The Wise Gospel Preacher, Sermon · Part 21
The third Uſe is for Direction.
The next Uſe or Improvement I ſhall make of this Point, is for Direction to ſuch Preachers as faithfully endeavour thus to do.
Firſt, Would you teach your people Knowledge, or make your Hearers knowing in the Knowledge of Chriſt; Then let me beſeech you to Preach humbly, for a proud Preacher is not likely to become a profitable Preacher. This was the frame of Spirit Paul went forth Preaching the Goſpel with, Acts 20.19. Serving the Lord in all humility, in that Work. A proud Preacher will more ſtrive to Preach out himſelf unto the people, than the ſaving Knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt into the people. A proud Preacher will be too high to ſtoop or condeſcend to the weakneſs of the capacities of the People; as the proud in heart will not receive Commandments, even ſo the proud in heart will not teach Commandments. 'Tis too hard for ſuch to teach Knowledge, or for the people by ſuch to be taught Knowledge: Such Preachers as deſire to be profitable Preachers unto others, muſt learn of that wonderful Preacher the Lord Jeſus, to be meek and lowly of heart, Mat. 11.29. and do as Paul adviſeth, Rom. 12.16. Not to mind high things, but to condeſcend to men of low eſtate. To which I may add what he writes to the Biſhops and Deacons of Philippi, ſaying, Let nothing be done through ſtrife, or vain-glory, but in lowlineſs of mind, let each eſteem others better than themſelves. Look not every one on his own things, but every man alſo on the things of others, Phil. 2.3, 4.
Secondly, Would you Preach profitably, and cauſe the people to get Knowledge; then labour to Preach plainly. 'Tis plain Preaching will only prove profitable-Preaching. This Paul ſeems to mind, in 1 Cor. 14. as the very ſcope of that Chapter, to provoke Preachers to Preach plainly within, not above the underſtanding of the People. Aſſerting, that if a Preacher preach never ſo rarely; yet if he preach above the underſtanding of the people, he ſhall be but as a Barbarian to the people, and not beneficial to them at all. Plainneſs and Pureneſs are the two great excellencies of Preaching; and as ever a Goſpel-Preaches would be found a profitable Preacher, let him become a plain Preacher. Though high Strains, hard Notions, and obſcure or hidden Expreſſions may moſt commend amongſt men, yet plainneſs and profitableneſs will moſt commend to God, and be moſt acceptable and advantagious to thoſe that are perfect and prudent. Oh therefore Brethren, all you that Preach the Goſpel, ſo Preach as Paul did, as you have it 1 Cor. 2.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. compared with 2 Cor. 3.12. as ever you intend to teach your people Knowledge.
Thirdly, If you would diſtil or infuſe your Knowledge into the people, do not only Preach to the people, but live out that you Preach before the people; be not only an Audible but a Viſible word to the people. How ſhall the people learn that from our lips, which they cannot learn from out lives! This made the Scribes and Phariſees, the great Preachers of that day, they could do no good to the people, but as blind Leaders, led the people blindly into the Ditch; was it not from hence, becauſe they ſay and do not? Mat. 23.3. with that of Jer. 23.18, 22. Oh, as ever you would be profitable Preachers to others, be not unprofitable Preachers to your ſelves, practiſe what you Preach, if ever you mean to profit others by that you Preach. Nothing more dulls and blunts the edge of Preaching, than not living out the life of Preaching; therefore let your light ſo ſhine before men, that they may ſee your good works, and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven, Mat. 5.16.
Fourthly, And eſpecially, Water all your Preaching with Praying, if ever you would reap the fruit of your Preaching. Oh! my beloved Brethren, Would you profit your people much by Preaching, then water your people much by Praying; let the beſt Seed that can be ſowen, be ſowen into the beſt ground that can be, yet if ſhowers be with-held, a fruitful crop will never be obtained: Even ſo here, the beſt Sermons will be but loſt Sermons, unleſs they are watered Sermons. Oh therefore, water your Sermons by Prayers; do not only pray for a Sermon, but for a bleſſing upon that Sermon; pray not only publickly, but privately for a bleſſing upon your Labours; loſe not your Sermons through ſhortneſs, or wantingneſs in praying performances. This was Paul's way to get Knowledge to be the bleſſing of the Epheſians, Philippians, and Coloſſians, as you may ſee at large in the firſt Chapters of thoſe Epiſtles.
Therefore to conclude theſe Directions, Watch and pray that the Enemy ſteal not your Seed, or Chriſt's Seed rather, away out of the minds and underſtandings of the people. If any ſhall ſay, This is no more then we knew before: yet let me, as once Peter did, tell you, I think it meet, as long as I am in this Tabernacle, to ſtir you up, by putting you in remembrance of thoſe things, though you know them, and be eſtabliſhed in the preſent truth, 2 Pet. 1.12.