Seven Treatises, Treatise 3 · Chapter 2
CHAP. 2. Of the publike helpes to increaſe godlines: and namely, the miniſterie of the word.
TO begin therefore with the publike meanes and helpes, whereby God hath appointed to ſtrengthen the beleeuer, and ſettle him in a godly life; know wee, that the word is the firſt and principall. And there ſhall neede no great marueiling at this, which I ſay, if we mark the royall and moſt excellent commendations, that we heare, and reade of the Scriptures, which are this word of God.Truth. For beſides that they are by good euidence and teſtimonie proued to be the very truth and word of God (not the phantaſies of mans braine) which hee willeth vsus to ſearch,Ioh. 5.39. ſending vsus vntounto them, if we deſire to know his mind and will towards vsus:Authoritie. ſo the authoritie of them is ſuch, that by whomſoeuer it be gainſaid or called into queſtion, we neede not bee troubled at it, and ſo be diſcomfited: no although it were an Angel from heauen (if any ſuch thing were poſſible) much leſſe the man of ſinne,Gal. 1.8. who yet chalengeth authoritie to be heard before them.
And that we may not doubt, but that all Gods will is reuealed in them, we are taught,Sufficiencie. 2. Tim. 5.16. that they are all-ſufficient, that is, containe whatſoeuer is able to make one either an inheritour of ſaluation, or a true Chriſtian, in which two conſiſteth true felicitie. Now for the plainnes and euidence of the heauenly matter,Plainenes. that is contained in them, by the meanes which God hath vſed, and the order that he hath taken, for laying out the ſweetnes & beautie of them, they are in the moſt neceſſarie points, eaſie to be vnderſtood and conceiued euen of the ſimple and ignorant. For beſides that, he hath commanded them to be reuerently and diſtinctly read in the aſſemblie,Epheſ. 4.11. Expoſition, and preaching. he hath giuen vntounto his Church moſt excellent gifts (I meane paſtors and teachers) to interprete and teach his whole counſell out of them; and to ſhew the people how to profit by the doctrine of them: and to make the right vſe thereof, in ſuch wiſe applying the ſame to them, as if they had been particularly, and onelyonly appointed for them. And in like manner, he hath prouided to hauehave theſe his holie Scriptures turned into thoſe tongues and languages, which are vnderſtood of the diuers and ſundrie nations of the world, that thereby they may, as the good people of Theſſalonica and Berea did,Act. 17.11. conferre the Sermons which they heare, in their owne tongue, with the Scriptures; and ſo finde more cleere light and comfort by them. All which being conſidered, it may not hardly be gathered, what a ſingular helpe, a ſound ordinarie miniſterie of the word is,1. Theſſ. 3.10. 1. Pet. 5.2. to build vp more ſtrongly a weake Chriſtian in a godly life. For we muſt conſider that God hath appointed this preaching of his words to perfect the faith of his elect, and therefore S. Peter chargeth the ſhepheards to feede the flocke of Chriſt which dependeth on them: and our Sauiour (Peters Schoolemaſter) requireth,Iohn. 21.15. that as hee loued him, ſo he ſhould feede his lambes and his ſheepe. And it being preached with authoritie and power to perſwade (not as the word of man,1. Theſſ. 2.13. Heb. 4.12. which is but weake and frothie, but as it is indeed the word of the liuing God) it is mightie in operation, and ſharper then any two edged ſword, working in the people of God as a kind and forcible medicine vponupon a diſeaſe, and ſo becommeth the power of God vntounto ſaluation to them.
Benefit to the vnregenerate.But to ſay nothing of the benefit, which this ordinance of God bringeth to the vnregenerate, who as yet walke in darknes (for it is not pertinent to my purpoſe in this place to ſpeake of that, which yet is a mightie and great meane to conuert them from their old conuerſation,1. Cor. 14.24. Act. 26.18. and from the power and bondage of Sathan vntounto God) to omit that (I ſay) behold the manifold vſes and daily helpes that the regenerate and people of God hauehave by it.To the regenerate. Firſt therefore,1. Knowledge. they are cleered from error and darknes about religion, and manners (wherewith otherwiſe they are fraught and much incumbred) and grow more ſound in the knowledge of the truth, and ſee more particularlie into the way and whole courſe of Chriſtianitie: which thing others euen of Gods children wanting, are ſo vnſetled, and ſo holden vnderunder of ignorance and blindnes, in many needfull points,The vertues of the pearle. that they muſt needes finde the leſſe fruite of the Chriſtian life (as if it were not to be inioyed at all) and ſo become more dimme paterns of holines to others. Wherein this is more,2 that they who vſe theſe meanes diligently and reuerently, doe grow ſetled and eſtabliſhed in their knowledge from day to day: whereas others, who are deſtitute of this gracious helpe (do what they can) muſt want this (although they may hauehave ſome benefit by priuate reading) if they loſe not ſomewhat of that which before they had.
Againe, this quickeneth them in their drowſines:3 it cheereth them in their heauines: it calleth them backe from their wandrings. I ſpeake briefly of ample and large matters (wherein I might be long, and that alſo not without the readers good liking and deſire) it raiſeth them vp if they hauehave fallen: it counſelleth them in their doubtfull caſes; and wherein they are to ſeeke of aduice: and by experience of Gods dealing with them in all eſtates (how he bleſſeth them in well doing, and contrarily) by the experience, I ſay, which they hauehave, this preaching of the word of God ordinarily, is a meane whereby they are faſt ſetled in a godly courſe,4 and keepe well when they are well, rather then fickle and inconſtant in the good cariage of themſelues, as many are. And what a benefit is this? How is it ſought by many with teares, and yet of few obtained? yea of ſundrie Chriſtians thought to be impoſſible to be reached vntounto, becauſe they know it not.
And yet to this (as great as it is) doe euen they who hauehave had as weake beginnings in the Church of God, as any other of their brethren (by this heauenly direction taught out of Gods word) attaine and grow vntounto. For when in a ſound, plaine, and orderly manner, Gods will is laid foorth in preaching, this helpe many do get by it, that they doe gird vp the loines of their mindes, that is, learne to lay aſide, and caſt off that which would hinder them; their inward corruptions eſpecially: they prepare themſelues to follow the rules, which leade and guide them to their dutie: by this they eſpie their weaknes, and how they are holden backe when they hauehave fallen; and which is the right way of proceeding: and this is the better done, the oftner that they are put in minde thereof. So that, this is the Sunne which giueth light to them in all places: and the rule by which they frame all their actions; and therefore a Chriſtian man though weake, being deſirous to learne, doth by this finde marueilous furtherance towards the godly life.
Beſides this which I hauehave ſaid,The fift benefit of ordinarie preaching. the true Chriſtian by his ordinarie hearing is taught, to giuegive ſome part and time of his life to reading of the Scriptures, and other good writers, as is ſaid in another place; and that with good fruite, vnderſtanding and comfort: whereas without it, he were like to neglect, and be wearie of that labour, and in ſteed thereof, to giuegive himſelfe to idlenes, and to bee vainly occupied; or though hee ſhould vſe it, yet to doe it with little knowledge, comfort, or any other profit.The ſixt. And when a man is framed thus by the miniſterie of the word, hee becommeth a light and an example vntounto others, in token that he hath found great helpe by it himſelfe.
Therefore if he may by the preaching of the word ordinarily be led into all truth neceſſarie for him to know, and bee deliuered from errour in religion and manners; if he may be eſtabliſhed and confirmed in the knowledge of the will of God; if he may be reformed in his affections and life daily, more and more encreaſing therein, and ouercomming himſelfe better thereby; if hee may both be brought to beſtow ſome time of his life (as his calling will permit) in reading, and ſo as that he may finde profit thereby; and finally if he may become an example in time vntounto others: I may boldly affirme and conclude, that the ordinarie preaching of the word is a ſingular meanes whereby God hath prouided that his people ſhould grow and increaſe in a godly life. Now then, they ſo vſing it, as they hauehave elſewhere been taught, namely in the ſecond commaundement, that is, comming to heare with meekenes and hungrie harts, and being attentiue in hearing, and applying it to themſelues, they reape the fruite, which I hauehave ſaid.
And if this be eaſily graunted and yeelded vntounto, I ſay no more but this: I would to God that they, who are in great account for their religion, and doe oft and commonly heare the word, did finde it ſo, and did reape this fruite by it, and were holpen al theſe waies vntounto godlines, which (God doth know) is ſeldome ſo. And therefore where this ſound and plaine teaching is wanting, how much more muſt the people needes be out of frame? But where the diligence, skill, louelove, and plainenes in a good order of teaching cannot be found fault with in the Miniſter, it is certaine, that the fault is in the hearers: That they, though otherwiſe they may belong to the Lord, yet are not reuerent and attentiue in hearing, are not prepared before to heare, or els doe not digeſt willingly that which they hauehave heard; but are ſurfeited of ſome dangerous qualities in their liues, or corruptions in their hearts: among which, this is a ſpeciall one, that as they thinke of the perſon who teacheth, ſo doe they of his doctrine, and not otherwiſe.
Now if in this one meanes, ſo great helpe may be gotten, what may bee thought, when this and others go together? But I conclude with this exhortation,1. Pet. 5.2. 2. Tim. 4.2. Luk. 19.44. Feede the Lords flocke which dependeth vponupon you: and be inſtant in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, O ye Miniſters of the Lord. Know the day of your viſitation, and the things which belong to your peace, by preaching, O ye people, who liue vnderunder the miniſterie of the word: lay vp now in your harueſt againſt the time of your neceſſitie: and this be ye perſwaded of, that ye ſhall hauehave neede of all that you gather. Seeke to inioy this libertie of the miniſterie of the word, ye that want it: and if ye may inioy it as eaſily and with as little paine, as you doe your market, thinke it worth your labour, if ye can no eaſilier come by it:Prou. 23.23. Matth. 9.37. and buy wiſedome whatſoeuer it coſt you, but ſell it not, whatſoeuer ye may get for it: pray the Lord of the harueſt to thruſt foorth labourers plentifully into the harueſt, Ioh. 4.35.ye that are white vntounto the harueſt to be laboured amongſt, and deſirous to be brought into the Lords barne.
Laſtly, all ye that hauehave the ouerſight of the Lords miniſterie, ſee them teach ſoundly, plainly, faithfully and diligently, who are called to it: and go before them your ſelues painfully, as lights and good examples: that many thanks may be giuen, and prayers made to God by the people for you, when you ſhall giuegive them ſo good occaſion to remember you, and for warming their hearts and comforting them with ſuch good diet for their ſoules and liberall prouiſion, and that in the day of accounts ye may hauehave many to witnes the godly care that ye had ouer them.
And thus much of the firſt publike helpe for the encreaſing and nouriſhing of a godly and Chriſtian life, in all ſuch as hauehave truely entred into it, that is to ſay, the word preached.