A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 44
CHAP. XLIV. Examples of Honour shewed to Gods Word, and Ministers.
THe duty of people towards their Pastors is, to subject themselves to them, 1 Cor. 16. 16. To love them, 1 Thes. 5. 13. Gal. 4. 15. To pray for them, 1 Thes. 5. 25. 2 Thes. 3. 1. Heb. 13. 18. To pray for the destruction of their enemies, Deut. 33. 11. To grieve when they are sick, Phil. 2. 26. To honour, and Reverence them, Mat. 10 40. 1 Cor. 16. 18. 2 Cor. 7. 15. Phil. 2. 29. 1 Thes. 5. 12. 1 Tim. 5. 17. Gal 4. 14 Not to despise them, 1 Cor. 16. 11. 1 Tim. 4. 12. To obey them, 2 Cor. 7. 15. 1 Thes. 2. 12. Heb. 13. 17. 1 Ioh. 4. 6. To be bountiful to them, Deut. 12. 19. & 14 27. & 16. 11. & 24. 14, 15. & 25. 4. Mat. 10. 10. Luk. 9. 3. & 10. 7. Rom. 15. 27. 1 Cor. 9. 7, 9, 10. 2 Cor. 11. 7, &c. Gal. 6. 6. Phil. 2. 29. & 4. 10, 16. 1 Thes. 2. 6. & 5. 12. 1 Tim. 5. 17, 18. 2 Tim. 26. Heb. 13. 17. To stand by, and for them in times of danger, 2 Tim 4. 16, 17.
Other Examples: When Ehud told King Eglon that he had a message to him from God; to shew his reverence, he rose up out of his seat, Jud. 3. 20.
Constantine the Great used to shew so much reverence and attention to the Word of God preached, that many times he would stand up all the Sermon while: and when some of his Courtiers told him that it tended to his disparagement, he answered, That it was in the service of the great God, who is no respector of persons. Eus.
Alexander Severus the Emperour did so reverence the High Priest, that whatsoever sentence he had passed in judgement, he suffered the same to be revoked by the Priest, if he saw cause for it. Lipsius.
When at the Councel of Nice many Bishops brought complaints, and Petitions each against other to Constantine the Great, he would not so much as read them, but burned them all before their faces, saying: It's fit that I should be judged by you, and not you by me. Euseb.
Bread and cheese with the Gospel is good cheere, said Greenham. Act. & Mon.
Ingo King of the Venudes at a great feast to shew his love to the Saints of God: set his Pagan Nobles in the Hall, and certain poor Christians with him in the Parlour.
A certaine Emperour of Germany coming by chance into a Church upon the Sabbath-day, found there a most mis-shapen Priest, penè portentum naturae, insomuch as the Emperour much scorned and contemned him: but when he heard him read those words in the Service: For it is he that hath made us, and not we our selves, the Emperour checked his own proud thoughts, and made enquiry into the quality, and conditions of the man, and finding upon examination, that he was a very learned and devout man, he made him Archbishop of Collen, which place he discharged with much commendations. W…l. of Malmsb.
Queen Elizabeth when she came first to the Crown, as she rode through the City of London, a childe from a Pageant, let down in a silken lace, an English Bible to her: she kissed her hands, took it, kissed it, laid it to her breast, then held it up, thanking the City especially for that gift (though they had given her some rich presents before) promising to be a diligent reader of it. See her life in my second Part.
Constantine the Great made a decree that all Ministers, and such whose vocation was to serve in the Church, should be free, and exempted from all publick duties, taxes, and burthens whatsoever, that being so priviledged, they might the better attend upon Divine administrations: Yea, so careful was he to nourish, and cherish learning, and learned men, that he enacted a Law, which ranne thus, Medicos, Grammaticos, & alios Professores literarum, & legum Doctores, &c. We will, and decree, that Physicians, Grammarians, and other Professors of the liberal Arts, shall be free, together with their lands and possessions, from all civil charges, and offices, &c. as also that their stipends, and Salaries shall be well and truly paid them, whereby they may the more freely attend upon their offices, &c. How will this rise up in judgement against those which think they can never lay burthens enough upon Ministers, Universities, &c? See his life in my second Part.
Our King Edward the sixth was a diligent attender upon Sermons, heard them with great reverence, and penned them with his owne hand, which he diligently studied afterwards. See his Life in my second Part.
The great love, reverence, and respect that Master John Bruen, of Bruen Stapleford, shewed to godly Ministers. See his Life in my second Part.
Mercurius Trismegistus was in such respect amongst the Egyptians, that in reverence of him it was nos lawful to pronounce his name commonly, and rashly: How much more precious should the Name of God be amongst Christians?
The greatest delight of Queen Elizabeth, was often to reade the Sacred Scriptures, and to hear Sermons, which she alwayes attended unto with great reverence. See her Life in my Second Part.
The young Lord Harrington was wondrons attentive in hearing the Word of God, preached or read, and carried himselfe exceeding reverently therein, knowing that he was in the presence of that God, who is no respector of persons, and that he heard not the words of a man, but of God. See his Life in my second Part.
Robert King of Sicily was so wonderfully affected with the Scriptures, that speaking to Fran. Petrarcha, he thus said of them: Juro tibi, Petrarcha, multò chari…res mihi esse literas quam regnum; & si alterutro mihi carendum sit, aequanimiù… me diademate, quàm literis careturum. Corn. è Lapide.
Theodosius the Emperour wrote out the whole New Testament with his own hand, accounting it a great Jewel, and reading part of it every day.
Doctor Cranmer in his journey to Rome, learned all the New Testament by heart. The like did Doctor Ridley, in the walks of Pembrook-Hall. See his Life in my first Part.
We beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour amongst you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you: and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake,
1. Thes. 5. 12, 13.