Lectures Upon Psalm 51, Part 8 · Lecture 152
Lecture CLII. On Psalme 51.7. Decemb. 27. 1631.
IT followeth now that we proceed to make some application of it unto our selves. And that by way of confutation first; 2 Of exhortation; 3 Of reproofe.
Applic. 1An errour there is in judgement, which men do hold against the necessity of preaching. Some men are strongly perswaded that much preaching is not in these daies, in such a state of the Church as ours is, so necessary as wee pretend, whatsoever it hath beene formerly, it is not so now. And that they may seeme to have good reason for this that they hold, foure things they alleadge for this their conceit, which I will answer in order yet with as much brevity as I can.
Object. 1First, Prayer (say they) is to be preferred before preaching. It is written (saith our Saviour, Mat. 21.13.) my house shall be called the house of prayer. Lo (say they) prayer is the chiefe duty that is to bee performed in Gods house, and (consequently) the chiefe work that the man of God, the Minister of God, hath to do.
Now for answer unto this first argument of theirs in particular I have three things to say.
Answ. 1.First, That prayer is indeed a chiefe worke of the ministery. The duty of taking care to provide for the necessity of the poore Saints, was a duty well beseeming the holy Apostles themselves, to be exercised in. All that was given to that use was laid downe at the Apostles feet, Acts 4.35. and (by their direction) distribution was made unto every man, according as he had need. None that are Church-Wardens, and overseers for the poore in our Parishes now a dayes should thinke much to bee imployed in this office to enquire into the estate of the poore, and into their wants and necessities, and with care, and compassion to provide for their reliefe, it is an office that the blessed Apostles, did not disdaine to bee imployed in. But yet prayer (I meane publique prayer) is a greater duty and more proper to the Minister then that is. And therefore the Apostles gave over that duty, and caused seven Deacons to be chosen that being eased of that duty, they might the more freely exercise themselves in this, for this reason they give for it, Acts 6.3, 4. Those seven men whom you shall choose wee will appoint over this businesse; But wee will give our selves continually unto prayer, and to the ministery of the Word. Neither can it bee denyed but prayer is a chiefe part of Gods publique worship, a chiefe duty to be performed in all our Church-assemblies. When the Apostle giveth direction unto Timothy, touching the Church meetings he beginneth it thus, 1 Timothy 2.1. I exhort (saith hee) that first of all supplications (under which word hee comprehendeth confession of sins and craving pardon for them) prayers (that is petitions for blessings of all kinds that wee stand in need of) intercessions foreign by which he meaneth deprecation of those evills, and judgements which wee see cause to feare, and giving of thankes bee made. Prayer (you see) is a chiefe part of Gods publique worship, not to bee neglected in any of our Church-assemblies, yea long prayer too. The prayers cannot bee very short, that consist of all those parts which the Apostle prescribeth; specially seeing hee will have all those parts of prayer to bee used for all men, for kings, and all that are in authority especially. It is therefore no marvell though our Saviour saith that Gods house should bee called the house of prayer. No wise man misliketh the prayers that are used in our Church-assemblies, no not the reading of prayers, no not the reading of many prayers neither; so that reading of prayers may not thrust out, nor hinder preaching, no wise man will mislike it. But though prayer bee a chiefe worke that the Minister hath to doe, yet it is not (I take it) the chiefe of all that he hath to doe, though it bee a chiefe duty to bee performed in all our publique assemblies yet it is not the chiefe duty of all. Preaching was the chiefe worke of all that Christ the chiefe Pastour of his sheepe was sent to doe in his ministery. Hee hath anointed mee (saith hee, Luke 4.18) to preach the Gospell; and verse 43. I must preach the kingdome of God (that is, the Gospell, the Doctrine that will bring men to Gods kingdome) to other cities also, for therefore am I sent. Neither was there any one worke of his calling that he did so much, and so diligently exercise himselfe in, as in preaching. He taught daily in the Temple, when he was at Ierusalem, saith the Evangelist, Luke 19.47. Never would he neglect any opportunity of preaching but hee was ever ready, to neglect all other things for that. See two notable examples of this. The 1 is Luke 9.10.11. when he had retired himselfe of purpose, and sought to bee private that hee might have speech with his Apostles alone, and heare them relate what they had done in that embassage hee had sent them about, the people hearing which way hee was gone followed him, and found him out, hee perceiving that brake of his speech with his Disciples, and received the people embraced this opportunity, and spake unto them of the kingdome of God. The other example is Iohn 4.31—34. Though hee were weary with travell, verse 6. and hungry also as appeareth by his sending his Disciples into the towne to buy meat, verse 8. yet knowing that many of the Samaritans were comming to heare him, he was so taken up with joy for this opportunity of teaching them, that he quite forgat both his wearinesse, and his hunger, and saith in effect to his Disciples, that it was meate, and drinke to him to preach, yea he saith, verse 34. that this was to doe the will of him that sent him, and to finish his worke. So preaching was the chiefe worke that the holy Apostles were sent to doe. Christ ordained twelve (Mar. 3.14.) that they might bee with him, and that hee might send them sorth to preach. Christ sent mee (saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 1.17.) not to baptize (that is, not so much to baptize) but to preach the Gospell. For this worke chiefly is our maintenance due unto us not by the law of man onelyonly, but by the law of God too. The Lord hath ordained (saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 9.14.) that they that preach the Gospell, should live of the Gospell. The Elders that labour in the Word, and Doctrine specially, above all others, (saith the Apostle, 1 Timothy 5.17.) are worthy of double honour, by which hee meaneth maintenance, as appeareth, Verse 18. It should bee such maintenance, so free, so liberall as may testifie that you honour him, in your hearts, such as may keepe him from contempt; it may not bee so base and niggardly as that the very meannesse of his estate, may make him vile, and contemptible; yea this double honour this liberall maintenance hee is worthy of it, it is no almes or meere gratuity hee is worthy of it, hee deserveth it well. And as this is the chiefe work that we are called of God to exercise our selves in, and for which our maintenance is due to us from the people; so is this the chiefe worke wee should exercise our selves in gladly taking all opportunities for doing this worke. You heard afore Christ did so, and we shall find, Act. 5.42. that the Apostles did so; daily in the temple and in every house they ceased not to teach, and preach Iesus Christ. I know well we are not bound by these examples to preach every day as we have heard Christ, and his Apostles did; for they could preach without study, and so cannot the best of us doe if wee desire to preach well, but if wee were as able as they were, certainely wee were bound to doe as they did, and certainely wee are bound by their examples to preach as oft, and as diligently as the abilities of our bodies, and of our mindes will enable us to doe, having alwayes respect to our people and their necessities. And to conclude my first answer to this first objection made against the necessity of preaching. I pray you observe that our Saviour, and his holy Apostles ever were wont to take the opportunity of the Church assemblies on the Sabbath to preach then. Of our Saviour this is plaine, Marke 1.21.39, and 6.2. Luke 4.31. and 6.6. and 13.18. And it is as plaine that the Apostles were wont to doe so Acts 13, 14, 16, 44: and 17.2, 3, and 18.4, and 20.7; though the occasion of the Churches meeting at Treas upon the Lords Day was principally for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper yet (because he knew that there was no better way either to sanctifie the Sabbath or to prepare mens hearts to the Sacrament then preaching) it is said he spent the whole day in preaching. And so much shall serve for my first answer to this first objection.
Answ. 2.Secondly, I answer. That no man can pray aright till he be first by preaching made able, and fit to pray. This is evident by that of the Apostle Rom. 10.14. How shall they call upon him in whom they have not beleeved? And how shall they beleeve on him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they heare (savingly he meaneth) without a Preacher? A people may be accustomed long enough to heare prayers read unto them, and good prayers too; but they shall bee little or nothing the better for them, till first their hearts bee wrought upon by preaching and made able to pray. All our prayers and what other services soever wee doe unto God, will breed us small comfort till we have beene hearers, first and beleevers till we have profited by our hearing till we have beene ready to heare, till we have heard the word with desire, delight and comfort.
Answ. 3.Thirdly, and lastly. As preaching is the meanes to convey into our hearts the spirit of prayer at the first, so it is also the best meanes to stirre it up, and quicken it, to set it on worke in them that have received it. And that is the reason why Gods people at their solemne fasts (the chiefe use whereof is to make our prayers more fervent, to make us cry mightily unto God, as it is said Ion. 3.8.) did use preaching so much. Two notable examples we have for this. The first is Nehe. 9.3. The Levites stood up in their place, and read in the booke of the Law of the Lord, one fourth part of the day. And how did they read? Their manner of reading you shall finde Neh. 8.8. They gave the sense also, and caused them to understand the reading. Yea they applyed it also so effectually that it wrought marvellously upon the hearts of the people as appeareth, Verse 9. The other example is that in Ier. 36.5, 6. Ieremy would faine have gone into the house of the Lord, to have preached there at the publike fast. And because he was shut up, and could not doe it, he sendeth Baruch to read his Sermon there as he tooke it from his mouth. But why did they use preaching thus at fasts, seeing prayer is (doubtlesse) the chiefe duty that is to be performed at a fast? Surely as a helpe to prayer, to stirre up mens affections, and make them able to pray more fervently. And this reason Ieremy giveth why he would have preached at that fast, and when he could not would needs have Baruch goe, and read his Sermon unto them Ier. 36.7. It may be (saith he) they will present their supplication before the Lord. As if he should say, it may be this Sermon will stirre them up to pray more fervently. And this may serve for a full answer to the first objection.Object. 2 But then they object secondly, that though preaching were granted to be never so necessary for the first planting of a Church, and bringing of men to the knowledge of the truth, yet in such a Church as ours is, that hath so long enjoyed it, and wherein knowledge doth so much abound, it might well be spared; and instead thereof more time spent in prayer.
Answ.To which I answer, That plentifull, and profitable preaching is still as necessary in our Church as ever it was. For first there is no congregation wherein there are not still many that are ignorant, and unconverted, yea it is to be feared the greatest part by farre in our best congregations are such. And of them no question can be made but they have still need of preaching. Those sheepe that are not yet of Christs fould (not yet converted, and of the number of true beleevers) Christ must bring, and they must beare his voice as our Saviour himselfe speaketh Ioh. 10.16. or they will never come into Christs fould, and be converted. And how shall they beare without a preacher? saith the Apostle Rom. 10.14. Secondly, even those that have profited most in grace, and knowledge have need of preaching still, even of the continuall Ministery of the word. Three evident reasons there are for this. First, the best are much wanting in knowledge, and grace, and will be while they live, and he hath no truth of grace in him that doth not find, and feele it to be so with himselfe. Our Saviour calleth his best Disciples little Children Ioh. 13.33. And so doth the Apostle all the faithfull that he writeth unto 1 Iohn 5.21. And Preaching is ordained of God for the perfecting of the Saints Eph. 4.12. It is able to build men up in grace; as the Apostle speaketh Acts 20.32. Therefore though he had opportunity to write to the Thessalonians, and did so twice, yet he prayed exceedingly as he saith 1 Thes. 3.10. that he might see their face, and might perfect that that was lacking in their faith. There is no such meanes to make men grow in faith, and every other saving grace to perfect that that is lacking in it, as sound preaching is. Secondly they that have grace in the greatest measure are apt to decay and coole, and goe backward if they have not continuall meanes to strengthen, and nourish the grace that they have received. As the most healthfull, and strong man will doe if he have not daily food; and the most fertile soile if the raine fall not oft upon it, which is the very comparison whereby the Apostle expresseth this point Heb. 6.7. The man that hath fed most liberally yesterday, will finde as much need of foode againe to day as if he had eaten nothing then. And our soules are apt to decay in strength as well as our bodyes are, and have need of ordinary, and continuall food as they. This the Lord had respect unto in enjoyning us to spend one whole day every weeke in his service Exod. 20 8 He knew well our soules would be in danger to decay unlesse they might have a feasting day once a weeke. I am like a greene Olive tree (saith David Psal. 52.8.) in the house of God. No man can hope to continue as the greene Olive tree to flourish or keepe in himselfe the vigour of grace if he grow or dwell any where but in the house of God where he may enjoy the meanes of grace ordinarily. They that have had the best meanes of grace, and have profited most by them, let them but want those meanes a while, and the decay will be sensible even unto men. Israel had enjoyed excellent meanes in the dayes of Ioshua, and Eleazar and Phineas, and had profited greatly by them also; as appeareth by that protestation, and vow they made Iosh. 24.16—18.24. But when they had wanted those meanes but a while they turned quickly out of the way, Iudg. 2.17. and fell into grosse idolatry. Now sound preaching is not only the seed wherby we were first begotten unto God, but it is also the food whereby our soules are nourished, and strengthened, both milke for babes, and strong meat for such as are of more growth as the Apostle calleth it, Heb. 5.12. They that have more profited by it have great need of it as well as any other have. I will not be negligent (saith the Apostle 2 Pet. 1.12.) to put you alwayes in remembrance of these things, though yee know them, and be established in the present truth. Thirdly, and lastly. The longer that any people have enjoyed a good Ministery and the more they have profited by it, the more pity it is that they should want it. For as they are dearest unto God, so their decayes will more dishonour God, then the sinnes of other men. I have not written unto you (saith the Apostle 1 Iob. 12.21.) because yee know not the truth, but because yee know it, and that no lye is of the truth. As if he should say, therefore have I had more care of you, then otherwise I would have had. See this also in the example of other of the Apostles, and servants of God. Antioch was the place that (of all the Cities of the Gentiles) had enjoyed the best Ministery, and had profited most by it; and the Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch, Acts 11.26. And there was no place in the world, that the Apostles shewed so much care of, nor spent so much time in, as they did there. When Barnabas came, and saw how the Gospell prospered there, he did not only rejoyce in it, and tooke great paines there himselfe, but sought out Paul and brought him thither too; and they both tooke paines there a whole yeare together Act. 11.23—26. And Act. 14.28. they came thither againe, and abode there a long time with the Disciples. And so did they againe, and with them Silas also, Act. 15.34, 35. and spent a good time there. Two objections more there be that are made against the necessity of preaching, which I will passe over very briefly.
Object. 3Admit (say they thirdly) that preaching be the best meanes to feed the soule; yet as the stomacke (specially of a child) may be overcharged and glutted with the best foode that is, and so take much hurt by it; so it is with the word the people are in these dayes even glutted, and cloyed with it, and grow thereby to a loathing of it, if it were not so common, it would be more pretious then it is, as it is said it was in the dayes of Samuel 1 Sam. 3.1.
Answ.To this I answer. First, it hath ever beene so with some that they have loathed the word. But much preaching hath not beene the cause of it. For many that are not troubled with much preaching, loath it as much as any, and feele no sweetnesse in it. The word of the Lord is a reproach unto them, they have no delight in it, as the Prophet speaketh Ier. 6.10. And many that are the most constant hearers of it, are farthest from being gluttted with it, heare it with the best appetite, and delight, the more they heare the more they may. The blessed man that David speaketh of Ps. 1.2. though he meditate in Gods law day, and night, delighteth in it neverthelesse; for that, he findeth no satiety in it he is not glutted nor cloyed with it. The true cause of this loathing of the word is given by the Apostle Rom. 8.5. They that are after the flesh doe savour the things of the flesh, but they that are after the spirit, the things of the spirit. A carnall man findeth no savour in any thing save onelyonly in carnall, and worldly things; no man can find sweetnesse in the word, till he be a regenerate, and new man. Secondly much preaching if it be sound, and substantiall, is not food only but Physicke to the soule, it is the best meanes to cure this Nausea this disease of the soule that maketh it so apt for to loath the word. And therefore the Apostle speaking to Timothy 2 Tim. 4.2, 3. of such as could not endure …ound Doctrine (wholesome food) prescribeth him this for the remedy against it, therefore preach the more (saith he) and the more profitably, be instant in season, and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering, and doctrine.
Object. 4.The fourth, and last objection is this, that though preaching hath beene in time past necessary, and of good use yet it may be well spared now for we see it doth little or no good now a dayes, looke into such places where it is most used, and see how few are bettered by it.
Answ. 1.To which I answer, first that this is too true indeed, and in this two fearefull evidences of Gods wrath are to be observed both mentioned in that speech of our Saviour Matth. 18.7. Woe unto the world because of offences, for it must needs bee that offences come, but woe to the man by whom the offence commeth. First, Woe to the world because of offences. It is a fearefull signe of Gods wrath upon thee, and such as thou art, that thou hast such stumbling blocks laid before thee, to worke thy ruine and sinke thee deepe in hell, that thou hadst such occasions given thee to mislike Religion, and this ordinance of God. Secondly, Woe be to the man by whom the offence commeth, woe be to you all, that by your ignorance, profanenesse, drunkennesse, filthines, backsliding cause this ordinance of God to be derided, and hated. The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as the Apostle speaketh Rom. 2.24. Certainly you will one day wish that you had lived rather among the Indians, and Canibals then in such a place where you have so long enjoyed such a ministery and so much dishonoured it.
But then secondly I answer that the preaching of the word,Answ. 2. is not (blessed be God) altogether without fruit at this day in any place that doth enjoy it. It doth good daily & the Church is increased by it. God addeth to the Church daily such as shall be saved, as it was said in those first times Act. 2.47. though not so many nor so eminent persons as he did then. Yet even those few young folke, and meane persons that are woone to God daily by the preaching of the word, will rise up in judgment against thee one day, and confound thee so as thou shalt have nothing to say for thy selfe, that they who have lesse helpe by nature, then thou have profited so much and beene drawne on forward by it, and thou profitest not but growest more backward, and backward every day. For so saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 1.27. God hath chosen the weake things of this world, to con…ound the things that are mighty. So that to conclude my answer to this last objection I will say to these men as the Apostle doth in a case not much differing from this Rom. 11.7. What then? Israel hath not obtained that that hee seeketh for, the most of our hearers obtaine not that good by our preaching which they seeme to seeke for, but the election hath obtained it and the rest were hardned. The elect of God are made the better, and the rest the worse by it, and God will be glorified in them both.
FINIS.