Exposition on 2 Peter 1, Exposition · Verse 13
A meete thing, or as it is in the Greeke, A iuſt thing. Whence obſerue we this doctrine, viz. that Doctrine.The preaching of Gods word is not an vniuſt, but a iuſt practiſe. And that firſt, in reſpect of God. Secondly, in reſpect of the Church of God. Thirdly, in reſpect of the word it ſelfe. In reſpect of God: Firſt, becauſe God requires it as a duty of Miniſters to preach the word, Acts 10.42. And he commanded vsus to preach vntounto the people, and to teſtifie, &c. Now whatſoeuer God requireth as a dutie, muſt needes be iuſt. Secondly, the preaching of Gods word, maketh for Gods glory, and therefore is termed the Goſpell of the glory of the bleſſed God; for ſo the words are in the originall, in 1. Tim. 1.11. Now whatſoeuer tendeth to Gods glory immediately, muſt needes be iuſt and meete. If any ſhall demand how the preaching of the word doth tend to Gods glory; I anſwere: firſt, becauſe it maketh his excellency knowne. Secondly, becauſe it ſets forth his prayſe. Thirdly, becauſe it ſubiecteth the world vntounto him: in all which God is greatly glorified.
Secondly, to preach Gods word, is a iuſt thing in reſpect of the Church, for it is the meanes of her conuerſion. Nineuie repented at the preaching of Ionas, Math. 12.41. Secondly, it is a meanes of her daily repaſt or nouriſhment: The lips of the righteous feede many, Pro. 10.21.
Thirdly, it is the meanes of her ſaluation: for it pleaſeth God by the fooliſhneſſe of preaching, to ſaue them which beleeue, 1. Cor. 1.21. Now how iuſt and meete a thing is it, that the Church of God ſhould enioy that meanes which is of ſuch excellent vſe vntounto her, iudge ye.
Thirdly, the preaching of the word, is a iuſt practiſe in reſpect of it ſelfe. For why? EueryEvery word of God is pure, Pro. 30.5. It is as ſiluer tried in a furnace of earth, purified ſeauen times, Pſal. 12.6. It is good, Heb. 6.5. It is holy and iuſt and good, Rom. 7.12. It is ſpirituall, Rom. 7.14. And it endureth for euer, 1. Pe. 1.25. Now it is a moſt iuſt thing that that which is pure, and ſpirituall, and holy, and iuſt, and good, & endureth for euer, ſhould be publiſhed and made knowne to the world.
Obiection.If any ſhall obiect againſt the equitie of the practiſe of the word, becauſe it comes not to ſet peace, but a ſword where it comes with power, Mat. 10.34.
Anſw.I anſwere, The fault is not in the word, if contentions ariſe vponupon the preaching of it; but it is in the hearers, which hauehave not grace to make any better vſe of it, according to that in the firſt of the Kings 18.18. I hauehave not troubled Iſrael, but thou and thy fathers houſe, &c.
Vſe.The vſe of this point may be this; firſt, that Miniſters are not therefore to be cenſured for their true preaching of Gods word, or to be vniuſtly condemned for their paines in their miniſtery, as though they had done, or committed ſome great offence; for if any faithfull Miniſter preach the word, what doth he but that which is iuſt and meete?
Secondly, this ſheweth how vniuſtly zealous Chriſtians are reproached for their hearing of Gods word; for their reading, conferring, meditating and the like. For what doe they in this but that which is iuſt and meete to be done?
Thirdly, It ſheweth how vniuſtly idle miniſters deale with the Church of God, in depriuing it of Gods word, through their wretched idleneſſe. Theſe are like vntounto bad ſtewards, which keepe back the appointed food from their fellow ſeruants, and ſo ſtarue the family. But let ſuch remember that in Mat. 24.51. That God will cut them aſunder, and giuegive them their portions with hypocrites.
Fourthly, it condemneth the practiſe of the Papiſts and their adhaerents, which labour by all meanes to ſuppreſſe the powerfull preaching of Gods word, and in ſtead thereof bring in their Maſſes and their owne traditions. Theſe deale vniuſtly with the word of God, and with Gods Church: theſe are they and ſuch like, which with-hold the truth in vnrighteouſneſſe, Rom. 1.18. And therfore woe will be vntounto them vnleſſe they repent.
Fiftly, this may comfort Gods Miniſters and Gods people: although they may be iudged hardly of in the world, the one for preaching the word, and the other for hearing and practiſing of it; yet let them reioyce in this, namely becauſe they doe nothing in this practiſe but which is iuſt and meete in the ſight of God. And if God approue, what need we feare if all the world beſides condemne our practiſe?
I thinke it iuſt. Whence note that Doctrine.the publiſhing of Gods word is a iuſt thing, not only in the ſight of God, but alſo in the ſight of good men. Peter himſelfe eſteemeth it a iuſt thing; and Wiſedome is iuſtified of her children, Luke 7.35. The feete of them which bring glad tidings, are beautifull in the eyes of the godly, Rom. 10.15. though they be odious to the vngodly, though the Athenian philoſophers accounted Paul but a trifler or a babler, Acts 17.18. yet he was honoured by others.
Reaſon.Gods people are enlightned to ſee how faithfull preaching brings glory to God, and how it brings good to the Church, and how iuſt a thing it is in it ſelfe. They can looke further into theſe myſteries then vnregenerate perſons can; and therefore they hauehave a better faculty to approue the things that are excellent, Phil. 1.10, then others hauehave.
Obiection.But here it may be obiected, Do not many profeſſors diſapproue and ſpeake euill of many a faithful miniſtery, as well as the profaner ſort? And were not the Apoſtles perſecuted by certaine deuout and honeſt women? Acts 13.50. Therefore it may ſeeme that the faithfull preaching of Gods word, is not ſo much as approued by the very Church it ſelfe.
Anſw.I anſwere. I doubt not, but that many of Gods people for a time may neglect and lightly eſteeme a powerfull miniſtery, being carried away with praeiudicate opinion which they hauehave of the perſon of the Miniſter; but certainly God will reueale this vntounto them in time, and then they will repent their preiudice.
Secondly, there be tares in the corne-field of Gods Church, as well as good corne. Therein be hypocriticall profeſſors, as well as ſincere worſhippers: and it is the broode of hypocrites eſpecially which perſecute Gods Miniſters, hauing itching eares, and will not endure wholſome doctrine; it is not the beſt ſort of profeſſors.
This puts a manifeſt difference betwixt the children of God and others. Gods children approue a powerfull Miniſtery, others for the moſt part doe not ſo.
Vſe.Secondly, let it ſerue to ſtirre vp all that thinke themſelues to be Gods children, to approue themſelues ſo by their approuing things excellent, and by their ſtanding for the ſame.
Vſe.Thirdly, let it be matter of comfort to Gods miniſters and people. Suppoſe that thy godly waies and courſes be diſtaſted by multitudes of men of corrupt mindes; yet this may be thy comfort, they are well approued of by them that are godly, and by ſuch as are truely iudicious.
I thinke. Obſerue here, the Apoſtle doth not diſſemble his iudgement or thoughts, but makes it knowne what he thinkes concerning religious practiſes, as concerning the preaching and writing of Gods word, and the like. I thinke it a iuſt thing. Whence we may learne this inſtruction, viz. that Doctrine.It is the part and dutie of a true Chriſtian, not to diſſemble his religion, but he ought to make manifeſt by his profesſion, words, and practiſes, what he is.
For this we hauehave many examples in Scripture. As firſt, the example of the religious Iewes which built the Temple at Hieruſalem; who when their enemies came vntounto them and asked their names, they made anſwere reſolutely, That they were the ſeruants of the God of heauen and earth, Ezra. 5.11. Secondly, the example of the three children, who when Nebucadnezar the king ſpake roughly, and threatningly vntounto them, replied in theſe words: We are not carefull ô king, to anſwer thee in this matter, &c. Dan. 3.16. Thirdly, the example of Timothy, who made a good profeſſion before many witneſſes, 1 Tim. 6.12. but eſpecially of Chriſt himſelfe, who witneſſed a good confeſſion before Pontius Pilate, 1. Tim. 6.13.
Vſe.This may ſerue to condemne the practiſe of many time ſeruers, which carry their religion ſo cloſely, that no man can tell what to make of them, whether they be Atheiſts, or Papiſts, or Anabaptiſts. But let ſuch remember, that as they hauehave beene aſhamed of Chriſt & of his Goſpell before men; ſo will Chriſt be aſhamed of them at the laſt day, Luke 9.26.
In this tabernacle, that is, in this body. Whence we are to obſerue, that Doctrine.A Chriſtian is in this world as in a Tabernacle or Tent. Or thus, The body of a Chriſtian is like a Tent or Tabernacle. For the proofe I referre you to that in, 2. Cor. 5.1. We know that if this earthly houſe of this Tabernacle were diſſolued, &c. Of this Tabernacle, that is, of this body. And in the fourth verſe of the ſame Chapter, For we that are in this Tabernacle doe groane, &c. that is, we that are in this body.
Reaſon.And the body is fitly compared to a Tent or Tabernacle: Firſt, becauſe as a Tent or Tabernacle, is not made of any ſtrong matter, hauing a few poles for the timber, and thinne cloathes for the walles. Euen ſo the bodies of Chriſtians are weake and frayle; their ſtrength is not the ſtrength of ſtones, or their fleſh of braſſe, Iob. 6.12.
Secondly, as tents were for the vſe of ſouldiers, and are vntounto this day; as it is ſaid of the Arke and Ioab, that they were in tents, that is, in warre, 2. Sam. 11.11. So while a Chriſtian is in the body, he is in a combating eſtate, or in a ſtate of warfare, warring eſpecially againſt his owne corruptions.
Thirdly, as a Tent neuer ſtood long in one place, but it was taken downe and remoued from one place to another, as we reade of Iſrael coming out of Aegypt; ſometimes they pitched their tents in one place, ſometimes in another, Numb. 33. Euen ſo we muſt not thinke that this tabernacle of our bodies will alwaies ſtand; God will certainely take it downe, it ſhall not continue.
Vſe.This ſerues for matter of reproofe vntounto all ſuch as put away from them the euill day, which thinke that their ſtanding ſhall not be remoued. Alas, conſider with thy ſelfe, thou dwelleſt not in a walled City, or within ſtrong bulwarkes which cannot be pierced with gun-ſhot; but thou dwelleſt within paper walles, in a Tent which may be pierced with a very pinne. I meane thy very body and fleſh, is but a ſilly Tent. Therefore be not ſo ſecure.
Secondly, let this teach eueryevery one of vsus to be alwaies ready for death: we know not how ſoone God may remoue our tent, euen to day before to morrow; let the remainder therefore of our liues, be a ſerious meditation of death, and a preparation for the ſame.
As long as I am in this Tabernacle, that is, as long as I liue. Whence obſerue, that Doctrine.It is the duty of a Miniſter to continue his miniſteriall paynes euen to the death. This was the practiſe of Paul in 2. Cor. 7.3. You are in our hearts to die and to liue together. And of Stephen, who was ſeiſed vponupon by his enemies, and ſlaine as he was preaching, Acts 7.57. The like may be ſaid of Moſes and Aaron, and Samuel; yea, of all the Prophets and Apoſtles: as they liued faithfull Miniſters, ſo they neuer reuolted from their calling.
Reaſon.And indeede the Church of God, ſhall alwaies hauehave neede of her Miniſters. Gods Miniſters are ſheepeheards, and his people are ſheep: therefore as ſheep ſhal alwayes need a ſhepheard: ſo Gods church ſhall alwaies need a Leuite.
1. Obiection.But ſome may poſſibly obiect: Yea but ſuppoſe a Miniſter be ſickely and weake, and that preaching is an enemy to his health; is he bound to continue his preaching to the impairing of his health? I anſwer, A good Miniſter muſt be content to ſpend, and to be ſpent for the people: he muſt with Eſay ſpend his ſtrength, though it ſeem to be in vaine, Eſay 49.4. He muſt with the good ſhepheard lay downe his life for the ſheep, Iohn 10.11. Where ſhould a ſouldier die but in the field? And where ſhould a good Miniſter die but in the Pulpet? Indeed it is true, a Miniſter muſt not ouer-charge himſelfe with preaching, but he muſt hauehave ſome reſpect to his health, that he may continue the longer to do good. But I ſhall not need to ſtand vponupon this; for there be but few Miniſters which ſtrain themſelues beyond their ſtrength. We Miniſters neede not be tempted to ſpare our ſelues, we are too prone to that of our owne accord.
2. Obiection.Againe, it may be obiected: Yea but a Miniſter may poſſibly be reſtrained from preaching, by authority; how can he then continue his preaching or paines to death? I anſwer, If a Miniſter be reſtrained by lawfull authoritie, then he muſt thinke God hath wrought by him, and accompliſhed already the maine worke whereunto he ſent him: He muſt think when he is vtterly depriued, as Paul thoght, 2. Tim. 4: That he finiſhed his courſe, I mean for preaching. Howbeit I take it, that a depriued Miniſter is not exempted from writing for the good of Gods Church. Paul writ diuers Epiſtles for the vſe of Gods Church when he was in priſon: and ſo did Ieremy cauſe a roule to be written, and to be read to the people by Baruch, when he himſelfe was in priſon, Ierem. 36.4.
3. Obiection.Yea but ſuppoſe that a Miniſter cannot liue by his calling, may he not in this caſe caſt it off, and take vponupon him a more gainfull trade? Anſw.A Miniſter, in caſe of want, may lawfully (as I take it) leaue this or that particular Congregation. For indeede it is a kinde of perſecution to muſſle the Oxe which treadeth out the corne: but vtterly to caſt off his calling, in reſpect of want, I thinke it vnlawfull: yea, a Miniſter muſt preach ſtill, though he ſhould be conſtrained to labour with his hands, as Paul did.
Vſe.The vſe of this doctrine may ſerue, firſt for the iuſt reproofe of many Miniſters: firſt, of ſuch as will be Miniſters for a time; but afterwards caſt off the very name of Miniſters, ſome turning to be Doctors of Phyſicke, ſome turning to be Schoole-maiſters, and ſome turning idlers and the like. O my brethren, theſe things ought not ſo to be. You receiued not your miniſteriall calling with condition to leaue it, and to caſt it off at your pleaſure. But you were married to the Miniſterie, to hauehave and to hold, &c.
Secondly, it ſerueth to reprooue ſuch Miniſters as wil preach painfully and diligently vntil they get liuing; but when they are once inducted and ſetled in a rich Benefice, then caſt off preaching, as an impertinent thing: theſe vſe preaching, only as a ſtirrop whereby to mount into the ſaddle of preferment. O wretched hypocriſie! Doeth not this plainly bewray that thou neuer preachedſt of conſcience, but in meere policie? But let ſuch remember, that he that knoweth to do well, and doth it not, to him it is ſinne, Iam. 4.17. Yea let him neuer forget that in 1. Cor. 9.16. Neceſſitie is laid vponupon me, and woe is vntounto me if I preach not the Goſpell.
Thirdly, this ſhould teach the people, ſo to prouide for the certaine maintenance of the Miniſter, and to giuegive vntounto him that kinde entertainment and reſpect, that he may be encouraged to abide with them, and to take paines amongſt them, euen vntounto death. This care is much wanting in people at theſe days, wherin they labor to pull away what poſſibly they may from the Miniſter; vſing their tongues alſo to weary out a Miniſter, becauſe they deſire not his company till death, but rather to be rid of him, and that quickly. But let ſuch murderers (for ſo the holy Ghoſt termeth them) remember that God will ſend forth his ſouldiers, and deſtroy them and burn vp their Citie, as it is ſaid in Math. 22.7.
To ſtirre you vp. Marke; he doth not ſay, to inſtruct you onelyonly, but to ſtirre you vp. Whence obſerue, that Doctrine.It is the duty oſ a Miniſter, not onelyonly to informe the iudgement, but alſo by his doctrine to endeuour to worke vponupon the affections. To ſtirre vp concerneth the affections eſpecially. This was the practiſe of Paul 2. Corint. 5.11. He laboured to perſwade men, that is, he endeuoured to worke …pon the will and affections. Yea it was the practiſe of all the Prophets and Apoſtles, as appeareth by their writings. They endeuoured to ſpeake to the conſcience, and not to the eare onelyonly.
Reaſon.And indeed, though the minde were neuer ſo well informed; yet, if the will and affections be not in ſome meaſure wrought vponupon for practiſe, all the labour in informing the minde, is but in vaine. Religion is more in the will and affections, then in any other facultie of the ſoule whatſoeuer. I confeſſe it is true, the mind muſt firſt be inſtructed before the wil and affections be ſtirred vp, or elſe we ſhall giuegive a heate without light, which is not ſo ſafe. But we muſt not ſo inſiſt vponupon the firſt duty, as to neglect the ſecond. A miniſter muſt be both a ſhining and a burning light.
Vſe.This makes againſt them which condemne zealous preaching. For I demand; Doth not zealous preaching eſpecially ſtirre vp? Surely it doth. And if it do, then it is very needfull. Yea it is after the manner of the Apoſtles preaching, for they endeuoured to ſtirre vp, as appeareth in this Text.
Secondly, it ſerues to reproue many Miniſters which aime to ſpeake to the eare, but they ſpeake not to the heart; which ſo reſpect the iudgement that they neglect the affections.
Queſtion.But ſome may demand, What muſt a Miniſter doe that he may by his doctrine ſtirre vp, or worke vponupon the will and affections?
Anſw.I anſwer: he that deſireth to worke effectually vponupon the will and affections muſt obſerue theſe rules:
1. He muſt not bring his owne idle inuentions, but the pure word of God. Gods word is the great meanes of perſwading.
2. He muſt be a ſonne of Thunder, he muſt ſpeake, not drowſily, but with life and power.
Thirdly, he muſt endeuour to make it appeare, that he deſireth vnfainedly the good of his hearers; and that he preacheth not of enuy, but of good will.
Fourthly, he muſt practiſe himſelfe that which he deſires to perſwade others vntounto. People at theſe dayes are perſwaded, more by the life of a Miniſter, then by Doctrine.
Fiftly, he muſt pray vntounto God for the people, that he by his Spirit would perſwade the people. He that teacheth or perſwadeth the heart to that which is good, hath his chaire in heauen.
Sixtly, he muſt often put the people in minde of the ſame things. As the Apoſtle doth here, he ſtirreth vp them vntounto whom he writeth, by putting them in remembrance. We will not inſiſt vponupon this clauſe, By putting you in remembrance, any further, becauſe we hauehave deliuered the doctrine of it before in the twelfth verſe of this chapter. Thus much therefore ſhall ſuffice for this thirteenth verſe..