The Scripture Directory for Church Officers and People, Exposition 1 · Verse 7
Verſe 7. So then, neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increaſe.
THeſe words are a Concluſion or Inference from the former Propoſition: They that plant only and water, and do not give the increaſe, they muſt not be reſted on, nor ſet up as Maſters; neither are factions to be made for them: But thus Apollo and Paul and all the eminent ones do, and no more. Ergo.
Therefore in this Concluſive Aſſertion, let us conſider,
1. The Subject.
2. The Predicate.
3. The oppoſite Propoſition.
The Subject is two-fold, He that planteth, and, He that watereth. You have heard, theſe are ſuch that lay down the foundations of Religion, and afterwards build thereon. This hath been already handled.
2. The Predicate, Is not any thing. Any thing here, as in other places, ſignifieth no great thing; it's not able to do thoſe things which the credulous Diſciples are many times apt to believe: And therefore when he ſaith, They are nothing, it is to be underſtood comparatively or relatively. It is not any thing without God. The Miniſters of God are like Trumpets, they make no ſound, if breath be not breathed into them. They are like Ezekiels wheels, they move not, unleſſe the Spirit move them. They are like Eliſha's ſervant, whoſe preſence doth no good, except Eliſha his ſpirit be there alſo. Now although this verſe and the former ſeem to contain no new matter, yet as we muſt not think the holy Ghoſt hath vain repetitions or battalogies; ſo neither will the enlarging of the ſame matter prove a needleſſe repetition to you, but I ſhall ſtill amplifie it in new conſiderations. Obſerve,
Obſerva.That the beſt and moſt able Miniſtry is nothing without Gods power giving the increaſe.
As in natural things, the Sunne could not ſhine, the fire burn, without God the Authour of nature; ſo neither in ſupernatural things can the Miniſtry enlighten or convert, without God the Authour of grace. You might wonder, why the Apoſtle ſhould in ſeveral verſes preſſe this point; But the neceſſity of it may juſtly challenge a frequent inculcation. For even in our dayes, we ſhall ſee, that one main reaſon, why Gods word doth not pluck up all ſinne by the root, and plant all godlineſſe among a people, it's becauſe men pray not to God, ſeek not to God; they provoke him by unfruitfulneſſe, by a prophane contempt of the means of grace, and ſo he turneth even a garden into a wilderneſſe to them, and bread into ſtones.
To open this,
What the Apoſtle doth not mean, in ſaying, The Miniſtry is nothing?Firſt, Let us conſider, What the Apoſtle doth not mean, in ſaying, The Miniſtry is nothing. And
Firſt, He doth not mean, as if the Officers of the Church were not in their way and place neceſſary; for then the Apoſtle in the ſame tongue ſhould contradict himſelf, for he ſaith, We are workers together with God, 2 Cor. 6.1. Yea, this very Epiſtle might thereby be accounted nothing, becauſe, though Paul wrote the Epiſtle, yet it is God that giveth the ſucceſſe unto it. They are therefore in themſelves the neceſſary inſtitutions and means of grace. And we are commanded to hear them, to wait on their Miniſtry, to ſubmit unto them in the Lord. Do not therefore conclude from this, the uſeleſneſſe and unneceſſarineſſe of preaching Gods word. For in other places, when the Scripture ſpeaks abſolutely, glorious and abſolute effects are attributed unto it; and it's called no leſſe than the Kingdom of Heaven. And if there be ſo much ado for an outward Kingdome, and earthly greatneſſe, how much rather ſhould this be prized and received?
Secondly, When the Apoſtle cals the Miniſtry nothing, the meaning is not, as if it were not ſufficient in its kind, to work thoſe things for which it is appointed, otherwiſe this would reflect upon the wiſdom of God. For as in natural things, Fruſtra eſt illa potentia, quae nunquam reducitur actum. So in ſupernaturals alſo. As we ſay, the Sunne is ſufficiently able to enlighten the whole world, yet blind men would never get any good, if the Lord did not open their eyes. So it is here, The Miniſtry faithfully diſcharged, is ſufficient to enlighten the minds, and convert the hearts of all that hear. No wickedneſſe ſo powerfull, no ſinne ſo rooted, but that is able to conquer and remove it; yet unleſſe God mould the heart, and give underſtanding, they periſh in their ſinnes, and take no warning.
Thirdly, When the Apoſtle ſaith, They are nothing, This is to be underſtood of the Miniſters of the Goſpel, and preaching of it, as well as the Miniſters of the Law, and preaching that. For you might ſay, It is no wonder to hear Paul ſay, That the Law is a dead letter, that the miniſtration of the Law is killing, 2 Cor. 3.6. but to have this true alſo, that the Preachers of the Goſpel are of themſelves but dead and killing, this ſeemeth very hard. Now to anſwer this, know, That both the preaching of the Law and the Goſpel, if Chriſt do not enliven the Word, are dead letters, or dead preaching. Hence thoſe complaints, of Stretching out the hands in vain, and labouring in vain, are taken up in the New Teſtament,Rom. 10.16.21. as well as the Old. And experience teacheth us, That where Chriſt is preached, and the Goſpel in a glorious manner promulged, yet it's but dead preaching to many. This voice doth not make them come out of the grave of ſinne; onelyonly herein the Law and the Goſpel differ, that the matter of the Law preſſed will condemn us, none being ever able to fulfill it. Yea, the godly cannot do all things the Law requireth, and ſo the Law is a killing letter to him. But the Goſpel, that comes with a moderation, where the graces of Gods Spirit are, though weak and imperfect, there, through Chriſt their weakneſſe is forgiven. So that the preaching of the Goſpel to a ſoul oppreſſed for ſinne, is like the year of Jubilee to poor ſervants and indebted priſoners. Howſoever then the preaching of the Goſpel is ſaid to be the miniſtration of life, and of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 3. yet that is not to be underſtood ſimply of it ſelf; but as accompanied with the power of God. Hence the Goſpel is ſaid to be the power of God to ſalvation, Rom. 1.16. the power of God, not of man. It's not mans wiſdome, that our faith is grounded on. Thus much for what the Apoſtle meaneth not.
What he poſitively meaneth, or inferreth, are, Firſt, That it's not in the power or choiſe of the Miniſter, to make it effectual. He cannot bid or command the Word to work as he pleaſeth, for then the guilt of all mens ſouls, and the damnation of all would lie upon us▪ As our Divines ſay to the Papiſts, when they brag, The Pope hath the Keyes of power above all things, not only in earth, but in purgatory; Why then doth he ſuffer thoſe ſouls to lie tormented there, as he doth? So it would be here, Why are any damned? Why do any lie in their ſinnes, if the Miniſtry by its own power could convert them? No, the Miniſters of God they can only pray, they can mourn and grieve in ſecret to ſee the miſcarriage of the Word, and the wilfull reſolution in men to deſtroy their own ſouls; they can mourn over the dead, but they cannot recover them to life.
Secondly, The Apoſtle by this intends, that both the Miniſters and the people ſhould keep themſelves in their due bounds. The Miniſters, though never ſo eminent, though never ſo much applauded by a numerous company of Diſciples, yet they cannot make one black hair white; They cannot ſay of any people, obeying the Goſpel, That we by our own power have made ſuch believe. It's true, they are ſaid to be Fathers, and to beget men to the truth; but that is only inſtrumentally and metaphorically, by external application of the Word, not internal power; for ſo we have onelyonly one Father in Heaven. Pride and ambition do eaſily breed in the moſt eminent parts, as worms in the ſweeteſt fruit; but when they ſhall conſider, that they are nothing, and God is all, this is a good way to humble them; and then the people hereby are alſo taught much moderation. Some mens perſons they are apt to admire, Not ſuch a man in the world! Oh but what a great God is there in Heaven, without whom this man is nothing! This is ſpiritual Idolatry, and that worſhip, which is to be given to Chriſt only, you give to inſtruments.
Laſtly, In making the Miniſtry nothing, and God all; The Apoſtle would have both Miniſter and people in their Miniſtry, to have our hearts and eyes up to Heaven. As the Bird after every drop of water it ſips, looks up preſently to Heaven, ſo ſhouldſt thou. Lord, what the Miniſter hath ſpoken, what he hath preſſed, oh ſet it home with a bleſſing! Cauſe it to come like rain upon the new mowed graſſe! Oh the careleſſe and prophane hearing that is every where! This makes God give no increaſe; you matter it not, you believe not, you tremble not under it, you do not earneſtly pray about it. If a man have a leg or arm to be cut off, oh you deſire all you meet with, to pray about it; Why? becauſe it may coſt him his life. How much rather about every Sermon, every Duty that is preached, ſhouldſt thou pray, and again pray? Oh, it may be the damning of my immortal ſoul, to miſcarry therein!
Queſt. But how may we addreſſe our ſelves to hear, and to the Miniſtry, ſo that God may make them ſomething to us?
Anſw. To be made ſomething, is, when the Word doth greatly wound thy heart, or comfort thee, when it makes a noiſe and a pain at thy very bowels, when it makes thee ſick at the very heart; when it makes thee cry out, Oh me, a wretched ſinner, what have I done? Whither ſhall I go? Ah wretch that I am! In what a wofull condition am I plunged? Sinne is on one ſide, hell on the other, the wrath of God above me, and all the curſes of the Law round about me. Then it's ſomething, then our words fall like hot burning coals upon your conſciences; you cannot ſleep, nor rove, but tremble under it. Now this will be done theſe wayes:
Directions, how to hear the Word.Firſt, Make it a real and conſcientious matter, to pray unto God to give increaſe. As to the woman our Saviour ſaid, According to thy faith, ſo be it unto thee: So according to thy prepared prayer ſaith God, this Sermon, and this duty ſhall be bleſſed unto you. As your cruiſe is fitted, ſo will God pour in oil. If we then complain, that the Miniſtry works no more notable effects, that it makes no more tranſcendent alterations, judge whether the blame lie not on thy own ſelf. Prayer is that which moveth with God. Prayer is that in which the Sermon rolled, produceth ſutable operations. The Word of God is a two-edged ſword; but prayer maketh it penetrate, that ſets God on work, and God ſets his Word on work. A man much in prayer, is alwayes much in profiting. As the Preacher is to pray (Chriſt prayed much in the night, as he taught much in the day) ſo the hearer he alſo muſt pray much.
Secondly, Exerciſe ſtrong and divine acts of faith, this will make the Miniſtry ſomething to thee. The Word profited not, becauſe it was not mingled with faith, Heb. 4.2. or as ſome interpret, becauſe by faith they were not mixed (as it were) with the Word, they were not incorporated into it, and who hath believed our report? Rom. 10. Faith is that which comes at firſt by hearing, and then afterwards makes hearing profitable. The Atheiſm and unbelief which is on mens hearts make the Word without efficacy, ſuch are prophane mockers. As you ſee, they deſpiſed the Prophets that often ſaid, The burden of the Lord, the burden of the Lord. Men believe not the things preached to be Gods truth, that they are Gods word, that they will be made good, whether they will or no; they are living words, and ſure words, and faith only layeth the firſt foundation of this ſpiritual building, believe the threatning, and thou dareſt no more gainſay it.
Thirdly, Lay aſide all ſuperfluity of naughtineſſe, Jam. 1 21. If Ariſtotle thought not a young man a fit Auditour for his Ethicks, much leſſe is a propane beaſt, wallowing in his filth fit for the Word. The ground muſt have all the bryars and thorns pulled up, ere the ſeed ſown can bring forth any fruit. No luſt, no ſinne lived in, hath ears to hear. When the Law was to be promulged, what waſhings and preparations were there for ſeveral dayes together? Thou that comeſt to the Miniſtry with all thy goar and filth upon thee, thou art a loathſome and an abominable object. Do men uſe to ſow in bogs and quagmires? So neither doth the Word thrive in men of looſe and diſſolute lives. The Prophet in an indignation at the ſinfulneſſe of his people, crieth out, Hear, ô Heavens, and hearken, ô Earth! Iſa. 1.2. as if thoſe inſenſible creatures would more attend, than ſome men.
Ʋſe of Exhortation. Labour to find the Miniſtry ſomething, ſome great thing, ſome terrible thing, ſome comfortable thing to thee. Oh, how many are there to whom it's nothing! They make nothing of any Sermon they hear; yea, and people generally delight in ſuch a Miniſtry, that brings nothing to them. They love not, when it is like fire, like a two-edged ſword; they love not, when it troubles and diſquiets them for ſinne; the more it's nothing, and paſſeth away as nothing, the more contented they are. Oh people prepared for deſtructon! Oh people hated by God! For wherein doth God ſh…w his love more to a people, then by cauſing the Word to be like fire in the bowels? Thoſe whom God loveth, they find the Miniſtery efficacious and vigorous: they find it to come with power and autority: they cry out great is the power of the Lord. Oh how it ſearcheth, how it tryeth, how it convinceth, how it conquers, nothing an ſtand before it!