The Christians Sacrifice Better than all the Legal Sacrifices of Jews, Treatise · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI.
Of other vſes of the former doctrine, from thoſe former three adiuncts of the will of God.
HAuing before made ſome generall vſe of the doctrine from theſe three adiuncts of the will of God, good, well pleaſing, and perfect; I will now come to ſome more particular vſe thereof concerning both the dutie of the people towards the Miniſters of the ſaid will of God, and alſo of the Miniſters themſelues in reſpect of the excellencie of that will, ſo by thoſe adiuncts commended.
Concerning therefore the former of thoſe two, the more excellent that thoſe three adiuncts before handledThe excellencie of the Mininiſtrie. do ſhew the will of God to be, the more excellent alſo muſt needs be the calling of them whom the Lord hath made Miniſters of the ſaid will: as his ſpirituall Lawyers indeed to declare the ſaid his will vntounto his people, and to lay forth and (as it were) to pleade all his bountifull and moſt princely legacies therein bequeathed vntounto them againſt all the enemies of their ſaluation, that endeuour what they can to depriue them of the ſaid legacies. The more excellent (I ſay) that by thoſe adiuncts of this will the Miniſters thereof are, then were the Miniſters of his former will, now by this his laſt will (in part) reuoked and diſanulled, they more highly muſt they be accounted. For, as the Apoſtle to the Hebrewes proueth Chriſt theHeb. 2. 3. 13. 20 1. Pet. 5. 4. Ioh. 13. 13. firſt and chiefeſt Miniſter of this will, yea the Lord and Maſter of all Miniſters; yea alſo the onelyonly Iudge, before whom all his Miniſters and Lawyers muſt pleade the ſaid will, againſt all the aduerſaries both thereof, and alſo of all them that hauehave any legacie therein, and from whom there lyeth no appeale. As (I ſay) the Apoſtle proueth this firſt and chiefeſt Miniſter of this Will to be ſo much greater then Aaron the firſt and chiefeſt high Prieſt of the Law and of the former will of God, yea the chiefe Iudge, before whom all matters of difference betwixt cleane and vncleane, &c. were to be heard, tried and determined, by how much better this Teſtament is, whereof this firſt and Heb. 7. 22. & 8. 6chiefe high Prieſt Chriſt Ieſus is the ſuretie or mediator, as hauing better promiſes then the old Teſtament had; ſo by the ſame reaſon alſo all the Miniſters of the Goſpel may well be iuſtified, in reſpect of their calling, to be greater and more excellent then all the Miniſters of the Law; namely, becauſe vnderunder Chriſt, by Chriſt and for Chriſt they are Miniſters of a better and more excellent Teſtament.
Hereunto accordeth the commendation of Iohn the BaptiſtMat. 11. 9. aboue Eliah and all the other Prophets, before whom notwithſtanding he preferreth the leaſt in the kingdome of ver. 11.heauen, that is, the leaſt Miniſter of the Goſpell, euen the meaneſt …or gifts if he be ſufficient. For the Goſpell there and often elſewhere, eſpecially in parables, is called by the name of …he kingdome of heauen, becauſe it is Chriſts Scepter of that kingdome, and the key whereby he openeth it vntounto vsus, and letteth vsus into it; and the meanes whereby men are made partaker of the kingdome of grace here, and ſhall hereafter be poſſeſt of the kingdome of glorie; and without which none ſhall or can euer attaine vntounto this kingdome, either of grace or of glorie. Iohn alſo was greater then any of the Prophets, becauſe his miniſterie was greater then theirs, as being a middle miniſterie betwixt the Law and the Goſpell; neither of the Law, nor of the Prophets; and yet, as greater then of the Law, ſo alſo leſſe then of the Goſpell. The Miniſters therefore altogether of the Goſpell, cannot but be greater then both Iohn, and alſo much more then of the Law onelyonly, who were leſſe then Iohn.
Now then if the Miniſters of the Goſpell be greater then the Miniſters of the Law, it followeth alſo, that they are more to be reſpected then the Miniſters of the Law, whatſoeuer they were.
And in the former comparatiue commendation of Iohn by our Sauiour, aboue the Miniſters of the Law, let vsus note one thing, and let vsus note it well, that therein he ſpeaketh climatically, that is, riſeth by degrees higher and higher; from a reed ſhaken with the wind, to a man clothed in ſoft raiment: deſcribing ſuch an one by his place where he is, namely in Kings houſes or Courts; from ſuch a one to a Prophet, from a Prophet to Iohn the Baptiſt; from Iohn the Baptiſt to the leaſt in the kingdom of heauen: by the leaſt in the kingdome of heauen, meaning the leaſt Miniſter of the Goſpell, of the leaſt gifts, ſo he hauehave ſufficient for execution of the Miniſterie of the Goſpell. So our Sauiour maketh the leaſt ſuch Miniſter of the Goſpell, how meane ſoeuer in the eyes of men, yet in reſpect of his calling greater then Iohn, and therefore then the Prophets; and therefore alſo in the third place then Courtiers, though braue, gay and gorgeous in apparell… which is the more to be noted, becauſe eueryevery one almoſt in theſe dayes wearing gay apparell (as who almoſt doth not that can brag it, or be truſted for it, though he leaue them that truſt him to take more care to get the price to be paid, then he doth to pay it) eueryevery one (I ſay) in theſe dayes that is gay coated (though no Courtier) thinketh himſelfe a better man then the ancienteſt and beſt Miniſter of the Goſpell; and will therefore take place of him; yea, ſo alſo will ſome Seruing-men, eſpecially ſeruing one of great worſhip or higher ranke, at leaſt in ſome place neare vntounto him. So will eueryevery meane magiſtrate in any citie or towne almoſt, eſpecially hauing ſometime bin his Maieſties Lieutenant, and borne the chiefeſt magiſtracie in ſuch cities and towne, though he be out of the ſaid office, and do but onelyonly ſit on the bench: and yet ſuch contemners of Miniſters, will giuegive way to a meane gentleman coming to that citie or towne where he is a magiſtrate. Aaron indeed was ſubiect to Moſes, becauſe Moſes was both chiefe magiſtrate, and alſo ſo great a Prophet, that Chriſt is ſaid to be like vntounto him: and ſo all the Kings and eueryevery KingDeut. 18. 18. Ioh 1. 45. Act. 3. 22. and. 7. 37. 1. Kin. 2. 26. 1. Kin. 1. 19. of Iuda had preheminence aboue all Prieſts and Prophets: and therefore Salomon depriued Abiathar from his Highprieſthood, for his conſpriracie with Adoniah againſt Salomon, to hauehave put him by the kingdome after the death of Dauid. And ſo in theſe dayes all Kings, or hauing kingly authoritie, are aboue all Miniſters whatſoeuer, as well as aboue all other within their dominions, and muſt be accordinglyRom. 13. 1. 1. Pet. 2. 13. 14. by all honored: yea, ſo muſt alſo all be that any where are in chiefeſt place vnderunder them, and repreſent their perſons. And that ſuch kingly maieſtie or magiſtracie is aboue all miniſteriall dignitie (howſoeuer ſome of the Fathers hauehave extolled that dignitie) appeareth, in that the kingly dignitie of all Chriſtians is alwayes ſet before their prieſtly dignitie. For it is alwayes ſaid, a kingdome of Prieſts, or a royall prieſthood; and that they are Kings and Exod. 19. 6. 1. Pet. 29. Reu. 1. 6. &. 5. 10Prieſts: it is neuer ſaid a prieſtly kingdome, or a prieſthood of kings; or that we are Prieſts and Kings. Notwithſtanding it is a weake argument, and bewrayeth a weake wit and a ſhallow braine, from the ſuperioritie of Moſes aboue Aaron, to inferre that therefore eueryevery meane magiſtrate in dignitie is aboue, and to take place of eueryevery Miniſter, yea of any that is indeed a Miniſter, though he be yonger in yeares; becauſe in reſpect of his miniſterie, which is character indelebilis, he is an Elder: and as ſo called, and ſo1. Tim. 5. 17. 1. Pet. 5. 1. ought to carry himſelfe, ſo alſo he is ſo to be reſpected. By the former argument, eueryevery meane Conſtable may alſo take place of any Miniſter. Notwithſtanding I would not wiſh any Miniſter to ſtriue for precedencie, otherwiſe then in his miniſterie to teach it. But as our Sauiour ſaith, Him that taketh away thy cloake, forbid not to take thy coate Luk. 16. 29.alſo: ſo if any ſuch pert and high minded pettie magiſtrate wil take the place of thee that art a Miniſter, yea ancient & painfull, let him hauehave it, and more alſo, rather then contend with him. It is better for any to take wrong, then to do wrong. It is better alſo that ſuch an one as ſhall ſo contemne a Miniſter, do ſhew his ſmall wit and rude manners, then that any Miniſter ſhould ſo ſtriue, as whereby to giuegive any ſuſpition of pride. For, the ſeruant of the Lord muſt not ſtriue, but be gentle towards all men, &c. Notwithſtanding2. Tim. 2. 24. let ſuch weake witted and ignorant gentlemen, ſo much ſtanding vponupon their pantofles, if they hauehave not learned the dignitie of Miniſters, by their honorable names in the Scriptures, by their emploiment for the ſaluation of mens ſoules, and the making of them ſons and daughters, as alſo Kings and Prieſts vntounto God: if by theſe and other arguments in the Scriptures they hauehave not yet learled what honour to giuegive vntounto Miniſters, let them reade the learned Treatiſe of that argument, written by one of greater learning and higher place then my ſelfe; and let the ſame be as a Primmer to teach him his leſſon, for the better eſtimation of Miniſters. Let all ſo baſely eſteeming of Miniſters of the Goſpell, of whom they ſhould with admiration ſay, How beautifull are their very feete! Let themIſay. 52. 7. Rom. 10. 15. 1. Kin. 18. 3. 7. (I ſay) remember the reuerence of Obadiah (King Ahabs houſe-ſteward.) to Eliah, no great rich man, hauing bin before fed by rauens, and hauing had no better drinke then the water of the brooke Cherith, and bin alſo nouriſhed by1. Kin. 17. 4. 9. a poore widow of Zareptah. Let them remember the like of the third Captaine ſent with fiftie men to fetch the ſaid Eliah before King Ahaziah, together with the fearfull fire2. Kin. 5. 1. 13. ver. 10. 11. of God vponupon the former two Captaines with their fifties, ſent to the ſame purpoſe, for their rude and imperious doing the Kings meſſage vntounto him. Let them remember what our Sauiour ſaid to the ſeuentie Diſciples ſent forth by two and two, He that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth me; and he Luk. 10. 16.that deſpiſeth me, deſpiſeth him that ſent me. Let them remember how Paul beſeecheth the Theſſalonians very highly to eſteeme them that laboured amongſt them, and were ouer them in the Lord, admoniſhing them, &c. Let them remember1. Theſ. 5. 12. that the Galatians whiles they were in their rightGal. 3. 1. minds, not bewitched, nor (as it were) diſtracted by falſe Apoſtles, eſteemed Paul as an Angell of God, yea as Chriſt cap. 4. 14.Ieſus, ſo that they would hauehave plucked out their eyes (if it had bin poſſible) and hauehave giuen them to Paul. Alas, how many in theſe dayes would if they could, ſcratch out their Miniſters eyes? Certainly, as Paul ſaith of the Corinthians,2. Cor. 12. 15. that the more abundantly he loued them, the leſſe he was beloued of them: ſo may many good and carefull Miniſters ſay in theſe dayes of ſome of the people whom they hauehave taught, and for whom and theirs they hauehave prayed, and hauehave bin heard in the things they hauehave prayed for in their behalfe; eſpecially if they ſhall either publikly reproue any thing whereof their conſciences doe accuſe them, though the Miniſters neuer in ſuch reprehenſions neuer meant them; or at the leaſt any thing roundly ſpeake of any thing but priuatly. And ſuch baſe eſtimation of Miniſters hauing once poſſeſt the minds of men, it will hardly be caſt out by Chriſts diſciples if they were here, without Mark. 9. 29.prayer and faſting. Neither is this the fault of profane and ignorant men, but of men of great knowledge and profeſſion; yea alſo of no ſmall faſhion otherwiſe: and therefore indeed towards Miniſters the more bitter and impatient.
But becauſe ſuch louelove and high eſtimation of Miniſters,How the louelove of men towards their Miinſters, as alſo their inward reuerence of them may be diſcerned. as the Apoſtle commendeth to the Theſſalonians, are things inward; how may they be diſcerned by others that cannot ſee into the inner parts of a man. To omit that outward reuerence and reſpect that is common to other perſons of any eminencie in the world, as the which may be gathered by ſome thing before ſpoken of the cariage of other toward ot…er Miniſters, and the which is ordinarily vſed, I will onelyonly commend three things, whereby the due louelove and eſtimation of Miniſters may be diſcerned: firſt, diligent hearing of them: ſecondly, ſufficient maintenance: thirdly, true obedience. Touching diligent hearing,Dilligent Miniſters, diligent to be heard. firſt of all let vsus remember, that they are ſo to be heard, though they do not liue according to their teaching and doctrine, but cleane contrary thereunto. For ſo our Sauiour commanded concerning the Scribes and Phariſees. Mat 23. 2. 3.For the life of ſuch, ſhall onelyonly increaſe the condemnation of ſuch Miniſters themſelues, it ſhall not any whit preiudice the attentiue and reuerent hearer: neither may it be pleaded as an excuſe for not hearing of ſuch Miniſters. Where there is a commandement for doing any thing there is a promiſe of bleſſing to them that do the thing commanded. And hath not the Lord bleſſed the miniſterie of ſome that hauehave bin wicked? Verily he hath: as appeareth by that that is written of ſuch as ſhall be able to pleade in the laſt day, they had propheſied, and caſt out diuels, Mat. 7. 22. 23.and done many wonderfull works in the name of Chriſt; who notwithſtanding ſhall be reiected as workers of iniquitie. Gods bleſſing is not tyed to the perſons of any, but attendeth vponupon his owne ordinance carefully reſpected. The word of God in the mouth of a man, hath firſt comeIob. 22. 22. out of the mouth of God himſelfe; and therefore it ſhall Iſay. 55. 11.not returne to the Lord in vaine, but it ſhall accompliſh that which he pleaſeth, &c. and be a ſauour either of death vntounto 2. Cor. 2. 15. 16.death or of life vntounto life: in both a ſweet ſauour of Chriſt. God his iuſtice is as precious vntounto him, as his merciemercy. Our Sauiour alſo ſaith, He that hath an eare to heare, let him heare what the Spirit ſaith (not what man ſaith) vntounto the Churches. Reu 2. 7. 11. 17.Do not alſo the excellencie of the word and our neceſſitie require the hearing thereof, by whom ſoeuer preached?
But for all that, ſome perhaps may aske more particularly,Our owne Miniſters eſpecially to be heard on the Lords dayes. what Miniſters are to be heard? I anſwer, that on the weeke dayes let men heare any ſoundly preaching whereſoeuer they can, as their callings, ſtrength of bodie and affaires will giuegive them leaue; for the better increaſe of knowledge, confirmation of iudgement, ſtrengtheningPhil. 1. 9. 1. Theſ. 4. 1. …. Pet 1. 5. and 3. 18. Heb. 10. 24. of faith, prouoking of louelove, growing in all grace. For we muſt abound more and more in all theſe things. But on the Lords daies, we muſt heare our owne Miniſters ſoundly preaching, and eſpecially gracing their doctrine with a life agreeable; as alſo the next ſo preaching, whoſe miniſterie we may be partaker of, without preiudice to our owne. But what if we may heare ſome other of better gifts then either our owne or the next dwellers, by whom we may be more edified? We are not ſo much to reſpect the gifts of men, as Gods ordinance, both in ſetting able Miniſters ouer vsus, and alſo in commanding reſt on his day. For we are as well bound to heare our owne Miniſters preaching ſoundly, as they are bound to preach to vsus. They may as well leaue vsus, as we them. And we are more bound to reſt on the Lords day (without very great neceſſitie to the contrary) then we are bound to labour on the ſix dayes. The commandement for ſanctifying the Lords day, and reſting thereon as a meanes of ſanctifying the ſame, is abſolute: but the words, ſix dayes ſhalt thou labour, &c. are but the libertie ſo to do, without any abſolute neceſſitie. As the like, Of eueryevery tree in the garden thou mayſt Gen. 2. 16.freely eate; viz. except of the tree of knowledge of good and euill, &c. The like is to be ſaid of that, touching the finding of a birds neaſt with yong ones, Thou ſhalt in any wiſe let Deut. 22. 7.the dam go, and take the yong to thee. Neither was Adam bound to eate of eueryevery tree except the excepted; nor a man ſo bound to take the yong birds, as that he ſhould ſinne if he tooke them not. So are the words to be vnderſtood for working on the ſix dayes. Otherwiſe it were not lawfull to heare the word on any of theſe dayes: neither eſpecially to keepe any one of thoſe dayes wholy holy vponupon any occaſion. By the ſame reaſon alſo that ſome may leaue their owne preaching Miniſter, and other neare, both whoſe labour they may enioy, other may do the like: and ſo there ſhall be none left to whom ſuch Miniſters may ſpeake. Not ſo. For we leaue our wiues, children, and ſeruants, and diuers other too that cannot go abroad. Yea, but by the former reaſon, they may go as well as your ſelues. Againe, that is ſpoken more like to them that louelove good cheare at other mens tables. But will ye that thus pleade, like it well if your children or ſeruants would not be content with your diet, but go elſewhere to ſuch as had better fare? As you would thinke your children and ſeruants to ſcorne your diet, ſeeking better elſewhere: ſo, who ſeeth not you to contemne your owne ſuch Miniſters and other neare dwellers, ſo preaching as before I ſaid, in thinking their preaching to be good enough for your boyes and girles, not for your ſelues?
For who will alſo to take libertie to go on that day whither they liſt, to whom they liſt, is to breake the heart of ſuch forſaken Miniſters, and to make the gifts which ſuch high ſpirited men in conceit of their owne great iudgement thinke but weake, to be much weaker; and ſo to diſcourage them, as that they ſhall not preach to other as they ought and otherwiſe would; at leaſt that they cannot do their worke with ioy but with griefe, and to the leſſe profitHeb. 13. 17. of their hearers. Let ſuch heart-breakers, eſpecially by adding affliction to ſuch as whom the Lord by their enemiesPſal. 69. 26. and other croſſes hath before ſmitten, (no ſmall ſinne) let them remember that if any man thinke he knoweth any thing (as ſuch ſo lightly eſteeming ſuch Miniſters thinke1. Cor. 8. 2. themſelues to know more then they) he knoweth nothing as he ought to know.
Touching gifts, many ſuch conceited men do greatly erre in their iudgements of mens miniſteriall gifts. The ſufficiencie of Miniſters is not ſo much to be iudged by their volubilite of tongue, readineſſe of vtterance, nimbleneſſe of wit, vehemencie of affections, and the like, as by ſubſtance of matter. Eſpecially this is not to be iudged by profeſſors ſcarce borne, when ſuch Miniſters were firſt Preachers. Let ſuch cenſurers of and carpers at the meane gifts of other in reſpect of the old age of ſuch Miniſters, remember what God ſaid to Samuel, in his age reiected by the Iſraelites, pretending notwithſtanding the looſeneſſe of his ſonnes, They hauehave not reiected thee, but they 1. Sam. 8. 7.hauehave reiected me, &c. There is the ſame reaſon of teaching, that there is of reigning and gouernment: eſpecially when men can take no more exception againſt mens teaching, then the Iſraelites did or could againſt Samuels gouernment.chap. 12. 4. Furthermore, as ſuch forſakers of ſome mens miniſterie, to go to other farther off, more then double a Sabbaths day iourney (which yet was not permitted, but taken vp by cuſtome) breake the hearts of them whom they do ſo forſake; ſo alſo they may puffe vp them to whom they ſo go in ſuch maner, as they know not themſelues nor their ancients, but thinke themſelues far greater then they are, and other to be meaner then they are, and then their betters elſewhere hauehave accounted them: yea then by their labours (to omit ſome other things) they hauehave approued themſelues. Oh the heart of man herein is deceitfull aboue all things, and is as eaſily puft vp, as any other way corrupted. As God alſo giueth not alwayes the greareſt bleſſing to the greateſt fare for the bodie, but ſometimes maketh men to proſper as well with courſe cheare as with the diet of Princes or Nobles, (as appeareth by Daniel andDan. 1. 8. his companions, and daily by many poore mens childrē, that being hardly brought vp, looke as well, and are as comely and beautifull as the children of other that are moſt daintily fed;) ſo alſo the Lord ſometimes bleſſeth the meane gifts of ſome (that are eſpecially accounted meane) to as good edifying of other in the faith, as the greateſt gifts that are. Daily experience teacheth this. The worthieſt Miniſters for learning, paines and godlineſſe, hauehave not alwayes the moſt and beſt Chriſtian congregations. Some are eſteemed not according to their worthines, but according to the conceits of the eſteemers. What compariſon betwixt Paul and Apollos, either for calling, or for diuine knowledge, or for godlineſſe? yet ſome preferred Apollos before Paul, not a whit behind the very chiefeſt 2. Cor. 11 5.Apoſtles. But did not Paul by the Spirit of God reproue1. Cor. 1. 12. and 3. 6. it? Notwithſtanding ſo do ſome in theſe dayes: paſſing by the Churches of ſome when they are going to their worke, and going much further, and yet not faring better then they might hauehave fared at home More edifying alſo is not ſo much to be boaſted of by words, as to be ſhewed by works. Much and earneſt prayer will obtaine as good a bleſſing vponupon meane gifts, as vponupon greater. As the Lord ſaueth from outward dangers, as well by few1. Sam. 14 6. 2. Chron. 14. 11. Iudg 7. 2. Mark. 6. 38. and 8. 7. P…al. 92. 4. as by many; and feedeth as well plentifully with a little as with much: ſo he both can and doth often feede the ſoules of ſome, and maketh them as fat and in as good liking, where there is true humilitie, by men of meane gifts conſcionably employed, as by the greateſt gifts of other, though alſo carefully employed. This by ſome of the beſt Diuines is well gathered from the example of the AngellReu. 3. 8. of Philadelphia, who though he had but a little ſtrength, that is, were of meane gifts in compariſon of other, yet had the beſt Church of all the ſeuen Churches of Aſia.
Let men alſo examine the former dealing with ſuch Miniſters, by the rule of our Sauiour, Whatſoeuer ye would Mat. 7. 12. and 22. 39.that men ſhould do vntounto you, do ye to them: and, Thou ſhalt louelove thy neighbour as thy ſelfe. For who of them that make ſo light account of ſome, and contemne them, doing the beſt they can, and that which their betters hauehave approued; and whereof other as good as themſelues would be glad and for the which they would bleſſe God. For who (I ſay) of ſuch would like of ſuch dealing, towards themſelues, if they were Miniſters? Neither let any man waſh his hands from the crime of contempt in this kind, as the maner of moſt is, how contemptuous ſoeuer. For the holy Ghoſt hath recorded Iacob as an hater of Leah, becauſe he louedGen. 29. 30 31. Rahel more then her. Doth not the Lord alſo ioyne theſe two together, The word of the Lord is vntounto them a reproch, Ier. 6. 10.they hauehave no delight in it? Doth he not by this connexion plainly teach, that the word of the Lord is a reproach (or a contempt) to them that hauehave no delight in it? He is more then purblind that ſeeth not the like reaſon to be of the miniſterie of the word, and of the word it ſelfe. Neither can any man diſcharge himſelfe of the contempt of the perſons of ſuch Miniſters, whoſe miniſterie ſo comparatiuely he contemneth. At leaſt the contempt of a mans miniſterie is greater then the contempt of his perſon: becauſe the contempt of that miniſtery, againſt which no iuſt exception can be taken, is the contempt of Chriſt, that ſpeaketh in ſuch a Miniſter, and God alſo workethLuk 10. 16. 2. Cor. 13. 3. 1. Cor. 3 9. with him.
Moreouer, to giuegive libertie to our eares ſo to itch after varietie of teachers, though they be good, neglecting our owne not inferiour vntounto them (or if in gifts inferiour, yet ſound and painfull) is the next ſtept to itching eares that 2. Tim. 4. 3. 4.ſhall not endure ſound doctrine, but itch after ſuch as by whom eares and hearts ſhall be turned from the truth to fables, Popiſh or other. Let no man be too confident of himſelfe touching this danger. For the more confident for the moſt part men are in this kind, the ſooner they are ouertaken and bewitched with ſuch teachers, as ſome examples before mentioned teſtifie. Are any alſo that are ſo confident, ſo well grounded in the truth, and ſo well affected towards any Miniſters, as the Galatians were towardsGal. 4. 14. 15. Gal 3. 1. Paul? who notwithſtanding were ſo ſoone bewitched, not to obey the truth, that Paul himſelfe began in his Epiſtle with a ſharp reprehenſion by way of admiration, that they were ſo ſoone remoued from him that had called them into the grace of Chriſt, vntounto another Goſpell. Let him that thinketh 1. Cor. 10. 12.he ſtands, take heed leſt he fall▪ Eſpecially let ſuch take heed hereof, that are much caried with the world. For who may thinke himſelfe ſtronger then Demas, whoſe ſaluations Paul had before remembred to the church of Coloſſe, andCol 4 14. Phil. 2. 4. whom he had reckoned among other his fellow ▪ labourers? yet euen him he brandeth afterward for one that had forſaken 2. Tim. 4. 10.him and embraced this preſent world. But indeed ſuch as profeſſe much, and yet louelove the world much, and the things that are in the world, are ſcarce worth ſix pence a1. Ioh. 2. 15. douzen. For how can they, not hauing the louelove of the Father in them? Such confidence alſo argueth that inward pride which Peter oppoſeth to that humilitie wherewith he exhorteth ſuch yongers as now I ſpeake of, inwardly to deck 1. Pet. 5. 5.themſelues: preſſing y• ſaid exhortation with this argument from the effect, both of that pride, and alſo of the former humilitie, that the Lord reſiſteth them that are ſo proud, and giueth grace to them that are ſo humble. Againe, who euer knew or heard of any age, wherein all Miniſters were of equall gifts? As in other men, ſo alſo in Miniſters, there hauehave bin, are and will be diuerſitie of gifts, though the ſame 1. Cor. 12. 4.Spirit: and, to eueryevery one of vsus is giuen grace according to the Epheſ. 4. 7.meaſure of the gift of Chriſt. What a confuſion therefore would this breed in the Church, for eueryevery one to make choice of his teacher, and to go to whom he liſt?
I hauehave the more laboured in this point, becauſe I hauehave obſerued ſome mens miniſtery to be ſo highly magnified, as if eueryevery word they ſpake were worthy to be written in letters of gold: but the miniſterie of other, without any iuſt exception againſt it, to be ſo abaſed (not perhaps in word, but that more is, in deed) as if no word they ſpake were worthy to be written in the earth.
I ſpeake nothing herein to coole the heate of any, I wiſh eueryevery ſparke of good zeale in any to be a great coale; eueryevery coale to be a great fire-brand, and eueryevery brand to be ſuch a flaming fire, as much water may not quench, neither Cant. 8. 7.the floods may drowne. For alas, the hoteſt true zeale of moſt, is colder then our laſt Winter and Spring hauehave bin. But therefore hauehave I written thus much, to direct the zeale of all, that it may be according to knowledge: and that knowledge Rom. 10. 2. Phil. 1. 9.and iudgement may go with louelove, leſt otherwiſe it ouerflow the banks. It is good to be zealouſly affected; ſo that theGal. 4. 18. thing wherein we be zealous be good. There be too many that crie downe. Oh that there were more to crie to eueryevery man, Awake thou that ſleepeſt, &c. and, Be zealous, and amend. Epheſ. 5. 14. Reu. 3. 9.And let all men be more humble, not too harſhly to cenſure ſuch Miniſters before ſpoken of, neither ſo to diſcourage them, hauing other diſcouragements too many, and faithfully preaching the word, and gracing the ſame with a life beſeeming. Eſpecially let all profeſſors beware of ſo doing, becauſe their indignities againſt ſuch Miniſters, are greater, and wound the heart more deeply then all the wrongs and iniuries of open enemies, and then can eaſily be cured.
To draw towards an end of this point; let all men be the more carefull to heare ſuch Miniſters ſo preaching and ſo liuing, (as before hath bin ſaid) becauſe if Miniſters neglect their people and be abſent from them, eueryevery man is ready to crie out on them; and yet the caſes are pares, euen equal, both Miniſters and people that wander from their places, are like to birds that wander from their neſts. Is therePro. 27. 8. no danger herein?
As I ſaid before, ſo I ſay againe, on other dayes lawfull to be trauelled on, let all men take what paines they can for hearing the word, ſo that they be do…rs of the word, not hearers onelyonly, deceiuing themſelues; and ſhewing forth theirIam. 1. 22. Rom. 2. 13. good works, not abuſing that place of Chriſt againſt oſtentation, and doing good to be ſeene of men, vnderunder colourMat. 6. 1. &c. whereof ſome boaſt of that which they do not; but remembring that he that hath forbidden ſuch oſtentation, hath alſo commanded vsus to manifeſt our faith by good works, and ſo to let our light ſhine before men, that they may Mat. 5. 16.ſee our good workes, & glorifie our Father which is in heauen. Yea let them ſhew their good workes, according to their knowledge, according to their ſtates and callings, according to their abilities, according to the times, according to the neceſſities of other, according to the defect of good works in other, that is, the more other ſhew their wickedneſſe not fearing who behold it, the more let them ſhew their goodneſſe, prouoking themſelues to louelove and to Heb. 10. 24.good workes, and abounding alwayes in the worke of the Lord, 1 Cor. 15 58.knowing that their labour is not in vaine; and not being wearie in wel doing, becauſe in due ſeaſon they ſhall reape (a hundredGal. 6. 9. for one) if they faint not. This I hauehave the rather added, becauſe as the impudent whore in the Prouerbs, by bragging of her peace-offerings and paiment of her vowes, Pro. 7. 14.deceiued the ſilly yong man, and with much faire ſpeech ver. 21.cauſed him to yeeld to her filthy luſts: ſo ſome (I would there were not too many) in theſe dayes make their much hearing, and going to many Sermons, a cloake of much wickedneſſe, thereby making the name of God himſelfe and 1. Tim. 6. 1.his doctrine to be blaſphemed, and hardning other in their contempt of the word and hearing thereof, as by the impietie of ſuch iudging all that be hearers to be like. Let all therefore that feare God, and louelove the Lord Ieſus and his his word indeed, labour according to their hearing, ſo much the more by good works to glorifie God, by how much the more by ſuch wickedneſſe of other, God is diſhonored.
To returne; touching the Lords dayes, if men hauehave not the word at home, or neare them, but that they muſt go further off, let them ſo contriue the matter, by going part of their way ouer night or otherwiſe, that they labour not and weary their bodies on that day, whereon the Lord hath commanded them to reſt. Though it may be more chargeable, yet it will quit coſt. If we buy the truth, andPro. 23. 23. giuegive any thing for it; and hauing bought it, ſell it not, neither part from it, whatſoeuer thereby we may get, the wiſedome that ſo we ſhall finde will make vsus happie, becauſe the Pro. 3. 13. 14. 15merchandize thereof is better then the merchandize of ſiluer, and the gaine thereof better then fine gold: it is more precious then rubies, and all things to be deſired are not to be compared vntounto it.
The three adiuncts of this will before handled, do require all good paines and coſt for the getting of the true knowledge thereof; the rather becauſe the word what prefixedWhat. to the ſaid adiuncts, inſinuate the ſaid will to be ſo good, ſo well pleaſing, ſo perfect, that the goodneſſe, well pleaſing and perfection thereof may rather be admired then expreſſed: as the ſame word prefixed to the hope of our Epheſ. 1. 18. 19.calling, to the riches of the glorie of Gods inheritance of his Saints, and laſtly to the exceeding greatneſſe of his power towards vsus that beleeue, in ſo materiall theſe things to be rather admirable, then by the tongue of man or Angel to be ſpoken or vttered. Who therefore would not thereby be prouoked to any good paines, to any coſt, whereby to be throughly acquainted with it? as alſo whereby the more to encourage the Miniſters thereof with the more alacritie to declare the whole counſell of God therein contained to the full? They that herein ſtick at any coſt, at any ſuch paines, bewray themſelues to be penny wiſe and pound fooliſh; yea, how rich ſoeuer, how honorable ſoeuer, how gorgeous ſoeuer in apparell, by ſuch riches and honour any is, that hath not the knowledge of this will of God, he is but a rich, an honorable, a gorgeous foole. There is no other will of God whereby we may ſaue our ſoules. What th…n ſhall a man be profited to gaine the whole world, if he loſe his Mat. 16. 26.owne ſoule? Can he giuegive any thing whereby to recouer it?
But touching the hearing of our owne Miniſters; what if the Pariſh be ſo ſpacious, that the inhabitants thereof dwell three, foure, fiue or ſix miles from their own Church (as ſome Pariſhes in ſome parts of the kingdome are) and that the word be preached nearer, as ſome people go by the Churchyards of other Pariſhes, that go much farther to their owne Church; what I ſay is to be done in ſuch a caſe? I anſwer, that in ſuch a caſe, there is better warrant for the father trauell on the Lords day, becauſe of Gods prouidence in ſo diſpoſing of Pariſhes in former times, and thereby making a kind of neceſſitie of ſuch trauelling. Againe, in ſuch a caſe I do in charitie ſuppoſe that a mans owne Miniſter will not be againſt his going to the nearer Preacher, ſo that it be without contempt of him; and that when he may he do heare him, not defrauding him of any other dutie. I hope alſo that none of our wiſe Eccleſiaſticall gouerners being acquainted herewith, would diſlike of this that I ſay; but would eaſily grant any reaſonable libertie to ſuch as ſo do dwell. For concluſion of this point, let me ſpeake a litle more to ſuch Miniſters as are ſo forſaken and diſcouraged: in good earneſt therefore, and in the words of ſobrietie I exhort them to comfort themſelues, and that firſt of all in their aſſurance of their reward with the Lord, who beholding all their diſgrace with men, will in the end giuegive them the more honour and glorie. Secondly, let them comfort themſelues with the examples of the Prophets and Apoſtles, who had none more heauie aduerſaries then ſuch as from whom they ſhould hauehave had moſt comfort. And what if they find leaſt kindneſſe there, where they were bred and borne, &c? hathMark. 6. 4. Ioh. 4. 44. not Chriſt himſelfe before teſtified, that a Prophet is no where without honour, but in his owne country, &c? and hathIoh. 16. 4. he not foretold this vntounto vsus, that finding it true, we might not be troubled with it, but might hauehave the more peace in him, ver. 33. Ioh. 1. 11.&c? Yea, did not Chriſt himſelfe come to his owne, and his owne receiued him not? Who are we that we ſhould be grieued with the like meaſure that was offered to our Lord and Ioh. 13. 14. Mat. 3. 11. Luk. 3. 16.Maſter? What are we in reſpect of him? We are not worthy to beare his ſhooes, or to looſe the latchet of them.
Moreouer, as Paul ſaid of ſome in his time, preachingPhil. 1. 16. Chriſt of enuie and ſtrife, not ſincerely, thereby ſuppoſing to adde affliction to his bonds, (by diſgracing of him, and perhaps prouoking other againſt him;) as Paul (I ſay) ſaid, What then? notwithſtanding eueryevery way, whether in pretence or in truth, Chriſt is preached; and I therein do reioyce, and will reioyce: ſo let the forementioned Miniſters ſay, Whether ſuch people in contempt or in truth do heare, yet Chriſt being preached and heard by them, we therein do reioyce and will reioyce: eſpecially if ſuch other Miniſters to whom ſuch people reſort, do preach Chriſt in better ſort, then it ſeemeth thoſe preached him, of whom Paul ſpeaketh. And let no man Reu. 3. 11.take the crowne of ſuch Miniſters ſo reioycing from them.
Notwithſtanding, I wiſh not ſuch forſaken Miniſters to hauehave much familiaritie with ſuch as ſo lightly ſet by their miniſterie. For how can they regard their priuate ſocietie, that care not for their publike miniſterie? NeitherPro. 23. 3. eſpecially let them be deſirous of their dainties: that is, of taking gifts from them. For who knoweth what deceit may be in them? namely, thereby to take occaſion of exclaiming againſt them, as being ready to take whatſoeuer is offered; and to other to bragge of their bountie vntounto them. Let ſuch forlorne Miniſters alwayes hold rhis reſolution, not to care for the carnall benefits of them that care not for their ſpirituall bleſſings. Yet I need not ſtand much vpō this caueat, becauſe ſuch as do ſo lightly eſteem of mens miniſterie, are very forward in offering kindneſſe vntounto them. If they ſhew kindneſſe to any, it is rather to farther dwellers then to neare neighbours. Albeit herein they greatly trouble not either the one or the other. Thus much of the peoples eſtimation and hearing of their Miniſters.