Eleven Choice Sermons, Part 1 · Analysis of contents
2 CORINTH. 5. 20.
1. The Connexion and Coherence of the words.
1. The occaſion of them.
1. Imputations caſt upon the Apoſtles.
1. Perſon, by reaſon of his meanneſſe.
2. Calling, by reaſon of his afflictions.
2. Removed and taken away: 4. Chap. 7. verſ. where he doth plead for,
1. The excellencie of his Function.
2. The neceſſity of his worke: though afflictions doe attend him: for,
1. Hope of reward iuticeth him, verſ. 13. of the 4. Chapter, and 10 of the 5. Chapter.
2. Feare of Puniſhment incites him, verſ. 10. 11.
3. Love of Chriſt conſtraines him.
2. Text it ſelfe.
2. The parts of the Text,
1. Inſtitution of an Office.
2. Execution of it.
3. Explication of the words.
1. Subject, we: 3. degrees of latitude, as it reſpects,
1. Himſelfe.
2. All his fellow Apoſtles.
3. All his fellow Labourers.
1. As it reſpects himſelfe, he ſpeakes in the plurall number, where is,
1. The Language of humility.
2. A Myſterie of wiſdome.
2. As it reſpects all Apoſtles: who do,
1. Agree in ſubſtance of commiſſion,
with Miniſters.
2. Differ in circumſtance of execution,
with Miniſters.
They differ in two things
1. Their Miſſion was more Authenticall.
2. Their Motion more obſervable.
2. Ambaſſadors.
1. Compariſon holds betweene Miniſters and Ambaſſadors, in three things.
1. They are both meſſengers.
2. Both from Princes.
3. Both about matters of mutuall behoofe.
2. The diſagreement is in three things,
1. Ambaſſadors are ſent, becauſe Princes themſelves cannot bee preſent.
2. Ambaſſadors are to Princes only, or free States.
3. Ambaſſadors are ſet forth with ſome beſeeming port and Pompe.
3. As it reſpects all his fellow-Labourers.
3. For Chriſt: who may be conceived,
1. As the Author.
2. The end of this Ambaſſage.
3. Object, of theſe Ambaſſadors.
4. Doctrine: Miniſters are Gods Ambaſſadors.
1. Explication.
1. The neceſſity, that God ſhould ſend his Ambaſſadors to us.
1. On mans part, miſerable extremitie.
2. On Gods part, moſt feeling and free compaſſion.
2. The conveniencie, that men and meane men ſhould be ſent, not Angels, in three Reaſons.
1. From the nature of the thing.
1. Men have more ordinary and viſible converſe with men.
2. By this meanes man is drawne to God in ſuch a manner, as is ſuitable to his nature.
3. By this meanes the gifts of grace are conveighed, as by a conduit-pipe, by the ſame nature.
2. It is moſt profitable for man.
1. It is a fruit of Chriſts exaltation, and a reall pledge of Gods affection.
2. It is a moſt probable and likely way to bring men to God▪ God deales.
1. More familiarly with us.
2. More credibly: for,
1. Men are knowne unto us:
2. They cannot deceive others, but they muſt alſo deceive their owne ſoule.
3. They confirme their owne words with their workes.
4. They ſometimes ſet a ſeale of ſuffering to their doctrine.
3. More effectually.
3. It is the ſtrongeſt bond of love betweene Chriſtians.
3. Gods gaines moſt glory this way.
1. He magnifies his owne Power in this.
2. Makes tryall of the obedience of his children.
2. Proofe: by demonſtrations taken from the nature of the doctrine.
1. The antiquitie of their doctrine.
2. Excellencie of their Ambaſſage.
1. Subject of their Doctrine.
2. Project of their Doctrine.
1. Subject they teach.
1. Plainly of the incomprehenſible diſtinction of the Trinitie, &c.
2. Truly of mans bleſſed integritie, and curſed Apoſtacie.
3. Clearely of a ſtrange marriage, the Divine nature with the humane, &c.
4. Sweetly of humiliation by the Law, of vocation by the Goſpell, &c.
2. The project of their Doctrine: the ſalvation of man, which is,
1. The moſt noble and neceſſary worke.
2. Moſt beſeeming the greatnes, goodnes, and wiſdome of God.
3. Moſt diſtant from the reach of reaſon.
3. Efficacy of their Miniſterie: ſhewed,
1. In generall.
2. In particular,
1. Exten ſively.
2. Intenſively, it workes.
1. In the heart.
2. A ſtrange worke in the heart, both thoſe in regard▪
1. Of the act it ſelfe.
2. Of the manner of working.
1. Without any helpe, ex parte ſubjecti.
2. Without any helpe, ex parte medii: or thus,
1. They worke upon the heart: which is,
1. The moſt free.
2. The moſt hard of any thing to work upon.
2. They work upon the heart in a ſpeciall and ſtrange manner: conſider,
1. Act it ſelfe: it is,
1. A Reſurrection.
2. A Generation.
3. A New creature.
2. Effect,
3. Termes betweene which this mutation runs.
3. The heart conferres nothing to this worke, not ſo much as a naturall receptivitie.
4. All this is done with weake meanes.
1. Not with inticeing words of eloquence.
2. But with humility, ſimplicity, and plainneſſe of ſpeech. Extenſively, the efficacy of it,
1. Extends to all Nations.
2. In deſpite of all oppoſition.
3. Application.
1. In reſpect of thoſe that enter into the Miniſterie.
1. To thoſe that are in authority: they muſt keepe out ſuch as are defective.
1. In ſound underſtanding.
2. Inſyncere affection.
3. In unblameable converſation.
2. To thoſe that have children to bring up, and doe dedicate them to Gods ſervice, let them not be the gift of,
1. Some infirmitie: or,
2. Deformitie.
3. To thoſe that are entring into the miniſterie: they muſt bethinke themſelves of all.
1. Helps.
2. Ornaments that may
1. Grace.
2. Expedite their function.
1. A rich invention.
2. A ſolid judgement.
3. A faithfull memorie.
4. The skill of Arts and Tongues.
4. To thoſe that are too forward in this kinde:
2. In reſpect of thoſe that are already in the Miniſterie.
1. For inſtruction.
1. For their life, it muſt be,
1. Holy.
2. Exemplary: els they,
1. Diſhonour
1. The Countrey, from whence they come.
2. The Perſon, from whom they come.
2. Diſhearten the people in their way.
2. For their Doctrine: the title of Ambaſſadors commends many things unto them.
1. Fidelity: they muſt not goe beyond their Commiſſion.
2. Humility.
3. Diligence: inforced from,
1. The nature of their Service.
2. The authority of their Maſter.
3. The neceſſity of their Errand.
4. The Reward of their ſervice.
5. The Puniſhment of their neglect.
4. Courage and reſolution, againſt
1. Feare.
2. Flattery.
1. Feare of reproaches, nick-names.
2. Feare of the frownes of men.
3. Feare of the greateſt ſufferings: feare, how of theſe for
1. If wee periſh, wee flouriſh.
2. Cowardiſe is crueltie.
2. To thoſe that are eminent in the Church, they muſt conſider,
1. That no dignitie can make them ſo truly honourable, as the preaching of the Goſpell.
2. The frequencie of this dutie is no diſparagement to their greatnes.
3. To the people.
1. Offer no diſcourteſie to thoſe Ambaſſadors, for,
1. God gives charge they ſhould be inviolable.
2 It will pull all Gods judgements upon us.
2. Receive them as the Angels of God: give,
1. Attention,
2. Credit,
3. Obedience
to their words.
1. When we go to Gods houſe, ſay, I go to heare what Gods Ambaſſadors will ſay unto me.
2. When we returne with benefit, ſay,
Bleſſed be thou, and
Bleſſed be thy counſell, and
Bleſſed be the Lord, that ſent thee to meet me this day.