None but Christ, Chapter 23

None but Christ · Chapter 23

p. 256CHAP. XXIII. An exhortation to the miniſters of the Goſpell, eſpecially to preach Ieſus Chriſt to the people.

IN the next place, Ʋſe 7 ſeeing Paul deſired to know, learne and teach, nothing among the Corinthians, but Jeſus Chriſt and him crucified: let it be an exhortation to all the minſters of the Goſpell, to follow the example of Saint Paul in two reſpects.

Firſt, to preach nothing to our people in compariſon of Ieſus Chriſt and him crucified.

Secondly, to preach in ſuch a manner as men may come to the ſaving knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt. Firſt I ſay to preach Ieſus Chriſt (eſpecially) to the people; wo be to me ſaith Paul if I preach not the Goſpell; and again, my little children of whom I travell in birth till Chriſt be formed in you. Gal. 4. 19.

It was the prayer of Luther at his death, thee ô Chriſt have I known, thee have I loved, thee have I taught, thee have I truſted and now into thy hands do I commend my ſpirit. O the more of Chriſt in a ſermon, p. 257the ſweeter is our preaching, and our greateſt ornament is that we can ſet forth the honour of Chriſt. Saint Auguſtine profeſſed of Cicero he was much delighted in his eloquence, but he ſoon grew weary, quianomen Chriſti non erat ibi, becauſe the name of Chriſt was not to be found there.

1. And it muſt needs be ſo; firſt, becauſe the preaching of Chriſt is moſt profitable for the people; alas, what can we inrich them withall in compariſon of Chriſt, the knowledge of whom can only make them happy. This is life eternall to know thee, the only true God, and him whom thou haſt ſent Ieſus Chriſt; thus we ſhall ſave their ſoules from death, hell and damnation, and hide a multitude of ſins, Jam. 5. ult.

2. It is moſt welcome and comfortable; as it is ſweeter to bring a pardon to condemned men then to read their ſentence of condemnation; for ſo we ſhall bee their miniſteriall ſaviours, whereas elſe we ſhall be but their tormentors.

3. It is the readieſt way to break theEph. 3. 17, 18.Eph 3:17Eph 3:18 heart; as the Traitor flyeth at the purſuit after with hew and cry, but the kings proclamation of pardon, that brings him in; p. 258we know by the law is the miniſtration of death (like Hagar that ſaw her bottle empty,Gal. 2 16. Gal. 3. 10.Gal 2:16Gal 3:10 & nothing but death before her eyes, but no fountaine to fill it again.) The law is like a glaſſe wherein we ſee our ſpots, but no water to waſh them out, (as Paul ſaid when the commandement came, ſin revived, but I died) But the Goſpel is like the Laver, in Exod. 38. 8. which was made of the womens looking glaſſes, whereby they might both ſee their faces, and alſo waſh out their ſpots; for it was both a glaſſe and a laver: and this typified Chriſt; If any man ſin, we have an advocate with the father Ieſus Chriſt the righteous, 1 Iohn 2. 1. And certainly if any thing, its mercy melts the heart, Adam ran away from God, when he heard the terrible voice of God in the garden, ſaying, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, and I hid my ſelfe, But when he ſpake to them with a milder voice then they came in, Gen. 3. 9, 10. In Eliahs viſion, the Lord was not in the whirlewiud, nor in the earth-quake, but in the ſtill voice, as you may read at large, 1 Kings 19. 11. 23. &c.

I have heard a ſtory of a Gentlewoman condemned to die for killing three of her children, many godly miniſters ſeeing p. 259her hardened as they thought in her ſinne, much preſſed her with her grievous ſin, and the dreadfulneſſe of her condition, but all nothing moved her, but rather ſhe grew more obſtinate: but at laſt another Reverend Divine hearing of it, comes to her, preaching to her the unſpeakeable mercies of God in Chriſt, &c. and that there was mercy for her, (notwithſtanding her great ſin) if her heart were touched with griefe, for what ſhe had done, &c. what, mercy for me ſaid ſhe? O thats impoſſible, &c. But expreſſing further, how God delighteth in mercy, that mercy pleaſeth him, that where ſin hath abounded their grace and mercy, with God abounds much more (or to that effect) ſhe preſently fell a weeping, wringing her hands, crying for mercy, &c. and died moſt comfortably, (as it was related) having had the mercy of God abundantly revealed to her before her death.

4. What greater joy can a miniſter have, then to bring men to Chriſt? to be able to ſay, here am I and the children thou haſt given me; are not you our hope, our joy and crown of rejoycing in the preſence of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt at his comming? yea are our glory and our joy, ſaith Paul, p. 2601 Theſ. 2. 19. 20. But on the contrary, what comfort will this be to us, when we lie a dying to ſay, I ſtudied to fill the houre, but not a ſoule I have wonne to Chriſt?

5. Fifthly and laſtly, the preaching of Chriſt is moſt profitable for our ſelves; for they that winne ſoules to God, ſhall ſhine as the ſtarres in the firmament, andGal. 6 8. 1 Cor. 15. ult.Gal 6:81 Cor 15 receive a Prophets reward; yea we ſhall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away, 1 Pet. 5. 4. every ſoule wonne to God, is as a new pearle added to our crowne, Matth. 24 45. 46. O what a heavy account ſhall that man have to give, that muſt give an account for loſſeQui ludit in Cathedra legebit. in Gehenna, Biſhop Hall. Ier. 48. 10.Jer 48:10 of ſoules: either through idleneſſe and negligence in his preaching, or not preaching Chriſt ſavingly to his people; if one ſoule be worth a world, then the loſſe of one ſoule is a greater loſſe then the loſſe of the whole world; all blood cryes aloud, (Cain could not endure to heare the voice of his brothers blood) but none to the blood of ſoules, Ezek. 33. 8. for that death is to all eternity in hell fire.

Queſt. But one main queſtion muſt here be anſwered, before I leave this point; ſeeing miniſters muſt preach Ieſus p. 261Chriſt and the Goſpel, whether then is it lawfull for the miniſters of the Goſpel, to preach the law, yea or no?

I anſwer negatively, none ought to be legall preachers, that is to preach ſalvation by keeping of the law, (ſo farre we are all Antinomians,) and for my own part, I know none but Papiſts or popiſhly minded, that are preachers of ſalvation by keeping of the law; for we know and teach that we are not under the law, (that is under the Covenant of ſalvation by keeping of the law,) but under grace, Rom. 6. 14. Col. 2. 14.

Secondly▪ I anſwer poſitively, that the law muſt be preached as a rule of obedience, for ſo God requires as perfect and perſonall obedience in us beleevers, as he did in Adam in innocency, (though we cannot performe it, nor are we bound thereto upon condition of life) for elſe the defect were no ſin, as Matth. 22. 37. 38. God requires us to love him with all our heart, &c. which though we cannot performe, yet God requires it ſtill in us that believe, and it is our ſin if we faile therein; and hence it is that the law was promulgated to the Iewes, two thouſand years after the Goſpel was preached to Adam, and foure hundred p. 262and thirty years aſrer it was preached to Abraham; and thus Chriſt himſelfe,Matth. 5 17. 19. Matth. 3. 8. Col. 3. 5. 12.Matt 5:17Matt 5:19Matt 3:8Col 3:5Col 3:12 Iohn-Baptiſt, and the Apoſtles preached the law.

2. Secondly, the law muſt ſtill be preached as a meanes to diſcover ſin, and convince men of their miſery out of Chriſt, as a Schoolemaſter to drive us to Gal 3. 23.Gal 3:23Chriſt, which is Gods ordinary way to prepare us to the receiving of Chriſt; for as the Brazen ſerpent was ſet up, ſoIoh. 3. 14.John 3:14 was Chriſt ſet up; but that was only for thoſe that were ſtung; ſo is Chriſt only for thoſe that are ſtung with their ſins; hence you ſee the promiſe of ſalvation by Chriſt, is to thoſe that are weary, heavyladen, ſick, broken-hearted, &c. teaching us that legall humiliation, at leaſt is a preparation required ordinarily to the receiving of Chriſt by faith; And thus God dealt with Adam, firſt he began1 King. 19. 11. 12.1 Kgs 19:111 Kgs 19:12 with a terrible voice, and then with a milder; and with Elias, who had three legall preparations before God appeared in mercy to him; ſo likewiſe Paul, the Iailor, and thoſe in Acts 2. 37. &c. had the law preached to them before the Goſpel. The good Samaritan poured oyle and wine, becauſe it was into wounds; we preach the law that we might preach p. 263the Goſpel. And certainly, that will prove at laſt the beſt preaching that drives men to Chriſt, and he the beſt preacher, Non qui aures tetigerit, ſed qui cor pupigerit, not that tickles the eare, but that breaks the heart to ſeek after Chriſt. Mens hearts are generally ſo hardened and ſecure, that the word had need to come like a hammer, a fire or ſword, to wound, and melt ſtony hearts; we had not need in theſe times, be the ſugar, and hony, but the ſalt of the world; we have more need of the voice of the Turtle, then the voice of the Nightingale, to make men mourne rather then to rejoyce. As Hierome wrote to Nepotian Hier. ad Nepot. Bern. ſer. 59. Cant.when thou preacheſt Non clamores populi ſed gemitus ſuſcitentur; lachrimae auditorum ſint laudes tuae; Libenter vocem audio (ſaith Bernard) non qui mihi plauſum ſed qui mihi planctum movet.

Its reported of Vincentius Ferer: who preaching in England, Scotland, France, Spain, &c. everywhere preached, Repent, Repent, for the Kingdome of God is at hand, and there followed almoſt every where, delictorum paenitentia, morum reformatio, omnium contritio, ceſſabant Blaſphemiae, Coren. lap. in lam. p. 426.aleae, ludi, &c. that is men repented of their ſins, reformed their wayes, left off p. 264their blaſphemies, di…ings, &c. who converted thouſands as is reported.

It is alſo reported of one A…tonius Padua who ſo moved the people with preaching the law, that they ſmote their breaſts in the ſtreets, and with ſighs and tears cryed out miſericordia domine, miſericordia, mercy, Lord, mercy, &c as they did Acts 2. 37. Sirs, what muſt we do to be ſaved, Ramiz ſaid, if you would know a good preacher inſpice p…pulum, mark the people, whether their hearts be ſet on fire or upon laughter; if thou ſeeſt them merry, applauding the ſermon with O quam doctus, eloquens, &c. O what a learned eloquent man is this? ſcito concionem infructuoſam eſſe, know ſaith he, it is an unprofitable ſermon; ſin vides triſtes, percuſſos, meditantes &c. but if thou ſeeſt them ſad, ſilent, deeply muſing, &c. then it profits them.

And daily experience ſhowes us the only way to bring men to Chriſt, is to break their hearts, and make them ſick, and ſtung with their ſins, and then they will more eagerly embrace Ieſus Chriſt, a Phyſitian to their ſoules.

Now follows the ſecond part of the exhortation. viz. that miniſters do not only preach the Goſpel, but that they p. 265preach it in ſuch a manner as the people may beſt come to the ſaving knowledge of Ieſus Chriſt, as Paul did in this text,1 Cor. 1. 17. 1 Cor. 2 1… 3. 4. Non Rhetoricè ſed Apoſtolicé. Its the fooliſhneſſe of preaching that ſaves ſoules, (though not fooliſh preaching) as Rams hornes blew down Jerichoes wals, when golden trumpets could not have done it, Moſes ſerpent of braſſe cured when Aarons Calfe of gold brought death.1 Cor 1:171 Cor 2:1 who did not only preach Ieſus Chriſt to them, but in ſuch a manner as that he might not make the Croſſe of Chriſt of none effect. And Paul prayes that we may make the Goſpel of Chriſt, manifeſt as we ought to ſpeak, Col. 4. 4. which conſiſts in nine particulars.

Firſt, that we preach Chriſt plainly and perſpicuouſly to the underſtanding of the meaneſt; Non quant… eloquentia ſed evidentia, ſaith Aug. ſo that if the people uſed to call oſſum a bone, he would call it ſo too, Melius eſt ut not reprehendant grammatici, quam ut non intellig…nt populi, Aug. on Pſal. 138. we are to be ſtars and lights to give light, not clouds to darken the light, as do p…inted glaſſe-windows in Churches; the Goſpel of Chriſt is a myſtery and our underſtandings are blind and weak, therefore we muſt drive (as …acob did) according to the pace of our people, Eſa. 28. 10. Chriſt taught them as they were able to hear it, Matth. 4. 33. and as they were able to bear it, Iohn 16. 12. And Paul profeſſeth he had rather ſpeak five words for edification, then ſpeak ten thouſand words to work admiration.

p. 266It is not want of skill, but the greateſt art to make dark things plain; if we had the tongue of Angels, we could but communicate our notions to the underſtanding of another, as that is the beſt glaſſe that ſhowes the trueſt face, and not that which is moſt curiouſlyOptimus textuarius eſtoptimus Theologus. wrought and ſet with Pearle; clearneſſe and perſpicuity, is the grace of ſpeech. A learned Divine being asked why he preached ſo plainly and did ſo much dilate in his ſermons, knowing him to be of ſuch excellent abilities, &c. anſwered, he was a fiſherman; now if they ſhould wind up the net, and ſo caſt it into the ſea, they ſhould catch nothing,Dr. Praeſton. but when they ſpread the net, I ſpread my net (ſaid he) becauſe I would catch the fiſh.

One brought Plate and ſilver-ſpoones to a Countrey faire, where poor men looked on them, and gazed only, but ſcarce cheapned, but went and bought up the wooden ſpoones; Gay things in a2 Sam. 18. 29.2 Sam 18:29 Sermon, are only for men to gaze upon and admire, like Ahimaaz that ſaw a tumult, but knew not what it meant. Its the fault of many miniſters, rather foreign then foreign, to turn Artiſts rather then Divines, and to ſore aloft p. 267with obſcure diſcourſes, uncoth Epithites,1 Cor. 1. 4.1 Cor 1:4 of ſome cloudy Lycophroon, and all to worke a vain admiration of them in the ignorant.

But Paul tels us he came to preach Ieſus Chriſt to them, and therefore he came not in excellency of words, nor with entiſing 1 Cor. 2. 141 Cor 2:14words of mans wiſedome, but with power, as if he ſhould ſay, ſuch preach with little power, nay they make the Croſſe of Chriſt of none effect, they deſtroy Chriſt.

The king of Perſia, having ſent toAelian. Hiſt. l. 14. Antalcidas the Lacedemonian Captain a garland of Roſes, wonderfully perfumed with ſpices, and other ſophiſtications, he accepted of his love, but miſliked the preſent, and ſent him word, Roſarum odorem artis adulteratione perdidiſti, thou haſt marred the ſweetneſſe of the Roſes, with the ſweetneſſe of thy perfumes.

Alas what are our fine flowers, ſtrains and flaſhes of wit, but like gay weeds, and blew bottles to the good corne, or like the gayes to the matter in the book? he that hath my word, let him ſpeak my word, what is the chaffe to the wheat? Ier. 23. 28. Alas we do but mingle our water with Gods wine. The new born babe p. 268deſires ſincere milk, not ſtuft with1 Pet. 2. 2. foreign.1 Pet 2:2 moates and haires of mans pretty fancy. The infant you know is better nouriſhed with the naturall milk that comes from the mothers breſt, then with all other milk, though never ſo ſweetned with ſugar; and thoſe flowers are beſt and ſweeteſt that grow in the garden, and not in the wilderneſſe. Fine words are but the gay clothes of truth; now truth is like Solomons ſpouſe, all glorious within, and needs not outward adorning to make her amiable, but (as Adam in innocency) ſhe is moſt beautifull, when moſt naked; or if ſhe doth appear in raimentDr. Stought. of needle work, it is more for majeſty then for gaudineſſe.

Caution. Not that we ſhould be rude and unſeemly in our ſpeech, but clothe our matter in decent words, and not Barbariſme, (eſt aliqua frondium gloria) the leaves give ſome beauty to the tree. Good matter in an unſeemly language, is like a bright Taper in a ſluttiſh candleſtick, or like a faire body in unhandſome clothes; truth, (ſaith one) loves to be plain, but not ſluttiſh; as ſhe loves not to be clad in gay colours like a wanton ſtrumpet, ſo not in louſie rags like a naſty creature, Aarons bels were golden, dulcé p. 269ſonantes, ſounding pleaſantly, and not as ſounding braſſe or tinkling cymbals.

2. Caution. Nor yet that we ſhould be nimis verboſi to tantologize, battologize, and be nothing but words, like empty orators, that have a flood of words, & a drop of matter. Multa loquuntur & nihil dicunt, they ſpeake much and yet ſay nothing, becauſe they ſay nothing to the purpoſe.

And as ſome delight in fine ſtarcht phraſes, curious words, ſo others in ſpeaking in unknown tongues, which the people underſtand not, which are at the beſt but like a treaſure concealed, or a fountain ſealed, (as Ptlotomy ſaid to the 72. of the word till it were tranſlated) Others like the true Humaniſts that reliſh nothing but what is of man, and have the ſtudies of the Scriptures in baſe contempt, (as Pemble ſpeaketh) who delight to decke their ſermons with humane writers (not divine authority) and the crabby quiddities and ſubtleties of the ſchoolmen, and with the authority of the fathers, in ſtead of preaching Chriſt, and are of the opinion of Gerſon, (that wiſe and learned chancellour of Paris,) they that, ſaith he, preferre moderne writers p. 270before the ancient, are like children that love raw fruit more then that which is ripe; but we know a Pigmy if he ſtands upon a Gyants ſhoulders, may ſee further, then he; of whom we may ſay, not as they ſaid of Herods oration, the voice of God and not of man, but contrarily the voice of man but not of God.

I deny not but there may be good uſe of fathers and humane writers, &c. as handmaids to attend divine truths, and give ſight to truths already laid down in Scripture, as Hagar did attend her miſtreſſe; namely as probable teſtimonies of dark and doubtfull truths, or any way to cleare our judgements or quicken our affections, as the Iſraelites did whet their ſwords at the Philiſtins forges, or as a man would ſee the ſun in a pail of water. As he anſwered well one that ſaid the Fathers are but as ſo many feathers; be it ſo, ſaid he; yet feathers well faſtned to the arrow makes it flie the faſter, and wound the deeper: But yet we muſt remember that we ever uſe them with theſe three Cautions.

Firſt, as witneſſes, not as Iudges, nor asEph. 2. 20 Matth.▪ 11. 15. 3. 9Eph 2:20 pillars of our faith; let not your eares, (ſaith one) be nailed to the door of any mans authority. For divine faith p. 271muſt have divine teſtimony; as Aug. ſpeaks of Cyprian contra Creſcon. cap. 32. Quod non convenit cum Scripturis reſpuo; Talis ego ſum in ſcriptis aliorum, & tales eſſe volo intellectores meorum, I regard not Cyprians authority any further then it agrees with the authority of the Scriptures.

2. Secondly that we uſe them very ſparingly, as ſauce and not as meat, and making uſe of what they ſay, but hiding the authors, except when it makes more for edification, as the Bees that gather honey from the flowers, they ſhew you the honey they have gathered, but not the flowers they did fly upon, or as the Cowes that feed upon the ſweet flowers in ſpring time, as the Cowſlips, dayſes and Primroſes, and the like, and they give you all their ſweetneſſe in their milk, (Attamen occultum redolent in lacte ſaporem) though they ſhow you not the flowersDr. Featly. they feed upon.

3. Thirdly, Be ſure nothing be done for oſtentation, but all for edification, to clear the underſtanding, or quicken the affections; as the Iſraelites Iewels were good in their ears, but not when they made a god of them; we may weare or uſe Iewels, but not make Idols of them.

p. 272I ſpeak not againſt uſe of arts and ſciences, humane Authors and tongues, which are as great helpes to open the Scriptures, but the abuſe; I know well if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch; and truly we cannot ſay of many in our dayes, much learning hath made them mad, but want of learning hath made them bold and proud; of whom I may ſay as Paul ſaid, a neceſſity is laid upon them (for perhaps they know not elſe how to live) but yet if not gifted and called, wo be to them if they preach the Goſpell.

There are five helpes to enable us to preach Chriſt plainly and clearly.

1. Competent learning, John 3. 10. Art thou a teacher in Iſrael ſaith our Saviour, and knoweſt not theſe things? A blind ſeer is a ſolaeciſme, but he that hath not an eye to ſee, may have an hand to work; ſuch may be fit for the flaile or rake, but not the pulpit; ſome like young Eliphaz begin ſo rawly without being well ſtored that they are ſoon ſpent, like green wood that ſmoakes away into ſmoke and darkneſſe; and how can they expect it otherwiſe? except God ſhould increaſe that little oyle in the cruſe miraculouſly, as he did the widdows; ſuch p. 273as are over haſtily ripe like Jonas gourd likely quickly wither; And, like young Eliphas they may be full, yea ready to burſt if they vent not, but tis with winde, they ſow the wind, and reap the whirlewind. But a miniſter like a good houſeholder, ſhould not content himſelfe with a few baskets full of broken meat, but ſhould be able to bring forth out of his treaſure both new and old; and at leaſt ſhould have a competent meaſure of skill both in the tongues and arts which are as keyes to unlocke the Scriptures: Skill in the originals is required, becauſe elſe we ſhall ſee with other mens eyes, and take all upon report and truſt; but then we may ſay as they to the woman, John 4. 42. Now we believe, not becauſe of thy ſayings, but becauſe we have ſeen him our ſelves, &c. But eſpecially there is required skill in arts and ſciences; for tongues without arts are but empty veſſels, mere ſounds: and if the beſt skill in tongues made the beſt Divines, then a Iew or Grecian might be the beſt expoſitors of the Scriptures; but whether is better, the veſſell or the liquor contained in it? the box or the Jewel in it? the apparell or the man?

Secondly, to be mighty in the Scriptures; p. 274All Scripture ſaith Paul is by inſpiration from God, and is profitable to make the man of God perfect, yea wi…e to ſalvation, 2 Tim. 3. 15. 16. Arts and ſciences and humane learning may have their uſe, but the Scriptures are the fountains and the foundation we muſt build upon; bbEph. 23. 29.There is more light in the ſunne then in the ſtarres, and more water in the fountain then in the ſtreams, and more honey in a barrell of honey then in a few ſcattered flowers: Now it is good digging for gold in the mines of gold; Beſides that we find by experience, much reading is wearineſſe to the fleſh, and doth often diſturb us, more then profit us, according to the golden ſaying of Seneca, Sen.Diſtrahit animum librorum multitudo. and of Corn. Agrip. de van. Librorum multitudo onerat diſcentem non inſtruit. Some men are too curious, ſaith one, to pry into all books whatever, and never thinke they know the truth, till they know what all men ſay of it.

Thirdly, be much in meditation, make uſe of thine own underſtanding, or thou canſt hardly be a cleare Preacher. There is no greater impediment of our learning, (ſaith learned Pemble) then ſo to make uſe of other mens parts, as to neglect our own.

p. 2754 Be diligent to handle the fundamentall points of religion by way of catechiſing,Heb 5. 12. Heb. 6. 1.Heb 5:12Heb 6:1 (plainly and briefly to the ignorant) Lay a foundation ſure before you begin to build; thus religion will be made more pleaſant to them, to ſee the beginning and end of divine truths, as Moſes upon the top of mount Nebo ſaw all the land of Canaan, or as men ſees countreys in a map. This ſeemes too low ſervice for our learned Rabbies; but in truth it is the nobleſt1 Cor. 3. 10.1 Cor 3:10 and hardeſt work to lay the foundation well, and …t for a skilfull maſter builder to undertake, and makes a wellgrounded people.

5. Study to know the ſtate of thy flock, that thou mayeſt apply thy ſelfe accordingly in thy teaching, as the eye in the head over-vieweth all the other parts, and ſeeth what is moſt neceſſary and convenient for them.

I have beene the larger in this particular, becauſe it ſeems chiefly to be intended by the Apoſtle, who preſſed both in the words going before, and which follow after, that we preach Chriſt plainly, and not in excellency of ſpeech, or enticing words, 1 Cor. 2. 1. 4.

2. Now a ſecond thing required in2 Painfully. the manner of our preaching the Goſpell p. 276of Chriſt is to preach Chriſt painfully, to be labourers not loyterers, to ſpend and be ſpent for them, to be like a candle that waſtes and conſumes it ſelfe to give light to others.

Which conſiſts in two things. 1. In painfull labour in our ſtudies, for our publick work; To provide as David did for the houſe of God, even with all our might, bb1 Chro. 29. 2.1 Chr 29:2to put to the breſt and the ſhoulder, which was the portion allotted for the Prieſts. ccExod. 29. 27.Exod 29:27So Paul bids Timothy dd1 Tim. 4. 13. 14. 1 Tim. … 3. 4. Acts 6. 2. 3▪ 4.1 Tim 4:131 Tim 4:141 Tim 3:4Acts 6:2Acts 6:3Acts 6:4give attendance to Reading, meditate on theſe things and Give thy ſelf wholly to them, A Miniſter muſt be like the painfull Bee that flyes from flower to flower to gather honv, and though ſhe finde the hony in the flowers, yet ſhe workes it out by her own labour and ſo its rather the hony of the Bee then of the flowers. But we muſt not be tranſlators, like drones that ſteal the hony out of the Hive already gathered; for this were to wipe the ſweat off from others browes, upon our own brain, for God will bleſſe our indeavours but not our idleneſſe; nor muſt we make any thing ſerve the turn, to fill the hour. Not two or three hours on ſaterday night, when God wrought ſix days for our example; Curſed be he that doth the worke of p. 277Ier. 48. 13.Jer 48:13the Lord negligently. Woe to all evill beaſts, ſlow bellies, and woe to the idol ſhepherds that feed themſelves and not the flock▪ Ezek. 34. 2. 3. But eſpecialy wo to thoſe who are worſe then idle drones which though they are ready to burſt with hony but not with worke, yet do not ſting the painfull Bees, though lazy yet without a ſting; But not long ago this was offence enough, to be a diligent preacher, they caſting as evill an eye upon ſuch men, as ever Soul did upon David, becauſe their laboriouſneſſe, did condemne their lazineſſe. This is ſo great and difficult a worke, that Paul ſaith who is ſufficient for theſe things, yea Aug. ſaith, it is onus angelicis humer…s formidandum, a burthen too heavy for the ſhoulders of Angels to beare. O how have men ſpent themſelves, waſted their lungs, and lives in this laborious work? which farre exceeds the greateſt bodily labour, being the labour of the mind, the diſtraction of the brain, &c. O what wonderfull paines have the fathers and moderne writers taken in ſtudying and preaching? what huge volums of Auguſtine, Ambroſe, Chryſoſt. Calvin. &c. are yet extant as monuments of their unwearied pains; may they not check our idle neſſe, and make us bluſh? Its true the body muſt be regarded, we may uſe cruelty to a p. 278a beaſt, and be ſelfe-murtherers; God requires of us no more then we are able. But I beleeve rather generally we are too indulgent; It was a noble ſaying of Dr. Reynolds who by reaſon of great ſtudy had contracted a ſickneſſe, his friends perſwaded him to moderation, and not to loſe life to get learning, Non perdere ſubſtantiam propter accidentia, and he anſwered ſmiling, Nec propter vitam vivendi perdere cauſam.

2. As a Miniſter muſt take paines in his ſtudies, ſo likewiſe in the Pulpit by diligent and laborious preaching; Loveſt (a) Ioh. 11. 15. 1 Tim. 4. 2. 1 Pet. 5. 2. Acts 20. 28.John 11:151 Tim 4:21 Pet 5:2Acts 20:28thou me ſaith our Saviour to Peter? then feed my ſheep? and Paul exhorts Timothy; Be inſtant, ſtick cloſe to the buſineſſe, preach the word in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, foreign, in a good ſeaſon, (which I conceive he means the Lords day, being the particular ſeaſon appointed for the preaching of the word) and out of ſeaſon, that is, at other ſeaſonable times, beſides that ſet time, as occaſion is offered, taking all opportunities of doing good. You ſee though he bids himEſ. 28. 10.Isa 28:10 drink a little wine for his ſtomacks ſake, yet he bids him not preach but a little for his healths ſake; for we cannot be ſpent better then thus to waſte our ſelves to ſave the ſoules of others. It was the ſpeech of p. 279Biſhop Jewel unto a Gentleman that met him going to preach, and ſaw him ſo feeble, adviſing him to turn back again, but he anſwered him Oportet Epiſcopum conciona…tem mori, a Biſhop ought to die preaching, and ſo he did, for ſoon after ſermon by reaſon of ſickneſſe he was forced to bed, and never came off his bed again, It was Aug. his wiſh, that Chriſt might find him at his coming Aut precantem aut predicantem, praying or preaching. Mr. Calvin alſo being much weakned in body, by his great paines in the work of the miniſtry, ſaid, would you have the Lord when he comes, to find me idle? O bleſſed is the man ſaith our Saviour, whom his Lord when he commeth ſhall finde ſo doing, that is, giving them their meat in due ſeaſon, Matth. 24. 45. 46. Alas our time is ſhort and precious, we have not long to worke though we would; night commeth when no man can work; Think every ſermon, this may be the laſt ſermon that ever I ſhall preach; therefore whatever thou findeſt in thy hand to do, do it with all thy might, Eccleſ. 9. 10. 2 Pet. 22. 14. Chriſt died and bled, and wept for ſoules, and ſhall not we ſweat for ſoules? O conſider often, what a fearfull thing it is to be guilty of the bloud p. 280of ſoules, as we heard before. One reports that in a Synod of the Clergy at Paris Clarkes mir…our p. 127. examp. 10.1228. one appointed to make a ſermon, was much troubled what text to take, the divell appeared to him, and told him he needed not to be troubled about that, the Princes of hell (ſaid he) ſalute you, O you Princes of the Church, and gladly give you thanks, becauſe through your negligence ſo many ſoules go down to hell; (a dreadfull ſaying) ſhall we preferre our idleneſſe before the ſalvation of the peoples ſoules? what paines did Jacob take in feeding of his flock of ſheep? he regarded not the heat of the day, nor the cold of the night, nor want of his ſleep, Gen. 31. Remember the woes denounced againſt idle and idol preachers by the Prophets, (a) and by Paul, woExek. 34. 2. Zach 11. 17. I…r. 48. 10.Zech 11:17 be to me if I preach not the Goſpel; it may be on our death beds we will cry out of loſſe of time, that we were all day long in Gods vineyard, and almoſt all the day idle, or tooke no paines to what we might have done. Its true, all have not abilities alike, but our beſt indeavour is required, and accepted, if there be a willing minde it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not that he hath not, 2 Cor. 8. 12. he that had but two talents and wrought p. 281with them, was accepted as well as he that had five; only the ſlothfull ſervant that hid his talent in a napkin, was condemned.

Thirdly, Miniſters muſt ſtudy to preach3. Profitably. profitably, 1 Pet. 2. 2. 11. Tit. 3. 8, 9. not froth in ſtead of food, like thoſe Prophets that prophecied vain and fooliſh things to the people, Lament. 2. 14. …eeding them with empty huskes in ſtead of the bread of life; Not empty clouds, which when we ſee, we ſay a ſhowre commeth, but behold in ſtead of a gracious ſhowre, perhaps a ſtormy tempeſt, or at beſt clouds without water, unſavou…y ſalt, trees without fruit; ſhadows in ſtead of …ubſtance; Children crying for bread, they give them a ſtone, and for fiſh, and they give them a ſerpent. But we muſt feed them with bread of life, wholeſome food, ſuch asCor 12. 7. 1 Cor. 14. 12.1 Cor 14:12 may nouriſh. This is the end of all gifts to profit with them, (a) and therefore we ſhould ſtudy to excell in gifts for the edifying of the Church; (b) I had rather ſaith Paul ſpeak five words to teach and edifie, then ten thouſand words in an unknown tongue (ſo as the people could not profit) 1 Cor. 14. 19. where the dead carkaſſe is, thither will the eagle reſort. Think not what paines thou takeſt, p. 282but cui bono; whether thy paines be profitable for the people; for a man may preach painfully; and yet very unprofitably; and then as he that ſweareth vainly taketh Gods name in vain, ſo he that preacheth unprofitably, taketh Gods word in vain. And yet ſometimes a miniſter may take comfort, and ſhall have his reward, though his people be not gathered; I have laboured in vain, &c. ſaith Iſaiah, yet my reward is with the Lord, and Eſ. 44. 4.Isa 44:4my worke with my God; ſometim…s we are ſent to be the ſavour of death unto death,Eſ. 6. 21.Isa 6:21 and to make the heart of a people fat, &c. but this is not when the people periſh through our negligence. Aug. makes this reſemblance, ſuppoſe a Blackamore▪ and another comes to a Barbers ſhop to be waſhed, he takes equall paines with both, the one is made whiter, the other Blacker, yet the Barber is equally payd. There is cura offi…ii that belongs to us, and cura eventus that belongs to God, Weams Cert. Law. Alas its not our work to convert ſoules, but Gods; we may ſow the ſeed, but God muſt give ſucceſſe; Rebecca may cook the meat, but Iſa…c muſt give the bleſſing, Moſes may hew the tables, but God muſt write the law; we may carry the bottle, but its God that gives the wine; we p. 283may ſpeak words, but its God that gives grace; in Caelo cathedram habet qui corda movet. Si non ſit intus quidocet, inanis ſtrepitus noſter; Paul is nothing, Apollos is nothing, but God muſt give the increaſe.

4. Miniſters muſt preach Chriſt faithfully;4. Faithfully. he that hath my word, let him preach my word faithfully, Jer. 23. 8. aa1 Cor. 4. 2.1 Cor 4:2as ſtewards and ambaſſadours muſt do their maſters meſſage. 1. Not to call evill good nor good evill, making the heart of the righteous ſad, and ſtrengthning the hands of the wicked. bbEzek. 13. 22.Ezek 13:222. Not to ſuppreſſe or omit any needfull truths, or reproo…es out of feare or …avour, as(c) Ezek. 2. 7. Ier. 1. 7. 8.Ezek 2:7Jer 1:7Jer 1:8 Nathan was faithfull to David, Iohn to Herod, Elias to Ahab, yea Balaam himſelfe ſaid, the word that God putteth into my mouth, that will I ſpeake, ddNum. 22. 38.Num 22:383. Not to preach pleaſing things out of flattery and deſire to get …avour, eeIer. 6. 14. Ier. 13. 17. Ezek. 13. 19. 11.Jer 6:14Jer 13:17Ezek 13:19Ezek 13:11when like falſe glaſſes they repreſent not a true face; (f) As thoſe that told Dionyſius his ſpittle was as ſweet as honey, and thoſe that flattered Caeſar that told him his freckles in his face were like the ſtars in the firmament; flattery undid Ahab, Nero, Herod, Alexander, &c. Theſe are the undoers of the ſoules of the people, p. 284like evill Chirurgions that skin over the(e) Ier. 6. 14. Lam. 2. 14. Ier. 23. 17.Jer 6:14Lam 2:14Jer 23:17 wound but never heale it. (g) Eſpecially at their deaths, O then eſpecially take heed of daubing them over with untempered mortar, and ſo the poor man is in hell, when he thought to have been in Abrahams boſome. This ſin will lie heavy upon a miniſters conſcience when he lies a dying. Will you lie for God, or talke deceitfully for his cauſe? ſaith God, Iob. 13. 7.

5. Miniſters muſt preach Chriſt zealouſly, with intention of affection, and5. Zealouſly. ſpeech. Cry aloud, ſpare not, &c. Eſ. 58. 1. though we need not boare bellow out,Eſ. 40. 8. Tit. 1. 5. Act. 7. 5Isa 40:8Titus 1:5Acts 7:5 yet we muſt acriter urgere, and cloath the matter with ſuitable expreſſions, as apparell to fit the body and the ſeaſon; when the Holy Ghoſt came upon the Diſciples in Acts 2. 3. 4. fire ſate upon their tongues: And the Angel touched Iſaiahs tongue with a cole of fire, it was not diptEſ. 6. 6. 7.Isa 6:6Isa 6:7 in water; and the two witneſſes, fire came out of their mouthes, Rev. 11. 5. Elias was a man made up of heavenly fire, and for his zeal was carried up in a fiery chariot into heaven; And Jeremy profeſſeth that the word was like a fire within his bones, Jer. 20. 7. Gods word is compared to fire, a hammer p. 285and a ſword, Ier. 23. 29. Heb. 4. 12. and therefore we muſt ſo uſe it, as it may heat the coldeſt heart, break the ſtony heart, and cut and fetch bloud from the hardeſt hearts, Acts 2. 37. Alas naturall men are in a dead ſleep, and many godly are inEph. 5. 14. Eſ. 6. 9.Eph 5:14Isa 6:9 a lethargy, and in aſnorting ſleep, as the wiſe virgins, and had need be awakened with a loud voice, eſpecially conſidering our meſſage is of ſo great importance. But this is a fault of Miniſters now a dayes, who love not to have their tongues tipt with fire, but dipt in water, not to be a hammer or a ſword, but a reed ſhaken with the wind; they love not to be the ſalt, but the ſugar and honey of the word, (the ſalt hath loſt its ſavour,) and the reaſon is, becauſe men will not endure it, but are ready to gnaſh theirAct. 7. 51.Acts 7:51 teeth at ſuch preaching, and call it malice, &c. when as indeed it is the greateſtlove that can be: As if a mans houſe be ſet on fire, we muſt not ſpeak ſoftly as loth to awaken him, Sir your houſe is on fire, &c. Cry aloud, ſpare not, ſave them with, feare, pulling them out of the fire; he is theIude 23. Zach. 3. 2.Jude 1:23Zech 3:2 beſt Chirurgion or Phyſitian, not that puts his Patient to leaſt pain, but that cures and heales; Not he that is moſt pleaſing but moſt profitable. Yet alas men p. 286cry out of ſuch preachers, as fiery fellows, (like the fiery diſciples that ſaid, command fire from heaven) the man is mad, now he railes and vents his malice; And their beſt language is, its his paſſion the man is angry; like the widdow while her oyle increaſed the Prophet was a good man, but when ſhee thought hee ſlew her ſonne, then ſhee cryes out, art thou come to call my ſin to remembrance and to ſlay my ſon? 1 Kings 17. 18. What have I to do with thee? Indeed anger may be a ſin, when it is againſt the perſon of another; but not when againſt his ſin, keeping bounds, ſo it is our duty to be angry; as Pauls ſpirit was whetted, ſharpened, &c. Act. 17. 16. and c. 13. 10. And Iohns ſpirit, Matth. 3. 7. And our bleſſed Saviour, Matth. 23. 33. Yea ſerpents, generation of vipers, &c.

6. Miniſters muſt preach Chriſt lovingly,6. Lovingly. take heed our own paſſions mingle not with our zeale, that we vent not them to diſgrace others, or eaſe our own venemous ſpirits; excellent is the ſpeech of Bullinger in his preface before his Decades, Ab…it fel amaritud…nis & petulantia; Sit objurgatio prudens, potius quam audax; Ardeat non ira ſed ſpirit us ve…ementia, & ſcelus potius quam ſcelerati perſon im-perſequi. We p. 287were gentle among you, ſaith Paul, as a nurſe cheriſheth her children, and we exhorted you as a father doth his children, 1 Theſ. 2. 7. 11. Zeale and love may ſtand together; for zeal is nothing but the blood and ſpirits of love; as Moſes loved the people, and prayed for them, and wiſhed to be raſed out of the book of life, for their good; yet ſo zealous was he that he made them drinke the powder of the calfe that they had made, Exod. 32. But take heed of that ſame foreign bitter zeal complained of in Iames 3. 14. when ſtrange fire is mingled with Gods fire.

Caution. Yet its good not only to come with love in our hearts, but to uſe expreſſions of love in our ſpeeches, as bees that carry honey in their mo…thes, as well as a ſting about them, and pils are wrapt in ſugar; Thus our bleſſed Saviour wept over them in Ieruſalem, when he ſaid, O that thou hadſt known in this thy Luk. 19. 41.Luke 19:41day the things that belongs to thy peace; weeping tears are the blood and ſpirits of love; By this he ſhewed how he was affected with their miſery; His eyes were glazed with tears, that they might be as looking glaſſes to view the bowels of compaſſions that lay at his heart; as when p. 288he wept for Lazarus, they ſaid, behold how he loveth him. So likewiſe Paul, I tell you it weeping (whiles my pen is going, mine eyes are weeping) yet I tell you it, their end is damnation; and Ieremy, if you will not heare, my ſoule ſhall weep in ſecret for your pride, Jer. 13. 17. Miniſters are indeed the ſalt of the earth, but we do not uſe to ſet on nothing but ſalt upon the table, though we ſprinkle every diſh with ſalt. One reports of Pharaohs daughter, that ſhe had a fiſtula in her breſt, and would admit none to touch it, the Chirurgeon got leave to coole it, waſhing it with a cloth, &c. and ſo having a penknife ſecretly hid, he opened it, & ſo he cured the diſeaſe; Its love that ediſieth.

7. Miniſters muſt preach the Goſpel wiſely. I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of judgement ſaith Micah? I catcht you by craft, ſaith Paul. (b) This wiſedome muſt appeare in three particulars.

1. To put difference between perſons and perſons, for though we may reprove all, great as ſmall, yet not after the ſame manner; reproofe is a degree of puniſhment or correction, and therefore not to be given to all in the ſame manner; rebuke not an Elder, but exhort him as a father; p. 289cc1 Tim. 5. 1.1 Tim 5:1Is it fit to ſay to a king thou art wicked; or to Princes, ye are ungodly? ſaith Iob; ddIohn 34. 18.And yet Miniſters may reprove kings for their ungodlineſſe, as Nathan did David; But it muſt be done with great reverence and reſpect to their perſons; as Nathan bowed himſelfe to David, and Ioah alſo in his reproof of David, 2 Sam. 24. 3. 2. We muſt difference between ſinners: Some ſin of weakneſſe and ſome of wilfulneſſe, thoſe that ſin of weakneſſe we muſt reſtore with a ſpirit of meekneſſe, Iude 23. we muſt not break a bruiſed reed; Our Lord Chriſt bare with Peter in his weaknes (when he deſerved to have bin left to himſelfe) a…d took him by the hand, ſaying, O Thou of little faith, &c. Matth. 14. 13. and when the diſciples ſlept. Matth. 26. 41. The ſpirit ſaith he is willing, but the fleſh is weak. Thoſe1 Cor. 9. 19. &c. Gal. 6. 12. Rom. 15. 1.1 Cor 9:19Gal 6:12Rom 15:1 that are bold, proud and obſtinate ſinners, thoſe we muſt rebuke ſharply aaTit. 1. 13. Act. 13. 10.Titus 1:13Acts 13:10(foreign) cuttingly; ſome are like nettles, the gentler they are handled, the more they ſting, or like lime, the more water you throw on them, the more they burn. Again ſome ſins are ſecret, which we muſt reprove them of ſecretly; Tell him between him and thee; bbMatth. 18. 15. Iohn 4. 16.Matt 18:15John 4:16But ſome are more open which may be rebuked more p. 290openly, yet ſo as (if we can) to hide the(c) 1 Tim. 5. 20.1 Tim 5:20 perſon and diſcover only his ſin, aiming at his reformation, not his defamation; It is great wiſedome to know when to mourn, and when to dance, when to uſe oyle, and when vinegar, when to uſe a ſearingiron, and when a ſear-cloth, 3. 3In a readineſſe to acknowledge what is good in them, the more eaſily to win upon them though never to flatter them, 1 Cor. 9. 20. thou art not farre from the Kingdome of heaven ſaith our Lord Chriſt to the young man: And Paul to Agrippa, Beleeveſt thou the Prophets? I know that thou beleeveſt, &c, Act. 26. 27, 28.

88. We muſt preach Chriſt ſincerely aiming onelyonly at his glory, and not ourSincerely. own applauſe to advance our own credit; As Ioab when he was ready to take Rabba, ſent to David, ſaying, Come thou and take it, (leaſt the glory ſhould have been attributed to himſelfe) We are the friends of the bridegroom, we muſt not ſue for our ſelves (as Sampſons ſpokes-man wooed for a wife for him, and took her to him ſelfe, Iudg. 14. 20.) but for the bridegroom; we preach not our ſelvs, ſaith Paul, but Ieſus Chriſt, and our ſelves your ſervant for Chriſts ſake 2 Cor. 4. 5 He muſt increaſe, but I muſt decreaſe, and in this I p. 291rejoyce, ſaith Iohn, Ioh. 3. 29. 30. This ſin ſticks very cloſe to the beſt of us. Paul himſelfe was ſubject to be exalted above meaſure; you may eaſily empty a veſſell of water, but not of aire; This ſerpent will creep into paradiſe amidſt the trees of pleaſure; Corn though never ſo well …and, when ſown, will come up with chaffe; the envious man, though we ſow good ſeed, will be ſowing tares. Nay the better our parts and gifts are, and the better our performances come off, we are the more ſubject to be proud of them; Rarum eſt in multis praecellere & multum de… ſpicere; It is rare to be eminent in gifts and humble, as the fineſt cloth is moſt ſubject to moths, and men are ſooneſt poyſoned with ſweet flowers. Gaetera vitia in malefactis ſunt cavenda, ſuperbia vero in bonis. Aug. Other ſins are to be taken heed of in things that are evill, but pride in thoſe that are good!

But remember no honey was offeredLevit. 2. 11.Lev 2:11 in ſacrifice, becauſe though it was ſweet yet it would bubble up; were thy duties as ſweet as honey, yet if they bubble up with pride, they are not acceptable; Nay …he better the ſermon, and the more pains thou haſt taken, if proud of it, the greater is thy ſin, becauſe thou robbeſt God of p. 292the more glory; and it proves but great paines to purchaſe great miſery. It was a noble and excellent ſaying, Melior eſt humilitas in malis quàm ſuperbia in bonis, that is, a man were better fall into a ſin and be humbled after it, then to do a good action, and be proud of it. If we could truſt God with our credit, name, &c. and ſeek his glory, he would honour us; Thoſe that honour me I wil honour, (even here ſo farre as he ſees good for us, and in heaven eternally.) But on the contrary God will ſtaine the pride of all glory, Eſ. 23. 9. and turn our glory into ſhame, Prov. 25. 27. As to eat too much honey is not good, (becauſe it turns into gall and bitternes) ſo for a man to ſeek his own glory is not glory; why? becauſe God turnes it into ſhame and infamy.

In the laſt place we muſt preach9 Exemplarily. Chriſt examplarily; In holy converſation, thas life and doctrine goe together, and do not croſſe each other; Be thou an axample to the flock, ſaith Peter, 1 Pet. 5. 3. We muſt ſay as Gideon to his ſouldiers,Iudg. 7. 17.Judg 7:17 look on me, and do likewiſe; We muſt not bind h…avy burthens upon other mens backs, and we our ſelves not touch them with one of our fingers, as did the Phariſees; p. 293The Prieſts had on their breaſtplates Ʋrim and Thummim, becauſe they were not only to give light of direction by teaching, but alſo to be a patterne of perfection in their practice; They had alſo upon the fringe of their garments bels and pomegranates, typifying their ſounding doctrine, and their fruitfull life; but if there be nothing but bels and no pomegranates, they may make a noiſe, but it will be like ſounding braſſe and tinkling cymbals; And the diſciples when the Holy Ghoſt came upon them, had cloven tongues, as it were, fingers on their tongues to teach them their words ſhould be their works; It was the mark of a bad man, but it is the note of a good miniſter to ſpeak with his feet, and teach with his fingers, Prov. 6. 13. He muſt be tota vox not vox & praeterea nihil; Let the people ſay; As we have heard, ſo we have ſeen; The people ſhould ſee the preachers voice acted in his converſation.Like the Angels that had wings, and hands under their wings, Ezek. 1. 8.Ezek 1:8

1. Miniſters are called Angels, becauſe (perhaps) we ſhould be as Angels in our lives, in compariſon of other men; but if Angels fall they turn divels. We are cald ſtarres which are the ornaments of the heavens, becauſe we ſhould be the ornaments of the Church, but if we be ſpotted p. 294and blemiſhed with ſinfull lives, we are not the ſtarres, but ſtains and blemiſhes of the Church. O then let our care be to be holy as Angels are holy, yea as God is holy in all manner of converſation, walking with God in our cloſets, in our families, in our words and ſpeeches, not given to fooliſh talking and unſeemly jeaſting, but ſober, and gracious, our lips dropping as an honey combe, forgetfull of injuries, ſlow to anger, patient in afflictions, ready to do good to all, but harmefull to none, and a companion of them that feare the Lord. We areas a city ſet upon a hill, our converſation is narrowly looked into, a little ſpot is ſoon ſeen, a little hole ſoon ſpied in our coat; (yea if there be none, they will make one if they can) As Plutarch obſervs; The leaſt blemiſh in the face, be it but a wart, is more perſpicuous then deformed ſcars in the reſt of the body; for a ſcarr in the body may be covered with garments, but a mole in the face is apparent to all. Therefore let our light ſo ſhine that menMatth. 5. 16.Matt 5:16 may ſee our good works, and glorifie our father which is in heaven.

2. We are called to draw neer unto God, and be with God as it were in the mount, as Moſes was, therefore we had p. 295need be holy; I will be ſanctified of themMedius inter deum & populum debet eſſe ſimilimus. Rain. Panth. Levit. 21. Zach. 3. 4.Lev 21Zech 3:4 that com… neare me. Levit. 10. 3. it was written upon Aarons forehead when he ſtood before the Lord, foreign holineſſe to the Lord, and no man that had any blemiſh could be made a Prieſt; When Iohoſhua the high prieſt ſtood before the Lord, he was then commanded to put off his filthy garments; Unclean hands are unfit to carry Gods ark; Alas who are we to ſpeak to God and live; much leſſe to ſpeak from God to the people, that they may live? When God appeared in his holineſſe, wo is me, ſaid Iſaiah, I am undone becauſe I am a man of unclean lips, for mine eyes have ſeen the king the Lord of hoſts, Eſ. 6. 5. 7. He was afraid to look upon God, till God ſent an Angel to him that ſaid; Thine iniquity is taken away, and thy ſin is purged. How holy had they need be that draw neer to ſo holy a God? who can dwell with everlaſting burnings Eſ. 33. 14. (that is have cōmunion with the holy God) Surely none other but he that walketh righteouſly, as verſe 15. Hence the Prieſt in the old law, was not to go up by ſteps unto the altar, leaſt his nakedneſſe ſhould have been diſcovered thereon, Exod. 20. ult. and they were appointed linnen breeches from the loynes p. 296to the thighs for the ſame end, typifyingExod. 28. 42. 43.Exod 28:42Exod 28:43 how holy we ought to be that draw near unto God, that no filthy nakedneſſe do appeare.

3. Then indeed we preach with authority,Id …um imperio dicitur quod pri…s agitur quàm dicitur. Suadet loquentis vua. Non oratio. when we practiſe that our ſelves which we preach to others; As our bleſſed Saviour taught with authority, not as the Scribes, becauſe he did and taught Act. 1. 1. he taught by example as well as precept; Learne of me ſaith our Lord Chriſt, that I am meek and lowly; So Ioh. 13. 15. when he waſht his diſciples feet, I have given you, ſaith he an example, that you ſhould do as I have done unto you, &c. Then is there life in our doctrine, when there is doctrine in our life, and likely, that that comes from the heart, goes to the heart, and (ordinarily) affects more then all ſtudied phraſes and Rhetoricall flouriſhes. Why did Herod reverence Iohn-Baptist, but becauſe he was a juſtMatth. 6. 20.Matt 6:20 man and holy in his converſation; For holineſſe is venerable; Godlines with power is full of majeſty; This made wicked Saul ſo reverence the Prophet Samuel; (he was afraid of him) And Ahab Elias; And Ioaſh Iehoiada, Yea a child or poor man-ſervant or maid-ſervant in a family, have a throne ſet up in the heart of a wicked maſter, p. 297father, &c. But on the contrary, our words have little power with the people, when our lives are contrary, as the Scribes and Phariſees taught with little authority, becauſe they ſaid, but did not. WordsDicta factis deficientibus erubeſcunt. Quid verba audiam? facta non video. bluſh where deeds faile; Phyſitian heale thy ſelfe; Thou that ſayeſt a man ſhould not ſteal, doſt thou ſteal? ſaith the Apoſtle, Rom. 2. Suppoſe a man ſhould ſmite another with a wounded arme, alas he would ſmite but faintly, becauſe while he ſmites another, he bleeds himſelfe. Mr. Dyke on Philem. tels a ſtory of Lucian an Apo…hecary, who made himſelfe ridiculous by ſelling a medicine to cure the cough in others, but could not cure himſelfe. And ſurely ſuch a man that reproveth another of what himſelfe is guilty of, foameth out but his own ſhame, Iude 13.

4. A bad life makes men loath the wholeſome truths taught, though never ſo excellent; As a man loaths good and wholeſome meat when it comes out of a foule diſh, or as we loath the light of the candle, when ſet upon a ſluttiſh candleſtick: Thus Elies ſonnes made the people abhorre the offerings of the Lord by their wicked lives, 1 Sam. 2. 7. The Lacedemonians when one deboiſt in life p. 298ſtept up & gave good counſel, they wouldCujus vita deſpicitur, ejus praedicatio contemnitur. Greg. not receive it, till another of a grave carriage ſtept up and gave the ſame counſell, and then they followed it. The ſins of a Teacher are teaching ſins: Praecepta docent, exempla movent. And hence it is that in the old law there was as great a ſacrifice offered for the ſins of the miniſter, as for the ſins of the whole congregation; as if his ſins were as great as the ſins of the whole congregation. Levit. 4. 3.

5. In the laſt place; If we preach not Chriſt exemplarily, alas we ſhall not ſave our ſoules and thoſe that hear us, but whiles we preach to others, our ſelves1 Cor. 9. ult.1 Cor 9 may prove caſtawayes; of whom it may be truly ſaid (as it was falſely of Chriſt) They ſaved others, themſelves they could not ſave; As thoſe that built the ark of Noah which ſaved others, but themſelves were drowned; Or as Moſes that brought the people to the land of Canaan, but entred not in himſelfe; Or as Sampſons lion that had honey in his belly, which refreſhed others but not himſelfe or as trees that beare fruit for others, but not for themſelvs; Or like Caeſars ſouldier that digd a fountain for Caeſar, and himſelfe periſhed for want of water: So we (if ſuch) while others are ſeaſoned p. 299we ſhall be thrown to the dunghill, and when we have ſhined like candles in the houſe to others, our ſelves ſhall go out in a ſnuff. Yea then all our ſermons to others will witneſſe againſt our ſelves, and make our judgement inexcuſable. Thou art inexcuſable O man, that reproveſt another, and doſt the ſame things. aaRom. 2. 21.Rom 2:21Out of thine own mouth will I condemn thee, bbLuk. 19. 22.Luke 19:22thine own words ſhall accuſe thee and not I, yea thine own lips ſhall beare witneſſe againſt thee, ſaith Iob. ccIob. 15. 6.Job 15:6O then let us tremble and take heed with Paul leaſt that by any meanes when we have preached to others, we our ſelves1 Cor. 9. 24.1 Cor 9:24 ſhould be rejected; And let us take the counſell he gave to Timothy, 2 Tim. 4. 16. To take heed to our ſelves, & to our doctrine, that thereby we may both ſave our ſelves and thoſe that hear us.

1. Caution, Not that men can expect we ſhould be free from infirmities, though from enormities we may, we can hardly keep our clothes from duſt, though from dirt we may. Alas we are but men ſubject to like paſſions with other men, as was Elias, Paul, &c. The High Prieſt himſelfe who was only to enter into the holy oſ holyes, he was, firſt to offer for his own ſins, and then for the ſins of the p. 300people; the moſt godly Miniſter that is,Heb. 9. 7.Heb 9:7 hath his pillar of cloude as well as his pillar of fire, hath ſome frailties, weakneſſes and infirmities; They are but men not Angels, yea though men of God, yet but men; Or if they be Angels, yet Behold he found not ſtedfaſtneſſe in his Angels, Iob. 4. 18. and the ſtarres are not clean in his ſight, Iob. 25. 5.

2. Caution. though our clothes be clean, yet we cannot hinder others from ſoiling us, as men that bruſh their clothes when they ride forth, yet if they ride in dirty wayes, they may ſoon be daſhed and ſpotted by the paſſers by: I ſay no man is ſo clean but others may caſt dirt upon him. No cloth is ſo white, but a Dyer can make it black; As the Indians that paint Divels white, and Angels black, becauſe they could not make them black, they would paint them ſo, (yet it were better to be ſuch a black Angel then a white divell.) Thus they did with David; They laid to my charge the things that I knew not, Pſal. 35. 11. Even Chriſt himſelfe was called a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of Publicans and ſinners. Ioſeph, Mephiboſheth, Naboth, how falſely ſlaundered! In the Primitive times when the Chriſtians met before Sun to pray, the p. 301Heathens reported of them that they worſhipped the Sun and aſpired after monarchy, and committed unnaturall adulteries and uncleanneſſe: They reported of Luther that he died deſpairing, and that in his grave there was a great ſtink of brimſtone, and his body not in it, when he was alive to confute it; That Beza ran away with another mans wife; That Calvin was branded on the ſhoulder for a Rogue. Athanaſius was accuſed about thirty times, and cleared his innocency. And Cato was accuſed fifty times wrongfully. Si ſatis eſt accuſare quis innocens erit. And yet let a report be never ſo falſe, it takes alwayes, either to cenſure, or ſuſpicion; Audaciter calumniare, ſemper aliquid haerebit; There is no ſmoak we ſay, but there is ſome fire. Calumnia ſaith Beza (in opuſc.) Levitér volat ſed graviter vulnerat; Levitèr volat ſed non tam leviter revocatur; reproach quickly flies out, but it deeply wounds, it quickly flies out, but it is not ſo quickly recalled again. Yet no ſin more cōmon in theſe dayes; As they did with Ieremy, Come let us deviſe divices againſt Ieremy, let us ſmite him with the tongue; Report ſay they, and we will report it, Ier. 18. 18. & 20. 10. But let theſe men take heed, leaſt with what meaſure they meet, p. 302it be meaſured to them again; And as they judg, leaſt they alſo be judged, and leaſt others alſo blot their name on earth, and leaſt God ſhould blot their name out of heaven. And let them remember, they do not only blemiſh and take away our good names, which are better then riches, yea then multitudes of gold and ſilver, Prov. 22. 1. but alſo hinder the power of our miniſtry, (and the preaching of Chriſt) in the hearts of our hearers; And Chriſt takes it as done unto himſelfe, He that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth me, &c. whom God oft meets withall in this life, Act. 23. 4. 5. God ſhall ſmite thee thou white wall, &c. which was not Pauls weakneſſe, as Hierom thought; Nor a malediction as others; But (as ſome think) a prediction, for ſo it is reported, he was afterw…rd cruelly ſlain by a captain of the Iewes in the beginning of the Iewiſh warres; Indeed Paul ſaid he wiſt not that he was the High Prieſt, &c. Not that he forgat him or knew him not, but becauſe he was not juſtly the High Prieſt, which now was ceaſed, (as Calvin, Chryſoſt. and Beda.)