The Wise Gospel Preacher, Sermon · Part 3 – Part 8
Firſt Ʋſe of Reproof.
But now by way of Application, this may ſer… for conviction or confutation of all ſuch ſenſua… ſinful, anti-ſcriptural men, as deny the Preaching of the Goſpel to be God's, or a Divine Ordinance but mens device and deſign to advance their h… nour or profit in the World. Do not ſome, th… would not be thought to be ſmall Fools; ſpurn … Preaching as needleſs, uncertain, mens pride? … not men ſay, What can the Preachers tell us, b… what they have told us, and what we know a ready? Nay, are there not ſome, even too many whoſe pride will not ſuffer them to own th… Preaching of the Word? To theſe let me ſpea… that word of Solomon, Prov. 1.22. How long, ſimple ones, will ye love ſimplicity? and ye ſcorne… delight in ſcorning, and fools hate knowledge? … that ſuch that preſume to queſtion this undoubte… Truth of God, Preaching, even by men thereu… to qualified, to be God's Ordinance; becauſe me that Preach are not, nor ought to pretend to be in fallible, would but conſider this; Are none ſit … Preach to you fallible, ignorant, ſhallow things, i… things of Religion, but who are infallible? Di… not Paul, that great Light, ſay, That he knew b… in part, and propheſied but in part? Yet was admitted to be a Preacher in full, or a Preacher full worth hearing. What theſe ſay, argues no mor… againſt Preaching, than for a Scholar to ſay, M… Maſter is not a Scribe or Teacher in perfection therefore I will not learn of him; yet may he be very able to teach the Scholar that he hath not yet learned. Even ſo may an imperfect Preacher be very ſufficient to teach an imperfect Chriſtian.
Secondly, Though the beſt of Preachers are, or may be, in ſome things fallible, much of what Spiritual Preachers teach is infallible; and you Hearers prove all things, refuſe nothing, but hold faſt only that which is good.
And thirdly, Though Preachers preach proudly, or may ſo do, yet hear Goſpel-Preachers humbly, and the defect will be theirs, not yours. Elſe it will evidence pride in you not to hear ſuch whom Chriſt appoints that you ſhould hear; Matth. 23.2, 3. The Scribes and Phariſees ſit in Moſes Chair; All therefore that they bid you obſerve, that obſerve and do, &c.
Fourthly, Are they covetous of your Wealth? be you never the leſs covetous, yea, more covetous of Chriſt's Treaſury in their earthen Veſſels; and remember Solomon's Counſel, Buy the Truth, and ſell it not; alſo Wiſdom, Inſtruction, and Underſtanding, Prov. 23.23. And in ſo doing, you ſhall at moſt but do as every wiſe Merchant-man ought to do, when he had found one Pearl of great price, he went and ſold all that he had, and bought it, Mat. 13.46.
Fifthly, Do you know afore-hand what your Preachers will or can tell you, which is more than you know yet? Hear then, for if they can tell you no new things, they can tell what you ſhould do with old things. If they can tell you no new things, they can tell you what you ſhould do with old Truths, which you ſay you know: And … arguing of yours, proves you have not yet learn even to practiſe what you know of God; for … the knowers, but the doers of the Law ſhall be … ſtified, Rom. 2.13. And remember what Pe…. ſaith, in 2 Pet. 1.12, 13. Wherefore I will not negligent to put you alwayes in remembrance of th… things, though you know them, and be eſtabliſh in the preſent Truth: Yea, I think it meet, as l… as I am in this Tabernacle, to ſtir up your p… minds, by putting you in remembrance. Oh the… fore receive and conſider this reproof, Pſal. 4. H… long, ye Sons of Men, will ye turn my Glory i… ſhame? How long will ye love vanity, and foll… leaſing, or lying Arguments? And conſider wh… the Lord ſaith to ſuch as you are; O Generation ſee the Word of the Lord; Have I been a Wilde… neſs unto Iſrael? a Land of darkneſs? Wheref… ſay my People, We are Lords, we will come no m… unto thee? Jer. 2.31. And to conclude th… Uſe, think upon that Scripture, Pſal. 50.22. Conſider this, ye that forget God, leſt he tear you … pieces, and there be none to deliver you.
Second Uſe of Reproof.
This reproves ſuch as own Preaching, yet oppoſe it; and theſe are not mean illiterate, but glittering, potent, even learned Enemies of the preaching of the Goſpel; a Generation that are pure i… their own eyes, but are not waſhed from their own filthineſs, Prov. 30.12. Theſe are ſuch that deal with Preachers, and Goſpel-Preaching, as once he did with Jeremiah, of whom we read ch. 32.3. where we have it, that Zedekiah, King of Judah, had ſhut him up, ſaying, Wherefore doſ… thou propheſie, and ſay, Thus ſaith the Lord? Sinners cannot indure that God's Miniſters ſhould ſay, Thus ſaith the Lord. Thus dealt thoſe with Amos, which ſaid, O thou Seer, go flee thy way into the Land of Judah, and there eat Bread, and Propheſie, but Propheſie no more at Bethel, for it is the King's Chappel, and it is the King's Court, Amos 7.12, 13. Oh that ſuch Goſpel-Oppoſers would but conſider the two laſt Verſes of this Chapter, and tremble, and not any more oppoſe and perſecute the Goſpel, and the faithful Preachers thereof. It is neither mens greatneſs in Authority, or excellency of Parts, will ſecure them from God's dreadful diſpleaſure, except they repent. Oh how great is their ſin, and how inexcuſable will they one day be, that pretend love to Chriſt, and friendſhip to the Goſpel, yet forbid the pure preaching thereof! Theſe are ſinners of a double die, and it were well that they would all view and conſider what Paul ſaith concerning them, 1 Theſ. 2.16. Forbidding us to Preach to the Gentiles, that they might be ſaved, to fill up their ſins allway; for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermoſt. This is not onelyonly a crying, but a filling ſin. Sure, the ſins of the Romiſh Prelates and Powers, is full near the uttermoſt, that have ſo long perſecuted, forbidding God's faithful Labourers to Preach the Goſpel of Chriſt. I ſhall only offer one Scripture to ſuch mens conſideration, and ſo leave them under this reproof, Iſa. 30.8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Now go, write it before them in a Table, and note it in a Book, that it may be for time to come, for ever and for ever; That this is a rebellious People, lying Children, Children that will not hear the Law of the Lord: Which ſay to the Seers, See not; and to the Prophets, Propheſie not unto us right things; ſpeak to us ſmooth things, propheſie deceits; get ye out of the way, turn aſide out of the path; cauſe the holy One of Iſrael to ceaſe from before us. Therefore thus ſaith the holy One of Iſrael, Becauſe ye deſpiſe this Word, and truſt in oppreſſion and perverſneſs, and ſtay thereon: Therefore this inquity ſhall be unto you as a breach ready to fall, ſwelling out in a high Wall, whoſe breaking cometh ſuddenly at an inſtant, and he ſhall break it as the breaking of … Potters Veſſel that is broken in pieces, he ſhall not ſpare, ſo that there ſhall not be found, in the burſtings of it, a ſhread to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the Pit.
Third Uſe of Reproof.
A third Uſe of Reproof, from this conſideration, that Preaching of the Word is God's Ordinance, ſhall be, to reprove all ſuch Preachers of the Goſpel, as though not forbidden of men, yet forbid themſelves, and neglect this ſo great a Work, and Ordinance, as the Preaching of the Goſpel. Such idle Drones among the Bees, had need conſider that word 1 Cor. 9.16. For though I Preach the Goſpel, I have nothing to glory of, for neceſſity is laid upon me, yea, woe is unto me if I Preach not the Goſpel: and woe will be unto ſuch as are able, and may, but do not preach the Goſpel. Yea, though men did forbid, yet woe unto him that will be forbidden by any ſort of men, and doth not faithfully and fully preach the Goſpel. Such ſleepy, idle, timerous, or unprofitable Preachers, that do not as the good Preacher did in my Text, and every good Preacher in the World ought to do, that is, To give good heed, and diligently ſet in order Parables.
But I ſhall not enlarge upon theſe mens Repoof; hoping that a word to the Wiſe will be ſufficient, which every Preacher (as my Text implies) ought to be. But to them, or ſo many Preachers of the Everlaſting Goſpel as are otherwiſe ſpirited, I would commend a Scripture or two to their conſideration. The firſt is, Wo to the idol Shepheard, that leaveth 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 utterly darkned: But why, O Lord? Mark, Becauſe he hath not viſited thoſe that be cut off, neither doth ſeek the young Ones, nor heal that which is broken, nor feed that which ſtandeth ſtill, but doth eat the fleſh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces, Zach. 11.16, 17. with Ezek. 13.4, 5. O Iſrael! thy Prophets are as the Foxes in the Deſarts; yea, have not gone up into the Gaps, neither made up the Hedge for the Houſe of Iſrael, to ſtand in the Battel in the Day of the Lord; therefore hear what the Lord ſaith, verſ. 9. They ſhall not be in the Aſſemblies of my People, neither ſhall they be written in the writing of the Houſe of Iſrael; and ye ſhall know that I am the Lord.
Fourth Ʋſe of Reproof.
But a fourth Uſe of Reproof is to ſuch, and ſo many as own and acknowledge the preaching of the Goſpel to be the Lord's Ordinance, and yet make not due and ſuitable improvement of it. God will one day ſay to theſe, without repentance, as to thoſe of old; Foraſmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips, do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear to me is taught by the precepts of men: Therefore behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work, and a wonder; for the wiſdom of the wiſe men ſhall periſh, and the underſtanding of the prudent men ſhall be hid, Iſa. 29.13, 14. There are two ſorts of perſons to whom this Reproof belongs:
Firſt, Such as are careleſs in hearing the Word Preached.
Secondly, Such as are careleſs of doing of that, which by the preaching of the Word they are taught they ought to do, as well as know.
And I fear, how many ſoever there may be found under the firſt Reproof, or of the firſt ſort, there are yet many more of the latter ſort, even forgetful Hearers, deceiving their own ſouls, Jam. 1.22, 25. Firſt, Such ſleepy, worldly, carnal, idle perſons, that ſeldom can find time, and as ſeldom find an heart to come to hearing of the Word preached; though God bring it even to the doors, yet they can ſcarce move their feet over the threſhold to come to it; but cry out, What need ſo much expence of time, or attendance upon Preaching? or elſe complement over their neglect, as thoſe did that were invited to the Feaſt; make light of theſe opportunities or invitations, and cry, Pray you have me excuſed, I have bought a piece of Ground, and I muſt needs go ſee it. And another, I have bought Oxen, and I muſt needs go prove them. And a third ſort, I have married a Wife, and therefore I cannot come, Luke 14.15, 16, 17, 18, 19. But will theſe excuſes ſerve to leave ſuch men excuſable, that neglect or omit to come to the hearing of the Goſpel. Oh no! mark the cloſe of theſe Neglecters work; When the King heard hereof, he was wroth, and he ſent forth his Armies, and deſtroyed thoſe Murderers, and burnt up their City, Mat. 22.7. And therefore remember, If the Goſpel be hid, it is only hid this day to ſuch as periſh, 2 Cor. 4.3.
Fifth Uſe of Reproof.
But laſtly, and moſtly, This Doctrine reproves all ſuch, how great Hearers ſoever, as are at higheſt but Hearers, not Doers of that they hear. Though it is good to hear, yet 'tis not good to hear and not to practiſe; it is bad not to hear, but is worſe not to practiſe. That Servant muſt be beaten with many ſtripes, that knows his Maſter's Will and doth it not, Luk. 12.47. Not the knowers, but the doers of the Word ſhall be bleſſed, John 13.17. Oh! let ſuch perverters of this ſo great and bleſſed an Ordinance, as is the Preaching of the Goſpel, Conſider, God will one day come, and call for an account of all the Sermons you have heard, and ſee what Fruit you bring forth, whether Fruit to Him or to your ſelves: And then will he deal with unfruitful Vines, barren Fig-trees, and unpractical Hearers, as with thoſe we read of Iſa. 5.5, 6. Hoſ. 10.1, 2, 3. with Heb. 6.7, 8. Oh! it is no ſmall ſin, and ſhall have no ſmall puniſhment to be an unpractical Hearer of the Word, and perverter of this ſo great an Ordinance.
But this may ſuffice for that firſt Uſe, to wit, a Uſe of Reproof.
The ſecond Ʋſe is of Vindication.
The next Uſe of this Point, ſhall be for Vindication or Juſtification of all ſuch as are faithful, painful, diligent Preachers of the Goſpel; who becauſe Preaching of the Word is God's Ordinance, do Preach in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon whoever forbids or ſayes to the contrary; ſaying as once Peter and John did, Whether it be right is the ſight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye: For we cannot but ſpeak the things which we have ſeen and heard, Acts 4.19, 20. Where men have not ſufficient power to command, it can be no ſin there not to be obedient So here, theſe knew neither this Council, nor any were from God intruſted with any ſuch power, as to forbid or hinder the Preaching of the Word▪ therefore ſuch Commands neither ought or need to be obeyed. Even ſo at this day, ſhould the able Spiritual Preachers of the Word hold their peace, becauſe men, even any ſort of men, forbid them, or command them ſo to do; the very Stones in the Street, and the very Aſhes of theſe Apoſtles, might cry out againſt them, and ſay in the words of the Text; Whether it is right to obey God or Man, judge ye. Oh! it will one day be dreadful, preferring Man's Commands before God's Commands, when God ſhall viſit for this holding the Truth in unrighteouſneſs, according to that expreſſion, Son of Man, I have ſet thee a Watchman unto the Houſe of Iſrael, therefore hear the Word at my Mouth, and give them warning from me; When I ſay unto the wicked, Thou ſhalt ſurely die, and thou giveſt him not warning, nor ſpeakeſt to the wicked: Oh! mark it, Nor ſpeakeſt to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to ſave his life, the ſame wicked man ſhall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thy hand, Ezek. 3.17. Oh! is not this a terrible word to all ſilenced Preachers this day, that have learned to be ſilent at the word of a man, and let the wicked go without warning from them, forgetting what God ſaith, Who art thou that thou ſhouldeſt be afraid of a Man, and the Son of Man, that ſhall be made graſs, and forgetteſt the Lord thy Maker? Iſa. 5.12, 13. Therefore let ſuch be this day cleared, and acquitted, as innocent, and approved with the Lord, as have not in ſuch a day as this made the Commands of God of none effect through mens traditions, but, like Levi, have ſaid to their Father and Mother, I have not ſeen him, neither did he acknowledge his Brethren, nor knew his own Children; for they have obſerved thy Word, and kept thy Covenant, Deut. 33.8. Oh! when-ever you hear thoſe Standard-bearers taxed, who have not fainted nor feared in ſuch a day as this, but have humbly ſaid, Shall ſuch a man as I flee? Shall ſuch a man as I, whom Jeſus Chriſt hath anointed and called to Preach the Goſpel, ſhall I be dumb and ſilent? I will not, I may not, I dare not be ſilent. Oh! vindicate theſe, and when railed upon for faction, folly, and diſobedience to Authority, pride, paſſion, and the like; Oh! then ſay as of old, David in a like caſe ſaid, Is there not a cauſe? 1 Sam. 17.29. And you Worthies of Iſrael, be incouraged from the Word of the Lord, Thou therefore gird up thy loyns, and ariſe, and ſpeak unto them all that I command thee; be not diſmayed at their faces, leſt I confou… thee before them, Jer. 1.17. So much for this Uſe