The Wise Gospel Preacher, Sermon · Part 25 – Part 28
The third Uſe is of Vindication.
Thirdly, Let this Doctrine vindicate ſuch Preachers as give good heed in Preaching, ſo to Preach, that they may approve themſelves good Work-men, even Work-men that need not be aſhamed, dividing the Word aright; ſuch as Preach not as pleaſing men, but as pleaſing God, which tryeth the hearts, 1 Theſſ. 2.4.
I ſay, This Truth now cleared, will acquit and juſtifie all ſuch ſober, ſerious, exquiſite, faithful, painful, wiſe Preachers, which give good heed, and apply themſelves to be Phyſicians of Value, ſuch as endeavour both to ſound their own, and the peoples hearts, and to ſee that they Preach as the Spirit gives them utterance and guidance, Acts 2.4. Such Preachers as ſeek not yours, but you, that your Souls may be ſaved in the Day of the Lord Jeſus. I ſay, Let this juſtifie the exactneſs and diligence of thoſe, that in the dividing of the Word, make it their buſineſs to divide it aright, and to omit, nor loſe nothing of all the Riches of ſuch Scriptures, as the Spirit of the Lord opens to them; but endeavour to make full proof of their Miniſtry, in a miniſtration of the All committed to their truſt, following that Direction of our Lord, Gather up the Fragments that nothing be loſt, John 6.12. So theſe painful and laborious Bees move from Flower to Flower, that is, from Text to Text, and from Syllable to Syllable, that they may help you to Honey, that by Line upon Line, and Precept upon Precept, here a little and there a little, ſeek to impart to you the whole Counſel of God; I ſay, Let ſuch Preachers be juſtified, and not taxed, as at this day, by ſome who make uſe of that ſaying, What need this waſte? Mat. 26.8. What need this curiouſneſs, this tediouſneſs, ſo much dwelling upon a Text?
Why, let this ſerve to Anſwer ſuch; Is there not a cauſe, when it is required of a Steward to be ſound faithful? And this is faithful dealing with Jeſus Chriſt and his Word, to let nothing be loſt.
But again, ſecondly, If your Preachers, wiſe Preachers, do give good heed, and conſider the ſtate of the Flock, and whereof they have need, and do deal home and plainly with your Conſciences in all faithfulneſs, not ſparing any man, or flattering any man, or pleaſing any man, but dealing faithfully with all men, as approving themſelves to God. Why then conſider, I pray you, It is required of Stewards to be faithful, and ſuch are Stewards even of the maniſold Grace of God; and therefore it is required of them that they be faithful. Oh, let this juſtifie all wiſe, holy, humble, diligent, painful, faithful Preachers, that ſeek to turn many from their iniquity; that give good heed, and all diligence ſo to Preach, that they may declare that they have renounced the hidden things of diſhoneſty, not walking in craftineſs, not handling the Word of God deceitfully, but by manifeſtation of the Truth, Commending our ſelves to every man's Conſcience in the ſight of God, 2 Cor. 4.2.
And ſo much for this Uſe and this Point.
I now come to the next Word and Work of a wiſe Preacher, that is, He ſought out.
This is the next Work; and to ſearch or ſeek out: A good or a wiſe Preacher, doth not only give out, and not keep in any thing of all that good Knowledge, or Will of the Lord Jeſus made out to his Soul; But further he ſeeks or ſearches out after more of the Knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt to be further imparted to him; in what is in part known by him, or in what as yet of Chriſt is not manifeſt, but hid from him and them, and may be imparted to them: For the choiceſt, or moſt comprehending Servant, or Preacher of the Lord Jeſus, knows but in part, and propheſies but in part, and therefore had need to ſearch, enquire, or hunt after that of the mind of Chriſt yet behind, or unknown of him, and which may, for ought he knows, be made manifeſt to him.
Three things I ſuppoſe this Phraſe may import.
Firſt, To examine and receive things already viewed or known.
Secondly, To clear and diſcharge what we know, from what-ever Objections or Cavils might be brought againſt what we know, or conceive we know.
Thirdly, To ſeek out, is to endeavour to get either freſh Viſions of God in our Souls, or further and exacter inſight into ſuch Viſions of God as already we have received.
All this ſeems clearly implyed in this Act of the wiſe Preacher, as is moſt clear, by conſidering the next word, And ſet in order, or in their due order, many Proverbs. The Work of the truly, or ſpiritually wiſe Preacher, is to ſearch, or ſeek after; or ſearch, or ſeek into the knowledge of wha… is known, or ſhould be known, or may be known. This is the Trade of God's Commands, in order to a Preacher's Duty.
Doct. 8. The Doctrine hence may be this; That the wiſe Preacher's Work, is not an eaſie, but an hard task, to attain the comprehenſion or full underſtanding requiſite to be found in every Miniſter of Chriſt.
His life is a continued act of ſeeking, or enquiring after fuller diſcoveries of the mind of Chriſt. This is plainly implyed in this phraſe; he ſought out, or ſought after, or ſought into the way of ſetting Parables in order.
To clear up this Point, two things need proving; Firſt, That the Preacher's Task or Duty, is an hard Task or Duty. Secondly, His life is a continued Act of learning the mind of Chriſt. As he doth not do all at once he hath to do for Chriſt, neither doth he ſearn all at any one ſeaſon he hath to learn from Jeſus Chriſt: He is alwayes doing, and alwayes learning, until he dies. Therefore is the Preacher's Work hard Work. This Moſes well underſtood, Exod. 3d, 4th, and 6th Chapters. This Jeremiah alſo apprehended in his firſt Chapter; And this Paul concludes concerning his Miniſtry, 1 Cor. 16.15. But not to heap up teſtimonies for a thing ſo clear; Conſider this, namely what the Preacher's Work is reſembled to:
Firſt 'Tis called a Warfare, or they are reſembled to valiant Souldiers; and a Souldier's life is a l…fe of hazard and hardſhip, even ſo is the Preachers.
Secondly, 'Tis ſtiled a Watchm…'s life, and to be a good Watch-man, is a hard life, and laborious.
Thirdly, He is called a Shepherd, and that is no eaſie life.
Fourthly, They are called Husband-men, and Labourers, and Builders; all which prove Preaching to be a hard Work.
But to make this more clear; conſider, 'tis a Trade or Buſineſs that is alwayes carrying on, I had almoſt ſaid night and day; and therefore ſure it can be no eaſie, but hard Work, becauſe it is perpetual Work. But ſuch is the Preacher's Work, He muſt not onelyonly be alwayes preaching, but alwayes learning, yea, learning while teaching, in looking after the Mind of Chriſt: His Work is never done, alwayes doing, running on more and more after freſh and fuller diſcoveries of the Will of God. 'Tis an every day, yea, night and day ſtudy of the Word and Wayes of God; he ſought out; 'tis opened to us in Prov. 2.1, 2, 3, 4. 'Tis a Work a man muſt cry for; ſeek for, yea, …g for, and hunt for, that intends to find it; compared with Job 3.21.
Take one paſſage more, whe…e good and wiſe Preachers may be reſembled to Servants, and the Hand maids David ſpeaks of, Pſal. 123.2. Or to the good Woman, perceiving that her Merchandizing Commodity is good, therefore her Candle goeth not out by night. From all which may eaſily be gathered, what a hard and difficult, conſtant and painful life and labour, the wiſe Preacher's labour and life is.
Thus much for the proof of the Propoſition. Let me now give you ſome Arguments to evince this, That Preachers Work is hard labour, and continual imployment.
Arg. 1. Firſt, This muſt needs be thus, becauſe of the matter of Preaching, which is the Mind and Will of Chriſt contained in the Scriptures. Now this Word of Scripture, is like deep, yea, very deep waters; 'tis hard to get the golden precious Truths, and Counſels of Chriſt, contained in the bottom or body of Scripture, forth of them. The Word of God is perfect and ſufficient, but not ſo plain and obvious, that without much ſtudy and ſearch, the whole Counſel or Will of God contained therein will be attained. In the Word lies contained the manifold wiſdom of God; but 'tis hard to find out the ſum and variety thereof without much diligence. This Solomon implyeth, when he ſaith, Counſel in the heart of man is like deep waters; but a man of underſtanding will dra… it out, Prov. 29.5. Now if that Wiſdom or Counſel which is in the heart of wiſe men is like deep waters, and it requires wiſdom and labour too for the drawing it out; Oh, how much more doth it require the wiſeſt Preachers wiſdom and pains to dive into the Counſels of Chriſt, contained and centered in theſe moſt deep Wells of Salvation, or Waters of the Sanctuary, the Word of God! Yea, doubtleſs our experience witneſſeth to it, and we daily find all Truth is in the Scripture contained; yet can we hardly draw out or comprehend ſo much of Truth, as is eſſentially requiſite for our ſelves, and ſuch as we preach to. This David witneſſeth, when he ſaith, Thy Righteouſneſs is like the great Mountains, and thy Judgments are a great deep, Pſal. 36.6. Now if the Judgments, Statutes, Truths, Ordinances of Chriſt, all which the Preacher is to reveal, and declare to the People, be ſuch a great Deep, and ſo hard to fathom; Oh, how hard then is his work that is a wiſe Preacher, he may well be ſearching out and after this Will of God, and conclude, who is ſufficient for theſe things? But again;
Arg. 2. Secondly, As the matter of their Preaching is high, and hard to attain; even ſo the Work muſt needs be hard in reſpect of themſelves. They are dull and hard of Learning in what they muſt deliver out. Oh! if a Preachers Leſſon be hard, and he as hard to learn any Leſſon; ſure their task muſt needs be a hard task: But that the beſt of Preachers are bad and dull Learners is moſt evident, both by Scripture and plentiful experience; as in that glorious Saint and Preacher Job. How much pains did God take with Job from his Converſion, even till old age, and yet but in God's account a ſmall ſhallow Scholar; notwithſtanding all God's pains in correcting of him, yet ſaith God, Who is it that darkneth counſel by words without knowledge? Job 38.2. Yea, God makes Job plead guilty to this Indictment, Chap. 40.3, 4 5. with 42. And ſurely ſuch Preachers are not Jobs, but proud Phariſees, who will, or dare ſay, or think otherwiſe of themſelves. Such dull, bad, learners of the Mind of God, were Job's three Friends, Chap. 42.7. Yea, ſuch were Chriſt's Diſciples and Apoſtles, thoſe Maſter-Preachers, thoſe Foundation-Layers; Luke 24.25. O Fools, and ſlow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have ſpoken. Oh Beloved! if Preachers have hard and many Leſſons to learn, and are exceeding dull and incapacious of learning; yea, ſuch that have neither head, heart, nor will to learn. O ſure their work is hard, and they need be early and late ſeeking and ſearching out theſe acceptable words.
Arg. 3. Thirdly, Preaching-Work is hard Work, becauſe of ſuch to whom we preach. 'Tis hard to find out what words they want, and it is not wiſdom to preach ſuch words as are not wanting, or at preſent neceſſary. For though every, and any word that is or can be preached, is pure and perfect, yet not at all times, ſeaſonable or profitable; you know whoſe rule it is, All things are lawful, but all things are not expedient, 1 Cor. 6.12. Though every Truth not only may, but ought to be preached, yet not at all times, or to all ſorts of Hearers. There is a peculiar or apt time for every purpoſe under the Sun.
Now the wiſdom of the Preacher is to know how to time his Word or Doctrine to the preſent wants and neceſſities of the people, and this is very hard, and requires ſearching out of the peoples wants.
Secondly, This makes the Preachers Work hard, how wiſe a Preacher ſoever he be, to find out, not only their wants, but alſo how to apply that which is intended for them, to be received or accepted by them; even God's own People are a wayward and indiſpoſed People, or Children, to the receiving of Spiritual Food or Phyſick; and 'tis a great piece of Heavenly skill, and hard to attain. Paul himſelf writes it as a great piece of Heavenly Craft, 2 Cor. 12.16.
But, thirdly, grant a Preacher hath wiſely gone theſe ſteps, yet he muſt ſtill be ſeeking out how to preſerve and water the Seed he hath been admitted to Sow, that he loſe not the things that he hath wrought; for 'tis the part of a fooliſh Preacher to preach, and preach much, and not regard what becomes of his Labours. 'Tis to be like the fooliſh Oſtrich mentioned Job 39.13, 14, 15, 16. Now this Act makes the Preacher's Act hard work to water and watch his Seed ſown, that he loſe not his labour; therefore his work is hard work.
Arg. 4. And laſtly, The Preacher's task is very hard, becauſe of that great oppoſition and difficulty, which Preachers and preaching-work muſt and doth meet withal; that work how eaſie ſoever in it ſelf, yet if it cannot be performed without much oppoſition, is then and thereby become hard work, even thus is preaching become hard work, becauſe with much hardſhip, labour, and difficulty, it muſt be performed: Satan and Sinners, yea, even Saints themſelves, make the Preacher's Work hard, yea, very hard and troubleſome by their oppoſition. Look how the Enemies of the Jews withſtood the building of the Temple; even ſo doth Satan hinder the building of the Spiritual Temple, or preaching of the Goſpel; So Paul words it, 1 Theſſ. 2.18. Thus he made the preaching of the Goſpel decline from Jeruſalem, Acts 8.1. with Acts 13.50. And although the preaching of the Word muſt not be hindred or declined becauſe of Perſecution, yet is Perſecution a means to make Preachers look about them, and their work to be hard to them.
And again, The Preacher's task is made very hard by the oppoſition of falſe Teachers, which oppoſe the Truth of the Goſpel; and who, as Jannes and Jambres withſtood Moſes, ſo do they alſo reſiſt the Truth, 2 Tim. 3.8. Theſe conſtrain the wiſeſt of Preachers to ſeek out how to preach, that ſuch may not gain-ſay the Truth; or at leaſt, that their folly may be made manifeſt to all men of ſober minds; and this is hard work. How hard was Paul's work made to cut off occaſion from them, that ſought occaſion, when he is to preach Juſtification by Faith only, without the Works of the Law? How did the Jewiſh Teachers oppoſe him? Acts 21.27, 28, 29, 30. When he teaches the Doctrine of Free-Grace for the worſt of ſinners, notwithſtanding the greateſt of ſins, is he not ſlandered as if he taught liberty to ſin? Rom. 3.8. If he teach the ceſſation of the Law, as to life, How is his preaching oppoſed and ſlandred? 1 Tim. 1.6, 7. So when he preaches down legal Ceremonies, as Circumciſion, and Mears, Drinks, Holy-dayes, New-Moons, and Sabbaths: What labour is Paul forced to uſe to defend this Doctrine againſt thoſe Philoſophers and Deceivers? Gal. 6.11, 12, 13. with Col. 2.8, 16, 17. downwards to the cloſe of that Chapter.
Again, when the Apoſtles preach the Kingly Power of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in his own Kingdom and Church, how are they oppoſed? Acts 3. with Chap. 17. Now the ſilencing, anſwering, and preventing the deſigns of Satan, and his Inſtruments, ſlandering and oppoſing the Truth, makes the Preachers of the Goſpel much labour to ſeek out how to defend and eſtabliſh the truth of the Goſpel.
But laſtly, Preachers work is made laborious, and hard, by the ſubtilty, evaſions, gloſſes, excuſes, colours, and pretences, which poor ſinners ſtrive to hide themſelves under, and to evade the power of the Word brought againſt them. This makes the Preacher's labour very hard; ſo to Preach, that every Soul may be brought under the power of it, and every mouth may be ſtopped: By the doing of this Work, alſo by preaching among Saints, how much oppoſition do the Preachers of the Goſpel procure by it? as is clear 1 Cor. 4.14. to the end of the Chapter; ſo in 2 Cor. 12 and 13 Chapters: By all which it will appear, that the Preacher had need, yea, great need, to ſeek and ſearch out Arguments to ſupport, incourage, and uphold himſelf in the doing of his duty, and to deliver the Goſpel from being perverted and made of no uſe, by the many deſigns and devices of Enemies and Friends.
Thus much for the clearing of the Point, to wit, That every wiſe Goſpel-preacher's Work is not eaſie, but very hard, to ſeek after the attainment and comprehenſion of underſtanding requiſite to be found in every Miniſter of the Lord Jeſus.
Now by way of Application. Firſt, If it be thus, it informs us and inſtructs us in two Particulars.
The firſt Ʋſe is of Inſtruction.
Firſt, How ignorant and miſtaken ſuch mens thoughts and principles are, as report and imagine that Preaching is eaſie work, and the Preacher's Life is an idle Life or Calling. It appears to me, as theſe never had the honour to be called to this Work, ſo theſe little know what Goſpel-preaching is; but like Peter's natural bruit-beaſts, Speak evil of things and perſons they know not, 2 Pet. 2.12. Surely theſe never read, or never conſidered what Paul found Preaching to be, that thus ſpeak contemptuouſly and fooliſhly of it, 2 Cor. 6.3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Can that be ſlight, eaſie, idle Work, which is Night and Day-Work, which is Soul and Body-Work; that muſt be done faithfully, wiſely, in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon? Sure the ignorance, pride, and unbelief of ſuch is very great. I ſhall ſay no more to ſuch deceived Souls but only this, Conſider what hath been upon this Doctrine offered, and read the Rules and Directions Paul gives to Timothy about Preaching; and then tell me whether it be an eaſie, much leſs an idle trifling imployment, yea or no?
The ſecond Ʋſe is of Inſtruction.
But ſecondly, If Preaching be ſuch an hard Work, or Task, and Labour, to perform it wiſely and ſpiritually; Then this acquaints us what unwiſe and idle ſinful Preachers ſuch are as pretend to Preaching, yet take no pains in the performance of this Work, but trifle and idle in this weighty & honourable Imployment. Such may do well to bethink themſelves, it is required of Stewards, that they be faithful; and remember what God hath ſaid, He will not hold ſuch guiltleſs as take his Name in vain. Let ſuch idle careleſs Shepherds, as pretend to be Goſpel-Preachers, wiſe and honourable Preachers, view that word Ezek. 34. with Zech. 11.17. Wo to the idol Shepherd that leaves the Flock; the Sword ſhall be upon his Arm, and upon his right Eye; his Arm ſhall be clean dryed up, and his right Eye ſhall be utterly darkned.
Such worthleſs Preachers are like the evil Spies we read of Numb. 13.32. which brought up an evil report upon the good Land of Promiſe; ſo theſe bring up an evil report upon the good Word and Ordinance of God, the preaching of the Goſpel, by their light, idle, careleſs, carnal, and unprofitable preaching of the Word; becauſe they ſeek not out, nor ſearch after the ſetting of Parables or Goſpel. Myſteries aright; neither take pains to conſider what the Peoples wants are to ſupply them; nor what the Peoples ignorance or error is, to avoid it, and deliver the preaching of the Goſpel from their miſtakings, pervertings; or avoiding, by Armour on the right hand and on the left, leaving the People under ſuch generalities, as that they can deceive and flatter themſelves, that their condition is good, and the Promiſes belong to them, though they are in the Gall of Bitterneſs, and the Bond of Iniquity; a form of Godlineſs, without the power of it, not making it their buſineſs, to take away the Cloaks and Shifts, Pleas and Excuſes, Pretences and Fig-leaves, under which poor ſinners ſhelter and hide themſelves from the force of their Preaching, and the wrath of God, although they walk on in the ſtubbornneſs of their hearts, and add drunkenneſs to thirſt, and cry, God will ſpare, Deut. 29.19.
I ſay no more to theſe dumb idle Shepherds, or Preachers of our day, that by thus doing, cauſe their, or rather Chriſt's good Commodity, to be evil ſpoken of. But O that they would remember that ſaying of the Lord to their Brethren, the Sons of Eli, 1 Sam. 2.22, 29, 30. I ſay, Remember, thoſe that honour God ſhall be honoured of him; but they that deſpiſe him, ſhall be lightly eſteemed of him. And wo to that Preacher that God eſteems lightly of.
I ſhall ſay no more to theſe, who-ever they be, Prelates or Peſants, Doctors or Dunces, Batchelors or Novices in Divinity, for the pure preaching of the Goſpel, who like unwiſe and fooliſh Shepherds and Preachers, lightly or flightly preach; onelyonly hear and conſider that Scripture, Mal. 1.6. Wo unto you, O Prieſts, that deſpiſe my Name; and ye ſay, Wherein have we deſpiſed thy Name? Yea, offer polluted Bread upon my Altar, and ye ſay, Wherein have we polluted it? In that ye ſay, The Table of the Lord is contemptible: And if ye offer the blind for Sacrifice, Is it not evil? And if ye offer the lame and the ſick, Is it not evil? But curſed be the Deceiver that hath in his Flock a Male, and voweth, and ſacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing; for I am a great King, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts.
The third Ʋſe is of Exhortation.
But again, The next Uſe I ſhall make of this Point, is for Exhortation, (in two Branches) and that to two ſorts of perſons.
Firſt, Such as Preach the Goſpel.
Secondly, To ſuch who hear the Goſpel preached.