God Wooing His Church, Sermon 3
The third Sermon of God wooing his Church.
IEREMIE Chap. 3.
Verſe 15 And I will giuegive you Paſtors according to mine heart, which ſhall feede you with knowledge and vnderſtanding.
NOw the queſtion groweth how we ſhal knowe who be paſtors and miniſters according to Gods liking, and who be not. The Lord Ieſus doth beſt reſolue that doubt in the 7 of Iohn ver. the 18, …b. 7.18.thus; He that ſpeaketh of himſelfe ſeeketh his owne glory but he that ſeeketh his glory that ſent him, the ſame is true, and no vnrighteouſneſſe is in him: that is, hee is a true meſſenger of God, and no counterfeit. A man is ſaide to ſpeake of himſelf two waies, either when he ſpeaketh before he be required to ſpeake, or being required to ſpeake, ſpeaketh not the truth truely, but mixeth ſome deuice of his owne braine therewith: ſo did the falſe prophets, for both they ranne before they were ſent, and alſo ſpake the errours of their own hart in ſtead of the word of the Lord: So did Vzzah that which he did of himſelfe, when he put his hand to the arke of the Lord, becauſe hee was not called thereunto of the Lord. Ium. 23.38. …d. 11.So Balaam ſpake of himſelfe though he ſpake the truth without adding or diminiſhing, becauſe his couetous hart which ſerued for the wages of iniquitie, made him go when the Lord bad him to ſtay When Calphas profecied of Chriſts death, S. Iohn ſaith; This ſpake he not of himſelfe, that is, he did not inuent it of his own brain. But what is it for a miniſter to ſeek his own glory? Ioh. 11.51.to be infected with the ſtain of vainglory? no, for Paul was infected with that ſtaine, as appeares by his own teſtimony; for therefore hee had a meſſenger of Sathan ſent to humble him, 2. Cor. 12.7.leſt he ſhould be lifted vp out of meaſure for thoſe heauenly reuelations which were giuen vntounto him. What then? to extoll his miniſterie and calling when iuſt occaſion ſerueth? no neither, for the Apoſtle hauing to deale with ſuch as went about to abuſe his miniſtery. He extolleth his miniſtery in this maner; 2. Cor. 11.5.Verely I ſuppoſe that I was not inferior to the very chiefe apoſtles. But then indeed doth he ſeeke his owne glory, when he preacheth mans doctrine to pleaſe men. Gal. 1.10, 11.For now, preach I mans doctrine or Gods? (ſaith the Apoſtle) or go I about to pleaſe men? for if I ſhould yet pleaſe men, I were not the ſeruant of Chriſt I certifie you brethren that the Goſpell which was preached of me, was not after man. And the apoſtle cha. 4. ver. 17. deſcribes the vaineglorious falſe apoſtles by this marke, that they would exclude all others as no body, that the people might altogether affect them. But what is it to ſeek Gods glory? 4.17.that is a very needful queſtion indeed; what is it to ſay God be praiſed, or, thanks be to God? No, for ſo did the proud Phariſy who was compoun ded of vaineglory; Luke. 18.and when he pronounced thoſe wordes, ſought nothing leſſe then the glory of God, and nothing more then his owne glorie. What then? is it to ſay, Let God be glorified? No neither, for ſo did the perſecutors of gods church when they excō municated their brethren, as appeareth in Eſay 66.5. like the Prelates, who beganne all their excommunications and condemnations with In nomine Dei; and ſo In nomine Dei burned, and impriſoned, and maſſacred many of the deare ſaints and ſeruaunts of God. And like vntounto the former are the papiſts, who in all their idolatrous and ſuperſtitious ſeruices ſing, Glory be to the father, to the Sonne, and to the Holi-ghoſt, &c. A… which do giuegive as much glory to God, as the Iewes did vntounto Chriſt, when they ſpit in his face, and ſaluted him with the knee, crying, Haile King of the Iewes. What then? to ſpeake Gods will without adding or diminiſhing? …wor…. 23.12. …t. 2.16. …. 11.No neither; for ſo much did Balaam, who for al that, ſought nothing but his own commoditie and gaine, and therefore is ſaid to ſerue for the wages of iniquitie. Howe then? To come in outward humilitie, and ſhewes of holineſſe, as to profeſſe wilfull pouertie, to goe barefooted, &c. after the monkiſh manner of the Popiſh friers, and others of that fraternitie? Nothing leſſe; for the apoſtle doth vtterly diſclaime them, and maruelleth that they which are dead with Chriſt from the ordinaunces of the worlde, will bee burned againe with traditions, …. 2.20.as though they liued in the world, and not in Chriſt; as, touch not, taſte not, handle not, which all periſh with the vſing, and are after the commaundements and doctrines of men: Which things hauehave a ſhewe of wiſedome (ſaith the apoſtle) in voluntarie religion and humbleneſſe of minde, and in not ſparing the body, neither hauehave they it in any eſtimation to ſatiſfie the fleſh: thus the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of mens traditions, to teach vsus that we muſt thinke of them but as of burdens too heauy for the conſciences of chriſtians to beare, and ſhewes, without any ſubſtance they are in the ſight of God. How then doth Gods miniſter ſeeke the glory of God? Firſt, in ſpeaking; then marke his doctrine. Secondly, in liuing; then marke his life: for the firſt it is ſaid, Ioh. 7.18.he ſpeaketh not of himſelfe; for the ſecond, it is ſaid, there is no vnrighteouſneſſe in him, that is, hee is not a ſubiect to ſinne and wickedneſſe. Counterfeit and falſe apoſtles are deceitfull workers, 2. Cor. 11.13.(ſaith S. Paul) & can tranſforme themſelues into the Apoſtles of Chriſt, and no maruell (ſaith hee) for Sathan himſelfe is tranſformed into an Angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing, though his miniſters tranſforme themſelues as though they were the miniſters of righteouſneſſe. But ex fructibus, by their fruits, (ſaith the Lorde Ieſus) you ſhall know them. Math. 7.2….The ſorcerers and ſoothſaiers of Egypt did imitate, or rather counterfeit Moſes and Aaron in many things, ſo doe the miniſters of the deuill counterfeit the miniſters of God in many things: but as Moſes did one thing which the ſorcerers could not do; ſo Gods meſſenger doth one thing the other cannot doe; that is, they ſeeke the glorie of him that ſent them. Now when the people ſaw Moſes do that which all the cunning men of Egypt could not do, they ſaid; this is the finger of GOD: ſo when men ſha…l ſee a man ſeeking in his whole miniſterie nothing but the glorie of GOD that ſent him, they muſt needes ſaie, This is a miniſter of God.
In the doctrine it will appeare two waies; Firſt, by the matter deliuered; ſecondly, by the manner of deliuering. For the matter, it ſhalbe ſuch as God hath put into his mouth, that he may ſay as the apoſtle did, That which I hauehave receiued of the Lord. …or. 11, 23.I hauehave deliuered vntounto you, …. 1.8.and if an angell from heauen ſhall preach otherwiſe then the apoſtle preached, he is to be accurſed. And herein he is not to holde himſelfe ſufficiently diſcharged, if hee declareth ſome part of Gods will, and leaueth out ſome part thereof, but he is to deliuer to the church of God, the whole counſell of God, …. 20, 20.27.as time and occaſion ſerueth; and yet in ſuch ſort as ſhall bee moſt profitable for the people, for wiſedome and faithfulneſſe muſt waite one vppon another in the miniſter of God. And ſtill hee is to meete with ſuch things as obſcure the glorie of God, as Paul did when he came to Athens, Act. 17.& perceiuing them to be addicted to idolatry and ſuperſtition, he aduanceth the true God, and abaſeth al falſe gods, & that he doth 2. waies. Firſt, by ſetting forth in God his power, 24, 25, 28, 30.his goodnes & his prouidence; ſecondly, by declaring the vanitie of idols, & the ignorance of the Athenians. Againe, the manner is to be obſerued; and that our doctrine may win glorie to him that ſent vsus, two things are required: Firſt, concealement of humane skil… ſecondly, demonſtration of the ſpirit; both which are euident in the example of the Apoſtles preaching, who may bee a patterne of true preaching to all the doctours in the worlde. 1. Cor. 2.….VVhen I came vntounto you bretheren (ſaith hee) I came not with excellencie of wordes, or of wiſedome, ſhewing vntounto you the teſtimonie of God, for I eſteemed not to knowe anie thing among you, ſauing Ieſus Chriſt, and him crucified. And I was among you in weakeneſſe, and in feare, and in much trembling. Neither ſtoode my worde, and my preaching, in the intiſing ſpeech of mans wiſedome, but in plaine euidence of the ſpirit, and of power. Pauls drift is to reproue certaine teachers at Corinth: but for what? not for hereſie, but for the manner of their teaching, and in that for two things, for humane eloquence, and wiſedome, neither are they ſimplie reprooued for theſe, for they are good in their place, but becauſe they made a ſhew of them in declaring of Gods meſſage. And in the fourth verſe, humane wiſedome is oppoſed to the euidence of the ſpirit, to ſhew that they which ſtudie only for humane learning and eloquence, cannot preach in the euidence and power of the ſpirit. And this he prooueth by many arguments. Firſt, the doctrine that I taught was Gods will and teſtament, ergo, I muſt not vtter it in matter and forme after men, but it muſt bee ſhewed as hee ſet it forth. Secondly, in the ſecond verſe, I hauehave purpoſed to know nothing but Ieſus Chriſt and him crucified; that is, to profeſſe nothing elſe, for hee could not but know many things more, therefore the profeſſion of all humane wiſedome was to bee laid aſide. Thirdly, in the third verſe, hee ſaith, it was in much weakeneſſe, feare, and trembling, becauſe hee was to deale with the deuill, and with men of beaſtly condition, who could not be ſubdued with gallant ſhewes of humane ſtrength, nor with flanting and flouriſhing in humane eloquence & wiſedome. Fourthly, in the 5. verſe he ſheweth a notable reaſon why it was thus, and why it muſt be thus; leſt your faith ſhoulde ſtand vppon mans wiſedome, rather then in the power of God, and ſo man ſhoulde hauehave the glorie of conuerting mens ſoules to the faith, which is proper to God only: therfore, in the miniſterie the power of God muſt only be ſhewed in demonſtration of the ſpirite, and of power. Fiftly, 2. Cor. 4.we hauehave this treaſure in earthen veſſelles, that the excellency of that power, might bee of God, and not of vsus. The miniſter is compared to a veſſell, and a homely one, hee ſheweth a treaſure in it: Whatſoeuer therefore is in man muſt be hidden: that when the treaſure worketh, the vertue which is of God, may be aſcribed vntounto God, and not to man. But then it will be demaunded of ſome, what vſe there is of arts, of doctors, and fathers, and the tougues, if they may not be ſhewed & alleaged in the publique miniſterie of the word. To whom we may anſwere, that as thoſe things are the good bleſsings of god on his church ſo there is a priuate vſe of them in ſtudy, to helpe the man of God to find out doctrine and to ſet it forth, but in publike they are not to be ſhewed, by the teſtimony of the apoſtle, except it be in diſputations and controuerſies againſt thoſe that rely vponupon them as the papiſts do.
As there muſt bee a concealement of humane eloquence and wiſedome, ſo there muſt bee a demonſtration of the ſpirite, …ſtration …pirit.as the Apoſtle ſheweth in the fourth verſe of the ſecond chapter and the firſt epiſtle to the Corinthians, and that is, when the miniſter ſo deliuereth the word, that the people may perceiue, it is not hee that ſpeaketh, but the ſpirite of God in him. The whole foureteenth chapter of the firſt epiſtle to the Corinthians, …. 14.is a commentarie of this point, and in the foure and twentieth verſe he ſheweth, that if there be propheciing, that is expounding, and applying to the cōſcience, … 4.the ſcripturs in a knowen tongue: if an idiot, or an vnbeleeuer come in the meane time he is rebuked, and iudged of al, that is, he ſhall take himſelfe ſo to be, for the ſecrets of his hart ſhalbe made manifeſt, and ſo he will fall downe and worſhip God, and ſay plainely, that God is in you indeede. And thus muſt men prophecie to worke this effect, … 3.8.they muſt bee as Michaiah was, full of power, by the ſpirit of the Lorde, and of iudgement and of ſtrength, to declare vntounto Iacob his tranſgreſsion, and to Iſrael his ſinne. The Apoſtles were not permitted to witneſſe of Chriſt, till they hadde receiued the ſpirite that muſt execute it. And i… the ſecond of the Actes it is ſayde, that it lighted on them like fiery tongues, to ſhew that the ſpirit of GOD maketh the ſpeech to burne. Then whereſoeuer the ſpeech toucheth, it burneth by the outward ſigne, the inward worke is ſignified by all which we may ſee that there muſt be no demonſtration of the perſon, but of the power of the ſpirit. And further, becauſe explanation is the verie ſoule of the ſpirit, therefore that eſpecially muſt bee laboured for; for in man is ſoule, and bodie, and ſpirit. 1. Theſ. 5.2The ſoule giueth life. The ſpirite liuelineſſe; and is the moouing and ſtirring of the affections. The doctrine muſt alſo hauehave application, or elſe it is dead; now when it is applied by the ſpirit, it is moſt liuely and effectuall.
The liuelineſſe and power of the worde thus preached, appeareth in this demonſtration. Take a thing that is redde hote, and lay it to another thing that is colde, and it ſhall kindle a heate in that too. So the miniſters tongue is a fierie tongue, Simile.novve when it is brought to mans ſences and vnderſtanding, it worketh the like heate in them, ſo that the power of the ſpirite is conueyed vntounto them. And thus an impreſsion is made in the heartes of the people. And when the man ſeeth this, he falleth downe, hee glorifieth GOD, and reuerenceth the miniſter, & God in him. And for the better procuring and preſeruing of this reuerence: it is verie requiſite alſo, that his meſſage bee deliuered with authoritie and maieſtie, as Paul aduiſeth Titus; … 6.4.the reaſon is in the 2. Cor. 3.20. The miniſter is an embaſſador for Chriſt; now the embaſſador beareth his perſon that ſent him, hee is his vicegerent to ſpeake and do that that he himſelfe doth; therefore the whole function muſt bee with authority. … 7.28, 29.It is ſaid that the people were aſtonied at Chriſts doctrin, becauſe he taught them as one hauing authority, and not as the Scribes, to ſhew that the miniſter ſhall neuer moue by his doctrine, except it be with authority. He that wil approue himſelfe in the ſight of God to be a miniſter after the Lords liking, and win glory to him that ſent him, muſt hauehave his life clothed with robes of holines and righteouſnes. I mean not that a holy life is eſſentiall to a miniſter, ſo that he is no miniſter that wants it, but that it is neceſſary for a miniſter, for many ſhall ſay at the laſt day to Chriſt, … 7.22.Wee hauehave propheſied in thy name; to whom anſwere ſhalbe made againe, depart from me ye workers of iniquitie I know you not. The neceſsitie of it may appeare by many reaſons: firſt, a miniſter vnleſſe hee bee ſanctified hee ſhall neuer ſoundely, and liuely vnderſtand the word of GOD; … 5, 9.for the Lorde reuealeth his will vntounto the humble, and his counſelles vntounto them that feare him, and to none elſe. Lawyers become cunning by long reading; and Phiſitions by experience; yet no man was euer a perfect, found, and iudiciall diuine without holines. This knowledge is rather feeling, then learning, in aboundance of beart, rather then extreame ſtudie, ſent by God to good men: ſo that, hee that can ſay with Dauid, Pſal. 119.117I louelove thy lawe, may ſay, I hauehave more vnderstanding then my teachers. It is the equitie of God, vnwilling to obey, vnwoorthy to knowe; for what ſhould hee do with a talent which wil not vſe it? Therefore he which forbiddeth pearles to ſwine, ſtaies his hand from caſting knowledge to the wicked, except ſo much as ſhall condemne them. Further, the ignorant people cannot ſee the ordinance of God, but they vſe to iudge of a mans miniſtery by ſenſible things which they ſee in him; therefore a good life is neceſſarie in a miniſter. For they ſay, becauſe he liueth according to his teaching wee will heare him, as Herod heard Iohn Baptiſt, Mar. 6.20.becauſe he was a good man and a godly. If teachers of humane artes ſhall tell generall things without examples, it is hard to learne of them: ſo if teachers of diuine things ſhall teach onelyonly without examples, it wil be as hard to learn of them; therefore the miniſter muſt ſet a copie with his life, which the Apoſt…e ſaint Peter requireth when hee ſaieth, …et. 5.2, 3Feede the flocke of God, which dependeth on you, caring for it, not by conſtraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready minde, not as though ye were Lordes ouer Gods heritage, but that ye may be enſamples of the flocke. VVhat manner of examples miniſters muſt bee. Saint Paule ſheweth, 1 Timothie. 4.12. when hee ſaieth, Bee vntounto them that beleeue an enſample, in worde, in conuerſation, in louelove, in ſpirite, in faith, and in pureneſſe. It is ſaid vntounto all men, Be ye holy; but it is enioyned the miniſter more ſpecially. to be adorned both with inward and outward holineſſe. Inward holineſſe ſtandeth in faith and a good conſcience, which the Apoſtle Paul would hauehave to be in Timothie, as weapons, Tim. 1.19.without which he cannot fight a good fight; the firſt is, a perſwaſion of the trueth, or true doctrine: the other excuſeth a man in eueryevery action, …ron. 15.15,and therefore Salomon calleth a good conſcience a continuall feaſt. And Paul laboured to keepe that aboue all things; …ct. 24.16.for I endeuour my ſelfe to hauehave alway a cleare conſcience both towards God, and towards men. Outward holines which muſt be in the miniſter of God, is ſet foorth in I. Tim. 3.2. A Biſhop must be vnreprooueable. Againe, there be outward dueties required of him, in regard of his perſon. in regard of his familie, in regarde of his calling, and in regard of ſtrangers. Firſt in regarde of his owne perſon, he muſt be vnblameable, ſo farre from outward crimes, and groſe ſinnes, that hee muſt bee free from all iuſt cauſe of ſuſpition, becauſe he muſt reforme others; not to be free from ſinne, for that is not poſſible in this life. Hee muſt wiſely conceale his infirmities from others, for being once knowen, they are as a barre caſt in the way of the people to ſtumble at. And howſoeuer great and foule faultes in an other man ſeeme to bee but ſmall, yet eueryevery light infirmitie in the miniſter is accompted as a plague-ſore running vppon him, the which maketh him to be abhorred of the profane and ignorant ſort: therefore if the miniſter ſhoulde make his infirmities knowen vntounto them, it were all one as if hee ſhoulde ſay, I hauehave the plague about me, and ſo make them to abhorre both his perſon, and his doctrine.
Secondly, in regarde of his ovvne perſon it is required that hee be the husband of one wife, for in thoſe times men had twoo wiues, and then he might not be a miniſter, becauſe that hee hadde broken the holie ordinaunce of almightie God in himſelfe, which ſhould ſee it kept in others. If hee had bin ſuch a one, and now is ſingle, or ioyned onelyonly to one, hee may be a chriſtian, but not a miniſter. And the like is to be ſaid of him that hath been ſometime a Preacher of the goſpell, and after that fell to be an idolater or a Popiſh prieſt, and is now a profeſſor of the goſpel again; the church may vponupon his repentance take him for a chriſtian, but hee ought not to ſerue in the publique miniſterie of the word, as yet many doe, becauſe hee is not onelyonly blemiſhed himſelfe worſe then a man that wanteth a member, which in no wiſe might ſerue in the worke of the miniſtery, but alſo is a fowle ſcarre in the face of the church, which muſt be remoued, that the church may looke with a louely and comely countenance, that her friends may be in louelove with hir, and not through hir vgly and deformed viſage, be occaſioned to loathe her: and this is that which the Prophet Ezechiel in plaine words hath recorded in this manner, …zech. 44, 10,Thus ſaith the Lord God, No ſtranger vncircumciſed in heart, nor vncircumciſed in fleſh, ſhal enter into my ſanctuarie: Neither the Leuites that are gone backe from mee, when Iſrael went aſtray, which went aſtray from me after their idolles, but they ſhall beare their iniquitie. And they ſhal ſerue in my ſanctuarie, and keepe the gates of the houſe, and mi… niſter in the houſe. [But how ſhal they miniſter?] they ſhall ſlay the burnt offering and the ſacrifice for the people, and they ſhall ſtand before them to ſerue them: that is, they ſhall ſerue as drudges to doe all the ſeruile worke that belongs to the ſanctuarie, like the Gibeonites, who were appointed by Ioſhua to carry wood and draw water; and why? Ioſh. 9.27.becauſe they ſerued before, their idolles, and cauſed the houſe of Iſrael to fall into iniquitie; Ezech. 44.12,Therefore hauehave I lift vp mine hand againſt them (ſaith the Lord) and they ſhal beare their iniquitie. And they ſhall not come neere vntounto me, to do the office of the prieſt vntounto me, neither ſhal they come nere vntounto any of mine holy things in the moſt holy place, but they ſhall beare their ſhame, and their abominations which they hauehave committed. And I will make them keepers of the watch of the houſe, for all the ſeruice thereof, and for all that ſhal be done therein.
Now if any man will obiect againſt this that hath been ſpoken, that Paul was a perſecuter of the goſpell, and yet afterward was caled to be a preacher of the goſpel, he may; but it will not ſerue his turne; for firſt, Paul was not a preacher before he was a perſecuter, for then had hee beene a right apoſtata, or backe-ſlider from the faith, as thoſe men were of whom I ſpake before, as namely, ſuch as were preachers and profeſſors of the goſpel in king Edwards dayes, and perſecuters of the goſpel in Queene Maries dayes, & then to become preachers of the goſpe…l againe in Qu. Elizabeths dayes; ſuch Apoſtataes Imeane was Paul neuer, neither are they to be admitted into the miniſterie nowe. Secondly, Paul was extraordinarily called and conuerted; it doth not therefore follow that any now-adays ſhould looke for an extr…rdinary calling, when the ſame Apoſtle hath laied down an ordinarie rule, for an ordinarie miniſterie, and amongſt other rules hath laide downe this for one, that a miniſter muſt be vnrep…ooueable: but it is verie euident, that ſuch apoſtates and runningates from the f…rh (which hauehave made alſo others to fall away with them) are very inſtly to be reprooued. Thirdly, it is required of a miniſter of God, that he be watchfull, becauſe the church of God is ſubiect to the temptations of heretikes, and Sathan, therefore he muſt of neceſsity be reſident vpō his charge, that he may be acquainted with the natures, and conditions, & opinions of his flock continually, & ſo meet with eueryevery inconueniēce as it ariſeth before it grow to a head Curſed is he that doth the worke of the Lord negligently; Ierem. 48.10.If negligence in the Lordes worke be accurſed, Non-reſidencie.then what bleſsing can a Non-reſident look for vponupon his non-reſidencie? for there can be no greater negligence in doing of the Lords work, then for a miniſter to leaue his place & ſtanding, wherein god hath ſet him, and to commit the care ouer vntounto a hireling which was cōmitted to him, like the vnkind nurſe which turneth ouer the childe to another, whom the parents of the childe neuer truſted withall. If any wil ſay they can be but taught, & as good by one as by another, they do but deceiue themſelues. For if thēſelues ſhould commit their owne child to a nurſe, whom they hauehave made choice of before another, they would not like it well, nor take it well if that nurſe ſhould take her wages, and poſt it ouer to another, and ſay, it can be but kept, or, it can be but fed, and as good by one as by another. Beſides that, the Lord in his word expreſly condemneth ſuch kind of dealing in the prieſts of Iſrael, Ezech. 44.charging thē to hauehave broken his couenant; and How? becauſe they had brought in ſtrangers to pollute the houſe of God, being vocircumciſed in fleſh, and in heart, who offered with the bread, fat and bloud, which the Lord calleth abominations; ſhewing the reaſon of it, for ye hauehave not kept the ordinaunces of mine holie things, but you your ſelues hauehave ſet others to take the charge of my ſanctuarie; which maketh as directly againſt Non-reſidents and their Curates or ſubſtitutes as can be; for if ſuch care was required of the Leuites and prieſtes vnderunder the ceremonies of the lawe, which were but ſhadowes of Chriſt and the goſpel. How much more ought the miniſters of the goſpel to hauehave this care to looke vntounto the worke of God themſelues, vntounto whome is committed, not the ſhadowes, but the ſubſtance it ſelfe, euen the Son of God, who was the ende of thoſe ceremoniall figures and ſhadowes, and the diſpenſation of the goſpel of Chriſt, wherein is exhibited more cleerely vntounto the church of God euen Chriſt Ieſus himſelfe alredy come, and crucified, and in heauen glorified, which faire exceedeth al thoſe things which were committed to the prieſts and Leuites: which did alſo exhibite Chriſt vntounto the church, but more obſcurely, and a farre off. Now …f God would not diſpenſe with them for committing the charge of his houſe then, to others, much leſſe wil he diſpenſe with vsus for committing the charge of his houſe nowe, to others. And admit that their ſubſtitutes be honeſt men, godly, learned, and painefull too, which yet is but ſeldome (though ſomtime) ſeene, if they be not troubled, nor called into queſtion as others be, yet wee muſt know that God hath not promiſed any bleſſing, but to the labours of ſuch as he hath ordained and ſet ouer his people, and not ouer euerie hireling, for God will bleſſe no ordinance but his owne, what care and intent ſoeuer men hauehave.
Fourthly, it is required of a miniſter, that he be ſober, that is, there muſt bee a moderation of all his affections, and of al his appetites, as in eating and drinking, in apparrell, in recreation, in companie keeping, and ſuch like, vntounto which muſt be ioyned modeſtie, that in good and ſeemely order, his outwarde behauiour muſt not be offenſiue, he muſt be free from all light ſpeeches, or ſhewes, hee muſt learne to beare his perſon orderly, in dignitie and grauitie, as becommeth the miniſter of God: It is alſo required, that hee bee harborous and full of hoſpitalitie, according to his abilitie, and an entertainer of the faithfull; hee muſt be alſo apt to teach, & able to deliuer the word, and to apply it aptly and fitly, according to time, place, perſons, and al occaſions, as Eſay ſaith, he had a tongue to ſpeake words in due ſeaſon, Eſa, 50.4;which as Salomon ſaith) are like aples of golde with pictures of ſiluer, Pro. 25.1….moſt precious and comely, whereof one is worth a thouſand of others, & hath more grace then ten thouſand. There be three foule vices, which muſt be remoued from his perſon. Firſt hee muſt not be giuen to wine, that is, alwaies to ſit by it, as they that take pleſure in it, like thē that cannot eate, but ſtil muſt hauehave wine. Timothy might d…nke wine, not for pleaſure, but for his helth, & for pleſure too, ſo it be not ordinarily. Secondly, he muſt be no ſtriker, if he cānot ouercom his people by exhortation, & inſtruction in his publike function, hee may not ſtrike them. In his family he may ſtrike his ſeruants and his children when they deſerue correction, yet with diſcretion, for ther he is both miniſter and maſter. And in wars alſo he may ſtrike the enemie, when by the magiſtrate hee ſhall be thereunto lawfully called, for hee is both a miniſter and a ſubiect. Thirdly, he muſt not bee giuen to filthy lucre, as they that liue of the gain of vſury; or of cards and dice, and other gaming, or by any gains that come by hooke or by crook (as the prouerbe goeth) againſt the law of God & man. The reaſons are taken from the contrarie cauſes, for ſtrokes come from anger, & he muſt bee a man that can bridle his anger: and couetouſnes is …he cauſe of filthy lucre, as it is the roote of all euill, which muſt not be in the man of God.
It is required of Gods miniſter in reſpect of his family, …uries in reſpect of his family.he be ſuch a one that can gouern his family wel. For the gouernment of a family is a great ſtay of a church, and common wealth, that is, when by the example of the miniſter others gouerne wel, yet there is ſufficient doctrine in the word to gouern by. Then doth the miniſter gouerne wel, when his whole family is in ſubiection, and obedience of the magiſtrate, and willing to ſuffer when they offend: now if any looke for liberty, it is children; therfore the apoſtle putteth children for all, & ſaith that they muſt be in ſubiection; therfore much more ſeruants: & that this may not ſeem a ſmal matter, he ſaith that it maſt be in al honeſty, or com…ines, to ſhewe that there is decen…ie in that family, when eueryevery childe doth his duety, and great comelines is in ſubiection; the reaſon is, if a man cannot rule his own family, how can he rule Gods church? therefore he is not a miniſter after the Lords heart, that bringeth vp his children diſſolutely: and here by the way we may ſee, that God doth not require of the miniſter either a ſingle life, or a monkiſh life nor a whoriſh, & adulterous life, which whoſo leadeth in popery is better accepted then he that liueth in holy eſtate of matrimony.In reſpect of hi… calling to the faith.
In regard of his calling to the faith it is required that he be not a yong plāt or a nouice, gods church is compared to a vineyard thoſe which are cōuerted are as it were brought out of the field & planted in the vineyard: now if if theſe be but as of a years growth or ſo, they are not fit to be miniſters, leſt they being puffed vp (as many are) fal into temptatiō of the A man newely conuerted, hath not ſounde knowledge, & ſo falleth by ignorance of his mind to error, and ſo to hereſie by pride, and ſo is in the ſame ſin with the deuill: nay, the apoſtle ſaith, in the condemnation of the deuil, that is, to be without a ſauior, or not to be ſaued: therefore we ought to take heede, for the danger is great, pride and liking of hart, wil bring a man to the diuils ſin; if it puffe vsus vp, then are we gone; pride keepeth out humility, which muſt needs receiue Chriſt. He that can aſcribe confuſiō to himſelf, keepeth out pride, or at the leaſt fighteth againſt it.
The laſt property that is required to be in a miniſter, …eſpect of …ngers.is in reſpect of ſtrangers. He muſt hauehave a good teſtimony of thē that are without, euen of infidels, who are not yet conuerted. So he muſt behaue himſelfe, that euen frō the wicked (if it be poſsible) he may hauehave a good report. Hee muſt be curteous to all, good, and bad, not curteous to the faithful, & auſtere to the wicked, but curteous to al: the reaſon is, leſt he fal into reproch, & the ſnare of the deuil. The reſon of this duty is drawn frō the inconueniēce that wil folow the contrarie; for whom muſt hee conuert? the wicked: then if he come into hatred with them, hee ſhall be able to do them no good, if they blaſpheme God and him. And thus by reproch, hee is caſt into the ſnares of the deuil, either to be diſſolute, & not to care what he doth, or elſe deſperate of verie griefe and ſorrow of heart: by which we may ſee what danger it is to raiſe vp ſlander of any man: it is as much as a mans ſoule is worth, for this giueth the deuill occaſion to worke vponupon a man. And a man may ſpeake that which may make an other man come to deſtruction, ſo much as lieth in him that ſo ſpeaketh. The world is a place where ſathā hath al ſnares on ech ſide, therefore we muſt take heed. They that lie in the ſnares, it may be, ſee nothing of all this, but thoſe who hauehave bin in, and are gone out, doe ſee them, therfore it is needfull to pray, Leade vsus not into temptation, but deliuer vsus from euill. And thus much for the duties and qualities of a miniſter in reſpect of his own perſon, of his family, of his calling to the faith, and of ſtrangers, by which (togither with that which hath beene ſaide of his doctrine) it may eaſily appeare who be miniſters according to the Lords heart or liking, and who be not: It followeth in the text.
Which ſhal feede you with knowledge and vnderſtanding. Now the Lord ſheweth what benefit they ſhàl reape by their paſtors, namely knowledge and vnderſtanding; they ſhall not only be to Gods liking, but alſo for their ſoules good: nay, they cannot be paſtours to Gods liking, except they be alſo for the benefite of Gods people; for God liketh well, when his church th…ueth wel, & the church thriueth wel when it groweth in knowledge and vnderſtanding; for that is the way to grow ſtrong in faith & repentance, & louelove, and in zeale, and in patience and in al the …auing graces of the ſpirit of God, to know and to vnderſtand the waies of the Lord. This knowledge is the knowlege of Gods wil reuealed in his worde, which ſheweth both what his purpoſe is concerning all men, both good and bad, wicked and godly, the faithful and vnfaithfull, the elect and the reprobate, the ſaluation of the one, and the damnation of the other, the aſſurance of both, the meanes and the cauſes of both. It ſheweth alſo what is required of al men to be beleeued, & what to be practiſed, for the aduancement of his glory. This is called the knowledge of God in Chriſt Ieſus, wherein ſtandeth eternall life, Iohn chapter ſeuenteene verſe 3. This knowledge of God is the firſt and chiefeſt principle in chriſtian religion, becauſe without it, it is not poſsible for any man to worſhip him, as he ought to bee worſhipped of vsus, for the Apoſtle ſaith, how ſhall we call on him, on whom we hauehave not beleeued? and how can we beleeue in him, of whom we hauehave not heard? and how ſhall we heare without a preacher? …. 10.14.as if hee ſhoulde ſay, we can doe none of theſe things without knowledge; for knowledge is the end of hearing and of preaching: therefore doe we preach and heare, not to make the ſcriptures better (as ſome ſenceleſſe idiots doe immagine) but to bring men to the knowledge of the truth. Now as the apoſtle ſpeaketh of faith and prayer, which bee twoo eſpeciall parts of Gods worſhip, wee can neither beleeue aright, nor pray aright without knowledge, ſo may it bee ſaide of feare and louelove, and all other points of the true worſhip and ſeruice of God, that men can neither feare God aright, nor louelove God aright, nor confes him aright, nor acknowledge his gouernment aright, without the knowledge of thoſe things.
And for the better bringing vp of men in this holy knowledge of God, the Lorde hath giuen his ſtatutes vntounto Iacob, and his ordinaunces vntounto Iſraell, which hee hath not vouchſafed vppon all nations, for the heathen hauehave not the knoledge of his waies; Pſalme a hundred fortie and ſix. And theſe ſtatutes of God are contained in the bookes of the olde and new Teſtament called the holie Scriptures, by the waie of excellencie, which being rightly vnderſtoode of vsus doe bring vsus directly to the true knowledge of God, and of our ſelues. And becauſe there are in the ſcriptures ſom things that be hard and darke to our vnderſtanding: therefore the Lord hath ordained paſtors & doctors, whome hee hath alſo furniſhed with giftes of knowledge and vtterance, and learning, and ſanctification, that they may teach the Lords people the true meaning of the ſcriptures, and ſo traine them vp in the knowledge and obedience of the Lord.
By this then it appeareth how neceſſarie it is for all Gods children to hauehave the knowledge of GOD, the vnderſtanding of the ſcriptures, and the preaching of the word amongſt them by a painefull, faithfull, and learned miniſterie. And on the other ſide, it be wrayeth the peſtilent daunger of ignorance and ignorant miniſters, and alſo the barrenneſſe of bare reading, without the tillage of expounding, of catechiſing, of doctrine, of exhortation, and of application, the which is the life of doctrine; by which holy meanes, as it were, with the Lords ploughs the fallow groundes of mens hearts are broken vp, … 4.4.whereas otherwiſe the ſeede is but caſt amongſt the thornes, as Ieremy ſpeakes. When the Queen of Ethiopia her chamberlaine was reading the prophet Eſay in his chariot, …8.30.Philip asked him if he vnderſtoode what he read, to ſhew that a man may reade and reade againe, and bee neuer the nearer without an interpreter, as that noble man confeſſed; for how can I vnderſtand (ſaide he) without a guide? Therefore Ezra (when he had read the ſcripture,) he alſo gaue the ſence, Nehem. ….8.and cauſed the people to vnderſtand the reading, to ſhew, that bare reading is not ſufficient to bring men to vnderſtanding. And therefore our ſauior Chriſt alſo, when hee had read a place of Eſay that concerned himſelfe, hee cloſed vp the booke, Luke 4.20.and opened the text, making application thereof to his hearers: whereuppon it followeth in the ſame place, that all that heard him bare him witnes, and wondred at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth, to ſhewe, that preaching giueth grace to reading. And when the word read is opened, and applied, then men beare witneſſe of the trueth, that is, they knowe what to holde and beleeue for trueth, and not before. This the apoſtle Paul knew very well, and therefore hee did not onelyonly teach the Epheſians openly, but priuately alſo in eueryevery houſe, going from houſe to houſe, warning, Act. 20.20, 3…and exhorting eueryevery one as hee had occaſion, to ſhewe what courſe thoſe ſheepeheardes muſt take that would bring their flocks vntounto the green paſtures of heauenly comforts, and the liuing waters of eternall happineſſe, both growing and flouring out of the liuely fountaines of knowledge and vnderſtanding in the holy word of God. And further, for the neceſsity of knowledge & vnderſtanding, what could the lord ſay more to ſhew the greatnes therof, then to call them by the name of foode, or meate and drinke, for ſo he doth; I will giuegive you paſtors, which ſhal feed you with knowledge and vnderſtanding; as if knowledge and vnderſtanding were foode of the ſoule, and ſo they be to teach vsus; as there is nothing more neceſſary for the ſtrengthning of the bodie, then meate and drinke, ſo there is nothing more neceſſarie for the ſauing of the ſoule then knowledge and vnderſtanding. Take away from the bodie ordinary ſuſtenance long, and it ſtarueth. And take away knowledge and vnderſtanding from the ſoule, and it periſheth: Therefore as Chriſt ſaid when he raiſed vp Iairus daughter, giuegive hir meate, ſo the Lorde ſaieth, when the ſoule is raiſed vp to the life of God; giuegive it meate; but that muſt be knowledge and vnderſtanding.
Againe, as knowledge and vnderſtanding are here called food, ſo paſtors are called feeders, as if they were nurſes, & the people as babes & children, which neither know what is good for them, nor howe to dreſſe their meat nor how to feed themſelues. And therfore many doe not vnfitly compare the bare reading of the ſcripture vntounto a whole loafe ſet before children, which muſt bee cutte in peeces, and be d…uided before it can profite them. The preachers are alſo called feeders, to ſhew that they muſt be like nurſes in abilitie, in affection and diſcretion. Some hauehave wherewith to feede their children, but they are vnkind and vnnaturall, like cruel harlots that kill their children, that they may not be troubled with thē. Some beare a good affection to their children, but their breaſtes are drie, and they hauehave no meate to giuegive them when they crie for it; as in the great famine of Samaria. Som hauehave wherwith to feed, but for want of diſcretion to obſerue the childes nature and conſtitution, as alſo the weaknes, or ſtrongnes of the ſtomack, the frowardnes & tendernes of thinfant, and the cauſes of al, it happeneth that much is giuen, and little digeſted, & great pain is taken to little purpoſe, bicauſe the child is either miſdieted or diſtempred, or handled too tenderly, or too rigorouſly. Therefore in the feeders of the ſoule there ought to bee ſufficient ſtore of knowlege, there ought to be a louing & tender affection, tempered with wiſedome and diſcretion, that eueryevery one may hauehave his due portion faithfully diſtributed vntounto him, and that in due time and ſeaſon. It is a lamenble hearing to heare the children crie for bread, and it ſhal be anſwered againe by the Nurſe, I hauehave none for thee, thou muſt ſtarue, for I hauehave none to giuegive thee. But it is a thouſand times more lamētable to heare the ſoules mone for want of ſpiritual foode, oh what accompt hauehave they to make vntounto God that take the place of ſpirituall nurſes, and hauehave no milke in their breaſts, that is, know nothing to any purpoſe? is it nothing to ſtarue the Lordes people? Is the murthering of mens ſoules no ſin before the Lorde? O that the ſmoky Kemarius of this our age, as vnpreaching miniſters and non-reſidents, and ſuch like did conſider well of this point… then would they not leaue their occupations and trades, as many hauehave done, and betake them to the miniſterie, as their laſt refuge, for liuing and maintenaunce ſake, but they would leaue the miniſterie as faſt: and betake themſelues to ſome other trade of life againe, and wiſh that their heades were fountaines of teares, that they might weep day and night for the ſlaughter and deſtruction which they hauehave made of the Lordes people. VVhichWhich they were better to doe nowe while the Lorde doeth allot them a time of repentance, then heereafter in hell, from whence there is no redemption. Oh that our Patrons, and Biſhops likewiſe did enter into the due conſideration of this point, then ſhould not ſo many ſymonaicall and vnworthy worldlings be preſented and admitted, nor ſo many godly and painefull paſtors be diſmiſſed as ther are, to the great woe and ſorrowe of many poore ſoules that hauehave receiued moſt ſweete comfort from their bleſſed miniſterie and painefull endeuours in the Lord.
But now it is time to enter combate and encounter with our aduerſaries the Papiſts: nay the aduerſaries of Chriſt and his church about this point, who wold beare the world in hand, that Ignorance is the mother of deuotion, and that there is no neceſsitie of the ſcriptures for the common people, but that eueryevery one muſt beleeue as the church beleeueth without any further triall or examination had of the matter by the word of God. Which bloudy doctrine, and vncomfortable aſſertion we ſhall ſee (by Gods grace) to fall downe and breake his necke at the ſight of the trueth, as Dagon the idoll of the Philiſtimes did at the preſence of the Arke.
Ignorance (ſay the Papiſts) is the mother of Deuotion. And Ignorance (ſay the Proteſtants) is the mother of dānation. Now ther is great oddes between Deuotion and Damnation; as much as is betweene ignorance and knowledge, or between light and darkneſſe. Indeede of Popiſh deuotion, whoſe fruites are idolatrie, and ſuperſtition, and ſacrilege, and blaſphemie, and pride, and ambition, and couetouſneſſe, and treaſon, and all abhominations, and in the ende, eternall damnation. Ignoraunce is the mother, but not of true deuotion which pleaſeth God. Knowledge and Ignorance be contrarie one to another; and as they be contrarie cauſes; ſo their effects muſt needes be contrary, and that by the rule of contraries; for, Contrariorum contraria eſt ratio. Now if knowledge be the roote of faith, and of louelove, and of zeale, and of obedience, and of all vertue and goodneſſe, as it is then is not ignorance the roote of faith, but of vnbeleefe, not of louelove, but of hatred, not of zeale, but of raſhneſſe and coldneſſe, not of obedience, but of rebellion, not of goodneſſe, but of miſchiefe; and therefore not of deuotion neyther, but of damnation.
In the ninetie fiue Pſalme the Lorde accuſeth the Iewes of hardnes of heart, tempting of God, and continuall rebellion againſt the Lorde for the ſpace of fortie yeeres, and addeth this withall as a reaſon of all their wickedneſſe, that they knew not the waies of the Lorde; for which cauſe, the Lorde ſware in his wrath, that they ſhoulde neuer enter into his reſt, to ſhew vsus what bee the fruites of ignoraunce; which if it bee the mother of deuotion, it is of ſuch deuotion as bringeth foorth all manner of iniquitie, and ſhutteth men out of eternall felicitie.
In the fourth Chapiter of the Prophet Hoſea, in the firſt, ſecond, third and fourth verſes, the Lord hath a controuerſy with the inhabitants of Iſrael, becauſe there was no trueth; nor merciemercy, nor knowledge of God amongſt them, but ſwearing, and lying, and killing, and ſtealing, and whoring, and oppreſsion, for which things the Lord telleth them that the land ſhall mourne, and euerie one ſhall be cut off, to ſhew what is to bee looked for where the knowledge of God is wanting.
When the Prophet Eſay reproued the Iſraelites idolatrie, and hypocriſie, hee ſaide; Knoweſt thou nothing? as if he ſhould ſay; theſe are the fruits of ignorance. In Philip. the firſt chapter and the ninth verſe the Apoſtle prayeth God, that the church might abound in knowledge and iudgement, which hee woulde not hauehave doone, if ignoraunce were the mother of deuotion. Our Sauiour Chriſt commaundeth his church to ſearch the Scriptures, adding this as a reaſon, that they beare witneſſe of him, Ioh. 5.39.and ſhewe the way to eternall life, to ſhew that ignorance is not the mother of deuotion. By this may we ſee how much we are beholding to the papiſts for ſhutting vp the doores of knowledge againſt the church of God. They are like the Philiſtines that put out the eies of Sampſon, … 16.21.that ſo they might the better make ſport with him, and when the Papiſts had put out the right eye of knowledge in the church, they might then make them doe what they liſt themſelues. They are like the cruell Nahaſh the Ammonite that would make no couenaunt with the Iſraelites, … 11.2.but vppon condition that euerie man woulde put out his right eye. The rauen when hee falleth vppon a ſheepe, the firſt thing hee doth, is to picke out his eies, that ſo he may the more eaſily deuoure the body; ſo when the Papiſts fall vponupon the ſheepe of Chriſt, the firſt thing they labour to effect, is to put out their eies of knowledge, that ſo they may the more eaſily prey vponupon their bodie and goodes too. They tell vsus forſooth that the ſearching of the ſcripture is the cauſe of errour. And our ſauiour Chriſt ſaith, therefore you erre becauſe you knowe not the ſcriptures, … 12.24.which of theſe muſt we beleeue, the Papiſts or our Sauiour Chriſt? They tel vsus that the ſcriptures are hard to bee vnderſtoode, but the Lorde ſaith. Al the words of my mouth are righteous, there is no lewdneſſe, … 8, 8, 9.nor frowardneſſe in them. They are all plaine to him that will vnderſtand, and ſtraight, to them that would find knowledge. The papiſts ſay, they are hard, and the Lord ſaith, they are plaine and ſtraight; which of theſe now ſhal we beleeue, the papiſts, or the Lord? Indeede ſaint Peter ſaith, that in the writings of his brother Paul, there are ſome things hard to be vnderſtoode, 2. Pet. 3.1, 6which ignoraunt and vnſtable men doe peruert as they doe all other ſcriptures to their condemnation: now if they be hard, we ſee to whome they are hard, to the ignorant and vnſtable, but not to thoſe that deſire knowledge, to them they are made eaſie by the Lorde. Therefore it muſt ſtand vsus in hande to bee well repaired, and ſanctified by fayth and prayer, when wee deale with the ſcriptures, and bee truely reſolued to bee reformed thereby, or elſe wee may fall into errour, as a iuſt recompence of our pride & preſumption. Exo. 19.VVhen the Iſraelites ſhoulde come before the Lord, they muſt be ſanctified to day and to morrow ſaith the Lord: when we come to the handling of the ſcriptures, wee come before the Lorde, and therefore wee muſt bee throughly ſanctified, and with Moſes, wee muſt put off the ſhooes of our carnall affections when wee come to deale with the booke of GOD, for the ſcriptures are the mount, from which God doth ſhew himſelfe, and the buſh out of which goeth a flame of fire. In them the Lord ſpeaketh to vsus, and wee heare the words of euerlaſting life, wee muſt therefore ſtrip off all our affections, and fall downe before the Lorde with feare, and knowe who it is that ſpeaketh. His worde is holy, let vsus take heede therefore into what hearts we put it; wee may not receiue it to puffe vp our hearts, & to waxe proud with knowledge, we may not vſe it to maintaine debate, and contention, to vaunt our ſelues, or to make ſhew of our cunning. His worde teacheth lowlineſſe of mind to know our ſelues. If wee learne not humility we learne nothing. The ſcriptures are Gods myſteries, therefore bee not too curious: they are Gods ſea, therefore take heede that wee bee not drowned in them. They are Gods fire, therefore take we heed that wee bee not burned in them. They are the glorious ſunne of the Lorde, to giuegive light to them that ſit in darkeneſſe and ſhadow of death, but they that gaze ouer hardly vppon the ſunne, take blemiſh in their eie ſight. Now if wee come to the worde of God with that feare. and reuerence, & paier, and faith, and repentance, and louelove, & zeale, and humilitie that ſhould be in vsus, wee ſhall eaſily proue the papiſts liars, in ſaying the ſcriptures are hard, & aboue the reach of the people, as Iulian the heretike ſaide, whom Saint Auguſtine therefore reproueth verie ſharpely in writing againſt him. Auguſt. li. 5. Ca. 1. cont. Iuli….And great reaſon had hee for it, for God himſelf telles vsus otherwiſe. In Deuteronomie chapter 30. 11, 12, 13, 14. verſes he ſaith. This commandement which I giuegive thee this day, is not hidden from thee, neither is it farre off. It is not in heauen, that thou ſhouldeſt ſay, who ſhall goe vp for vsus to heauen, and bring it vsus, and cauſe vsus to heare it, that woe may dooe it? Neither is it beyonde the Sea, that thou ſhouldeſt ſaie, who ſhall goe ouer the ſea for vsus, and bring it vsus, and cauſe vsus to heare it, that wee may doe it? But the worde is very neare vntounto thee, euen in thy mouth, and in thy heart for to do it. And in the nineteenth Pſalme he ſaith, Pſalme. 19 7.that the law of the Lord is perfect, conuerting the ſoule, the teſtimonie of the Lorde is ſure, and giueth wiſedome vntounto the ſimple, the ſtatutes of the Lorde are right, and reioyce the heart, the commaundement of the Lorde is pure, and giueth light vntounto the eies: Dauid ſaith, The word of the Lorde is a lanterne vntounto his feete, Pſal. 118.108.and a light vntounto his pathes, and hee and wee muſt goe all by one light. Nowe if the light bee darke, then what is cleare? or what can hee ſee that cannot ſee the light. It is expedient (ſayth a reuerend and learned Father,) that ſomething ſhoulde be couered to make vsus more diligent in reading, more deſirous to vnderſtand, …ell.more feruent in prayer, more willing to aske the iudgement of others, and to preſume the leſſſe vppon our owne iudgement. It cauſeth a man to take that profit by paines, which he could not take by negligence. And al things (ſaith he) are plaine to him that hath ſound knowledge, but to fools the moſt eaſie places ſeeme hard; for how can wiſedome enter into a fooles heart, or a wicked mans heart, both which are enemies vntounto wiſedome? They are like the Owle that cannot ſee the brightneſſe of the ſunne, not becauſe the ſunne beames are darke, but becauſe his eies are weake, and cannot abide ſo cleare a light. …ctio.But the Papiſts tel vsus that they are not for the common people, …onſio.as though forſooth the common people were none of gods people, or had no ſouls to ſaue. The ſcriptures bee bread and drinke which nouriſheth vntounto euerlaſting life, (ſaith the ſame father) & great cruelty it is (ſaith he) to ſtarue Gods people to death; But what, are they vnfit to hauehave the ſcripturs becauſe they bee poore? why Chriſt ſaith, the poore receiue the goſpell, … 11.5.and bleſſed are the poore in ſpirit, for theirs is the kingdome of heauen; … 5.3if the kingdome of heauen bee theirs, why ſhoulde they not hauehave the ſcriptures, as their euidence to ſhewe for the ſaide inheritance? What then? Are they vnfit to hauehave the ſcriptures, becauſe they are vnlearned? why the apoſtle ſaith, 1. Cor. 2.2.I eſteem to know nothing but Chriſt, and him crucified: & our ſauiour Chriſt ſaith, that his father hath hid theſe things from the wiſe & learned of the world, and reuealed them vntounto babes, and ſimple ones. And the Apoſtles were ſent to all creatures, learned, and vnlearned, poore, and rich. There is none too poore, nor too rich, nor too olde, nor too yong, but whoſoeuer hath eare to heare hath learning inough to be a hearer. The wiſeſt, and the learned men in matters of this worlde, hauehave not alwaies prooued the readieſt to ſet forth the glory of God; for who reſiſted Moſes and Aron? not the people, but the king & the chief of Egypt. Who ſtoode againſt Elias, but the prieſts of Baal? who ſtoned the prophets, but the wiſeſt in Iſrael? who crucified Chriſt, but the Scribes and Phariſees, not the common people? wherein wee may ſee that fulfilled which the apoſtle alleadged out of the prophet, ſpeaking in the perſon of God, 1. Cor. 1.19,I will deſtroy the wiſedome of the wiſe, and wil caſt away the vnderſtāding of the prudent; where is the wiſe? where is the ſcribe? where is the diſputer of this world? hath not God made the wiſedom of this world fooliſhnes? for ſeeing that the world by wiſedome knew not God in the wiſedome of God, it pleaſed God by the fooliſhneſſe of preaching to ſaue thoſe that beleeue, whether they be poore or rich, learned or vnlearned, that is no matter, ſo they beleeue they ſhall be ſaued, by the means of preaching, which by the wiſedom of the world is condemned for fooliſhneſſe. And thus we ſee the Papiſts condemned of moſt horrible crueltie and murther, for that they woulde of their chari…ie ſtarue Gods church, by withholding the food of knowledge and vnderſtanding from them.
It is further to be obſerued, that thoſe paſtors are promiſed of the Lord to come as a gift, both to ſhew how vnworthy wee are of ſuch a bleſsing, as alſo to teach vsus how thākfully we ſhould receiue it at the hands of the Lord that is the giuer. I wil giuegive you paſtors, &c. as if he ſhould ſay; when you hauehave them you muſt not take them as due vntounto you for your deſeruings (for you deſerue no good thing of me) but I will freely beſtowe them vponupon my church. Amongſt temporal benefites there is none like a good wife: and amongſt ſpiritual benefits there is none like a good paſtor: And both are ſent from God, to thoſe that feare him with this poſie vponupon them, donum Dei, the gift of God; that if a mā ſhould aske, Who giueth this woman to be married to this man? the Lord doth reach his hand as is were from heauen, ſaying, that do I; ſo if any man aske, who gaue this paſtour to this congregation? and other ſuch to the reſt of his church; the Lord doth anſwere from heauen and ſaith, that do I: he is my gift. And to thoſe that turne vntounto me, I will giuegive paſtours according to my heart; for houſe and riches are the inheritance of the fathers, ſaith Salomon, but a prudent wife commeth of the Lord Pr. 19 14. So a good paſtor comes not as houſe and land, by inheritance, but as a good wife comes, and that is of the Lord. Such paſtours and teachers are ſent as ſpeciall louelove tokens to the godly, whereby they may knowe how the Lorde doth louelove them. But ignorant miniſters, and Non-reſidents, and time-ſeruers, & idoll ſhepherds, and ſuch like are ſent of God to the wicked. as Saul was giuen to Iſraell in his wrath to plague them withal, and to ſtrengthen them in their ſinnes, and ſo to ſeale vp their condemnation, as Salomon ſaith of a harlot; Prouerb. 22The lippes of a ſtrange woman are as a deep pit and he with whom the Lord is angrie ſhall fall into the ſame; ſo may it be ſaide of wicked paſtors and blinde guides, they and their people goe together into the ditch, and they whome the Lord is angrie with, ſhal be plagued with ſuch. The Apoſtle Paul ſaith, that Chriſt aſcending vp on high gaue gifts vntounto men, ſome to be apoſtles, ſome to be paſtours and doctors, &c. and thoſe he gaue to his church, for the gathering together his ſaints, to teach vsus that they are not ſent of God like marchandiſe for our money (as Simen Magus thought of the gifts of the holieghoſt) but they are ſent as gifts, … 20.and are to be receiued as the gifts of the Lord. The only way to obtaine ſuch gifts, … 9.37, 38.is by prayer, The harueſt is great (ſaith Chriſt) and the labourers are few, pray ye therefore to the Lorde of the harueſt, and he ſhall ſend foorth labourers, to ſhew that God will hauehave his giftes drawen from him by prayer, that is, he vell be knowen and acknowledged to be the giuer of them, as men will ſay, if hee had asked it of me, I would hauehave giuen it him; ſo doth the Lord ſay; if they had asked ſuch paſtors of me, I would hauehave giuen them ſuch. This therefore is the cauſe why there are ſo fewe true labourers in the Lordes harueſt, and ſo many wicked loiterers, becauſe the church in generall, and congregations, and chriſtians in particular, are not earneſt enough in prayer vntounto God for them; for (as Eſay ſaith) We ſhould not giuegive the Lorde any reſt, … 2.7.but, as it were, wearie him with our prayers, vntill he repaire the decayed places of Zion, and build vp Ieruſalem in her perfect beautie, which is the praiſe of the worlde: Neither are good paſtors gotten, nor bad ones diſplaced, by railing and libelling againſt Biſhops, and the gouernours of the church, (as ſome hauehave thought) nor by factious and ſeditious drawing of multitudes to practiſe againſt the ſworde of authoritie, nor by robbing the church of her children, nor by ſciſmaticall ſeperating of our ſelues from the church, as hereticall ſchiſmatikes doe thinke, nor by withdrawing of their liuings as couetous worldlings imagin, but by humble ſuing to God with prayer and ſupplications, for ſo are his gifts obtained; ſo that if men woulde leaue their ſcurrilous libelling, and their vnſeemely railing, and their vaine talking, and their ſciſmaticall ſeperating, and their ſeditious banding, and their cruell dealing, and now another while trie the Lord by turning vntounto him, as here he requireth vsus, and plie him with our humble prayers, as Chriſt hath commaunded vsus, there is no doubt, but it would goe better with the poore church of Chriſt then it doth; for if we do that which is required of vsus, moſt certainely the Lorde will performe that which hee hath promiſed. Nowe where the Lord hath beſtowed ſuch paſtors, and planted the meanes of ſaluation, there is much (no doubt) required againe. What is requi… of them that hauehave good paſtours.Two things doth the Lord expect and looke for at their hands which hauehave receiued ſuch gifts of the Lorde; namely, louelove and obedience: for louelove requires louelove again… and ſeeing theſe gifts are ſent frō the Lord as ſpecial tokens of his louelove & fauor toward vsus, his maieſtie lookes for great louelove again of vsus towards the gift for his ſake that gaue it, & towards the giuer for his own goodnes ſake, which only moued him to giuegive the gift. And ſith he giueth them to feede vsus with knowledge & vnderſtanding, he laboreth that we ſhould grow and thriue therby, that is, to be the better reformed, both in iudgements & alſo in our maners. But that it may appeare the better what louelove we owe to the Lord in this reſpect, we ought to conſider the greatnes, goodnes, & value of the gift, wherby we ſhal al ſee the great louelove and goodnes of him that is the giuer. EueryEvery man is friend vntounto him that giueth gifts; …orerb. 19.6.then eueryevery man ſhould louelove the Lord, for none giueth ſo many gifts as he doth; yea for the gifts which men giuegive, the Lord is to be loued, bicauſe they had neither what to giuegive, nor wil to giuegive, vntill the Lord giuegive both. Al the gifts of the Lord are either bodily or ſpiritual, tēporal or eternal, general or ſpecial; ſome are common to man & beaſt & ſome are common to good and bad, to the reprobate & the elect, as meate, & drinke & apparel, appetite and digeſtion, houſes and lands, cattel and corne, gold & ſiluer, health and welth, wife & children, beuty & honor, peace and plenty, learning and wit, wiſdom and policy, frends and promotion, and many ſuch like, the leaſt wherof deſerueth and requireth that wee ſhoulde louelove and feare the Lord with al our harts, with al our ſtrength: but beſides theſe, the daily giftes which the Lord giueth to man, and to the earth, & the ſea, and the heauens; yea the whole world for mans vſe they are infinit, that to go about to nūber them, were to meaſure the ſea with a ſpoon; for which we return nothing but our ſins, which are mo then his benefits: yet ſuch is his goodnes that giueth al, & forgiueth al. But amongſt al the Lords gifts, there is none comparable to paſtors that feed mens ſoules with knoledge & vnderſtanding. When Dauid would ſet out the greatnes of this gift, he reherſeth many works of god ſhewed in his church, for which he is to be praiſed; Pſal. 147.13, 1Praiſe the Lord, O Ieruſalē, praiſe thy God O Zion, for he hath made the bars of thy gates ſtrōg & hath bleſsed thy children within thee, he ſetteth peace in thy borders, & ſatisfieth thee with the flour of wheat. When he conſidereth the benefit of Gods word, he ſaith; He ſheweth his word vntounto Iacob, his ſtatutes and iudgements vntounto Iſrael: he hath not dealt ſo with eueryevery nation; to ſhew that the word of God is a ſpeciall bleſsing, and not to be reckoned amongſt ſuch things as are common to all nations of the world.
When the Apoſtle ſaint Paul would ſet out the greatneſſe of this gift, … 1.1….he ſaith, that the grace of God which bringeth ſaluation hath appeared, meaning the goſpel, to ſhew that men cannot be ſaued without it; ſo great, ſo good, ſo excellent, and ſo neceſſarie it is. All other bleſsings are of the grace of God; there is an enriching grace, a healthy grace, and a wealthy grace, and a healing grace, &c. But this is called the ſauing grace of GOD. Dauid preferreth it before his kingdome, becauſe it did comfort him in his affliction; if thy word (ſaith he) had not beene my comfort in my affliction, … 119.92.I had periſhed, to ſhew that the word of God is better then a kingdome. This may make the children of God the more to louelove ſuch meſſengers, as bring ſuch tidings of peace, and to feare ſuch a God, as giueth ſuch gifts vntounto men; but as for the wicked whoſe eies the god of this worlde, that is, Sathan, hath blinded, to them it is but as a tale of a fooliſh thing, for they are like the ſwine, which finde more ſauour in the mire, then in ſweet perfumes; or like the dunghil cocke, that had rather find a graine of corne, then a precious ſtone. If ſweete floures be giuen to him that hath his ſences, they will ſmell ſweete, but a dead man feeles no ſweetneſſe in them, though they be put to his noſe; ſo the ſpirituall and regenerate man ſhall feele the ſweetnes and goodnes of this gift, but the carnall man, in whome is not the life of the ſpirite, ſhall neuer make any account of it. Againe, the faithfull doe not onelyonly louelove the giuer for his gift, but alſo maketh much of the gift, for the giuers ſake; as men will ſay of their friends giftes or tokens, I will not part withall, I wil keep it full daintily (though they hauehave no vſe for it) for his ſake that beſtowed it on me: much more doe the faithfull reuerence the miniſters of Chriſt, and their paſtours which labour amongeſt them in word and doctrine, and are ouer them in the Lord; they make much of them, yea they hauehave them in ſingular account for their workes ſake, and keepe them very carefully, both becauſe the Lord gaue them, and they hauehave a maruelous comfortable and heauenly vſe of them to eternall ſaluation. Whereas the wicked who neuer knew the worth or want of good Paſtours, nor the neceſsitie of knowledge and vnderſtanding, doe they take them to bee ſent of God as tokens of his louelove, or as the onelyonly meanes of ſaluation, or doe they feare the Lord euer the more for ſuch gifts? or do they louelove and reuerence the gifts for the giuers ſake? or doe they account of them for their ſake? No, no ſuch matter, they knowe not what theſe things mean, they take them rather for their enimies, …ng. 21.20.as Achab did Eliah who ſaid, haſt thou found me O my enimy? they take them as men ſent of the Lorde, or rather come out from the deuill to plague them, …and to …ouble them, as Herod and Ieruſalem thought of Chriſt: and after that rate doe they vſe them, with all reproches and mockes that can be deuiſed, with al diſdaine, with all manner of iniuries and ſlanders, and thus doe the wicked rewarde their paſtours which feede them, which they woulde not doe, if they did take them as the gifts of God: but al this ought not to diſcourage paſtours and preachers of the worde, becauſe baſe perſons doe baſely account of them, but rather confirme them in the ſaithfull execution of their office, taking the hatred of the worlde as a ſure token of their miniſters effectuall working, and let them learne to play the parte of a nurſe with their people, who hath manie a foule hande with the childe before ſhee can bring it to anie perfection. And let them bee content to become like torches, which burne out themſelues while they giuegive light vntounto others, not feareing the faces of men becauſe the Lorde is a braſen wall betweene them and their aduerſaries, and though they bee ill rewarded of the worlde, yet let them bee glad, for as much as they looke for their reward from the lord who hath ſet thē a worke.
I wil giuegive.] The laſt thing we hauehave to obſerue here, is, that the Lord doth not onelyonly ſay you ſhall hauehave paſtors, but I will giuegive you paſtours according to my heart: if his people will repent, hee will performe that which is promiſed & none other for him; this is greatly for the confirmatiō of the churches faith, when the lord himſelf doth promiſe a thing, & vndertake the performance of it himſelfe. If a mā had made ſuch a promiſe the performance remaineth doubtful, becauſe he wantoth power, or skil, or conſtancie, his minde may alter, or meanes may faile, or hee may bee croſſed with ſome higher power; but with the Lorde is no ſuch thing, for he hath both power and skil, and is alwaies the ſame and changeth not, neither is there any power aboue him to croſſe his maieſtie. If an angell from heauen had made ſuch a promiſe, yet the performance is doutful, becauſe he is but a creature, & is ſubiect to the checke, & controlement of the Lord; but if god ſay he wil, it ſhalbe, as the Centurion ſaid, Luke. 7.7Lorde doe but ſpeak the word & my ſeruant ſhalbe whole; whē the power & wil of god do meete, then there wants nothing to let the matter, but our ſins, Lord if thou wilt (ſaith the leaper) thou canſt make me eleane. I will (ſaith Chriſt) be thou cleane, and immediatly the leproſie was cleanſed.
But this people were in captiuitie, …. 8.3.& their enemies had dominion ouer them: how wil the Lord reſtore them? very wel; for the lord is able to do it either by force of angels, as he deliuered Peter out of priſon, or by men, or by other creatures, as he delt with Pharao, or by turning their enimies hearts, as he turned Saules heart, when he followed Dauid to kil him, …ns 24.18.according to the ſaying of Salomon. When a mans waies pleaſe the Lorde, hee will cauſe his foes to become his friends, …. 16.7.or without meanes, onelyonly by that worde, whereby hee made heauen and earth and all the worlde, … 1.when matter was wanting. Hereof we hauehave many examples: God ſaid he woulde make Iſrael a mightie people, … 2.10.could Pharao preuent it? no, though hee ſaid, Come and let vsus worke wiſely with them, leſt they multiply &c. God ſaid Dauid ſhould be king, could Saule preuent it? no, though he ſaid, I wil giuegive him my eldeſt daughter vppon condition that he bring mee a hundred foreskins of the Philiſtines, …am. 18.17, 25.thinking by this pollicy to make a riddance of him. God ſaid Elizabeth ſhal raigne, could any defeat her? no, though firſt they ſifted her for treaſon, as conſpiring with Wiat, and then Gardiner the wolfe cried ſtil, ſtub vppe the roote, ſtub vp the roote: then how many waies hauehave beene deuiſed ſince to ſubuert her by papiſts, and traitours, and …eſuites, and the vnholy league, and all with …he deuill himſelfe, hauing ſworne & vowed …rdeath; yet ſhe raigneth, thanked be God, …nd long may ſhe raigne O Lord we bſeech …hee for thy mercies ſake, in deſpite of all …y enemies: here we may ſee that verefied …hat is in the Prouerbs, There is no counſaile, Pro. 21.3….…or wiſedome, nor ſtrength, againſt the Lord. Pro. 19.21.And in another place he ſaith, Many deuiſes …re in a mans heart, Ier. 5.25.but the counſell of the Lord …all ſtand. If any thing hinder good things …rom vsus, it is our ſinne, but no deuiſe of man …or deuill, they ſhall doe no more then the …orde hath appointed. Our ſinnes are the …hiefe cauſe, and the wicked are inſtrumen…all cauſes, and vſed by the Lord like Aſhur, …who was called the ſtaffe of the Lord) to …lague his church withall. And therefore …any take a wrong courſe to hauehave the chur…hes eſtate bettered, they crie out vponupon the …me, and the ſtate, and the Biſhops, and pa…ons, and the dumbe miniſters (I ſpeake not …ow in defence of any mans fault or corrup…on) but their owne houſehold are vnrefor…ed, they and their families are ignorant and …rofane, they abuſe the good gifts of god al…eady beſtowed, and yet they find fault they …aue no more, like children that caſt their …eate to the dogges and then crie for more: …hey ſay, ſo long as ſuch and ſuch beare ſway in the church, neuer a good miniſter ſhal be long at reſt, and I know not what, neuer looking what hurt their raſhnes and prepoſterous blind zeale doth procure: but they are much deceiued, for let thoſe that call vppon the name of God departe from euill, and turne vntounto the Lorde, and then looke what his maieſtie hath promiſed, it ſhall ſurely be performed, though the time be prolonged for the exerciſe of our faith, & patiēce. It is ſufficiēt for vsus, if the Lord ſaith he wil do it, though he do not tell vsus when, and howe he will do it, hee hath wayes enow to bring his counſel to paſſe. With this [I wil] or promiſe of God let vsus learne to arme our ſelues againſt all temptations, all feares, all doubts, and all lets whatſoeuer, let men take heede how they enterpriſe any thing againſt the will of God, what meanes ſoeuer they hauehave to effect their purpoſe, for if they ſay, they will, and the Lord ſay, hee wil not, or if they ſay, it ſhal not be, and the Lord ſaith, it ſha… be, all their murmuring & banding and conſulting, …ſac. 36.12. and 37.33.and practiſing will be in vaine; Sen… charib ſaid he would come againſt Ieruſalem with a mightie hoſt, and make them t… eate their owne dunge and drinke their ow… piſſe, but the Lord ſaid he ſhould not ſhoo… an arrow into Ieruſalem, and it came to paſ… as the Lord ſaid. Eſau ſaid hee would kill … brother Iacob, but he did not, G…. ….the Iewes vowed neither to eate nor drinke till they hadde killed Paule, A…. 21.1….but if they had kept their vowe they had ſtarued. Herod though to hauehave killed Chriſt, but hee coulde not, and many others hauehave purpoſed many other things, but the Lord hath diſpoſed of them according to his own wil and pleaſure; and all to ſhewe how truely Iob ſpake when he ſaid, The hand of man is not able to accompliſh the deuiſe of his heart. As this is a ſingular conſolation at all times, ſo now in this hard time of dearth and ſcarcitie, the Lord doth promiſe vppon the true repentance of his people, to bleſſe the earth, with plentie, & to ſatifie the poore with bread, let the wretched cornemongers, and couetous caterpillers ſay, the price ſhall not fall, the Lord that hath ſaid the word wil do it manger their beards, and cauſe them to fall too, with ſhame inough if they repent not: let no man ſay as the noble man of Samaria ſaid, 2. King. 7.….Though the Lord ſhould open the windowes of heauen and raine downe wheate, &c. I will not beleeue the words of the prophet, leſt he ſee it, but enioy it, not as hee did that was troden downe in the gates of the cittie. And to conclude, ſeeing as we are readie to take a mans word for any thing, if hee be an honeſt man, and of any credit or ability, and think our ſelues ſafe, if the prince, or a meaner perſon ſay; I will giuegive thee this or tha… how much more ought we to take the Lord… word for any thing that he promiſeth, wh… is all ſufficient and faithfull? yea if wee do… doubt of the matter when he ſaith, I will, o… preſume when hee ſaith, I wil not, wee offe… his maieſtie that iniurie, which we our ſelue… would hardly let go vnreuenged at any mans hand, if it lay in our power to reuenge the ſame.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Burton, God Wooing His Church (1596)