Samuels Encounter with Saul, Doctrine 30
Doct. 29. More doe frequent good company, then profit thereby.
VERSE 27.
And as Samuel turned about to goe away, he layd hold vponupon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
BVT to paſſe to another thing, who ſeeth not that this was extreme folly in a wiſe man, that he could not but hold him in his company, and yet neuer the better for it?2 Kin. 3. 15. So Iehoraem could could bee content to ſerue his turne with Eliſha the Prophet, in his ſore diſtreſſe and danger, that hee was in: but otherwiſe regarded no whit his doctrine, nor meſſage, to be reformed by it: but rather hated him. Euen as Ahabal, ſo his father was willing to hauehave good tydings by Michaiah, 1 Kin. 22.when he went to war at Ramoth Gilead; but hee was ſo far off, from hearing the iudgement of God, for his idolatrie and diſobedience at his mouth, or to bee willing to bee conuerted from it, to the true worſhipping of God, that he ſent him to priſon with hunger and paine. Euen ſo it is, I muſt needes ſay, the heauy hand of God vponupon many among vsus, and a point of groſſe fooliſhneſſe, though otherwiſe they hauehave wit and worldly wiſdome with the moſt: that notwithſtanding, they bee no Papiſts, to contemne and deſpiſe the Preachers of the Word, yet they are not wiſe enough to make their profit of them: nay, though they louelove them, as they doe other men; yet do they not ſeeke to know the end, why they are ſet among them, and what vſe for the attaining of happineſſe, they ſhould ſeeke to make of them.
It was reuealed by God,Corrupt ends of mens conuerſing with the Miniſter. in ages paſt, though now more plainely in this latter age of ours, that Prophets and Preachers, ſhould be receiued for their office and meſſage ſake, which is, that they bring tydings of bleſſedneſſe, to be enioyed both here, as Luk. 11. 28. and hereafter for euer, as Luk. 1. 69. but how doe people, for the moſt part, regard and embrace this meſſage of God, by their miniſtry? many of them will, to get a good penny-worth in his tythes, at a good Miniſters hands, hold in and keepe in fauour with him; and if they obtain that, they will ſpeake well of him: others for ſome qualities of his, wherewith they are delighted; as that hee is a fit companion for them at play, a merry conceited perſon, and can diſcourſe well and wiſely of worldly matters; for theſe and ſuch like they affect him.
And another ſort, if they hauehave one that beareth the name of a learned man, though he bee little conuerſing with them, or doe them little good, will perhaps glory of, and commend him, though they care not whether hee teach them or no.
That I ſay nothing of the ignorant and inſufficient Miniſters, with whom yet, many are as well content (if not better) then with the ableſt and beſt. But what is all this? this is not to receiue him for his office ſake and Miniſtry, as our Sauiour teacheth men,Mat. 10. to receiue a Prophet in the name of a Prophet, that ſo they may hauehave the reward of a Prophet. And thus men ſuffer themſelues, to be groſſely bewitched, that Saul was neuer more palpably deceiued, in laboring to hauehave Samuel with him (when yet hee ſought no ſpiritual counſel, or comfort at his hands) then the moſt are in our dayes, that like and allow of the Miniſtry, perhaps though many doe not ſo, and yet ſhall bee found (if any liſt to examine it) not to looke to be enſtructed by them,Acts 26. 18 nor turned from the power and dominion of Satan, to the ſincere louelove and obedience of God, neither to bee called, and brought from darkneſſe to light, to faith and knowledge, which are the ends, why the Goſpel is preached among them; but onelyonly in ſome ſuch reſpects, to like and receiue them, as I hauehave before ſet downe.
But is this the manner of accounting the Miniſtry and Miniſters, as Gods holy ordinance, and his ſingular gifts? is this to make propheſie and preaching precious? Is this to account and eſteeme the tydings of the Kingdome of Heauen,Mat. 13. as a pearle? for ſo the Scripture cals it) is this, to receiue Gods holy Meſſengers, as Angels; and to ſhew, that their feet, or comming, is beautifull; becauſe they bring a glad meſſage, and a meſſage of peace vntounto them? Is it to louelove, and eſteem them ſo, as for their ſakes, to bee ready to plucke their owne eyes out, if need were, for the ſingular benefit, which they receiue at their hands, and by their meanes?
It doth well appeare that the neare coniunction of true and chriſtian louelove betweene Gods faithfull miniſters and their flocke,The true ends of this fellowſhip much neglected. which alſo ought to be betwixt all teachers, and the people committed to their charge, is either not knowne, or not greatly in practiſe: And if the true ſhepheard (as Chriſt teacheth) will ſo louelove his flock,Iob. 10. 5. as he will looſe goods and life for their ſake, if occaſion ſhould be offred; and if they bee like affected to him, is there not (thinke we) ſome great matter betwixt them, which cauſeth this? And what is it? the naturall father, and ſonne are not ſo nearely vnited as they: yea, greater things are enioyned of one by the other, then betwixt them: for the father is but the meane of his ſons being at all; but the ſpirituall father is the inſtrument of his euerlaſting welbeing: he can only conuey or leaue to his ſonne, his temporall poſſeſſions and goods; but this is a meane whereby eternall riches, yea, a kingdome and that eternall, is enioyed by them whome hee begetteth by the goſpell: againe, their louelove can bee but naturall, therefore not euer firme and ſtable, but the louelove of theſe is ſpirituall, and therefore endureth: and ſuch louing and liuing together, ſhould be betweene the one and the other: which I ſay, becauſe the blinde and the beaſtly world, who knoweth no whit of this, when they ſee faithfull louelove betwixt the teacher and people, doe to their further condemnation, reproachfully vtter theſe ſpeaches, that the people make their miniſter their God: but while they thus ſpeake, we may ſee that they ſee cauſe to louelove them, and that there is another end why the ſhepheards of ſoules ought to bee deſired and enioyed, and another manner of benefit to be reaped by them, then either Saul, or ſuch as I hauehave ſpoken of, hauehave found: which therfore ought of all the people of God heereafter to bee ſought and looked after.