Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount, Chapter · Verse 6
Vers. 6.
GiueGive not that which is holy vntounto dogs: neither cast yee your pearls before swine: least they tread them vnderunder their feet, and turning againe all to rent you.
Hitherto the Euangelist hath set down the seuerall heads of Christs7. part of Christs sermon. Sermon more at large; but from this verse to the ende of the Chapter, he handleth briefly the points which follow. This verse dependeth not vponupon the former, but herein our Sauiour Christ laies down a new point of instruction, directing his Disciples, and in them all ministers, vntounto that Christian discretion which ought to be obserued in the dispensation of the word of God. And his direction is here propounded in a prohibition of giuing holy things to dogs, or casting pearles before swine: which is enforced by a double reason, least they tread vponupon you, &c.
Now for the better vnderstanding hereof, first I will speake of the words, because they are hard and difficult; and then come to the doctrines.
In the words foure things are to be sought out. 1. What is meant by holy things. 2. What is meant by pearles. 3. What is meant by dogs: and 4. what is meant by swine. For the first, by that which is holy, we must vnderstand, first and properly, the word of God, written in the bookes of the old and new testament, in his right and holy vse; that is, read, dispensed, and preached: and consequently, by holy things, are meant the Sacraments, and Christian admonition. Gods word is calledGods word is an holy thing. an holy thing for sundry causes, but principally for these two; first, because it is holy in it selfe: and secondly, in effect & operation. It is holy in it selfe, because it is set apart by God, to be in the Church in stead of his owne liuely voyce vntounto his people, for the reucaling and determining of all things to be beleeued and done in his Church. In the old testament, God himselfe spake by a liuely voice vntounto the Patriarkes, and after the giuing of the Law, hee gaue answer to the high Priest at the MercieMercy-seat & yet we are not inferiour to them, though we want that liuely voice; for we hauehave the written word in stead thereof, which is answerable eueryevery way thereunto: for looke what the written word saith, is as much as if the Lord from heauen should speake by a liuely voice: and so consequently, it is to vsus in stead of the Arke of God, a pledge of his presence. And thus it is holy in it selfe. Secondly, Gods word is holy, in regard of operation; for it is the instrument of the spirit, set apart by God himselfe, to be the meanes whereby he sanctifies and reformes the hearts and liues of his children. And consequently, the Sacraments are holy things, for they are the word made visible; so likewise is Christian admonition grounded …pon Gods word.
From this doctrine sundrie dutie … to be learned; First, we are oft commanded in Gods word, to drawe neer… v… …o God, to seeke him, to feare him, and to walke before him in his pr…nce: how shall wee doe these things, seeing God is inuisible, and in glory and maiestie is in heauen? Surely we must consider the word of God, which is that holy thing set apart by God, to be in stead of his owne liuely voyce; & therefore we neede not seeke for him that is inuisible, but wee must hauehave recourse vntounto the word, & labour to hauehave it present with vsus in our hearts, in our liues, and consciences. Enoch walked before God, not onelyonly in regard of his infinite maiestie, which though it bee inuisible, is eueryevery where present; but principally in respect of his word, setting that before him wheresoeuer he was. When we are commanded to feare God, wee must know that that is done, not onelyonly when wee stand in awe of his glorious maiestie, but principally when wee feare to offend God, commanding vsus in his word. The Apostle saith, that the holy Ghost dwels in Rom. 3. 11.our hearts: which must not be thought to be meant of that infinite substance of the holy spirit; but of the dwelling of the word, which is made effectuall by the holy spirit: for saith euer hath relation to the word, & beeing beleeued, it dwels in the heart, & makes the spirit, which workes by the same word present also. In which regard Paul saith, Now I liue Gal. 2. 20.not, but Christ liues in me; which he expoundeth after, saying, I liue now by faith in the son of God: because the word of Christ was present with him, and the grace of saith that liues by that word.
Secondly, seeing the word of God is of this holinesse, we must learneVse the word holily. to vse the same publikely or priuately, with all reuerence, carefully sanctifying our selues thereunto. When the people came to receiue the Law in Mount Sina, they were sanctified three daies before; & the same preparation for substance, ought we to make before we heare the word of God: First, we must wash our hands in innocencie, and then compasse Psal. 26. 6.the Altar of the Lord: the word and sacraments are holy in thēselues, but not so to vsus, out of their holy vse; and therefore if we would reape profit to our selues by them, we must prepare our hearts therevnto.
Thirdly, whereas the word is vntounto vsus the voice of God, & the meansThe pure word alone ought to be taught. of sanctification; we may learne that in the congregatiō of Gods people ordinarily, the pure word of God alone ought to be heard, without the mixture of the words of men, be they neuer so holy: for it is not said of the words of any man, that they are that holy thing. The Lord himselfe alone had the appointment of the making of the holy oyle, which wasExod. 30. 32, 33. to anoint the Kings and Priests vnderunder the law: neither might any man adde any thing thereto, though it were neuer so pure and good, norExod. 30. 32, 33. make any oyle like vntounto it: so likewise the trumpets that serued for the Tabernacle to assemble the people, the Lord himselfe alone had the appointment of them; and none might vse any other, though it were made of most pure gold. Had the Lord this care ouer his Sanctuarie vnderunder the law, to take the appointment of these things to himselfe alone? and shall we thinke that the trumpet of his holy word, which now by his appointment soundeth in the congregation of the Saints, may admit a mixture with the words of men, humane, or diuine, be they neuer so holy? The ancient Church was farre from this mixture: and therfore aSynod. Laodic. ca. 59forbade the publike reading of the Apocrypha, which yet are more excellent bookes then the writings of men published since the Apostles. But it is saide, that they onelyonly finde fault with this kinde of preaching which cannot attaine vntounto it. I answer, it is no point of the greatest learning to vse the sayings of Fathers and Poets in preaching: and they which vse it not, refraine therefrom, not because they cannot doe it, but because they dare not mingle the sayings of men with the word of God, which is that holy thing, seruing in stead of Gods owne glorious voice in all matters that concerne our faith and obedience; and beeing the onelyonly sufficient instrument of our sanctification: and therefore it were to be wished, that in the congregations of the Saints, the pure word of God might sound alone vntounto Gods people; that as they are begotten alone of this immortall seede, so they might be fedde alone with this sincere milke.
II. Point. What is meant by pearles? Ans. The wholesome doctrines Doctrines of Gods word are pearles.and instructions of Gods word, contained partly in commandements, and partly in sweete and heauenly promises: so, Matt. 13. 46. the Gospel preached is compared to a pretious pearle. And further we are to note that these wholesome instructions are called your pearles, (Christ speaking to his Disciples and other hearers:) now they are so called in two respects. First, in regard of the Apostles and other Ministers their successors; because they are the Lords stewards, to dispense the word and the doctrine thereof to Gods people. Secondly, in regard of all true beleeuers and seruants of God, that hauehave care to know and to obey the word of God: for eueryevery beleeuer hath a speciall right vntounto Gods word aboue other men: to which purpose the Lord saith, Bind vp the testimonie: seale vp the law among my disciples, Isa. 8. 16. that is, commend & cōmit my word vntounto my disciples; there giuing a special right and interest vntounto them in the word of saluation… for they hauehave the true iudgment and meaning thereof: they keepe it in their hearts, & expresse the power of it in their liues: they hauehave the vse and benefit thereof in eueryevery estate in this world, and vntounto their eternall saluation in heauen.
From this, that the doctrines of Gods word are our pearles, first, weeHow to esteeme of Gods word Prou. 3. 14. are taught to place all our riches in the word of God, for that is our Iewell, and our principall treasure: of this Salomon saith, Her merchandise are better then merchandise of siluer, and the gaine thereof better then gold. In the valuing of this pearle, Dauids practise is notable, who made the testimonies of God his heritage, and the very ioy of his heart, Psalm. 119. 111. and esteemed them aboue gold, yea aboue most si…e gold, vers. 127.
Secondly, we must hereby learne to content our selues in all casualtiesHow to cosu… our sel… in …. and calamities of this lise, with this pearle of the word of God; for though we loose friends, health, goods, or good name, yet this pearle of good doctrines and sweete promises is not lost; if that were taken away with the losse of outward commodities, then there were some cause of discomfort: but seeing this iewell remaines with vsus in all estates, therefore herewith we must stay and comfort our selues, as Dauid did, counting Gods promises his comfort in trouble, Psal. 119. 50. & his songs in his pilgrimage, v. 54.
Thirdly, this must teach vsus to vse the doctrines and promises of Gods worde, as pearles; wee must looke them vp in our hearts; and hauehave them in faithfull keeping in our memories. A man that hath an earthly iewell that is of any worth, will bee very carefull to looke it vp in the surest chest he hath; how much more care ought wee to hauehave of these true pearles of heauenly▪ instructions? As the Holy Ghost…. Tim. 3. 9. speakes of Deacon…, they must bee such as keepe the mysterie of faith in good conscience: so must eueryevery one of vsus bee carefull keepers of this heauenly pearle. This was Maries practise▪ Luke, 2. 51. Shee powdered the sayings of Christ in her heart: and Dauid hidde the word of God in his heart, that he might not sinne against the Lord. Psal. 119. 11.
IU. Instruct. The doctrines and promises in Gods word, are theMinisters must preserue puritie of doctrine. pearles of the Apostles and ministers; therefore, they aboue others in all ages and times, ought to hauehave speciall care, by all good meanes to preserue the puritie of doctrine in the Church of God. This is Pauls charge to Timothie, 1. Tim. 6. 2….keepe that which is committed vntounto thee: that is, that whole some doctrine which thou hast learned of me: & this neerely concerneth ministers at this day, that as by the good meanes of others, they hauehave receiued true doctrine, purified from the dregges of Popery, so they should preserue & keepe the same frō all …int of corruption to their posteritie.
The third and fourth things to be considered, are touching dogs and swine; where these three points are to bee handled: I. What are here properly meant by dogs and swine: II. Who must giuegive iudgement of men to be dogs and swine: and III. Where they are to be found. For the first: By dogs and swine, wee must vnderstand the enemies of Gods word; yet not all enemies, for so eueryevery sinner should be a dog & a swine: but onelyonly such as are malitious obstinate enemies, manifestly conuictedDogs and swine are obstinate enemies. of their enmitie to Gods word & doctrine, of whose amendment there is no hope. And that these are here to be vnderstood, appeares by these reasons: I. From the text it selfe, which describeth them by this, that treading the words of instruction vnderunder foote, they doe turne againe, and all-to-rend the Teachers thereof: that is, they do persecute them both by word and deed, in all reproachfull speeches, & cruell actions. II. Reason. In the word of God we shall find that Christ and his Apostles preached to dogs (for such are all men by nature:) The Scribes and Pharisies, a generation of Vypers came to Iohns baptisme vnrepelled, though not vnreprooued: Matth. 3. 6, 7. and Christ himselfe telleth the woman of Canaan, that it was not lawfull to giuegive the childrens bread to dogs: that is, toMath. 15 2…. the Gentiles; and yet he sent his disciples to preach to all nations: & the woman her selfe, by reason of her faith, was receiued to merciemercy, & made partaker of the crums that fel from the childrens table. Againe, our Sauiour Christ preached to the Scribes and Pharisies, euen then when hee wept ouer Ierusalem for their impenitencie; yea, this is a truth, that because men are naturally dogs and swine, therefore they must hauehave the word of God preached vntounto them, to purifie and sanctifie them, vnlesse they be obstinate and irrepentant enemies to the word, of whom is no hope of recouerie. III. Reason. These obstinate enemies here are called dogs and swine, by allusion to vncleane beasts vnderunder the law; of which sort were dogs & swine, which were prohibited the Iews to be eaten, or offered in sacrifice to God: Christ therfore here by allusion to that ceremony, means such persons as are excluded from the holy things of the Lord, and hauehave no right or interest into the Lords word or sacraments; such as both in heart and life be vncleane as hogs and dogs, & will not be purified. IV. Reason. Paul chargeth Titus, that after once or twice Tit. 3 10. 11.admonitiō he should reiect an heretike, knowing that such a one is peruerted and sinneth, beeing damned of his own selfe: that is, sinneth wilfully & obstinately, and in so sinning condemneth himselfe in his own heart & conscience: and such are meant by dogs and swine in this place.
Now the difference of these two may be this; By dogs are meant obstinateDifference betweene dogs and swine. enemies that malitiously reuile the ministerie of the word, the doctrine of God, and the messengers thereof: such a dog was Alexander the Copper-smith, 2. Tim. 4. 14. & such were many of the Iews become soone after Christs ascension, who reuiled the Apostle Paul, and Barnabas, and blasphemed the doctrine which they taught, Act. 13. 45. and of this sort are all conuicted obstinate heretlks. By swine, are meant obstinate enemies that doe contemne the word of God; either because they will not admit reformation of life by it, such as Ahab and Her…d were; or because they scorne & mock at the word of God, as they do, of whom Peter speaks, that mocke at the promises of Christs secōd cōming.2 Pet. 3. 3, 4.
The second point touching these persons, is who must giuegive iudgem… Who must iudge men to be dogs & swine.of any man or any people to be dogs and swine: we must know that it is not in the power and libertie of any priuate man to giuegive iudgement of another that he is a dogge or a swine; but it is a publike dutie belonging to the ministers and gouernours of the Church to giuegive iudgement in this case. Matth. 18. 17. Before a man must be reputed as a Publicane, and as an heathen, the censure of the Church must passe vponupon his behauiour; and from the iudgement of the Church must priuate men hold other as Publicanes and Heathen. Indeede our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles gaue this iudgement of men particularly and peremptorily; as Paul of Alexander the Copper-smith: but wee must vnderstand, what authoritie, and what spirit Christ and his Apostles had; which because we hauehave not, we cannot giuegive such iudgement vponupon men. Further, here we are to know, that iudgement vponupon others is two-fold; Iudgement of certaintie, or iudgement of humane wisedom: The iudgement of certaintie, touching any mans state, belongs onelyonly to God, & to them to whom God reuealeth the same. The iudgement of humane wisedome, is when the Church of God, in the feare of God, giuegive iudgement as truely and as neerely as they can, who is a dogge, and who is a swine: and this only is the iudgement of the Church, which also is conditionall; as namely, till they repent: because they know not the times that God hath appointed for the conuersion of sinners. And by this wee are taught, to comprimit our iudgement of any man, in regard of his finall estate, though he be an vnrepentant sinner, refusing instruction; for most hainous sinners hauehave bin conuerted.
The third point, where these dogges and swine are to be found: It isWhere dogs and swine are to bee found. not in the power of any ordinarie minister, or other man, to determine of any one, that he is a dogge or a swine; for in such do finall impenitencie, and wilfull obstinacie concurre; which wee are not able to say certainely, are come vponupon any man or woman while they liue among vsus: & yet this may be said with good conscience, that there is in many a fearfull declination to the properties of dogs and swine, euen in this age of ours; for many will heare the word, receiue the sacraments, & professe that they hope to be saued by Christ; & yet they will raile on his ministers, & speake against their ministery: yea, the times are now, wherein many in open speech wil not sticke to reuile and condemne those that hauehave bin the most excellent instruments of Gods merciemercy in his Church: among many I will name one, M…. Ioh. Calum, that worthy instrument of the Gospel, is in the mouthes of many students condemned as an erroneous person, teaching false & dangerous doctrine. Yea, many there be, that come to the Lords table, & yet will not brooke reformation of life; they wil not be drawn from their drunkennes, ignorance, adulterie, & couetousnesse. A third sort there are, that take occasion from Gods word, to liue in their sinnes, and to maintaine their wicked liues; as frō the doctrine of Gods eternall predestination, because the Scripture teacheth, that Gods decree therein is vnchāgeable; therfore some say, they will liue as they list: others, because the word saith, we are to be saued by faith alone, therefore they refuse to walke in good workes: & others looke to be saued by Gods mercy alone, and therefore they will not labour either for knowledge, or faith, as they ought to doe: & some, hearing the doctrine of the deniall of our selues, doe say, the word of God is too straite a doctrine, barring men from laughter, & mirth, & other recreations; and therefore they will none of Gods word: now though we cannot call these mens dogs, because wee know not what they may be hereafter; yet we may truely say, thefe be practises of dogs and swine.
And thus wee see what is meant by holy things, by pearles, by dogs, and swine; from whence the meaning of Christ may be plainely thus set downe: GiueGive not that which is holy, &c. that is, hauehave regard how, & to whom ye dispense the word and sacraments, and if any person be openly conuicted of obstinate enmitie to your doctrine, to such publish not my worde, be they dogs in railing, or swine in senslesse contemning and scorning of the same.
The Vses. 1. Hence wee may see what course is to be vsed of GodsHow the word must Be dispensed. ministers in the preaching & dispēsing of his holy word; they must first preach & publish the word of God to al men without exception, grace must be offered to all, good and badde; then they must obserue what fruite and effect the word hath with them, whether it worke reformation of life in them, or not: and though as yet they see not that fruit thereof in them, yet they must not condemne them as dogs; but rather waite and pray for their conuersion, to see if at any time God will giuegive them repentance, according as Saint Paul chargeth Timothie, 2. Tim. 2. 25. Thirdly, hauing waited for▪their conuersion, he must labour to conuince their very conscience of the truth which they in heart and life denie: so as he may say with Paul, If our Gospel be hid, it is hidde to them that perish, 2. Cor. 4. 3. but if after all this, they giuegive euident signes of malicious and obstinate enmitie against the word, scorning and rayling on the doctrine of God, and on the ministers thereof, then are they to be cast out by the Church, and to be accounted as dogges, and to be barred from the word of life till they repent. This was Christs owne practise toward the Iewes: at the first he preached vntounto them the Gospel of the kingdome by Iohn Baptist, in his owne person, and by his Disciples, but when as he saw some of them maliciously obstinate, then he propounded his doctrine vntounto them in parables vntounto them, that theyMatth. 13. 15. might be hardened in sinne: and after expounded the same priuately to his Disciples. The Disciples likewise after the ascension of Christ, preached still vntounto the Iewes, euen when they were persecuted by them: but at length when as they saw that of obstinate malice they oppugned the truth, putting it from them, and iudging themselues vnworthie eternall life, then they turned to the Gentiles, Act. 13. 46.
Now in this that hath beene said, we may note two things: first, the long suffering and great patience of God, that will not hauehave a sinner liuing in the Church condemned, till he hauehave brought him through all the meanes of his conuersion, and till he be past hope. Thus he dealt with the old world, expecting their repentance an hundred and twentie yeares, whereunto he then called them by the preaching of Noah, Gen. 6. Secondly, hereby we must learne to moderate our iudgements concerning wicked men: a man must not be condemned for a dogge or for a swine, till he giuegive euident signes of obstinate malice, and wilfull contempt of the word, and vntill he doe euen conuict himselfe to be such a one, by a wilfull contempt of the meanes of his saluation. This serues to shew their rashnesse and indiscretion, that condemne our Church for no Church, and our people for no people of God: iudging them for dogges and swine, when as they hauehave not yet conuicted them of obstinate malice in sinne or error. It will be said, they hauehave admonished them by writing. I answer, that their owne bookes hauehave more errors in them, then they doe hold whome they admonish, and so their writings can be no sufficient conuiction.
Secondly, here obserue that men become dogges and swine, by their wilfull repelling that holy doctrine of God, which should purge them and make them cleane. It is the naturall propertie of a dog to returne to his vomit, and of a swine, to his wallowing in the mire, as the prouerbe is; and hereof they can by no meanes be bereaued. And all men by nature returne to the vomit and filth of their sinnes like dogs & swine: and they which will by no meanes suffer thēselues to be drawen from their old sinnes, they hauehave these properties of dogges & swinerand looke as those beasts were excluded the Lords tabernacle & congregation vnderunder the law; so are these men debarred from the word & sacraments, and all holy things vnderunder the Gospel; they are an abhomination vntounto the Lord: see Psal. 56. 6. and Psal. 50. 16. In this regard we are to be admonished, to suffer our selues to be clensed and reformed by the word of God. Ye are cleane (saith Christ) by the word which I hauehave spoken vntounto you, Ioh. 15. 3. where he maketh the word of God the instrument of our purification: to which effect he saith in his praier to his father, Sanctifie them with thy truth, thy word is truth, Ioh. 17. 17. And Saint Peter saith, our soules are purified in obeying the truth by the spirit. 1. Pet. 1. 22. Now we are by nature dogges and swine, inclined to the filth of our own sinnes returning thereto with greedines, neither can we of our selues be broken of this property, but when occasion is offered we doe naturally runne to our old sinnes, as the swine and dogges doe to their filth and vomit. In consideration whereof we ought to subiect our selues to the word of God, labouring to see and feele our owne vncleannesse, and to crie with Dauid, Wash me throughly from my sinnes: and with Peter, Not my feete onelyonly, but my whole bodie that so it may be said of …s, We are cleane throughout by Christs word. If we see any vncleannes in our hearts or liues, we must purge it out by this word, and returne no more to the filth of our former sinnes. It is the propertie of Christs sheepe to heare his voice, and to obey the same: let vsus hereby testifie our solues to be his sheepe, that so we may be distinguished from dogges and swine.
Here it may be demanded, whether we should make confession of our faith before dogges and swine. Ans. Yes, if we be called thereunto we are bound to doe it: …e alwaies readie (saith the Apostle) to giuegive an answer to eueryevery man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you. 1. Pet. 3. 15. And in this place our Sauiour Christ speaketh of the p…ading and dispensing of the word, not of confession. Now in preaching men acknowledge the word to belong vntounto their hearers, but in confession they declare the word to belong vntounto themselues alone.
Further, here we are to consider diuer… points concerning Excommunication▪ Excommunication is Gods ordinance.First, the foundation thereof. It is an ordinance of God▪ for all dogges and swine by Christs commandement, must be kept from holy things … many that liue in the Church are open … of the name of Christ…; some others … heret…es; and these …wi…e are to be barred from the word and sacraments; yea, a man liuing in the Church may be worse in practise then an open enemie: of such like the Apostle speaketh, Tit. 1. 16. They professe that they know God, but by their works they denie him. And such a one was Ismael, who for mocking Isaac the sonne of the promise, was cast out of Abrahams familie, that is, out of the Church of God, Gen. 21. 10, 11. for Abrahams familie at that time was Gods visible Church.
Secondly, here also obserue the ende of Excommunication, namely,e ende of… excommunication. to preserue the holy things of God from pollution, contempt, and prophanation; euen the word, prayer, and Sacraments, which wilfull enemies would trample vponupon as swine will vponupon pearles. And herein we may see the abuse of this ordinance, when it is vsed for politicke and ciuill respects; especially in the Church of Rome, where it is made an instrument of the vniust deposing of Christian Princes, and of exemptingPius 5. pont. in Bulla cō tra Elizab. their subiects from due obedience and allegiance.
Thirdly, here our Sauiour Christ noteth out the principall personsWho must execute this censure. that are to execute this censure of the Church vponupon wilfull and obstinate enemies, that be as dogs and swine; namely, they to whome the disposing and keeping of the holy things of God is committed, that is, the lawfull ministers of the word and Sacraments: for they must keepe those holy things pure which God hath committed vntounto them; but that they cannot doe without the exercise of this censure which God hath giuen vntounto his Church.
Fourthly, here also we may see, how farre this censure of the ChurchHow farre excommunication reacheth. extendeth against obstinate and wilfull enemies: namely, to the debarring of them from the vse of the Churches Ministerie in the word, praier, and sacraments. Indeed if the partie be excommunicate for some particular crime, and there be hope of his repentance, because he doth not shew himselfe a dogge or a swine, by wilfull obstinacie in his sinne and contempt of the Church; then, although he be excluded from communion with them in the Sacraments and prayer, yet he may be admitted to the hearing of the word, because that is a means to humble him for his sinne, and to bring him to repentance, which is the end of all Ecclesiasticall censures. And thus much of the prohibition▪ Now follow the reasons to enforce the same.
Least they tread them vnderunder their feete, and turning againe all to rent you. Here Christ renders a double reason to enforce his prohibition, both drawen from the daungerous euents which would ensue by communicating holy things vntounto dogges and swine▪ for first, they would …read them … their feete: secondly, turning against all to rent you.
For the first: by Treading vnderunder feete, he meanes prophaning and ab…ing. Now because the holy things of God must not be prophaned1. Reason. and abused, therefore they must not be communicated vntounto wilfull enemies of the grace of God.
In this reason see the singular care of our Sauiour Christ, to keepeThe holy things of God must be kept from contempt. the scriptures and other holy things of God from prophanation: This care he likewaies shewed with great zeale when he whipt the buyers and sellers out of the temple, because they made his fathers house, that holy place, a house of marchandise and a denne of theeues. Math. 21. 12. 13. And herein he must be a patterne and example vntounto vsus all, to teach vsus care and zeale in keeping the holy things of God from prophanation: far must it be from vsus to doe or speake any thing which may cause the world to speake euill of our holy profession and religion. This is Pauls charge to seruants, that they so carie themselues towards their masters, that the name of God, and his doctrine be not euill spoken of, 1. Tim. 6. 1. for want of care herein was Gods hand heauie vponupon Dauid, for because by his foule facts of a Adulterie and murther he had caused the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, therefore the child borne vntounto him must surely dye, 2. Sam. 12. 14. We must therefore pray (as the a2. Thess. 3. …Apostle bids vsus) that the word of God may be glorified. This is Christs direction in his prayer, before all things to desire and seeke that bMath. 6. 9.Gods name may be halowed and glorified: Now Gods word is his name, for thereby is he knowen vntounto vsus; yea his name is magnified aboue all things by his word; Psal. 138. 2. Excellent was Dauids praier to this effect; Psal. 116. 36. Take away my rebuke which I feare; for thy iudgements are good▪ that is, keepe me from doing that which may bring rebuke or reproach vponupon thy word, or vponupon thy workes, for they are good. Good king Hezekias is also commended for his care of Gods2. king. 1…. 36. glorie, in that he forbade his seruants to answer to the rayling blasphemies of Rabshakeh, least thereby he should be prouoked to blaspheme the more: as also in that he greatly humbled himselfe before the Lord vponupon the hearing of it: for he rent his cloaths, and put on sackcloath, and spread the rayling letter before the Lord, thereby referring the reuenge to God himselfe, chap. 19. 1. 14.
And turning againe all to rent you. These words containe Christs second2. Reason. reason against communicating holy things to malicious & obstinate enemies, drawne from the perill that may ensue thereupon to his disciples & ministers: for these dogs and swine are not onelyonly prone to abuse the holy things themselues, but also to annoy & hurt by reuiling and persecution those that be the messengers of the word vntounto them.
In this reason Christ sheweth, that it is not onelyonly lawfull, but necessarie, that Gods ministers should seeke to auoid and shunne the maliceMinisters may seeke to auoide persecutions and rage of obstinate enemies, by all lawfull meanes which may stand with Gods glorie and the keeping of a good conscience. Hence he bad his disciples, with the innocencie of doues, ioyne the wisdome of serpents; Math. 10. 16.now the serpent is most wily and warie to saue her selfe from harme.
Obiect. But it is the propertie of an hireling to flie from his flocke Ioh. 10 11. Of flight in persecution.when he seeth the wolfe comming: therefore it seemes Gods ministers may not flie in time of persecution. Ans. To flie in persecution is not alwaies a forsaking of the flocke, but sometimes tends to their greater good: as when persecution is intended directly against the minister, then he may with good conscience flie for his safetie, in hope of returne for their future good, els Christ would not hauehave said to his disciples, If they persecute you in one citie flie into another, Matth. 10. 23. Yea, not onelyonly the minister must thus looke to his owne safetie, but his people also must doe what lies in them for his preseruation. So did the beleeuers in the primitiue Church for S. Paul: When his life was sought in Damascus, the disciples let him downe at a window in a basket through the wall, and he escaped, Act. 9. 25. And at Ephesus when the great tumult was about Diana, Paul would hauehave thrust himselfe in among the people, but the Disciples seeing it would be dangerous vntounto him, kept him backe, and would not suffer him. Act. 19. 30.