A Key to the Key of Scripture, Chapter 1 · Exposition of verse 11
Verſe 11. For I long to ſee you, that I might bestow among you ſome ſpirituall gift, to ſtrengthen you.
THe next argument and euidence of Paules louelove, remaines to be treated; that is, his deſire and longing to ſee them, for their good. Wherein theſe things are obſeruable: Firſt, his deſire to ſee them: Secondly, the ends of it, verſe 11. Which by a Rhetoricall correction hee ſeemes ſomething to mittigate, leaſt hee might be thought to thinke ouer meanely of their preſent faith.
Obſer. foreign, I long to ſee you.] It ſignifies ſuch a deſire as is impatient of delayes. Whence note the affection of a true paſtour towards his people; how holily impatient their deſires are of detainment from their people: preſſed partly by neceſſitie laid vponupon them,m1 Cor. 9 16. partly conſtrained by the louelove of Chriſt,n2 Cor. 5.14. partly commiſſerating the ſtate of their people;oMat. 9.36. to which might be added the knowledge of their peoples ſeuerall eſtates, for their better fitting to diuide the word a right. 2 Tim. 2.15.
Ʋſe. To which patterne how ſutable their practiſe is, that vnderunder pretenſe of fitting themſelues to the worke of the miniſterie, wilfully abſent themſelues from their charges, I would they themſelues would rather ſeriouſlie conſider, then giuegive others cauſe to complaine I know its true that a paſtour ought to labour for fitnes to diſcharge the great worke he hath vndertaken;p1 Tim. 4.16. but this I maruell how men can thinke themſelues ſufficiently fitted to take vponupon them care of ſoules, and yet by their abſence, vnderunder pretenſe of ſtudie, acknowledge their preſent abſolute vnfitneſſe, to teach and exhort their people: or ſecondly how they can imagine by priuate ſtudie in ſchooles of the Prophets, better to furniſh themſelues for paſtorall performances, then by diligent imployment of their talents alreadie receiued amongſt their people.
But conſider wee the ends, why Paul deſires to ſee them. Firſt, to bestow ſome ſpirituall gift vponupon them: by ſpirituall gift, he meanes as I take it, ſome word of inſtruction, or exhortation, tending to increaſe or confirme the graces of the ſpirit of God.
See then what ought to be the largeſſe that a paſtor of the Church ought principally to beſtow on his people; though I know it's true, Obſer. hee muſt be hoſpitall, yea, giuen to hoſpitalitie,q1 Tim. 3.2. according to abilitie; yet herein eſpecially muſt he ſhew his bounty and liberalitie, in beſtowing ſpirituall gifts of inſtruction, comfort, exhortation, for the good of his people: and this is the feeding our Sauiour commends vntounto Peter. I…h. 21.16.17.
Now I could wiſh my brethren of the miniſterie, Vſe 1 that ſo much hunt after commendation of liberall houſe keeping, a little to furniſh themſelues for this ſpirituall beneficence: and to conſider that the gifts of paſtours, as paſtours, are ſpirituall; neither are wee properly feeders of our peoples bodies, but of their ſoules: and what auailes it that wee gorge their bellies with good cheere, and hunger-ſtarue their ſoules through our penurious and niggardly diſtributing to their ſpirituall neceſſities?
Vſe 2 And withall let the people here take notice, what almes it is that they are to expect at the hands of their paſtours; ſpirituall gifts of inſtruction, exhortation, comfort. He is in deed the bountifull miniſter, that is rich in theſe kindes of ſpirituall good workes, our Sauiour, Ioh. 6 ſeeing the people admire and follow him for belly-cheare, reproueth their carnall affection; and tels them both what they ſhould principally labour for, and what chiefely to expect from him, as the chiefe ſhepheard of the ſheepe; foode ſpirituall that periſheth not, but laſts to life euerlaſting. But to heare the manner of peoples commendation of their paſtours is too too ſtrange; no great ſcholler they ſay, nor one that troubles them much with preaching, but for houſe-keeping none of them all comes neare him; and on the other ſide of a painefull miniſter, hee is a great ſcholler, very painefull in preaching, but hee keepes no houſe; now ſurely it may ſo well be with many of vsus, that through the generall ſhort allowance left vsus, and what through the peoples vniuſt detaining of our ſmal remainders; but in ſuch caſe mee thinkes the largeſſe of Peter ſhould ſuffice vsus; if when we lacke ſiluer and gold to diſtribute, we giuegive ſuch as we hauehave. Acts 3.6. ſpirituall gifts of inſtruction and conſolation.
Vſe 3 Marke here an almes that the pooreſt of Gods Saints may at all times diſtribute to the neceſſities of their brethren; perhaps foode, or rayment they are not able to giuegive, but yet a word of inſtruction, exhortation, comfort they may giuegive, and relieue the ſoules of others, though themſelues lacke meanes to ſuſtaine their owne bodies.
The other end followes: that yee might be ſtrengthened. What need Paul ſo much to deſire to ſee them to this end? could he not ſufficiently by writing confirme them? Anſ. It ſeemes that he thought with Hierome, that viua vox; had in it aliquid latentis energiae, ſome more life and power then a naked Epiſtle.
Whence may be obſerued, Obſer. that teaching by liuely voyce is more effectuall, to the ends for which it was ordained, then any other meanes of writing or whatſoeuer. Which beſides experience, reaſon naturall and diuine ſufficiently euinceth. Nature this teacheth, that the obiect of hearing, is farre more powerfull then that of ſight; and therefore fitter to pierce into the inward parts, and leauing a deepe impreſſion in the minde, more mouing affections, &c. See Plin… Hy… ſtol. lib. 2.
Diuine, becauſe it hath pleaſed the Lord, to make the eare the ſpeciall doore for his ſpirit to enter by. Rom. 10 17. Act. 10.44. Not but that he is effectuall in a meaſure to ſome ends by reading, but that hee more powerfully workes by the miniſters liuely voice, then by our owne, or other mens priuate or publike reading.
And this as it ſhould ſtirre vsus vp that are in place Ʋſe 1 of miniſterie, to be inſtant this way in preaching the wordr2 Tim. 4.4., conſidering wee ſee ſuch great d…ſparitie betweene reading and preaching; ſo alſo it ſhewes what to iudge of that compariſon odiouſly entred betwixt writing or reading, and preaching by liuely voice vntounto our people: ſurely I could wiſh the proper honour due to each to be reſerued to each, without others impeachment; and cannot but take notice of that policie of Sathan, well obſerued by a faithfull miniſter in this kinde; by committing the ordinances of God in odious compariſons, to impaire the reuerend reſpect of that which is moſt profitable; but yet this I muſt needs ſpeake, that if we compare theſe two together in efficacie, and liuelihoode of operation, the oddes muſt needs be giuen to preaching; I will not ſpeake ſo profanely as one did in the pulpit, preaching compared to prayer, is meere prophaneneſſe. But this I ſay, reading compared to preaching in efficacie, is almoſt mortuum quia, and as nothing in compariſon.
Ʋſe 2 And withall let me admoniſh our people, as not to neglect attendance, eyther to priuate or publique reading, ſo at no hand to deſpiſe prophecies2 Theſ 5.20. the principall meanes ordayned as for conuerſion, ſo for our confirmation: And let all ſuch as contenting themſelues to ſerue God at home, forſake our gatherings togithertHeb. 10.25. this conſider, that they much hinder their own ſolide comfort, and confirmation, and dangerouſly lay open themſelues to fearfull Apoſtaſie. ibidem.
Obſer. That you may be ſtrengthened.] So is the miniſterie of the word needfull euen for thoſe alſo that are already brought to the faith: for grouth, increaſe, eſtabliſhment, confirmation. Confer. Ephe. 4.12.13. 1 Pet. 2.1.2. 2 Pet. 1.12.13.
Ʋſe. And I would thoſe foreign, new plants amongſt vsus, that eaſilieſt are puft vp and ſwell with conceit of of their …mall modicum of knowledge receiued, ſo far that they neglect all farther meanes of edification and ſtrengthening, to conſider this; that as the miniſterie of the word, was the meanes to conuert them; ſo it muſt ſtill be vſed as a meanes to confirme them. I hauehave heard it to be the ſpeech of a profane Popiſh Rabbine; that preaching indeed is neceſſarie to gather a church, but when we are once in the ſetled forme of a church, preaching is vnneceſſarie: let him read Epheſ. 4.12.13. And if he ſcorne not to ſubmit himſelf to Pauls iudgement, he ſhall learne that Propheſie is for them that belieue. 1 Cor. 14.22,