A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Examples sit for Gods Ministers to imitate.
GOds faithfull Ministers, as they are set up by God in a speciall manner to oppose and beat down the kingdome of sinne, and Satan: so usually they are singled out by the Devill and his instruments, as the principall Buts against which the invenomed Arrowes of their malicious hearts are most directed: and therefore not onelyonly Serpentine wisdome, and Dove-like innocency is necessary for them above others: but also courage and magnanimitie, not to feare the faces of men: Sanctity and holinesse, without which all their naturall, and acquired parts are but as a Pearle in the head of a filthy Toade, a Pearle in the head, and the body all poyson: And lastly, diligence and indefatigablenesse in that work which God imployes them about, who puts no difference between nequam and nequaquam, an idle, and an evill servant: Which things that they may be better stirred up to endeavour after, let them diligently observe these following examples.
Mr. Calvin being much weakened by his incessant paines in the work of the Ministery, towards his end, was advised by his friends to take care of his health; to whom he replyed, Would you have the Lord when he omes finde me idle? See his life in my first part.
St. Ambrose used to commend to Ministers the reading and study of the Scriptures above all other books, and it was his owne practice, not onelyonly in his younger dayes; but in his old age daily to expound, and write Commentaries upon it, which he continued also in his last sicknesse, being imployed in commenting at that time upon the 48th Psalme, with the which when (he had finished all but the two last verses) he finished his life: Paulinus in vita St. Ambros.
Bishop Iewell, riding to preach at Lacock in Wiltshire, a Gentleman that met him, perceiving his feeblenesse, advised him for his healths sake to turne home againe: to whom he answered, Oportet Episcopum concionantem mori: A Bishop should die preaching; and so indeed he did; for presently after the Sermon, by reason of his sicknesse, he was forced to bed, from which he never came off till he was translated to glory. See his Life in my first parr.
Doctor Reynolds, when the Doctors of Oxsor came to visit him in his last sicknesse, which he had contracted meerly by his exceeding paines in his study (whereby he brought his withered body to be a very Sceleton) they earnestly perswaded him that he would not perdere substantiam propter accidentia: lose his life for learning: he with a smile answered out of the Poet.
Nec, propter vitam, vivendi perdere causas.
Baudisius a Dutch Divine, being by his friends advised to favour himselfe: I will, said he, do my duty whilst I can, yea though I hasten my death by preaching.
Dr. Burges of Sutton Cofield immediately after he came forth of the Pulpit; fell sick, & shortly after died.
Mr. William Perkins borne at Marston nigh Coventry in Warwick-shire was a painfull, and powerfull Preacher in Cambridge; whose Sermons were not so plaine, but the piously learned did admire them; nor so learned, but the plaine did understand them: He would pronounce the word Damne with such an emphasis as left a dolefull echo in his auditors ear esa good while after: He had a rare felicity in speedy reading of books, and as it were, but turning them over would give an exact account of all considerables therein: besides his frequent preaching, he wrote many bookes: and though lame of his right hand, yet this Ehud with a left-handed pen did stab the Romish cause, and as one saith,
Dextera quantum vis fuerat tibi manca, docendi
Pollebas mirà dexteritate tamen:
Though nature thee of thy right hand bereft,
Right well thou writest with thy hand that's left:
Holy State in vita ejus:
St. Augustines wish was, that Christ when he came might finde him aut precantem, aut praedicantem, either praying, or preaching.
Melancthon was wont to say, that none underwent such paines as Preachers, Rulers, and women in travell: and Luther said, that a master of a family hath something to do, a Magistrate more, and a Minister most of all.
When Chrysostome was like to be silenced, all the people cried our, Satius est ut sol non luceat, quam ut non doceat Chrysostomus; we had better want the shining of the Sunne, then the preaching of Chrysostome.
Holy Melancthon being himselfe newly converted, thought it impossible for his hearers to withstand the evidence of the Gospel: but after he had been a Preacher a while, he complained, that old Adam was too hard for young Melancthon.
Mr. Bolton having much weakned his body by his indefatigable paines in his private devotions, and publick preaching, was advised by his Physitians, for his healths-sake, to break off the strong intentions of his studies: but he rejected their counsell, accounting it greater riches to enjoy Christ by those servent intentions of his minde, then to remit them for the safeguard of his health
Bishop Ridley offering to preach before the Lady Mary (afterwards Queene) she refused to heare him: and being brought by Sir Thomas Wharton, her Steward, into the dining roome, was desired to drink, which when he had done, he paused a while, looking very sad: and being asked the reason, he said; Surely I have done amisse in drinking in that place where the Word of God being offered, was rejected, whereas, I should have departed presently and shaken off the dust from my shooes for a testimony against this house.
Bugenhagius a Dutch Divine was so joyfull, when he, together with Luther, and some other learned men, had finished the translation of the Bible out of the Originals into Dutch, that ever after he invited his friends (on that day wherein they ended their work) to a feast, which he called, The feast of the Translation of the Bible. See his Life in my first part.
Doctor Cramner being sent by King Henry the eighth to Rome about his Divorce, in his voyage to and fro, he learned all the New Testament by heart.
Baronius, the compiler of those voluminous Annals of the Church, yet for thirty yeares together preached three or foure times a week to the people: Spond: in vita Baro: pag. 2. part. 7.
When a certaine Frenchman came to visit Melancthon, he found him in his stove dandling his childe in the swadling clouts with the one hand, and in the other hand holding his book, and reading it: A good Minister and a good father may well agree together: Pantal: de illust: Germ: in vita Melan:
A certain man causelesly disaffected to his Minister, complained that he in his last Sermon had personally inveig…ed against him, accusing him thereof to a grave religious Gentleman in the Parish: Truly (said the Gentleman) I had thought in his Sermon he had meant me: it so touched my heart: which saying abated the edge of the others anger: Holy State: pa: 94.
At the disputation of Ratisbone, where Melancthon was pressed with a shrewd argument by Ecchius: I will answer thee, said he, to morrow: Nay, said Ecchius, do it now, or its nothing worth: yea, said Melancthon, I seek the truth and not my own credit, and therefore it will be as good if I answer thee to morrow by Gods assistance: Melch: Adain vit: Germ: Theol: p. 339.
Latimer presented King Henry the eighth for a new years gift, with a New Testament wrapped up in a napkin with this Posie about it: Fornicatores & adulteros judicabit Dominus, Whoremongers, and adulterers God will judge; which was the sin that the King rers notoriously guilty of.
Frederick Bishop of Uarich sitting at dinner with the Emperour Ludovicus Pius: the Emperour bade him execute his office without respect of persons: The Bishop humbly thanked him; and having a fish before him, asked him, whether he should begin with the head, or taile? The Emperour replied; With the head) which is the chiefest member, It's well (said the Bishop), Then break you off your Incestuous match with Judith. And accordingly the Emperour did it for a time: But the Pope a while after for some thousands of Crowns gave him a dispensation, and made up the match again whereupon this Herodias for his free speech caused the Bishop to be slaine in his own Church Rand: in Polychron.
Preach the Word, be instant in season, out of season: reprove, rebuk, exhort with all long-suffering, and doctrine,
2 Tim. 4. 2.
Blessed is that servant, whom when his Lord comes, he shall finde so doing,
Matth. 24. 46.
Fructus honos oneris, fructus honoris onus.