, 
 
Mr. Emerfon's 
 Exhortation to his People 
 
 With Refpeft to 
 
 Variety of Minifters* 
 
 fc : i 
 
 B O S f O N:. 
 Printed and Sold by S. KNEE LAND and 
 T. GREEN in Queenjireet over againft 
 the Prifon, 1742. 
 
READER. 
 
 = ~ = == Tjr 77 
 
 ~5L.irT.oG-i*: 1 Hi 
 
 preceeding Part of the fol- 
 Difcoiirfe is but an Abridg- 
 deliver'd from 
 
 0r Improvement of the Subjeft, 
 and that only in one Ufe, which I apprehend 
 moft needful and feafonable? at this Day, to 
 be made Publick. As it is in the Simplicity 
 cf my Heart^ and not with any Dcfign to 
 offend any One, that I have publijh'd thefe 
 'TbingS) fo I would humbly hope for a candid 
 Acceptance of them. 
 
(3 ) 
 
 A Word of Exhortation with Rela- 
 tion to Variety ofMiniften. 
 
 . III. 21, 22, 
 
 all Thing* are yours : Whether Taut, or 
 t or Cephas. ..... 
 
 - The Truth, which thefe Words prefent us 
 with, is this 
 
 DOCTRINE. 
 
 LL Things , and particularly Minifters* 
 with their various Gifts an} Labours, 
 are for the Ufe and Benefit of the Church 
 and 'People of G02). 
 
 I A\l Thing* belong to the Church and People 
 of GO'D. They have a Right to, and Imereft 
 in them. 
 
 God is theirs. God the Father is theiri. tPfal. 
 . 14.. They are intetefted in all his glorious 
 His Wifdomi Power, Gondnek, 
 A i Truth, 
 
4 A Word of Exhortation 
 
 Trutfi, &<: fhall be all employ'd for their Good 
 arid Bent fie 
 
 God th Son is theirs : In all his Offices and 
 Relation ; their Mediator and Surety, tMr Ad. 
 vocate*:ni laiSkceflor, their Ptopbet andTeiicher, 
 th'eir K-ngandRuler, t&eir Shephed", tbeir Friend', 
 their Brother, their Husband, their Head, &c- 
 He i5 thsirs in all his precious and faving Benefit : 
 Wjfdom, Righteoufnefs, Sandtification, and Re- 
 demption. 
 
 God the Holy Spirit is theirs : To dwell and 
 reign, and operate in them, by his enlightning, 
 quickning, fan&ifying, ftrengthning, confirming, 
 and comforting Influences. 
 
 The Word and Ordinances of Qod are theirs : 
 T^^sr evidences of God are theirs. Both Mercies 
 and-A-ffli&ioni fhail be (ubfervient ro their rel 
 Good. This they may be confidentljrperfwadedof, 
 that all "Things Jball 'work together for Good unto 
 them : That all GoPiWays Jhill fa Mercy S Truth 
 towards them- That nothing fiiall be permitted 
 ro occur, but what fhall be over-rui'd fo as to 
 ferve his own moft gracious Defigns with Re- 
 gard to his People. 
 
 Jtngels are theirs, Heb. 214- Are they not 
 all minifiring Spirits fent forth to minifier to tbtm 
 tbat are ths Hsirs of Salvation, 
 
 Ail the Vtomifes ars theirs. They have th 
 'Promlfe of the Life that now is : All that Direc* 
 rion.Affiftance, FrotedlionjProvifion.Confolation, 
 fe. which they ffond in need of.and will be beft 
 for them. They have alfo the <Promife of the 
 Lifp'tttat is ro come. 
 
 f&av?& is theirs ; with all the Riches and 
 Glories, and D": lights of it. They are eledred, 
 
 redeemed, 
 
as to Variety of Minifters. g 
 
 redfemed, juflify'd, adopted, fanftify'd, that in 
 due Time they may be ghrify'd This is 
 what their dear Redeemer has purcbas'd, and is 
 preparing for ; and which the true and faithful 
 God has promts' d to them. Thus all Things are 
 thein. race, andGlory,and every good Thing. 
 
 If. Minifters with their various Gifts and La- 
 bours art for *.he Ujeand Benefit of tbeCburcb and 
 "jPsople of God. c Pau\ t and Apottos, and Cephas 
 are theirs. Not only <Paul t but j4pollos, yea and 
 Cephas too. Here I might more particularly and 
 diftin&Iy fay. 
 
 i. Minifters are ths Gifts of Cbrift. He pur- 
 cbto'd them, and he it is like wife tht confers them.' 
 It is he that qualifies them for, fpirits them to, 
 direfts, a flirts, and fucceeds them in the Work of 
 the Miniftry. Thus Minifters are the Gifts of 
 Chrift 
 
 z. Mixiflers witbtbeir various Endowments and 
 Labours are given by Cbrifl to tbe Cburcb and 
 feople of God. The LORD JESUS had a very 
 particular Eye ro his Church in inftituting the 
 Miniftry, and in purcbafing, and in beftowing fuch 
 Gifts as <Paul t and j4pollos, and Cepbas, Minifters 
 varioufly gifted ; that the Church which is his 
 Body might be edify'd. Eph. 4. 7,8,---ir, 12. 
 Unto" every one of us is given Grace according to tbe 
 Meafure cftbe Gift oj Chrifl. Wherefore be faith, 
 when be afcended up on High, be led Captivity Cap. 
 rive, and gave Gifts unto Men And he gave f owe, 
 Aptf\es : andfomefProphets : andfom,Evangelifls 9 
 andfome t faQors andfeacbers ; for the perfecting 
 of the Saints for tbe Work of tbe Miniflry* for tbe 
 edifying of tbe Sody of Chrifl. i Cor. 1 2.4,7- Now, 
 tbcrs are 2)iverfity oj Gijts> fat tfo fama Spirit- 
 
 But 
 
6 A Word of Exhortation 
 
 $ut tbc Manijeftation of t be Spirit is given to every 
 Man to profit withal : i. e. That he might profit 
 the Church and People of God, " They were 
 " not diftributed for the mere Honour or Advan* 
 " tage of thofe that had them, but Tor the Benefit 
 " of the Church, to edify the Body, and fpread 
 11 and advance theGofpei.*' To 0e,as theApollle 
 further fpeaks, is given by the Spirit^ tbe Word of 
 Wifdom ; to another Jbel&ord of Knowledge <by ths 
 fams Spirit ; to another ><Prophefy ;-~2?* all tbefe 
 vuorketb that ons & the fil] fame Spirit ; dividing to 
 every Manfeveratty as be will. And all for the 
 Good of CHRIST'S Myftical Body, the Church ; 
 in which he hath fet, 'firfl dpojiles, ftcondarily 
 
 But I come to make fome iuirable 
 of thisPointJn a few Words by Way v(P*xbQrtauott. 
 
 If Minifters wirh their various Gifts are for the 
 Ufe and Benefit of the Church andPeople of God, 
 ibe* t my dear 'Breibren, ufe, but don't abufe ibis 
 your Cbriflian Liberty and \ JJ rivikdge. 
 
 i. Uj'etbisyourCbriflicnLiberty and c Priviledge. 
 Hear and improve for your Benefit not only the 
 Minifter that is o:dain'd over you, & fix'd among 
 you, but as you have Occ-lion andOpportunity, 
 other Minifrers alfo. For all 'ffcings are your* 1 ; 
 whether c Paul t or Apolhs % or Cephas. If any 
 fhould attempt to deprive you of this your Chrif* 
 tian Priviledge, they are guilty of Robbery : They 
 rob you of a very great Priviledge which your 
 Lord has purchased for you at the dearefl Rate, 
 tnd which he has in great Love to your Souls 
 confei'd upon you. Stand faft therefore in this 
 Liberty of your's wherewith Chrill bas made 
 you free. As God has been lending oneAmbaf- 
 
 faaoc 
 
*s to Variety of Minifters. 7 
 
 fador after another to you ; who have treated 
 you with Sermons upon Sermons, agreeable to 
 what we read, Ifai. 28-10. For Precept) bath been 
 upon Precept, 3Prece$t upon Precept* Line upon 
 Zi 80, Line upon Line, here a little and there a lit* 
 t>e. The abnndantGrace ofGod herein manifeftt d 
 to you, fhould be gracefully refented, ad duly 
 improved by you : And youfhould be encourag'd 
 in, and by no Means difcourag'd from the Im- 
 provement o( it. And bleffed btGod,there are fo 
 many of the Lord's Minifters, in one Place and 
 another, who are fo far from difcouraging their 
 People from attending upon the prtaching of 
 other zealous and worthyMen of God, who have 
 lately come among us, that they have invited 
 them into their Pulpits, and have, Itruft, with 
 Pleafure obferv'd their People flocking to their 
 Doctrine, and hanging upon the Preacher's Lips, 
 with fuch a diligent and affectionate Attention. 
 'Tis I think Matter of Grief that all Minifteis in 
 this Point are not like-minded. I (peak not thia 
 to reflect upon any worthy Minifters among us> 
 that exercife a prudent Cautioufnefs who they 
 admit inco their Pulpits. We ought, doubtlcfs, 
 to be well perfwaded concerning thtfeStrangen 
 that come among us, that they are Men of Know- 
 lege, Prudence and Piety ; Men of good Princi- 
 ples, and goodMorals, if they have a Call to vifit 
 before we invite them to preach to our People. 
 But when we have good Grounds to hope that 
 they are Men of this Character, and perceive the 
 Grace of God given to them.we ought freely to 
 give to them the right Hand of Fellowfhip ; we 
 ihould fo account of them, <as of the Minivers of 
 Guift, Ihould readily and affectionately embrace 
 
 them ; 
 
$ A Word of Exhortation 
 
 them ; fhould wifo them God-fpeed, and encou- 
 rage ourPeople, fo far as is confident with their 
 Circuaafhnces, and will be for their Edification, 
 toattend upon theitDo&rine. And fuchMinifters 
 who are contrarily difpos'd, would do well to 
 exercife a godly Jealoufy over themfelves, and 
 ferioufly confider whatSpirie they are of, and fear 
 whether they do not too much indulge the Spirit 
 which lufteth to Envy. I cannot but think if 
 the Spirit and Difpofition of the holy and hum- 
 ble Apoftle <Paul more univerfally prevailed a- 
 rnong Minifters, that People in fome Places 
 inftead of being reproach'd and condemn^ for the 
 Improvement of their Chriflian Liberty in hear- 
 ing other Minifters, would be commended for 
 ir, and encourag'd in it ; and this would in a 
 great Meafure not only promote the Edification 
 of their People, but alfo prevent that Confujlon^ 
 which foms are fo unjuft as to impute to (ome 
 Preachers as the Caufes, when they are only the 
 accidental, innocent Occafion of it. If a holy, 
 humbly, and truly zealous Spirit, a Zeal forth* 
 Honour of Chrift and the Good of the precious 
 Sauls of People prevailed to a greater Degree 
 in the Hearts of fotns Miniflers, their Language 
 would doubtlefs be this, ' Lord, fend by whom 
 ibw wilt fend. Any Inftrumenr, any Means 
 that thou fhslc fee meet to make ufe of, fhall 
 be scceptahle to us. If the Work may but 
 be accompliiVd, if the Souls of our dear Peo- 
 ple may but be won to Chrift, let who will 
 be the Minifter or Inftrument that thou fhalt 
 pieafe to make uf of, we fhall rejoyce in ir, 
 and give Thanks to thee for it'. The 2)oors 
 and ihs Hearts of Minifters would then be open 
 
 CO 
 
as to Variety of Minifters. g 
 
 to fuch whom they perceiv'd that the Lord 
 delighted to make ufe of as Inftruments in pro- 
 moting his Work. The Feet of fuch Minifteri 
 would be beautiful in their Efteem, as well as in 
 the Efteem of their People. There would then 
 be no Occafion for our People to urge and plead 
 that we would fvfftf fuch Miniften to come into 
 our Pulpiti, but we fliould oarfehes invite them, 
 and take Pleafure in feeing our People throng. 
 ing and preffing to hear them, in Hopes they 
 would not only be gratify' d but alfo favingly 
 profited by their Miniftry ; and it would be i 
 light Thing with us, tho* we fhould decreafe t fo 
 the Kingdom and Intereft of the Lord Jefus, and 
 the Good of Souls, might increafe and profperj 
 But to return. I exhort you, my .dear People, 
 to hear and improve for your Good, as you have 
 Opportunity, not only Taut* bug j4pollo$, yea 
 and Cephas too. They are ail Gifts of your 
 ifcended Saviour ; be thankful to him for them; 
 admire not only the manifold Wifdom, but alfo 
 the abundant Goodnefs of your Lord in thus vary- 
 ing and diverfifying his Gifts. 'Tis that you 
 might all be fuited. All thefe worketh that one 
 and the fame Spirit of Chrift. Wherefore, lee 
 him have the fole Glory, and be you careful to 
 improve them fo as to reap the Comfort and 
 Benefit. For allfbings areyour's ; whetber'Paul, 
 cr <dpolhs> or Cephas. Hear the Word difpsnc'd 
 by them not as the Word of Man but as the 
 Word of Gcd. Receive the Truth in the Love 
 of if. Mix the Word with Faith. Hear with 
 Meekvefs ; hear with ^Diligence and fee, that you 
 bring forth Fruit with <Patien.ce and Perfeverince. 
 B Be 
 
IO , A Word of Exhortation 
 
 Be exceeding follicitous that when the Word 
 is preich'd to you.it may not prove like theSeed 
 that falls by the Way-ftde 9 or like that on flcny 
 Ground, or as that which is fown imrngTWa;, 
 but like that which is fown in good Ground, that 
 fhall take deep Root, and fpring up, and bear 
 Fruir, feme thirty, (ome fixty, and fbme an hun- 
 dred Fold. And as I would have you hear 
 iPaul, and dpolhs, and Cefbas ; fo I exhort you 
 like wife, if you are fo minded, to difccurfe wifb 
 them about the Affairs of your Souls : Lay open 
 your Cafe to them ; beg their Advice, and in- 
 treat their Prayers. You have a Right fo to 
 do, and I would by no Means deprive you of 
 your Right- All Things are your 1 'j ; wbetber 
 Paul* or ApolloSi or Cephas. 
 Bet then, 
 
 2 See to it t bat ycu don't abvfe fits your Cbrif- 
 tian Liberty. 
 
 Fake Care tbat you bave not Men's Verfon's iff 
 Admiration. Glory not in Men. Don't fry up 
 one Minifter and cry down another, when they 
 ire both of themfaitbful. As to thofeMinifters 
 who are evidently proud, and felHfh,and world* 
 ly, and flothful, carelefs and unfaithful, thy 
 deferve to be treated with Negle& ; but fuch 
 as are humble, and diligent, and zealous, tho* 
 they may differ in Gifts, ire to be highly 
 efteem'd in Love by you, and none of them to 
 be flighted. A criminal preferring one Minifter 
 before another, will be an Evidence rather of 
 Corruption than of Grace in you. For wbile cee 
 faitb, I amofPaul, and anther, 1 am ofj4pollo$i 
 and anotbsr, lam of Cepbas ; are ye tot carnal. 
 and walk as MM ? Wbv % I pray, i t 'Paul, and 
 
 W&Q 
 
as to Variety of Minifters. 1 1 
 
 who is Apolhs, but Minifters ? They are but In 
 ftruimnts by whom you believe. 'Paul may 
 p!ant,and>4/>0//:3j may water,but 'tis the Lord ilone 
 that giveth thelncreafe Sa thtn'Paulii nothing 
 tnddpolhs is nothing ; they are nothing in regard 
 of the Fffi'-acy and Increaf* of the Word. 'Til 
 the Lord that is all in all,J<?/ him then that glory Mb, 
 glory imbe Lord. Not umoy<70J,not unto j4polhs t 
 not wCepbas> but unto the ZorJ be *J/ rfo (?/0ry. 
 
 Again, tDcn'r fwaltow dowtwith an implicit 
 F^itb every *Tbing tbat Mnifler s fay to you : But 
 try the Spirits ; bring every DoArine to the 
 Touch- Stone . belike the noble Sereans, who 
 not only received tbe Word witb all Readioefs 
 of Mind - t but alfo fearcbcd tbe Scripture* daily, 
 whether tbofi Things were fo. A A. 17. n To 
 tbt Law and to tbe T'eftimony : 7/ they fpeak not 
 according to this Word, it is facaufi there is no 
 Light in them. Ifa. 8. 20. 
 
 Moreover, take heed that you don't abufe this 
 your Liberty, by aiming to gratify avainCvriofity. 
 Don't come to hear Taul, OT^polhs^ot Cephas, 
 from an itch of Novelty, that ^ou may hiv 
 your Ears tickled, your Fancy pleas'd &c- but 
 come to the Hearing of the Word with a Dtfire 
 that your Hearts may be fearch'd, that your Sim 
 may be reproved, that your Souls may be effec* 
 tually and favingly wrought upon. Fear, left 
 the Lord mould hive Occafion to complain of 
 you is he did of Ezekiel'i Hearers, Ezek. 33. 
 31, 32. They come unto tbee as the 'People com* 
 etb, and they Jit before tbee as my People, and 
 they hear thy Words, but they will not do them : 
 for with their Mouth they foew mucbLove,but their 
 Heart goetb after their Covetoufaefs. And lo, 
 B 2 fhou 
 
12 A Word of Exhortation 
 
 fbcu an unto them as a very lovely Song of ons 
 that batb a pleafaniVi>ice t andean play we// on a 
 Iffftrument : for they bear thy Words % but they do 
 them not. Alas ! 'tis too common for People to 
 be delighted with the Gefture, Voice, Pronuncia- 
 tion, {Eloquence, and othsr Gifts ofths Preacher, 
 and not to have their Hearts fuitably affected, 
 and thsirConverfation agreably influenced by the 
 Matter difpenc'd to them. 
 
 Further, let me mind you of this, tbat People 
 JJjould not be fo fond ofStrangers,as to neglcEi or de* 
 fpife tbeir oiinMinifters. All Things are your's : 
 whether favl, or ^polios, or Cephas : Yet the 
 Minifter that is fix'd among you> and has the 
 Paftoral Care of your Souls more particularly 
 commie-ted to him, that Mintfler, I fay, is in a 
 more peculiar Senie your own, than o/^rMiniflers 
 are. He fuflains an efpecial Relation, and is un- 
 der more particular Obligations to you, and will, 
 if he be a good Mjnifter, more naturally 
 Care for your State, than it can be rationally ex- 
 pecked otber Miffifters mould. A People's own 
 Minifter is obliged to bear them upon his Heart 
 continually; his Thoughts and his Cares, if he 
 be a good and faithfulMinifler of Jefus Chrift are 
 conftantiy exarcifed about them ; he is daily 
 watching for their Souls; is frequently vifiting 
 them, is fluclying Night and Day for them, and 
 is preaching to them both in Seafon and out of 
 Seafon ; is bearing with their Infirmities,- en 
 during many Trials on their Account, Surely 
 then, he may juftly challenge a peculiar Share 
 in their Affections ; and f fi$ highly reafonable 
 they Ihould efteem Mm very highly in Love, 
 fur his Work and Office SJce, Ami let me tell 
 
 you, 
 
as to Variety of Mlnifters. 13 
 
 you, it will be but a poor Evidence of a People's 
 profiting"by otber Afiniflers, if rh~ir Affections 
 cool, and theirHearts are alienated from their own 
 faithful Paftors. Such a People are unjuft, and 
 ungrattful, yei and infome Senfe unnatual, who 
 by hearing of other Miniflers, become more dif- 
 afTe&sd to tleir own. And befidts, (uch a Peo. 
 pie act very unwifely for themfeivtj. This, will 
 be unprofitable for their own Souls. There's lit 
 tie likelihood of a People's receiving any faving 
 Benefit from the Minider they are grown indif- 
 ferent in their Regards to. Wherefore, it be- 
 hoves a People to cberifh in their Rreafts a very 
 dear AffVdtion to their own Minifter ; they 
 Ihould by no Means indulge any unreasonable 
 or unchaiitableSufpicions and Jealoufies, or evil 
 Surmifmgi concerning him- They fhould tbink 
 well of him, unlefs they have fufficient Grounds 
 to the contrary ; they tiiouldffeak well of him; 
 they (hould behave well to him ; they fhould 
 diligently and readily attend on his Minifby, 
 and ftrive to profit by it. They fhould do no- 
 thing juftly to grieve him, but all that lays in 
 their Power to encourage him. 
 
 Let People remember this; tho' <Paul, and 
 ^polios, and Cepka> are theirs, yet they fuftain an 
 efpecial Relation to, and are therefore under par- 
 ticular Obligations to the Paftor* that dwell 
 among, and are ordained over them- 
 
 Finally.fiTake heed that you don't abufe your 
 Priviledge by Unpr i fitablcneft 
 
 Minifters with their various Gifts are for the 
 Ufe and Benefit of the Church : Surely then, 
 if this End be not obtain^, we flull be charge- 
 able with the Guilt of abufiog our Priviledge. 
 
 Oh ! 
 
14 A Word of Exhortation 
 
 Ob ! my dear Brethren, fake heed* how you bear. 
 Duly prepare for Hearing ; and when you are 
 be a* ing, he *t as for your Lives : And after Hear- 
 ing, medi'are on the Word examine ycurfelves 
 by it, pray over it, *nd labour to ptatfice a- 
 greeably to it Be ye Doers of the Word and 
 not Hearers only, deceiving your own felvej. 
 BlefLd are they that hear the Word and keep it : 
 That attend to it with 'Diligence^ Preparation, 
 and 'Prayer ; that receive it ivtthFaifh and JLcve ; 
 that lay it vp in their Hearts, and praftiee it in 
 their Lives- Minifters will then be a Savour of 
 Life unto Li'e ; The Gofpe! preached by them 
 will be the Tower. of Goj unto their Salvation. 
 But if on rh< contrary, People come to the Hear- 
 ing of the Word) only with itching Eirs, to have 
 their Cufiofuy grarify'd ; and when they are 
 bearing, their c frffions are mov'd their j4ffeflions 
 ftirr'd, but their tfearts not at all chang'd ; and 
 after Hearing^ they commend ths Sermon, ad- 
 mire the Preacher ; but their Lives not at all 
 reformed ; Minifttr's Preaching as to fuch Peo 
 pie will be in vain ; *Pau\ t and j4pollos, and 
 Cephas, with their various Gifts and Labouri 
 will all be in vain ; yea, they will be a Savour 
 of Death unto Death unto them ; Such People 
 will have fad Rcafon to Fear, that Minifters 
 are fent to them on the doleful Errand that 
 Ifaiah was Cent upon, Ifai. 6. 9, 10 Go, and 
 tejl this tpeople, hear ye indeed, but under/land 
 not ; and fee ye indeed, but perceive not. JMake 
 the Heart of this Tuple fat, and make tbeir Ears 
 heavy, and fiut (heir Eyes ; left they fee wirb their 
 Eyes % and hear with their Ears, and underjland 
 their Heart* and convert and fa healed. 
 
 My 
 
as to Variety of Mintfters. 15 
 
 My dear Frinds, our Unfruitfulnefs under the 
 
 Means of Gracejcfpecially under the greatThnty 
 
 of Means we have of la fa been favour'd with, 
 
 will carry a dark Omen with it. We fhall have 
 
 Reafon to fear not only inevitable, but very 
 
 fpeedy Deftru&ion, or at lead a dreadful Rej-c- 
 
 tion Heb. 7,8 The Earth nbicb Jrinketbin 
 
 The Rain that ccmstb oft upon it, ar.d bringeth 
 
 forth Herbs meet for them by whim it is dreffed t 
 
 rectivetb Blfjfing fromGod : But that which bear" 
 
 etb Thorns and Sriers t is rejected, and is nigh 
 
 uvto curjing ; wbefe End is to be burned. Such of 
 
 us will have Reafon to tremble when we read 
 
 the Parable of the barren Fig- Tree, tfpecially 
 
 the Chfe of it. See Luk. 15. 6~ 9 A certain 
 
 Man bad a Fig-Tree planted in bis Vineyard^and 
 
 be came and fought Fruit thereon, and found none. 
 
 'jThen /aid jbe to the jDreJftr of bii Vweyard t be- 
 
 buld, tbefe three Tears I come ft eking Fruit on 
 
 this Fig- Tree, and find none : Cut it down, ixby 
 
 cumberetb it the Ground ? And be an fiver ing, f aid 
 
 unto him. Lord, let it alone this Tear aifo t till 
 
 1 Jball dig about it, and dung it : And if it bear 
 
 Fruit t well : And if not, then ajter that the* 
 
 Jbalt cut it down. God or.ly knows how many 
 
 of us may be upon our I aft ?rial ; the I aft 
 
 Mans may be uGng with many of us ; the Te.-r 
 
 which the Drefler of the Vineyard has interceed- 
 
 ed for, may be juft expiring as to many of us. 
 
 Oh how dreadful will it be for any c f us, if we 
 
 fliould finally perfift in our Unfruitfulntfs. Ah ! 
 
 poor Souls ! let me tell you, you'l pay dear for 
 
 the digging and dunging t for the uncommon 
 
 Means, the extraordinary Cultivation, that have 
 
 been ufed with vo- As you have Reafon to 
 
 fear 
 
1 6 A Word of Exhortation 
 
 fear approaching Ruin, fo that it will be moft 
 amazingly dreadful Zech. 7. n, 12. Sut they 
 refufed to hearken, and fulled away the Shoulder, 
 and flopped their Ears, that they Jbould not hear. 
 Tea, they made their Hearts as an Adamant 
 Sfone t left they ftould hear the Law* and the 
 Words which the Lord of Hofts hath fent in his 
 Spirit^ by the former 'Prophets ; therefore came 
 a great Wrath from the Lord of Hofts. Jer. 44. 
 4, 5, 6. 1 fent unto you all my Servants the 'Pro- 
 phets, rifing early and finding them, faying, O 
 do not ibis abominable fhing that 1 bate. &ut 
 they hearkned not, nor inclined their Ear to turn 
 from thetr Wichednefs Wherefore my Fury and 
 mine Anger was pwr'd forth.- Oh ! it will b 
 moft tremendous Wrath that will be - pour'd forth 
 upon Gofpel Impeniunti, mor efpecially thofe 
 who have had great Plenty of the Means of 
 Grace- In Proportion to the Advantages they 
 have enjoy'd, but abus'd ; fo much the more 
 Mifsry and Torment fhall be given them. Hell 
 will be dreadful, unfpeakably dreadful to every 
 one that mall come there, but noc alike dread- 
 ful. The Lot that will be affigo'd to foms in 
 thofe Regions of Horror and Dtfpair will be 
 more intolerably dreadful, than what fhali be 
 given toothsrs. And doubtlefs,thofe who perifh 
 from under the Gofpel, will have fuch abortion 
 Heb. 2 3. Hwojbaltwsefcape if we negleft fy 
 great Salvation. Mach- n. 23, 24, And thou 
 Capernaum, which art exalted unto Heaven, 
 Jball be brought down to Hell, it jball be more 
 tollerable for the Land if Sodom, $$c. Oh, let 
 us not be high minded, but fear. Let us not be 
 carnally fecure, but Ut us keep this in thelmagi* 
 
 oat ion 
 
as to Variety of Minifters. *. 17 
 
 
 
 nation of the Thought! of our Heart continually, 
 that the Lord kteps in exaft Account of the 
 fime> and of the Means that hi gives us, and 
 after a while, he will call us to a Rukoning. 
 And the more Means any of us (hall have neg- 
 lefted and trifled away, fo much the more lor- 
 rowfui and dreadful will our Account be. O 
 Sin, believe it, if you foould fail of the Grace 
 of God, every Mnifter that comes among you, 
 tvery Sermon they preach to you, will ferve to 
 aggravate your Doom, and fink you the dee pec 
 into the horrible Pit of Perdition, where th* 
 Smoak of your Torment will afcend for evei 
 and ever. Oh ! how will you mourn at tho 
 laft and fay, How have we hated Inftruaion, 
 and our Hearts defpifed Reproof ! And have 
 not obeyed the Voice of our Teatheri, nor 
 inclined our Ears to them that infhudted us. 
 O the bitter Wailing and Lamentation you will 
 make ! But ail in vain, for, ai we read in 
 Zech. 7. 13. /> full come to pafs, that as t>* 
 cried, and they would not bear \ fo they crtea, 
 and 1 would not bear ; faith the Lord of Ho/is. 
 And Prov. i. *4, &c. Secauf* I have cattdand 
 ye bave refufed, 1 bave Jlretcbed cut my Hand t an4 
 o Man regarded ; but ye bave fet at nought a\l 
 my Counftl, and would none of my Reproof : J 
 afro will lau%b at your Calamity, 1 JWH f^ock 
 vbtn your Fear cometb ; when your Fear com- 
 
 etb as Vefolation -when Viftrefi and Angwfi 
 
 cometb upon you. Then flail they call upon me, 
 *u, I will not anfwer, For that they b*d 
 Knowledge and did not cboof* the fear of ***** 
 ttey would none of my Counsel : ttoy defptfed all 
 ny Reproof. But I hope better Thingi of many 
 
( S ** A Word of Exhortation,, Sec. 
 
 .: 
 
 /_ oFyou, my dear Friends, even Thingi which 
 accompany Salvation, tho* I thus fpeak, I'm 
 perfuaded concerning a Number of you, thae 
 the Variety of Miniften, and Plenty of Meant 
 you have been favoui'd with, have had precious 
 and favingEffe&s upon you. You have, I verily 
 hope, been more than barely pleas'd and 0ffe&ed 
 with the Word : your Confidences have been 
 rous'd,youi Under/landings enlightned^your Hearts 
 changed, and your Livei reform'd. Old Things 
 are pafs'd away ; behold all Things are become 
 new. And now, all Things are youi's : whe- 
 ther Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the World, 
 or Life, or Death, or Things prefent, or Things 
 to come ; all are yours ; and ye areChrift's ; and 
 Chrift is God's. O walk worthy of the Lord 
 unto all well pleafing ; and be adding to your' 
 Faith, Vertue ; and to Vertue, Knowledge ; and 
 to Knowledge, Temperance ; and to Tempe- 
 rance, Patience ; and toPatience, Godlinefs ; and 
 to Godlinefs, Brotherly Kindnefs ; and to Bro- 
 therlyKindnefs, Charity. For if thefe Things 
 be in you, and abound, they make you that ye 
 fhall neither be barren, nor unfruitful in theKnow- 
 lege of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Give Dili* 
 gence my beloved Brethren,to make yourCalling 
 and Election fure : For if ye do thefe Things,ye 
 Jhali never fail : For fo an Entrance (hall be 
 miniftered unto you abundantly, into the ever- 
 lairing Kingdom of our LORD and SAVIOUR 
 JESUS CuaisT ' To whom be Glory for ever 
 and ever, AMEN, 
 
 F I N 1 S,