The Ethiopian Eunuchs Conversion, Commentary on Acts 8 · Verse 40
VERSE 40. And Philip was found at Azotus, and paſsing through he preached in all the Cities till he came to Caeſaria.
WE hauehave heard before of the miraculous tranſlation of Philip; If any would know what became of him afterwards, he is to know that his tranſlation was not like to that of Enoch, or Elias, that when they were tranſlated, they were no more ſeene, but this was but Philips remouall from one place to another.
Hauing finiſhed his work with the Eunuch, his worke is not now at an end, but he is to go to another people. It is not enough for a faithfull Miniſter to preach a Sermon or two, or once in a monethmonth to preach to his people; but he muſt bee ſtill ſetting forward the Lords worke, and by all meanes poſſible, ſeek the aduancement of Chriſts kingdome, wherſoeuer the Lord ſhall call him, and diſpoſe of him. This is the maine thing to be looked after. So that our Inſtruction will be this.
That the calling of a Miniſter is a laborious and painfull calling▪ Doct. The calling of a Miniſter is a laborious calling. Epiſcopatus nomen eſt operis, non honoris. Aug.it is an endleſſe taske they hauehave to do, there is ſtill in the ſame foreign a remainder, ſome thing or other left ſtil for them to do. The calling of a Miniſter is a laborious calling; and hence it is, that in the Scriptures they hauehave ſuch names giuen vntounto them, which aboue all other import labour and trauell. They are called Husbandmen, Watchmen, Mat. 9.37.Shepherds, Labourers, whoſe names ſerue to put them in minde of their duties. The harueſt is great but the labourers are few. The word in the originall ſignifieth labour vntounto wearineſſe. So Paul, The Elders that rule well, Tim. 5.7.are worthy of double honour, eſpecially they that labour in the word and doctrine. What calling may bee compared to the calling of an huſbandman for labour and trauell, ſometime plowing, manuring, ſowing, reaping, eueryevery ſeaſon brings with it its worke. Thus fareth it with the Miniſters of the Word. They muſt ſtudy conſtantly, meditate earneſtly, inſtruct diligently, exhort carefully, reproue zealouſly and boldly, comfort chearfully, and to doe all this, will it not aske labour? Many of our hearers are weake in knowledge; we muſt labour to informe them: Many are obſtinate, wee muſt labour to reclaime them: many go mourning all the day long vnderunder the burthen of ſinne, theſe muſt be ſupported in louelove. Miniſters muſt preach and pray, and pray and preach, and will not all this aske labour? Can you heare theſe things, my brethren, and not pittie vsus? No maruell though Paul wills Timothy to drinke no longer water, but to take a little wine for his infirmities ſake. It ſeemes that Timothy was a weake young man, to whom Paul preſcribes a little wine, but not a little preaching: Will you know the grounds of this?
Firſt, it is Gods owne ordinance, that eue… calling in the ſweat of the face ſhould eate its bread. Now there is indeed the ſweat of the braine, as well as the ſweat of the brow; which thing, had it beene duely conſidered, then needed not that Prieſt that read the place, In the ſweat of thy face, &c. hauehave betaken himſelfe to bodily labour.
Secondly, this is that which doth manifeſt in a ſpeciall manner our louelove to Chriſt, and compaſſion to the poore ſoules of his people. Therefore doth our Sauiour vrge this vponupon Peter, …oh. 21.15.Peter loueſt thou mee? feede my ſheepe: and ſo the ſecond and the third time. Not onelyonly that his threefold confeſſion might ſatisfie for his threefold denyall, as ſome ſuppoſe; but rather that Peters threefold louelove might bee ſeene in his threefold diligence in feeding of Chriſts flocke.
Vſe. 1 And ſurely this may ſerue to checke the vaine conceit of the multitude, that thinke the life of a Miniſter ſo eaſie a life. Indeed there are in the Church, that deſerue the names of Loyterers, and not of Labourers; ſuch were neuer ſent of Chriſt into his vineyard, neither can they looke to hauehave the penny when the Euening commeth, when euerie man ſhall receiue according to his works. But ſuch as are faithfull indeed, finde it to be a laborious calling.
Vſe. 2 Secondly, this may ſerue likewiſe for the iuſt reproofe of diuers in the Miniſtery, that like well of the honour, but neuer conſider the burthen of their calling. Was it a ſhame for thoſe husbandmen in the Goſpell, to ſtand idle in the Market place, when they notwithſtanding could ſay, Nemo nos conduxit: No man hath hired vsus. O then what a ſhame is it then for thoſe that ſtand all the day idle, not in the Market place, but in the vineyard of his Church; Surely ſuch hauehave cauſe to bluſh, and to hang downe their heads with ſhame, in the conſcience of their owne negligence. But of this before.
FINIS.
End of the text · Samuel Smith, The Ethiopian Eunuchs Conversion (1632)