Shepherdy Spiritualized, Tract · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
For profit Sheep moſt Creatures do excell,
Saints others ſhould exceed in doing well.
Obſervation.
SHeep of all Creatures among us are moſt univerſally profitable. No wonder that the Ancients placed great part of their wealth in Sheep, ſeeing they are ſuch enriching Creatures. Whatſoever comes from them is ſome way or other uſeful. They have not only fleſh for food, and fleece for raiment; but for Phyſick alſo for man and beaſt, is it a very uſeful Creature. Some Creatures are uſeful only whilſt alive as the Horſe, Dog, &c. of which we have emolument only whilſt living; but being dead are only Carrion, offenſive, and therefore to be thrown out of ſight. Some Creatures are uſeful only when dead, whilſt alive rather offenſive and hurtful, if not duly watched, and care taken of them; ſuch are Swine, whoſe grunting noiſe and unſavoury ſmell trouble us; beſides the ſpoil they make where-ever they come, if great heed and care be not taken to them; Hence we ſay, Swine are never good till they are hung up by the heels. But now the Cow, the Bullock, and the Sheep eſpecially, are of great uſe both living and dead: The Cow for the pail, the Bullock for drought while alive, and when ſlaughtered for the trencher. The Sheep herein excells, for the revenue ſhe yearly affords in fleece and lamb, it's hard if it defraies not the charge of it's keeping; its dung, ye know how it manures your Land; the little charge ye are at in improving your Lands by any compoſt for tillage, where your Sheep have walked, eſpecially have lodged, is ſufficient evidence how enriching they are to your Countrey. And whereas ye may obſerve how the Urine of Con…es will ſcorch up your graſs; and make the places where they haunt not only bare, without graſs, but red alſo and much diſcoloured: contrary wiſe the water of Sheep, what a verdure will it cauſe in the furrows into which it ſinks, and where it leaves its ſtrength? Its Wool, its Lamb, its Pelt, its Fleſh, its Entrails, its very Excrements ſpeak it a very profitable Creature. And theſe things are better known, than that they ſhould be much ſpoken to.
Application.
And ought not Saints, the Sheep of Chriſt, be very uſeful in their generation? They are, or ought to be a publick good; what they have, and what they are through Grace, they are and have to be there withal doing good. dforeign.A good man is a common good. They are uſeful to God, to men.
Firſt, to God. Not that the Lord hath any need of their ſervice, who can exalt his own Glory, both in his power and in his greatneſs, by what Creatures ſoever he pleaſes; and therefore can make ſmall flies ve… the Egyptians, and lice devour a proud King; and even greedy ravens to feed an hungry Prophet, 1 King. 17. 4. 6. God hereby ſhewing not only what care he takes of his, to ſupply their wants in their greateſt difficulties and ſtreights: but alſo that to that end, he can alter and change the nature of Creatures: and make thoſe Birds that are cruel to their own young, and mind feeding only themſelves, Caterers for his when he appoints them to that office. Tho, Iſay, God hath no need of any ſervice from any of his, yet is he pleaſed to make uſe of their ſervice, and he expects ſervice from them. To this end are they new-made, Epheſ. 2. 10. When he brought Iſrael out of Egypts Bondage, he had a ſer-vice for them to obſerve and keep, Exod. 12. 25. ſo when he ſaveth his out of the hands of his Enemies, it is, that they may ſerve him, Luk. 1. 74. Hence Saints and Servants of God, are as terms convertible in Scripture; he expects that His being called out of darkneſs into his marvellous light, ſhould ſhew forth his Glory, 1 Pet. 2. 9. a people purchaſed on purpoſe to ſhew forth his vertues. The Greek *foreign.word ſignifies publickly to ſet forth, and ſo to excite others to glorifie God. Saints muſt preach forth the vertues of God by their ſuitable practices. The picture of a dear friend ſhould be hung up in a conſpicious place of the houſe, to be ſeen of all; So ſhould Gods holy Image and Grace in our hearts and lives. *Se diligere Coriſtum habitantem in Auguſtino.Hierome ſaies he did love Chriſt dwelling in Auguſtine: So ought Saints to walk, that others may ſee and love Chriſt dwelling in them. It's true, man by all he does can add nothing to God. Eliphaz's queſtion ſtrongly aſſerts this, Job. 22. 2. God was God as much before there was any Creature as ever ſince the Creatures were; therefore Creatures can add nothing to him. Pſal. 90. 2. Even our Worſhip he hath no ſuch need of, Act. 7. 25. he that gives all things to all men, needs nothing of any man; not only our gifts and parts, but even our holineſs and graces, do not make us neceſſary unto God. God may ſay to the Great ones of the Earth, I have no need of you; ſo to the rich: Yea, to the Godly and the holy, I have no need of you neither. Wherefore whatſoever God requireth of us, he aimeth at our profit or good, not his own. Yet is he pleaſed to eſteem as if he received a revenue of Glory from his people, Pſal. 50. 23. Though he be the God of Glory, Act. 7. 2. though his Glory be as himſelf, Infinite and Eternal, and therefore not capable of our addition or detraction, (the Sun would ſhine, if all the world were blind) yet to try how we prize his glory, and what we will do for him, he hath declared, that he accounteth himſelf made glorious by his, when they conceive of him above all Creatures, and ſhew forth his praiſes. Though the poor ones of God, beſt of any, apprehend Him as El-Shaddai, the ſelfſufficient, and all-ſufficient God, as having need of nothing beſides or without himſelf: Yet they, that in their meaſure are like ſpirited with David, after Gods own heart, will do all his wills, Act. 13. 22. i. e. ſerve out the will of God in their generation, verſ. 36. viz. as Beza opens that expreſſion, eConſilium Dei ſibi pro vitae ſcopo proponunt. Bez.make God's will their mark to aim at in all they do.
Secondly, to men are Saints uſeful; To others, to themſelves. To others, and that to good, to bad men. To good men, Firſt, by their prayers, by which they many times advantage one another; when at a diſtance, can thus reach each other; Herein the weakeſt Saints in parts may be uſeful to the higheſt and moſt richly furniſhed. Hence Paul ſo often and ſo earneſtly recommends himſelf to the prayers of the Saints, Epheſ. 6. 18, 19. Col. 4. 3. 2 Theſs. 3. 1. eſpecially ſee Rom. 15. 30. which is one of thoſe paſſages in Paul, fHaec una eſt ex illis Pauli Phraſibus, quibus nihil gravius, excellentius, divinius cogitari poteſt. Bez. in loc.than which there can nothing poſſibly be duplicate page duplicate page imagined more grave, divine, excellent, ſaith Beza. Strive even to an agonie. Pray for me, I ſay, pray for me, ſaid Father Latimer. Pray for me, pray for me, for Gods ſake pray for me, ſaid bleſſed Bradford. Paul ſpeaks of the Spirits ſupply to come in this way, for the furtherance of Salvation, Phil. 1. 19. Luther in the year 1540 pray'd for Melancthon well, falling ſick at Vinaria, as he was going to the meeting of the Miniſters of Haganaw upon the Rhine, and Melancthon confeſſed that if Luther had not come, he had dyed. Myconius alſo was wont to ſay, that Luther obtained this for him by Prayer, that he ſhould out-live him, as he did ſix years. Indeed of him it became a Proverb, Iſte vir potuit apud Deum quod voluit, that he could do what he would with God. Hence it is a dreadful thing to be ſhut out of the Prayers of the People of God, eſpecially his Prophets, Jer. 7. 16. and 11. 14. and 14. 11. and a ſignal mercy to be intereſſed in their prayers, Gen. 20. 7. Job. 42. 8. Hence 'tis that the Saints of the Moſt High can in their meaſure ſtill ſay, as David, Pſal. 109. 4. gforeign Et ego oratio; vel, in oratione eram; vel vir orationis eram. Sic, ego pax, Pſal. 120. 7. vel…intentus ſ…m precationi. Tig.word for word, but I prayer, as if he had been made up of it, or minded little elſe.
Secondly, by their exhortations. Theſe are as Spurs in one anothers ſides, by which they drive forward in the waies of God. Exhort one another daily, Heb. 3. 13. The ſame word [foreign] ſignifies to exhort and to comfort; hereby they comfort one another by their mutual exhortations; this way the feeble knees are ſtrengthened, and the hands that hang down. What refreſhings have many of the poor ones of God found from the advice and counſel they have had from one another? Hence they ought to conſider one another, &c. Heb. 10. 24. ſtudy one another's caſe, the cauſes and cure of their ſpiritual maladies and diſtempers, being ſollicitous of one anothers welfare: to whet, Sharpen, and ex…late, to ſet an edge on one another, as boars whet their tusks one againſt another, ſaith Nazianzen. 'Tis no eaſie matter indeed to give or receive counſel, advice, reproof eſpecially, as they ſhould be given and taken; the more heed ſhould be taken therein. David knew ſuch faithful dealing would be far from injuring him, Pſal. 141. 5. He thought the better of Nathan for ſo roundly reproving of him, 2 Sam. 12. and made him of his Council, 1 King. 1. Peter thought the better of Paul for dealing with him ſo plainly at Antioch, Gal. 2. and maketh honourable mention of him and his writings, 2 Pet. 3. Though the Truth is, this is not every ones caſe to be able to take kindly a rebuke, though given in tenderneſs. It were to be wiſhed that that Character given of Gerſon (that great Chancellor of Paris) were to be given of many others, that have more clear diſcoveries of Goſpel-light and truth than he had, viz. hNullâ re aliâ tantopere delectaretur, quam ſi ab aliquo fraternè et charitativè redargueretur.that he rejoyced in nothing ſo much as in a friendly reprehenſion. In that 141 Pſal. we read it ſhall be an excellent Oil, Hebr. an Head Oyl, ſuch as they poured on their friends heads, when they would ſpeak them moſt welcom, which was wont to be of the beſt. [It ſhall not break my head] or, let him not let it fail my head, let him not ceaſe to do me this good office daily; I ſhall count it a courteſie, and requite it with my beſt prayers Dr. Tailor Martyr told his Friends, that God had provided graciouſly for him, to ſend him to that Priſon, where he found ſuch an Angel of God as Mr. Bradford, to be in his Company to comfort him.for him in his greateſt neceſſity, yet my prayer ſhall be, &c.
Thirdly, By their Example, being patterns and provocations to good, one to the other. They kindle each other into a flame, and add ſtrength and encouragement to each other. Jer. 50. 8. [As He-Goats before the Flock] i. e. iPraeite aliis bono exemplo. Piſc.go before others by your good example. Sheep are fearful, and therefore go behind; Goats are not ſo, and therefore go before. They that have received moſt ſtrength from the Lord, ſhould encourage others by their forwardneſs. I cannot here but hint that note of one of our own on that Text. There is good hopes, ſaith he, that we are going out of Babylon, when the He-Goats go before the Flock, when men of publick place and authority are active for Reformation. And is not the contrary true alſo? It's not the duty of Miniſters alone (though much theirs becauſe of that place they ſtand in to the Lord and his People) but of all elſe that are Chriſtians indeed, eſpecially as they are intruſted with any excellency, whether of gifts; graces, or authority in Family, &c. in all things to ſhew themſelves a pattern of good works, Tit. 2. 7. The word is obſervable; kforeign, Archetypum Sanctae converſationis. Eſt. Non verbis tantúm praeire debes, ſed & exemplo. foreign pro exemplari quod imitandum propo…itur, habemus. Phil. 3. 17. &c. Gro.it ſignifies a form made by engraving, impreſſion, or any kind of beating, ſuch as we ſee in ſtamps, ſeals or ſignets. Chriſtians muſt be ſuch a thing as makes the ſtamp on the Coin; their carriage ſhould be enſamples, ſo is the word rendred, 1 Theſs. 1. 7. 1 Pet. 5. 3.
To evil men Saints are, or ſhould be profitable. They are a general good, and that even to thoſe that are not good, neither before God, nor to them. They avert Judgments from them, they procure bleſſings for them, Job. 22. ult. read it either as we, he ſhall deliver the Iſland of the innocent, or as others, the innocent ſhall deliver the Iſland; or as others, lQuinetiam liberabet noxium, q. d. non ſolùm ad prices tuas liberabit Deus innocentem, ſed (quod magis mirum eſt) etiam nocentem, ut Gen. 18. 32. Piſc.he ſhall deliver him that is not innocent, him that is guilty. They are uſeful to the wicked,
Firſt, By their preſence; 'tis for their ſakes that many a vile perſon enjoys the good things of the Earth and the Heavens. Their preſence ſtaves off Judgments, which come ſtorming down upon the ungodly, as ſoon as theſe are removed. Lot's preſence kept Sodom from burning, no ſooner is he out of it, but it is on a flame. One man that was a man indeed, i. e. in favour with God, &c. might have ſaved Jeruſalem, Jer. 5. 1. Diogenes is ſaid to have ſought for a man in *Homines per…ulti, viri perpauci, Herod.Athens with a Lanthorn and Candle at noon-day; ſo might the Prophet in Jeruſalem, and not have found one; deſpiſed Godlineſs had been Jeruſalem's preſervation. Judgment comes in like a Land-flood, when theſe Floodgates are removed. When Auguſtine was taken to Heaven, Hippo was taken by the Goths and Vandals. When Luther dead, Germany was overrun with Idolatry and villany: as Heidleberg was plundered by the Spaniards when once Pareus was laid aſleep. God would not ſo much as look on the wicked in a way of mercy, but for his Peoples ſake among them; 2 King. 3. 14.
Secondly, By their Counſels and inſtructions, by which they are often the means of Converſion to them; turning them from ſin, and bringing them to Repentance; an happy way of profiting, by ſaving them. This is much of a Miniſters work, 1 Tim. 4. 16. yet ought it to be the care and endeavour of other Saints too. This will be much their honour as well as comfort that they bring any to Righteouſneſs, and ſo ſhall ſhine as Stars in the Firmament.
Thirdly, By their prayers and interceſſions for them; Job. 22. ult. pureneſs of hands] mQuia tu pro illo (nempe noxio) in precibus puras ſuſtuliſti manus, Scult. ut ſaepe juſti conſilio aut precibus etiam nocentibus proſunt. Merc.the ſign for the thing ſignified, the geſture for what is done in that geſture. The lifting up of hands is a geſture in prayer, and the lifting up of pure hands notes the purity of prayer, 1 Tim. 2. 8. this the ſenſe in Job, it ſhall be delivered by holy prayer, or when thou prayeſt holily: yet this muſt not be taken without a caution: 'Tis not the Priviledge of Saints alwaies to deliver thoſe that are not innocent; though often ſuch dignity is afforded his people by the Lord, and which none are afforded but Saints, to be Saviours and Deliverers of a people among whom they dwel. God gave Zoar to Lot, and all the Souls in the Ship to Paul, Act. 27. 23, 24. God hath given thee n[Tibi dat] i. e. Tui cauſâ eos ſervat. unus int erdum navim perdit, unus interdum navim ſervat. Idem contingit in Republicâ. Grot.&c. they owe their ſafety to thee, to thy prayers, to thy Company. So God gave the guilty Iſraelites to Moſes. But it is not Univerſally true; the Lord hath given expreſs exceptions to this rule, Jer. 15. 1. Though Moſes and Samuel ſtood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people. Moſes that Chancellour of Heaven, who not only ruled with God, but overruled, Exod. 32. 11-14. Numb. 14. 19, 20. and Samuel mighty in prayer, 1 Sam. 7. 9. called therefore Pethuel, Joel. 1. 1. ſaith R. Solomon, that is a Godperſwader. See to Ezek 14. 14. Yet often Saints do thus; Moſes, Pſal. 106. 23. for want of ſuch an one God complains, Ezek. 22. 30.
To themſelves chiefly are the Saints of the Moſt High profitable or ſerviceable. Job. 22. 2. He that is wiſe may be profitable to himſelf. The Heb. word ſignifies to underſtand, to be prudent; and, by a Metonymie, to be happy, or to proſper, becauſe uſually affairs ſucceed well and proſper in the hands of wiſe men, happineſs uſually follows true wiſdom. All wiſdom is not profitable unto men, for there is a wiſdom of which the Scripture ſaith, that God will deſtroy it, 1 Cor. 1. 19. and there is a wiſdom that is earthly, ſenſual and devilliſh, Ja. 3. 15. there are a ſort of wiſe men whom the Lord will take in their craftineſs, 1 Cor. 3. 19, and there are wiſe men whoſe thoughts the Lord knoweth to be but vain, verſ. 20. none of theſe can men profit themſelves by, but there is a ſpiritual Wiſdom, and that will bring in profit indeed. He that is guided by Holy and Godly Wiſdom, ſhall reap the benefit and eat the Fruit of it. This the Scripture atteſts largely, and glad experience too evinces it. See Pro. 9. 12. oTibi aras, tibi occas, tibi ſeris, tibi eidem metis, Tibi deni que iste pariet laetitiam labor, Plaut. in Mercat.Men profit not God but themſelves by their holineſs, they labour not in vain: ſo falſe and injurious to God is the evil report of thoſe worſe men, Mal. 3. 14. We read in Scripture of ſome good men as rich as, yea, more rich than many others; though God will not have it alwaies ſo, that holineſs may be beloved for it ſelf, and that his may appear not to love him for gain: Yet God had but a little before appealed to their own experience that he was not wanting to them for any thing they did for him, Chap. 1. 10. And the Apoſtle aſſures us, 1 Tim. 4. 8. that Godlineſs is profitable unto all things. pNunquam non, & nuſquam non est ut…lis▪ Eſt haec ſententia oppoſita dicto impiorum, Job. 34▪ 9. Gro….Whatſoever drops out of any promiſe of the Goſpell, falls into the lap of a Godly man. The promiſes are his, and therefore the good of the promiſe is his. The truly Godly lay up a good foundation for themſelves, 1 Tim. 6. 19.
Reflections.
What cauſe of moan, fear and ſhame For the ſelfiſh unprofitable Chriſtian.have ſuch as live unprofitably in the World? who call themſelves Chriſtians, and yet mind nothing ſave themſelves; ſeek themſelves, and ſerve themſelves in all, their own profits, Pleaſures, intereſts, yea, humours too, and will not let go any of theſe for the profit of others, no nor for the credit of the Goſpel it ſelf. How contrary (may ſuch ſay) do I walk unto the Apoſtle of our Lord, both in his advice, Rom. 15. 1. [to bear] as Porters do their burdens, as Pillars do the poiſe of the houſe, or rather as Parents do their Children in their arms. verſ. 2. [to pleaſe his neighbour] though he croſs himſelf; this is indeed true Chriſtian love, but is driven almoſt out of the World by ſinful ſelf-love, which cauſeth men to diſlike thoſe things in others, that they favour and flatter in themſelves: And in his example alſo, 1 Cor. 10. ult. who pleaſed all men in all things lawful and laudable, not ſeeking his own profit, &c. It ſhould ſhame Chriſtians for their contrary walking, even to their great pattern, the Lord Jeſus, Rom. 15. 3. Ah where is the Chriſtian, when the man is contentious, quarrelſome, ſelf-pleaſing, and ſelf-ſeeking? I bring up an evil report upon the Goſpel, and the Profeſſion thereof, (may ſuch ſay) and will the Lord take it well at my hands? How few Chriſtians are ſo convictive by their uſefulneſs and ſerviceableneſs to others, to make men ſay as Laban to Jacob, Gen. 30. 27. The Lord hath bleſſed me for thy ſake? 'Tis the excellency of Chriſtianity to caſt abroad good wherever men co…e, to credit the Goſpel by a being as generally uſeful as may be. Their diſcourſes ſhould be ſavoury, …pheſ. 4. 29. Col. 4. 6. their all uſeful.qOf a …ain Scotch Divine, it is ſaid that he did eat and drink and ſleep the Kingdom of Heaven.
May ungodly Sinners, haters of goodneſs and good men, ſay within For the Fooliſh and ungrateful World.themſelves, what folly and madneſs is this of ours, that can hardly afford them a good word, by and from whom we receive ſo much good? or ſcarcely think them worthy of a room to live in the World, for whoſe ſakes it is that we our ſelves live? How often do we wiſh and ſeek their deſtruction; for whoſe ſakes it is that our ſelves are not deſtroyed? How oft accuſe we the Godly as troublers of States and Nations, who are indeed the *1 King. 18. 17. 2 King. 2. 12.Chariots and Horſemen of them, their protection and defence, their Salvation and deliverance? The breaches we make by ſinning, they make up by praying, and yet ſhall we ſtill defie and perſecute them? The holy ſeed is the ſubſtance of a Nation or People, rSemen Sanctum statumen terrae. Abſ que ſtationibus non ſtare… mundus.Iſa. 6. 13. The primum mobile, ſay Aſtronomers, turneth about with ſuch ſwiftneſs, that, but for the counter-motion of the Planetes and other Spheres, all would be…ired: So would the wicked World, but for the Saints, who keep a conſtant counter-motion to the corrupt practices thereof. An Heathen could ſay, that a People were never ſafe by the ſtanding of their Walls, while themſelves were falling in their vertues. O that men would at laſt be convinced, that Godlineſs is the Sampſon's lock wherein the ſtrength of a Nation lieth. On this account therefore (if there were nothing elſe in it) it is good policy to encourage piety, and to endeavour the *Caryl on Job. 22. ult▪encreaſe of an holy ſeed, in a nation. It is not ſafe to have them diſcouraged by whom our ſafety is eſtabliſhed; much leſs is it ſafe to let them fall, by whom in their capacity Kingdoms ſtand: leaſt of all is it ſafe to caſt them down, who (by the rule of Divine politicks) are State-up-holders. Let men therefore take heed they deſtroy not them that are ſuch common goods; yea, take heed of deadning or ſtraitning their Spirits in prayer for you. O men of the world, above all take heed of turning their prayers againſt you; do not provoke your own Horſemen to fight againſt you, and your own Chariot-Wheels to run over you! 'Twere better have many outwardly oppoſe you, than one ſuch (upon juſt grounds) ſecretly praying, or but complaining to God againſt you. They are your Pillars that uphold you, do not cut them, and make all tumble down about your ears. Mary Queen of Scots feared John Knox's prayers more than an Army of Ten Thouſand men. Make much of Chriſt's Flock by whom ye receive ſo much good.