The Progress of Saints to Full Holiness, Verse 20
VERSE 20. Despise not Prophecie.
THe Coherence of these words with the former is this: The Spirit of God and his graces are continued and cherished in the hearts of beleevers by the meanes of Prophecy; therfore if you would not have the Spirit quenched, you must not despise Prophecy.
To finde out the meaning hereof consider these two things:
1. What Prophecy is.
2. What it is Not to despise it.
Prophecy whatI. Prophecy in Scripture is used both in a strict and in a large sense. In a strict sense it is used for prediction or foretelling of things to come: of foreign, to foretell. So those holy penne-men of Scripture are called Prophets, 2 Pet. 1.10. And Philips foure daughters, Prophetisses: Acts 21.9. In a large sense Prophecy is taken for the interpretation of the word of God, and the holy Scriptures. And this is a gift of the holy Spirit, enabling men to expound Prophecies concerning Christ, and to interpret, and apply the writings of the Prophets and Apostles. Thus the word is taken, Rom. 12.6. Having Prophecy let us Prophecy according to the analogy of faith. And Ephes. 4.11. Christ ascending into heaven, gave some to be Prophets: speaking of Evangelicall Ministers.
This latter Prophecy, being here meant, hath two parts, preaching and prayer:Parts of Prophecy. for every Prophet is partly the voice of God to the people; and partly the peoples voice unto God: God said of Abraham, Gen. 20.7. Give the man his wife againe, and hee will pray for thee; for hee is a Prophet. And both of them are joyned together, 1 Cor. 11.4. Both these parts of Prophecy are here meant, especially the former, which hath two parts: first,Donum Prophe…iae duplex. 1. Quod studio & meditatione paratum est. 2. Quod gratiae extraordinaria spiritus aliquibus donatum est teaching, which stands in right interpreting of Scripture, giving the right sense, raising sound doctrines, and beating downe contrary errours. Secondly, exhorting, which is the applying of doctrines to the use of edification and consolation. These were distinguished in the primative Church into seuerall offices, of Doctors and Pastors, because of the abundant gifts then given, and the indistinct multitude of beleevers, not brought into distinct congregations: but now for the most part they are confounded into one. For the proofe of these parts of Prophecy see, 1 Cor. 14.3. He that prophecieth, speaketh to men, for edification, for exhortation and consolation.
II. To despise, is not onelyonly openly to contemne preaching and publike prayers, but lightly to regard, or carelesly to heare the word: for the word foreign properly signifies basely to account of a thing, and esteeme it nothing worth, and of no reckoning; which indeede is all one with despising it. And the Apostle intendeth when he saith (Despise not) that they should not onelyonly not loath and contemne the word, but honour it, highly esteeme it, heartily love it, yea sincerely follow it. So the children are said to despise the counsell of their parents, when they doe not follow it. For thus the phrase (Not to despise) is used in Scripture: Psal. 51.17. A broken and a contrite heart, O Lord, thou wilt not despise, that is, highly esteeme, value at a high prise and rate: In such speeches (by a meiosis) lesse being spoken than meant.
Doct. Every powerfull Ministery must be conscionably embraced.Christian men and women must not onelyonly not despise, but conscionably embrace the preaching and ministery of the word. 1 Cor. 14.1.3. Above all other speciall gifts desire and esteeme Prophecying. Prov. 8.32, 33. Heare instruction, and be wise, refuse it not: Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, and giving attendance at the posts of my doores.
Reason 1One reason hereof is in the Text: By faithfull preaching, the Spirit, and his graces, and motions are quickned and cherished, as by it they are begun and continued. 1. The Ministery is the chariot of the Spirit, whereby he rides gloriously into the hearts of the elect. Acts 10.44. While Peter spake, the holy Ghost fell upon them which heard his words. 2. Prophecy is that which inciteth and provoketh us in our dulnesse, and quickens us to the faithfull imployment of such gifts as are given us by the Spirit. Eccles. 12.11. The words of the wise are like goades, and nailes, fastened by the masters of assemblies: As goades, to pricke us forward when wee grow dull and sloathfull in the practise of piety and vertue; and as nailes, to fasten us to the sound love and obedience of the truth, when we grow either wavering, weake, or weary; for so the Apostles by preaching confirmed the Disciples at Antioch, Acts 14.22. So Ieremy calls the word of the Lord a fire shut up in his bones, which warme and heates our colde and frozen hearts, and quickens our graces; as the two Disciples, whose hearts glowed in them while Christ opened to them the Scriptures. Luke 24 32.3. Prophecy is powerfull for Edification in the knowledge of God and Iesus Christ, in faith, in godlinesse, love, zeale, repentance, newnesse of life, and all the heavenly vertues. For Exhortation, which containes admonition and reprehension; both which are speciall good meanes to awake and quicken us, when coldnesse and carelesnesse creepe on us. And for Consolation, for seeing it is the portion of the Saints, by many tribulations to enter into the Kingdome, Acts 14.22.they have great and continuall neede of matter of comfort and strength, the which being onelyonly to be had from the conduits of comfort in the Scriptures, and from the gracious promises conteined therein; what a forcible argument is this to make us highly esteeme, and joyfully embrace so gracious a meanes, not onelyonly of instruction, but of strong consolation!
Reas. 2.2. The gift of Prophecy and faithfull preaching is that precious gift which our Lord Iesus, when he left the world, bestowed on his Church, Eph. 4.11. For the gathering together of the Saints, for the worke of the Ministery, for the building up of the body of Christ. Now with what safety can any man despise so great a gift of so deare a friend, which hee was so carefull at his last departure to commend to his friends; to so gracious a purpose and end, as to gather them from under the wrath of God, and from the dispersed and lost estate of the world? whereas without vision or prophecy people are lost, or (as the word is) naked, exposed to Gods wrath and their owne perdition: Prov. 29.18.
Nay more; the Lord in this one gift offers a whole mint of mercy to be divided among beleevers. He offers us life of grace in it; and therefore it is called the word of life: Acts 20.32.and the word of grace, Ioh. 6.33. the word that I speake unto you is spirit and life. He offers us light of grace and glory, without the shine of which glorious light of the Gospell, men sit in darkenesse and shadow of death; having their understanding darkned, and strangers to the life of God through the ignorance that is in them. Hee offers by it grace and peace, with himselfe, and in our owne consciences, and therefore it is called a Ministery of reconciliation,Acts 10 36. and the Gospell of peace, whereby God through us beseecheth men to be reconciled: 2 Cor. 5.19. He offereth us faith by this gift of Prophecy, this being the ordinary meanes by which we attaine that precious gift of gifts: Rom. 10.17. Without hearing, no faith. Rom. 10.8. The word of faith which wee preach. Lastly, he offereth us by it, the end of our faith, even the salvation of our soules, 1 Pet. 1.9. and therefore it is called a word of salvation, Acts 13.26. Now what great and unspeakable wickednesse were it to despise so great salvation, to despise the word of life, of grace, of light, of peace, of faith, and the end of it which is salvation? for it is the ingraffed word, able to save soules: Iam. 1.21.
3. Manifold is the evill that overtakes a despiser of Prophecy: 1. He is destitute of the Spirit,Reas. 3. who hath no being, no delight to be there; as the connexion of the precepts witnesseth. 2. Prophecy being neglected, piety is lost, and men prove profane persons: this was a brand of Esaus profanesse, that hee cared more for a meales meate, than he did for the blessing, Heb. 12.16. 3. Despise thou prophecy, thy prayer shall be despised, and all thy service is abominable: Prov. 28.9. and chap. 1.28. Because I have cryed (saith the Lord) and yee would not heare, yee shall cry and not be heard. 4. It ties and fastens sinne on men, yea and heapes up judgement; for first, it nourisheth ignorance, a maine supporter of Satans kingdome: secondly, it resisteth faith, by refusing the onelyonly and ordinary meanes of it: thirdly, it barreth out repentance, because this is the meanes of our regeneraration, and change of heart and life: fourthly, it makes sinne farre more sinfull, because here is a refusall of mercy and grace offered by prophecy: Ioh. 15.22 If I had not come and spoken, they had not sinned; but now they have no cloake for their sinne. Fifthly, the refusall of prophecy provoketh the Lord to give up men to vile affections, to worke all uncleannesse with greedinesse, because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved, 2 Thess. 2.10. Lastly, it tyes on judgement as fast as sinne, and wraps the despiser in the curse of God: Heb. 2.3. How shall we escape, if we neglect, (much more) despise so great salvation. Consider the threatnings, Acts 13.41. Beholde ye despisers, and wonder, and vanish away: Beholde, I will worke a worke in your dayes which a man would not beleeve for the terrour of it: out of Habak. 1.5.
Vse 1.This serves to reproove, 1. Anabaptists and Enthusiasts, who pretend the Spirit, and despise prophecy; they have the Spirit to guide them, and therefore neede no preaching. 2. Those profane Atheists at home, who despising the Spirit of grace, and the word of grace, live as without God in the world. Many who have Iacobs voice, professe in word better things, yet prize the preaching of Christ as a thing of nought. It is better to be casting up some account, or reading some history, or walking in the fields, or visiting some friends, or perhaps going to a play, than to a Sermon. Are these the sonnes of Abraham, or the sonnes of God, and not rather the profane sonnes of profane Esau? What can hee tell me (saith one) which I know not? As if thy knowledge could priviledge thee to despise Prophecy. And what thinkest thou? These Thessalonians had knowledge as well as thou, for they were taught of God, 1 Thess. 4.9. yet must not they despise Prophecy, and wilt thou despise it? We see not (saith another) but that all this preaching doth breede barrennesse, as an immoderate raine, and brings preaching into contempt: As if the abundance of prophecying did priviledge the profane heart to despise it. The Israelites made just such another reason, Oh wee have nothing but Mannah, Mannah, and our soule is weary of this Mannah, and yet by their owne confession, if they loathe this Mannah, they must have nothing else to live by, they shall surely die, and their blood be upon them. Object. Wee see not that this preaching doth any thing but breede contention among Preachers and hearers. Answ. As if, because a bad stomacke turnes wholsome meate into bad humours, therefore good meate must be despised: and because mans nature (spider-like) turnes wholsome doctrine into poyson, therefore wholsome doctrine may be despised. Many other allegations the Divell puts into the mindes and mouthes of men, against Prophecy, because he knowes by preaching, his kingdome falls like lightening, Luk. 10.18. But those that feare the Lord will abhorre them. 3. Others are reprooved, who can be content to heare the word read, and thinke themselves in good case if they can reade the word, or good bookes at home, but despise prophecy and interpretation: which what else is it but to reject Gods wisedome in his owne meanes, who hath set us apart to pray men in Christs stead to be reconciled to God? The conversion of men was never committed to mens owne private reading, no nor to the ministery of Angels; no nor Christ himselfe, undertooke to convert the world, by his owne industry, but left his Disciples to doe greater things than himselfe: Ioh. 14.12. Contemne Gods meanes, and thy owne shall never succeede. Besides, will not any say, that hee understands better by interpretation of things, than by bare reading? Yes, any but grosse malice, and wilfulnesse. 4. Others will heare the word, not read onelyonly but preached, and yet despise Prophecy, because they despise the practise of that they heare; as Herod. That which a man cares not to keepe, hee despiseth. Blessed are they that heare the word of God, and keepe it, and doe it.
Vse 2.Therefore beware of despising Prophecy, and of receiving the grace of God in vaine, 2 Cor. 6.1. but rather heartily and sincerely embrace it.Meanes to embrace Prophecy. Meanes. 1. Labour to see the necessity of it, being the power of God to salvation, Rom. 1.16. and a principall ordinance of his to reveale the great mysteries of salvation, which thou canst never understand without a teacher. 2. Make conscience of hearing the word often: 1 Pet. 2.2. As new-borne babes, feeling their want, would sucke every houre of the day and night. Esteeme it with Mary, the one thing necessary. 3. Attend at the gates of wisdomes house, Prov. 8.33. It was the praise of these Thessalonians, that they heard the word with all readinesse, Act. 17.11. and a great worke of God in Lydia, chap. 16.14. The Lord opened her heart, to attend to the words of the Apostles. 4. Rejoyce in it as the Iaylor, Act. 16.32. Hee rejoyced that hee and all the household beleeved. And the wise Merchant went away rejoycing. Not to delight in the word, is to despise it: Ierem. 6.10. Beholde the word of God is to them a reproach, why? they have no delight in it. 5. If thou wouldest not despise Prophecy, despise not Prophets: This were to despise Christ himselfe; for, Hee that despiseth you despiseth mee, Luk. 10.10. But have them in singular love for their workes sake, as our spirituall fathers begetting us unto Christ. Wee see how the Prophets of the olde Testament were esteemed even of Kings themselves; as Ioash, though a wicked King, finding Elisha ready to die, fell on his face, and wept, and cried, My father, my father, the horsemen of Israel and the chariots thereof, 2 King▪ 13.14. And shall not beleevers in the new Testament honour the Prophets of the new Testament, who as good lampes consume themselves to give others light? But alas! the calling of Prophecying it is like Christ himselfe, who was like a withered branch, and a roote in a dry ground, no beauty, no favour to desire it, the carnall man sees no good in it; notwithstanding Christ hath magnified it in his owne person. Such are cleerely convinced to despise prophecying, what ever they say to the contrary. And much more those, who like Saul can let his speare fly at David, while hee playes on his harpe to solace and comfort him, and drive the evill spirit from him. They can cast darts of reproach and slander, and shoote arrowes of malice and violence, while the Prophets of the Lord play on this heavenly harpe, to drive the evill Spirit away out of the hearts of men.