The Spiritual Fishing, Sermon
THE Spirituall Fishing. Text, LVKE 5. ver. 10. The laſt words of that verſe, Henceforth thou ſhalt catch men.
WHereas heere our Sauiour tranſlates this phraſe of Fiſhing, or catching, from an ordinary and inferiour courſe, vntounto a more heauenly and ſpirituall buſineſſe, euen to the winning of ſoules; it giues very direct occaſion to handle theſe things.
Firſt, The ſtate of the world, which is as the Sea.
Secondly, the ſtate of the Church, which is as a Ship or Boate in the Sea.
Thirdly, the ſtate of men by nature, who be duplicate page duplicate page as Fiſhes ranging after their owne diſpoſition, vncaught.
Fourthly, the ſtate of Miniſters, who bee as Fiſhers.
Fiftly, the ſtate of the Goſpell preached, which is the hooke, or baite, or net to take ſoules.
Theſe things are not ſtrained or forced, but ariſe out of the place directly. For ſith Peter and the reſt muſt change their courſe, and fall to a new kind of Fiſhing; what is the Sea which they muſt lanch out into, but the World? what is the Boate, but the Church in which they labour, & to which they ſeek to gather ſoules? what is the booty they muſt ſeeke for, but the ſonnes of men? and what are they but ſo many Fiſhers? or what is their net, but the Goſpell, the word of Saluation which they Preach? Of eueryevery of theſe I will ſpeake ſomething, and that briefly.
That the ſtate of the World, is as the Sea, it is plaine by theſe places; Before the throne there was a Sea of glaſſe like vntounto Chryſtall (aReu. 4. 6.), In that day the Lord with his ſore and great and mighty ſword ſhall ſlay the Dragon that is in the Sea (bI▪ 27. 1.): And the ſtate of the World is as the Sea in a fourfold reſpect;The State of this World compared to the Sea in 4. reſpects. firſt, becauſe of the generall vnſtableneſſe of the things thereof. The vnſedledneſſe of that vaſt creature the Sea is well knowne. It is in continuall motion (it cannot reſt cIſai. 57. 20.it) ebbes and flowes perpetually: ſometimes (at a Springtyde) it ſwels to that bigneſſe, that the bankes cannot containe it; ſometimes againe, it falles backe ſo low, that a man muſt goe farre from the banke before hee can come neere it. It is (vnderunder God) chiefly gouerned by the Moone, then the which there is no one thing more ſubiect vntounto change, it being neuer beheld two nights together in one proportion. Thus is the World, whether wee looke vponupon the generall ſtates of Kingdomes, or the perſonall eſtates of particular men, either for their goods or for their bodies, wee ſee nothing but a continuall alteration: Crownes are tranſlated from head to head, and Scepters paſſe from one hand to another; fenced Cities are made heapes, and walled Townes become as the plowed fields: they which were once faſtened as a nayle in a ſure place, and hauing ſet their neſts on hie, dreamed of nothing but perpetuities for them & theirs, are ſuddenly throwne out of all, and rolled and turned like a ball (dIſ. 22. 18:). The great houſes are ſmitten with breaches (eÀm. 6. 11.) & the wide dwellings and large chambers, ſieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion (fIer. 22. 14.), are in a moment left without an inhabitant (gIſ. 5. 9.). Haman is to day the ſecond in the Kingdome, but ſtript of all, is hanged vp to morrow (hHeſt. 7. 10.). This yeare is Ieruſalem the Princeſſe among the Prouinces, but the next yeare made tributarie (iLam. 1. 1.); her nobles which did erewhile put on ſcarlet, do now embrace the dung kLam 4. 5.. Now doth Nebuchadnezzar walke in his royall palace of Babel, priding himſelfe in his outward ſtate; but while the word was in the Kings mouth, a voice came downe from Heauen, ſaying, O King Nebuchadnezzar, to thee bee it ſpoken, thy Kingdome is departed from thee, lDan. 4. 26. &c.&c.: Yeſterday Iobs cattell went out by their thouſands, he had both ſonnes and daughters to doe him honour, and ſeruants at his command: to day heere is not a hoofe to bee ſeene in his ground, not a childe to call him bleſſed, not a ladde left to attend him. This is the vncertainty of this ebbing and flowing World, the faſhion of it goeth away m1. Cor. 7. 31.
2. Becauſe of the tumultuouſneſſe of it: who is ignorant of the ſtormes and grieuous tempeſts which are at Sea? There eſpecially men ſee the workes of the Lord and his wonders in the deepe: For he commandeth and raiſeth the ſtormy winde, and it lifteth vp the waues thereof nPſal. 107. 24. 25.. The World is a fit patterne heereof, in reſpect of the continuall ſtirs and troubles that are in it: Nation againſt Nation by warres, man againſt man by diuers kindes of contentions, of eueryevery one that liues therein is the ſaying of Iob verified, Man that is borne of a woman is full of trouble oChap 14. 1., Man is borne vntounto trauaile, as the ſparks fly vpward pChap. 5. 7.. It was the puniſhment which God layed vponupon him, that in ſorrow hee ſhould eate his bread all the daies of his life qGen. 3. 17.: and albeit ſome hauehave a more calme paſſage then ſome others hauehave, or like Ionas rChap. 1. 5.can lye and ſleepe, when others are toſſed with the ſtorme, yet none can liue without ſome vexation; he is not alwaies caried with full ſayles to the end of his deſires.
3. The world reſembles the Sea by the oppreſſion that is in it. At Sea the leſſer fiſhes are a prey to the great ones; and in the World, the rich and mightie ſwallow vp the pooreſAm. 8. 4.: one man bites and deuoures anothertCal. 5. 15.; Manaſſeth, Ephraim; Ephraim, Manaſſeth uIſ. 9. 21.. To this pertaines that of the Prophet, That men are made as the fiſhes of the SeaxHab. 1. 14.
4. In reſpect of the ſway the Diuell beares in it. Obſerue what is in the Pſame, The Sea is great and wide, there is that Leuiathan whom the Lord hath made to play therein yPſal. 104. 26. Now looke how this monſter domineeres in the Sea, ſo doth Sathan heere in the World: therefore he is called the God of this World z2. Cor. 44., and ſaid to worke in the children of diſobedience *Epheſ. 2. 2.: And to iuſtifie this compariſon, as the World is called the Sea, ſo is the Diuell Leuiathan aIſ 27. 1.. Thus we ſee how the World is compared to the Sea: The ſtate of the Sea is vncertaine, ſo is the World; it is tempeſtuous, ſo is the World full of tumult: In it the great fiſhes deuoure the leſſe, ſo in the World the poore and weake are a ſpoile to the mightie: Leuiathan takes his pleaſure in the Sea, ſo doth Sathan rule and beare ſway in the World.
To preſſe forward the counſell of S. Iohn, Ʋſe.LoueLove not the world neither the things that are in the worldb1. Epiſt. 2. 25
The Doctrine now deliuered, affoords a ſtrong reaſon to enforce it: For where there is ſo much vncertaintie, ſo much confuſion and trouble, ſuch oppreſſion and cruelty, where the Diuell beareth ſuch exceeding ſway; what is there to be found worth delighting in? A man imagines himſelfe ſure in reſpect of his outward eſtate; at an inſtant comes as it were a waue and waſheth away all: he promiſeth peace and quietneſſe to himſelfe; ſuddenly ariſeth a ſtorme, and puts him to a trouble which he thought not of: much adoe ſhall he hauehave to eſcape the hands of the oppreſſor, be he as he will; nay, the better and holyer he is, ſo much the more that great Leuiathan that olde ſerpent hath him in continuall chaſe. Marke and conſider, oh ye men of the earth, all whoſe ſtriuing and plotting and plodding is for the world; conſider what it is vponupon which you dote and with which you are enamoured ſo exceedingly; it is euen a very Sea of vncertainties and bottomeleſſe Ocean of confuſed vexation, the very hold & kingdome of the diuell. We hunt after it, but where is our aſſurance when we hauehave got it? or what hauehave we procured to our ſelues, but vanitie and vexation of ſpirit? The further we wade into it, the further are we from the Lord: for the amitie of the World is the enmitie of God cIam. 4. 4., and the more buſineſſe we hauehave in it, in the greater hazard we are to be drowned in perdition & deſtruction d1. Tim. 6. 9.. Happy were it for vsus if the meditation of this point touching the proportion which is betwixt the World and Sea, were able to vnglue and vntwiſt our affections, which are ſo neerely tyed vntounto it, and to ſtirre vsus vp like paſſengers by Sea to long for the Hauen, and to ſtriue for that eternall reſt, a kingdome not of vncertaintie, but which cannot be ſhaken; a place not of trouble, but where ſhall be no more death, neither ſorrow, neither crying, neither ſhall be any more paine eReu. 21. 4.. There the prince of darkeneſſe cannot endanger; for the Lamb is the light of it fver. 23., and God himſelfe ſhall be all in all to thoſe that dwell thereing1. Cor. 15. 28.. This is the Vſe.
THe next thing is touching the Church: The ſtate thereof in the World is like the ſtate of a Ship or Boate vponupon the Sea; The ſtate of the Church in this world, compared to a ſhip or boat vponupon the Sea.And that eſpecially in this reſpect: Becauſe it is ſubiect to continuall toſſings.
Of Trauailers by Sea it is ſaid, that they are toſſed too and fro, and ſtagger like drunken men, and all their cunning is gonehPſal. 107 27. Not vnlike to this is the ſtate and condition of Gods Church. It fareth with it, as with the Ship Ionas was in; There was a mightie tempeſt in the Sea, ſo that the Ship was like to be brokeniChap. 1. 4.: or which the Diſciples were in; There aroſe a great tempeſt in the Sea, ſo that the Ship was couered with waueskMat. 8. 24.. Such was the ſtate of the Church of old, the members whereof complained, how the waters had almoſt drowned them, and the ſtreame had gone ouer their ſoule lPſal. 124. 4.. And Dauid as a man experienced in ſuch ſtormes, cryeth out to GodmPſal. 69. 1., Saue me, for the waters are entred, euen to my ſoule: and deliuer and take mee out of the great waters nPſal. 144 7.. And as it was with the Ship in which Paul was ſo exceedingly hazarded, that they ſaw neither Sunne nor Starres in many daies oAct. 27. 20.: ſo the Church of God, is often driuen into that extremitie, that it is for a time, euen depriued of all ordinary comfort, and ſeemes to bee without all hope of any more refreſhing. Hence are theſe complaints of the Church, O God why haſt thou put vsus away for euer? Why is thy wrath kindled againſt the ſheepe of thy paſture? thinke vponupon thy congregation &c. pPſal. 74. 1 2.; and wilt thou be angry with vsus for euer? and wilt thou prolong thy wrath from one generation to another? wilt thou not turne againe &c. qPſal. 85. 5. 6. Thus Dauid as a trauailer in this Ship, cryed out, Will the Lord abſent himſelfe for euer? and will he no more ſhew fauour rPſal 77. 7.? And Heman the Ezrahite; Lord why doſt thou reiect my ſoule, and hideſt thy face from me ſPſal. 88. 14.? It is a law that cannot be broken, that the choſen of God muſt thorow many afflictions enter into the kingdome of God tAct. 14. 22.; God hath ſo appointed for his owne glory.
Firſt, the troubles of his Church and the afflictions of his people, do make his power and mercy to be knowne; euen as the skill of a Pilot, is moſt to be ſeene in a ſtorme: My power is made perfect through weakeneſſe u1. Cor. 12. 9.. The Lord bringeth matters to an exigent, and ſuffereth them to come to the very brinke of hazard, that ſo his might and goodneſſe in the deliuery of his ſeruants may be the more apparent. When the Church of Iſrael was in a wonderfull ſtrait, the Sea before them, the mountaines on both ſides, the enemyes at their heeles, Now (ſayth God) I will get me honour vponupon Pharaoh, and vponupon all his hoſt: the Egyptians alſo ſhall know that I am the Lord xExod. 14. 4..
2. For their good: firſt, It makes them to looke vpward with the greater feruency. Dauid ſayth of ordinary paſſengers by Sea, that when they mount vp to the heauen, and deſcend to the deepe, ſo that their ſoule melteth for trouble &c, then they cry vntounto the Lord in their trouble &c. yPſal. 107. 28.. The Mariners with Ionas when the ſtorme was vp, downe were they vponupon their knees, and eueryevery man cryed vntounto his God zIoans 1. 5.. And ſo the ſwelling waues of afflictions, do not quench but kindle the deuotion of Gods ſeruants▪ In their affliction they will ſeeke me diligently aHoſea 5. 15.. Secondly, it makes them long ſo much the more for the Hauen (where they would be.) Note Paules dayly dying, and the continuall troubles which he was expoſed vntounto, made him long to be diſſoluedcPhil. 1. 23., and to be as glad when his time of departing was at handd2. Tim. 4 6., as the poore weather-beaten Mariner is to ſee the land. Thirdly, it makes the deliuerance when it comes to be the more eſteemedePſal. 107. 30., When they are quieted they are glad, and double welcome is that refreſhing which comes at the very pinch of neceſſity. The redeeming of Dauids life from the graue, the rayſing him vp from the very mouth of the pit, made him to vow with himſelfe neuer to forgetfPſa. 103. 2. 4.
This ſerues to adm̄oniſh all that feare God,Vſe 1. what they muſt make prouiſion for, if they will be ſaued. By their profeſſion, they are entred into the Church of God, not as into a Garden of pleaſure, where they may aduenture to ſay eueryevery one to his ſoule, Soule, liue at eaſe, eate, drinke, and take thy pastime gLuke 12. 19.; but as into a Ship, a houſe of continuall motion, where though there may be calmeneſſe for a time, the Sun ſhining out, the winds layd, and the Sea ſmooth, yet it is wiſedome to be in continuall expectation of a ſtorme. God hath not called vsus vntounto caſe and quiet, but to the croſſe. Many things are to be endured betwixt our ſetting out here, and our arriuall at the Land of Promiſe. Many ſtormes to bee gone through, many rocks and ſands to be aduentured by, many Pirats ſeeking the ſpoyle of our ſoules to be grapled with, before the hauen of Reſt can be entred into. The ignorance, or the inconſideration of this point hath deceiued many. They may thus fitly be ſhadowed out. Some freſh trauailer ſtanding vponupon the ſhore in a faire day, and beholding the Ships in their beautie lye readie rigged and trimmed in the Harbor, thinks it a gallant thing to goe to Sea, and will need aduenture; but being out a league or two, and feeling by the rocking of the Ship his ſtomacke begin to worke and grow ſicke, and his ſoule euen to abhorre all manner of meat; or otherwiſe a ſtorme to ariſe, the wind and the water as it were conſpiring the ouerthrow of the veſſell, and eueryevery ſea carrying in it the face of death; forthwith repents his folly, and makes vowes, that if he can once recouer the ſhore, he will bid an eternall farewell vntounto all ſuch voyages. Thus, there be who in the calme dayes of peace, when Religion is not ouerclowded by the times, that will needs ioyne themſelues to the number of Gods people, they will be as earneſt and forward as the beſt. But when a tempeſt begins to appeare, and the Sea to grow rougher then at the firſt entry, the times alter, trouble is rayſed, and many croſſe winds of much oppoſition and gainſaying begin to blow, they are weary of their courſe, and will needs be ſet aſhore againe, reſoluing neuer to thruſt themſelues into any more aduentures. How needfull then is it that Chriſtians ſhould often remember, how by Chriſts ſpeech here, the Church is neceſſarily reſembled to a Ship? enter not into it, to be a guide or a paſſenger, a Miniſter, or a profeſſor, vnleſſe thou reſolutely make prouiſion for a ſtorme. Till the end of the voyage there is no reſt to be looked for: wherein notwithſtanding this may be for a comfort, that this Ship (the Church of God) hath a priuiledge which none hath elſe, no not the greateſt Gallioun or Argoſy vnderunder heauen; It may be toſſed, but can neuer be drowned, Though the waters of the ſea rage and bee troubled, and the mountaines ſhake at the ſurges thereof; God is in the midſt of it, therefore ſhall it not be moued, God ſhall help it very early hPſal. 46▪ 3. 5.. It is as the Arke of Noah, which (becauſe God had ſhut it vponupon Noah) therefore it was borne vp euen amidſt the wauesiGen. 7. 16. 17; or as the Boate in which Chriſt waskMat. 8. 24. 26, which was welneere couered with waters, yet at an inſtant, by the command of him which is the Lord of the Sea, there followed a gracious calme. Chriſt is the Pilot, and (as was ſayd of Paul) God hath giuen to him all that ſayle with him lAct. 27. 24., and he will giuegive them eternall life, and they ſhall neuer periſh mIohn 10. 18..
The ſecond vſe ſerues to teach vsus (becauſe the Church of God is as a Ship in this ſea of the world) the neceſſity of furniſhing our ſelues with ſuch things as appertaine to this ſpirituall voyage:Ʋſe 2 not to inſiſt vponupon many, two things eſpecially muſt be looked too. Firſt, That we be diligent in obſeruing the direction appointed by God, for the true guidance of our courſe. The Sea-men hauehave their Card and their Compaſſe, they hauehave the Sun and Stars, and the motions of heauen to direct them. That which our courſe muſt be guided by is the word of God; it is like the pillar that went before the hoſt of Iſrael according to the mouing or ſtanding whereof they ordered all their iourneyes. Hither may be referred that of Peter n2. Epiſt. 1. 19., We hauehave a moſt ſure word of the Prophets, to which ye do well that ye take heed, as vntounto a light that ſhineth in a darke place. It is an alluſion to a Seacourſe: when the Admirall hangs out a Lanterne, and all that come behind ſteere to that. We cannot wander if we be led by this light: It is that good Spirit which Dauid prayed to be led by vntounto the land of righteouſneſſe oPſal. 143. 10.. What other Load-ſtar of cuſtome, or opinion or faſhion of the times men attend vponupon, they muſt needs run vponupon the rocks and make ſhipwrack of the faith. Secondly, That we take with vsus the knowledge and faith of Gods promiſes. It is called the Anchor, Hebr. 6. 19. This is our ſtay, in the day of tempeſt; I know whom I hauehave belieued p2. Tim. 1. 12.: ſuch an one cannot be moued, for his heart is fixed, and belieueth in the Lord qPſal. 112. 7.. The promiſes being either not knowne or not applied, the ſoule is toſſed without reſt, and muſt needs be ouerwhelmed with deſpaire. This Anchor being tyed to the ſoule by the ſtrong cable of a li…ely faith, giues comfort vntounto it in the greateſt ſtorme.
THE third thing is concerning the ſtate of men.The ſtate of mē by nature compared to fiſhes in the Sea, ranging after their owne diſpoſi iō ▪t vncaught. Doctrine. The fiſh to be catched out of this Sea, and to be brought into this Ship, are men, Thou ſha't catch men from hence-forth. From whence this is gathered:
That we are all by nature in the ſtate of condemnation. This is cleere out of this place. By this fiſhing, or catching (the very ſubſtance of the Miniſters office) is meant, a bringing of men into the way of life. Now then, in as much as we are all by nature vncaught (otherwiſe why ſhould Chriſt ſend out his Apoſtles to take vsus?) it followeth, that we are all by nature without grace, euen in the very gulfe and iawes of eternall woe. This is eaſily prooued by the Scriptures; All fleſh hath corrupted his way vponupon the earth rGeneſ. 6. 12.. The Lord looked downe from heauen vponupon the children of men, to ſee if there were anie that would understand and ſeeke God. All are gone out of the way: they are all corrupt, there is none that doth good, no not oneſPſal 14. 2. 3.. All we like ſheepe hauehave gone astray: we hauehave turned eueryevery one to his owne way tIſa. 53. 6.: By nature the children of wrath aſwel as others uEpheſ. 2. 3.; without Christ, and were aliens from the Common-wealth of Iſrael, and were ſtrangers from the Couenant of Promiſe, and had no hope, and were without God in the world xVerſe 12.: Vnwiſe, diſobedient, deceiued, ſeruing the lusts &c. yTitus 3. 3.Destruction and calamitie are in our waies zRom. 3. 16..
And well in this are we compared vntounto the fiſh: For as the fiſhes skippe and play and take their pleaſure in the ſea, and are vnwillingly taken in the net, and labour to get out, and being in the boate, would faine, if they could, leape backe into the ſea; ſo naturally wee take pleaſure in our ſinfull wayes. It is a pastime for a foole to do wickedly aProu 10 23.. The net of the Goſpell muſt encloſe vsus; of our ſelues we abhor it, and to the death will not come within the compaſſe of it; and being entangled, we deſire ſtill to be looſed, and to returne againe vntounto our wonted courſe. This is the verie true ſtate of vsus all. We neither are in the ſtate of grace by nature, neither doe we deſire it. We be plunged into a ſea of miſerie, and in our owne diſpoſition we would neuer forſake it.
It were well for vsus, if we could learne by this to ſee our ſelues what we be, and what we would euer be, if we were leſt to the ſwinge of our owne affections. Nature hath (as it were) ſpawned vsus forth into this worldly ſea: and as it ſelfe lieth in wickedneſſe b1 Iohn 5 19, ſo do we drinke iniquitie like water cIob 15. 16.. It is ſweete vntounto vsus in our mouth, and we hide it vnderunder the tongue, we ſauour it, and will not forſake it, but keepe it cloſe in the mouth dIob 20. 12. 13. We neither know the meanes of our ſaluation, nor affect it when it is offered. Either the Scripture is falſe, or this is true. How happy were we if this could humble vsus! it would make vsus afrayd of following our owne thoughts, or of being led by the ſway of our owne hearts. Our not knowing the miſerie of our owne eſtate, is the cauſe of all the ſecuritie, of all the profaneneſſe, of all the boldneſſe in ſinne, of all the contempt of Gods word which is in the world at this day. This place among others, is as a glaſſe to ſhew vsus what wee are; ſtrangers from ſaluation, and as farre from anie inclination to it as a fiſh is from a will and deſire to be caught.
THe fourth thing is of the ſtate of the Miniſter.The ſtate of miniſters, who be as Fiſhers. Heere are two things: Firſt, the ſtate of the Miniſterie: Secondly, the labour, buſineſſe and worke of the Miniſterie. Of the firſt thus we ſee:
That it is no ſuperfluous or needeleſſe function, Doctrine 1.but a calling of great neceſsitie for the winning and ſauing of mens ſoules. This is cuident out of this place. The Lord intending the conuerſion of ſome, and being able diuers waies to accompliſh his purpoſe in that behalfe, yet hath thought it good to ſingle out this meanes among all the reſt, euen by man to catch man, and by his miniſterie to bring ſoules into his Kingdome. This is that which the Apoſtles, ſaith, Ephe. 4. 11. 12. He gaue ſome to be Apoſtles, and ſome Prophets, and ſome Euangeliſts, and ſome Paſtors and Teachers, for the repairing of the Saints, for the worke of the Ministery. The Saints which belong to the election of grace, being ſcattered vp on the earth here and there, his pleaſure is by Paul and Timothie to gather them together vntounto himſelfe. They be the Lords Labourers to bring in his Harueſt eMatt. 9. 38., his Workemen to aduance his building f1 Cor. 3. 9., his Shepheards to take heed vntounto his flocke gActs 20. 28., the Stars in his right hand to giuegive light vntounto his Church hReuel. 1. 20.. There being thouſands of ſoules to be ſaued in Iurie, the Lord will hauehave them to be brought in by Peters miniſterieiActs 2. 41.: Philip muſt be ſent to catch the Samaritans and the Eunuch kActs 8.. In Corinthus there was a great draught (I hauehave much people in this Citie:) therefore there Paul muſt goe to workelActs 18. 10.. Heere is the neceſſitie of the calling.
To reproue their prophane and wretched opinion,Vſe who thinke, that among all the profeſſions which are at this day in the world, that of the Miniſterie may beſt be ſpared. It is ſtrongly thought by many, that it were no danger or preiudice to mens ſoules, though there were no Miniſter at all to inſtruct them. O ſay ſome, what neede they trouble themſelues? Euerie man muſt anſwer for his owne ſoule; and if we do not as we ſhould, we ſhall beare the blame.
Thus they would ſhift off all dependance vponupon the ordinance of God, and lay an imputation of ſuperfluitie vponupon that calling, by which it is the pleaſure of God to ſaue thoſe that beleeue. This one place is ſufficient to ſtop their mouth; For I may truly auouch it out of the words heere, that (ordinarily) there is no more hope of a mans ſaluation without an able and induſtrious Miniſter, then there is that the fiſh in the Sea will of it ſelfe come aſhoare, and offer it ſelfe vntounto vsus without the labour of ſome, to go out into the deep with boates and nets to bring them in. Henceforth thou ſhalt catch men.
Secondly, thus:Doctrine 2.. That the calling of the Miniſter is noidle calling, but a calling of labour, a calling of much buſineſſe and of great employment.
The Miniſters are fiſhers, whether that be not a profeſſion of much labour, iudge you. To make the thing it ſelfe manifeſt, this is worthie to be obſerued; That the moſt names giuen in the Scripture to men of this calling, doe betoken labour; Seers m1. Sam. 9. 9., Watchmen nEzech. 3. 17., Embaſſadours o2 Cor. 5. 20., Labourers pMatth. 9. 38., Diſpoſers q1. Cor. 4. 1., Husbandmen rMar. 12. 2., Seedeſ men ſ1. Cor. 3. 9., Shepheards tIohn 10. 2., Cryers uLu. 3. 4.. There is no title giuen them, but implieth action, yea and induſtry very great. It is a worthie worke x1. Tim. 3. 1., their Maintenance is with that conditiony1. Theſ 5. 13 1. Cor. 9. 14.; otherwiſe no title, no name nor ſhew can free them from ContemptzMatth. 5. 13.
It meeteth with two euills in Miniſters; firſt, the idleneſſe which hath ouertaken ſome that are called to this buſie profeſſion; They are ſuch as the Prophet reproueth,Ʋſe 1. Watchmen that are blinde, that hauehave no knowledge, that are dumbe dogges and cannot barke: that lie and ſleepe and delight in ſleeping aIſa. 56. 10.. I take no pleaſure in laying open the nakedneſſe of men of mine owne coate: yet God forbid that I ſhould vſe my tongue to the licking of their ſores, which prooue the very bane of Gods Church, and doe make it lie like the field of the ſluggard, or as the garden of the idler. Secondly, the ſpirit of greedineſſe which (is to be feared) is in many. They can neuer hauehave enough &c. bIſa. 56. 11.. They goe out to catch, yet not ſoules to God, but preferments to themſelues, and are ſtill fiſhing for aduauncement. They hauehave not learned that of the Apoſtle: I ſeeke not yours, but you c2. Cor. 12 14; It is not your fauour which I doe affect, it is not your wealth which I ſeeke for, it is your ſaluation which I endeuour. This is the honour of a mans miniſterie, the glorie and crowne of his calling.
It ouerthroweth the common fancie of theVſe 2. people, who account the Miniſters calling to be an idle and a lazie calling; we get our liuings eaſily in the conceit of ſome, and it is no ſinne nor pitty (in their vnderſtanding) to defraud vsus; and how vſuall is it in the mouthes of many, to ſay, Wee muſt labour for them? I confeſſe, that as ſome vſe it, it is a calling of exceſſiue idleneſſe, if they be ſuch as feede themſelues, and feede not the flockes dEzech. 34. 1, ſuch as take away the key of Knowledge eLu. 11. 52.; but conſider it in it owne nature, and as it ought to be performed, we ſhall finde it to be a ſeruice of greater buſineſſe. Let Peter, or anie ſucceſſour of Peter buſie himſelfe (as he muſt) ſometimes in preparing, ſometimes in mending, ſometimes in caſting abroad, ſometimes in drawing in his net; no man ſhall hauehave any iuſt cauſe to twit him with idleneſſe, or to ſay, That becauſe he is a Miniſter, therefore he hath an eaſie occupation.
THe laſt thing is, That the nette in which men muſt be taken, Doctrine.is the preaching of the Goſpell.
Chriſt heere acquainting them generally with his purpoſe how to employ them,The ſtate of the Goſpell preached, cō pared to a hooke, baite, or net, to catch mens oules. after changed the phraſe when it came to the poynt of execution; and he which now ſpake of fiſhing; told them afterwards of preaching, Matth. 10. chapter verſe 7. of Teaching the nations fMatt. 28. 19., of Declaring the Goſpell to euerie creature gMar. 16. 15., of Feeding his ſheepe hIohn 21. 15.: and Chriſt himſelfe compareth the Goſpell to netiMatt. 13. 47.. The compariſon agreeth fitly after this maner:
The preaching of the Goſpell is like to a net; firſt, in the generall driſt and vſe: the vſe of a net is to take fiſh: the drift of preaching is to bring in ſoules. Secondly, in the ordering of it: It is not the net lapped vp together that bringeth in the draught, but haled out at length and ſpread forth that encloſeth the fiſh: It is the opening and vnfolding of the Goſpell, the ſtretching it out by preaching which doth encompaſſe ſoules. There may a fiſh or two hang in the net being let downe on a heape, but that is a chaunce, and is no wiſe aduenturing. The word read, and ſo brought in (as it were) in groſſe, may (by the mercy of God) take ſome; but we hauehave no warrant from hence to make a rule generall. Againe, it is neede that the nette be ſtrong, otherwiſe the greater kinde will breake through, and make all the labour and charge to be in vaine; ſo it is meete that the Doctrine be well ſtrengthened out of the word of God, that it be well prooued, that it be well preſſed and applyed, that the conſciences of the hearers may be conuicted, and that they may ſee it is God, and not man with whom they hauehave to do. For a man ſhall meete with many froward and wilfull and violent natures, that will not be held in, but when they feele themſelues within the net will cry, Let vsus breake thier bands, and cast their cords from vsus kPſal. 2. 3.; ſo that euen a kinde of violence may be vſed to keep them from deſtruction. Thirdly, in the ſucceſſe of it. Many a draught the poore Fiſherman makes and taketh nothing, yet he leaueth not off: many a time is the net of preaching ſhot forth, and yet none conuerted thereby: ſo it pleaſeth God to exerciſe the patience of his ſeruants; yet ſtill the worke muſt be followed, and the Lords leiſure muſt be waited for. Often doth the net incloſe many, which yet after breake away; and many are at firſt drawne in by the power of the Goſpell, which yet afterwards ſlide backe and returne againe to their old profaneneſſe. There is much brought in in the Net, which yet is good for nothing when it is got: There come in frogs, and weeds, and a great deale of traſh, which in the end is caſt away, though for the louelove of the fiſh there were no little paines in drawing it in: ſo, as it is ſhewed Matth. 13. 47. &c. many hypocrites and reprobates are gathered into the outward ſocietie of the Church by preaching, and ſo are let alone like weedes vntill the day of harueſt, Matth. 13. 30. Thus as our calling is to be fiſhers, ſo our Net is preaching.
It ſhewes plainely,Vſe. that all the enemies and aduerſaries of preaching, are enemies to the good and ſaluation of mens ſoules. This is the Net, and without this I will not feare to ſay, that ſurely men ſhall periſh in their ſinnes. The diuell that great hunter after ſoules, laboureth by his inſtruments, euen with the very ſpirit of his helliſh policie, to diſgrace this courſe, to ſuppreſſe it, to put it downe, to draw men from affecting it. He knoweth it to be the meanes to abridge his kingdome, he feareth the pulling of ſome ſoule or other out of his clutches at eueryevery Sermon. Let vsus not ſuffer our ſelues to be coſined by his wiles. Let me that am a Miniſter remember the Seruice I am called to, euen to catch men, to win ſoules, let me be euer plying this buſineſſe; and you (Beloued) when the Lords Net is caſt in among you, run not from it, grudge not at it, preſſe and ſtriue to be brought within the compaſſe of it, otherwiſe you ſhall continue within the ſea of this world ſtill, and ſhall neuer be ſaued. Fiſhes doe die if they be taken; wee can not eſcape eternall death if we be not caught. The hooke may be ſharpe, but the baite is ſweet, and it will ſeeme a yoake to our nature, to be knit vp (as in a Net) and to be reſtrained from our owne wonted carnall liberty; but let vsus looke to the end, which is the ſaluation of our ſoules. (*⁎*)
FINIS.
End of the text · Samuel Hieron, The Spiritual Fishing (1618)