The Christians Sacrifice Better than all the Legal Sacrifices of Jews, Treatise · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII.
Of the other two duties of the people towards their Miniſters, in respect of the excellencie of this will of God, of their maintenance of them, and alſo of their obedience vntounto them: as alſo of the vſe of the ſaid doctrine touching the ſame excellencie of the ſaid will of God▪ belonging to the Miniſters themſelues.
NOw it followeth to ſpeake of maintenance of, and obedienceMaintanance. vntounto Miniſters of this good, well pleaſing and perfect will of God. For without theſe, there cannot be due eſtimation of them: or if there be any reuerent account, yet it is not ſufficient without maintenance & obedience. Touching maintenance of Miniſters that preach this willMaintanance of Miniſters preaching …he will of God. of God by them that are partakers of their preaching, it is a maine matter, and ſuch, as without it, the former is not (as I ſaid) enough, and that obedience that is afterward to be ſpoken of, is but pretended. This is expreſly commanded, Let him that is taught in the word, Gal. 6. 6.make him that hath taught him, partaker of all his goods. This argument alſo the Apoſtle maketh the ſubiect (almoſt) of1. Cor. 9. one whole Chapter. It is likewiſe a part of that double honour whereof as all Elders, ſo eſpecially they that labour in 1. Tim. 5. 17. 18the word and doctrine are worthy; and that becauſe the Scripture ſaith, Thou ſhalt not mouzle the oxe that treadeth out the Mat. 10. 10.corne: and the labourer is worthy of his reward. Had not our Sauiour ſaid the ſame before? OnelyOnly for reward by the Apoſtle, our Sauiour ſaith meate: but thereby as by bread Mat. 4. 4. & 6. 11he vnderſtandeth maintenance, and all things neceſſarie for this life. And in both the pronoune his is to be obſerued, as teaching ſuch maintenance not to be a matter of courteſie or of beneuolence, ſuch as need not to be giuen, but ſuch as muſt be paid as his owne, and whereto he hath as good right as to any thing elſe he hath already. May ſhoo-makers, ſmiths, plow men, hedgers, ditchers, threſhers, tailers, or any other labourers or artificers claime reward for their worke, and as their owne due, and may not Miniſters that labour and watch for the ſoules of men, require reward of their labour? What good Miniſter is there that watcheth not in bodie as well as minde for the people committed vntounto him? yea, many a time doth he wake in the night, meditating what to ſpeake, when other ſleep ſoundly. The labour alſo of the minde is greater then of the bodie. How great then is the labour of both? Two houres labour of the Miniſter in preaching, doth more ſpend his ſpirits and waſte his bodie, then two dayes labor in any other bodily worke. Doth the ſpirits and bodie of one ſo ſoke men? Therefore the calling of a Miniſter is compared to the greateſt bodily labours that are; of ſhepheardsGen. 31. 40. Luk. 2. 8, Mat. 9. 36. 1. Cor. 37. 8. 9. 10. that in that country looked to their flocke by night as well as by day; of harueſt-men, of husband-men, of carpenters, and the like. Let them that are ſo hard and ſtraightfaced towards their painfull Miniſters, remember what is ſaid of the cries of thoſe labourers in the eares of the Lord I…m. 5. 4.of hoaſts, that had reaped downe the fields of other, becauſe they for whom they had laboured did withhold their hire from them. The ſentence of Chriſt at the laſt day ſhall be heauie and direful againſt them that had not giuen meate, drinke, clothing▪ entertainment &c. to any of his litle ones Mat. 25. 41. &c.that had wanted the ſame. Oh then how fearfull, how heauie, how direfull ſhall their ſentence and doome be, that hauehave dealt hardly with his beſt ſeruants, whom Chriſt vſed for the making of men his little ones; or for the nouriſhment of them to eternall life, being before n…w borne to God by the miniſterie of other? Shall shere be iudgement Iam. 2. 13.without merciemercy to eueryevery one that ſheweth no merciemercy to any? and ſhall they find merciemercy that hauehave bin vniuſt vntounto their Miniſters? Oh that men ſhoul dreade and know the ſudden and ſtrange death of Ananias and Sapphira, by aAct 5. 1. &c. word of Peters mouth onelyonly, for keeping backe part of the price of their goods from the Church, which while it was in their poſſeſſion they might hauehave kept altogether, and that although they brought a certaine part, and laid it at the Apoſtles feete. Oh (I ſay) that men ſhould reade, heare and know this, and yet feare nothing by their vniuſt and cruel dealing with ſuch Miniſters as preach this excellent will of God vntounto them, not onelyonly not giuing them any thing, yea no part of their goods, but detaining that the which they hauehave full dearely laboured for. Such men grutch not liberally to ſee Lawyers, and bountifully to reward Phyſitions, for a few words of the one touching their goods, and ſometimes for recouerie of, or pleading for ſome legacie giuen by the laſt will and teſtament of ſome man: for the counſell of the other, and eſpecially for his paines in comming 8. 10. 20. or 30. or 40. miles vntounto him, eſpecially in Winter, or when wayes and weather are foule. Yea, they plentifully deale with ſuch, whether they do them any good or no. Yea, they are at greater coſt in ſuch things, in three or foure dayes, then with Miniſters that labour to make them partaker of Gods infinite legacies, by declaring this his good, well pleaſing and perfect will vntounto them, many yeares together: yea alſo for their daily praying for them and theirs; albeit in the diſtreſſes of them. ſelues and theirs, they found God to hauehave heard them ſo praying O miſerable parſimonie! O lamentable iniuſtice! Yea, ſome men of great ſort ſpend more in one yeare vponupon dogs, haukes, horſes, tobacco, and the like, then in many yeares vponupon the Miniſters of the word. If they ſay, their Farmers pay tithes out of their lands for maintenance of Miniſters. I anſwer, firſt that they pay tithes rather of their owne labour and great paines, then of their lands. Secondly, that if they thinke this ſhall excuſe them from maintenance of Miniſters, then let them thinke alſo it ſhal excuſe them from going to heauen. So let their Farmers go to heauen for them, and themſelues go to hell in their owne perſons. Yea, to proceed further, who almoſt is not at more charge with keeping of one horſe in one yeare, then in maintenance of the Miniſters in many? Hath he more benefit by his horſe, then by his Miniſter? It may eaſily be ſo beleeued. All theſe things do ſhew how baſe minded ſuch men are, as altogether minding earthly things, Phil 3. 19. Col. 3. 1. 2.and onelyonly ſetting their affections on things on the earth, and not on things aboue, where Chriſt ſitteth at the righthand of God: but let them take heed that their end therefore be not deſtruction, as Paul writeth in the former place to the Philippians, and ſo he loſe all the benefit of this laſt will of God. For certainly the Lord hath not bequeathed any thing to any ſuch wretches as theſe are, but hath ſhut them cleane out of his will, for hauing any inheritance in his kingdome; Epheſ 5. 56. C…l. 3. 5. 6.yea, the wrath of God belongeth vntounto them. And certainly all ſuch do bewray they neuer felt any ſweetneſſe by the ſaid will: if they had, they would more bountifully reward Gods Lawyers that declare the ſame. O the bountie of Mathew the Publican, of Zacheus alſo of the ſameLuk. 5. 29. calling. The one vponupon his firſt calling made Chriſt and many other a feaſt, a great feaſt. The other, as ſoone as euerLuk. 19. 8. Chriſts word in inuiting himſelfe to dine with him, had pierced into him, came downe haſtily, receiued him ioyfully, and with great alacritie, both ſhewed his iuſtice in making fourefold reſtitution to whomſoeuer he had done wrong, and alſo teſtified his bountie in giuing halfe his goods to the poore. When God had opened the heart of Lydia to attend Act. 16. 14. 15.to the words of Paul, how earneſt, how importunate was ſhe with Paul and Barnabas to come to her houſe and to abide there? So importunate and earneſt was ſhe, that ſhe would take no nay. When the keeper of the priſon into which Paul and Barnabas were caſt, had bin reſtrainedAct. 16. 29. 30. &c. by Paul from murdering himſelfe, and aſſured that all the priſoners were ſafe there, how did he ſpring into Paul with trembling, &c. and hauing heard Paul preach, how by this will of God he might be ſaued, what other great kindneſſe did he ſhew to Paul and Barnabas? What ſhall I ſay of the bountie offered by Naaman to Eliſha, when he felt2. Kin. 5. 3. &c. 1. Kin. 13. 7. himſelfe cured of his bodily leproſie; of the kindneſſe likewiſe and reward that wicked Ieroboam offered to the Pro-Phet of Iuda, when by the prayer of the ſaid Prophet, his hand was reſtored, that before had bin miraculouſly withered,1. Kin. 13. 7. becauſe he had ſtretched the ſame forth againſt the Prophet, commanding to be laid hold on, becauſe the ſaid Prophet had threatned the deſtruction of that Altar that Ieroboam had built at Bethel. By theſe examples it moſt euidently appeareth, that all niggardly perſons towards the Miniſters of this Goſpell of God, hauehave neuer taſted of the ſweetneſſe of the ſaid will. For had they, though but a little, they could not but be reſpectiue of them, and helpfull vntounto them; eſpecially knowing their neceſſitie. Yet ſome, whatſoeuer they heare or ſee, by their apparel, by their debt to other, or any otherwayes, wil neuer beleeue they want, till either for debt they be clapt vp in priſon, or ſtarue for hunger. Who is ſo rude and barbarous towards other men (except he be worſe then Nabal,) that receiuing but a ſmall kindneſſe of them, either in a meales meate or otherwiſe, that will not thinke vponupon ſome way whereby to requite it? O then the ingratitude of ſome going for profeſſors, that hauehave no reſpect to them that giuegive them many a meales meate for their ſoules? except when they hauehave bin at their table, or rather at the table of Wiſedome, they hauehave ſit looking one vponupon another, neither eating of her Pro. 9. 5.bread, nor drinking of her wine, &c. Such will ſometimes commend the Sermons of them that lay forth this will of God vntounto them; but without kindneſſe for all that to them that ſo lay the ſame forth; the more they commend the ſermons thereof, the more they condemne themſelues. Some ſuch hearers thinke the Miniſters more beholding to them for their preſence and hearing, then themſelues to their Miniſters for all their labour. If they giuegive a Miniſter a meales meate or two in a yeare, oh then they thinke their bountie to be great, and that ſuch Miniſters are much in their debt. But alas, Iohn ſaith, that we ought to do more 3. Ioh. 8.then ſo euen to ſtrangers, that we may be fellow-helpers to the truth. But there are few ſuch hoſts for entertainment of the Church and of ſtrangers, as Gaius was, to whom Iohn Rom 16. 23.did ſo write. If there be one ſuch in a whole towne, all the reſt of profeſſors, though richer then that one, will giuegive him leaue to beare the whole burden alone; yea alſo laugh ſometimes in their ſleeues ſecretly for his ſo doing. Though diuers Preachers come to a towne, and one of them do beſtow his labours amongſt them; all will giuegive one leaue to inuite the Preacher and the reſt: or elſe they muſt go to ſome Inne, and dine at their owne charge. Should it be ſo? Let ſuch take heed they find not as cold entertainment, where they would hauehave and looke for the beſt. Do they hope for the reward of a Prophet, that are noMat. 10. 41. readier to receiue Prophets in the name of Prophets? Oh letIob. 27. 8. them take heed their hope faile them not, when the Lord ſhal take away their ſoules. Verily many do much deceiue themſelues in this kind. But whom do ſuch hard hearted and cloſe fiſted profeſſors againſt the Miniſters of this will, moſt hurt? Not ſuch Miniſters, but themſelues and other, whom (being willing to enter into heauen) they cannot teach, being oppreſſed with griefe by want. Let no man ſay, that ſuch Miniſters are faint-hearted that will be diſcouraged with a little want. Eliah himſelfe was ſo diſcouraged by the crueltie of lezabel againſt the Prophets of the Lord, that he prayed the Lord to take away his life, &c. So alſo1. Kin. 19. 4. Ier. 20. 9. was Ieremiah, that he determined to ſpeake no more in the name of the Lord. And who maketh a ſm…ll matter of want, againſt which the Prophet Agur ſo earneſtly prayed? andPro 30. 8. Lam. 4. 9. whereof Ieremie ſaith, They that are ſlaine with the ſword, are better then they that be ſlaine with hunger. Alas, they thatEccleſ. 11. 2. are full feele it not, though they know not what euill may be vponupon the earth, to make them to feele it as well as other: yet it is heauier then many can beare; yea, that are ſtrong to beare other burdens. The righteous hath more regard Pro. 12. 10.of the life of their beaſts, then ſuch hard-hearted wretches hauehave of the life and comfort of their Miniſters, or of their owne ſoules good. Oh that theſe things were conſidered. Did the Lord behold the hardneſſe of ſome husbands toward their wiues in Malachies time, whereby ſuch wiues Mala. 2. 13.filled the Lords altaer with teares, with weepings and cryings out? and will he put vp the ſighings and gronings of his Miniſters, by ſuch hard and wretched dealings towards them? Some hearing them complaine of want, will bid them be of good cheare, and comfort themſelues as they hauehave comforted other; the Lord wil prouide for them, &c. but in the meane time themſelues though neuer ſo able, will do nothing. Theſe indeed are wordy comforters, and ſuch phyſitians of no worth or value, as Iob calleth his friends.Iob. 13. 4. Iam. 2. 15. 16. Theſe are ſuch as Iames ſpeaketh of. God comfort them more by his word for the time to come, then they for the time paſt by their workes hauehave comforted ſuch Miniſters; yea, or then themſelues yet hauehave for their owne ſoules. Some perhaps will obiect, that ſome Miniſters are rich of themſelues, and hauehave enough of their owne. So indeed ſome thinke, though they ſee the contrary. And ſo ſome thinke, if a Miniſter hauehave neuer ſo litle. EueryEvery thing is thought too much for him; though ſuch ſpeakers thinke nothing enough for themſelues. And what if a Miniſter be rich of himſelfe? is that enough to excuſe ſuch cormudgersGal. 6. 6. from making him partaker of all his goods? Doth the Apoſtle giuegive the former commandement with any ſuch condition? Let ſuch a one ſay ſo to his tailer, to him that hath ſowne his ground for him, &c. coming for mony for his worke, will it be taken at his hand to tell him, what, you need not any mony, you are rich of your ſelfe? The ſame might the Corinthians hauehave obiected to Paul, becauſe he ſaith that he robbed other Churches, and tooke 2. Cor. 11. 8.wages of them to do ſeruice vntounto the Corinthians: and ſo indeed may ſome Miniſters ſay in theſe dayes, that they receiue kindneſſe of other, to do good to them that regard them not. But was not that of Paul a commendation to the Corinthians? No: he rather obiected it as a great diſgrace vntounto them, and a reprehenſion of them. So is the like to all other that do the like.
Is it not alſo a ſhame that Ieſuites and other Popiſh Prieſts ſhould be bountifully maintained by the Papiſts within our land, and diuers painfull Miniſters ſo neglected as they are by profeſſors of the Goſpell? Alas, they ſhould be ſo bountifully rewarded, that they might be hoſpitall 1. Tim. 3. 2. Tit. 1. 8.to ſtrangers, for the better gracing of their miniſterie. But now, that perhaps of the Apoſtle for Miniſters to be hoſpitall, is thought to be, that they ſhould be put into ſome hoſpitall, there to liue with other poore men. The words of our Sauiour to his twelue Diſciples ſent out by him to preach for a time, that they ſhould not prouide gold Mat. 10. 9.or ſiluer, &c. do not at all infringe, but much confirme this maintenance of Miniſters of this will of God that I pleade for, becauſe by confirming the ſaid words by theſe, For the labourer is worthy of his meate, that is, of all things neceſſarie for this life, euen abundantly according to his calling; thoſe words (I ſay) of confirmation do plainly ſhew, that the Preachers of the word ſhould altogether be maintained by them to whom they preach; and that that they hauehave of their owne, to beſtow it otherwiſe, as themſelues ſhall thinke good.
VnderUnder this dutie of maintenance, I comprehend all otherMiniſters to be viſited in priſon and in ſicknes. kindneſſes needfull for them; eſpecially viſiting them in ſickneſſe or in priſon. For if theſe things muſt be performed to any of Chriſts little ones, muſt they not muchMat. 25. 36. 43. more be performed to his Miniſters? Ioaſh King of Iuda (though wicked) viſited Eliſha the Prophet being ſicke; and 2. Kin. 13. 14.mourned (as the text ſaith) ouer his face: yea it alſo ſaith, that he came downe vntounto him; which doth the more commend his paines. What then ſhall be ſaid of many in theſe dayes accounted Profeſſors, and farre inferiour to Kings, that diſdaine to viſit Miniſters of the Goſpell in their ſickneſſes, that are greater then Eliah the maſter of Eliſha, as before we hauehave heard. Let all ſuch take heed, that as Adonibezek Iudg. 1. 6. 7.had the ſame meaſure offered vntounto him, that he had met to other, ſo they in their ſickneſſes or impriſonments be neglected as they hauehave neglected other; yea euen by ſuch Miniſters as by whom they might be moſt comforted.
Laſt of all for this point, let all ſuch as hauehave receiued comfort by thoſe Miniſters that hauehave made this good, well pleaſing and perfect will of God knowne vntounto them; for that good they hauehave receiued by them, ſhew kindneſſe to the wiues and children of ſuch Miniſters after their death. Did not the Law prouide for the wiues and children of the Prieſts and Leuites after their death? Dauid ſhewed2. Sam 9. 3. great kindneſſe to Mephiboſheth the ſonne of Ionathan, after Ionathans death, for the kindneſſe that Ionathan had ſhewed to him whiles he liued. The like he did to Chimham the2. Sam. 17. 27. 28. compared with 19. 38. ſonne of Barzillai; for the kindneſſe that the ſaid Barzillai had ſhewed vntounto him. Yea, he lying vponupon his death-bed, gaue charge to his ſonne Salomon to ſhew kindneſſe vntounto the 1. Kin. 2. 17.ſonnes of Barzillai, and to let them be of thoſe that ſhould eate at his table. Yet Barzillai being the ſubiect of Dauid, had ſhewed no other kindneſſe then which he owed vntounto him, and which to performe was his dutie. On the contrary, what great iudgements did the Lord ſend vponupon Ioaſh King of Iuda, for his not remembring the kindneſſe of Iehoiadah 2. Chron. 24. 22. 25.the Prieſt vntounto his Jonne Zecharia?
As for ſuch Miniſters whoſe want is not regarded by men, let them comfort themſelues in God: and let them remember that both theſe and all other iuſt muſt liue by faith, not onelyonly touching the life to come, but alſo touching this. Want indeed is a heauie burden; but the more patiently it is borne, the more comforr it will bring in the end. If any mans faith be ſo weake, let him ſay with my ſelfe, Lord I beleeue, help my vnbeliefe. Thus much of maintenanceMark 9. 24. of Miniſters, and of the appurtenances thereof.
The laſt dutie of the people to the Miniſters in reſpectObedience to Miniſters. of the excellencie of this will of God, is obedience. This is the chiefeſt for their good, and therefore I hauehave reſerued it to this laſt place, that it may be the better obſerued. And indeed the more excellent, the more gracious, eaſie, the better pleaſing and the perfecter we hauehave heard this will of God to be, the greater reaſon there is, not onelyonly why we ſhould the more highly eſteeme of and reuerence them by whom the ſame is declared vntounto vsus, and the more diligently heare them declaring the ſame vntounto vsus as often as poſſibly we may, and withall why we ſhould more bountifully maintaine them, and performe all duties of kindnes vntounto them; but eſpecially why we ſhould obey them in all things that they ſhall ſhew this will of God requireth of vsus. This is that that the Apoſtle to the Hebrewes exhorteth vsus vntounto, ſaying, Obey ſuch as are ouer you in the Lord, Heb. 13. 17.interpreting and laying forth this will of God with all the legacies (as it were) and bequeſts vntounto you, therein contained. So Peter hauing moſt earneſtly exhorted the Elders amongſt thoſe Chriſtian Iewes to whom he wrote, to feed 1. Pet. 55.the flocke of God, that is, to inſtruct them touching this will of God, and in due ſeaſon to giuegive vntounto eueryevery one of the ſaid flocke that portion of ſpirituall food the which that will preſcribeth vntounto them, willeth alſo the ſaid flocke to be ſubiect vntounto their ſaid Elders, adding, Likewiſe ye yonger ſubmit your ſelues vntounto the elders, or as ſome reade it, to your Tremellius.elders. I am not ignorant that other interprete both the word yongers, and alſo the word elders in this place for words onelyonly of age; but I cannot but (with modeſtie notwithſtanding) diſſent from them, and ſo expound them for the people generally, and the Elders, as before I hauehave done. Firſt, becauſe he had before ſpoken of them, vfing the word Elders for a name of office, and not of yeares, as it is vſed elſewhere. And although one and the ſame word1. Tim. 5. 17. ſometimes, in one and the ſame place be diuerſly taken, the text, ſcope and circumſtance thereof ſo requiring, yet here theſe things requiring the word Elders to be ſo taken as in the former firſt verſe, I ſee no neceſſitie of interpreting it otherwiſe, but great reaſon to take it as before, euen for Miniſters of the word eſpecially, as in that place to Timothie; and the word yongers to ſignifie the whole flock before mentioned. As the word Elders is vſed for Miniſters, to teach all Miniſters, of what age ſoeuer, to be graue and ſober in all their cariage and conuerſation, as elders in yeares ought to be: ſo why may not the word yongers beTit. 2. 2. taken for the whole flocke, of what age ſoeuer, to teach them to carie themſelues towards the Miniſters, as they that are yongers in yeares ought to do towards their elders? There is the more reaſon thereof, becauſe all to be taught in the word are often in the ſame reſpect called by the name of children, that they may as willingly obey theirPſal. 34. 11. Pro. 8. 32. ſuch teachers, as children ought their fathers. So alſo the whole Church in the ſame reſpect is called daughter, Hearken O daughter, and conſider, and incline thine eare: ſoPſal. 45. 10. often elſewhere. So alſo (a… before hath bin noted) the grace of God, that is, the Goſpell is ſaid to bring ſaluation vntounto all ſorts of men, teaching vsus to denie all vngodlineſſe, &c. Tit. 2. 11. 12.wher ye word tranſlated teaching, ſignifieth teaching of children, euen yong children, y• al may hearken vntounto ye Goſpel. Neither doth the word yongers, in this place vſed neceſſarily or onelyonly ſignifie yonger in age. For it cometh from another word that ſignifieth new. And ſo it may be the better taken here, becauſe it is to be ſuppoſed that the flocke before mentioned, or the greater part thereof, was more newly conuerted to the faith then their Miniſters. Laſtly, the word yonger is elſewhere vſed for a word of ſubiection or ſeruice. For the Euangeliſt Luke ſetteth down the words of Chriſt to his Diſciples childiſhly ſtriuing who ſhould be chiefeſt among them, thus, He that is greateſt amongſt you, let him be as the yonger (which in the GreekLuk. 22. 26. is the very ſame that is in this place) and he that is the chief, as he that doth ſerue. Here the word yonger is oppoſed to the word greater and chiefe, and is confounded with the word ſeruant. And this will be the plainer to any that will iudiciouſly compare Luke with Mathew and Marke, who bothMat. 20. 26. Mark. 10. 43. 44. do vſe two words which do both ſignifie ſeruants.
But to returne to the point of obedience now in hand, the Apoſtle in the former place to the Hebrewes is very expreſſe in that behalfe, confirming it from the end (as hath bin ſhewed) namely, that elders there ſaid to hauehave the ruling or guiding of them, may giuegive the more comfortable account, and with ioy and without griefe diſcharge their dutie to them ouer whom they are ſet, becauſe it is vnprofitable that it ſhould be done with griefe.
If alſo our Sauiour Chriſt charged the Iewes to obey the Scribes and Phariſes ſitting in the chaire of Moſes, and ſoMat. 23. 3. long as they taught the law of Moſes, to do whatſoeuer they ſhould bid them to do, muſt not all much more obey them that ſhall teach this will of God, ſo much better then that will of God giuen by Moſes, by how much better Chriſt himſelfe is then Moſes, the Lord and Maſter then the ſeruant? The rather muſt ſuch obedience be yeelded to ſuch Miniſters, becauſe they that obey them not preaching the ſame, do not obey Chriſt himſelfe, nor God himſelfe. ThisLuk. 10. 16. obedience to Miniſters muſt be onelyonly in ſuch things as they ſhall teach out of this will, and according to this will, and in all ſuch things they muſt be obeyed. Herod himſelfe as wicked as he was, did many things that Iohn preached vntountoMark. 6. 20. him, he did not all. But Zacharias and Elizabeth his wife Luk. 1. 6.walked in all the commandements of the Lord.
The ſaid obedience alſo muſt be conſtant and continue to the end, elſe there is no ſaluation. He onelyonly that ouercometh Mat. 24. 13. Reu. 2. 7. ver. 11. ver. 17. ver. 26. ch…p. 3. 5. ver. 12. ver. 21. Pſa…. 92. 14. Ho…. 13. 2. 1. Cor. 15. 58. Reu. 2. 19.ſhall eate of the tree of life, &c. and not be hurt of the ſecond death: but ſhall eate of the Manna that is had, &c. and ſhall hauehave power ouer nations, &c. and ſhall walke with Chriſt in white, &c. and he ſhall be a pillar in the temple of God, and the name of God ſhall be written vponupon him, &c. and ſhall ſit with Chriſt in his throne, as himſelfe ſitteth in the throne of his Father. Neither muſt it continue onelyonly, but alſo alwayes abound.
Finally, this obedience muſt be as well to their reprehenſions of any thing done contrary to this will, as in doing the things commanded therein; becauſe ſuch reprehenſions are as excellent ointments that ſhall not breake our Pſal. 141.heads. And, the wounds of a friend are better then the kiſſes of Pro. 27.an enemie.
Without this obedience, all other duties to ſuch Miniſters, both which before I hauehave ſpoken of, and all other alſo ſhall be in vaine. Such Miniſters themſelues may fare the better by ſuch duties ſo performed vntounto them; yea alſo, other thereby may be prouoked to the like; but the parties themſelues ſhall be neuer a whit the better, without this laſt dutie of obedience. Euen all knowledge without obedience to them that hauehave knowledge, ſhall be in vaine. The more alſo that a man knoweth of this will, not doing accordingly1. Ioh. 2. 4. 1. Cor. 13. 2. Luk. 12. 47. Rom. 2. 5. the good commanded, and refraining the euill forbidden, with the more ſtripes ſhall he be beaten: and the more wrath he heapeth vp to himſelfe againſt the day of wrath. All the premiſes by the people to be performed to the Preachers of this wil of God, are the more to be reſpected, becauſe the ſaid Preachers by their preaching and by their prayers are the charets and horſemen of thoſe places where they liue, as well as Eliah and Eliſha were of Iſrael. Whether2. K. 2. 12. & 13 14. alſo ſuch Preachers be poore or rich, the former duties are to be performed vntounto them. They are neither the more to be regarded for their riches, nor the leſſe to be reſpected for their pouertie, (as touching their maintenance) but all reſpect of them muſt be for this wils ſake, the which they preach and declare. As the faith of our glorious Iam. 2. 1.Lord Ieſus Chriſt muſt not be had in reſpect of perſons, ſo muſt not the miniſterie of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, as the which is the meanes whereby the ſaid faith is to be obtained and increaſed. And touching the former obedience, it muſt not be ſeruile. As ſuch Miniſters muſt not be Lords ouer their people being Gods inheritance, neither reigne ouer1 Pet. 5. 3. Mat. 20. 26. them as Kings ouer their ſubiects; ſo muſt not the people be in any ſuch ſubiection vntounto them. Their ſubiection muſt not be to them, but to their doctrine, in teaching this good, this well pleaſing, and this perfect will of God.
To leaue the duties of the people to their Miniſters, inAn other vſe of the former excellencie of the will of God, concerning the Miniſters the… of. reſpect of the ſaid will of God, let me now ſhew one vſe more of the former doctrine, concerning the Miniſters themſelues. The more excellent therefore the ſayd adiuncts ſhew this will of God to be, the more carefull, diligent, and faithfull ought all the Miniſters thereof to be in declaring the ſame, and laying forth all the benefits thereof, to the people of God to whom the ſame appertaine, and over whom the Lord hath ſet them. Let them neither ad any thing thereto, nor detract any thing there from, leſt ſo of the will of God, they make the will of man. And indeed how foule a thing were it ſo to deale with the will of2 Tim. 4. 2. a man? Let them preach it in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon. The great ignorance, and the like impietie of the people every where requireth it ſo to be. Yet alas, how great is the negligence of the Miniſters herein? I hauehave ſpoken ſomewhat hereof before. But who can ſpeake enough to cure this diſeaſe, againſt which ſo many of other Churches, ſo many of our owne, (all moſt worthy men) hauehave written ſo much, ſo divinely, ſo learnedly, ſo fully and ſubſtantially? and yet no reformation, either of Non reſidencie, or of the idlenes of them that are reſident. Verely this is the ſtaine and the blame of many Churches. This is the the bane of many ſoules: ſo much worſe then the murderEzech. 3. 18. & 33. 6. Act 20. 26. 27. of ſo many bodyes, by how much the ſoule is better then the body. And yet the death of the ſoule is alſo the death of the body for ever in the world to come. The body may here be killed; and yet the ſoule liue: yea, ſoule and body may liue forever in heaven. But if the ſoule be here murdered, both ſoule and body cannot but be caſt into hell, where their worme dyeth not, and the fire ſhall never be quenched. Mar. 9. 43. 44.Oh, what then ſhall become of ſuch murderers themſelues? Shall they ſpeed better? No: No: A thouſand & ten thouſand woes ſhall fall vponupon them without repentance: yea great repentance. How fearefull was the ſtate of the rich man that would not refreſh the body of one poore Lazarus? He would hauehave ben glad of the leaſt mitigationLuk 16. 24. of his torments, and begged hard for it, but could not obtaine it.
The negligence alſo of the Miniſters: in diſcharge of their office, is the cauſe likewiſe of all outward evills and calamities to the people. But this ſore requyreth the help of our governours, for the cure thereof by their authority▪ without it all ſpeaking, all preaching, all writting will doe no good. The more this evill hath hitherto ben ſpoken, preached, and written againſt, the more it hath increaſed, and dayly doth increaſe. Let vsus therefore the more earneſtly pray the Lord to incline the heart of our dread Soveraigne: and of out other Rulers vnderunder his Maieſtie, to put to their helping hands, for redreſſe and Reformation thereof.
Thus much of theſe two verſes, and of this ArgumentThe concluſion of this Treatiſe. of the Chriſtian Sacrifice. Now the Lord ſanctifie the conſideration of all his mercies, as eſpecially of the life to come ſo alſo of this life, receiued and promiſed to the good of all to whom theſe my weake labours ſhall come: yea alſo of my ſelfe, that from the ſame, and according to the meaſure of the ſame, to every one imparted, we may preſent our ſelues, ſoules and bodyes, with all the powers of the one, and members of the other, ſuch a ſacrifice both actiue and paſſiue as before we hauehave heard: even living, holy, and well pleaſing to God: and that according to his word: and becauſe his word doth both require it, and is alſo the meanes to quicken vsus, to ſanctifie vsus, and to make vsus well pleaſing unto him. The ſame Lord alſo for our better ſo doing, keep vsus from all conformitie ſpirituall and other vntounto this world, and the wicked therein: giving vsus grace likewiſe not onelyonly ſo to doe: but alſo to be transformed and turned to God, by the renuing of our mindes touching our vnderſtanding, reaſon, will, and affections, and alſo of our whole man: to this end, that we may be able to proue, iudge and approue, how▪ gracious, well pleaſing, and every way perfect the will of God now is in this time of the goſpell, ſince the comming and by the cōming of Chriſt, both farre differing from, and alſo farre aboue all his will in the time of the law and old Teſtament, that ſo we may labor the more for the knowledge of it, and ſo much the more to bleſſe God for it; by how much the more he hath bleſſed vsus in it: ſtriving likewiſe ſo much the more to excell all that lived vnderunder the old Teſtament in all true godlines, by how much the more this his laſt will excelleth the former: and that we may accordingly regard all the Miniſters thereof: by how much the more we chaue heard them to be greater then the Miniſters of the old Teſtament. And finally y• ſame Lord, giuegive grace alſo to al ſuch Miniſters to be ſo much more careful, diligent, and painefull in declaring this will to God his people, by how much more God hath now graced, and honored them by be truſting them with a greater and more glorious Miniſterie then ever was the Miniſterie of Moſes, of the Leviticall Prieſthood, or of any of the Prophets. All this grace the Lord graunt for Chriſt Ieſus his ſake, to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghoſt, be all praiſe and glorie world without end.
Amen.
FINIS.