The True Treasury, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
OVr laſt uſe is of Exhortation, and firſt to Miniſters,Ieremy 2.8. whoſe office it is to handle the Law, Mar. 16, 15. foreign. 2 Tim. 2, 15. Eph. 4, 11.to preach the Goſpell, to divide Gods Word aright, to ſpeake as the Oracles of God, for the perfecting of the Saints and the building up of Chriſts myſticall body: It highly importeth all ſuch, as they will anſwer it to him whoſe perſon they beare, whoſe ſtead they ſtand in, whoſe worke they wait upon, to fulfill their miniſtery, Col. 4.17.by diſcharging their duty therein. 1. With all aſſiduity and earneſtneſſe. 2. With fidelity and boldneſſe. 3. With integrity and unblameableneſſe.
Section 1.
FIrſt, what ever thy hand finds to do in this weighty worke of the Lord, doe it with all thy might, as David danced, as Baruc builded,2 Sam. 6, 14. Neh. 3, 20. Geneſis 31, 40. Acts 20, 31. 2 Tim. 4.2. as Iacob ſerved, as Paul preached night and day with many tears and temptations, and as he charged Timothy in preaching to be inſtant, to ſtand to the worke, yea to ſtand over it, foreign.and that both in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, as knowing the worth of a ſoule,Ieremy 48, 10. and the terrour of the Lord, who hath bitterly curſed the careleſſe, and ſent the idle ſervant packing to his place in hell. Be not ye therefore idle nor unprofitable, 2 Peter 1.but as any hath received the gift, miniſter the ſame to others, as good ſtewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4.Chriſt the good Samaritan brings the hurt and wounded ſinner into the Inne of his Church, where hee delivers to the Hoſt, (I mean the Miniſter) thoſe two pence of his Word and Sacraments, with charge to ſee him ſafe and well look… to, till his returne. Now if there bee either no balme in Gilead, Ieremy 8.22. Iob 13, 4.or no Phyſitian there, If thoſe that are there be Phyſitians of no value; either have no healing medicines, Ier. 30.13. or no care of the cure, but, gather temporalls by themſelves, ſow ſpiritualls by others,In Mat. 10, 16. (as Albertus Magnus complained of the Paſtors of his time) eate the fleſh, and weare the fleece,Ezek. 34, 3. but feed not the flocke, nor heale the ſicke, as Ezekiel hath it: what then will they doe when the Arch-ſhepheard riſeth up?Iob 31, 14. and when he viſiteth, what will they anſwer him? woe to the Idol-ſhepheard that leaveth the flock,Zach. 11, 17. Zach. 11, 15. or that wen hee comes hath only forcipes & mulctram (thoſe inſtruments of a fooliſh ſhepheard) looke only after lac & lanam, doth the worke by others (as Peter Martyr complained of ſome in thoſe dayes) reape the profits by themſelves, and as it is in the book of Iob, Com: in 1 Sam. 12.ſaith he, Boves arant, & aſini paſcuntur. How ſhall our Saviour ſhake up ſuch looſe or lazie Paſtours, that looke not to the flocke (over whom hee had made them over ſeers) as Eliab did David, Acts 20.with what makeſt thou here? and with whom haſt thou left thoſe few ſheepe in the Wilderneſſe? 1 Sam. 17, 18.I know thine idleneſſe, and the naughtineſſe of thine heart. The carefull Levite makes haſte home,Iudges 19, 5. Procul ab agro ſuo diſſitus, jacturae vicinus. Columella. Domini veſtigia ſunt fimus optimus in agro. Auſt. Occon. lib. 1. cap. 6. when called abroad about his neceſſary buſineſſe. His heart is where his calling is; and by how much the more ſacred his charge, by ſo much the more attendance, he knowes it expects. When therefore he is from home, he is like a fiſh in the ayre: his heart cleaves to his people, as a fathers to his children: his daily thoughts and cares runne upon them; he feares nothing more than that any Martha ſhould ſay unto him: Domine, ſi tu bio fuiſſes, frater meus non fuiſſet mortuus. And foraſmuch as where viſion failes, the people periſh, Prov. 29, 18.he gladly takes all opportunities and advantages of preaching publikely, of inſtructing privately. The love of Chriſt ſo wrought in Doctor Taylor Martyr, that no Sunday, nor Holy-Day paſſed,Act: and Mon: or other time when he might get the people together, but he preached to them the Word of God.Ibid. 1457. Maſter Bradford even during his impriſonment preached twice a day conſtantly unleſſe ſickneſſe hindred him. This was according to the example of our Saviour, Matth. 13.1. In the ſame day wherein hee had conſuted and confounded the Phariſees, (as it may ſeeme) in the morning, hee taught the people out of the ſhippe in the afternoone. Biſhop Ridley alſo preached every Holy-day and Sunday for the moſt part,Ibid. 1559. except he were letted by ſome weightie buſineſſes. To whoſe Sermons the people reſorted, ſwarming about him like Bees, and coveting the ſweete juyce of his heavenly doctrine. He well underſtood that praedicationis officium ſuſcipit, quiſquis ad ſacerdotium accedit, Jn …aſtora….as Gregory the Great hath it. And his ſucceſſour Gregory the third who ſate Anno 731.Funccius in Chronol. preached frequently to the Clergy and people of Rome (an extraordinary example) and was held ſo well inſighted into the Scriptures, as no man of his age came neere him. The Roman Generalls when they had once ridden in triumph, were wont to take their caſe ever after. But Cato is commended for this,Pomp: Lab: Comp: Ro. Hiſt: lib. 2. that he ſtill continued his care for the Common-wealth; after he had obtained that honour of triumph. Neither is this great Biſhop leſſe to be praiſed, if that bee true eſpecially, that was ſpoken by Doctor Baſſinet a Iacobine Frier,Act: and Mon: fol. 862. that at Rome it was as great a wonder to heare a Biſhop preach, as to ſee an Aſſe flee. The common Praedicants they bind heavy loades upon.Sands his Relation: pag. 27. For the cuſtome of Italy is for the ſame man (in their greater Cities appointed) to preach every day in LENT without intermiſſion, if their ſtrongth do ſerve them. Saint Chryſoſtomes foreign ſhewes, hee preached every day ordinarily. So did Origen, moſtly, though never above an houre, ſometimes not halſe an houre, as appeares by his Homilies. The like is reported of Maſter Calvin, and of Melancthon, Tres labores afſtrinaviteſſe difficil: regentis, docentis, partus rientis. Melch. Adam Ger: the. 359.who alſo was wont to ſay that None under wont ſuch paines as Preachers, Rulers, and women in travaile. Luther alſo ſaith that a Maſter of a family hath ſomewhat to do, a Magiſtrate ſtrate more, a Miniſter moſt of all. And he afterward addeth, that if he were now to chuſe or change his calling,Idem. Jbid. hee could with farre more eaſe digge and delve, and ſo ſweate out a poore living than preach and preach the Goſpell.foreign prout ruſtici laborant. 1 Cor. 15.10. foreign. 1 Cor. 4 1. foreign mancipia ad remos damnata, ab foreign remigo. foreign from foreign torostrale or beate, as the bird doth the ſhell fiſh. Miniſters are called labourers in harveſt, their paines is as great as of thoſe that cleave wood, or that are faſt chained to an oare. They are the peoples ſervants for Ieſus ſake, and ought to labour even to laſſitude, as the foule doth to get the fiſh out of the ſhell to ſpend themſelves without ſpare, yea, to ſpend and bee ſpent, as Paul; whoſe pertinacy in Preaching, at Epheſus eſpecially, was admirable; where beſides other miniſteriall offices, hee diſputed every day with the Iewes in the Schoole of one Tyrannus, and that from the fifth to the tenth houre, five houres together, as one ancient Greeke Coppy hath it.foreign. Acts 19, 9. Bez. The High-Prieſt whitherſoever he turnd him, was to be heard by the ſound of his bells, upon paine of death. The ſtaffe-rings were to continue upon the Arke, the Kohathites ſhoulders felt. Wherefore. The beſt was, the Lord helped the Levites that bare the Arke of the Covenant: 1 Chro. 15, 26.and ſo he will do us, if we can but ſeeke him, out of a ſenſe of our utter inſufficiency to theſe things, and doe our utmoſt to looke to the Miniſtry that we have receaved of the Lord, that wee fulfill the ſame.Col. 4.17. How this is done ſee Acts 6.4. Let others bee appointed over the buſineſſe, but we will give our ſelves continually to prayer and preaching: we'll begge and digge, and digge and beg as that good Vine-dreſſer did, whoſe mattocke kept off the Maſters Axe.Luke 13.8. It was a fooliſh pride in Montanus to overween his Pepuza & Tymium two pelting Pariſhes in Phrygia, and to call them Ieruſalem,Euſebius lib. 5. cap. 17. as if they had been the only Churches in the world. But this is the commendable zeale of every true Paſtor, to adorne his owne lot by a redoubled diligence. Verbi Miniſter es, hoc age, D. Ward: pref. in Perk: probl.was Maſter Perkins his Motto. It is a whole mans work, and a good one too: intangle himſelfe he need not with the affaires of life.2 Tim. 2 4. Canon: tert: The Councell of Chalcedon flatly forbids Miniſters the care of outward things. Some care they muſt needſly take, but let it be as little as may be. Saint Paul diſpatcheth his owne private buſines with Philemon in one word, Prepare for mee a lodging, &c. verſe 22. His maine care and labour was for the welfare of Oneſimus, whom hee had begotten to Chriſt in his bonds. A Miniſters chiefe ſtudy muſt bee how to ſave himſelfe and thoſe that he are him. 1 Tim. 4.16.Our Saviours threefold Paſce to Peter imports as much, and he did it to the utmoſt. I will not be negligent, ſaith he, as long as I am in this Tabernacle to ſtirre you up. His Lord had charged him, Feed my ſheepe (with golden fleeces on their backe) yea doe it foreign mihi, as the Syriack hath it. Let my love conſtraine thee to doe thine utmoſt at it, till ſuch time as thou ſhalt no longer gird thy ſelfe, and walk whither thou wilt, but another ſhall gird thee, or rather cord thee, fetter thee,Iohn 21.17, 18. and carry thee whither thou wouldſt not. Maſter Calvin being much weakened by unceſſant paines in the Lords worke, was toward his latter end adviſed by his friends to take care of his owne health.Quid? vultis ut Dominus veniens me otioſum inveniret? Beza in vitae ipſius. To whom he replyed, not without ſome indignation, what? would ye have the Lord, when he comes, to finde me idle? Biſhop Iewel riding to preach at Lacocke in Wiltſhire, a Gentleman that met him, perceiving the feebleneſſe of his body adviſed him, for his healths ſake, to returne home againe. His anſwer was, Oportet Epiſcopum concionantem mori. And ſo hee did.D. Humphrey in the life of B. Iewell. For preſently after the ſermon, he was by reaſon of ſickneſſe forced to his bed, from whence he never came off till his tranſlation to glory. The like is reported of Bandiſius a Dutch Divine.Faciam of ficium dum pot…ro, etiamſi mo…lem mihi concionando accelcrem. Melch. Adam in vitae. I will do my duty, ſaid he to his friends (that otherwiſe adviſed him) while I can; yea though I haſten my death by preaching. And of a certain Scotch Miniſter the ſame Authour relateth, that a little afore his death he offered to riſe out of his bed, ſicke as hee was; and being asked the reaſon, hee anſwered, that all that night hee had beene wholly taken up with the meditation of CHRISTS Reſurrection, and now he was deſirous to goe into the Pulpit, that thence hee might comfort others with the ſame comforts wherewith he had been comforted.Melch. Adam de Theol: exter: page 139. He ſhewd his good will to have ſpent his laſt breath in preaching, according to Saint Auſtins wiſh, that Chriſt when hee came might finde him aut precantem aut pradicantem, praying or preaching. O happie is that ſervant, whom his Lord, when hee comes,Mat. 24.46, 47. ſhall finde ſo doing! Verily, I ſay unto you, that hee ſhall make him ruler over all his goods.
Section 2.
SEcondly, let Miniſters be called upon and exhorted, to deliver the Word (ſith it is Gods Word) with all faithfulneſſe,1 Cor. 4, 1. 1 Cor. 3, 10. 2 Tim. 2.15. 2 Cor. 6, 1. Rev. 19, 10, and 22, 9. as good ſtewards, as wiſe maſter-builders, as workemen that need not be aſhamed, as co-workers with God and fellow-labourers with the Angels, in the matter of mans ſalvation.Tit. 1, 4. 2 Cor. 2, 17. foreign. Or, it is a metaphor from deceitfull Vintners who for gaine mix water with Wine. 2 Cor. 4.2. Hold faſt the faithfull word, yet not concealing, nor corrupting it, not handling it deceitfully, or Huck-ſtering it (as men doe their wares, caring rather to beguile then benefit the buyer) but by manifeſtation of the truth, commending themſelves to every mans conſcience in the ſight of God. He that hath my word, let him ſpeake my word faithfully, Jer. 23.28.1 Cor. 4.2: Heb. 3, 2. Ezech. 13, 12, 22 Rom. 16, 17. 2 Iohn 10. And in Stewards, it is required that they bee found faithfull, as Moſes was faithfull in all Gods houſe. Delîver they muſt the will of GOD, his whole will, nothing but his will, duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page neither pleaſing, or falſe, or ſtrange doctrine, nor for vaine glory, contention, or envie,Phil. 1.14, 15. but purely, ſincerely, ſeaſonably, giving to every one his owne portion: Not as he in the Emblem, that gave ſtraw to the dogge,Theologus Gloriae dicit malum bonum, & bonū malum. Luther. and a bone to the Aſſe, not calling good evill, and evill good, not walking in craftineſſe, but as of ſincerity, but as of God, in the ſight of God, ſpeaking in Chriſt. 2 Cor. 2.17.Let Saint Paul be our patterne for fidelity in his miniſtry. What he delivered to others he firſt receaved of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 11.23. And as hee received what he delivered, ſo hee delivered what he receaved, he kept nothing backe, Acts 20.17. of all the Counſell of God. This hath many particulars in it. 1. Thoſe miniſters that would be found faithfull, muſt deliver the truth only. Aarons Bels were of pure gold, not of copper or other baſer mettall. 2. Wholly, not budging for any mans greatneſſe, nor balking any thing neceſſary to be knowne.Acts 20.24. 2 Tim 4.5. 3. Plainly to the capacity of the Hearers, Mar. 4.33. Iohn 16.12. not in a ſtately ſtile, or Roman Engliſh, Acts 22.2.4. Powerſully, and with all authority, as Chriſt did,Tit. 2.15. foreign. compelling men to come in, charging and commanding them to conſent and obey' that Gods houſe may bee full. 5. Conſtantly, being ready for to teach, foreign as Saint PAUL,Acts 26.29. the more and the leſſe, laying downe line after line, precept after precept,Iſa. 28.10. prooving if at any time, God will give men Repentance,2 Tim. 2.25. that they may awake, &c. Holy Zachary tooke not his dumbneſſe for a diſmiſſion, but ſtayd out the eight dayes of his courſe: though he ceaſed to ſpeake, yet hee ceaſed not to miniſter. 6. Laſtly, and chiefely, the man of God muſt preach his Word boldly, as Iſay who was very bold, Rom. 10 20. foreign. q. foreign. Acts 4.13.as Peter, and Iohn who uſed great freedome of ſpeech, as Michaiah who after hee had ſeene GOD on his throne, feared not before 2. Kings in their Majeſty. Not budging a whit nor yeelding an haire, no not for an Angels authority, as Paul: but witneſſing a good confeſſion,Galath. 1, 8. 1 Tim. 6, 13. as the Maſter did before Pontius Pilate, and keeping his Commandement without ſpot, 1 Tim. 6.13, 14. unrebukeable, which is: Bee ſtrong, and of a good courage, Ioſh 1, 4.have not I commanded thee? be not afraid, neither be thou diſmaid, for the Lord thy God is with thee: hee will not faile thee nor forſake thee. Pſalme 45. Philippians 2. Eſay 3, 10, 11 Eſay 58.1, 2.Ride on therefore, becauſe of the word of truth: hold forth the word of life amidſt a perverſe and crooked generation. Tell the wicked from God, it ſhall go ill with them: ſhew the people their tranſgreſſions, and the houſe of Iacob their ſinnes. I know men are naturally ſicke of a Noli me tangere: the earth would gladly ſit ſtill and be at reſt, that they might goe downe to hell without diſturbance;Zach. 1, 11. Amos 5, 10. they bate him that reproveth in the gate, as Ahab hated Michaiah becauſe hee never ſpake good to him. It is probable, that Michaiah was that diſguiſed Prophet, who brought to Ahab the fearefull meſſage of diſpleaſure and death for diſmiſſing Benhadad. And Ahab hates him, and hath him faſt in priſon ever ſince. From thence he is now ſent for, and ſollicited by the way to ſpeake good to the King. But he was at a point, for that, to ſpeake whatſoever the Lord ſhould ſay unto him though he were ſure to kiſſe the ſtocks for his ſtoutneſſe. The other Prophets prophecied placentia, like Squirrels they had a trick to build evermore, and have their holes to the Sunne-ſhine to keepe themſelves on the warmer ſide of the hedge,Ad latus navis ſaelicius, pro temporum ratione, ſeſe inelinant. Buchole. to incline to the happier ſide of the ſhip, to hold in with Princes and great ones, howſoever.
But, Ezek. 13.10, to 15. God threatens to rent the wall of ſecuritie, which thoſe caementarij Diaboli (as one calls them) the Devils dirt-dawbers had dawbed with untempered morter, Non ad veritatem ſolum, ſed etiam ad opiniones eorum qui audiunt, accomodanda est oratio. Cicer: Partit:and there ſhall bee an over-flowing ſhowre in his fierce fury, to conſume both it and them that dawbed it. Rhetoricians have a rule, to fit their ſpeech not to the truth of things only, but to the opinions and fancyes of them that heare them. This is by no meanes to be practiſed by a Preacher. Saint Auſtin repented him of nothing more than that being yong he preached ut placeret, non ut deceret, more to delight the care, then to ſmite the heart.Ʋt foreign qui ab omnibus gratiam inire cupit: quem quidam per incum placentam dixit. For if I yet pleaſe men (as once when I was a Phariſee) ſaith Paul, I am no more the ſervant of Chriſt. Men, be they pleaſed or diſpleaſed with divine errands, GOD that ſends us on them muſt not bee diſpleaſed. But hee hath excluded the fearefull, and will not employ a white-livered Souldier ſo far as to breake a Pitcher or to beare a torch. Thou therefore (as a good Souldier of Ieſus Christ) ſuffer hardſhip, do the work of an Evangeliſt,Galat. 1.10. Rev. 21.8. Iudges 7.3. 2 Tim. 2.3. doe it throughly, do it boldly, do it ſharply, if need be, rebuke them cuttingly, that they may be ſound in the faith.Tit. 1.13. foreign. Chirurgos miſericordes eſſe non oportet. It is a metaphor from Chirurgions, who muſt not be mercifull ſaith Celſus, but have Lions hearts, leaſt their mercy prove as great cruelty, as his, that ſhould forbeare to draw a drowning man out of the water, for feare of pulling off ſome part of his haire. Great is our charge to declame againſt ſin, yea to proclaime hell-fire againſt it, if men amend not; upon every opportunity to uſe all importunity for the rouſing of ſinners out of that dead Lethargy whereinto Sathan and an evill cuſtome hath caſt them.foreign. 2 Pet. 2.13. Cry aloud, ſaith the Lord, cry in the throte, Eſay 58.1. Ier. 1.17.ſpare not, leſt I confound thee before them; lift up thy voyce like a trumpet. Caſt away the inverſe Trumpets of Furius Fulvius, which ſounded a retrait, when they ſhould have ſounded an alarme. It is a treacherous ſlattery to ſooth men up in their ſinnes, and to make all faire weather before them, when the ſtorme of Gods heavie diſpleaſure is ready to burſt out upon them, ſuch a ſtorme as ſhall never bee blowne over. If Miniſters muſt bee mannerly in the forme, yet in the matter of their meſſage they muſt be reſolute. It is probable Ioſeph uſed ſome preface to Pharaohs Butler in reading him that deſtiny,Geneſis 40, 19. Chap. 4.19. ſuch as was that of Daniel, My Lord, the dreame be to them that hate thee, &c. or as Philo brings him in, with a, Ʋtinam tale ſomnium non vidiſſes, &c. I would thou hadſt not dreamt ſuch a dream. But for the matter, he gives him a true, though ſharp interpretation. Bitter truths muſt be told, however they be taken. If men hate us, they doe it with as good juſtice, as if ſome fond people ſhould puniſh the Herald, or accuſe the trumpet as the cauſe of their war. If they exclaim againſt us, they ſhew as much madneſſe, as if the widdow of Naims ſon ſhould have raild upon our Saviour for offering to raiſe him from the dead. If they deride our meſſage, and command us ad quercum dicere, Livy.ſe interim alia acturos, as a Governour of the Aequi in Italy bad the Roman Ambaſſadours, to ſpeake to the walles, they have ſomthing elſe to do then to regard us: we muſt take the boldneſſe to anſwer them againe, as they did him. Et haec ſacrata quercus audiat ſaedus a vobis violatum. Let theſe ſtones of the wall, and beames out of the houſe-ſides, yea let Heaven and earth witneſſe your intolerable contempt, wherein ye have not deſpiled man, but God.1 Theſ. 4, 8 What are we that ye have murmured againſt us? ſaith Moſes, your murmurings are not againſt us, but againſt the Lord,Exod. 16, 7, 8 who wil juſtly puniſh it. Thus muſt Miniſters conteſt againſt the raging world, and contend for the doctrine of faith once receaved, not loving their eaſe, no not their lives unto the death, Acts 20.that they may fulfill their courſe with joy. Itching eares would have clawing Preachers, and theſe are the times foretold by the Apoſtle,2 Tim. 4, 3. wherin men cannot abide wholeſome doctrine. Briars and thornes be with thee, ſaith God to Ezekiel, ſuch as a man can hardly handle: hee that toucheth them muſt bee fenced with iron, and with the ſtaffe of a ſpeare. 2 Sam. 2, 6But feare them not, nor bee diſmaid thogh they be a rebellious houſe. And that he might not, behold the ſpirit tooke him up, and he heard behind him a voyce of a great ruſhing, ſaying, Bleſſed bee the glory of the Lord from his place. Ezek. 4.12.Hereby his heart was fortified againſt all affronts of the people, and afflictions of the world; whether they would heare, or whether they would forbeare, yet hee ſhould find there was a reward, for the righteous, a God that judgeth in the earth, and pleades for his faithfull ſervants (when they little think of it) in the hearts of their greateſt enemies.Ieremy 9.3. A godly man that is valiant for the truth, and refuſeth to praiſe the wicked, but when he hath cauſe, will contend with them, and not be like a troubled fountaine, or a corrupt ſpring, well hee may for the time receive ill words from the wicked, but their hearts are afraid of him, and their Conſciences admire him, Prover. 24.25, & 28.4. Saint Paul ſtanding before Faelix, (who had more regard to gaine then Iuſtice,) and Druſilla a Ieweſſe, yet married, againſt the Law, to an uncircumciſed perſon, taketh occaſion in a certaine kind of grave wiſdome, joynd with great liberty of ſpeech, to diſcourſe and diſpute afore them of Iuſtice, Temperance, and the judgement to come, till Faelix trembled,Acts 24.25. and could heare him no longer. The like ſpirit was found in Athanaſius, that eye of the World, as one calls him: Of whom Nazianzen reports that he was Magnes & Adamas, In Encom: Athanaſ:a loadſtone in his ſweet gentle drawing nature, and yet an Adamant in his reſolute ſtout carriage againſt thoſe that were evill,Pueris illa terriculamenta proponenda ſunt ſc. exilia, ſupplicia, &c. Greg Naz. de laud: Baeſi…ij. were they never ſo great. And how did Saint Baſil deſpiſe the menaces of Valens the Arrian Emperour, and ſo daunted him with his preſence, that hee reeld and had fallen, had he not been upheld by thoſe that ſtood next him. Who hath not read or heard how freely Ambroſe dealt with Theodoſius? Tripar: hiſt. lib. 9. cap. 30.B. Ridley offering to preach before the Lady Mary, and receiving a repulſe, being brought by Sir Thomas Wharton her ſervant to the Dining place, hee was deſired to drinke. Which after he had done, he pauſed a while, looking very ſadly; and ſuddainly brake out into theſe words. Surely I have done amiſſe. Why ſo? quoth the Knight. For I have drunk, ſaid he, in that place where Gods word offered, hath beene refuſed. Whereas if I had remembred my duty, I had departed immediately, and ſhaken off the duſt of my ſhooes for a teſtimony againſt this houſe. Theſe words were by the ſaid Biſhop ſpoken with ſuch a vehemency,Fox Martyr: fol. 1270. that ſome of the hearers afterwards confeſſed the haires to ſtand upright on their heads.So Arch…: Grindall by cunning practiſes of his adverſaries, loſt the Queens favour, becauſe he had condemned an unlawfull marriage of Iulio an Italian Phyſitian with another mans Wiſe, Camdens Eliſ. tranſl. The Newlanders cure by Sir Will: Vaughan: Ep: dedic. Another learned Biſhop admoniſhed, that pereleſſe Q. Elizabeth in a zealous ſermon to think on her laſt end, by reaſon of her great age, which few Princes had attained to, and of the Climacterical yeare of her life which happened at that time, She tooke it ſo impatiently (Gods children wrangle ſometimes with their meate, as Aſa did) that the Biſhop, for his good intentions, was not onelyonly diſtaſted by her, but put for a time to ſome trouble. Yet God did ever after ſo bleſſe him (ſaith mine Authour) that few Biſhops of this kingdome left behind them to their wives and children ſuch faire eſtates as hee did. Neither was the Lord behind hand with D. Parker (afterwards Archbiſhop of Canterbury) for his Sermon neare Norwich before the Rebels in Kets conſpiracie;Life of K. Edw: 6. by S. Io. Hay: pag. 72. wherein hee touched them ſo neare for their living, that they went neare to touch him for his life. ſaith the Hiſtorian. And ſurely it is a hard hazard, and a great diſadvantage to deale in this kind with thoſe that have thirtie Legions at command, as Phavorinus ſaid of Adrian the Emperour.Neceſſe eſt ut eum doctio…em omni…us ag…oſcam qui triginta habet legiones. Ael. Spartian. Periculoſum eſt ei contradicere qui peteſt & aquá & ig…i interdicere. Kex platonic. Eccleſ. 6.10. 2 Chron. 14.6. Contend not with him that is mightier then thou, ſaith Salomon. But when the cauſe is not ours, but the Lords (as Iehoſaphat told his Iudges,) great heed muſt bee taken that wee betray not the truth by a cowardly ſilence, under whatſoever faire ſhewes, and pretences. Feare not men, ſaith our Saviour to his Diſciples, For there is nothing covered that ſhall not bee revealed, and hid that ſhall not bee knowne, Matth. 10.26. As who ſhould ſay, This and that may be colourably pleaded and pretended in favour of your deceitfull and ſlippery handling Gods holy Word: but all will out at laſt, and it ſhall well appeare that you did it to decline the danger of plaine dealing, and that you might ſleepe in a whole skin: As Moſes, who hung off a great while from going to Pharaoh with a meſſage of diſmiſſion, till God (who knew where it ſtucke,Exod. 4.19. and what pad was in the ſtraw) told him they were all dead that ſought his life. But feare not (ſaith our Saviour there) them that kill the body, But cannot keep either the ſoule from bliſſe, or the body from a bleſſed Reſurrection. Rather feare yee him that can caſt body and ſoule to hell, yea I ſay unto you feare him. The ſecond Commandement is the firſt with puniſhment, that as one fire, ſo one feare may drive out another. The feare of God, if we be not faithfull in his work, the feare of miſchiefe from men, if we be. Elias for telling truth ſhall heare Troublere, Ieremy Traitour, Paul Peſt, pratler, trifler, news-carryer,Act: and Mon: one that tels whatſoever men will have him for gaine, or advantage: one that will for a peece of bread ſay what you will wiſh him, as M. Rogers our Proto-Martyr in Queen Maries dayes expounds it. Epiphanius ſomewhere ſaith, that the envious Iewes gave out that hee turned Chriſtian meerely out of diſcontent: becauſe he could not obtaine to wife the High Prieſts daughter. But this calumny hee could ſhake off lightly enough, who loved not his life to the death for the name of Ieſus. Zacharias loſt his life for his plain dealing, ſo did Iohn Baptiſt, our Lord Chriſt, his ſervants in former ages not a few. As of latter times,An Dom: 1125 Platina tells of one Arnulphus a godly Preacher in the dayes of Pope Honorius the ſecond, much admired by the Nobility of Rome, but treacherouſly ſlaine by the Clergy,Verbis vivis, animatis ſententiis, & ſpiritus fervore flagrantiſſimis. Sixtus Senenſ. whoſe laſciviouſneſſe and covetouſneſſe hee couragiouſly cryed out againſt. The like is recorded of Hieren: Savanarola firſt caſt into priſon (where hee wrote thoſe lively Meditations upon Pſalme 51. now extant) and afterwards burnt for the teſtimony of Ieſus, and for his bold invectives againſt the ſins of the times. William Farell, that precious man, that daunted by no menaces,Hic eſt ille Farellus, qui nullis minis, convitijs, verberibus deni que inflictis territus, M…mpelgardenſes, Aquileienſes, Lauſannenſes, Genuenſes, Novocoſmenſes, Chriſto lacrifecit Melch. Adam. ext. Theol. p. 115 reproaches, ſtripes, baniſhments, gained 5. Cities with their adjacent territories to Chriſt, comming to Geneva one of the five, and for attempting a Reformation there, brought before Authority, hee was thus rayled upon; What makeſt thou here, thou Arch-devill, troubling our Towne with thy new fangled opinions? He modeſtly anſwered, I am no ſuch one as thou calleſt me: but I preach Chriſt crucified, and that whoſoever beleeveth in him ſhal be ſaved. I am debtour to all men that are but willing to heare and obey the Goſpell. And for this cauſe came wee hither, to ſee if any in this City would lend us audience, being ready to render an account of the faith and hope that is in us, and to ſeale it, if need be, with our deareſt bloud. Here one of the Aſſeſſours ſtood up & cryed out; what need wee any further witneſſe? Away with ſuch a fellow from the earth. Better ths one Lutheran be put to death, then the whole Towne bee troubled. To whom Farell replied. Speak not in the language of Caiaphas, Scult. Annal. pag. 384.but in the Word of God. Here, being ſmitten on the face, & bid to go out, till they ſhould adviſe what to doe with him, ho was ſhot at but not ſlain (as God would have it) with a Piſtol, & afterwards driven out of the City. But one of the chiefe Magiſtrates favouring him, he returned againe, and (notwithſtanding all oppoſition) prevailed with them for a happy Reformation. Whereupon mony was forthwith coyned with this poſie on the one fide, Poſt tenebras lux, Ibid. 474.Light after a long darkneſſe, and on the other ſide. Deus noſter pugnat pro nobis. Our God fights for us. Thus was it at firſt, and who but Farellus was much made of and magnified, as their Reverend reformer. But not long after, as Iohn Baptiſt ſoon grew ſtale to the Iews, and S. Paul became enemy to the Galathians, becauſe he told them the truth: ſo when Farellus (as he was a moſt zealous Preacher) cryed down their evill courſes, and preſſed them to a better life,Melch. Adam in vita Calvini. they paid him the worlds wages, called him in queſtion for his life, and both deſign'd and did ſuch things againſt him, Anno 1553 as Calvin (his Collegue in the Miniſtry) could have wiſht waſht out with his own bloud. As for Calvin himſelf, Who paſſing through Geneva as a young ſtudent, and being bound for Italy, was adjured by Farellus to ſettle there, and (under pain of Gods heavy curſe upon him & his pretended ſtudies) charged to help the Lord againſt the mighty; Iudg. 5.23.how courſely was he uſed, at firſt, in that City of Geneva? Some for Calvin called him Cain; others in contempt of him, named their dogs Calvin: many kept from the Lords Supper out of hatred to him, their painful Preacher: nec pauci erant ſcelerati, ſaith he on his death bed, à quibus indigniſſima multa ſum perpeſſus, there were not a few wicked perſon, who dealt moſt unkindly and unworthily with me. At length being caſt out of the Towne by an oſtraciſme (though afterwards recalled) ſurely, ſaid he, if I had ſerved men,Certè ſi homini bus ſerviviſſem est. Contra Wolſaeus ſemetipſum deteſtatus, eſt quod Regi pocius quā Deo ſtuduſſet placere, Seult. Annal. 332. foreign. I had been but ill requited for all my love and labour. But God be thanked, I have ſerved him, who never leaves his: but whiles they be preaching luſtily on earth, he is interceding inſtantly for them in heaven, Rev. 8.3. The ſpirit alſo hemmes them, in as it did S. Paul, Act. 20.22. he comprehends and keeps them, ſo that when a mans owne ſtrength would fall ooſe, this ſupernaturall ſtrength ſtayes and ſtrengthens it. This M. Calvin felt, and confeſſed a little afore his death to his fellow Miniſters, that came to viſit him; that the Lord ſo confirmed and comforted him,Calvin morteturi Oratio ad collegas apud Melch. Adam invita Calvini, pag. 106. who was by nature timorous and faint-harted, that he was no whit daunted or diſcouraged by the injuries and indignities of his greateſt enemies: but chearefully went on with the work of the Lord Jeſus, who with the ſame right hand raiſed his ſervant John, wherein he held the ſeven Angels of Aſia.Rev. 1 17, 20.
SEC. 3.
LAſtly, let Miniſters (ſith it is Gods Word they handle, Gods Arke they beare, Gods Altar they wait at, Gods errand they go on) be holy and unreproovable in their whole courſe, expreſſing God to the World as much as may be. Be cleane, ye that beare the veſſels of the Lord, yet that are the veſſels to beare his holy Name to the people.Eſav 42 11. Acts 9.15. Let holineſſe to the Lord bee writen on your frontlets, nay on your pots, and on the bridles of your horſes. In the Leviticall Prieſts, nil plebeium reperiebatur, nil populare, Zach. 14.20.ſaith Ambroſe, nothing vulgar or ordinary was to be found. Speciall order was taken that they ſhould be neither bleare-eyed, nor blemiſhed, nor any other way deformed or defective. Neither might they at any time ſerve at the Altar, till they had waſhed in the Laver, leſt they dye. The very workmen were filled with the ſpirit of wiſdome,Exod. 30.20. for the making of their veſtments; the high Prieſts eſpecially, who came forth Os humeroſque Deo ſimilis like an earthly God, in his glorious and gorgeous attire, every peece whereof was myſterious and ſignificant. By his linnen breeches, there are that thinke hee was minded and admoniſhed of purity:Sunt qui per feminalia ponti…icis, puritatē, &c. D. Predeaux, Lect. de veſtibus, pag. 38. by his girdle (ſay they) he was taught diſcretion; by his embroidered coate heavenly converſation, by his golden bells, ſound doctrin; by his pomgranats, godly living: by his humerall, patience in bearing other mens infirmities, by his Rationall, or breſtplate, carefulneſſe for the faithfull: by his Mitre, a right intention: and by the plate thereof, an open profeſſion of holineſſe. Remarkable it is that when Aaron and Miriam had murmured againſt Moſes, and were both alike in the tranſgreſſion, Miriam only was ſmitten with leproſie, and not Aaron. Chryſoſtome ſaith,foreign, Homil. in Coloſſ. 3. it was for the holineſſe and honour of the Prieſthood, and leſt the leproſie on his perſon ſhould redoūd to the diſhonour of his Office. How much more careful ſhould ſuch then be of ſin, which defileth much worſe than any leproſie or jakes whatſoever, as our Saviour ſhewes in the Goſpell?Mat. 15.18, 19 How ſhould they ſee to it that their doctrine, though it bee carpt at, yet it may be ſound ſpeech that cannot bee condemned, and for their perſons and practiſes, though they bee nibbled at, yet both may be unrebukable.foreign, Tit. 2.8. foreign, 1 Tim. 6.24. Miniſters ſhould be as the Cedars of Libanus, Cant. 1.17. tall, and that admit not of any worme; that of covetouſnes eſpecially,1 Tim. 6.10. which boareth thorough the conſcience. Yea, as the tree of Paradiſe, ſweet for taſt, and faire to look upon; as Abſolom in whom there was no blemiſh from head to foot: as Saul higher by head and ſhoulders, in goodneſſe than the reſt of the people: as Daniel, who could be found no fault with, ſave in the matter of his God: as John Baptiſt, who lived ſo ſtrictly, that by ſome hee was taken to bee the Chriſt: yea as Chriſt himſelfe, that imparallell patterne of perfection, who leſt us a coppy, ſaith S. Peter, that we ſhould write after, in that he did no ſin, neither was guile found in his mouth.foreign. 1 Pet. 2.21.22. He preached many times (tis Theophylacts obſervation upon Math. 5.2.) when yet he opened not his mouth, viz. by his holy life and wounderfull words. So muſt a Miniſter:foreign. Every thing in him had need bee edificatory and exemplary. He ſhould go before the flock, John 10.34. The cuſtome of the Eaſterne Country, it ſeemes, was for Shepheards, not to drive their Sheep, but go before them. Let no man deſpiſe thy youth, ſaith Paul to Timothy. How ſhall I helpe it,1 Tim. 4 12. foreign Ignat. ad Mign. foreign. if they do, might he ſay? Why, bee thou an example of the beleevers in word and converſation. The word rendred example, ſignifies, ſuch a thing as makes the ſtamp upon the coyne, or the mould for the bullet. The Miniſters life is the life of his Miniſtery, and Teachers ſins are the teachers of ſins. For the people are led more by their eyes than by their eares; the eyes of their Underſtandings, like Jacobs ſheep, being too firmely fixt on ſuch party-coloured objects,Malac. 2. as ſay well and do worſe; cauſe their affections to bring forth ſpotted fruits. But God will caſt dirt in the faces of irregular and irreligious Levites, that cover foule ſins, as Elies ſons did, under a white Ephod, that have Ʋrim without Thummim on their breſt-plates, bells, without pomgranates on the borders of their garments, that (Phariſee like) ſpeake by the talent,Meritò praeſe…t Cic…ro, Catonè, Socra…, quon… hujusdecta, illius facta laudantur. De amicitia. work by the ounce, that (Lizard-like) make prints with their feet, daſh them out with their taile, and (as the Lap-wing) cry aloft, as if their affections were there fixed, which yet are faſhtned here below. theſe reſemble coyne, which is white in it ſelf, but draws a black line after it: Or water in great mens kitchins, which having clenſed other things, is it ſelfe fit only for the ſink. Unſavoury ſalt is hardly fit for the dunghill, nor a wicked Miniſter for any place, but hell. Certainely hee is the worſt creature upon Earth, and who are Devils in Hell now; but ſuch as once were Angels in Heavens.Pop. Rom. Carbone pollicente quipiam & addente jusjarandum cum exſecratione, viciſſim juravit ſe illi nom credere. Suadet loquentis, vita non oratio. Neither helps it any whit that their tongues are ſo ſmooth in ſpeaking good Divinity, while their hands are ſo rough with Eſau, in uttering falſe. The Bethſhemites fare the worſe, for being a City of Prieſts, their priviledge doubled their offence, 1 Sam. 6.19, And God would not permit Aaron the paſſions of another man, becauſe he was a Prieſt. It was at the funerall of his two ſons that hee is forbidden to weep.Levit. 10.6. Hee muſt not ſo much lament the judgement, as magnifie Gods Juſtice, in the deſerved death of thoſe two drunken prieſts. They comming off their alebench, likely, brought ſtrange fire & by fire they periſh. Immediatly therupon charge is given to Aaron and his ſons that they drink not wine nor ſtrong drink, Verſe 9.when they go into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, lest they dye. Moreover Moſes ſaid to Aaron, This is that which the Lord hath ſpoken,Verſe 3. I will be ſanctified in all them that draw neare unto mee. How ſanctified? may ſome ſay: Austin anſwers, Aut à nobis, aut in nos: Either by us, while we preach painfully, live hoilly: or elſe, on us, by our juſt and utter deſtruction. Seldome do looſe-lived Miniſters eſcape the viſible vengeance of God, foraſmuch as they ſtumble with the Lanthorne in their hands, and the words of reproofe in their mouths, therefore will he ſeed them with gall and wormwood. Ier. 23.15.By living otherwiſe then they teach, they teach God to condemne them: they carry Ʋriahs letters, and put a ſword into Gods hand, as it were, wherewith to undoe thē. Balaam, Satan's ſpelman (as one cals him) though hee bleſſed Gods Iſrael, and wiſhed well to their heaven; yet for his contrary courſes and counſell to Balack, he was ſo far from inheriting with them, that he was cut off by them. Hophni and Phineas, becauſe they made the ſervice of God to ſtink, by their ſtinking courſes, ſo that men abhorred it for their ſakes (like as the Donatiſts pretented to do the Church, for the evill life of Cecilian) an ill end befell them. Commonly God ſenſibly rejects ſuch even in this life: either rooting them out by death, and making their places ſpue them out, or elſe by blaſting their gifts,Zach. 11.17. drying up their right armes, putting out their right eyes, cauſing the night to come upon their divination, and utterly refuſing to be glorified by them. Well it may be, that they may live long, as Saul did, after his rejection; and the Phariſees after they had fallen into the unpardonable ſin. The Devill alſo gave them many thankes, as he is ſaid to have done the Popiſh Prieſts in Hildebran's time Anno 1072,Math. Pariſ. Hiſt. for furniſhing Hell ſo faſt with ſo many ſoules as had periſhed by their default.Raſis ſac…ificulorum verti…ibus, & magnatum galeiss ſtratum inferni p…vimentum eſſe prover… b.o ſcrebatur. And better he would thank them (doubtleſſe) when he ſhould meet them in hell, the pavement whereof was commonly ſaid to bee pitcht with ſhavelings skuls, and great mens creſts. But ſurely Chriſts will chaſhiere them as the Tirſhata did thoſe turncoat Prieſt,*Ezra 2.61. 62, 63. Matth. 7. and waſh his hands of them for ever: Yea though they can produce and prove that they have prophecied in his name, and by his name done great Miracles, if nevertheleſſe they be workers of iniquity; and albeit they have taught others, Yet themſelves have not done the Will of his Heavenly Father.… Ministers may as files, … others, themſelves remaine rough, & as Cariers beare bags of many for the uſe of them, to whom they are ſent. A blind man may beare a torch to the lightning of others; and a ſtinking breath ſound a Trumpet with great commendation. The lifeleſſe Heaven gives life, and the dull whetſtone ſharpeneth Iron. Noahs Carpenters that made the Arke, periſhed in the ſtood, and Aeneas his Pilot ſaved the ſhip,Medijs, palinurus in …ndis &c. and was drowned himſelfe. The Toades-head may yeeld a pretious ſtone (Buſonites) of great vertue,Medicorum tituli …edicamenta ſi… pyae des, ve…ena …ctant. and wholeſome ſugar be found in poiſoned cane. Saint Paul gives us to know that a man may Preach profitably to others, and yet himſelfe be a caſt-away: Nolite igitur magis eloqui magna quam vivere, D. Bedd. concio ad C….ſaith One. Vivite concioninibus, concionamini moribus. Let your lives be a tranſcript of your Sermons, your Precepts enlivened by your practiſe, which ſhould be as a viſible cōment on the audible Word. A Miniſter, of any man, had need to bee godly, Mal. 2.5, 6. Acts 11.24. 2 Tim. 2.15. Elſe, profaneneſſe will eaſily go out from the Prophets of Jeruſalem, Ier. 23.…5.throughout all the Land, as Jeremy hath it. In him that is ſent to winne ſoules, ſaith a Divine, his mouth, eyes, hands, feet, geſture, converſation, all had need be exact and exemplary. Mention is made in the Eccleſiaſticall Hiſtory of one Bonnus a Church-man,Soſom. lib. …. cap. 28. Hominis vita magno om…itum conſenſu probatur: j…m id non leve praejuditi… eſt quod nec … ſtres repe…tant, quod c…l…umn… entur, de Luthero, Eraſmu…. Acts and Monuments. who was never ſeen by any man to be angry, or heard to ſweare, lye or utter any thing raſh light or unbeſeeming himſelfe. And M. Bucer, whiles hee was here in England brought all men into ſuch admiration of his integrity, that neither could his friends ſufficiently prayſe him, nor his enemies in any point find fault with his ſingular life and ſincere Doctrine. The like is reported of Maſter Bradford. Now what a thing was this to ſlaughter Envy, to ſtop an open mouth,Acts and Mon. to rejoyce his friends, and to cloath his enemies with their owne ſhame. This was to ſhine as a light in the darke World, yea as the Sunne in his ſtrength: which although ſome men curſe (as the Atlantes) becauſe it ſcorcheth them; others hate ſometimes, becauſe it diſcovers their deeds of darkneſſe,Atlantes ſolem Orientem Occidentemque dira imprecatione contucatur, ut exitialem ipſis agriſque, Plin. lib. 5. cap. 8. Godwins Heb. Antiq. yet are they ſo convinced and dazeled with its beauty and brightneſſe, that few can, forſhame, ſpeake againſt it. The High-Prieſt was the chiefe God on Earth: and therefore, during his life, the Offendour was confined to the City of refuge, as to a Priſon. And David, when he was hunted from the Prophet, ſled to the Prieſt; as one that knew, that Juſtice and Compaſſion ſhould dwell in thoſe breaſts, if any where. Venerable Beda tels us, that the Ancient Britiſh Biſhops rejected Austin, the Popes Legate, becauſe hee ſhewed not himſelfe gentle and humble amongſt them (as became a Miniſter) at the firſt meeting. And holy Hooper, though his life was ſo pure and good, that no kind of ſlaunder could faſten any fault upon him; Yet there is mention made of a certaine Citizen, who having in himſelfe a conflict of conſcience, came to Maſter Hoopers doore for counſell. But being abaſhed,Acts and Mon. fol. 1366. ſaith mine Authour, of his auſtere behaviour, durſt not come in, but departed; which he afterward by the helpe of Almighty God, did find and obtaine. This might bee no fault in him, but in the other that ſhould have ſought to him. But hereby wee ſee how much it behooves Miniſters, to be curiouſly obſervant of their whole deportement, that they may lay forth themſelves, and the talents concredited unto them, for the beſt advantage of their Lord and Maſter; becomming all things to all men, that they may winne ſome. And this the rather, becauſe the World expects from ſuch (though unjuſtly) Angelicall perfection, and looks round about us, to ſee if they may find ever a hole in our coate, thorough which, they may evade and ſlip the cords of our doctrine.