Corinthians 2 Tim. 3.15 the Apostle blesseth God The knowledg of the scripture from a child was the praise of Timothy True wisdom gives to the head an Ornament of grace and a crown of glory it makes the face to shine Pro. 4.9 Eccles 8.1 When the Apostle saith that some had not the knowledg of God 1 Cor. 15.34 he spake it to their shame How little to the honour of others was that complaint of the Apostle that when for the time Heb. 5.12 they ought to be teachers of others they had need that one should teach them again which be the first principles c. And as Paul speaks of some Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledg of the truth 2 Tim. 3.7 The whole life of an ignorant person is an aberration from the rule Gal. 6.16 he sayls by no Card. All his actions are wild and roving wandrings His sacrifice is the sacrifice of a fool Psal 119.5 and devout idolatry He cannot pray unlesse it be to the unknown God He cannot beleeve Rom. 10.14 for only they can trust God who know his name Psal 9.10 John 4.10 Nor can he fear and love God or desire Christ Wait therefore on the ordinances O ye ignorant ones with humble hungry souls Be wisdomes Clyents Prov. 8.34 Psal 25.9 1 Pet. 2.3 Purge your hearts of conceits of a Laodicean fulnesse God teacheth only the humble Tast the sweetnesse of divine truths Lay up what ye hear Not he who gets but hee who saves much is the rich man Yeild conscionable obedience to that of Gods will which you know Hold not the truth in unrighteousnesse The more you practice what you know the more shall you know what to practice Knowledg is the mother of obedience and obedience is the nurse of knowledg The former breeds the later the later feeds the former And yet put not off your selves with every kind of knowledge labour for a soul humbling knowledge Job ult 5.6 1 Cor. 8.2 Job 5. ult Prov. 9.12 The more the light shines into you the more you must see your own imperfections Every man is so much a fool as he thinks himself wise Let your knowledg be applicative If ye be wise bee wife for your selves Let not knowledg swim in the brain but sink into the heart Endeavour to possesse for thine own Psal 119.104 Joh. 13.17 1 Joh 2.3 the good of every threatning command promise Let your knowledg be influentiall into heart and life not informing only but reforming not as the light of torches which scatter no influences where they shine but as the light of the sun which makes the earth and plants green and growing He who is rich in knowledg must be plentiful in holiness and not like the rich Indians who have much gold in their possessions and go naked and beggarly In a word let your knowledg be useful and helpfull to others Know not to know that 's curiosity nor to be known that 's vain glory but to do good by your knowledg that 's Christian charity Knowledg increaseth in pouring out And as some have experimentally found it the Teacher learnes more by the Scholer than the Scholer by the Teacher 2 Ministers ought to commend their peoples proficiencies in holinesse Observ 2. Jude here mentions the knowledge of the Christians to their praise When people do what is commendable Ministers should commend what they doe If the former finde matter Rom. 15.15 1 Cor. 11.2 the later should find words I am perswaded of you saith Paul to the Romans that ye are full of goodnesse And I praise you brethren saith he to the Corinthians that you remember me c. A Ministers prudent commendation wins that love to his person without which the best doctrine is often but unprofitable Rare is it to find that Christian who embraceth a message which is brought him from a messenger not beloved A wise commendation will make a Reproof go down the better Constant chiding is like Physick which being too frequently taken grows naturall and therefore proves not operative Ministers should be wise in chusing a fit object for commendation the commendable actions of every one must not be presently commended some can lesse bear the sweetnesse of praise then they can the bitternesse of reproof A little wine will turn a weak brain Nor should we commend any to flatter but benefit them to encourage the humble not to content the proud But truly Christians 't were happy for Ministers if the time you make them spend in weeping and reproving they might fill with encouraging and cheering you The work and delight of a Minister is with the Bee to give honey he puts not forth the sting unlesse you by sin provoke him Of this more pag. 183. 184. 3. Observ 3. Col. 3.16 Joh 5.39 Rom. 15.4 Acts 17.11 Every private Christian should be acquainted with the Scripture It 's sinfull to clasp up the Scriptures in an unknown tongue The end of the writing the Scriptures was the instruction of every one None are so much commended in Scripture as those who most diligently search'd into it To private Christians Paul writes sundry Epistles The study of Scripture is usefull and needfull to people as well as Ministers Illumination Conversion Direction preservation from sin Psal 19.8.9 Psal 119.24 belong to the one as well as to the other and if for the abuse of Scripture the use thereof should be denyed to people why would Christ and his Apostles preach and write to those who perverted and wrested their doctrines yea why should not the reading of Scripture be deny'd not only to ignorant Monks and Priests but erroneous Clerks and Bishops from whom by abuse of Scripture most heresies have proceeded But whether Satan hath not by his methods wrought us into the other extreme when in stead of generall restraint from reading he puts people upon a generall liberty of preaching and expounding the Scripture our present distractions sufficiently witnesse 4. Observ 4. The knowledg of truth is a strong engagement upon Christians to embrace and love it The Apostle from their knowing the examples hopefully expects that they will lay them to heart Truth known and not loved is unprofitable Not he who knows a trade but follows it grows rich It will fare ill enough with the ignorant worse with the obstinate and many stripes are reserved for the opposing of much knowledg But of this before 5. Observ 5. Ministers ought not to content the curiosity but to consult the benefit of their hearers They should rather deliver Truths old and usefull then doctrines new and unprofitable Their work is not to please the Athenian but to profit the Christian They are not Cooks but Physicians and therefore should not study to delight the pallat but to recover the Patient they must not provide sawce but physick If to preach the same things be safe it matters not whether
most of all when 't is sheltered with appearances professions and priviledges A name to live externall ordinances circumcision in the flesh the Temple of the Lord commend us not to God I will punish saith God the circumcised with the uncircumcised Egypt and Judah and Edom Jer. 9. ult the children of Ammon and Moab for all these nations are uncircumcised and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart The Bible in thy house the word of grace in thy eare will not avail unlesse the grace of the word be in thy heart and the former without the later will but prove like Vriahs letters which he carried for his own destruction Paul accounted all his priviledges as dung in regard of the knowledg of Christ The means of salvation in word and sacraments must be used in faith and repentance Otherwise they being out of their holy use enjoyed will turne to our destruction 4. Observ 4. God labours to win people by mercies before hee wounds them by judgments Israel is first solicited by love God destroyes them not till afterward and if his goodnesse had made them blush his greatnesse should not have made them bleed Oh how propense was that God to save his Israel and how unwilling to destroy them He gave them the honey of deliverance and provisions freely and of his own accord he put not forth the sting of punishment till he was provoked Israel shall first have the cloud to guide them the sea divided Egyptians drowned Mannah showred downe the roks gushing them drink and they by all left inexcusable before they be destroyed Oh that the long-suffering of God might be salvation and lead us to repentance and that by submission to mercy wee may prevent a conquest by judgment and not put the Lord upon a work more unpleasing to him than to our selves whose backs do not suffer so much as his bowells Hos 11.8 when we are beaten 5. Observ 5. Miraculous mercies do not benefit an unholy heart After all the salvations that God had bestowed upon Israel they were fit for nothing but destruction Every step they took in the red-sea they trode upon a miracle of mercifull preservation Every time they tasted a crumb of bread or a drop of water they took in a miracle of mercifull provision Every time they look'd up to the heavens they beheld a miracle of mercifull direction but none of these could work upon stubborn hearts Only he who commanded that more soft rock to give them water could make their hearts obedient They who will not be taught by the word will not be bettered by the rod of Moses and without the spirit wee shall be benefitted by neither 6. Great deliverances abused make way for severest judgments Many times did God deliver Israel Psal 105.44 but they provoking him with their connsel were brought low for their iniquity The whole book of Judges is the Comment upon this truth a book made up of the vicissitudes of deliverance provocation and punishment Sins committed against the love of a God are committed most against the happinesse of a people Every deliverance is a bil of Enditement against the unthankfull This makes God to call to the heavens and earth as witnesses against those children which he had brought up Isa 1.2.3 Josh ult 20. Judg. 10.13 Jer. 15.6 Ezra 9.13 14. and rebelled against him Yea to professe that the owner of an ox and the Master of an asse were more respected by their beasts than he was by his Israel This makes God to professe that he will consume his people after he hath done them good and that hee will deliver them no more and elsewhere that he is weary of repenting After all this is come upon us saith Ezra should we again break thy Commnadments wouldst not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us Oh that England would in stead of murmuring at its present distresses mourn for its abuse of former deliverances and more fear without a speedy reformation that the mercies which still we enjoy shall be removed than hope that those we want shall be bestowed 7. Sin disappoints the hopefullest expectations of mercy Observat 7. Jer. 8.15 Jer. 14.19 It stifles it even when it seems to be come to the birth We looked for peace but no good came and for a time of health and behold trouble Who could have expected but that Israel after so many miraculous mercies being now upon the confines of Canaan should instantly have entred but behold their sin sends them back into the wildernesse there to linger and pine for forty years together Sinners disappoint Gods expectation and justly therefore may God disappoint theirs Isa 5.2 After all the costs bestowed by God upon his vineyard he looked that it should bring forth grapes and it brought forth wilde grapes Israel gives God appearances of holinesse and God gives Israel an appearance of deliverance They flatter God with shews of that obedience which he deserved and how justly doth God disappoint them of those mercies which they desired They fall short of promised duty and therefore of expected delivery Oh that we could condemne our selves and justifie God in the sad disappointments of Englands recovery We made shew at the first of a through reformation but we soon faltered and made an halt and why should God be bound when we would needs be loose Our goodnesse was as the early dew and the morning cloud that goeth away Hos 6.4 and justly therefore was our deliverance as a morning sunshine soon clouded and overcast with unexpected troubles 8. Observat 8. Even in judgment God remembers mercy God was good to Israel when he destroyed Israel God in his smiles will be feared and in his frowns will be loved as it s said of Asher that his shoos were iron and brasse and yet that he dipt his foot in oyl Deu. 33.24 25 so doth God ever mix the hardest and heaviest severities toward his Israel with the oyl of mercy and gentlenesse He spared the children when he overthrew the parents He did as vvell remember his own Covenant as their provocation He cut off some luxuriant branches but did not cut down the tree he punished some for their sins hee punished not all Psal 106.8 Ezek. 23.9 for his own glory He wrought for his Names sake I said I would scatter them into corners I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men were it not that I feared the wrath of the Enemy Deut. 32.27 So good is God that hee raiseth arguments of pitty toward rebellious Israel out of himselfe yea out of his enemies vvhen Israel affords him none Though justice made him cast his Church into the fire to be scorched yet mercy made him pluck it like a brand out of the fire lest it should be consumed Zec. 3.2 And a seed he reserves a remnant that his Church may not be as Sodom Isa 1.8 In the
enemies A greater punishment undoubtedly to those proudest of creatures then was that to Bajazet whose back famous Tamberlane used for an horsblock to raise him up to his Steed when he caused him to be carried up and down as a spectacle of infamy in all his triumphant journeys 2. By the last judgment there shall be an accession of punishment to these angels in respect of their restraint because then they shall be unable to seduce the wicked or to hurt the elect any more Their chain now more loose shall then be so strait that they shall never come neer nor among the Saints of God A vehement vexation to those malicious spirits whose element is mischief and their torment restraint from doing hurt They now deem it some lessening of their torment to be suffered to tempt men to sin They think themselves hereby somewhat revenged on God as he that defaceth the picture of his enemy when he cannot come at his person easeth his spleen a little or as the dog somewhat breaks his rage by gnawing the stone when he cannot reach the thrower They now walk abroad as it were with their keeper but then they shall be closely confin'd yea dungeon'd Now they contain their hell then their hell shall contain them In short As the punishment of wicked men shall be at the full when their souls and bodies are reunited and both cast into hell so the torment of these angels shall be compleated when at the last day they shall be so fettered in their infernall prison as that there will be no possibility of stirring forth They are now entred into divers degrees of punishment but the full wrath of God is not powred out upon them till the day of judgment OBSERVATIONS 1 No secrecy can shelter sin from Gods observation Observ 1. He who will make sins known to conscience and all spectators must needs know them himself Sins are undoubtedly written in if they be read out of the book God need not wrack no nor ask the offender to know whether he hath sinn'd or no he searcheth the heart Jer. 17.10 Psal 11.4 he tryeth the reins his eyes behold his eye-lids try the children of men He compasseth he winnoweth our paths and is acquainted with all our wayes Psal 139. Whither shall we flie from his presence He understands our thoughts afar off knows them long before they come into us and long after they are gone away from us All the secrets of our hearts are dissected anatomized and bare-fac'd in his eyes He who knew what we would do before we did it must needs know what we have done afterwards There 's nothing existing in the world but was before in Gods knowledg as the house is first in the head before erected by the hand of the Artificer He made us and therefore knows every nook and corner and turning in us and we are sustained and moved by him in our most retired motions How plainly discerned by him is the closest hypocrite and every Divel though in a Samuel's mantle We can onely hear but God sees hollownesse We do but observe the surface but Gods eye pierceth into the entrails of every action He sees not as man sees Man looketh on the outward appearance but God looketh on the heart How exact should we be even in secret walkings we being constantly in the view of so accurate an observer We should set the Lord always before us The eye of God should ever be in our eys the presence of God is the counterpoyson of sin Whensoever thou art sinning remember that all thou dost is book'd in Gods omniscience Latimer being examined by his Popish Adversaries heard a pen walking behind the hangings to take all his words this made him wary how he express'd himself but more cause have we to fear sin since God writes down every offence and will one day so read over his book to Conscience that it shall be compell'd to copie it out with infinite horror God did but read one page one line of this book one sin to the conscience of Judas and the terror thereof made him his own executioner 2 How foolish are sinners Observ 2. who are so despairing at and yet so fearlesse before the pronouncing of the last sentence Most irrationall is that resolution Because sentence against an evill work is not executed speedily therefore to be fully set to do evill Eccles 8.11 How wise were it to argue contrarily Because the sentence is deferr'd therefore let us labour to have it prevented and to say with the Apostle 2 Pet. 3.11 What manner of persons ought we to be The deferring of judgment is no signe of its prevention the speedy repentance of sinners would be a much more comfortable prediction Wrath when it is to come may be fled from when once it is come it is unavoidable Christians be as wise for your souls as the Egyptians were for their cattel who fearing the threatning of bail took them into houses Faith in threatnings of judgment may prevent the feeling of judgments threatned For your souls sake be warned to get your pardon in the blood if ever you would avoid the sentence of the mouth of Christ If the Judg give you not a pardon here he will give you a sentence hereafter It 's onely the blood of Christ which can blot the book of Judgment Judg your selves and passe an irrevocable sentence upon your sins if you would not be sentenc'd for your sins Repent at the hearing of Ministers in this your day for if you put off that work till God speaks in his day Repentance it self will be unprofitable If you harden your hearts here in sin the heart of Christ will be hardened hereafter in his sentencing and your suffering The great work of poor Ministers is the prevention of the dreadfull sound of the last Sentence Knowing the terror of the Lord they warn you All the hatred we meet with in the world is for our loving plainness herein but we will not cease to warn you with tears as well as with sweat we can better bear your hatred here then either you or we bear Gods hereafter and we had rather your lusts should curse us here then your souls to all eternity If our voyce cannot make you bend Gods will make you break If you will not hearken is it not because the Lord will slay you 3 Great is the sinfulness of rash judgment Observat 3 It 's a sin that robs Christ of his honour whereby a man advanceth himself into Christs Tribunal and which takes the work of judgment out of Christs hand and therefore the Apostle Rom. 14.10 1 Cor. 4 5. strongly argues a-against it from the last judgment Christians commit this sin both by a curious inquisition into the wayes of others for this end that they may finde out matter of defamation and principally by passing of sentence or giving of censure against the persons and practices of others without a
28.5 If we will turn from our iniquities we shall understand the truth Dan. 9.13 Who is wise and he shall understand these things This for the first specifyed fault wherewith these Seducers were charged viz. Their defiling the flesh The second followes their contempt of Magistracy and in that first of the first branch thereof viz. They despise Dominion inwardly EXPLICATION Three things I here propound by way of Explication 1. What we are here to understand by Dominion 2. What by despising that Dominion 3. Vpon what ground doth Jude here condemn them for that despising thereof In the first we may consider two things 1. To whom this Dominion is attributed 2. What it is and wherein it consists 1. The word in the Originall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dominion is the same with that mentioned in Peter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 2.10 2 Pet. 2.10 and tranflated Government And though it properly signifie Lordship Domination or Government in the abstract the Power and office of Magistracy or any ruling over others yet must it necessarily comprehend the persons themselves governing or in the place of Authority Government without Governours is but a notion and were it not for Governors there would be no hating of Government Paul Rom. 13.1 by Higher powers understands both the Power or Authority it self as also the Persons vested with that Power and Authority And when Peter 1 Pet. 2.17 commands the Christians to love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Brother-hood he intends the whole company of the brethren as we understand by the Nobility of the Land the Nobles themselves and yet here Jude names in the abstract rather Dominion and Authority it selfe then those who were placed therein to shew what it was which these Seducers opposed and struck at namely not at officers so much as at their office not at Magistrates but at Magistracy they loved not this same ruling over others and such a difference among men They aimed at Anarchy as Calvin notes upon the place being proud they could not endure superiors and being licencious they were impatient of restraint So me by this Dominion of which Jude speaks understand the Dominion and Authority of the Lord Christ received from his Father and so refer this despising of Dominion to that sin of ungodlinesse mentioned ver 4. Dominaâ—iâ—nem contemunat i. e. Christâ—m qui non solum dicitur Dominus in Concreto sed etiam Deminatiâ— in Abstractâ— propter excellentians Domiâ—ii Lyran. where these Seducers are said to be ungodly and to deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ Lyranus thus they despise Dominion that is saith he Christ himselfe who is not only called Lord in the concrete but even Dominion in the abstract because of the excellency of his Dominion But though it be true that Satan hath ever endeavoured to overthrow the Domination of Christ by Hereticks who have denyed his natures sometimes his offices at other times and have indeed shewed themselves Anti-christs 1 Joh. 2.4 Yet under correction I conceive that the Dominion and dignities whereof Jude here speaks are to be referred to the civill Magistrate The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Dominion is never attributed to Christ in the New Testament but alwayes either to Angels Eph. 1.21 Col. 1.16 or Magistrates and it is only agreeable to the scope of this place to interpret it of the Magistrate Even they who by these words understand the Dominion of Christ yeeld that the next words despise Dignities are to be understood of Magistrates And the Apostle in this verse as is conceived compares these Seducers as for uncleannesse to Sodomites so for contempt of Government to the Israelâ—â—s who rebelled against Moses he most sutably also subjoining this sin to the former of uncleannesse in regard the love of their lusts and dissolutenesse of life made them hate that Government which was appointed to restrain them 2. For the second What this Dominion and Power is that is attributed to the Magistrate and wherein it consists 1. More generally it stands in Superiority Preheminency Supereminency above others as is evident 1. By those names by which it is set forth in Scripture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 20.25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 20 25. Rom. 13.3 Luk. 12.11 Tit. 3.1 1 Cor. 15.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 27.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xen. as Power Authority Rule as Rom. 13.1 1 Timoth. 2.2 Tit. 3.1 2. By those Titles which are given to Magistrates as Kings and such as exercise Authority Luk. 22.25 They that are great Mat. 20.25 Rulers Rom. 13.3 Powers in the Abstract Rom. 13.1 Magistrates Luke 12.11 Governours Luk. 20.20 And elsewhere Nobles 2 Chro. 23.20 Jerem. 14.3 Dukes or Mighty ones Exod. 15.15 Ezek. 31.5 Great men 2 Sam. 3.38 Captaines 1 Sam. 9.16 Princes Psal 83.11 Ezek. 32.29 With sundry Metaphoricall Names also as Gods Exod. 22.28 Psal 82.1 Psal 138.1 Chrildren of the Most High Psal 82.6 The sons of the Mighty or of the Gods Psal 89.7 Fathers tender fathers as the word may be and according to Hierom is to be rendred Gen. 41.43 1 Sam. 24.11 David calls Saul Father Deborah is called a Mother in Israel Judg. 5.7 Heads Number 14.4 Judg. 11.7 Judg. 1 15. Mountains Mich. 6.7 Annointed 1 Sam. 24 7. Shepherds Numb 27.17 Isaiah 44.28 c. 2. More particularly this Dominion or Power consists in three things 1. In Ordinando in ordaining lawes for the good of the subjects This is called Potestas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Legistative Power Lawes are like the Line and Plummet of the Architect without which there is no right working and they are to a Common-wealth what the Sun is to the earth without them people would not see whither to go what to do and all places as is usuall in darknesse would be filled with filthinesse and violence they are the cords of the tent which being cut it fallls to the ground Lawes are the best walls of a City without them even walled cities want defence they are as Physick to the body both for preventing and removing Diseases nay they are as the soul to the body without them the Common-wealth would neither have beauty nor being Laws have been ever esteemed so necessary that no Common-wealth under any form could ever be without them Nor do these Positive lawes derogate at all from the perfection of the Law Morall or of Nature but only discover the depravation of mans nature in whose heart though that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that work of the Law be written which inclines all to some kind of naturall goodnesse yet by the fall is the knowledge of the Law of nature so obscured and the force of inordinate affection so prevalent over reason that there is need of Positive Lawes for directing restraining encouraging And indeed Positive Lawes are but rivulets derived and drawn from the Law of Nature and particular conclusions formed out of the universall principles thereof The
The sharpest knife grows blunt without whetting the most honest debtor sometimes wants calling on The Apostle Peter puts the Christians in remembrance to stir up even their pure minds 2 Pet. 3.1 The freest Christian sometime wanteth the spur Our very sanctified affections are like heated water which of it self grows cold but neither retains nor increaseth its heats unlesse the fire be put under and blown up Good things in the heart lie as embers under ashes and need daily stirring up OBSERVATIONS 1. Great is the sin of those who contemn repeated truths Observ 1. A Christian must not have an itching but an humble and obedient ear Sinfull is that curiositie that despiseth a wholesome truth because it 's common Truths delivered of old may possibly now be freshly usefull and those delivered now may be helpfull in old age or on our death-beds Who would neglect a friend that may stand him in stead hereafter Every truth like a Lease brings in revenue the next year as well as this He that knows truth never so fully knows no hurt by it nay the more he knows the more of worth he sees in it How foolish are those Christians who count no doctrine good but what is new who as 't is storied of Heliogabalus cannot endure to eat twice of one dish How just will it be for want to overtake the wantoness of these hearers 2. Observ 2. Christians must not only receive but retain also the truths of God Our Memories must be heavenly store-houses and treasuries of precious truths not like hour-glasses which are no sooner full but they are running out The commandments must be bound upon our hearts and holy instructions like Books in a Library must be chained to our memories Keep these words in the midst of thy heart saith Solomon Prov. 4.21 And I have hid thy word in my heart that I might not sin against thee saith David Psal 119.11 The slipperinesse of our memories causeth many slips in our lives Peter forgot his Master and then forgot himself First he forgot the word of a Master and then he forgot the duty of a servant Conscience cannot be urged by that truth which memory doth not retain The same truths which being taken in begat our graces being kept in will increase our graces To help us in remembring heavenly truths Let us 1. be reverent and heedfull in our attentions as receiving a message from God He who regards not a truth in hearing how shall he retain it afterward 2. Let us love every heavenly truth as our treasure Delight helps memory Psal 119.16 and what we love we keep 3. Our memories should not be taken up with vanities A Christian should be most carefull to keep that which Satan is most industrious to steal away and he is like a theef breaking into an house who takes not away earthen vessels but plate and jewels Satan empties not the head of worldly trifles but of the most precious things The Memory which is fill'd onely with earthly concernments is like a golden Cabinet fill'd with dung 4. Let Instruction be followed with meditation prayer conference Deut. 6.6.7 Psa 119.97 and holy conversation by all these it is hid in the heart the more deeply and driven home the more throughly 3. Observ 3. There is a constant necessitie of a consciencious Ministry People know and remember but in part and as children and till that which is imperfect be done away we cannot spare ministeriall remembrances We shall want Pastors teachers Eph. 4.12.13 c. till we all meet c. in a perfect man And there are none weary of the Ministry but they who love not to be remembred of their duty Of this before 4. The forgetfulnesse of the people Observ 4. must not discourage the Minister A Boat is not to be cast up and broken in pieces for every leak the dullest and weakest hearer must not be cast off for his crazy memory but pitied The very Lambs of Christ must be fed the feeblest child in his house attended Paul was gentle among the Christians even as a nurse cherisheth her children If the preaching of a truth once will not serve the turn if it be not understood or remembred the first time Ministers must declare it more plainly the next time and put people in remembrance again and again 5. Observ 5. The work of Ministers is not to contrive Doctrines but to recall them They should deliver what they have received not what they have invented Their power is not to make but manifest laws for the conscience That good thing saith Paul to Timothie which was committed to thee keep c. Ministers are not Masters but Stewards of the mysteries of God Thus much the first part of the preface The duty of the Apostle The second follows the commendation of the Christians Yee once knew this EXPLICATION It may be demanded Why the Apostle saith that the Christians once knew this following example of the Israelites of which hee puts them in remembrance The Apostle mentions this knowledg of the Christians that he may gain their good will and favourable respect to the truth of which he was now speaking and that his arguing from these examples might the more easily find entertainment with them For by saying that they knew this 1. He labours to win them to a love of himself by commending them and acknowledging that good to be which he saw in them He commends them for their knowledg and expertnesse in scripture and declares that he spake not to rude ignorant but to expert Christians 2. He gains the reputation of certainty to the truths of which he was speaking he appealing for this to their own knowledg which was so clear herein Concerning the word once I have spoken largely before pag. 231 232. that he amplifieth it by saying that they knew it once that is certainly unchangeably and once for all never to revoke and alter this knowledg and both these insinuations useth Paul to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 10.15 I speak as to wise men judg ye what I say And to Agrippa for the gaining his favour to that cause which he there defended Acts 26.3 I think my selfe happy that I shall answer for my selfe before thee c. because I know thee to be expert in all customes and questions which are among the Jews And ver 26. The king knoweth of these things before whom I speak freely 3. By saying that they knew this he prevents the objection which might be made against what he was about to speak in regard that it was old and ordinary he insinuating that of set purpose be did produce a known and ancient truth rather then a new and unheard of uncertainty OBSERVATIONS 1 Knowledg is very commendable in a Christian For this the Romans are chap. 15.14 commended I am perswaded brethren that ye are full of goodnesse 1 Cor. 1.5 filled with all knowledg For this grace given to the