One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 111
SERMON CXI. That a Goſpel-Miniſtry is to continue to the end of the world. And for what ends▪
JOHN 17.20.
That ſhall believe through their word.
I Shall now finiſh this fruitfull Text. The laſt thing conſiderable in it, is the inſtrumental cauſe of faith, and that is the Apoſtles Miniſtry. This faith is wrought by their word. To open this, Conſider
1. That the word which begets faith, is called Gods word, verſ. 6. and here the Apoſtles word in a different ſenſe: It's Gods word originally and efficiently, becauſe revealed by him: It's the Apoſtles word miniſterially, becauſe they are the Embaſſadours to publiſh it. Thus Paul cals it his Goſpel, as in other places, it's the Goſpel of God, becauſe the Miniſters of God are Stewards, to whom is concredited the diſpenſation of the Word, therefore it is called their word.
2. Whereas Chriſt prayeth for all that ſhall believe even to the end of the world, and yet they are ſaid to believe by the Apoſtles word, when yet thouſands and thouſands have believed ſince the Apoſtles death and departure; Its neceſſary, that by the Apoſtles we do not underſtand only their perſons, but the ſucceeding Miniſtry unto them, which is to be perpetual in the Church, all that now or hereafter ſhall beleeve, though by the preſent Miniſters that lived many hundred years after the Apoſtles, yet may be ſaid to obtain faith by the Apoſtles word, becauſe they ſit in the Apoſtles chair, they deliver the Doctrin, which they delivered, and ſucceed the Apoſtles, though not in perſonal and extraordinaries, yet in ordinaries, in which ſenſe Chriſt promiſeth to be with them to the end of the world. The words thus explained, we may obſerve,
That God hath appointed a perpetual Miniſtry, Obſerv. God hath appointed a perpetual Miniſtry to the end of the world.even to continue as long as there ſhall be a Church in the world. All that ſhall beleeve are brought thereunto by the Apoſtles word; now they being long ſince dead, it neceſſarily followeth, either that none can now beleeve, or elſe that there is a Miniſtry to be perpetually ſucceeding them for this ſpiritual effect. That the Miniſtry and Word preached is the means of faith, appeareth evidently, Rom. 10.17. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God; yea verſ. 14. there is a chain of faith, and hearing, and preaching inviolably put together. We may bring a ſecond witneſſe to confirm this, 1 Cor. 3.5. Who is Paul, or Apollo, but Miniſters by whom you beleeve? Where you ſee to be inſtruments of faith is not only limited to Paul the Apoſtle▪ but is extended to other ordinary Officers in the Church, even all that water as well as plant. The Apoſtles planted, the ordinary Miniſters they water.
I ſhall not at this time prove a diſtinct calling of Miniſters from people, that hath been done already. I ſhall only ſhew the perpetual uſefulneſs and neceſſity of a Miniſtry, for ſpiritual ends, as long as there will be a Church upon the earth; and the rather, becauſe Socinians and Seekers, though they grant, There was once an extraordinary Miniſtry in the planting of the Church, yet they ſay, it was only temporal for a ſeaſon, even as miracles were, and that where the Scripture is made common, there needeth no Miniſtry. Therefore to inform herein, conſider theſe Propoſitions,
Firſt, That God hath appointed a Miniſtry in his Church, not from neceſſity, but a voluntary liberty condeſcending herein to our capacity. God did once govern his Church, as in the Patriarchs time, by immediate revelations and apparitions, and thus he could ſtill do, if he pleaſed: It's not therefore from neceſſity, but meer bounty, that he hath appointed ſuch a way of ſpiritualizing people. God doth not need the parts, or gifts, or piety of any men in the world; and certainly, if God hath appointed ſecond cauſes in nature, which work from a neceſſary principle within, not neceſſarily, but freely, much leſſe did he in theſe things which are of a ſupernatural conſtitution.
Secondly, It's to be affirmed, That in the firſt plantation of Chriſts Church, there were ſome things extraordinary, but that doth not inferre every thing thus appointed was extraordinary. The Office of the Apoſtles, who had a Commiſſion to go over the world, and had an univerſal Authority, being furniſhed to that end with infallible aſſiſtance, was extraordinary. Chriſt ſeedeth his Church ſpiritually, as he did once the bodies of men miraculouſly, firſt, he took bread himſelf, then he gave bread to his Diſciples, and they gave it to the people. Thus Chriſt he preached the word of life, and then he commanded the Apoſtles to preach, who inſtituted others in their room. The Office then of Apoſtles and Prophets, with the gift of miracles, were extraordinary in the firſt conſtituting of the Church; but then ordinary Officers were afterwards required; As with the people of Iſrael, while in the wilderneſs, God made miraculous proviſion for them, but when once ſetled in Canaan, then their Manna and other miraculous proviſion failed them.
Queſt.And if you ſay, How ſhall we know, what is an extraordinary Office, and what is an ordinary Office, ſeeing the Apoſtle, Eph. 4.11, 12. reckons them up altogether?
Anſw.I anſwer, It's true, the Apoſtle there mentioneth extraordinary and ordinary Officers, becauſe he is to ſpeak of the whole fruit of Chriſts Aſcenſion to his Church, and ſo becauſe Apoſtles were a great and principal part of Chriſts gift to his Church, and the influence of their labours upon the Church to the end of the world, and therefore they are called the foundation, Rev. 21.14. Hence they are mentioned as well as the ordinary; only the difference between theſe two may appear in the qualifications of either, for to an Apoſtle was required gifts of miracles, an univerſal Commiſſion and Authority, infallibility of aſſiſtance, &c. but to the ordinary Elders there is no ſuch thing required, but what may be in an ordinary manner attained unto.
Thirdly, When we ſay, A Miniſtry is appointed for ſpiritual ends, it's good to know in particular what they are. And
1. You ſee it's in the Text, To work Faith: And therefore faith is ſaid to come by hearing. The ear that is the organ of learning and knowledge, as alſo of faith. It's obſerved by a learned man, That though we reade of godly perſons, that could not ſee or ſpeak, yet of none that could not hear, becauſe that was the inſtrument of faith, yet this is not ſo to be urged, as if a godly man might not be made deaf, only it's a ſad affliction, becauſe by hearing faith is begotten and increaſed: What enemies then are ſuch to their ſouls, who care not for hearing, who give over hearing, come now and then it may be for ſinful ends, whereas by hearing the Word preached God hath appointed to give thee faith? Art thou not then ſuch an atheiſtical or prophane man, becauſe thou doeſt no more regard this hearing of Gods word preached? Be ſwift to hear, ſaid the Apoſtle James 1.19.
2. The Miniſtry is appointed for the converſion and regeneration of men, who naturally are dead in ſinne, and averſe to God. It was a ſubject the Prophets often preached upon, to return every one from his evil way to God; and John Baptiſt, yea Chriſt himſelf alſo preached repentance as well as faith. Hence Jam. 1. God is ſaid, Of his own will to beget us by his Word; and ſo its called the waſhing of regeneration through the word, Tit. 3.5. That as the Spirit of God at firſt by moving on the waters, prepared and produced living creatures; Thus God by the Ordinances cals thoſe who are like Lazarus dead in their ſins, to come out of the grave and live. There is a reſurrection of ſouls by the Prophets, when they lift up their voice like a trumpet, as well as there will be of bodies, by the trump of an Archangel; and indeed this is the proper effect of the Miniſtry: No moral Philoſophy hath attained to the inward change of mens hearts: As Eliah, when he threw his mantle on Eliſha, he left his Oxen and followed him: Thus when God by the Word preached doth lay hold on the heart of a man, he is a new creature, minde new, heart new, affections new, all is made new. Thus while Peter was preaching, there were three thouſand converted; So that to take the preaching of the Word away, is worſe then to take the Sun out of the heavens, that is but an inſtrument of heat and life bodily, this ſpiritually.
3. The Ministry is for edification, as Eph. 4.14. For the perfecting of the Saints, and till we come to a full ſtature in Chriſt: So that the Miniſtry and Ordinances ſhall not be aboliſhed, till we come into heaven, the Sacrament is till he come, and he will be with the Miniſters till the end of the world; and certainly the godly man findes much need of a Miniſtry to quicken, comfort, and direct his ſoul, craveth and calleth for this, as much as his body doth for food and raiment: So that thoſe who argue againſt a Miniſtry demonſtrate, they finde no experimental benefit of it upon their own ſouls.
4. God hath appointed it to propagate and defend the truth, to confute and put all errours and hereſies to ſilence. Therefore it's a qualification required in the Miniſter, That he be able to convince gain-ſayers, Tit. 1.9. You ſee the Apoſtle in ſome of his Epiſtles is not only practical, but didactical, and therein confuting thoſe errours that moleſted the truth, even in her Infancy; for this end they are called Guides and Salt; yea they are Shepherds to keep off the wolves that would ſubtilly devour the ſheep; We are to watch againſt prophaneneſs, and alſo againſt errours. The Apoſtle uſeth that phraſe of a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump, both in matter of corrupt manners, as alſo corrupt Doctrine, Gal. 1. and therefore would have the Churches of God purged from both.
Laſtly, The Miniſtry is appointed for ſpiritual Government in the Church, to admoniſh thoſe that are diſorderly, to caſt out prophane and obſtinate ſinners. For this end they have the ſpiritual Keyes of the kingdom of Heaven vouchſafed to them, and in the due adminiſtration thereof, God hath promiſed his gracious confirmation. Hence it is, that they are called Governours, Rulers, Pastours; all which demonſtrate, that a Miniſtry is not only in doctrinal publication of the word of God, but in a ſpiritual governing and ordering of people to ſupernatural ends. Indeed the Apoſtle ſaith, This power is given us for edification, not deſtruction, 1 Cor. 10.8. all is for ſpiritual ends: It's to ſave the ſouls of thoſe that are under us. This, though accounted auſtere, yet is profitable and neceſſary, even as Government in the Commonwealth. Thus you ſee the ends of a Miniſtry.
Therefore fourthly, when we ſay, God hath appointed a Miniſtry thus for ſpiritual ends, this implyeth, God will bleſſe and go along with it, unleſſe mens ſins do hinder it. We may not think God hath appointed theſe things in vain, or for a meer form; Doth not the Apoſtle ſay, That if the Goſpel be not the word of life, it is to them that periſh? 2 Cor. 2. who performed the Office of a Goſpel Miniſter more faithfully then Chriſt himſelf? And who might expect greater ſucceſſe in his Miniſtry then he? Yet we hear him complaining, Who hath believed our report? Oh then, let that people, that Congregation tremble, which hath long enjoyed the Miniſtry, yet as ignorant and prophane as ever! Oh conſider with thy ſelf and ſay, O Lord, thy arm is not ſhortned, thou art as able to break and humble the hearts of ſinners, as ever, therefore ſome heavy ſpiritual judgement is upon me, I may fear, I am like that curſed fig-tree, upon which (Chriſt ſaid) Never fruit grow more!
Now that this Miniſtry is to be to the end of the world, while God hath a Church here, appeareth by theſe Arguments,
1. The ends of the Office are perpetual, therefore the office it ſelf is perpetual. The end is to convert, to build up, to preſerve from errours, to admoniſh and rebuke; Will there not be this work to be done alwayes? Heaven is like Paradiſe that needed no rain, there were waters from within refreſhed it; but the Church while militant, is like the ground that needeth the former and later rain.
2. It appeareth by Gods promiſe to them, Mat. ult. I will be with you to the end of the world, and here all that ſhall believe at any time, are ſaid to believe by their word; he is ſaid to hold the ſeven ſtars in his hand, Rev. 3.1.
3. The duties that are injoyned people reſpectively to them are perpetual, as to hear them, highly to eſteem of them for their works ſake, to ſubmit themſelves unto them. Theſe are duties required of a Church, as long as it is a Church, therefore it's implyed they muſt have ſuch teachers, and officers.
4. The ſimilitude that the Scripture uſeth about them, and the Church, inforceth their perpetuity. They are light, the world will alwayes need the Sun and Stars. They are the ſalt of the earth, every Sacrifice muſt have that. The Church is a Garden, theſe are ſaid to water it. They are ſheep, and ſuch muſt have a ſhepherd. They are the houſe of God, then there muſt be ſtewards to diſpenſe the things of life.
5. God threatens it as the ſoreſt of judgements, to remove their Paſtors and Teachers into corners. To remove the Candleſtick away, Rev. 2.5.
6. There are directions for the qualifications of ſuch who are to be ordained Miniſters, given by Paul to Timothy and Titus, which are to be kept unblameably, till the coming of Chriſt.
Ʋſe of Exhortation. Is the Miniſtry thus appointed perpetually for ſpiritual ends, then look again and again, whether it hath been ſo to you or no? Hath it been light to remove thy blindneſs? Hath it been ſalt to take away thy corruption? If our Congregations are ſtill ſo many Golgothaes, when the word of life hath been ſo often preached to it; What can you expect that God will make them Aceldamaes? What hath hindred the Miniſtry from its proper efficacy upon thee, but thy wilfull rebellion and wickedneſſe? It is to work faith, and thou art atheiſtical; it's to convert thee from thy luſts, and thou art a beaſt ſtill: Hear, ô heavens, and hearken, ô earth, dreadfull is that ſin and judgment which is upon thee!
Ʋſe 2. Of Inſtruction, Why the devil and his inſtruments would overthrow Chriſts Miniſtry, Is it not becauſe thoſe onelyonly hinder him from his quiet poſſeſſion?