and that divers wayes First A barren Tree possesseth the place of a better and by its good will would not suffer any to grow near it The best Rooms at Feasts the chief Seats in Synagogues Isa 5.8 Luke 14.9 proud Pharisees will take up nor is there any place for better Guests till they be removed lower and commanded to give place and so room made by their removal for others that are invited That passage which we have in Isa 22.20 is worthy of serious consideration Isa 22.20 God promiseth to call Eliakim the Son of Hilkiah and to commit the Government of his people in his Hand and so fasten him as a nayl driven to the Head in a sure place on whom they should hang all the glory of his Fathers House from the Vessels of the Cups even to all the Vessels of the Flaggons with matters both great and small should he be trusted but Eliakim's substitution must be upon Shebna's deprivation God will first drive him from his Station and pluck him down from his State Vers 19. vers 19. In that day saith the Lord of Hosts shall the Nayl that is fastned in a sure place meaning Shebna who then governed and thought himself sure be removed and be cut down and fall Vers 25. and the burthen that hangs upon it shall be cut off In the same day that God doth this Eliakim shall come in and be advanced but not before Thus one Nayl drives out another What Solomon speaks of misery The Righteous is delivered out of trouble Prov. 11.8 and the Wicked comes in his stead the like may be said of a good mans prosperity when the wicked are turned off better come in their room The like may be seen in David's case who was annointed to be King over Israel long before his Installment Saul sat yet upon the Throne and David must be content to stay a while for that till Saul be removed and that being done then he shall be planted and seated in his room in Hebron So whilst Judas supplyes the place of an Apostle 2 Sam. 2.1 honest Mathias shall be kept out Acts 1.20 his place must be Voyded before another take his Bishoprick Acts 1.20 The Jews they must be broken off before the Gentiles be grafted in Rom. 11.19 Rom. 11.19 And whilst those ungrateful Farmers of the Vineyard held their Lease it could not be taken by others who would gladly have hyred it and rendred the Fruit thereof in due season Mat. 21.43 Math. 21.43 So long as wicked Magistrates Idle and Scandalous Ministers Bribing and corrupt Officers and such like are in place others who might do and would do more good cannot be admitted Secondly Such as are barren and unprofitable in their places devour not only equal nutriment with him that beareth but many times starve other inferiour plants within their reach drawing away the heart and fat of the Soyl with their Succours and Feeders What a breadth beareth some great Ash or Oak How far do their Roots spread albeit under ground and unseen Yet it may be perceived by their soaking of the ground and drawing away nourishment from Corn and Plants that are near unto them It is thus with many an unprofitable and barren Christian he is a Soaker and that in respect both of things that concern this Life and a better and so cumbersome Such are to be found in the Church That large and liberal maintenance allowed formerly by our fore-Fathers charity for pious uses as towards the maintenance of the Ministry succouring of the poor and needy c. a great part thereof was formerly devoured

Midianites into their hands lest Israel vaunt themselves against him saying Mine own hand hath saved me Judg. 7.2 Thus in taking of Jericho it must be by the blast of Trumpets made of Ratns horn Josh 6.3 Josh 6.3 5. 5. Divers Instances might be brought of this And as he maketh choyce of weak means so he giveth many times the greatest Blessing to the weakest and unlikeliest means Twelve baskets full of fragments shall remain after the feeding of five thousand with five Loavs and two Fishes Mat. 14.17 Mat. 14.17 21. Mat. 15.34 37 38. Josh 23.8 21. And but seven Baskets full shall remain after the feeding of four thousand with seven Leavs and more Fishes mat 15.34 37 38. Where there was lesse Company and more Food there is the lesse remainder Joshua could say to Israel what Moses could not Cleave unto the Lord your God as you have unto this day Josh 23.8 Under Moses Government that People was a rebellious People and forsook the Lord that made them and had done much for them and yet in Joshua's dayes who was farr inferiour in gifts to Moses they were obedient so that his Government was blessed above the Government of Moses Nor do we read that Christ ever converted so many by his three years Ministry Act. 2.41 4.4 as St. Peter did by two Sermons Act. 4.4 That preaching which is most contemptible in the world hath been usually found to be most profitable and successefull 1 Cor. 1.4 1 Cor. 1.4 There is a Story which is pertinent to the businesse 1 Sam. 30.11 David in the pursuit of the Amalekites 1 Sam. 30.11 where he had no kind of Intelligence nor no ground to settle a conjecture upon which way he must pusue them yet pursue them he must in the way he finds a poor young fellow a famished sick man one that was derelicted of his Master and left for dead in the march and by the means and conduct of this Wretch David recovers the Enemy recovers the Spoyle and the Love of his People and his own honour So in the Ministry And it is God's good pleasure that it should be thus that He may especially be looked unto 2 Cor. 4.7 2 Cor. 4.7 So much weaknesse shall appear in the Instruments as that their strength shall not be thought their own Reas 3 Thirdly There is utterly a fault amongst our selvs as the Apostle speaks in another Case 1 Cor. 6.7 Mat. 23.37 Joh. 5.40 I would saith Christ and you would not Mat. 23.37 You will not come unto me that you might believe Joh. 5.40 Man's wilfulnesse is a cause of his Unbelief and Barrennesse under the means And this we may affirm without any danger of falling into Popery For three things there are that concur in a Sinner's Coversion First the Word perswading Secondly God's Spirit prevailing Thirdly the Will of Man consenting Now God works not upon us as upon stocks and stones but as upon reasonable Creatures and if we would be saved we must co-work with God in the work of our Salvation We must hear read confer resort unto the Church c. and do what lyes in us that the means may become profitable For He that made us without our selves will not save us without our selves Aug. The Father begets a Child without the Will of the Child for then it was not and it had none But when the Child is born he cannot bring it up to any Art or Science against his Will So we are created without our selves but not regenerated without our selves Now herein we are wanting we do not what lyes in us that the means may be profitable we are wanting in our Attendance Preparation c. we come not at all 1 Pet. 2.1 2 or with prejudicate opinions when we do come or else bring Malice Guile Hypocrisy in our hearts and regard not what is said Were we not wanting to our selves in using of the means God would not be wanting unto Us in blessing our endeavours for though we merit not from God in that we do nor can challenge any thing from Him as due debt for our best performance yet God would not leave Himself without witness did we our best endeavours to profit by the means Use 1 Wherefore See that we rest not in the means be they never so good or excellent Judg. 17.19 I know the Lord will do me good said Micah seeing I have a Levite to my Priest Judg. 17.19 As if that must of necessity follow So say some We have got amongst us a learned man a powerfull Preacher now we shall profit and get good by such a man's Ministry 1 Sam 16.6 But God seeth not as Man seeth as God told Samuel who being sent to anoint one of the Sons of Ishai ●o be King without any more paaticular Instruction and Eliab being presented Surely said Samuel noting the goodlinesse of his Person this is the Lord 's anointed But look not on his countenance nor the heighth of his stature saith God for I have refused him and David in appearance lesse likely to be chosen was the man 1 Sam. 16.6 It is indeed a mercy to enjoy the outward means of profiting And the better and abler the means are the greater ought the Blessing to be esteemed for ordinarily in course of Nature the best food yields best nourishment and breeds best blood but yet we may not rest in this There is a staff of Bread Lev. 26.25 Mat. 4.4 Levit. 26.25 which is the Word of God Mat. 4.4 And so the Word it self hath a staff too which is God's Spirit if that be wanting no man living can live or profit by it Be the Preacher never so excellent or his gifts never so rare were he one of a thousand as Job speaks or as prompt a Scribe in the Law as ever Ezra was Job 33.23 Ezr. 7.6 1 Cor. 13.2 were his Learning never so profound that he knew all secrets and all knowledge which the World can afford or were he as mighty and well-instructed in the Scriptures as ever was Apollo Act. 18.24 be he that good Scribe well taught unto the Kingdome of Heaven able to bring forth of his Treasure at all times things both new and old Mat 13.25 or be he endued with never so good dexterity in opening and dividing the word aright 2 Tim. 2.15 1 Cor. 13.1 2 Tim. 4.2 Nisi D●us in ●riori g●at●â m●●●● 〈…〉 like a good Workman that needeth not to be ashamed yea though he could speak with the tongue of men and Angels and were instant in his labours preaching both in season and out of season upon occasions offered Nay if Christ himself should be again upon the Earth and preach in our Temples every Sabbath day should he heal the diseased restore the blind to sight cast out Devils turn Water into Wi●e feed thousands with a few Loavs and Fishes work as many wonders in our