Samuels Encounter with Saul, Doctrine 3
Doct. 3. They that be bad, wil ſometime reuerence the Miniſters.
Thus hauehave we ſeene Saul his ſhameles iuſtifying himſelfe, wherein hee was moſt guilty. And yet as much vnbeſeeming as this ſpeech of Saul was, hee is in one thing to be preferred before many of our time. For whereas many, not onelyonly refuſe to bee guided by the inſtruction and doctrine of their teachers, but alſo deſpiſe them in their hearts, as Ahab did Michaiah. 1 King. 22. 8. and count them their vtter enemies, for telling them of the truth, as ſome of the Galathians did Paul Cap. 4. yea, fall vponupon them cruelly, as Saul himſelfe did afterward (when he grew notorious and farre worſe then here hee ſeemed to bee) yet was hee not yet ſo exaſperated againſt the Prophet (though hee were the man that had before ſharpely rebuked him) but that he gaue him a reuerend title, as the bleſſed of the Lord, 1. Sam. 13. 13. and therefore thought him an happy man, though hee himſelfe could not ſeeke and embrace, the ſame louelove and fauour of the Lord that he did. I doe not ſo much note this, to aſcribe any thing to Saul, whom the holy Ghoſt condemneth, as to bewray too many profeſſors of our time,They that come not thus farre, are farre off. eſpecially the mighty and wealthy, though in degree and place, farre vnderunder him: who are not content to caſt behinde their backs, the worthy admonitions, exhortations and leſſons of thoſe meſſengers of God, which are ſent vntounto them (if at any time they will heare any of them) but hate and bite, yea and alſo rend them (as wee ſay with their teeth) who are reuerend men of God: which doth ſhew that there is another manner of ſpirit in them (that is more poyſonfull) then that which was in Saul. For hee that beareth reuerence to the meſſengers, though hee obey not their meſſage, is to be hoped of in many reſpects, more then he which contemnes them in his heart, whether he bewray the ſame by malicious words, and a fiery face, or whether hee counterfeit better things to them by gloſing ſpeech and diſſembling countenance. And therefore to what a fearefull point are our daies come, wherein the Miniſtery, which is Gods ordinance for the ſaluation and happineſſe of the people, is in ſuch contempt? and that not with a few, but almoſt vniuerſally, that the moſt are ſo farre off from receiuing their Miniſters, as the Augels of God for their meſſage ſake, that they are vile in their eyes, and of all people may beſt be ſpared of them. Neither offer they this meaſure to the idle, ignorant, proud and vnprofitable, who if they are ſuch, as they deeme them (their office ſet apart) are iuſtly ſo dealt with by Gods righteous iudgements (that ſeeing they diſhonour him, he leaues them without honour,1. Sam. 2. and ſeeing their lips refuſe knowledge, he refuſeth them for being his) but they offer this meaſure euen to ſuch, as in tender care of their good, beſeech them as the Lords Ambaſſadours, in the name of Chriſt, 2. Cor. 5.to be reconciled vntounto God (whom to reiect, is to reiect the Lord himſelfe) yet theſe bee ſcorned by the name of Prieſts, for in ſuch ſence they vſe that tearme, that when the perſons be in diſgrace with them, they may the eaſilyer deſpiſe their doctrine, not conſidering the waighty charge of the Lord, who ſaith,1. Theſ. 5. deſpiſe not Prophecying, and againe, touch not mine anointed and doe my Prophets no harme. Of whom this will I ſay, that if they who heare the word, yea, and that with ſome ioy, and giuegive reuerence to the Meſſengers, as Saul here did, and Herod to Iohn Baptiſt, yet not receiuing their doctrine and meſſage, to reforme and keepe them from euill, ſhall periſh euerlaſtingly; that much greater damnation abideth for theſe, and they beare the marke of it already Heb. 2. 2. & cap. 10. 29. For ſuch contempt is an infallible token of it, ſo long as it ſhall bee found in them: which I doe not ſay as though they were in caſe good enough, vnleſſe they deſire to be reformed alſo.