Apology for the Ministry and its Maintenance, Chapter 1
CHAP. 1.
Matt. 5. 13. Ye are the salt of the earth.
HE that will speak more for the commendation of any thing, than to say it's good, must say it's seasonable: For he that sought out acceptable words, hath as fitly told us, that A word fitly spoken, is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Here's a golden sentence adorn'd with a silver season, by so much the more usefull, by how much the more suitable, having this addition to it's commodiousness, that it may be so fitly accommodated to our present times. And if we consider what hast the furious …renzyes of our age do make, intending the contempt, and (if it might be) the very extirpation of our Gospell-Ministers, we may well compare it to the seasonable addresse of wise Abigail to resolute David. Or if you will, let it be called, as before, a golden apple, and so there's hopes it may retard the …eadlong hast of these cruell Atala…ta's, that design the ruine of Christ's Embassadors. What better language do the devills drudges and emissaryes now adayes afford the Ministers of the Gospell, than, dec…ivers of the people, Baal's priests the Locusts of the b…ttomlesse pit, l…mbs of Anti Christ, Thieves, Lya…s, Seducers, Generation of vipers, ravenous wolves, whited walls▪ Hirelings, Babylonish Merchants, Hypocrites, Dumb d…gs, Simon Magul's, unclean spirits, and whatever the malice of hell, or the madnesse of men can devise. And what better confutation of such calumnyes can we des…re, than thi… one sentence of our Saviours, ye are (not the Di…turbers of Kingdoms, the Betrayer… of Kings, the Bu…dens of the Earth, the Disease of the Land, the Sweepings of the House, the Scumme of the Countrey, the Refuse of the Nation, the Dreggs of the World, the off …couring of all things, as the devi…s g…sse … …arry i…) but ye ar… the … of the earth. A short sentence, but enough to con…e those voluminous aspersions that are cast upon them; A compe…d…ous encouragement. What though the Devill be the accu…er of the Brethren, what though our Brethren be our accusers for him; Yet who shall lay any thing to the charge, or what can the charge be that any can lay upon those whom Christ justisyeth? Loe, here the sentence may lose i'ts order, and yet retain it's truth, wisdomes Children are justifyed of her, ye are the salt of the earth.
Let us a little search the context, that we may find the meaning of the text. When our Saviour had in the very threshold of his Sermon, discoursed of the blessed ones of the world, in this second step that he makes, he …tly subjoyneth a discourse concerning the Ministers of the Gospell, whose qualifications he teacheth by three metaphoricall resemblances of salt, …ght, and a C…y up…n an hill: S…eming to make this the one summary of his similitudes, that the Ministers of the Gospell must not only be Sayers but Doers, Preachers but Practicers, Talkers but Walkers, and must have not only the salt of doctrine, but the light of conversation also. But more particularly, by this similitude of salt, he s…rs out in lively colours, the necessity and efficacy of the Gospell-Ministry. Fo… as men season sle…h with sal…, so must the soules of men be seasoned by the Ministry of the word, that neither the one, nor the other may be corrupted.
The text is a Categoricall proposition, consisting of a subject … predicate, and a Copulative. The subject is ye (i. e.) ye my disciples and all the preachers of the Gospell that shall succeed you. The Copulative is are, not shall be for the time to come, but at present ye are chosen and called so to be. The predicate is, the salt of the earth▪ (i. e.) It is your office to season men, who are altogether unsavoury untill they be seasoned with the salt of heavenly doctrines. As salt is the seasoner of mea…s, so the Ministers of the Gospell are called salt from their office, by way of resemblance, because they should by their edi…ying language and exemplary life season men, that they may be kept from the corruption of vices, and have the …avoury rellish of graces. And they are not onelyonly Metaphorically called salt, or the most excellent salt, because they season as salt doth, but emphatically called the salt, or the most excellent salt, because they season so as no other salt can doe. Nay they are not only salt, and the salt, but the salt of the earth, not the salt of one Town, or City, or Island only, but the salt of the earth, that is of the inhabitants of the earth, ye are the salt of the earth. And yet they are not properly salt neither, they are but the salters, or seasoners. But our Saviour doth here ascribe that which is proper to the doctrine of the Gospell to them that preach it. Observe by the way, that our Saviour in calling them the salt of the earth, implicitely prefers them before the prophets, who were only the salt of Iudea: But the Apostles and their successors are the salt of the earth, of the whole earth. Mat. 28. 19. Observe also that in calling them salt, he doth as it were make a secret promise of the power and efficacy of the Gospell-Ministry to season the world, and to keep men from putrifying in sinne. The sence of the whole is plainly this, ye my Apostles and all the Ministers of my ordinances, and pastors of my Church, in respect of the doctrine of the law and the Gospell which you shall preach, shall deliver men from the corruption, and filthinesse of sin, and shall render them acceptable and savory to God, whom by nature they cannot please. Loe here the usefullnesse and necessity of a Gospell-Ministry? When our Saviour compares; it to sait, he commends it almost as highly, as if he had said it were incomparable; For their is nothing (according to the proverbe) more usefull and needfull, than the sun, and salt.
Take this doctrinall conclusion for a foundation of the following discourse, that
The Ministers of the Gospell are the salt of the world.Doctr.
This may easily be proved, F…st from the nature, propertyes, and manifold vertues of salt. Secondly from the titles that the spirit of God gives them in Scripture. Thirdly by arguments.
1. The First property of salt is to season tastlesse and unsavoury things. It is a soveraigne condiment and singularly usefull and necessary. And it may be called the condiment of condiments, not only because it excells them, but also because it helpes them, and contributes to their goodnesse. And it hath that to commend it which few of our spices have, even it's necessity. Spices are the superfluous ornament of meats, but salt their necessary condiment. It is so necessarily subservient to the seasoning of meats, and rendring them savoury, and gratefull to the palate, that it hath deserved and found the name of Natures balsome, and the Soul of bodyes; wherefore nature hath wisely mixt salt with all well compounded bodyes, to season, and preserve them from corruption; as may be exemplifyed in the salt urine of beasts, and the saltnesse of roots: and is so commonly received, that every Smatterer…in Chymistry will tell you that Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury are ingredients in all mixt bodyes.
Thus the Ministry of the Gospell is the salt of the world, without which our condition is desperate and deplorable. Neither could I tell what answer to make, if one should aske me. How it comes to pass that men abound with errors in their heads, wickedness in their lives, and corruptions in their hear…s, but this, They are not seasoned with this salt. Our whole nature without this is unsavoury, nauseous and indeed odious to God, as the Psalmist describes a pure (that is, an impure) nature, Ps. 14. 1, 2, 3. without this salt, what is the wisdome of the wold but a world of folly; what are morall vertues, but corrall vices, which …ub the gums indeed, to make men appear well as to the teeth outward, but not changing or cleansing the inward heart and mind? Nay how can any oblation indeed please God That wants salt, Lev. 2. 13. Or any thing please a judicious palate that is unseasoned? Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt. …eb. 6. 6. As if he had said, can any one be delighted with meat that has not been seasoned with salt? So, take away the Ministry of the word, and all wordly things are presently unsavoury, gladness is converted into sadnesse, or the best joyes are but toye sat best, the purest gold is but dross, and they deserve no better Character than Iob's friends, Physitians of no value, Iob. 13. 4. Miserable and troublesome comfort…s. Iob. 16. 2. It is necessary therefore that men be seasoned with this heavenly salt, that they be not corrupted. For there is nothing better to preserve our hearts from corruption than the savory Ministry of the Gospell.
2. Another property of salt is Acrimony. Salt by it's acrimony, bites, eats, pierceth, pricketh. Flatnesse, faintnesse and want of sharpnesse is a defect in salt.
Thus the preaching of the law pierceth and pricketh the consciences of sinners, that they seek of the Gospell for a salve, Act. 2. 39. This makes men sound in the faith, therefore Paul commands Titus to corn the Cretians with this salt. Tit. 1. 13. Rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. As Elisha by casting salt into the spring of the naughty waters, healed them, so our naughty and ba…en hearts being leasoned with the salt of Gods word and spirit, becomes pleasing and acceptable to God. Moreover as salt by its sharp heat, penetrates, attenuates, and worketh the whole lump, so there is nothing more piercing than the word of God, hewing like an axe, and slaying like a sword. Ho… 5. 6. He that would understand this property of Gods word, let him consult and examine the Apostles six Epithets. Heb. 4. 12. It is quick, powerfull, sharpe, pie…cing, dividing, discerning. It is of such a subtile and sharp nature, that it can divide, where the subtile wi…s of Metaphysicians can scarce make a mentall or notionall distinction, even between soul and spirit, and where the sharpest instruments of Chirurgions can hardly divide, even between the joynts and the marrow. And can discern that, which the most acute and quicksighted judge▪ with the contributed discoveryes of never so many faithfull witnesses cannot discern, even the thoughts and intents of the heart.
3. Salt resisteth corruption, and by its acrimony consumeth whatever is vitious in the body; sucks out all putrid and excrementitious humours, with which the flesh is in…ected; consolidates the substantiall parts by uniting the native vertue, shutting up the pores and passages, and shutting out the injurious assaults of the extraneous ayre.
Thus the Ministers of Christ do the worke of salt by plucking up sin by the roots, which is that corrupt and noxious humor, which hath diffused its self through the whole soule. This the salt of the Word expells by reproving Errors, by wasting the sinfull desires of the old man, and by hardning the new man against all injuryes, and by fortifying it against all assaults.
This salt of the Word therefore with a constant, and carefull hand is to be sprinkled, by declaring the nature and aggravations of sin, to prick the heart, not to tickle the eares, and which may be enterteined with the beating of the breasts, not the clapping of the hands. For I had rather that men gnasht their teeth, and beat their heads, than nod with their heads under our Ministry. The teares of the congregation ought to be most in our eye. And their inarticulate groans do least speak forth our commendations. Hence the Holy Ghost every where in Scripture puts such a price upon salt because it signifyes that mortification, which so restraines the soft effeminacyes and delicacyes of the flesh, and all sweet carnall delights and tickling pleasures, and hinders the inordinate affections of the flesh from shewing themselves in the flesh. This grace doth that to the spirit which salt doth to flesh, which will not suffer it to putrifye, and dissolve into corruption and filthinesse, as it would doe, were it not consolidated and hardned therewith.
4. Salt begets an appetite to meat or drink, and is so usefull in meats that we scarce know how to live without it. Bread requires a mixture of this to season it, and it also begets an appetite to drink.
Thus the preaching of Gods word doth beget an exceeding thirst after heavenly things It may most truly be sayed of these waters of the Sanctuary. Quo plus sunt potae, plus sitiuntur, The more a man drinks of them, the more he shall thirst after them.
It cannot be sayd of this water, as our Saviour sayes of the grace of God. Ioh. 4. 14. He that drinketh of it shall never thirst more, but rather, he shall thirst the more: when Peters hearers had tasted some of this salt, see how they thirst after the water of life, after salvation. Act. 2. 39. For so says the test, when they heard this, they sayd, Men and Brethen, what shall we doe?
5. Salt is the Symbol or Hieroglyphick of wisdome.… Hence wise men, and fools have names given them in Latine from salt: as also all kind of jests, and wittinesses in speech, and festivity do derive their name from hence. In so much as to reach a man salt is interpreted by some people as an indignity, as much in effect as to call him a foole.
Thus the Ministers of the Gospell do correct the foolish manners of the world, and render them savory. Take away this condiment, and you take away all reall and true wisdome out of the world; If men re…ect the world of the Lord, what wisdome can there be expected in them Ier, 8. 9. The word of our Saviour, who is the wisdome of the father, is enough to make us also wise unto Salvation.
6. Salt is an embleme of duration, perpetuity and incorruption. It is good Physick for natures consumptions, preserving fluid and wasting matter, and makes pe…shing and pu…ri…ying …odyes long-liv'd. Hence an everlasting covenant is called a Covenant of salt, Numb, 8. 19. 2. Chr. 13. 5. And Lot's wife was converted into a pillar of salt, not only that the might be instead of a condiment to us, but a perpetuall Monument also of Gods judgments: so the Covenant preacht by the Apostles was truly a Covenant of salt, more durable than the pilla…s of the earth, or the poles of heaven, and happily hinting to us that every one of the …aithfull is so confirmed in the Covenant of God by faith, that by the salt of afflictions they shall be preserved … against all kind of temptations and alsaults.
But this heavenly … …arre excells that earthly salt, as eternity exceeds diuturnity. That may preserve a long time, but this will preserve longer than time. Again that salt doth but preserve things from … but this redeems … from their corruption.
7. Salt is a symbol and significant of friendship. It p…eserves the amity of the members one amongst, another, and deserds the harmony of the body from corruption; and is therefore called the soul of the body▪ … as the soule doth not suffer… the structure to be dissolved, and fall in pieces, so salt doth keep inanimate bodies from corruption and putrifaction, and suffers them not to perish, but playing the soule▪ as it were, resisteth death. Hence Antiquity above all things required salt at the table, because it signifyed the perfection and perseverance of friendship. And therefore many of the Heathens (and even some of us who inherit their superstition) counted it ominous and unlucky, if at any time it happened that the salt were spilt upon the table, as though by this some breach of friendship were portended.
Thus the Ministry of the Gospell, although by chance and indirectly it occasion divisions and warres (as our Saviour brought not peace but a sword) yet directly, intentionally and of it self, it both creates and conserveth the amity, peace, and union of the faithfull, both with their God and amongst themselves. The Gospell is properly and deservedly styled, the Gospell of peace.
8. Salt is medicinall to the body. It is a medicament as well as a condiment. Therefore Physitians say that new-born infants should be sprinkled with salt or salted water, not only to scoure off all uncleannesse, but also to consolidate the members of the body, and to bind up and heal the wound of the navell. To which God himself alludes, Ezek. 16. 4. For salt doth certainly conferre a solidity and fatnesse to naturall bodyes.
Thus the heavenly salt is necessary for the spirituall newborn babes, 1 Pet. 2. 2. Without which we can neither be cleansed, nor cured, nor strengthned, as will appear hereafter.
9. Salt was an ingredient into every sacrifice, as appeares, Lev. 2. 13. Ez…. 6. 9. 22. Ezek. 42. 24. Mar. 4. 49. Every sacrifice (that is every spirituall and acceptable sacrifice) shall be salted with fire and with salt (i. e.) with the fire of affliction, and the salt of wisdome, mortification and integrity o… life and doctrine. For as meats seasoned with salt are most acceptable to the palate, so the spirituall sacrifi…es which are seasoned with this kind of salt, are most pleasing to God, God will have no honey, (i. e.) no carnall delights, wordly pleasures, or wordly men in his sacrifices. For in sacri…ces a contrite spirit is required, and therefore honey is forbidden, Lev. 2. 11. But co…roding and biting salt was there required and used in sacrifices by the very Heathens,Salsa mola, & sals… fruges. the devill staming a piece of worship like that of Gods.
10. Salt is a communicative thing, and therefore is called good, Mar. 9. 50. Now as every good thing is communicative and diffu…ve of it self, so salt, not only es…apes corruption it sel…, whilst it retaines it's naturall strength, but also preserves all other things uncorrupted, to which it communicates it self.
It keeps flesh from stinking, wine from sow…ing, renders meat savory, and many other wayes is excellently advantagious. So that it seems to be but adequately spoken by the proverb, S…le & sale nih…l utilius.
Thus every disciple, and much more minister of Christ ought to be salt, not only themselves good, but commun…cating to others of their goodnesse. David will teach transgressors Gods wayes, Ps. 51. 13. And Abraham was a good man, of whom God was perswaded, that he would command his Children and his houshold after him to keep the way of the Lord, Gen. 18. 19. And as God is perswaded of Abraham that he would command his children, so Christ commands Peter to strengthen his b… …thren, Luk. 22. 32. Our Saviour himself sets a Coppy of this, Io… 5. 39. Come and see. And Philip imitates him in this commu…ica…ivenes…e, crying out to Natha…iel as soon as he met him, with the Philosophers foreign we have found him. &c v. 45. and will have him, also to come and see. v. 46. The Apostle would have his C…lossians to know how they ought to answer every man, to this purpose he commends to them gracious speech, and he knowes not how to phrase that better, than by speech seasoned with salt, Coll. 4. 6. (i. e.) with grace and wisdome, communicating saving knowledg to the foolish, administ…ing consolation to the afflicted, and giving wise and wholsome answers to all.
11. Salt makes green wounds smart.
Thus the Ministry of the word, requiring self-denyall, reproving sin, and applying the terrors of the Law to galled consciences, brings griefe and bitternesse to the flesh, and renders the preachers of it hatefull and terrible. Chryso…tom… speakes gravely and appositely▪ Christ (sayth he) calls not the Apostles teachers of Palestine, but of the whole earth, neither doth he barely call them teachers, but terrible ones: And this is to be wondred at, that they that did not flatter and daw be, but wound and pierce and burn the consciences, like salt, were yet therein desirable, and thereby beloved ▪ in spite of the proverb, Truth brings fo…th hatred.
12. Salt is very frui…full. Witnesse the fruitfullnesse of the salt sea, wherein (witnesse the Psalmist. Ps. 10. 25.) are innumerable creeping things, and both small and great beasts. Plutarch reports that mice breed more abundantly in Ships that carry salt. Leachery hath its name in Latine from salt, and Iustfull Venus derives her pedigree from the salt sea. And certainly no land-creature is so …ruitfull as all those are that inhabit the Sea.
Thus nothing is more fruitfull than the sound and substantiall Ministry of the word of God, one Peter by one Sermon caught three thousand soules for Christ, Act. 2. 4…. The multitude of believers is prophesyed to the Gospel-times. Ps. 1 10. 3. From the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth. As much as if he had said, Children shall be born to Christ by the preaching of the Gospell, in as great a number, as the dow drops fall a…d disperse themselves far…e and near, being as it were conceived in the womb of the early morning. Oh would to God that the thirsty vineyards of the Church were watered, and refreshed also with the evening dew of conv…r…, in these last and worst times; or that three thousand P…ters▪ might with three thousand Sermons but beget three thousand sons or daughters to Iesus Christ.
13. Salt is of a nature both fiery and waterie. For it is sharp like fire, and fr…ts and sharpens the fire into which it is cast▪ And if it be cast into water; it self if presently resolved into water.
Thus the Ministers of the Gospell are the salf of the earth. For by their fiery ver…ue they enflame the hearts of men, with love to, and z…al for God. And as salt melts and dissolves that it may the better preserve flesh from putrefaction, so is it the part of a good pastor, as it were, to wear and wast himself by l…bours and watchings, that so the people committed to his charge may be saved from the corruption of sin, such salt was the Apostle Paul, who denyed himself, kept himself under▪ cut himself short, spared not himself, but spent himself that he might gain soules to Christ. 2. Cor. 12. 15. I will ve…y gladly spend all mine) and (my self) to be spent for your soules.
14. Salt is a thing very common. It is not only to be found upon the tables of the rich, but even with the poorest, where there is scarce a table to be found. Thus ought the Ministers of the Gospell to be so easy and common, that he that seeks them may easily find them, and so facile and amiable in their carriage, that no one may fly their presence, that desires to learn of them. And it is the Apostles mind that they be apt to teach. 2. Tim. 2. 24. and that in season and out of season, not being rendred idle, by regard had to private profit, pleasure or ease. Nay it ought to be reputed their greatest gain to gain souls to Christ; their greatest pleasure to see many take pleasure in godlinesse, and by their Ministry be made pleasant and acceptable to God; and their greatest ease to take pains in the vineyard of Christ, to bring them to a sight of their sins that are setled upon their lees and are at ease in Sion. Let us pray the Lord of the harvest therefore that his word may not creep but go, nay run, and be glori…yed in the hearts, words and works of men. 2. Thes. 3. 1. For a good thing, the more common it is, the better it is.
15. Salt is a sign of desolation and a curse to those things which it doth not season, as we may see. Zeph. 2. 9. And that which the Hebrew calls saltnesse, that we translate barrennesse. Ps. 1…9. 34. It is the Spaniards …stome to sprinkle the house of those that are convi…ed of high … with salt; and the lewes manner to sow a place with salt, when they intended to make it desolate and lay it waste, as Abimelech did. Iudg. 9. 45. For althought salt be very necessary for the seasoning of meats, and other uses, yet by reason of its fiery nature it destroyes, and exhales the …dicall moisture that is in rootes and herbs, and in hot Countrey… occasions barr…nnesse; For in cold Countieys it is inste…d of ….
Thus the Gospell hardens the hearts that will not be seasoned by it, Is. 6, 9, 10. and is the savor of death unto death. 2. Cor. 2. 16. as to the godly it is a savor of life unto life. And no wonder▪ for it is very usuall in humane things that the sa…e thing being in it self good and profitable, proves good to some and hurtfull to others, and upon many has an operation besides its nature. The Sun it self by its beams helps some to see, and blinds the sight of others. And as salt, so the word of God, according to the diversity of the subject, becomes either usefull or hurtfull.
16. Salt is a Symbol of discretion and prudence. If it be moderately mixed with meats, it presents the palate with a pleasant rellish, but to much of it renders it unsavoury.
Thus let the Ministers of the Gospell do all things with discretion and judgment lest by too much and indiscreet affectation of bitter and harsh expressions and applications, and representing the graces like furyes, they disaffect the auditors against the truth of the doctrine, and render it nauseous, and odious to them. Let them use such a moderate and convenient mixture of Law and Gospel, whereby the sharpnesse of the one may be lenifyed, and the l…nity o… the other may be sharpned, and both together may be edifying, and usefull; that the Gospel may not let men altogether sit still, nor the Law make them run out of their vits. For it is our design to season men, not to destroy them to salt them not to subvert them. The proverb is well known, we must buy salt and oyle. Oyle signi…yes leni…y▪ salt acrimony. Therefore the sons of the Physitians mix oyle with salt, that it may not be too corrosive.
It may well become the Sons of the prophets to imitate these men, and to poure the oyle of gladnesse into the wounds which smart with the salt terrors of the Law. Let them so divide the word of truth, that weak consciences be not swallowed up of sadnesse by the immoderate austerity of the law, nor licentious hearts encouraged by the over-wide and unlimited charter of the Gospell.
Thus we have seen the propertyes of salt, and a proofe of the doctrine by those propertyes. Let us now look into the titles which the sacred Scripture hath given to the Ministers of Christ, that in them also their Necessity, Dignity, Vtility, and E…icacy may further appear.