The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Sermon 6
EPHES. 3. 8.
Ʋnto me who am leſſe then the leaſt of all Saints, is this Grace given, that I ſhould Preach among the Gentiles, the Ʋnſearchable Riches of Christ.
HAving ſpoken much concerning Miniſters Duty, I ſhall now ſpeake a little concerning their Dignity, and ſo finiſh this Text.
Ʋnto me who am leſſe then the leaſt of all Saints, is this Grace given, that I ſhould Preach among the Gentiles, the unſearchable riches of Chriſt. This grace, this favour, this honour is given to me, that I ſhould Preach, &c. I look not upon it as a poor, low, mean, contemptible thing, but as a very great honour, That I ſhould Preach among the Gentiles, the unſearchable riches of Chriſt.
The Obſervation that I ſhall ſpeak a little to, is this.
That the Office of a Minister, or Preacher, is honourable.
For the underſtanding of this Point, Premiſe with me, two things.
Firſt, That by a Minister, I underſtand one that is qualified according to Goſpel Rules, and that is internally called by God, and externally called by the people of God, to the Miniſteriall Office.
The ſecond thing that I would have you Premiſe with me for the underſtanding of the Point, is this, That the common Apellation of thoſe that are ſet apart for the Preaching of the Goſpel, in the New Testament, is (DIAKONOI.) Ministers. So in 1 Cor. 3. 5. 2 Cor. 3. 6. & Chap. 6. 4. & Chap. 11. 15. 23. 1 Tim. 4. 16. And in divers other places, the word Minister is a Title of Office, ſervice, or adminiſtration, given frequently to the Preachers of the Goſpel. As for the names of Ambaſſadors, Stewards, and the like, wherewith they are often honoured, they are figurative, and given to them by alluſion onelyonly.
Theſe two things being Premiſed, we ſhall now proceed to the opening of the Point.
And in the firſt place I ſhall prove, That the Office of a Minister is an honourable Office.
And then in the ſecond place I ſhall ſhew you, What honour is due to them.
And then in the third place I ſhall ſhew you, How you are to honour them.
And then in the laſt place, we ſhall bring home all by A word of Application.
Chriſtians, Give me leave to tell you this by the way, That ſince the Goſpel hath ſhined in England, a godly, faithfull, painfull Miniſtry was never more ſubtily and vehemently ſtruck at by men that make a faire ſhew, and by men of corrupt opinions, and wicked lives. This Age affords many Church-Levellers, as well as State-Levellers. Some there be, that under that notion of Plucking up corrupt Miniſters, would pluck up by the very roots, the true Miniſtry: But God ha's, and will be ſtill too hard for ſuch men; if they will be Monſters, God will be ſure to be Maſter. His faithfull Miniſters Revel. 2. 1.are ſtars that he holds in his right hand, and men ſhall as ſoon pull the Sun out of the Firmament, as pull them out of the hand of God.
Now conſidering that there is ſuch a ſpirit abroad in the world, I hope no ſober ſerious Chriſtians will be offended at my ſtanding up to vindicate the Honour of a godly faithfull Miniſtry. In order to which, I ſhall firſt prove that the Office of a Miniſter is honourable, and to me theſe following things ſpeak it out.
Firſt, The ſeverall Names and Titles that are given to them in Scripture, doth ſpeak them out to be honourable. They are called Fathers, Stewards, Ambaſſadours, Overſeers, and Angels, as you all know that know any thing of Scripture. To ſpend time to prove this, would be to light Candles to ſee the Sun at noon.
Secondly, Their worke is honourable. Their whole work is about ſoules, about winning ſoules to Chriſt, and about building ſoules up in Chriſt, and to theſe two heads, the main work of the Miniſtry may be reduced. The more noble the ſoule is, O anima Dei inſignita imagine, deſponſa…a fide, donata ſpiritu, &c. Bernard. O Divine ſoul inveſted with the Image of God, eſpouſe… to him by faith, &c.the more honour 'tis to be buſied and exerciſed about it. Jam. 5. 20. Let him know, that he which converteth the ſinner from the errour of his way, ſhall ſave a ſoule from death, and ſhall hide a multitude of ſins.
Let him know: That is, let him take notice that an honourable and glorious work is done by him. The ſoule is the immediate work of God, the ſoule is the Image of God, the ſoule is capable of union and communion with God, the ſoule is more worth then a world, yea, then a thouſand worlds. Chriſt prayed for ſoules, and wrought Miracles for ſoules, and wept for ſoules, and left his fathers boſome for ſoules, and bled out his heart blood for ſoules, and is gone to heaven, to make proviſion for ſoules, yea, he is now a making interceſſion for ſoules. All which ſpeaks out the excellency of their Office, whoſe whole work is about ſoules.
The Jewes ſay of Moſes his ſoule, That it was ſucked out of his mouth with a kiſſe. Soules are deare, and ſweet to God.
A third thing that ſpeaks out this truth, is this▪ They are fellow-labourers with God. They are Co-workers with God in the ſalvation of ſinners. And this is a mighty honour, to be a fellow-labourer with God, to be a co-worker with God, 1 Cor. 3. 9. For we are labourers together with God. Who would not work hard with ſuch ſweet company? Who Mat. 5. 14. John 5. 35. Ma…. 5. 13. Mark 9. 49, 50.would not affect, prize, love, and honour ſuch ſervice? Miniſters are called the light and ſalt of the world, becauſe they inlighten blind ſoules, and ſeaſon unſavoury ſoules, and ſo ſave them from corruption and perdition. Oh! to be joyned in any work with God, is an honour beyond what I am able to expreſſe.
The Senate of Rome accounted it a diminution of Auguſtus Caeſars dignity, to joyne any Conſuls with him for the better carrying on the Affaires of the State. Oh but our God doth not think it a diminution of his dignity, that even his poore deſpiſed ſervants ſhould be fellow-labourers, and co-workers with him in the ſalvation of ſoules.
Fourthly, The honourable account that the Lord hath of them in this imployment, ſpeaks out this truth, That their Office is honourable. In Mat. 10. 41, 42. compared. He that Kings and Princes have their Ambaſſadors in very high account, ſo ha's God his.receiveth you, receiveth me; he that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet, ſhall receive a Prophets reward. And Luke 10. 16. He that receiveth you, receiveth me; and he that deſpiſes you, deſpiſes me. This honourable account God hath of all his faithfull ſervants in this imployment.
The fifth thing that ſpeaks out this truth, is this, They ſerve an honourable Maſter. They ſerve him that is all ear to hear, all hand to puniſh, all power to protect, all wiſedome to direct, all goodneſſe to relieve, and all mercy to pardon. They Habet omnia qui habet habentem omnia Aug. He hath all, that hath the haver of all.ſerve that God that is (Optimum maximum) the beſt and greateſt. God hath within himſelfe all the good of Angels, men, and univerſal nature; he hath all dignity, all glory, all riches, all treaſure, all pleaſure, all delight, all joy, all beatitudes. Mark, abſtracts doe better expreſſe God, then concretes, and adjectives. God is being, bonity, beauty, power, wiſedome, juſtice, mercy, and love it ſelfe. God is love (ſaith the Apoſtle) in the very abſtract. God is one infinite perfection in himſelfe, which is eminently and virtually all perfections 'Tis truly ſaid of God, that he is Omnia ſuper o…nia.of the Creatures: And Oh then what an honour muſt it be to thoſe that are imployed under ſo honourable a Maſter?
Sixthly, Their very worke and ſervice is honourable. Why elſe did the Apoſtle cry out, Who is ſufficient for theſe things? Their maine work is to treat with ſinners about eternity, &c.There is no ſuch Embaſſage in the world, as this is, in which they are imployed. Epheſ. 6. 19, 20. Pray for me, that I may make knowne the Myſtery of the Goſpel, for which I am an Ambaſſadour in bonds. Faithfull Miniſters doe repreſent the perſon of the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords; their work is to treat of Peace between God and man, or of open Hoſtility between the Creator, and the Creature, 2 Cor. 5. 19, 20.
Seventhly, and laſtly, Their Reward from God is honourable. Though the world Crowne them with thornes (as it did their Lord and Maſter before them) yet God will Crowne them with honour, Dan. 12. 3. They ſhall ſhine as the Stars in the Firmament. You know Ambaſſadors have not preferments while they are abroad, but when they come home into their owne Countrey, then their Princes prefer them, and put much honour upon them. So will God deale with his Ambaſſadors. 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8. I have fought a good fight, I have finiſhed my courſe, I have kept the faith, henceforth there God will at laſt highly reward thoſe very ſervices that men don't regard, &c.is laid up for me a Crowne of righteouſneſſe, which the Lord the righteous judge ſhall give me at that day, and not to me onelyonly, but unto all them alſo that love his appearing. So in Iſa. 49. 4, 5. I have laboured in vaine, I have ſpent my ſtrength for nought, and in vaine, yet ſurely my judgement is with the Lord, and my reward with my God. Though Iſrael be not gathered, yet ſhall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God ſhall be my ſtrength. So in 2 Cor. 2. 15. For we are unto God a ſweet ſavour of Chriſt in them that are ſaved, Latimer in one of his Sermons, ſpeaking of a Miniſter who gave this anſwer why he left off Preaching becauſe he ſaw he did no good. This, ſaith Latimer, is a very naughty, naughty anſwer.and in them that periſh. Miniſters ſhall be rewarded according to their faithfulneſſe and diligence, though ſome periſh. It ſhall be with them, as with Vine-dreſſers, you know Vinedreſſers are rewarded according to their diligence and faithfulneſſe, though ſome Vines never bear, nor bring forth fruit at all. As Miniſters are diligent and faithfull, ſo the reward, the Crowne ſhall be given full at laſt. You know the Barber is as much rewarded for trimming a Black-a-more, though all his paines in rubbing him can never make him white, as he is for trimming and rubbing of another man that is white, and by a little paines is made more white. This is many-a-faithfull Miniſters grief, that he takes a great deale of paines in rubbing and waſhing (as it were) to make ſoules white and clean, pure and holy, and yet they remaine after all, as black as hell; but ſurely their reward ſhall be never the leſſe with God. The Nurſe looks not for her wages from the Child, but from the Parent. If Miniſters, like clouds, ſweat themſelves to death, that ſoules may be brought to life, great will be their reward, though thoſe ſoules ſhould periſh for ever, for whom they have wept, ſweat, and bled.
God won't deale by faithfull Miniſters, as Exerxes did by his Steer-man, who crowned him in the morning, and beheaded him in the evening of the ſame day: No, God will ſet an everlaſting Crowne upon their heads, who remaine laborious and faithfull to the death. The world for all their paines will Crowne them with thornes, but God at laſt will Crowne them with glory, he will ſet a Crowne of pure gold upon their heads for ever. And thus you have the Point proved.
The ſecond thing that I am to doe, is to ſhew you
What Honour that is which is juſtly due to faithfull Miniſters.
Now this I ſhall ſhew you in three things; there is a threefold honour that is due unto them.
Firſt, Honourable Countenance is due to them that are in ſo honourable a place and Office as they are in, 1 Cor. 14. 1. Let a man ſo account of us, as of the *foreign Under-rowers to Chriſt the Maſter-Pilot, helping forward the ſhip of the Church to the haven of Heaven.Miniſters of Chriſt, and Stewards of the Myſteries of God. 1 Theſſ. 5. 12, 13. And we beſeech you brethren to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admoniſh you: And to eſteeme them very highly in love for their worke ſake: Or, To eſteeme them more then exceedingly, or, more then abundantly, foreign.as the Greek will bear. And ſo in 1 Tim. 5. 17. Let the Elders that rule well be accounted worthy of double honour, eſpecially they who labour in the word and doctrine. The Greek foreign.word that is here rendred Labour, ſignifies not ſimply (foreign) to labour, but to labour with much travel and toyle, to labour even to laſſitude, as he doth that cleaveth wood, or that toileth in harveſt, or that goeth a warfare. Preaching is a Our Saviour at little pa…t …hirty, was …eckoned by the Jewes to be towards fifty, John 8. 57. he had ſo ſpent himſelf in preaching. Preaching is a ſpending painfull workmoſt painfull work, and enfeebleth a man exceedingly, whence the Prophet cryes out, My leanneſſe, my leanneſſe, Iſa. 24. 16. No paines, no labour, no work to that of the braine, to that of the mind, nor none ſo worthy of praiſe, as thoſe that are moſt in that labour, in that work. No mens work is ſo holy and heavenly, as theirs, nor no mens work is ſo high and honourable, as theirs, and therefore none deſerve to be more honoured, then they, though not for their owne ſakes, yet for their works ſake. Shall Turks and Papiſts ſo highly eſteem and honour every hedge-Prieſt of theirs, above their merits? And ſhall not Chriſtians much more honour their faithfull Miniſters? Faithfull Miniſters muſt have countenance, as well as maintenance, they muſt have reverence as well as recompence: You are not to nodd the head, and put out the lip, to ſcoffe, and mock, and jeere at them, Gal. 4. 14. And my temptation which was in my fleſh, ye deſpiſed not, nor rejected, but received me as an Angel of God, even as Chriſt Jeſus. When Ehud told the King of Moab, I have a Meſſage to thee from God, O King, he roſe from his Throne, and bowed himſelfe, Judg. 3. 20. Iſa. 52. 7. How beautifull upon the Mountaines are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publiſheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publiſheth ſalvation, that ſaith unto Zion, thy God reigneth.
How beautifull upon the mountaines are the feete? What's their face then? What's their doctrine then? Their very feet when dirty, ſweaty, and duſty, are yet very beautifull and lovely.
It was a common ſaying at Conſtantinople, That 'twas better the Sun ſhould not ſhine, then that Chryſoſtome ſhould not Preach.
I have read of one that ſaid, If he ſhould meet a Preacher and an Angel together, he would firſt ſalute the Preacher, and then the Angel afterward. If you doe not give them honourable countenance, Jewes and Turks, Papiſts and Pagans, will in the great day of account riſe up againſt you, and condemn you. I could ſay much of what I have obſerved in other Nations and Countreyes concerning this thing, but I ſhall forbear; ſhould I ſpeak what I have ſeen, many Profeſſors might well bluſh.
The Gretians uſe to give farre greater reſpect and honour to their Philoſophers, then to their Orators, becauſe that their Orators did onelyonly teach them to ſpeak well, but their Harveſt-laboures have meat and drink, and double wages. Some think that the Apoſtle hath reſpect to the Law of the firſt borne, Deut. 21. 17. in which a two ſold portion is commanded to be given him. The antient Chriſtians, as appears by Tertullian, were wont in their Agapes, or Love-feaſts to give their Miniſters a double portion. Surely Miniſters ſhould have ſuch a liberal, honourable, and ingenious maintenance, as might ſet them above the vulgar, as the firſt-born by their double portion were ſet up above the reſt of their Brethren.Philoſophers did teach them to live well. Oh! what honour then is due to them that doe teach you both to ſpeak well, and to live well; both how to be happy here, and how to be bleſſed hereafter. And thus you ſee that honourable Countenance is due to faithfull Miniſters.
Secondly, There is an honour of Maintenance, as well as an honour of Countenance that is due to them, 1 Tim. 5. 17, 18. Let the Elders that rule well be accounted worthy of double honour, eſpecially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture ſaith, Thou ſhalt not muzzle the Ox that treadeth out the Corne, and the labourer is worthy of his reward. It was not the manner in the Eaſtern Countreys to thraſh out Corne as we doe, but their Oxen trod it out, to which the Apoſtle allegorically compares laborious Paſtours, who after a ſort cruſh out that Corne of which the bread of life is made, Gal. 6. 6. Let him that is taught in the word, communicate to him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for what a man ſoweth, that ſhall he alſo reap. So in 1 Cor. 9. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Who goeth a warfare any time at his owne charge? Who planteth a Vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flocke, and eateth not of the milke of the flocke? Say I theſe things as a man? Or ſaith not the Law the ſame alſo? For it is written in the Law of Moſes, Thou ſhalt not muzzle the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corne. Doth God take care for Oxen? Or ſaith he it altogether for our ſakes? For our ſakes no doubt this is written, that he that ploweth ſhould plow in hope, and that he that threſheth in hope ſhould be partaker of his hope. If we have ſowne unto you ſpirituall things, is it a great thing if we ſhall reap your carnall things? Mat. 10. 9, 10. Provide neither gold, nor ſilver, nor braſſe, in your purſes, nor ſcrip for your journey, neither two coates, neither ſhoes, nor yet ſtaves, for the workman is worthy of his meat. Gods appointment in all theſe Texts, beſpeak it.
Againe, You may conſider the neceſſity of it; how ſhall they goe on in their warfare, if they be troubled with the things of this life. Againe, they are to give them ſelves wholly to the work of the Miniſtry, 1 Tim. 4. 5. And againe, the equity and juſtice of the duty Chriſt and the Apoſtle ſhewes in the fore-named Scriptures, Mat. 10. 10. 1 Cor. 9. 10. The maintenance of the Miniſter ſhould be ſo free, and ſo liberall, as may teſtifie that you honour him in your hearts, and as may keep him from contempt and ſcorne in the world. There are multitudes that grumble at the expence of a penny for the maintenance of thoſe Divine Candles that waſte themſelves to give light to them; that will rather dye to ſave Charges, then ſpend a little money to ſave their lives, yea, their ſoules. They like well of Religion without expence, in Baſil, and a Goſpel without charge, but if it grow coſtly, 'tis none of their money. The Scripture ſayes, Buy the truth, but ſell it not; you can never over buy it, whatſoever you give for it; you can never ſufficiently ſell it, if you had all the world in exchange for it.
It is ſaid of Caeſar, That he had greater care of his Bookes, then of his Royall Robes; for ſwimming thorow the water to eſcape his Enemies, he carryed his Books in his hand above The Miniſters maintenance is not to be eſteemed of the nature of Alms (as ſome would have it) but is a Tribute of honour, ſuch as is given by an inferiour, to his ſuperiour.the water, but loſt his Robes. But alaſſe! what are Caeſars Books to Gods Book? The word is the field, and Chriſt is the Treaſure that is hid in that field. The word is a ring of gold, and Chriſt is the Pearle in that ring of gold, and is it then worth nothing? Many deale with faithfull, painfull Miniſters, as Carriers doe with their Horſes, they lay heavy burdens upon them, and exact work enough, and give them but eaſie Commons, and then to recompence this, they hang Bels at their eares and necks. They ſhall be commended and applauded for brave excellent Preachers, and for great paines-takers, &c. That maintenance that is juſtly due to the Miniſters of the Goſpel, is honourable, it ought to be ſutable to their condition and dignity: The maintenance that is due to them, is of the ſame nature with that which is given to Princes and Magiſtrates, by thoſe which are under them, and not a common maintenance which ſuperiours give to their inferiours, or ſervants.
Thirdly, There is an honour of Obedience and Service that is due to them. And indeed, of all honours this is the greateſt honour that can be caſt upon a faithfull Miniſter, the honour of Obedience, Heb. 13. 7. Remember them that have the rule over you, who have ſpoken to you in the word of God. And verſ. 17. Obey them that rule over you. O ſubmit your ſelves, for they watch for your ſoules as they that muſt give an account, that they may doe it with joy, and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you.
Obey them that have the rule over you. The word that's foreign.rendred Rule over you, in the ſeventh and ſeven-teenth verſes, ſignifies Captaines, Guides: Faithfull Miniſters are your Captaines, they are your Guides, they are your Chieftaines, they are your Champions that bear the brunt of the Battel, the heat of the day, and therefore you muſt obey them, even as Souldiers doe their Captaines. So in 2 Theſſ. 3. 14. And if any man obey not our words, note that man, and have no company with him. Brand him as infamous, beware of him, let him ſee a ſtrangeneſſe in you towards him, that all may avoid him, as one whoſe company is dangerous, and infectious. Ah Chriſtians! by your ſubmiſſion to their doctrine, you highly honour them, and you make their heavy task to be eaſie and ſweet unto them. Chriſtians, it will be your honour and happineſſe in the day of Chriſt, that you have liv'd out what they have made out to you. I ſuppoſe you remember that happineſſe is not intail'd to hearing, or knowing, or talking, John 13. 17.but to doing, If you know theſe things, bleſſed and happy are you, if you doe them. There are ſome diſeaſes that are call'd There is no fear of know…g too much, but there is much feare and danger of practiſing too little. I feare, with St. Auguſtine, That many grieve more for the bar…nneſſe of their Lands, then for the barrenneſſ… of their lives. The more the Cypreſſe is …atered, the more it is withered. Oh that it were not ſo with many in theſe dayes!(Opprobria Medicorum) the reproaches of Phyſitians; and there are ſome people that may be truly call'd (Opprobria Miniſtrarum) the reproach of Miniſters, and thoſe are they that are great hearers, and talkers, and admirers of Miniſters, but never obey the doctrines delivered by them. The Corinthians were Paul's honour, they were his living Epiſtles, they were his walking Certificates, they were his Letters teſtimoniall, 2 Cor. 3. 2, 3. The obedience and fruitfulneſſe of the people, is the Miniſters teſtimoniall, as the profiting of the Scholar is the Maſters commendations. Oh what an honour is it to a Miniſter, when it ſhall be ſaid of him, as one ſaid of Octavius, When he came into Rome he found the walls all of baſe materialls, but he left them walls of Marble. So, here's a Miniſter that found the people dark and blind, but left them inlightned; he found them dead, but left them alive; he found them a proud people, but hath left them humble; a prophane people, but hath left them holy; a carnall people, but hath left them ſpirituall; a worldly people, but hath left them heavenly; a wavering people, but hath left them ſettled and rooted, &c. No honour to a faithfull Miniſter, like this. And thus you ſee what honour is due unto them, &c.
And now let me make a word of uſe, Chriſtians, If their Office be ſo honourable, then honour them. O give them the honour that is due unto them. Will you make conſcience to give others their due? And will you make no conſcience of giving Miniſters their due? Are there any that are greater bleſſings to a Nation, then faithfull Miniſters? Who have ſtood more in the gap to turne away wrath, then they? Who have begotten you to Chriſt thorow the Goſpel, but they? Who have turned you from darkneſſe to light, and from the power of Satan, unto God, but them? Who have built you up in the light and love of Jeſus, but them? &c. O don't caſt ſcorne and reproach upon them, but give them that honour that is due unto them.
But you will ſay to me, How ſhall we honour them?
I anſwer, You muſt honour them theſe five wayes.
Firſt, You muſt honour them, By hearing them, and giving Antiſth…nes a Philoſopher, went every day ſix miles to hear Socrates.credit to their Meſſage. The want of this honour troubled Jonah too much. Who hath believed our report? Not to believe the report that they make concerning God, and Chriſt, &c. is to caſt the greateſt diſhonour that can be, upon them. The wiſe men, Mat. 2. went many weary hundred miles to find Chriſt at Jeruſalem, ſome think near a thouſand Nunquam nimis …, quod nunqua… ſa…i, dicitur. We can never hear that too often, that we can never learne too well.miles. The Queen of Sheba ſome ſay went 964 miles to hear the wiſedome of Solomon; and what was Solomons wiſedome to that wiſedome of Chriſt that is held forth to ſoules in the Miniſtry of the Goſpel. The Holy Martyrs thought no weather too hot, no winter too cold, no journey too long, nor no torment too great, to injoy the Preaching of the Goſpel, though darkly. The Heathen Prieſts began with Hoc age, they thought it a very irreligious thing to be remiſſe and vaine, though in a vaine Religion. Oh that vaine Profeſſors would remember this, and bluſh!
Secondly, You may honour them By ſtanding faſt in the doctrine of the Lord delivered by them. 1 Theſſ. 3. 8. Ye are our joy, our Crowne, if ye ſtand faſt in the Lord; elſe, ſaith the If I forſake my profeſſion, I am ſure of a worſe death the… Judge Hales had, ſaid that Martyr.Apoſtle, yee kill our very hearts. If after all our ſtudying, wraſtling, ſweating, and Preaching, yee ſhall play Apoſtates, and leave the precious wayes of God, and run after notions, and vaine opinions which cannot profit you, nor better you, you will kill many at once, your owne ſoules, and our hearts.
Thirdly, You ſhould honour them By being followers of them, ſo far as they are followers of Chriſt. So in 1 Cor. 4. 16. Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Chriſt. Chap. 11. 11. Bonus dux, bonus comes. A good leader makes a good follower.Heb. 13. 7. 2 Theſſ. 3. 7. Phil. 3. 7. All theſe Scriptures beſpeak you to be followers of them, as they are followers of Chriſt.
Alexander had ſomewhat a rye neck, and his Souldiers thought it an honour to be like him. Oh! 'tis an honour to Miniſters, when their people are like them in knowledge, wiſedome, love, humility, holineſſe.
Plutarch ſaid of Demoſthenes, That he was excellent at praiſing the worthy acts of his Anceſtors, but not ſo at imitating them. Ah! many in theſe dayes are excellent at praiſing and commending the holy and gracious actings of their Prayer is (Porta coeli c'avis Paradiſi.) The gate of heaven, a key to let us into Paradiſe. The Jewes fable, That our Saviour by finding out the right pronou…ciation of the name of God, did all his Miracles: But certainly the right invocation of the name of God, would even make Miniſters work Miracles indeed.Miniſters, but not ſo at imitating them.
Fourthly, You muſt honour them By bearing them upon your hearts, when you appeare before the Lord in the mount. Epheſ. 6. 18, 19. 2 Theſſ. 3. 1, 2. 1 Theſſ. 5. 25. Col. 1. 4. 3. Heb. 13. 18. Acts 12. 5. All theſe Scriptures doe beſpeak Chriſtians to bear their faithfull Miniſters upon their hearts when they are a wreſtling with God. None uſually are oppoſed, as they; their wants are many, their weakneſſes are more, their work is great, their ſtrength is ſmall. O pray, pray more and more for them, yea, pray believingly, pray affectionately, pray fervently, pray unweariedly, that they may ſpeak from the heart, to the heart, that they may ſpeak things that are ſeaſonable and ſutable to the capacities and conditions of his people. They can tell when they want your prayers, and when they enjoy your prayers; did you pray more for them, they might doe more for your internall, and eternall good, then now they doe.
Laſtly, You muſt honour them By adhering to them, and biding with them in all their tryals, afflictions, and tribulations that doe or ſhall attend them. 'Tis brave to owne them in a ſtorme, to owne them when others diſowne them, when others oppoſe them, and act highly againſt them. Paul lookt upon himſelf as much honored by Oneſiphorus owning of him in his chains, 2 Tim. 1. 16. The Lord give mercy unto the houſe The Saints in the Primitive times did ſo ſtick and cleave to thoſe that were in bonds, that the very heathen admiringly cryed out, Looke how the Chriſtians love one another.of Oneſiphorus, for he oft refreſhed me, and was not aſhamed of my chaine: But when he was in Rome, he ſought me out very diligently, and found me. The Lord grant unto him, that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day. And in how many things he miniſtred unto me at Epheſus, thou knoweſt very well. Chryſostome in an Oration, ſayes of Chriſtians, That they would not be kept from viſiting the Confeſſors in Priſon, although it was forbidden with many threatning terrours, and it was great danger to them.
But to draw to a cloſe, You have heard that the Office of a faithfull Miniſter is honourable, and you have heard what honour is due unto them, Let me therefore deſire you all To take heed of ſcorning, contemning, and deſpiſing thoſe that are faithfull, that are qualified according to Goſpel Rules.
That's a ſad word, 2 Chron. 36. 15, 16, 17, 18. God ſent his Meſſengers early and late to reclaime them, but they mocked the Meſſengers of God, and deſpiſed his words, and miſuſed his Prophets, untill the wrath of the Lord aroſe againſt his people, till there was no remedy, nor no healing. David never plaid ſuch a harſh part all his dayes, as he did to the Ammonites that diſpitefully uſed his Ambaſſadours, as you may ſee at large in 2 Sam. 10.Ambaſſadou…s are inviolable by the Law of Nations, and the leaſt indignity off… red to them, is to be as ſeverely puniſhed, as if it had been offered to the perſon of that Prince whom they repreſent.
The Romanes ſacked the famous City of Corinth, and razed it to the ground, for a little diſcourteſie they offered to their Ambaſſadours. And they ſlew many of the Illyrians, and the Tarentines, for miſuſing of their Ambaſſadours. And doe you think that the Lord is not as tender of the credite and honour of his faithfull Miniſters, and that he will not avenge the affronts, wrongs and injuries that are done unto them? Surely he will. Jer. 29. 17, 18, 19. Thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, Behold I will ſend unto them the Sword, the Famine, and the Peſtilence, and will make them like vile Figgs that cannot be eaten, they are ſo evill. And I will perſecute them, with the ſword, with the famine, and with the Peſtilence: And I will deliver them to be removed to all the Kingdomes of the earth, to be a curſe, and aſtoniſhment, and an hiſſing, and a reproach among all Nations, whither I have driven them. But why will God doe this? Becauſe they have not hearkened See 2 Kin. 17. 13, 14, 15. The Lamps went out, and Leander was drowned, ſaid he in the Hiſtory.to my word, ſaith the Lord, which I ſent unto them by my ſervants the Prophets, riſing up early and ſending them, but ye would not heare, ſaith the Lord. Now mark, though theſe temporal judgements are not viſible among us, yet ſpirituall judgements, which are the worſt of judgements, are very viſible. Though there be no ſword, no famine, no Peſtilence, yet there is ſpirituall madneſſe, ſpirituall drunkenneſſe, ſpirituall giddineſſe. Oh! the blind minds, the corrupt judgements, the hard hearts, the ſeired conſciences, that are to be found among the Profeſſors of this age! As there are no mercies Jer. 13. 13. Ezek. 23. 33. 1 Tim. 4. 2. Tit. 1. 15.to ſpirituall mercies, ſo there are no judgements to ſpirituall judgements. Oh the ſlightneſſe, the coldneſſe, the deadneſſe, the barrenneſſe that is abroad in the world! God ſuites his judgements to mens ſins, the greateſt ſins are alwayes attended with the greateſt judgements. In theſe dayes men ſin againſt more glorious means, more great love, more clear light, more tender bowels of mercy, &c. then formerly, and therefore God gives men up to more ſad and dreadfull (ſpirituall) judgements, then formerly.
They ſay when Hercules drew up Cerberus from hell, he led him in a Chaine, and he went quietly till he came to the Horizon, and ſaw the peeping of the light, but then he pulled ſo ſtrongly, that he had like to have pulled the Conquerour and all back againe. Ah! 'tis ſad when men had rather live in darkneſſe, and dye in darkneſſe, and to hell in darkneſſe, then they will ſee the light, injoy the light, and walk in the light. Many fret at the light, and at thoſe that bring it, as the Aethiopians once a year ſolemnly curſe the Sun. Such ſoules ſtand in much need of pity, and prayer.
And thus (according to my weak meaſure) I have given out what God ha's given in from this Scripture, and ſhall follow it with my prayers, that it may be a word of life and power, both to Writer, Reader, and Hearer. Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria in Aeternum.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Brooks, The Unsearchable Riches of Christ (1655)