denounce Gods Judgments against them We would be glad at every Sermon to say nothing but Peace to this Audience but our God saith There is no Peace to the wicked We would sing with the Angels Peace on Earth and good will towards men but how shall we sing the Lords Song in a strange Land Ps 137.4 We have Preached Glory Honour and Peace and Salvation and an incorruptible Crown and the choycest delights that heart could wish and were not regarded What remains then but to Preach Indignation and Wrath tribulation and angnish upon every Soul of man that doth evil Rom. 2.8,9 Fire from Heaven Plague Sword and Famine Captivity Emptied from vessel to vessel hurried from place to place Mists and Clouds and Darkness and Torments for days and nights and eternal generations of Years We have Piped unto you and ye have not Danced Matt. 11.7 we have sung With thee O Lord is mercy that thou mayest be feared Psal 130.4 But now we must change our note With thee is Vengeance that thou mayest be feared If the Spirit of Gentleness can do no good a Rod must come if the Songs of Sion cannot Mollifie the Thunders of mount Sinai must Terrifie Eli though a good man yet his Reproof wanted life and indignation against sin Nay my Sons for it is no good report that I hear 1 Sam. 2.24 In the matter of Preaching O what weighty things doth the Word contain Truths that should make the very bowels of the Minister to yern and pour out his affections in the Pulpit to rouze up the Peoples thoughts and awaken them from the sleep of sin and security wherein they have lain so long a time Otherwise when they hear of matters of Life and Death Salvation and Damnation they sit like blocks in their Seats as though it were no great matter Thus the golden Bells of Aaron must be rung in several tunes A Minister must labour to be like John Baptist to be a burning and a shining Light more then a Voice there must be life and heat in his Ministry Job 5.35 A Minister had need of many rare and excellent gifts to open the Scriptures to deduce from them to convince of sin to lay a good foundation to move the affections which the holy Scripture is so full of And most certain it is that they which are of the most prodigious wonderful and incomparable parts are most sensible of their own inabilities When God told Moses he would send him to deliver Israel saith Moses to God Who am I that I should go unto Pharaoh Exod. 3.10 When none in all Israel or Midian was comparably fit for this Embassage Which of the Israelites had been brought up a Courtier 1 Schollar an Israelite by Blood by Education an Egyptian Learned in all the Wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and is deeds Acts 7.22 So that he was Learned Wise Valiant Experienced Yet he saith Who am I 'T is to be feared there is few amongst us look Moses his way first upon himself his own insufficiencies How few amongst us that are named to any place begins at Moses What am I where have I Studied and Practiced sufficiently before that I should fill such or such a place of Judicature where have I served and laboured and Preached in inferiour places of the Church that I should fill such or such a place of Dignity or Prelacy there How few like Abram left to say in all humility I am but Dust and Ashes or Jacob Non sum dignus I am not worthy of the least of these Preferments But every man is vapour'd up into Air and as the Air can he thinks he can fill any place Many run into the Magistracy many into the Ministry but who is sufficient for any one Who is sufficient for these things saith that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Master of Speech 2 Cor. 2.16 This is spoken in the high Commendation of Apollos that he was an Eloquent man and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 powerful and mighty in the Scriptures Acts 18.24 fervent in the Spirit teaching diligently the things of the Lord. Therefore a Minister must have his senses exercised in the holy Scripture even beyond the common sort of believers so that he may be said with Apollos Mighty in the Scriptures And though he may and ought to make use of Councils Schoolmen and Fathers with reverence yet Apostolical Writings are onely to be appealed to as the last Rule of Faith Thus having spoken something of the Ministers Duty though in this Grave Worthy and Learned Audience not to be Your Instructor but so as to bring things to your remembrance Now it remains that I should speak something of the Ministers Dignity and for that you see it falls in my Text. There is no Duty but the Lord crowneth it with some Priviledge Blessing and Dignity and that duty and service of the Ministry is not excluded but expressed more eminently and emphatically Now then We are Ambassadours for Christ This is the great Honour and Dignity of the Ministers of the Gospel to be the Ambassadours of Jesus Christ Therefore we magnifie our Office and this heightens our Calling from the preciousness of the Truth which is to be manifested by us The greatest Mystery in Heaven and Earth that upon which depends the great weight of Salvation a glorious and great dispensation is committed unto us First Ministers are called Watchmen Son of man I have made thee a Watchman unto the house of Israel Ezek. 3.17 a Minister hath relation and is debter unto the whole Church of God This shews the Churches danger and the Ministers duty carefully to watch and to warn to foresee and foretell danger this is the Watchmans duty as not to be blind watchmen given to sleep and slumber Isa 16.10 And upon this very ground the Apostle exhorts the Hebrews that they should give Honour and Obedience unto the Guides Leaders Governours and publick Officers of the Church because they watch for your souls as they that must give account Heb. 13.17 therefore Honour Reverence Obedience and high Estimation is due unto them as the Servants of the most High God which shew unto men the way of Salvation Acts 16.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nomen quaesivit ab omni ambitione prorsus remotum tamen authoritat is maximae si quis suo munere sanctè fungatur Beza in loc Non dubito quin de Pastoribus loquatur reliquis Ecclesiae gubernatoribus Nam neque tunc Christiani Magistratus erant quod vigilare cos dicit pro animabus ad spirituale regimen propriè pertinet Primo obedientiam deinde honorem illis deferre jubet Haec duo necessario requiruntur ut plebs fidem ao simul reverentiam Pastoribus habeat Nam quo quisque plus laboris suscipit nostra causa quo majori difficultate vel periculo se nobis impendit eo sumus illi magis obstricti Cal. in Loc. Secondly Because this obedience
we Reprove and Rebuke and threaten for sin God he threatens when we Exhort for Duties to be performed Graces to be improved God he Exhorts when we Invite and perswade and Comfort by the Word God he Comforts and therefore those things which Gods Ministers befeech or Command in the Name of Christ people ought no otherwise to receive them then if Christ Jesus himself stood by and commanded them Therefore as Christ was content to be Baptized of John Matt. 3.13 so be you content to be instructed of us And they that think themselves too wise to be taught by us let all such remember that God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise 1 Cor. 1.27 Let them think us those Fools whom God hath chosen to confound them And all such as account our Preaching foolishness we grant it unto them that perish For the Preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness but unto us that are saved it is the Power of God and the wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1.18,24 We are Labourers together with God saith the Apostle and of believers in general saith he Ye are Gods Husbandry Tillage Field or Building 1 Cor. 3.9 which ought to be closely united to one another in the service of God Therefore they ought not to be rent into parties one from another But the Ministers are the Builders to build men up in Faith and Holiness and in the Comforts of the Holy Ghost Not for that we have dominion over your Faith but are helpers of your Joy 2. Cor. 1.24 And that the fear of God might be in every Heart and the worship of God in every Family as so many Temples or Sanctuaries Fourthly Though all Believers in general be the Servants of God yet the Ministers are the Stewards and Dispencers of the blessed mysteries of Salvation Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4.1 The Magistrate is as it were a Fingers of Gods Hand the Minister a Steward in his House though in a large sense all are the Lords Ministers Saith Luther A Master of a Family hath something to do a Magistrate more and a Minister most of all Fiftly Ministers are called Stars for that they must shine in the Firmament of the Church here shine others and out-shine all others as Stars of the first magnitude yea as the Sun it self When God set the Sun in the Firmament he bad him shine there so when God sets a Minister in a place he expects he should shine in his Ministry The Heavens declare the glory of God Psal 19.1 now how do they do it but to the Eyes of men and by the Tongues of men for whom they were made For as a mans Tongue is his glory so it should especially be for the glory of his God But for a Minister God hath promised most divine assistance that he will be with his mouth Exod. 4.12 and saith Christ to his Disciples It is not ye that speak but the Holy Ghost Mark 13.11 Yet that extraordinary Promise was most proper to the times of the Primitive Persecution A Ministers work is in a most special manner to Trumpet forth the praises of his God to shine in the firmament of the Church here and to out-shine the Sun in the Kingdom of his Father hereafter They that be wise shall shine and they that turn many to righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 First wise for the salvation of their own souls that when they have Preached unto others they themselves may not become cast-aways 1 Cor 9.27 Like those Carpenters that built the Ark to save others and were drowned themselves Or like Porters of Great mens Gates that let in others but lodge without themselves Secondly Gaining of others saving himself and them that hear him 1 Tim. 4.16 Timothy must save himself and them that hear him and then this is a pledge of our glory the Promise is clear they that turn many to Righteousness shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever Ministers are like Lamps which consume themselves to give light unto others And from hence some do strongly imagine that the blessed Apostle had a peculiar regard and respect unto Ministers in that 2 Cor. 5.1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens q. d. dye when you will heavenly mansions are ready for you Joh. 14.2 your eternal happiness and blessedness is secured which being so those Ministers which are ready to say with Peter they will dye for Christ O what pains then should they take for him Ministers are the Light of the world in the places where they live Matt. 5.14 and where they are wanting their People sit in Darkness and in the shadow of Death Luke 1.79 that is they are Blind and Ignorant Dead in trespasses and sins Ephes 2.1 rophane without all the Life of grace in them they are abominable in the Eyes of God and all their actions are odious unto him they are under the power of Satan and under the wrath of God Though it is true that Christ is the true Light of the World as well as the true Salt of the Earth yet it is as true that Gods faithful Ministers are the Salt of the Earth Matt. 5.13 to make people savoury both in heart and life so that a constant painful faithful powerful Minister Preaching to the Consciences of men there will be such an efficacious effect of this that even wicked men cannot so easily sin against God Sixtly Ministers are called Angels Rev 2.1 now Angels are Spirits spiritual substances as the Psalmist speaks he maketh his Angels Spirits they are spiritual creatures their Communion their Food their Affections their minds are Spiritual so a Minister though he is a body yet he is a spiritual man If you say so is every Believer I answer But a Minister is a spiritual man in a more special manner as one that comes nigh unto God his Office and Imployment is Spiritual Divinity being of all Arts the supreme most noble and master-piece proceeding in a special maner from God himself treating of God and Divine matters and tending and leading men to God 1. Vse For Exhortation to Ministers that they would be careful to teach the People If people perish for want of knowledge shall Ministers escape who are negligent in teaching be sure of it both smart together they for their Ignorance these for their Negligence such Ministers have their doom in that Scripture Hosea 4.6 Because thou hast rejected knowledge I will reject thee whose office it was to instruct admonish reprove intreat and by all means to turn the people from their evil ways O that such men would be pleased to consider that the best service they can do the greatest honour they can attain unto is to be
fellowship friendship and acquaintance with God desire so to continue like some of the Israelites who began to be in love with their bondage and slavery in Egypt And how many thousands and millions have we cause to fear there be who are dead while they live or at the best but luke-warm such as Christ threatens to spue them out of his mouth Rev. 3.16 serving of God in such a sleight perfunctory negligent and careless manner only for fashions sake and by fits sometimes perhaps pray when the night comes hear when the Sabbath comes fast when Lent comes and think to repent when death comes And alas all this while they are under the wrath and Curse of God liable to all the miseries of this life to Death it self and those pains that are endless easeless and remediless And yet men are in a golden Dream and bless themselves in their evil ways until the very flames of Hell take hold on them The Lord threatens he will not spare them but his jealousie and anger shall smoke against them blot out their name from under heaven Deut. 22 20. separate them unto evil what can be more miserable and dreadful then and desolation Let me then in the name of God Exhort you all to seek the Lord in good earnest while he may be found Know in this your day the things of your eternal peace without which you had better never to have come upon the Stage of the World O what will become of men at that great Day that have all thâ—ir time here been found fighters against God treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath Acts 5.39 Rom. 2 5. every day carrying a Faggot to that Pile which shall burn them for ever a Brand to that Hell which Sin and the Wrath of God hath made so hot already O for men to be in the very gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity Acts 8.23 possessed with most wicked malice slaves to the Devil to do all manner of wickedness to be given up to blindness of mind utterly destitute of the true knowledge of God and of his Son Jesus Christ under strong delusions to take pleasure in believing lies 2 Thes 2.11,12 This is the greatest judgment that can befal you unless the earth should open and swallow you up like Korah Dathan and Abiram Numb 16.32,33 when Husbands and Wives Parents and Children Masters and Servants went all quick to hell together Yet for ought we know while God in justice killed their bodies he might in mercy save some of their souls He that repenteth not to day will have one day more to account for and one day less to repent in And who knows what may depend upon one day Yet Prayers and Tears may do you good But stay a while and though streams of blood should flow from you and you should cry and howl to God to all Eternity it would never do it therefore know your time It is a happy thing for a man to do a business in such a time wherein he may have the comfort of it the benefit of it God proclaims and says to every one of you this day Friend poor soul as ever you expect to receive mercy look to it now for now the golden Scepter is stretched forth now is the acceptable time and the day of grace and salvation come in and accept of the offers and tenders of grace and mercy now or else you may be lost and gone for ever qui jam non credit imposterum sentiet he that will not now believe shall hereafter feel sooner or later The sinner an hundred years old shall be accursed Isa 65.20 Tua res agitur non Dei thou art the person concerned this business concerns thy life thy Eternal estate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys in Loc. It is not said Reconcile God to your selves for God doth not make the breach but reconcile your selves to God Certainly it concerns men that have not made their peace with God to spend their days in bewailing their sinful and miserable condition to exchange all their carnal joy for some godly sorrow that God may give them that in tears which they could never find in sensual pleasures that God may give them salvation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naz. Orat. 17. God hath joyned salvation with sorrow and sighing godly sorrow and sighing is the souls food and the minds refection Therefore do not ruffle it out in the world taking your fill of Pleasure as if this world were made on purpose for you to sport in Remember what the Prophet Isaiah saith And what will ye do in the day of visitation in the great Day whom will ye flye for help to Isa 10.3 when the Earth shall burn and the Heavens shall flame and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat and all the Tribes of the Earth shall mourn before the Lord. Although the Lord keep many terrible privy Sessions and sharp and severe Visitations for to keep this world in order yet he hath reserved the great Assise the great Visitation until the last Day And therefore is this a time to be carnal and secure and sleeping when you should be running for the Crown of glory to be an Athiest in the world The wicked through the pride of his countenance will not seek after God God is not in all his thoughts Psal 10.4 or all his thoughts are there is no God non esse Deum sunt omnes cogitationes ejus Junius This is that fool that hath said in heart there is no God Psal 14.1 it is rather an Option then an Opinion faith S. Austin He could be content there was none Ita tacitus loquntus est impius non est Deus vel utinam non esset Deus God is not the object of his joy his thoughts and meditationsu either is he careful and solicitous aboutheavenly and divine things being intentive about prophane The best things are shut out of his heart Intus existens prohibet alienum he lives as if there were no God with no due sense awe or reverence of the most Holy and glorious God These men are most truly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Without God in the World Eph. 2 12. hic labor hoc opus And therefore to get men to be reconciled to God this is a work indeed a very difficult work Well might Paul say Who is sufficient for these things Herein consists the great work of Reconciliation when Parties between whom hath been friendship and afterward breaches made then they are brought into favour again as S. Bernard tells us in his 32. Sermon super Cantica Quidest reconciliatio nisi iterata animorum dissidentium conciliatio And the same Father tells us that there are three to whom we ought to be reconciled To God Angels and Men. Unto Men by manifest deeds clear and shining which are to be wrought before men Joh. 3.21 Let your light so shine on earth to the glory of your Father in heaven Matt 5.16 There