The Wise Gospel Preacher, Sermon · Part 46
Uſe of Information.
Firſt; This ſerves for Information in two or three Particulars.
Firſt, It informs us how much ſuch are miſtaken, that conceive and affirm that it is left free and arbitrary to States and Princes to judge and conclude, what Miniſtry and Miniſtration the People of God ſhould injoy in their Dominions; whereas in truth it nothing at all appertains to them, but only to the Lord Jeſus to appoint and determine what kind of Miniſters and Miniſtrations his People ſhall fall under; as the Arguments before alleadged do manifeſt. Men have liberty and freedom to judge and determine for themſelves, but no power to impoſe or determine for others; as Paul ſaith, Who art thou, O man, that judgeſt another Man's Servant? to his own Maſter he ſtandeth or falleth; yea, he ſhall be holden up; for God is able to make him to ſtand, Rom. 14.4. But again, to proceed;
Secondly, This informs us how far that aſſertion is from being a Scripture-Truth, which maintains, That Miniſtries and Miniſtrations depend upon the Chriſtian Magiſtrate for confirmation; whereas indeed it depends upon the good will and pleaſure of none of the Sons of Men, but onelyonly upon the Son of God, who is Lord of all things. I ſuppoſe in this caſe, I may ſay with truth, what Korah and his Complices ſaid with falſhood, Ye take too much upon you, who-ever you are that thus affirm and practiſe, Numb. 16.3.
Thirdly, This acquaints us, that ſuch Miniſters, and Miniſtries, and Miniſtrations, that ſpring not from the Will, Wiſdom, and Authority of the Lord Jeſus, are none of his Miniſters, Miniſtries, or Miniſtrations, but Man's, either their own or other mens creation or creating; Let them be dignified or diſtinguiſhed by what Names or Titles ſoever, even from the Pope to the Parator: and if ſuch will not be called Antichriſtian Miniſters, yet muſt they ſuffer me to call them Man's Miniſter…, and let all ſuch Miniſters of Man, and of the Will of Man, hear their doom; Mine hand ſhall be upon the Prophets that ſee vanity and divine lies; they ſhall not be in the Aſſembly of my People, neither ſhall they be written in the Houſe of Iſrael, neither ſhall they enter into the Land of Iſrael; and ye ſhall know that I am the Lord God, Zech. 13.9. Further this informs us, That all ſuch Miniſtrations as ſpring not from the Lord Jeſus, neither are inſtituted by him, nor found in the Writings of the New Teſtament, are none of Chriſt's Ordinances, but mens ſinful inventions and ſuperſtition, concerning which our Lord long time ſince gave his Judgment, ſaying, But in vain do they worſhip me, teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of men, Mat. 15.9.
Fourthly, and Laſtly; This acquaints us, That the Innovation, or bringing into the Church of God ſuch Miniſters and Miniſtrations as our Lord Jeſus Chriſt never inſtituted, neither ſpring from, nor depend upon him, is no ſmall, but a magnified Tranſgreſſion. If it be Treaſon againſt a King for any in his Dominion to introduce Offices, Officers, Laws and Ordinances, without his conſent. O! what high Treaſon is it againſt our Sovereign Lord King Jeſus, the King, or Prince of the Kings of the Earth, Rev. 1.5. I ſay, What Treaſon is it for any man, or number of men, to make and appoint Miniſters and Ordinances in his Church and Kingdom without him! Let all ſuch Traytors againſt the Lord Jeſus think ſeriouſly on two or three Texts of Scripture I ſhall commend unto them; one is that of Iſaiah, Wherefore the Lord ſaid, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouths, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men: Therefore behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work amongſt this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder; for the wiſdom of their wiſe men ſhall periſh, and the underſtanding of their prudent men ſhall be hid, Chap. 29.13, 14. Again, think on that paſſage of Ezekiel; And he ſaid to me, Son of man, the place of my Throne, and the place of the ſoles of my feet, I will dwell in the midſt of the Children of Iſrael for ever, and my holy Name ſhall the Children of Iſrael no more defile, neither they, nor their Kings in their high places; in their ſetting of their Threſholds by my Threſholds, and their Poſts by my Poſts, and the Wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy Name by their abominations they have committed; wherefore I have conſumed them in my anger, Chap. 43.7, 8. So much for this firſt Uſe, or for Information.