Works, Part 4 · Religious instruction · Chapter 48
CHAP. XLVIII. Of the Ministerie.
ALthough the Lord hath promised a speciall blessing to the publike ministerie of hisNot to tie God to one meane for the breeding and increase of faith. word, yet we must not tie wisedome to one ordinarie meane, either of beginning or increasing of our faith: but if any at any time shall hauehave more effectuall feelings by …riuate conference, let him not contemne nor neglect the publike ministerie, but with all …oly and humble thankfulnes yeeld this souerag…tie to the Lord, that he is to dispose his …fts, when, to whom, and where it pleaseth him.
2 They that teach not themselues, are vnfit to teach others: and the cause why men profit not in the word is, because they pray not to hauehave their hearts stricken therewith.
3 In all essentiall points of the Ministerie, we must in no case follow man: but in accidentall circumstances Christian louelove suffereth many thinges, so that on the on side weeWhat to breake in our Ministerie. tolerate not too much, and on the other side suffer too little.
4 Like as if we moderately streine a womans breast, there will issue pure and holesome milke, and by violent wringing of it, wee prouoke blood also, and vnholesome matter toSimile. come forth: euen so in our modest and naturall applying of the word wee yeeld the holesome and pure milke of Gods word, but in our immoderate wresting of it wee straine out our owne corruptions, and deliuer vnpure doctrine.
5 When neither Ministers rebuke sinne, nor Magistrates punish it, there it cryeth toTo pray for the Ministerie. heauen that God might punish it. Woe then be to them who thinke themselues at good quiet, when their sinnes crie out for vengeance in heauen, albeit they liue in great peace on earth.
6 It is a feareful thing to lose the companie of the godly. And though the world think they are at good quiet, yet when Noah and Lot that rebuked their sins are departed, then are men most fit for Gods iudgements to fall vponupon them.
7 Where a people hartily desire by prayer the ministerie of Gods word, the Lord will send them faithfull ones, and will multiplie his graces in them: but because people are so full of carnall securitie, the Lord sends them such as either for abilitie cannot, or for affection will not deliuer the word of God vntounto them.
8 The Ministers of God are more discouraged by the disobedience of their owne people, than by the maliciousnesse of their enemies, be they neuer so mighty. But let Gods ministersNot to offend a godly Minister. know, that they must euer hauehave some to refuse thē ▪ but let eueryevery child of God take heed; that he offend not his godly Minister: and if he hath offended, let him with submission seeke to please him: for as Paul saith, If I be sory who can make me glad, but those by whom I hauehave been made forte? And let the Minister of the Lord remember, that the fruits of his labours amongst the people, be as it were the life and crowne of his ministerie: so Paul teacheth also in his owne example: I doe liue, if Christ doe liue in you.
9 The Israelites murmured against the Lord, though they seemed to repine but against Moses and Aaron. Christ saith, He that heareth you, heareth me, &c. So lōg as the Ministers of God trust not in themselues, nor doe any thing of themselues, but that wherunto they are called and ordained: if they be resisted, the Lord in them is resisted; and if we refuse such, wee refuse the Lord, 2. Sam. 12. But when they be not ordained of God, nor bring not the word of God with them, then the curse cause lesse shall not fall. But if we be assured of their calling, or perswaded of their doctrine: or if doubting and searching by the Scriptures we finde it true, then if we obey not, the Lord is highly dishonoured.
10 It is necessarie that the Minister of God doe very sharply rebuke the people for their sinnes, and that he lay before them Gods grieuous iudgements against sinners: for so the Apostle commandeth: Rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. And again,Tit. 1. 11. 12. 13. Ioh. 16. The Minister must reproue sinnes sharpely. it is needfull for the people that they hauehave their cōsciences touched, and their hearts made knowne vntounto them, that so they may come out of their sinnes, and preuent the heauie iudgement of God.
11 The Israelites were sometime at their wits end, and therefore could not pray: so that they had a singular blessing to hauehave Moses to pray for them. So had Lot when Abraham prayed for him: So had the Israelites when Samuel, Phineas, and Elias were ready to pray for them. This must teach vsus to set much by Gods seruāts among vsus, which pray for vsus, and not to hauehave them in small account. Eccl. saith, The godly in prosperitie is not regarded, but in aduersitie they are sought vntounto. And indeed they are our chiefest helpe, as is said of Elias, that he was the chariots & horses of Israel: & this is not onelyonly profitable for whole countries, but for eueryevery particular man, that when he cānot pray, but hath (as it were) his heart & tongue fast looked vp, yet then Gods seruants doe pray for them, that after they may pray themselues. Wherefore let vsus euer be readie to pray for others, though they be wicked, and hauehave done no dutie to vsus, yet it is Gods grace that we stand, that we might reach a hād to them; and though they hauehave reiected vsus, and deale euill with vsus, yet let vsus doe our dutie vntounto them, as Moses did for this people, though they were ready to stone him; and so did Samuel pray for the people which had reiected him; so that nothing must cause vsus to leaue our duties to them, but euer labour to hauehave our harts vpright with God, whereof this is a good note, if we can pray for others though they hauehave wronged vsus. And that we may do this, we must set the glory of God before our eyes, which will teach vsus not only to louelove & do good vntounto them which louelove vsus (for so do the harlots) but euen to help them that hate vsus. Therefore when the Lord will hauehave a punishment brought vponupon vsus, then will hee take the godly frō vsus, as he tooke Lot from Sodom. And therefore in such cases we hauehave to feare dangers.
12 With what prouision the mightie of the world build their castles, and with what consultations the Kings of the Nations proclaime warres; with the same prouision, & with theThe weightie ca…ing of the Ministerie requireth a wary entring into so high a dignitie. same consultation, and with no lesse, should we take the calling of the Ministerie vponupon vsus, which is a masonrie, and a warfare both at one time, as master Beza well noteth, Ephes. 6. 2. continually like the builders vnderunder Nehemiah, holding the trowell in one hand, and the sword in the other: The ground-worke hereof, flesh and blood hath taught vsus, and set it downe for a corner stone in all serious consultations, that whatsoeuer is, must be set downe once for all, euen for all the life long, neuer to be called backe againe; That same had need be well breathed vponupon, and be long in setting downe. And this is not onelyonly heathen wisedome,Advtrumque pa… ati. but Salomons wisdome, a man filled with vnderstanding, euen one of his Aphorisms, Prou. 25. Prepare thy worke without, and make readie all things in the fielde, &. But behold aSemel constituendum, diù deliberandum. greater then Salomon. Luc. 14. before whom all heathens wisedome, all mans wisedome is foolishnes, yea brutishnes, euen Christ Iesus the only wise God, who not in generalitie, but in this particular case of the ministerie streightly chargeth and commaundeth vsus, that not the best of vsus all be so hardie, as to lift vp an Axe, or to stretch a line ouer his building before we hauehave been at Ephrata, and in the woods, to see that our prouision be great enough, before wee hauehave set downe, and as it were (kept straight Audite with our selues) and cast all our Reckonings ouer againe, and bee sure wee hauehave sufficient to lay the last stone, as wee lay the first. If we doe not thus, charges will arise more then wee thinke, and we shall not be able to holde out to the ende. And if wee be not, why then all that behold vsus, all the world, all the Angels in heauen, CHRIST himselfe, shall laugh vsus to scorne, Christ himselfe shall hauehave vsus in derision, this fellow must needes be building, &c.
Oh it goeth sore when CHRIST, whose Face was wrinckled with weeping, and the shadow of death was on his Eyes for our sinnes: when that Christ who in the dayes of hisA good admonition to such as purpose to enter the great calling of the ministerie. flesh offered supplications with strong crying and teares, Heb. 5▪ When that Christ, who in the bitternes of his soule lifted vp his voyce ouer Ierusalem, and cried: Oh if thou ha…st but knowne at the least in this day, what belonged vntounto thy peace: and so was saine to lift vp the rest of the Sentence with teares, as it was, and as not being able to speake on for weeping, the teares comming downe so fast, that they interrupted his speeches, and made them vnperfit; When thou CHRIST shalt laugh at our perishing, and take delight at our destruction. Yet this will hee doe, and more also, if wee shall be colde or carelesse in this businesse.Attendite vobis. And therefore sift your selues narrowly, yee that purpose this worke, gage the bottome of your thoughts, and be sure that it is the Shepheards voyce that calleth you in, be sure that your giftes are answerable. For hee that bringeth to this building, either vntempered morter, or vnskilfull hands, building hee shall build, and a tower hee shall build; but not Sion, but like the tower of Shilo, Luc. 8. to fall downe vponupon him, and to crush himIn matters of great wisdom Christ vseth both grauitie & wisdom to make vsus more diligent in hearing, which also teacheth vsus the right kinde of hearing. to peeces, and all to fitters. This may finde vsus matter to thinke of, when we are alone, and may strike vsus into cogitations, knowing, that our nature is blinde, and beleeueth easily her owne fancie; and thinketh her selfe called, when shee is not, least happily wee should not be carefull or fearefull enough, and so become guiltie of contempt of this great commandement, which is the highest treason against the eternall GOD, and a matter of most fearfull condemnation. Our Sauiour CHRIST in his sermons and speeches, besides his sharpe exordiums▪ claspeth vp manie things with his Selah, and with his vehementepiphonema, which he vseth neuer to set to (marke it when yee will) but in matters of great charge, and in such savings of his, as he would hauehave to pearce and diuide betweene the ioynts and the marrow: Hee that hath Eares to heare, let him heare. In effect, it is thus much, hee that planted the eare, hee planted it for himselfe, and for his owne sayings planted hee it, he it is that speaketh, shall not he hauehave audience? Euen the Lord it is that speaketh, shall hee speake to the winde? God forbid. Our eares are not ours, none of our members are ours▪ his they are, euen CHRISTS, hee hath bought them at an high price, and from him wee hauehave them and we hauehave them for none other ende, no… by no other condition, but that we should heare, when, and what hee would hauehave vsus to heare. And let him be Anathema, that suffereth any of his sayings to fall to the ground. Put Anathema, Ma…anath…. to him and his eares, that shall not regarde his saying. This sealed saying and two edged exhortation, which Luc. 14. he vseth to teach the foundation of the Ministerte, which is the foundation of the Church of God, which is the foundation of the whole world. And those marke well, if there be anie among you that hath eares, and is willing to employ them well, here hee may doe it. This is a faithfull saying, and of all most worthie to be remembred: and therefore he that hath eares to heare any thing, let him heare this. And hee that heareth it not, or heareth it with no regard, the dayes shall come when his eares shall make his heart ake, and when for not hearing this hee shall heare another sentence, a glowming fearefull sentence, such a one as who so heareth it, both his eares shall tingle. Zachar 7. Because I cryed and you would not heare, you shall crie another while, and I will not heare you for euer. And therefore hearken vntounto me, that God may hearken vntounto you, Iud. 9. Hee that hath eares to heare, let him heare. When such fresh and well fenced exhortations come, we must make this vse of them, that the holy Ghost is not wont to make a beame of a mo…e, hee talketh of mint and annis, as of mint and annis, hee vseth not so much as a figure, but where the matter deserueth tenne. And therefore when the holie Ghost falleth to amplifie, wee are to thinkeAcroas…e. there is some great matter no doubt, and there is more in it then we take: and if no speech of his bee idle or emptie, we are surely to thinke, that his epiphonemacs least of all are so, and that they especially are, Yea and Amen. And therefore seeing such a thing is no ex… tericall matter, but an acromaticall poynt of doctrine of the holy Ghost, seeing hee alterethHow dull mā is in hearing the Word. his vsuall kinde of speaking, we can doe no lesse, than alter our vsuall manner of hearing, and prepare both eares and hearts, and all the powers of the minde to entertaine it. Besides, when our Sauiour Christ waketh vsus with this watch word, it must teach vsus, that wee are wonderous dull of hearing, else why should Christ call on thee to heare which came forth to no other ende but to heare him? or why should God in another place bid Es…y lift vp his voyce like a trumpet? Would not a softer sound serue? But as I saide, wee are dull and that so dull, that when the Prophet crieth to the Altar, 1. King. 5 Oh Altar, Altar, heare the word of the Lord, the Altar heard and cleaueth in sunder: but when hee cried to deroboam he heard not. The very stone heard, that had no eares to heares and one that had eares heard not. Thirdly, this vse wee must make of it, that this hearing must goe further then the eare, and that wee must not heare the word, as we doe a matter of course, or talke of a strange countrey without any affection or longing to it, it must goe further than they can. For well I wo…e, that you can heare me, and I doubt not, but that they then heard him, and Ieroboam heard the Prophet, but as Iob saith, with the hearing of the crie. But it is not that hearing, which is better then the fat of rammes, it is not that hearing that the Lord … keth pleasure in. Els how commeth that strange phrase, Ezech. 2. Let him that heareth heare? The hearing of the heart.But as there is a speaking to the heart, so there must be a hearing of the heart also, and then wee heare with our heart, when wee fetch vp our heart to our eares, and our sounde pearceth them both: then wee heare with the heart, when we heare not onelyonly with these hollow gristies, but we heare with the Spirit, and wee heare with the vnderstanding also: and then wee heare with the heart (sayth Augustine) when it is with vsus and with the Worde, as it is with the Fish and the bayte, if shee take, shee is taken.42. Hom. in Iohannē. Capit, & capitur. Sermones Dei si caniuntu 1, capiunt.
So, if we take the Word, wee shall be taken, and if it be taken of vsus, it taketh vsus. God his Word when it is taken, taketh againe, and if wee feele not our selues taken by it, let vsus not dreame to our selues, wee hauehave not it, we hauehave not heard it as we should doe. And take this for a signe after the Sermon ended, wee that are present, shall returne to our businesse and chambers, know it assuredly, and thinke of it alone, when you are by your selues, that the Word spoken now hath entred into you, if it so hath wrought in you, and so make you to bethinke your selues, that yee make as it were a new sermon to your selues▪ when y… be alone, the Lord hath blessed you, and you hauehave done well. If it hath done you no good, and it hath been heard without feeling, as though you cared not greatly for it, it hath detected your corruption, and accuseth your owne consciences, your hearing is turned into sinne, and this shall serue to fill vp your enditement, and to make your condemnation more …ust against the day of the Lord. For let no man euer thinke, but that eueryevery time he heareth the word, it worketh in him either to better or worse, there is no qualifying of it, there is no altering of it. Enter it will, be thine eares neuer so vncircumcised, it will surely enter, and one way it will be effectuall, and thou shalt depart from it either a more reuerent esteemer, or a more desperate contemner than thou camest. For this word shal neuer goe forth in vaine, but the worke, that is appointed for it to doe, it will assuredly bring to passe. Seeing that we hauehave such dul eares, let vsus pray heartily that it may please the Lord, to say eppathah to our eares, and hearts, that the word may hauehave easie passage into them. And this graue admonition, I trust will moue vsus, if wee hauehave not set a double locke to our eares, and quenched the grace of God already in vsus.
14 The dealing with an allegorie as it is ridiculous if it bee too farre pursued, as manyHow wee are to deale with allegories. doe, who, when they hauehave gotten an allegorie by the end, ring it so deepe, that oftentimes they turne the clapper: so it is dangerous, if it be not warily handled, insomuch that euen the Fathers themselues, as hee that readeth them, shall marke, by pressing them too hard, doe oft times giuegive blood in stead of milke.