The Covenant of God Entered with Mankind, Text
valedictory Sermon, we know not whether the matter, or the affection in the delivering of it, be more admirable: It's milk that cometh hot from the breaſt; excellent matter, without hearty affections, is like a Meſſenger without feet, and a Bird without wings. I ſhall not make a Sermon upon his Sermon, onelyonly in the general; by that diſcourſe we have a deſcription of a Paſtor and Officer in the Church, in Idea and in ſubjecto: In Idea, or in the Theſi, there the Apoſtle deſcribeth ſuch by their name and titles, they are Overſeers and Elders, v. 17. from the efficient cauſe the Holy Ghoſt hath made them ſo, from the relation they are in: The People are their Flock, and they are Gods Church. And laſtly, from the dignity and high thoughts put upon them by Chriſt, they were purchaſed with his own blood, ſhall we think our labor, our pains, our ſweat, too much, when Chriſt thought not his blood too much?
To enter upon the Controverſie who theſe Elders and Overſeers were, is repugnant to the occaſion at this time: Then you have this office in ſubjecto, in Hypotheſi; in the practice of it, you have the rule of a Paſtor, and the example of a Ruler, and that is in Paul himſelf: O the zeal, watchfulneſs, the diligence, the courage, the purity of aime and ends, which he profeſſeth in his Miniſterial diſcharge! not that he ſpeaketh theſe for oſtentation, but imitation; for he would not have ſaid thus much of himſelf, ſaith Grotius on the place, but that hereby he would leave a patern or form of life to all ſucceſſors; Inſomuch, that no Miniſter reading Pauls expreſſions of himſelf in this place, but may cry out, O me! a clod of earth to ſuch a Star, Ice to ſuch a Fire, a worm to ſuch an Angel! Though he were a Paul, as ſome think his name denoteth, little in ſtature of his body, yet he was a Gyant in Gifts and Graces, ſo that Papiſts themſelves cannot but give the pre-eminence to Paul above Peter, in reſpect of Doctrine and Miniſterial abilities: He was the earthly Angel, the Cor Chriſti, the Tuba Evangelii, as the Ancients call him; yet I am not of Amyraldus his minde, conſider. in cap. 7. ad Rom. who denying the Interpretation of the ſeventh of the Romans, to be underſtood perſonally of Paul, thinking this would be injurious to the Grace of God ſanctifying of him, and making him ſo eminent a Servant in his Church: He affirmeth, that if God pleaſed ſo to adorn Paul with the gifts of the Spirit, that he ſhould in this life arrive at that fulneſs and perfection of holineſs, which other Believers obtain no where but in Heaven, that thereby he might be propounded as a perfect example to all Chriſtians, and his Miniſtry be more happily efficacious; here was not (ſaith he) any thing to be blameworthy: But though we grant Paul to have an elder Brothers portion in the Graces and Gifts of Chriſt, ſo that if no Miniſter could be ſaved, unleſs he were a Paul, wo be to us all; yet that Paul was not above the combate of the fleſh and ſpirit within him, appeareth partly in that careful keeping down of his body, 1 Cor. 9. 27. leſt ſin ſhould prevail; as alſo in thoſe buffetings of Satan which he was exerciſed with, that he might not be lifted up above meaſure, 2 Cor. 12. 7. Well, however it be, the Apoſtle having both by rule and example, as you heard deſcribed what a Miniſter or Paſtor is to be, we have the conſequent of this in my Text: When he had thus ſpoken, thus of himſelf, and thus of a Goſpel-Miniſter, he kneeled down and prayed.
There are two actions of the body mentioned in Prayer, which denote that excellent deportment that ſhould be at that time in the ſoul; kneeling of the body, that denoteth ſelf-humiliation; lifting up the hands, that implieth faith and confidence: Thus deſcendendo aſcenditur, how hardly do the people of God keep theſe two Graces co-operating together, but either their Humiliation abateth their Faith, or their Faith hindreth their Humiliation; both theſe together are the Calidum and the Humidum, which maintain the life of holy Duties; he Prayed as well as kneeled, for that is the onelyonly key to open Heaven, that is Davids Harp, to allay all thoſe unruly affections that are apt to diſturb us.
Laſtly, here is the effect of all upon the Auditors, which is expreſſed, Firſt, In their paſſion of weeping, with the aggravation. 1. They wept ſore. 2. Their great love, They fell on Pauls neck and kiſſed him. 3. The motive of all this affectionate carriage, That which did open theſe Flood-gates, it was becauſe they ſhould ſee his face no more; they ſhould for ever loſe him, enjoy no more of his Miniſterial Labors and diligence: now this is recorded by the Evangeliſt, as a commendation; It was a ſpirituall, not a naturall weeping; It was not like weeping for a dead Father, or a dead Wife, but for a dead Paſtor, by whoſe ſpirituall labours their ſouls had made great proficiency; I ſhall from theſe words obſerve two doctrines ſuitable to the two conſiderable parts of this auditory, the one ſeaſonable for the Miniſters of the Goſpel here preſent, The other opportune for the Congregation of Tamworth, now bereaved of a faithful Paſtor, whom I may ſee mourning and weeping, and that moſt of all, becauſe you ſhall ſee his face no more, you ſhall not behold him in this place again, you ſhall not hear his voice from hence again. The firſt Obſervation is grounded upon theſe words, when he had thus ſpoken, This about the duty of a Minister, This about his Holy, Godly, and exemplary converſation; From whence obſerve,
That a faithful diſcharge of the miniſteriall Office doth bring unſpeakable comfort to ſuch as can upon juſt grounds aſſume this to themſelves; From this faithfulneſs we ſee often Paul receiving a great deal of comfort. 2 Tim. 4. 6, 7, 8. The time of his departure was at hand; doth not this then make him afraid? how ſhall he give an account concerning the improvement of his talents? No, I have fought a good fight, I have finiſhed my courſe, &c. We have the like glorious profeſſion made by this holy Apoſtle, Theſſ. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. which is an excellent Copy for every Miniſter to write after, to live and breathe from thence; and in this he is ſo cleare, that he ſaith, Ye are witneſſes, and God alſo, how holily, juſtly and unblameably, we have behaved our ſelves amongſt thoſe that beleeve. But yet let none think that Paul doth thus magnifie inherent grace, to exclude imputed grace, for 1 Cor. 4. 4. Though he ſaith, he knoweth nothing by himſelf, yet he concludeth, I am not thereby juſtified, but he that judgeth me is the Lord, he knew more evill in Paul, then Paul him ſelf could do, and certainly, ſo great is this miniſterial work, that Paul himſelf cryed out, Who is ſufficient for theſe things? Chryſoſtome hath very diſcouraging paſſages, as if few Miniſters could be ſaved, but his meaning muſt be, becauſe few are carefull, zealous, and diligent; Otherwiſe ſuch as Chryſoſtome himſelf, that is ſaid to fear nothing but ſin, and thoſe that by their Doctrin and life, turn many from iniquities, ſhall have more then ordinary glory in heaven; To amplifie this, I ſhall in ſome particulars or Characters deſcribe how, or when the Miniſtery is faithfully diſcharged, what is ingredient thereunto, or conſtituent thereof; And firſt there is required an inward experimental ſavory work of grace upon the Miniſters own heart, that thereby he may more affectionately and cordially deal with others; when we know the terror of the Lord, and the love of Chriſt experimentally, this maketh us able in the work of the Miniſtery, 2 Cor. 5. 11. I doe not ſay that the Office of a Miniſter is null, if he be not a regenerate man, or as if he were no Miniſter, or might not be uſefull in the Church of God, but as to himſelf, he cannot faithfully diſcharge this Office, ſo as to obtaine a crown of glory hereafter, unleſs he be thus qualified; There is Theologia ratiocinativa and experimentalis, as Gerſon ſpeaketh. A man may know things, as Aquinas ſaith, per modum cognitionis, or, per modum inclinationis; now it is this experimental Divinitie, that worketh beſides Knowledge an inclination and propenſitie to the thing known, that maketh us able to diſcharge this duty; To Preach of Regeneration, of Faith, when a man hath no ſavory underſtanding of theſe things, is to talk of the ſweetneſs of honey, when we never taſted it, or of the excellency of ſuch a Countrey, which we never were in, but know it by Mapps only. If thou knoweſt the truths of God, but by Books, by Authors onelyonly, and thy own heart feeleth not the power of theſe things, Thou art but as the Conduit, that letteth out wine or refreſhing water to others, but thou thy ſelf taſteſt not of it, or like the hand that directeth the Paſſenger, but thou thy ſelf ſtandeſt ſtill.
2. To a faithfull diſcharge, there is required a ſound knowledge, judgement and skill in divine things; hence they are called lights, guides, and Shepherds, they are required to be foreign 1 Tim. 3. 2. apt to teach, to reprove in all Doctrine. 2 Tim. 4. 2. It is not enough to cry out of Hereſies or of ſinnes, unleſs we rebuke with doctrine; The leaſt Knowledge that Caſuiſts condeſcend unto in a Miniſter is, that he muſt be learned, ſupra vulgus fidelium: Is he a fit Miniſter that can onelyonly Preach and pray by a preſcript, or form from another? He is not a fit Phyſitian, or a fit Lawyer, that ſhould doe ſo in his way; Miniſters therefore ſhould take that exhortation, which we ſee Paul gave even to Timothy, though ſo well accompliſhed. 1 Tim. 4. 15. Meditate upon theſe things, give thy ſelf wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear, yea, verſ. 13. Till I come, give attendance to reading. The circumſtance of time is to be obſerved, for though Paul was to come ſhortly to him, yet that little time he was abſent from Paul, muſt be improved in reading Gods Word. Be thou aſcribe inſtructed for the Kingdome of heaven, that can bring out of thy treaſure, old and new; be a Fountain, not a Ceſtern, that will quickly be dry; Cajetan Summula, Tit. Doctoratus, maketh it a mortall ſinne to approve any for a Doctor in Divinitie, who is notably inſufficient, becauſe hereby he is teſtified to be a Phyſitian of ſouls, when yet through his ignorance, may be the ruine of many; I dare not avouch that of Luther, who ſaid it is a German Proverb, that young Divines fill Hell, onelyonly it is a good warning, that ſuch be diligent in ſtudying, that God may bleſſe them with all knowledge and underſtanding, firſt in the Scripture, and then in all other parts of Divinitie, whether controverſall, poſitive or practicall, eſpecially adde to thy Miniſteriall knowledge theſe two things; Firſt a firm faith, for to read and to know much, but not to digeſt it, maketh us ſcepticall; Have faith, not reaſon or opinion in religious things, Calvin ſaith in Comment. 2. Epiſt. ad Corin. that the Miniſters of of God, who go up into the Pulpit in the name of Chriſt, to preach his Word, ought to have ſuch firmneſs of Faith in them, that they are aſſured that their Doctrine can no more be overthrowne, then God himſelf; now truely, this faith is much to be commended to us, we may have much learning, much reading, but little Faith, be very ſcepticall, and deale in Divinitie as we uſe to do in Philoſophy, videtur quod ſic, videtur quod non, Great Schollars are not alwayes great beleevers, The want of this maketh a man of a Socinian faith, an Arminian faith, a Popiſh faith, as often as any plauſible Argument, or carnal Intereſt interpoſeth.
2. With this knowledge labour much after Caſuiſticall Divinity, whereby you may be able to direct the tempted in caſes of Conſcience, To guide the afflicted in ſoul, what they are to doe; Indeed the Papiſts have a deale of Caſuiſticall divinitie in large voluminous diſcourſes, but it is for the moſt part calculated according to their meridians of ſuperſtitious uſages and Cuſtomes, but it is pitty that among us Proteſtants, our controverſall Bookes are farre more then our caſuiſticall, yet remember the Scripture calleth it, the tongue of the Learned, Iſa. 50. 4. To know how to ſpeak a word in ſeaſon to him that is weary; The wounds of Conſcience are the moſt tender, and therefore require a Spirituall skilfull Phyſitian. The Conſciences of men are the ſubject matter of your Office, and therefore look after that Ars Cordis, which is indeed a liberall art that will ſet us free.
3. He that will faithfully diſcharge the Office of his Miniſtery, muſt regard the end of it, the finis operis, and finis operantis, the finis miniſterii, and miniſtri, muſt be all one: The end of the Miniſtry is to exalt God & Chriſt, to dethrone Satan, to bring many out of their ſins unto the obedience of the Goſpel: Now if a man aim at other things in his Miniſtry then this he can never comfortably diſcharge it: To be a Miniſter for earthly profits, for ambition and vain glory, theſe will be like the gravel, that will preſently ſtop the Ship in its paſſage; and truly herein we may much lament our entrance in to this work, how many ſet upon it as a profeſſion to live upon, by that they hope to ſatisfie their needs, but if this end and motive do ſtill reign in thee, it will be like a milſtone about thy neck; outward maintenance may be a ſecondary end, but not the principal; ſtill then a we thy ſoul with the end of thy office, that all other knowledge is exerciſed about the body, or mens Eſtates, or the nature of things; but thine is Theology, De Deo, à Deo, in Deum, its concerning God objectively, its from God effectively, its to God finally.
4. He that will faithfully diſcharge this Office of the Miniſtry, muſt as Paul profeſſeth, 2 Cor. 1. 12. have his converſation with all godly ſimplicity and ſincerity: He is to carry on his work in Scripture-ways, avoiding thoſe two Rocks, Media violentiae, and Media fraudulentiae; A man of a crafty multiplicity of Spirit, will turn into any ſhape diſpute for any thing a lawful: This the Jeſuit ſaid to one (for ſo I underſtand it) who doubted about ſomething he was to do, whether lawful or no, Aude (ſaith he) & nos efficiemus probabile, Janſen. St. Auguſt. lib. proaem. pag. 9. Be daring to do it, and we will make it probable; now this ſimplicity of Spirit in Miniſterial imployment, is greatly ſeen in an obediential dependance upon the word of God, whether in matter of Duty, or of Faith: What is it that maketh ſo many learned Men embrace Errors after Errors, but becauſe they leave Faith, and attend to reaſon? They think we come to be Chriſtians by Diſputations and ſcientifical Demonſtrations; as we come to be Philoſophers, not by a ſingle and plain captivating of our underſtandings to the ſcripture, whereas it is Chriſtian Faith, not Chriſtian reaſon: It is ſaid to be Nazianzens Emblem, Theologia noſtra eſt Pythagorica, by this ſimplicity of Spirit, a man ſhall overcome thoſe Temptations, which are uſually in Scholars to bring, inaudita & inviſa, ſtrange and unheard things unto our People; eſpecially let the Miniſters of the Goſpel be ſo guided by ſimplicity of Spirit, that they may avoid theſe three Rocks.
Firſt, that while they avoid a Popiſh blinde obedience to men, examining things by Scripture, they therefore do not make all things uncertain: That of Durand is true, whoſoever forſaketh reaſon becauſe of humane Authority, incidit in inſipientiam beſtialem, maketh himſelf like a Beaſt; yet let not this liberty be abuſed to licentiouſneſs, to believe nothing, to deſpiſe all thoſe Miniſterial helps which God hath vouchſafed to the Church, becauſe he is to try all things; though he muſt try, yet he muſt not be always trying, but hold faſt that which is good, 1 Theſſ. 5. 21. This liberty and particular Judgement of diſcerning, which God alloweth every man, is not to be oppoſed to that deciſive Miniſterial Judgement, which God hath appointed in his Church.
Secondly, under pretence of a more moderate and impartial handling of things, as not being addicted unto parties, take heed thou do not make a party of thy ſelf, as the Sect of Philoſophers, called foreign, Diogen, Laert. in Proent. pretending they would be of no Sect, but chooſe the beſt Art of all; thus they made a Sect, while they condemned all.
Laſtly, Take heed of being deceived under the pretence that thou doeſt not bring in any new matter, but new words, or thou doſt digeſt things into a better method; for by this means, men leaving that ſimplicity and Scripture-dependance they once had, have corrupted their Miniſterial Office, inſtead of a faithful diſcharge of it.
Fifthly, To a faithful diſcharge of this dreadful Office, there is required an excellent compound of many choice Graces, inſomuch that a Miniſters qualification, is like that Ointment that was to be made for the Prieſt onelyonly: There muſt be love and compaſſion to Peoples Souls, which was abundantly diſcovered in our Savior himſelf: Paul compareth himſelf, ſometimes to a Father, ſometimes to a Mother, ſometimes to a Nurſe, becauſe of this affectionate deſire in him: There muſt be Zeal, Fortitude, and Courage, the ſpirit of love and of power alſo; he is not a Miniſter, that is not ad mille mortes paratus, ſaid Chryſoſtome; as a good Souldier endure hardſhip, ſaith Paul to Timothy, 1 Tim. 2. 3. There muſt be Prudence and Wiſdom, elſe Love and Power will make us like Sampſon, without eyes; there muſt be ſalt in the Sacrifice, as well as fire; Oportet Paſtor ſit totus oculus, a Paſtor muſt be an Argus, full of eyes.
Again, there muſt be an Heavemly heart, contemning the world and all earthly advantages: The eye that is to ſee for others muſt not have duſt falling into it: Auſtin maketh an Heretick to have ſome carnal profit or emolument that is attractive of him: There muſt be a deſire to pleaſe God, and not men, as Paul ſaith, Gal. 1. for ſo a man cannot be a ſervant of Chriſt: This fear to diſpleaſe men, whereby we do not reprove ſin ſo Zealouſly, ſo Cordially and Faithfully as we ſhould, hath eclipſed the comfort of ſome godly Miniſters at their death. It is too true that the Wiſe man ſaith, The fear of a man is his ſnare, Prov. 29. 25. The Camelion for fear, ſaith Ariſtotle, turneth into the likeneſs of every object it meeteth with.
Theſe are the ſpecial qualifications of a Godly Miniſter, whereby he will be able to ſay with Paul, I have fought a good fight. 1 Tim. 4. 7. Yea, with CHRIST, I have finiſhed the worke thou gaveſt me to do. John 17. 3. To all which muſt be added diligence and labour, all the names, they have denote labour more then glory, office more then dignitie; now in all theſe things there is one particular, which doth much quicken, and that is temptation, one of thoſe three things, Luther ſaid, made a Divine; we are not to deſire temptations, but God for the moſt part doth prepare thoſe Miniſters, whom he intends to be ſerviceable, by ſuch exerciſes; This is the ſawing, and the poliſhing of the ſtone, by this he is brought into the deep waters, and ſeeth the wonderfull works of God, by this he is able to underſtand the depths of Satan, and by this he is adapted to be a moſt ſpeciall Inſtrument to comfort and refreſh others, when they ſhall ſee theirs is not a ſingular condition, they muſt not think none are tempted like them, for they ſhall find that even Pauls have had the buffetings of Satan, and that by theſe ſoule temptations they have learned more then all Books or authors could teach them. And thus I leave the firſt Doctrine, and proceed to the ſecond, which is.
That a Godly People cannot but affectionately mourn under the loſſe of their faithfull Miniſters.Doct. 2.
You ſee here what theſe Epheſians did, with what affection they were moved, becauſe they ſhould never ſee Pauls face more; Grace doth not lie in extinguiſhing, but regulating affections; Chriſt wept, and they argued from thence, behold how he loved him, Joh. 11. 35, 36. So that Nazianzens commendation of his Mother Nonna, that ſhe never wept under the many troubles ſhe underwent, ſubmitting all to Gods hand, was rather Stoiciſme, then Chriſtianitie; It is ſaid of Ambroſe, when he heard of the death of any good Miniſter, he could not forbeare weeping; how then can a people forbeare, when their own Miniſter, their own Paſtor is taken away, ſhould not the Congregation be a valley of tears, or a place of mourners; now there are theſe grounds for it, 1. Becauſe of that experimentall ſoul-good, and ſpirituall advantage the Godly have reapt thereby; Oh! when thou ſhalt remember what quicknings, what meltings, what warning of heart thou haſt had, this will cauſe grief to think they are gone. Carnall naturall men never are affected with the loſſe of a Miniſter, they never got any good by their Preaching; it was no converting Miniſtry, no inlightning, no comforting Miniſtry to them, and therefore the loſs is no more troubleſome.
2. They muſt needs mourn, becauſe they have juſt cauſe to fear, their ſinnes have cauſed God to deprive them of ſuch helps; your unthankfulneſs, your contempt, and low thoughts of the means of grace, your unprofitableneſs and negligence, may make you mourn, for if God upon the abuſe of naturall Creatures, will take away his Wine, his Bread, his flaxe, will he not much more remove the candleſtick, for unfruitfulneſs under ſpiritual mercies; mourne then, leſt thy ſinnes, thy unfaithfulneſs, thy deadneſs and dulneſs of heart have provoked God to take ſuch guides away; yea in the third place, may not ſome mourn, who by their Diſobedience, and unwillingneſſe to ſubmit to Chriſts yoak, and oppoſition to his way, have ſo filled the Miniſters heart with grief and ſadneſs, as thereby to haſten his death, making his life the more uncomfortable, and cauſing him to mourn in ſecret for your ſtubbornneſs and diſobedience; Thus your ſinnes, not only meritoriouſly, but efficiently may concurre to the removing of him by death; Conſider that place. Heb. 13. 17. Obey them that rule over you, &c. that they may give their account with joy, and not with grief; ſome make this particular to relate to the former, that they may watch over your ſouls with joy, and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you. A grieved Miniſter, a diſcouraged Miniſter cannot do his duty, ſo powerfully, it will be unprofitable unto you, you will find it in his ſtudy, in his ſermons; A dull people are apt to make a dull Miniſter.
4. There is cauſe to mourn, becauſe of the excellencie of the relation between a Paſtor and a People, in ſome reſpects, it is above all naturall relations. They are ſpirituall Fathers, your ſouls receive good by them; They are Inſtrumentall to bring you unto eternal glory, and therefore there is more cauſe of Mourning in this reſpect, then when God breaketh naturall relations, no Father or Mother, or friend happily hath done that for thee which his Miniſtery hath done.
5. There is cauſe to mourn, becauſe it is a ſign of Gods anger and diſpleaſure to a people, you are not ſo much to look upon it; as the loſſe of a man, as a token of Gods anger to the congregation; The righteous man periſheth, and none layeth it to heart. Iſaiah. 57. 1. Who knoweth what ſoul-Judgements, what bodily Judgements may hereafter come vponupon you, and therefore it is for a people to be ſenſible, and mourn, when the deſire of your eies, ſo I may call the Miniſter (as well as the Wife) is taken away. The deſire of your eies, you long to ſee him in the Pulpit again, and the deſire of your eares, you long to heare him again.
6. There is cauſe to Mourn, becauſe of the ſad conſequents that many times falls upon the death of a faithfull Paſtor; ſometimes the learning and ſoundneſs of a Miniſter, keepeth a People from licentious errors, and corrupt opinions; His Gravitie and Pietie hath a ſpeciall influence upon many, but upon his removall, then the weeds of a mans heart growes up: After my departure, ſaith Paul, Wolves will ariſe from among your ſelves, Acts 20. 29. Pauls preſence was a great means to hinder them.
2. What good Foundation is laid in Faith, what Godly Order may be begun? there is danger, that all theſe will die, when a Faithfull Miniſter dieth: I wonder that you are ſo ſoon removed, ſaith Paul, Gal. 1. Alas! that which the Miniſters of God have with many years diligence, many Prayers, and much oppoſition brought about, when the Miniſter is dead, may quickly be deſtroyed, ſo that we may wonder, how ſuch a Town, ſuch a place ſhould be over-run with Bryars and Thornes immediately.
3. Another ſad conſequent is ſometimes, diviſions and breaches among the People, while a Godly Miniſter is alive, he is like a Corner Stone, that uniteth both ſides of the Wall together, but when that falls, then the wall falls with it. Then one is for this Miniſter, and another for that, then one liketh this, and another the contrary, and thus ſeeds of contention and diviſion are ſowen, which may come up too faſt, hence the preſence of a Godly, Grave, Wiſe Paſtor is very neceſſary, it is the Spirituall defence of a People, which made him cry out, when the Prophet was taken, My father, my Father, the Chariots of Iſrael, and the horſemen thereof, 2 Kings 13. 14. And now we come from the Doctrinal part to the practicall; And although my cuſtome in ſuch Sermons, is not to diſcourſe about the Dead, they being like Anatomy Lectures, for the good of the living, yet becauſe we are celebrating the Funeralls of a Learned and Godly Brother, who by his Office, was in publick ſtation in the Church of God; I ſhall briefly ſpeak to ſome few of thoſe Miniſteriall qualifications, that were in him mentioned in the Doctrine, not imitating Nazianzen, who in his Funerall Orations of his Father, as alſo Athanaſius, Baſilius and others induſtriouſly gathereth up every thing that may make to their praiſe, if not hyperbolically exceeding ſometimes; but I ſhall rather come ſhort of what might be ſpoken. And firſt, his Doctrinall abilities, and parts in controvsrſall points, are ſufficiently known by the Books he hath written: thoſe Children will reſemble the Father, though he left no bodily ones. It is true, there were ſome particular opinions and conteſts he was fallen into with other Learned men, on whoſe ſide the truth did ſtand, you will not judge it meet for me to interpoſe, onelyonly becauſe of the difference that is ſometimes in Judgement between Godly men, we ſee ſome by profaneneſs, gladly have it in their mouthes, ſaying, what heed is to be given to theſe Miniſters, there are not two of a minde; They write againſt one another, they have Book againſt Book, and then ſome good people they are offended; what ſhall we do, ſay they, we look upon both as Godly, and yet they cannot agree; becauſe I ſay, of this offence, I ſhall ſpeak a little to it. Firſt, that this difference amongſt our ſelves, is an old objection, The Pagans and the Jewes urged it againſt Chriſtianity, whoſe Arguments Clemens Alexandrinus anſwered, retorting upon them the ſame diviſions; the Philoſophers likewiſe objected this to the Chriſtians, when that Synod was gathered together at Nice, as the Centuriators inform us; Though Auguſtine (lib. de vera religione) brandeth them for this, that the Heathens, though they had divers ſchools, yet they had Commune Templum, a Common temple, which argued, they worſhipped their Gods more out of Cuſtome, then becauſe of their opinion.
2. We are to know, that all the Godly do know onelyonly in part, perfection in knowledge, and unity is reſerved for heaven; there will be no parties, no dividing opinions, there will be no different Forms, and wayes of worſhipping of God in that place, ſo that although this difference amongſt the Godly be as Calvin ſaid to Melanctlhon, peſſimi exempli, of a very bad example, yet if we conſider, that the meaſure of Light & grace in this world is imperfect, then we may not wonder at ſuch breaches; had not Paul and Barnabas a Paroxiſme, a ſharp ſitt, for to underſtand the Word in a good ſenſe, as ſome would, becauſe the Word is uſed ſo. Heb. 10. 24. is very improbable. Auſtin and Hierome, Chryſoſtome and Epiphanius had great conteſts.
3. The differences of Godly Miniſters are not in fundamentals; They all build gold and precious ſtones, though ſome may adde hay and ſtubble
Laſtly, a brotherly and amicable diſquiſition into truths controverſed, not fundamentall, but between Godly men, though different in Judgements, is very lawfull and uſefull, indeed if this be done with pride, paſſion, ſcornfull and diſdainfull words, deſpiſing the gifts of others, This is not a dead fly, but a dead toad in the box of ointment, that maketh the wiſe Reader think, men do regard opinions, not ſo much as they are Gods Truths, but as they are their opinions, wherein they muſt have glory; But return we to our Learned Brother; as God had given him ſuch Doctrinall Abilities, ſo alſo was he Prudent and Wiſe, and wiſe to direct ſuch as were troubled in their minde, and perplexed about what they were to doe; It is true, it pleaſed God before his ſickneſs to exerciſe him with ſome ſad and black thoughts, ſometimes tending to the great dejection and diſcouragement of his ſoul, but by this we ſee, that comfort is not a flower growing in our Garden, that we can pluck up when we will, God is the God of Comfort only, he giveth it when he pleaſeth, and he taketh it away again as he pleaſeth. Chriſt had an Angel to comfort him in his Agonies, ſo that all, both Miniſters and People, are to take Goſpel-Conſolations, as mercies from heaven, not as the work of our hands.
In the next place, the diligence, conſtancy and faithfull Preaching of your Godly Paſtor is not unknown; Theſe walls, theſe ſeats can ſufficiently beare witneſs thereunto; Though you a great People, and he declining in age, yet a laborious Preacher to you, and a great Student in private: The Catechizing alſo of the younger ſort of people, diſcovered his vigilancy, and it was the earneſt deſire (as he would have you informed) and requeſt of your dying Paſtor, that the younger Perſons of this place would readily and willingly ſubmit to that order; Beſides all this, his writing for the publick good of the Church, ſtill demonſtrated his faithfulneſs and zeal herein; when the Perſecutor had cut out Cyprians tongue, and then baniſhed him, yet he made a ſupply by his Pen; but our Learned Brother was willing both by Tongue and Pen to edifie the Church of God, ſo that both his opuſcula, and his opera will praiſe him in the gates, His tenderneſs of Spirit likewiſe was exceeding much; and as in ſoft wood, wormes ſometimes breed to weaken it, ſo did (as you heard) diſcouragements ſometimes lie upon his ſoul, but the Lord did quickly blow over the clouds, and as I am informed, his expreſſion was, That he dyed with full ſatisfaction of Spirit, and communion with God.
Laſtly, you are not ignorant of the way he took about the Sacrament, that he was not for the promiſcuous Admiſſion of all thereunto; and therefore when a late Writer, Mr. Humphreys, would have gathered ſuch concluſions from his principles, he was willing publickly to vindicate himſelf, and to ſhew his diſſent herein; All this, though comparatively little, I have ſpoken, not to exalt man, for what have we, that we have not received, but to bleſs God, and magnifie him, who giveth ſuch gifts to men; he that praiſeth the gifts and graces of any, thereby extolleth God; as he that commendeth a Picture, magnifieth the Artificer that made it; and thus we take our dear and laſt farewell of him, and come to you, ſheep left without a ſhepheard, to you on the Sea without a Pilate; To you Orphans, without a Spirituall Father; and firſt you ſee what cauſe there is for our conſtant expectation and preparation for death; Gods own Miniſters and ſervants muſt dye, God needeth no mans labours or parts, Moſes, Joſhua, Paul, Peter muſt die, ſola mors non habet fortaſſe, ſaid Auſtin, only Death hath no may be; It may be thou mayeſt be rich, it may be thou mayeſt thrive in thy trading, it may be thou mayeſt have comfort in thy Children and friends, but thy death hath no may be; Oh! let not the world, let not your Shops, let not trading take off your hearts from this Meditation, but think you hear God ſpeaking to you, ſet not your houſe, but your ſouls in order, for thou muſt die.
And ſecondly, here is ſome comfort, though there be cauſe of much ſorrow, that though your Faithfull Paſtor he dead, yet the chief Paſtor of your ſouls is not; He that ſetteth Paſtors and Teachers in the Church, he that ſendeth forth labourers into his harveſt, he liveth for ever; as one in the Eccleſiaſticall Hiſtory, when newes was brought him that his father was dead, Deſine blaſphemias loqui (ſaith he) pater enim meus immortalis eſt, ceaſe to ſpeak blaſphemy, for my Father is immortall; Thus let this honey fall into your gall, this Wine into your water, The great and Chief Shepheard of your ſouls is not dead.
Laſtly, now the will of God is done, concerning our deceaſed Brother, your duty is to be much in Prayer to God, that there may be a Joſhua after Moſes, That God would joyne your hearts together as one man, to ſeek out a Paſtor for you, which ſhall feed you according to his holy will; The Lord hath made a great breach upon you, be ſenſible of it, and ſeriouſly conſider how all your ſoulcomforts and advantages are bound up in this matter; Miniſters are compared to the Sun, and Salt, nihil ſole & ſale ut…lius; can you be without the Sun in the heavens? without bread for your body, ſo neither without this bread of life for your ſouls, or without this light to guide you in the wilderneſſe of this World, to eternall happineſſe.
FINIS.