A Caveat for Archippus, Title page
A CAVEAT FOR ARCHIPPVS.
A Sermon preached at a Viſitation at White-Chappel Church in London, Septemb. 23. 1618.
By IER. DYKE Miniſter of Gods word at Epping in Eſſex.
1. TIM. 4. 16.
foreign.
Aug. de Paſt.
… Chriſtiani ſumus, vnde rationem reddemus … etiam Praepoſiti, vnde rationem redde….
…
COL. 4. 17.
And ſay to Archippus, Take heede to the Miniſterie which thou haſt receiued of the Lord, that thou fulfill it.
I Will not ſtand to diſpute what might be the occaſion of this errand to be done, and this Caueat to be giuen to Archippus. The common conceit is, that it was Archippus his remiſſeneſſe, and coldneſſe in his miniſteriall labours. Happly a more fauourable and charitable conſtruction may be this, that it was Paules feare, and holy ielouſie, as knowing that the beſt hauehave their corruptions, and diſcouragements; and therefore ſtand in neede of quickening, awakening, and heartening admonition. VVhichWhich feare of Pauls might be the greater by reaſon of the greatneſſe of the burden which lay vponupon Archippus his ſhoulders For that burden which ere-whiles was diuided betweene him and Epaphras, and ſo the eaſier, was now become the heauier, by reaſon of Epaphras his abſence, if not impriſonment with Paul at Rome. Leſt therefore this doubled burden ſhould diſcourage and diſhearten, …hilem. 23.and make him faint vnderunder the weight thereof, therefore would Paul hauehave him be thus called vponupon. And ſo this aduice might be occaſioned rather by the Carefulneſſe of Paul, then the Careleſneſſe of Archippus. It being none other counſell then what before he gaue to the Epheſian Elders, Acts 20. 18; which yet was not cauſed by their guiltineſſe, but by his feare. But I wil not ſwimme againſt the ſtreame of Interpreters, I am content that the receiued coniecture ſhould obtaine.
VVell, whatſoeuer the occaſion was, ſurely the words ſuite well with this preſent occaſion: So many Archippuſſes being heere aſſembled, that is, called together, it cannot be vnſeaſonable to call for the heedfull fulfilling of that Miniſtration which wee hauehave receiued from the Lord. OnelyOnly, if I might hauehave bene mine owne chooſer, I could hauehave wiſhed the performance of this exerciſe to ſom one whoſe grauer yeres, grayer haires, and greater gifts might hauehave ſo vſhered and attended his good counſell, as that it might hauehave had roome and reſpect in your hearts, without all contradiction.
Yet notwithſtanding, I hauehave where withall to hearten my ſelfe, not onelyonly from this, that I ſpeake not in mine owne name, or vponupon mine owne head, but alſo from my preſent Scripture. For if ſo be the Coloſsians might ſay thus much to Archippus, then how much more may one Archippus be bold to ſay ſo much to another, one Miniſter to his fellow brethren in the ſame miniſtery? Well would Archippus hauehave borne with this ſaying from Epaphras, or from Paul, that in all likelihood barewell with it from his Coloſsians.
The words then briefly containe an Apoſtolicall Iniunction: In the which I conſider three things.
1. The perſons that are enioyned to ſay this.
2. The perſon to whom they are enioyned to ſay it.
3. The matter of the Iniunction, which is a Caueat, Take heede, &c.
VVhichWhich Caueat is,
Firſt, illuſtrated from the Obiect, what it is that he muſt take heede vntounto. It is his Ministerie, and the fulfilling of it.
Secondly, Inforced by a reaſon, Which thou haſt receiued from the Lord.
For the firſt. The perſons enioyned to ſay this; foreign: Say ye, ye men of Coloſſus, ſay ye this, do ye this errand to Archippus.
But why muſt they ſay this? Had it not beene fitter for Paul himſelfe to hauehave ſaid it? Why ſayes not he, And I ſay vntounto thee Archippus? Doth not the inſpection and correction of miniſteriall aberrations better ſuite with an Apoſtles office and authoritie, then with the Coloſsians? And would not an admonition from an Apoſtle be with farre leſſe prouocation, and farre more profit? Would not that take a deeper impreſſion which came from a graue Apoſtle, then that which ſhould be ſpoken by a company of Coloſsians? Hardly ſometimes will a Coloſsian brook an admonition from Archippus, how then will Archippus from a Coloſsian? Well, but for all this, Say ye to Archippus.
Hereby our Apostleteaching,
1. People to warne their Paſtor of his duty. Many an Archippus is ſluggiſh, becauſe the Coloſsians are ſilent. Therfore is it that Archippus ſayes ſo litle, becauſe they ſay nothing. Nay many are ſo farre from ſaying ought to Archippus if he be wanting, that they are readier to ſoothe him vp in his negligence. At leaſt their ſilence, and not ſaying to him, is conſtrued as an approouement of, and a contentment with his idleneſſe. Should Archippus but wrong his people in taking but a little more then his due in temporals, how ſoone would people not onelyonly be ſaying but be doing to Archippus? But let Archippus wrong, and wring them neuer ſo much, in the iniurious detention of their ſpirituall dues, a little ſaying ſerues the turne. People (commonly) hauing Schoole-boyes conſciences, they care not how little they hauehave for their money.
2. Miniſters not to deſpiſe good counſell from their people. Good newes are good newes, though a Leper bring them to a King, 2. Kings 7. So is good counſell neuer the worſe for the giuers meanneſſe. Much loy may a Miniſter hauehave that he hath ſo inriched his flocke, that hee may be releeued out of their abundance.
If a Lay perſon coming with a Scripture be to be beleeued before a whole Councel, (as Whitakers quotes it out of Panormitan) thē ſurely are not priuate men to be neglected, much leſſe deſpiſed, ſpeaking nothing but reaſon and religion to their Miniſters.
3. Say ye to Archippus, that he may hauehave nothing to ſay, of or againſt you. The common apology of many vrged to fidelitie in their places, is: Their people are wondrous well contented with their ſhort demenſum: or their people are awke, vntoward, alike reſpecting paines and negligence; ſhould they be neuer ſo painefull, yet would it not by them one whit be reſpected, &c. And therefore they hauehave no heart to greater diligence. And ſurely true it is, that nothing more diſcourageth miniſteriall fidelitie then peoples irreſpectiue regardleſneſſe to a mans pains. Therefore will Paul hauehave the Coloſsians themſelues ſay this to Archippus, that their deſires of his paines, might put the more heart and life into Archippus to take paines. If Dauid doe but thirſt after the waters of Bethlehem, how will it make his Worthies aduenture their deareſt bloud and life? They wil hazard all to quench his thirſt But alas, what heart hath a man to aduenture, and take paines for that water, which no man thirſts to drink? nay, for that water which it may be ſhall be ſpilt on the ground before his face?
2. But how muſt they ſay this?
1. To him, not behinde him. Too many complaine of their Miniſters faults, but did they euer admoniſh him? Did they euer ſay ought to him, that ſay thus much againſt him? Complaine to him that can and ſhould amend it; other complaints are waſte: Say to Archippus.
2. But yet, with all reuerence and reſpect to his office and perſon: Paul therefore leaueth it not to their diſcretion, but preſcribes a reuerent forme of exhortation. He giues no allowance here for foule mouthes to ſay what they liſt. They muſt ſay to, not raile vppon Archippus. An Elder must be exhorted as a father, 1. Tim. 5. 1. A father is to be honored by the commandement.
The perſon to whom they are enioyned Point 2 to ſay this, To Archippus: Say to Archippus
Archippus it ſeemes then was affable, of a courteous ſweete nature, of an ingenuous and Chriſtian candour, free from a ſowre ſterne and ſtately carriage. How were the Coloſsians bleſt that they were thus happily prouided for? Many there are that indeed hauehave better nurture, but yet but alitle better nature then Nabal had (for pride and churliſhneſſe are alike enemies to ſocietie, and communion.) He was ſo churliſh, many are ſo proud, that they may not be ſpoken to. Should a man in the meekeſt & moderateſt manner but ſay thus to ſome, as they muſt here ſay to Archippus; ſhould not that round and rough anſwer be returned them, Who made you a monitour? a teacher of your teacher? You teach me what I hauehave to do? Had Archippus beene of this ſpirit, Paul had done enough to ſet all Coloſſus on fire. Well fare his heart yet, that the meaneſt of his poore Coloſsians may not onelie ſpeake, but ſay to him. And as for this affected ſtate and ſternneſſe, how euer it may gaine alitle cap and knee-ſeruice, yet it loſes the inward reſpect of the heart, if at leaſt it breed not a ſecret ſcorne and diſdaine both of perſon and doctrine. Learne of me (ſaith our Sauiour) for I am meeke and lowely. Si Deus benignus, vt Chryſoſtome.quid ſacerdos eius austerus? Indeed it holdes no good proportion: A lowely Maiſter and a proud ſeruant.
The Matter of the Iniunction; A Caueat that Point 3 muſt be giuen to Archippus, which is firſt illuſtrated from the Obiect: Take heed to thy Ministerie that thou fulfill it.
A point indeed that deſerues our greateſt heodfulneſſe and care. The Miniſterie is Gods worke, he loues not to hauehave his worke done by halfes: God loues no halfe Miniſters, hee would hauehave all his full Miniſters, that is, hee would hauehave them fulfill their Miniſterie. Paul wiſhes Archippus to be none other, then what himſelfe was, Coloſſ. 1. 25. Iam a Miniſter of the Goſpell, to fulfill the word of God. And Acts 20. 24, he preferres this one thing aboue his life: My life is not deare vntounto me, ſo I may fulfill my courſe with ioy, and my miniſtration. Indeed it is not poſſible that hee ſhould fulfill his courſe with ioy, that fulfills not his miniſtration. And therefore fitly ioyned together by the Apoſtle. How ſhall God brooke that in vsus his ſeruants, which we will not brooke in our owne? which of vsus can endure our worke to be done by halfes?
But what is to be done then, and how may Queſt. a man ſo demeane himſelfe in his Miniſterie as that he may fulfill it?
The calling of the Miniſtery is not of that Anſw. narrow latitude, as that a full Treatie of the particulars therein ſhould come within the narrow compaſſe of one houres diſcourſe. I will therefore point at ſome maine particulars which are more ſpecially requiſite. The fulfilling of the Miniſterie then conſiſts: firſt, in fidelitie of Diſpenſation ſecondly, in ſincerity of Conuerſation: theſe two make a full and compleate Miniſter. VVhen a man is furniſhed, as was Aaron, in whoſe Pectorall were the Vrim and Thummim, the skirt of whoſe Roabe was hanged about with Bells and Pomegranates; when with the Vrim, the light of our doctrine, we ioyne the Thummim, the perfection of our liues; when with the ſound of doctrine, wee ioyne the Pomegranates and fruit of an holie life, we then may be ſaid to fulfill our Miniſterie. Of Ezra it is ſaid, Ezra 7. 6. that hee was a ready ſcribe. I may ſay o… him, that he was a perfect, a compleate ſcribe; for verſe 10. He ſet his heart to ſeeke the law of the Lord, to do it, and …o …each Iudgements and Statutes in Iſrael. To ſpeake of theſe in ſeuerall, which yet neuer muſt be ſeuered.
1. For fidelitie in diſpenſation of doctrine it is not poſſible without this to fulfill the Miniſterie.
Acts 20. 2…. That I may fulfill my miniſtration; but how? To teſtifie the Goſpel of the grace of God. Hee that will fulfill his Miniſterie, muſt labour to do that which Paul praied for in the behalfe of the Coloſsians, Coloſſ. 1. 9. that their People may be fulfilled with knowledge, when doctrine droppes not as the raine, nor ſpeech ſtilles not as the dew? Deut. 32. 2. Chriſt indeed was dumbe as a ſheep before the ſhearer, Eſay 53, but neuer as a ſhepheard among his ſheepe; for it was his cuſtome euerie Sabbath to preach the word in the Synagogues, Luke 4. 16.
But yet a man may preach, and diſpenſe the word, and yet in that part not fulfill his Miniſterie. How then may a man ſo preach and take heed therein, as that hee may fulfill his Miniſterie?
A Miniſter in diſpenſation of doctrine fulfills his Miniſterie, when hee diſpenſeth the Truth
1 OnelyOnly and wholly.
2 Painfully and diligently.
3 Plainly.
4 Profitably.
5 Constantly.
When the word is thus diſpenſed, there is the Miniſterie fulfilled in diſpenſation.
1. OnelyOnly and wholly.
Falſe prophets fulfill none of Gods work, he ſets none on worke to tell, and teach lies. Aarons Bells muſt be golden Bells, not copper ones, nor any other braſen mettall, but pure gold; Gods pure truth muſt be diſpenſed. And as the truth, ſo the whole truth. Paul teſtifies his deſire to fulfill his Miniſtery, Acts 20. 14. and therefore in verſe 27. he tells them, that he Kept backe nothing, but had ſhewed them all the counſell of God. And ſo he fulfilled his Miniſterie by making his Miniſterie fully knowne, as he ſpeaks to Timothy, 2. Tim. 4. 5. Then doth a man make his Miniſterie fully knowne, when in the courſe of his Miniſterie he makes the whole truth of God fully knowne.