The Christian Mans Calling, Treatise · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. The Preface and Coherence of the Text.
THe unclean ſpring of ungodlineſs divideth it ſelf (like the third African gulf) into two main curſed channels Atheiſm and Superſtition. In one of which, Plin. nat. hiſt. lib. 5. cap. 4.all the children of men ſwim by nature, and very many, as the filly fiſh, down the ſtreams of Jordan, till they deſcend into the lake of Sodom, the dead ſea of hell, and periſh. Which of theſe two paſſages are moſt fatal and perillous, ſeems worth our inquiry. The waters in the former ſtream are deepeſt; Atheiſm denieth the very being of God: But to prevent ſinking in theſe waters, Nature her ſelf hath provided ſome skin-deep bladders; for though there be many Atheiſts in practice, yet there be no Atheiſts in principles. The being of a Deity was ſo fairly written on the tables of mans heart at firſt, that though it be exceedingly blotted and blurred by the fall, yet it is ſtill legible. Thoſe Heathen, as Caligula and others who endeavoured to extinguiſh that candle of the Lord, which ſhewed them a firſt cauſe, or being of beings, could never accompliſh it. It is a part of that Law which is written in all mens hearts, Rom. 2.15. The *Cicer. de rat deorum.Orator could ſay, That no Nation was ſo barbarous, as to deny the being of a God. †…actant. Inſt Epicu… u…pſum quem nibil pudendum pudet, tamen Deum neg…e pudet. Mornae…s de verit. Chriſt. relig c 1.Tullus Hoſtilius, third King of the Romans, who derided his Predeceſſor Numas ſacrifices, ſaying, That Religion did but effeminate mens mind, did himſelf (as Lactantius in Inſtit. obſerves) worſhip the god Fear. Idolatry is a clear proof that all men beleive a Deity, otherwiſe they would never worſhip (not onelyonly the Sun, as the Maſagetes, but) dead men as the Grecians; whom their Governours would appoint, as the Romans; Cats, Dogs and Horſes, as the Aegyptians, Idem ibid.and any thing rather then nothing. Though there be, ſaith a learned Author, Nations without Kings, without Laws, without cloaths, yet there are none without a God. When man fell, this truth ſtood.
The waters in the latter ſtream are not ſo deep, but they ſeem more dangerous; for Nature is a friend to Superſtition, though an enemy to Atheiſm: It would give God ſome worſhip, but it muſt be in its own way. Atheiſm denieth the being of a Deity; Superſtition undermineth the authority of God. The Atheiſt would have no God, the Superſtitious would be his own God; his Will not Gods Word is the rule of his Worſhip. In this gulph, hath many a ſoul been ſwallowed up: The Atheiſt turneth to the left hand, the Superſtitious to the right hand, but he muſt turn to neither, that will keep his feet from evil, Prov. 4. ult.
The Text preſenteth us with a caution againſt the poiſon of *Fabuloſam doctrinam & prophanam vocat eam quae in ritihus & diſciplina vitae aliquid excogitat praeter ſacrae ſcripturae mentem, Huic opponit foreign hoc eſt veram rationem colendi deum. Aret. in loc. …ngiendum eſt in diſciplina morali foreign, fabuloſum, hoe eſt quod ſpeciem habet antiquitatis ſed cum vero D…i cultu non congruit. Idem. ibid.Superſtition, and propoundeth to us the golden Medium between the two extreams; Avoid or refuſe old wives fables, and exerciſe thy ſelf unto godlineſs.
The ſcope of the Apoſtle in this Epiſtle is to furniſh Timothy with neceſſary directions for, and to fortifie him againſt the oppoſition he ſhould meet with in the work of the Miniſtry.
In this Chapter Paul doth prophetically forewarn Timothy of, and practically forearm him aagainſt the Apoſtacy of the latter times.
In it firſt, the Malady is deſcribed, and 2. The Remedy is preſcribed.
Firſt, The Apoſtacy is deſcribed. 1. By the ſure determination of it; the Spirit ſpeaketh expreſly, had it been doubtful, it need not have been ſo dreadful, but its certain, and therefore calls for the more caution.
2. By the ſeaſon of it, In the latter times. When the world groweth old, it will dore and decline; when it comes to the bottom, it will run dregs. Its laſt days which ſhould be beſt, will be its worſt days
3. By the cauſes procuring it, Seducing ſpirits, and Doctrine of devils, Satan and his Emiſſaries will, like Sampſons Foxes carry firebrands abroad to ſet the world in a helliſh flame.
Secondly, The Remedy is preſcribed, in reference to himſelf.
Something he muſt forbear, Refuſe prophane and old wives fables; foreign. Rejice Piſcat. Beza. Excommunica, alii.If thou wouldſt not ſwim down with the tide of thoſe apoſtatiſing times, take heed of ſteering thy courſe by prophane though ancient cuſtoms: Refuſe them with ſcorn, reject them with anger; let thy ſpirit riſe and thy ſtomack turn at the very ſight of ſuch ſins. One way to prevent Apoſtacy, is to refuſe ungrounded antiquity. The will of the Father of ſpirits, not the ways of the fathers of our fleſh is to be the rule of our walking. It is well obſerved that God in no command but the ſecond (which forbids his Worſhip in any way not appointed by his Word) threatneth to viſit the ſins of the fathers upon the children, becauſe ſuperſtitious. Worſhippers are of all men moſt ſtrengthned by the Traditions of their Fathers. They will tell us. Shall we be wiſer then our Fathers. Now becauſe they are reſolved to ſin with their Fathers, God is reſolved they ſhall ſuffer for their Fathers. They that will follow their forefathers in ſin, for ought I know muſt follow their forefathers to hell. If Timothy would not ſhare in others declenſions, he muſt forbear others traditions, Refuſe prophane and old wives fables.
Something he muſt alſo follow after, Exerciſe thy ſelf unto godlineſs: This is the ſpecial help which the skilful phyſician appointeth his beloved patient in thoſe infectious times to preſerve his ſoul in health. As a peſtiferous air is very dangerous to the body, yet for a man to get, and make it his work to keep a ſound conſtitution will be an excellent means to prevent infection: So an Apoſtatizing place or people is very dangerous to the ſoul (ſpiritual diſeaſes are more catching and killing then corporal) but a ſpiritual habit of a real ſanctity, with a conſtant care to continue and increaſe it, will be a ſoveraign means to preſerve it in ſafety. Bodies without life quickly corrupt and become unſavory; not ſo living creatures: Running waters are ſweet and clean, when ſtanding ponds putrifie and abound in vermine. He that is ever trading and thriving in godlineſs need not fear that he ſhall prove a bankrupt: Carts overthrow not going up hill.
Timothy is conſiderable in his twofold capacity.
1. As a Miniſter of Chriſt, or in his particular calling, in this reſpect he muſt exerciſe himſelf to godlineſs. Non tan tum ſana doctrina, ſed eti…m pia & relig…ola vita m… …i…ri verbo opus …ſt Beza in locA Paſtor muſt not onelyonly ſome days give precepts, but every day give a pattern to his people, he muſt not onelyonly foreign, but alſo foreign not onelyonly divide the word rightly, but alſo order his converſation aright. He muſt as Nazianzen ſaid of Baſil, thunder in his doctrine, and lighten in his life. Singular holineſs is required of thoſe that miniſter about holy things: as Painters, they muſt teach by their hands, by their lives, as well as by their lips.
Miniſters muſt exerciſe themſelves to godlineſs, that is, do their duties with the greateſt diligence. They are ſometimes called the Salt of the earth, Matt. 5 13 14,becauſe they muſt waſte themſelves to prevent corruption in others. Sometime the light of the world, they muſt conſume themſelves to direct others in the way to heaven. Greg in 1. cap. lob.Gregory obſerveth that the Spirit of God appeared in two ſhapes, in the ſhape of a Dove ſignifying innocency, in the ſhape of Fire ſignifying activity. The zeal of Gods houſe (not the ruſt of idleneſs) muſt eat the Miniſter up; he muſt be a burning ſhining light; if ever he would thaw the frozen hearts of his hearers, Quic quid d…cit Lutherus quicquid ſcribit id in a…in: as pe…etrat & mirificos relinquit acul…os in cordibus …o minum Melch. Adam. in vit. Luther.our Chappels muſt not be turned into Chappels of eaſe; Chriſt neglected his food, ſpent his ſtrength, wrought ſo hard that he was thought to be beſide himſelf. We are called Fiſhers, Labourers, Souldiers, Watchmen, all which are laborious callings. We are compared to clouds, the clods of the earth lye ſtill, but the clouds of heaven are ever in motion, and diſſolve themſelves to refreſh others.
But alas how many fleece their flocks, Sacerdotum nomi…a acce…imus non ad quiet…n… ſed ad labore… ut inver amu… in oper… q…od ſig…amur in no mine Greg. l. 4. ep. 8.but never feed them, as if their Beneſices were Sine cures. The Green-ſickneſs is the maids, and lazineſs many Miniſters diſeaſe: Who is inſtant in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon? It was a notable ſpeech of Boniface the Martyr, to one that asked him, whether it was lawful to give the Sacramental wine in a wooden cup. Time was, when we had wooden cups and golden Prieſts, but now we have golden cups and wooden prieſts.