Exposition of John 17, Exposition · Part 42
JOHN. 17.18.
Even ſo have I alſo ſent them into the world.
AND thus of that which Jeſus Chriſt hath affirmed of himſelf, in relation to his Father, Thou haſt ſent me into the world. Proceed we now to that which he affirms of his Apoſtles, and in them of his ſucceeding Miniſters, in relation to himſelf, I alſo have ſent them into the world.
And here we have to be conſidered three things. Firſt the author of the Miſſion I; I ſtands for Jeſus, I have ſent. Secondly, the term or local object of the Miſſion, the world, without reſtraint or limitation, all the world. I have ſent them into the world. Not into Judea only, but into the world. Thirdly, the compariſon, between our Saviours miſſion of his Apoſtles and Embaſſadors, and his Fathers miſſion of himſelf, ſuggeſted in the word alſo, I alſo have ſent them into the world; as thou ſent me into the world, even ſo have I alſo ſent them, &c.
As the parts, ſo the Obſervations are three. Firſt the Apoſtles and Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt are ſent by him, they are of Chriſts own ſending: Secondly, Chriſt doth not ſend them particularly, or reſtrictively to any Countrey, or to any Nation: But their Commiſſion leaves them free to all the world. Thirdly, Jeſus Chriſt ſends his Apoſtles and his Miniſters, even as his Father ſent him. There is a great ſimilitude between Gods ſending Chriſt into the world, and Chriſts ſending his Apoſtles and Miniſters into the world. I ſhall handle theſe diſtinctly, as God ſhall give ability and opportunity: Beginning with the firſt.
DOCTRINE. The Apoſtles and the Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt are ſent by him, they are of Chriſts own ſending.
For the Apoſtles they have their very name from ſending. The word in the Original importeth ſuch a one as is diſpatched upon the errand of another, upon the buſineſs that another ſends him in: And Chriſt is often ſaid to ſend them. There are two memorable miſſions of them, mentioned in the Goſpel ſtory. The firſt a little after he had called them, Mat. 10.1, &c. When he had called his twelve Diſciples (and they were his twelve Apoſtles, as they are ſtiled, ver. 2.) he gave them power againſt unclean ſpirits. And theſe twelve he ſent forth, ver. 1. and after at ver. 16. Behold I ſend you forth, ſaith he, as ſheep among Wolves. The ſecond memorable miſſion of them was a little after he was riſen from the dead, and was even ready to aſcend, Joh. 20.21. Even as my Father ſent me, ſo ſend I you. And this is that which the Apoſtle Paul acknowledges, that he was ſent by Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Cor. 1.17. Chriſt ſent me; what to do? not only, no not chiefly to baptize, but to preach the Goſpel.
And as for ordinary Miniſters, I take the ſeventy Diſciples to be ſuch. And of them it is obſerved in the ſtory, Luk. 10.1, &c. After theſe things the Lord appointed other 70. alſo, and ſent them two and two before his face; and addeth preſently, Behold I ſend you forth as Lambs among Wolves. It is a rule that the Apoſtle Paul lays down, Rom. 10.15. How ſhall they preach except they be ſent? He doth not ſay unleſs they be gifted, but unleſs they be ſent. How ſhall they do the work and buſineſs of the Miniſters of Chriſt, unleſs they be ſent by Chriſt? ſo that the point is clear you ſee, that the Apoſtles and the Miniſters of Chriſt are ſent by Chriſt.
But leaſt I be miſtaken here, I muſt interpoſe a caution. You muſt not underſtand that they are ſent by Chriſt Excluſively, that is, by him, and none but him: Neither as to the ſending of the Father and the holy Ghoſt, the other Perſons of the Godhead: Nor yet as to the ſending of the Church: Neither of them is excluded, when we ſay, That the Apoſtles and Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt are ſent by him.
They are not ſent by him Excluſively as to the ſending of the other Perſons of the Godhead, the Father and the Holy Ghoſt. The works of the Trinity without are undivided; and certainly it is their work as well as his, to ſend forth Miniſters into the Church; and hence it is not only ſaid, that Chriſt when he aſcended up on high, he gave ſome Apoſtles, Prophets, Evangeliſts, and Teachers. Eph. 4.11. Some extraordinary, ſome ordinary Miniſters in his Church: But it is alſo ſaid, That God hath ſee ſome in the Church, firſt Apoſtles, ſecondarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers, &c. 1 Cor. 12.28. God hath ſent them, and that not God the Son only, but God the Father, and Holy Ghoſt too. Indeed the Scripture is expreſs for this, that all the three concurred in this buſineſs. The Father thruſts forth Laborers into his Vineyard, Mat. 9.38. The Son gives Miniſters in the fore-cited Text, Epheſ. 4.11. The Holy Ghoſt makes Over-ſeers, Act. 20.28. Take heed to your ſelves, ſaith the Apoſtle to the Elders of Epheſus, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghoſt hath made you Over-ſeers: So that you ſee, Chriſt ſends not Miniſters excluſively as to the ſending of the Father and the Holy Ghoſt.
2. Nor doth he ſend them in the ſecond place excluſively as to the ſending of the Church: She alſo hath a hand (my Brethren) under Chriſt, and by authority from Chriſt in this miſſion. Election appertains to her, according to the rule of Chriſt, ſhe chooſes out fit men, Act. 6.3. So Ordination appertains to her; I mean, ſhe doth it by her Officers, as Act. 14.23. And Ordination as it is a Deſignation to the Miniſtry, ſo it is at leaſt a virtual and implicite ſending forth to the work of the Minſtry: And therefore Miniſters are called the Meſſengers of the Churches, 2 Cor. 8.23. Not the Meſſengers of Chriſt alone, but of the Church of Chriſt too: They are not only ſent by him, but they are ſent by her alſo; ſhe is the Wife, the Spouſe of Jeſus Chriſt, and ſo he ſuffers her to have a hand in ſending of her own ſervants; For ſo are Miniſters the Churches ſervants (though in ſome reſpects the Rulers, in other ſome the ſervants alſo) the ſervants of the Wife, and not the ſervants of the Husband only, as the Apoſtle inſinuates, 2 Cor. 4.5. We preach not our ſelves, but the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and our ſelves your ſervants for Jeſus's ſake: This ſhall ſuffice for clearing of the Obſervation by way of Application; here are ſome things that concern the Miniſters, and ſome things that concern the people; I ſhall proceed with them in order.
Ʋſe 1 Is it ſo, That the Apoſtles and Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt are ſent by him? This then may ſerve to let them ſee their great miſtake, who take upon themſelves the Office of the Miniſters of Chriſt, and yet are not ſent by him: Concerning whom he may complain, as God complains of thoſe in Iſrael, Jer. 23.21. I did not ſend them, yet they ran faſter then a good pace: They were forward of themſelves, but they were never ſent by me. Brethren, men may not call themſelves, or ſend themſelves, becauſe they think themſelves ſufficient; No, Jeſus Chriſt will call and ſend whom he pleaſes: For though he call not men immediately from heaven now, as in the times of the Apoſtles, he calls and ſends them mediately ſtill, by the Churches ſuffrages, as you may ſee Act. 6.3. and by the laying on of the hands of the Presbyters, as the Apoſtles phraſe is, 1 Tim. 4.14. And as it was a rule to the Levitical Prieſthood under the Law, Heb. 5.4. No man takes this honour on him, no man doth de jure take it, but he that is called of God as was Aaron: So to the Miniſtry under the Goſpel, no man takes this honour on him, but he that is ſent of Chriſt. There may be many private Souldiers in an Army, that may be fit to be Commanders, every way it may be fitter then ſome of them that do command, and yet they may not take upon them to be ſo, without a regular and due admiſſion. There may be many in the Common-wealth that may be fitter to be Juſtices of Peace then ſome of them that bear that Office, and yet they may not take upon them to be ſo, until they have received a Commiſſion: Or if they ſhould, it were impoſſible that their ſufficiency ſhould advantage the Army or the Commonwealth ſo much, as the ill preſident which they would give, and the diſorder and confuſion they would make, would do it hurt; and ſo there may be many private Chriſtians, that may be fitter to be Rulers and Paſtors of a Congregation, then many that do rule and teach, and yet they may not take upon them to be either, until they be ſent by Chriſt: For if one may call himſelf, and ſend himſelf, a ſecond may, and ſo a third, and then they may be all Teachers, which is the thing that the Apoſtle implicitely at leaſt forbiddeth, 1 Cor. 12.19. And if all were one member, where were the body? as the ſame Apoſtle ſpeaks. And indeed, if any man put himſelf into an office meerly upon this account, becauſe he thinks himſelf ſufficient, the weakeſt will be moſt forward and moſt conceited of their own ſufficience: and on the other ſide the ableſt men moſt modeſt, becauſe they beſt know their own weakneſs. And if you look on thoſe who call themſelves to be the Teachers of publick Congregations, and who impoſe themſelves upon them by force, and by a ſtrong hand, as ſome have done in theſe times, you ſhall not find them of the ableſt and the moſt judicious ſort of men; No, not of thoſe who are it may of their own opinion.
But you will interpoſe, and ask me then; What are not private Chriſtians to imploy their gifts for the common benefit? Yes, to the very utmoſt, my Beloved; As every man hath received the gift, ſo let him miniſter the ſame one to the other, as good ſtewards of the manifold graces of God, 1 Pet. 4.16. Their gift they have received to profit withal, and that not themſelves alone, but others alſo; But ſtill within their own ſphere, within compaſs of their own calling: They may and ought as they are able, to teach, &c. as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Col. 2.12. in a way of conference; and this lies as a duty on them all, in ſome degree: For this is no Evangelical counſel, but an Evangelical precept; it is not permitted only, but required: But none of them may take upon him to be the publick Teacher of the whole, without a due Vocation and Ordination thereunto. How ſhall they preach except they be ſent? ſaith the Apoſtle, Rom. 11.15. How ſhall they do it lawfully? He doth not ſay except they be gifted, but except they be ſent. Qualification is not enough, without miſſion: he muſt not go forth of himſelf, but muſt be ſent forth by Chriſt.
Is it ſo, That the Apoſtles and Miniſters of Chriſt are ſent by him? Ʋſe 2 This then may ſerve to let us ſee how far the power and the authority of Miniſters extends in binding and in looſing, and in proclaming either war or peace. They do it but as ſervants in a miniſterial way, and by a delegated power; and in the execution of it, they muſt exactly keep them by the rule and the directions which they have received from him that ſent them. They may not act according to their own diſcretion, and as it ſeemeth good to them, but muſt proceed in every thing according to the orders and inſtructions of their Maſter. Or if they ſwerve a jot from theſe, they ſtray beyond the bounds of their Commiſſion, and their authority is void. So that the power of Miniſters in this regard, is Miniſterial, and declarative: Yet this I add, becauſe they do it by Commiſſion from the Lord, and as Meſſengers of Chriſt, it comes from them, by reaſon of his Ordinance, with more aſſurance to the Conſcience, then from any private perſon.
Ʋſe 3 Is it ſo that the Apoſtles, &c. This then may ſerve to mind them what their duty is, and I ſhall give it you in two words.
1. They muſt do his work, and deliver his meſſage, the errand which he ſends them in. They muſt not bring their own devices to the people, their own fancies and conceits, the iſſue of their own brains, the froth of their own ſpirits, as many do in theſe times. No, they muſt ſpeak the words of Chriſt, and ſpeak them fully and compleatly. They muſt fulfill the word of God, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Col. 1.25. They muſt without reſpect or fear, deliver all their Maſters meſſage, to any man to whom he ſends them, how great ſoever he may be. They muſt not out of baſe and ſervile dread of any, ſuppreſs or mince their errand in the leaſt degree, or deal ſo mannerly with men, that they become unfaithfull to the Lord Chriſt. No, they muſt ſeriouſly conſider that though themſelves be mean and deſpicable perſons, yet they are Miniſters and Meſſengers of Chriſt himſelf, who is higher then the higheſt among men. And therefore as the Noble Roman ſaid, non ita memor ſum dignitatis veſtrae ut obliviſcar me eſſe conſulem; So they muſt ſay when they are dealing with the great ones of the world; I am not mindfull of dignity ſo far, as to forget that I am the Embaſſador and Meſſenger of Jeſus Chriſt. They muſt be bold and reſolute, with this aſſurance, that he that ſendeth them, will bear them out, according to his many pretious promiſes which he hath made for their encouragement to faithfulneſs in his ſervice.
2. And as they muſt deliver Chriſts errand, and not their own, ſo for Chriſts ends, and not their own; they muſt not ſeek their own profit, or their own honour, but the honour of their Maſter. As Chriſt who was the Fathers meſſenger, glorified not himſelf, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, but him that ſent him, Heb. 5.5. ſo they that are the meſſengers of Chriſt muſt not glorifie themſelves, but Chriſt that ſent them. They muſt act for him, and wooe for him, and win the ſouls of men to him. Their work muſt be to ſet him up, and to advance him that he may appear: They muſt with John the Baptiſt be contented to decreaſe, to wither in their reputation and eſteem, ſo Chriſt may be in the increaſing hand. They muſt not endeavour to take ſuch a courſe in the work of the Miniſtry, that they may ſeem witty, and learned and eloquent, that men may admire them, and applaud their abilities, but that they may admire Chriſt, that the thoughts and affections of men may be carried to him; They muſt not preach themſelves, but the Lord Jeſus Chriſt as the Apoſtle did, 2 Cor. 4, 5.
Ʋſe 4 Is it ſo, that Apoſtles, Miniſters, &c. Then let the Church be here directed, and adviſed to prove thoſe that pretend they are the Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt, whether they be ſent by Chriſt or no. The Church of Epheſus is much commended for her care and diligence in this regard, Apoc. 2.2. I know thy works, (ſaith Chriſt there) and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canſt not bear them which are evil, &c. And thou haſt tried them who ſay they are Apoſtles, and are not, and haſt found them lyers. They ſaid they were the Meſſengers of Chriſt; and that they were ſent by Chriſt (for thats the meaning of the word Apoſtle) but indeed they were not. The Church did not give them credit till ſhe tried them, and ſo diſcovered them to be impoſtors and deceivers.
And truly there are many ſuch in theſe times, who ſay they come from Jeſus Chriſt, when indeed he never ſent them. They are Meſſengers of Satan, and not of Chriſt: and therefore it concerns the Church to prove them well who come with theſe pretences, and to ſift them to the bottome, that they may know not the ſpeech of theſe men only, but the power, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 1 Cor. 4 19.
And here you are not only to conſider, whether they have obtained the election and ordination of the Church or no; for many reach to this who are never ſent by Chriſt. But there are other things to be obſerved. I ſhall lay them down in order.
They that are ſent by Jeſus Chriſt, are furniſhed with competent ability at leaſt for the delivery of their meſſage. You muſt not think that Chriſt will ſend by the hand of a fool. No, if there be a Meſſenger of Chriſt, he is one of a thouſand for gifts and abilities. In the time of the Law when he raiſed up Prophets, what ſpirit, what power, what underſtanding was there in them? And is his hand ſhortned now, my beloved, in the dayes of the Goſpel? He is aſcended up on high, on purpoſe to give gifts unto men, for the work of the Miniſtry, Epheſ. 4.12. He makes able Miniſters of the New Teſtament, 2 Cor. 3.6. If he make them, they are able; and if they be not able, they are none of his making. Now this ability conſiſts eſpecially in two things.
1. Ability of knowledge. The Meſſenger of Chriſt is to deliver to the people the mind of Chriſt, the myſteries, the depth, the ſecrets of the Goſpel; Such depths as the Angels deſired to pry into, but could not find the bottom of them. And therefore Jeſus Chriſt endueth them with more then ordinary underſtanding in theſe things. They may not upon pain of being guilty of the blood, conceal the very Counſel of God; they muſt be able to evince the truth, and to convince the gainſayers, Tit. 1.9. To cleer the doubts of the erroneous, and ſatisfie the ſcruples of the tender conſcience. They muſt be filled with knowledge, their lips muſt be a ſtore-houſe of it, and at their mouths it muſt be ſought for by the people, Mal. 2.7. They muſt be ready upon all occaſion, to drop down the balm of Gilead, the ſweet and pretious comforts of the Goſpel into the ſores of thoſe whom God hath wounded: To ſpeak even to the hearts of Gods people, to utter a word in due ſeaſon, to which alone is required the tongue of the Learned, Iſa 50.4. To preach Chriſt, and to deliver his errand with all wiſdom, Col. 1.28. And therefore whomſoever Chriſt ſends, he fitteth them accordingly in ſome meaſure. He gives them that which the Apoſtles calls underſtanding in the myſterie of Chriſt, Epheſ. 3.4. and makes them Scribes taught to the Kingdom of Heaven.
2. Ability of utterance. Behold I give you wiſdom, and a mouth, ſaid Chriſt to his Apoſtles, Luke 21.15. So when he ſendeth forth his Meſſengers, he doth not only give them wiſdom and underſtanding in the meſſage that he ſends them in, but he gives them a mouth too, to utter and communicate that wiſdom to the people. Or elſe what doth their wiſdom and their knowledge ſerve for, as Meſſengers or Miniſters, unleſs they have a mouth to bring it forth and to declare it to the people? I do not ſay that all the meſſengers of Chriſt muſt have voluble tongues and fluent expreſſions. There was among the Prophets a ſtammering Moſes, as well as a ſmooth and eloquent Aaron: A pla… blunt Amos for the Countrey, as well as a Rhetorical Iſaiah for the Court: among Goſpel Miniſters there was a chief ſpeaker, Acts 14.12. But yet however all that are ſent by Jeſus Chriſt, have in a meaſure that which the Apoſtle calls a door of utterance, Col. 4.3. a faculty to ſpeak to edification. The Prieſt of Old muſt have knowledge in his lips as well as in his head, as Mal. 2.7. And the reaſon is annexed, becauſe he is the Meſſenger of the Lord of Hoſts. And you know a Meſſenger or an Embaſſador muſt not be dumb, but able in ſome handſome terms to utter and expreſs the errant of his Maſter. And this is intended, when the Apoſtle ſpeaking of a Miniſter, ſaith, he muſt be apt to teach, 1 Tim. 3.2.
They that are ſent by Jeſus Chriſt, as they are furniſhed with ability, both of knowledge and of utterance: ſo they are qualified with propenſity. And this is that which the Apoſtle calls a ready mind to feed the flock, 1 Pet. 5.2. and a good will to deal to the people the Goſpel of Chriſt, 1 Theſ. 2.8. Suppoſe he have ablility, yet if he have no mind to uſe it for the benefit and profit of the Church of Chriſt, no zeal to ſtir up the gift that is in him, but is remiſs and idle, and prefers his eaſe and pleaſure before the bringing in of ſouls to Chriſt, it is a ſhrewd preſumption that Jeſus Chriſt did never ſend him.
But if he can be well content to ſpend himſelf and to be ſpent for the ſalvation of the peoples ſouls; if as John Baptiſt, he be a burning and a ſhining light, waſting himſelf and burning out, that he may give the people light: If he account it (as his Maſter did) his meat and drink to do the will of him that ſent him, John 8.34. ſo that he is not in his Element unleſs he be about his Miniſterial work; If he reſolve with the Apoſtle, this will I do if God permit, and think no peril nor no pains too great that he may finiſh his courſe with joy, and the Miniſtry which he hath received, it is very probable that ſuch a one is of Chriſts own ſending.
They that are ſent by Jeſus Chriſt are qualified with ſincerity. I do not mean ſincerity as Chriſtians, but as Meſſengers of Chriſt, in the delivery of their meſſage without addition or ſubſtraction, In doctrine ſhewing uncorruptneſs, gravity, ſincerity, ſound ſpeech that cannot be condemned, Tit. 2.7. And this is that which Paul himſelf profeſſes he had done, 2 Cor. 2.17. We, ſaith he, are not as many that corrupt the word of God; but as of ſincerity, and in the ſight of God, ſpeak we in Chriſt. The Steward and the Meſſenger of Chriſt, as he is wiſe, ſo he is faithfull; a faithfull and a wiſe ſteward. He doth not for his own ends adulterate the Meſſage of his Maſter, or coin a Meſſage from him, which he never ſent him in. And hereby you ſhall know him from another, that was never ſent by Chriſt. As Chriſt ſpeaks of falſe Prophets, by their fruits you ſhall know them, Mat. 17.16. that is, by their fruits as Prophets, not as men; Not by the fruits of their perſons, but the fruits of their doctrine: The ſame may be applied to the falſe Meſſengers of Chriſt, by their fruits you ſhall know them. If the doctrine which they teach, and the meſſage which they bring, be not the ſame which they have received from Chriſt; if they ſpeak not the words of Chriſt, but fancies and devices of their own; if they deliver that which is againſt Chriſt, againſt the Word and Spirit and Ordinances of the Lord Chriſt; which tends to looſeneſs and licentiouſneſs (as many do in theſe times) believe it they are none of Chriſts ſending.
Is it ſo that Apoſtles and Miniſters, &c. then certainly they ought to be Ʋſe 5 received by you, and ſo received, as thoſe that come from ſuch a one as Chriſt is. As Chriſt ſhould be well entertained becauſe the Father hath ſent him, ſo the Miniſters of Chriſt ſhould be well entertained becauſe he hath ſent them. Oh how welcome ſhould we bid them who come from ſuch a dear pretious friend as Chriſt is? How beautifull and lovely ſhould their very feet, their uncomlieſt parts be? What are you come from Jeſus Chriſt indeed? hath he ſent you? are you come from our Maſter, our Husband, our Head? You are very welcome to us.
And here to be a little more diſtinct, the welcome entertainment we ſhould give them, conſiſts eſpecially in two things, to name no more at this time.
1. You muſt give them honour, as thoſe that come from Jeſus Chriſt; Yea double honour, the honour of reverence, and the honour of maintenance. The Meſſengers and the Embaſſadors of Jeſus Chriſt, muſt be received and entertained with all reſpects by you; Or if they be not, he eſteemeth their diſhonour as his own. He that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth me, ſaith Chriſt. And verily, if this be true, he was never more deſpiſed then in theſe dayes. Oh my beloved, what floods of ignominy and contempt and ſcorn are poured out upon the Meſſengers of Jeſus Chriſt, thoſe that are moſt faithfull to him? ſo that abundance of them are hardly able to bear up againſt the venome that men ſpit upon them.
2. You muſt give them audience as thoſe that come from Jeſus Chriſt, conſidering that the meſſage they deliver is Jeſus Chriſts and not their own: and therefore when at any time you are adviſed by them to come in and ſtoop to Chriſt, Oh think that Chriſt himſelf doth counſell you and call upon you. And when they offer peace and mercy and atonement, and beſeech you to accept it; Oh think that Chriſt himſelf beſeecheth and entreats you by them, and therefore do not baffle him and ſlight him, and put him off with a denial; for if you do, it is a moſt unſufferable provocation. O think as often as you hear them ſpeaking to you, that you are hearing Chriſt himſelf from heaven, and then conſider how you dare to ſlight them. For you deſpiſe not men but Chriſt, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks in this caſe, 1 Theſ. 4.8.
Is it ſo that the Apoſtles, Miniſters, &c. this then ſhould teach you in Ʋſe 6 the laſt place to bear with all their earneſtneſs and plaineſs, and not to ſtomack them and ſtorm againſt them when they are free or ſharp with you; Conſidering that they are but ſervants and cannot but deliver the meſſage of their Maſter; its that to which their place and calling, and the truſt which Chriſt hath put into their hands doth bind them: which truſt they muſt diſcharge and not betray, be the hazard what it will; and therefore be prevailed withall to take all in good part, and not to think them injurious to you, becauſe they dare not to be unfaithfull to Chriſt.