Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Part 2
Admonition.
1 THES. 5.14.
Warne them that are unruly.
Doct. 1 THere are a ſort of unruly ones in the viſible Church; diſordered and diſſolute, exorbitant and enormous livers; ſuch as tranſgreſſe the tradition, ſaith the Apoſtle of them, 2 Theſſ. 3.6. that is,Epheſ. 5.15. Obey not the form of doctrine delivered unto them, Rom. 6.17. Walk not by rule, but at all adventures, Levit. 26.23. Contra gnomonem & canonem decalogi, lawleſſe, yokeleſſe, maſterles monſters, ſonnes of Belial, goats, wilde aſſe-colts, untamed heifers, horſes, mules, Pſal. 32.9. Quibus vita eſt incompoſita, & peſſimè morata; Calvin.they run away with the bit between their teeth: break Chriſts bonds as Samſon did the green withes, ſhake Chriſts yoke from their ſhoulders, as the Unicorn, Job 39.10. ſend meſſages after him, as they in the Goſpel, We will not have this man to rule over us, we will not live by his laws. Of theſe S. Peter 2 ep. 2. and S. Jude v. 8.9.
Reaſ. 1 God permits ſuch, 1. For the glory of his patience and juſtice towards them; of his mercy to wards his own, who will ſee and ſay, Who made us to differ? Lord, how is it that thou ſhoweſt thy felf to us, and not to the world? Joh. 14.22. 2. For the triall, exerciſe, correction of his Saints. 3. For a mutrall ſcourge to themſelves, as the Eaſt by the Turks, the Weſt by the Pope, for their Apoſtacy, &c.
Reaſ 2 The devil effects it, That great and firſt Heterc…lite, foreign.that kept not his ſtation, but brake the ranks, and is become a maſter of miſrule amongſt the men of this world, whom he acts and agitates, Epheſ. 2 2. carries them along (as poſſeſt perſons) through fire and water, thick and thin: hath them at his beck and check, called therefore, Children of diſobedience, ſons of Belial, taken alive, and carried about by him at his pleaſure, as Bajazet was in an iron …age.foreign … 26 Reaſ 3
Men are therefore obſtinate in evil, ſaith the Prophet: Becauſe 1. Their neck is an iron ſinew. 2. Their brow is braſſe, Iſa 48.4. This double diſtemper lies upon every carnall perſon. 1. Naturall croſſeneſſe to the law of God, Rom. 8.7. Homo est inverſus decalogus. 2. Habituall hardneſſe, contracted by long trading in ſin; Doing wickedly with both hands earneſtly, Mic. 7.3. ſetting their ſinne upon the cliffe of the rock, Ezek. 24.7. adding to their ſinews of iron, br…ws of braſſe, to naturall impotence, impudence in evil, Jer. 3.3. an uncouncellable wilfulneſſe in wickedneſſe.
Ʋſe 1 Woe to thoſe unruly rebels, God hath a rod of iron for them, Pſal. 2. that thoſe that will not bend may break, thoſe that will not be Chriſts ſubjects, may be his footſtool: tis ſure he'll have the better of them. If they walk contrary to him, he will be as croſſe to them, Levit. 26.23. If they be froward, he will be as froward as they for the hearts of them, Pſal. 18.26. They ſhall have their wils, but then he will have his, Ezek. 24.13. In running from God, and the obedience of his Word, they doe but run to meet their own bane, as the Philistims did at Mizpeh, 1 Sam. 7. Aut poenitendum, aut per…undum. Aut faciendum, aut patiendum. Men muſt either repent or periſh: doe Gods law or ſuffer it. The law was added, becauſe of tranſgreſſion; and is given not for the righteous, but for the lawleſſe and diſobedient, 1 Tim. 1.9. to hamper thoſe unruly beaſts, and to tame them with thoſe four tee…h it hath. 1. Irritation, Rom. 7.7. 2. Induration, Iſa. 6.10. 3. Obligation, Gen. 4.7. 4. Execration, Gal. 3.10. And whereas theſe mens hope of help is From the Goſpel (which is, Quaſi poſt naufragium tabula, as a plank after ſhipwreck) that will not relieve them neither. For as against ſuch there is no law, ſaith the Apoſtle of the fruits of the ſpirit: ſo, for ſuch there is no Goſpel, ſay I of the wilfully wicked.
Ʋſe 2 Be wiſe now therefore, be inſtructed, Gal. 5.23.Pſal. 2.10. Tremble and ſin not, Pſal. 4.4. Send a lamb to the ruler of the earth, as an homage-peny, Iſa. 16.1. bring preſents to Fear, or to him that ought to be feared, Pſal. 76.11. Receive the Word with all readineſſe, Act. 7.11. Give your ſelves firſt to God, and then to us by the will of God, as thoſe Macedonians, 2 Cor. 8.5.Gen. 2….3. Obey from the heart the form of doctrine, whereunto ye have been delivered, as thoſe Romans, Chap 6.17. Captivate your reaſon, as Paul did, Gal. 1.16. diſpute not, but diſpatch Gods commands, as Abraham did. Get an open …ar, a teachable ſpirit: ſo that a little childe may lead you, Iſa. 11.6. A heavy ear is a ſingular judgement, Iſa. 6.10. a dull heart the devils work, 2 Cor. 4.4. See that ye adde not rebellion to ſinne, Job 34.37. leſt ye adde wrath to wrath, Rom. 2.5. And here, 1. For time paſt, look on all the writs of ex cution, and ſay as 1 Cor. 10.11. Theſe are as ſo many types, foreign.moulds, monitours, ſummoners, reall Sermons to us. 2. For preſent, look up and ſee (as David did) the puniſhing Angel, as it were with a drawn ſword. And though thou maiſt ſhuffle awhile from ſide to ſide, as the Aſſe did, yet think not long to eſcape. 3. For future, think ſeriouſly of that dreadfull doomſday, that ſhall burn as an oven: And, Knowing the terrour of the Lord, Act. 24.16.perſwade others, perſwade your ſelves eſpecially, to walk by rule and keep a clear conſcience, that moſt precious jewel, that ever the heart of man was acquainted with.
Warn the unruly.
Doct. 2 Unruly perſons muſt be admoniſhed, rebuked, advertiſed, foreign, bon… mentem indite Daven, in Col. 3.16. Amiſſ… mentem veponite, Beza. ad mentem reſtituite.reſtored to their right mindes again, as the word here uſed importeth. For ſin maketh men ſots, Hoſ. 4.11. mad-men, Eccleſ. 7.25. quite beſides themſelves, as the Prodigall, Luk. 15.17. Ye which are ſpirituall reſtore them therefore, Gal. 6.1. rouſe them, 2 Pet. 1 13. raiſe them out of the pit (you muſt his aſſe, much more his ſoul, Exod. 23.5.) yea pull them out of the fire, as S. Jude hath it, making a difference out of deep compaſſion. Or, as Lorinus reads and renders that text, Arguite diſputatos, by ſtrength of argument convince them of the errour of their way,foreign. Jam. 5.20. and ſo reduce them by right reaſon. This is to pull them out of the fire of hell, ſaith Jude. This is to ſave a ſoul from death, ſaith James. This is a holy violence, a deſirable rapine, ſaith Hierom. And this is a duty that both Law and Goſpel call for. 1. The Law. Levit. 19.17.Violentia ſancta optabilis rapina. Thou ſhalt not hate thy brother in thy heart: thou ſhalt in any wiſe rebuke thy neighbour, and not ſuffer ſinne upon him. 2. The Goſpel, Mat. 18.15. Go tell him his fault between thee, and him alone: if he ſhall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Thou ſhalt rebuke thy neighbour, ſaith Moſes: and mark his reaſons.
Reaſ 1 For elſe, 1. Thou wilt hate him, which is man ſl…ughter, 1 Joh. 3 A ſeaſonable reproof draws cut the poiſon of a beginning grudge and malice. Whereas not admoniſhing, breeds dwelling …p…o…s: ſuſpitions breed a very habit of miſ-interp…etation, mi…-interpretation begets a lothnes to come to the light to ſhew the reaſons of diſlike: this lothneſſe begets a very ſeparation in …eart,Ne ta…en ſu…er … tollas tanquam Vex…llum Cart. in Ma…. 7.1. Ne pe…aturn…e jus luas Caſt…. Apud Atheni en…es. olim exſecrationes pal…i … erant con … in cos. qui erranti … mo…arent. M… 3 4. and that, a forwardneſſe to blaze his ſin. So ſome render the laſt clauſe in this Text, Thou ſhalt not lift up his ſin over him, or diſplay it as a banner to his diſgrace, as malice will make thee doe. Others render it thus, That thou ſuffer not for his ſinne: and that needs not: for thou haſt enough of thine own to anſwer for. But thou art bound as to obſerve Gods Commandments in thy ſelf, ſo to preſerve them in others. Silence is conſent by Gods Law, Levit. 5.1. And by ill ſilence to leave men in ſin, is as b…d as by ill ſpeech to draw them to ſinne. Not to doe good, ſaith our Saviour, is to doe evil; and not to lave, is to deſtroy. Keep thy ſelf from thine other mens ſinnes, 1 Tim. 5.22 Our Tranſlatours (after Tr…mellius and others) render it, Thou ſhalt not ſuffer ſinne upon him. Sin is ſo hatefull a viper that we ſhould club it down, and ſtub it up, where ever we meet with it. Now a man may hinder much ſinne by ſeaſonable admonition;Act. and Mon. fol. 1458. as Bradford kept Biſhop Farrar (whiles he was priſoner in the Kings-Bench) from receiving the Sacrament at Eaſter in one kinde, which he had promiſed to doe: And Biſhop Ridley (whiles he was priſoner in the Tower) from going to Maſſe;Ibid. 19…0. which once he did. But Mr Bradford being there alſo priſoner, and hearing thereof, reduced him by an effectuall letter. And as for thoſe unruly ones that refuſe to be reclaimed, yet the ſpirit of profanenes in them will be much laid, laid by the majeſty of a reproof: which will tame and take down their inſolency, cut their combs, cool their courage; as Nicod…mus did the Councels, John 7.51, 52, 53. And as Adrianus Boxſchofius Preacher of Antwerp did the Monks at Newburg, that ra…ld at Luther out of the Pulpit. I (ſaith Boxſchofius) am called by the noble Earl of Hoy to convince thee, and all thine of a lie. Tell me therefore, thou perverſe Monk…, and that openly before all this people, where, when, and in what points hath Luther erred? The Monk anſwered not a word, but g…t him privily out of the Pulpit, fled away as ſaſt as he could, and never came more into that countrey.S…lt Annal. de…as prima. Reaſ. 2
Secondly, Our Saviour ſupplies us in that, Mat. 18.15. with another reaſon. If he hear thee, thou haſt gained thy brother. Now to gain a ſoul is more then to get a world, as he hath aſſ…red us who beſt knew the worth of ſouls: for he, and he only went to the price of them, Rebuke them ſharply, that they may be ſound in the faith, ſaith S. Paul of thoſe ſlow-belly Cr…tians. Tit. 1.15.The Church of Laodicea was ſharply reproved, and thereupon ſoundly repented. For Euſebius commends it for a Church famous and flouriſhing in his daies; which was well-nigh 300 years after. An admonition may not preſently work: but afterwards (when men are in cool bloud) it may be better conſidered of: Degrees of grace are not given all at once, Joh. 13.36. But the diſpenſation of the grace of God is given us to others-ward, Eph. 3.2. that as every one hath received the gift, even ſo ſhould we miniſter the ſame one to another, as good ſtewards, out of the care of community. For as no man is born, ſo neither is he born anew for himſelf.1 Pet. 4.10. Gravitér Demoſt henes Ae…hini, foreign The Rabbines have a ſaying: Lilmod lelammed, a man muſt therefore learn, that he may teach others. Ephraim that bore fruit to himſelf only, is called an empty vine. But the tongue of the wiſe is as a tree of life, that feeds many. And how forcible are right words, ſaith he in Job? Nathan wrought more upon David by a particular private admonition, then all the lectures of the law for three quarters of a year before. Now if a brother may be gained, a ſoul ſaved by a wiſe and loving admonition, who would not ſtrive for ſuch p…arls?
Ʋſe 1 Reproof of ſuch unruly ones as will not be warned; dogs, ſwine, ſcorners, aſſes that will not be brought home again, Exod. 23.4. but run further out. The more you rub their gal'd backs, the more they kick: the more you handle there toads, the more they ſwell: the more you meddle, the more will theſe ſerpents gather poiſon to vomit out at you. Say to wreſt the ſtrings of their tongues … tune, they will ſnap and break upon you: Caſt water upon this lime, it will fry the faſter. God hath threatned to lay ſuch in the ſlimy valley, where are many already like them, and more ſhall come after them, Job 21.31, 32.
Ʋſe 2 Suffer the words of exhortation, Heb. 13.22. Suffer it, nay pray for a friendly reprover, as David doth, Pſa. 141.5. And be thankfull, as he was to Abigail; knowing that ye have cauſe to think and ſay as bad of your ſelves, as that worthy man Agur did, Pro. 30.2, 3. Hezekiah ſtormed not at Iſaiah, but ſubmitted. Iob laid his hand upon his mouth, when reproved. Ionah replies not, but ſhuts up his prophecy, and lets God have the laſt word. The Virgin Mary when publikely checkt at the wedding, holds her peace, Ioh. 2.4. S. Peter commends all S. Pauls epiſtles,2 Pet. 3.15. Gal. 2. who yet had ſharply reproved him, and regiſtred that reproof. I confeſſe its no eaſie matter to bear an admonition well, though never ſo well tempered. No ſugar can bereave a pill of his bitterneſſe. It fares with offenders, as with thoſe that are wakened out of ſleep, they are unquiet, and ready to brawl with their beſt friends: Dogs in a chafe will bark ſometimes at their own maſters. But as an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, ſo is a wiſe reprover upon an obedient ear. Such ſhall ſinde more favour afterwards,Prov. 25.12. Prov. 28.13. then one that flattereth with his lips.foreign Dio in Auguſto Mercurium a Deo miſſum, qui … i… admon…t. Bees paſſe by roſes and violets, to ſit upon time: ſo godly men rather heed ſound rebukes then ſmooth ſupparaſitations. David eſteemed better of Nathan after he had ſo plainly rebuked him, then ever he did before. See elſe 1 King. 1.23, 27. Nay Auguſtus an Heathen prized plain-dealing in Mecaenas and others. Epictetus called a faithfull Monitour, a meſſenger from heaven. When Luther was one time very much moved at ſomething, Melancthon interrupted and quieted him by repeating this verſe, Vince animos, iram que tuam, qui caetera vincis.
Next to the not deſerving a reproof,Manlij loc. com. pag 248. is the well-taking of it. The woman of Samaria loves Chriſt the better for finding her out in her ſin. The two diſciples going to Emaus conſtrain Chriſt to come in and eat with them,Luk. 24. though he had roundly reproved them, being for ought they knew, a meer ſtranger, and one that had nothing to do with them. As young Eaglets are known to be of the right kinde by their ſtedfaſt eying of the Sun, ſo are the true children of the Church by the right bearing of reproof, Iam 1, 19, 20.
Ʋſe 3 Exhortation: Learn, and labour to be able, active and abundant in this Chriſtian duty of admonition. The Romans were full of goodneſſe, filled with knowledge, able to admoniſh one another, Rom 15.14. The Hebrews are exhorted to exhort one another daily, Heb. 3.13. yea, to ſtudy one …other, to ſtir up (or whet on) to love and good works. And the Coloſſians muſt teach and admoniſh one another,Feb. 10. … Col. 3 16. and that in the words of Chriſt, dwelling richly in them, that out of the good treaſure of the heart they may draw forth good things, new and old, as there is occaſion. Exhort one another with theſe words, ſaith Paul. And have no fellowſhip with the unfruitfull works of darkneſſe, but reprove them rather. 1 Theſſ. 4.18. foreign. Epheſ. 5.11, 13.or refute, refell, convince them to be naught by the clear light of Gods Word. For all things that are (rightly) reproved, are made manifeſt by this light.
To quicken you hereunto, conſider, 1. That God ſhall be greatly glorified. 2. Sin either reſtrained, or juſtly aggravated. 3. Weak Chriſtians ſhall be kept from being ſcandalized, ſtrong from being grieved. 4. Your ſelves hereby ſhall be both engaged to doe that whereof you have admoniſhed another, and comforted in the diſcharge of your duty; the omiſſion whereof doth oft grieve the good heart, and vex the conſcience: As it fell out in that faithfull and famous man of God Mr Sam. Hiron, whoſe words were theſe upon his death-bed.A relation of the manner of M. Hir…ns death, annexed to the firſt volume of his works. I confeſſe that in publike I have been ſomewhat full in reproof, in admonitio…, in inſtruction. But in private my backwardnes, my baſhfulnes, my daſtardlines hath been intolerable: And I may truly ſay, that if any thing lies as a burden upon my conſcience, this is it. Now for your direction, that old rule for matter of Alms, holds good in this of admonition: which is a ſpecies of ſpirituall Alms.
Eſt modus in dando, Quis, Quid, Cui, Quomodo, Quando. Here then take notice: 1. Who muſt admoniſh. 2. For what.Rules to be obſerved in admoniſhing others. 3. Whom. 4. How. 5. When.
Firſt, Who muſt warn the unruly? All, without exception: the precept is generall, Levit. 19.17. Ezek. 1.30. Turn ye, and turn others. Beſides, we are all a kingdom of Prieſts, Rev. 1.6, have all received an ointment, 1 Ioh. 2.20. which muſt ſmell all Gods houſe over. Women muſt not preach, yet the elder muſt teach the younger to be ſober, Tit. 3. Miniſters muſt admoniſh of authority: all others of ſociall charity: they that are ſpirituall eſpecially, Gal. 6.1. and children of light, Eph. 5.13.
Next, See whereof we muſt warn others, and for what, reprove them. Not for foul ſins only, and hainous offences, but for diſorders, as here, and inordinate walking, 2 Theſſ. 3.11. be it but idleneſſe, talkativeneſſe, pragmaticalneſſe, cenſorīouſneſſe, &c. For, 1. Small motes in the Saints are made great beams by the wicked: their leaſt aberrations (as of ſtars) is ſoon obſerved and noticed,Iſa, 19.21. They watch for my halting, ſaith Ieremy. Make a man an offender for a word, ſaith Iſaiah. 2, Leſſer evils tolerated make way for greater. Cain not taking Gods reproof for frowns, fell afterwards to murder. Only let it be remembred that ſins of infirmity muſt be more gently handled, as thoſe of pride and preſumption more ſharply and with ſeverity, Tit. 1.15. Iude 22, 23. When our Saviour (Samſon-like) drove thoſe money-merchants out of his Fathers houſe with a ſcourge of ſmall cords only, as he the Philiſtims once, with the jaw-bone of an aſſe, he dealt more gently with thoſe that ſold doves. He poured not out their money, nor threw down their tables, as he had done the reſt, but gently ſaid unto them, Take theſe things hence, Joh. 1.15, 16.&c. He knew them belike, not to be ſo great ſinners, he found them more tractable and eaſie to be wrought upon. Hence his different dealing.
Thirdly, Whom are we to admoniſh? 1. Not thoſe without the viſible Church, 1 Cor. 5.11, 12. Reproof is a piece of eccleſiaſticall government… 2. Not dogs and ſwine, Mat. 7.6. mad dogs, ſenſuall ſwine, that either grunt againſt goodneſſe, or furiouſly flie in the face of ſuch as fairly tell them of their faults. Rebuke a ſcorner, and he will hate thee: ſuch he means as have wearied themſelves ſo long in ſtanding and walking in wicked waies, that now they are ſet down at reſt in ſcorners chair,Prov. 9. refuſing to be reformed, hating to be healed. Theſe are not worth the warning. But for all others, ſee that ye ſuffer not ſin upon them, for fear, favour, affection, or what other ſiniſter end ſoever. Only reprove equals with friendly admonition, ſuperiours with ſubmiſſe exhortation, inferiours by ſharp reprehenſion, or (if need be) correction.
Ob. Rebuke not an elder, 1 Tim. 5.1.
Sol. foreign. Ne plagam infligas verbera lingu…. Hor.Not as a puny-boy (as the word ſignifies) but mildly, &c. elſe, ſee v. 19, 20,
Ob. I love not to meddle. Be not many maſters, Iam. 3.1.
Sol. No medling in this caſe is a kinde of ſoul-murthering.
Ob. It is a thankleſſe office.
Sol. Not with the wiſe, Prov. 9.8. & 28.23. In the ſweating-ſickneſſe, they that were kept awake, eſcaped: but the ſickneſſe was deadly to them that were ſuffered to ſleep. Let us keep one another awake: an unpleaſing work on both ſides. But ſuch ſhall have thanks one day.
Ob. I ſhall loſe my labour.
Sol. Venture that, thou haſt loſt many a worſe. See Iob 6.25. 1 Kin. 5.11.
Ob. I ſhall loſe my friend.
Sol. It may be not. But ſay thou ſhouldeſt, thou ſhalt finde a better thing. See Mar. 10.29.30. He that receives a courteſie, we ſay, ſels his liberty. But ſo did not our Saviour at Martha…s, at Simons houſe the leper; nor muſt we, but truſt God with all. A man had better offend all the world, then his own conſcience.
Fourthly, How muſt we admoniſh? Firſt, Zealouſly, ſo as the reproof may enter, the counſell be conſidered of, Prov. 17.10. There is a curſe to thoſe that do this work of the Lord negligently, Ier. 48.10. as Eli did in dealing with his lewd ſons: and Pope Paul the 5. who being advertiſed of the deterſtable villanies of his ſon Farneſius, thought it ſufficient to ſay,Haec v…tia me non commonſtratore didicit. Heyl. Geog. p. 222. Acerbiſſimo ſarcaſmo eos per… ſtringit. Gal. 5.1. He never learned theſe vices of his father. How did S. Paul ſharp up the ſorcerer, Act. 13.10? And our Saviour ſhake up his drouſie diſciples, Mar. 14.41. though heavy-hearted? From henceforth ſleep and take your reſt, it is ſufficient. Three words he uſeth to upbraid them their ſleeping the third time, q. d. Sleep now if you can; the hour is come, the ſouldiers are at hand, &c. Next mildly, and in the ſpirit of meekneſſe. Some warmth muſt be in a reproof, but it muſt not be ſcalding not, as by words of reproach, reviling, threatning, Monendo quam minando. Eliſha did more with a kiſſe, then his man with a ſtaff. No oratory is ſo powerfull as that of mildnes. Ought ye not to walk in the fear of the Lord, becauſe of the reproach of the Heathen? ſaid Nehemiah, Who could reſiſt ſuch a ſweet and ſoveraign reprehenſion?
Laſtly, Learn when to admoniſh. Not when men are in their drink, 1 Sam. 25.36. or in heat of paſſion, Pro. 18.19. Good Phyſicians evacuate not the body in extremity of heat and cold. Mariners hoiſe not ſail in every winde. Opportunities muſt be watched. Samuel reproves not Iſrael, till ſure of their King. Conſider wiſely whether it may better be done preſently, and in hot bloud, or more conveniently and profitably at another time, Ecel. 3.7. Pro. 29.11.