A Gospel Glass, Treatise · Chapter 32
CHAP. XXXII. Their miſcarriages with reference to the Miniſters of Chriſt, whilſt they were reſident with them.
1. Profeſſors miſcarriages towards Miniſters before their removal, Not eſteeming, but ſlighting them. 1 Theſ. 5.13.HOW little have you eſteemed them, and how much have you ſlighted them? Though they were the Embaſſadours of the Lord of Heaven, and ſhould have had reſpect, according to the rank of their Maſter, that ſent them; yet how little did you honour them in your hearts? Did you know them, and eſteem them highly, for their Works ſake? Have you not very much ſlighted both their Perſons and Meſſage? How many have thought they knew as much as their Miniſters, and therefore under-valued them? How many Miniſters have been ſlighted for their mean Parts? As if the efficacy of the Ordinance depended on the Rhetorick of the Preacher: as if no dainties could be brought them in a homely diſh, no treaſure in an earthen veſſel: as if God could not ſpeak out of the mouths of Babes: as if the uſing Jordan were too contemptible a means? I have feared the unſoundneſs of many hearts from the itching of their ears: Paul was careful to preach not with enticing words, 1 Cor. 14.18.with the wiſdom of words: Though he could ſpeak with tongues more than all, yet he deſired to speak rather to edification. It is likely your Miniſters could have been Seraphical, and in the clouds, but they ſtooped and deſcended to your capacities, and denied themſelves that they might gain you: more deſiring that you ſhould be brought in love with the naked truth of the Goſpel, than with the dreſs it comes in; But nothing hath pleaſed your ſqueamiſh ſtomachs, but meat ſo ſawced: you have loved the meat for the ſawce, when there was no ſawce you cared not for the Sermon, and when the ſawce was gone you were weary of the Sermon; you would have no more of the meat. A Sermon full of plain naked Scriptures would not down in our laſt times: We were Chriſt-glutted, Goſpel-glutted. It's obſerved by an Hiſtorian, that before the great Maſſacre in France, the Proteſtants were for a luſcious wanton kind of Preaching. Truly (ſaith one of our own about 18 years ſince) We cannot abſolutely determine what will become of us: only we have cauſe to fear that conſciencious, Sermons, as much deſpiſed as they are, may be a commodity dear enough in England ere long, 1 Sam. 3.4.and viſions may be leſs open, that they may be more precious. How unworthily have the Miniſters of Chriſt been ſlighted by even ſuch Profeſſors, who a little before, pretended at leaſt, to have had their life & growth from them, and that they were the Seats …etr …iſtry, that they were begotten and bred up under their ſhadow; and yet in proceſs of time have had low, mean, baſe and unworthy thoughts of them, debaſed them as brats of Antichriſt, as limbs of Babilon? Have not many eminent Profeſſors been ready to entertain reports againſt their Miniſters? and have they not loſt their eſteems of them for one real or ſuppoſed weakneſs of theirs? though you have been under ſo many engagements to them for your ſpiritual life, &c. yet if you have ſeen a little failing or miſcarriage in them, have not you forgot all their worth, and all their many years labours and cares for your eternal welfare? Have not you been ſo far from eſteeming the Meſſenger for the Meſſage, that you have ſlighted the Meſſage for the Meſſenger? Hath not this been the language of your hearts, if not of your months, What nothing but this preaching? Have not thoſe that at firſt admired, afterwards made nothing of this Heavenly Manna, becauſe of the commonneſs thereof? When pearls were common among the Romans, they wore them upon their Shooes. Uniones emergere e luto cupiunt Tert.Hath not even the pearl of the Goſpel been trodden under foot by you? Have not you conſidered only the matter, and not the ſtamp of the Coin? Have not your Miniſters, though they have not kicked the duſt of their feet againſt you, yet oft complained to God of the contempt you have put upon them, and how much their Embaſſy hath been undervalued by you? It may be you have thought it was no great matter to ſlight them and their counſels: but know for your trembling and amazement of Spirit, therein you have ſlighted Chriſt himſelf. He that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth me. Luk. 10.16. Mat. 10.15. Prejudiced againſt them.May you not fear it will be more tollerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgement, than for you?
2. How full of undue prejudices have your hearts been against your Miniſters? and you have not had the honeſty to examine the grounds? When they have delivered truths of a ſublimer Nature, than ordinary; or have delivered any thing more obſcurely, than at other times, how rarely have you confer'd with them thereabout? Have not you gone among your Companions and fill'd your own and their hearts with prejudices againſt them? When they have inſiſted long upon one ſubject, have not you been offended? But when did you ever cry out of others for being too long telling Money to you, for ſpending too many hours therein? Hereby you have done the Devil as great a piece of ſervice as any you could have done him in your life time. Let me publiſh that to thine eye, which was once whiſpered in the ear: Take heed what thou doſt, this man is a Roman: Should not you much more have taken heed of filling your own and others hearts with prejudice againſt your Miniſters, ſeeing they were the Prophets of the moſt high: theſe men were men of God: they were the ſpecial Ambaſſadours of Heaven? I think he ſaid well, that Prejudice againſt the Preacher is the great prejudice to the hearers. This Feaver of prejudice hath made many, like the full ſtomach, to loath the honey-comb. Hath not God met with repulſes, whilſt your Miniſters have been entertained with prejudice? So long as you have been prejudiced, though you were convinced of many duties, yet you have not been perſwaded to obey the truth. This hindred the Jewes from cloſing with Chriſt, and made their houſe deſolate, over-turned their Temple, ſo that a ſtone was not left joyned to a ſtone: it brought a kind of Dooms-day on them.
3. Not bleſſing God for them.How little have you bleſſed God for the Gospel-Miniſtry which you have enjoyed? and yet hath it not been the beſt under the Cope of Heaven? This diſtinguiſhing Mercy did not affect your hearts as it ought. Some there were (but very few) would ſay, Brown Bread, and the Goſpel, is a Feaſt. Few, like the Chriſtians at Conſtantinople, cryed out, Better the Sun not ſhine, than Chryſoſtome be ſilenced. You could bleſs God for Health, Eſtate, &c. but not for theſe great Luminaries of Glory, who were appointed to conduct and guide you unto the Heavenly Jeruſalem.
4. Not praying for ….How little did you Pray for them? How little have you prayed for gifts and abilities to goe through their whole work, for preſervation for them, and for a ſanctified uſe of all Gods diſpenſations toward them? How little did you deprecate the ſtopping of their mouths, and ſupplicate that their mouths might be kept open, Eph. 6.19.and that utterance might be given unto them, that they might open their mouths boldly, to make known the Myſtery of the Goſpel? Have not they oft begg'd your Prayers, in the words of Paul, I beſeech you, Rom. 15.30, 31.Brethren, for the Lord Jeſus Chriſts ſake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye ſtrive together with me, in your Prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea (in England?) and yet have not you neglected to call upon God for their deliverance? How can you tell, but their mouths had ſtill been opened, had not you neglected Prayer? Mat. 7.7, 8.Hath not Chriſt promiſed, Knock, and it ſhall be opened unto you: To him that knocketh, it ſhall be opened?
5. Making Excuſes for not hearing them.Have not you made ſorry Excuſes for not hearing them? How little have you believed that Word, He that heareth you, heareth me? And by conſequence, that not-hearing of them, was not-hearing of Chriſt himſelf. What ſlight excuſes have been deemed ſufficient to keep you from the Shepheards Tents? The Apoſtle would have us Swift to hear: James 1.19.Swiftneſs notes diligence in taking the firſt occaſion; but how have you, to complement with a Friend, to indulge to the fleſh, for fear of a little rain, for fear of wetting your feet, for fear of loſing a ſix-penny, yea a penny-Cuſtomer, declined ſeveral opportunities of attending the Embaſſadours God ſent you? For theſe things the wrath of God is breaking out upon you: the day is come, or coming, Amos 8.12. Cant. 5.3, 6. Their miſcarriages before, in and after hearing, Before, Hearing without antecedent meditation.when ye ſhall wander from Mountain to Hill, from Sea to Sea, and ſe…k bread and find none. This very excuſe, the fear of defiling her feet, would not ſerve the Spouſe.
6. How did you miſcarry, both before, and in, and after hearing? How ſlender was your preparation to attend upon theſe Deputies of Chriſt? How little did you meditate on the Word you were to receive at their lips? Did you thus conſider? The Goſpel that I am about to hear, wil be the ſavour of life unto life, or of death unto death: I ſhall be nearer Heaven or Hell by this Sermon I am going to: If the Goſpel be alwayes hid, I am a loſt Soul and ſhall periſh: is my Soul hungry? This is the bread of Heaven: Is my Soul thirſty? this is the water of life: this is the milk whereby I muſt grow up unto eternal life: this meſſenger of Heaven will be for the fall as well as the riſing of many in Iſrael: If he be not inſtrumental for my Salvation, he will be for my Damnation: Iſa. 55.10, 11.As the rain cometh and watereth the Earth and returneth not thither, &c. So ſhall Gods Word that goeth forth out of this Miniſters mouth, not return unto him voyd. How little did you conſider the excellency and neceſſity of the Word that you were to partake of? What …reaſure was afforded you in an earthen veſſel? That the Truths and Doctrines that your Miniſters taught you, were of as much worth, as your Souls, as Heaven, as Salvation?
How little did you pour out your Souls in Prayer unto God before you went to hear your Prayer.Miniſters… E…her … your Miniſters, that God would open their mouths to ſpeak the word truly, ſincerely, powerfully, and ſeaſonably, and ſuitabty to your condition: or for your own Souls, that God would open your hearts, to ente…tain the word ſo as to profit by it, that you might not have open ears, and ſhut hearts, that you might not have ears, Prov. 20.12.and yet hear not, as knowing that the hearing ear, and ſeeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them?
How careleſs were you to purge your Souls before you came to hear the word? Putting off the ſhooe,Moſes before he was to hear God ſpeaking put off his ſhooe, to intimate that you ſhould put off your carnal and earthly affections before you come to hear Gods word; But have not you ruſh'd out of your worldly employments to many a Sermon? How careleſs were you to lay apart all filthineſs, Jam. 1.21.and ſuperfluity of naughtineſs, that you might receive with neekneſs the engrafted word, Eccleſ. 5.1.which is able to ſave your Souls? If you have not come without habitual; have you not neglected actual preparation?
When you have been actually under the Miniſtry, Have not you heard irreverently? In hearing irreverently.without awfull apprehenſions of Gods Majeſty and preſence? Have you ſaid of the place where any Miniſter of Chriſt hath preached unto you, as Jacob of Bethel, how dreadfull is this place? Have you in your hearing Sermons ſet your ſelves in the preſence of God, Acts 10.33.as Cornelius did, when Peter was preaching unto him? The King of Moab will riſe up in judgement, to condemn the irreverence of many of our Profeſſours; when Ehud told him, Judg. 3.20.I have a meſſage to the from God: the King aroſe from his Throne, and bowed himſelf.
Have not you evidenced your irreverence in hearing careleſly, Carleſly.dully, drowſily, ſleepily, &c. Have not you lent a more attentive ear to a Tale, to a Fable, to a Romance, to a Ballad, to a Stage-Play of ſeveral hours length, than to a Sermon of an kour? Have not you come to Church, as to an Apothecaries Shop, for a recipe to ſleep? Hath not the Goſpel come unto you in word only, and not in power? When the Miniſter threatened you from the Lord, could you ſay, My ſleſh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy righteous judgements? How many months and years did Gods Servants threaten you with a Famine of hearing the Word of the Lord? but did this Judgement fright you, and humble you, whilſt it lay in the cloud of the threa…ning, as the leaſt appearances of an outward Famine have awakened you? When your Miniſters came with the tydings of Peace to you, were their feet beautiful? May not your Miniſters complain of you, as Chriſt of the Jewes, John 8.….My Word takes no place in you? So careleſs have you been of any thing that hath been ſpoken to you by them, though in the Name of the Lord. When your Miniſters declaimed againſt your ſins, did you ſo mind what they delivered, as to be any whit troubled? Zech. 7.11, 12.Did you not harden your hearts as an adamant? Were you not ſo farr from being troubled for your ſins, that it was your only trouble, you could not commit them without controul? Were you not even troubled with admonitions and counſels, commands and threatnings, that croſt you in your ſins? Can you ſay, Acts 17.11.that you Received the Word with all readineſs of mind?
Have not you heard heartleſly? Heartleſly.without a real ſenſe of your want of the Word, and without an appetite to it? Had you ſuch vehement deſires after the treaſure your Miniſters were bringing you, as covetous men have after the treaſures of the Earth? Could you ever, with David, ſay, Pſal. 119.20.My Soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgements at all times?
Have not you heard unbelievingly? unbelievingly.Not crediting your Miniſters Doctrine, and not applying it to, but ſhifting it off from your ſelve? Have not their Sermons been therefore unprofitable to your Souls, Heb. 4.2becauſe not mix'd with Faith? Can you ſay, that you received their Word, 1 Theſ. 2.13.as the Word of God? That you applyed it to your Souls, as that which concern'd you? May not we ſay, with grief of Soul, as our Lord hath ſaid already, John 5.37.You have not heard his voice at any time? When you heard the Word, which is Gods Word, did you hear God himſelf ſpeaking his own Word unto your hearts?
Have you not been cautioned by the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and by his Miniſters, with a Take heed how you hear? Luke 18.18. CarpinglyAnd yet how oft have you heard the Miniſters of Chriſt carpingly? Not with a willingneſs to be judged by the Word, but to judge it, and the Preacher for it? Have not you let ſlip the moſt material paſſages of the Sermon, and pitch'd upon the weakneſſes or impertinencies of the Miniſter? How oft have you, when you could not blame the ſubject matter, found fault with the method, and the manner of delivery; and over-look'd that, wherein your Souls were eſpecially concerned?
Have not you heard Non-obediently? Non-obediently.Have not you been untractable and unteachable? Have you not heard proudly, and not humbly? With hard hearts, and not with hearts of fleſh, ready to receive the impreſsion of the Word, and willing to be moulded and faſhioned according to it? When could you ſay to any of Gods Miniſters, as Cornelius to Peter, We are all here preſent, to hear all that is commanded of God? When waſt thou of ſuch an yielding Spirit, Acts 9.6. Job. 34.32.as Saul was of, Lord, What wilt thou have me to do? His ear and heart was open to every command: So was Job's, That which I ſee not, teach thou me. Have not you had your Exceptions? If Miniſters have enjoyn'd you to pray in your Families, perhaps you heard them therein; but if they enjoyned from the Lord (the ſame Legiſlatour) that you pray in your Cloſets, that you examine your ſelves, that you fill your hands with both the Tables, they could not be heard; one reſerve at leaſt: Whereas the right hearer cries out, Lord, What wilt thou have me to do? I will do any thing, Lord, actively or paſſively, to get Hill out of my Soul now, and to keep my Soul out of Hell hereafter.
After hearing the Embaſſadours of Heaven, After, Not examining what they have heard.how faulty have you been? In not examining what you have heard by the written Word? The Bereans conſulted with the Oracles of God, brought the Doctrines they heard to the meaſuring Line of the Sanctuary; but ſo have not you: They ſay, a man will tell money after his Father; but you have been too careleſs, to tell over the Doctrines you have heard. How many were there, to whom the reputation and worth of the Teacher, was ſufficient proof of his Doctrine, receiving all that was ſtamp'd with his tongue? Mat. 23.9. Jude v. 16.Have not you called ſuch and ſuch a Miniſter, Your Father on Earth, in the ſame ſenſe in which Chriſt forbids it? Have not you had the Perſons of men in admiration, and that for advantage? No wonder that Errours have abounded. Men, that through an over-eſteem of the Miniſter, take all upon truſt, or through ſloth will not examine Doctrines, are like to be deceived.
May not Chriſt check you, Not remembring it: Mar. 8.18.rather than the Diſciples, with, Why do you not remember? Have not you heard the Word, and inſtantly forgot it? Hath not the Word gone in at one ear, and out at another? Have not you let ſlip the Word? Jam. 1.25.The word foreign is metaphorical, taken from a Sieve, or leaking Veſſel, when the liquor runs out as faſt as it is put in. Heb. 2.1Have not you hereby been ever learning, but not come to the knowledge of the truth? Your Memories ſhould be like the Ark, wherein the Pot of Mannah was kept; but alas! When you heard the Word, then came the wicked One, Mat. 13.19.and catched away what was ſowen in your hearts: and was not the Word, and the labours of Chriſts Miniſters fallen ſo low, that you were contented, at leaſt little troubled, thus to be pillaged of this heavenly treaſure?
Have not you neglected Meditation upon the Word you have heard? Not meditating on it.It was one ſpecial way, whereby, in time of the Law, the clean Beaſts were known from the unclean, chewing the end. Levit. 11.3. Luke 11.25.But how few ruminate upon what they have heard and received? They do not, with Mary, keep the ſayings, and ponder them in their hearts. Bleſſed are they, that hear the Word, and keep it. How few retire into their Cloſets, and reflect on the uſefulneſs of the Word, for the nouriſhment of their graces, for the deſtruction of their ſins? How few conſider, whether they have met with God in the Sermon, yea or no? You ſhould have gathered up the words of Chriſts Miniſter, as Chriſt ſaid of the fragments, ſo as none ſhould be lost; or as the Gold-ſmith looks after the very duſt of gold: but as ſoon as Conſcience was quieted, did you ever think more of the Word?
How few have gone from the Church to the Cloſet, Not praying over it.there to pour out their Souls for a bleſſing upon what they heard? From the Pulpit to the Trade is bad; but from the Pulpit to the Ale-houſe, that's abominable: but all are not clear herein. O! If when your ſin was diſcovered, you had gone into your chambers, and begg'd humiliation for it, and victory over it: and if when neglected duty was preſt in publick, you had retired, and prayed to God to incline your hearts to keep Gods ſtatutes, would it not have been better with you, than now it is?
Have not you neglected to talk of what you have heard? Have not ſome, Not talking of it.as ſoon as diſmiſs'd from the Sermon, fallen into impertinent diſcourſes, about news and trifles, or into worldly buſineſs; Mat. 13.7, 22.and ſo the thornes choak'd all the convictions, which they received under the Miniſtry? They conſider not, that the Word they have heard, hath been the ſavour of life, or of death; 2 Cor. 2.16.and that every one that goes from a Sermon, goes off either with God, or the Devil, in his company.
Have not you been hearers of the Word only, Not practiſing it. Jam. 1.22.and not doers of it? Have not you ſo deceived your own ſelves? Your Miniſters have preſt you to ſecret Prayer, and to conſtancy in it; but have not you gone away, and continued in the neglect of that, wherein the power of godlineſs, and heart-ſincerity mainly conſiſts? Bleſſed are they that hear the Word of God, Luke 11.28.and keep it, i. e. that are good Practitioners, that have a conſcionable care to regulate heart and life according to what they hear and know: They are rather blest, than the Mother of Chriſt was, for bringing him into the World: Chriſt puts a rather upon the good Practitioner, than upon the Virgin Mary. But alas! Let it be for a Lamentation, that ſo many Profeſſours have been for hearing; but for doing only what they liſted: Amos 8.5, 6, 7, 8, 9.Saying, When will the new Moon be gone, that we may ſell Corn? and the Sabbath, that we may ſet forth Wheat? Making the Ephah ſmall, and the Shekel great, and falſifying the Ballances by deceit? That we may buy the poor for ſilver, and the needy for a pair of ſhooes; yea, and ſell the refuſe of the Wheat? The Lord hath ſworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works. Shall not the Land tremble for this, &c? The Kingdome of God ſhall be taken from you, Mat. 21.43. Luke 12.43.and given to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof: But Bleſſed is that Servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, ſhall find ſo doing. When did you find the Glaſſes to diſcover and amend your Spots? Have you been caſt into the Form of the Doctrine, which ye have received? Have you obeyed from the heart the Form of Doctrine delivered to you? Hath your profiting appear'd anſwerable to the many months and years you have ſate under the Dews of Heaven? What do you know more than you did before? What do you believe, love and hope for, more than you did? Have your hearts and luſts ſtooped more and more to this Scepter of Chriſt? Believe it Sirs, If Sin be not more odious, and Christ more ſweet and precious, after you have been in the Shepheards Tents, you have loſt your hearing hours, yea contracted more guilt to your Souls. That you have not been chang'd from glory to glory, is a great ſtain to the Miniſtry, and a great ground of ſadneſs to the poor Miniſters, who fear they have laboured in vain. And yet have not you been ſuch unprofitable hearers, that Seekers, Ranters, and Quakers, have took occaſion to cry down the Office of the Miniſtry, as a Cheat, as an old Almanack out of date; becauſe they have ſeen how unſucceſsful the labours of Chriſts Miniſters have been upon your Souls? If you had come down from theſe Mounts with your faces ſhining, if you had received more of God upon your hearts and lives, you had more credited the Miniſtry, and put to ſilence theſe fooliſh men. What ſhall I ſay? A worſe Famine is coming on Profeſſours, than what happened to Egypt, and if you have laid up no ſtore, what will ye do in the years of lean Kine?
7. Have not you greatly miſcarried, Their miſcarriages, as to conſulting with their Miniſters. Mat. 16.19.as to conſulting with them? Though one great work of your Miniſters was, to deal perſonally with your Souls; and God intruſted them with the power of binding and looſing, (doctrinally at leaſt) and hath promiſed to looſe in Heaven, what they looſed on Earth; and to confirm the Word of his Servants, Iſa. 44.26.and perform the Counſel of his Meſſengers; yet how little weight have you laid upon their judgements?
Have not you more credited the Phyſicians opinion of your Bodies, Laying little weight on their Judgements. Not conſulting with them at all.and the Lawyers about your Estates, than you have your Miniſters concerning your Souls?
How ſeldome are Miniſters conſulted with about the buſineſs of the Soul and Eternity? Will not they in the Acts riſe up to condemn this Generation? They repaired to Chriſts Miniſters, with, Men and Brethren, What ſhall we do to be ſaved? Acts 2.37.But alas! How many have ſate 30, 40, 50. Years under a Miniſter, and never adviſed with him what to do?
They have been no more moved, Through hard. Heartedneſs. Bride.than the Rocks were, that Bede preached to.
Or elſe, through the Pride of their hearts, they have thought to heal themſelves: They have been ſo puff'd up with their own knowledge, that they have not cared to hear what their Miniſters could declare unto them. If they be to take a Journey, they will ask the Way of every one they meet; but ſo unreaſonably conſident are they of their knowing the Way to Glory, (though there be many Wayes, Prov. 14.12.that do indeed lead down to Hell, yet ſeem the right Way to Heaven) that they will not ſo much as ask the Way thither-ward of any Guide. Prov. 26.16.The Fool is wiſer in his own conceit, than ſeven men thas can render a reaſon.
Or elſe they have thought as well of their Souls as ſome doe of their fleſh, Thinking the wound will heal of it ſelf.that the wound will heal of it ſelf. And hath it not ſo done? no body knows, how? Can you tell how the troubles and impreſſions made by the Miniſtry in your own Souls have worn away? have not Miniſters ſound after the Houſe hath been ſwept and garniſhed, that ſeven worſe Spirits have entred into the Souls of many convinced, and terrified Profeſſors, and their latter end was worſe than their beginning? Many (ſaith famous Hooker) in a ſtupid kind of ſottiſh ſenſeleſsneſs, wear out the blow, and ſo waſt away to nothing: as many out of ſorrow have become like ſenſeleſs blocks.
How oft hath Satan, like a Cut-purſe, drawn thee into ſolitudes, diſſwaded thee from going near thy Miniſter, that he may rob thee of thy Convictions? and the better to effect this, hath he not perſwaded thee to look on the Miniſter as proud, high, ſcorning to condeſcend to hear thy Soul grievances, and complaints, whereas he hath many and many a time with the greateſt importunity beg'd this trouble of dreſſing thy ſores?
If you have conſulted with your Miniſters, Not conſulting with them ſoon enough. Acts 24.25.have not you delayed going to theſe Soul-Phyſicians? When the wound was newly given, and bleeding, you ſhould have repaired to them; but like Faelix, you have diſmiſt your convictions to ſome other opportunity. How hath Satan befool'd many? perſwading them that there needs not ſo much adoe, that the Miniſter is too legal, that he will drive to deſpair, that (as Ahab thought of Michaiah) he will not ſpeak one comfortable word, or that he will blazon the ſecrets of their ſouls, and ſo they ſhall get a blot by unboſoming themſelves.
8. Their low and baſe ends in viſiting them.Have not you had low ends in viſiting them? yea, not only low, but baſe in going to your Shepheards Tents? Perhaps they are full of Hiſtory, and you would enrich your ſelves with the knowledge of the times of many generations paſt: perhaps they were merry, (too merry God knows, too full of squibs and jeſts, the Lord forgive the unſeriouſneſs of Miniſters) and you have delighted in them, as Saul did in Davids Harp, to drive away ſadneſs and melancholy: or perhaps your Miniſters had quick, nimble parts, and you went to them to pick a Sallet from their Gardens, to pick ſome flowers of Oratory, or to pleaſe your fancies, or to ſpend away time; but how ſeldom to receive virtue from Jeſus Chriſt through theſe pipes? how ſeldom to have your rockie hearts broken, and to be cured of your earthly Spirits?
9. In inviting them to their houſes.How oft have you invited them to your houſes only to feaſt them, and to ſhew outwardly your reſpect unto them? but have not put the opportunitie to ſuch uſes, as Mary did Chriſts coming to her houſe? how light, vain, unſerious, and jeſting have you been in their companie? It had been more your wiſdom, as well as dutie, to have propoſed ſome neceſſary Queries to them with reſpect to your eternity: you ſhould have drawn out their gifts and graces by propoſing ſuch Queſtions as theſe.
How Sir ſhall I know the difference between the aſſiſting, Queſtions to be ask'd Miniſters,and the informing and inhabiting preſence of the Spirit? How ſhall I diſcern the Spirit of bondage, from that bondage Sathan works in the Children of diſobedience? How ſhall I know the difference betwixt temporary and ſaving Faith? 'twixt legal and evangelical Repentance? How ſhall I know moral Vertues from Graces? How ſhall I know that I am gone beyond the utmoſt refinements of Hypocrites? How ſhall I know whether the Goſpel hath had a ſaving efficacy on mine heart? How ſhall I know Satan's temptations, from the ſuggeſtions of mine own heart? How ſhall I know when Satan, and when the Spirit applyes Promiſes? How ſhall I diſcern the motions of the Holy Ghoſt, from the impulſes of Satan, when transforming himſelf into an Angel of light? How ſhall I know the teachings of the Spirit, from the teachings of Men? How ſhall I diſtinguiſh Fancy from Faith? How ſhall I know, whether I have only dreamed, that I am full, when all the while I have been empty? How ſhall I know the Devils black temptations, from mine own corruptions, that I may know whom to charge? How ſhall I get aſſurance that my Sins are pardoned? How may I obtain victory over the World? How may I be delivered from ſpiritual ſloth? What ſhall I do, that I may retain the influences of Ordinances upon my Spirit? How may I be more uſefull to all my Relations? How may I bridle my tongue, ſo as to ſpeak evil of no man? How ſhall I know what is the work of my Generation? How ſhall I do to work the works of God? What ſhall I do to get a trembling heart under the Word and Works of God? How ſhall I get a ſoft heart, to mourn for my own and others Sins? How ſhall I know what is my conſtitution ſinne? How ſhall I know whether my courage be from natural temper, or the grace of God? How ſhall I know whether my Patience be natural or ſpiritual? How ſhall I know, that I ſhall ſpend an eternity with God?
Such Queſtions as theſe ſhould have been ſeriouſly debated with your Miniſters; but woe and alas! When you and your Miniſters have ſpent hours together, have not you contracted guilt, and made your ſelves unfit for ſecret duties, nay perhaps have not time for the diſcharge of them?
10. Their waſting Miniſters time.How have you devoured much precious time in the preſence of your Miniſters? Both your own, (which is ſhort enough, therein to make your calling and election ſure) and (which is a much more hainous evil) your Miniſters time? Have not you diverted him from his great meditations and projects for the everlaſting good of your Souls? Have not you called your Miniſters from their knees and ſtudies to entertain you? and have not you proved Wells without water? Have not you by needleſs vain conferences obſtructed your own good, and hindred your Miniſters from being uſefull to your own, and many more Souls.
11. Being ſwift to ſpeak before, and ſlow to hear their Miniſters.When you have met with your Miniſters, have not you been ſwift to ſpeak (when to little purpoſe) and ſlow to hear, what your Miniſter, Gods Deputie, would have ſaid unto you? whereas God requireth you to be ſwift to hear, and ſtow to ſpeak. I have wondred to ſee the impudence of ſome women herein, who (as if none had taſted of the tree of knowledge, ſave themſelves) have been like bellies full of wind, ready to burſt till they had vent, and had no reſpect to the preſence of their Miniſter, who could not be heard, becauſe of their noiſe and clamour, though the Apoſtle hath ſealed up their lips, by ſending them to ask queſtions of their Husbands at home; yet they muſt be pratling, 1 Cor. 14.35.as if they had a Monopolie of all knowledge, and as if their MIniſters were to learn of them, rather than they of their Miniſters. I am confident it is not the Spirit of God; but the Spirit of Pride, Self-conceit, and vain Glory, which putteth private perſons upon theſe bold intruſions: ſo that the Miniſter, who is the mouth of God, 1 Tim. 2.11, 12. Prov. 10.19.is made dumb by their overmuch ſpeaking, who ſhould learn in ſilence. What ſhall I ſay? hear not me, but the wiſeſt of men, yea the only wiſe God in him: In the multitude of words there wanteth … ſin; but he that refraineth his lips is wiſe. Believe it, there hath been wanting in moſt Profeſſours much humility, much …ouſneſs, much reverence of their Miniſters: you have not had that fear and awe which becauſe you: 1 Sam. 16.4.few have trembled at their approach to their Miniſters, as the people did, when Samuel drew near.
12. Their niggardlineſs to them.Your Niggardlineſs to your Miniſters is none of the leaſt of your ſins; and therefore I ſhall take liberty to enlarge upon it. If mens titles to their Cottages, their watercourſes; their wayes, their eaſements be queſtioned, preſently a Lawyer is ſee'd: we will be at any coſt to ſettle the world ſurely ours: if our health be in danger, the Phyſician is ſent for: both Lawyers and Phyſicians houſes and rooms are full of Clyents and Attendants; but men are contented to clear up their own titles to Heaven and glory, and to heal themſelves of their ſin ſickneſſes: a plain argument, that they thought the Miniſtry but uſeleſs, and that they could make a ſhift to live without Miniſters. Thou haſt had Preſcriptions for thy Souls recovery and health for theſe many years, and yet perhaps haſt not given one farthing to thy Soul-Phyſicians. If a Phyſician write a few lines, purſes are opened: if a Lawyer plead a quarter of an hour, yea if he plead not at all, but only give his adviſe, you think he deſerves a fee; but the Miniſters work is ſo low in thy eſteems, that he might have ſtarved if all were as niggardly as thou haſt been. Let this be conſidered and lamented. Your Miniſters have been under a temptation to withhold the preſſing of this duty upon you; for that many lay in wait to diſcredit them, as if they preached for nire, and ſought yours, rather than you? but let me be your Remembrancer this day. We cannot ſay of you, as Paul of the Galathians, that you received us as Angels of God, yea as Jeſus Chriſt, and that you would have pluckt out your eyes for us: Alas! what did you for us more, than the conſtraints o… the Law compell'd you to? And how many wiſhes had you, that all the Laws for Tithes had been abrogated, upon pretence that Miniſters ſhould have had a better maintenance by a voluntary contribution?
But do not we know that the great ſticklers for this have been moſt cloſe-fiſted to the Miniſters? Giving nothing to them for their maintenance.Have not ſome of them refuſed to give one penny to the Miniſters, whom they waited on for years together? I wonder how you could in your reading the Scriptures (if you have indeed read them) ſo long overlook, 1 Cor. 9.7.who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a Vineyard and eateth not the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I theſe things as a man? v. 8.or ſaith not the Law the ſame alſo? v. 9.For it is written in the Law of Moſes, thou ſhalt not muzle the mouth of the Oxe, that treadeth out the Corn. Doth God take eare for Oxen? Or ſaith he it altogether for our ſakes? For our ſakes no doubt, v. 10.this is written; that he that ploweth ſhould plow in hope: and that he that threſheth in hope, ſhould be partaker of his hope. v. 11.If we have ſowen unto you ſpiritual things, is it a great thing if we ſhall reap your carnal things? v. 12.If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheleſs we have not uſed this power: but ſuffer all things, leſt we ſhould hinder the Goſpel of Chriſt. v. 13.Do ye not know, that they which miniſter about holy things, live of the things of the Temple? And they which wait at the Altar, are partakers with the Altar? v. 14.Even ſo hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the Goſpel, ſhould live of the Goſpel. That you may be the better convinced of the neglect of your duty, ſee the Apoſtle claimes it as his foreign, his Power, his Right, and lawful Authority, to receive maintenance from the Corinthians: And indeed Chriſt hath impowered his Miniſters, and they may demand it, without any juſt imputation of covetouſneſs and ſelf-ſeeking, as the Labourer may his hire. The Apoſtle had power to forbear working, i. e. at his Trade: He implyes, that the Miniſtry would be the ſaddeſt employment, becauſe of the laboriouſneſs of it, if Miniſters ſhould not live of their Miniſtry: Be ſides, Miniſters give people gold for braſs: Again, They who miniſtred about the holy things, lived of the things of the Temple, yea and plentifully too; for they had the Tenth, and yet were ſcarce the Sixtieth part of the People; for the number of the People, without the Levites, amounted to a thouſand thouſands and three hundred thouſands: and the Levites, numbred from the Infant to the old man, were found but two and tweenty thouſands. But alas! Though the Apoſtle be ſo peremptory here and elſe-where, Gal. 6.6.Let him that is taught in the Word, communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things: And the Wiſe-man, Prov. 3.9.Honour the Lord with thy ſubſtance, and with the firſt-fruits of all thy increaſe; Yet I may renew an old complaint: Many have dealt by their Miniſters, as Carriers do by their Horſes, they lay heavy burdens upon them, and then hang Bells about their necks: hard work, and good words they ſhall have; but eaſie commons, and ſlight wages: as if they were of the Camelion-kind, and could live by the air.
But if you have parted with any thing to the Miniſter, hath it not been as Almes, Or elſe giving only in charity, not in juſtice: as an almes, not as due.not as Dues, not as Right? Have not you excuſed your ſelves from giving what was due from you, with, The Miniſter needs it not, He hath a fair Eſtate, or at leaſt a competency? Yea, but what ſaith the Apoſtle? Have ye not reaped our spiritual things? and ſhould not we your carnals? Have ye not been inſtructed? Why then did ye not communicate to your Miniſters in all good things? Hath not the Lord expreſly alienated a proportion of Goods for the Miniſters labour? How dare you live in the Sin of Sacrilege? Is it not Sacrilege for you to detain from God what is due to him? You are in the ſnare; Prov. 20.25.for you have devoured that which is holy. Suppoſe a man ſhould work for thee all the day long, would it be an excuſe for thy detaining his dues from him, to ſay, The man hath a competency, yea he is rich, he is richer than I am, my Children want it more than he doth, he hath little or no charge? O! ſaith the Lord, The Labourer is worthy of his hire. Wouldſt thou not ſay ſo in that mans caſe? O! Live up to the Light of Nature, or throw up thy Profeſſion. It is no leſs than a wonder to ſee how little honeſty there is among men, yea among Profeſſours. To defraud a Miniſter is hardly counted a ſin. The riſe of this is the great contempt of the Miniſtry: A Sin that God is now reckoning with you for. The Lord God of your Fathers ſent to you by his Meſſengers, 2 Chron. 36.15, 16, 17.riſing up betimes and ſending; becauſe he had compaſsion on his people, and on his dwelling place; but you mocked the Meſſengers of God, and despiſed his words, and miſuſed his Prophets: May it not be added? Untill the wrath of the Lord aroſe againſt his people, till there was no remedy. For this Sin, God brought upon the Iſraelites the King of the Chaldees, who ſlew their young men with the ſword, in the houſe of their Sanctuary, and had no compaſsion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that ſtooped for age, he gave them all into his hand. Have not you cauſe to fear, leſt you ſhall alſo be ſo given into the hands of worſe Babylonians? You can judge what is a Miniſters competency; but when have ye a competency? You can add field to field, houſe to houſe, hundreds to hundreds, and yet the Horſe-leach cries Give, Give: Yet do not you judge a ſmall ſtipend, that will hardly keep body and ſoul together, a competency for a Miniſter? What is that great ſervice you do for God above the Miniſter, that you ſhould think it reaſonable, to leave hundreds, yea thouſands to your Children, and that the Miniſter ſhould be kept ſo ſhort, that he cannot leave them a groat? What ſhall I ſay to you? Let me borrow the words of God by the Prophet: Will a man rob God? Mal. 3.8, 9, 10.Yet ye have robbed me: But ye ſay, Wherein have we robbed thee? In Tythes and Offerings. Ye are curſed with a curſe: for ye have robbed me, even this whole Nation, Bring ye all the Tythes into the Store-houſe, that there may be meet in mine houſe, and prove me now herewith, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a bleſsing, that there ſhall not be room enough to receive it.
O! Reſtitution to be made by ſuch, as have not given what was due from them to their Miniſters,Do not any longer detain what is due to your former Miniſters: make reſtitution of unjuſt gain, as ever you hope to be ſaved. It is not enough to ſay, Lord, forgive me, I thought it not my duty; but thou muſt reckon how many years thou haſt reaped Spirituals, and pay what thou oweſt, or Judas will condemn thee, for he thought it unſafe to keep what was unjuſtly got. Remember Zacheus, he thought it not enough to give over his oppreſſion, but, when converted, he made conſcience of making reſtitution. Let the Elders that rule well, 1 Tim. 5.17, 18.be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine: For the Scripture ſaith, thou ſhalt not muzzle the Oxe, that treadeth out the Corn; and the Labourer is worthy of his reward. Here you ſee double honour, honour of reverence, and honour of maintenance, was due unto your Miniſters: Here is an alluſion to the right of the firſtborn, who were to have a double portion: Their maintenace was due from you; neither ſhould their maintenance have been ordinary mercenary wages, but ſuch as is given by way of honour, as well as by way of reward. Have not you lived in the contempt of an Ordinance of God? 1 Cor. 9.14.The Lord hath ordained, &c. as before. Do not any longer delude your Conſciences, by crying againſt Tythes, as Antichriſtian, as Jewiſh. Did not Abraham, before the Jewiſh Laws, pay Tythes to Melchiſedech? And are there not from thence arguments drawn that you cannot anſwer? Why do ye not fear, leſt, through the prevalency of Self, you ſhould be too baſe, covetous and partial in your own matters? O! Give to God, what is Gods: Deny not your Miniſters their dues: You owe vaſte ſumms to them, which if you detain in this day of their wants, God will call you to a ſpeedy account for the grinding of the faces of theſe poor, yea he will make you vomit up ſuch ſweet morſels, with all the reſt of your ſubſtance, Jam. 5.4.if not with your blood. Behold the hire of the Labourers, which have reaped down your Fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crreth: and the cryes of them, which have reaped, are entred into the eares of the Lord of Sabbath. Lydia even enforced the Apoſtles to accept of her gift. The Macedonians beſeech'd Paul with much entreaty, to accept of their bounty. If thou wert converted by one of them, thou didſt owe to him no leſs than thy ſelf: What thou art and haſt, ſhould not have been counted too dear for him, who was Gods Inſtrument, to pull thee as a brand out of the fire, even when thou waſt half burnt. Say at length with David, I will not ſerve my God with that which coſt me nothing. I ſhall conclude this head with the ſaying of a Reverend man, It is a plain argument of a baſe eſteem of God, of Grace, of the Kingdome of Heaven, that a Servant, a Factour, ſhould have twenty times the alloance of Heavens Factour for your Souls: You are not come up to the honeſty of the Phariſee, Mat. 23.23.He gave Tythes of all that he poſſeſſed, even of the ſmalleſt things, of Mint, and Annis, and Cummin: Luke 11.42.And doth not Chriſt ſay, Theſe things ye ought to have done? What were your Miniſters more unworthy than the Prieſts of that Age?Their regardleſsneſs of the Widdons and Children of their dead Miniſters.
13. If you have not been niggardly toward your Miniſters whilſt alive with you, have not you been niggardly towards their Wives and Children after their deaths? Verily not minding the Widows and Children of deceaſed Miniſters is a ſin that God will remember in the day of accounts. David enquired after the ſeed of Jonathan: he evidenced his true love to the Father in remembring the poſterity. O! when ſhall love be without diſſimulation?
14. Their grieving their Miniſters.Have not you been a very great trouble to their Souls? Your Miniſters were ſo affectionately deſirous of you, that they were willing to have imparted to you, not the Goſpel only; but alſo their own Souls; becauſe ye were dear unto them: And is this your kindneſs to your Friends? to break even their hearts, who were glad to ſpend and be ſpent for you? How proudly have you carried it toward them? God threatned the Iſraelites that the Cananites ſhould be pricks in their eyes, and thorns in their ſides: Surely it better became Cananites to be thorns to the Iſraelites, than for you to be thorns to your Miniſters. How oft have you grieved them to ſee your ſtoutneſs; and rebellion againſt all their Counſels! May not your Miniſters ſay as David, Pſal. 119.158.I beheld the Tranſgreſſours, and was grieved: becauſe they kept not thy Word? May they not ſay, We have ſeen your lukewarmneſs, your ſloth, your earthlineſs, &c. and our Souls were troubled? You ſhould have been like the Theſſalonians, 1 Theſ. 5.19.the crown of our rejoycing; but you have been crowns of thorns, which have pierced not our heads, but hearts: You ſhould have refreſhed our Bowels, been as Cordials, and ſweet refrectives, after all our weariſome labours; but have not you dealt unkindly with us? and the more we have loved you, have not we had the leſs love from you? Have not you be… more merciful to your Horſes and Dogs than to your Miniſters? You have baited, and been kind to thoſe creatures; but God knows how, after all our toyle, our riſing up early, and ſitting up late, our ſpending our ſtrength, our lungs, our ſpirits, yea and our eſtates among you, you have requited us evil for good, even to the ſpoyling of our Souls. Acts 7.51, 52.Ye ſtiffe-necked and uncircumciſed in heart and ears, ye do alwayes reſist the Holy-Ghost: as your Fathers did, ſo do ye. Which of the Prophets have not your Fathers perſecuted? &c. Have not you in your hypocriſie made outcries againſt others for ſilencing your Miniſters? for taking away the bread out of yours and your Childrens mouths? and for removing them from their ſtations and dwellings? But may not I profeſs in the name of all my Fellow-Sufferers, that your miſimprovements, your inconſtancies, your pride, and earthlineſs, have been, and are our chiefeſt burdens? a greater preſſure to us, than any burdens, that lye upon our names, bodies, or eſtates? I cannot but think of a paſſage of holy Mr. Shepheard: The Jews (ſaith he) did long for Chriſt, and when he came, they Crucified him: and you would have Miniſters, and you had them, and though you did not (immediately) caſt them out of their places; yet you ſo wearied their Spirits, and grieved the Spirit in them, that you made them glad to bury themſelves, and leave their places: you had Prophets and their te…s and their ſorrows too, yea and their bl…d too, and O! what a light matter was it te…s you to break their very hearts? How little did you obey them that ruled over you, Hebr. 13.17.and ſubmitted your ſelves, that they might give their account with joy, and not with grief? How little did you believe, that that is unprofitable for you? Have not you made nothing of it, for your Miniſters to loſe their labour, to put them upon crying out, I have laboured in vain? Iſa. 49.45.Yea how have you grieved their very Souls with reproaches? Some who have pretended affection to them, yet have had their reproachfull Names of Prieſt, Parſon, Vicar, &c. Though God hath put a Crown of honour upon them, by making them his Ambaſſadours; yet how have ſome impudent Profeſſours blaſted them with their ſtinking breath, and proſane ſcoffs? Ambaſſadours are inviolable by the Laws of Nations. The Lord (ſaith one) hath ſet a better mark on them, than Cain had, and given them a better paſport: touch not mine anointed, and do my Prophets no harm: yet you have made a light matter of vexing their very Souls. When you could have nothing elſe againſt your Miniſter, have not you been cenſuring him for his manner of ſpeaking? 2 Cor. 10.10.His Letters (ſay they) are weighty and powerfull, but his bodily preſence is weak, and his ſpeech contemptible.
Laſtly, And being weary of them.Have not your Miniſters been ſo troubleſome to you in your ſins, in your formality, worldlineſs, lukewarmneſs, &c. that you were even weary of them? Have not you been as weary of them, as the Children of Iſrael of Angels food? as weary as weak ſomachs are of feeding on one diſh? Your Miniſters urged fleſh-diſpleaſing and ſelf-denying duties: they would not ſuffer you to ſin quietly; and were not you therefore burthened with them? they would not ſtand and comply with your carnal ends and ſinfull intereſts; and did not your hearts therefore cry out away with them? Have not you been like the Gadarenes, more willing to part with your Miniſters, than with your ſwiniſh luſts? Rom. 1.28.Becauſe you did not like to retain God in your knowledge, 'tis no wonder if God give up many of you to a reprobate mind. Hath not the Goſpel been too coſtly, too chargeable to ſome of you? and too irkſome, requiring too much pains taking, to others of you? O! when you Remember your crying iniquities, for which God is chiefly contending with you, forget not this dreadfull ſinne of being weary of Gods Ambaſſadours, of being weary of ſpeaking with God, and of hearing God ſpeak unto your Souls.