Apology for the Ministry and its Maintenance, Chapter 10
CHAP. X. A sixt Corollary from the Doctrine.
IN the last place then, let all Christs Ministers take heed they be not Unsavou…y Salt. Christ hath put upon us the Name, oh that Christ would put into us the Nature of Salt. Now the right and conscienscious manner of salting and feeding is tenfold▪ Exemplarily, Ministerially, Diligently, Boldly, Lovingly▪ Zealously▪ Purely Plainly Fully, and Sincerely.
1. Let … Minister …each by example and life, let him learn to do before he teach others to learn; for the life of a Preacher hath in it the greatest Argument to Holiness of life, and will instruct better, and pr…va… more than a thousand elegant Sermons. Men are more dr…wn by Example than by Precepts; Wherefore let us shew our selves examples of piety, and good works, and as patterns which …hey m…y follow. Timothy must be an example of believers in word and conversation, in Charity, in spirit, in faith, and purity, 1 Tim. 4. 12. and so must Titus, Tit. 2. 7. and so must all the Ministers of the Gospel▪ 1 Pet. 5. 3. The tongue indeed teacheth, but the life commendeth; for the voice of the hand is more powerfull then that of the tongue, and gives efficacy to it; whilest we speak Oracles, let us live like Deities. The best way of moving the affections is one's self first to be moved. He that is first himself perswaded, shall better perswade others; and no one can prescribe so good Remedies, as he that by experience knowes what is hurtfull▪ It is the part of a faithfull Pastor to weep with himself, before he call for the tears of others, and to grieve more inwardly, than in an expression.
He that would have my teares,
Must weep himself, or else i'le think he jeers,
That voyce pierceth the heart of the Hearers most effectually, which the life of the Preacher commands; For, that Preacher loses his Authority, whose words are not interpreted by his works; Nay, as Austine well observes, A life unsuitable to the Doctrine is of a soul-killing, …urtherous nature. VVhat a monstrous prodigious sight (saies Bernard to Eugenius) lib. 2. de Consider.) is a high degree, and a low spirit; a sacred Profession aud an execrable practice; a laborious tongue, and a lazy hand; much leaves and no fruit, a grave countenance and a light carriage, great authority and no stability, to look like a man and speak like a childe? against such the Apostle thunders, Rom. 2. 1, 21. Thou that teachest another, teachest thou not thy self, &c. Such derogate from the weight of their Doctrine, they de…troy with their works what they build with their words, they dedicate their tongues to God, and devote their soules to the Devil. VVhat is profound Science good for (saies Dr. Staughton in Foelicit. ult. saeculi, p. 91, 92, 93.) without a pure conscience; an Oratours tongue without an Angels life; but to make up a Statue like unto Nebuchadnezzar's, whose golden head ended in earthen feet; as though it were for the present to be crowned, and shortly to be broken in pieces; or a toad with a jewel, perhaps in the head, but certainly poysonous all over the body; which is more hatefull for the o…e, than precious for the other? let Eloquence therefore sit in the lips, but let grace also give strength to Eloquence.
Let us therefore imitate our Master, who was mighty in deed and word, Luke 24. 19. who began first to do, and then to teach, Act. 1. 1. Himself was first meek, and pure, and peaceable, and then he began to teach, Blessed are the poor in heart, the pure in heart, the peaceable, Matth. 5. As Iohn the Baptist was all voice, so the all of a Minister ought to preach; his eating, drinking, travailing, entertaining, clothing, life and language should all breathe out holiness; whatever he does or saies should instruct his flock. Ezra the servant of the Lord was indeed a Scribe instructed unto the kingdome of heaven, for he first prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and then to teach in Israel statutes and judgements, Ezra 7. 10. Lo▪ the right way to attain to an excellent faculty of teaching. 1. Prepare not the head onelyonly, but the heart also. 2. Seek with all care and diligence, viz. by hearing, reading, learning, meditating, praying. 3. What must be sought; not Civil Lawes, not humane Statutes, not scholastical niceties, but s…ek the Law of the Lord, converse in this, meditate of it, peruse it day and night. He that will be a good Preacher must labour to be a good Textuist; for Scripture is the best Interpreter of Scripture. 4. For what end? first, that we may do it, then that we may teach it. Let us labour to be as Glasses, in which the representations of all verture and grace may appear; yea, if we do and teach, we shall be called (that is, we shall be) great in the kingdome of heaven, Mat. 5. 19. Such an one was holy Basil, whose words were thunder, and his works lightening. He preaches (saies Nazianzen) with a lively voyc…, who preacheth with life and voice, making good his Doctrine and his Life, the one by the other. One, and the same Apostle tells us, that Ministers should not onelyonly foreign, divide, and rightly distribute the word of truth, 2. Tim. 2. 15. but also foreign, walk uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel, Gal. 2. 14. All our Nazarites should be purer than snow, whiter than milk, Lam. 4. 7. like unto Absalom, in a more spiritual beauty, in whom, from the crown of the head to the sole of his foot was no blemish, 1 S…m. 14. 25. For if those that had any blemish upon them were forbidden the Priests Office, under the Law, Lev. 21. 17. &c. how shall they, whose mouthes, hearts, hands, are full of sin and filthiness, be admitted, or accepted under the Gospel? Wherefore let every Preacher teach by words, and works, by life and Language. It is an easie thing to speak, but a hard to performe; easie to teach in words, but preaching with the life, is the life of Preaching; for, words make not such an impression upon the soul, as works do; A fighting Captain encourages his souldiers more then a prating coward. The Apostle therefore will that Bishops be blameless, Tit. 1. 7. unreproveable, without scandall, not without sinne, As were Samuel, Ieremiah, Daniel, Paul, Zachary, 1 Sam. 12. 3. …erem. 15. 10. Da…. 6. 5. Act. 20. 23. Luke 1. 6. such were Bucer, Bradford, Latimer, Hooper, &c. such ought we to be, that evil men may be able to speak no evil of us without lying, Tit. 2. 8. For he may truly be said to be unblameable, not who is never blamed, but who is not blameworthy. Neither does the Apostle call for men devoid of all fa…lings, such are not men but Angels, such are members of the Church Triumphant, not the Militant. Many men (as Austine well observes) live without complaint or scandall, but none without sin
2. Let a Pastor feed his people ministerialy, by voice and sound Doctrine. The bare Reading of the Scriptures seldom conduces much to Conversion, the word preached by an Applicatory Voice hath some kinde of secret energy in it, and being se…t from the Minister, as from the mouth of God himself, into the ears of the Audito…s, it carries a great authority with it, and fastens better upon their souls. It is requisite, that a Minister of the Gospel carry upon hi… breast both the Urim and the Thu…min, have both the light of Doctrine, and Integrity of life. The servant of the Lord should be apt to teach, 2 Tim. 2. 24. which aptitude denotes both a proneness and a fitness: he should have both a will to communicate, and a faculty of communicateing that which he knowes: This (sayes even the Councell of Trent) is the p…imary office of a Bishop; therefore Paul, being now at the door of death, adjures Timothy to preach the Gospel in every opportunity, with all impor…unity, 2. Tim. 4. 1, 2. to instruct first himself, and then others, 1 Tim. 4. 13, &c. Take heed to the self, that thou compose thy behaviour according to the holy rule, and to thy Doctrine, that thou teach others. Blinde Watchmen, and dumb dogs are the worst of creatures, Isa. 56. 10. If a dog, whose office it is to watch, to bark, to affright thieves, be dumb, either by nature, or by some disease, or through a birbe, …e is altogether useless, A covetous, proud, idle, luxurious Minister, hath his mouth stopp'd by the guilt of that very sin which he ought to reprove in others; for, how shall he bark against covetousness, who is himself worldly-minded? The sound of Aarons bells must be heard, when he went into the holy Place to minister▪ upon pain of death, Exod. 28. 3…, 34, 35. A sadder complaint could not be made, than what a pious and learned man of this Nation makes, That this Church has lain under these 2 sore plagues, formerly many Ministers that were not Preachers, and now, many Preachers that are not Ministers.
3. Let a Pastor feed his Flock diligently and industriously: From us, my Brethren, from us, does our mother the Church exspect relief; let us endeavour to the utmost of our power to administer the help she exspects, to remove scandals, to heal divisions, to confute Heresies, to beat down wickedness, and to demolish the strong holds of Sathan. Let us be instant foreign in season, when any fair opportunity offers it …elf, and foreign, out of season, when inconveniencies and dangers do seem to flesh and blood to block up the way: Diligence▪ as it is very conducible to many other ends, (for it makes rich, Prov. 10. 4. it inbrings to Preferment, Prov. 22. 29.) so, more especially, is it necessary the Ministry, in the Government and management of souls, which is an Art beyond all other Arts, and requires the greatest accomplishments, exercitation, unction, discretion, &c. For some are bruitish and unteachable, some weak, some dull, some perverse, and many ungratefull.
Let us therefore watch and be hardy: let him that undertakes this Ministerial task, at once furnish himself with an Hero…ck and invincible spirit, for he shall be sure not to want exercises enough of his valour; For, there are none whom Sathan oftner tempteth, sharplyer assaulteth; there are none that suffer more of forer shocks and tempests, than the holy and faith…ull Captains of the Church, whom God hath designed to prisons, not Pallaces, to hatred and reproach in the world, not to the pleasures and delights of the world; according to that, Rom. 8. 36. For thy sake we are killed all the day long; And (which may the rather quicken us unto diligence) behold the indefatigable industry of Sathan, and his agents. In this decrepit age of the world▪ in these last and perillous times, they are hurried on with a desperate rage, the Devills seem possessed with some worse spirit than themselves, they turn every stone, improve the very dregs of their malice, and the height of their might, if by any means, by secret perswasions, or hostile invasions. they may drag any soul to hell with themselves: What weeds of Heresie do they plant? what seeds of discord do they sowe? what stones of stumbling do they lay? They compass sea and land to gain one Proselyte. Let us learn diligence of that great Peripatetick, the Devill, who compasseth the earth to ensnare souls. Therefore saies Latimer, exhorting the Bishops to diligence, if they will not follow the example of the Saints, the Prophets, the Apostles, of Christ Iesus himself, yet let them be provoked by the diligence of the Devil, who spares no pains, but carefully visits, inst…ucts, and inciteth his servants and disciples. Nay, the Sea it self is restles, the Heavens are turned about with an uninterrupted motion, and the Sun returns with its unwearied light, from the same to the same goals continually: And do sensless bodies perfect so many motions so constantly, and shall the great lights of the Church lurk within their sockets, rust with idleness and dulness? Idleness is hatefull to God in every Calling, but especially in the Ministry. Cursed be he that doth this work of the Lord negligently.
If thou be a Minister of Christ, hoc age, minde this thing onelyonly, be intent upon it, diligent in it. The life of a Minister is not an idle life, a delicate easie life; we are appointed to work in the Lords Vineyard, Numb. 8. 24. and not to play. It unbecomes the Ministers of Ch…ist then to be Carders, dicers, hunters, Merchants, Souldier, H…bandmen▪ &c. For, if i… be unfit that they …hould l…ave the preaching of the Word to s…rve tables, Act. 6. 2. much more unfit is it for them to neglect that work, to employ th…mselves in things quite of a different nature. There is …, but it is to the Labourers; there are some worthy of double honour, but it is they that labour still: This office which we have, is not an easie, but a laborious Task, which alwayes hath been accompanied with more care than credi…, whose sweat is greater than its crop. Know (saith Austine) that the name of a Bishop is not a name of worth so much as work▪ of dig…ity so much as duty; and that those are Bishops▪ who had rath…r convert then people then command them. And therefore our Ministry … work, not an honour, an employment not enjoyment a labour not a …oytering, 1 Tim. 3. 1. 2 Tim. 4. 5. Act. 15. 38. 1 Cor 3. 13. Eph. 4. 12. Phil. 1. 22. 1 Thes. 5. 13. 2. Neither is it an easie, bu… a laborious painfull work, not foreign, an ordinary labour, but foreign, a working even unto weariness, Iohn 4. 38. 1 Cor. 3. 8. 2 Cor. 10. 15. Gal. 4. 11. 1 Thes. 3. 5. and 5. 12. 1 Tim 5. 17. 3. It is called foreign, that is, such as labour a hath much difficulty in it, Cor 11. 27. 1 Thes. 2. 9. 2 Thes. 3. 8. 4. It is called foreign, a care, and vehement study, 2 Cor. 7. 12. 5. foreign, a dist…acting ca…e, 2 Cor. 11. 28. Phil. 2. 20. 1 Tim. 3. 5. 6. It is such a work as requires the whole man; therefore we are commanded to give up our selves wholly to these things, and to continue in them, 1 Tim. 4. 15, 16. that is, Let these things be thy study, thy care, thy employment thy practice, thy whole business. Therefore we are commanded to wait on our Ministry, Rom. 12. 7. and to give our selves continually to it, Act. 6. 4. and to fulfill it, Col. 4. 17. And hence we are called Shepheards, Soulders, Labourers, as I said before.
Neither are we without examples of this diligence. Moses was faithfull in all Gods House, Heb. 3. 2. He was …aithfull in delivering to the people the Commands of God, and governing them according to the minde and will of God. Samuel ceased not to exho…t the people, and to pray for them, 1 Sam. 12. 23. Christ himself was not sometime, but dayly in the Synagog…e, teaching, and in the Temple, Mat. 26. 55. Luke 19. 47. It was his custome so to do, Luke 4. 16. He spent the day in preaching▪ and the night in prayer, Luke 21. 37. See the indefa…igable diligence of the Apostle Paul, 2 Cor. 11. 23. to the 30. He was unwearied in his doing, and invincible in his su…fering: How many Cities and Countreys did he enlighten with the Go…pel? Ierusalem, Illyricum, Damascus, Antioch, Arabia, Se…ucia, Cyprus, Pamphylia, P…sidia, Lycaonia, Syria, Cilicia, Phrygia, Galatia, Mysia, …roas, Achaia, Epyrus, and many others. It is reported of Farellus, that, being hindred by no difficulties, threatnings, reproaches, frighted with no persecutions, he gained to Christ the Mompeigardenses, the Aquilenses, the Lonsannenses, the Genevites, the No…ocomenses. That which is reported of Calvin is diligence almost to a miracle; that he preach'd yearly Two hundred Eighty and six Sermons, read an hundred eighty and six Lectures, besides a multitude of Epistles which he wrote concerning sundry points in Divinity. How o…ten do we meet with foreign , yesterday and to day in Chrysostome: although yesterday I spoke to you of this thing, yet I will not fo…get it to day (said he) nor will I fail to preach the same to morrow▪ and he…ceforth. The Ancient Fathers gave themselves wholly to their study; the least part of their life was spent in sleep, little in eating and drinking, and none at all in idleness, Origen lost no time in his life from his studies. Let us therefore bring under our bodies by watching, fasting, praying, pains-taking, mortification of the flesh, sustaining all persecutions, abstaining from all carnal pleasures, incentives to sin. There is eminent danger in indulging the flesh, 1 Cor. 9. 29. The time is short, the work great, the reward greatest of all. Contemplate of the Crown. And that we may be the better enabled to carry on the work, let us love; for nothing is impossible to love, it runns, it flies, it overcomes all difficulties, Cant. 8. 6, 7. 2 Cor. 5. 14. Gen. 29. 20. The Peter that loves Christ will …eed, feed, feed, Iohn 21. 15▪ 16. feed by preaching, feed by practising, feed by printing Zachary, when he could not speak, wrote: the voice of the pen is louder than the voice of the tongue: By this we can speak to them that are at a distance; nay, by this, being dead we yet spe…k.
4. Let a Pa…tor feed his people bol…y, and freely. Let us undertake, undergoe, and a…complish our Minist…y, with a confidence full of courage, with a courage devoid of …ear. Let us commit our ship to the windes; It is …ecessa…y to …wod…, not so to live, as Cesar said heroically. They that fear the hatred, or reproaches of the world, will …oon faint, and flagge? There is therefore requisite a boldness, and confidence of Spirit to contemn… the contempt of the world. It is a prime vertue in a Min… ster to contemn, and to be able to be contemned. As it becomes a Commander to dye standing, so it behoves a Minister of Christ to die suffering and doing, sustaining, and abstaining, preaching and praying, and chea…fully to undergoe all that c…n be laid upon him for the love of Christ. This is indeed to endure hardship, 2 Tim. 2. 3. to sustain crosses, to entertain injuries, and …o retain a heart hardened against all the affronts of an enraged world; Like Christ, who set his face as a flint, because the Lord was his helper, Isa. 50. 7. And therefore he stood unmoved in the greatest storms, unco…quered by the greatest rage; like a rock, against which the roaring waves do dash themselves, and go into foam; or like an Adamant, which breaks in pieces the stones and hammers which would break it. Let others fear and fly, let us contend and continue even unto death. Take Bias for an example, who being circumvented by Iphicrates the A…henian Captain, answered his Souldiers that ask'd him what they should do, VVhat should ye do, but consult your own safety, and for my part I will dye fighting. Christ Iesus seems to bespeak us as …lexander bespoke Alexander▪ either fig…t or change thy name: Either carry on thy Ministry couragiously, and fulfill it constantly, or cease to be a Minister. It is the chief business of a Minister, by spiri…ual weapons to demolish the strong holds of Sathan; but this will not be done by flatterie…, and pleasant ditties; but by this boldness, and freeness of speech, with which we reprehend sharply, all errors, heresies, raigning …innes, especially conscience wasting sinns in all men, high and low, great and small, without any respect of persons: we must be like clear and spotless glasses, which flatter no one, but represents all persons and things faith…ully▪ as they are.
No difference must be put 'twixt man and man;
VVhether a Trojane, or a Tyri…n.
Nathan reproved King David, Elijah King Ahab, Elisha King Iehoram, Hosea the King's house, Amos King Ierobo…m▪ Iohn Baptist King Herod, Paul the Governou… Foelix, Chrysostome Eudoxus, …mbrose Theodosius the Emperour, whom he also excommunicated for violence done to the Thessalonians. Let us therefore boldly and freely taxe, princely, popular, plausible sinnes, and so shall we be the children of the Prophets. Let us not be overcome with fear, nor fear to be overcome, either by might, or malice; but with an honest kinde of impudence speak out the turth, knowing that we are the messengers of God, who will act, direct, protect us, Isa. 42. 6. 50. 7. Ier. 1. 8. 18, 19. Ier. 28. throughout, especially v. 11. Ezek. 3. 8, 9. God will not forsake his, in these last and worst times, whom he knowes unable to subsist or persist without him; Therefore he bids them not to be afraid though briars and thorns be with them; nay, though they dwell amongst scorpions, yet not to be afraid, Ezek 2. 6. Every coward in Gods cause is a murderer, according to that, foreign, and of all cowards they are the most notorious that have God for their Captain; For, what need they be afraid of briars or thorns, who have the good will of him that dwelt in the bush?
5. Let a Pastor feed his people lovingly. Let all things be sweetned with love, 1 Cor. 16. 14. Let prayers, Sermons, reproofs, exhortations, all flow from this Fountain, Let all things be done with charity. Let the fire of zeal be kept burning with no other fewel than the oyl of compassion, Ier. 13. 17. Luke 19. 41. Gal. 4. 19. Thus the good Samaritane pours wine and oyl into the wounds, wine to …earch, and oyl to supple. If there be need of severity, let us play the good Chirurgions, who when they apply Corrosives to prevent death by the wound, administer Cordialls to prevent fainting by the Corrosives; and chear up the patient, telling him it is onelyonly in a tendency to his health. No one is fit indeed to reprove, but he that loves the party to be reproved, that so the reproof may be in compassion, not in passion, for his restauration, and not his ruine. The Apostle Paul therefore will have our sharpness tempered with mildeness, and lenity, 2 Tim. 4. 2. reprove rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering▪ not being enraged at the dulness and undutifulness of our Auditors; Let us not offend any by a proud severity, or a supercilious gravity but by mildeness, and a sweet composure of manners and b…haviours strive to win them, engage them to us, and make them our own, so shall we be able to have an Influence upon them, prevail with them, and live profitably and comfortably amongst them. Love me (said …ustine) and say what you will, and do what you will. As an Oratour should not onelyonly be qualif…d with prudence, but with benevolence also▪ so a Preacher: For) as the Philosopher observes) it con…ibutes much to the creditableness of the Orator, if the Auditours be perswaded that he stands well affected to them▪ The gravity of a Minister should not be such as may affright men from coming before him, but such as compose them to reverence, that do come. Let us feed the Flock of Christ, not imperiously, as Lords, much less, rigidly, as Tyrants; but gravely, and mildely, as Fathers, with a fatherly benevolence and affection▪ desiring rather to be loved then feared. To this purpose speaks La…renti…, upon 1▪ Pet. 5. 3. Let every Pastor govern the Church providently, and prudently, not straining his power to its utmost rigour, but exercising a spirit of Lenity; not alwayes, in all things, towards all, using his utmost power and au…hority, but sometimes denying something of his own right, as Paul often did, 1 Cor. 9. 12. 2 Cor. 3. 2. 2 Thes. 3. 9. In a word, let us imitate Basil; who, for patience and constancy was an Adamant, for meekness a Loadstone.
6. Let a Pastour feed his flock zealously▪ not carelesly and coldly. Let us cry aloud, and lift up our voyce like a Trumpet, because we speak to dead men and stones▪ Let us pray the father of Light to touch our tongues with a coal from the Altar, that our lips may breath out nothing but what is pure and heavenly; that we may be Lamps, burning in zeal, faith, and Love, and shining in words and works; that we may be coals to our selves▪ and lamps to our people; such was Iohn, Ioh. 5. 35. Wherefore Christ gave not fleshly▪ but fiery tongues to the Primitive Preachers, that they might preach zealously with them, and enflame the hearts of their hearers, Act. 2. 3. Excellent is that commendation of Luther, VVhatever Luther speaks or writes pi…ces into the …earts, and leaves a wonderfull sting in the cons…ences of the hearers. Let us look unto our Saviou…, whom Zeal for Gods glory eat up. Let us imitate Elijah, qui zelando zelavit, who was very zealous for the Lord, all …i…e for God, whom God therefore sent for in a Fiery Chariot. Let us imita… Elisha Isaiah, Ier…miah, (Ier. 20. 9. Iohn Baptist, Paul, Gal▪ 2. 11. Who all being enflamed with the fire of Love did burne the cold hearts of their hearers with zealous Discourses. Let our hearts, our tongues our hands be all of a fire, that we may bring men from sin unto God. Even immoderate z…al is better than coldness in Gods cause, for it is an error of love▪ and not a love of error. Let us neglect nothing through idleness, or cowardi…, which may conduce to the Salvation of the soules of our people. In a word, let us imitate the holy Seraphims (who have their name from fire) who burning in zeal, are alwayes in readiness to execute every command of God; having with them six wings, with which we may speedily move upward, downward, forward, backward, on this hand, on that hand, as God calls. So zealous was the Angel who had the everlasting Gospel to preach, who did not creep, nor walk, nor run, but fly with a swift wing through the midst of Heaven, Rev. 14. 16. See VVard's Coal from the Altar: p. 390.
7. The word of God is to be dispensed purely, without any sophisticall or superstitious comments. Let nothing be said of God, without Gods authority. In all doubts we must have recourse to the Law, and the Testimony, Isa. 8. 20. Moses returning from the Mount brought commands, not his own, but Gods, Exod. 19. 7, 8. The Apostles Commission runns not for them to teach humane Traditions, private Fancies, but to teach all things that Christ Iesus had commanded them, Mat. 28. 20. that is, either by himself, or by his Prophets. Therefore the Apostles themselves father their Doctrines upon Christ, 1 Cor. 11. 23. I have received of the Lord that which also I have delivered unto you: so 1 Thes. 4. 2. Ye know what Commandements we gave you by the Lord Iesus…; As much as if he had said▪ The Commandements which I gave you are not mine but Christs, he is the Law-giver, I am onelyonly his Messenger. So also 1 Pet. 4 11. if any man speak, let him speak as the Oracles of God; Let him be a Teacher well instructed in the Word of God, and produce Oracles, as it were, out of Gods mouth. God cannot abide unlawfull Mix…ures▪ that men should play the huxters with his Word, or plow with the oxe of his Word, and the Asse of humane traditions together. God will not have men set their thresholds by his, and their posts by his posts, Ezek. 43. 8. VVhat is the cha…e to the wheat? What are false Prophecies to the truth of God? Ier. 23. 28. Mens inventions are like light and empty cha…e, that has no substance in it, nor give any spirituall nourishment, but Gods Word is nu…ritive, like the purest wheat. We are called to be dispencers of the Ministries of God, not broachers of out own groundless conceptions; prop…gators of the old way and Doctrine, not coiners of a new. If an Angel from heaven should preach any other Gospell, let him be accursed, Gal. 1. 8. Reject therfore all new and feigned worships, and worship God after a way that is Gods.
8. The word of God is to be dispensed plainly. He is the best Preacher, not who s…atcheth the ears, but who pricketh and pierceth the heart. Therefore does Paul profess, that he had rather speak … words in a known and intelligible Language, than five thousand in a strange and unknown tongue, 1 Cor 14▪ 19. Let us preach a crucified Christ in a crucified stile; not with the perswasive words of mans wisdome, but in the demo…station of the spirit and power: not Rhetorically; but Apostolic…lly, not so much fi…ely, as soundly, not so curiously as carefully, not so …dmirably as intelligibly. Let our speech be simple witho… figures, plain without mysteries, pure without mixtu…e; not curious, painted, affected, unnecessarily adorned: and so shall they be as fiery darts piercing the inmost conscience, and strong hammers bre…king the hardest rock.
9. The Word of God is to be dispensed fully. For, so runns the Dispensers Commission, Mat. 28. 20. all things whatsoever, &c. The least particle of Gods Word is not fraudulently to be detained, but the whole counsel of God, without addition or diminution is to be declared, Act. 20. 27. And then, if any soul dye, it shall fall by its own hand, and not by ours, and its blood charged upon its won head, not ours, when we shall faithfully have discharged our duty withou… fraud or fallacy, in preaching, exhorting, warning▪ threatning, and explaining all things needfull to …alvation. Let us imitate the noble spirited Micajah. who professed freely … King 22. 14. that he would not speak what the flattering Courtiers would dictate to him, but what the Lord should command him.
10. Let a Pastor feed his flock, and dispense Gods Word sincerely. not designing his won profit or credit, but Gods glory, Phil 4 17. so that Christs authority, renown, and honour may be exalted; let us rejoyce, though our own be eclipsed, nay extinguished, Ioh. 3. 30. Ambition was the first mother of Heresie; Let us therefore turly and sincerely preach the way of the Lord, and study to promote his glory. For them that honour him he will honour.
Above all, thou man of God, flee covetousness. The love of money distracts the minde, makes it unfit for its sacred employment, and shoulders out Hospitality and Charity. We are Gods Souldiers, now no Souldier entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, 2 Tim. 2. 4. They are unworthy the name of Christs Ministers, who gape after the private goods, more than they desire the publick good of the Church, that make a trade of their …acred function, undertaking it not to bring soules to eternall life, but to bring themselves a temporall livelyhood. Covetousness is abominable in all men, but especially in Ministers, such therefore are called greedy doggs, Isa 56. 11. that prepare warr against every one that putteth not into their mouthes, Mic. 3. 5. that pollute the name of God amongst the people, for handfulls of barley, and pieces of bread, for any light gain, Ezek. 13. 19. This in Bishops is called foreign, filthy gain, because it is gotten filthily, unworthily, flatteringly, not without staining and …ullying the Ministeriall dignity. This the Apostle condemns again and again, 1 Tim. 3. 3. Tit. 1. 7, 11. 1 Pet. 5. 3. Who can but condemn the preposterous ca…e of a Livelyhood, which some Ministers stand guilty of, who bestow more thoughts about breeding and feeding their cattell, managing their land, and such heterogeneous business, than in their studies, or the Promotion of Salvation of the peoples soules: whom you may fitlyer call Feeders of cattel, than Feeders of Christians, whilest they converse more in their stables than in their studies, as though they still looked for Christ in a manger. Not that it is absolutely unlawfull for a Minister of the Gospell (so it may be without prejudice to his employment and study to have some moderate care of his temporall concernments, (as about his cattell, and land, … like▪) but cheifly let him take heed to himself, a…d to … Doctrine, and not be anxious or solicitous inordinately concerning a temporall subsistance; For the Lord is our inheritance, if we be faithfull Vine-d…es…ers, and reapers for him▪ he will be vineyards, fields, and harvests unto us; Christ will suffer his sent-ones to want nothing, Luke 22. 35▪
Wo to those drones then, that do not feed, but feed upon the flock; These the Prophet strikes through with a sharp dart, Ezek. 34. 2, 3. For it is our duty to seek the peace more than the … of our Flocks, 2 Cor. 12. 14. I seek not yours but you: We w…re ordained fishers of men, not of moneys. It ought therefore to be our care (as Aquinas ha…h taught us) to p…omote, and e…crease spiritual good in our people, rather tha… to procu…e and gather temporal goods for our selves. Mr. Rollock, tha… fam…us Scottish light, profest, that of all his Stipends he had not hoarded one penny; for that these worldly things were never a care to him. Calvin, that choice man (not to be named without an honourable Preface) never studied to enrich himself; for all his goods (together with his Library, sold at the best rate) were hardly worth Three hundred Crowns.
Lastly,See Motives to a faithfull discharge of the Ministeriall calling in Bowls past. Evangel. lib. 3. c. 9. To all these things we must add Prayer, for our selves and for our Flocks; For, besides diligent Reading, Prayer and Temptations are requisite (saith Luther) to make a good Divine. Whilest the hand turns over the Book, let the eye turn toward God; and never forget to importune his directing, assisting, emboldening, enlarging spirit, from whom all thy sufficiencies are: And thou wilt finde, that to have Prayed well, is to have Studied well.
THE END.
End of the text · Thomas Hall, Apology for the Ministry and its Maintenance (1660)