or to what purpose, when an iron gate withstands us? But he riseth, and his chains fall off; he follows, and the iron gate opens itself to them. Say not, poor Christian, it is impossible to bear this affliction, or pass that temptation ; let faith follow the promise, and God will loose these knots that sense and rea- son tie. Luther bids us crucify that word 'wherefore.' Obey the command, and ask not a reason why God enjoins it. It is as necessary to bid the Chris- tian, in great afflictions and temptations, to crucify the word (juomodo : how shall I go through this trouble, — hold out in that assault? Away with this ' how shall I ?' Hath not the great God, who is faithful, given thee promises enough to ease thy heart of these needless fears and cares, in that he tells thee he will never leave thee nor forsake thee ; his grace shall be sufficient for thee ; nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord ; and a hundred more as comfortable assurances from the lip of truth to stand between thee and all harm. Why, then, dost thou trouble thyself about this imjjrobability and mountainous difficidty that sense and carnal reason heave up, and interpose to eclipse thy comfort from thy approaching deliver- ance? Judge not by sense, but by faith on an omnipotent God, and these bugbears will not scare thee. It is the highest act of our understanding to be- lieve those things which seem most improbable ; as it is the highest act of love, for Christ's sake, to take pleasure in those things that bring pain and shame with them. For as in the latter we deny oui-selves the satisfaction of our car- nal desires, which goes near to flesh and blood ; so in the former, we deny our carnal reasonings, that Avould be disputing against God's power and sti-ength.
CHAPTER XXX.
THE WHOLE DISCOURSE ON THIS PIECE SHUT UP WITH AN EXHORTATION TO THE MINISTERS, TO WHOM THIS SWORD IS ESPECIALLY COMMITTED.
To the ministers' hands this sword of the word is given in an especial man- ner : unto yon the ministry of it is committed. God hath not left it at ran- dom to all, that who will may publicly preach the gospel. That which is every body's work is nobody's : he hath, therefore, set up a standing office, v>ith officers in his church, on whom he hath laid this burden, and from whom he expects an account, 2 Cor. v. 19: ' He hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation,' as a prince commissions this or that man to be his ambassador. ' O Timothy ! keep that which was committed to thy trust,' 1 Tim. vi. 20. See here, and tremble at the charge which is deposited in your hands. You are ambassadors from the great God, to treat with poor sinners concerning their eternal peace upon those articles which are contained in the gospel. You are his under-workmen, to rear up his temple in the hearts of men, and to lay every stone by the line and rule of his word : his stewards, to give his family their portions in due season, and all your provision to be taken out of this storehouse. In a word, you are his shepherds, to lead and feed his flock, and that in no other than these green pastiu'es. Now if the peace be not concluded, the ambassador is sure to be called to accoimt where the fault lies. If the house be not built, or go to decay, woe to the negligent workman. If the family starve, what reckoning w'ill the steward make ? If the sheep wander, or die of the rot, through thy neglect, who shall pay for the loss but the idle shepherd ? Now, in order to the discharge of this your public trust, I shall point out two duties incumbent on you, with reference to this work. One to be performed in your study, the other in j^our pulpit.
Section I. — In your study acquaint yourselves with the word of God. That which may pass for diligence in a private Christian's search into the Scriptures, may be charged as negligence upon the minister. The study of the Scriptures is not only a part of our general calling, in common with him, but of our par- ticular also, in which we are to be exercised from one end of the week to the other. The husbandman doth not more constantly go forth with his spade to perform his daily labour in the field, than the minister is to go and dig in this n\ine of the Scripture. He is not to read a chapter now and then, as his worldly occasions will permit, or steal a little time from his other studies to look into the Eible in transifii, and bid it farewell ; but it must be his standing exercise, his regu- lar work : all other must give way to this. Suppose thou should^t know what
AND THE SWOllD OF THE SPIRIT. ggj