The Calling of the Ministry, Treatise 1 – Treatise 2
The duties and dignitie of the Ministerie.
Iob. 33.23.24.
If there bee with him a Messenger: An Interpreter, one of a thousand to declare vntounto man his righteousnes:
Then will be hauehave mercy on him, and will say, deliuer him that hee goe not downe into the pit, for I hauehave receiued a reconciliation.
IN this Chapter and the former, Eli… a holy, learned, and wise young man, hath conference vvith Iob in matters of high and excellent Diuinitie: the points of his conference are these: from the first verse of this chap, to the 7. verse, is a preface to his speech. From thence to the 13. he repeateth certaine propositions of Iob▪ and reproueth them: frō thence to these wordes, hee instructeth Iob in certaine points touching Gods dealing with sinners: and those are two.
1 Howe God preserueth a sinner from falling.
2 How God restoreth a sinner beeing falne.
1 The meanes whereby God preserueth a sinner, are set downe to bee two principall.
1 By Admonitions in dreames and visions.
2 By scourges and chastisements, when the first will not preuaile. And these are layd downe from the 13 verse vntounto these words.
2 Then followeth the 2. poynt, namely the restoring of a sinner: when both the meanes formerly spoken of hauehave not preuailed with him, but that through his corruption he is fallen: and concerning this poynt, he handleth these particulers.
1 The remedy and meanes of his restoring.
2 The effect that followeth thereupon. … The remedy is layde downe in these wordes now red vntounto vsus, then followeth the effect, which is, that when a sinner is restored by repentance, then the graces of God are plentifully poured vponupon him both for soule and bodie: frō these words to he end of the chapter.
The intent then of this Scripture, is, that God vseth meanes in his merciemercy to preserue sinnres frō falling into sin, but if they do, thē he in much greater mercy affoordeth them meanes and helps to rise againe. And this is the soule & substance of the words. Now, that meanes and remedie is the matter I purpose to speak of, out of these wordes: The meanes then to restore a sinner after a fall, is to raise him by repentance into a better estate then hee was in before, and that is inclusiuely, and by implication taught in this text: But the instrument by whō that great work is to be wrought, is heere in plaine tearmes layd downe to be a Minister of God, lawfully called and sent by God, and appointed by his Church to that great duty. So that these wordes containe a woorthy description of a true Minister, and he is here described.
1 By his titles, which are two,
An Angell.
An Interpreter.
2 By his rarenes, One of a thousand.
3 By his office: which is, to declare vntounto man his righteousnes.
4 By the blessing that God giueth vponupon the labors of this true Minister: which is, th… God will hauehave mercy vponupon the sinner.
5 By his Commission and authoritie in the last wordes: God will say, Deliuer him that he goe not downe into the pit, for I hauehave receiued a reconciliation.
Let vsus speake of them in order as they lye in the text, and first of his titles.
1 The first title of a Minister of God is, he is called a Messenger, Title an Angel.or an Angell: and not heere alone, but elswhere in the scripture, Malachy 2, 7, Hee is the Messenger of the Lord of hosts. And in the Reuelation, the Ministers of the 7. Churches are called the Angels of those Churches.Reuel. 2. & 3. chapters. So that it is apparant▪ a true Minister is an Angell of God in … place, & in the other place, the Angel of the Church. Hee is an Angell or Messenger sent from God to his Church. This cōsideration affords matter of much vse.Vse 1 for Ministers.
The most of vsus in this place (a)This sermon was in the Vniuersitie church, to the body of the Vniuersitie.are eyther Prophets, or sonnes of the prophets. If thou …e a prophet, thou … Gods Angel. If a sonne of the … to be, then marke thy dutie, Prophets and Ministers are Angels in the verie institution of theyr calling. Therefore thou must preach Gods worde as Gods worde, and deliuer it as thou receiuest it: for Angels, Embassadors, & Messengers, carry not theyr owne message, but the message of theyr Lords and Maisters who sent thē, but Ministers carry the message of the Lord of Hostes, therefore they are bound to deliuer it as the Lordes, and not theyr owne.
In the first Epistle of Peter, 4, 11, wee are bidde, If any man speake, let him speake, not onelyonly the word of God, but as the word of God. Gods word must be spoken, and as Gods word▪ then shew thy faith fulnes to the Lord, in discharging thy hands sincerely of that message, which he hath honoured the… to carry. Gods word is pure, therefore purely to be thought vponupon, and to be deliuered. Then let all that are god… Angels, and would be honored at his Angels and Embassadors, thinke it no lesse reason to doe the dutie of Gods Angels, least as many men … a good tale in the …ling▪ so the… take away the power and maiestie of Gods word, in the manner of deliuering it.2 Vse for ministers. The second vse concernes the ministers also: are they Gods Angels? therefore they must preach Gods word in the euidence and demonstration of the spirit of God: for hee that is Gods Angell, the spirit of that God must speake in him: Now to speake in the demonstration of Gods spirit, is to speake in such a plaines, & yet such a powerfulnes, as that the capacities of the simplest, may perceaue not man but God teaching them in that plainesse, and the consciences of the mightiest may feele not man but God, reprooue thē in that powerfulnesse: That this is so, appeares by Saint Paule. If a man prophecy aright, 1 Cor. 14, 2…, 25.(saith the holy Ghost) the vnlearned or vnbeleeuing man …om… in, he thinkes his secret faults are disclosed and layd open, hee thinkes all men see his nakednesse, and doe reprooue him for it, hee therefore falls downe and saith surely God speakes in this man.
In which words, obserue an admirable plainnes, and an admirable powerfulnesse: (which a man would thinke could not so well stand together.) First plainnesse, for whereas the vnlearned man perceiueth his faults discouered, it followeth necessarily he must needes vnderstand, and if an vnlearned man vnderstand it, then consequently it must needes be plaine: Secondly powerfulnes, in that his conscience is so conu…nced, his secret falts so disclosed, & his very hart so ript vp: that he saith, certainly God speakes in this man. This is the euidence and demonstration of Gods spirit: It is thought good commendation before the world, when men say of a Preacher, surely this man hath showne himselfe a proper scholler, of good learning▪ great reading, strong memory, and good deliuery, and so it is and such commendation (if iust) is not to be: contemned: but that that cōmends a man to the Lord his God, & to his owne cōscience, is when he preacheth so plainly to the capacitie, and so powerfully to the conscience of a wicked man, as that hee thinkes doubtlesse God is within him. Art thou therefore an Angell of God, then magnifie the spirit of God, and not thy selfe in thy preaching of his word. The next vse is for the hearers,The vse for hearers. and they are heere taught, that if their Ministers be Angels sent them from God, then are they to heare them, gladly, willingly, reuerently, and obediently: gladly and willingly, because they are Ambassad…rs, reuerently and obediently, because they are sent from the high God the King of Kings, and doe deliuer his embassage. God saith, the people must seeke the law… at his mo…th:Malach, 2, 7. and good reason, for if the lawe be the reuealed will of God, and the Minister the Angell of God, then where should they seeke the will of God, but a… the mouth of his Angell? The reason therefore followeth well in that place … they should seek… the lawe at his mouth, for he i… the messenger of the Lord of hosts and this …st all christians doe, not onelyonly if their doctrine be pleasing vntounto them, but though it crosse their corruptions, and bee quite contrary …o their dispositions, yea though it bee neuer so vnsauorie and h…rde vntounto nature, yet in as much … message from thy God and King, and …he …eather the Angell or messenger of that God: therefore both he and it must be receaued with al reuerence, & with the very obedience of the hart and soule. And this is the cause why a con…nient reuerence …, honour is to bee giuen of all good christians, euen to the persons of Gods Ministers: (especially when they adorne their high calling with a holy life) euen because they are Angels of God. Saint Paule teacheth,1 Corinth 11, 11. that womē ought to be modestly attired in the congregation because of the Angels: it is not only, because the holy Angels are present▪ and alwayes beholders of our seruice of God, but euen because the Ministers, which are Angels and messengers sent from God, are there, deliuering their message and Embassage rece…ed from God: And th…s wee hauehave the first title giuen to the Minister he is an Angell ▪ Secondly he is an …, that is, one that … to deliuer … the reconciliation,2 Title, an Interpreter. made betwixt God and ma… I say not, the author of that reconciliation, for that is the godhead… … of the …, for … second person, Christ …esus … the … for that is the holy Ghost, nor … of it, for … the glad …idings of the gospell: … I say he is the … …preter of it, that i… first one that … and explane the couenant of grace, and rightly lay downe the meanes how this reconciliation is wrought: Secondly, one that can rightly and iustly apply those meanes, for the working of it out. Thirdly, one that hath authoritie to publish and declare it when it is wrought: and by these three actions hee is Gods interpreter to the people: then he is also the peoples interpreter to God, by being able to speake to God for them, to lay open their wants & nakednesses, to confesse their sinnes, to craue pardon and forgiuenes, to giuegive thankes in their names for mercies recea…ed, and in a word to offer vp all their spirituall sacrifices vntounto God for them: and so eueryevery true minister is a double interpreter, Gods to the people, and the peoples to God: In which respects, he is properly called, Gods mouth to the people, by preaching to them from God, and the peoples mouth to God, by praying for them to God: and this title sheweth how great and glorious a calling this Ministerie is, if it be rightly conceiued. Now then for the vse of it.
Vse, 1.First, if eueryevery true Minister must bee Gods Interpreter to the people, and the peoples to God, then hence we learne that eueryevery one, who either is or intends to be a minister, must hauehave that tongue of the learned, whereof is spoken in Esay,Esay, 50, 4. where the Prophet saith (first in the name of Christ, as heare the great Prophet and teacher of his Church, and secondarily in the name of himselfe, and all true Prophets while the world endureth) The Lord God hath giuen me a tongue of the learned, that I should knowe to speake a word in season to him that is wearie: where note the weary soule, or troubled conscience, must hauehave … word in season spoken to him for his comfort, and that cannot bee spoken without the tongue of the learned, and lastly that tongue of the learned must bee giuen of God: Now to hauehave this tongue of the learned, which Esay speakes of▪ what is it but to bee this Interpreter, which the holy Ghost heere saith a minister must bee: But to be able to speake with this tongue is, first to be furnished with … and learning. Secondly, with diuine knowledge, as farre as it may by outward meanes bee taught from man to man: but besides these, hee that will speake this tongue aright, must … inwardly learned, and taught by the spirit of God: the two first he must learne from men, but the third from God, a true Minister must be inwardly taught by the spirituall scholler, and the holy Ghost: Saint Iohn in Reuelation must take the booke,Reuel. 10, 8. that is the Scripture, and eate it, and when he hath eaten it, then (saith the Angell) hee must goe preach to nations, tongues, people, and to Kings: which was done not that Saint Iohn had not eaten that booke, in the comming downe of the holy Ghost, Acts. 2.the very end of whose comming was to teach them spiritually: but that in him Christ might teach his Church for euer, that no minister is fit to preach, to nations and to Kings, vntill they …a…e eaten the booke of God: that is, till after and besides all the learning that man can teach them, they be also …ught by the spirit of God himselfe, and this teaching is it that makes a man a tr… interpreter, and without this he cannot be, for … can a man be Gods interpreter to his people▪ vnlesse he kn…we the minde of God himselfe, and how can he knowe the minde of God, but by the teaching, of the spirit of God: 1 Corinth.Indeede we bee mans interpreter by humane teaching, and may interpret the Scriptures, truely and soundly, as a humane booke or storie for the increase of knowledge, but the diuine and spirituall Interpretation, which shall perce the hart, and astonish the soule of man, must bee taught by the inward teaching of the holy Ghost.
Let no man thinke I heere giuegive the least allowance to Anabaptisticall fancies, and reuelations, which are nothing, but eyther dreames of theyr owne, or illusions of the deuil, for they contemne both humane learning, and the study of the scripture, and trust wholy to reuelations of the spirit; but Gods Spirit worketh not but vponupon the foundation of the word: onelyonly I teach this, that a Minister must be a diuine Interpreter, an Interpreter of Gods meaning. And therfore he must not onlie reade the booke, but eate it, that is, not only hauehave the knowledge of diuine thinges flowing in his braine, but ingrauen in his hart, and printed in his soule by the spirituall finger of God: and therfore for this end, after all his owne study, meditation, conference, Comentaries, & after all h…mane helps, hee must pray with Dauid, Open thou mine eyes, Psal, 119, 18,that I may see the wonders of thy law. The discerning of those wonders requires a spirituall illumination, and the opening of them requires the tongue of the learned. Therefore after all the studie which flesh and blood, and humane reason can yeelde, pray with the Prophet, Lorde giuegive mee the tongue of the learned, that I may be a right Interpreter of thy holy will.2 Vse.
Furthermore, inasmuch as Ministers are Interpreters,Esay, 13. they must labour for sanctitie, and holines of life. In Esay, the King of Assiria is said to be sanctified or set apart to destroy Gods enemies. If there be a certaine kind of sanctification necessary for the worke of destruction, then how much more is true sanctification necessary for this great & glorious worke of the edification of Gods Church? A Minister is to declare the reconciliation betwixt God and man, and is he himselfe not reconciled? Dare he present another man to Gods mercy for pardon, and neuer yet presented himselfe? Can hee commend the state of Grace to another, & neuer felt the sweetnes thereof in his owne soule? Dare hee come to preach sanctification with polluted lyps, and out of an vnsanctified hart? Moses might not stand vponupon the Mount in Gods presence, til hee had put off his shooes from of his feete. Exod. 3. and dare any man presume to come into this most high & holy presence of the Lord, vntil he hauehave mortified his corruptions, and cast off the vnrulines of his affections?
In Exodus,Exod, 19, 20, Leuit. 10, 3, the priests are bid to sanctifie the people, and in Leuiticus it is sayde, that God will bee sanctified in all that come neere him, but who come so neere vntounto God as the Ministers doe? so that it is apparant, Ministers doe sanctifie the people, and in some construction, God himselfe: Nowe, shall they one way be sanctifiers of the people, another way of God himselfe, & no way of themselues? Surely if it bee so, they are but lame Interpreters; And this is the reason doubtlesse, why vnsanctified Ministers, and such as are of a loose conuersation, bestow such fruitlesse labors in the Church: many want no learning, no ability to interpret, & yet how few soules doe they bring to God? Some it may bee are conuerted by theyr ministery, that God may shew, the efficacie is not in the person of man, but in the ordinance of God, but fewe doubtlesse (for ought that we can see) do teach vsus, how God hateth him which will take in hand to reconcile others, himselfe beeing vnreconciled to God. Seeing then Ministers are Gods Interpreters to the people, to declare & publish theyr reconciliation with God, & that they cannot be reconciled, vnlesse they be sanctified, and can so hardly be sanctified by the ministerie of an vnsanctified man: let therefore all true ministers of God: first be Gods Interpreters to their owne consciences, and their owne soules Interpreters to God, then shall they knowe more perfectly how to discharge the office of true Interpreters betwixt God & his people.
And thus wee hauehave the two titles of a true Minister.
Now it followeth in the text.
One of a thousand.
Heere is the second part of this d…scription, which is by the rarenes, or scarcenesse, of good Ministers: which is layd downe in a very strange phrase, namely, that a true Minister, one that is a right Angel, & a true Interpreter, is no cōmon or ordinarie man, but thin sowne, one of many, nay one of a thousand. The meaning heereof is to be conceiued either properly, or figuratiuely: in the figuratiue sence, it is spoken in relation to Ministers themselues: in the proper senee, it hath a comparison with all men: the figuratiue and hyperbolicall sence is, that of all the Ministers in the worlde, not one of many is a right Angel, and a true Interpreter: the plaine & proper sence is, that amongst the men of this worlde, there is not one of a thousand which prooues a true Minister; For this poynt let vsus examine the truth of it, the reasons of it, and the vse of it.
The truth hereof is manifest, by the experience of all ages,1 The truth heereof. wherein it is strange to obserue, how few men of any sort, especially of the better sort, after the calling of a Minister: and which is more strange, howe fewe of those that are Ministers in name and title, doe deserue these honourable names of an Angel, & an Interpreter, and the truth is too manifest in common practise, to insist much vppon it, rather therefore let vsus see the reasons of it,2 The reasons heerof. and they be these principall: first, the cōtempt that lieth on that calling, it being alwayes hated, by wicked and prophane men, because it discouers their filthynes, and vnmaskes their hipocrisie:Reason the contempt of it. and their doctrine oftimes is a fretting corrasiue to their conscience, that they cannot welter, and wallowe so quietly, and secretly in their sinnes, as otherwise they would, therefore is it that they spurne both against the calling, and the men, and watch them narrowly, & take hold of their least infirmities, thereby to disgrace them: iudging that to cast contempt on that calling, is to remooue shame from their owne shamefull courses: nor is it possible but that they should thus hate this calling, inasmuch as they hate so deadly both that lawe and Embassage which they bring, and that God whose Embassaders they are. This hatred and disgrace in the wicked world, was that that caused Ieremie to cry,Ieremie, 15, 10. w…e is me, and made him in the seeming of his naturall reason, curse the time that euer he was a Prophet, for saith he, I am a man of contention, eueryevery man is at strife and enemity with me.2 Reason the difficultie. The next reason is the difficulty, of discharging the duties of his calling: to stand in Gods presence, to enter into the holy of holiest, to goe betwixt God and his people, to be Gods mouth to the people, and the peoples to God: to be the Interpreter, of the eternall lawe of the old testament, and the euerlasting Gospell of the new, to stand in the rome, and to beare the office of Christ himselfe, to take the care and charge of soules, these considerations are so many amazements to the consciences of such men, who doe with reuerence approch, and not with rashnes, rush vntounto his sacred seate: this made Saint Paule cry out,2 Corinth. 2, 16. who is sufficient for these things, and if Paule sayd who is? no maruell though many a man say I am not sufficient, and doe therefore drawe their neckes from this yoke, and their hands from this plough, vntil God himselfe or his Church doe presse them to it.
The last reason is,3 Reason: want of maintenance. more peculiar to this of the new testament, namely, want of maintenance and preferment, for them that labor in this calling: men are flesh and bloud, and in that respect must bee allured, & wonne to embrace this vocation, by some arguments, which may perswade flesh and bloud: the world hath in all ages beene negligent heerein, and therefore God in his lawe tooke such strick orders, for the maintenance of the Leuits:Deuter, 10, 9, & 28, 2, Number, 18, 26. but especially, now vnderunder the Gospell, this calling is vnprouided for, when it deserues best of all to be rewarded: certainly it were a worthy christian pollicy, to propound good preferments to this calling, that thereby men of the worthiest gifts might bee wonne vntounto it, and the want heereof, is cause why so many young men of speciall parts, and greatest hope, turne to other vocations, and especially to the lawe, wherein at this day the greatest part of the finest wits of our kingdome, are imploied, and why? but because they hauehave all the meanes to rise, whereas the Ministerie, for the most part yeildeth nothing, but a plaine way to beggery ▪ this is a great blemish in our church, and surely I wish the Papists, those children of this world, were not wiser in this kind, (in this point) then the Church of God: the reformation heereof is a worke worth the labour of Prince and people, and speciall care is to be had in it, els it will not bee reformed, for doubtlesse had not God himselfe in the old testament, taken such straight orders for the liuings of the Leuits, they had beene put to no lesse extremities, then is the Ministerie of this age. And this reason added to the other, makes them perfect, and all put together make a reason infallible: for who will vndergoe so vile contempt, and vndertake so great a charge, for no reward: and where there is so great contempt, so heauy a burthen, and so meane a reward, what maruell, if a good Minister bee one of a thousand.
Now let vsus make vse of this doctrine:3 The vse of it. the vse is manifold, and yeilds instructions to many sorts of people:1 To Rulers. first Rulers and Magistrats are heere taught, if good Ministers be so scarce, therefore to maintaine and increase, and doe all good they can to the schooles of the Prophets, to Vniuersities, Colledges, and schooles of good learning, which are the Seminaries of the Ministerie: heerein the example of Samuell is very worthy to be followed, in whose dayes the schooles of the Prophets florished,1 Samuell, 19, 20, 21.22, 23, 24. and euen Saule himselfe, though he did much hurt in Israell, yet when hee came to the schooles of the Prophets, his hard hart relented, hee could doe them no hurt, nay hee p…t of … robes, and prophecied amongst them: So should all Christians Princes and Magistrates, aduance these schooles, and see them both well maintained, and well stored, the reason is euident and forcible. A good Minister is one of a 1000: If therefore they would hauehave the number increased, maintaine the Seminaries. And againe, if Antichrist to vphold his kingdome, the kingdome of sathan bee so carefull heerein,At Rome Re…mes Doway. to erect Colledges, and indowe them with liuing, to be Seminaries for his sinagogue, and vse so great meanes to sowe his rares in the harts of young men, that so they may sowe them in the harts of the people abroad: shall not Christian Princes bee as carefull, or rather much more zealous, for the increasing of the number of goldly Ministers? shall Baal hauehave his 400 Prophets, 1 Kings, 18▪ 22.and God hauehave his Elias alone: great shame must it be to A…ab, or to any King, whose Kingdome is in that estate.
The Iesuits diligence is such in teaching, & the readines of some of their nouices such in learning, (the deuil himselfe doubtlesse, putting to his helpe withall) that in three yeares (as some of them say of themselues) they proceede in humane learning, and in the fourth, in diuinitie: which if it be so, then it may be a good lesson, for these our schooles of learning, and an inducement to moue all that hauehave the gouernement thereof, to labour to aduance learning, by all good meanes, and to giuegive it more speedy passage: And it may shame some that spend so many yeares in the Vniuersitie▪ and yet alas for all that prooue not one of a 1000. In these our schooles are by Gods mercy, many young trees planted by the riuer side, of this goodly orchard, which by good ordring and dressing, may prooue goodly trees in the temple of God, & strong pillers in the Church, but they are like tender plants, and must be cherished. Princes and great men, by allowing maintenance, and the gouernours by stablishing good orders, and looking carefully to their execution, must see that these plants hauehave sufficient moisture, to growe speedily to perfect ripenes, and that then they be transplanted in due time, into the Church and common-wealth: these bee the trees spoken of in Ezechiell,Ezechiell, 47, 1, &c. which growe by the sides of that riuer, which floweth out of the Sanctuary: Waters out of the Sanctuarie must norish them, and so they growe vntounto their perfection: but take away these waters, take away the liberalitie of princes, and good discipline from the Vniuersities, and these trees must needes decay and weather: which if they doe, then the small number of good Ministers, will bee fewer and fewer, and of one of a 1000, there will not bee one of 2000.2 Vse for Ministers. In the next place, Ministers themselues are heere taught: first if good Ministers be so scarce, then let eueryevery man feare to make them fewer then they bee: eueryevery man therefore for himselfe, labour first for ability, then for conscience to discharge his duty: namely to be an Angell, to deliuer faithfully Gods Embassage, and a true Interpreter betwixt God and his people▪ thus if thou doost, then howsoeuer the number of good Ministers is small, yet it shall be nothing smaller for thee.
2 If they bee so fewe, labour to increase them, for the more they are, the lesse burden lieth vppon each particular man, therefore let eueryevery Minister by his teaching, and by his conuersation labour, so to honour his calling, that hee may thereby allure and drawe others to a louelove and liking thereof.
3 Are good Ministers so thinne sowne, are there so few of them? then let all good and godly Ministers giuegive the right hand of fellowship one to another,Galath. 2, 9. and ioyne together in louelove, & by that meanes arme thē selues against the scorne and contempt of the world: we see they that are of a kinred, or a brotherhood, or any kind of societie, the fewer they are, the more closelie doe they combine, the more firmly doe they holde together against all forraine force: so ought Gods Ministers to doe because theyr number is so small; if they were many, lesse danger in their disvnion, but seeing they are so fewe, the more it concerneth them to cut off contentions, and all occasions of debate, and to ioyne hand in hand against these common aduersaries.
3 Vse for students.In the third place, young Students are heere taught, seeing a true Minister is but one of a thousand, that therfore they bend theyr studies, and theyr thoughts to the Ministerie, for they wel know it is an old prouerbe, the best thinges are hard to come by, & certainly there are so few good Ministers, because the holy Ministerie in it self is so high & excellent a calling: & as it is a shame to the men that there are so fewe good Ministers, so it is a cōmendation to the calling, whose honour and excellencie is such, that as wee see heere scarce one of a thousand attaines vntounto it, therfore men of the most excellent gifts, are heere inuited to dedicate themselues vntounto the most excellent vocation, yea▪ very reason it selfe would vrge a man to be one of a thousand.
2 And further, as they are to intende this calling as the most rare and excellent, so this must teach them likewise, to hasten to furnish themselues with all good helps and meanes, that they may become true Ministers, and able Jnterpreters, & not too long to stick in those studies, which keep a man from the practise of this high function: for it is not to liue in the Vniuersity, or in the Colledge, & to study, though a man neuer so fast deuoure vp learning, but to be a good Minister, is that that makes a man one of a thousand.
In the last place, Hearers are heere taught theyr dutie, first,4 Vse for Hearers. to respect with reuerence the person, and to receiue with reuerence the Message of eueryevery true Messenger, seeing it is so rare a thing to find a true Minister, for as nothing is more vile or base then an euill and leude Minister, (vvhom Christ compares to salt which hath lost his sauour, which is good for nothing, Math, 5, 13,but to bee cast out, & troden downe of men:) so is there none worthy of more louelove, and reuerence thē a holy Minister: for as Esay saith: theyr very feete are beautifull which bring glad tydings ▪ and we should kisse theyr feete which bring newes of peace: therefore all good Christians are to receiue and vse a good Minister, as Saint Paule saith the Galathians did him,Gala, 4, 16, euen as an Angel of God. Hast thou then a godly Pastor, run to him for conference, for comfort, for counsell, vse his company, frequent his sermons, account him worthy of double honour, thinke it no small or ordinary blessing, for thou hast one of a thousand, and blesse GOD for bestowing his mercy to thee, which he hath denied to so many others: for some hauehave no Minister: some hauehave a Minister, and yet alas he is not one of a thousand.
And further: all men that are Fathers, may heere learne to consecrate their children to God in the seruice of the Ministerie, considering that it is so rare & excellent a thing to be a good Minister: nay that man should thinke himselfe happie, and honoured of God, who may be father to such a sonne as shall proue one of a thousand.
In a worde to conclude this poynt, all men must heere learne,5 Vse for all men. seeing good Ministers are so scarce, to pray the Lorde of the haruest, to thrust out more labourers into his haruest: and for those that are called alreadie, that God would make them faithfull in that high function. And as Elisha craueth of Elias,2, Reg, 2▪ 9, that the good spirit may be doubled, and trebled vponupon them, that so the number may be encresed. And thus wee hauehave the truth, the reason, and the vse of this, that a good Minister is one of a thousand.
It followeth. To declare vntounto man his righteousnes.
Heere is the third part of the description of a Minister, that is, by his office,3 Part of the description by his office to declare vntounto man his righteousnes: that is, when a poore sinner, by his sinnes (the foulenes whereof he seeth, and the burden whereof he feeleth) is brought downe, as it were to the very gates of hell, when this sinner by the preaching of the Lavve, is brought to a true sight of this misery: and again, by preaching the gospel, is brought to lay hold on Iesus Christ, then it is the proper office of a Minister to declare vntounto that man his righteousnes. Namely, that though in himselfe he be as ill, & as foule as sinne can make him, & as the law can discouer him to be; yet in Christ he is righteous, & iust, and by Christ so iustified, as hee is no more a sinner in the presence & account of God: this is the righteousnes of a Christian man, this is the iustification of a sinner. And to declare this righteousnes to him that repents and belieues, is the proper dutie of a true Minister.
In the Acts, Paule saith of himselfe, that he witnessed to the Iewes, Acts, 20, 21,& to the Gentiles, the repentance towards God, and fayth towards our Lord Iesus Christ. In vvhichwhich words is layde downe the complete dutie of a Minister (as he is a publick Angell or Interpreter,) first, to preach repentance, which a man must performe to GOD, whom by his sinnes he hath grieuously offended; secondly, to preach faith in Christ, and free forgiuenes, and perfect saluation through that faith in Christ, to all that shal truly belieue in him. And after both these, followeth that which is heere spoken of, which comprehendeth both the former, namely, to declare vntounto man his righteousnesse. So that in these words, are inclusiuely laid downe, these poynts of a Ministers calling: first, a true Minister may & must declare vntounto a sinful man where righteousnesse is to be found, 1, Iohn, 2.namely, in Iesus Christ the righteous. Secondly, how that righteousnes may be obtayned, namely, by dooing two duties; first, by denying & disclayming his owne righteousnesse, and that is doone by repentance; secondly, by clayming & cleaning to Christs righteousnes, and that is done by fayth. Thirdly, a true Minister may and must declare this righteousnes to him, that is, first publish and proclaime it, that it is ready to bee bestowed on eueryevery sinner, which will thus apprehend it, and that it is able to iustifie and saue him: secondly, beside a bare publication of this iustification, hee must (as Paul did) witnesse and testifie it to the conscience of the sinner, that it is as certainly true, as God is true. For as a witnesse in doubtfull cases is called, that by his testimonie hee may cleere the truth, so when the consciences of poore sinners are wauering and doubtfull what to belieue, when they doubt of this righteousnesse, then is a true Minister as a faithfull witnes of God to auerre and testifie this truth, from his owne conscience, knowledge and feeling, of the infallible certaintie of Gods promises, vntounto the doubtfull and distressed conscience of the sinner.
Thirdly, besids declaration and testification, he is to maintaine this truth, and this righteousnesse, (if the sinners conscience be yet not quiet) against all gainsayers, against the power of darknes, and all the gates of hell: that this is true and perfect righteousnesse to him that apprehends it, as afore is layd downe: and this is so infallible to eueryevery soule that repents and beleeueth, that the Minister may assure it to the conscience of the sinner in the word of truth, and in the name of God, and may call to witnes all Gods Saints, and all his holy Angels, and may pawne vntounto him his owne soule vponupon it, that it is most true, that this is true, perfect, and all-sufficient righteousnes.
Thus we see in some measure, what it is to declare vntounto a man his righteousnes. And this is the peculiar office of a Minister of God, and this is the height and excellencie of his office. In the want of godly Ministers, I confesse that godly Christian men may one helpe another in the performance of these duties, and that with profit, but it is the proper function of a godlie Minister to doe it, and the promise and blessing belongs properly to him: as the consciences of all penitent sinners, will testifie in this case: let Dauids serue for many, who when he was cast downe euen to the mouth of hell, by that fearefull discouery, of his two hideous sinnes by Nathans preaching, & when the faith of his soule, beganne to wrestle against hell, and striue against dispaire, and to apprehend the mercy of God in Christ: then I say, could not the testimonie, of all the men in the world, hauehave giuen him that ioy, comfort and assurance, that Nathan did, when hee said in the word of a Prophet, and of a true Minister, God hath taken away thy sinne, thou shalt not die: what did Nathan heere, but declare vntounto man his righteousnes: what did Nathan heere, but the duty of eueryevery true Minister?
If this be the office and duty of a Minister,1 Vse for Ministers. and if such be the height and excellencie of his office let vsus see then what vse we may make of it.
First, concerning the Ministerie:First for the Popish Ministerie. It first discouereth how nakedly, weakely, and insufficiently, the Popish Church doth declare vntounto man his righteousnesse, who will let a man seeke it in himselfe, where alas it is not: for Paule himselfe testifieth, that his desire is that he may bee found out of himselfe, & in Christ, & yet certainly if euer man had righteousnesse of his owne, Phillip, 3, 8, 9.worth trusting to, Paule had: this is the cause why so many of that religion, find not that righteousnesse, which will pacifie, and satisfie their consciences, when they come to die: and why so many of them, whē it coms to the pinch, do then go out of themselues, and with vsus doe seeke for this righteousnesse in Christ, where both assuredly, and sufficiently it is to be found.
Then for our owne Ministerie, heere they are taught:Secondly our owne. first the true manner of teaching, and declaring righteousnesse, namely this, not to preach the law alone, or the Gospell alone, as some vnaduisedly doe (but both without profit) but both the lawe and the Gospell: the lawe to breede repentance, the Gospell to worke faith, but in order: first the lawe to breede repentance, and then the Gospell to worke faith and forgiuenes, but neuer before.
Secondly, they are taught to bee holy: to bee sanctified and reconciled themselues, for it is thy office to declare vntounto man his righteousnesse, and not thy own to thy selfe: and how canst thou be a true witnes to testifie betwixt God, and the soule of a sinner, when thy owne soule knoweth not, nor feeleth the truth of it? certainly such men a…e but lame witnesses betwixt God, and the sinners soule. Dauid saith to the sinner, I will instruct thee in the way wherein thou shalt goe:Psal. 32. but he first of all in the same, sets downe his owne experience, in a large story of his owne repentance, and of Gods mercy on himselfe. And though God sometime doe satisfie, and saue the poore distressed soule of a sinner, by the testimonie of such men, to teach vsus that the vertue is not in the men, but in the truth of Gods couenant: yet alas how fewe are they, to teach vsus how pleasing it is vntounto him, when a Minister is a declarer of that righteous to others, which he first hath himselfe, and is a witnes of truth to others, which he first knoweth in his owne experience.
Thirdly,3 Vse to Ministers. the consideration of this high excellencie of their calling, must arme all true Ministers against the scorne and contempt of the world, which by wicked men is cast like dust and mire into the face of Ministers: let this suffice them, they are the men that must declare vntounto man his righteousnesse, euen he that scornes and contemnes the ministerie, he hath no righteousnesse in him, vnlesse, it be by the meanes of a poore Minister: then doe thou thy duety, and he that mockes thee, hath cause to honour thee: and let this encourage Students to consecrate themselues to the Ministerie,2 Vse for Students. for what calling hath so high an office, as this, to declare vntounto man his righteousnesse? And assuredly how euer in this wicked world, thou art little accounted of (for if it did not so, it were not wicked) yet thou art honored in the harts of all Gods children, and euen in the consciences of some, whose tongues doe smite thee: and the soules of thousands, when they die shall blesse thee, who in their liues cared not for thee: and the deuill himselfe doth enuy, & the holy Angels themselues doe wonder at the excellencie of thy calling, in that thou hast power to declare vntounto man his righteousnesses.
3 Vse for the hearers.In the next place, hearers may heere learne: first if their righteousnesse, bee thus to be declared as afore, then if they will hauehave it, they must seeke it as it may bee found, namely both in the lawe, and in the Gospell, and not in the Gospell alone: and first in the lawe, then in the Gospell, for he must neuer looke to tast▪ the sweetnes of the Gospell, which hath not first swallowed the better pills of the lawe: if therefore thou wouldst bee declared righteous by the Gospell, bee content first to bee pronounced miserable by the lawe: if thou wouldst be declared righteous in Christ, then be content first to bee pronounced sinfull and vnrighteous in thy selfe: Secondly, all men may heere learne, how they are to esteeme of Gods Ministers, and what reuerence and obedience is due to their persons, and their doctrine: these are they which must declare vntounto thee thy righteousnesse, if thou hast any: Art thou beholden to him, who when thou hast lost a Iewell (which was all thy wealth) can tell thee where it is, and helpe thee to it againe▪ or to him, who when thy cause is in triall at the barre, will pleade it for thee? or to him, who when thy health is lost, can tell thee how to get it againe? then behold how thou art beholden to a godly Minister, who when Adam had lost both himselfe and thee, that Iewell of righteousnesse, which was and is the whole wealth of thy soule, can truly tell thee where it is, and howe it is to be had againe: and who when the deuill haleth thee to the barre of gods iustice, to receaue triall for thy sinnes, can drawe thee there such a declaration, as the deuill himselfe shall not bee able to answere? and who when thy soule is sicke to death, & euen to damnation, can heale the deadly wounds thereof. A good Minister therefore is worthy (as the Apostle saith) of double honour, whose duty we see is to declare vntounto man his righteousnesse. And to conclude this point also, the consideration of the height of this office of a Minister, may encourage fathers to dedicate their sonnes to this holy calling:4 Vse for fathers. for the Phisitions care for the body, or the Lawyers, for thy cause, are both inferior duties, to this of the Minister. A good Lawyer may be one of te…e, a good Phisition one of 20. a good man, one of 100. but a good Minister is one of a 1000. A good Lawyer may declare the true state of thy cause, a good Phisition may declare the true state of thy body. No calling, no man can declare vntounto thee thy righteousnesse, but a true Minister. And thus wee see the office or function of a Minister. Now followeth the blessing.
Then will he hauehave mercy vppon him.
The fourth generall part of this discription,4 Point, the blessing. is the blessing which God giueth to the labours and function of a true Minister: then that is when a man by the preaching of the lawe, is brought to true humiliation and repentance, and by the preaching of the Gospell, to true faith in the Messias, then wil hee (that is, God) hauehave mercy on him (that is, on the penitent and beleeuing sinner.) Behold heere the admirable simpathy, and the cooperation of God, and the Ministers office. Man preacheth, and God blesseth: Man worketh on the hart, and God giues grace: a Minister declares vntounto man his righteousnesse, and God saith so be it, he shall be righteous: a Minister pronounceth mercy to a penitent sinner, and forthwith God hath mercy on him. Heere we see the great and glorious account which God makes, of the word of his Ministers, by them truly taught and rightly applied, namely, that he as it were tieth his blessing vntounto it, for ordinarily till a man knowe his righteousnesse, by the meanes of an Interpreter, God hath not mercy on him, but as soon as he doth knowe it, then as wee see heere God will hauehave mercy on him, and wil say, deliuer him &c. This is no small honour to Ministers, & to their Ministerie, that God himselfe giues a blessing vntounto it, and worketh when they worke, and as it were stayeth waiting, when they declare vntounto a man his righteousnesse, and then hath he mercy on him: so powerfull and so effectuall, is the word spoken by a Minister of God. This is that which Christ auoucheth,Math, 16, 16. whatsoeuer you binde in earth, shall be bound in heauen, and whatsoeuer you loose in earth, shall bee loosed in h…auen. Will you knowe the meaning heereof? read Saint Iohn, whose sinnes soeuer you remit, Iohn, 20, 23.they are remitted, whose you retaine they are retained: will they hauehave the meaning of both: read Esay,Esay, 44, 25, 26. God destroyeth the tokens of Sou… sayers, and makes v…sards, and Astrologers Fooles, …neth worldly wisemen backward, and makes their knowledge foolishnes: but he confirmeth the word of his seruants, and performeth the counsell of his Messengers. Thus God bindeth and looseth with them, remitteth and retaineth with them, by confirming their word, and performing their counsell for example.
A true Minister seeth a sinner hardned in his sins, and stil rebelling against the will of God, he therefore declareth vntounto him his vnrighteousnes, & his sinne, & denounceth vntounto him, the miseries & curses of Gods iustice, as due vntounto him for the same, heere he binds on earth, here he retaines on earth, this mans sins are likewise bound and retained in heauen. On the other side, he seeth a man peniten…, and belieuing, hee pronounceth forgiuenes of sins, & happines vntounto him for the same, he looseth him from the band of his sinnes, by declaring vntounto him his righteousnes, this mans sinnes are likewise loosed & remitted in heauen, and God himselfe doth pronounce him cleere in heauen, when the Minister doth on earth. Thus God confirmeth the word of his seruaunts, and performeth the counsell of his Messengers.
The vse of this doctrine is first for Rulers, 1 Vse Rulers▪and great men of this worlde, this may teach them to be nursing Fathers, & nursing Mothers vntounto the Church, whose authority they see is so great ouer them, as that their decree stands ratified in heauen: Therefore though their place be great, & they be Gods vponupon earth, Psalm…yet must they withall acknowledge, that in iustifying a sinner, in interpretation, in declaring vntounto man his righteousnes; in binding & loosing, their power also is immediate from God, & aboue theirs, and they themselues, as they are men, must submit themselues to this powerfull word of the Ministers, to be taught by it, and to be reconciled by meanes of it, and highly must they receiue it, for though a man speake it, yet is it the word of God: this is to licke the dust of Christs feete, …ay.which the Porphet speaketh of: not as the Pope would hauehave it, to hold the stirrop, and lead the horse, and hold the water to the Pope, to kisse his toes, to hold their kingdoms of him, as tenants at will, or by curtesie, but reuerently to acknowledge the ordinance to be Gods, the function and duty to be high and excellent, to acknowledge the power of their keyes & censures (being rightly applied) their promises & their threatnings to be as from God, and to submit to them accordingly.
Secondly, Ministers themselues here must learne,Vse for Ministers when they take the word of reconciliation into their hands and mouthes, to call to mind whose it is, euen the Lords, and that hee worketh with them, & hath the greatest hand in the work, and that therfore they must vse it in holy maner, with much feare & reuerence: It is not theyr owne, they may not vse it as th…y list. And lastly, Hearers are heere taught, first …o see how mad such men be which carelesly …nd fildome heare sermons, 3 Vse for Hearers.but vponupon any oc…asion fly to wisards and charmers, which are …he deuils prophets: for see the difference of …hese two, the wisard and charmer hath socie…ie with the deuill, the Preacher with God, the …harmer hath his calling from the deuill, the Preacher his from God, the charmers charme … the deuils watchword, when he charmeth the deuil doth the feare▪ the Preachers doctrine is Gods watchword, when hee truly applyeth it, GOD himselfe ratifieth and makes it good: wherefore let all men feare to hauehave thus to doe with the deuill, by seeking to his slaues, & let them draw neere to God, by entring into fellowship with his holy Prophets, and godly Ministers.
And further, if when they preach, & thou belieuest, then GOD hath mercy on thee, then learne what reuerence they and theyr word is worthy of, which is thus accompanied vvith Gods mercy and forgiuenes: and then learne to heare the Word with feare and trembling, for it is Gods word, and not theyrs: & when a true Minister sayth vntounto thee, on a true ground, I denounce thee a sinfull man, and vnderunder the curse, or I declare thee to be righteous, and a child of grace, it is all one, as though God from heauen had said so vntounto thee. If any man aske; But is it not as good if anoth… man pronounce forgiuenesse vntounto mee vpo… my repentance? I aunswer, yes vndoub…edly if it be in extraordinary times or places, wh… there are no Ministers: for otherwise, cer…ainly this blessing is principally tyed vntounto the Ministers calling; for it is not sayd of any priuate mens calling any where in the Scripture▪ as it is heere said of the Ministers.
If an Angell, an Interpreter come to a man and declare vntounto him his righteousnesse, the… (marke the conexion) then will GOD ha… mercy on him, and will say, Deliuer him, &c. Whence comes this blessing? from this promise of God. If then other callings will challenge ordinarily the same blessing, then must they hauehave the same promise. Besides, other Christians being priuate men, though they be sanctified, & hauehave a good measure of knowledge, yet hauehave they not the same spirit of discerning that godly Ministers hauehave: nor can so fully and truly iudge, when a man hath repented, when not; and therefore cannot so trulie pronounce the sentence of the Law or Gospell, nor hauehave they abilitie ordinarily by their good conference, and Christian counsel, to con…rt a soule, but to confirme one conuerted: but that power ordinarily belongs to the publick Ministery of the word, therfore it followeth, that ordinarily they hauehave not the power to pronounce the sentence of binding or loosing vponupon any man: I cō fesse, in times or places, where no Minister can be had, God blesseth the labours of priuate men, that hauehave knowledge, somtimes euen for the conuerting of a man to God, & for comforting him at the howre of death, and giues a vertue and power to that sentence which they shal pronounce one vpō anothers repentance: but as this is extraordinary, & in the want of ordinary Ministers, so in that case a priuate man of knowledge & godlines, is made a Minister for that time to himselfe, or to another, euen as a priuate man in cases of extreame danger, when no magistrate is present, is made a magistrate himselfe to defend his owne life. So then as in vvant of a Magistrate, the sword of the magistracie is put into the hand of a priuate man: so in the want of Ministers, the keyes of the Ministerie are committed and put into the hands of priuate men, (as in dayes of persecution) that then they may vvith comfort admonish and aduise: and with power pronounce mercy and forgiuenes one vntounto another, vponupon theyr true repentance. Yet alwayes remember that in so dooing, a priuate man is as a Minister for that time, and in that case: but ordinarily, (and alwayes in setled Churches) this power pertaineth to the Ministerie, & is theirs alone by ordination; and to them belongeth the promise and the blessing, that when hee hath declared to a man his righteousnesse, then God will hauehave merciemercy on him. And thus wee see also the blessing of God vponupon the function of the Ministerie, and conexed thereunto by the mercifull dispensation of God. It followeth.
And will say, Deliuer him that he goe not downe into the pit: for I hauehave rece…ued a reconciliation.
The fift and last part of this description is,5 Part the Cōmission. the Commission and authority giuen vntounto him, which is so great, as neuer was giuen to any creature, and is thus, when a Minister of GOD hath declared vntounto man his righteousnes, hath brought him to the state of grace, and God in his fauour hath had mercy on him; then God saith to the Minister, Deliuer that soule from hell, for I hauehave pardoned him in Christ, I am reconciled to him.
In which words, authoritie is giuen to a Minister of God to redeeme a man penitent, from hell & damnation: not that he is the meanes of working out this redemption, for that wholy and onelyonly is Christ himselfe; but hee is Gods instrument, and Christs instrument, first, to apply those meanes vntounto him: secondly, to pronounce his safety and deliuerance when these means are vsed. Here is the principall honour of all belonging to that calling: and it is the greatest that euer was vouchsafed to any creature. Man … Angell: for it is a plaine Commission to goe and deliuer such a man from the power of hell, & to redeeme him into the state of Gods children, and to make him heyre of heauen: Angels ne…er had this Commission▪ they are Messengers sent out for the good of those whom Ministers hauehave redeemed, Heb. 1. vlt.and they hauehave brought many comfortable messages vntounto them: but it was neuer said to any Angell, Deliuer that man that he goe not downe … the pit, as it h…r… is saide vntounto a Minister: nor any men but Ministers hauehave this Cōmis…ion. To some callings God saith, work… thou for man, build him houses, prouide him sustenance; to the Phisition, heale that man, to the Lawyer, do that man iustice, to the souldier, fight for him, to the Magistrate, defend him, to the King, gouerne him, and see that eueryevery one doe his dutie:… to none but to the Minister dooth he say, Deliuer him that he goe not down into the pit.
If this be so then for the vse, first Ministers must learne heere,Vse 1 to Ministers. that if they will hauehave the honour of Redeemers, then must they doe the dutie of redeemers, they must pray earnestly for the people, for that is one meanes whereby they redeeme men. They must say with Samuel, God forbidde that I should cease to pray for you:1 Sam. 12. They must mourne for the impenitent, vvhen they will not turne to God. So did Dauid his eyes gushed out with riuers of waters, Psalm, 119,because men kept not Gods law. And Ieremie, who w…shed a fountaine of water in his eyes▪ that he might weepe for the sinnes of the people ▪ They must priuatly conferre, …site, admonish, and rebuke ▪ and principally they must preach, and that in such good manner, and in so diligent measure, as that they may redeeme and winne soules, and the end that they must ayme at, must be to winne soules. Some preach for feare of the law, to auoyd censure or punishment, some for fashion sake, that they may be like to others, some for ostentation sake, to win credite and prayse, some for ambition, to rise in the world: all these forget theyr cō mission, which is, Deliuer him from hell.
This should be the end of their preaching, to deliuer a soule from hell, and what should Commissioners doe, but execu…e theyr Commission? High Com…issioners are worthy to be low Commissioners, or rather▪ no Commissioners, if they will not put it in execution. It is therefore lamentable to see, that some by not prea…hing, s…me by vaine preaching, show that they intend any thing, rather then the winning of soules to God. Let then all good Ministers so preach, as they may say with Esay, Behold Lord heere am I, & the children whō thou hast giuen me. And that they may returne theyr Commission thus: Whereas thou O Lorde gauest mee this people, and had me deliuer them, that they goe not downe into …ell, Lord I hauehave doone it, it is the thing my soule aymed at, with all my desire and endeuour: and by thy mercy I hauehave effected it accordingly.
And the rather must all Christian Ministers seriously intend the sauing of souls, inasmuch as Antichrist doth so earnestly seeke the destruction of soules, by winning them to his synagouge. The Turke spares no labour, no cost, to infect young chyldren of Christians with his impure and blasphemous superstition. The Pope and his vassals, (especially Iesuits) vse al means, deuise many stratagems, spare no cost, nor labor, to seduce & inueagle young men, and the best wits. Surely theyr care and policie heerein is admirable, and yet alas, when (like the Pharisies) they hauehave compassed sea and land to make a proselite, they make him like themselues, the child of hel. And they are so farre from hauing any Commission from God to doe this, or any blessing promised, as contrariwise GOD forbids them, and his curse lyeth vppon them for so dooing.
Shall they be so diligent to destroy soules without a Commission, and incurre Gods curse for theyr labour, and shall not Christian Ministers, be much more diligent to winne and redeeme soules, hauing so large a Commission for the purpose, and so great a blessing promised thereunto?
In the next place,2 Vse for Hearers. this doctrine hath vse to the hearers. First to let them see the excellencie of this calling, which hath a Comission and power to redeem them frō hell & damnation, & what honor is due vntounto it, & to let the wicked man see (which any way abuseth eyther the persons or the function) howe base & vnthankful men they are, to recōpence euill for so great a good, & therfore no maruell thogh euil do neuer depart frō the houses & families of such men: and further, to encourage all men to giuegive thēselues to God in this great calling, for see here what they are, euen the high Commissioners of God. VVee hauehave in our estate, a power delegated to certain men of worth, & it is called the high Commission, because they hauehave power to do great things, and that man thinks himself happy, who can bring his son to this, to be thought fit to be one of this Commission: but behold heere a higher Commission, a Commission from God, to redeeme soules from the power of hell, & the deuils clawes, this is indeed a high Commission, and so high as this, was neuer granted out of the Court of heauen to any creature but to Ministers: they therefore are the High Commissioners of the high God. Is it not then an honor & happines vntounto thee to bring thy sonne to this estate?
And lastly, this must teach all hearers, their dutie to Gods word, namely, to submit them selues vntounto it: for if the Minister hauehave a Commission to redeeme thy soule, it must be by the word and holy discipline. Therefore thy dutie is to heare Gods word patiently, to submit thy selfe vntounto it, to bee taught and instructed, nay to be checked and rebuked, and to hauehave thy sinnes discouered, & thy corruptions ript vp. If thou wouldst hauehave thy cause succeede well, thy Lawyer must discouer the weakenesses of it, if thy body to be cured, thy Phisition must purge the corruption of it; So if thy soule be to be redeemed, thy minister must see the weakenes, and purge the corruptions of it, & though his doctrine be harsh, and hard vntounto thy nature, and the discipline of the Gospell seem rough vntounto thee yet must not thou rage and rebell against it, nor hate, nor rayle at his person, but submit thy selfe vntounto it, for it is the message and Ministerie of thy saluation: if otherwise, thou doost indeed a great wrong to the Minister, for thou frustratest his Commission, but alas, a far greater to thy selfe, for thou frustratest thine owne saluation.
FINIS.
THE SECOND Treatise of the duties and Dignities of the Ministerie, by Maister Perkins.