A Key to the Key of Scripture, Chapter 1 · Exposition of verse 13
Verſe 13. Now my brethren I would that yee ſhould not be ignorant, how that I hauehave oftentimes purpoſed to come vntounto you (but hauehave been let hitherto) that I might hauehave ſome fruit alſo among you, as I hauehave among the other Gentiles.
THis Verſe is added to the former by way of prolepſis, for hauing profeſſed his deſire to ſee them, hee ſaw it might be demanded why hee came not; to which he anſweres, that he had often purpoſed, but was hindered, where his purpoſe is ſet out vntounto vsus. Firſt, by the frequencie of it. Secondly, by an Antitheſis of things diuerſe ſhewing the cauſe of not obtayning that purpoſe; he was hindered. Thirdly, by the end; to hauehave fruit. Fourthly, by the inward mouing cauſe, conſideration of his debt, and conſcience to diſcharge it.
Now here are ſundry things worthy our obſeruation, Obſer. and firſt, where Paul purpoſeth and is hindered, obſerue that the good purpoſes of Gods children are ſometimes hindered of their execution. Compare 2 Sam. 7.5. Act. 16.6.7. God firſt by ſuch inhibitions ſhewing his power; ſecondly, inſtructing to humility, and reſpect to his will; Iam. 4.15. thirdly, iudgement on the wicked vnworthy of ſuch bleſſings. Math. 13.58. Mark. 6.5.
Ʋſe 1 And it muſt teach vsus euen in our beſt intendments, to ſubmit our wils vntounto GodsyHeb. 6.3., and to permit vntounto him the diſpoſition of all our purpoſes.
Ʋſe 2 Secondly, it may comfort vsus alſo in expectation of the Lords defeating the malitious and miſchieuous plots of our vngracious aduerſaries, be they neuer ſo cunningly plotted, or reſolutely intended: no doubt that God that hinders good purpoſes of his owne Saints from execution, will much more defeate and bring to naught the lewd intendments of the wicked. See Examples, Act. 23.12.13.16 23.
Ʋſe 3 Hence alſo it followes that croſſe ſucceſſe in execution, proues not certainly vnlawfulneſſe of the intention. And that ſpeech of Gamaliel, Act. 5.38. is vttered plauſibly to appeaſe the counſell, not euer truly as experience teacheth.
Now if we view the meane of hinderance, ſomething elſe will offer it ſelfe to our conſideration, 1 Theſ. 2.18. the Apoſtle mentions one hinderance of ſuch a purpoſe by Sathan; Act. 16.6. Another by ſpeciall prohibition of Gods ſpirit; Rom. 15.20.21.22. A third the greater neceſſitie of other people. And this I take to be that here meant.
Obſer. Whence may be obſerued, that where is greateſt neceſſitie of our people, there muſt be moſt of our paines beſtowed: a goodzLuc. 15 4. ſhepheard miſſing his loſt ſheepe, leaues the reſt in the folde, and ſeekes that is loſt. A carefull Phiſitian though he hauehave many Patients lying vnderunder his hand, yet moſt reſpecteth with attendance him that is moſt dangerouſlyaMat. 9.12. diſeaſed. A good Captaine there placeth the greateſt fortification where the wall is weakeſt, becauſe he knowes there the enemie is likelieſt to make aſſault and preuaile; we are Shepheards, Phiſitians, Captaines of the Lords Hoaſt, keepers of the Lords defenced Cities, &c.
Yet here this caueat muſt be remembred; that this muſt be limitted eſpecially to our owne charges,b1 Pet. 5.2. for though what we can ſpare from the neceſſities of our owne people, may be beſtowed to others. Yet muſt our owne houſhold people be firſt and principally regarded. Math. 15.24.
And therefore our people of more vnderſtanding muſt not repine at their Miniſters, Vſe. though they ſhall in reſpect to the ignorance, and ſmall capacity of ſome in their Congregations inſiſt and ſtay long in the very Rudiments and ABC as it were of Chriſtian religion. For though they perhaps be fit to digeſt ſtronger meat, yet ſome others, and perhaps alſo the greater part hauehave need of milke: and as their neceſſitie is greater, ſo ought it moſt to be regarded of a Miniſter, yea and let the ſtronger know that it is not alwaies vnprofitable vntounto them that principles be in the plaineſt manner inculcated, partly becauſe there is none can ſay that he doth ſo diſtinctly vnderſtand any principle, but he may need more plaine explication, partly for that memory is many times ſlipperie, and often by too eager purſuit of things difficult, we forget euen thoſe things that are moſt plaine and familiar vntounto vsus.
The end of this his purpoſe followes; that hee might hauehave ſome fruit, he meanes as I take it, the gayning of ſome of them vntounto God, Compare Ioh. 15.16.
Where note what a Miniſter muſt eſteeme his chiefe Obſer. fruit, not ſo much plentifull tithes, and reuenues which ſome call their fruits, as the gayning of ſoules to the faith of Chriſt. This is our harueſt, to the gathering whereof we muſt principally bend our ſelues.
Now if any ſhall demaund how Paul calles the people of God conuerted, his fruit? Anſ. Firſt, becauſe Miniſters are Godsc1 Cor. 3.7.9. inſtruments and ſeruants to gather it: And ſecondly, becauſe this in the euent proues very gainefull, and aduantagious vntounto them in regard of that recompence God hath promiſed them aboue others that labour in his harueſt: Dan. 12.3. Compare 1 Theſ. 2.19.20.
Ʋſe. And if men could reſolue thus to eſteeme and meaſure their fruit, no doubt there would be leſſe ambitious hunting after preferments and benefits, more plentifull fruit gathered into the garners of Chriſt Ieſus: but while men make this the ſcope of their entrance and execution of Miniſterie, that they may hauehave whereby to liue, no meruaile if the chiefe care be neglected, and ſo a curſe laid vponupon the gifts and paines of ſuch, that they proue barren of this fruit, conuerſion of ſoules to the faith of Chriſt. Read for encouragement this way, Dan. 12.3. that compariſon of equals annexed, ſeemes to tend this way, either to perſwade this people of his indifferent care of their gayning, as well as of others though by meanes of detaynment he had not as yet laboured amongſt them, or elſe as a reaſon of his hope to hauehave fruit amongſt them, becauſe GOD had bleſſed his paines vntounto others: or laſtly, to worke in the people hope and expectation of benefit by his comming, and withall deſire of it, in as much as his Miniſtrie had beene ſo fruitfull amongſt others.