who now rejoice in my Sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ in my Flesh for his Body's sake which is the Church Col. 1. 23. To suffer for the Truth ought to be the Joy and Comfort of him that has undertaken to be the Minister of Truth How much then do they forget their Vocation who upon meeting with Discouragements lose all Comfort and repent of their Labor Whom we preach warning every Man and teaching every Man in all Wisdom that we may present every Man perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 1. 28. The only design of an Apostolic Teacher is to form Jesus in every one of his Flock and to make all perfect in him Say to Archippus take heed to the Ministry which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfil it Col. 4. 17. They who consider not well the Duties of their Charge will soon neglect them Fulfil the Duties of the Ministry of Jesus Christ What Pastor do's not tremble at this Word Your selves Brethren know our Entrance in unto you that it was not in vain But even after that we had suffered before and were shamefully entreated as ye know at Philippi we were bold in our God to speak unto you the Gospel of God with much Contention For our Exhortation was not of Deceit nor of Vncleanness nor in Guile But as we were allowed of God to be put in Trust with the Gospel even so we speak not as pleasing Men but God which trieth our Hearts For neither at any time used we flattering Words as ye know nor a Cloak of Covetousness God is Witness Nor of Men sought we Glory neither of you nor yet of others when we might have been burdensome as the Apostles of Christ But we were Gentle among you even as a Nurse cherisheth her Children So being affectionately desirous of you we were willing to have imparted unto you not the Gospel of God only but also our own Souls because ye were dear unto us For ye remember Brethren our Labor and Travel For laboring Night and Day because we would not be chargeable unto any of you we preached unto you the Gospel of God Ye are Witnesses and God also how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved our selves among you that believe as you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a Father doth his Children that ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory 1 Thess 2. 1. Every Word a Lesson to Preachers What a Mercy to the World if they would study and follow this Spirit Be not thou therefore ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord nor of me his Prisoner but be thou Partaker of the Afflictions of the Gospel according to the Power of God 2 Tim. 1. 8. Great Courage is necessary for standing by the Truth and the Ministers of it Hold fast the form of sound Words which thou hast heard of me in Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us 2 Tim. 1. 13. Great Fidelity requir'd of the Pastors of God's Church The Holy Ghost promis'd to them for this end Thou therefore endure Hardness as a good Soldier of Jesus Christ No Man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this Life 2 Tim. 2. 3. I suffer trouble as an evil Doer even unto Bonds but the Word of God is not bound Therefore I endure all things for the Elects sake v. 9. To suffer with Courage all Difficulties is the Obligation of a Pastor And if he suffer as a Criminal as this is most humbling so it brings him nearer to the Resemblance of Jesus Christ They are of the World therefore speak they of the World and the World heareth them 1 Jo. 4. 5. Unhappy Teachers whose Character this is CHAP. XXXVI Of the Flock Q. WHat Directions do's the Gospel give to the Flock in Regard of those whom God has put over them A. It speaks very particularly to them but that I may end this last Chapter with such Instructions as the Gospel gives I will first set down some Injunctions of God in the Old Law which as it was a Figure of the New so it may lead us to such Duties as God expects from the Flock in this better Constitution which is the Church of Christ And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian Woman whom he had married And they said hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses Hath he not spoken also by us And the Lord heard it Wherefore then were not ye afraid to speak against my Servant Moses And the Anger of the Lord was kindled against them and he departed Num. 12. 1 8. God shews his displeasure against those who murmur at such as he has set over them And all the Children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron And the Lord said unto Moses How long will this People provoke me Surely they shall not see the Land which I sware unto their Fathers neither shall any of them that provoked me see it Num. 14. 2 11 23. Great are the Judgments of God upon those who murmur against such as are over them Now Korah and Dathan and Abiram took men and they rose up before Moses with certain of the Children of Israel two hundred and fifty Princes of the assembly famous in the Congregation Men of renown And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said unto them Ye take too much upon you seeing all the Congregation are holy every one of them and the Lord is among them Wherefore then lift you up your selves above the Congregation of the Lord And when Moses heard it he fell upon his Face And he spake unto the Congregation saying Depart I pray you from tbe Tents of these wicked Men and touch nothing of theirs lest ye be consumed in all their Sins And the Earth opened her Mouth and swallowed them up and their Houses and all the Men that appertained unto Korah and all their goods And there came out a fire from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty Men that offered Incense Num. 16. 1 26 32 35. The Congregation being holy Exempts them not from their Obedience enjoin'd The Authority of Princes of the Congregation Men Famous and of Renown is not enough for questioning the Authority of Moses and Aaron whom God had commanded all to hear and obey Their offering Incense to God is not accepted while divided from Moses and Aaron they are under the guilt of Disobedience Thou shalt come unto the Priests the Levites and unto the Judge that shall be in those days and enquire and they shall shew thee the Sentence of Judgment And thou shalt do according to the Sentence which they of that place which the Lord shall chuse shall shew thee and thou shalt observe to do according to all that
It is good for a Man not to touch a Woman Nevertheless to avoid Fornication let every Man have his own Wife and let every Woman have her own Husband But I speak this by Permission and not of Commandment For I would that all Men were even as I my self But every Man hath his proper Gift of God one after this manner and another after that I say therefore to the Vnmarried and Widows it is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain let them Marry For it is better to Marry than to Burn. But as God hath distributed to every Man as the Lord hath called every one so let him walk and so ordain I in all the Churches Now concerning Virgins I have no Commandment of the Lord Yet I give my Judgment as one that hath obtained Mercy of the Lord to be faithful I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress I say that it is good for a Man so to be Art thou bound unto a Wife Seek not to be loosed Art thou loosed from a Wife Seek not a Wife But I would have you without Carefulness He that is Vnmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord how he may please the Lord But he that is Married careth for the things that are of the World how he may please his Wife Thee is difference also between a Wife and a Virgin The unmarried Woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be holy both in Body and Spirit But she that is Married careth for the things of the World how she may please her Husband And this I speak for your own profit not that I may cast a Snare upon you but for that which is comely and that you may attend upon the Lord without Distraction But if any Man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his Virgin if she pass the Flower of her Age and need so require let him do what he will he sinneth not Let them Marry Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his Heart having no Necessity but hath Power over his own will and hath so decreed in his Heart that he will keep his Virgin doth well So then he that giveth her in Marriage doth well but he that giveth her not in Marriage doth better 1 Cor 7. 1 6 17 25. I looked and lo a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion and with him an hundred forty and four thousand having his Father's Name written in their Foreheads And they sung as it were a new Song before the Throne and before the four Beasts and the Elders And no Man could learn that Song but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the Earth These are they which were not defiled with Women for they are Virgins These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth These were redeemed from among Men being the First-fruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their Mouth was found no Guile For they are without Fault before the Throne of God Rev. 14. 1 3. Thus the Rule In which these Particulars are declar'd First That it is lawful and good to Marry but that it is better to remain Unmarried 2dly That the Unmarried State has much the Advantage of the other for tending upon the Lord with less Distraction 3dly That there are Persons which remain Unmarried for gaining the Kingdom of Heaven Lastly That if such are not duly watchful in preparing for the coming of the Spouse they are not Wise and will be shut out with Unbelievers CHAP. XXII Of Married Persons Husband and Wife Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to the State of Marriage and to those which are engag'd in it A. It speaks very particularly upon this Subject and what ought to be well consider'd by all concern'd First That it is not to be dissolv'd The Pharisees also came unto him tempting him and saying unto him Is it lawful for a Man to put away his Wife for every Cause And he answered and said unto them have you not read that he which made them at the beginning made them Male and Female And said for this Cause shall a Man leave Father and Mother and shall cleave to his Wife and they twain shall be one Flesh Wherefore they are no more twain but one Flesh What therefore God hath joined together let not Man put asunder Moses because of the Hardness of your Hearts suffered you to put away your Wives but from the beginning it was not so And I say unto you whosoever shall put away his Wife except it be for Fornication and shall Marry another committeth Adultery and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit Adultery Mat. 19. 3. Vnto the Married I command yet not I but the Lord let not the Wife depart from her Husband But and if she depart let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her Husband And let not the Husband put away his Wife 1 Cor. 7. 10. The Woman which hath an Husband is bound by the Law to her Husband so long as he liveth But if the Husband be dead she is loosed from the Law of her Husband So then if while her Husband liveth she be Married to another Man she shall be called an Adulteress But if her Husband be dead she is free from that Law so that she is no Adulteress tho' she be Married to another Man Rom. 7. 2. The Wife is bound by the Law as long as her Husband liveth But if her Husband he dead she is at Liberty to be Married to whom she will only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so abide after my Judgment And I think also that I have the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 7. 39. 2dly As to difference of Religion in Man and Wife S. Paul thus gives his Judgment To the rest speak I not the Lord if any Brother hath a Wife that believeth not and she be pleased to dwell with him let him not put her away And the Woman which hath an Husband that believeth not and if he be pleased to dwell with her let her not leave him For the unbelieving Husband is sanctified by the Wife and the unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the Husband Else were your Children unclean but now they are holy But if the unbelieving depart let him depart A Brother or a Sister is not under Bondage in such Cases But God hath called us to Peace For what knowest thou O Wife whether thou shalt save thy Husband Or how knowest thou O Man whether thou shalt save thy Wife But as God hath distributed to every Man as the Lord hath called every one so let him walk And so ordain I in all the Churches 1 Cor. 7. 12. 3dly As to one part of their mutual Obligation Let the Husband render unto the Wife due Benevolence And likewise also the Wife unto the Husband The Wife hath not Power of her own Body but the Husband And likewise also
done and there is no Respect of Persons Col. 3. 25. Thou knowest the Commandments do not commit adultery do not kill do not steal do not bear false witness defraud not honor thy Father and Mother Mar. 10. 19. Nay you do wrong and defraud and that your brethren Know ye not that the Vnrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Idolaters nor Thieves shall inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 8. God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient Being filled with all Vnrighteousness Fornication Covetousness Maliciousness full of Envy Debate Deceit Malignity Despiteful Proud Boasters Covenant-breakers Rom. 1. 28 29. Wherefore putting away Lying speak every Man Truth with his Neighbor for we are members one of another Neither give place to the Devil let him that stole steal no more but rather let him labour working with the hands the thing which is good Eph. 4. 25 27. Behold the hire of the Labourers which have reaped down your Fields which is of you kept back by Fraud crieth And the Cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord Jam. 5. 4. Neither is he that planteth any thing neither he that watereth but God that giveth the encrease 1 Cor. 3. 7. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you Mat. 6. 33. No Man can serve two Masters Ye cannot serve God and Mamon v. 24. VVhat shall it profit a Man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul Or what shall a Man give in exchange for his soul Mar. 8. 36. Take heed and beware of Covetousness For a Man's Life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth Luk. 12. 15. They that will be rich fall into Temptation and a Snare and into many foolish and hurtful Lusts which drown Men in Destruction and Perdition For the Love of Money is the root of all evil 1 Tim. 6. 9. This I say Brethren the time is short It remaineth that they that buy be as though they possessed not and they that use this world as not abusing it for the fashion of this world passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 29 30. With what measure you mete it shall be measured to you again Mat. 7. 2. I here add something out of the Old Testament Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment in Mete-yard in VVeight or in Measure Just Ballances just VVeights a just Ephah and a just Hin shall ye have I am the Lord your God Therefore shall ye observe all my Statutes and all my Judgments and do them I am the Lord Levit. 19. 35. Thou shalt not have in thy Bag divers VVeights a great and a small Thou shalt not have in thine House divers Measures a great and a small But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight a perfect and just measure shalt thou have That thy Days may be lengthened in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee For all that do such things and all that do unrighteously are an Abomination unto the Lord thy God Deut. 25. 13. A false Ballance is Abomination to the Lord But a just VVeight is his Delight Prov. 11. 1. He that withholdeth Corn the People shall Curse him But Blessing shall be upon the Head of him that selleth it v. 26. Divers weights and divers measures both of them are alike Abomination to the Lord Prov. 20. 10. Hear this O ye that swallow up the Needy even to make the Poor of the Land to fail saying when will the new Moon be gone that we may sell Corn and the Sabbath that we may set forth VVheat making the Ephah small and the Sheckel great and falsifying the Ballances by Deceit That we may buy the Poor for Silver and the Needy for a pair of Shoes yea and sell the Refuse of the VVheat The Lord hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob surely I will never forget any of their works Shall not the Land tremble for this and every one mourn that dwelleth therein Amos 8. 4. The Lord's Voice crieth unto the City and the Men of VVisdom shall see thy Name hear ye the Rod and who hath appointed it Are there yet the Treasures of Wickedness in the House of the Wicked and the scant measure that is abominable Shall I count them pure with the wicked Ballances and with the Bag of deceitful VVeights For the rich Men thereof are full of Violence and the Inhabitants thereof have spoken Lies and their Tongue is deceitful in their Mouth Therefore also will I make thee Sick in smiting thee in making thee desolate because of thy Sins Mic. 6. 9. Thus speaks the Rule and in such plain and positive Terms has God here manifested his Will that there can be no doubt in such as desire to follow it He expresly forbids all kind of Fraud or Over-reaching or doing any Wrong to our Neighbor in buying or selling He expresly forbids all kinds of false Weights and Measures He expresly forbids all such Monopoly as raises the price of Necessaries and oppresses the Poor He expresly forbids all kinds of Lying and Covetousness Those who in earnest hope for Salvation of God must be Solicitous to do his Will and since he himself has declar'd that those who do otherwise in these Particulars do what is an Abomination to him they cannot doubt of their being in an ill Way even in the displeasure of God Now examin the general Practice of Christians in all manner of Dealing with one another and thence guess whether God has Forbid all Fraud and Over-reaching amongst them And if he has whether they believe him or have any regard to his Precepts CHAP. XXX Of Magistrates and Officers of Justice Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give to Persons in this Station A. There are several Particulars proper for their Instruction Now the chief Priests and Elders and all the Counsel sought false witness against Jesus to put him to Death Mat. 26. 59. Then the High-priest rent his Cloaths saying He hath spoken Blasphemy what farther need have we of witnesses Behold now ye have heard his Blasphemy What think ye v. 65. Innocence is not to be oppress'd by Calumny or false Witnesses neither is Caiphas to be imitated who being Judge made himself a Party The chief Priests and Elders perswaded the Multitude that they should ask Barabbas and destroy Jesus Mat. 27. 20. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing but that rather a tumult was made he took Water and washed his Hands before the Multitude saying I am Innocent of the Blood of this just Person See ye to it Then released he Barabbas unto them And when he had scourged Jesus he delivered him to be crucified v. 24 26. No Party to be made against the Innocent Passion and Violence carry away the Multitude to Injustice The Innocent is not to be condemn'd in
compliance with them Then cried they all again saying not this Man but Barabbas Now Barabbas was a Robber Jo. 18. 40. The Multitude blinded with Passion Their Affection or Judgment is no direction for doing Justice Jesus answered thou couldest have no Power at all against me except it were given thee from above Jo. 19. 11. The Power of Judges is from God From thenceforth Pilate sought to release him But the Jews cried out saying if thou let this Man go thou art not Cesar's Friend Whosoever maketh himself a King speaketh against Cesar When Pilate therefore heard that Saying he brought Jesus forth Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified Jo. 19. 12. To condemn the Innocent for fear of displeasing the Prince is not Just but a Weakness There was in a City a Judge which feared not God neither regarded Men. And there was a Widow in that City and she came unto him saying Avenge me of mine Adversary and he would not for a while Luk. 18. 2. To neglect the Cause of the Widow is part of his Character who fear'd not God nor regarded Man One of the Company said unto him Master speak to my Brother that he divide the Inheritance with me And he said unto him Man who made me a Judge or a Divider over you Luk. 12. 13. The Commission or Power is not to be exceeded Paul said unto him the High-priest God shall smite thee thou whited Wall For sittest thou to judge me after the Law and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the Law And they that stood by said revilest thou God's High-priest Then said Paul I wist not Brethren that he was the High-priest For it is written thou shalt not speak evil of the Ruler of thy People Acts 23. 3. Magistrates not to be revil'd even when they act contrary to Justice No Punishment just before Sentence We have found this Man a pestilent Fellow and a mover of Sedition among all the Jews throughout the World and a ring-leader of the Sect of the Nazarenes Who also hath gone about to profane the Temple Whom we took and would have judged according to Law And the Jews also assented saying that these things were so Then Paul after that the Governor had beckened unto him to speak answered Acts 24. 5. A severe Charge is drawn up against Innocence when Malice or false Zeal influence the Informers But a just Judge is not made a Party but hears with Patience and judges according to Equity Felix trembled and answered Go thy Way for this time when I have a convenient Season I will call for thee He hoped also that Money should have been given him of Paul that he might loose him Wherefore he sent for him the oftner and communed with him But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix room And Felix willing to shew the Jews a pleasure left Paul bound Acts 24. 25. To prolong a Cause for Interest is not just to wait for Money where Innocence pleads for a Discharge is not just To gratifie a People by the Oppression of Innocence is not just When Felix heard these things the Plea made by the Apostle having more perfect Knowledge of that Way he deferred them Acts 24. 22. The Clamor and Violence of Accusers prevail nothing with a Judge who has a true Knowledge of the Cause He will not let an ill Name be enough for punishing the Innocent Judge not according to the appearance but judge righteous Judgment Jo. 7. 24. Do ye not know that the Saints shall judge the World And if the World shall be judged by you are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters 1 Cor. 6. 2. Holiness an excellent Preparation for judging according to Justice When Gallio was Deputy of Achaia the Jews made Insurrection with one accord against Paul and brought him to the Judgment-seat saying This Fellow perswadeth Men to worship God contrary to the Law And when Paul was now about to open his Mouth Gallio said unto the Jews If it were a matter of Wrong or wicked Lewdness O ye Jews reason would that I should bear with you But if it be a question of Words and Names and of your Law look ye to it for I will be no Judge of such Matters And he drove them from the Judgment-seat Acts 18. 12. Violence brings some to the Barr who are no Criminals the Justice of the Bench is to distinguish Against Law is in some Cases to be in the right The Bench judges not of Causes which belong to another Court Something may be here inserted out of the Old Testament When Moses Father in-law saw all that he did to the People he said what is this thing that thou doest to the People Why sittest thou thy self alone and all the People stand by thee from Morning unto Even Exod. 18. 14. To make the People wait one Day is here reproved what would have been the Censure of Causes delay'd with endless Expence Thou shalt provide out of all the People able Men such as fear God Men of Truth hating Covetousness and place such over them Exod. 18. 21. Good Directions for the Choice of Magistrates Thou shalt not raise or receive a false Report Put not thine Hand with the Wicked to be an unrighteous Witness Thou shalt not follow a Multitude to do Evil Neither shalt thou speak in a Cause to incline after many to wrest Judgment Neither shalt thou countenance a poor Man in his Cause Thou shalt not wrest the Judgment of thy Poor in his Cause Keep thee far from a false Matter and the Innocent and Righteous slay thou not For I will not justifie the Wicked And thou shalt take no Gift for the Gift blindeth the Wise and perverteth the Words of the Righteous Also thou shalt not oppress a Stranger Exod. 23. 1 6. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in Judgment thou shalt not respect the Person of the Poor nor honor the Person of the Mighty But in Righteousness shalt thou judge thy Neighbor Levit. 19. 15. I charged your Judges at that time saying hear the Causes between your Brethren and judge righteously between every Man and his Brother and the Stranger that is with him Ye shall not respect Persons in Judgment but you shall hear the Small as well as the Great you shall not be affraid of the Face of Man for the Judgment is God's Deut. 1. 16. Judges and Officers shalt thou make thee in all thy Gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee throughout the Tribes and they shall judge the People with just Judgment Thou shalt not wrest Judgment thou shalt respect Persons neither take a Gift For a Gift doth blind the Eyes of the Wise and pervert the Words of the Righteous That which is altogether Just shalt thou follow that thou mayest live and inherit the Land Deut. 16. 18. One VVitness shall not rise up against a Man for any Iniquity or for any Sin in any Sin that he sinneth At the mouth
of two VVitnesses or at the mouth of three VVitnesses shall the matter be established Deut. 19. 15. If there be a Controversie between Men and they come unto Judgment that the Judges may judge them then they shall justifie the Righteous and condemn the VVicked Deut. 25. 1. Cursed be he that perverteth the Judgment of the Stranger Fatherless and VVidow And all the People shall say Amen Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent Person Deut. 27. 19 25. And it came to pass when Samuel was Old that he made his Sons Judges over Israel And his Sons walked not in his VVays but turned aside after Lucre and took Bribes and perswaded Judgment 1 Sam. 8. 1 3. And Samuel said unto all Israel Behold here I am VVitness against me before the Lord and before his Anointed VVhose Ox have I taken Or whose Ass have I taken Or whom have I defrauded VVhom have I oppressed Or of whose Hand have I received any Bribe to blind mine Eyes therewith And I will restore it And they said thou hast not defrauded us nor oppressed us neither hast thou taken ought of any Man's Hand 1 Sam. 12. 1 3. And he Jehoshaphat set Judges in the Land throughout all the fenced Cities of Judah City by City and he said to the Judges take heed what ye do for ye judge not for Man but for the Lord who is with you in the Judgment VVherefore now let the Fear of the Lord be upon you take heed and do it For there is no Iniquity with the Lord our God nor respect of Persons nor taking of Gifts And he charged them saying thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect Heart Deal courageously and the Lord shall be with the Good 2 Chron. 19. 5 9 11. VVhoso rewardeth Evil for Good Evil shall not depart from his House Prov. 17. 13. He that justifieth the Wicked and he that condemneth the Just even they both are Abomination to the Lord v. 15. A wicked Man taketh a Gift out of the Bosom to pervert the Ways of Judgment v. 23. Rob not the poor because he is poor Neither oppress the afflicted in the Gate For the Lord will plead their Cause and spoil the Soul of those that spoiled them Prov. 22. 22. To have respect of Persons is not good For for a piece of Bread that Man will transgress Prov. 28. 21. Learn to do Well seek Judgment relieve the Oppressed judge the Fatherless plead for the Widow Isa 1. 17. How is the faithful City become an Harlot It was full of Judgment Righteousness lodged in it but now Murtherers Thy Princes are Rebellious and Companions of Thieves Every one loveth Gifts and followeth after Rewards They judge not the Fatherless neither doth the Cause of the Widow come unto them Therefore saith the Lord I will turn my Hand upon thee Isa 1. 21. Wo unto them that call evil good and good evil VVhich justifie the VVicked for Reward and take away the Righteousness of the Righteous from him Because they have cast away the Law of the Lord of Hosts therefore is the Anger of the Lord kindled against his People Isa 5. 20 23. VVo unto them that decree unrighteous Decrees and that write Grievousness which they have prescribed To turn aside the Needy from Judgment and to take away the Right from the Poor of my People that Widows may be their prey and that they may rob the Fatherless And what will you do in the Day of Visitation and in the Desolation which shall come Isa 10. 1. I know your manifold Transgressions and your mighty Sins They afflict the Just they take a Bribe and they turn aside tbe Poor in the Gate from their Right Hate the Evil and love the Good and establish Judgment in the Gate It may be that the Lord of Hosts will be gracious unto the Remnant of Joseph Amos 5. 12. The Good Man is perished out of the Earth And there is none Vpright among Men They all lye in wait for Blood They hunt every Man his Brother with a Net That they may do Evil with both Hands earnestly the Prince asketh and the Judge asketh for a Reward And the great Man he uttereth his mischievous Desire Mic. 7. 2. Why dost thou shew me Iniquity and cause me to behold Grievance For Spoiling and Violence are before me and there are that raise up Strife and Contention Therefore the Law is slacked and Judgment doth never go forth For the Wicked doth compass about the Righteous Therefore wrong Judgment proceedeth Behold ye among the Heathen and regard and wonder marvelously for I will work a Work in your Days which ye will not believe tho' it be told you Hab. 1. 3. These are the things that ye shall do speak ye every Man the Truth to his Neighbor Execute the Judgment of Truth and Peace in your Gates And let none of you imagin evil in your Hearts against his Neighbor and love no false Oath for all these are things that I hate saith the Lord Zech. 8. 16. CHAP. XXXI Of Subjects Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give to Persons in this Station A. It expresly mentions several Duties belonging to them and gives the Charge with great Strictness When they were come to Capernaum they that received Tribute-money came to Peter and said doth not your Master pay Tribute He saith Yes Mat. 17. 24. Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesar's and unto God the things that are God's Mat. 22. 21. And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the Name of Jesus But Peter and John answered and said unto them whether it be right in the Sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God judge ye Acts 4. 18. They that stood by said revilest thou God's High-priest Then said Paul I wist not Brethren that he was the High-priest for it is written thou shalt not speak Evil of the Ruler of thy People Acts 23. 4. Let every Soul be subject unto the higher Powers for there is no Power but of God The Powers that be are ordained of God Whosoever therefore resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God And they that resist shall receive to themselves Damnation For Rulers are not a Terror to good Works but to the Evil. Wilt thou then not he affraid of the Power Do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same For he is the Minister of God to thee for good But if thou do that which is evil be affraid for he beareth not the Sword in vain for he is the Minister of God a Revenger to execute Wrath upon him that doeth Evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject not only for Wrath but also for Conscience sake For for this Cause pay you Tribute also For they are God's Ministers attending continually upon this very thing Render therefore to all their Dues Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custom
to whom Custom Fear to whom Fear Honor to whom Honor Rom. 13. 1. I exhort therefore that first of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for all Men For Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life in all Godliness and Honesty for this is good and acceptable in the Sight of God our Saviour 1 Tim. 2. 1. Put them in mind to be subject to Principalities and Powers to obey Magistrates to be ready to every good Work to speak evil of no Man to be no Brawlers but Gentle shewing all Meekness unto all Men Tit. 3. 1. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake Whether it be to the King as Supreme or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well For so is the Will of God that with well-doing ye may put to silence the Ignorance of Foolish Men As free and not using your Liberty for a Cloak of Maliciousness but as the Servants of God Honor all Men. Love the Brotherhood Fear God Honor the King 1 Pet. 2. 13. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment to be punished But chiefly them that walk after the Flesh in the Lust of Vncleanness and despise Government Presumptuous are they self-willed they are not affraid to speak Evil of Dignities whereas Angels which are greater in Power and Might bring not railing Accusation against them before the Lord 2 Pet. 2. 9. Likewise also these filthy Dreamers defile the Flesh despise Dominion and speak evil of Dignities Jude 8. Something may be here not unseasonably added out of the Old Testament They answered Joshua saying All that thou commandest us we will do and whithersoever thou sendest us we will go According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things so will we hearken unto thee Only the Lord thy God be with thee as he was with Moses Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy Commandment and will not hearken unto thy Words in all that thou commandest him he shall be put to Death Josh 1. 16. Then Samuel told the People the manner of the Kingdom and wrote it in a Book and laid it up before the Lord And Samuel sent all the People away every Man to his House And Saul also went Home to Gibeah and there went with him a Band of Men whose Hearts God had touched But the Children of Belial said how shall this Man save us And they despised him and brought him no Presents But he held his peace 1 Sam. 10. 25. The Men of David said unto him behold the Day of which the Lord said unto thee Behold I will deliver thine Enemy into thine Hand that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee And he said unto his Men the Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my Master the Lord 's Anointed to stretch forth mine Hand against him seeing he is the Anointed of the Lord. So David stayed his Servants with these Words and suffered them not to rise against Saul 1 Sam. 24. 4 6. Then said Abishai to David God hath delivered thine Enemy into thine Hand this Day Now therefore let me smite him I pray thee with the Spear even to the Earth at once and David said to Abishai destroy him not For who can stretch forth his Hand against the Lord 's Anointed and be guiltless David said furthermore as the Lord liveth the Lord shall smite him or his Day shall come to Die or he shall descend into Battle and perish The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine Hand against the Lord 's Anointed 1 Sam. 26. 8. David said unto him the Amalekite How wast thou not affraid to stretch forth thine Hand to destroy the Lord 's Anointed And David called one of the young Men and said go near and fall upon him And he smote him that he died 2 Sam. 1. 14. In those Days while Mordecai sat in the King's Gate two of the King's Chamberlains Bigthan and Teresh of those which kept the Door were wroth and sought to lay Hand on the King Ahasuerus And the thing was known to Mordecai who told it unto Esther the Queen and Esther certified the King thereof in Mordecai's Name Esth 2. 21. The fear of a King is as the roaring of a Lion whoso provoketh him to Anger sinneth against his own Soul Prov. 20. 2. My Son fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change For their Calamity shall rise suddenly and who knoweth the Ruin of them both Prov. 24. 21. Curse not the King no not in thy Thought Eccl. 10. 20. The Nation and Kingdom which will not serve the same Nebechadnezzar the King of Babylon and that will not put their Neck under the Yoke of the King of Babylon that Nation will I punish saith the Lord with the Sword and with the Famine and with the Pestilence until I have consumed them by his Hand Therefore hearken not ye to your Prophets nor to your Diviners nor to your Dreamers nor to your Enchanters nor to your Sorcerers which speak unto you saying ye shall not serve the King of Babylon For they prophesie a Lie unto you to remove you far from your Land and that I should drive you out and ye should perish I spake also to Zedekiah King of Judah according to all these Words saying bring your Necks under the Yoke of the King of Babylon and serve him and his People and live why will ye die thou and thy People by the Sword by the Famine and by the Pestilence as the Lord hath spoken against the Nation that will not serve the King of Babylon Jer. 27. 8 12. The Duty of Subjects is publish'd by the Spirit of God First That they are to acknowledge the Power that is over them to be of God 2dly That they who are vested with Soveraign Power acting by the Authority of God and being therefore his Ministers Honor Obedience and Tribute is due to them 3dly That there may be an Exception in the Obedience that is when they enjoin what is contrary to the known Will of God since it cannot be reasonable to obey in such things when they command contrary to his Orders whose Ministers they are 4thly That as the Orders of those in Power are to be receiv'd with Obedience so their Punishment with a peaceable Submission And this so far that whether they prosecute justly or unjustly yet no Resistance can be made against them all that Subjects can do in this case is either to suffer with patience or peaceably to withdraw but as for lifting up hand against Power it is resisting the Ordinance of God and the fruit of this as the Apostle has declar'd is Damnation CHAP. XXXII Of Persons of Quality Q. ARE there any
is the Health of my Countenance and my God Psal 43. 5. Thou makest us a Reproach to our Neighbors a Scorn and a Derision to them that are round about us Thou makest us a By-word among the Heathen a shaking of the Head among the People All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten thee neither have we dealt falsly in thy Covenant Our Heart is not turned back neither have our Steps declined from thy Ways Psal 44. 13 17. I am Poor and Sorrowful let thy Salvation O God set me upon High For the Lord heareth the Poor and despiseth not his Prisoners Psal 69. 29 33. He shall judge thy People with Righteousness and thy Poor with Judgment He shall judge the Poor of the People he shall save the Children of the Needy and shall break in pieces the Oppressor He shall deliver the Needy when he crieth the Poor also and him that hath no Helper He shall spare the Poor and Needy and shall save the Souls of the Needy He shall redeem their Soul from Deceit and Violence and precious shall their Blood be in his Sight Psal 72. 2 12. Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on High He raiseth up the Poor out of the Dust and lifteth the Needy out of the Dunghil That he may set him with Princes even with the Princes of his People Psal 113. 5 7. I know that the Lord will maintain the Cause of the Afflicted and the Right of the Poor Psal 140. 12. Better is a Little with the Fear of the Lord than great Treasure and Trouble therewith Prov. 15. 16. Better is a Little with Righteousness than great Revenues without Right Prov. 16. 8. Better is a dry Morsel and Quietness therewith than a Housefull of Sacrifices with Strife Prov. 17. 1. Better is the Poor that walketh in his Integrity than he that is perverse in his Lips and is a Fool Prov. 19. 1. Thou hast been a Strength to the Poor a Strength to the Needy in his Distress a Refuge from the Storm a Shadow from the Heat when the Blast of the terrible Ones is as a Storm against the Wall Isa 25. 4. Yea in the Way of thy Judgments O Lord have we waited for thee the desire of our Soul is to thy Name and to the Remembrance of thee With my Soul have I desir'd thee in the Night yea with my Spirit within me will I seek thee early For when thy Judgments are in the Earth the Inhabitants of the World will learn Righteousness Lord in Trouble have they visited thee they poured out a Prayer when thy chastening was upon them Isa 26. 8. It is of the Lord's Mercies that we are not consumed because his Compassions fail not They are New every Morning great is thy Faithfulness The Lord is my Portion saith my Soul therefore will I hope in him The Lord is good unto them that wait for him to the Soul that seeketh him It is good that a Man should both hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord. It is good for a Man that he bear the Yoke in his Youth He sitteth alone and keepeth silence because he hath born it upon him He putteth his Mouth in the Dust if so be there may be Hope For the Lord will not cast off for ever But tho' he cause Grief yet will he have Compassion according to the Multitude of his Mercies For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of Men. Wherefore doth a living Man complain a Man for the Punishment of his Sins Let us search and try our Ways and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our Heart with our Hands unto God in the Heavens Lam. 3. 22. Thus do's the Spirit of God speak in the Case of the Poor and Distressed evidently discovering that however by this World they are esteem'd unhappy yet that God has a particular Regard to them undertakes their Protection and makes so many Promises to them that it cannot be question'd but as to the next World they have much the Advantage above those who enjoy themselves in plenty But then they must observe the Conditions which God proposes to them of accepting the Inconveniencies of their State as from the Hand of God of being content with what they have of casting their Care upon God of waiting upon the Lord with Patience of retaining a firm Confidence in his Promises of living in the Fear of God and banishing with their best Endeavors all Inclinations to Impatience Murmuring and Distrust If in this Spirit they live I think they have more solid Grounds for true Comfort than the Enjoyment of all worldly Possessions can afford and may have a great Assurance of God's Promises to be accomplish'd in them in the Blessings of a happy Eternity CHAP. XXXV Of those who have the Care of the Flock Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give to Persons of this Character A. It speaks very particularly to them and is very full both in the Instructions and Charge it gives them Ye are the Salt of the Earth but if the Salt have lost his Savour wherewith shall it be Salted It is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and to be trodden under Foot of Men. Ye are the Light of the World A City that is set on a Hill cannot be hid Neither do Men light a Candle and put it under a Bushel but on a Candlestick and it giveth Light to all that are in the House Let your Light so shine before Men that they may see your good Works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Mat. 5. 13. They are to be Exemplar If a Man have an hundred Sheep and one of them be gone astray doth he not leave the ninety and nine and goeth into the Mountains and seeketh that which is gone astray Mat. 18. 12. They are to be solicitous in seeking the lost Sheep There was also a Strife among them which of them should be accounted the greatest And he said unto them The Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them and they that exercise Authority upon them are called Benefactors But ye shall not be so But he that is greatest among you let him be as the Younger and he that is Chief as he that doth serve For whether is greater he that sitteth at Meat or he that serveth Is not he that sitteth at Meat But I am among you as he that serveth Luk. 22. 24. They are to be Humble in Preferment Verily verily I say unto you He that entreth not by the Door into the Sheepfold but climbeth up some other Way the same is a Thief and a Robber But he that entreth in by the Door is the Shepherd of the Sheep To him the Porter openeth and the Sheep hear his Voice And he calleth his own Sheep by Name and leadeth them out And when he putteth forth his own Sheep he goeth before them and the Sheep follow him for they know his
they inform thee according to the Sentence of the Law which they shall teach thee and according to the Judgment which they shall tell thee thou shalt do thou shalt not decline from the Sentence which they shall shew thee to the Right Hand nor to the Left And the Man that will do presumptuously and will not hearken unto the Priest that standeth to Minister there before the Lord thy God or unto the Judge even that Man shall die And thou shalt put away the evil from Israel And all the people shall hear and fear and do no more presumptuously Deut. 17. 9. How strict is the Discipline enjoin'd by God in Common Cases How severe the Punishment of Disobedience And Samuel saith Hath the Lord as great delight in Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices as in obeying the Voice of the Lord Behold to obey is better than Sacrifice and to hearken than the Fat of Rams For rebellion is as the Sin of Witchcraft and stubbornness is as Iniquity and Idolatry Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord he hath also rejected thee from being King 1 Sam. 15. 22. Obedience to the Command of God the best Sacrifice Sacrifice without Obedience is Rebellion and Idolatry The Priest's lips should keep knowledge and they should seek the Law at his mouth For he is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts Mal. 2. 7. The Minister of God is to deliver the Law of God The New Law Then spake Jesus to the Multitude and to his Disciples saying The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses Seat All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe that observe and do but do not ye after their Works For they say and do not Mat. 23. 1. Those who are in Authority are to be obey'd tho' they give not good Example These twelve Jesus sent forth as ye go preach saying The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand Provide neither Gold nor Silver For the workman is worthy of his meat And whosoever shall not receive you nor hear your words When ye depart out of that House or City shake off the dust of your feet Verily I say unto you It shall be more tolerable for the Land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the Day of Judgment than for that City Mat. 10. 5 9 14. Christ gives Authority to teach The Flock is to feed their Pastors The Obligation of hearing those whom Christ has put over the Flock is from the Command of Christ How strict this obligation is may be seen in the rigor of their punishment who refuse to hear them He that receiveth you receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me Mat. 10. 40. How great encouragement to hear those whom Christ has appointed to teach the Flock To receive them to submit to them is to receive and submit to God If he shall neglect to hear them tell it unto the Church But if he neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen Man and a Publican Verily I say unto you Whatsoever ye shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven And whatsoever ye shall loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven Mat. 18. 17. See what is the Authority of the Church in common cases Not to Submit to her Determination is the Crime of a Heathen of one who believes not in God And is not this Authority confirm'd while Heaven is declar'd to join with her in the Sentence she pronounces There can be no Appeal then from the Church to God And while both concur one cannot be question'd without arraigning the other Jesus came and spake unto them saying All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth Go ye therefore and teach all Nations Baptizing them Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you And lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the World Amen Mat. 28. 18. The Command of Hearing those whom Christ has made the Pastors of his Flock is to all Nations But What need of a Command when the Promise of a Divine Assistance always attending them to the end of the World is obligation enough upon all those who desire to be taught the Truth And he said unto them Go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel to every Creature He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned Mar. 16. 15. Christ sends to the whole World and commands the whole World to believe those whom he sends to teach them What must their Authority and Commission be when Damnation is the Punishment of such as refuse to believe He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me And he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Luk. 10. 16. What more powerful Argument could Christ use for obliging the World to hear those whom he has sent In them God is heard or despis'd Pastoral Authority and Truth is originally in God it is communicated to the Son by the Mission of the Father to the Apostles by the Mission of the Son to the following Pastors by their Succession to the Apostles I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth whom the World cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him Jo. 14. 16. Howbeit when the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth Jo. 16. 13. Great Mercy of God to the Flock to deliver them from all Uncertainty of Truth by appointing the Spirit of Truth to teach them in their Pastors Verily verily I say unto you He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me And he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me Jo. 13. 20. They whom Christ sends are associated in his Mission being deputed by him their Authority is his How terrible their mistake in rejecting Jesus Christ when they think they reject nothing but Man No true Mission but what was given by Jesus Christ to his Apostles and by a Succession from them is communicated to others If any other be pretended it is Extraordinary and ought to be authoriz'd by Miracle to give it Credit Then said Jesus to them again Peace be unto you as my Father hath sent me even so send I you And when he had said this he breathed on them and saith unto them Receive ye the Holy Ghost Whose soever Sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whose soever Sins ye retain they are retained Jo. 20. 21. What Authority in this Mission As my Father hath sent me even so send I you The Holy Ghost being Communicated Man is only the Minister and the Power is of God Can such Authority such Power be question'd by Man Now send Men to Joppa and call for one Simon whose Sirname is Peter he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do Act. 10. 5. An Angel from Heaven is sent to Cornelius to direct him to Peter tho' God inspires