The Wise Gospel Preacher, Sermon · Part 35 – Part 36
Secondly, For Exhortation.
Secondly, This ſhall ſerve for a word of Exhortation, and that to two ſorts of Perſons.
Firſt; To ſuch as Preach.
Secondly; To ſuch as Hear.
Firſt; Let me exhort and provoke all you that are wiſe Goſpel. Preachers, to remember this word; Seek out acceptable words, even words of Truth; and let that which is written be upright. Oh, ſuffer me to beſeech you to ſeek out ſeaſonable words, both upon God's and his Peoples account. Oh, conſider what Generation-work God hath in hand in your day, in the preſent day, and give it your word, as Nehemiah did in his day, Chap. 2. verſ. 3. In times of abounding of iniquity, Lift up thy Voice like a Trumpet, cry aloud, ſpare not, ſhew the people their tranſgreſſion, and the houſe of Jacob their ſin, Iſa. 58.1. And take that encouraging word and charge you have given to the Prophet Jeremiah, Thou therefore gird up thy loyns, and ariſe, and ſpeak unto them all that I command thee, and be not diſmayed at their faces, Jer. 1.17. Oh, my Brethren, be prevailed upon to make it your main buſineſs, next to the looking after your own Vines, to look after acceptable words for the People. Oh, ſearch out the cauſe you know not, and ſee what your and Chriſt's Sheep want, and Preach words ſeaſonable, or in due ſeaſon. Oh Beloved, be not knowers but doers of the Word, not deceiving your own Souls: This will bring much honour to Chriſt, and you will then ſo do your work, as to have joy, and not grief, in the great day of Jeſus Chriſt.
Secondly; Let me exhort you that are Hearers, to ſuffer a word of Exhortation, not onelyonly from me, but from your Preachers alſo, which enjoy wiſe and painful Preachers, that make it their buſineſs to ſeek out acceptable words for you. Oh, eſteem ſuch highly for their work ſake, and their work for Chriſt's ſake. Oh, ſlight not ſuch words as coſt them ſo dear, or ſo much, to find out for your uſe. Oh, ſin not againſt ſuch words as are ſeaſonable, and ſhould be to you acceptable. Suffer your Preachers to deal home and plainly with you; 'tis their duty, and their love to Chriſt and you, make their work eaſie; take their labour of love kindly, deſpiſe not, pervert not propheſyings of ſuch as ſeek out acceptable words; and what-ever they ſpeak is words of Truth, and of uprightneſs. If neceſſity be laid upon them to ſeek out acceptable words, do not think you are at liberty, whether you will receive or refuſe them. Nay, think of that dreadful word, Lo, when this cometh to paſs, then ſhall they know that a Prophet hath been among you, Ezek. 33.33. The great God that made nothing in vain, hath not made wiſe Preachers in vain, or that you ſhould turn a deaf ear, or a rebellious heart towards them. They muſt ſift, hunt, and ſearch out acceptable words for you; and you ought to receive them with all readineſs of mind, and take heed that they loſe not through you the things which they have wrought. Oh believe it, your ſpiritual wiſe Preachers do bring you acceptable words, meat in due ſeaſon, and therefore let him that hath ears, hear what the Spirit ſaith to the Churches.
And laſtly; If Preachers muſt ſeek out acceptable words for the People, then let their acceptable words be acceptably entertained of you: As Daniel ſaid to the King, ſo let me ſay to all you to whom this Truth ſhall come, Let my Counſel be acceptable to you, and break off your ſins by Righteouſneſs, and your iniquities by ſhewing of mercy, Dan. 4.27. I mean, your ſins againſt wiſe Preachers, and their acceptable words from Jeſus Chriſt.
Thus much for this Word and this Point. I proceed now from the Preacher's Work to the Preacher's Commendation; And that which was written was upright, even words of Truth.
The eleventh Doctrine.
Whence I might obſerve, That as wiſe Preachers are wary and painful Preachers, and ſearch and ſeek out acceptable and ſeaſonable words for their People; ſo a pious and deſerving People will not be wanting to give, or afford them and their preaching, due and deſerved incouragement and commendation, as might eaſily be made to appear.
But remembring what Solomon the Preacher hath writ in this caſe, Prov. 27.2. Let another man praiſe thee, and not thine own mouth; a ſtranger, and not thine own lips.
I ſhall forbear to proceed any further, and ſhall now conſider the words, without relation to the Preacher, as they hint forth the commendation of uprightneſs and truth, not only in the Preacher's Spirit and Work, but in every Man's Spirit and Converſation.