An Expository Comment on 2 Corinthians 1, Exposition · Sermon 5
SERM. V.
The Divine Call of Church-Officers is clearly to be knowne, and faithfully to be improved. What advantages will follow upon a true Call, both to the Officers themſelves, and the People.
2 COR. 1. 1.
Paul an Apoſtle of Jeſus Chriſt, &c.
VVE have conſidered Paul under the ſecond adjunct attributed to him, viz. his Apostleſhip, Paul an Apoſtle; whereupon we treated on the Office of the Apostles. We proceed to a ſecond Obſervation. For whereas Paul doth therefore mention his Call to that glorious Office, thereby to be received with greater reverence and authority: as alſo to encourage himſelf againſt thoſe falſe Apoſtles, who uſed their utmoſt endeavour to bring him into reproach with the Corinthians. We may thence obſerve this,It is of great conſequence both to Miniſters and people to be informed of the Divine Call of their Church-officers.
That it is of great conſequence both to the Ministers of God, and the people to be fully informed of that Divine Call, which the Officers of the Church have towards them.
That they who preach may be able to ſay, We come in the Name of the Lord to you. It is not we that have obtruded our ſelves, but God that hath inveſted us with this Office over you. And they alſo who hear, may ſay, We eſteem of you as the ſtewards of God; we receive you as Embaſſadors from the Lord to us.
To purſue this, firſt, Conſider that there are many large diſputes both in old Both ancient and modern Writers have much diſputed about the Call of Church-officers.and later writers about the Call of Church-officers. As the truth it ſelf is ſubject to many difficulties: So the perverſe diſputes of men have made it more intricate and intangled; onelyonly this we may obſerve, That the ſeveral parties which are in Religion that hold any Miniſtry, or ſuch an Office at all, and that by Divine Inſtitution (for ſome deny ſuch an Inſtitution) they ſtill monopolize and appropriate the Call to themſelves; with them onelyonly is the true Church; with them only are the true Officers of the Church. And no doubt that way of Religion, which can ſay, with them only is the true Call, and the true Church-officers, and the right adminiſtration of Ordinances, doth infinitely excell all other waies. For Gods promiſe and ſucceſs doth accompany only his own Officers, and his own Ordinances. As the people of God, will not hear a ſtranger, but flee from him; ſo neither will God go along with ſuch ſtrangers. It's only to his Apoſtles and their Succeſſours, that he promiſeth to be with to the end of the world. Therefore that Church who can upon juſt grounds ſay, that with us are the true Officers, with us are Chriſts inſtitutions punctually obſerved; no doubt but with them is Chriſt preſent, and with them is the Kingdom of Heaven. This was the great advantage Abijah pleaded in his Remonſtrance againſt Jeroboam, who had deviſed a new Miniſtry and a new worſhip, 2 Chron. 13. 9, 10, 11. Where he pleads, That in Jeruſalem was the true ſucceſſion of Prieſts, and there was the charge of God kept, and that therefore God himſelf was with them. To have therefore a true Call, is of ſo great concernment, that all pretend to it. The Papiſt chargeth the Proteſtant, That their Miniſters have no true Call: The Proteſtant returneth the ſame charge to them. The Browniſt, he ſaith, neither Papiſt nor Proteſtant have true Calls. Yea and the Proteſtants themſelves, becauſe of their different opinions in Church-Government, have alſo different opinions about the Call of Church-officers. So that it being of ſuch conſequence, no wonder if the Devil keep up this controveeſie as much as may be in the Church, eſpecially if he purſue this deſigne, to make the world believe, That the faithfull Miniſters of God have no true Call: for this is to ſtrike at the very root of all. Hence it is alſo, That in the ſeveral ages of the Church there have been falſe Prophets and falſe Apoſtles. Yea our Saviour Mat. 26. ſaith, There will be alſo falſe Chriſts; and the Apoſtle ſaith, The Devil transformeth himſelf into an angel of light, 2 Cor. 11. 14. But my intent is not at this time, to diſpute the Nature of a Miniſters Call, and how you may diſcern it from falſe Calls, when you may conclude the Miniſter you live under hath a true Call. For all this will be more properly handled towards the the end of this Epiſtle, when the Apoſtle is compelled to plead his Call againſt thoſe that queſtioned it.
In the ſecond place, It's not enough to plead a Call, and that a true one, unleſs there be alſo a faithfull improving of it, unleſs the Office be executed It is not enough only to have a true Call, but that Call muſt be likewiſe faithfully improved.according to the inſtitution of it. Paul doth not glory in the meer Title and Office of an Apoſtleſhip, but ſuppoſeth alſo his faithfull dispenſation of it. Yea he was ſo carefull herein, that he profeſſeth, He knew nothing by himſelf, viz. of negligent and ill adminiſtration in this Office, 1 Cor. 4. 2. Yea he ſaith, That he kept his body, leſt while he preached to others, he himſelf ſhould become a reprobate, 1 Cor. 9. 27. Judas was an Apoſtle, yet he had little cauſe to boaſt in that Office, ſeeing he was a Devil at the ſame time. Grant therefore that ſome may make it clear, that they have a Call from God, yet if they are not faithfull and diligent therein, the greater will be their condemnation be. Suppoſe the Pope could prove (which yet he can never do) that he doth ſucceed Peter, and that in Univerſal Juriſdiction, yet if he did not ſucceed likewiſe Peter in his Doctrine, in his diligence and life, he were inexcuſable: and well did the Painter draw Peter with too red a colour, as bluſhing at the enormities of his Succeſſours. So that two things go to make a compleat Officer in the Church, his Divine Call, and his faithfull adminiſtration thereof; and this later is neceſſary, becauſe without diligence therein he cannot expect that promiſe, and aſſiſtance of God, which otherwiſe would be communicated unto him.
Theſe things premiſed, let us conſider, what are the great practical concernments, which will follow thoſe who have a true Call of God. And
Firſt, For the Officers themſelves there are theſe encouragements:What advantages follow upon a true Call. 1. To the Officers themſelvs 1. They may expect Gods aſſiſtance.
1. He may juſtly expect Gods aſſiſting of him with ſuch qualifications of zeal and courage, as are neceſſary to that work. Thus the Apoſtle ſpeaking of all the Miniſters of the Gospel, ſaith, We have not received the spirit of fear, but of power and love, and a ſound mind, 2 Tim. 1. 7. It's God that giveth us ſuch a ſpirit, where God calleth to an Office; there he giveth ſuitable aſſiſtance. For as it is with the general Call of Chriſtians, becauſe God calleth them to holineſs, therefore he furniſheth every one with grace, without which happineſs cannot be enjoyed: So it is in peculiar ſpecial Offices; if in civil, he gives Saul another ſpirit, and much more in holy functions. Hence he touched Iſaiah's lips with a coal of fire from the altar. Though Jeremiah pleaded he was a child, yet God promiſed to enable him; And when Moſes did again and again excuſe his inability to the Office God put upon him, The wrath of God was kindled againſt him, Exod. 4. 11. ſaying, Who hath made mans mouth? who maketh the dumb, or deaf, &c? Have not I the Lord? If then God calleth, he can give wiſdom, mouth and ſpirit, ſuch as none ſhall be able to withſtand. Oh then, what a comfortable ſupport is here! When thou art dejected under the thoughts of thy inſufficiency and weakneſs, thinking thou ſhalt fail under the burden, and prove a reproach to the Office: Yet becauſe God hath called thee, thou mayeſt imbolden thy ſelf, thou mayeſt ſay, Lord, I cam not hither of my own will, I am not in this place and Office by my own ſeeking, but all is of thy will and ordering, and therefore do thou own thy own ſervant. Though I am weak, thou art not: who is the Father of Spirits, but thou alone? Therefore under all imperfections, do thou runne unto God, who hath ſet thee in that Office.
2. As he may expect aſſiſtance, ſo alſo Protection and Defence in all the 2. Gods protection.dangers they are aſſaulted with. For it cannot be, but he that is called of God, if he do the work of God zealouſly and impartially, but he will raiſe up many enemies, and find great oppoſition in his work. Now as our Saviour told his Diſciples of their danger, That they ſhould be haled before Rulers, thrown into priſons, and caſt out of Synagogues; yet he bids them, Take no thought what they ſhould ſay (viz. not in a ſinfull diſtruſtfull manner) becauſe at that very time it ſhould be given them, what to ſpeak, Mark 13. 11. He doth not forbid a lawfull premeditating, but that which is accompanied with ſlaviſh, worldly fears, and humane diſtruſt, as if the Spirit of God would not be ready to aſſiſt. Doth not Paul reckon up the ſeveral dangers that he was every day in, inſomuch that his ſafety was every day miraculous? Yet God delivered him out of all. He prayed to be delivered from abſurd and unreaſonable men, and God heard him. Thus Jeremiah likewiſe, he did undertake a very difficult Province, he was to deal with Scorpions and tygers, yet Jer. 1. 17, 18, 19. God bids him, Not be diſmayed at their faces, for he had made him a defenced City, an iron pillar, and a brazen wall, &c. They might fight againſt him, but never prevail. This then is a bleſſed reviving, when in the midſt of all thy aſſaults, all the troubles thou doſt conflict with; this man reproacheth thee, that man revileth thee, thou canſt appeal to God, O Lord, Is not all this, becauſe I do the work commanded? Is not all this, becauſe thou haſt ſent me, and becauſe I am an Embaſſadour in thy Name? Certainly, if David did ſo ſeverely avenge himſelf upon the Ammonites for the injury done to his Embaſſadours; No leſſe wi…l God reward thoſe, who deſpiſe thoſe he ſends. And therefore it's one of the great wonders in the world, That Chriſt hath maintained a Miniſtry in his Church for ſo many hundred years; when all the malice and policy that could be deviſed, hath been imployed to overthrow it. Yea God hath in moſt ages, ſtill ſtirred up ſome with admirable zeal and courage to withſtand the deluge of corruptions that were in thoſe daies: and though many have been violently put to death, yet ſome have been wonderfully protected, as John the Evangeliſt, Athanaſius and Luther.
3. They may expect wonderfull ſucceſs and fruitfulneſs in their labour. For ſeeing God hath ſent them, and they come in his Name, their labour ſhall not be in 3. Succeſs and fruitfulneſs in their labours.vain. The Apoſtles, though few, were made ſalt enough to ſeaſon the whole world. At one Sermon, Peter converted three thouſand, Rom. 15. 19. Paul tels us, The Gospel did ſpread it ſelf by his preaching; yea ſome of Caeſars own houſhold became converts. Thus doth the Lord wonderfully cooperate with his own inſtruments; inſomuch that Divines have a Rule, Qualis vocatio, talis ſucceſſus; yet this muſt be wiſely underſtood: for as in the Scripture many precious godly women went barren, and had the reproach of not bearing children, as Sarah and Hannah: So many eminent ſervants of God, though called by him, and owned (as it were) by name, yet have not had ſuch ſucceſs in converting of ſouls, as others had. Yea Chriſt himſelf did not convert ſo many as the Apoſtles. Iſa. 49. 2. Chriſt ſpeaks notably to this, of this protection by God, yet the little ſucceſs he had. So that it's the Scriptures complaint of ſtretching out the hands in vain all the day long, to a gain-ſaying people. Therefore The word commonly more ſuccesful to thoſe who never had it before.we are to diſtinguiſh of people, for they are either ſuch as never had the Word of God preached to them; or ſuch, who though enjoying of it for many years, yet have ſo univerſally apoſtatized, that a Reformation is like a new plantation of the Gospel. Now to ſuch a people as theſe, commonly the Word hath been ſucceſſefull, and multitudes have been caught in the Net of the Gospel. Commonly at ſuch ſeaſons there hath been a preparedneſs made for the Goſpel to run and to be glorified. Thus you ſee the Romans, Corinthians, and many Heatheniſh places were converted from their Idols to ſerve the living God. Thus alſo among the Jews, when Chriſt came as a reformer to that apoſtate people, he ſaith, That the harveſt was great, but the labourers were few, Luk. 10. 2. There were more to be converted, but no inſtruments to do it; and therefore he bids them, Pray unto God, to ſend labourers into his harveſt: As with ground new broken up, there the labourer hath the greater hopes.
But in the ſecond place, There are a people, that have long lived under the means of grace, and have often reſiſted the Spirit of God in the Miniſtry. Now The Word leſs ſucceſsfull to a people that have lived long under the preaching ….for the moſt part there is very little converſion wrought on ſuch. Not but that Gods arm is as ſtrong as ever, and the Word is as powerfull an inſtrument, and God doth approve of his Officers, only the unworthineſs and unprofitableneſs of the people have deſerved, that God ſhould give them up to ſpiritual judgements, and that no Miniſtry or preaching ſhould ever do them any good. And therefore you ſee, when Iſaiah was ſent to preach to the people of Iſrael, Chap. 6…. it was not to open their eyes, or ſoften their hearts, but the clean contrary, to ſhut their eyes, and harden their hearts. Do not therefore queſtion the Call of a Miniſtry, if the work of converſion be not ſo general, as might be expected. For conſider the people, are they not like the ground the Apoſtle ſpeaks of, that having often drunk in rain, yet bringing forth nothing … ſing? Heb. 6. 7, 8. A terrible place it is, if they had been a people bringing forth herbs fit for uſe, then God had a bleſſing for ſuch ground, but becauſe they are only briars and thorns, the end is to burnt. So that though the Miniſtry doth not work in a ſaving way, yet it's in a damning way; and this diſcovers the Call to be of God, as well as the former, becauſe he puniſheth people thus for their unthankfulneſs and unprofitableneſs. But
2. The Miniſtry of God is not onelyonly for converſion, but edification, and building up. If therefore God makes the Word uſefull for further illumination and ſanctification, this diſcovers it to be of God. Hence Epheſ. 4. 13, 14. There A two-fold Uſe of the Miniſtry beſides converſion, to increaſe grace, and prevent errour.is a two-fold uſe of the Miniſtry ſpoken of, One to perfect and to carry forward to an higher ſtature in Christ; and the other, to prevent errours, and to ſafeguard againſt all heretical wayes. Now the edifying and building up of the godly is of great importance. The Apoſtles wrote their Epiſtles chiefly for this end, to increaſe that godlineſs, which was already begun.
Laſtly, The Miniſter, whoſe call is of God; and diſchargeth it faithfully ſhall Laſtly, They may expect a greater reward from God.have a great reward from God. They that turn others from their ſins, ſhall ſhine as the ſtars in the firmament; The Apoſtles ſhall ſit upon twelve thrones; whereas thoſe who runne without a Call, and work without a Commiſſion, their labour is in vain, and God will ask, Who hath required theſe things at their hands? Yea both they and their Office ſhall be deſtroyed; ſo that in ſtead of a reward they will meet with ſevere puniſhment. Then on the peoples part, it is of great conſequence for them to be aſſured of this, Let a man eſteem of us (1 Cor. 4.) as 2. What advantage the people may have by being aſſured of their Miniſters call.the ſtewards of God. Oh if you receive the Miniſters as from God, as having commiſſion from him, with what reverence and obedience will this be? But eſpecially you will take heed of oppoſing and ſetting againſt them, leſt ye ſhould be found fighters againſt God.
Therefore let the Uſe of this be of Conviction, eſpecially to ſuch, who acknowledge Uſe.us the true Miniſters of the Goſpel: You who receive us as your Miniſters, and cry out againſt all thoſe that queſtion their Call. Now out of your own mouths you will be condemned, if you do not receive their Word, as it is indeed the word of God, and not of man. Oh therefore do you diſcover the experimental work of the Miniſtry upon your hearts! Let it be ſaid of you, as of theſe Corinthians, They were his Epiſtle to be read, and ſeen of all men; You are our walking Sermons, all may ſee what we preach by your lives; you are our Sermons to be read and ſeen of all men.