Four Useful Discourses, Sermon 1
A Sermon.
Luke, 10. 5, 6.
And into whatſoever Houſe ye Enter, firſt ſay, Peace be to this Houſe.
And if the Son of Peace be there, your Peace ſhall Reſt upon it: If not, it ſhall turn to you again.
THeſe Words are part of Chriſts Direction unto the Seventy Diſciples, that He ſent forth to Preach the Goſpel. As Exod. 15. laſt. We Read of Twelve Wells of Water, and Threeſcore and Ten Palm Trees, where Iſrael Encamped after their coming through the Red-Sea, for their Refreſhing. So Chriſt ſends forth His Twelve Apoſtles, and Seventy Diſciples, for the Refreſhing of the World, with the glad Tidings of the Goſpel.
There were Seventy. I find many Interpreters keep much ado about the Number, Auſtin, and Jerom, with others: They ſay, this Number hath Reference unto the Seventy ſeveral Languages of the World. For, they ſay, That at the Confuſion of Languages at Babel, there were Seventy; and ſo according in Proportion unto them, Chriſt ſends forth theſe Seventy. Theſe are but Surmiſes, and many other ſuch Gueſſes there are; but particular Reaſon for the Number, we have not Expreſt in Scripture, neither have we their Names. We have the Apoſtles Names, the Twelve, but not theſe Seventy. Some God is Pleaſed to make Men of Names, Honourable in the World, and leave their Names as Honourable: Others the Lord Imploys in great Works and Services, but their Names are Buried. It is enough for theſe, that Chriſt tells them in the 20th. verſe of this Chapter, That their Names are Written in the Book of Life. Let God Imploy us in His Work, and Write our Names in the Book of Life, it is no matter for to Name us in this World. There are many remarkable things in Chriſts ſending out of theſe Seventy.
As Firſt, He ſends them forth by two, and two; ſo you have it in ver. 1. of the Chap. to the end that they might be a mutual Support, Comfort, Encouragement, Aſſiſtance one to another; which is the Duty of all Miniſters, that God by His Providence ſhall Joyn together in any Service.
Secondly, Chriſt tells them, the great Work that they were ſent about: The Harveſt truly is great, ſaith He, and the Labourers are but few. I ſend you out into a Harveſt, which is a great Labour, a uſeful Labour, a joyful Work, Iſa. 9. 3. Joy in the time of Harveſt, is the greateſt Joy in the World: It is a Harveſt that you are ſent into, and it is a very great one, and therefore you have Encouragement becauſe there is ſo much Work to do. In Mat. 9. latter end, There it is ſaid that Chriſt look'd upon the Multitude with Compaſſion, and ſaid, The Harveſt is great, but the Labourers but few. When Miniſters look upon great Congregations, Multitudes of People, and eſpecially ſuch as come readily and willingly to hear the Word of God, he ſhould not look upon them without compaſſion; as looking upon them as a great Harveſt, as much Work to be done there. Yea, in John 4. 34. After the Woman of Samaria and others were Converted, as the firſt Fruits; Chriſt tells the Diſciples of the Regions, that they were white unto Harveſt: As if He ſhould ſay, There are Multitudes here in this Place, that are very ready to Entertain the Goſpel.
A great Encouragement indeed it is, when the Miniſters of God ſhall ſee People ſo readily to attend upon the Word, as they ſhall look upon the Regions as white unto Harveſt, that they are in a Preparation to receive the Word. The Harveſt is great; ſaith Chriſt, the Labourers are but few, pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harveſt, that he will ſend forth Labourers into his Harveſt.
There were Threeſcore and Ten ſent out together, and yet they were few, and they muſt Pray for more. It is the Duty of all People, eſpecially of Miniſters, to Pray to God, that He will ſend forth more Painful Labourers.
And then, Thirdly, Chriſt tells them what Difficulties they are like to meet withal in their Work: Go your wayes, ſaith He, in ver. 3. Behold I ſend you forth as Lambs among Wolves; you are to be as I am, of Lamblike Diſpoſitions, Innocent among People where you Live. But know before-hand, leſt you be Diſcouraged with thoſe Difficulties you are like to meet wtthal; you ſhall not only meet with Dogs that will Bark at you, nor with Foxes that ſeek Cunningly to Ʋndermine you, but with Wolves that will ſeek violently to Deſtroy you.
And you ſhall find it in Mat. 10. That He ſends out His Apoſtles, and He tells them the like: And indeed, it did ſo fall out. For there was not any one of the Twelve Apoſtles, but did Die a Violent death; was putto death by the Rage of Ungodly Men, except John. It were eaſie to ſhew you partly out of Eccleſiaſtical Stories, how every one except John, was put to death; ſome Hanged, ſome Ston'd, ſome Crucified, and ſome by the Sword: One way or other, the Twelve were put to death, that were the greateſt Inſtruments of doing God Service, that ever were in the World; and yet this Recompence they all had from this wicked World, ſave only one (I ſay) and yet the Scripture tells us that he was Baniſht. And Eccleſiaſtical Stories tell us, that he was caſt into Scalding Lead; but withal they tell us, that he was Delivered by a Miracle out of it: So that he wanted not his Sufferings too. That's the Third thing.
And then the Fourth thing that there is in Chriſts Direction unto theſe, it is this: He tells them, That all their Living that they are like to have, it is to be had by their Work: They are to be maintain'd for their Work, and they ſhould take no further care, For the Labourer is worthy of his Hire.
But then, Fifthly, Which ſeems to be more ſtrange, Chriſt doth bid them, That they ſhould Salute no Man by the way. Why would Chriſt have His Diſciples to be Uncivil, not ſo much to Salute Men in a civil way? That, ſurely, cannot be the meaning: But it was to ſignifie, that they were to tend the great Work that they were ſent about, with all Diligence, and to take heed that nothing did Interrupt them. They were not to ſtay upon any Complemental Salutations, Viſitations, that ſpends a great deal of Time oftentimes; they had not ſo much Time as other Men. Men, indeed, who have little to do, they ſpend their day, as your great Gentry, and others, ſpend a great part of their Time in Complemental Salutations, and Viſitations: I but, ſaith our Saviour, do not you ſpend any time that way; Imploy all your time in the Work you are ſent about. Men that have great Buſineſſes to do, they can ſpare no time for Salutations: So ſaith Chriſt to his Diſciples, Your Errand is of great Conſequence, you are to be Embaſſadors of Reconciliation between God and Man; be not hindred any wayes that uſually Men are hindred in their Work. And therefore People ſhould not expect ſuch things from Miniſters, in any Complemental Viſitation of that kind; but they are to know, that the Work of Miniſters ſhould take up their whole Heart and Time: This ſeems to have ſome Reference unto the Direction of the Prophet Eliſha unto his Servant, when he was to go to Heal the Shunamites Son, which you have in … Kings 4. 29. Gird up thy Loyns ſaith the Prophets, and take my Staff in thine hand and go thy way: If thou meet any Man, ſalute him not; and if any Man ſalute thee, anſwer him not again. That is, Go in haſte to the Child, and let nothing hinder thee: So this is the meaning of this, Salute no Man by the way. Not that they ſhould be Uncivil, or Uncourteous, but that they ſhould take heed that no ſuch thing hinders them, and take up their time as uſually doth other Mens.
And then having given them that Direction, now comes the Direction in my Text, that I have read unto you: And into whatſoever Houſe you enter, firſt ſay, Peace be to this Houſe. That is, do not force your ſelves upon any People, do not come in a forceable way into any Houſe, but with their Leave; And firſt ſay, Peace be to this Houſe. This was the ordinary Salutation of the Hebrews, Peace be to you: Peace be to this place. For they comprehended all Good by the name of Peace. Now, though the Diſciples were not to Salute any by the way, yet thoſe they came to Preach to, they were to Salute them with this Salutation, Peace be to this Houſe: Which was but to ſhew unto them the Gentleneſs, and the Lovingneſs of their Spirits; they were to make this appear to People that they were ſent to Preach unto, that they were Men of Soft, Loving, Sweet, Gentle Spirits, therefore they come with this Salutation, Peace be to this Houſe.
Secondly, This is not only a Salutation, but as Chriſoſtom, it was a Benediction. They in the Name of God, were to Bleſs the place where they came, and ſay, Peace be to this place, as a Benediction.
Thirdly, It was to give them a Taſte of the great Errand they come to the Houſe for, it was to tell them of the Meſſage, that they came from Chriſt unto them about, and that was, to bring Peace unto them.
Secondly, Here's a Diſcription of the Entertainers of this Peace, If the Son of Peace be there: The Son of Peace, that is,
If there be any, Firſt, that are ordained by God, to have the Benefit of this Peace that you bring to them, then let your Peace abide. So the Scripture uſes this phraſe, Son of a thing, to ſhew one appointed to it: As, The Son of Perdition; ſo, The Son of Peace: That is, one appointed by God, to enjoy the Benefit of this Peace.
Secondly, The Son of Peace: That is, One that will attend unto Peace, will manifeſt himſelf to be a Child of Peace indeed, by attending diligently upon the Miniſtry of Peace that you do bring unto him. And ſo you have it, as I remember, in Matth. 9. 15. where the Apoſtle ſpeaks of the Child of the Bride-Chamber: Now the words in the Greek are, The Sons of the Bride-Chamber: That is, thoſe that do attend upon the Buſineſs of the Bride-Chamber. So the Sons of Peace, that is, thoſe that are willing to attend upon this great Doctrine of Peace, that is to be delivered to them.
And then Thirdly, The Sons of Peace: That is, ſuch as will be Obedient unto the Peace of the Goſpel. So in Epheſ. 2. 2. As thoſe that will not Obey, are called the Children of Diſobedience: So thoſe that Obey, may be called the Sons, or the Children of Peace. So then, the meaning is this, If a Son of Peace be there, that is, If one appointed to Eternal peace; if one that will attend upon your Goſpel of Peace; if one that will be Obedient unto thoſe Conditions of Peace that you are to bring: if ſuch a one be there,
Then, Let your Peace abide upon him.
There's the Bleſſing of thoſe that are thus the Sons of Peace, they ſhall have all the Good that there is in that bleſſed Peace of the Goſpel that you bring; they ſhall not only have the Benefit of it for the preſent, but they ſhall have it abide upon them: They ſhall be exceeding Gainers, Your Peace ſhall abide upon them.
But, If not: If there be any that are not appointed to it, or that attend not upon it, that are not Obedient unto it, Then your Peace ſhall turn to you again. What's that?
That is, Firſt, This is by way of Encouragement unto the Diſciples. And, Secondly, By way of Threatning unto thoſe that ſhall Reject the Offers of the Goſpel.
Firſt, To the Diſciples, Two wayes.
Firſt, Though their Miniſtry ſhould not do good to Souls, yet they ſhould not be Loſers, but the Bleſſing of the Peace ſhall return into their own Boſoms. Look what Good they endeavoured to do to the People they Preached unto, if they did not receive it, then this Good ſhould return upon their own Hearts, they ſhould get by it themſelves.
Secondly, Which I think to be as much intended as the former, and that's this: Your Miniſtry, the Miniſtry of your Peace: For ſo this Peace is, It ſhall return to you. That is, It ſhall be of as much Vigour, Strength, Power, and Efficacy to be carried to others, as it was at the firſt. They may think thus, If we do go and Preach to a People and ſhall be Rejected, then our Miniſtry is like to be vile: For if one ſhall Reject us, it's like another will. It is ſo indeed, in matters of the World; if a worldly Buſineſs receive any Foil in one, it's more like to receive a Foil in another. But, ſaith Chriſt, be not you troubled about this; but if you ſhould Preach to any People where you ſhould have any to Reject your Miniſtry, it ſhould return to you again; it ſhall have as much Efficacy and Power, as if it never had been rejected when you go to carry it to another People. Whatſoever Diſreſpect is caſt upon the Miniſters, or upon their Miniſtry, yet as the Apoſtle ſaith, The Word of God is not bound, Though we are bound, though the Miniſtry prevails not in one People, yet it retains the power of it, as much as if it had never been Rejected.
And as for thoſe that do Reject it, let them know:
Firſt, That they ſhall have no Bleſſing of that Peace.
Secondly, Let them know that it ſhall not continue long among them: No, not in the Miniſtry of it, but that God will deal very quick with them; for if they will not receive it, it ſhall return to you again. And thus you have both the Scope, and the Dependance, and the meaning of theſe words read unto you. Now then, there are many Obſervations of Excellent Note unto us.
As from Ver. 5. Into whatſoever Houſe ye enter, firſt ſay, Peace be to this Houſe.
Obſerv. 1. Firſt, That the Miniſters of the Goſpel ought to be Men of Gentle, and Fair, Loving Diſpoſitions, Firſt ſay, Peace be to this Houſe.
Obſerv. 2. That Miniſters of the Goſpel, ought to Bleſs the People among whom they come, ſay, Peace be to them.
Obſerv. 3. The great Errand and Buſineſs a Miniſter comes about to a People, it is to bring Peace to them.
Obſerv. 4. That a Miniſter hath Warrant and Commiſſion to offer peace to any place whereſoever he comes, let them be what they will be; he hath a Commiſſion from Chriſt, to offer peace to them.
Obſerv. 5. That the firſt thing a Miniſter is to do in his Preaching, it is to offer Peace; firſt ſay Peace before any thing elſe. And theſe are the Five Notes of Obſervation from Ver. 5.
Now then from Ver. 6. And if the Son of Peace be there. From hence there's this:
Obſerv. 1. Firſt, Note, That when God ſends the Miniſters of the Goſpel unto a place, it is very probable that there are ſome appointed for the good of it; that there will be ſome Sons of Peace there.
Obſerv. 2. That thoſe that do entertain the Goſpel, they are (The) Sons of Peace.
Obſer. 3. Whoſoever are Sons of Peace, ſhall certainly have all the Bleſſing of the Peace of the Goſpel to reſt upon them.
Obſer. 4. Yet ſometimes where God ſends the Miniſtry of the Word, it is rejected: If not, and Gods Miniſters muſt expect it.
Obſer. 5. Whereſoever it is Rejected, thoſe certainly are Deprived of the Benefit of the Goſpel: If not, it ſhall return to you again.
Obſerv. 6. That thoſe that are Faithful Miniſters, ſhall not loſe their Labour, though they ſhould not Convert Souls to God, It ſhall return.
Obſerv. 7. And then laſtly, Thoſe that ſhall reject the Goſpel, are not like to enjoy it long; God will deal with them very quick: If not, your Peace ſhall return to you again, and there's an end of them; ſaith God. Theſe are the ſeveral Notes of Obſervation, out of this Direction of Chriſt to the Diſciples for their Preaching.
And into whatſoever Houſe ye enter, firſt ſay, Peace be to that Houſe.
Firſt, You ſee how Miniſters of the Goſpel ſhould come to a place, with gentleneſs, and chearfulneſs, and manifeſt a ſweetneſs of Spirit, in coming to any place; and ſo to gaine upon people that way. In Lev. 24 2. The Lamps in the Temple were to be of pure Oyle Olive, beaten, to note that the Lights that God ſets up in his Church ſhould be of peaceable and gentle Spirits, of ſweet Spirits; You know that the Olive it is the emblem of peace and ſweetneſs. So in Rev. 12. 4. The Two Witneſſes there, which eſpecially are the Miniſters of the Goſpel; they are ſaid to be the Two Olive Branches. Thoſe who Chriſt ſends, eſpecially to witneſs to himſelf and unto his Truth, they are to be Olive Branches, Men of peaceable, and gentle, and loving diſpoſitions. So we find that the Apoſtle St. Paul ſaith concerning himſelf, 1 Theſ. 2. 7. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurſe cheriſheth her children. So in 2 Tim. 2. 24. The ſervant of the Lord muſt not ſtrive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient; in meekneſs inſtructing thoſe that oppoſe themſelves, if God peradventure will give a general repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.
And this muſt be firſt, Becauſe that God in whoſe Name they come, is the God of Peace.
Secondly, Chriſt whoſe Embaſſadors they are, is the Prince of Peace. And,
Thirdly, The Spirit of God, by whoſe aſſiſtance they Preach, is ſet out by the Dove, that they ſay hath no Gall; it was wont to be ſaid of Beza, that he was a man without any Gall.
And the Goſpel that is their Meſſage, that's a Goſpel of Peace, and the end that they are to aime at in their Miniſtry it is to bring peace to mens Souls. And beſides, ſometimes there is a neceſſity for Miniſters to preach things that are hard unto people; things that they think to be very hard and grievous unto them; though their main ſcope be the Goſpel of Peace; yet there are many things that belong to their Commiſſion that ſeem to be very hard to people, As the opening of their loſt and miſerable condition by Nature, and the like, and to threaten ſometimes in the Name of God: Now therefore, That they might convince people that they aim onelyonly at good unto them in this; therefore they muſt be of as loving, and gentle, and quiet, and patient Spirits as poſſible may be, eſpecially in their own cauſe, and that's the tryal. You ſometimes prehaps hear a Miniſter preach hard things, and you think they come with much harſhneſs to you, and your hearts are ready to riſe againſt them: But examine whether in all their dealings elſe, and in things concerning themſelves, whether they be not of loving and gentle Spirits, and full of Bowels of Compaſſion. And they muſt be of ſuch diſpoſitions, that they might win upon people and draw their hearts, as in Hoſ. 11. 4. I drew them with Cords of a Man, and with the Bands of love. And indeed this is one ſpecial reaſon why God ſends Men to be the Miniſters of the Goſpel rather then Angels, that there might not be any terror ſtrook into the hearts of people. If Angels ſhould appear they would be exceeding dreadful and terrible; but God doth rather chooſe Man to be a Miniſter, that ſo he might ſute himſelf to the diſpoſitions of Men, and draw with the Cords of Man: And what's that? That's with the Bands of love. Mans Nature will rather be drawn then driven.
And my Brethren, As it ought to be in Miniſters to be of ſuch diſpoſitions, ſo you that are the people ſhould ſhew your ſelves to be of the like diſpoſitions towards them again; of Sweet, and Loving, and Gentle, and Fair Diſpoſitions towards them; not of rugged and ridged tempers. We read of the building of the Temple, that there was not one whit of Iron us'd in it; which is obſervable. We do not read (I ſay) of Iron that was brought to the Building; they made their Pinns of Wood and other things, and Plates of Gold and Silver, but brought no Iron. God when he is about to build a Church, and call a People home to himſelf; he will call ſuch as are of gentle Spirits, or make them ſuch. God doth either refuſe ſuch ridged Spirits, or elſe he doth change their natures: that's the Firſt Note. Say, Peace be to this Houſe.
The Second is this,Doct. 2. That Miniſters ought to bleſs their People; for ſo theſe words are to be conſidered not onelyonly as to manifeſt their diſpoſitions, to give them a taſte of their Spirits; but as a Benediction to them. Peace be to this place. We in the Name of the Lord Bleſs you with Peace. And this is more than to pray for them; Miniſters are to pray for People; God forb…d, ſaith Samuel, That I ſhould ſin againſt the Lord in ceaſing to pray for you: But Miniſters ſhould do more, They are in the Name of the Lord to Bleſs them. Prayer it is a Speaking unto God; but Bleſſing, it is to Speak from God to Man, and that with ſome kind of Authority. Therefore we find in Scripture, that The Leſſer is Bleſſed of the Greater. And That the Miniſters were appointed to Bleſs the People, in the Old Law, Numb. 6. 23. Speak unto Aaron, and to his Sons, ſaying, On this wiſe ye ſhall bleſs the Children of Iſrael, ſaying unto them, The Lord bleſs thee, and keep thee; the Lord make His Face to ſhine upon thee, and be Gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up His Countenance upon thee, and give thee Peace. Here was Bleſſing in the Old Law. And they retain'd ſome part of it, in coming to any place, when they ſaid, Peace be to this Place. We read of Men of great Eſteem among the People of the Jews, that were wont to Bleſs thoſe that they came unto: As you find that of Boaz, in Ruth 2. 4. He Prays for them, and they Bleſs him. Here was a ſweet Salutation of a Man, that did ſet other Men on work: Boaz came into the Field, and ſaid unto the Keepers, The Lord be with you: And they anſwered him, The Lord bleſs thee. Many Men when they go among their Work-men, they go with Raging and Curſing, if things be not done according to their Mind. Now what an unſeemly thing is this, among thoſe who profeſs themſelves Chriſtians? But on the other ſide, this is Gracious-like, to come among their Servants and Work-men, and thus to Bleſs them, The Lord be with you: And they to pray for them, And the Lord bleſs thee. And ſo we read of pure Parents to Bleſs their Children. And it hath been the Uſe of the Church, to Bleſs the People. Therefore in all Congregations where you meet with the Exerciſes of Religion, you uſe to have a Bleſſing before you go; and you are not to flight it: And except God call you out by extraordinary Occaſion, you are to abide and ſtay the Bleſſing. We read of ſome that were appointed by God to ſtand upon Mount Geriſim, in Deut. 27. and their work was only to bleſs, to Bleſs the People; and there were ſome who ſtood upon Mount Ebal, and they were to Curſe. But now, Mark, If we ſearch who they are that are appointed to Bleſs, you ſhall find them to be more Honourable, than thoſe that were appointed to Curſe: For thoſe that were appointed to Curſe, there was Reuben, he had loſt his Birth-right, and Gad, and Aſhur, and Dan, and Napthali, they were Children of the Hand-Maid; they were not begotten in the way of Marriage, but only by the Hand-Maid, or by a Concubine: Moſt of theſe that were to ſtand upon Mount Ebal for Curſing, they were of the meaner ſort of the Tribes. This notes thus much, That Bleſſing is the chief work that Miniſters ſhould Rejoyce and Delight in. Therefore though they do ſometimes pronounce the Threats of God againſt you, to awaken Secure, Drowſie Sinners, which is their work likewiſe; yet certainly, there is nothing more ſutable unto the Heart of a Godly Miniſter, than to be alwayes Bleſſing of his People, and to be bringing of the Meſſage of Bleſſing unto them: And if this be ſo, then certainly, the Miniſters of the Goſpel, they are a great Bleſſing in the World. And you that are People, you ſhould Encourage your Miniſters to Bleſs you, and to Bleſs God for you; your Carriage towards them ſhould be ſuch, as they may with Chearfulneſs in the Name of God, Bleſs you; and they may in ſecret, when they are between God and themſelves, Bleſs God for you. O when as the Miniſter ſhall firſt look upon the People, and Bleſs them in the Name of God, and Bleſs God for them; and the People ſhall look again upon the Miniſter, and pray to God for a Bleſſing upon him, and Bleſs God that ever they knew him: I ſay, happy is the Miniſter that thus Bleſſes, and Bleſſes God for a People; and happy likewiſe the People, that do thus pray for a Bleſſing upon, and Bleſs God for a Miniſter. But more Bleſſed is that God, that ſhall joyn ſuch Miniſters and People together: And that's the Second Note. That Miniſters are to bleſs People when they come among them.
But,Doct. 3. Thirdly, Miniſters are to bring the Meſſage of Peace to a People. The great Errand that a Miniſter of the Goſpel comes about, it is to bring Peace; it is to be a Meſſenger of Peace unto you: And indeed, the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, doth many times bring outward Peace unto a People. When was there ever a Kingdom upon the Face of the Earth, that hath had longer continuance of outward Peace, than England hath had? And the Reaſon why our outward Peace is taken from the Kingdom for the preſent, it is becauſe the Miniſtry of the Goſpel hath been Rejected; and the Sword comes to Avenge the Covenant of the Lord, it comes to Avenge the Rejection of the Goſpel of Peace; and if we reject the Goſpel of peace, God ſaith, we ſhall not have outward peace for our State: If we will not imbrace peace for our Souls, we ſhall not have outward peace for our Bodies. But though the Miniſtry of the Word bring you outward peace many times, yet the main thing it is to bring is Spiritual peace, Peace be to you. As if the Apoſtles ſhould ſay, We are come unto you from the Great God of gods, to be the Embaſſadors of peace for your Souls, to Preach unto you the Doctrine of Peace between God and you: This is the great Errand that we come about; Peace be to you. And ſaith the Apoſtle, To us is committed the Word of Reconciliation: That's the great thing that is committed to Miniſters to Preach to a People, the Word of Peace. The Work that they are ſent about, it is to Treat between God and man, upon Terms of peace: It is, I ſay, to Treat with your Souls for peace, that you might come to have peace with God, that a Bleſſed peace might be made between God and you: This is the great Errand that they come about, and whatſoever they Preach to you elſe, if it be to ſhew you what your miſerable Condition is; yet it is in order to this ſtill, To bring peace to your Souls. And indeed, all Faithful Miniſters are careful of this, to ſhew at the very firſt, what their Scope is; it is to bring them to Life and Salvation: (But that in the next point:) But this certainly ought to be their Scope, whatſoever is Preached, it muſt Aim at the great Treaty between God and their Souls for Reconciliation. Our Scope, when we come to Preach unto you, it is not ſo much to Civiliſe you to enveigh againſt Notorious crying Sins, Drunkards, and Whore-Maſters, and Thieves, and Blaſphemers; though according as we meet with theſe things in the Road, we are to ſpeak againſt them. But ſuppoſe we ſhould cry out againſt theſe ſins, this were good, and we had cauſe to bleſs God for it: I, but we had not done our Work, the great Work that we are to do, it is to Treat with your Souls about peace with God; to ſhew you how the Enmity that is between your Souls and God naturally, is to be taken away; that ſo there may be a bleſſed Reconciliation between God and you. This is the great Errand of the Miniſters of the Goſpel, unto a People; and if this be the Errand of it, Then, what an Honourable Work is this to ſet Man about? And the truth is, it is in ſome regard a more Honourable Work, than ever Angels were ſent about: God doth not ſend the Angels about this Work, to Treat with Mankind about Terms of Peace with God. They are made Miniſtring Spirits, for the good of Gods Elect, and are made by God to be Executioners againſt Wicked men: But we never Read that God hath committed the Word of Reconciliation to Angels, God hath not appointed them to be the Preachers of Peace to People; therefore it is the moſt Honourable Work that ever Creature was ſet about, to come to a place, and ſay, Peace be to this place, in the Name of God.
And being it is ſuch a Work as this, O how Deteſtable and Vile, and Curſed, is Lazineſs or Idleneſs, in any one that ſhould profeſs himſelf a Miniſter of the Goſpel! What? Come about ſuch a Work as this, to be an Embaſſador of Reconciliation from the Great God of Heaven and Earth? O, he ſhould have his Heart and Thoughts taken up about this! Night and Day he ſhould be Studying how he ſhould Manage this great Work, that God ſends him about to poor People.
And, O how acceptable ſhould the Miniſtry of the Goſpel be unto you: You need not fear any hurt it will do: It is but to Treat with your Souls about peace with God, there's all that is intended in this Miniſtry. Do not fear it, though things ſometimes are ſpoken that you apprehend to be Terrible to you; yet all tend to this end, To bring peace unto you. Therefore as the Prophet, in Iſa. 52. 7. ſaith, How beautiful upon the Mountains are the Feet of him that bringeth good Tidings, that publiſheth peace. O his very Feet ſhould be beautiful in your Eyes, This Scripture the Apoſtle doth quote, in Rom. 10. 15. How ſhall they Preach except they be ſent? As it is written: How beautiful are the Feet of them that Preach the Goſpel of Peace: Here it is, That bring good Tidings. So indeed, the great Work of the Goſpel, it is nothing elſe but a good Meſſage, good Tidings; and ſo our Engliſh word is to the ſame effect, good News, good Tidings. And certainly, did People but underſtand what the Scope of Chriſt were, to carry things about ſo in the wayes of His Providence, to bring Miniſters of the Goſpel to Preach peace to their Souls: It could not be, but they ſhould open their very hearts unto them. We read of Noah, when he ſent forth his Dove, after the Ark had been a long time upon the Waters, the Dove brings an Olive Branch to the Ark; and Noah puts forth his hand and takes in the Dove. The Miniſters of the Goſpel are as this Dove, and they come with an Olive Leaf in their Mouths; and they do not get it from the Wilderneſs, but they take it from Paradice; they bring it from the Scriptures, from thoſe Bleſſed things of the Goſpel, that are revealed in the Word, and bring it to your Souls. Now therefore you ſhould open your hearts, and take in the bleſſed Meſſage of Peace and Reconciliation.
And then further, If ſo be that this be the great Work of the Miniſters of the Goſpel, what a vile World is this that can hardly bear with the Miniſters, nor Miniſtry of the Goſpel, but accounts them to be great Diſturbers of the places where they Live? So they did to the Prophets and Apoſtles: Eliſha, Art not thou the troubler of Iſrael? And ſo of Paul, He was ſaid to be a Peſtilent fellow. The Apoſtles were ſaid to turn the World up ſidedown. And ſo Luther, he was ſaid to be the very Trumpet of Rebellion; ſo he was called by Ungodly men. It is not a New thing for the World to have ſuch an Eſteem of Miniſters of the Goſpel: And what do they do? It is only Preaching peace to the Souls of Men.
But, Laſtly, If this be ſo, That the Errand is to bring Peace to your Souls: Then hence you Learn what you are to come for, when you come to hear Sermons; you hear that at ſuch a time there is ſuch a Sermon, or a new Man there is come among you, and you come to hear what he can ſay; or you hear that in ſuch or ſuch a place, there is a very witty Man, and of Excellent parts; and you come to hear what he can ſay: But alaſs, you deceive your own Souls all this while: You ſhould come with a Diſpoſition of Spirit, I am now going to hear the Doctrine of Peace between God and my Soul, to attend upon the Miniſtry of Reconciliation this day. And though the very word be not ſpoken of Peace, yet the Word, that doth tend to the making peace between God and my Soul. And indeed, when you feel the Miniſtry of the Goſpel working of your Hearts into peace with God, then hath it had the true genuine proper Effect upon your Hearts, that God hath appointed it for. But if you only ſhall ſit under the Miniſtry of the Word, and it may be only Gain ſome further knowledge in the things of Religion, that you never knew before, or be inabled to Diſcourſe of ſomething in Divinity, more than you could before: What's this to the Fruit of the Miniſtry of the Goſpel? No: But can you ſay, Bleſſed be God, the Lord hath made known to my Soul, what my Eſtate was by Nature: The Lord hath opened to me, the Doctrine of Reconciliation: The Lord hath ſhewn to my Soul, how I am to make peace with God, and that in another manner of way than ever I thought of: I come now to ſee it to be another manner of Miſtery of Godlineſs, than ever I imagined before. Can you ſay ſo now? Hath the Goſpel had this end of it upon your Hearts? O then, it hath had the Effect that the Lord doth ſend it for. And thus much for the Third Note of Obſervation, That the Work of Miniſters is to bring Peace, the Meſſage of Peace to People.
Obſerv. 4. The Fourth Point is this, That the Miniſters of the Goſpel are to offer Peace unto every one: For ſo you have it, Into whatſoever Houſe ye enter, ſay Peace be to it: Offer terms of Peace to it. If you come to a place where there are the moſt Notorious ſinners of all, yet offer peace to them: Though they be the moſt Prophane, and Ungodly people that ſhould Live, yet offer peace to them: Though they be Old ſinners that have Liv'd a long time in moſt vile ſins, yet offer peace to them: Into whatſoever Houſe you come, you have a Command to offer peace in the Name of God, even to them. For, my Brethren, the Merit of Chriſt, it is of ſuch infinite value, that we may (if we knew what the meaning of that is) comfortably offer peace to the moſt Notorious vile ſinners, that do Live upon the Face of the Earth. We read of Chriſt, that He would have His Diſciples to go and Preach in the High-wayes, Mat. 22. Saith Chriſt unto His Servants, Go your wayes into the High-way, and as many as you ſhall find, bid to the Marriage. Into the High-wayes; to Note thoſe that were the moſt Unlikely, the moſt Vile and Wicked, Go unto them, and bid them to the Marriage. And in the laſt of Mat. 15. Go (ſaith Chriſt) into all the World, and Preach the Goſpel to every Creature. They might ſay, Lord, perhaps we ſhall meet with ſome that are moſt Notorious Villains, and Blaſphemers, and Prophane and Ungodly Creatures: Muſt we Preach the Goſpel to them? I, Go and Preach the Goſpel to every Creature. Into any place whatſoever you come, you ſhall offer Peace unto them.
I, but you will ſay, This may harden many in their prophaneneſs,
If God would have His Miniſters offer Peace to the moſt prophane People that are:
Then may ſome prophane one ſay, I hope we ſhall do well enough then.
To that, I anſwer, The Lord will venture this. The Lord is ſo deſirous of Magnifying His Grace, to offer it to thoſe that belong to His Election, as that He will venter the Hardning of other men: If they will be Hardned, ſaith God, let them be Hardened. And ſo, Though a Miniſter ought to be as Careful as he can to prevent all Stumbling Blocks, yet, certainly, he is to Venter the Hardning of many Hundreds, rather than not to Preach the Goſpel of God to any one Soul: He ſhould more regard the Offering of the Goſpel of Peace, in hope that there are ſome few that belong to Gods Election, than to fear the Hardning of many Hundreds. And if you ſhould be Hardned by the offer of the Goſpel of Peace, there could be no greater Brand of your Rejection, and that will make it appear, that you are no ſuch Son of Peace.
I, but then may ſome ſay, that are more Civil and Fair, What if God ſend the Goſpel to the moſt prophane, ſurely there is no queſtion but God will have mercy upon us; for He doth appoint His Miniſters to offer the Goſpel of peace to the worſt?
I, but know what Chriſt ſaith, That the Publicans and Harlots did enter into the Kingdom of God, rather than the Scribes and Phariſees. God offers to the worſt, yea, many times makes it more effectual to the worſt, than He doth to ſome that are more Fair and Civil in their Converſations, becauſe, indeed, they do not ſee the need that they have of Peace. I ſuppoſe you would think it to be one of the moſt Hard and Harſh things in the World, if you ſhould be told, that all of you naturally were Enemies to God; and yet there is nothing more plain in the Scripture than this. Now becauſe it is ſo hard to convince Civil men of this, therefore they are not ſo ſoon wrought upon as prophane ones are.
Wherefore then, my Brethren, if this be ſo, it is an Encouragement: Firſt to Miniſters, when they come to any place, never to be troubled whatſoever people they be, if he come to Preach to them, and offer the Goſpel of Peace to them; for who knows, but thoſe that are the Worſt and Vileſt ones, may come in and embrace the Goſpel of Peace; may be Veſſels of Mercy, and may hereafter ſtand and admire at the Riches of Gods Goodneſs; and may live Eternally to Bleſs His Name, for this bleſſed Peace that is made between their Souls and Himſelf.
And, Secondly, All you that do hear this Point, ſtand for the preſent and admire at Gods Goodneſs, that ever this ſhould be ſo, that ever you ſhould hear ſuch a Truth as this is; that Chriſt would have His Miniſters offer Terms of Peace to the Worſt in the World. I ſay, Admire at this Goodneſs of Chriſt, and eſpecially you that are prophane ones, ſtand and wonder at the Goodneſs of God; whereas He might have Curſt thee, and ſent thee long ſince down to thine own place; yet He doth give His Miniſters charge to offer peace to thy Soul. Think thus, The Lord in this hath done more to me, than He hath done to all thoſe Thouſand Millions of Angels that ſinn'd againſt Him. Thoſe that were once glorious Angels, and did ſin againſt God, the Lord took Advantage againſt them for their firſt ſin, and upon that caſt them down into Chains of eternal Darkneſs; and did reſolve that He would never ſo much as enter into a Plea about any Condition of Peace with them to all Eternity. This was the Way of God towards the Angels that did ſin againſt Him, that are now Devils. O you that think the Lord to be a God of Mercy altogether, do: but conſider of this, and conſider to Tremble before Him, that God ſhould take Advantage againſt Millions of Angels; for ſo they were. For we read in Scripture, that Legions of Devils were in one man, and they were once Angels, and they did but commit one ſin againſt God, and the Lord would not Plea with them about Terms of Peace. But mark now, The ſame God that was ſo ſevere againſt Angels, that were His own Creatures, as well as thou, and were more glorious Creatures, and committed but one ſin, yet would never enter into any Terms of peace with them; this God is not only willing to Treat with thy Soul, to be at peace with thee; but He ſends forth His Meſſengers unto thee to Treat in His Name, and doth give them command, that when they come to thee they ſhould offer Terms of peace to thy Soul. Admire at this thou that haſt not been guilty of one ſin but of Thouſands; thou that haſt Liv'd like a Monſter in the place where thou haſt Liv'd, and haſt liv'd in Rebellion againſt the Lord; yet He doth give Command to His Miniſters to offer peace to thee. I ſay, ſtand and admire at this when thou goeſt Home, lay it to thy Heart: O that the Great God ſhould ſo Condeſcend to me, rather than to Angels! He doth ſo this day, and in His Name, I ſay, according to the Text: Peace be to every Soul that ſhall yet come in and return, yet come and repent; whatſoever they have been: whether thou mayſt live to have any further offer of peace or no, the Lord knows. It is an Offer that thou haſt this day, Look to thy ſelf, come in, for there are many things in the Text, that might put you on: For if there be not a Son of Peace, this Peace will turn back again.
Obſerv. 5. But the laſt Point of all is this, That Miniſters of the Goſpel are, when they come to a place, to ſay, Firſt, Peace be to this place. It ſhould be the firſt Meſſage that they ſhould declare; they ſhould begin with this: And there is a great deal of Emphaſis in this word, Firſt ſay. Firſt, So we read of John Baptiſt, his firſt Sermon was this, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. And likewiſe, the Firſt Sermon of Chriſt, in Mat. 4. 16, 17. And again, the Apoſtles, you ſhall read of them, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. The Firſt Sermon of John Baptiſt, of Chriſt, and of the Apoſtles, was this, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. And the Firſt Sermon that the Seventy Diſciples was to Preach, was Peace. And in this the Lord deals with ſinners, according to the Order He gave, in Deut. 20. 10. The Lord required that the Firſt thing the Children of Iſrael ſhould do, when they came againſt a City, it was to proclaim peace. And we read of Alexander, the Firſt thing that he did, was to ſet up a Lamp, and his White Colours, and to Proclaim, That whoſoever did come in before that Lamp was out, ſhould have his Life and Peace. So when the Lord ſends Miniſters of the Goſpel to any place, he ſets up a Lamp in that place, and the Firſt thing that He would have done, it is to Proclaim to all People to come in, that ſo they might have Peace: And it is to be done in the Firſt place.
Firſt, Becauſe the Bowels of Gods Compaſſions are very ſtrong, and Gods Mercy lies at His Heart uppermoſt, and therefore that is moſt ready, and He is moſt ready to vent it: That's the moſt proper Work of God, that He doth delight to Vent His Mercy, Jer. 9. 24.
Secondly, Becauſe that when the Offer of Peace is, that hath a great deal of power to work upon the hearts of People: Now the Lord therefore would have that done at Firſt, that is like moſt to prevail. We know that People at Firſt when a Miniſter comes amongſt them, they are ſet upon Novelties; now it is good to take advantage of that their Humour, and when they are hearkning after Novelty, that they ſhould come to have ſome principal Doctrine of Salvation to be ſecretly Inſtill'd into them, that they ſhould Drink in that before they are aware. So the Lord uſes to work upon Mens Self-love: Every Creature loves it ſelf, and therefore the Lord ſees that it is a good advantage to work upon Mens ſelf-love, to offer terms of Peace. And the truth is, that is it that gains the Heart of a Sinner: And God will outbid the World, and Devil, and Fleſh: What do they offer any thing that may delight you, ſaith God, I will out-bid them all? Chriſt out-bids the World, and Devil, in offering unto ſinners a greater Good than World, or Devil can poſſibly bring unto them. And indeed, this offer of Peace doth out-bid the World; that is, doth proffer a greater Good to a ſinner, than World or Devil can poſſibly proffer to them. Nay then, ſaith the Soul, if I ſee that I may have a greater good by Repenting and Believing, than by going on in my ſin, I will go that way; I will rather attend upon the Word: for I hear of great things that are there, about Reconciliation between God and man. Now this is the way to take the Hearts of men, and it is the way to break them of their ſtoutneſs and ſtubbornneſs: For certainly, every man naturally, hath a very ſtout and ſtubborn Heart againſt God. Therefore if Firſt he be oppoſed, he will be ready to riſe againſt God, and againſt His Truths, and againſt His Servants. Therefore it is good to come Firſt with thoſe things that their Hearts may cloſe with all, that ſo they may be in a more preparation, that they may hearken to what the Lord ſhall reveal after, as neceſſary unto them.
But, you will ſay, If it be thus, Why is it then that Miniſters do Preach ſo much of our miſerable Condition in which we are?
The anſwer is, It's true, at Firſt there ſhould be a tender of peace; and I make no queſtion, but you have had it ſo here: But now it's true, before the full Doctrine of Reconciliation with God is to be opened unto you, there is ſomething to be opened unto you, about your miſerable ſtate by Nature; for it is impoſſible to open the Doctrine of Peace and Reconciliation, without the opening of that: And that may well be Juſtified. That though the Firſt thing ſhould be to ſay, Peace; yet before this can be opened at large unto People, they muſt come to know what their Natural ſtate is. There is ſome that would at Firſt and at Laſt ſay, Peace; and would have nothing elſe Preached, and crys out againſt Preaching of any thing of the Law of God; which is meerly through their Ignorance, in not rightly underſtanding the Nature of the thing. For though at Firſt, we are to open this Peace, yet when we come to open it, this hath that in the very Bowels of it, that will ſhew the moſt woful Condition of man by Nature, that poſſibly can be. As for Inſtance, Peace between God and us: Why, what are we Enemies? Is there an Enmity between God and us? Yes, that comes here: We cannot open the meaning of this Peace, but if we come once to open it, we muſt of neceſſity fall upon the Doctrine of Mans ſtate by Nature; and ſhew what a Breach ſin hath made between God and the Soul: And what infinite need there is of ſuch a Redeemer, that we could no other way be redeemed, but that we muſt have ſuch a Saviour, that muſt be both God and Man. Now when we come to open the Nature of this, it muſt needs ſhew you what your miſerable Condition is by Nature.
But a word or two for the Application of this:
God doth appoint His Miniſters at Firſt to come to you, and to make the proffer of Peace unto your Souls; then it ſhould teach you preſently to be willing to come and cloſe with that Meſſage. Gods Heart is ſofull of Mercy towards you, as at the very Firſt He will have this offered to you; then your hearts ſhould likewiſe come in as well to God, and at the very Firſt come in and cloſe with that bleſſed Offer of Grace and Mercy. O, it is a great Encouragement to a Miniſter, when People come in at the very Firſt offer. We have a notable Scripture for this, in Pſal. 18. 44. Mark, As ſoon as they hear of Me, they ſhall obey Me. That's indeed a bleſſed thing, that when a People comes to hear of Chriſt, and of the Doctrine of Reconciliation, that as ſoon as they hear of it, they ſhall come in preſently and Obey; that a Miniſter ſhall find his Firſt Labours to be Fruitful and Effectual. I could tell you of one, as in 2 Cor. 12. the beginning: And ſo I could ſay, That I knew one Twenty Years ago, or more, that at the very Firſt day of Preaching of the Doctrine of the Goſpel of that Truth unto a People, at the Firſt day God pleaſed to bring in a Soul, and continue him to this very day; and make him a Godly, Gracious, and Holy man, that was a deſperate and prophane wicked Wretch before. O that it might pleaſe God to Incourage the Hearts of His Miniſters ſo, that at their Firſt coming to People, they might find ſome Fruit of their Labours: For one that is Faithful, and comes among a People, he looks after his Miniſtry, and conſiders what he doth, and what Effect that hath, and ſo doth give account to God of what Effect that hath upon the Hearts of People. And, O what an Incouragement is this, and how Honourable to a People, if a Miniſter of God ſhall give up this account, and ſay, Lord, as ſoon as ever thou didſt ſend me among ſuch a People, they did begin to hearken after the Doctrine of Peace, and began to Conſider what it was that was ſpoken: And they were exceedingly Hopeful by their Attention, and by other wayes they have given exceeding good hope, that they have received the Doctrine of Peace, that Thou didſt ſend me about. And thoſe, certainly, are moſt to be Honoured, that do Firſt come in▪ though it's true, if men come in at the laſt Hour, there is a poſſibility to get to Heaven: but thoſe that come in at the Firſt, they are the moſt acceptable to God, Mich. 7. beginning, My ſoul deſired the firſt ripe fruit. So the Soul of God doth this day long after the Firſt Fruits of every Miniſter, that comes among you: O, He looks into this Congregation, to ſee where ſhall be the Firſt Fruits of the Miniſtry of ſuch a one, and of ſuch a one that comes among you, in Rom. 16. 5. It is ſpoken to the Honour of Epenetus, That he was the Firſt fruits of Achaia unto Chriſt. O Epenetus, he is one that God did Honour, for He was the Firſt fruits of Achaia unto Chriſt. And it is the Honour of England, that it was the Firſt Kingdom that profeſt Chriſtian Religion by the Authority of the Publick Magiſtrate; and God hath ſome ſpecial regard to England, to this very day, I make no Queſtion, for that: And ſo in any place when God comes to them, and offers the Conditions of Peace; I ſay, they that come Firſt in upon this Firſt offer, will be moſt acceptable unto God. Therefore do not defer, and think I may come in at laſt; and before I die, time enough: But if God be ſo timely with thy Soul, that He would have His Miniſters ſo begin with thee, do thou Anſwer to God, and begin with this God betimes, and eſpecially you that are young ones, do not you reject it. O when God ſhall come to thy Soul, and ſay, Peace be to thee; I ſay, take heed of rejecting the Firſt offer. For you that are young, what though you may be guilty of much Vanity and Folly other wayes, yet it may be you have not been guilty to this very day, of rejecting the offer of the Goſpel: O take heed of Contracting that guilt upon you! Know if you do, it will make you a great deal harder, and that guilt will be a great deal worſe, than of all your other ſins beſides; therefore come in betimes, as we read in Mark 10. 17. There comes a young man running to Chriſt, and ſaith, Good Maſter, what ſhall I do to Inherit Eternal Life? He was a young Rich man, a Gentleman, one that had great Poſſeſſions; and the Text ſaith, he came running to Chriſt. O that God would perſwade young ones, and thoſe of Quality, ſeeing the Lord is pleaſed to begin with their Souls, that they would haſten, and come running to Chriſt, to know what are the Terms of Peace and Reconciliation; as it is ſaid concerning John Baptiſt, in Mat. 11. 12. The Text ſaith, And from the dayes of John the Baptiſt until now, the Kingdom of Heaven, ſuffered violence, and the Violent take it by force. The meaning is this, Becauſe that this great Doctrine of, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, was not Preached before John Baptiſt: He was the Firſt that came to Preach this in the plainneſs of it in a Goſpel way. Now ſaith the Text, And from the dayes of John the Baptiſt until now, doth the Kingdom of Heaven ſuffer violence. O the Hearts of People were mightily ſtirred, ever ſince the dayes of John Baptiſt; and why? Becauſe that he Preached, that The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Now that conſiſts of Peace and Joy, and the Doctrine of Reconciliation between ſinners, and the Bleſſed God; that indeed is the ſpecial part of the Kingdom of Heaven. Now he Preaching this Kingdom of Heaven, ſaith the Text, from that day the Kingdom of Heaven ſuffered Violence; and every one comes to know, Lord what ſhall I do, that I may enter into this Kingdom. O what a Bleſſed thing is it for Congregations, when the Lord ſhall ſend thoſe amongſt them, to bring Peace between God and their Souls: That it may ſaid, from ſuch a Day, from ſuch a Time, that the Lord did ſend ſuch among them that opened this Doctrine of Peace, That the Kingdom of Heaven hath ſuffered Violence. There hath many poor Souls come in and ſaid, O Men and Brethren, What ſhall I do to be ſaved. And Bleſſed are they upon whom the Tender of the Goſpel ſhall have this Effect. Now if there be any Sons of Peace here that ſhall entertain this, here's the Bleſſing that is to be upon them: That the Peace of the Goſpel ſhall reſt upon them, upon that Pariſh, upon that Houſe, upon that Soul.