The Plain Mans Spiritual Plow, Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII. The Oxen which draw forth the Soole of Pieties Plough.
AS wee hauehave throughly peruſed the Soole of Spiritual Plough; ſo now is it meete that we alſo peruſe the Oxen which drawe the ſame: wherein wee may conſider three principall points: viz.
Firſt, thoſe Oxen.
Next, their Labour.
Laſtly, their Reward.
Firſt,1 The Oxen we might (after the minde of ſome men) vnderſtand by thoſe Oxen, the Commaundements of God: partly in regard of the number, partly for the office.10. Oxen. There bee ten particular Commaundements in both the Tables of the Lawe, which ſtand as for fiue yoke or couples, whoſe ſtrength is the force of true Contrition, and the powerful draught of godly repentance, by the which mans hard & vncircumciſed heart is fallowed and prepared for the ſeede, whereof the Apoſtle called it a Schoolemaiſter vntounto Chriſt: for they drawe or force men to Chriſt, in whome there is founde merciemercy and perfection.
Howbeit, there bee other liuely Oxen the which the Maiſter husbandman hath both prepared, yoked together, and perſwaded to draw ſtrongly forth this Spirituall Soole.1. Cor. 9.9 1. Tim. 5.18. Saint Paul as well in his Epiſtle to Timothy, as in that to the Corinthians, likeneth the true labourers of the Lord in his ſpirituall worke,Deu. 25.4 to Oxen. Thou ſhalt not muſte the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corne. This hee taketh out of the Law: and that wee might the better vnderſtand his meaning, hee addeth: Doth God take care for Oxen? As if hee ſaide: God dooth not ſo much reſpect the Oxen themſelues, as hee doth men, for whoſe ſake this was written: for the labourer in the Lordes worke is worthie of his hire, as the labouring Oxe requireth to hauehave his fodder.
2. King. 19 19.Wee finde in the ſecond Booke of the Kings, that when Eliah went forth to annoint Eliſhah for a Prophet in his place, hee found him in the Lande ploughing with twelue yoke of Oxen, and himſelfe with the twelue. 12. Yoke of Oxen.After the which number wee may take for this labour, certaine orders of holy and wiſe perſons, remembred and commended in the ſacred Scriptures. As firſt, the twelue Patriarkes tied vppe vnderunder the yoke of the olde Teſtament: and the twelue Apoſtles, bearing the gentle yoke of the Goſpell: And theſe both yoked or numbred together, make the iuſt twelue yoke, and the number of thoſe foure and twentie Elders mentioned by Saint Iohn in his Apocalyps. In the like ſenſe,Apoc. 4. and 5. wee hauehave the number of the twelue foundations, and twelue gates of the heauenly Ieruſalem.
Saint Paul neuertheleſſe,10. Orders of Oxen. alluding to the former number of the ten Commaundements, maketh ten orders of thoſe ſpirituall Oxen, of the which in his Epiſtle to the Epheſians, chapter, 4. hee nameth fiue; and in his former Epiſtle to the Corinthians, chapter, 12. hee nameth other fiue. As firſt, Apoſtles: next, Prophets: thirdly, Euangeliſts: fourthly, Paſtours: fiftly, Doctours: ſixtly, Powers: ſeuenthly, Healers: eightly, Helpers: ninthly, Gouernours: tenthly, Linguiſts. And theſe are firſt thoſe Doctours of the newe Teſtament, immediately choſen, called,1 Apostles and ſent forth of Chriſt to teach the Goſpel, with a ſpeciall power of the holy Miniſterie.2 Prophets. The ſecond ſort are thoſe Preachers of the diuine myſteries for the inſtitution of the people. The third,3 Euangeliſts are ſuch as are ſent to ſome particular Churches, to preach the Goſpel vntounto them. The fourth,4 Paſtors. are diuinely called and appointed to take charge of the ſoules to them committed, to feed them with ſpirituall food, & to adminiſter the Sacraments. The fift,5 Doctours. are called to catechize & teach the principles & grounds of Religion. The ſixt, were to execute the faculty of the Spirit againſt wicked deriders of diſcipline,6 Powers. & to correct ſuch as contemned the plaine doctrine.7 Healers. The ſeuenth, are to heale and worke beyond the common courſe of nature in the prime of the Church, thereby the ſooner to confirme the faith and doctrine preached, transferred at this time vntounto ſuch (as beyond ſome others, bountifull and zealous in the works of merciemercy) do refreſh and comfort others. The eight,8 Helpers. are appointed as Deacons or Miniſters, to regard the neceſſitie of the Church, to helpe the poore Chriſtians with a faithfull collection and diſtribution of goods. The ninth, are to rule and gouerne others,9 Gouernors after the grace and wiſedome giuen them thereto, in the eccleſiaſticall policie.10 Linguiſtes. The tenth, hauehave the gift of tongues, and grace of interpretation of tongues, for the better edification of the Church. Here we hauehave fiue yoke of Oxen.The Oxen are the Preachers &c: and why? In a word, the Oxen which ordinarily drawe on this Plough, are the Preachers, Miniſters, and faithfull diſpoſers of the ſecrets of the word of God vntounto the people (as before it is ſaid) who are not vnaptly likened to Oxen, for fiue chiefe reſpects: that is: Firſt, for their wiſedome: ſecondly, for their authority: thirdly, for their continency: fourthly, for their ſtrength: fiftly, for their vtility. The wiſedome appeareth in the eyes: the authority in the hornes: their continencie in their caſtracie: their ſtrength in their labours: their vtilitie in their vſe.
It is ſaid in the Apocalyps, 5. that the Lambe had ſeuen eyes: which noted his great wiſedome1 Wiſdome. and perfection of knowledge. But the Oxe hath but two eyes, whereby (as Iſaiah ſaith) he knoweth his owner, & is ready to obey him. By theſe two eyes is ſignified knowledge of the Lordes Law and Commandements, and a willing obedience to the ſame. And againe, here is the louelove of God, and the louelove of man, alluding to thoſe two tables in the Lawe. In a word, here is both wiſedome, and the worke of wiſedome, in the Oxe.
Secondly, the Lambe hath alſo ſeuen hornes, which noteth the perfect power and authoritie2 Authoritie of Chriſt. But this Oxe hath but two hornes, to note a double vocation, wherof the one is within, the other without, from the which, the Chriſtian, eſpecially the Paſtor, Preacher, Miniſter, or Elder, taketh his power and authoritie: for how can he preach, except he be ſent?
Thirdly, the Oxe is gelded, by the which he is made more tame, readie,3 Chaſtitie. and ſubiect to his worke and yoke. And of certaine ſpiritual Oxen we heare the Lord ſay, There be ſome chaste, Mat. 19.12.which were ſo borne of their mothers wombe: and there be ſome chaſte, which be made chaſte of men: and there be ſome chaſte, which hauehave made themſelues chaſte for the kingdome of heauen. For ſome are chaſte by nature, and ſome others are made chaſte (beeing gelded) by men: but theſe hauing ſubdued their appetites, vſe the gift of continenci… in the ſeruice of God: for they are diſpoſed by the holy Ghoſt, to beare the yoke of Chriſt with meekeneſſe of minde, by the ripeneſſe of repentance, the quietneſſe of conſcience, the worke of obedience, the grauitie of their modeſt conuerſation, and chriſtian modeſtie.
4 Strength.Fourthly, the Oxe is ordained for labour, and ſo the Husbandman vſeth him in his fielde and plough. In like maner the Elders and Miniſters of the Word, in their ſpirituall Husbandrie, are not to ſtand idle, but to labour: as ſaid the Apoſtles, Wee are Gods Labourers, yee are his Husbandry. And this was the ſaying of the good husbandman, to them whom hee found ſtanding idle in the Market-place: Why ſtand you here all the day idle? goe and enter my Vineyard, and labour: and whatſoeuer is iuſt, ye ſhall receiue. Here is labour required: neither may ſuch imagine which take this charge on them, that they are worthy their rewards, without labour: nor that they ſhall be holden guiltleſſe before the Lord, except they worke and labour, for they be ſpirituall Oxen.
5 Ʋtilitie.Fiftly, the Oxe bringeth great vtilitie vntounto the Husbandman: As not onelyonly in that it eaſeth him of the great labour of his hand, in tilling the earth which the Lord curſed (as Gen. 15.20.) but alſo in treading out his corne, in yeelding him plentie of graine, in drawing for his carriages: and laſtly, in ſubmitting his life and body to him for his victualles. So able is the faithfull Miniſter of the Goſpell, to boulte out and diſpoſe the hidden graine of Gods myſteries vntounto the people, in yeelding him plentie of foode at all times, by preaching the Word, in ſeaſon, & out of ſeaſon: yea, and to offer vp his body vntounto the Lord, a ſacrifice (as the holy Marters hauehave done) for the confirmatiō of the faith, and better comfort of the Church.
Thus, hauing peruſed the Oxen, let vsus now conſider ſomething more of their kinde of labour.2 The labor of the Oxen. The Apoſtle (citing that place of the law) ſaith, that the chiefe labour of the Oxe is, to Tread out the Corne. Meaning, ſuch a labour, as whereby the Husbandman is prouided for, and furniſhed with that whereof hee liueth. And (indeede) the labour of the ſpirituall Oxe is, the treading out of the ſpirituall foode vntounto the people. The good Houſeholder (ſaith our Sauiour) bringeth forth out of his treaſure, thinges new and olde. To this he compareth the Preacher, or preaching of the kingdome of heauen, in the which, the Lawe applied to the Goſpell, and as well iudgements from the one, as mercies from the other, declared vntounto men, the field of the Lord is fallowed, and prepared, and a great abundance of good fruites brought vntounto them that labour the ſame.
Saint Paul writing to Timothy, 1. Tim. 5.17.ſpeaking of thoſe Oxen: whom he there calleth Elders, for …ir wiſedome, grauitie, authoritie and digni… …ommendeth vntounto them two eſpeciall duties, viz. Firſt, good gouernment: next ſtudie and doctrine. The Elders (ſaith he) which rule well, Elders that rule well.are worthy of double honour: eſpecially they which labour in the Word and Doctrine. By this Ruling, he noteth a gouernment: but, by well ruling, he noteth the manner thereof: neither is it much regarded, that men rule, but that they rule well in their places: thus ought the Miniſter to rule well the Church: the which, that he may the better perform, he muſt learn firſt to gouern wel himſelfe, and next his owne family: for hee that cannot doe that, is not yet made meete to rule the Church.Labour in the word & doctrine By Labouring in the Word, the Apoſtle meaneth his exerciſe in the holy Myſteries, but chiefly, diligent ſtudie and meditation, in the feare of God, whereby being that way furniſhed, he may be able to draw forth of his full veſſell meaſurably vntounto his flocke in the Church; the which is meant by the labour in doctrine. It is therefore required, that the Miniſter be of good gouernment for himſelfe, his family, and flocke: and that hee bee a diligent ſtudent, and painefull feeder of the ſheepe of Chriſt, thereby to expreſſe his louelove to his maiſter, and to diſcharge his dutie in his place.
And that this may be done with more cheerfulneſſe,The yoke of the oxen. Act. 1.15. they forget not the nature of their yoke and combinations: This is not that ſeruile yoke of the lawe tied to circumciſion, ceremonies, and ſuch like, (the which except they did in thoſe times obſerue, they were curſed) but that eaſie yoke, which our Sauiour willeth vsus to take vp: that is, the ſweete doctrine and moſt wholeſome diſcipline of the Goſpell of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, by faith, in whom wee are ſaued, and whom to ſerue is perfect freedome: for he is our ſanctification and redemption. To take vp this yoke, is to ſubmit our ſelues to the doctrine, rule, and diſcipline of Chriſt, to doe him homage, to embrace him, to harken to him, and to honour, ſerue and follow him, as our Maiſter, our teacher, our king, and the authour of our health: he ſaith not, caſt off the yoke of the Lawe: but take mine: for it is not enough to abandon other yokes, except wee alſo take vp this yoke, and follow him in the field as his louelove-labouring Oxen, vnderunder this yoke: wherein although ſome ſower things are mixed with ſweete things, yet hath it both great comfort, and like vtilitie. And this,The manner of the combination in the yoke. that we may alſo the better enioy the manner of the combination, labor and proceeding of thoſe Oxen, it may be conſidered, and by compariſon duly applied. Therefore heere firſt, let vsus note the agreement, as of two Oxen vnderunder the ſame yoke: ſo the meete concorde of them all together in the ſame labour. Secondly, their faithfulneſſe in the worke, wherein drawing proportionably, one deceiueth not another. Thirdly, their ſtrength, which is not lither or weake, bu… forcible to the purpoſe. Fourthly, their willingnes to the furtherance of the worke. Fiftly, their mutuall comfort, wherein one encourageth an other in ther labour. In like manner, for the better ſpeede of this Plough, the ſpirituall Oxen hauehave and retaine: firſt, louelove and concord in and among themſelues: for hereby (ſaith Chriſt) ſhall all men know that ye are my Diſciples: ſecondly, faithfulneſſe in their function: which (as the Apoſtle ſaith) is required of the diſpoſers of the myſterries of God: thirdly, fortitude aſſiſted by godly patience as hee ſaith, Poſseſse your ſoules in patience, and be ſtrong in the Lord: fourthly, goodwill, as the Angells proclaimed, Goodwill vntounto men: fiftly, it is required, that thoſe good Oxen ſhould animate and prouoke one an other of them in this good worke, in ſuch ſort as did the vigilant Paſtours, who hearing of the birth of Chriſt, ſaide one to an other:Luk. 2.15 Heb. 8.10. Rom. 3.27. 1. Tim. 1.19. 1. Cor. 1.24. 1. Pet. 1.5. Come, let vsus goe to Beth-lem and ſee this thing. And as alſo did Saint Peter and Iohn, Paul and Barnabas, Philippe and Nathanael, taking and vſing for their better furniſhing of thoſe yokes, the Lawe of the Spirit and of a ſound conſcience for necke-bowes, the wiſedome and power of the Higheſt for the kayes, and the lawful diſpoſition of their ſenſes internall & externall, for the ropes or chaines, as whereby they ſee, heare, taſte, ſauour, & feele the things which appertaine as wel to the ſoule as to the body, for the the glory of God, the benefit of the church, and diſcharge of proper duties. All the which is not a little fortified by that faithfull Hope, which looketh not onelyonly to the expected fruits of their labours in others, but to a meete remuneration on themſelues, albeit they hauehave an eſpeciall regard as wel to their owne duty, binding them, as to the glory diuine emboldning them.1. Cor. 9. 1. Tim. 5. For as the labouring Oxe (by the rule of the law) might not be defrauded of his due fodder: ſo hee that tilleth the ground, ſhould till the ſame in hope. And this is ſpoken not only to perſwade the ſpirituall land to yeeld fit food to the ſpirituall Oxen, as of right:Grego in Iob. lib. 1. c. 16. but to encourage thoſe Oxen to to labour the land, as of dutie, without fainting. When therefore the Apoſtle wiſheth, that the Miniſters of the Goſpel ſhould liue of the Goſpell; his meaning is; that they ſhould bee well maintained, as whereby the better able to performe the worke. And this hee likewiſe vnderſtandeth by that double honour, Double honour.which they deſerue, that rule wel, and labour in the word and doctrine firſt, they are to be eſteemed with due reuerence, and maintained with like beneuolence. Neither is their reward only with men, but with the Lorde, who is not forgetfull of their good works. God promiſed to Abrahā, 1. Cor. 15.that he would be his exceeding great reward, which doubtleſſe was entended not of that only which ſhould be enioyed in this life, but of that wherein thoſe Saints are, and ſhall be as the heauens light,Dan. 12.13. How the true Labourers are rewar… ded with men. and ſhine as the ſtars in the firmament for euer. It is too often obſerued in the maligne world, that the beſt labourers want their condigne honour, yea, their moſt worthy ſtudies and godly endeuouors are rewarded with hatreds, emulations, diſpleaſures and ingratitudes, as ſometime the laborious Oxe findes at the vnthriftie huſbands handes tedious toiles, ſorie fare, and bad vſage: that farre inferiour, touching this dutie, to the heathen, who (as Plato Plato de Leg. dial▪ 6. de ſacer.diſputed in his lawes) euer regarded the honour of their Prieſts. Howbeit, it is moſt true (for their endleſſe comfort) that thoſe their labours in the Lorde are not in vaine: but euermore recompenced with a double reward of the Lords bountie and grace. In regard whereof, not onelyonly Moſes, the Prophe…s and Apoſtles, hauehave beene well pleaſed to beare Onus & aeſtum Diei, the burthen of the day, in this ſeruice: but alſo the Martyrs of the Primitiue Church, with the Miniſters and all other faithfull workemen in this field, hauehave expoſed themſelues to the wood rage of bloody Tyrants, reſoluing not onelyonly with Iob and Paul, If thou wouldeſt kil me, yet wuld I truſt in thee. And in this cauſe, death is to me an aduātage: but alſo with thoſe Martyrs of the Greek church, Gordius Gordius Martyr.& Ignatius, ſaying: Ego ou monon hapax apothanein eitotmos echo huper tou onomatos tou Kuriou Ieſou, alla kai muriakis ean iaie: I am ready (ſaid Gordius) not onelyonly to labour, but to die for the name of the Lord Ieſus, not onelyonly once, but a thouſand times, if it might ſo bee.Ignat. in apoſt. ad Trattia. acts. Epeſt. 10. ad Epheſ. And I (ſaid Ignatius) hauehave ſetled my hope in him who died for mee (that is, Chriſt). For there is no guile founde in him. Againe, I am for Gods cauſe deliuered into the hands of murtherers, as from the bloud of Abell the iuſt, vntounto the bloud of Ignatius the leaſt. Againe, writing to the Romanes: Suffer mee (ſaith he) to be made meate for the beaſtes appointed to deuour me,Epiſt. 11 that I may be made worthy of God. For I am the wheate or corne of God: and I ſhall be grinded with the teeth of beaſts, that I may become cleane bread for the Lord, and therto ye may perſwade thoſe beaſts, that their wombes become my Sepulchre, and that they leaue no part of my body, whereby after my death, the ſame may not remaine loathſome vntounto any of them which liue. Loe, this is that which faithfull hope perſwades: and ſuch are the Oxen, ſuch is their labour in this field, and ſuch is their remuneration with the Lorde and his Saints.