Gospel Reconciliation, Chapter 43
CHAP. 43.
Uſe, 2. The Great honor of Miniſters that are Faithful.
SEcondly, Hence appears the great honor of the Miniſters of the Goſpel in their Miniſtery; we wil not attribute to our perſons, but to our work, certainly, if they are committed to the Miniſtery of reconciliation, they are ſent about the moſt honorable buſineſs that ever was in the world; to diſpence unto the Children of men the great miſtery of Salvation by Jeſus Chriſt. So if a Miniſter be faith free in it, it may be ſaid of any one that God uſes in this; Happy that ever he was born, and bleſſed be the womb that beare him and the paps that gave him ſuck, if ſo be he be faithful in this his work; for he is imployed about the greateſt buſineſs that is in the world; never did God employ Angels in a work of greater conſequence, and in a work wherein they are more honored they are called in ſcripture Angels of the Churches, for indeed their work is Evangelical, and when he ſpeaks of them in 1 Cor. 4.1. Therefore let a man account of us as of the Miniſters of Chriſt, and ſtewards of the miſteries of God. Bretheren, we could be willing, that for our perſons they ſhould be never ſo contemptible before you if ſo be the contemptibleneſs of our perſons might further the glory of our work, But we know ordinarily, that the contempt of perſons hinders the honor of the work, and therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, let a man ſo account of us as of the Miniſters of Chriſt, and ſtewards of the Miſteries of God: we are appointed ſtewards of the miſteries of God, we are ſtewards to deal out unto you the miſteries of life, and Salvation, Joſeph was accounted highly off, when he did deale out the Corne in Egypt, and now this work of reconciliation is that that the Angells prie into, the Angels learne inſtruction from this miſtery of reconciliation, it doth, not only beſeem the greateſt men in the world to attend upon it: but the Angels themſelves honor it, and learne by it. I wil give you a text for this becauſe it may ſeem to be hard unto you, the text is in Epheſ. 3 verſe, 10. To the intent, that now unto Principalities, and Powers in Heavenly places might be known by the Churches the manifold wiſdom of God; that (not only men) but the very Angels in heaven might come to underſtand further the wiſdom of God in Chriſt, made knowen to the Church, certainly; if the Angels come to know further by the Church, then ſpecially at their Church meetings when they are together, and when there is the diſpenſation of the Miniſtery of the Goſpel among the Saints; then when the Church is in their exerciſes of the ordinance of the Church; then they come to know the manifold wiſdom of God (howſoever ſome think it is fooliſhneſs) yet God ſaith, it is a manifold wiſdom of God and the Angels think ſo too. Certainly, there is no place ſo ful of ſinners, as of Angels heareing; therefore, you may wel come to heare, for the Angels they come to heare, and therefore the Apoſtle ſaith to women, that they ſhould beheave themſelves wel becauſe of the Angels, and the ſcripture tells us, that the Angels prie into this miſtery of the Goſpel. Miniſters need not ſeeke honor to themſelves any wai…, but by their faithful adminiſtration of the Goſpel, and therefore in the primitive times, the Miniſters of the Goſpel were mightily honored of the people, let a ſoul come to underſtand what it is to have peace with God through Jeſus Chriſt, through any Miniſters, Miniſtery, and that ſoul wil honor that Miniſtery enough; hee needs not cal for any honor and reſpect from that poor ſoul, It is ſaid, that in the former times there were wooden challices and golden Miniſters: but afterwards there were golden cupps, and wooden Miniſters. It was a great deale more honor to the Church when there were golden Miniſters, but afterwards when there were golden cups & miniſters were gallants, and had great means, may they not wel be called wooden in reſpect of their opening of the miſteries of Salvation to the pople? It is not now ſo much for to preach morallity, (theſe are good things to be preacht on) but where is the great point of reconciliation? The great point that al Miniſters ought to aim at is the great point of Reconciliation, and that is to be preacht, and it is their commiſſion to preach that eſpecially. Oh, how is it to be received, to be accepted? To us is committed the miniſtery of reconciliation; what is it? It is ſuch a miniſtery, of no leſs conſequence then your reconciliation with God; Oh how gladly ſhould you take in this miniſtery? for they come about a work that is worthy of al acception, as the Apoſtle ſaith Tim. 1.1.15. This is a faithful ſaying, and worthy of al acceptation that Chriſt Jeſus came into the world to ſave ſinners; This is the ſum of the miniſtery of reconciliation, when we come to bring this unto you, we do not expect al acceptation, to open your hearts and hands to receive in this work of reconciliation into you: as we read of Noah, when he was toſſed up and down the Sea) after many dayes he put forth a dove, and ſhe brought in an Olive branch, Now this you know is an Embleme of peace, Noah opened the window of the Arke, and took in the Dove with the Olive branch, and al thoſe that come to preach the Goſpel unto you, they come with the Olive branch in their mouths, and the truth is, you are, as it were upon the Sea floting up, and down, and we come unto you: with an Olive branch in our mouthes like Noahs Dove, Oh, then open your windows and receive it, ſaith the prophet, Oh how beautiful are the feet of them that bring good tidings of peace, and as you read in Rom. 10.15. Their very feet ſhould be beautiful unto you; It is ſo prophecied of among the Prophets, and it is made uſe of in the new Teſtament, and if you find your hearts opened and accepting of it, and rejoyce and bleſs God for it, then you fulfil that propheſie, and then the feet of thoſe meſſengers are beautiful in your eyes; that is the work that you ſhould come for when you come to hear a Sermon; You ſhould think, this day am I comming to hear ſomewhat of the work of reconciliation between God and my ſoul, and when people come to the word to expect ſomthing concerning this peace with God, and when they heare any ſuch thing, Oh, then they ſhould bleſs the name of God. Some come to the word to hear ſome witty ſentences, and for diſcourſe (though the maine thing is that you ſhould come to hear ſomthing about the reconciliation of God to your ſouls, and you ſhould watch for ſuch a word al: the while the miniſter is opening the point, Oh! but when wil the word of peace be opened from God to my ſoul? And when you hear that word, Oh! you ſhould embrace it, and receive it as in Pſal. 58. I wil hearken what the Lord wil ſay, for he wil ſpeak peace unto my ſoul; ſo ſhould every poor afflicted conſcience ſay, I wil hearken this day when Chriſt wil ſpeak peace to my ſoul. The Lord by his word ſpeak peace unto you and make that which we preach in opening the things of the Goſpel to bee a powerful miniſtery of reconciliation unto your ſouls.