whom soeuer shall require an accompt thereof No Answ Indeede I confesse a Christian is bound especially when he is called by authority though it be before an Infidel to make an Apologie of his Faith and to defend the truth And so likewise at all times when Gods glory is like to suffer a Christian must stand it out whatsoeuer come of it But when a question shall bee asked vs to no other end but to deride the truth or for some other euill end Wee haue the example of our Sauiour himselfe not to answeare in such a case Iesus held his peace Mat. 26.63 at that time wheÌ„ they went about to intrap him in his words So that if a man bee questioned concerning his Faith or Religion hee is wisely to consider whereto the question tendeth and accordingly returne his answere I beleeue This was the thing that Philip so much desired that this Eunuch might bee brought to beleeue in Christ that so the Sacrament might be effectuall to the sealing vp and confirmation of his Faith Here we haue the happy fruite and effect of his Ministery hee is brought to be a beleeuer Philip hath not beate the aire in vaine neither hath the word been cast as the Seede on the high way side on the stony or thorny ground but it hath lighted now on a good heart a heart prepared for the same The happy fruit and effect whereof is heere set downe he is made a beleeuer I beleeue It teacheth vs That there is a particular Faith Doct. required of all that looke to reape life and saluation through Christ A partâ—cular Faith necessary to Saluaâ—iâ—n If we looke to reape fruit and benefit by the Sacraments of the Church we must euery particular man haue a particular Faith of our owne to qualifie vs for the same to this are we often exhorted To stand fast in the Faith 1 Cor. 16.13 to bee rooted and grounded in Faith To make our calling and election sure 2 Cor. 13.5 And to worke out our saluation with feare and trembling Phil 2.12 For the further clearing of this truth Hear wee the speech of Faith in those whom God hath honoured with this grace in the scripture Iob 19 25. Esay 45.24 truely to beleeue I am sure my Redeemer liueth Hee shall say surely in the Lord haue I righteousnesse and strength Doubtlesse thou art our Father Esay 63.16 though Abraham bee ignorant of vs. We may see heerein the maruelous affiaÌ„ce the faithfull haue had through their owne particular Faith Gal 2.20 They were sure and certaine of their owne saluation after this life Heb. 2 4. Wee know that we are translated from darknesse to light c. They were sure of the grace of perseuerance they should perseuere in Gods loue vnto the end Doubtlesse kindnesse and mercy shall follow mee all the dayes of my life Psal 23.6 It is not presumption but Faith saith an Ancient Non est arrogantia sed fides predicare quod acceperis August to say thou shalt bee accepted through Christ The point is cleare and plaine The grounds are Reas 1 First in regard that all the promises of life and saluation run in generall tearmes and therefore must bee applied in particular to euery one Christ hath loued vs saith the Apostle and giuen himselfe for vs wherevpon a learned Diuine saith From the vniuersall euery one is to bring the benefit of Christs death to his owne particular Ab Vniversali quis que debet ad suum particulare hoc Christi bew ficium transferre Zâ—nch in Ephs 5. that hee may bee able in some good measure of Faith to say with the Apostle Christ gaue himselfe for me and without this there can bee no sound comfort for what though wee haue by vs neuer so precious a salue that will heale all soares if this be not applied we are not the better for it such are the promises of the Gospell to an vnbeleeuer the man wanteth the hand of Faith to make the application Reas 2 Secondly the very order of our Creed which wee are taught to beleeue teacheth so much where we say I beleeue not wee beleeue which is to bee referred to euery Article I beleeue in God the Father I beleeue in Iesus Christ in the holy Ghost c. An euident proofe we must haue this particular Faith of our owne Reas 3 Thirdly this is it which furnisheth a Christian with a holy resolution to goe on throughly in his Christian course What Souldier were he assured aforehand to win the field and to haue the dividing of the spoiles would not with Iesus march furiously to meete his enemy in the face this valour doth well become Christs Souldiers who hath made vs Kings and Conquerors through Christ Vse 1 This serues first of all to condemne that Doctrine of the Church of Rome who teach and hold that it is arrogancy and presumption for any man to conclude the certainty of his owne saluation By the Doctrine of the Councell of Trent No man say they can attaine any assurance of his owne saluation other then coniecturall vnlesse by speciall revelation He that will bee a Papist is bound by the renet of the Church all the dayes of his life to liue in suspence a most vncomfortable Religion a most vncomfortable Doctrine Nay more let him be accursed saith the same Councell if he either think or indeuour any grounded certaintie or assurance Miserable comforters are they and herein what doe they else but rob God of his glory and depriue a Christian soule of his cheefest comfort Surely it must needs bee a Satanicall and Antichristian Spirit that shall contradict the spirit of God in so plaine and euident a truth Reas 2 Secondly seeing such a particular Faith is required to partake of Christ and of all those benefits that accrue vnto euery true beleeuer through him Let this then admonish vs to labour for this assurance and to prouoke hereunto Consider Motiues to get a particular faith First that it is an excellent meanes to free the heart of man from slauish and seruile feares and to worke an holy securitie in the soule So Dauid Psal 46.1.2 God is our hope and strength therefore will we not feare though the earth he moued Againe Though I walke through the valley of the shadow of death Psal 23.4 I will feare none euill for thou art with me Secondly it is this that will regulate and temper our affections in times of prosperitie when we shall consider that we are reserued for better hopes and kept for a better condition How ready are we to poure out our hearts to our lusts and pleasures especially in prosperous times With the disciples we are ready to say It is good being here But when wee shall consider that wee are here but in the suburbs and that whatsoeuer we haue and enioy is but the earnest of a more glorious inheritance we shall then put
must perish When I say to a wicked man thou shalt surely dye Ezech. 33.8 if thou doe not speake to warne that wicked man he shall dye in his iniquitie c. Seeing then that the Ministers of GOD must conscionably discharge their duties Vse 1 whatsoeuer trouble or danger they meet withall This may serue to reproue diuers in the ministery as vnfaithfull in Gods house 1 Ignorant Teachers that are not able to acquaint the people with the counsell of God such haue no calling from God and were neuer sent by him for whom God sendeth and imployeth in this honourable seruice he furnisheth with gifts in some measure for the discharge of the same 2 False Teachers and such as by false and erronious Doctrine seeke to poyson mens soules and these are no lesse dangerous then the former for whereas the one destroyes mens soules for want of food the other poysons them with corrupt food 3 Idle teachers which feede of the flock but feed not the flocke fearefull is the account that such men one day are to giue vnto God 4 Flattering Teachers these are also vnfaithfull in Gods house these are they of whom the Prophet speaketh of that sow cushions vnder mens elbowes dare not or will not with Nathan say thou art the man Vse 2 Secondly if troubles and apparant dangers are not to hinder the Ministers of GOD from doing their duty How farre then are such from approuing themselues faithfull in their calling who when there is no danger in the way no Caiphas to call them to account nor Saul to trouble or molest or to make hauocke of the Church as at this time Neither their liues sought for as Elias was yet are negligent and sloathfull in feeding the flock of Christ Then the Aâ—gell said to Philip. This being at that time when there was such great persecution at Ierusalem when Saul made hauocke of the Church and when Stephen is puâ— to death We may further obserue Doct. 2 Faithfull Ministers most subiect to persecutions That it is the lot and portion of Gods Ministers aboue all others to meete with persecutions When troubles arise in the Church they are the first ordinarily that come into danger This was the condition of the Prophets themselues as our Sauiour testifieth vnto the Iewes Mat. 23. Which of the Prophets haue not your fathers persecuted Moses was often resisted by Iannes and Iambres 2 Tim. 3.8 There were seuen thousand men in Israel that neuer bowed their knee to Baal 1 Reg. 19.10 But yet the Prophets were slaine and put to the sword And Elias being left his life was sought for aboue all others At the time of Christs passion there were many faithfull Christians in all places yet Christ and his Apostles were the obiect of the Iewes malice and they were singled out by the Scribes and Pharisies as men vnworthy to liue So that Gods faithfull Ministers may say with Ieremy This is my portion and I will beare it Ier. 13. Now the reasons are First Reas 1 that contrarietie that is betwixt a godly and a wicked man There is nothing in the world wherein there is the like contrarietie this was prophecied of of old I will put enmity Gen. 3. c. This enmity is maintained in the world at this day These are the Spirits of deuils that goe about in the world that prouoke men to warre against Christ and his Church Reu 16.14 And this battell betwixt Michael and his Angell and the Dragon and his Angels shall not cease till time be no more Reu. 12. Reas 2 Secondly the nature of their Ministery cannot but produce this effect in wicked and vngodly men that liue vnder the same for their doctrine is like vnto good salt which doth cause smart and paine when it is applyed vnto a sore so doth their doctrine when it is applied to a festered conscience Reas 3 Thirdly in them many times the Lord doth punish the people I will strike the Shepheard Zach. 13.7 and the sheepe shall be scattered If the Pastor be good it is many times the sins of the people that hee is impeded of his Ministery if he be euill they are his owne sinnes that draw his miseries vpon him Reas 4 Fourthly thorough the Ministers side Sathan many times doth wound the truth and by bringing disgrace vpon the person of such a one aliens the hearts of his people from that due respect vnto his doctrine For Sathan knowes that the credit and honour of the person of such a one giues no small aduantage to his ministery and therefore by his Ministers is hee still raising vp of persecutions reproches against such This teacheth Gods Ministers to resolue to fight that good fight and to suffer affliction as the good souldiers of Iesus Christ 2 Tim. 2.4 They are the Lords Captaines to leade vs his people in the face of the enemy Their liues must not be deare vnto them so that they may fulfill their ministery with ioy Acts 21. Nothing can more beautifie the calling of a Minister then a godly resolution to suffer for Christ Secondly let neither Minister nor people then thinke it strange if this betide vs of the Ministery at this day If this were the condition of Gods seruants in some one age and not in another it were to be wondred at But there is no age of the Church wherein they haue not met with persecutions yea the more zealous the doctrine of Gods Ministers is and the more it strikes at Sathans kingdome the more resistance and opposition will it merit withall from wicked men and such as are enemies to godlinesse Thirdly this should moue pitty in our people and those that are our hearers If any one Souldier in a field were hardly beset and ouer matched by many euery one would pitty such a one and step in to his succour but if a Captaine in a field were singled out from the rest and in danger what Souldier would nor aduenture his life for him and hasten to his succour Ministers they are the Lords Captaines and many times are hard put to is it meete then that you stand still and looke on Euery good hearer then must set to his hand to helpe his Teacher I doe not meane so much by any outward strength or power as by earnest and hearty prayer So Paul Brethren pray for vs 2 Thes 3 1. that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified and that we may bee deliuered from vnreasonable and wicked men Thus did the Church for Peter Acts 12.5 and thus ought wee to doe for all the faithfull Ministers of Christ And the Angell of the Lord spake vnto Philip. The word Angell in the Originall signifieth a Messenger or an Ambassadour And so indeede they are the Lord of Hoasts according to that Heb. 1.7 Hee maketh his Angels spirits and his Ministers a flame of fire and againe Heb. 1.14 They are
maist come to desire it more then thy appointed food And know that in our often vrging and pressing you to come we doe not herein require any duty or homage vnto vs but vnto God And if in refusing to come you did but discountenance disgrace dishearten and shew your contempt vnto vs then the matter were not great But this you shall finde true another day that this contempt hath reached vnto God himselfe Thirdly there be others that make euery light occasion occasion sufficient to keepe them from Gods house if their head dâ—â—â—â— ake if their finger be but sorâ— oâ— the like they thinke they may well be excused Surely God will make this Eunuch here a swift witnesse in iudgement one day against such men who albeit his imployment were great being so neere the person of so great a Queene yet thinkes no time too long cost too great or wayes too farre to worship God I would pray such men but to consider these examples Esa 38.21 Hezechias hauing beene sicke of a dangerous and mortall disease within three daies after went into the Temple hee did not as the manner is keepe in whole weekes and moneths for a little cold for a small griefe or infirmitie or the like but so soone as euer he perceiueth any mitigation of his disease as that the danger thereof is past to the Temple straight goeth he The woman that had a Spirit of infirmitie eighteene yeeres Luk. 13.10.11 was not held from Gods house but vpon the Sabbath day resorted vnto the Synagogue It is a signe of a barren gracelesse heart to slight the Sabbath and the holy exercises on that day And know thou whosoeuer thou art that findest this to bee thy case that hast no delight and canst find no comfort in the communion of Gods people in these holy assemblies here that thou shalt haue no part nor portion no nor any fellowship with them in the kingdome of heauen hereafter for those that haue no heart to beare a part with the Church Militant in their holy assemblies here shall neuer come to beare a part in that Quire where Saints and Angels shall sing continually in the Church Triumphant And last of all within the compasse of this reproofe are those that sticke not to say they can serue God at home as well as at Church they can pray and reade good bookes at home and so long as they imploy themselues thus thinke they are not to bee blamed But what say these men to Dauid or what are these men to Dauid could not he being a Prophet of God and a man after Gods owne heart indued with such a wonderfull measure of the sanctified graces of Gods Spirit serue God in priuate in the time of his banishment as these in their houses or Chappels of ease Yet hee did long to come into the Courts of the Lords house yea he did enuy the very Sparrowes and Swallowes that might come into the Temple 〈◊〉 4 〈◊〉 and build their neasts neere the Altar whereas he might not come therein Vse 2 Secondly this may serue for admonition that we labour to bring our hearts more and more to be affected with these holy duties to prize these publike assemblies and to be thankefull vnto God for the same that we neuer rest vntill we bring our hearts in some good measure to say with Dauid â—sal 〈…〉 I was glad when they said we will goe vp into the house of the Lord and to this end let vs beâ— exhorted to prouoke one another and to call one another as the faithfull before Come let vs go vp to the house of the Lord. And herein Masters of families and Parents are to be exhorted thâ—â— they thinke it not sufficient 〈◊〉 they themselues come buâ— to â—â—e to their Children and Seruaâ—â—â— that they come also to Gods worâ—ship Thou must suffer none to attend thee in thy house that will not attend thee to Gods house Remember the charge Thou thy Sonne and thy Daughter Ex. 20.10 thy Man-seruant and thy Maid-seruant Iosh 24 15 c. Iosuah vndertakes for all that are in his house I and my house will serue the Lord and this was one of Dauids greatest comforts that hee had gone with a multitude Psal 43. â—â— and led them the way to the house of God Went vp to Ierusalem to worship But why would the Lord suffer him to goe vp to Ierusalem Quest so long and so tedious a iourney why was not Philip sent before God Answ if it had so pleased him he could haue sent Philip at the first to haue instructed him but hee would not but suffers him first to trauaile vp to Ierusalem No question the Lord was much delighted in this obedience of his Seruant and in respect that his loue to religion was such as made him endure any labour cost or paines he was moued the rather to blesse him with the ministery of Philip. God had left in his Church meanes whereby he would haue men taught such as were those sacrifices now done at Ierusalem which he will not haue neglected It pleased the Lord well that the Eunuch should be first instructed in the rudiments of the Law that he might be the fitter for the Doctrine of the Gospell The Lord might haue sent downe the holy Ghost vpon Cornelius and his company Act. 10. before Peter preached vnto them but he would not but first makes him fit for Peters ministery and for the receiuing of the holy Ghost And thus the Lord could haue instructed Saul when he first heard that sound Acts 9. from heauen but would not vntill he were first fitted for prayer We are taught hence Dect Catechising â—â—ceâ—â—â—â—y that if wee would bee fit for the strong meâ—t of the Gospell we must first be thoroughly instructed in the principles of religion Thus the Author of the Epistle vnto the Hebrewes by a loâ—ing obiurgation or chiding reproues the want of this amongst them Hâ—b 5.1 When for the time saith he ye ought to be teachers ye need that one should teach you aâ—aiâ—e which be the first principles of the Oracles of God and are become such as haue need of milke and not of strong meat So Paul 1 Cor. 3.2 I cannot speake vnto you as spirituall but as vnto babes And hence is it that Moses commandeth the people to teach their children the Law of God Dâ—â— 6. Exâ—â— 14 and the vse of the Passeouer And surely this serues to condemne the great neglect of this duty Vse that men thinke it scorne to be catechised and instructed in the grounds and principles of religion and this is the reason why so many heare the word vnprofitably and are so full of blindnesse and ignorance they were neuer truly grounded in the principles of the Christian faith but of this hereafter To Ierusalem to worship This could not bee done but with great cost for so were the sacrifices and seruice of God in
lost labour since himselfe confesseth that hee could not vnderstand without a guide As hee read with a desire to learne so he was edified thereby Answ Quamuis multa obscura multa oâ—uia sunt as it appeareth by his trauelling vp to Ierusalem to worship And howsoeuer he confesseth his ignorance in that place he now read yet no man is so ignorant but in reading of that booke may get some profit Though many places of Scripture be hard to be vnderstood Doct. Men must reade the Scriptures though man things be therein obscure yet we must not giue ouer reading for that which seemes hard to be vnderstood in one place may be easie and plaine in another And when men make conscience to bee acquainted with Gods will reuealed in his word and are desirous of the knowledge of the mystery of their saluation God will at one time or other giue such to vnderstand and direct them to some Philip or other that shall open the same vnto them Thus God commended the Booke of the Law vnto the people not onely to the learned but euen to the vnlearned also that all sorts conditions of men might be familiar therein Deut. 31.11.12 Thou shalt reade the words of this law before all Israel that they may heare it and learne to feare the Lord and in the same place he nameth their men women Ier. 36.6 and children So Ieremy commandeth Baruch to reade the word of the Lord before all Iuda and in the audience of all the people Therefore it concerned all and to this end our Sauiour giues this charge vnto all Search the Scripture Ioh. 5.39 Now all these were not Clergie to whom these spake What though some one place we meete withall be hard to be vnderstood shall we therefore lay aside the whole Booke of God and reade none at all God forbid The Scriptures are such a fountaine wherein the Elephant may swim and the Lambe may wade What man is there that hauing a Deede whereby he holdeth his Land will cast the same away because it is hard and he cannot vnderstand it Nay will he not the oftner looke into it and desire the helpe of those that haue more skill Then much lesse should we cast aside the word of God though some place therein seeme to bee hard to bee vnderstood which is our deed and sheweth vnto vs our assurance vnto the kingdome of heauen nay wee should reade it the more often and desire the helpe of others that we may vnderstand the same Reas 1 The Scriptures are obscure and darke onely to naturall men The naturall perceiues not the things that are of God for they are foolishnesse vnto him neitheâ— can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Now the reason why the Scriptures are so hard to be vnderstood of these men is not in the Scriptures themselues but in this blind and corrupt nature of ours A blinde man he seeth not the light of the sunne when it shineth most bright is the fault in the sunne no but rather in the imperfection of the mans sight Thus is it with the Scripture with naturall men But to that man whose eyes God hath opened the Scriptures are not obscure but this man comming thereunto with humility and feare in a sense of his owne wants with a desire to be instructed hee is sure to vnderstand them at least so much as shall be necessary for his owne saluation according to that of Salomon â—o 8.9 They are all plaiâ— to him that vnderstandeth and straight to him that would sinde knowledge Reas 2 Secondly God hath promised to teach all the elect and to giue them his spirit to inlighten their mindes according to that of our Sauiour Ioh. 6.45 and they shall be all taught of God and againe He will teach the humble in the way that he shall choose Psal 25 9 Vers 12. and What man is hee that feareth the Lord him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose So the blessed Virgin in her Magnificat He filleth the hungry with good things and hath sent the rich away empty Vse 1 This then serues againe to meet with tabt damnable doctrine in the Church of Rome who teach and hold that because the Scripture is hard and difficult to be vnderstood teach that we must not reade them neither haue them in a knowne tongue but locke them vp from the knowledge and vnderstanding of the simple teaching them to cast themselues vpon the Church and by a generall implicite faith to beleeue as the Church beleeueth to rest there a most damnable doctrine Is not this left in the great praise and commendations of this Eunuch that he searched into the Scriptures Doth Philip any where blame him for this his prying into the Scriptures nay rather to shew how pleasing and acceptable this was with God the Lord declareth by sending of Philip vnto him to teach and instruct him wherein he was ignorant Vse 2 Secondly let this admonish vs to make conscience of this duty to be frequent in reading the Scriptures and that we be not beaten off this duty through the hardnesse of any one place we see in other things vse makes perfect nesse and that which at first seems impossible to be attained vnto yet by industry is attained vnto at last as this is true in all Arts and Sciences in the world so in the study of the Scriptures Here is milke for Babes and meate for strong men this is that riuer wherein children may wade and the Elephant may swimme And to prouoke vs to the more diligent searching into the Scriptures consider Motiues to reade the scriptures First the Word of God is the onely euidence a Christian hath for his eternall inheritance Vse 1 Thy testimonies haue I claymed as my heritage for euer c. Psal 119. Vse 2 Secondly the Word is able to make thee wise vnto saluation â—â—â—l â—9 7 how simple soeuer thou be Vse 3 Thirdly it is able to conuert thy soule hoâ— strong soeuer thy corruptions be Vse 4 Fourthly the Word is able to giue thee comfort in thy afflictions how bitter soeuer they bee so Dauid I had perished in my afflictions 〈…〉 had it not beene for thy Word VERSE 29. Then the Spirit said to Philip Texâ— goe neare and ioyne thy selfe to this Chariot HEre wee haue Philips commission to goe and instruct the Eunuch Where wee are to note first of all the circumstance of time when he went Then that is when the Eunuch was thus religiously imployed in reading of the Scriptures and vsing the meanes to worship God aright and to know him â—hen is Philip sent to instruct him and to preach Christ Iesus vnto him to the saluation of his soule Note hence That God vsually dealeth with his children Doct. God will â—e found in the 〈…〉 as with this Eunuch and poore heathen man hee read and searched the Scriptures conscionably
of God Doct. The truth of Gods Word not to be measured by outward appearance by the outward forme of words or manner of deliuery of it or by the messenger for God is not tyed vnto such meanes but he can by the foolish things of the world confound the wise as the Apostle saith When the world by the wisedome of it knew not God in the wisedome of God 1 Cor. 1.21 it pleased God by the foolishnesse of preaching to saue them that beleeue Euen so by this poore and plaine man Philip the Lord conuerted this great Noble man We may not then thinke as the manner of many is that the power of the Gospell consisteth in eloquence of speech but the euidence and demonstration of the Spirit is best seene in plainenesse So Paul Our reioycing is this 2 Cor. 1.12 the testimony of our conscience that in simplicitie and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisedome but by the grace of God wee haue had our conuersation in the world And why should the world wonder at this Reas 1 Seeing that in the choyce thus of such simple and weake meanes that haue little or no force in them his glory doth most of all appeare Now he will maintaine his owne glory That no flesh should glory in his presence 1 Cor 1.28.29 And hence it is that the Lord chooseth the foolish things before the wise and weake things to confound the mighty and the base things of the world to bring to nought things that are for the clearer manifestation and setting forth of his owne glory Reas 2 Secondly God seeth not as man seeth outward priuiledges and respects oftentimes preuaile with men but not with God who respecteth the heart and not the outward appearance And hence is it that the Lord gaue this charge vnto Samuel when he was to annoynt one of the sonnes of Iesse to be King 1 Sam. 167 Looke not on his countenance or on the height of his stature for the Lord seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart And hence is it that the Lord maketh choyce of such instruments which the world so highly condemne in regard he seeth the heart and principally regardeth the integrity of the same Vse 1 This then meeteth with the vaine conceit of those that thinke that vnlesse the Preacher be eloquent and soare aloft in such a manner of stile aboue the reach of the vulgar and decke and trimme vp his Sermon with Doctors and Fathers and humanity think meanely of the Word though otherwise he speake vnto the conscience and conuince the same of sinne Such must know that simplicitie doth best become the Gospell of Christ and that herein the Apostle Saint Paul doth approue himselfe a faithfull Minister of the same in that he came not with the inticing words of mans wisedome Let men then take heed how they despise those whom God hath thus honoured and set apart for this seruice for this is indeed to crosse the proceedings of God and to barre vp the way against our selues and our owne soules of life and saluation Vse 2 Secondly seeing he chooseth thus the weake things of this world to confound the mighty and maketh such many times excellent instruments of his glory that haue no outward beautie or excellencie in them It teacheth vs then to giue God alone the glory and praise of his owne worke acknowledging it to be his owne gift and to returne him the praise Thus did our Sauiour himselfe I thanke thee O Father Mat. 11.25 that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent of the world and hast reuealed them vnto Babes and sucklings euen so O Father for so it seemed good in thy sight And this indeed doth belong as a speciall duty vnto vs when wee shall see and take notice of those great workes in the world in the conuersion of soules as ordinarily are wrought at this day by such weake meanes and instruments of Gods glory so much contemned Vnderstandest thou what thou readest Philip begins first with the Eunuch not waiting vntill the Eunuch began with him And this indeed will a gratious heart doe euen set forward Gods worke whensoeuer wheresoeuer and in whomsoeuer any oportunity shal be offered to doe God seruice He begins first with a question But vnderstandest thou hereby first of all to discouer the state and condition of this man with whom he was now to deale Doct. Ministers must know the state of their flock and in priuate as in publike instruct them in the waies of God that so hee might proceed the better in the worke of his ministery Hereby teaching the Ministers of Christ a necessary duty to labour to know the state of their flocke ouer whom they are set and to take all occasions in priuate as in publike to edifie their people and to doe good to the poore soules of men But especially by asking of questions and Catechising them as Philip doth here and by laying amongst them the foundation of religion This was that most commendable practise of the Church in the Apostles time as it appeareth by the Author of the Epistle vnto the Hebrewes Heb. 6.1 where it seemes there were sixe principles of Christian religion taught vnto the people 1 Repentance from dead workes 2 Faith towards God 3 The doctrine of Baptisme 4 Of laying on of hands 5 Of the resurrection of the dead 6 Of the last iudgement Which Principles being first laid as a foundation in religion the Author of the Epistle exhorts the Hebrewes not to rest there but to goe on vnto perfection for this was Abraham Gen. 18. Ios 24. Acts 10. Iosuah and Cornelius so highly commended in the Scriptures their well trayning vp of their children and families in the feare of the Lord. This was it in the primitiue Church and in all reformed Churches euer since Reas 1 And there is great reason for it For first by this kinde of priuate conference and dealing with them especially by questions and answers men are brought to the knowledge of God and of Christ Reas 2 Secondly it is an excellent meanes to bring men to see their natural misery to see their wants and to helpe them to a supply for the same for herein they haue most freedome in propounding the doubts and so may receiue instruction Reas 3 Thirdly it is an excellent meanes for the Minister to know the state of his flocke that so hee may diuide the Word aright to giue to euery one his portion in due season for as a Bell is knowne by the sound so are men by their answer known what knowledge they haue in the mystery of saluation through Christ Reas 4 Fourthly men by this means are made fit and prepared to the hearing of the Word to iudge of Sermons reading conferences and so fortified against seducers Reas 5 Fiftly by this meanes men are more able to teach and instruct
Blessed is he to whom the Lord imputeth no sinne and in whose spirit there is no guile Bee glad oh ye righteous and reioyce in the Lord. But who are righteous And be ioyfull ye that are true of heart Ver. 10. Heare we Dauids prayer for such Psal 125.4 Do good to those that bee good and vpright in heart Whereas that man that wants this soundnesse of heart in doing of good duties he doth but loose his labour they are but abhomination vnto the Lord As it is said of Amazia 2. Chron. 25.2 He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord but not with a sound heart Now the grounds of this are Reas 1 God hath commanded it Gen. 17.1 Walke before me and bee thou perfect or sincere Reas 2 Secondly it is onely comfort a Christian hath in all that we do that the same is performed of vs in singlenesse of heart In the world we see the best duties of a Christian traduced and oftentimes they are called Hypocrites for their paines and mocked and derided as Dauid was when he danced before the Arke But this was Iobs comfort when his friends layed such an imputation vpon him Iob 27.5 I will not part with my innocency saith he vntill I dye And this was Hezechias his comfort at such time as hee was summoned to death Isa 38.3 Remember Lord that I haue walked before thee in truth and with an vpright heart Reas 3 Thirdly it is that which distinguisheth a true Christian from an hypocrite who may go as far in the worke done as the best Christian in outward performances The thorny ground and the stony ground went wondrous farre our Sauiour sheweth that these receiue the word with ioy and beleeue for a time Matth. 13. onely the good ground are they which with honest and good hearts heare the word and keepe Reas 4 And last of all God hath appointed a day in the which all our actions shall be iudged and scanned not as they haue seemed to men but as they haue beene indeed and in truth before God We must al appear before the iudgment seat of Christ 2. Co. 5.10 that euery one may receiue the things done in his body according to that hee hath done whether it be good or bad Vse 1 It may serue to admonish euery one in the feare of God that we labour after this sinceritie and puritie of heart without which no dutie that we can performe can finde acceptation with God But how shall I know in the performance of holy duties Quest that my heart is thus qualified There are many markes and tokens of this integritie of heart Answ whereby it may bee discerned amongst the rest these Marks of a sincere heart First it is discerned by the manner of performance of any dutie it doth the same humbly keeping an eye still vpon it's owne wants in doing of them fearing still that something may be amisse that may hinder the Lords gracious acceptation of them a sincere heart is still ready to complaine of its best actions and dare not present any seruice it doth vnto God further then it hath the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ to couer all the imperfections of the same Secondly it is discerned by the ready and chearfull performance of holy duties God loueth a chearfull giuer This was the great commendation of the Church of the Romans Ye haue obeyed from the heart the forme of doctrine that hath beene deliuered vnto you Thirdly with much affection and loue Psal 119. So Dauid O that my wayes were so direct that I might keepe thy statutes c. Fourthly it is the propertie of a good heart to haue an eye vnto all the commandements of God to the duties of the second Table as the first This was the great commendations of Cornelius when he could say Act. 10. Wee are all here before God to heare whatsoeeuer is commanded vs of God So Dauid I shall not be confounded whilest I haue respect vnto all thy commandements And lastly it wil do them constantly not by fits when he is in a good mood but at all times in prosperitie as in aduersitie in sicknesse as in health which an Hypocrite doth not for so saith Iob Doth an hypocrite pray alwayes Iob 21. The meaning is he doth not Secondly this may serue for matter of singular consolation vnto the godly that can approue themselues vnto God that whatsoeuer they do in his seruice and worship they do the same in singlenesse of heart such need not to doubt but they shall meet with the Lord in his owne ordinance And albeit they may haue in them many wants and infirmities yet this singlenesse and integritie that is in the heart makes amends for all and causeth the Lord to passe by them all An husband beares with many infirmities of his wife so long as she keepeth her faith to him in the maine duties of Matrimoniall loue So dealeth the Lord with his seruants so long as they keepe their hearts vpright with him See we this in King Asa a catalogue of whose infirmities the Scriptures affoord vnto vs as namely that he tooke not away the high places that in his displeasure hee cast the Lords Prophet into prison that hee oppressed his people that in the time of his sicknesse he sought to the Physitian and not to the Lord. And yet for all this see the account the Lord made of this man the Text saith 1 Kin. 15.14 Asas heart was vpright with the Lord all his dayes The Lord so regarded that as that he passed by all the rest And he said I beleeue that Iesus Christ is the Sonne of God Philip hath no sooner put the question Doct. A Christian must be readie to giue an account of his faith 1. Pet 3.15 but the Eunuch makes the answer readily and willingly It is a commendable duty in a Christian to giue an account of his faith whensoeuer he shall be demanded it is an Apostolicall iniunction Sanctifie the Lord in your hearts and be ready alwayes to giue an answer to euery man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you And hence is it that Christians are exhorted To keepe the profession of our faith without wauering Heb. 10.23 See this in Paul in his boldnesse before Felix I confesse vnto thee Act. 24.14 that after the way which they call Heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers The grounds of this we haue heard before The vse serues to perswade to this duty Vse as a most necessarie fruit and consequence of faith Psal 116.10 I beleeued and therefore did I speake What faith beleeueth the mouth will speake Hee that is afraid to make an open confession of Christ hath not as yet by a liuely faith put on Christ But is a Christian bound at all times to giue an account of his Quest Faith and of his Religion he doth professe to
Reas 2 Secondly it is cleare in the order of our faith and Creed nothing that is lesse then God can be beleeued in there must be a difference betweene the Creator and the creature No creature is to be beleeued in We beleeue in God and in Iesus Christ c. But when we come to the Church wee say We beleeue the Catholick Church not in the Catholike Church The communion of Saints not in the communion of Saints For Christ is the proper obiect of true faith it euer looks vnto him Vse 1 This serues first of all to condemne that dangerous and damnable Doctrine of the Church of Rome that teach That by faith we are iustified indeed But how Not in regard that Christ is the obiect thereof but in regard of those excellent motions it produceth in the heart such as are The feare of hell Loue of God Desire of saluation c. and so fitteth and prepareth vs that Ex congruo wee receiue grace and saluation Then the which what can bee more derogatory to the all-sufficiencie that is in Christ For faith and works in the matters of Iustification are opposite and cannot stand together Vse 2 Seeing then that sauing faith hath Christ for the obiect of it this then may serue to admonish those that looke to be iustified in Gods sight that they learne to renounce all things in themselues and to rest wholly vpon Christ for if all our actions shall finde acceptation with God so farre forth as they are done in faith Heb. 11.6 for without faith it is impossible to please God And seeing againe that faith it selfe doth not iustifie any further then it hath Christ to be the obiect there What then can our best actions do in the matter of Iustification But indeed euery man is a Papist naturally which is no small argument to shew that their Religion cannot bee good Faine we would haue some thing in our selues to commend vnto God in liew of his mercy towards vs. O the pride that is in mans heart by nature Is not all fulnesse in Christ 1. Cor. 1.30 Is not he made of God vnto vs wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption We must then learne to go out of our selues that we may be found in him renouncing all confidence in our owne righteousnesse and merits that wee may partake of Christs who is our Righteousnesse VERSE 38. And he commanded the Chariot to to stand still And they went downe both into the water both Philip and the Eunuch and he baptised him PHilip hauing shewed the necessitie of sauing faith to the due participation of the Sacraments of the Church and hauing receiued good satisfaction by the Eunuch his confession that hee was rightly qualified for the same Now he comes to the celebration of this holy ordinance it selfe He commanded the Chariot to stand still c. Doct. Men rightly qualified must not be denied the Sacrament Note we hence first of all That the Seale doth of right belong to such as haue the Euidence Where men are rightly qualified for this holy ordinance they may not be denyed to participate of the same The Minister is not to neglect it When Peter had preached to Cornelius and his company whereby they were brought to beleeue Can any man forbid water saith hee that these should not bee Baptised Act 10.47 that haue receiued the holy Ghost aswell as we meaning that it shold be an iniury vnto such to whom God had giuen grace to beleeue not to haue the Sacrament which is the Seale for the Confirmation of the same Vse 1 This teacheth Ministers not to bee too sparing in the administration of this ordinance of God what though we haue Dogs and Swine amongst vs to whom holy things are not to bee giuen as our Sauiour saith giue not that which is holy vnto Dogs neither cast ye your pearles before Swine c doth this hinder but that the children should haue their portion For their sakes only wee must often administer this Sacrament Though wicked men abuse it as they doe all things else to their perdition yet God will haue his children regarded for whose sakes he hath betrusted his Church with this neerest and dearest pledge of his loue Vse 2 And this serues likewise for singular comfort and consolation vnto the godly that haue grace to repent and beleeue The seales of Gods couenant are not to bee denied vnto such Neither is this all to haue an interest into the priuiledges of the Church but such shall not misse to haue the same ratified vnto them by the inward worke of Gods owne Spirit And they went both downe But had not the Eunuch men enough to fetch the water vp to him No doubt he had yet heerein is his humilitie and obedience seene that hee can so readily and willingly stoupe to Gods ordinance to leaue his chariot and to goe downe with Philip into the water Our lesson is That there is no degree or calling whatsoeuer but must yeeld obedience to Gods ordinance Doct. All must stoup to Gods ordinance This Noble man must out of his chariot and he must into the water How base and simple soeuer the ordinances of God may seeme vnto men the greatest amongst the sons of men must stoupe vnto them We may see this in Abraham a great Prince yet was Circumcised hee and all his house And in those noble and Religious Kings of Iuda and Israel whose greatest honour was that they stood for religion were zelous for Gods glory and were frequent in the exercise of holy duties but of this before And this shewes indeed by what spirit his holinesse of Rome Vse is led by that professeth himselfe to be the Successor of Peter but is better acquainted with the Sword then the word preaching is too meane and base a thing for his greatnesse to bee exercised in Peters kayes haue vnlockt vnto him such treasures that hee hath left off the feeding of Christs flock Wher are those Gregories Damasens and other faithfull Bishops of that Sea whose paines in preaching and writing proued them Faithfull in Gods house Surely their pride and pompe in these later dayes hath deuoted them wholy to their pleasures and ease and made them forget the seruice of the Church And they went downe into the water Some question may hence arise both concerning the time and the place of the Baptising of the Eunuch It might seeme strange that Philip giues way thus to the Eunuch that he must thus suddenly be Baptised by the way side was it so dangerous to haue put it off any longer as that the Eunuch might haue hazarded his own saluation I answere no it is not the want of Baptisme when it cannot conueniently be had that is so dangerous or damnable but it is the contempt of it Which may bee noted against that vaine and vncharitable opinion of those that thinke if an Infant dye vnbaptised it cannot bee saued and so conceiue that there