One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 94
SERMON XCIV. How requiſite a ſound minde and a holy life are to a Miniſter of the Goſpel; And of Chriſts peculiar love to, and care of ſuch.
JOH. 17.18.
As thou haſt ſent me into the world, even ſo have I ſent them into the world.
THis Verſe begins a New Argument or Reaſon why the Apoſtles need Sanctification by the Truth; It's drawn not from the generall Conſideration as they are Beleevers, but from the particular Relation they were in, commiſſionated with Office to preach the Truth of God.
Before I enter upon the words, the Coherence of this Argument with the Petition doth deſerve ſome Conſideration, though the particle of Connexion be not expreſſed, yet it is to be ſuppoſed, howſoever this followeth next in order upon that Petition, and therefore there cannot be but Coherence of the matter.
I ſhall not trouble you with the Conjectures of Interpreters, but pitch on that which is eaſily acknowledged to be very genuine and plain.
And firſt, Whereas Sanctification by the Truth is deſired for the Apoſtles, becauſe they were to be Officers in the Church, and Miniſters of the Goſpel: Whence Obſerve,
Doct. Truth and holineſſe are requiſite in Miniſters of the Goſpel.That Truth and Holineſſe are requiſite in the Miniſters of the Goſpel; Sanctifie them by thy Truth; Why? becauſe they are ſent to preach the Goſpel, and they have thy Authority; This is the reaſon why Chriſt though he called his Apoſtles immediatly from their worldly calling, yet it was two years, as Chemnitius in his Harmony computeth, ere he ſent them out to preach, but kept them in his Family, and under his Inſtruction, that ſo they might attain both to true Doctrine and an holy Life; This was repreſented Exod. 28.30. by the Ʋrim and Thummim, which were to be on the Breaſtplate, Light and Perfection, ſound Doctrine and Integrity of Life; Hence the Apoſtle in the Qualification of Miniſters requireth doctrinall abilities, that he be apt to teach, and can divide the Word of God aright, as alſo many practical Qualifications for holy and unblamable life, 1 Tim. 3.2. The Scripture compareth the Miniſters of God to Stars, and that both for their light and purity, differing (as Philoſophers ſay) from the ſubſtance of ſublunary things.
1. Let us Conſider the Grounds why they are to be endowed with Truth,Why it is requiſite Miniſters ſhould be endowed with ſoundneſſe of judgement. and to have a ſound minde.
And firſt, From the Quality of the Office; Their Office is to preach the Truth; They are appointed to declare the Word of God, and that only not humane Inventions, not the thoughts of their own heart, for if Chriſt himſelf avoucheth this, that his doctrine was not his own, but his that ſent him, and doth ſtill referre all to the Father that ſent him, how much more ought the Miniſters of God to declare what they reade, and what they have received of God by the Scriptures, not their own conceits; Thus the Prophets of old began their Sermons with Thus ſaith the Lord, and the Apoſtles begin their Epiſtles with their call and office, Apoſtles and Servants of God; Seeing therefore they have ſuch an Office and Truſt that requireth in the very Eſſentials of it nothing but Truth, they ought earneſtly to pray for it; They are called the Light and the Salt of the Earth; Now if the Light be dark all the body is dark; If Salt hath loſt his Seaſoning, it's good for nothing; By their Office they are to be the Miniſters of Truth, as Paul ſaid, I can do nothing againſt the Truth, but for it, 2 Corinth. 13.8. This is a Miniſter after Gods own Heart that is thus qualified.
Secondly, Truth is neceſſary if you do reſpect the ſubordination of their Office; Chriſt hath not ſent them to be Maſters and Lords over mens Faith, to propound their own Dictates, and to anathematize ſuch as do not immediatly obey, No, They have a Miniſteriall not a Magisteriall Office, for though in reſpect of the people they are Guides and Overſeers, and Shepheards, yet in reſpect of God they are Miniſters and Servants; They are under Chriſt the Head, and ſo muſt not deliver any thing but what they have received; They may not make Articles of Faith, they cannot appoint the worſhip of God, They cannot inſtitute new Sacraments: It's ſpiritual Treaſon in them to do: this They are like the skillfull Gemmary that doth not make the Jewell, only by his skill doth diſcover which is true, or like Solomon that did not make the true Childe, but by his Wiſedom did manifeſt it, So the Miniſters of the Goſpel though never ſo Learned, never ſo holy, yet they of their own authority cannot make any new Truth or new Ordinance, Therefore they are compared to Embaſſadors that are bound up by their Commiſſion; To Stewards not Maſters in the Houſe; The Scripture is called Gods Testament or Will, Now the Lawyer may not adde or take away from it, though he hath never ſo much skill and knowledge, it would be ſinful forgery in him to do ſo; Thus Beloved, we Miniſters are bound up to Gods Word as that laſt Will: he hath appointed how he will have his Church governed, how it muſt beleeve, how it muſt worſhip, and it muſt be high Sacriledge to adde or detract from it; Therefore if Scripture-Truths be thought too much above Reaſon; if they be thought too ſtrict or preciſe, to contrary to fleſh and bloud, blame not us; It's not our truth, we did not make the Bible, It's not our Scripture.
Thirdly, Truth is neceſſary to them, if you do regard the Effects of the Miniſtry, or the Ends why God hath appointed it, and certainly the Sunne may as well be without Light and Heat, as the Miniſters of the Goſpel be without Truth.
One main effect is Converſion and Regeneration; to make men reform their lives upon juſt and holy Grounds. This can never be without Truth, James cap. 1. He hath begotten us by the Word of Truth; Lyes and falſe Doctrines can no more convert then dirt can make clean, then darkneſſe can give Light: An erroneous or heretical Miniſter may pervert many but not convert, he may ſubvert the Souls of thouſands, he may glory in this, and rejoyce in the multitude of Diſciples, but all this while they are ſent of the devil, and they do his work, deſtroy ſouls; The Miniſters of God are like publique Springs if they be performed, inſtead of refreſhing, they kill, inſtead of giving the bread of life, they give ſtones and ſerpents.
2. Another Effect of the Miniſtry is to promote the work of grace begun; It's to water where any Seed is ſown, as Epheſ. 4.11. to bring us to a full ſtature in Chriſt; Now a Miniſter without Truth can no more help forward the growth of the Godly then a dead Mother can nurſe her Childe; We encreaſe in grace, by the ſame way we are converted, and therefore they who think by an erroneous Miniſtry to advance their Heavenly Life, do as if an hungry man ſhould get up to an high Hill, and think by ſwallowing down the winde to live and grow ſtronger.
A Third Effect of the Miniſtry is to direct and guide the tempted and troubled Soul, to speak a word in ſeaſon to him; But now a Miniſter without Truth is like a Phyſician without skill, Come to the diſeaſed wounded Soul that lieth under this doubt and that Caſe of Conſcience, he knoweth not how to direct him, yea, ſuch do more trouble the godly, as God complaineth of the Falſe Prophets, Eze. 13.22. they made ſad the heart of the Righteous, whom God would not have made ſad.
4. A great Effect of the Miniſtry is to prevent Errors and falſe Doctrines, at appeareth, Eph. 4. That we henceforth be not led aſide with every winde of doctrine; Men deſtitute of ſolid grace are as apt to be carried away with errours, as chaff with the winde; A ſound Miniſtry is appointed to reprove theſe, as the Sun is to diſpell darkneſſe, but if the Miniſter be ſeduced himſelf by errour, how can he leade others into the Truth? Will not our Saviours Proverb be made good, the blinde leade the blinde, and both fall into the ditch; Thus you ſee the neceſſity of Truth.
Why Miniſters muſt be holy.In the next place there muſt be Thummim as well as the Ʋrim; There muſt be burning as well as a ſhining light, as John Baptiſt was: and holineſſe of life is required of the Miniſter.
1. For his own ſake, his condemnation will be the greater, for he ſinneth againſt greater light and knowledge, he knoweth his maſters will, he ſinneth againſt a peculiar engagement, becauſe he is bound to draw nigh to God; Oh the confuſion that will be when he hath preached to others, he himſelf to become a Caſtaway; Attend to thy ſelf and to thy doctrine, to life, 1 Tim. 4.16. as well as ſtudies, Suth are like the water in baptiſm that after it hath been in a Sacramentall way is thrown into the kennel; No condemnation like theirs, they are from the pinacle of the Temple thrown headlong into hell.
2. In reſpect of others, For a godly life is a Teſtimony to confirm the Truth we preach, when we preach there is a God, there is a day of judgement, and live accordingly, this confirmeth to all, that we our ſelves beleeve it to be a Truth, an holy life is like a miracle to confirm our doctrine; As the Apoſtles were endowed with Miracles to eſtabliſh the Truth they preached, they could caſt out devils, tread upon Serpents, and take no hurt, if they did eat any deadly thing; Thus it is a wonderfull thing to confirm the Truths we preach, when though we live in the temptations of ſinne, and tread upon Serpents, yet acquire no ſpiritual hurt to our ſouls.
3 Our holy life will awe and keep in fear the Conſciences of wicked men; Not only powerful and ſound preaching but conſciencious and unblamable living will awe mens Conſciences; Why did Herod fear and reverence John Baptiſt, though he was a King? but becauſe he was a juſt and a holy man, Mark 6.20. Thy godly mouth will ſtop their mouths and convince their conſciences.
Laſtly, The neceſſity of it doth appear by the devils polecy, who hath alwaies ſtirred up Inſtruments to traduce their lives, to lay ſuch things to their charges as they were never guilty of, and why? becauſe if that be once received, that they are wicked hypocrites, they can never do any good; Chriſts life was traduced, that he was a friend to ſinners, that he kept company with Publicans; You ſee they quarrelled even at his life; Athanaſius was traduced for an Adulterer by the Arians, and this hath alwaies been the cuſtome of the devil and his Inſtruments to throw ſo much dirt and mire upon the godly Miniſters of Chriſt, that men have not known what they are; I could tell you what the Papiſts ſay about Luther and Calvin, that you might think they were the vileſt Monſters that lived, and this is becauſe a godly life is a great conviction in the world, and aweth even the Enemies Conſcience.
Ʋſe of Inſtruction, What is the duty of people even to follow Chriſt?Ʋſe. In this Praier, he being to ſend out his Apoſtles, this he deſireth as a chief thing, Truth and Godlineſſe, a ſound minde, and a godly heart, and the Apoſtles thought this to be of ſo great a conſequence that when Miniſters were ordained and ſet apart to the work, They ſpent that day in faſting and praiers; You cannot diſcover wicked and ungodly men better then in this, they care not what a Miniſtry they live under, or whether they have any at all; The more erroneous, the more prophane and looſe he is, they like him the better; Is this to pray as Chriſt did for thy Sanctification? God makes it a great judgement when he removeth faithful and wiſe Paſtors, and ſendeth fooliſh and wicked men in their rooms.
2. Where God doth ſettle a Miniſtry rightly qualified, prize it for the works ſake, See whether the Miniſtry hath been a converting, inſtructing, and edifying Miniſtry to thee, Fear leſt thou lie under a ſpiritual Curſe or ſome Soul-judgements, that ſo no preaching can do thee any good.
A ſecond doctrine obſervable from the Coherence of the Apoſtles miſſion, with Chriſts Petition is,
That Chriſt hath a peculiar love and ſpecial care of thoſe who are in Church-Office according to his rule and way;TDoct. 2. That Chriſt hath a peculiar love of thoſe who are in Church-Office according to his rule and way. In what particular Chriſts care is ſhewed to his Miniſters. Such as are ſent by him are under his proper care and protection, he doth not only pray for the Apoſtles as beleevers, but as in that office,
To open this, Conſider in what particulars his care is ſhewn to his Miniſters.
And 1. It is to guide and leade them into the Truth, inſtructing them with wiſedom and ability to that work, Chriſt cals none to his work, but he giveth them anſwerable abilities; Though the Apoſtles were at firſt ignorant and illitera…, yet how gloriouſly did he furniſh them with gifts and power to do Miracles before he ſent them to preach unto the world; Now though the Officers of Chriſt in their Succeſſion have not the promiſe of ſuch infallibility, yet becauſe of their office and call, they diſcharging their duty, and uſing the means God hath appointed, God will more peculiarly go along with them, and bleſſe them then private Chriſtians, elſe why ſhould the Scripture give them the name of Guides and Light? Why ſhould he command the people to ſubmit themſelves to them, and that he who despiſeth them deſpiſeth God, for though theſe places prove not infallibility, yet they do, that God hath appointed this orderly way, and that he who would expect Gods bleſſing muſt make uſe of their guidance and Miniſtry.
2. Chriſts peculiar Love is ſeen in cloathing them with inward ſtrength, and corroborating of them ſo by zeal and heavenly fortitude, that they will diſcharge their Duty though men rage and oppoſe; The Apoſtle ſpeaks excellently to this purpoſe, 2 Tim. 1.7. God hath not given us the ſpirit of fear, but of powar, love, and a ſound minde, Therefore he muſt not be aſhamed of the Teſtimony of our Lord; Paul he deſires the Philippians, to pray for him, that he may preach the Word boldly; God promiſeth Jeremiah to make his forehead like braſſe, and not to be afraid of wicked men; And thus Micah cried out, I am full of the power of God to tell Jacob his tranſgreſſions. Mic. 3.8.
3. God is wonderful in protecting and defending them in the midſt of their wicked Enemies; Hence Chriſt is ſaid to hold theſe Stars in his right hand, Rev. 1.17. and the praier of Chriſt muſt needs be heard which he inſtanceth in in this Chater, They are not of the world, and the world hateth them, therefore he praieth God would keep them, and it's wonderful to ſee how God hath preſerved his faithfull Miniſters in all ages, though ſome have died for the Truth.
Laſtly, He is with them in bleſſing their labours, and giving encreaſe to their planting and watering, as Chriſt promiſed, I will be with you to the end of the world; By their labours he puls down the Kingdom of Satan; As ſoon as the Apoſtles preached Satan began to fall like Lightning from Heaven.
Now the Grounds of this peculiar love are,
1. Becauſe they have the ſame generall call and Office, as Chriſt himſelf hath; As thou haſt ſent me, I have ſent them; Though there be many particular differences, yet in the general they agree; Chriſt was ſent to publiſh the Word of God to bear witneſſe to the Truth; and becauſe of this the world oppoſed him, reviled him, and he endured great contradiction of ſinners; It was therefore Chriſts own caſe, and then he will pity ſuch as are tempted like him.
2. It's his work and emploiment they are about, They go out in his Authority, They act in his Name, They preach him as the Meſſias, They endeavour to bring all into Obedience to him, and therefore he wil have a tender ſpecial care over them.
3. Their work is a difficult and dangerous work; The Office is if faithfully diſcharged contrary to the luſts and waies of all men; No wicked man can love a true and godly Miniſtry, no more then ſoar eyes can endure the Sun.
Ʋſe of Encouragement to the godly Miniſter, to go on with his work, maugre all the oppoſition and contempt of wicked men; It's not their work but Chriſts, They are not their own but Chriſts, Let them not fear while he is at their right hand.
Ʋſe 2. How grievous a ſin it is to oppoſe and ſet againſt the Miniſtry of God, and that when faithfully diſcharging their duty, becauſe they preach the Truth, and preſſe to a godly life, this enrageth thee: To ſuch they are commanded to ſhake off the duſt of their feet.