A Key to the Key of Scripture, Chapter 1 · Exposition of verse 2
Verſe 2. Which hee had promiſed afore by his Prophets in the holy Scriptures.
SEt apart.] This ſeparation is two-fould. Firſt in Gods counſell and decree. Reade Gal. 1.15. Obſeruation. Whence we note, that God hath from eternall, deſigned thoſe whom in time he cals to thoſe particular callings, wherein they are placed. See Ier. 1.5. vnderſtand it of lawful callings, lawfully vndertaken.
Vſe. It ſhould teach vsus contentment, in the ſtations wherin God hath placed vsus, though neuer ſo baſe, and full of trouble: wee ſhould, euerie of vsus thinke our owne callings beſt for vsus: often repinings ariſe in the heart, and diſcontented inquiries, why had not God made me a Gentleman, a Scholler, a Marchant? as if the pot ſhould ſay to the Potter, why haſt thou made mee on this faſhion? Rom. 9.20.
Eſteeme that the calling to which God hath deſigned thee, for which hee beſt enableth thee by gifts, and to which the meanes of education hauehave led thee.
Now as Paul was ſeparate, and ſet apart to this function in Gods ſecret decree: ſo alſo, byaAct. 13.2. Gods appointment, was hee ſeparated to the ſame by the Church.
Obſer. The Lord would teach vsus hereby not to deſpiſe the office of the Church, where it may be had, though priuie to our ſelues, of our competencie for the worke of the miniſterie.
Que…t. How if the Church neglect her duetie in calling after gifts, and fitneſſe obtained?
Anſ. Modeſtly tender thy ſelfe and thy paines, and if thou beb1. Tim. 3. approued thou maiſt miniſter.
Queſt. What if after ſuch offer the Church admit not?
Anſ. Thus thinke the time is not come which God hath deſigned for thine imployment.
Anabaptiſts reproued, Ʋſe. that deſpiſe the Churches calling, gifts once ſuppoſed to be obtained.
To preach the Go…pell.] The matter ſubiect of Paules office is here noted.
The Goſpell.] The word in generall ſignifies any tidings of good things In Scripture it is ſometimes put for the hiſtorie of thecMat. 1.1. birth, life, death, &c. of Chriſt. In the olde Teſtament the ioyfull tidings of redemption, promiſed to be wrought by Chriſt, when the fulneſſe of time ſhould be expired: in this place and almoſt generallie in the new Teſtament, it imports the glad tidings of reconciliation, really wrought by Chriſt exhibited in the fleſh: this alſo the principall matter of our miniſterie. See Mat. 16.15. Luke 14 47. As thedGen 8.11. Done with the Oliue branch in her mouth: ſo ought a miniſter to be to his people, bringing tidings of good things.
Queſt. May not a Miniſter preach the law?
Anſ. Yes; as a doctrine ſubordinate to the Goſpell, and a meanes to prepare to it. See Peter, Acts 2. as a good Surgeon applies Corraſiues to a feſtred ſore, and ſometimes vſeth his lancing knife to cut away the dead fleſh, and to let out the putrified matter, that he may make way for his healing plaiſters, though his proper worke be to heale: ſo &c. In the law three things conſidered: Firſt, a doctrine of perfect righteouſneſſe; thus taughteMat. 5. by Chriſt, that we might in it behold our manifold wants. Secondly, the Curſe; thus taught byfGal. 3.10. Paul, to breake the heart, and to driue to Chriſt: Thirdly a rule of obedience; ſo taughtgTit. 2.11.12. generally in the Goſpell. In the two firſt reſpects neceſſarie to be taught as a preparatiue to the Goſpell. In the third, as a part of the Goſpell, which hath renewed the doctrine of the law. 1 Ioh. 2.8. yet this true withall: the proper, and principall office of our miniſterie, is to preach vntounto Gods people the glad tidings of reconciliation with God, remiſſion of ſinnes, entrance into heauen, procured by Chriſt Ieſus.
Me thinkes therefore, that if not for our perſonall gifts, if not for preeminence of calling, if not for the perſon of Chriſt wee ſuſtaine; yet for our meſſage ſake, we ſhould finde more louing entertainment, then the world commonly affords vsus. Iſaiah prophecying of deliuerance from captiuitie vnderunder Aſſur, thus expreſſeth their entertainment of the meſſengers thereof amongſt the people, Iſay 52.7. How beautifull vponupon the mountaines are the feete of him that declareth and publiſheth peace? &c. were the feete of thoſe meſſengers ſo beautifull? how much more amiable are the feete of them that preach deliuerance from ſpirituall bondage. See Iſay 61.1.2.3.
And yet true it is in experience, that Paul ſpeakes of the Apoſtles of the laſt times; they are counted the skumme, and off-ſcowring of the world; their perſons and meſſage alike ſpitefully reiected. Cauſe: that they neuer felt their ſpirituall miſerie. See Act. 2.37. Act. 16.30.
Now followeth the deſcription of the Goſpel: firſt, by the Authour God: ſecondly, by the adiunct, it was promiſed, the promiſes by the way amplified. Firſt, by the inſtruments by whom they were deliuered, the Prophets. Secondly, the records, wherein they were regiſtred, the ſcriptures. Thirdly, the Goſpell, further deſcribed by the obiect or ſubiect matter, Chriſt Ieſus.
The Goſpell of God.] So called becauſe God is the Authour, deuiſer, reuealer, ſender of this glad tidings vntounto the world. So then though men be miniſters, yet is the doctrine Gods, though men the meſſengers, yet is the meſſage Gods; See 2. Cor. 5.18.19.20. It will appeare if wee ſhall conſider, eyther the matter, efficacie or confirmation of it. The matter of our meſſage, ſuch as none but an infinite wiſedome could deuiſe, (viz.) the true meanes of reconcilement with God, by compoſition of infinite iuſtice, with endleſſe merciemercy in the worke of our redemption. ThehEpheſ. 3.10.11. 1. Pet. 1.12. Angels knew it not till reuealed by Chriſt vntounto the Church.
The efficacie diuine, the raiſing of a conſcience caſt downe, giuing hope to the hopeleſſe, chaungingi2. Cor. 3.18. the whole man. Confirmation bykHeb. 2.4. ſignes and wonders ſuch as none but a diuine power could worke.
Take heede, how we neglect ſo great ſaluation. Ʋſe. Heb. 2.4. Reaſons there giuen. Firſt from the danger, made more probable and grieuous by a compariſon of inſtruments deliuering it. Secondly, the euident confirmation of it by teſtimonies, Humane, verſe 3. Diuine, verſe 4. yet contempt common.
One ſpeciall cauſe, the infirmitie, and weakneſſe of men, whoſe miniſterie God vſeth. Although the Lord h…th told vsus that hee that deſpiſeth the meſſenger in reſpect of his meſſage, or the meſſage for the meſſenger, deſpiſeth not men but God. And hath for good purpoſes committed to men the word of reconciliation. Firſt, becauſe our infirmitie is not able to indure his maieſtie. Deut. 5.24.25.26.27.28. Secondly, that the excellencie of thel2. Cor. 4.7. power might be acknowledged to be of God. Thirdly, to proue our obedience.
The adiunct of the Goſpell followeth, before promiſed by the Prophets.]
Obſer. Bef…re pr…miſed.] Note here the Antiquitie of the Goſpell and doctrine of ſaluation by Chriſt. See Tit. 1.2. promiſed firſt in Paradice, renewed, tomGen. 3.15. Abraham, pointed at in the law, reuiued by thenAct. 10.43. Prophets in all ages.
Ʋſe. And yet our great Antiquaries of Rome, when they heare of the doctrine of remiſſion of ſinnes, and iuſtification by Chriſts bloud, cry out of noueltie with the people, Mar. 1.27 what new doctrine is this, neuer heard of till Luthers time? Yes, taught by the Fathers, by Apoſtles,oGen. 3.15. Prophets, by God himſelfe from the beginning. Let them aspIer. 6.16. Ieremie ſpeakes ſtand on the wayes and aske for the old way, and then tell me whether all true Antiquitie point not vntounto Chriſt, as the onelyonly trueqIoh. 14.6. way to eternall life: they talke of ſatiſfactions and merits, of pardon, and reward, by penance, pilgrimages, faſtings, voluntarie pouertie, &c. but let them ſhew in any true Antiquitie, where all or any of theſe things are commended, farther then as neceſſarie conditions and diſpoſitions as it were for attainment of ſaluation; or as dueties of thankfulneſſe for ſaluation purchaſed by Chriſt?
Obſer. Promiſed.] Obſerue againe the dignitie of the Church of the new Teſtament, from that of the old. Chriſt promiſedrLuke 10.23. to them, exhibitedsHeb 11.39.40. vntounto vsus, a benefit often commended to our diligent conſideration. In this regard Miniſters of the new Teſtament called bytMat. 11.11. Chriſt, greater then Iohn Baptiſt, not only in reſpect of a greater meaſure of reuelation vouchſafed vntounto them then vntounto him, but alſo in regard of the matter of their miniſterie. The Prophets taught Chriſt to come: Iohn Bapti…t pointed at Chriſt alreadie come: w…e preach Chriſt incarnate, crucified, riſen, aſcended, raigning; finally, hauing performed all things that were ſpoken of him by the Prophets.
Bleſſe God for this, as not the leaſt grace, that God hath reſerued vsus for theſe laſt times, wherein our eares Ʋſe 1 heare that which many Prophets, and righteous men hauehave deſired to heare, but could not heare. See Mat. 13.17.
Take we heed eſpecially how we contemne ſo great Ʋſe 2 grace as is publiſhed vntounto vsus in the Goſpell. Act. 13.32.33.40.41. Surely where grace is greateſt there is contempt moſt feareful. The records wherin theſe promiſes were regiſtred are the ſcriptures; ſo are the writings of the old & new teſtament called by excellencie.
The reaſons why God would hauehave theſe promiſes committed to writing are theſe. Firſt, the better to preſerue them from obliuion and aboliſhment. Secondly, to preuent corruption in doctrine by Heretiques. Thirdly, their better propagation to the knowledge, and vſe of all men by tranſlations, &c.
Great therefore ſhall be our vnthankfulneſſe, and moſt iuſt our condemnation, if when the Lord hath ſo much endeuoured to make the ſcriptures familiar vntounto vsus, wee ſhall be found ignorant of the meanes of ſaluation: vnable to diſcerne ſpirits, to put difference betwixt truth, and falſhood; good and euill.
The Epithite of the Scriptures; Holy: ſo are they in reſpect, firſt of their Authour, and Inditer. 2. Tim. 3.16. Secondly, of the penners,u2. Pet. 1.21. holy men of God Thirdly, of the matter, the holy and eternall truth of God. Fourthly, of their effect and end, which is ourxIoh. 17.17. ſanctification.
Papiſts hence inferre therefore not to be permitted duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page to lay-people, in their mother tongue: abuſing to this purpoſe the ſaying of Chriſt. Mat. 7.6. as who ſay all Gods people were dogges. And not onelyonly men that by their impudent contempt of wholeſome admonitions (whereof alone Chriſt there ſpeakes) bewray themſelues to be vncorrigible, and paſt cure.
Rather learne we with what affections we muſt addreſſe our ſelues to the reading of the Scriptures; holy doctrines enter not but into holy mindes, neither are they admitted but by ſanctified affections, See Ioh. 7.17. Prophaneneſſe is as the vaile ouer the heart. 2. Cor. 3.15. and GodsyPſal. 25.14. ſecret is with them onelyonly which feare him.