32.3 where we have it that Zedekiah King of Judah had shut him up saying Wherefore dos◠thou prophesie and say Thus saith the Lord Sinners cannot indure that God's Ministers should say Thus saith the Lord. Thus dealt those with Amos which said O thou Seer go flee thy way into the Land of Judah and there eat Bread and Prophesie but Prophesie no more at Bethel for it is the King's Chappel and it is the King's Court Amos 7.12 13. Oh that such Gospel-Opposers would but consider the two last Verses of this Chapter and tremble and not any more oppose and persecute the Gospel and the faithful Preachers thereof It is neither mens greatness in Authority or excellency of Parts will secure them from God's dreadful displeasure except they repent Oh how great is their sin and how inexcusable will they one day be that pretend love to Christ and friendship to the Gospel yet forbid the pure preaching thereof These are sinners of a double die and it were well that they would all view and consider what Paul saith concerning them 1 Thes 2.16 Forbidding us to Preach to the Gentiles that they might be saved to fill up their sins allway for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost This is not onely a crying but a filling sin Sure the sins of the Romish Prelates and Powers is full near the uttermost that have so long persecuted forbidding God's faithful Labourers to Preach the Gospel of Christ I shall only offer one Scripture to such mens consideration and so leave them under this reproof Isa 30.8 9 10 11 12 13. Now go write it before them in a Table and note it in a Book that it may be for time to come for ever and for ever That this is a rebellious People lying Children Children that will not hear the Law of the Lord Which say to the Seers See not and to the Prophets Prophesie not unto us right things speak to us smooth things prophesie deceits get ye out of the way turn aside out of the path cause the holy One of Israel to cease from before us Therefore thus saith the holy One of Israel Because ye despise this Word and trust in oppression and perversness and stay thereon Therefore this inquity shall be unto you as a breach ready to fall swelling out in a high Wall whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant and he shall break it as the breaking of 〈◊〉 Potters Vessel that is broken in pieces he shall not spare so that there shall not be found in the burstings of it a shread to take fire from the hearth or to take water withal out of the Pit Third Use of Reproof A third Use of Reproof from this consideration that Preaching of the Word is God's Ordinance shall be to reprove all such Preachers of the Gospel as though not forbidden of men yet forbid themselves and neglect this so great a Work and Ordinance as the Preaching of the Gospel Such idle Drones among the Bees had need consider that word 1 Cor. 9.16 For though I Preach the Gospel I have nothing to glory of for necessity is laid upon me yea woe is unto me if I Preach not the Gospel and woe will be unto such as are able and may but do not preach the Gospel Yea though men did forbid yet woe unto him that will be forbidden by any sort of men and doth not faithfully and fully preach the Gospel Such sleepy idle timerous or unprofitable Preachers that do not as the good Preacher did in my Text and every good Preacher in the World ought to do that is To give good heed and diligently set in order Parables But I shall not enlarge upon these mens Repoof hoping that a word to the Wise will be sufficient which every Preacher as my Text implies ought to be But to them or so many Preachers of the Everlasting Gospel as are otherwise spirited I would commend a Scripture or two to their consideration The first is Wo to the idol Shepheard that leaveth the Flock the Sword shall be upon his arm and upon his right eye his arm shall be clean dryed up and his right eye utterly darkned But why O Lord Mark Because he hath not visited those that be cut off neither doth seek the young Ones nor heal that which is broken nor feed that which standeth still but doth eat the flesh of the fat and tear their claws in pieces Zach. 11.16 17. with Ezek. 13.4 5. O Israel thy Prophets are as the Foxes in the Desarts yea have not gone up into the Gaps neither made up the Hedge for the House of Israel to stand in the Battel in the Day of the Lord therefore hear what the Lord saith vers 9. They shall not be in the Assemblies of my People neither shall they be written in the writing of the House of Israel and ye shall know that I am the Lord. Fourth Vse of Reproof But a fourth Use of Reproof is to such and so many as own and acknowledge the preaching of the Gospel to be the Lord's Ordinance and yet make not due and suitable improvement of it God will one day say to these without repentance as to those of old Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth and with their lips do honour me but have removed their heart far from me and their fear to me is taught by the precepts of men Therefore behold I will proceed to do a marvellous work and a wonder for the wisdom of the wise men shall perish and the understanding of the prudent men shall be hid Isa 29.13 14. There are two sorts of persons to whom this Reproof belongs First Such as are careless in hearing the Word Preached Secondly Such as are careless of doing of that which by the preaching of the Word they are taught they ought to do as well as know And I fear how many soever there may be found under the first Reproof or of the first sort there are yet many more of the latter sort even forgetful Hearers deceiving their own souls Jam. 1.22 25. First Such sleepy worldly carnal idle persons that seldom can find time and as seldom find an heart to come to hearing of the Word preached though God bring it even to the doors yet they can scarce move their feet over the threshold to come to it but cry out What need so much expence of time or attendance upon Preaching or else complement over their neglect as those did that were invited to the Feast make light of these opportunities or invitations and cry Pray you have me excused I have bought a piece of Ground and I must needs go see it And another I have bought Oxen and I must needs go prove them And a third sort I have married a Wife and therefore I cannot come Luke 14.15 16 17 18 19. But will these excuses serve to leave such men excusable that neglect or omit to come to the hearing of the Gospel Oh
also therefore ought to be found likewise faithful Servants thus doing Mat. 24.45 I say Every wise Preacher is able to teach the people the good knowledge of God I do not say Every Preacher or every one that is called a Preacher or so calls himself but I say every one that God owns for a Preacher and is truly a wise or spiritual Preacher is able to teach the people and ought so to do as John saith That which we have seen and heard and our hands have handled of the Word of Life declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us 1 John 1.3 Mark What every wise Preacher can and doth do even declare the things of God or the knowledge of Jesus Christ to the people and he can and doth endeavour that the people may be brought into the fellowship and enjoyment of their knowledge Those are foolish Preachers Lords over God's Heritage evil Servants and Self-seekers that ingross knowledge for themselves and design not the peoples knowledge as one main end of all that knowledge they enjoy or design to be made partakers of And thus much for the clearing of this Doctrine That it is the duty of every wise Gospel-Preacher to make the people wise and knowing in the Mystery of Christ Now to come to the Application The first Vse is of Information If this be Preachers Business and Duty to teach the people knowledge then this informs us how unwise and foolish Romish Preachers are even the Pope and his Prelates and Clergy who are so unwise and ignorant of Gospel-Truths and Principles that they not onely neglect and oppose this practice but teach and maintain that Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion and that knowledge is enough for the Priests and the people must hang their Knowledge and Faith upon their Priests Sleeves and that t is sufficient for the people to do that the Priest commands and believe as the Church believes But this is to endanger the people to Hell with great Company rather than to be saved by the Faith of the Church I shall not say much to this Generation of Vipers these idle Shepherds these blind Guides leaders of the blind World only let such know we shall not need to say they are foolish Shepherds and Peter's unlearned ones and none of Solomon's wise Preachers their own Works and Words are sufficient to make their madness manifest to all wise men or spiritual Believers seeing what every wise Preacher doth and ought to do is even to teach the people knowledge which they neither do nor judge they ought to do This shall suffice for this first Use The second Use is of Exhortation Let this serve for matter of Exhortation to all Gospel-Preachers to make this their main business to shew themselves truly wise and able Preachers even Workmen that need not be ashamed by teaching the people Knowledge God hath given you Talents for this very purpose and the peoples wants and expectations call loudly for this namely that you should be their Lights and Teachers of them as your Scholars and Children therefore intend and attend this as your great Work and Business in or by Preaching to make the people wise and more knowing in the saving and sanctified Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Beloved Brethren this is your and my Business let us give all diligence to add and contribute more and more to the peoples knowledge doing as Paul Not seeking our own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved 1 Cor. 10.33 Though wise Preachers must acquire knowledge first for themselves that they may wisely Preach or be wise for Preaching Yet having obtained knowledge in themselves they must disperse knowledge to their people and lay out all their endeavours that the people may know what they know This Paul did make his business to make the Ephesians to understand his knowledge in the Mystery of Christ Ephes 3.4 When you read you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ Mark Paul is not content that he understand but he Writes and Preaches to make others understand his knowledge in Christ's Mysteries not that his aim was to make them understand or know that he had knowledge or understanding to admire or depend upon him but that they might know in and for themselves what he knew in himself and for them he laboured that the people should know and understand what of Christ he understood and this seems to be his meaning by what we find in vers 8 9. where Paul saith That unto him less than the least of all Saints is this Grace given That I should Preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ But mark the end for which Paul and every Gospel-Preacher should Preach the unsearchable riches of Christ namely to let all men see this is the end of Preaching the peoples Seeing Oh Preach Seeing or Divine eye-sight into the people infuse or distil your knowledge or Christ's knowledge into the people that you may be rightly called as the Prophets were of old time even Seers from seeing and shewing the mind of God to the people 1 Sam. 9.9 Beloved cause the Scales of Ignorance to fall from the eyes of the blind and ignorant people Pity the people and shew your burning love to Christ by enlightning dark minds in the true knowledge of the Lord Jesus in striving to promote and enlarge the peoples knowledge help the people to come to this necessary knowledge the knowledge of themselves The want of this knowledge is the cause of the great prophaneness security and presumption that abounds in the World men's gross ignorance of themselves men want true and sufficient acquaintance of themselves of their sinful miserable lost estate by Nature Oh! cause all men in their first Principle and unconverted Estate to know they are in a damnable and miserable condition there is but one step between them and Hell For God is angry with the wicked all the day long or every day Psal 7.11 Make them know there is none good in his natural condition there is none good no not one that doeth good no not one among all the multitude of unconverted Men and Women for all are under sin both Jews and Gentiles Rom. 3.9 12. Awaken mens Consciences that are asleep to know and consider the danger of a sinful Christless condition yea make not only Publicans and Sinners know this to be their miserable estate but make Pharisees and morally righteous Ones to know this to be also their misery and that except they be born again of Water and of the Spirit they can never enter into the Kingdom of God Joh. 3.5 'T is not onely Drunkards Swearers Whoremongers and Scoffers cannot enter into the Kingdom of God but also the lostiest pieces of Nature that are but in a state of Nature as it is written Except your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat.
no! mark the close of these Neglecters work When the King heard hereof he was wroth and he sent forth his Armies and destroyed those Murderers and burnt up their City Mat. 22.7 And therefore remember If the Gospel be hid it is only hid this day to such as perish 2 Cor. 4.3 Fifth Use of Reproof But lastly and mostly This Doctrine reproves all such how great Hearers soever as are at highest but Hearers not Doers of that they hear Though it is good to hear yet 't is not good to hear and not to practise it is bad not to hear but is worse not to practise That Servant must be beaten with many stripes that knows his Master's Will and doth it not Luk. 12.47 Not the knowers but the doers of the Word shall be blessed John 13.17 Oh! let such perverters of this so great and blessed an Ordinance as is the Preaching of the Gospel Consider God will one day come and call for an account of all the Sermons you have heard and see what Fruit you bring forth whether Fruit to Him or to your selves And then will he deal with unfruitful Vines barren Fig-trees and unpractical Hearers as with those we read of Isa 5.5 6. Hos 10.1 2 3. with Heb. 6.7 8. Oh! it is no small sin and shall have no small punishment to be an unpractical Hearer of the Word and perverter of this so great an Ordinance But this may suffice for that first Use to wit a Use of Reproof The second Vse is of Vindication The next Use of this Point shall be for Vindication or Justification of all such as are faithful painful diligent Preachers of the Gospel who because Preaching of the Word is God's Ordinance do Preach in season and out of season whoever forbids or sayes to the contrary saying as once Peter and John did Whether it be right is the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God judge ye For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard Acts 4.19 20. Where men have not sufficient power to command it can be no sin there not to be obedient So here these knew neither this Council nor any were from God intrusted with any such power as to forbid or hinder the Preaching of the Word therefore such Commands neither ought or need to be obeyed Even so at this day should the able Spiritual Preachers of the Word hold their peace because men even any sort of men forbid them or command them so to do the very Stones in the Street and the very Ashes of these Apostles might cry out against them and say in the words of the Text Whether it is right to obey God or Man judge ye Oh! it will one day be dreadful preferring Man's Commands before God's Commands when God shall visit for this holding the Truth in unrighteousness according to that expression Son of Man I have set thee a Watchman unto the House of Israel therefore hear the Word at my Mouth and give them warning from me When I say unto the wicked Thou shalt surely die and thou givest him not warning nor speakest to the wicked Oh! mark it Nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity but his blood will I require at thy hand Ezek. 3.17 Oh! is not this a terrible word to all silenced Preachers this day that have learned to be silent at the word of a man and let the wicked go without warning from them forgetting what God saith Who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a Man and the Son of Man that shall be made grass and forgettest the Lord thy Maker Isa 5.12 13. Therefore let such be this day cleared and acquitted as innocent and approved with the Lord as have not in such a day as this made the Commands of God of none effect through mens traditions but like Levi have said to their Father and Mother I have not seen him neither did he acknowledge his Brethren nor knew his own Children for they have observed thy Word and kept thy Covenant Deut. 33.8 Oh! when-ever you hear those Standard-bearers taxed who have not fainted nor feared in such a day as this but have humbly said Shall such a man as I flee Shall such a man as I whom Jesus Christ hath anointed and called to Preach the Gospel shall I be dumb and silent I will not I may not I dare not be silent Oh! vindicate these and when railed upon for faction folly and disobedience to Authority pride passion and the like Oh! then say as of old David in a like case said Is there not a cause 1 Sam. 17.29 And you Worthies of Israel be incouraged from the Word of the Lord Thou therefore gird up thy loyns and arise and speak unto them all that I command thee be not dismayed at their faces lest I confouâ— thee before them Jer. 1.17 So much for this Use The third Use is of Exhortation A third and last Use is for Exhortation First To Preachers who are intrusted with this great Ordinance and have this Word of Life in these earthen Vessels Be faithful in the improvement of this great Ordinance Secondly Let it speak before we part a parting word or two to you that are Hearers If thâ—preaching of the Word be God's holy and preciouâ— Ordinance then be exhorted both to hear and noâ— to despise him that speaketh on Earth nor neglect so great Salvation and also be exhorted to takâ— heed how you hear First Let the Preachers of the Gospel I mean Christ's Spiritual Preachers not Man's empty ordained Preachers who are crept into Ministry for a morsel of bread I say to you that are Christ's Witnesses and Preachers preach the Word be instant in season and out of season reprove exhorâ— with all long-suffering and gentleness because Preaching is God's Ordinance and such bright Lights were not intended to be lighted in vain it is our Lord 's own expression Mat. 5. Men do not light their Candles to put under a Bushel Then let not glorious Lights be lighted in vain but be diligent and laborious in this sin-condemning and Soul-saving Ordinance remembring what Paul faith 1 Cor. 4.2 Moreover it is required in aâ— Steward that he be found faithful it will one day be required Therefore in this day be faithful lest he that has given us Talents which we have not hearts and wisdom to improve do to our shame and loss recal them and take them from us and give them to him that hath improved Matth. 25.28 29 30. But because I shall have occasion to speak more to this hereafter in another Particular I shall say no more to this part or branch of this Use at this time but speak a few words to the second branch which is If Hearing be God's and not Man's Ordinance then be exhorted you that are or should be Hearers to take heed how you hear for God takes
5.20 Oh! let such understand that though such persons actings Christ may love yet oft-times he loves not the principle of their obedience nor will save their Souls as is hinted Mark 10.21 22 23. Man's good Nature is bad Nature with God and such men are as fit and fair for Hell as the worst Natures and vilest of men as Christ saith Mat. 21.31 Preach to men the knowledge of themselves and their undone condition without the Lord Jesus and his Righteousness put them often in mind of that Scripture 2 Tim. 3.5 Having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away Forms of Godliness or Worship will no more help a sinful Creature to Heaven than Food or Physick can give a dead man life or strength or empty dishes satisfie a hungry stomach Though Rome say otherwise that bare Forms will save sinful Souls as a little Water Oyl Cream c. used in Baptism will save the Infant from damnation and make it regenerate and a Child of God and that every one that receives their idol Host in the Mass receives infallibly Jesus Christ and so in other particulars But you that are wise Preachers teach your people knowledge and make them understand That without holiness no man shall see God Heb. 12.14 Without forms men may go to Heaven though never Baptised and though they have never received the Supper of the Lord but none without holiness Doing of those things whilst in a state of Nature is not Holiness for the heart may be as unholy after as before yea in the very Act of Communion in the Ordinances as Judas Mat. 26.20 23. Isa 1.11 to 16. with that excellent place Gal. 6.15 Therefore Preach men into the understanding and knowledge of their own vileness and weakness and unbottom men from leaning or depending on their moral or legal Righteousness make them know this was that Rock on which the Jews were split and dropt into Hell Wherefore because they sought it not meaning Righteousness by Faith but as it ware by the Works of the Law Rom. 9.32 But again You that are wise Preachers Preach the people into the knowledge of God as well as into the knowledge of themselves make them to understand the knowledge of God as just and as merciful Oh let sinners know God is Just Holy and Righteous And will by no means or not at all clear the guilty or acquit the wicked Nahum 1.3 Cause the deceived Multitude to know the Just and Holy Nature of God that they may not flatter and deceive themselves with hopes and thoughts of happiness in a sinful state and wayes of wickedness because God is merciful and gracious for he is also equally written to be Just and Holy and a God visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children and upon their Childrens Children unto the third and fourth Generation Exod. 34.7 Oh beloved Cause ignorant Souls to know and consider if God be just as well as merciful that they must also be righteous and holy or else God's justice will not spare them but condemn them to all eternity unless they believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus Oh! cause sinners to know the Justice of God and how impossible it is to walk on in wickedness and disobedience to the Mind of God and Righteousness of the Gospel and be happy by causing them to know the sense of that Scripture Deut. 29.19 20. And it come to pass when he heareth the words of this curse that he bless himself in his heart saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imaginations of my heart to add drunkenness to thirst The Lord will not spare him but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoke against that man and all the curses that are written in this Book shall lie upon him and the Lord shall blot out his name from under Heaven Brethren when you have done this make them know that are bitten with fiery Serpents that God hath provided a ransom for wounded sinners and as Moses lifted up the brazen Serpent in the Wilderness so lift up the Lord Jesus Christ in the Preaching of the Gospel shew all wounded and undone sinners the way of healing by the alone Righteousness and Satisfaction of the Lord Jesus make them know when wounded in Conscience and undone in themselves that then if they come sinners with their sin and misery upon them without any Righteousness Qualifications Preparations or Performances only as sinners with Ropes about their Necks weary and heavy laden he will ease them and they shall find rest to their Souls and this without money or monies worth without regard to their humiliation repentance reformation and amendment of life Oh make them understand the free Grace of God to the vilest of returning sinners make them to know the new and unchangeable Covenant of God with his people even the Covenant of freest Grace to pardon in pardoning all sinners past present and to come and never to alter or change the state and happiness of such Souls to all eternity Jer. 31.31 32. Oh be exhorted all you that are and would be accounted wise Preachers thus to Preach to your people and teach them this good knowledge of God both as just to all not in Christ and merciful to all in Christ how vile and miserable soever in themselves and thus to do is to teach the people knowledge aright Oh Brethren you Nurses of the Children of God draw out the Brests of your Consolation and give the little ones of Christ nourishment nourish them with the Word of knowledge and having begotten them to Christ do not starve those you have begotten to Christ as bad Nurses do many times their Children but having begun a good work in any perfect it to the day of Christ be Epaphrases alwayes labouring that the Saints may alwayes stand perfect and compleat in all the Will of God Col. 4.12 Objection But some may possibly say to me Is it in the Preachers power how wise soever to teach or infuse knowledge into the people Is not this the peculiar prerogative of Jesus Christ to be eyes to the blind and to give understanding to the simple And doth not Paul say He may plant and Apollo water but God must give the increase Prov. 8.14 20. 1 Cor. 3.6 And therefore why do you urge it on the Preacher as his Work and Duty to distil and infuse knowledge into the people as if it were in his power to teach the people to know Answer To this I Answer Doubtless and beyond a peradventure it is in every wise Preachers power to do his duty which is thus to lay out himself to the utmost that the people may know And secondly Every wise Preacher and the most of Preachers though wise might do more at this work than they do But 3ly Though without Divine concurrence and presence with them in the Work their Work will produce little yet if they work not diligently
Preachers as seek not yours but you that your Souls may be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus I say Let this justifie the exactness and diligence of those that in the dividing of the Word make it their business to divide it aright and to omit nor lose nothing of all the Riches of such Scriptures as the Spirit of the Lord opens to them but endeavour to make full proof of their Ministry in a ministration of the All committed to their trust following that Direction of our Lord Gather up the Fragments that nothing be lost John 6.12 So these painful and laborious Bees move from Flower to Flower that is from Text to Text and from Syllable to Syllable that they may help you to Honey that by Line upon Line and Precept upon Precept here a little and there a little seek to impart to you the whole Counsel of God I say Let such Preachers be justified and not taxed as at this day by some who make use of that saying What need this waste Mat. 26.8 What need this curiousness this tediousness so much dwelling upon a Text Why let this serve to Answer such Is there not a cause when it is required of a Steward to be sound faithful And this is faithful dealing with Jesus Christ and his Word to let nothing be lost But again secondly If your Preachers wise Preachers do give good heed and consider the state of the Flock and whereof they have need and do deal home and plainly with your Consciences in all faithfulness not sparing any man or flattering any man or pleasing any man but dealing faithfully with all men as approving themselves to God Why then consider I pray you It is required of Stewards to be faithful and such are Stewards even of the manisold Grace of God and therefore it is required of them that they be faithful Oh let this justifie all wise holy humble diligent painful faithful Preachers that seek to turn many from their iniquity that give good heed and all diligence so to Preach that they may declare that they have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftiness not handling the Word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the Truth Commending our selves to every man's Conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4.2 And so much for this Use and this Point I now come to the next Word and Work of a wise Preacher that is He sought out This is the next Work and to search or seek out A good or a wise Preacher doth not only give out and not keep in any thing of all that good Knowledge or Will of the Lord Jesus made out to his Soul But further he seeks or searches out after more of the Knowledge of Jesus Christ to be further imparted to him in what is in part known by him or in what as yet of Christ is not manifest but hid from him and them and may be imparted to them For the choicest or most comprehending Servant or Preacher of the Lord Jesus knows but in part and prophesies but in part and therefore had need to search enquire or hunt after that of the mind of Christ yet behind or unknown of him and which may for ought he knows be made manifest to him Three things I suppose this Phrase may import First To examine and receive things already viewed or known Secondly To clear and discharge what we know from what-ever Objections or Cavils might be brought against what we know or conceive we know Thirdly To seek out is to endeavour to get either fresh Visions of God in our Souls or further and exacter insight into such Visions of God as already we have received All this seems clearly implyed in this Act of the wise Preacher as is most clear by considering the next word And set in order or in their due order many Proverbs The Work of the truly or spiritually wise Preacher is to search or seek after or search or seek into the knowledge of whaâ— is known or should be known or may be known This is the Trade of God's Commands in order to a Preacher's Duty Doct. 8. The Doctrine hence may be this That the wise Preacher's Work is not an easie but an hard task to attain the comprehension or full understanding requisite to be found in every Minister of Christ His life is a continued act of seeking or enquiring after fuller discoveries of the mind of Christ This is plainly implyed in this phrase he sought out or sought after or sought into the way of setting Parables in order To clear up this Point two things need proving First That the Preacher's Task or Duty is an hard Task or Duty Secondly His life is a continued Act of learning the mind of Christ As he doth not do all at once he hath to do for Christ neither doth he searn all at any one season he hath to learn from Jesus Christ He is alwayes doing and alwayes learning until he dies Therefore is the Preacher's Work hard Work This Moses well understood Exod. 3d 4th and 6th Chapters This Jeremiah also apprehended in his first Chapter And this Paul concludes concerning his Ministry 1 Cor. 16.15 But not to heap up testimonies for a thing so clear Consider this namely what the Preacher's Work is resembled to First 'T is called a Warfare or they are resembled to valiant Souldiers and a Souldier's life is a lâ—fe of hazard and hardship even so is the Preachers Secondly 'T is stiled a Watchmâ—â—'s life and to be a good Watch-man is a hard life and laborious Thirdly He is called a Shepherd and that is no easie life Fourthly They are called Husband-men and Labourers and Builders all which prove Preaching to be a hard Work But to make this more clear consider 't is a Trade or Business that is alwayes carrying on I had almost said night and day and therefore sure it can be no easie but hard Work because it is perpetual Work But such is the Preacher's Work He must not onely be alwayes preaching but alwayes learning yea learning while teaching in looking after the Mind of Christ His Work is never done alwayes doing running on more and more after fresh and fuller discoveries of the Will of God 'T is an every day yea night and day study of the Word and Wayes of God he sought out 't is opened to us in Prov. 2.1 2 3 4. 'T is a Work a man must cry for seek for yea â—â—g for and hunt for that intends to find it compared with Job 3.21 Take one passage more wheâ—e good and wise Preachers may be resembled to Servants and the Hand maids David speaks of Psal 123.2 Or to the good Woman perceiving that her Merchandizing Commodity is good therefore her Candle goeth not out by night From all which may easily be gathered what a hard and difficult constant and painful life and labour the wise Preacher's labour and life is Thus much for the proof of the
own Land and the Caldeans shall come again and fight against this City and take it and burn it with fire Jer. 37.7 8. But though these words were acceptable or truth in themselves and so to the Lord and should have been so to them as being profitable to them Yet for all this they were unacceptable to them as is manifest vers 15. Wherefore the Princes were wroth with Jeremiah and smote him and put him in Prison This may suffice for the Answer of this great Question What acceptable words are Let me now raise this Observation or Conclusion The tenth Doctrine That the wisdom and work of wise Preachers is and ought to be to preach acceptable words or acceptably I shall the briefer pass through this Doctrine because I have had occasion already to speak to the main things in it contained Wherefore for the proof of what hath been asserted to wit That every wise Preacher's wisdom and work is to preach acceptable words or acceptably Consider This is Paul's charge not to Timothy only but in him to all Preachers to preach acceptable words as you have it in the following words of the Text words of Truth Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard from me 2 Tim. 1.13 So to Titus speaking what Preachers or Elders of Churches should be he saith They should be men able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and convince gain-sayers Tit. 1.9 so Chap. 2.1 Speak thou the thing which becometh sound Doctrine and once more you have it given in charge among other Directions Sound speech that cannot be condemned that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed having no evil thing to say of you vers 8. And this Paul begs the Prayers of Saints to God for him in this behalf That he might not onely Speak or Preach but so Speak or Preach as he ought to do Ephes 6.20 with Col. 4.4 But may not some say How doth it appear all this while that preaching sound words is preaching acceptable words However I shall grant That to unsound hearts unsound words are and may be most acceptable as we read where the People spake to the Prophet saying Prophesie not unto us right things speak unto us smooth things prophesie deceits Isa 30.10 Yet sound Hearts or gracious Hearers they count no words acceptably spoken or worthy their acceptation but sound and wholsome words as we read of the Church of Ephesus that they hated the Deeds or the Doctrine of the Nicholaitans which the Lord also hated Rev. 2.6 In the opening of this term acceptable words I told you it implyed words of truth which and which only ought of honest and wise Hearers to be accepted Therefore to preach sound words or words of Truth is to preach acceptable words being such words which only should be preached and are alwayes worthy of all mens acceptation And doubtless this among other things Paul also intended in that phrase to speak as he ought that is only and alwayes Truth or the lively Oracles of God not but that Preachers have other things to mind that their words may be acceptable words So secondly Seasonable words are or ought to be accounted acceptable words Therefore Solomon speaking of seasonable words saith A word spoken in due season how good is it or how acceptable is it Prov. 15.23 Now a word may be fitly said to be seasonable or seasonably spoken either in reference to God's account or the peoples concernments First In reference to God's when God's Cause and Honour calls for our speaking then to speak such words as may most conduce to the Cause and Case in hand is to speak acceptable or seasonable words such as wise Preachers ought to seek out speak out Such were Mordecai's words to Hester when he declared to her the state of the Jews and charged her That she should go in unto the King to make supplication to him and to make request before him for her People Chap. 4.8 And when she seems to be backward to entertain these words vers 10 11. Mordecai doubles former seasonable words as becomes wise Preachers so to do and tells her Think not that thou shalt escape in the Kings House more than all the Jews For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time then shall their enlargement arise from another place but thou and thy Fathers House shall be destroyed vers 13 14. The like seasonable were the words of Elijah both to the King and to the People when he told the King I have not troubled Israel but thou and thy Fathers House in that ye have forsaken the Commandments of the Lord and ye have followed Baalim and to the People when he said How long halt ye between two Opinions If the Lord be God follow him but if Baal then follow him 1 Kings 18.18 21. And such were Paul's words to the Athenians when he saw them so given to Idolatry Acts 17.16 to the close of that Chapter And by the way note That oft-times God in a wonderful manner stirs-up the Spirits of his Servants to be speaking such acceptable words as are timous and most seasonable in order to present work as in the instances cited with many more may easily appear But secondly Words may then be counted seasonable and acceptable when most sutable to or suiting with the Peoples present Case State and Necessities The work of wise Preachers should be to sute their words to such occasions when a People are secure setled in sin and sinful wayes then awakening quickning reproving words are most seasonable and to God most acceptable when spoken and should be so to the People Such were John's words to the sinful Jews when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadduces come to his Baptism he said unto them O generation of Vipers who hath warned you to fly from the wrath to come bring forth therefore fruit meet for repentance and think not to say within your selves We have Abraham to our Father When the Peoples case is trouble and sorrow for sin then comforting words are seasonable and acceptable words This the Lord himself teacheth saying Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished Isa 40.1 2. And in obedience hereunto when Peter saw that the People were pricked at their hearts he said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost for the promise is to you and to your Children and to all that are after off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Acts 2.38 39. When the People are ignorant of Truths necessary or in some sense of necessity to be at present known Now 't is wise Preachers work to seek out seasonable and acceptable words of information for the removing the peoples ignorance Thus Peter did in that fore-cited Acts 2.14 15. And thus did those wise ones Aquila and Priscilla deal with
Apollos Acts 18.24 25 26. To name no more Instances of this kind When words may truly be seasonable and acceptable or both I say when we see the Peoples sin openly and dangerous to the insnaring and indangering of others then 't is most seasonable to step in with reproving words Thus Paul dealt with Peter Gal. 2.12 13 14. And with the same spirit we find him acting against Elimas the Sorcerer when he sought to turn away the Deputy from the Faith Acts 13.9 10 11. Thus much may suffice for the proving and opening the Point let me now give you two or three Reasons or Arguments why this must needs be a Truth Reason 1. First Because 't is then only Preachers can be said in preaching to preach or in doing the work of preaching to preach when we preach acceptably or speak seasonable words All other preaching is foolish preaching or for the present but lost preaching But again Reason 2. Secondly Such Preachers and Preaching are only acceptable to God as such only should be to wise Hearers as the Lord seems to imply in that expression of the Prophet He that hath a Dream let him tell a Dream and he that hath my Word let him speak my Word faithfully What is the Chaff to the Wheat saith the Lord Jer. 23.28 Reason 3. Lastly Preachers ought to seek out acceptable words because such preaching will only answer our engagements and pretentions both to God and Man Our engagement who preach is like our Lord Christ who said I came from Heaven not to do my own Will but the Will of him that sent me John 6.38 And no Preacher is so foolish or unwise a Preacher as to pretend less than thus to do wherefore let as many as preach be so wise and honest to do what they pretend to do and as Paul saith Not to preach themselves but Christ Jesus the Lord and themselves Servants for Jesus sake 2 Cor. 4.5 I proceed now to the Application because I promised to be short Use of Reproof The first Use may be for a word of Reproof to as many Preachers that are not so wise as to make this their work to seek out acceptable seasonable words even sound words or words of truth and uprightness Oh how many foolish careless and unconscionable Preachers there are that neither study the Scriptures to find out sounds words nor consult with God or with the People to know what may be an acceptable word or a word spoken in due season either in reference to what God is a doing or the People are wanting in These may more aptly be stiled foolish than wise Preachers who more study humane than divine Writ and consult the mind of men especially great men rather than the mind of God and their own gain and interest more than the Peoples profit All I shall further say to these is As their sin is great against God and the Souls of the People even so without repentance and more wisdom their judgment will be heavy and their damnation slumbers not Let such think seriously of that saying of Peter But these as natural bruit beasts made to be taken and destroyed speak evil of the things they understand not and shall utterly perish in their own corruption 2 Pet. 2.12 But to be brief Secondly For Exhortation Secondly This shall serve for a word of Exhortation and that to two sorts of Persons First To such as Preach Secondly To such as Hear First Let me exhort and provoke all you that are wise Gospel Preachers to remember this word Seek out acceptable words even words of Truth and let that which is written be upright Oh suffer me to beseech you to seek out seasonable words both upon God's and his Peoples account Oh consider what Generation-work God hath in hand in your day in the present day and give it your word as Nehemiah did in his day Chap. 2. vers 3. In times of abounding of iniquity Lift up thy Voice like a Trumpet cry aloud spare not shew the people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sin Isa 58.1 And take that encouraging word and charge you have given to the Prophet Jeremiah Thou therefore gird up thy loyns and arise and speak unto them all that I command thee and be not dismayed at their faces Jer. 1.17 Oh my Brethren be prevailed upon to make it your main business next to the looking after your own Vines to look after acceptable words for the People Oh search out the cause you know not and see what your and Christ's Sheep want and Preach words seasonable or in due season Oh Beloved be not knowers but doers of the Word not deceiving your own Souls This will bring much honour to Christ and you will then so do your work as to have joy and not grief in the great day of Jesus Christ Secondly Let me exhort you that are Hearers to suffer a word of Exhortation not onely from me but from your Preachers also which enjoy wise and painful Preachers that make it their business to seek out acceptable words for you Oh esteem such highly for their work sake and their work for Christ's sake Oh slight not such words as cost them so dear or so much to find out for your use Oh sin not against such words as are seasonable and should be to you acceptable Suffer your Preachers to deal home and plainly with you 't is their duty and their love to Christ and you make their work easie take their labour of love kindly despise not pervert not prophesyings of such as seek out acceptable words and what-ever they speak is words of Truth and of uprightness If necessity be laid upon them to seek out acceptable words do not think you are at liberty whether you will receive or refuse them Nay think of that dreadful word Lo when this cometh to pass then shall they know that a Prophet hath been among you Ezek. 33.33 The great God that made nothing in vain hath not made wise Preachers in vain or that you should turn a deaf ear or a rebellious heart towards them They must sift hunt and search out acceptable words for you and you ought to receive them with all readiness of mind and take heed that they lose not through you the things which they have wrought Oh believe it your spiritual wise Preachers do bring you acceptable words meat in due season and therefore let him that hath ears hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches And lastly If Preachers must seek out acceptable words for the People then let their acceptable words be acceptably entertained of you As Daniel said to the King so let me say to all you to whom this Truth shall come Let my Counsel be acceptable to you and break off your sins by Righteousness and your iniquities by shewing of mercy Dan. 4.27 I mean your sins against wise Preachers and their acceptable words from Jesus Christ Thus much for this Word and this
enough for so great and glorious an undertaking Paul speaking but of the accomplishment of the Work of one of Christ's Ministers saith and who is sufficient for these things Then surely much less sufficient to institute a Frame Constitution for Ministers and Ministrations which requires a greater capacity or sufficiency then the former wherefore John tells us No man in Heaven nor in Earth neither under the Earth was able to open this Book neither to look thereon Rev. 5.3 4. Wherefore this concern must be let alone to him to whom of right it doth appertain even to the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah our Lord Jesus for he onely is worthy and capable thereof as we read vers 5. compared with vers 9. But to proceed Reason 3. Thirdly This must needs be the peculiar Prerogative of Christ to appoint his own Ministers and Worship or Service because 't is his own 't is for himself 't is for his own Church and Kingdom and who shall appoint him Servants or impose Servants and Services upon him It stands not with his honour or faithfulness to admit it But again Reason 4. Lastly Ministries and Ministrations Spiritual Ecclesiastical appertaining to the Kingdom of Christ must spring from the Free-will and Royal-Pleasure of the Lord Christ because that as it stands not with his Honour Greatness Wisdom and Goodness to commit this concern into the hands of Angels or Men being below true fitness or capacity for the work so neither can any created Power snatch Authority or exercise Power of imposing Ministers and Ministrations upon him against his Royal Will and Pleasure and if they but attempt to do it let them look to it for he will one day dash them in pieces like a Potters Vessel Ps 2. And however the Sons of men may attempt to incroach this Power and Priviledge of the Lord Jesus into their hands yet let me say to these as the Prophet in a like case did What is the Chaff to the Wheat saith the Lord Jer. 23.28 Even so what is the Will or Power of Man to the Will and Power of the Lord Jesus that he should oppose him or impose upon him 'T is truth Man may impose upon the Son of Man but who can impose upon the Son of God Sampson and Peter were both imposed upon and carried whither they would not but none can impose any thing upon Christ against his will for he will and can refuse to drink such Gall and Vinegar however they be that offer it to him Therefore it remains most clear and visible from all that hath been offered That this is the alone Glory and Prerogative of the Lord Jesus to be the Spring and Fountaneous cause of all Ministries Ministers and Ministrations belonging to his own Church upon whom he freely bestowed them Thus much for the confirming and clearing of the Doctrine I come now to the Application of this great Point Use of Information First This serves for Information in two or three Particulars First It informs us how much such are mistaken that conceive and affirm that it is left free and arbitrary to States and Princes to judge and conclude what Ministry and Ministration the People of God should injoy in their Dominions whereas in truth it nothing at all appertains to them but only to the Lord Jesus to appoint and determine what kind of Ministers and Ministrations his People shall fall under as the Arguments before alleadged do manifest Men have liberty and freedom to judge and determine for themselves but no power to impose or determine for others as Paul saith Who art thou O man that judgest another Man's Servant to his own Master he standeth or falleth yea he shall be holden up for God is able to make him to stand Rom. 14.4 But again to proceed Secondly This informs us how far that assertion is from being a Scripture-Truth which maintains That Ministries and Ministrations depend upon the Christian Magistrate for confirmation whereas indeed it depends upon the good will and pleasure of none of the Sons of Men but onely upon the Son of God who is Lord of all things I suppose in this case I may say with truth what Korah and his Complices said with falshood Ye take too much upon you who-ever you are that thus affirm and practise Numb 16.3 Thirdly This acquaints us that such Ministers and Ministries and Ministrations that spring not from the Will Wisdom and Authority of the Lord Jesus are none of his Ministers Ministries or Ministrations but Man's either their own or other mens creation or creating Let them be dignified or distinguished by what Names or Titles soever even from the Pope to the Parator and if such will not be called Antichristian Ministers yet must they suffer me to call them Man's Ministerâ— and let all such Ministers of Man and of the Will of Man hear their doom Mine hand shall be upon the Prophets that see vanity and divine lies they shall not be in the Assembly of my People neither shall they be written in the House of Israel neither shall they enter into the Land of Israel and ye shall know that I am the Lord God Zech. 13.9 Further this informs us That all such Ministrations as spring not from the Lord Jesus neither are instituted by him nor found in the Writings of the New Testament are none of Christ's Ordinances but mens sinful inventions and superstition concerning which our Lord long time since gave his Judgment saying But in vain do they worship me teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of men Mat. 15.9 Fourthly and Lastly This acquaints us That the Innovation or bringing into the Church of God such Ministers and Ministrations as our Lord Jesus Christ never instituted neither spring from nor depend upon him is no small but a magnified Transgression If it be Treason against a King for any in his Dominion to introduce Offices Officers Laws and Ordinances without his consent O! what high Treason is it against our Sovereign Lord King Jesus the King or Prince of the Kings of the Earth Rev. 1.5 I say What Treason is it for any man or number of men to make and appoint Ministers and Ordinances in his Church and Kingdom without him Let all such Traytors against the Lord Jesus think seriously on two or three Texts of Scripture I shall commend unto them one is that of Isaiah Wherefore the Lord said Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouths and with their lips do honour me but have removed their hearts far from me and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men Therefore behold I will proceed to do a marvellous work amongst this people even a marvellous work and a wonder for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid Chap. 29.13 14. Again think on that passage of Ezekiel And he said to me Son of man the place of my Throne and the place
faithful able painful Gospel-Ministers bless God through Jesus Christ for this singular Gift of Grace c. But again Are Ministers of the Gospel such as have been described Christ's Gift and Ordinance both they and their Ministrations then let none intrude or impose upon you the Churches of Christ a Ministry or Ministrations which are none of Christs nor to be found contained in Scripture but being free be not the Servants of Men but remember Paul's Counsel Beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men and after the rudiments of the World and not after Christ Let no man at his pleasure bear rule over you by humbleness of mind and worshipping of Angels intruding into these things which he hath not seen vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind Col. 2.8 18. Further let me in the fear of the God Exhort you that injoy Christ's Ministry and their Ministrations Remember to obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your Souls as they that must give an account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you Heb. 13.17 Their Work is hard enough from the men of this World O let it be good from you for whom they endure all things or at least very many things 2 Tim. 2.10 They do not only do much for you but also endure much for you O! therefore let them not indure any thing from you but rather according to Paul's advice Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially such as labour in the Word and Doctrine 1 Tim. 5.17 remembring what is said concerning them without the least shadow of pride or vanity How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad-tydings of peace Rom. 10.15 Now if you would eminently honour and rejoyce your Ministers pray then labour greatly to improve and profit by their Administrations for such as are Christ's faithful Ministers seek not yours but you 2 Cor. 13.14 and have no greater joy than to hear that their Children walk in or according to truth 3 John 4. This makes great rejoycing and thanksgiving by Christ's Ministers when they either hear or see that those they labour among do prosper and their graces grow as we have it Ephes 1.15 16. Wherefore I also when I heard of your Faith in the Lord Jesus and love unto all the Saints cease not to give thanks for you making mention of you in my prayers whereas to find the Saints and Churches of Christ in a poor low beggarly state of Soul not improving nor profiting under means of Grace this will cause Christ and his Ministers to weep and complain and even sit down and bemoan themselves in the sense of it according to that prophesie Isa 33.7 Behold their valiant ones shall cry without the Ambassadors of Peace shall weep bitterly fulfilled by this Prophet the Type of Christ Then I said I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought and in vain Chap. 49.4 And how fully was this Prophesie made good by Christ who when he was come near he beheld the City and wept over it Luke 19.41 Wherefore Sirs if you have any love to Christ or compassion towards your Ministers improve them and strive to prosper under their Ministration so will you prevent their grief and give them a good reward for their labour But again to hasten to a conclusion and closing up of the Use of Exhortation pray you if your Ministers be Christ's Ministers and Christs Ministers flow from him depend upon him and minister for him pray you joyn with and assist them in what-ever they for Christ have need of you as Paul directed the Church of the Romans To do for Phebe that ye receive her in the Lord as becometh Saints and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you Rom. 16.2 So say I pray assist your Ministers with your watchfulness with your observation of those they labour among and for Help them with your Informations concerning what you observe wanting either in them or others Help them with your Zeal and readiness to joyn issue with them in any business of Christ like those Holy Ones we read of Exod. 36.1 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab and every wise-hearted man in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the Sanctuary according to all that the Lord commanded The like frame of Spirit we read of in those mentioned Ezra 1.5 6. with Nehem. 2.18 where the People of the Lord are found thus doing And they said Let us rise up and build So they strengthened their hands for this good Work But lastly Pray you let me Exhort you to assist Ministers with your Prayers for their good and the prosperity of Christ's work in their hand remembring That whilst Moses 's hands were uplitld by Aaron and Hur Israel prevailed Exod. 17.11 12. Even so my Brethren your incessant Prayers in your Ministers behalf will utterly overthrow Amalek and help Joshua and Israel to prevail And thus I have done with this Exhortation and with what I shall offer to your consideration upon this Scripture wherein I have with what clearness and brevity conveniently I could set before you what Preaching is and whose Ordinance it is who is a truly wise Preacher and what his Work is and the Blessing and Duty of all that enjoy such Preachers Now consider and examine what hath been said and the Lord give you wisdom in all things Amen Amen FINIS