Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 4 · Verse 11
Verse 11. If any man speak, let him speak as the Oracles of God: If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever, Amen.
THe Apostle descendeth from general, to particular Exhortations, and instanceth in some main and principal gifts, which be of greatest use; namely, Gifts and Offices in the Church, towards the souls and bodies of the people of God: and that not onelyonly for their good, but that God might be glorified in all his gifts, through Jesus Christ; of whom, and his gifts bestowed upon us, when he speaketh, he cannot but break out into a hearty thanksgiving, desiring, and that fervently, that all praise and dominion may be given to him for ever and ever.
Here we have an Exhortation, a Confirmation, a Conclusion.
The Exhortation is unto Ministers by name, to preach the Word of God, and as the Word of God; and to other Church-Officers, under a general term, that they are to dispense their gifts, according to the gift bestowed upon them.
Now in that the Apostle contents not himself with the general Exhortation in which Ministers were included, but names them particularly, we may note, that
The Office and Calling of the Ministery is of all others the most needful and necessary:The Calling of the Ministry is of all others the most needful. Its the gift of Prophesie to understand the Scriptures, to be able to open and apply the same, is an excellent gift, as in respect of him that hath it, so as the Ordinance of God to work Faith, and convert Souls. It were pitiful if Magistrates should neglect their Office, Housholders theirs, or any other, to employ his gift for the good of his brethren (for then would all things come to confusion) but the neglect of the Ministery were yet worse, as being the means whereby those may learn their duties: The souls of people depend on the Ministery; and where Prophesie faileth, the people perish. Hence it is, that when the Lord promised great favors to his people,Ier. 3. 15. he promised them faithful Ministers;Mat. 9. 36. and our Savior, in love to his people the Jews,See Ezek. 3. 36 and 7. 26. sent his Apostles among them, pitying them as sheep which were scattered, and wanting a Shepherd: where on the contrary,Amos 5. 13. and 8. 11. no greater judgement could befal them, then the want of such faithful Shepherds,Zech. 11. 16. or the having of unfaithful: Can Laborers, Husbandmen, Plowmen, Builders, Watchmen, Shepherds, and such others, be spared in a Commonwealth? Who knows not the use of them? Such are Gods Ministers in respect of our souls.
This teacheth Ministers to be faithful and painful in their places:Use. The honor is great, the trust much, to be the Lords Ambassadors in such high matters, and to have the charge of Souls; Here is no dallying, the greater our place is, the more must be our diligence; we are employed about a worthy work, and accordingly must labor in the Word and Doctrine, for the gaining of Souls: Hereupon followeth an incorruptible Crown: Contrary, if we be unfaithful and negligent, as we sin in the highest degree, in so deep trust, and do so great hurt, our answer must needs be fearful,2 Cor. 2. 16. which made Paul say, Who is sufficient for these things? And godly men have been in this Calling with much fear and trembling; without doubt wicked Ministers as they are the Factors for the Devils Kingdom, they have more to answer for, then either unfaithful Magistrates, Housholders, Lawyers, Physitians, &c. nay, then those that rob and murther by the High-way; for these kill a few, and but mens bodies, but those murther many, and their souls, their peoples blood will be required at their hands; were this considered, men would neither so rashly and unadvisedly run into the Ministery, nor so loosly and idly live therein.
2. It teacheth people to esteem the Ministery as the most necessary gift of all others,Use. 2. as that whereon the winning and losing of their souls depends, and which is appointed for Salvation; and accordingly they must regard it, make use of it, and endeavor to profit by it, for their Humiliation, Conversion, Sanctification.
3. It rebukes numbers of blinde people in the world,Use. 3. that think of all gifts, the Ministery might be best spared, especially those preaching Ministers, that have (as they say) a deal of Tythes and maintenance, and that they could like as well a Reader, that would be content with a small stipend, &c. O these unsavory Earth-worms know not the worth of their souls, and therefore savor not the things that pertain to the salvation thereof: Thus indeed our Commodities in most places are deadest, and of least price and regard; some few wise Merchants thank God for our Ministery, and highly value it: Well, know that thy foul, the best jewel thou hast, depends on the Ministery of the Word; if ever it shall be saved, it must be by means hereof, whereby thou mayest as well renounce thy felf, as lay hold on Christ for Salvation.
If any man speak, Whoso is in the Ministery ought to preach.&c.] Whoso is in the Ministery, ought to Preach; no gift makes a man a Minister allowed of God, but the gift of preaching, even to be able to open the Scriptures soundly, and apply the same wisely to the peoples edifying:Rom. 10. 14. How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? (saith the Apostle) and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they Preach, except they be sent? That is, gifted and quallified by God for the place, even being able to do that which is apt to convert souls, which no gift else can do, but that of preaching the Word;Simile. The Scriptures read, are but as a goodly Carpet folded up together,Matth. 10. 7. but by preaching,2 Tim. 4. 2. the beauty thereof appeareth; This our Savior enjoyned his Disciples, and the same did the Apostle Paul require of Timothy.
1. This rebukes those,Use 1. which (howsoever having an outward calling, they stand in the room of Ministers, and therefore their actions are not to be counted void or nullities) run before they are sent, are blinde watchmen, Messengers without an errand, dumb Dogs, as Idols, having mouthes, but speak not, &c.
2. This rebukes a number of silly people,Use 2. which conceive it sufficient if their Minister be but a Reader: We have a very honest man, will such say; true, he cannot preach, but he doth his good will, and we can desire no more of a man, and a very fellow-like man he is, &c. But if it happen they have a godly Preacher, what is their note then? we have a Minister, I would we had never known him; some say he is learned, and he preacheth indeed, but he is so troublesome, he hath spoiled our Town quite, we were all as quiet as could be till he came, but now there is such finding of faults, and bringing up new Orders, as we cannot tell what to say; a good many of the best of the Parish will do what they can to remove him, &c. Thus the world loves reading Ministers; They say of Schollars, they be the most conscionable; They care not how little they have for their money, but its true also of a number of silly miserable people; They can have no more of a man then his good will, they say: But they would not say so of a Carpenter, or any Workman or Servant they hire; if they do not the business they are set about, they would have others.
Let him speak as the Oracles of God,] That is, both Preach the very Truth and Word of God, and as its meet, or as it becomes the Word to be handled.
Ministers must Preach the Word of God,Ministers must Preach the Word of God. they must not deliver any thing to their people, but that which they have received of God; So did both the Prophets and Apostles, they stand in Gods room, and are to bring his Message. neither must they deliver any word, whereof they may not truly affirm, Thus saith the Lord, This is the Word of the Lord: Nothing else feeds the soul, other things are poyson or chaff; yea, we may answer for what we say before God, upon our salvation or damnation.
1. This reproves divers,Use 1. as namely, such as by their erroneous Doctrine destroy souls; they give in stead of an egge, a scorpion, and for food, poyson; Such as by telling strange and forged miracles of this and that Saint, endeavor to uphold one lye of Popery or other; Such as teach mens traditions, or their own devices and opinions, contrary to Gods Word; Such as wrest the Word of God, and discourage the hearts of the godly, and strengthen the hands of the wicked, making their Text speak what God never meant; Such as Preach Gods Word, but so mingled with mans inventions, as they Preach not Gods Word but their own fancies: Thus many stuff their Sermons with Authorities of men, as of Heathen Poets, Philosophers, Historians, and that in strange tongues, which though turn'd into English, yet what a loss of time, what a breaking of the peoples attention must there needs be hereby? what thrusting upon people mens authority? use indeed may be made of those in private, and humanity serves as well as an handmaid to Divinity, but its Gods Word onelyonly which can stablish the Conscience; If we use them publiquely, the same must be done sparingly, to special purpose, on some special occasions (as when we have to do with Atheists, &c.) and not to the common people.
2. This may instruct people,Use 2. that they hear nothing, at least receive nothing but the Word of God;Iohn 10. 17. My sheep hear my voyce, saith our Savior,1 Thess 5. 21. and a strangers voyce they will not hear: 1 Iohn 4. 1.Therefore they must be able to try what they hear; we must not be like children, carryed about with every wind of doctrine: Solomon counts it the property of a fool, to believe every thing; if we should, in stead of being fed, we might be poysoned:Acts 17. 11. we must, with the Bereans, search whether the things we hear be so and so; they were neither curious nor captious, yet they would receive nothing but the truth. A man may tell money after his own Father, not because he thinks he would deceive him, but because he may be deceived: we take not upon us to have dominion over your Faith, that you should believe whatsoever we say, because we say it; but if it be not according to Gods Word, take it but upon exchange: All that we hear, and Ministers deliver, must be according to the Scriptures, which is the rule and touchstone; and when people have knowledge, and can try what we …each, we should be far from being angry, and saying, It was never merry world since every Taylor and Shoemaker could talk so much of the Scriptures, and finde faults with mens preaching; would we have the peoples eyes out? True, the Papists cannot abide it in the people, but tell them, They must believe as their Ministers believe, &c. This is as bad a sign in them as may be: But alas, we have cause to complain of peoples ignorance; it were even just with God to let them fall into the hands of deceivers, as having got no knowledge all this while.
Ministers must preach as it becomes the Word of God,Ministers must so preach as it becomes the Word of God. even with all reverence and authority, with all courage and boldness; yea so, as that they declare by their lives, that they believe it to be Gods Word, even by being first in the practice thereof, and obedience thereto.
1. This serves to reprove divers;Use 1. as namely, those that mingle tricks and conceits to tickle the ear, and are all in their Inkhorn terms, riming, and running on the letter, &c. together with those that have itching ears, and delight in such things. Its a sign of a sickly ill disposed stomack, to whom the wholesom food of the Word is not sweet, except it have some such strumpetly sawces. Those that through sear keep back Gods counsel, not revealing his whole will; those that live daily in the same sins which they rebuke in others, not fearing those judgements which they denounce on others, nor doing those duties they call for of others; these, as the Scribes and Pharisees, are blinde guides; these make the people think, Preaching is but for a fashion, and they must speak somewhat when they be in place, but its not to be regarded; for if it were, they would not do thus and thus themselves: Thus, as Eli's Sons, they make the Lords people loath the Sacrifice of the Lord; yet must not people thus stumble: Do as they say,See Psal. 50. 16 take the good, and leave the ill: men will take up money out of the dirt.Rom. 2. 21. Miserable is the condition of such Ministers as give this foul offence, weak are those people that take it.
2. This may instruct people,Use 2. 1. To be duly prepared by prayer, ere they come to the hearing of the Word; being come, they must with all reverence attend thereto. Its Gods Word they hear, the Lord himself with whom they have to do: O how few come thus! nay, most men behave not themselves so well as they should, to a man advising them of good will:Acts 10. There are now few such as Cornelius; want of preparation is one main cause why so few profit by hearing: How many hear unreverently, or as if they were weary and sleepy? Is this to hear it as the Word of God? Hence it is that men, not taking notice of their miserable and damnable state, or that the way to Heaven is so strait, content themselves with their present state; Would not men be thrust out of doors, if they did so before their Prince, should he speak unto them? 2. People must not be afraid to frequent and attend on the Word preached, they must not be ashamed hereof. 3. They must shew their account hereof, by their obedience hereto: O look to it, you have not to do with us, that cannot tell when you be gone hence, whether or not you practise the same; but you have to do with God, whose Word you hear, who will go hence with you, and knows your sitting down,Psal. 139. 3. and your rising up, yea, and all your ways, and both can and will deal with you accordingly. In the fear of God let us look better to this, and resolutely set down with our selves, That whensoever we come to hear the Word,See Exod. 20. we come to hear God himself speaking to us: If it were not so, we durst not speak it for our lives; the matter concerns us no less then you.
If any men minister,] He proceedeth to other Offices in the Church, and ayms, no doubt, at them whose Office it was to distribute and look to the poor: The word minister, signifieth to do service, and so may be taken more generally; even every man in his Office and Calling must be a minister to his brethren: The Magistrate is so called, Rom. 13. 4. and so the Exhortation also may concern them: However, the point may be this, that
All that have Office one way or other in the Church,All that bear Office in the Church must do the same faithfully. must do the same faithfully; we have them that answer in some sort to the Officers in the Primitive Church, Churchwadens must look to mens Maners, and spy what is amiss, who prophane the Lords day, neglect the worship of God, be idle and riotous, &c. These they must admonish, and if thereupon they amend not, complain of them; Constables must suppress filthy houses, break the knots of lewd persons, prevent and root out disorder to the utmost of their power; The Overseers of the poor ought to be wise and faithful, and not think it enough to take money with one hand,See Acts 6. 3. and pay it out with the other; but they must distribute it with wisdom to every one,Acts 11. 29. according to their need, to the best,Rom. 15. 26, 28 most, and with best encouragement, to the other, with gentle rebuke and admonition; even those of best quality, report and credit have been entrusted with this business: There are prophaners of the Lords day, such as then lie in bed, and regard not the House of God; There are Swearers, Railers, Riotous persons, such as bring not up their Children in any Calling; There are idle persons, &c. these would be well lookt to, and often admonished, and no more given them, then needs must; There's a company of idle Wenches which keep at home with their friends where there is no need of them, or crowd into one house or other, and live at their own hand, and that either because of idleness they refuse to go to service, or having been in service, because they may not do as they list, they will no longer be Servants, but live by themselves; This is a foul and dangerous abuse, not to be suffered in Towns: Headboroughs and chief men in Towns ought to provoke Officers to their duty, and encourage them doing well, yea, countenance and stand by them, as whom God hath lifted up for this end.
1. This rebuketh the exceeding coldness and carelesness of Officers that take no pains to prevent or redress disorder;Use 1. Thus Overseers think it enough if they gather and pay out the money, and bring in a true account, whats this? It were hard if men should rob the Poor, a curse would follow it, but for looking into their state and maners, and with relieving their bodies to do good to their souls, Who doth this? This is rare indeed; But if we have an office, we must wait on our office, we are not altogether born for our selves: Every office is an honor,Rom. 12. 7. and carries a burthen along with it; we must bestow some time thereon, its not lost, God will requite it; and cursed is he that doth his work negligently,Ier. 48. 10. though others have been careless, and though haply you may be counted more busie and curious then needs, yet whether your office be great or small, set your selves with care and diligence about it: Hereby much good will come to the Town and Poor in particular, God shall be glorified, and you shall reap much comfort, with a good report in Gods Church.
2. This bewrayeth a great fault in Towns,Use 2. for making choice of such to Offices, as be no way fit nor careful to execute them; A common practice; The chief men shift them from themselves: Solomon saith,Prov. 26. 6. He that sends a message by the hand of a fool (that is, one unfit for it) it as he that cutteth off the feet; That is, as he that cuts off a mans feet, and then bids him go, when he hath not wherewith.
As of the ability which God giveth,] Ability to discharge ones calling is of God.All ability to discharge any Office or Calling, comes from God; we have no wisdom or ability this way of our selves, every good gift is from above: God gave Saul another heart, that is, fit to rule, which he had not before; and Solomon craved of God a wise and an understanding heart; and as Magistracy is of God, so the Ministers Office, so the Deacons, so others.
1. Call upon God for endowments for such places as he calls thee to.Use 1.
2. Having any ability for the discharge thereof,Use 2. give the glory to God the giver thereof.1 Chron. 29. 14.
That God in all things may be glorified,] The Confirmation, or Reason why we ought to do our duties faithfully, even that we may thereby glorifie God. Hence note,
1. That God is glorified in the careful performance of our duties in our places;The conscionable performance of our duties tend to gods glory. He is glorified by a Magistrates wise, zealous and impartial execution of Justice; for hereby sin is curbed, sinners it may be brought to repentance, the poor and innocent comforted, and so stirred up to praise God for his Ordinance of Magistracy: So when Ministers are faithful in their places, the ignorant are enlightened, the wicked humbled, the heavy in heart comforted, the weak strengthened, the drowsie awakened, and so have cause (as many do daily) to praise God highly for the ministery of his Word; Thus Housholders in their places, husbands and wives in theirs, the rich by their liberality and hospitality;See 1 Tim. 6. 1. nay, even Servants by their conscionable discharge of their places, may glorifie God.
1. This should provoke us much to faithfulness in our places;Use 1. not onelyonly others shall have good, our selves comfort and a good report, but God shall be glorified, which is most of all, and the end of all things, and we may think our selves happy that God will be honored by any thing we can do.
2. How much are those blame-worthy,Use 2. which do not at all regard the faithful discharge of their places, whether they be Magistrates, Ministers, or others? whoso careth not for Gods glory, God will set as little by them and theirs; nay, there are some which can see God dishonored before their faces, and might redress it, but do it not; yea, some which do even dishonor God with their gifts, and in their offices: assuredly God will meet with these in his due time.
2. That the mark whereat we must aym at in our places,We must aym in our places at Gods glory. is to glorifie God.
This rebukes those that are wholly for themselves,1 Cor. 10. 31. aym altogether at base,Use. sinister, carnal ends, profit, pleasure, credit, and the like, They are thieves robbing God of his due; They are treacherous, as if one sent to woo for another, and had Jewels given him for that purpose (as Abrahams Servant) and should make suit for himself: All waters come from the Sea,Eccles. 1. 7. and return thither; so should all our gifts be employed to the glory of the giver.
Through Jesus Christ,] All glory comes to God by Iesus Christ.All glory comes to God by Jesus Christ, for its by him that we receive all grace, and whatsoever good we enjoy; He having suffered for our sins, and reconciled us to the Father, hath thereby purchased for us whatsoever is good, grace and glory, to whom alone we are beholding for all.
1. This teacheth us to be exceeding thankful for Christ,Use 1. as without whom we could not have right to any thing we enjoy, without whom it were even fearful to think of God.
2. It teacheth us to labor to be united to Christ by faith,Use 2. that whatsoever good we need we may receive, as the members from the head.
To whom be praise, &c.] Having instructed others in the faithful discharge of their duties in their places, and that especially that God might be glorified; He now wisheth and prayeth that all glory and praise may be given to him, and that for ever, testifying the servency of his affection, and his assent thereto by the word Amen.
But of this hereafter.