Use 1

USE I.

Hence it is a hard measure to judge of a minister's fidelity by his success. There is a sovereign over-ruling hand of God in these affairs, and it is to be adored by us: to have nothing else to allege against any of God's servants, but that there is little good done by all his labor, and possibly a people do grow worse under it, and therefore he is not true to his trust, and there be nothing else that appears against him, is a harsh censure, as if they by their own virtue and good will could make men good when they please. It may be their affliction and sore grief, when it is not their sin; and calls for pity rather than censure; to see them casting out the gospel not so often, and toiling all night and catching little or nothing: their hearts have sorrow enough already, for this they need not to be loaded with more: thus might Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, yes and Christ himself have been censured.