The Necessity Dignity and Duty of Gospel Ministers, Treatise
MATT. 5.13.
Ye are the ſalt of the Earth: but if the ſalt have loſt his ſavour, wherewith ſhall it be ſalted? it is henceforth good for nothing, but to be caſt out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
THE Text is a part of Chriſt's moſt excellent Sermon on the Mount (after he had ſpent a whole Night in Prayer) to his new elect Apoſtles; a kind of Ordination-Sermon, or elſe a Concio ad Clerum. The 14, 15 and 16 verſes contain a peculiar admonition to his Apoſtles (as Interpreters generally conceive) both concerning their Doctrine, and their Life and Converſation; and this under three metaphors or ſimilitudes, of Salt, of a City ſet on an Hill, and of Light. They are Light, they muſt not be put under a Buſhel, or in a dark Lanthorn; they muſt ſhine, to whom? to all that are in the Houſe; yea they muſt be burning and ſhining Lights, like John the Baptiſt, both by their preaching and living, that others hearing their good Doctrine, and ſeeing their good Works, may glorifie their Father which is in Heaven. Again, they are a City ſet on an Hill, very conſpicuous, in omnium oculis, the eyes of the World are upon them; any erroneous Doctrine taught by them, or any miſcarriage in practice in them, cannot be hid, but will prove very notorious and ſcandalous. Thirdly, they are Salt, and the Salt of the Earth; neceſſary, uſefull and beneficial to the world as Salt is; but they muſt be ſavoury ſalt, not ſaltleſs ſalt; if ſo, firſt, they become altogether unprofitable and contemptible; ſecondly, they are good for nothing, muſt expect to loſe their places and ſtations in the Church, to be caſt out, and to be expoſed to ſcorn and contempt, to be made vile amongſt the people, to be trodden under foot of men. Some I know (as Grotius and Dr. Hammond expound) extend this Scripture ſo far as to reach all Chriſtians, becauſe the Beatitudes are of general concernment, and becauſe they think the twelve Apoſtles were not called and ordained till afterwards, namely, till Chapter the 10th, but to the laſt it is anſwered, that in the Writings of the Evangeliſts, there be certain anticipations, that is, ſome things are ſet down after, which were done before, and ſome things are ſet down before which were done after; and ſo here the inſtruction of the Apoſtles for the office and work of the Miniſtry ſeems to be the main ſcope of this Sermon, and therefore they may be reaſonably thought to be called or ordained before; as for the election of the Apoſtles, it is ſet down indeed afterwards in the tenth Chapter, but 'tis by reaſon or upon occaſion of the Evangeliſts recording then their commiſſion to preach. As to the other objection it may be anſwered, that though he preached in the audience of the people, and that in this Sermon he did teach his Followers many things in general, yet our bleſſed Saviour herein did chiefly intend to inſtruct his twelve Apoſtles, whom he had newly choſen to be teachers of others. Thirdly, Ye, that is ye my Apoſtles and Miniſters, ye are the ſalt of the earth, that is, of men that dwell on the earth, 'tis your part and duty to ſeaſon them with the ſound Doctrine ye have heard, and with a converſation becoming the Goſpel: that ſo they may be preſerv'd from corruption and putrefaction. Ye are ſalt, not properly but by reſemblance; yet not in regard of their Perſons, but of their Miniſtry; hereby by this they were to make the corrupt natures, hearts, communications and converſations of men to become ſavoury, to ſeaſon them for God. And the Apoſtles are called the ſalt of the earth, that is, not of Judaea onelyonly, but of the whole World. So our Saviour enlarged their Commiſſion, Matt. 28.19. Go therefore and teach all nations; now our Saviour amplifieth the former reaſon, whereby he moved his Apoſtles to fidelity and diligence in their Office and Miniſtry, by letting them know, that otherwiſe they would be but unſavoury ſalt, incurable or hardly curable, unprofitable and contemptible; good for nothing, but to be caſt out, and to be trodden under foot. A proverbial ſpeech to ſhew a thing of no worth or value, but that is ſcorn'd and deſpiſed greatly. I ſhall endeavour by God's aſſiſtence to ſhew
1. That Miniſters are the ſalt of the earth, and that 'tis their duty to be ſavoury ſalt. 2. 'Tis poſſible ſome Miniſters may prove unſavoury ſalt. 3. By what means this ſalt becomes unſavoury. 4. That this unſavoury ſalt is hardly curable. 5. That in this condition 'tis uſeleſs and unprofitable. 6. That unſavoury ſalt or bad Miniſters, unfaithfull in their Office, are liable to ejection and contempt, or to be deprived and ſcorned, and to be troden under foot of men.
1. They are ſo, ſee the Text, ſee alſo Mark 9.50. and Luk. 14.34. Salt makes that which is inſipid and unſavoury to reliſh, it gives it a good taſte; ſo the word of God which Miniſters preach doth ſeaſon them, and render them acceptable to God: he will not ſpew them out of his mouth that believe and obey their word. Sal terrae dicuntur (ſaith one) quia totus orbis doctrinâ Apoſtolorum condiendus. A little ſalt ſeaſons a great deal of Proviſion. So the Apoſtles (though a few in number) did ſeaſon many Nations, Jews and Gentiles, Greeks and Romans, and others; yea they prevailed by their preaching Ʋniverſum hominum genus inſipidum, Deóque ingratum quinimo abominabile, quippe quod ejecit ex ore ſuo, jam olim inſulſam agens vitam, & ſapidum Deóque gratum ac jucundum reddere. So Ludovicus Brugenſis. 1. By the preaching of the Goſpel to the world and their receiving of it, mens perſons were made gratefull and acceptable and well pleaſing to God, which elſe he would have loathed and abominated. Hereby, ſaith one, Cibus Diaboli fit cibus Dei. 2. Mens Services and Sacrifices which they performed, were ſeaſoned to acceptation, by means of the Covenant of grace, revealed in the Goſpel, that covenant of Salt: elſe God would not have had that reſpect to them he had, for the ſacrifices of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, and the reaſon is, becauſe they want this ſalt: for the Law ſaith, Every ſacrifice muſt be ſeaſoned or ſalted with ſalt, Levit. 2.12. 3. By the word of God mens actions are rendred more ſavoury to God and Man. Omnis vítoe pars (ſaith one) ſine verbo, inſulſa & inſipida; ſicut ergo oblatio quoevis ſale condienda, ita quoevis actio, verbo condienda.
Salt its heat and acrimony doth reſiſt putrefaction; and ſo the Apoſtles and Miniſters, by preaching the word, by being inſtant in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, by reproving, rebuking, exhorting, do withſtand the corruptions of men, their corrupt natures, corrupt principles, corrupt hearts, rotten communications, and corrupt and filthy converſations. The word of God preached (principally the Goſpel) is a means to dry up, and ſtaunch our fountain of Bloud, and natural Corruption, which elſe would ſtream from us continually. Yea the Word (eſpecially the Goſpel) is better than ſalt; for Sal ad diuturnitatem aliquam ſervat; miniſterii vero ſal, ad aeternitatem: Again, ſalt preſerves freſh meat, which is already free from corruption, for a time: but, Sal miniſterii, homines, jam antè naturâ ſuâ faetidos, & Deo abominabiles, à foetore & putredine eximit. Further 'tis to be noted, that though the word reſemble ſalt in the good qualities of ſalt, yet not in the bad. As for example. 1. Sow a Land with ſalt and it makes a fruitfull Land barren and unfruitfull, but let the Church (God's field) be ſowed with the word, and it becomes fruitfull; ſome part of it to bring forth thirty, ſome ſixty, ſome an hundred fold. 2. Salt muſt be uſed in meaſure and moderation: too much ſalt makes meat neither ſavoury nor wholſome, but the Goſpel admits of no nimium: Preach the word ſaith the Apoſtle to Timothy, be inſtant in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon; and divers of the Fathers of old, and ſo Biſhop Hooker and Mr. Calvin of late, preached every day. 3. Salt makes drink unſavoury, Sal potum inſuavem efficit: hence James 3.12. ſalt water is oppoſed to ſweet: not ſo the word; Thy word is ſweet unto my taſte, ſaith David, yea ſweeter than honey unto my lips. Miniſters by reaſon of the word they preach are the ſalt of the earth: Trahit ad perſonas, quod eſt Doctrinae, ſaith Calvin, non tam ad Perſonas, quàm ad munus, ſaith Gualter; to the Apoſtolical or Miniſterial Function, teaching us, that 'tis the part and duty of the Miniſters of the word, to ſeaſon the Hearts of the Faithfull. And this brings us to the Duty of Miniſters. Ye are the ſalt of the earth, ye ought to be the ſalt of the earth. Eſtis, ſaith one, id eſt, eſſe debetis, ad hoc electi & ordinatià me eſtis Apoſtoli, ut ſitis. Miniſters muſt be ſavoury ſalt, they muſt have ſalt in themſelves, and thus muſt ſeaſon others. Salt it ſelf is earth (ſaith Spanhem.) but 'tis earth burnt and purged from its dregs. Ipſe ſal terra eſt, ſed terra expurgata à foecibus. So the Apoſtles and Miniſters they are Earth but purified by the Spirit of God, which is as Fire: Ex ſe terra ſunt, ſed terra expurgata & excocta ſacro igne & Domini Spiritu. 1. There is requiſite for a Miniſter ſal gratiae; we come not into the world ſalted with this ſalt. Yea, Grande opus eſt inſaliri, ſaith the Father, qui ſale conditur, gratiâ plenus eſt; in communi proverbio ſalſus dicitur gratioſus, & à contrario, inſulſus qui non habet gratiam. He that hath Grace in his Heart can ſpeak experimentally; can ſay, That which I have heard and ſeen declare I unto you, as 'tis 1 Joh. 3.3. and with David, This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him; and again, Come ye children hearken unto me, and I will teach you what he hath done for my ſoul. 2. There is requiſite for a Miniſter ſal eruditionis; that he be ſeaſoned with good Learning; ſome meaſure of Natural parts, and ſome meaſure of acquired Learning is very requiſite for a Miniſter: ſome knowledge men ought to have in the Tongues, eſpecially the Original Tongues, wherein the Scriptures were written; elſe if they conſult Interpreters onelyonly, in ſome places (ſaith one) the half hath not been told them. The milk of the word is then moſt ſincere, when drawn immediately from thoſe full Breaſts, the Hebrew and Greek Texts; whereas it becomes more dilute (ſaith one) by being filed through a Tranſlation; wherein part of the Cream ſliding in the paſſage it loſes ſomewhat of its delicious and genuine reliſh. This water of life being carried from its fountain, by derivation into other Tongues ſometimes loſeth of its high guſt and generous Spirit. And as the Tongues ſo are alſo the Arts, Logick, natural Philoſophy, Hiſtory, Chronology, Geography, Aſtronomy, &c. uſefull for a Miniſter, as is excellently ſhewed in a Treatiſe to that purpoſe by Mr. Reyner of Lincoln. 3. There's requiſite for a Miniſter Sal Sapientiae, the Salt of Wiſdom. Sicut inſulſum à cibo transfertur ad hominem; ita fatuum ab homine transfertur ad cibum: ſic à Martiali, betae inſipidae, vocantur fatuae, an unwiſe or fooliſh man is inſulſus or without Salt. Apoſtoli ſal terrae vocantur, quia homines & ſuâ ſapientià docere debent, & ſuis moribus aedificare, ſo Maldonat. Miniſters ſhould be wiſe to divide the word of God aright, to give every one their portion in due ſeaſon, as a Workman that needs not to be aſhamed. Aaron's Bells (ſaith one) muſt be wiſely rung; ſometimes in one tune, and ſometimes in another as occaſion ſerves. A Miniſter had need be wiſe to diſcern mens Tempers and Diſpoſitions; to chuſe the fitteſt ſeaſons to deal with them, to treat of ſutable Subjects, for variety of occaſions and occurrences; to be able foreign to ſpeak upon the wheels, that his words may be like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver, Prov. 25.11. A wiſe Man will not ſend a Fool upon his Errand, and ſurely then a moſt wiſe God would have his Ambaſſadours ſeaſoned with Salt, to be throughly furniſhed to every good word and work; and to be wiſe unto the Salvation, even both of themſelves and of them that hear them. And as Miniſters muſt have Salt in themſelves, ſo they muſt ſeaſon others, and this may be done two ways, by their Doctrine and their Converſation, or by their Preaching and by their Practice. 1. They muſt be ſure to preach always ſound, ſavoury, wholſome Doctrine, they muſt always avoid all unſound, rotten or unſavoury Doctrine: eſpecially they muſt preach Chriſt, he that is the Center, yea in a ſenſe, the α and ω of the Scripture ſhould be all in all in our Sermons. We ſhould above all as deſire to know nothing but Chriſt and him crucified, ſo preach nothing in compariſon of Chriſt and him crucified. 'Tis thought by the Salt required with every Sacrifice, both in the Tabernacle, in Solomon's Temple, and in Ezekiel's Temple; and in Chriſt and by him it is, that God hath entered into a Covenant of Grace with Man, and this Covenant is an everlaſting Covenant, and ſo may be called a Covenant of Salt, with this Covenant let Miniſters endeavour, as to ſeaſon themſelves, ſo to ſeaſon their Sermons, and their Auditours. Again Miniſters muſt not dawb and flatter, preach pleaſing things, ſow Pillows under Peoples Elbows, or throw Sugar upon them, when Salt is neceſſary. Their Sermons muſt have acrimony in them; what though it makes Mens wounds ſmart? It will keep them from rankling. 'Tis a ſign of a weak and giddy Conſtitution of Soul, to deſire to have our Soul-food powdered with Sugar, rather than with Salt. God, of old, under the Law, required Salt in every Sacrifice, but yet he forbad Honey to be uſed in Sacrifices; and 'tis thought the reaſon was, becauſe Honey doth ferment. This may teach us not to preach Doctrines that are likely to puff up our ſelves or others, but let our Sermons rather (when occaſion ſerves) rebuke Sinners ſharply, and let our Sermons be ſalted with ſincerity. I find that the Apoſtle Paul his Spirit was ſtirred in him at Athens, Acts 17. When he ſaw the City wholly given to Idolatry. Miniſters muſt be ſavoury Salt, they muſt ſeaſon others, by a good Life and Converſation; and this by their words and by their works. 1. Their Speech muſt be ſavoury, ſeaſon'd with Salt, ſuch as may miniſter Grace to their Hearers, and this too out of the Pulpit, viz. in their Converſe and Communication with Men. No filthy Communication, or rotten or unſavoury words muſt proceed out of their Mouths, their Throats muſt not be like an open Sepulchre, ſending out Stench and Corruption. Theſe Watchmen muſt eſpecially ſet a watch at the Door of their Lips, leſt they offend with their Tongue. The Prieſt's Lips ſhould preſerve knowledge, and there ſhould always ſtand ready at the Door of their Lips, ſome good or ſavoury Speech, either a word of Inſtruction, or of admonition, or of reprehenſion. To this purpoſe, he had need to pray, that God would touch his Tongue with a Coal from the Altar, and be with his Mouth (as ſometimes with Moſes) that he may open his Lips, and ſhew forth his praiſe. 2. Miniſters muſt ſeaſon others by their good works, by works of Piety, Charity, Mercy; as they muſt be lively in their preaching, ſo their Lives muſt be a Sermon. They muſt walk exemplarily before their Family, and before their Flock; labour they muſt, that they may ſay with the Apoſtle Paul to others, be ye Followers of us, as we alſo are of Chriſt. 2. As good Miniſters are like Salt in its primitive and pure Eſtate, ſo are bad Miniſters like Salt too, but 'tis in its unſavoury and degenerate Eſtate. Salt may loſe its ſavour, and ſo Miniſters if they be, if they prove, unfaithfull, they are but unſavoury ſalt. It was the Puniſhment of Lot's Wife, for looking back to Sodom, that ſhe was turn'd into a Pillar of Salt, and 'tis the Caſe and Condition of Miniſters, who are called Angels in Scripture, if they leave their ſtation, if they Apoſtatize; to be like unſavoury Salt, to be caſt out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Yet as we reade of fallen Angels, and of Stars falling from Heaven, ſo there are Miniſters, Angels of the Churches, and that are ſometimes compar'd to Stars, and in this our Saviour's Sermon, call'd the Light of the World; ſome Miniſters there have been who have proved faln Angels, and falling Stars, who have neither the Ʋrim nor Thummim, neither purity of Doctrine, nor integrity of Life, but become unſavoury ſalt, altogether uſeleſs and unprofitable. We reade in Scripture of wicked Prieſts, Sons of Belial, Prieſts who made the people abhor the Sacrifices of the Lord; we reade of a Judas a Devil amongſt the twelve Apoſtles of our Saviour, of falſe Teachers, and falſe Apoſtles, and falſe Prophets. St. Cyprian in his time complained, Non in Sacerdotibus Religio devota, non in Miniſtris fides integra, non in moribus Diſciplina: there was a great defection it ſeems as to their Religion, their Faith, their Works, their Manners; their ſilver was become droſs, and their wine mixt with water. The truth is, the true Prophets had no greater enemies than the falſe Prophets of old; Ahab's Prophets oppoſed Micaiah; Hananiah, Jeremiah; Amaziah Prieſt of Bethel the Prophet Amos, Am. Chap. 7. the Scribes and Phariſees and Prieſts our Bleſſed Saviour; the falſe Apoſtles the Apoſtle Paul; the Arians the Orthodox; and afterwards, none more cruel or greater Perſecutors under the Papacy than their Biſhops and Prieſts. Corruptio optimi eſt peſſima, Men of the beſt Calling, if corrupted, prove the worſt. But this truth, that ſalt may prove unſavoury, that there may be clouds without water, and wandring and falling Stars, falſe Teachers and bad Miniſters, this hath more need of a lamentation that it is ſo, than of any proof or confirmation that it may be ſo. But if it be ſo, why is it thus? How is the Gold and Silver become droſs? How comes this ſalt to be unſavoury? To this I anſwer, That ſalt is ſometimes made of water taken out of the Sea, and if you put it into the Sea again it loſes its virtue. Miniſters are called and taken out of the World, that troubleſome Sea that always is caſting out mire and dirt; and if they trn thither again, if they deſire and affect to live in trouble, in Law-ſuits, Quarrels and Brangles with their Neighbours, this renders them and their Miniſtry uſeleſs and unprofitable.
Contentiouſneſs marrs a Miniſters good Savour. 2. Some Salt (or at leaſt the matter of which it is made) is taken out of the Earth; and if it be laid into the Earth again, if buried in the Earth again, I ſuppoſe it will ſoon loſe its ſavour: So Miniſters are in reſpect of their Calling, call'd out of the Earth, to a ſpiritual, high and heavenly Calling, but if they fall back again to the love of the preſent world, of earth and earthly things, a thouſand to one but they become unſavoury and unprofitable. Covetouſneſs marrs a Miniſter's ſavour. 'Tis farther obſervable that the corruption of ſalt is called an infatuation; Sal inſipidus dicitur, foreign, infatuari, to be infatuated or grown fooliſh. So in the Text and in Luke 14.34. hence fooliſh men are called inſulſi, inſipidi, as ye would ſay, men without ſalt, unſeaſonable, unſavoury perſons. And if once Miniſters that ſhould be wiſe as the Angels of God, in ſome ſenſe, become Solomon's fools, given up to any habituated courſe of ſin, eſpecially to uncleanneſs, to commit folly, to be as one of the fools, no marvel then if they ſoon loſe their ſavour, and are ſaid to be infatuated; even are like to the unſavoury ſalt in the Text, and being ſo, are incurable or hardly curable, for as Solomon ſaith, Bray a fool in a mortar, yet will not his folly depart from him: and ſo I come to the fourth particular. Bad Miniſters are hardly curable, Inemendabil…s penè conditio mali miniſtri: ſalis ſapor, & ſolis ſplendor, in ſeſe ita eſt, ut aliis communicetur, amiſſus non reparetur. The ſight of the eye, if once totally loſt, is irrecoverable without a miracle. If the Fountain be dried whence ſhall that be ſupplied? If the light that is in you be darkneſs how great is that darkneſs? If the heart once loſe its vital heat there is no remedy: and ſo here, Non eſt ſalis ſal, who ſhall teach the teachers? Non eſt Doctor Doctorum, ſaith one, & quis cuſtodiet ipſos cuſtodes? ſay we: which made the Father cry out, Quis unquam vidit prolapſum Clericum agentem Poenitentiam? And ſo I come to the fifth particular I propounded to you, namely, That unſavoury ſalt is uſeleſs and unprofitable, and ſo are bad Miniſters: if Money be broken the Goldſmiths can uſe it: corrupted and putrified fleſh, although it is not man's meat, yet the Dogs will eat it: old threed-bare Cloaths and Rags, though they are not fit to be worn, yet they are good to make Paper, or they are good for the Dunghil, and to fat the Land, and to make that fruitfull. Wine that has loſt its flavour, and generous Spirits, yet will make Vinegar. But bad Miniſters for the moſt part are good for nothing; like the Vine the Prophet Ezekiel ſpeaks of Chap. 15. If it bear not Grapes it is good for nothing but to be burnt, it is not like other Trees. Wicked Miniſters are bad Miniſters, are good for nothing. God will pluck out their right eyes, and dry up their right arms; that is, he will bereave them of their former abilities: ſee Zechariah 11.17. he will blaſt their parts, and render them uſeleſs; yea God and Man join to puniſh wicked Miniſters: God caſts them off, and Man caſts them out: As wicked Miniſters are like ſalt in its corrupt eſtate, ſo is the portion of unſavoury ſalt their puniſhment; unſavoury ſalt is to be caſt out and trodden under foot; and ſo Inutilis miniſter loco movendus. No Loyterers muſt ſtay in God's Vineyard, there muſt be none but Labourers in his Harveſt, the Lord of the Vineyard and of the Harveſt will caſt out the unprofitable ſervant, ſuch muſt be caſt out of the Church, as we throw out unſavoury ſalt out of the Salt-cellar and out of the Salt-box. God himſelf the Lawgiver, of his Church and of the World hath laid this burthen on Miniſters, in the caſe of Eli's Sons, 2 Sam. 2.30. Conform to this general rule King Solomon put out Abiathar from being High-Prieſt, and put Zadok in his place: And the pious and learned Spanhemius in his Examination of Salmero his Gloſs upon this place ſaith plainly that evil Paſtours, Teachers and Biſhops, Non tantùm mereri abjectionem & contemptum, ſed reverâ abjiciendos eſſe, niſi emendari poſſunt & corrigi. And we find in Cyprian the Depoſition of Baſilides, and the putting Sabinus in his place, Ep. 68. Yea the ſame Cyprian writes to Stephanus, that Martianus might be reſtrained from hurting the Church; Et alius in locum ejus ſubſtituatur, and that another might be ſubſtituted in his place, Ep. 67. and indeed, why ſhould Wolves be ſuffered among Chriſt's Flock, and in his Fold? So then caſt out bad Miniſters muſt be, and that with ſcorn and contempt, the Prophet Malachi threatens, Mal. 2.3. that wicked Prieſts ſhall be taken away as dung, or with it. They ſend out a ſtinking ſavour in the noſtrils of God and Man. And whenas good Miniſters are highly honoured by Men, by good Men, and ſometimes by wicked Men, (wicked Herod honoured John Baptiſt) wicked Miniſters ſhall be caſt out of the good opinions, and out of the affections of Men; and they may expect to be caſt out of their places and employments, and at laſt to be caſt out with the unprofitable Servant into outer darkneſs. Hear a memorable ſaying of Cardinal Cajetan, who commenting on this Text, when the French Army ſacked Rome, viz. May 6th 1527. writes thus, We the Prelats of Rome, do now find the truth of this by wofull experience, being become a ſcorn and prey, not to Infidels but Chriſtians, by the moſt righteous judgment of God, becauſe we, who by our places ſhould have been the ſalt of the earth had loſt our ſavour, and were good for little elſe but looking after the outward Rites and Ceremonies of the Church. Hence is it, that together with us, this whole City comes to be trodden under foot, Evanuimus, ſaith he, ac ad nihilum utiles, niſi ad externas ceremonias, externáque bona, &c. The truth is, as good Miniſters are a good, a ſweet ſavour unto God in them that periſh, and in them that are ſaved; ſo bad ones are unſavoury ſalt, and as vile as dung that ſends forth a moſt noiſome and ſtinking ſavour continually.
*Ʋſe.1. This may inform us of the great neceſſity and uſefulneſs of the Miniſtry and of its continuance, and conſequently the neceſſity and uſefulneſs of Univerſities, Colleges and Schools of Learning, the Nurſeries of Preachers, and of the Sons of the Prophets. They are the ſalt of the earth; as long as men are ſubject and liable to corruption in Doctrine or Manners, ſo long will Goſpel Preachers be neceſſary. Monopolies of ſalt are injurious to the weal of the Commonwealth, much more injurious are they, both to the Church and Commonwealth, who would wholly deprive us of the office of Miniſters and Preachers of the word.
2. Hence we may learn the reaſon why good Miniſters are ſo ſlighted in the world, they are ſalt, their Sermons are full of acrimony, they make mens wounds ſmart: thoſe words in the Text, ſaith Chemnitius, are brought as a reaſon of what went before, viz. why the world ſhould perſecute the Apoſtles, becauſe they were the ſalt of the earth; their work was to reprove ſinners ſharply, and ſinners will uſually hate and perſecute him that reproveth in the Gate or in the Pulpit, thoſe that dawb with untempered morter, thoſe that ſew Pillows under ſinners Elbows, thoſe that preach Placentia, pleaſing things, thoſe that skin over wounds ſhall be accepted and well entertained, but ſinners love not thoſe that will apply corroſives, that will apply ſalt to ſearch their wounds and make them ſmart, though this method and means moſt tend to the making a perfect and thorough Cure.
3. Hence Miniſters may learn their duty, they are ſalt, and they muſt have the properties of ſalt in their preaching.
Now 'tis obſerved that the properties of ſalt applied to raw fleſh or freſh wounds are principally three. Firſt, Salt will bite and fret, being of nature hot and dry. Secondly, it makes it ſavoury unto our taſte. Thirdly, it preſerveth meats from putrefaction, by drawing out of them ſuperfluous moiſtneſs. So Miniſters muſt apply the word of God to their Auditors, firſt, preaching the Law, thereby making them ſenſible of their ſins, giving them no eaſe in them, but making them cry out as they, Acts 2.37. Men and brethren what ſhall we doe? ſecondly, Miniſters muſt preach the Goſpel to them, that men being ſenſible of their corruption, like rottenneſs in their Souls, may by the ſpirit of God be ſeaſoned with Grace, may be reconciled unto God, and made ſavoury in his Noſtrils. Thirdly, both Law and Goſpel muſt be diſpenſed by Miniſters, that thereby ſin and corruption may be daily more and more mortified and conſumed in the hearts and lives of their hearers, even as ſuperfluous humours are dried up by ſalt. And Miniſters muſt endeavour to be ſeaſoned themſelves with the word that they may be the more able and fit to ſeaſon others. Fourthly, Hence the people may learn to ſuffer the word of reproof; when we have a cut or wound in our fleſh we put ſalt upon it, to hinder it from rankling and corruption, and ſhall we not patiently and quietly ſuffer the word of reproof from our Teachers, though it make our Conſciences ſmart again, becauſe it tends to the health of our Souls? Fifthly, Hence we may learn all of us what we are by nature, we are like fleſh ſubject to corruption, unſavoury fleſh; yea we are like ſtinking carrion in God's Noſtrils; if there were no danger of corruption God would not be at coſt, for the ſalt of the Miniſtry of his word, to prevent it, and to ſeaſon us, that we may be a ſweet ſavour unto him. Here may be reproved unſavoury Miniſters, they have the name of ſalt, but they want the property of ſalt; they want their acrimony, they are not ſeaſoned themſelves, and how ſhould they be likely to ſeaſon others? There are four ſorts of this unſavoury ſalt here to be reproved.
1. Blind Watchmen, Seers that ſee not, Teachers that teach not, Shepherds that feed not their flock, Dogs that do not or cannot bark, Salt-cellars or Salt-boxes without ſalt, or elſe ſalt without its ſaltneſs; ſuch as have the name indeed of ſalt, but want the virtue of it.
2. Heretical Teachers are unſavoury Salt and here to be reproved: Haeretici, ſaith St. Auſtin, Cimicibus ſimiles, vivi mordent, mortui foetent, they are like Gnats, that bite whilſt alive, and ſtink when they are dead. Infatuantur Doctores, ſaith Maldonat in loc. Cum malè docent, aut malè aedificant. Theſe eſpecially are unſavoury ſalt or worſe, who do not onelyonly not ſeaſon, but poyſon their People, Qui pravo ſapore inficiunt: 'tis a ſaying of Maldonat, Degeneres Doctores, haeretici, imprimis, are good for nothing, Niſi ut conculcentur, niſi ut crementur. Degenerate Doctours, Hereticks chiefly, are good for nothing, but to be trodden under foot, but to be burnt; but that they are in his ſenſe to be ſalted with fire, becauſe they are unſavoury, ſhall be no determination of mine; If a Proteſtant Miniſter ſhould fall away to Popery, and become a Maſs-Prieſt, and after return again to the Reformed Church, by true repentance, he may be thereupon readmitted to be a Teacher and Paſtour amongſt us, but ſuch ſurely ought to be humbled for their Apoſtacy, and may do well to have before their Eyes, the Example of Ecebolius, Ezekiel 44.10, 11, 12, 13.who having often denyed the Faith, and after return'd to the truth, threw himſelf down at the Church Door, and cried out. foreign, kick me or tread upon me inſenſible Salt. 3. A third ſort of unſavoury ſalt may be reckoned a Preacher that preaches onelyonly general truths, but without application to his Hearers: the uſe is the Salt and the Soul too of a Sermon; Generalia non pungunt. Such Preachers are like Fencers, that make a great flouriſh, but never ſtrike to purpoſe; like thoſe Trumpets that give an uncertain ſound, and who then ſhall prepare himſelf to the Battel? 4. Here are to be reproved thoſe that have Salt for others, but have no Salt in themſelves; or are unſeaſoned themſelves, ſuch as preach well, but live ill; whoſe unſavoury Converſation, makes that the word doth not ſeaſon others, as it ſhould, but becometh unfruitfull. Oh what will become of you unſavoury Salt! Expect you may, to be caſt out, and to be trodden under foot of Men. Oh abſurd and unreaſonable Men, you have a holy Calling and lead an unholy Life: You call your ſelves ſpiritual Perſons, and the Spiritualty, and yet live after the fleſh; the Miniſters of God, and yet are really the Servants of Sin. If there be not ſuch a thing as Religion, why do you preach it? if there be, why do you not live it? take heed, leſt while you preach to ſome others, your ſelves become not caſt-aways; leſt while you offer Heaven to others, you fall ſhort of it your ſelves; leſt whilſt you warn others to take heed of Hell, you your ſelves fall into it. And ſo I come to the third ſort of uſes, and they are of exhortation, and that both to the Miniſters, and to the People. And firſt to the Miniſters, Are the Miniſters ſalt? then labour to be like ſalt.
1. Labour for the Whiteneſs and Purity of Salt, get pure Hearts, be of a pure Lip: and ſith ye are compared to Salt conſider what manner of Perſons ye ought to be, in all holy Converſation and Godlineſs.
2. Labour for the acrimony of ſalt, be unto ſinners a Reprover. Salt is more neceſſary than Sugar; ſharp words, than ſweet and pleaſing words, to prevent the corruption of manners amongſt your People.
3. When ſinners are wounded for their ſins, do ye ſtanch their bleeding wounds and keep them from rankling, do ye preach the Goſpel to wounded Conſciences.
4. Be ye univerſal Antidotes and Preſervatives againſt Corruption every way, againſt corrupt Doctrine and corrupt Affections, againſt corrupt Speeches and againſt all thoſe Children that are corrupt. Yea labour to have ſalt in your ſelves, that ye may be able to ſeaſon others. Labour for the Salt of Grace, that you may preach, out of your own hearts, from the Heart to the Heart, oh that you may not want that Grace, which you exhort others to get and grow in. You that perſwade others to be gracious, be ſure you be ſuch your ſelves. Labour to feel the power of that Religion you preach to others, and then preach the power that you feel. Be able to ſay with the Apoſtles, that which we have ſeen and heard declare we unto you, that ye alſo may have Fellowſhip with us. But if the Queſtion be here, whether a Man cannot be a true Miniſter, and his preaching profitable to others, except he have ſaving Grace himſelf? Our Anſwer muſt be, that ſaving Grace, is not abſolutely neceſſary, to the being of a Miniſter: A Man may be a Miniſter, although he have not the real and ſaving work of Grace in his Heart. Judas was an Apoſtle called and ſent out by Chriſt, and (for ought we know) ſuccesfull too in his Miniſtry: and yet he was a Caſt-away. The Miniſtry, ſaith one, is Gratia gratis data, not Gratia gratum faciens. 'Tis appointed for the good of the Church, of the Body of Chriſt, and not moſtly or chiefly for his own good, that is the Preacher of it. And you that are private Chriſtians ought to know, that the efficacy of the word and Sacraments, doth not depend upon the holineſs or worthineſs of the Miniſter, but upon the Ordinance, and Inſtitution and Bleſſing of Chriſt; the ſeed may grow that is ſowed by a foul hand: The Phyſick may work well and do good, though perhaps the Phyſician lives contrary to his own Preſcription and Rules of Phyſick. And what though your Miniſter ſhould have Jacob's Voice and Eſau's Hands? or ſhould be like a ſile, that ſmooths other things, and remains rough it ſelf? the Law is not to be condemned, becauſe ſome Profeſſours of it are the Breakers of it, and are lawleſs themſelves. The letter it not the worſe, becauſe brought to you by the hands of a diſhoneſt and wicked Carrier. Our Saviour hath determined this caſe, Math. 23.23. The Scribes and Phariſees, (ſaith he) ſit in Moſes's Seat; all therefore, whatſoever they thus bid you obſerve, obſerve and do; but do not ye after their works, for they ſay and do not: as long as they preached the Doctrine of Moſes, they were to be heard and ſo far obeyed. 'Tis true, it cannot be denied but that 'tis a Miniſter's Duty, to be good and gracious, righteous and really holy himſelf, aſwell as to preach, and make others holy, and to turn others unto righteouſneſs: If Miniſters be notoriouſly ſcandalous in their Converſation, it belongs to the Governours of the Church, to caſt out ſuch as are unſavoury Salt. Yet whilſt ſuch as theſe, who preach well and live ill, are in the Church, the People may hear them, and profit too, by their Miniſtry. We muſt not tye God to the goodneſs of any Man's Perſon: He is of infinite Power and Wiſedom; he can write well with a bad Pen; and cut well with a blunt and bad Knife; and ſtrike a ſtrait ſtroke with a crooked Rule or Line; he that awakened Peter's Conſcience to repentance with the crowing of a Cock, can by the Trumpet of the Goſpel, though blown or ſounded by a bad Miniſter, awake them that ſleep, yea that are dead in their ſins and treſpaſſes, make them ſtand up from the dead, and Chriſt ſhall give them Life. Labour for the Salt of Learning, for a competent knowledge, at leaſt, in the Tongues, Arts and Sciences, in the Hebrew, Greek and Latin Tongues; the Languages are the Cabinets, wherein the Jewels of all Truths both divine and humane are laid up. Skill in the Languages, is a Key that opens, and unlocks all theſe Cabinets, and lets a Man into the knowledge of them all; And then as for Arts and Sciences, labour for ſome meaſure of theſe, of Logick, moral and natural Philoſophy, Rhetorick, Hiſtory, &c. What good is and may be had of theſe, a Reverend Authour of our own Mr. Reyner, hath excellently ſhewn, in a Treatiſe to this purpoſe, entituled, a Treatiſe of the neceſſity of humane Learning, for a Goſpel Preacher. Theſe, theſe are good Handmaids to Divinity, though not lookt on as the Queen. 3. Labour for the Salt of Wiſedom, that you may know how to ſpeak a word in ſeaſon to him that is weary; that you may be able to ſpeak as a Goſpel-Preacher ought to ſpeak; as a Workman that needeth not to be aſhamed, rightly dividing the word of truth as a good Steward, giving to every one of the Family his proper portion; as a wiſe Maſter-builder laying the Foundation aright, and building upon the Rock Chriſt; then rearing up an anſwerable Superſtructure, viz. Gold, Silver, precious Stones, not wood, hay and ſtubble, leſt when the fiery Trial come, your works be burnt up, though you ſhould be ſaved, but ſo as by Fire, but ſo as to be like a Brand pluckt out of the Fire. Be wiſe as Serpents, be wiſer than the old Serpent, that ye may know and prevent or diſappoint, his Wiles, Strategems, Methods and cunning Craftineſs, whereby he lies in wait to deceive and beguile unwary Souls.
2. Labour to ſeaſon others alſo by your teaching, and by your Living. Labour to imitate our great Lord, Maſter, Doctour and Biſhop of our Souls, the Apoſtle and High-Prieſt of our Profeſſion, Chriſt Jeſus, of whom Cyprian, the Father, tells us, Dominus in verbis, Doctor & conſummator in factis, docens quid fieret, & faciens quodcunque docuiſſet. Preach and Practiſe, ſay and do both, that thoſe that hear your good Sermons, and ſee your good Works, may be perſwaded to go and do likewiſe; and ſo you and they may be bleſſed in the deed. Be not like the Carpenters which builded Noah's Ark, who were not wrought upon by Noah's Preaching, nor by their own working about the Ark, and ſo at laſt were themſelves drowned in the Flood. Never dream, that your Names and Titles, or that your Places and Callings will ſave you, if you prove unſavoury ſalt, heretical, idle, profane, unfaithfull Miniſters. Conſider how ſeverely God puniſhed Nadab and Abihu, the Sons of Aaron, though thought to be good Men, for doing the Work of the Lord negligently, ſo offering ſtrange Fire before the Lord, Lev. 10.1, 2. How remarkably he puniſhed Hophni and Phinehaz the bad Sons of a good Father, and the Poſterity of Eli afterwards for the wickedneſs of thoſe Prieſts, and becauſe Eli their Father the High-Prieſt reſtrained them not! See, 1 Sam. 2.30. Wherefore I ſaid indeed, thy Houſe and the Houſe of thy Father ſhould walk before me for ever, but now, the Lord ſaith; be it far from me, for them that honour me, I will honour, and they that deſpiſe me ſhall be lightly eſteemed. Eli the Judge the High-Prieſt was deſcended from Ithamar, the ſecond Son of Aaron the High-Prieſt; ſee, 1 Chron. 24.3. and therefore ſome think that the High-Prieſts of Eleazar's Family, had ſome way provoked God by their wickedneſs, in former Judges times, and that therefore God had removed the High-Prieſt-hood unto the Houſe of Ithamar, of whom Eli was; and now again becauſe of the ſins of Eli's Sons, Hophni and Phinehaz, God threatens to remove the High-Prieſt-hood from Eli his houſe and family. And ſo we find that King Solomon depoſed Abiathar from being High-Prieſt, who was of the Sons of Eli, and put Zadok in his room; That the word of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he ſpake concerning the Houſe of Eli in Shiloh, 1 King. 2.27. Hophni and Phinehaz were ſlain with the ſword of the Philiſtins in their Father's days; Eli himſelf came alſo to a violent death: and afterwards in King Saul's reign were ſlain fourſcore and five Prieſts at one time, 'tis thought of the houſe and lineage of Eli. Oh conſider this ye Prieſts that forget God, and by unſavourineſs make the people to abhor the ſacrifices of the Lord, leſt he tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver you. Ye Prieſts that are unſavoury may expect to be made a ſacrifice, and to be ſalted with Fire. Woe unto you Scribes and Phariſees and Hypocrites, how ſhall ye eſcape the damnation of Hell? Remember and conſider how King Joſiah burnt the Idolatrous Prieſts bones on the Altar, and how the King of Babylon roſted the adulterous Prieſts with fire.
And now, oh that Heads and Fellows of Colleges in the Univerſities would conſider, that their Colleges are as ſo many Store-houſes of Salt, and that to them belong the ſeaſoning of Youth; the fitting of them for Church and State; the whole Land comes to you for ſalt, as the Egyptians did to Joſeph's Granaries for Corn. If the ſalt of Knowledge, of Grace, of Wiſedom fail here, it may cauſe a famine worſe than a famine of Bread, even a famine of the word of the Lord. If ye become unſavoury, I cannot promiſe you, but that as the Societies of the Knights Templers of old, and the Religious Houſes of Monks and Nuns, in King Henry the Eighth's days, were diſſolved, ye may be one day caſt out alſo. Oh that the people of England may never have cauſe to come to the King and Parliament to complain, as the men of Jericho did to Eliſha, 2 King. 2.19. ſaying, Behold, we pray thee the ſituation of this City is pleaſant, but the water is naught, and the ground barren. Theſe Colleges and Schools of Learning are well built, well ſituated, well endowed, fine pleaſant ſeats, but the fountains of water which ariſe here, and ſhould make glad the City of God are naught, and the ground about barren and unfruitfull, brings forth little to the glory of God, or the benefit of the Church, or the Commonwealth. If ever ſuch complaint ſhould be, and that juſtly, the leaſt you can look for, Maſters, Fathers and Brethren, is, that our Sovereign, adviſed by his great Council, ſhould ſay, as Elijah, Bring me hither a new Cruſe, and put ſalt therein; call for new Heads and new Fellows, and ſuch as have ſalt in them, of Learning, Grace, Prudence, and put them into theſe ſprings, that ſo the waters may be healed, and there may be here and from henceforth no more dearth, or barren Land.
Laſtly, here is an uſe of exhortation to the people. Are Miniſters ſalt? then let them look on ſuch as very uſefull and neceſſary; they are as neceſſary as Stars in the Firmament, as Shepherds to a Flock, as Labourers in Harveſt, as Salt at a Table. They are neceſſary to them that are called and uncalled. For the firſt, the Scripture tells us Faith comes by hearing, and by hearing of the word of God; but how ſhall they hear without a Preacher? and how ſhall they preach except they be ſent? As for thoſe that are called and juſtified, they alſo have need of, have uſe of the ſalt of the Miniſtry, of the ſalt of the Word, Nè denuò occupati putrefactione, recidant in corruptionem & putrefactionem: ſo Chemnitius: leſt they fall away again to the curruption that is in the world through luſt. 2. Be exhorted to prize them highly, and to purchaſe them what-e'er they coſt, buy them and ſell them not. Pray God to make good his promiſe, that though he ſhould feed you with the bread of adverſity, and the water of affliction, yet he would not remove your Teachers any more into corners, but that your eyes may ſee your Teachers, God would not allow that the Prieſts of Iſrael ſhould ſell their Cities, and Joſeph would not buy for Pharaoh the Land of the Prieſts in Egypt, when he bought all the Land beſides; do not puniſh and ſtarve your Miniſters; if you would have ſalt, let them not want bread. 3. Uſe them, ſit at their feet, and receive words from their lips, even the words of eternal life. Say, and that heartily, whatever you ſpeak unto us from the Lord that we will do: yea prize and uſe the holy Scriptures; let your ſpeeches and diſcourſes be ſeaſoned with this ſalt; and whilſt you feed your Bodies, feed your Souls with the word of God, or diſcourſe about it. Polydore Virgil, De communi vita Sacerdotum, obſerves, that the Fathers brought in the reading of the Scriptures at Meals, Nè (ſaith he) ſolae vobis fauces ſumant cibum, ſed & aures eſuriant verbum Dei, that their Ears might hunger after the word of God, as well as their Palates to taſte their bodily food. 4. Do what you can in your places, according to your abilities, to help others that want, to ſome of this ſalt, I mean to good Miniſters, and to the preaching of the word. How holy and happy might we be if there were of this ſavoury ſalt in every Pariſh in England! and that every Miniſter might have a comfortable and honourable maintenance, and none have cauſe to complain of his poor Salary! if in every Candleſtick there were burning and ſhining Lights! and that there were ſufficient maintenance, or Oil for every Lamp amongſt us! Are Miniſters ſalt? then bear with them when they uſe acrimony in their preaching, when they reprove us ſharply, and make our wounds ſmart. As long as we are fleſh and bloud and liable to corruption, the ſalt of reproof and admonition will be neceſſary, uſefull and beneficial to us. Without the ſalt of the word, the Devil (that Beelzebub) will fly-blow us, and breed in us ſuch worms of Conſcience that without Repentance will never dye. Say and pray let a faithfull Miniſter ſalt me, or ſmite me with his reproof, it ſhall be a kindneſs, it ſhall be as an excellent Oil, that ſhall not break my Head.
To conclude all, ſith theſe words are underſtood by ſome, of Chriſtians in general, and of others of Miniſters, let us all, both Miniſters and People, pray and endeavour to be the ſalt of the earth, to have ſalt in our ſelves, and to ſeaſon others, theſe words (ſaith Chemnitius) Rectè accìpiuntur partim ut doctrina ſeu commonefactio, partim ut promiſſio: partly as an admonition or doctrine, and partly as a promiſe: ſo, let us then put this promiſe in ſuit in the Court of Heaven by our earneſt and fervent Prayers, that God would make us the ſalt of the earth, and ſavoury ſalt, that we may be good for ſomething, and never be caſt out of his Church here, and kept out of his Kingdom, and caſt into outer darkneſs hereafter.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Hodges, The Necessity Dignity and Duty of Gospel Ministers (1685)