of the soles of my feet I will dwell in the midst of the Children of Israel for ever and my holy Name shall the Children of Israel no more defile neither they nor their Kings in their high places in their setting of their Thresholds by my Thresholds and their Posts by my Posts and the Wall between me and them they have even defiled my holy Name by their abominations they have committed wherefore I have consumed them in my anger Chap. 43.7 8. So much for this first Use or for Information The second Vse is Vindication or Justification A second Use of this Point may be for Vindication or Justification of all such Gospel-Ministers and Ministrations as proceed from the Will and Authority of our Lord Jesus Christ manifest by his Word to be Divine and Warrantable notwithstanding they are unapproved by humane Authority nay though they should be by them forbidden my Reason is this If such Ministries Ministers and Ministrations be given and allowed by the Lord Jesus whom alone God the Father hath intrusted with these Affairs then they have Allowance and Approbation from him whose Allowance and Approbation is only essential and sufficient for their Encouragement and Vindication and it very little matters as to their Justification whether such persons which are unconcerned in this Affair do approve or disapprove while the Lord though not man hath approved them This the Lord told Ezekiel Chap. 2. And he said unto me Son of man I send thee to the Children of Israel to a rebellious Nation that hath rebelled against me and their Fathers have transgressed against me unto this very day For they are impudent Children and stiff-hearted I do send thee unto them and thou shalt speak my words unto them whether they will hear or whether they will forbear Vers 2 3 with 5 7. To the Vindication of a Minister in his Work it little matters whether men of what rank or degree soever they be do allow permit or discourage him whilst his Lord and Master hath but sent and commissionated him he need not much be troubled with the prohibitions and oppositions of his fellow Servants Nay if he will not be rebellious like them he must go on his Errand and neither fear them or be prohibited by them but remember what is further added in that passage of Ezekiel But thou Son of Man hear what I say unto thee Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house open thy mouth and eat that I give thee vers 8. And therefore Christ's Gospel-Ministers may warrantably answer any that inquire by what Authority do you thus Administer Be it known unto you that by the alone Name and Authority of the Lord Jesus we thus administer and if any of their Mothers Children should be angry with them and threaten them with their thorney Arguments of persecution and affliction they may as others have done before them say O Nebuchadnezzar We are not careful to answer thee in this matter Dan. 3.16 with Acts 4. Query But some may say How shall a State or People know who are such Ministers and what are such Ministrations as are truly Christ's and arise from him minister to him and depend upon him Answer I Answer By doing that which God enjoyned all the Kings of Israel to do in Deut. 17. And it shall be when he sitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdom that he shall write him a Copy of the Law in a Book out of that which is before the Priests the Levites And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the dayes of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God to keep all the words of this Law and these Statutes to do them vers 18 19. By thus doing by Reading and Learning what God hath written in his Book of the Scriptures may they come to know who are the true Spiritual Gospel-Ministers of the Lord Jesus Thus did that great Reformer Nehemiah when he would know who were the Lord 's true Priests and Ministers He searched into the Register and such of the Priests as could not produce and shew their Genealogy he put as polluted from the Priesthood Chap. 7.64 65. Therefore if any profess themselves Ministers of the Lord Jesus and you would know whether they be Christ's or Antichrist's Ministers ask for their Genealogy and let them shew their Line from Judah not from Levi I mean from Christ and not from Men whether Pope or Presbyter for our Lord took care of this Concern when he spent forty dayes with his Disciples in setling the Things of his Kingdom Acts 1.3 And before he ascended upon High he gave Gifts unto Men for the Work of the Ministry some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors some Teachers Ephes 4.8 11. But we read not of any Pope or Vicar-General no Cardinals Arch-Bishops Lord-Bishops Fryers Monks Deans Doctors Batchellors Parsons Curates or the residue of these Locusts these never came into the World by Christ's Charter or Deed of Gift made over to the Church before his Ascention No no these came in the back way through the opening of the bottomless Pit Rev. 9.1 2 3. That wisdom of the Father even our Lord Jesus who builed his House killed his Fatlings also provided his own Maidens or Virgin-Servants which are but few yet not too few to do all his Work As his House stands upon seven Pillers even so he provided but seven sorts of Ministers or Ministries besides the Widdows those helps to Government as the New Testament testifies and an Old Testament Inistitution can give no beeing to a New Testament Ministration and in all the Records of Christ's Acts and Institutions we read not of any other Ministry ordained for the Church than the Ministry of Apostles Evangelists Prophets which three were extraordinary and temporary and are ceased and there remains only now to be enjoyed the Ministry of Pastor Teacher Elder and Deacon with the fore-named helps to Government as sufficient to all Ends and Purposes in Christ's Kingdom and of these we read Rom. 12. Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace given to us whether Prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of Faith or Ministry Let us wait on our Ministry he that teacheth on Teaching he that exhorteth on Exhortation he that giveth let him do it with simplicity he that ruleth with diligence Vers 6 7 8. Now such who have neither Name nor Nature of these Ministries can be none of Christ's but Man's or Antichrist's But again ask all such who pretend to be Ministers of Christ by what Door or Way they came into the Ministry For they who ever they be that come not in by Christ's Door into his Sheepfold are Theeves and Robbers John 10.1 Now Christ's way for men to become his Ministers is by first joyning and accompanying themselves with the Church or Congregation whose Ministers they are to be as appears by Acts 1.21 where we read Peter tells the Church
to God the things that are God's And this I have done so far as I might without sin or flattery Wherefore vouchsafe to peruse soberly and throughly these lines and know here is Milk for Babes and stronger Meat for stronger Ones And let me tell you God is now speaking to you and saying to you as of old How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in scorning and fools hate knowledge Turn you at my reproof behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you and make known my words unto you Prov. 1.22 23. 'T is now your day of Grace Jesus Christ is wooing all his People to come out of Babylon but if ye will not hear and fear and repent your selves ye must be sure to partake of her judgment as well as of her sins Rev. 18.4 O! do not think Superstition or Idolatry or Will-worship or mens invention in God's Worship a small sin but remember that dreadful word Do we provoke the Lord are we stronger than he O no be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap 1 Cor. 10.22 Gal. 6.10 Wherefore do nothing partially in the matter of Religion be not circumspect about Doctrine and careless about Discipline or Church wayes be not strict for second-Table-Duties and make no Conscience of first-Table-sins Neither make it all your holiness to mind Family-Duties but also look well to your publick-Worship or your walking with Jesus Christ in his Publick Worship Such things as these Christian Reader are in this little Treatise presented to thy view and consideration be pleased to take nothing in the evil or worse part but as thou hast all from love so let thy love accept of all that carries Christ's Image and Superscription upon it and with thy Mantle of Love cover all thou meetest with of humane frailty And if by all or any thing herein presented to thee thou reapest any real benefit or profit I request you to give God all the glory and say Of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever which is and shall be the earnest prayer of him who is and will remain thine to serve thee S. MORE The Contents Ecclesiastes 12.9 Moreover Because the Preacher was wise he still taught the people knowledge Yea he gave good heed and sought out and set in order many Proverbs c. THe words in general contain an account of an Accomplished Preacher 1. As to his Qualification 2. As to his Work Act and Dispensation 3. The blessing and advantage of enjoying such Preachers But more particularly take notice of these things following 1. A Preface in this word Moreover 2. A Reason of what was done Because the Preacher was wise 3. The Person spoken of The Preacher 4. That which is related or declared concerning him and that in these particulars 1. The Act his constancy in Teaching c. 2. Perseverance in this Work He still taught the People Knowledge 3. His wariness or circumspection in managing this great Work Yea he gave good heed 4. His diligence industry or laboriousness He sought he did not catch up or deliver any thing but what he had sought out and found meet to be delivered 5. We have his fidelity or perfection in Preaching he did set in order many Proverbs He set in not out of God's or due order his Preachings or Proverbs amplified in these Words The Preacher sought out acceptable words But again In the next place we have the Property or Excellency of that which was Preached or Written it was upright even words of Truth 6. Lastly We have the Vse and Benefit of the properties of such Preachings or Preachers in these words The words of the wise are as Goads and Nails The Wise Gospel-Preacher's Praise and Practice ECCLES 12.9 10 11. 9. Moreover because the Preacher was Wise he still taught the People Knowledge yea he gave good heed and sought out and set in order many Proverbs 10. The Preacher sought to find out acceptable Words and that which was written was upright even words of Truth 11. The words of the Wise are as Goads and as Nails fastned by the Masters of Assemblies which are given by one Shepherd SOlomon the Wise is declared to be the Composer of this Book and it may probably be the last he wrote the which I shall not positively determine nor whether these three Verses be his because they seem more probable to have been wrote by his Historian or that hand which committed this Book to the Churches Treasury rather than by himself and are part of the conclusion of this Book As to the Book it self I shall say nothing the words I have pitched upon having no dependance upon any thing that went before unless to commend it and incourage to improve it because both of the excellency of the Preacher and of that which was Writ or Preach'd The words in general contain an account of an Accomplished Preacher First As to his Qualification Secondly As to his Work Act or Dispensation Thirdly The Blessing and Advantage of injoying such Preachers But more particularly take notice of these things in these Verses 1. A Preface in this word Moreover 2. A Reason of what was done Because the Preacher was Wise 3. The Person spoken of The Preacher 4. That which is related or declared concerning him and that in these Particulars First The Act his constancy in teaching c. Secondly Perseverance in his Work He still taught the People Knowledge His wariness or circumspection in managing this great Work Yea he gave good heed Thirdly His Diligence Industry or Laboriousness He sought out He did not catch up or deliver any thing but what he had sought out and found meet to be delivered Fourthly We have his Fidelity or Perfection in Preaching He did set in order many Proverbs He set in not out of God's or due order his Preachings or Proverbs amplified in these words The Preacher sought out acceptable words But again in the next place we have the Property or Excellency of that which was preached or written it was upright Even words of Truth Lastly We have the Use and Benefit or Properties of such Preaching and Preachers in these words The words of the Wise are as Goads and Nails fastned by the Masters of Assemblies which are given from one Shepherd I shall not trouble you with the opening or clearing of any obscurity in the Text at this time but refer that till afterwards where more conveniently I may dispatch it but shall proceed to some Doctrines or Conclusions hence observable The first is taken from the first word or Preface Moreover We may take these words not only litterally as spoken of the Typical Solomon but as Prophetical and pointing at a greater than Solomon our Lord Jesus That so spake as never man spake John 7.46 And also we might eye these words as dogmatical or instructing what every Wise Gospel-Preacher
People are so hard to learn Isa 28.9 Therefore the Lord hath conferred upon the Church diversity of Gifts though they proceed from one Spirit He hath set in his Church not only Teachers but Prophets also and dare we despise Prophets or Prophesyings and say What need have we of these Ministrations Hath the Lord given diversly as to Degrees or Measures to one three to another five Tallents and shall he that hath received the least be thought unmeet to have the freedom to improve his Measure for his Lords Honour or his Brethrens Advantage or where the Lord bestows a larger Measure and his Servants are faithful in the Stewardship thereof dare any say the time is waste and the Message too long Not remembring that although he that can speak but five words understandingly must be accepted yet he which can speak ten must not be muzled or restrained Christ and his Spirit ought to be free Wherefore remember that saying of Paul Let no man blame us in this abundance which is administred by us 2 Cor. 8.20 And to cure this evil take this short direction Be more sensible of your want of the means of Grace and more humble spirited truly hungring and thirsting after Gospel-Ordinances Lastly Let it be a word of Exhortation If our Means and Provisions be abundant and redundant let not our fruitfulness be short lest what the Lord Jesus said to Jerusalem he say to us also The Kingdom shall he taken from you and given to a People bringing forth the Fruit thereof and he let out his Vineyard to other Husbandmen Matth. 21.34 41 43. with Heb. 6.8 How dreadful then will thy state and mine be to enjoy much means of Grace and to bring forth none or little Fruit by it Oh! consider this all you that forget God So much for the first Particular or word in the Text Moreover Now let us consider the next Particular which contains the Reason of what the Preacher said or did that is in these words Because the Preacher was Wise Before I go further Three things need some clearing or Exposition First How this suits with some other of Scripture-Expressions for Solomon to commend himself or to say the Preacher was Wife or Painful yea Useful also Secondly What a Preacher is or what this Preacher was Thirdly What this Wisdom is that is here spoken of For the clearing of the first thing Though this Book is Solomons and bears his Name and was by him Composed yet is it not clear that this Copy or these Words were his own But as David and other Kings had their Scribes and Pen-men which did write for them and wrote after them even so might Solomon and doubtless had as his Story in 1 Kings 4.3 compared with 2 Chron. 9.29 doth declare And so though he did not yet they well might set him forth But secondly Although in moral respects and at some time it is not fit for a man to commend himself yet in two respects a man may especially a Preacher so do and be innocent in so doing First in case of scandal he may vindicate himself from unjust aspersion and reproach So Samuel did the people had clouded and eclipsed his worthy and innocent Government 1 Sam. 8.4 5. therefore Chap. 12. he vindicates himself So also did Jeremiah Chap. 15.10 So Paul in 2 Cor. 10.3 7. so in Chap. 12. with that of Job 29. Secondly In furtherance of man's Work or Imployment a man may commend himself So Paul did 2 Cor. 2. and it Gal. 1.12 to 19. with chap. 2.6 7 8 9. Anâ— thus Nehemiah acted in chap. 5. from vers 14 to the close of the Chapter And thus I conceive if Solomon did commit this to the Churches Treasury from his own Hand or Pen in this latter sense he might humbly and innocently do it Bâ—â— possibly the stick or obscurity may be from thâ— Translators so rendring the Words for if thâ— words be thus read this difficulty is easily avoided and the sense preserved intire Moreover A Wisâ— Preacher will still give good heed and so it speak Duty and not Commendation Secondly Let me a little open this Particular What a Preacher is or this Preacher was that here is spoken of A Preacher is not onely such as are under Ministerial Unction or calling in Office oâ— Ministry But a Preacher is any or every such Person or Disciple of Christ that hath received Gifts of the Spirit to profit withal and is able to speak a word in due season to him that is weary for Edification Exhortation and Comfort and theâ—â— in Scripture are called Prophets or Prophesying Preachers as in that of Gen. 20.7 1 Cor. 12.28 And such a Prophetical or Prophesying Preacher was Solomon the Preacher in my Text and not an Official Ordained or Ministerial Preacher for such were only at that time the Tribe of Levi the High Priest Priests and Prophets Extraordinary But the Book tells us this Preacher was by Office a King not a Priest he was onely a Prophet or Membral Preacher even such a Preacher as that Church had many of and any Brother or Member of that Church who was able though not so able might as freely and as lawfully preach as Solomon as that passage Acts 13.15 compared with Luke 4.16 17. Ye men and brethren if you have any word of exhortation for the People say on And such Preachers Moses and Paul allowed Numb 11.29 And Moses said Enviest thou for my sake Would God that all the Lord's people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them compared with 1 Cor. 14.29 31. Let the Prophets speak and let the other judge for ye may all prophesie one by one that all may learn and all may be comforted Many other Testimonies may be added but because I shall speak to this more hereafter let this at present suffice The third thing to be cleared is What this Wisdom is or what is this Wisdom that Solomon saith the Preacher had and what that Wisdom is that every Preacher ought to have that will thus wisely or profitably Preach Wisdom as Solomon phraseth it doth not onely excel Folly Eccles 2.13 but Wisdom also excels Wit Wit is a quickness or acuteness of the Understanding to catch or apprehend things by But Wisdom is that depth of Reason and Judgment whereby Apprehensions Thoughts Sciences Purposes and Businesses are begun and compleated or are honourably profitably and regularly performed A Fool may have Wit only a Wise Man can have Wisdom or carry on his Design or Business wisely But still the Question is What Wisdom that is that is here treated of or is Preaching Wisdom even that Wisdom without which a man cannot be competent or profitable Preacher To which Question I Answer first Negativeâ— It is neither Moral Natural or acquired Wisdoâ— as Languages Tongues Arts or Sciences Thâ— I not only affirm but shall also confirm thouâ— when all is done no doubt but so saying mâ— make some