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
if ye do good to them which do good to you what thank have ye For Sinners also do even the same And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive what thank have ye For Sinners lend to Sinners to receive as much again But love ye your enemies and do good and lend hoping for nothing again and your reward shall be great and ye shall be the Children of the Highest for he is kind unto the Vnthankful and to the Evil. Be ye therefore Merciful as your Father also is Merciful Luk. 6. 27 28 c. Then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they do Luk. 23. 34. Stephen kneeled down and cried with a loud voice Lord lay not this sin to their charge Act. 7. 60. Dearly beloved avenge not your selves but rather give place unto wrath for it is written Vengeance is mine I will repay it saith the Lord. Therefore if thine Enemy hunger feed him if he thirst give him drink For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good Rom. 12. 19 20 21. Bless them which persecute you bless and curse not Recompence no Man evil for evil Rom. 12. 14 17. See that none render evil for evil unto any man but ever follow that which is good both among your selves and to all men 1 Thes 5. 15. Be Pitiful be Courteous not rendring evil for evil or railing for railing but contrariwise blessing knowing that ye are thereunto called that ye should inherit a blessing 1 Pet. 3. 8 9. Here is the Rule and it must be follow'd To dispence with it is to break it to hearken to Inclination is to forsake it The Difficulty of its Practice must be own'd and this more particularly in some Tempers but Difficulties must not carry us against the Commands of God in our undertaking to serve him there was no Proviso made for our Ease or Inclination but our Profession was Absolute how then can we pretend to follow Nature when God's Will is known to us If the Lord be our God it is mockery if we do not follow him CHAP. XI Of Forgiving Injuries Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to Forgiving Injuries A. It speaks plainly to the Point Forgive us our debts as we forgive our Debtors Mat. 6. 12. Then came Peter to him and said Lord how oft shall my Brother sin against me and I forgive him Till seven times Jesus said unto him I say not unto thee until seven times But until seventy times seven Mat. 18. 21 22. Then his Lord said unto him O thou wicked servant I forgave thee all that debt because thou desired'st me Should'st not thou also have had compassion on thy Fellow-servant even as I had pity on thee And his Lord was wroth and deliver'd him to the tormenters till he should pay all that was due unto him So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses Mat. 18. 32 c. If thy brother trespass against thee rebuke him and if he repent forgive him And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day and seven times in a day turn again to thee saying I repent thou shalt forgive him Luk. 17. 3 4. Let all Bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice And be ye kind one to another tender-hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you Eph. 4. 31 32. Put on therefore as the Elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercies kindness humbleness of mind meekness long-suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye Colos 3. 12 13. For if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses Mat. 6. 14. 15. And when ye stand praying Forgive if ye have ought against any that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses But if ye do not forgive neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses Mar. 11. 25 26. Forgive and ye shall be forgiven for with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measur'd to you again Luk. 6. 37. He shall have Judgment without mercy that hath shewed no mercy Jam. 2. 13. Charity suffereth long is not easily provok'd thinketh no evil beareth all things endureth all things 1 Cor. 13. 4 c. Thus says the Christian's Rule and there are no Promises but what requireth the Observance of it Let then all degrees of Malice Revenge Hatred Ill-will Animosities Resentments Provocations Grudgings Want of Neighborly Correspondence with all the train of such like Interior Disorders be examined by the Gospel and upon the evidence of their being not allow'd upon any account but absolutely condemn'd the Christian must conclude that either he must make this his Rule or else have no part in the Promises of the Gospel What then O God must I fear of my self who am so easie in admitting and so careless in overcoming what is thus contrary to my Profession I profess the Gospel but follow Inclination and is this to be a Christian CHAP. XII Of making and keeping Peace Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to avoiding Contention and keeping Peace A. It speaks so plain in this Point that no Christian can be ignorant of his Obligation Blessed are the Peace-makers for they shall be called the Children of God Mat. 5. 9. If thou bring thy Gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy Brother hath ought against thee leave there thy Gift before the Altar and go thy way first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy Gift Mat. 5. 23 24. A new Commandment I give unto you that ye love one another By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another Jo. 13. 34 35. Have salt in your selves and have Peace one with another Mar. 9. 50. Be of the same mind one towards another If it be possible as much as lyeth in you live peaceably with all men Dearly beloved avenge not your selves but give place unto wrath Rom. 12. 16 18. I beseech to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called With all lowliness and meekness with long-suffering forbearing one another in love endeavouring to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace Eph. 4. 1 2 3. For God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace 1 Cor. 14. 33. He that will love life and see good days let him refrain his tongue from evil let him seek Peace and ensue it Be ye all of one mind having compassion one of another love as Brethren be Pitiful be Courteous not
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
the Husband hath not Power of his own Body but the Wife Defraud you not one the other except it be with consent for a Time that ye may give your selves to Fasting and Prayer and come together again that Satan tempt you not for your Incontinency But I speak this by Permission and not of Commandment 1 Cor. 7. 3. 4thly That they may and ought to live holily There was in the Days of Herod the King of Judea a certain Priest named Zacharias of the Course of Abia And his Wife was of the Daughters of Aaron and her Name was Elizabeth And they were both righteous before God walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless and they had no Child because that Elizabeth was barren and they both were now well stricken in years Luk. 1. 5. This I say Brethren the time is short It remaineth that both they that have Wives be as tho' they had none and they that weep as tho' they wept not and they that rejoice as tho' they rejoiced not and they that buy as tho' 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. We beseech you Brethren and exhort you by the Lord Jesus that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God so ye would abound more and more For ye know what Commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus For this is the Will of God even your Sanctification that ye should abstain from Fornication That every one of you should know how to possess his Vessel in Sanctification and Honor not in the Lust of Concupiscence even as the Gentiles which know not God 1 Thess 4. 1. Marriage is honorable in all and the Bed undefiled But Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Let your Conversation be without Covetousness and be content with such things as ye have For he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13. 4. 5thly That there are great Duties of mutual Love and Support belonging to them and that Order is to be observ'd which God has appointed between them I would have you know that the Head of every Man is Christ and the Head of the Woman is the Man and the Head of Christ is God A Man indeed ought not to cover his Head praying for as much as he is the Image and Glory of God But the Woman is the Glory of the Man For the Man is not of the Woman but the Woman of the Man Neither was the Man created for the Woman but the Woman for the Man For this Cause ought the Woman to have Power on her Head because of the Angels Nevertheless neither is the Man without the Woman neither the Woman without the Man in the Lord. For as the Woman is of the Man even so is the Man also by the Woman but all things of God 1 Cor. 11. 3 7. Submitting your selves one to another in the Fear of God Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as unto the Lord. For the Husband is the Head of the Wife even as Christ is Head of the Church And he is the Saviour of the Body Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ so let the Wives be to their own Husbands in every thing Husbands love your Wives even as Christ loved the Church and also gave himself for it That he might sanctifie and cleanse it So ought Men to love their Wives as their own Bodies He that loveth his Wife loveth himself For no Man ever yet hated his own Flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church For we are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones For this Cause shall a Man leave his Father and Mother and shall be joined unto his Wife and they two shall be one Flesh This is a great Mystery But I speak concerning Christ and the Church Nevertheless Let every one of you in particular so love his Wife even as himself and the Wife see that she reverence her Husband Eph. 5. 21 28. Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands love your Wives and be not bitter against them Col. 3. 18. Ye Wives be in Subjection to your own Husbands that if any obey not the word they also may without the word be won by the Conversation of the Wives while they behold your chaste Conversation coupled with Fear Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the Hair and of wearing of Gold or of putting on of Apparel but let it be the hidden Man of the Heart in that which is not corruptible even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the Sight of God of great Price For after this manner in the Old Time the holy Women also who trusted in God adorned themselves being in Subjection unto their own Husbands even as Sara obeyed Abraham calling him Lord Whose Daughters ye are as long as ye do well and are not affraid with any Amazement 1 Pet. 3. 1. Likewise ye Husbands dwell with them according to Knowledge giving Honor unto the Wife as unto the weaker Vessel and as being Heirs together of the Grace of Life that your Prayers be not hinder'd 1 Pet. 3. 7. Teach the young Women to be sober to love their Husbands to love their Children to be Discreet Chaste keepers at Home good obedient to their own Husbands that the Word of God be not blasphemed Tit. 2. 4. Young Men likewise exhort to be Sober-minded Tit. 2. 6. That the aged Men be Sober Grave Temperate Sound in Faith in Charity in Patience Tit. 2. 2. The aged Women likewise that they be in Behavior as becometh Holiness not false Accusers not given to much Wine Teachers of good things Tit. 2. 3. I will that Men pray every where lifting up holy Hands without Wrath and Doubting 1 Tim. 2. 8. In like manner also that Women adorn themselves in modest Apparel with Shamefacedness and Sobriety Not broider'd Hair or Gold or Pearls or costly Array but which becometh Women professing Godliness with good Works Let the Women learn in silence with all Subjection But I suffer not a Woman to teach nor to usurp Authority over the Man but to be in silence For Adam was first formed then Eve And Adam was not deceived but the Woman being deceived was in the Transgression Notwithstanding she shall be saved in Child-bearing if they continue in Faith and Charity and Holiness with Sobriety 1 Tim. 2. 9. Let your Women keep silence in the Churches For it is not permitted unto them to speak but they are commanded to be under Obedience as also saith the Law And if they will learn any thing let them ask their Husbands at Home For it is a Shame for Women to speak in the Church 1 Cor. 14. 34. Thus speaks the Rule and so particularly that there can be no
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
not been faithful in the unrighteous Mammon who will commit to your Trust the true Riches Luk. 16. 9. Zacheus stood and said unto the Lord Behold Lord the half of my Goods I give to the Poor and if I have taken any thing from any Man by false Accusation I restore him four-fold And Jesus said unto him This Day is Salvation come to this House Luke 19. 8. There was a certain Man in Cesarea called Cornelius a Centurion of the Band called the Italian Band a devout Man and one that feared God with all his House which gave much Alms to the People and prayed to God alway He saw in a Vision an Angel of God and he said unto him Thy Prayers and thine Alms are come up for a memorial before God And 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. 1. There was at Joppa a certain Disciple named Tabitha which by Interpretation is called Dorcas This Woman was full of good Works and Almsdeeds which she did And it came to pass in those Days that she was sick and died Then Peter arose and went with them When he was come they brought him unto the upper Chamber and all the Widows stood by him weeping and shewing the Coats and Garments which Dorcas made while she was with them But Peter put them all forth and kneeled down and prayed and turning him to the Body said Tabitha arise And she opened her Eyes and when she saw Peter she sat up Act. 9. 36. Neither was there any among them that lacked for as many as were Possessors of Lands or Houses sold them and brought the Prices of the things that were sold and laid them down at the Apostle's Feet and distribution was made unto every Man according as he had need Act. 4. 34. Now concerning the Collection for the Saints as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia even so do ye Vpon the first Day of the Week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him that there be no gatherings when I come 1 Cor. 16. 1. To their power I bear record yea and beyond their power they were willing of themselves praying us with much Entreaty that we would receive the Gift and take upon us the Fellowship of the ministring to the Saints Therefore as ye abound in every thing see that ye abound in this Grace also I speak not by Commandment but by the Occasion of the Forwardness of others and to prove the Sincerity of your Love 2 Cor. 8. 3. I thought it necessary to exhort the Brethren that they would go before unto you and make up before-hand your bounty and not as of Covetousness But this I say he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully Every Man according as he purposeth in his Heart so let him give not grudgingly or of necessity For God loveth a cheerful Giver 2 Cor. 9. 5. Charge them that are rich in this World that they be not High-minded nor trust in uncertain Riches but in the Living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy That they do good that they be rich in good Works ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in Scorn for themselves a good Foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal Life 1 Tim. 6. 17. To do good and to communicate forget not for with such Sacrifices God is well-pleased Heb. 13. 16. Let the Brother of low Degree rejoice in that he is exalted but the rich in that he is made low Because as the Flower of the Grass he shall pass away For the Sun is no sooner risen with a burning Heat but it withereth the Grass and the Flower thereof falleth and the Grace of the fashion of it perisheth So also shall the rich Man fade away in his Ways Jam. 1. 9. Whoso hath this World's good and seeth his Brother have need and shutteth up his Bowels of Compassion from him how dwelleth the Love of God in him My little Children let us not love in Word neither in Tongue but in Deed and in Truth And hereby we know that we are of the Truth 1 Jo. 3. 17. Tho' nothing can be said more fully yet it cannot be amiss to insert something out of the Old Testament that the Will of God may be yet more manifest in this point which is subject to so many Abuses When ye reap the Harvest of your Land thou shalt not wholly reap the Corners of thy Field neither shalt thou gather the Gleanings of thy Harvest And thou shalt not glean thy Vineyard neither shalt thou gather every Grape of thy Vineyard thou shalt leave them for the Poor and Stranger I am the Lord your God Levit. 19. 9. If thy Brother be waxen poor and fallen in decay with thee then thou shalt relieve him yea tho' he be a Stranger or a Sojourner that he may live with thee Take thou no Vsury of him or Encrease but fear thy God that thy Brother may live with thee Thou shalt not give him thy Money upon Vsury nor lend him thy Victuals for Encrease Lev. 25. 35. If there be among you a poor Man of one of thy Brethren within any of thy Gates in thy Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee thou shalt not harden thy Heart nor shut thine Hand from thy poor Brother But thou shalt open thine Hand wide unto him and shalt surely lend him Sufficient for his Need in that which he wanteth Thou shalt surely give him and thine Heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him Because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy Works and in all that thou puttest thine Hand unto For the Poor shall never cease out of the Land Therefore I command thee saying thou shalt open thine Hand wide unto thy Brother to thy Poor and to thy Needy in thy Land Deut. 15. 7. When thou cuttest down thine Harvest in thy Field and hast forgot a Sheaf in the Field thou shalt not go again to fetch it it shall be for the Stranger for the Fatherless and for the Widow that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the Work of thine Hands Deut. 24. 19. When the Ear heard me then it blessed me and when the Eye saw me it gave witness to me Because I delivered the Poor that cried and the Fatherless and him that had none to help him The Blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me and I caused the Widow's Heart to sing for Joy I was Eyes to the Blind and Feet was I to the Lame I was a Father to the Poor and the Cause which I knew not I searched out Job 29. 11. If I have withheld the Poor from their desire or have caused the Eyes of the Widow to fail or have eaten my Morsel my self