Lectures Upon Psalm 51, Part 3 · Lecture 33
Lecture XXXIII. On Psalme 51.3. Iuly. 25. 1626.
IT followeth now that we make some application of that that hath beene said, and it serueth to admonish, 1. my selfe, and my brethren of the ministery, 2. you all that are Gods people.
First, It serveth to admonish us: For if Gods people must depend on us not onelyonly for publike instruction,Appli. 1 but for private direction also, in all the doubts and troubles of their consciences that they cannot otherwise be resolved, and comforted in; if God have committed to us the word of reconciliation, and the keyes of the kingdome of heaven, if our prayers should prevaile more with God for his people, then any other mans; alas what manner of persons had we neede to bee? Have wee not just cause to crie out with the Apostle, 2 Cor. 2.6. and who is sufficient for these things? When Elihu speaketh but of one of these workes, that is to say, the comforting of a man that is afflicted in mind, he saith he had need to bee a rare man, one among a thousand that should doe it well, Iob. 33.23.
First, We had neede be rare men for learning and gifts: in respect. 1. Of knowledge in the Scripture, they that should be able to admonish others, had need to bee filled with all knowledge, Rom. 15.14. 2. Of full assurance and certainty in themselves, of the truths they should enforme others in, Prou. 22.20, …1. 2 Tim 3.14. 3. We had neede plye our bookes, and study hard, and not suffer our selves to be distracted with other cares, 1 Tim. 4.13, 15. 4. We had need have our knowledge not in our bookes onelyonly, or in our braines, but in our lips also, Mal. 2.7. and be ready Scribes in the Law of God, Ezra 7.6. 5. Wee had neede have ability to enforme others, in that that wee know our selves, Ioh 33.23.
Secondly, Wee had need be rare men for our lives and conversations: the Minister is oft called the man of God, 2 Tim. 3.17. Wee should not onelyonly be free from open blemishes, that men may note us for, (according to the meaning of that Law, Levit. 21.17.) but we had neede inwardly and unfainedly to feare God; Exod. 19.22. Levit. 22.3. 1 Cor. 9.27. For 1. hee that hath no care of his owne soule, can never heartily and tenderly take care for the soules of others, 1 Tim. 3.5. 2. Admit he could be carefull, he shall never be able to doe it sufficiently, Psal. 25.14. 3. Admit he were both able and willing to doe Gods people good, yet hee can have little hope that God should worke with him, and blesse his endeavours. For as the successe of our endeavours depends not upon our goodnesse, but upon the blessing of God only. Neither is he that planteth any thing, (saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 3.7.) nor he that watereth, but God that giveth the encrease: so God useth to blesse, and worke with them that doe unfainedly feare him, God blessed Levies Ministery so as he did turne many away from iniquity, Mal. 2.6. and the Lord giveth this for the reason why hee did so blesse his labours verse 5. It was for the feare wherewith hee feared me, and was afraid before my name. So it is said of Barnabas, Acts 11.24. much people were added to the Lord by his Ministery, and this is given as a reason of it, for he was a good man, and full of the holy Ghost, and of faith. And thus Iehoshaphat encourageth the Levites to their duty, 2 Chron. 19.11. The Lord shall be with the good. Thinke not therefore that when we teach this Doctrine of your dependance upon us, that we seeke our selues in it, and doe it to magnifie our selves, or out of a desire to be sought unto; no, no, were it not for your sakes, and that it is profitable and necessary for you, to know this, wee would never teach it. This Doctrine tendeth not to puffe us up, but to abase and humble us, to worke feare and trembling in us, 1 Cor. 3.3. For who is sufficient for these things? 2 Cor. ….16. Certainely there is no godly Minister that rightly considereth this, but it ministreth to him matter of great feare and humbling: this made Moses and Ieremy, and many a good man more, so fearefull, and unwilling to enter upon this function: Nay, the Apostle saith, Heb. 5.4. No man (he meaneth no godly man, no man that is well advised, and knoweth what he doth) taketh this honour upon him, but he that is called. And our Saviour biddeth us pray to the Lord of the harvest that he would thrust foorth (foreign) labourers into his harvest: as if he had said, He will never have faithfull labourers else, Mat. 9.38. And thus have I finished that part of the admonition which concerneth us, which I have beene the briefer in, because I see there are but few of my brethren here at this time.
Now for that part of the admonition that concerneth you,Appli. 2 something I must say unto you by way of exhortation and advice, and something by way of reproofe. And there be three things I must exhort you unto.
First, Esteeme reverently of our calling, and take heede you despise it not. This, this is that that I exhort you to take heede of; let nothing cause thee to despise our calling and function, for that is certainely worthy of reverence and esteeme.
First, In respect of the dignity of it in it selfe, it is a calling that the Sonne of God himselfe did not disdaine to live in, Luke 4.18. He hath anointed me to preach the Gospel. It is a calling great and honourable in Gods sight, as the Angell Gabriell said of Iohn Baptist, Luke 1.15. He shall be great in the sight of the Lord. And yet his calling was not so great as ours is, Mat. 11. He that is least in the kingdome of heaven is greater then he. It is a calling so great, as the best and holiest man that lives, should thinke himselfe unworthy of, Iohn Baptist thought so of himselfe, Marke 1.7. The latchet of his shooe I am unworthy to stoope downe, and unloose. Paul thought so of himselfe, 1 Cor. 15.9. I am not worthy to be called an Apostle.
Secondly, It is worthy of all reverence in respect of the necessity of it: there is a saying, Honour the Physitian because of necessity, or because of the use you may have of him; and surely there is no calling under heauen so usefull, so necessary as the Ministery is. All the good you receive by any other calling in the world is but in humane and carnall things, for the welfare of your body, but the good you receive by this calling, is in spirituall and divine things for the salvation of your soules, Heb. 5.1. We are ordained for men in the things pertaining to God. 1. From us you receiue the meanes whereby God hath ordained to bring you to salvation; To us is committed the word of reconciliation, and wee are his ambassadours sent with commission and authority about the weightiest businesse that ever was taken in hand, even the concluding of a peace betweene God and your soules, as the Apostle speaketh, 2 Cor. 5.19, 20. To us is committed the administration of the Sacraments, and we are the keepers of Gods seales, so as you cannot have them but from our hands, 1 Cor. 4.1. Let a man so account of us, as of the stewards of the mysteries of God; yea to us are committed the keyes of the kingdome of heaven, Mat. 16.19. We have that authority from God to assure you in his name (upon your faith and repentance) of the pardon of those sinnes that doe trouble your consciences, as no man in the world hath besides. Yea, 2. This is not all the good you receive by vsus, (though these bee great things) for you doe not onelyonly receiue the outward meanes of your salvation from us, but (that which is a great deale more) by us God giveth you his spirit, and saving grace also, and conveyeth it into your hearts. God hath made us able Ministers (saith the Apostle, 2 Cor. 3.6.) of the new Testament, not of the letter, but of the spirit: insomuch as I may confidently say unto every one of you; that if you be regenerate. If you be converted, if there be any truth of grace, any faith, any repentance in you, some minister or other was the spirituall father to beget it in you. Observe what grounds I have to be so confident. One is in that speech of the Apostle to the Galathians. 3.2. This onelyonly would I learne of you (saith he) how came you by the spirit? Was it by any other meanes, then by the hearing of faith? The other is in that strange speech of the same Apostle, Rom. 10.14. How shall they beleeve in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they heare without a preacher? And this is the first of those things I told you I would exhort you unto, In any case esteeme reverently of our calling, take heed yee despise it not. The other two I will bee briefer in because I will hasten unto the reproofe.
The second thing then that you are to bee exhorted unto is this, that you would every one of you resolve with your selves that you will never live without the benefit and comfort of a faithfull ministery, which is so vsefull so necessary. It was Davids resolution, Psal. 23.6. that he would dwell in the house of the Lord for ever; and 27.4. that it should be his onelyonly sute to God in which he would have no nay, that he might dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of his life. And what was it that made the house of the Lord so amiable unto him, and other of Gods servants? Surely we shall finde in that speech of Abiam against Ieroboam. 2 Chron. 13.10, 12. it was the sound, and faithfull ministry that was to be enjoyed there. Resolve with thy selfe therefore that what other comforts soever thou want, thou wilt not live without a faithfull Minister whom thou mayest depend upon, whom as thy spirituall father thou mayest reverence and obey, whom thou mayest boldly acquaint with the secrets of thy soule. If thou have such a one, count it a singular blessing, and be thankefull for it: For certainely he liveth without God in this world that hath not such a Minister to depend upon; as Azariah the Prophet saith unto Asa, 2 Chro. 15.3 Now for a long season hath Israel beene without the true God, and without a teaching Priest, and without the Law.
Thirdly and lastly, You are to be exhorted that so many of you as doe enjoy this benefit of a sound ministery, would make your full use of it; not onelyonly by resorting to us in publike, by hearing us (for so doth many a one that hath no such relation to us, as to count us their fathers in Christ) but 1. In receiving, and admitting that spirituall authority that God hath given him over thee, without which, it is impossible thou shouldst receive all that benefite by him that thou oughtest. Receive us, saith the Apostle, 2 Corinthians 7.2. hee hath authority to deale particularly with thee, either by admonition or reproofe, receive him in this, Hebrewes 13.2…. I beseech you suffer the word of exhortation. Hee hath authority to examine, and enquire into your sprituall estate, receive him in this. See how willing Hezekiah the King was to be examined by the Prophet, Esay 39.3, 4. 2. Make use of thy faithfull ministers gifts in private, aswell as in publike, by moving the doubts of thy conscience unto him, as conveniently thou mayest. It is said of the Queene of Sheba (and our Saviour commendeth her for it, Matt. 12.42.) that hearing of the knowledge, and wisedome that was in Solomon, shee came a great way to make use of it, and when shee was come (saith the text, 1 Kings 10.2.) shee communed with him of all that was in her heart. 3. In approoving thy repentance, and thy spirituall estate unto him, Gods people are bound to live as their ministers may discerne their obedience, and the fruits of their labours in them, and bee encouraged thereby. Hebr. 13.17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit your selves; for they watch for your soules, that they may doe it with joy. And it is noted for a sin in Zedekiah the King, 2 Chronicles 6.12. that hee did not humble himselfe before the Prophet Ieremy; who as hee was a witnesse of his sin, so should hee have approved his repentance to him especially. 4. and lastly. In resting upon, and receiving satisfaction from that which hee shall in Gods name, and by warrant of his word deliver unto thee; as Anna did in the testimony of Ely, 1 Sam. 1.18. Whosoever (saith the Lord, Deut. 18.19.) will not hearken to my words, which the Prophet shall speake in my name, I will require it of him.
How little the testimony that Gods faithfull ministers do give of our wayes is regarded,Appli. may appeare in many particulars, which by evidence of Gods word they declare to be sins.
And seemeth it nothing to you, to doe a thing that all Gods faithfull servants doe testifie, and inveigh against, by warrant of his word in so earnest manner. Well bee you assured of this. 1. That what wee all with so unanimous consent say of the hainousnesse of any sin, and of the vengeance that will light upon you, if you continue in this sin, God will ratifie it in heaven, and make it good upon you, Matthew 18.18, 19. 2. That if you shall after you have heard so much spoken against it upon such cleare warrant of the word, and in such a manner, still continue in it, you shall make your selves a great deale more lyable to the wrath of God then you were before, Ieremy 44.4, 6. Nehemiah 9.…9 30. And this is that, that I have to say unto you by way of exhortation.
Now in speaking to you by way of reproofe, I might be, and should be indeed very large, but the time is so passed, that I am constrained to abridge all that I have to say in a few words.
First. Few or none of you, no not of the better sort of you, do in your hearts esteeme of, and reverence the ministers of God, no not your faithfull, & conscionable ministers, for you shew no more respect, and kindnesse to them to encourage them in their ministery, then you would doe to the basest fellow that is in a country. Nay, he is counted the wisest (and never the lesse honest) man among you, that can shew the most cunning, in spoyling, and defrauding your painfull ministers of that that is their due.
Secondly, Many of you care not what ministery you live under; you will not commit your beasts, nor your sheepe, nor your swine, to any to keepe or tend, but you will know him to have some skil, and some care to looke to them; onelyonly your soules you are indifferent what hee bee that takes charge of them; If he be a good one, so it is, if he be a bad one, you are well enough content, and never seeke further.
Thirdly. Such of you as have good ones, learned, and painefull, and conscionable men, what use make you of them? If at any time they use any sharpenesse in reproving your sins, according to that power that God hath given them for your edification, and not for destruction, as the Apostle speaketh, 2 Corinth. 13.10. O how snappish are you, how apt to quarrell with them.