Christs Alarm to Drowsy Saints, Sermon 9
Revel. 3. 1.
Theſe things, ſaith hee, that hath the ſeven Spirits of God, and the ſeven Starres.
HAving done with the inſcription of this Epiſtle, To the Church that is in Sardis write, wee came to the Subſcription, containing the perſon from whom the Epiſtle is ſent. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who is here deſcribed from two Royalties of his, Firſt, that he hath The ſeven Spirits of God, that we have handled already. Secondly, that he hath the ſeven Starres, or the Miniſters of the Church. This we have almoſt finiſhed too; wee ſhewed you that Chriſt is ſaid to have the Miniſters of the Church five wayes.
Firſt, hee hath the ſending of them; they have their Miſſion from him.
Secondly, hee hath the delegating of them; they have their Commiſſion from him.
Thirdly, hee hath the gifting of them; they have their gifts and abilities from him.
Fourthly, he hath the proſpering or not proſpering of them; they have their ſucceſſe from him.
All theſe foure I have ſpoken of already. Now remains the fifth and the laſt, hee hath the diſpoſing of them, the placing of them in a Town, the continuing of them, or removing of them, the holding of them up, or the pulling of them down, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Hee hath the key of David, hee openeth and no man ſhutteth, and he ſhutteth and no man openeth, Rev. 3. 7. that is, he hath all power in the Church, to place it or diſplace it. To ſettle it or to tranſplant it, to preſcribe or not preſcribe, to abſolve or to condemne, to ſave or to deſtroy, to give Miniſters liberty or to take it away. As Chriſt telles the Miniſter of Philadelphia, I have ſet before thee an open doore, and no man can ſhut it. Rev. 3. 8. good Miniſters ſhall have Liberty to preach in their ſtations, as long as he pleaſes, and they never can be hindred, till he is pleaſed ſo to permit it, or appoint it. So when Paul was at Epheſus though he had never ſo many adverſaries there, that would faine hinder him if they could, Yet as long as Chriſt gave him an open doore, to preach and to do good, none of them all could withſtand him. A great doore and effectuall is opened unto me, and there are many adverſaries, 1 Cor. 16. 9.
Firſt, Chriſt hath the placing of his Miniſters. As he ſaith to Ieremiah I have ſet thee. So Chriſt ſayes to all his true Miniſters, I have ſet you. God hath ſet to all men the bounds of their habitations. Act. 17. 26. that one man ſhall dwell here; another there, one in this Pariſh, another in that Pariſh. How much more does he appoint unto his Miniſters their habitations, that John the Baptiſt ſhall be in the Wilderneſſe of Judea, Titus ſhall be in Creete, Epaphras ſhall be at Coloſſe, Epaphroditus at Philippi, Timothy at Epheſus, and the like. Nay, he is no Miniſter of Chriſt that is not of Chriſts placing. As the Apoſtle ſpeakes. Take heed unto your ſelves and to all the flocke, over which the Holy Ghoſt hath made you overſeers. Act. 20. 28. Over which the Holy Ghoſt hath made you overſeers. He is a true Miniſter to this or that Congregation; that can ſay that the Holy Ghoſt hath made me an overſeer to them.
The Reaſon is, firſt, Becauſe no man is a Paſtor or a Shepheard to any ſheepe, that did not enter in by the doore into thoſe ſheep. He that entreth in by the doore, is a ſhepheard of the ſheep. Joh. 10. 2. Now who is this doore but Jeſus Chriſt? I am the doore ſaith he, By me if any man enter in, he ſhall be ſaved. As it followes there in the ninth verſe. As he is the doore, no man can enter into the Miniſtery rightly but by him. He muſt have his Letters of Orders from him. So he is the doore into any flocke, and if a man have not inſtitution and induction from him, he is no Shepheard of the flocke. Nay, Chriſt tells him flatly, he is a theefe and robber, and a hyreling. When the Danites askt the Levite in Mount Ephraim, who brought thee hither? What makeſt thou in this place? Judg. 18. 3. ye know he put himſelfe there, he ſought for the place himſelfe, and it was maintenance that brought him thither. His owne conſcience told him he was a Hyreling. He could not ſay, the Lord brought me hither. He came not in by the doore; Now every true Miniſter comes in by the doore into a Pariſh, and therefore he comes in by Jeſus Chriſt.
Secondly, No Miniſter can be placed in any Pariſh, but by the Biſhop of the Dioceſſe. Now Beloved, who ever be Chriſts ſubſtitute, Chriſt is the maine Biſhop of every Dioceſſe, Chriſt is the Shepheard and Biſhop of our foules, 1 Pet. 2. 25. Indeed there be other Biſhops under him, other Shepheards under him, I but he is the great Shepheard of the ſheepe, Heb. 13. 20. the Arch Shepheard. foreign 1 Pet. 5. 4. The chiefe Shepheard. When the chiefe Shepheard ſhall appeare. Well if he be the chiefe Shepheard, it is fit that he ſhould inſtitute and induct into Paſtorall charges. Its fit that his word ſhould be followed, in every ones comming into a living, to go no where, but where his word doth allow. To take no care of Soules, but of ſuch as he commits to our cuſtody. All true Miniſters are his Curats, and therefore if they be not of his placing, they came not in right.
Thirdly, If it be he that muſt pay them their wages, then reaſon good, that he ſhould ſet them on worke. If a man thruſt himſelf into a Pariſh, it was not Chriſt that moved him to come there, but forſooth he wanted a Living, he would faine have maintenance, there is ſo much Per annum, this was his motive, Chriſt never moved him, this man can look for no wages from Jeſus Chriſt. When he hath gathered in his Tithes or his quarteridge, Chriſt will tell him as he told the fooliſh Phariſees, Ye have the record. He that ſet you on work, he wil pay your wages. I never ſet you on work, and therefore ye can look for nothing at my hands. Certainly if Chriſt muſt pay a man his wages, good Reaſon that he ſhould have the putting of a man into this or that Vineyard. He called in the Labourers and payd them their wages that gave them their taske. Matt. 3. 20. 8.
Fourthly, How can they looke for his aſſiſtance and Bleſſing, if they be not placed by him? when the Lord had placed Jeremiah a Prophet in Judah, the Lord undertooke to aſſiſt him. I have made thee this day a defenced City and an iron Pillar, and Brazen walles, I will be with thee Jere. 1. 18, 19. A Miniſter hath need of Chriſts aſſiſtance, where e're he is, his Preaching elſe will doe little good, his Sermons will be of no effect, Chriſts aſſiſtance and Bleſſing is all in all. Moſes prayes for Levi, Bleſſe Lord his ſubſtance, and accept the worke of his hands. Deut. 33. 11. No man hath more need of Chriſts bleſſing to go along with him then a Miniſter. Now when a Miniſter is not there where Chriſt would have him to be, How can hee expect that Chriſts bleſſing ſhould be with him? if he can ſay, Chriſt would have me here, Chriſt hath placed me here, then he may looke for Chriſts being with him.
Fifthly, what peace of Conſcience can they have, when they lye on their death-beds, except they can comfortably ſay, Lord thou didſt place me in this Pariſh, Lord I came in by the doore, and by no other way. It was not by-ends, nor filthy lucre, nor gaine, as Jeremiah ſayes, I did not thruſt in my ſelfe to be a Paſtor, Lord thou madeſt me a Miniſter to this Congregation, I have faithfully tended thoſe Soules, that thou gaveſt me to feed, this is a ſweet thing. Ye know people are apt to ſay, who ſent for you, who made you our Miniſter? we will not acknowledge you to be our Miniſter. As Shemaiah ſaid of good Jeremiah; Thou haſt made thy ſelf a Prophet to this people, Jer. 29. 27. Now if Jeremiah had not his own Conſcience to prove his Inſtitution from God, what a taking had he beene in?
Sixthly, And laſtly, what comfort elſe can the people of God have to live under ſuch a mans Miniſtery, unleſſe they can ſay, this is my Miniſter, ſet over me in the Lord! This is ſo needfull, that without it, he were as good have no Miniſter at all. As the Apoſtle tells the good people of Coloſſe, Epaphras is for you a faithfull Miniſter of Chriſt, Col. 1. 7. This is their comfort indeed, when they can truely affirme that this man is for us a faithfull Miniſter of Chriſt. This Miniſter is our Miniſter in Chriſt. This is the ground of their Conſciences, ſubmitting to his Miniſtery, and of their receiving of him, as an Embaſſador from Chriſt unto them. Now when a man is not placed by Chriſt in a Pariſh as their Miniſter, what joy can they have to heare him? What hope that God will ſanctifie his labours among them?
The uſe of this is, firſt; For us that are Miniſters, that weUſe 1. looke we be of Chriſts placing, that we may be able to conclude to our people, as Paul to the Corinths, Though I be not an Apoſtle unto others, yet doubtleſſe I am an Apoſtle unto you. So that we may be able to conclude to our people, doubtleſſe I am Chriſts Miniſter unto you. As our Saviour Chriſt ſayes. Who is the faithfull wiſe Shepheard, Whom his Lord ſhall make Ruler over his houſhold? Luk. 12. 42. Hath the Lord made us Rulers over his houſhold? We are all ſhepheards in ſuch and ſuch Pariſhes. But did the Lord put us there? We are Spirituall Rulers over ſuch and ſuch houſholds of God, but did the Lord make us Rulers over them? otherwiſe we are not Starres in his hands; No, We are blazing Comets out of his Orb, if we be Starres in his hands, wee can prove our placing from him.
Secondly, This ſerves to condemne them that are theevesUſe 2. and intruders into Gods Heritage, that never came in by the doore, but by ſome other way, that are hirelings and will leave the ſheep, for their own advantage; Gain makes them take livings, gain makes them chop and change, that never went to Chriſt for his approbation, it is ſaid of the Apoſtles that the Rulers and Elders perceived that they had been with Jeſus, Act. 4. 13. Thoſe are Miniſters of Pariſhes indeed, that have been with Jeſus, But theſe men, no man can perceive that ever they have been with Jeſus Chriſt, that ever they had any allowance from him, and yet they will bee crowding in into Livings. But I let this paſſe.
Thirdly, Hath Chriſt the placing of Miniſters? then thisUſe 3. is of uſe unto you, that have Miniſters of Chriſts placing among you. Take heed how ye carry your ſelves under your Miniſtery. If you doe not obey their Doctrine, you ſin againſt Chriſt. O reject not their reproofes, put not off the Word of God in their mouthes, if ye doe, ye doe not put off men but God. It was an excellent exhortation of that godly King, Jehoſaphat: Heare me, O yee inhabitants of Judah and Jeruſalem, beleeve the Lords Prophets and ye ſhall proſper, 2 Chron. 20. 20. O, if Kings and Princes would do ſo now, call upon people up and down, O Sirs, beleeve the Lords Prophets and ye ſhall proſper: Ye that have Gods Miniſters among you, beleeve them, may bee when they threaten againſt all your ſinfull courſes, they tell you of hell, and damnation, and heaven and ſalvation, ye hardly beleeve any ſuch thing: O beleeve them, that it may goe well with you. Remember they be of Chriſts placing among you. He put them into your Pulpits, he gives them the Themes that they preach to you from day to day. Beleeve them.
Fourthly, Hath Chriſt the placing of Miniſters? then neverUſe 4. complain of graceleſſe Miniſters; O, ye have graceleſſe Miniſters, and our Miniſter is not as he ſhould be, he is not a good liver, he does not preach to the Conſcience. People are apt to complaine of Patrons, and ſuch and ſuch cauſes, but let mee tell you, you murmure againſt Jeſus Chriſt, every Pariſh in England might have a good and a godly Miniſter, a Miniſter after Gods own heart, for all that I know, if they would goe to Jeſus Chriſt, he hath the placing of Miniſters.
Now what is the reaſon that there are no more able worthy Miniſters every where?
Anſwer, Surely if Chriſt were ſought to, this would quickly be holpen, when Judah had no Miniſters in the Captivity, their ſoules ſtarved for want of good feeding, thouſands periſht, and their ſoules were quite loſt for lack of Viſion. What ſayes Chriſt to them. Turn ye backſliding children, ſaith the Lord, for I am marryed unto you, and I will take you one of a city, and two of a Family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you Paſtours according to my heart, which ſhall feed you with knowledge and underſtanding, Jer. 3. 14, 15. people are ſubject to murmure, and this is long of ſuch and ſuch, that wee have no better Miniſters, whereas the Truth is, it is long of our ſelves, iniquity abounds every where, the love of many waxes cold, people grow weary of wholſome Doctrine, they have itching eares, they are full fed, any Miniſtery is good enough for them, if a man propheſie of Wine and ſtrong drink, hee ſhall even bee the Prophet of this people, Mich. 2. 11. that is, any Prophet is good enough for them, fitter than a better. One that would ſhew people how to get Bread and Drink, and Wine, and profits, and pleaſures; People would rather hear ſuch a one preach, than to hear of Repentance and Mortification; and Faith, and Holineſſe, and the wayes of God, they care not for theſe things. The true Preaching of the Word, is as contrary to the diſpoſition of men as can be. Nothing is more irkſome unto them, as the Word rightly taught. It goes againſt their luſts, it croſſes their wicked wills. They are weary of it, they ſay unto God depart from us, they will not let Chriſt reigne in their hearts, therefore we may rather wonder that there is any good Miniſter in the Kingdome any where, wee are to bleſſe God, and pray for our Governours, that wee have any good Miniſters at all, the truth is wee deſerve not any. There is ſo little Religion every where, ſo much hypocriſie, ſo much profeſſion without any power of godlineſſe, ſuch a deale of vanity, and unſoundneſſe, and hollow-heartedneſſe; nay, among ſuch as have gone for good Chriſtians, ſo much falſehood and rottenneſſe, and apoſtacy, to what end ſhould Chriſt let us have any more Preaching. Wee give the world occaſion to think, that Preaching is the cauſe of all this wretchedneſſe. What a diſhonour is this to Jeſus Chriſt? and therefore no marvaile we have no more, wee may admire the patience of God that wee have any.
Fifthly, Hath Chriſt the placing of Miniſters? thenUſe 5. ſee whether to goe for good Miniſters. Chriſt is the generall Patron of all Livings▪ Hee can preſent whom hee will to a Pariſh, and therefore we ſhould pray unto him. When our Saviour Chriſt preached here and there, and ſaw how the people came out of all Pariſhes to him, it ſeems, though they had Levites in their own Synagogues, yet they did not know how to feed their flocks; they were as ſheep for all them without a ſhepheard▪ there was hardly ere a good Miniſter among them all. Mark, what the Text sayes. Jeſus had compaſsion on them, becauſe they were ſcattered abroad as ſheep having no ſhepheard: O ſayes he, Pray yee therefore the Lord of the Harveſt that he would ſend forth labourers into his harveſt, Mat. 9. 38. ſo much for the firſt.
Secondly, Now as Chriſt hath the placing of Miniſters, ſo hee hath the continuing of them, as long as hee pleaſes. Hee continued the Prophet Iſaiah in his Miniſtery during the Reigne of foure Kings. Hee kept the Prophet Hoſea in his function, during the reign of five Kings, though the times were very bad. When it was told Chriſt that Herod ſought his life, that hee would not onelyonly put him beſides his Miniſtery, but alſo his very life; ſayes he, Goe tell that Fox, Behold I caſt out Devils, and I doe cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I ſhall bee perfect, Luk. 13. 32. Chriſt had his time appointed him by his Father himſelf, and hee would Preach all that time out, and all the devills in hell, and all his Enemies on earth ſhould not hinder him. So, Beloved, it is with all his Miniſters, hee hath ſet them a time, and hee hath power to continue them all that time. I ſhall preach to day, and to morrow, and ſuch a day, doe the world what they can, they cannot hinder his miniſters from preaching, till Chriſt pleaſe, as hee told his people: Though the Lord give you the bread of adverſity, and the water of affliction, yet ſhall not thy Teachers bee removed into a corner any more: But thine eyes ſhall ſee thy Teachers. Eſa. 30. 20. q. d. though thy Miniſters have been put by, yet I will reſtore them againe, and they ſhall not be put by any more. I have power to continue them as long as I will; when he called Noah to preach to the old world, he appointed him 120. years, and hee continued him all that while, whether the wicked world would or no.
And the Reaſon is, firſt, becauſe Miniſters are his Embaſſadors. Now a King it is in his choyce, how long his Embaſſadors ſhall lye Lieger in a forain Country, he hath ſo many buſineſſes for them to doe, and ſo long they ſhall continue there. So, true miniſters are the Embaſſadors of Chriſt, as the Apoſtle Paul ſpeaks, Now then we are Embaſſadors for Chriſt, as though God did beſeech you by us, wee pray you in Chriſts ſtead, be reconciled unto God, 2 Cor. 5. 20. we are Chriſts Ambaſſadours, and therfore he will continue us as long as he liſt; as long as he hath any buſines to doe; as long as he hath any ſoules to ſave, any men or women to reconcile to his father, or to build up, ſo long he will continue us. Its a dolefull ſigne when Chriſt takes away his Miniſters from a place, its a ſigne he hath no more ſoules to ſave; if he had, he would let his Ambaſſadours lye beſeeching ſtill: ſo that this is one great reaſon, becauſe, Miniſters are His Ambaſſadours.
Secondly, Becauſe Chriſt hath all power in Heaven and in Earth, as he told his Apoſtles, when he ſent them out to preach, All power is given to me in Heaven and in Earth, Math. 28. 18, q. d. I have power to ſend you, and I have power to continue your Miniſtery as long as I thinke fitting, and I have power to take you away, I have power to ordaine you either for ſalvation or the damnation of men. Whom I will I can convert by your Sermons, and whom I will I can deliver up to the counſell of their own hearts, that they ſhall not be converted by you. Now: if Chriſt have all power in Heaven and in Earth, then he hath power to continue his Miniſters as long as his will is. I need not ſtand to prove this, it is too evident: he hath power to lengthen his Miniſters lives, to prolong their liberties, when he takes away one, he hath power to put in another as good: when he meant to take away Elias, he anoynted Eliſha in his roome. If their enemies be never ſo many, he can tye up their hands; he deliverd Paul from the mouth of the Lyon: though fortie men had vowed to take him away by death, he diverted their plot, and continued him ſtill: nay, when he was in Bonds, yet he was able to get him liberty to go abroad with his keeper, and to preach the Kingdom of God to as many as came. Suppoſe the world be never ſo mad againſt Chriſts Miniſters, yet as long as he hath any more worke for them to doe, he can hold off their ſingers from meddling with them, till they have finiſhed the Taske that hee hath given them to doe.
The Uſe of this is; firſt, That Miniſters ſhould not fearUſe 1. to bee deprived of their liberty, ſo long as they doe well; indeed if they doe ill, if they bee wicked or idle, or unworthy, ſuch Miniſters ſhould fear they doe deſerve to be put down. But if wee bee godly Miniſters, it is our baſeneſſe to feare any ſuch thing. Chriſt hath the continuing of us, our times are not in mens hands, but in his. What a horrible thing is it, that wee ſhould goe againſt our conſcience in any thing, or bee afraid to ſpeak what God bids us, to bee mealemouthed, to bee diſcouraged with rumours, or dangers, wee ſhould keep nothing back of the whole counſell of God, wee are ſtarres in his hands, and hee hath the continuing of us; though men fight againſt us, they cannot prevaile againſt us, till our buſineſſe is all done. As the Lord told the Prophet Jeremiah: They ſhall fight againſt thee, but they ſhall not prevaile againſt thee, for I am with thee, Jer. 1. 19. Let us then be afraid of nothing but ſinne. Let us bee afraid to doe any evill, either towards God or towards man; let us be harmleſſe in the midſt of a crooked, and a perverſe generation. Let us deale faithfully with our people, let us undauntedly Preach, Rebuke, Exhort, with all long ſuffering and Doctrine, make our faces hard againſt the wickeds faces, no matter for their railings, their threatning ſpeeches, their malicious accuſations, and not feare, the Lord Jeſus hath the continuing of us.
Secondly, Here we may ſee the reaſon why the GoſpelUſe 2. continues in any place, a man would wonder it ſhould continue any where, becauſe the world cannot abide it. Which of the Prophets have not your Fathers perſecuted? ſaves Stephen, Act. 7. 52. They that doe evill, hate the light, it cuts them to the heart; Every one hates mee, ſayes the Prophet, hee was reproached for the Words ſake. Report, ſay they, and wee will report it. One time they put him into a dungeon; Another time they would have killed him. Shemaiah writ Letters to the high Prieſt againſt him, Jer. 29. 25. And yet hee continued his Miniſtery, untill the day of the Captivity. Nay, hee had liberty, when others had their liberty taken away. Yee know Chriſt himſelf Preached dayly in the Temple, and they took him not, though they gnaſht their teeth at his Doctrine, and ſometimes were in the minde to throw him down headlong and break his neck, ſometimes to ſtone him; yet till his houre was come, he had his liberty.
And the truth is, a man would wonder how any of Gods Miniſters have their Liberties continued; when there bee ſo many Drunkards, ſo many Enemies of all goodneſſe, ſo many that follow their own ungodly luſts, and the Goſpel is an eye-ſore unto them, and yet in many places it ſtands ſtill. This is Gods doing. You ſee here Chriſt hath the continuing of his Miniſters; they ſhall have their liberty, as long as God hath any uſe for them.
Thirdly, Is it ſo, that Chriſt hath the continuing ofUſe 3. his Miniſters? then this is of uſe alſo unto you; Now you heare whence to have your good Miniſters continued, even by ſeeking to Jeſus Chriſt, hee can lay a charge upon all the world where they are, to let them alone. He can ſay, Doe my Prophets no harme, Pſal. 105. 15. you will ſay, why? what ſhall we doe?
I Anſwer; firſt, let us repent of our ſinnes, it is our ſins that removes the Miniſters of God, if we would repent us of our ſins, and turn from our wicked wayes, and let the Word work upon our hearts, this would continue the miniſtery of the Word, as God told Judah, when they ſhould repent of their ſins, O ſayes hee, I will bee your God, and you ſhall be my people, and my Sanctuary ſhall be among you for evermore, Ezek. 27. 27, 28. that is, by Sanctuary he meanes his publique Worſhip, the preaching of his Word, and other of the meanes of grace, when they repented of their ſins, then theſe ſhould be continued: So, Beloved, if yee would repent of your ſins, I do not mean one or two, or a few, or ſo; But if there might be a generall Reformation among us, this would faſten the Word among us, as in a ſure place.
Secondly, Let us prize the Goſpell, the Goſpell loves to ſtay there where it is welcome: it will never goe away, if it might have good entertainment, if wee would honour it, and glorifie it, and pluck up our affections, in the deareſt manner to it, this would preſerve it among us for ever. The Church of Philadelphia, that uſed the Word beſt, had it longeſt, &c. Our Saviour Chriſt hath a ſaying, Into what ſoever Towne or City yee enter, enquire who is worthy, there abide, Matth. 10. 11. And as hee ſayes, Luk. 10. 7. Goe not from houſe to houſe. The Goſpell does not love to change houſes till it be urged; ſo it does not love to change Townes, if it may have good uſage; So, Beloved, if wee would give the Goſpell good uſage, the Lord would continue it; like a Gueſt that is the willinger to ſtay when he ſees he is among Friends.
Thirdly, Let us bring forth the fruits of it. The Huſbandman will ever continue ploughing of his ground, as long as hee ſees it will give him a good crop. But when hee perceives it will not quit charges, then hee layes it Fallow. So Chriſt would have ſtayed his word ſtill in Judah and Jeruſalem, if they would have brought forth competent fruite. But when once they grew barren, hee ſaid hee would take his Kingdome away. The Kingdom of God ſhall be taken away from you, and given to a Nation that will bring forth the fruites thereof, Matth. 21. 43.
Fourthly, Let us bee earneſt with God, to have his Goſpell continue. Importunity may doe much: Importunity held Chriſt a night longer with the Diſciples, Luk. 24. 29. Importunity held the Levite three or foure dayes longer then otherwiſe hee would, Judg. 19. 4, 5, 6, 7. O If wee would bee importunate with Chriſt to ſtay his Goſpel ſtill; as Jacob did the Angell, Thou ſhalt not goe till thou bleſſe mee, Lord thy Goſpell ſhall not goe till it convert me; and it ſhall not goe till it convert mee, and it ſhall convert mee firſt; if every one would hang upon Chriſt, to ſtay his Goſpell ſtill, and thou ſhalt not let it goe till it hath done my ſoule good, till it hath illightned mine eyes, and quickned my heart, this would obtaine much; may bee ſome doe doe thus! as Jeremiah did: O thou hope of Iſrael, Why ſhouldeſt thou bee as a ſtranger in the Land, and as a wayfaring man, that turneth aſide to ſtay for a night, Jer. 14. 8. Alas! that would not doe, if there had been many Jeremiah's▪ to doe thus, then they might have gotten him to ſtay longer. So, may bee ſome doe cry importunately thus, O thou hope of Jeruſalem, &c. And ſo I fall upon the third thing: ye have heard; firſt, how Chriſt hath the placing of his Miniſters; ſecondly, he hath the continuing of them.
Thirdly, Now it followes, hee hath the removing of them too. People are prone to look upon ſecond cauſes, But Chriſt is the ſupreame, hee is the principall cauſe of this judgement upon men, to take away his Miniſters, as the Prophet Iſaiah ſpeaks, The Lord of Hoaſts doth take away from Jeruſalem and from Judah, the mighty man, and the Judge, and the Prophet, Eſa. 3. 1, 2. Whether it bee by death, or removeall, or impriſonment, or ſuſpending, or any other way: It is he that deprives a people of his faithfull Miniſters, whoſoever be the inſtrument.
Firſt, He can take them away by death out of the world, Thus the Lord took away the Prophet Enoch, Geneſis 5. 24.
Secondly, He can take them away by removeall, thus he took away Jonas from Iſrael, and ſent him to Niniveh, Jon. 3. 1. Ye know he was a Prophet in Iſrael, and the Lord removed him thence to the Land of Aſſyria.
Thirdly, He can take them away by letting them bee impriſoned, thus he took away John the Baptiſt, by letting Herod put him into priſon, for telling him of his ſins, Mark, 16. 17. So, Ahab impriſoned Michaiah for telling him the truth.
Fourthly, Hee can take them away by letting them be ſuſpended, and inhibited from Preaching, by letting wicked men have their wills, That ſay to the Seers, ſee not, and to the Prophets, propheſie not, Speak to us ſmooth things, propheſie deceits. Eſa. 30. 10. Thus King Amaziah ſilenced the Prophet that reproved him, 2 Chron. 25. 16.
Fifthly, He can take them away by ſilencing them himſelfe, this is as bad as taking them away for the time, thus himſelf ſtopt Ezikels mouth, and made him dumb.
Now the Reaſon why Chriſt does doe thus, is; firſt, becauſe of the wicked, they will not receive their Doctrine. Thus the Lord Jeſus took away Paul out of Jeruſalem. Make haſte, get thee quickly out of Jeruſalem, for they will not receive thy teſtimony concerning mee, Acts 22. 18.
Secondly, The Lord does it in regard of his own people, becauſe they begin to forſake their firſt love. This was the reaſon why the Lord threatned to take away the Miniſtery of the Word out of Epheſus, I will remove thy Candleſtick out of its place, except thou repent, Revelations 2. 5.
Thirdly, The Lord does this ſometimes in regard of the Miniſtery it ſelf, that it may be more precious afterwards, as it is ſaid there in Samuel, when the Lord had deprived Iſrael of his Prophets, for a matter of foureſcore yeares together, O ſayes the Text, The Word of God was precious in thoſe dayes, becauſe there was no open Viſion, 1 Sam. 3. 1.
The Uſe of this is, firſt, Is it ſo, that it is Chriſt thatUſe 1. removes Miniſters? then this ſhould teach us to mourn before him, if ever any of our Miniſters bee taken away by any meanes, wee ſhould ſee whoſe hand is upon us, the hand of the Lord is gone out againſt us, it is hee that inflicteth this judgement, and therefore wee ſhould mourn unto him, as the Church did. When all their Prophets were gone, and all Religion went to wrack, and the enemies had burnt up their Synagogues, and broken up all their godly Aſſemblies: O how they mourned unto God for it. O God, why haſt thou caſt us off? Why does thine anger ſmoak againſt the ſheepe of thy paſture? Remember thy Congregation, which thou haſt purchaſed of old. Remember mount Zion, wherein thou haſt dwelt, Pſal. 74. 1, 2. this was a heavy judgement indeed, they felt the Lords anger ſmoake againſt them then. Why? What was the matter? Wee ſee not our ſignes, there is no more any Prophet, Ver. 9.
Secondly, Another Uſe is, Let us look into the meritoriousUſe 2. cauſe, which is nothing but our ſins. If Gods Miniſters be put down at any time, it is our ſins that put them down. For if Chriſt be the inflicting cauſe, certainly our ſins are the deſerving cauſe; wee can blame none but our own ſins, if any thing ſtop any good Miniſters mouth, it is they, it is peoples drunkenneſſe, and diſorder, you are the cauſe, your unfruitfulneſſe, and ſecurity, and hypocriſie, and formality, you doe not learn goodneſſe and godlineſſe under the Word, yee remaine vaine and blinde, and hardned in your hearts under the ſame. What Pariſhes more diſorderly, than thoſe where moſt preaching is, where is more hatred of word, and vertue, and piety then there? where is more railing at a good life, and holy walking, and ſuch as deſire to doe well? the more preaching people hear, for the moſt part, the worſe they grow. People come to Church it may bee, but they make it a cloake for their villanies, they will give us the hearing, but no obedience, no practiſe, no Reformation, no ſigne of amendment, no love, no truth, no faithfulneſſe, no communion at all, welaneare, where moſt Preaching is! if any thing ſtop our mouthes, this will doe it. And indeed what may men think of us, but that wee are a company of hypocrites, and teachers of vanities; what are theſe Preachers, wee ſee little good they doe, what becomes of all their Preaching, factions and odde opinions, in one Towne, and diſſoluteneſſe and all manner of licenſiouſneſſe in another. If the whole world ſhould let us alone, I verily feare God himſelfe would put us down immediately, in the end. So many ſcandals, ſo many thouſand offences are given every day, that its a wonder wee ſtand as we doe. That the Lord of heaven lets any Miniſter in England, come into a Pulpit more; nothing but pride, and ſelf-conceits, and ſelftruſtings, and feared conſciences, dead hearts, and profaneneſſe; unleſſe it be a very little handfull; O Beloved, if where preaching is, it were honoured as it ought to bee, and obeyed as it ſhould, if people would doe as we teach, I dare be bold to affirme wee might Preach long enough. If our Townes would ſweetly reforme, ſet up good Government, root out all diſorders and curſed abuſes, live like Chriſtians indeed, be humble, and ſober, and loving, and dutifull to God and Man; Giving to Caeſar the things that are Caeſars, and to God the things that are Gods. If we would feare God, and honour the King: Reverence Gods Courts, obey the voyce of his ſervants, love Chriſt and his word, above our appointed food, this would lengthen the Miniſtery of the Land, this would bee a meanes for the eſtabliſhing of Gods Kingdome among us, Chriſt would never repent that ever hee ſent his Goſpell unto us, where wee have ſome, wee ſhould have more, where we have more, wee ſhould have a hundred times more, as the Apoſtle Peter ſayes, Who is he that will harme you, if yee be followers of that which is good, 1 Pet. 3. 13.
Thirdly, Another Uſe is, is it Chriſt that takes awayUſe 3. Miniſters, either by death, or reſtraining, or by any other way? Then let it bee a meanes to exhort us to repent of our ſinnes, that Chriſt may ſtill give a doore of utterance to his Miniſters, that they may ſtill ſpeak in his name. This ſhould move us to ſeek God. When Peter was caſt into priſon. O what faſting, and crying, and praying was there to God for him, till hee was reſtored again, Act. 12. 5. they did not goe to Herod to reſtore him; No, they knew Chriſt was hee that tooke him from the Church, whoever were the inſtrument, therefore they ſought to Heaven for him again, if any peoples Miniſtery bee gone, this is the beſt way to fetch them again. Paul knew this to bee true, and therefore when hee was in priſon at Rome, hee writes to Philemon thus. I truſt that through your prayers, I ſhall be given unto you. Philemon v. 22. Nay, hee is ſo confident that if people would but cry hard for him to God, that hee ſhould quickly bee enlarged. Nay, ſayes hee, prepare mee a lodging, for I truſt that through your prayers I ſhould be given unto you. q. d. I make no queſtion but I ſhall out of priſon, if you will but bee earneſt with God. So, alſo it ſeems the Authour to the Hebrews, was reſtrained from Preaching. Now mark what an exhortation hee uſes, Pray for us, ſayes hee, and I beſeech you the rather to doe this, that I may bee reſtored unto you the ſooner, Heb. 13. 18, 19.
Thus I have finiſhed this part of the Deſcription of Jeſus Chriſt, That hath the ſeven Starres in his hand, and the whole Subſcription too: Theſe things ſaith hee that hath the ſeven Spirits of God, and the ſeven Starres. I come now to the Epiſtle it ſelf. I know thy works, that thou haſt a name, that thou liveſt and art dead, but of this more, &c.