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and he thinks he has loupen dry-shod; but consider Jer. ii. 22. Tho' thou wash thyself with nitre. and take ye much soap; yet thy iniquity is marked before me. Why is it that we learn not to deal honestly with God's laws! Alas! we make the Almighty a child. provoking him 'o anger; and then we put him off with fair words. john here doated the instruments in his devotion, labouring to be thankful for the good news he had heard. It was an ordinary fault in many to give more to some instruments than wa their due. Among the Hebrews, Chap. iii. some will set up Moses as an High Priest; and inbCorinth, no preacher like Paul; says another, I think Apollos better; and a third say, In my judgment Cepha Peter, is best of all. What are ministers but earthen pitchers, carrying the heavenly treasure? If they be faithful, they should do as John the Baptist. when the people thought to have done homage to him and took him to be the Christ, he took them witness, that he told them he was not the Christ, nor worthy to loose his shoe-latches.—Call no man Rabbi. God is witness that ministers desire to but you fair off their hand, and to send you o Christ, they are but the bridegroom' friends, carrying your love- tters from your Husband: but carry it who will, I leave off the comparing of ministers with mysteries lest you provoke God o blow out the poor pan's candle. You know blownout candle will have an ill smell. They out carry the trumpet. the Spirit blows; doat got on any man. Would you have an object to waste your love on? There is one Christ Jesus, dont your fill or him Love and better love him, till ye be wearied of loving him. Lewase that yemove
