Seven Sermons, Sermon 2 – Sermon 3
A SERMON VPONUPON
1 SAM. 2. 30.
Wherefore the Lord God of Iſraell ſaith, I ſaid indeed, that thy houſe, and the houſe of thy father ſhould walke before me for ever: but now the Lord ſaith, bee it farre from me: for them that honour me, J will honour, and they that deſpiſe me, ſhall be lightly eſteemed.
BEſides other things, this is one maine part of the Chapter: The Iudiciall proceſſe of God againſt Eli, in which wee may obſerue theſe two ſteps, or degrees. Firſt, wee have the ſinne of Eli againſt God. Secondly, we have the ſentence of God againſt Eli.
I. The ſinne of Eli againſt God, which was partly, the ſinne of his ſonnes, in the twelfth 1. … Eliverſe. And partly his owne perſonall ſin.
His ſonnes: of them is noted, the looſeneſſe of their lives in the office of the Prieſthood, in 1 ….many particulars.
For Elies ſinne in his owne perſon; is noted the looſenes of his diſcipline, that he carried himſelfe 2 Ipſius.too remiſſely, and indulgently towards his ſonnes, in caſe of their ſinning, and then
Secondly, as we have the ſinne of Eli againſt 2. Sententia Dei.God: So, vponupon that, the ſentence of God againſt Eli, wherein we may obſerve 2. diſtinct things.
Gods gracious exaltation of him: ver. 27. which 1. ….God mentions by way of introduction, evincing the equity of his proceedings againſt Eli: he doth it by a commemoration, and taking notice of all the mercy, which hee had beſtowed upon him, and upon his family: that he had pickt him out from among the children of Iſrael, and advanced him to the dignity of the Prieſthood. And this is brought in as an aggravation of his ſinne. I ſaid (ſaith God) that thy houſe, and the houſe of thy father ſhould walke before mee for ever: how durſt thou then doe ſuch a thing as to kicke at my ſacrifice, and at my offering, which I commanded in my habitation, and honoureſt thy ſons aboue me.
Now this being cleare, and the equity, and juſtice of the ſentence being evinced, wee have
Secondly, (in the words of the Text) his juſt …. Iuſta Degradatio.degradation, and the ſeverity of the ſentence, wherin you may obſerve (to give briefly the ſumme of it) theſe 3. things.
In the beginning of the verſe, you have a pattent or graunt of honour to Eli, and his family: 1. Conceſſio Honor….I ſaid thou and thy fathers houſe ſhould walke before me for ever.
Secondly, we have the revocation of that graunt but now thus ſaith the Lord, Farre bee 2. Revocatio Conceſſion…it from me.
Thirdly, we have the reaſon of that revocation: 3. …why his pattent and graunt of honour was revoked and called in: wherein there is
Jmplyed, in the ſinne of Eli, his provoking God 1. Culpa Eli.by deſpiſing and not honouring of him, in the place of honour that God had ſet him in.
Directly expreſt, the Iuſtice of God and the holines 2. Iuſtitia Dei.of his nature, which would not ſuffer him to winke at ſuch exorbitancies: it is incompatible with his nature, to beare with ſuch injuries: he ſhould deny his nature, if he did ſuffer it; in the laſt words; thoſe that honour mee I will honour, but thoſe that deſpiſe mee ſhall bee lightly eſteemed.
Before I enter into the conſideration of the words read, I ſhall propound but one obſervation out of the hiſtory, which though perhaps it may ſeeme ſomething curious, yet I know it may be exceeding profitable. In the main of the ſtory, we may, both in regard of every Perſon and every family, and every State, and every Church, ſee a mirrom of the courſe of honour, and the ſleppes by which it doth decline.
I onelyonly note thus much out of this ſtory, in one thing.
Wee have here three generations recorded to us: Eli, Phinchas, and Ichabod. Eli, he begets Phinchas, and Phinchas he begets Ichabod. Now in Eli God taxeth remiſſenſſe, want of zeale: in Phinchas he taxeth prophaneneſſe, want of conſcience: and Ichabod, (his very name boades no other.) The glory is departed from Iſrael. The note then is this.
Let but Zeale in a perſon, in a Family, in a ſtate or Church; once degenerate to luke-warmeneſſe, and then luke-warmeneſſe will ſoone beget prophanenes, and prophaneneſſe will not be long before it doe precipitate, and bring us to ruine, that will bring in Ichabod, the glory is departed.
Want of zeale is the firſt ſtep, from whence there is but one diſcent to ruine. This being thus briefly premiſed, I ſhall now fall to the words of the Text.
And the text may ſeeme to bee a Charter of the Clergy, or a Kalender for all manner of dignity: or it is a perpetuall prognoſtication of the courſe of honour, though calculated for the Meridian of the high Prieſthood, yet ſuch as may ſerve (as thoſe men vſe to ſpeake) for the generall latitude of all eminency, and may concerne all.
There bee but theſe 5. things: (though there might be many more) which I will take notice of, in the whole verſe. We have.
The
1. Place
2. Fall
3. State
of honour.
4. Riſe
5. Rule
And ſo many things the words imply, and in ſhort, you may eaſily have them at your fingers ends.
In the three former, we have the ſeverall poſtures of honour and
In the two latter, wee have the characteriſticall nature of honour.
In the three former, the ſeverall poſtures of honour: there is
1. Honour Culmenant, in the dignity of the high-prieſthood.
2. Honour Occident, in the fall and declining of it.
3. Honour Orient, in the riſe of it, which is from God. There is likewiſe
The Characteriſticall nature of honour.
The whole ſpheare or the whole globe of honour, hangs very tickle, and it is a very hard thing, to mannage honour well.
And the Horizon, that bounds both the Hemiſpheares, is the laſt thing that I propounded in the Rule, by which the juſtice of God doth weigh (as it were) in the ballance all honour, and that by which it either riſes up, or falls, and declines. One the one ſide, Grace advanceth and perpetuates honour, and on the other ſide, Sinne degrades, and evacuates honour.Obſervation… Honoris.
So that according to theſe 5. there will bee but 5. points I ſhall take notice of out of theſe words.
That the ſervice of God in the Miniſtery, is an honourable 1. Doct. Titulu. Illuſtrisſervice.
(For I ſhall propound it thus rather in a generality, then particularly confine it to the high Prieſt-hood, which was the ſervice of thoſe times) I ſay the ſervice of God in the Miniſtery (how ever men eſteem of that ranke and condition,) is an honourable ſervice. I ſaid (ſaith God) thou ſhouldeſt walke before mee: it is a walking before God. The ſcripture makes a Periphraſis of the dignity of Kings; walking in and out before their people. Kings they walke before their people, and miniſters they walke before God. The miniſtery, and ſervice of God in it, is an honourable ſervice.
There is no eminency but is ſubject to the Epilepſy▪ 2. Do…. Status mobilisthere is no honour but may have the falling-ſickneſſe
There is no pattent God grants of perpetuity to any man. As the Lawyer ſpeaks: it is not durante vita, but durante bene placito. God grants no man a pattent for honour during his life, but during his owne good pleaſure, it is not as ſome men hauehave it, quoad vixeret, but quoad ſic geſſeret, ſo long as as a man lives, but ſo long as a man carries himſelfe, toward God as hee ought to doe. There is no honour but is ſubiect to mutability, it is an vnſtable, and ſlippery place: The very ſtate of honour, even when it is in the very flower, and height, and excellency of it, yet then it is a very ſlippery place.
In the next place;
It is a very hard, and difficult thing, to mannage 3 Doct. Munus diffi… le.honour without danger.
And then again (though I know that it might have bin martialled otherwiſe, and preferred a little higher; but yet here it is more proper for my ſcope) there will bee another part which is:
All honour is not from the earth, but from heaven, 4. Doct. Ortu… cal…ſtisfrom God.
It is God that raiſeth to honour and he that ruines: it is he that puls downe, it is God that rules all, all is from him, the diſpoſing of honour is in the hand of God: as in Heraldry, it is a received maxime, that the King is the fountaine of honour, it is moſt true here; the King of heaven is the fountaine of honour.
The equitable rule of Juſtice, by which God doth diſpence, or deny honour is according as men doe 5. Doct. … Equa…ile.honour or deſpiſe God.
And that is expreſt in the laſt words, for them that honour mee I will honour, and they that deſpiſe mee ſhall be lightly eſteemed.
For the firſt Point. That the ſervice of God 1. Doct. ….in the Miniſtery, (howſoever the world account it contemptible, yet) it is a very honourable function. Briefly to open the point.
There are but two things, and that in a word 1. Expl…atio propoſit. ….I ſhall ſpeake of.
I. What ſervice and what miniſtery is honourable?
II. How and in what reſpect it is honourable.
I. What ſervice, and what miniſtery is honourable.1. Quod
In a word, that ſervice is honourable, wherin a man is in imediate attendance vponupon God, and that belongs to his ſpeciall family as it were (as Miniſters doe) the ſervice of thoſe is honourable.
Firſt, whether it bee legall: in thoſe that ….lived under the ſtate of the law, it was an honourable place and ſervice then, to belong to God, even in the legall ſervices, and ſacrifices of the Temple. Therefore in the
Second place, (for the Apoſtle ſo reaſoneth) if the ſervices, and employments that ….were legall vnderunder the law were honourable, much more thoſe ſervices, that are Evangelicall under the Goſpell. There being ſo many things that doe much advance, and nothing that doth impure that honour; there is no reaſon to thinke that it ſhould ſuffer diſadvantage, in the ſtate of the Goſpell: if the legall ſervice were ſo honourable, then is the Evangelicall ſervice in the miniſtery, for that hath not loſt but rather gained in point of nour, but
Secondly, How muſt it bee underſtood? in what ſence, and in what reſpect, is this ſervice 1. Quomodo.of God honourable? in one word there may bee:
A double honour, and
A double right to that honour.2. Quoad
A double honour. A Civill honour, and a Spirituall Honour, and it is true, theſe can 1. Qualitatem: Duplex honor Civilis Spiritualis.hardly bee ſeparated among men, but the thing I ſpeake of, aimes, not at civill honour, that the ſervice of the miniſtery is honourable in civill reſpects: that there is a civill honour due to them, more or leſſe is plaine: for it is impoſſible that if there bee a ſpirituall honour due to any, but that men that underſtand themſelves ſhould make ſome expreſſion of it in ſome civill way, but the ſpiritual honour is that which I aime at, now beſides this double honour, there is
A double right and title to this honour; any 2. Duplex … Perſ…na Officioperſon may be honourable: or, an office may bee honourable, honour may bee either in regard of the perſon, or in regard of the office it ſelfe. Some mens perſons are of that worth: as he ſaid ſometime, when others were ſtriving who ſhould ſit higheſt at the feaſt, place mee where you will, I will honour the place where my ſelfe ſits. Some men by their worth may obtaine, and command more honour then the eminency of the place doth afford. As a Giant being in the bottome of a well, though hee be in a very low place, yet he is a Giant, and a great man ſtill, and a dwarfe though hee bee upon high upon the top of a mountaine, yet he remaines a dwarfe ſtill. Perſonall reſpects may deſerve honour, may give a man title to honour, and ſo in that reſpect, their may be honour due to an inferiour office, but I meddle not now with perſonall honour that may belong to this or that Miniſter, in regard of his perſonall excellencie, but the thing that I aime at for the preſent is.
That the very office of the miniſtery is, ipſo facto, honourable: though their be not in a man perſonall Eminencies, that may command ſpeciall reſpect; yet if hee be in the place of the Miniſtery, there is an honour due to him in reſpect of his place, and in reſpect of his Office. Not that I entend here to make a vi… with honour; as ſome Papiſts have done, as one of them ſaid: If he ſhould meet with an Angell, and a Prieſt together, he would firſt doe his duty to the Prieſt, and then afterward ſalute the Angell, but I am ſure in ſome reſpects the office of the miniſtery, is not inferiour to the Angelicall office. I ſhall ſay no more for the opening of the point
For the proofe of it, in a word: I ſhall likewiſe ….be very ſparing, but I cannot altogether omit it.
Firſt of all for the foreign of it that it is ſo, I foreignſhall forbeare particular teſtimonies of ſcripture ſuppoſing the thing to be plaine enough: Thoſe titles and many other things given to them, and thoſe many records in ſcripture may make it appeare clearely; that the ſervice of the miniſtery is an honourable ſervice, but I Scriptura.will give but a touch of ſome few things.
In the firſt beginnings of the world, and of mankind, the Prieſthood and ſervice of God proportionable to thoſe times, did deſcend to the birth-right: the eldeſt, and moſt honourable in the family, did ſucceed in the Prieſthood: To omit the conceits of the ancient Poets of thoſe times whoſe ſpeeches were Rex amicus rex idem hominum at… ſacerdos, it was not ſtrange to have a man a Prieſt of the moſt high God, and a king of regions: but yet in ſcripture wee know that Melchiſedec, was King of Salem, and Prieſt of the moſt high God, but afterward vnderunder the Law, though it pleaſed God to ſever theſe two: Ruben was the firſt borne among his brethren, and ſo had the right of Prieſthood by nature: and ſo the Sacerdoticall dignity ſhould have reſted upon him: yet you know how God by his father Iacob (the Spirit of God directing him) tranſlated this, and divided it betweene two, the honour of the birthright was faſtned upon Levi. As Re…ben loſt it for his ſinne, So Levi got it for his zeale, in excecuting the commands of God upon vile ſinners. God tooke it ſo well at his hand, that he gave him the Prieſthood for it, and the other piece of the birthright, the other dignity, that was tranſlated from Ruben to Judah, ſo that became the royall tribe. Now it ſhewes that the office of the Prieſthood is a very honourable office. Levi attaining it by the birthright, being the eldeſt adopted ſonne.
And in the New Teſtament, there is many titles of dignity, and many intimations of the honour of this office. The Miniſters are the ſeaven golden Candleſticks, and the lights in thoſe Candleſticks; and not inferiour lights, for they are ſtars in the right hand of God, the Angels of the Churches.
And for the foreign, the ground and reaſon of 2. foreign.the point, why any man in reaſon cannot avoide it, but muſt aſſent unto it; viz. that the office of the miniſters of God is very honourable, to omit perſonall reſpects though that might ſerve to convince baſe ſpirits, that have a baſe eſteeme of them, their education is ingenious, they are bred ingeniouſly, in all literature, which all doe account, though not one of the liberall ſciences, yet one that is more honourable then all the reſt, and many other things that belong to that, as wiſedome, or eloquence, or vertue which will beautifie and adorne and make a man honourable, that hath no chinke, or gold, or purchaſe, or birth-right or blood, but I forbeare thoſe, onelyonly whoſoever viewes, and conſiders well, ſhall find, that all things concerning Miniſters in their place are honouriſicable: It is the Lord whom they …ſerve, and he is honourable; the ſervice in which their Lord employes them, is great and honourable, their worke is great and their wages alſo is great, and honourable, I will touch but a little theſethings.
They ſerve a great Lord, and I pray, what 1 Domirus. Rex Cal….makes the ſervants of Kings and Princes honourable, but the honour, and the greatneſſe of their Maſters? there is a reflection from their maſters that guilds over them, and makes them to bee in an honourable eſtate: and ſhall not the ſervants of the king of kings be accounted honourable, that have immediate dependance and attendance vponupon him? it is the ſaying of a great Senator of Rome, hee would willingly (in the great concuſſions, that had ſcattered the whole common wealth) have recovered the liberty, that before they had, but ſeeing they were neceſſitated, and that they muſt needs lay downe their liberty and chuſe a Maſter, he ſaid he would chuſe Pompey, rather then Caeſar, becauſe hee thought him to bee more noble, verttuous, and more ingenious, towards the ſtate of that common wealth and his reaſon was foreign and may not wee ſay more truely foreign? to be a ſervant, and not to bee a mans own man is ſome diſhonour and diminution in it ſelfe, but that is ſuch a diminution, that no man can avoide, we muſt be all ſervants, there is no helpe for that: now this makes an honourable ſervice, to ſerve an honourable Maſter; in that caſe, an honourable ſervice is more conſiderable, then abſolute freedome and liberty, for their maſter is the King of heaven, a meane ſervant belonging to the King, in any office about him, is more honourable, then many an honeſt freeman: the meaneſt of Gods ſervants, the Miniſters, is honourable. But
They are not onelyonly ſervants of a great Maſter, 2. ….but ſervants in an honourable condition and imployment: their imployment under God, and in his ſervice is very honourable. To pitch upon two particulars, and omit all other things, wherein the honour of their imployment is preſented to vsus:
They are employed as Gods Legates,
They are imployed, as Chriſts Colleagues, and companions in that ſervice.
They are imployed as Gods Legats, and Ambaſſadours, and that is no diſhonourable place; nay, it is by the law of nations counted an honourable ſervice: To be an Ambaſſadour to repreſent the perſon of the king himſelfe, according to the cuſtome of ſome kingdomes, though a man of inferiour ranke be imployed for the Kings ſervice that way, he doth obtain the title of honourable as long as hee lives, though he have no other dignity. Now as the Apoſtle ſaies, we are Ambaſſadors for Chriſt, as though God did beſeech you by vsus, wee pray you in Chriſts ſtead, be reconciled to God.
But there may be a great deale of difference of Ambaſſadors, according to the nature of the Ambaſſage they are imployed in: there be ſome meane ambaſſages men may be imployed in, and the…e bee ſome other, that are of higher importance and concernement, that all men are not capable of. Now can there be a greater imployment and ambaſſy, from God to man, than thoſe arrands and buſineſſes which the Miniſters of God are imployed in? (To omit all other circumſtances) they are not imployed about petty and inferiour things, about quarrels or brawles, or ſuch like things: or matters of commerce, or trade in generall, but they are employed about the Staple-trade and maine commerce betweene Heaven, and earth: they are Ambaſſadours in things of the higheſt concernement: not of things belonging to the body, but to the ſoule: and of things that belong to the ſoule, not in ſmall, and inferiour things, but ſuch things as concerne the very vitalls and higheſt excellencies of the ſoule, to bring felicity, and eternity to the ſoule, to helpe and further men in the way to heaven; as it were reducing them to an affinity, to a contraction of a marriage with God himſelfe, and of all ſervices in the world, and of all Ambaſſages, thoſe that are imployed by Princes to negotiate their marriages, are accounted moſt honourable.
And as their relation is honourable, they are Gods ſervants, and their imployment is honourable, they are Gods Ambaſſadours: So they are in this buſineſſe, not onelyonly Legates of God: But
Colleagues with Chriſt; in joynt commiſſion with Chriſt himſelfe. Now doe you thinke that the ſervice, which Chriſt himſelfe acted the part of, ſo long as hee was in the world was contemptible? Chriſt himſelfe was the Miniſter, and Ambaſſadour of God, for thoſe ſame ends, that his Miniſters are (though in a higher degree) hee did that which properly belonged to himſelfe as a Mediator, paying the price of our redemption, yet he did this alſo as hee was a Miniſter, to reduce and bring men vntounto God, I ſay, it was the office of Chriſt in which he ſpent his time upon earth. Now to be joyned with Chriſt, to be his Colleagues, to be in joynt commiſſion with him, muſt needs bee honourable: nay the ſcripture expreſſeth ſomething to adorne them higher, for they are ſaid to bee fellow labourers with God, & that in the greateſt worke, that is, in the converſion of men, as it is the ſaying of the Father, the greateſt worke of the Divinity is, in taking care for our humanity, to ſave our ſoules, now that God would make his Miniſters fellow labourers with himſelfe, it is a very honourable conjunction.
Then gifts are honourable, whether they be gifts ….of knowledge, learning, eloquence, or conſcience.
Laſtly, as their maſter they ſervers honourable, and then ſervice honourable, and gifts honourable: So their reward is alſo honourable. 4. ….I cannot ſpeake of the reward they have here in their way, nor is it to be expected that they ſhould have great matters here, the leſſe they have here, the more remaines for them in heaven: the Papiſts have a conceit that beſides the crowne of glory, and immortallity, that ſhall be given to every faithfull Chriſtian, there is a Coronate alſo of glory, which ſhall give a luſtre to the former: and ſhall be given to 3. ſorts of perſons, to Martyrs, to Virgins, and to Doctors, and they give the reaſon, becauſe there is 3|grand-enemies, viz. the world, the fleſh, and the Devill: and theſe 3. ſorts of perſons encounter them. The Martyrs, they ſhall have a Crowne, becauſe they are imployed in the front of the battell againſt the world, they are ſet (as it were) at Cannons mouth, againſt all the oppoſitions of the world, and they make their ſtation good, and maintaine Gods cauſe, and bidde defiance to all the world, they defie the world, and dare it to doe them hurt.
The virgins, that live, and continue always ſo, they bidde defiance to the fleſh, and therefore they muſt have their crowne. And the Doctors alſo, they muſt have a crowne, becauſe they have the greateſt enemy to encounter with, and ſtand in the greateſt oppoſition, to bid defiance to the devill himſelfe, and all his policies, by which he doth ſeduce men: and they are moſt expoſed to perill, becauſe they are Gods particular inſtruments which God vſeth to reduce men from the jawes of the Devill, and therefore becauſe they goe away conquerors in this, there is a particular Coronet for them. I mention not this to juſtifie every notion in it, but ſure I am the reward of the Miniſters ſhall be a heavenly reward: It is true, there is but little preferment, or incouragement, nothing ſutable to the honour we have ſpoken of, that Miniſters have here. As you know Ambaſſadours have not preferment while they are abroad, but when they come home in their owne countrey their King will preferre them, and ſo God doth, he lets it till they come home, and then Thoſe that convert Da… 1…. 3.many to righteouſneſſe, ſhall ſhine as the ſunne in the firmament, ſhewing that there is a peculiar honour belongs to the Miniſtery.
To come then to the Application of the 2. Applicatio.point,
1. This may be matter of comfort, to the faithfull 1. Conſ…atio.Miniſters of God, againſt thoſe that condemne their perſons and miniſtery; and this is matter of conſolation, to beare them up againſt all ſcornes, and indignities, that are put upon them in regard of their miniſtery. As the Poet reports a ſtory of a certaine rich man, that when hee went abroad, the people that met him, would curſe him, and call him bite …igge, he being a very niggard, yet (ſaith hee) very wittily, Populus me ſibilat, at mihi met ipſe plaudo domi, When I come home to my counting houſe, and ſeeing the angells ſmiling vponupon mee, I comfort my ſelfe againſt all thoſe ſcornefull ſpeeches. So may not the faithfull miniſters of Chriſt doe in the like caſe when the world ſcoffes at them? that when as it is ſaid unto them, as it was ſaid vntounto Eliſha Come vp thou bald pate, Come up thou bald pate: may not they counterpoize this, when as they goe home and come into their cloſets and looke upon the charter, and the commiſsion that they have from God, that they have a commiſſion from the God of heaven, to be his ſervants, in choiſe imployments may not they ſay to themſelves, did not God appoint us to walke in this way? did hee not ſet us in this place and office? and he it is that ſaith, I will honour thee, it is enough that he ſaith I will doe it, he hath not promiſed that the …aſcallity of the world ſhall honour them, but that hee himſelfe will doe it, and laudar… laudato viro, ea demum eſt vera …aus. i. e. they ſhall receive honour from one, which is honourable indeed, and that is true honour. To paſſe the vſe of reproofe.
This point may be of good Vſe for inſtruction, to inſtruct all ſorts and conditions.2. ….
Firſt, it may be a good Item to thoſe that ſhall ſit at the ſterne of the Church, to take care 1. ….whom they doe give admittance and way to in the entrance into the miniſtery. It is a memorable ſtory of Conſtantius, the father of Conſtantine the great, that when he was advanced to honour, there were about him, many Pagans and many Chriſtians, and he (to diſcover who were Chriſtians, and who were not) made an edict: that all thoſe that were Chriſtians, and would not worſhip the heathen Gods, ſhould immediately depart from the Court; upon this all the Pagans ſlockt about him, and many falſe hearted Chriſtians alſo preſented their ſervice to him, to whom he made this anſwer nay (ſaies he) …f you will bee falſe to your God, I will never truſt you to bee a ſervant to me. It behooveth the governours of the Church to prevent this, that no vnworthy perſons be admitted to the office of the miniſtery to bee a ſervant of God in ſo choiſe an imployment. It was … ſinne, that he made Prieſts of … of the people, and it is a ſoule ſhame, and ſinne, that God ſhould be ſerved with baſe and vnworthy perſons, that ſuch ſhould goe for his Ambaſſadours, that caſt a diſgrace, and diſhonour vponupon the office it ſelfe: the ſaying is of old, every blocke is not fit to build in Gods houſe, at leaſt to be a builder, a principall builder, to bee a Miniſter, and diſpencer of the myſteries of the Goſpell. Therefore this may be a good Item to the Church, to take heed who they admit into this office. But humbly, by way of inſtruction, I ſhall need ſay but this:
There is two things required, to make any office warrantable, and authentike in this caſe:
1 There muſt be an Externall Calling, and
2 There muſt be an Internall Calling.
Without the Externall Calling of the Church who can take vponupon him, and vſurpe, ſuch an office as this is?
And without an internall calling, what right hath the Church to put any into ſuch an honourable office? therefore it is the Churches part, to examine whether they whom they admit into this office, have a commiſſion from God or no: and the ſeales of it muſt be.
Ability, and
Integrity.
Ability, for matter of Doctrine, and Integrity for matter of Converſation; and they that doe not bring with them their commiſſion from God, with theſe ſeales, ſhould not End admiſſion from the Church.
This may be a … to Magiſtrates that ….have (though not the acting of any Eccleſiaſticall buſines, yet have) the over-looking of all, and are to have a care of the Church, that all things goe well with them, to fence and hedge about the Miniſters that every wilde beaſt may not tread them downe, that it may not be the cheapeſt thing in the world, to ba…le a Miniſter, who is Gods Ambaſſadour, to ſuffer them to bee evilly dealt withall, and ſhamefully intreated: Shall any one? ſhall a player, have better quarter, then a Miniſter? this is a hard thing: it therefore concernes the Magiſtrates (if this be an honourable place) to fence it; that there may not be liberty to diſhonour it, by every one that pleaſeth.
It may be a good Item to all Miniſters, to maintaine ….the honour of their place, and not to blemiſh or evacuate it with their vnworthines, the place it ſelf is honorable, & ſome men may caſt a luſtre, and honour upon the place, and ſome men may again defile it, and diſgrace it, and expoſe it to contempt and deriſion, as he ſaid of the learned Cardinall, he was a learned man, and for it was advanced to a Cardinallſhip, but when he came to that advancement, quo demum major eo melior, he did adorne the ſcarlet robe that hee wore with more then ſcarlet worth. Let every one labour to adorne the place, and advance the honour of the place by his worthines, and take heed hee doe not make the place vile, for his perſons ſake, but take notice of thoſe things, that makes the miniſtery truely honourable, and indeavour after them. As labour for thoſe abilities, that are required, and neceſſary to ſuch a place: there ſhould be in men ſome competency that way: that they may not bee a ſhame to the place of the Miniſtery. And labour to adorne the place with diligence, and fidelity in the worke of the Lord, ſloth, and negligence, is a contemptible thing, and makes men vile and odious. Labour alſo to adorne it with holineſſe of life and converſation; without which the other are no more but as a pearle in the head of a filthy toade: a pearle in the head, and the body all poiſon, for men to have good and able parts, but ſtinking and rotten lives, ready to poiſon every one with the report of them; that is not the way to maintain the honour of the miniſtery. Labour therefore for an vpright life, and converſation, which will bee a great credit and adorning to the office of the miniſtery, it growes to bee deſpicable, when there is a failing in this, and a man in the want of it, doth but degrade himſelfe of the honour due to the office.
This might alſo bee a caveat to all Candidates, 4. Candidatorumto thoſe that are to enter upon the miniſtery: eſpecially to ſuch as are every way vnfit and vnworthy for it: doe you deſpiſe the honourable place of the miniſtery, that you will bee ready to thruſt your ſelues into it, before God calls you, and their be worth in you to fit you for it? take heed of this, for elſe it will bee your great ſinne, and your exceeding ſhame.
This may bee a good Jtem to the people, in a word, to teach them what apprehenſions, ….they ſhould have concerning the Miniſters, that they would acknowledge this honour, and carry themſelues accordingly, and there be 3. things I will mention.
Firſt, It is fit, that the people ſhould give ….them honourable reſpect, in ſuch a proportion as is meet, an honourable countenance is due to them that are in an honourable place.
Secondly an honourable maintenance is as due, …it is a vaine thing to ſet a man high in reſpect, and to ſtarve a man in his meanes.
There is an honour of Maintenance, as well as of Countenance, and it is impoſſible the repute of the Miniſter ſhould be kept up, without an honourable maintenance. It hath beene ſaid of ſome of the City, that their manner is to deale with their Miniſters, as Carryers doe with their horſes, to lay heavy burthens upon them, exact worke enough; but they ſhall have but eaſie commons, and then to recompence this, they ſhall have bells hung about their necks, they ſhall be commended and applauded highly for excellent Miniſters, and great paines-takers, but good words will not fill hungry bellies, nor cover naked backes, nor fit a ſcholler with a Library. But that no man may miſtake me. I know there is no worthy Chriſtian but abhor…es the thought of this, there is no noble Citizen, but is farre from ſuch a kind of carriage, yet you know there may bee vnworthy cullions whoſe practice is ſuch, Ignoble, hoggiſh Gaderens, that wil be ready to grutch and grumble at the expence of a penny, for the maintenance of the divine candle, that waſteth it ſelfe to give light unto them, that will rather die to ſave charges, then ſpend money to ſave their lives. It is a ſaying, that he that needs the lampe will not grutch to give oyle to preſerve it: but yet many there are who had rather live in the ſhadow of death, then bee at coſt to preſerve the light of life. I have heard it hath beene obſerved by ſome, as an unquall carriage in Miniſters, who will plead earneſtly, for their owne dues, and yet deny God his: Some have obſerved this as an unequall kinde of carriage, but I may tell you it is unequall to force Miniſters to plead for their right untill they bee hoarſe, even then when they ſhould be giving of God his due, and the people theirs: but I ſuppoſe there is no reaſonable man, but will thinke that an honourable maintenance is due to an honourable ſervice.
Laſtly. There is an honour of obedience, and ….ſervice, which is the chiefeſt of all, if they be in an honourable place, then whatſoever they do by vertue of their commiſſion, ſuch as they have good warrant for from God, take heed how any man kicke or ſpurne againſt them, but let us ſay as Cornelius ſaid to Peter, Loe we are all here ready to heare all things that are commanded thee of God. We muſt looke up unto God therefore as he layes the charge upon the miniſtery and ſo we muſt take our charge from them, and yeeld obedience anſwerably.
To adde a word or two by way of motive. It is not becauſe I would plead my owne cauſe 2 ….or the cauſe of others, that are of my coate, for I doe not frequently harpe upon theſe ſtrings, neither doe I complaine; for honour, God hath given mee more then my expectation, and for maintenance, ſufficient according to my deſire. So that it is not for any private reſpect to my ſelf. But the motives I deſire to commend unto you, are in reſpect of your ſelves. Two things I ſhall but mention.
Firſt of all conſider it is a great ſinne, not to give the miniſters of God, thoſe honourable reſpects of obſervance, and obedience, as is meete to doe. It is a ſinne againſt God. And a ſin againſt a mans ſelfe.
A ſinne againſt God, the injury and diſhonour 1. ….that is done to any of the meſſengers, and ambaſſadours of God, reflects upon God himſelfe, God takes it as done to himſelfe, it being done to his miniſters and meſſengers. So that in this reſpect, we ſhall be found foreign to be fighters againſt God himſelfe. And as it is a ſin againſt God;
So it is a ſinne againſt our ſelves, you are herein moſt injurious to your ſelues, for by this meanes you hinder the efficacy, and powerfull working of the Miniſtery of the word upon your owne ſoules, there is no greater impediment, and checking buſines to hinder the receiving of good from any miniſter, then when a man is anticipated with baſe, and meane, & low conceits of him, if men contemne their perſons or their callings, and give them not the honour in their hearts which is due to them, it is a mighty let and impediment, of their improvement and advantage in goodnes, by their miniſtery. So that it is a ſin againſt God, and a ſin againſt our ſelves, but then
Doe but conſider, what will be the end and iſſue of ſinne, ſin owes a man a ſpight, and will pay 2. ….him home one day. God w…ll not ſuffer ſin unpuniſhed: Eſpecially a ſinne of this nature, that ſtrikes, and reflects ſo upon himſelfe, hee hath ſaid, touch not mine annointed, and doe my prophets …o harme, if we therefore faile in this duty, God will not faile to meete with us for it another day. It is reported, that Rome was deſtroyed to the ground, for ſome abuſes that were offred to an Ambaſſadour that was ſent unto it. And David we know never played any ſuch harſh play in all his life, as he did to the Ammonites, that deſpitefully uſed his Ambaſſadours, which he ſent unto them, when they ſhaved their heards and cut their coates, let us take heed of abuſing the meſſengers of God, of cutting their coates in any kind, of cutting them ſhort of their tythes as ſome doe that allow not them needfull maintenance, even ſo much as is for neceſſity, that if the miniſters themſelues ſhould cut their coates according to their cloath, they muſt be forced to goe in part naked. Let us take heed of this, as alſo give unto them, all due reſpects of obſervance, and obedience as is meete, for if we do not doe it, we ſinne againſt God, and God will not put up at our hands the indignities we offer to thoſe who are under his owne protection, that are his meſſengers, and Ambaſſadours, God will take it highly, and puniſh it hainouſly.
FINIS.
BARUCH'S SORE GENTLY OPENED: GOD'S SALVE SKILFVLLY APPLIED: In two SERMONS.
BY JOHN STOUGHTON, Doctor in Divinity, ſometimes Fellow of Immanuel Colledge in Cambridge, late of Aldermanburie, LONDON.
AMOS 5. 14. Seeke good, and not evill, that you may live.
LONDON, Printed by R. B. for Iohn Bellamie, Henry Overton, Iohn Rothwell, and Ralph Smith. 1640.
page missing
page missing
End of the text · John Stoughton, Seven Sermons (1640)