Forty-nine Sermons upon Colossians, Part 1 · Sermon 12
THE XII. SERMON.
COL I. Ver. XXIII.
Verſ. XXIII. If indeed ye continue in the faith, founded and firm, and be not moved away from the hope of the Goſpel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature, which is under heaven, whereof I Paul have been made a Miniſter.
OUr LORD JESUS CHRIST, in the Goſpel according to S. Matthew, telleth us of two ſorts of people, which hear His Doctrine, and frequent His School; the one, they that put His words in practiſe, that is, thoſe, who embracing the Goſpel with a true and lively faith, do render Him the obedience He demandeth of them; the other, they that hear, but put not in practice what He ſaith unto them, that is, thoſe, who giving but little or no belief to His Divine truth, take no care to perform what He commands, but content themſelves with a vain outſide Profeſſion, and are not inwardly affected and changed, as they ought to be. He compares the former, to a wiſe and prudent man, that hath built his houſe upon a Rock; and when the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that houſe, it fell not for all this; for it was founded upon a Rock. But on the contrary, he compares the ſecond ſort, to a fooliſh man, that built upon the ſand; And (ſaith he) when the rain fell, and the torrents came, and the winds blew, and ſmote upon this houſe, it fell, and the fall thereof was great. Dear Brethren, this is an excellent Parable, and worthy to be deeply engraven on the hearts of the truly faithful. For it ſhews us, firſt, That to have part in the LORD's ſalvation, it is not enough to call Him our Maſter, and make Profeſſion of His Diſcipline. They that have but this, will fall ſooner or later, and be infallibly ruin'd. Secondly, It further teacheth us, That it ſufficeth not to have begun, except a man do preſevere to the end, without ever giving back. And laſtly, It declares to us, what the cauſe is, both of the perſeverance of ſome, and of the revolting and fall of others; thoſe that are founded on the rock, do ſtand firm, and reſiſt the ſcandals, with which the Devil and the world do combate the truth; thoſe that are built only on the ſand, are eaſily born down, even at the firſt aſſaults which the adverſe powers make upon them. This Doctrine S. Paul yerſt repreſented to the Coloſſians in the Text, we have now read to you. In the words foregoing, as you heard in its place, he did ſet before their eyes, the wonders of the love of GOD, which had been gloriouſly ſhewed upon them by JESUS CHRIST their Saviour, who had called them to His Communion, and of ſtrangers and enemies, as they were, made them friends of His Father, reconciling them by the body of His fleſh, through His death, to render them holy, without ſpot, and unreproveable before Him. But the Apoſtle knowing, there were Seducers and deceitful workers among them, who laboured to turn them away from the purity and ſimplicity of the Goſpel; that they might be preſerv'd from thoſe mens poyſons, he now advertiſeth them, that this great ſalvation whereof he had ſpoken, could not be aſſured to them without perſeverance. For qualifying, and in ſome ſort, correcting His ſimple and abſolute aſſertion, That GOD had reconciled them to Himſelf; he addeth the condition, upon which this Divine grace was promis'd them. If indeed (ſaith he) you continue in the faith, being founded and firm, &c.—This Leſſon, my Brethren, is no leſs neceſſary for us, than it was erewhile, for the Coloſſians; ſince the floods, the winds and ſtorms, that were then raiſed againſt the Edifice of their faith, do in like manner at this day, beat upon ours; divers deceitful workers, both without and within, endeavouring to overthrow it. Take we therefore this ſacred Preſervative againſt their malice, which the Apoſtle here giveth us; and that we may the better make our profit of it, let us meditate in order, the three particulars which his Inſtruction containeth. For, to confirm the Coloſſians in perſeverance, he ſheweth them, firſt, The neceſſity, and the manner of it, in thoſe words, If indeed you continue in the faith, being founded and firm, and be not moved away from the hope of the Goſpel which you have heard. Secondly, He ſets before them an excellent Argument, of the truth of that Goſpel which they had heard; to wit, That it was preached in all the world. And laſtly, He further alledgeth a ſecond proof of its verity, taken from his own Miniſtry; of which (ſaith he) I have been made a Miniſter. Theſe are three points we will handle, if it pleaſe GOD, in this action; noting briefly upon each of them, what we ſhall judge moſt proper for our Edification and Conſolation.
As for the firſt, the Apoſtle explains himſelf about it in thoſe terms, If indeed ye continue, &c.—Where you ſee, he lays down firſt, [As Above.]That Faith is the means by which we enter into poſſeſſion, and uſe of the good things of OOD, which He promiſeth us in His Son. The old Covenant had alſo its good things; but the condition, which it required of men, for their obtaining the ſame, was quite different. For it demanded of them an exact and perfect obeying of the Law, and upon any failure of an entire accompliſhing of the ſame, threatned a curſe, leaving the ſinner no hope of life at all: according to that dreadful clauſe, Do theſe things, and thou ſhalt live; and, Curſed is every one that doth them not. But the Goſpel, beſide that the good things which it ſets before us, are much greater, and more Divine than thoſe of the Law, differs moreover from the Law, in this eſpecially, that it demands of men, for their having them, nothing but Faith *Only. 1alone; according to the ſentence of our LORD, GOD ſo loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoſoever believeth in Him, ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life. This the Apoſtle ſheweth us here with much clearneſs; when having ſaid, That GOD hath reconciled us to Himſelf, by the body of the fleſh of His Son, to render us ſpotleſs and unreproveable; he addeth, If indeed ye continue in the faith. This Connexion of the two parts of his Diſcourſe, doth evidently infer, that it is Faith, which makes us to have part, in the Reconciliation and Peace of GOD, and in the holineſs which is by the Goſpel. So likewiſe you know, that in a multitude of other places, the Scripture informeth us expreſly, that it is by Faith we are juſtified, and have peace with GOD; and that it is by Faith, our hearts are purified. Faith is the means of our union with GOD; it is the root of our Charity, and the Source of our comfort; and in a word, the only cauſe of our felicity. For as a Medicine, how excellent and healthful ſoever it be, does no good, ſave to thoſe that take it. So the LORD's Redemption, and the vertue of His Sacrifice, how great and infinite ſoever, though able to heal all our ſins, and to give us Eternity, yea, not us alone, but to all the men in the world; yet notwithſtanding, will communicate none of thoſe benefits to us, except we receive it by Faith. It is Faith that applies it to us, and ſheds abroad the efficacy of it, into all the parts of our nature. But becauſe very many deceive themſelves in this matter, and take that for true Faith, which hath but the ſhadow and name of Faith; the Apoſtle telleth us, that to have part in the ſalvation of JESUS CHRIST, our faith muſt be conſtant, and ſuch as we do abide, and perſevere in. For as in Games and Combates for Prizes, none are crowned but they that hold out to the end: So in the heavenly Liſts or Race, GOD glorifieth them only, which run with conſtancy, home to the mark. Thoſe that turn aſide, or ſtop in the midſt of the courſe, loſe their labour; according to that the LORD did declare, Whoever ſhall perſevere to the end, ſhall be ſaved. And therefore the Apoſtle in another place, aſſuring himſelf of the Crown, among other cauſes on which he grounded this aſſurance, … Tim 4 7.ſaith particularly, That he had kept the faith. Whence appears, that there are two ſorts of perſons which ſhall be excluded from the ſalvation of GOD, purchaſed by the merit of JESUS CHRIST. Firſt, all the rebellious and unbelieving, that give no faith to the Promiſes and Declarations of the bounty of GOD; as our Saviour ſaid, He that ſhall not believe, ſhall be condemned; Mark 16.16. John 3.36.He that diſobeyeth the Son, ſhall not ſee life: but the wrath of GOD abideth on him. Secondly, they that believe, but it is for a time only; ſuch as abide not in the faith, but having receiv'd it at the beginning, afterwards quit and reject it. Whether it be, that the ſcorching heat of perſecution doth dry up and conſume the tender bud: or the overflowing irruption of pleaſures, or of worldly affairs, doth carry it away: Whether it be, that the cares of covetouſneſs or ambition do ſuffocate it; or the deceitfulneſs of error, and the hand of falſe Teachers, do pluck it up out of their heart. The Apoſtle therefore requires of the Coloſſians, that to the end they might partake of the ſalvation of GOD, they not only have faith, but do perſevere in it. If indeed (ſaith he) you continue in the faith.
Yet this is not all; he willeth moreover, That they be founded and firm. I grant, it ſeldom happens, that this vain and feeble faith, which conſiſts only in a naked profeſſion, and ſome ſlight movings of heart, doth endure to the end in thoſe that have it. Scandal or tentation moſt commonly plucketh off their mask, and openly carrieth them out of the fellowſhip of the Church. Yet it ſeemeth not impoſſible, but they may continue, even to the laſt, in this eſtate. As a little chaff may abide in the floor, if the wind blow not: So there is ſome probability, that theſe ſame perſons, in like manner, may remain mingled with the truly faithful even until death, if perſecution or offence do not faſten on them. But ſuppoſe that this do happen, for all that, they ſhall not be ſaved; becauſe the faith they have, and in which they will have perſiſted, is a nullity; to which GOD hath promis'd nothing; its the ſhadow, and the Idol; not the ſubſtance and reality of faith. Whence it follows, that as chaff, though it remain in the floor, yet is not lock'd up in the Granary with the Wheat, but left out or burned, as an uſeleſs thing. So likewiſe theſe people, that have but this vain faith, ſuppoſe they do abide in GOD's floor, that is, in the external Communion of the Church unto the end; yet ſhall not for all this, enter into His heavenly Garner, that is, His Kingdom; but be excluded thence, and rejected, as having no lot or portion with true Believers. They will think it fair to alledge, that they have lived in the Church of CHRIST, that they have, perhaps, even propheſied and caſt out Devils, and done wonderful works in His Name; the LORD will openly tell them, I never knew you, Depart from me, ye that make a trade of iniquity. Mat. 7.22.23.The Apoſtle therefore, to ſhew that he ſpeaks of perſeverance, not in this vain ſhadow of faith, but in true faith, doth not ſimply ſay, If ye continue in the faith, but addeth, being founded and firm. If the Hypocrite, or the Temporary, do continue in the Profeſſion, or in the rudiments of Piety; it is not, becauſe they are founded, but becauſe they are not tempted; as a woman that remaineth chaſte, only for not having been ſollicited to evil. They ow their perſeverance to the enemies favourableneſs, and not to their own firmneſs. This falſe conſtancy may deceive a man, who ſeeth but the outſide, and the event of things. But it cannot deceive GOD, who knoweth the inſide of it, and who ſoundeth hearts, and judgeth of things, by what they are; not by what they appear, or by the events they have. The Apoſtle therefore willeth, that for partaking of His ſalvation, we have true perſeverance; and do continue in the faith, not ſimply, and in any ſort whatever; but through, being founded in it, and firm. GOD doth ſave ſuch only. It is but for them, that He hath prepared His Kingdom. The former of theſe two words, here uſed by the Apoſtle, is taken from buildings, which being founded deep in the earth upon a rock, are firm and ſolid, and of proof againſt time and ſtorms; whereas buildings which have no foundation, or but on ſand, are feeble and unable to reſiſt the ſhock. The LORD made uſe of this ſame compariſon in the Parable we touched, at the beginning; and He re…ects on it too in that famous promiſe, which He made S. Peter, of building His Church, in ſuch manner, on the ſtone, that the gates of Hell ſhall not prevail againſt it. The other word which the Apoſtle uſeth, hath the ſame meaning, and properly ſignifies in the Original, a thing in ſuch a ſettlement, as 'tis difficult to move and ſtagger it: A thing that is fixedly ſeated and placed, and neither branleth nor changeth. This is the ſettlement of true Believers, who ſhall have part in the ſalvation of GOD. Their faith founded on the Eternal Rock, JESUS CHRIST their Lord, ſeated and placed upon this immovable Baſis, abideth firm, and not to be ſhaken. The torrents and the winds do ſhock it in vain; the tempeſts and the floods may beat upon it, they cannot overthrow it.
Upon this Doctrine of the Apoſtle, we ſhall raiſe two Obſervations. The firſt is, That the faith of thoſe who perſevere in the ſenſe he intendeth, doth differ from the faith of them, who revolt, not only in the event, for that the one faileth, and the other perſiſteth and abideth: but alſo in the nature of the thing it ſelf. For the one are founded and firm; and the others are not ſo. Who ſees not, that there is a great difference, between a houſe which is well founded, and an houſe which is but built upon the ſand. JESUS CHRIST and His Apoſtle expreſly declare, that ſuch as ſtand are founded; and that ſuch as fall, are not. Certainly then, the faith of the former is quite different from the faith of the latter; and this different ſucceſs of the one, and the others, in that the one do fall, and the others bear up, doth indeed diſcover to us the difference which is between them, but doth not make it. It is the effect of it, not the cauſe; an argument of it, not the original. The ſame thing appears alſo, from the comparing of the one elſwhere to wheat, and the others to chaff, The wheat is not wheat, becauſe it abideth in the floor: but clean contrary, it abideth in the floor, becauſe it is wheat; and in like manner, the chaff becomes not chaff, becauſe it goeth out of the floor; but on the contrary, it goes out thence, becauſe it was chaff. This diverſity of events, doth evidence the weightineſs and firmneſs of the one; and the levity of the other. Even ſuch is the caſe of true Believers, and ſuch as are but temporary. Perſecution and offence do not make the difference which is ſeen between them, when the former do retain the Goſpel, and the others quit it. This event only ſheweth, that the one were GOD's wheat, and the others but chaff; according to what S. John ſaith of Apoſtates, They went out from us, becauſe they were not of us, 1 John 2.19.that it might be made manifeſt, that all are not of us. The ſame is to be further ſeen evidently in the Parable of the Sower, where the LORD ſaith expreſly, Mat. 13.13, 19, 21.that he that perſevereth had heard the word, and underſtood it, and receiv'd it in an honeſt and good heart. Whereas He ſaith of them who do revolt, that one heard, but underſtood it not; another had no root in himſelf: An evident ſign, that their diſpoſition was different at firſt, before the perſeverance of the one, and the fall of the others. Whence appears, how impertinent the Argument is, which our Adverſaries draw from the Apoſtacy of the latter, to prove that the faith of the former may fail; and on the contrary. For if the wind carry away the chaff, it doth not therefore follow, that it ſhall alſo bear away the corn; and if the ſtorm beat down an houſe that's planted on two or three ſtakes, it is not to be ſaid, it may do as much to an Houſe that's founded on a rock. If the blade that ſhoots forth, and grows up ſuddenly in the ſand, without any bottom, happen to wither at the firſt extreme heat that ſmites it; this implieth not, that the like may betide the corn which is deeply rooted in a good and fertile ſoil. The other point which we have to obſerve is, the aſſurance of true faith, excellently repreſented here by the Apoſtle in theſe words, which are full of a ſingular Emphaſis, If you continue in the faith, being founded and firm; contrary to what is taught in the Church of Rome, that faith is in a continual agitation, ſo as a Believer can have no aſſurance, that he is for preſent in the ſtate of Grace, and much leſs yet that he ſhall perſevere in it for the future. In Conſcience, can it be ſaid of theſe people, as the Apoſtle ſaith here of the LORD's true Diſciples, that they are firm and founded? How may it be, ſeeing they inceſſantly float in doubt and uncertainty? and are miſerablely in ſuſpence between the hope of heaven, and the fear of bell? I paſs by that other error of theirs, which is yet more contrary to the Apoſtle's Doctrine, namely, their maintaining that the choiceſt faith may fail. If it be thus, how can it be affirm'd, that thoſe that have it, are founded and firm? Let us then hold faſt the truth that's taught us here, and in divers other places of Scripture, to wit, that true faith abideth always; and being founded on the Merit, and the Death, and the Interceſſion of JESUS CHRIST, doth never fail. The wind makes but the chaff to fly away: it prevails not upon good grain. It overthrows only the trees that are feeble, and ill grounded. It leaveth in their place, thoſe that ſtand upon good and deep grown roots. And as an Ancient ſometime ſaid, Tertul. de Paerſc.We may not account them prudent or faithful, whom Hereſie hath been able to change. None is a Chriſtian, but he that perſevereth to the end.
But I return to the Apoſtle, who for the fuller Explication of this firm, and not to be ſhaken faith which he requireth in us, for the obtaining of ſalvation, addeth further, And if ye be not moved away from the hope of the Goſpel. Juſtly doth he joyn Hope unto Faith, theſe two virtues being ſo ſtraitly link'd together, that they mutually ſuccour each other, and one cannot be had or loſt without the other. For firſt, Hope is the ſuit of faith, expecting with aſſurance, the fruition of the the things that we believe; ſo as when the perſwaſion that we have of them, comes to totter, it is not poſſible, but the hope which was founded on it, muſt come to ruine. Again, in the combats which we ſuſtain for the faith, hope is one of our principal ſupports: while it is firm and vigorus in us, it repelleth without difficulty, all the ſtrokes of the Enemy, oppoſing to the fear of the evils, wherewith he threatneth us, and to deſire of the good he promiſeth us, the incomparable excellency of the glory and felicity which we look for in the other world. He that hopes for heaven, cannot be tempted by the paintings and appearances of the earth. For this cauſe, the Apoſtle in another place, compares hope to an Anchor, which penetrating within the vail, faſtned and grounded in Heaven, holdeth our veſſel firm and ſteady, amid the waves and agitations of this tempeſtuous Sea, whereon we ſail here below. And it's this, in my opinion, which the Apoſtle aims at here, that the faithful might be eſtabliſhed in the faith, he willeth them, to have ſtill in their hearts, the hope of heavenly bliſs, and never to ſuffer this Sacred and Divine Anchor to be taken from them. They are in ſafety, while it holds them faſt. But for the better expreſſing it, he calleth it peculiarly, The hope of the Goſpel; that is, the hope which the Goſpel hath wrought in us: the expectation of thoſe good things which it promiſeth. And ſo, you ſee, he referreth Hope to the Goſpel, as to its true and genuine object. All the hopes that we conceive from other grounds, are vain and failing. There are none but thoſe which embrace the promiſes of JESUS CHRIST, that are firm and ſolid; and ſuch as never confound them that wait for them. The Goſpel promiſeth us, firſt, the entire expiation of our ſins, and the peace of GOD in JESUS CHRIST His Son. They therefore that ſeek this benefit in the Ceremonies and Shadows of the Law, as the Galatians ſomtime did, and the falſe Teachers, who would have ſeduced the Coloſſians; or that ſeek it in their own merits, and the merits of Creatures; they all, I ſay, and all that are like them, let themſelves be carried away from the hope of the Goſpel. Then again, the Goſpel promiſeth us eternal life in the heavens, by the grace of GOD in His Son. Thoſe therefore quit the hope thereof alſo, who ſeek their felicity either in the, earth or in heaven otherways, than by the ſole mercy of the LORD. Whereby it doth appear, how very pertinently S. Paul doth recommend this hope of the Goſpel unto the Coloſſians. For in the combat wherein they were engaged, it was ſufficient to preſerve them from all the attempts of the Impoſtors. What have I to do (ſaith this Hope) with the obſervation of your Diſciplines, or the quirks of your Philophy; ſince I abundantly have in my Goſpel, all the good things which you vainly promiſe me? But becauſe it is ordinary with falſe Teachers, to abuſe the name of the Goſpel, and to give it to the Fopperies and Vanities which they preach; S. Paul to put the Coloſſians out of all doubt and ambiguity, indicateth expreſly to them, what this Goſpel is of which he ſpeaketh, That (ſaith he) which you have heard, namely, of Epaphras, who had preached it among them, and to whom he gave before an excellent Teſtimonial for fidelity and ſincerity. I mean (ſaith he) the Goſpel which you receiv'd at the beginning, from the mouth of true Servants of GOD, and not theſe vain and dangerous Doctrines, which evil workers would make to paſs with you for the Goſpel of CHRIST, though they be nothing leſs then ſo. But to confirm them the more in the faith, he ſets before them in the ſecond place, an excellent encomium of the Goſpel, which containeth a clear proof of its truth, ſaying, That it is the Goſpel which was preached to every creature under heaven. It is not the Doctrine which theſe falſe Apoſtles ſowed here and there in ſome out quarters, whiſpering, and privily advancing the ſame among light and unſtable ſpirits. It is the true Word of the Son of GOD, which had been proclaimed through the whole Univerſe, by His command, and according to the Oracles of His ancient Prophets: That Word, which going forth from Jeruſalem, did ſpread its ſelf every way in a very little time; and being accompanied with the power of its Author, made it ſelf be heard and believed in all the Provinces of the habitable earth, in ſpight of the contradictions of Hell and the world. His aſſertion, that the Goſpel was preached to every creature which is under heaven, may be expounded two manner of ways; but both of them amounting to the ſame ſenſe. Firſt, by a Figure, very common in Divine and Humane ſpeech, the word Creature may be taken for Man, the nobleſt and moſt excellent of all the Creatures. And the LORD had ſo uſed the word before in the ſame matter, when He commanded His Apoſtles to do what S. Paul doth magnifie in this place. Go ye forth (ſaid He to them) into all the world, and preach the Goſpel unto every creature: Where it is evident, that by every creature, He underſtandeth men, who alone are capable of hearing and receiving what is preached. In this ſenſe, when S. Paul ſaith, that the Goſpel was preached to every creature; it is as much as if he had ſaid, to all mankind, and among all ſorts of men; agreeably to what he ſaith here a little after, ſpeaking of himſelf, that he admoniſheth every man, Col. 1.28.and teacheth every man in all wiſdom. Secondly, theſe words, To every creature, may in my opinion, be taken alſo, as ſignifying, in all the world; and this the rather, becauſe it is literally in the Original, in all the creature, with the Article the, and not ſimply, to every creature. Now that S. Paul ſometimes uſeth this term, the creature, to ſignifie the world, this great body and collection of all things which GOD hath created: this is manifeſtly to be ſeen in the Epiſtle to the Romans, where he ſaith, Rom. 8.19, 20, 21.That the great and ardent deſire of the creature waiteth for the manifeſtation of the children of GOD; and again, That the creature was made ſubject to vanity; and more a little after, That all the creature groaneth and travelleth in pain together until now, where it is clear and confeſſed by the greateſt part of Interpreters, that the creature, ſignifies the world; and our Bibles to make us underſtand it the better, do change the ſingular number into the plural, rendring it (les creatures, and toutes les creatures) the creatures, and all the creatures; whereas the Original readeth ſimply, the creature, and all the creature. Taking it thus therefore in this place, when the Apoſtle ſaith, the Goſpel was preached in all the creature which is under heaven, he meaneth, in all the world wherein we dwell; wherein GOD hath ſeated mankind beneath the heavens. I will make no ſtay here now, to ſhew you how it might be truly ſaid in S. Pauls time, that the Goſpel of our LORD was then preached to all mankind, or in all the habitable world; or how this event is a clear and ſolid proof of its truth. We have already heretofore handled, both the one and the other of theſe two particulars, in expounding (if you remember) the ſixth Verſe of this Chapter, which affirmed, that the Goſpel was come unto all the world. Upon that Text, which ſignifies no other thing than what the Apoſtle ſaith here, namely, that the Goſpel hath been preached in all the creature which is under heaven: We ſhewed firſt, by good and irrefragable teſtimonies of Ancient Writers, both Chriſtian and Pagan, that the heavenly Word had been preached within the Apoſtles days, in all Countreys then known either to Greeks or Romans, and receiv'd for the moſt part with fruit; ſo as taking the word World (according to the ſtile of all Languages) not ſimply and abſolutely for all the parts of the Terreſtrial Globe, but only for thoſe which at that time were known to men, and which they underſtood to be inhabited; it might be ſaid with truth, and without any over-reaching Hyperbole, as S. Paul declareth here, that the Goſpel had been preached in all the creature which is under heaven, that is, in all the world. And in the ſecond place we proved, both by the importance of the thing it ſelf, and by the reſpect it hath to the Oracles of the Old Teſtament, which had predicted it many ages before its event, that this ſo ſwift, ſo ſudden, and ſo admirable running of the Goſpel through all the world, in ſo few years, is a certain and infallible evidence, of the verity and divinity of this holy Doctrine, obliging conſequently, both the Coloſſians heretofore, and us at preſent, to hold faſt, and perſevere in the faith which we have given to it, without ſuffering our ſelves to be ever mov'd away from it, either by the cheating arts of falſe Teachers, and their crafty Seducements, or by the Threatnings and Perſecutions of the world. Theſe things having been heretofore largely deduced and opened to you, leſt the repition of them ſhould be irkſome, I will paſs to the third head of our Text, wherein the Apoſtle ſets before the Coloſſians another Character of true Chriſtian Doctrine, to wit, that it is the Word, the Miniſtery whereof was committed to him. It is (ſaith he) the Goſpel, of which I Paul have been made a Miniſter.
He oppoſeth his heavenly call, to the temerity of the falſe Teachers, who ran without having been ſent; and preached not what Heaven commanded them, but what earth inſpir'd them with; their impulſions and inſtructions being from fleſh and blood, and not from the LORD JESUS. It was otherwiſe with Paul; all the faithful knew him to have been called from heaven, and ſuddenly changed by the efficacy of Divine power from a Wolf into a Paſtor; made an Herald and witneſs of the Goſpel, immediately by the LORD JESUS, inſtructed in His miraculous School, illuminated and conſecrated by His Spirit. Who could doubt, but that it was from the mouth of this holy man, that the Myſteries of GOD ſhould be learned; and that what was contrary to His Doctrine, ought to be judged falſe and vain. I confeſs, his Miſſion was extraordinary and miraculous, and is not to be made a precedent for others. Yet notwithſtanding what he here ſaith of it, affordeth us two Inſtructions, which reach all Paſtors generally. The firſt is, that they ſhould never intrude themſelves into this Sacred Office, if GOD call them not; ſo as they may ſay with good conſcience, as Paul doth in this place, that they have been made Miniſters of the Goſpel. It is true, JESUS CHRIST now ſpeaketh not to men from heaven, as He yerſt did to S. Paul, to call them unto His work. But ſo much He doth, that He maketh us perceive His will; firſt, by the moving of His Spirit within us, which never faileth to incite us to His work, when GOD calleth us thereto: and ſecondly, by the voyce and authority of His Church, that is to ſay, of His faithful people, to the Body and Community of whom, He hath given the power to apply the right of this Miniſtry to ſuch as they diſcern meet for it; as the examples of the primitive Church, regiſtred in the Book of the Acts, and elſwhere do ſhew us. And as for Ordination (as it is called) which is done by the Impoſition of the hands of other Miniſters already eſtabliſhed, I confeſs it alſo ought to intervene for the compleating and crowning of the call; accordingly you ſee it is ſeriouſly practiſed among us: But I add, that it is not yet ſo abſolutely requiſite, but that in caſe of extreme and invincible neceſſity, as in places and times, when there are no true Miniſters of JESUS CHRIST found to give it, the call of the Church, that is, of a body of faithful people, may ſuffice to a valid inſtituting of a Paſtor; the perſon ſuppoſed, to have the ability and inclination requiſite for ſuch a charge. The other particular that we have to learn here is, That all Paſtors, of what rank ſoever they may be, are Miniſters, and not Maſters of the Goſpel. It's the title which the Apoſtle here aſſumeth, according to the Declaration he makes elſwhere, that he hath no dominion over the faith of believers; 1 Cor. 1.24.but is an helper of their joy. The duty of a Miniſter is to propoſe, what hath been committed to Him; what he hath received of the Maſter. If he go beyond it, and will have his own will, and his private imaginations bear ſway, he is no longer a Miniſter; he doth the act of a Maſter; and conſequently ſets up a tyranny, ſince the Church neither hath, nor can have any lawful Maſter, but JESUS CHRIST. This, dear Brethren, is th… which we had to deliver, upon this Exhortation of the Apoſile to the Coloſſians. Make account, that it is to you alſo he directs it. Amid the ſcandals which Satan caſteth in the way of your faith, and the temptations he offereth to turn you out of it, have ſtill in your hearts, and in your ears this Sacred voyce, that ſays aloud from heaven to you, Continue in the faith, being founded and firm, and be not moved away from the hope of the Goſpel, which ye have heard, and which hath been preached to every creature under heaven, whereof I Paul have been made a Miniſter. Oppoſe the authority of this Divine command, to the Seducements and illuſions of the world; to the flatteries and babble of Sophiſters; to the ſuggeſtions and luſts of the fleſh. From what Coaſt ſoever, counſels contrary to it do come, whether from within, or from without, judge them impious and abominable. And bleſſed be GOD, who hitherto ſo ſettled you in the belief of His Word, that neither the forcible attempts of open Enemies, nor the fraud of falſe friends, hath been able to remove you at all. But dear Brethren, it is not enough to have ſtood faſt hitherto. There muſt be preparing for more combats to come after thoſe that are paſt. For we have to do with Enemies, with whom we muſt look for, neither peace nor truce. They will be ſtill ſetting on work, one Engine or other; and if repulſed on one ſide, will not fail to attaque us immediately on another. Be we therefore, in like manner, ſtill upon our guard. Let us have no leſs zeal and conſtancy for our our preſervation, then they have rage and reſoluteneſs for our ruine. Fortifie we our faith daily. Arm it with Armor of proof. Found it on the Eternal Rock, and ſo faſten it, that nothing may be able to pluck it out of our hearts. To this purpoſe, let us continually read and meditate that heavenly Word, whence we have drawn it. Let us fill our ſouls with this Divine wiſdom, and render it familiar to us. Let us inſtruct our youth in it. Let us make it to abound on all hands among us. Let it be the matter of our mutual entertainments, and the moſt uſual ſubject of our cogitations. For as an ancient yer while ſaid very prudently, Chryſ. Hom. … de Lazaro.The reading of the holy Scriptures is an excellent and an aſſured Preſervative, to keep us from falling into ſin; and ignorance of the Scriptures is an huge Precipice, a deep gulf of Perdition. In the deſign of our perſeverance, let us particularly make uſe of the two means which S. Paul here furniſheth us withal: The one, that the Goſpel which we have heard, hath been preach'd in the whole world; the other, that it is the ſame which was committed to our Apoſtle. It's in the belief of this Goſpel, that he would have us abide firm. It's to this faith, that he promiſeth the peace of GOD, His Favour, and His Eternity. GOD (ſaith he) hath reconciled you to Himſelf, that He might preſent you holy, without ſpot, and unreproveable; if indeed you continue firm in the faith, and are not moved away from the hope of the Goſpel. From whence it follows, that if we have this Goſpel among us, we may certainly aſſure our ſelves, that by retaining it, we ſhall obtain the peace, and the Salvation of GOD. The only queſtion therefore is, Whether the Doctrine which we have embraced be truly this Goſpel or no? If it be, I have no further ſearch to make. I am content to have found what is ſufficient for me, that I may appear before my GOD without confuſion, and receive of Him life everlaſting. But that the Doctrine whereof we make profeſſion, is the ſame Goſpel that Paul preached; the ſame that he and the other Apoſtles ſowed in the world, and which the world, overcome by the force of its truth, did in the end receive and adore: This, I ſay, is ſo clear, that I do not think the Devil himſelf, as hardned in impudence as he is, can deny it. For the GOD whom we ſerve; and the CHRIST, whom we adore; and His Merit, in which we truſt; and the Worſhip we give Him in Spirit, and in truth; and the Heaven, we hope for; and the Sacraments we celebrate, and all the other Articles of our Religion, do they not every where appear, in the Books of Paul, and of the other Apoſtles? Are they not to be ſeen in all the Monuments of theſe great men, as well in their Writings, as alſo in the Churches which they planted through the earth? Let us therefore, my Brethren, abide firm in this faith, ſince it moſt aſſuredly is the Goſpel which was heretofore preached in all the world, and was commited to S. Paul's miniſtring. And if thoſe of Rome do alledge to us their Devotions and Traditions; let us boldly tell them, that if thoſe things were any part of the Goſpel, they would appear in what the Apoſtles preached; to whom JESUS CHRIST gave the Miniſtry thereof. And in the mean time, there is not found any one of them in the Sacred Volumes, which they have left us, to be the rule of our faith. Neither the adoration of the Hoaſt, nor the veneration of Images, nor the invocation of Saints departed; nor the other points for which they have Excommunicated us. And herein their Head doth evidently diſcover, how Apoſtolical he is; to baniſh thoſe from his Communion, whom S. Paul here expreſly declares, to be at peace with GOD, holy and unreprovable before Him. For, to have this happineſs, he doth not oblige us to believe or practice this pretended Goſpel of Rome. He requireth us, only abide firm in the belief of his, the Goſpel which he preached to the faithful, and left in his Epiſtles. In them our Religion is to be ſeen, full and whole. But not one Article of that which Rome would by all means conſtrain us to receive. But there is no need we ſhould make further ſtay upon this matter; the truth of that Doctrine which we embrace being ſo clear, that no man who underſtands Chriſtianity, and owns the Divinity of it, can call it into queſtion: And on the other hand, the abſurdity of the Doctrine we reject, is ſo palpable, and ſo rudely beats againſt the foundations of Reaſon and Scripture, that it s very difficult for a man, who hath had any taſte of the Goſpel, ever to yield up his conſent to the errors we conteſt; except GOD have blinded him in puniſhment of his ingratitude. The great combate which we have moſt cauſe to fear, is that of the paſſions of our fleſh. It's theſe properly that enfeeble faith, that darken its light, that hide the truth from its view, and paint up error. Theſe are the true cauſes of their change, who deſert us; and of the offence of many, that are infirm among us. Experience ſhews it us daily. And accordingly you ſee, Matth. 13.21, 22.our Saviour hath advertis'd us of it; having ſaid in one of His Parables, that it is either the fear of perſecution, or the cares of this world, and the deceitfulneſs of riches, that makes the ſeed of heaven unfruitful in the hearts of men, and obſtructs their perſeverance. And S. Paul ſomwhere imformeth us, 2 Tim. 1.19.that they that reject a good conſcience, make ſhipwrack alſo in reſpect of faith. When a man is once ſold over to pleaſure, or avarice, or ambition, it is no wonder, if in the ſequel, he diſguſt the truth, and fall into error. The paſſage is eaſie from the one to the other. Beſides, the ſlaves of ſin, not finding the contentation of their paſſions, in the profeſſion of Truth, which is for the moſt part under the croſs; their intereſt carries them to ſeek their ſatisfaction in the world: this gives an huge ſhake to their minds, and brings them by degres to reliſh the worlds ſide and party; as it is natural to us, to believe eaſily the things we deſire. Here therefore it is, dear Brethren, that we muſt put to our might, and fight in good earneſt, if we would continue firm in the faith. Give me a man, that embracing JESUS CHRIST, hath caſt off the luſts of the fleſh, and of the world, and I will be ſecure of his perſeverance. Take me away the colours, wherewith avarice, and ambition, and vanity, do paint-over error, in the thoughts of the worldly-minded, and I will not fear its ſeducing of any. Cleanſe your Conſcience, and your Faith will be out of danger. The Devil, without doubt, made uſe of his beſt weapons againſt our LORD; and you know, that having repreſented to Him, the hunger, and the neceſſity he was in, he omitted not to ſpread before His eyes the pomp of the Grandeurs, and riches of the world. It is a wile he ſtill puts in practiſe; and his Miniſters do not forget this piece of his play: they fail not to tell ſuch, as they would deſtroy, that they will give them wonders. Faithful Brethren, let us fence our ſelves ſeaſonably againſt this tentation. Mortifie we in us all the luſts of Fleſh and Earth, accuſtom our ſelves to a not-dreading the Croſs, and the ſufferings of our LORD; ſuffer not the world to dazle our eyes. Look we upon it, as a deceitful ſhew, unable to content its own adorers. To the falſe goods, wherewith it feedeth its bondſervants, let us oppoſe the true ones, which the Goſpel promiſeth. Let the ſweet and noble hope of theſe, enflame our ſouls with an ardent deſire of heaven, and its immortality. Let it ſweeten all the bitterneſs that attends our profeſſion, and make execrable to us, all that tendeth to turn us away from ſo bleſſed a deſign. Courage, Chriſtian; yet a little patience, and you have overcome. Your faith, if you abide firm in it, will open in your heart for the preſent, a living ſpring of ſuch joy, as is a thouſand times ſweeter than all the pleaſures of Worldings: And it ſhall be crowned one day, with that ſupereminent and immortal glory, which the Goſpel that you have believed, doth promiſe to all thoſe, which ſhall conſtantly perſevere in the Vocation of the LORD JESUS. To whom with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, the true and only GOD, bleſſed for ever, be all honor, and praiſe to ages of ages. Amen.