The Wells of Salvation Opened, Section 10
SECT. X.
3. THE third thing is to shew, How Ministers must tell people words whereby they may be saved. Now this must be done
1. Sincerely.
2. Plainly.
3. Convincingly.
4. Boldly.
5. Compassionately.
6. Warmly.
7. Earnestly.
8. Frequently.
1. Ministers must preach the words of salvation Sincerely, and that both as to the matter, and as to the design.
1. As to the Matter, the Doctrine of salvation which they preach, must be sincere; in Doctrine they must shew uncorruptness, sincerity▪ sound speech, which cannot be condemned, Tit. 2.7, 8. The Apostle complains of many who corrupt the Word, 2 Cor. 2.17. The Word is corrupted when the Scripture is wrested, and the sense perverted, when errours and damnable opinions are broached and vented for truths, and mingled with some truths of the word, which will bring destruction and not salvation to them that receive them, 2 Pet. 3.16. Ministers must draw forth the pure waters of the Sanctuary out of the fountain of the Scripture, and the sincere milk of the Word out of the two breasts of the Old and New Testament, 1 Pet. 2.2. They must deal forth the wholesome food of sound doctrine, which is according to godliness, called words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and words of faith whereby the receivers may be nourished, 1 Tim. 4.6. chap. 6.3.
2. As to the Design, Ministers must have a sincere design in preaching the word of salvation; like the Apostle Paul with his fellow-Ministers, 2 Cor. 2.17. But we are of sincerity as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. They preached neither corrupt doctrine, neither had they corrupt designs, but were sincere in their preaching, as of God, as sent of God, as Embassadours of God, the great King of Heaven; as in the sight of God, who searched the heart, and could discern what their aims were unto whom they endeavoured to approve themselves; as in Christ, as in the room of Christ, as Christ preached when he was upon the earth; or as in Christ, as those which were ingrafted into Christ, and had an interest in Christ themselves, and therefore did sincerely endeavour the bringing of others to him. The chief design of Ministers in preaching, should be the glory of God, and the salvation of them that hear them. 1. The glory of God above all should swey with them, not their own glory and esteem, nor of men sought we glory, 1 Thes. 2.6. They must sincerely endeavour the magnifying, not of their own name, but the name of God; and the promoting not of themselves, but of their Master in the esteem of men: If some kind of discourse would advance their Lords name and honour, though their own reputation should hereby be lessened amongst some, they must use it; and if on the contrary they could gain much honour to themselves by some kind of preaching wherein they might appear in great flourish of words, and give delight to the fan…y by the ostentation of their wit and ingenuity; but their Masters were not like to be glorified, nor the souls of their hearers soundly edified, they ought herein to deny themselves. 2. Ministers must design in their preaching, the salvation of their hearers; they must not use the Word as a clo…k for covetousness, and design the gain…ng of filthy lucre to themselves; but the gaining of souls to Jesus Christ; they must not endeavour to make a gain of their hearers; a gain of their souls they ought to endeavour after, but not a g…in of their estates, as the Pharisees, who made long prayers, that they might devour Widdows houses▪ they must not chi…fly seek any profit, or earthly emolument unto themselves, but the profit of their hear…rs, that they might be saved. When the Apostle was crafty, as he tells the Corinthians, 2 Cor. 12.16. he was sincere; and when he used some kind of gu…le, it was to catch them from destruction, unto which they were hastening; it was in spreading the Gospel Net most cunningly to draw them out of that stream of sin in which they were swimming towards the Ocean of Gods wrath.
2. Ministers must preach the words of salvation Plainly, not with wisdom of words, as 1 Cor. 1.17. not with excellency of speech, or of wisdom, or with enticing words of mans wisdom, chap. 2.4. but with plainness of speech, such as is most intelligible and edifying, such as is most likely to attain the end of preaching most effectually; some kind of wisdom of words doth both obscure and enervate the Sermons that are stufft with it, and therefore should be forborn.
Not that all wisdom of words, or humane wisdom is to be forborn: For,
1. It is lawfull for Ministers in preaching to make use of the most apt, proper and significant words: there are some words which are more ponderous and weighty, which carry a greater force and evidence, and perspicuity than others; which Ministers should make use of for the more effectual clearing and pressing their matter; and of all words those which we finde in the Scripture are the most weighty, which having oftentimes more significancy in the Original than in the Translation, therefore Ministers should be acquainted with the Original tongues, that they may have the more full understanding of the meaning of God in his Word, themselves, and that they may the better explain it to others.
2. It is lawfull for Ministers to use some kinde of Eloquence in their preaching. It was the commendation which the Scripture gave of Apollos, that he was an eloquent man, Act. 13.24. Variety and fluency of expression in explaining and proving, in applying and pressing the truths of the Word, is of singular use. There is much Rhetorick and divine Eloquence, especially in some parts of the Scripture, which Ministers in preaching may make use of and imitate.
3. It is lawfull for Ministers to make use of Philosophy and humane Reason in preaching the Gospel; Logick is needfull for the regulating of thoughts, the methodizing of discourse, the distinguishing between things that differ, the defining and explaining of things that are obscure, the ordering, deciding and determining of controversies: Ethicks, Physicks, especially Metaphysicks are very usefull unto a Minister, for the refining of his understanding, and enabling him to speak the more clearly and edifyingly to others, and to defend the truth against such as do oppose it.
But there is a Wisdom of Words which may not be used by Ministers in preaching.
1. Ministers must not in preaching shew more wisdom in their Words than in their Matter; and study more for outward shew than for inward substance; more that their Sermons be well worded, than that their doctrine be well proved; more that their Sentences may have a handsome close, than that their Arguments be conclusive: It ill becomes thin and weak sense to be cloathed with fine and neat speech: Ministers must take heed that their matter be not drowned and lost in the stream and abundance of words. Such whose wisdom and art doth shew it self in gathering a bundle and heap of the finest words together, neglecting substantiall matter, their wisdom is but folly, and pains to little purpose. Words may fill the ear; Things soak and sink into the soul to edification.
2. Ministers must not ordinarily in preaching make use of words of another language which the people do not understand; nor fill their Sermons with quotations and allegations out of Fathers, School-men, and other Authors, which doth but stun and amuze ordinary and the generality of hearers, and savours mostly of ostentation, but tends to little edification. Though the Apostle could speak with more tongues than any beside, yet in the Church he chooseth to speak five words in the known tongue to edifie, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue, 1 Cor. 14.18, 19. Indeed Original words sometimes may be mentioned with their interpretation, as the tongues were to be used in the Church, 1 Cor. 14. and Authors may be quoted, when there is real need, so it be done rarely and soberly; but for Ministers to enterlard their Sermons all over with Greek and Latine, and sayings of men, they must needs leave out much of the Word of God which they might use, and it cannot be so profitable for the Hearers.
3. Ministers must not use such words and speeches as gender strife, I mean the perverse disputings which Sceptical Philosophy will put them upon, whereby they may be spoyl'd, and deceive both themselves and others, through the errors and mistakes, which hereby they may run into.
4. Ministers must not use in preaching too much neatness of speech, and humane Eloquence: The most excellent, and enticing words of mans wisdom the Apostle did forbear, 1 Cor. 2.4. It is not needfull for a Minister to read all Heathen Poets and Orators, that he may fill his Sermons with their fancies and rhetorical expressions; but he should chiefly fetch his Rhetorick from the Bible; Indeed Apollos was commended for his Eloquence, Act. 13.24. not humane Eloquence but divine. It is not said, he was mighty in other Learning, but mighty in the Scriptures; not mighty in the writings of Heathens, but mighty in the writings of God; his Eloquence was drawn from the Word, which is most persuasive. The Lord doth not require that his Ministers should preach the Gospel neatly, but plainly; the former may make them esteemed as the better Scholars, but the latter wil… make their hearers the better Christians: That way of preaching th…y should use which is most intelligible and profitable, not that which is most learned and Scholastical, Melius est ut nos reprehendant Grammatici, quàm non intelligant populi; saith one, that could speak in an eloquent strein. It is better that Grammarians should reprehend us, than that the people should not understand us: and he desired that since the vulgar could not ascend so high as to understand a more refined language, that learned men would stoop so low as to accommodate their speech to their capacities.
Thus Ministers must preach the Gospel, not with wisdom of words, but with plainness of speech. There is a light in the Gospel, the purest and most glorious that ever shined; wisdom of words doth darken and obscure this light, it doth …ully the truths which shine most when they are naked without such ornaments: It is like a bright Cloud between us and the Sun, which keeps off the greater light, like painting of a Diamond or a beautifull face. There is a power go…th along with the Word preached to convert sinners. Heb. 4.12. The Word is compared to a sharp, two-edged Sword, piercing and separating between the joynts and the marrow, between sin and the soul, which are more neer than marrow is to the bone; but wisdom of words, or humane Eloquence doth guild as it were the edge of the Sword, which takes away its sharpness; or is like to a rich Scabbard, which delights the eye, and pleaseth the fancy, but keeps the Sword from entring the bowels and wounding the Conscience: It is in plain preaching that the Sword is drawn forth naked, which makes the sinner slie or yield. Plain preaching is the most effectual means to pull down the strong holds of sin and Satan, and to draw men unto a closure with Jesus Christ. Humane wisdom usually puffeth up both them that use it, and those that hear it. Humane wisdom is apt to beget an humane faith, which standeth in the wisdom of men; plain preaching begetteth faith which standeth in the power of God. There is no such edification as in plain preaching: In plain preaching, the bread of life and wholsom food of the Word is distributed; but humane wisdom is like hey and stubble, which is food for horses and not for men; so humane wisdom may please and best agree with natural and bruitish men, but true Christians cannot feed upon it; it is no more suitable to their spiritual appetite than hey and stubble is to their naturall. It is like Pictures in learn…d books, which may delight children, a Scholar doth not regard the Pictures, but the writing; the word of God doth feed and edifie a gracious heart when it is preached plainly and homely; humane wisdom, or wisdom of words in preaching, doth take away much of the taste and relish, and doth hinder its vertue and operation. The Word is compared to milk, which must be sincere, to food which must be simple and uncompounded, that it may nourish and strengthen the body: It is compared to Wine that must be unmixed that it may chear and refresh the spirits; wisdom of words is like water, or rather like some fulsome liquor mingled with the wine, which doth much invalidate and render it nauseous unto the Appetite of the New Creature. Ministers therefore must preach the word plainly, that they may do it edifyingly: they must not use wisdom of words, which will evacuate the Cross of Christ, and render their preaching ineffectual, and put a cloud between the light and the eye, especially of the ordinary hearers; much less may they use mysteriousness of words, dark sayings, and high-…lown notions, that shall puzzle the mindes of the wisest to guess at the meaning of: They must not in preaching make plain things difficult by their way of expressing them, as many do, but make more difficult things plain, they must preach plainly. I have been more large in this head, I shall be more brief in the rest.
3. Ministers must preach the words of Salvation Convincingly. They should preach so as to convince the Judgement of truth, and to convince the Conscience of sin, and therefore they should preach in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit, 1 Cor. 2.4.
1. Ministers should labour to speak so as to convince the Judgement of the truth which they preach. They must not only assert Truths, but prove them; they must hold forth the Word of Faith with a clear evidencing light, and hold fast the Word in a strenuous defence of it against opposers, and with sound doctrine they must not only exhort but also convince gainsayers, Tit. 1.9. Ministers should make manifest the words of salvation which they preach, that they are the words of the God of truth, with whom dwells no errour or falshood: They should prove by undenyable Arguments that the Scriptures are of Divine Authority, and therefore as full of truth as the Sun is full of light; and then they should prove the doctrine which they preach by the Word, and that with such reason for the belief of it, that no reason may be left to contradict it. Ministers should be shining lights in the places where they live, dispersing abroad the bright beams of Gospel-truths with such power and conviction, as may be sufficient through the concurrence of the Spirit to vanquish and dispell all those clouds of ignorance which the minds of men naturally are filled withall.
2. Ministers should preach so as to convince not only the Judgement of truth, but also so as to convince the Conscience of sin; and that they may do this, they must not rest in general discourses of the nature of sin, but particularly apply themselves to their hearers, and reprove them homely and sharply for their particular sins: They must not sow pillows under the elbows of secure sinners, and deal gently, fearing to touch the soars of some, lest they lift up the heel against them; but with all faithfulness they must tell all of their sins, and endeavour to awaken them by discovery of their danger; their words must be like Nails and Goads which will prick unto the quick; they must lance and rip up the soars, that they may be healed; they must cry aloud and spare not; they must lift up their voice like a trumpet, and cause the people to know their iniquities; they must bend the bow, and shoot the arrows of bitter and sharp reproof into guilty Consciences; they must draw forth the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and therewith lay about them in Gods Name, and as those which are in Gods room, and lash and wound sinners to the very heart, that have been so audacious as to break Gods Law▪ they should endeavour to make the sword enter into the Soul with such a force that sinners being convinced, judged, and condemned, may with trembling fall down, and in perplexity cry out, as those did whom Peter had convinced of their great sin in crucifying the Lord of glory, Act. 2. Men and brethren what shall we do?
4. Ministers must preach the words of salvation Boldly: This the Apostle desires prayers for himself to the Lord that he might be enabled to do, Eph. 6.19, 20. And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel; for which I am an Ambassadour in bonds, that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak. Ministers should deliver their Message with all boldness and authority, as being the Ambassadours of the King of glory; they should speak boldly without shame and without fear.
1. They should speak boldly without shame, as Paul, Rom: 1.16. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation, unto every one that believeth; the preaching of the Gospel is accounted folly by some of great account in the World for wisdom; and the Preachers of the Gospel are accounted Fools, and despised: Some reproach them, others mock and deride them, especially when they preach in such plain language as is most easie for all to understand; but Ministers must preach boldly, notwithstanding all the scoffs of the ungodly and profane; and in a good sense they may glory in their shame; for indeed that which the wicked do make the matter of scorn and shame, is matter of the greatest glory; it is the honour of Ministers to preach the Gospel of salvation, such an honour as the Lord hath not conferred upon the Angels (as hath been shewn) and therefore they should preach boldly without shame.
2. Ministers should preach boldly without fear, they must deliver the message they are entrusted withall by God, without fear of the face of men. 1 Thess. 2.2. We were bold in our God, to speak unto you the Gospel of God with much contention. Though the wicked contend with them, and oppose, though they persecute and do what they can to hinder them; though they command them to preach no more, and would stop their mouths, and threaten imprisonment, banishment, death; yet being intrusted with the Gospel, they must preach the Gospel with all boldness: This was the practice of the Primitive Ministers when they were threatned for preaching, Act. 4.29. And now Lord, behold their threatnings, and grant unto thy servants that with all boldness they may speak thy Word; and this is the duty of all Ministers, if God open to them a door of opportunity to preach, they should open their mouths boldly to declare the mysteries of salvation, whatever danger they may incurr of sufferings hereby. Men may say, Wo be to you, if you do preach the Gospel; but when God saith, Wo be to you if you do not preach, they have reason to fear and obey God rather than Men.
5. Ministers must preach the words of salvation Compassionately. The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians with many tears, 2 Cor. 2.4. and he preacheth to the Ephesians with many tears, Act. 20.19. O what tender bowels of compassion should Ministers have towards poor souls in preaching the Gospel of salvation to them! how should they pity sinners that lie w…ltring in their blood, that have no pity for themselves, that are cruel to their own Souls, that are wounding themselves, as being more distracted than the man we read of, who tore his own flesh, and cut himself with stones? Mark 5.5. How should they commiserate sinners that are wounding their Consciences by sin, not knowing what they do, and are posting on in the broad way unto destruction and eternal misery, not knowing whither they go, that are running against a rock, which will dash them to pieces, and ready to leap into flames, where they must burn for ever? Ministers should weep and bleed over such, and with the greatest tenderness tell them of their danger, and shew them the inevitable ruine which is before them, and beseech them to turn from their evil wayes, that iniquity may not be their ruine, and accept of Jesus Christ, by whom they may attain salvation. Ministers should be ready to beseech sinners upon their knees (if that would do) that they would not destroy themselves: O Turn ye, turn ye, why will you die? and be ready to lay their hands under their feet, (if that would move them) to put their feet into the narrow way of salvation.
6. Ministers must preach the words of salvation Warmly; and that both with a warm love to the Souls they preach unto, and with a warm sense of what they preach upon their own spirits.
1. They must preach with a warm love to Souls, as the Apostle with other Ministers to the Thessalonians, 1 Thess. 2.8. So being affectionately desirous of you we were willing to have imparted unto you not the Gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us, Ministers should preach the Gospel with such ardent affection to Souls, and thirsting desires after their salvation, so as to be willing to pluck out their hearts, and give them to their hearers, if this would promote their salvation; they should be ready to spend themselves and be spent, and not think much to consume themselves with fervour of heart towards, and for the good of poor souls.
2. Ministers should preach with a warm sense of what they preach upon their own spirits, as those that have been under the impressions of the Word, and have experienced the powerful operations thereof unto their own salvation. Moreover, they should get their hearts affected more and more with the words which they preach, that they may preach the more feelingly; that they may speak as if they were in earnest, as those that believe and know those things to be true which they deliver unto others. Cold or lukewarm preaching usually makes little impression upon the hearers; when the Word doth little affect the heart of the Minister, it doth seldom affect the heart of the people. When Ministers preach Sermons as Scholars speak Orations, in which they have no concernment, only to shew their good language and ingenuity, they may possibly gain applause amongst some of a slight and trivial spirit, but they are not like to gain souls; the Word must come from the heart that is likely to reach the heart. Ministers must preach warmly if they would preach affectingly.
7. Ministers must preach the words of salvation Earnestly. Ministers must be very earnest in their preaching with souls to endeavour after their salvation; they must use all the persuasive arguments and motives they can think of that they may prevail; tell them of the necessity hereof, of the manifold advantages, of the honour they shall attain hereby, and the unspeakable pleasures; tell them of the great evils they are under, and the greater evils they are exposed unto whilest they are out of a s…ate of salvation: And then they must urge arguments as fully, and press upon them as homely as they can; and use the greatest importunity with them, as if they were begging for their own lives, as if their own salvation and happiness were bound up with their hearers; they should take no denyal, if possibly a grant may be obtained, they must call and cry, and pray, invite and wooe, and intreat that sinners would come to Christ, that they may be saved by him.
8. And lastly, Ministers must preach the words of salvation Frequently; they must lay hold on all opportunities to call sinners to Christ, they must be instant in season and out of season, 2 Tim. 4.2. on the Sabbath-day, on the Weekday: In the Morning they should sow the seed of the Word, and the Evening they should not with-hold their hand, because they do not know which the Lord will prosper.
Thus you see how Ministers are to tell people Words whereby they may be saved.