to defend them against the piercing of others obloquie and against the pinching of their own industry against outward shame against inward pain For seeing their calling and employment is so high and excellent so great and honourable as not onely themselves to be but also to make others Kings and in this sort to depose the spiritual kingdom of darknes and to set up the kingdom of grace what cloud of shame what storm of pain can be sufficient to dazle the light or to abate the heat of this sun-shining honour or with what difficulty objected or conceited may we be dismayed seeing God hath so honoured us as not only to be his workmen but co-workers with him 2 Cor. 6.1 Yea to stand in his stead and to act his part We are Ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you through us we pray you in Christs stead that ye be reconciled unto God Yea and hath so far imparted himself unto us as to affirm He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me Luk. 10.16 This therefore may well be our sufficit our sufficient satisfaction against all discomforts and discouragements and make us say The lot is fallen to me in a fair ground yea I have a goodly heritage Ps 16.6 Secondly it is touch of proof to the people to tell what metall they are whether currant or counterfeit For if they be as they should be and receive this work of ours effectually then they are informed in knowledge reformed in wickednesse conformed in holinesse they are strengthned to strive with nature and elevated to the strain of grace They are no more slaves to lust and pleasure but even in all tribulation more then conquerors Rom. 8.37 they beat downe their body and bring it into subjection 1 Cor. 9.27 They crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts Gal. 5.24 they are born of God and doe overcome the world 1 Joh. 5.4 they are made Kings Yea not onely they shall finde this alteration and exaltation in themselves but we shall also find a change of their affection and disposition toward us for it is unpossible that this great work should be wrought in them but they must acknowledge the instruments and workers their contempt will be turned to reverence their neglect to respect their spight to love their grudging and murmuring into freewill offering liberall contributing Esteeming us as the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the secrets of God 1 Co. 1.4.1 Even so far forth as not onely inwardly to conceive but even outwardly to expresse that acclamation How beautifull are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of peace and bring glad tidings of good things Rom. 10.15 And so ye see the honour of this work in respect of what it is A Kingdom Secondly the same also appeareth in regard of its quality considering of what kind it is an heavenly kingdom It is said to be of heaven for its Kings sake and for its kinds sake For its Kings sake who only is Christ the Son of God the heavenly King This kingdome hath no King but that Caesar who onely is semper Augustus the King of Kings and Lord of Lords And for its kind sake also being no naturall rule or temporall regiment but supernaturall and divine This therefore must needs be great addition to that former point of honour It is a kingdom to make men Kings It is an heavenly kingdom to make them good Kings which of all works is the best and greatest Man is called a little world yet the rule of himself is greater then of the great world for he that ruleth his own mind is better then he that winneth a City Prov. 16.23 Alezander having subdued the great world or at least a great part of the world where was his honour when he failed in that little rule of himself Surely he then being in honour had no understanding but might be compared to the beasts that perish It is therefore more honour to have our hearts thus crowned spiritually then to have our heads invested with a temporall crown even as much as it is more to bee a good man then a great man or as the soul is more worth then the body or the body and soul more worth then the world or heaven more worth then the earth And such is the nature of this kingdom so doth it inthrone and crown us spiritually not temporally heavenly not earthly My kingdom is not of this world saith our Saviour Joh. 18.36 And here both sellers and buyers both Ministers and receivers both Priests and people may see what kind of commodity they have in hand and learn how to deal therein It is a heavenly traffique they may not be earthly or carnally minded in it The Minister he may not make merchandise of the Word of God or at least no other then free merchandise as the Prophet Isaiah doth Is 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and ye that have no money come buy and eat He may not begin it with what shall I give for it as if the gift of God might be obtained with money for that was Simons sin who thereby shewed himself to be in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquttie Act. 8.18 Nor yet with what shall I have with it as if Christ were to be sold at a price for that was Judas his sin who therefore hanged himself and burst asunder in the midst Act. 1.18 Not but that he may rejoyce in his labour and take his portion Eccl. 2.24 5.17 For that in all degrees is the gift of God And in this particular the labourer is worthy of his hire Luk. 10.7 And thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corn 1 Cor. 9.9 but it must be done willingly and of a ready mind not for filthy lucre sake 1 Pet. 5.2 His work is heavenly his aim and end likewise must be heavenly and holy and voyd of earthly respect The people also must take it as it is a spiritual not a carnal commodity and therefore be contented to be discontented and pleased to be displeased and think it their honour to be dishonoured as concerning the flesh and the outward man accounting the faithfull wounds of a lover better then the pleasant kisses of an enemy Prov. 27.6 And Gods precious balms though they break the head Ps 114.5 yet because they heal as soon as break more acceptable more comfortable more estimable then the old serpents apples offered from the forbidden tree because though they delight the eye and please the tast yet in delighting and pleasing at once they also kill and destroy And so much of the first part of the description of the Ministry of the Word namely by its dignity and honour the Kingdom of Heaven The second part or point is its property practise or effect It is a draw-net cast into the sea which gathered of every kind The summe of all
blessed Mat. 5. Blessed are ye for your knowing because ye do what ye know and blessed are ye for your doing because ye know what ye do blessed are ye internally for the peace of your consciences is unto you a continual feast blessed are ye externally for your light shineth before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven Blessed are ye supernally for God is not ashamed of you to be called your God for he hath prepared for you a Citty Blessed are ye in things temporal in things spiritual in things eternall In things temporall read the 28. of Deut. Blessed shalt thou be in the City and blessed also in the field blessed shall be the fruit of thy body and the fruit of thy ground and the fruit of thy cattle blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in and blessed when thou goest out In things spirituall for your understandings shall be illuminated your wills rectified your affections sanctified your old man mortified your new man quickned and ye wholly made accepted in the beloved In things eternall for there is an inheritance immortall undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved for you in heaven where ye shall have joy without sorrow health without infirmity pleasure without satiety life without death and indeed I cannot tell you what but this I may warrant all that ye would and nothing that ye would not as appeareth Psal 16.11 In thy presence is the fulness of joy and Psal 17.15 When I awake up after thy likeness I shall be satisfied with it Blessed are ye in the present Tense which I adde as a vantage to the former Notes as being indeed the speciall of all even now already ye have obtained it Now whiles ye dwel with Mesech and have your habitation among the tents of Kedar now whiles ye live in this vale of tears in this sea of glasse in this dungeon of the flesh now even now blessed are ye Blessed are ye in the unchangable decree of God the Father who hath elected you in the Incarnation of God the Son who hath redeemed you in the effectual operation of God the holy Ghost who hath sealed you Blessed are ye in the knowledge of God who hath called and justified you in the knowledge of the Church who hath received and acknowledged you in the knowledge of your selves your own consciences testifying together with Gods Spirit bearing witness with your spirits that yee are the children of God Blessed are yee for though yee shall not take possession of it till your soules be parted from your bodies Eccl. 12.7 and though ye shall not have the compleat perfection of it till your bodies be raised again and reunited to your soules Heb. 11. yet even in this life ye have the pawn and pledge of it 2 Cor. 1.22 Arrham spiritus the earnest of the Spirit a pure heart and good conscience and faith unfeigned 1 Tim. 1.5 And now concerning the present business Of the Visitation which is the occasion of our meeting and of my present speaking I need say nothing of it for my Text hath said all already If ye know these things blessed are ye if ye doe them To or for our quickning to this or any other duty what need more be sayd then this that our professed burthen of blessednesse our hoped weight of glory dependeth equally on our knowing and doing our duty Neither can I judge any of you my hearers to have need of more application of this unto you This assembly consisteth especially of three sorts Churchwardens Ministers Visiters And each of these concerning the businesse in hand I hope I need question no otherwise then Saint Paul questioned Agrippa Beleevest thou the Prophets I know thou beleevest So I now to you Are yee prepared and ready to doe your duties I know yee are prepared To the Churchwardens why should I make other question seeing the businesse is not new but very antient and of frequent use and seeing they are taught their lesson not by rote but by book having Articles to direct them whereof to consider and whereto to answer To the Ministers why should I make other question seeing their lips are to be the preservers of knowledge Mal. 2.7 and their foreheads the stamps of holiness Exod. 28.38 I may say therefore for them as the parents of the born blind man answered for their sonne concerning his blindnesse and recovery Hee is old enough ask him he shall answer for himself Joh. 9.20 To the Visitors what need I make other question seeing they cannot bee ignorant that hee who saith to them I have said ye are Gods addeth also immediately but ye shall die like men yea and in another place professeth himself to be the Visiter of Visiters Namely that in case of forsaking his Law and not walking in his Judgements he will visit such offences with the rod and such sinne with scourges Psal 89.31 What need I then say any more of this businesse yet I remember a passage of Mr. Latimer that man of the worn-out-age being challenged and taxed for somewhat spoken by him before and concerning the King he answered Would ye have me preach before a King and say nothing of a Kings duty This made mee to think it unfit for me to preach at a Visitation and say nothing thereto properly belonging To avoid this therefore I offer to your consideration and reformation two abuses which I take to be no small ones for they touch our coppyhold as I may say or rather our Freehold the honour and dignity of our Sacraments The first concerneth the former Sacrament Baptism and namely in this that it is grown a common custom to keep children from Baptism till the moneth be up for the Mothers churching sake some for state some to save charges But if the childe bee dead bom the parents grieve to look upon it and speedily commit it to the earth and shall not the apprehension of spiritual death be also grievous and make us speedily seek the remedy to bury that death in Christs death Circumcision was a bloody and cruell a tedious and grievous Sacrament as may appear by that forty years forbearing of it for journeying sake Josh 5.6 and by the prevailing of Simeon and Levi two men for there be no more mentioned to the Massacre of all the Males in a whole City being newly circumcised Gen. 34.25 Yet that Sacrament might not be omitted past the eighth day But our Sacraments as St. Augustine observeth Aug. Ep. 118. are numero pancissima observatione facilima few and easie and shall wee presume then to delay Baptism which is to us in stead of Circumcision till the moneth bee up The Minister is required to bee speedy in ministring it in case of danger And doth not this also binde the people to shun delay and to prevent danger Yea the Common Prayer book in the beginning of private Baptism injoyneth that Baptism be not delayed past the first
Jude 6. To every creature then must needs bee onely to every of Mankind who indeed is every creature both in respect of kind and in respect of end In respect of kind for he is instar omnium as having the kind of every thing in himself He hath the being of lifelesse things the growing of vegetables the sense of animals the reason of Angels and is therefore not unfitly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a little World as having in him the Idea or modell of the great World And as in kind so likewise in end man is every creature For every creature hath his end of being in some sort in man Not onely in subordination and subjection thou hast put all things under his feet all sheep and oxen and the beasts of the field Ps 8. Yea though he were made a little lower then the Angels yet in this union with the Son of God and in the person of Christ he is exalted far above all principalities and powers and might and domination Eph. 1.21 but also in obedience and service use and ministry all things have their end of being in man For the Sun is to rule the day and the Moon and the Stars to govern the night Psal 116. And to be for signs and seasons and for dayes and years What is this but to mans use and service yea the Angels are all ministring spirits sent forth to minister for their sakes that shall be heirs of salvation Heb. 1.14 And shall I speak it hath every creature onely its end of being in man May it not be said that it hath also its end of well-being in some sort included and implyed though not concluded and determined in man For it seemeth their perfection dependeth on ours For our fall was their fall Cursed is the earth for thy sake saith God to Adam Gen. 3. And our recovery is also theirs For the fervent desire of the creature waiteth when the sons of God shall be revealed Because the creature shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God for we know that every creature groaneth with us also and travelleth in pain together unto this present Rom. 8. Yea the very Angels perfection though it be not I say concluded in us yet it seemeth much to depend upon us for both by our conversion their joy is inlarged there is joy in the presence of the Angels for one sinner that converteth Luk. 15.10 and also by our Ministry and Preaching their knowledge is perfected for now unto principalities and powers in heavenly places is made known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God Eph. 3.10 And the things which are shewed by our preaching the Angels desire to behold 1 Pet. 1.12 O honourable excellency of mankind let me digresse a little that I may admire it Man is every creature all were created for him all are included in him all are restored with him all are perfected through him yea and above all all are reconciled by him for it pleased God by him even by that man Christ to reconcile all things to himself Col. 1.20 and to gather together in one all things both which are in heaven and which are in earth even in Christ Eph. 1.10 Where then is our holy ambition answerable to this excellency why is not all carnall and earthly pride swallowed up in this which is so divine and heavenly why doe we not endeavour to walk worthy of this high calling possessing our vessell in holyness and honour And seeing God shutteth up all in us making us the onely fish of his net the onely mark whereto all his works of power and mercy are tended and bended that we may be all in all to him why doe we not likewise shut up all in him and make him the only object of all our desires and hopes that he may be all in all to us even that God may be all in all To every creature then I say must needs be to every of Mankind But how then shall that other charge be taken Go not into the way of the Gentiles and into the Cities of the Samaritanes enter ye not Mat. 10.5 That charge was given in and for the time of the Jews while their Synagogues stood firmly founded on Moses ceremonies For Christ was a Minister of the Circumcision to confirm the promises made unto the Fathers Rom. 15.8 His time was not yet come to be published to the Gentiles Therefore to fulfill and to hasten his work he confineth himself and his to the Jewish Church But when by the consummatum est the foundation of Ceremonies was razed then the partition wall was broken down the vail of the Temple did rent all separation was removed and then was this charge given Go preach the Gospel to every creature and then also was the Holy Ghost given in such plenty and variety as might suffice unto the fulfilling hereof Act. 2. We see then that though the Jewish priviledge was great yet it had an end it was cut off at last Which may well check them that boast of infallibility perpetuity and may well warn all to beware of hardnesse and obstinacie For it is St. Pauls warning through unbelief they are broken off through faith thou standest be not high minded but fear for if God spared not the natural branches take heed lest he also spare not thee Rom. 11 20. Well then be it so To every creature that is to every of Mankind according to my Text It gathereth of every kind Here is the general capacity of this Net Here is no sex age state condition or nation excepted or excluded but all is fish that comes to this Net it draweth all that it reacheth it gathereth of every kind For of a truth saith St. Peter Act. 10.34 I perceive that God is no accepter of persons but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him And if God make no difference of us why do wee make difference one of another or any one of himself One of another in proud disdain or partial estimation Having the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ in respect of persons having respect to them that wear gay clothing being partiall in our selves and judges of evill thoughts Hearken my beloved brethren hath not God chosen the poor of this world that they should be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which hee promised to them that love him but ye have despised the poor so speaketh St. James Jam. 2. upbraiding our uncharitablenesse as if therein we did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fight against God opposing his will and frustrating his ordinance And why doth any one make difference of himselfe as if he did not belong to this Net nor it unto him Is it because of thy meannesse and poverty why the Gospel is preached unto the poor Mat. 11.5 The meashes of this Net are not knit so wide as to let the small frie go but
the world that they behold is vanity Yea the odds may be great advantage to the Soul even to make the ear her especial organ the more attentive to receive the more intensive to conceive the more retentive to keep For the lesse the eye hath to see the more leasure and pleasure the eare should have to hear Which is a good Item by the way to old men and women to teach them to be the more both exercised and satisfied with their ears when their sight begins to fail Exercised for their need is the greater their speed is the easier Satisfied for the Holy Ghost appeared in tongues not so much intending for that present to be seen as for ever to be heard and to make the care the alsufficient mouth to feed the soul though eyes be wanting 4. Here is no discomfort to the deaf as at first sight it may seem For though the Holy Ghost appeared in the likenesse of a tongue yet he is a spirit Hee is a spirit in substance a tongue but in appearance therefore though ordinarily he enter by the ear into thâ— soul yet extraordinarily he can enter though the ear be shut even as Christ ordinarily because he was man did enter by opened doors but extraordinarily because he was God even shut doors did not bar his entrance Joh. 20. He spake the word and they were made Gods word prevailed in the creation when as yet there was not an ear to hear And shall it not likewise prevail in the regeneration even of him who is deaf and cannot hear Yes doubtless for ejus dicere est facere Gods work and his word are so one that if he speak the word it must needs be done He that made the ear shall he not hear thee Yes no doubt though thou speak never so softly Therefore also I may say he that made the tongue shalt not thou hear him Yes though thou hear never so hardly though thy soul be dead much more though thine ear be dead thou shalt hear him that speaks to that purpose For the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear it shall live Joh. 5.25 The Holy Ghost is become a Tongue to signifie his ordinary entrance by the ear but he is a fiery tongue a spiritual tongue a divine tongue he can enter though there be no ear There is not therefore so much discomfort in deafness as may seem For though God hath tyed us to means yet himself is above means He is an almighty tongue and can work as well without the ear as with it 5. Here is shame and confusion to them that will not hear or that hear but to mock Such a generation are fore-prophecied to come in the last daies stopping their ears as the Adder doth hers with the ground and with her tayl so they theirs with worldliness and fleshliness proving oxen seeing farmes eating and drinking marrying and giving in marriage or else filling their mouthes with mockings and setting at naught the Ministry of the Word as a mad businesse As Jehu his companions spake of the Prophet Wherefore came this mad fellow to thee 1 King 9.11 And as Festus took Paul for a mad man Act. 26.24 Such were there in Ezekiels time and therefore no doubt will be in all times With their mouthes they make jests and their heart goeth after covetousness Ezek. 33.31 And especially in the last times for it is so prophecied 2 Pet. 3.3 There shall come in the last daies mockers But let all such know that the Holy Ghost came in tongues shewing his intent to work by tongues It is not therefore ye that speak but the spirit of your father that speaketh in you saith Christ Mat. 10.20 They have not cast thee away but they have cast me away saith God to Samuel 1 Sam. 8.7 He that despiseth despiseth not man but God saith St. Paul 1 Thes 4.8 What then Resist not the Holy Ghost For they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Rom. 13.2 He that speaketh against the holy Ghost shall never be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come Mat. 12.32 Let every man therefore be swift to hear slow to speak Jam. 1.19 Let the spirits gracious speaking prevail and our ungraciousness be put to silence But what manner of tongues are they that doe here appear Cloven tongues This is the last note but not the least for it implyeth manifold mysteries which may be thus summed and contracted It implyeth Division it implyeth union Division from God in respect of gifts and graces to be given Union to God in respect of people and nations to be called Division in the instruments that were to work Union in the subjects that were to be wrought upon 1. Division They were to be divided in the totall sum and in the severals all one from another and each one in himself First in the totall They were to be divided in place in degree in gifts 1. In place The holy Ghost said separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them Act. 13.2 Crescens is gone to Galatia Titus to Dalmatia 2 Tim. 4.10 They were to go into all the world and to teach all nations and for expeditions sake to goe severally O strange expedition Single men and simple ones too even silly Fishermen are called and sent to set upon Cities Towns yea Kingdoms and Countries and that but with their tongues See mans strength in God see Gods strength in man Mans strength of boldness they feared not the faces nor yet the hands of Kings and tyrants Why If God be with us who can be against us Rom. 8.31 I have put my trust in God I will not fear what flesh can do unto me Ps 56.11 And see Gods strength of ableness The Lord saveth not with sword nor yet with spear for the battel is the Lords 1 Sam. 17.47 It is not hard to the Lord to save with many or with few 1 Sam. 14.6 I will give you a mouth and wisdom where-against all your adversaries shall not be able to speak or resist Luk. 21.15 But no doubt their separation was for multiplications sake they were singled to severall places that the more abundant fulnesse of the Gentiles might the more speedily come in Saint John preached in the lesser Asia Saint Andrew in Scythia Philip in the higher Asia Thomas in India Bartholomew in Armenia Matthew in Aethiopia Simon the Canaanite in Mesopotamia Thaddaeus in Arabia James in Jerusalem Peter at Rome So doth Panigyrola range them The Fathers of the former ages were permitted and tolerated in Polygamie to have many wives for spedy multiplications sake that they might fill the world apace But the Apostles are singled as much as may be every one to a severall charge even for the same end even for speedy increase of spirituall issue God grant then that the spirituall Polygamie of our times be not the cause of barrennesse that the curse of Ephraim