Sermon 12 August 1639, Sermon
SERMON Preached by the Reverend MR ALEXANDER HENDERSON, Before the ſitting downe Of … GENERAL ASSEMBLY, Begun the 12. of August 1639.
Printed in the Year 16…
PREFACE.
WE have now found an acceſſe to the Throne of Grace, and I pray God that theſe that are aſſembled here together to get this work crowned, may firſt labour t… get theſe two things removed; Firſt, the conſcience of our guiltineſs, alas! there are non… that diſcerns or conſiders their ſins, one thin… ſhould move our hearts that the Commons … the Land are ſo ignorant that they know n… God; and from that proceeds ſuch wickedneſs If that Paſtors had been more diligent in inſtructing, this Church had had a better fa… ere now. Secondly, Our weakneſs ſtayes as mountain, and we cannot climb unleſſ… we be helped, there is no remedie but th… brightneſs of his mercy that he vvould diſſip… theſe clouds, and no remedie for our vvea… neſs but the Povver of his might let us therefore beg the ſame in the Name of JESƲS.
TEXT. ACTS Chap. V. 32. to the end.
When they heard that they vvere cut to the heart, and took counſel to ſlay them.
Then ſtood there up one in the Counſel, a Phariſee, named Gamaliel, a Doctor of Lavv, had in reputation among all the People, and commanded to put the Apoſtles forth a little ſpace.
And ſaid unto them, ye men of Iſrael, take heed to your ſelves, vvhat ye intend to do as touching theſe men, &c.
THE Words that were ſpoken by Peter and the other Apoſtles could give no juſt Cauſe of Provocation to the Adverſaries, for in their Doctrine they inſiſted upon two innocent Points; One was faith in Chriſt, that ſince the Lord whom they crucified was now exalted to be a Prince that therefore they might believe in him, and get Remiſſion of Sins, and the other was Obedience, they ought to obey God rather then men; yet they reſolved to kill them, and had done ſo, if the Lord had not raiſed up a man to ſave them, and he prevailed that their fury was layed, wherein the Apoſtles rejoiced and doubled their Zeal.
There are 4. particulars in the Text very conſiderable.
1. The bad affects the Apoſtles preaching had upon the peoples hearts.
2. The mean that God did uſe in Saveing of his Servants.
3. The unjuſt proceedings of the Adverſaries.
4. The Diſpoſition and Diligences of the Apoſtles that ceaſſed not; whereby you may learne that often times it comes to paſſe that men in Authority are provocked againſt Religion, whither in Obedience to God, or in the tryall of their faith yet the Lord hes many wayes to ſave his owne Children, and the end ſhall be joy to the Saints and Advancement to the Goſpell.
Let us returne to the firſt, which was the bad effects of the preaching, and that was two fold, one in their hearts, another in their heads, they were cut to the heart, the Word is borrowed from the cutting of a Sword o… Sau, in the 7. Acts, it is ſaid they guaſhed with their teeth, and Acts 2.37. it is ſaid they were pricked in their hearts, we finde another effect, but it is different, the one and the other are very like; Rom. 11. v. 8. he calls the Spirit of Slumber the Spirit of compunction, the Godly have a pricking and your wicked have a pricking, as in that place, Acts 2, 37. they were pricked and tooke Counſel, but they go to them that wounded them, but they do not ſo here, but would ſlay them.
The Word of God his very different effects in the Godly, and the wicked, Rev. 1:16. it is like a two edged Sword, and Heb. 4. lively and weighty in Operation it either pricks or cutts, it is either a Word to cure thee or to kill thee. The Miniſters of Chriſt although they be otherwayes of no Reputation, yet if they could handle this Sword a right it ſhould wound; the children of God when they are wounded ſhoud bear it patiently, they are wounded becauſe of their Sins, the other becauſe they cannot commit Sin. So the one prepares for Chriſt, the other for Diſtruction, …he one ſhall end in health the other in wo, and … may ſeem very Strange that all this tyme we …hould never have heard a Word or Letter from …ur Prelats, that have been wounded with the …word; Men and Brethren I will not inſiſt …pon their guiltineſs, for we can ſay no more of them then the Text ſayes. And they toke counſel to ſlay them, and now we come to the Counſell, they reſolved to ſlay them, Counſell is good and excellent neither hath it been derogatory to Authority for as Solomon ſayes in Counſel there is ſtability, theſe matters that are not agitat by Counſel are toſſed upon fancy, as Solomon felt the benefite of uſing it; 1. becauſe it was young. 2. Becauſe it was violen… conſider the Counſel of our Adverſaries, i… was very violent but it had not the other fo… the men wanted not their years, yet they ha… this violence, and they had another bad quality to Supply that, and this ye may Learn… from the 17. Verſe, many of them were Sadduces and ſo unmeet to be Counſellers, for in Ac…. 23. you ſee they beleeve not a Reſurrection and when ſuch unbeleevers are Councellers their Sentence will be to cut the throat … Church an Common Wealth, they care no… what violence they uſe to get preferment bu… eſpecially Kirkmen that are Sadduces wh… crueltie ſhall be exerciſed by them, but eſp… cially when they are given over to the Devil… Miniſters when they fall are like Angels that a… Devills, no men in the Scripture are call… Devills but Miniſters ſo they become incarna… Devills, give God thanks (and his Majeſt… that his given us this day to meet together a… no thanks to them that either you are hearing, or that and I am preaching to you.
Followes the mean the ſecond thing, which was the man that ſpake and his Speech, the man was a Phariſee, he was Learned and a Doctor of Divinity, for his good parts of reputation naturally and Politickly wiſe, and upon ſuch grounds he convinces them all, and further he ſeems to be a Peaceable man and does what he can to ſave innocent blood but there was one thing wanting, Faith in Chriſt, and love to his word. Act. 22. It is ſaid, Paul was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, as was his Schollar ſo was his Maſter, he was ignorant and ſo a perſecuter, there is more required for accompliſhment of a man then the gifts of the minde, which this man ſeems to have a mans natural parts are like a veſture of gold, & the gifts of grace like precious ſtones, but this faith is like a precious Diamond in the middle, incomparably greater in worth judge of things according to their quality the beſt of theſe beſide the great jewel are given to the wicked and the godly and are beſtowed on them for other mens good and not their owne but this is proper to thy ſelf and for thy ſelf and this jewel ſhall make the rich and it concerns non more then Miniſters it is required of Miniſters that they ſhould be Learned and in reputation with the people, wiſe, peaceably diſpoſed and Learned foreign altho they cannot come to Eminent yet competent knowledge. 1 Tit. … to exhort and comfort and convince the en… my not like theſe men that have ſheares an… tubs to cut of the woul and carry, their mi… away but no care to feed them, I ſay the… ſhould be furniſhed with all things both i… wardly and outwardly, and it is a pity that w… have not a Lebanon for trees to grow in, Profeſſor here & a Profeſſor there all the plan… ing will Soon be deſtroyed if there be not place for them, we are all crying for good M… niſters, have a care of the good plants that not Learning to read a Sermon and to Spill it i… the telling it is a pity that theſe that boaſt ſ… ſhould be ſo vaine, ard als great a pity that w… have not ſound Divinity, many get other men… preachings and theſe that are Learned ſhoul… be given to ſuch alterations, yet altho tho… wert als Learned als Gamaliel if thou have n… more, thou art not meet to be a Miniſter o… Chriſt, you know what intertainment the Apoſtles got at Athens, they mocked them, … man that his a Learned head and a gracele… heart is not fitt for Chriſts work let us joyne both together of all men that ever I was acquainted with, I ſau none ſo profane as Miniſters, what was good in this man, let us ſtrive to imitate and what he wants let us Labour …o have our Souls filled with the love of Chriſt and think more of grace than of Learning. Before I come to his Speech, ſee not only Gods mercies but alſo Gods Providences which his wiſdom had deſigned and there or two peices of his Providence here ſeen one was the Lord brought them back from the gates of death when their ſoul as it were was in their hand; the other by ſuch a mean as they could not dream of, and theſe two are very ordinare with the Lord when yuu are in extremity he ſhewes himſelf and in ſuch wayes, and we may truly ſay that he hath done ſo with us, that when Epiſcopacy was deeply rooted even then God would cut them doune. Queſt: Wherefor doth the Lord ſo. 1. Anſwer for 3 reaſons, 1 that when the Lord comes in Exſtremity that his hand may be diſcerned and he get the greater glory, Iſaiah, 33, 7.9. Lebanon is ashamed and cut doune. 2. For the further confuſion of the enemies. Obad. 3. Whoſe habitation is in the high rocks who ſayes in their hearts who shall bring me doune to the ground. 3 For our incouragement & our Poſterity after us, that we ſhould only put our confidence in him who is only able to help us.
Now we come to the ſpeech it ſelf, wherein take notice of his intention, to Reſtraine he was a wiſe man and kneu no good would follow, if they were harmed he knew the Roma… would be angry, and that the people had good likeing to them, this was a good and peaceable intention, tho not a pure and pious if he had had any aime to Gods glory and the Goſpel of Chriſt it had been good; I ma… no queſtion, there are many among us, th… have peaceable deſires and Laudible intente… tions, but more is required, let us labour … have pious intentions, not only to have t… preſent troubles ſettled, it ſhall ſoon break forth again, ſee what is aggreeable to his will Iste eſt malus, qui ſuae cauſae bonus, he is b… that is good only for himſelf, let us beſeech th… Lord that we may have hearts to ſeek his ho… our and the enlargement of Chriſts Kingdom.
Now for his argument, I would have y… refraine from theſe men, if it be of God, will come to paſs; this Argument had its own weakeneſs; if it be of men it ſhould be hindere… if of God it ſhould have be enfurthered the th… ſhould put them to tryal; we will not paſſe wh… is commendable in him, he proceeds on a goo… ground, if of men, to be rejected; if of God; … be received Mat: 21.25. The Baptiſme of Joh… was it from heaven or of men. Epheſ: 4. T… the Spirits whether they be of men or God it was the perpetuall doctrine of the Prophets Thus ſaith the Lord, and Paul ſaith, th… which I received do I deliver; they that are …ſciples, muſt be Beleevers, not what man …ith: Firſt that it is true in matters internall …t not in matters external. Moſes when he appointed to build the Tabernacle, he gets …s directions: Solomon when he built the …emple had his warrand from David; and leſt …hey think Solomons warrand not to be ſufficient, Ezekiah had his warrand according to …he commandment of David. O but you will …ay, it is not ſo in the New Teſtament, there …re not ſo many ceremonies, it is a pitifull …ing, we will not acknowledge that which we are ignorant of; diſtinguiſh betwixt multi…ude and number of ceremonies, they had ma…y we have fever, ſhall we think, we have …ot ſo great light, as theſe who were to put an …ſperſion on Chriſt, let us ſtrive to learne what Gods will is, when it is of God receive …t, but when of men reject it. Many ceremo…ies have exerciſed the Church of God many …imes and eſpecially that of the Government of the Church, and there are two cauſes that hinder the decideing of it. 1. The hudge judgement of God upon the congregations, and ſo puts Gods Servants to tryal. 2. Cauſe is the avarice of Churchmen, ſo long as their avarice laſts there is no end of Epiſcopacy. 3. Becauſe we do not examine, what kinde of Government Chriſt gave, the Queſtion Government is not Juris but facti. VV… is that agreeable with reaſon and civil Government, No, but de …cto, what Governm… Chriſt hath eſtabliſhed, an office that is J… Divino ſhould be eſtabliſhed, but if it be office of man it ought to be rejected. T… great Doctor teaches us that when God fig… againſt man he ſhall prevaile, but when M… fights againſt God, they ſhall be found fight… againſt him, Gen. 11. The builders of Bab… the Lord made every one of them that th… knew not what another ſaid, this was an ea… thing to the Lord, and ſo the work was inte… rupted in building: The Lord is wonderfull building, and can bring downe Babel, gre… oppoſition was, made againſt Joſeph by h… Brethren, and great oppoſition againſt David yet Gods counſell behoved to ſtand, what o… poſition was made againſt Gods people in Egypt in bringing them out of Egypt yet the behoved to come forth: and you know in you… propagation of the Goſpel and the work of reformation, and becauſe many his oppoſed yet it hath gone through. And you kno… great oppoſition is been uſed againſt this wor… by the wicked, but yet bleſſed be God it ha… proclamed it ſelf through the Land.
He brought in two inſtances to prove that the …rk of man will come to nought, one of Theu… he was one that conceived himſelf to be a … phet but a falſe one: and Judas he would have …waded the people from giveing that duty to … civill Magiſtrat that they ought to have …ne, and there were Sects that followed them; …e errors of Religion commonly ſprings ey… from the Spirit of Theudas, which is a Spi… of fantaſie, or from the other and that is a …rit of rebellion and that is not of God.
Conſider all tho they be the many yet there … more like wayes as there are Spirits contraire … the Spirit of Theudas, and this is your Spi… of Pharaoh, who ſaid who is the Lord that …t I ſhould ſerve him, and that is Atheiſme, … other is contrarie to Judas & that is Herods, …t runs to flattery, an gives man that, that …tains to God.
As Atheiſme is an abomination before God, … is Rebellion and flatiery the true reformed …ligion abhorres disobedience, and gives to …ſar that which is Caeſars, and ſure we pro…e a harmeles Religion. I would exhort you … two things, firſt to the courſe of faith which …ores godlesneſs and vaine conceits of men … am now pleading for the innocency of …ligion) ye know what our adverſaries have …nted againſt us, that we are guilty of many crimes and tricks, and that we have made ople to feigne themſelves inpired with Spirit of divination, which is againſt … Truth. The ſecond thing is the courſe obedience there was never a greater friend Kings then Chriſt, there is no queſtion about Judas os Galilee his part, whether ſhould pay tax or not nether of that in war … verence to Princes or that reſpect we carr… him, I wiſh his owne prayers were never … that doth not heartily pray for his Maje… but the Queſtion is what is his part in Relig… and matters Eccleſiaſtick, it is both ſaid printed that I ſhould have ſpoken much, my fellow Brethren (the reſt of the Coveters) would not allow of that I ſaid and ſay regall inſpection belongs to Kings over Ch… matters, and that the King was Supreme op over all this Kingdom, now my adv… ries think I have made him a Churchman, ignorant but not So, as for the head o… Church we acknowledge none but Chriſt for the other Epiſcopus is a name that … well proper to a civill Magiſtrat as to a S… tual, therefore Conſtantine ſayth, Vos Epiſcopi intra, ego extra. Next that Guſtos utriusque Tabulae, Vindication be unto him, who carries the Sword of San… and coerction, and Convocation of Syn …ow this preſent Generall Aſſembly is con…ened & as he conveens ſo he ſhould examine …em, if he finde any thing againſt the Word … God he ſhould reject it, thus I ſpeak not of negative voice his Majeſtie hath.
And now I have ſhowne the particulars I …ve been taxed upon, hopeing this honou…ble Aſſembly, will further conſider of it and …ow I come to ſpeak one word to your Commiſſioners Grace who repreſents his Majeſtie. As for your Grace his Majeſties Commiſſioner we beſeech you to ſee that Caeſar have his …wne, but let not Caeſer have what is due to …od, and belongs to him, God has exalted …our Grace to many high places within theſe …w years, and more eſpecially now, be thank…l and labour to exalt Chriſts Throne, ſome …e exalted like Haman and ſome like Mor…ecai.
I pray God theſe good parts the Lord hath …ndowed you with you may uſe them a right, … the Iſraelites when they came out of Egypt … give all their Silver and Gold for building …f the Tabernacle, I tell your Gr: ye muſt be …omptable for all your actions eſpecially in theſe publick buſineſes.
And to you right honourable and right Wor…ipfull Members of this Aſſembly, go on in …our Zeal conſtantly, it is not true zeal that growes cold, but the nearer it is the end it be the hoter if it ſhall pleaſe God that by hands the light of the Goſpel ſhall be contin… Surely it ſhall be a refreſhment to you and … children that you ſhould have lived when light of the Goſpel was almoſt extinguiſhed now to ſee it quickned again after all the Troubles. With a holy Moderation go on Zeal is a good Servant but an ill Maſter, a ſhip that his a full ſaile and wants a rudder.
VVe have need of Chriſtian prudence ye know what ill ſpeeches our adverſaries h… made upon us let it be ſeen to his Majeſtie … this Government can very well ſtand wit… Monarchiall Government, hereby we ſ… gain his Majeſties favour and God ſhall get Glory to whom be praiſe for ever and ever Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Alexander Henderson, Sermon 12 August 1639 (1683)