Christ that hee labour aboue all things to be assured of the truth of his calling that the same bee from God that so they may performe the same in faith and obedience and feed the flocke of Christ that is committed vnto them But how shall a man truely know that he is called to preach the Gospell Quest This is knowne diuers wayes Answ How to know a Minister to haue his calling from God First by those gifts that qualifie a man for the worke of the Ministery for God neuer sends but qualifies first Secondly the testimony of a mans owne conscience that hee enters not for any other by-respect but for the aduancement of Christs kingdome Thirdly the approbation of the Church Fourthly a propense inclination to be exercised in that calling as if a Minister were like a creature out of it clement vnlesse hee were setting forward the Lords worke either in publike or priuate Fiftly if the Lord in some measure blesse his labours this is as the Lords signet or seale set to his calling VERSE 27. And he arose and went Text. c. HItherto of Philips Commission now of the execution of his Commission The Angell biddeth him goe but telleth him not what he shall doe or what profit should come of his trauaile yet Philip goes And thus the Lord made triall of the obedience of Abraham when hee called him to goe into the land of Canaan Gen. 12. not acquainting him with the end wherefore he sent him thither And thus the Lord tryeth the obedience of his seruants And surely this serued much for the commendations of the obedience of Philip that he reasoned not the matter with the Angell but being called presently obeyed He arose and went Teaching vs Doct. We must yeeld oâ—edience to Gods commandement though we see nâ— reason Gen. 7. that wee are to yeeld obedience vnto Gods commandement though wee see no reason and we are to know that this is sufficient for vs that our obedience be approued to God Thus Noah when God commanded him to build an Aâ—â—â— though he might haue had mâ—ny discouragements in that worke if hee had consulted with flesh and bloud as namely how it could be possible that he should bee saued and all the world drowned The difficulty of the worke men hauing no experience of Ships how such a vessell should saue Length of time one hundred and twenty yeares the mocking of that sinfull world c. Yet this is obserued to the great commendations of his faith By faith Noah moued with reuerence prepared the Arke Heb. 11.7 Abraham receiued a commandement to go out of his Country to leaue his kindred and his fathers house to goe into a place he knew not Now this is likewise obserued as a great commendations of his faith that he yeelded obedience not reasoning the caâ—â— with God Heb. 11.8 So likewise when God called him to sacrifice his sonne Isaac he yeelded obedience not consulting with flesh and blood what should become of the promise if Isaac were gone ver 17.18 but readily yeelds him vp vnto God A contrary example wee haue in Saul who spared Agag the king â— Sam. â—5 and the fat of the cattle whereas the Lord had Commanded him to destroy them all And of the Prophet that was commanded not to eat yet disobeyed and was therefore killed of a Lion 1 Reg. 13.8 And in what a miserable case had Naaman beene in had hee persisted in his opinion and had not hearkened vnto the Prophet And there is reason for it First in regard he is the Soueraigne Lord of all Reas 1 and must be obeyed his power and authority ouer men and Angels yea all creatures is absolute hee is the Creator we the creature â—â—e is our Father we his children hee our king we his subiects he the Potter wee but a peece of clay in his hands Now his relation to vs and ours to him cals for this duty Reas 2 Secondly in regard of that high price the Lord doth set vp on obedience as it appeareth by that of Samuel vnto Saul Hath the Lord as great pleasure in burnt offrings and sacrifices 1 Saâ—â—5 22 as when the voyce of the Lord is obeyed Behold to obey is better then sacrifice c. Reas 3 A third reason may be drawne from that reward the Lord hath promised to such as hearken and obey as If ye will heare my voice indeed saith the Lord and keepe my Couenant Ex. 19.5.6 Then shall yee bee my chiefe treasure aboue all people And againe Deu. 28.1 If thou wilt hearken diligently vnto the voyce of the Lord thy God to obserue and to do all his Commandements c. Then the Lord thy God will set thee on high aboue all the Nations on the earth c. Fourthly disobedience as Samuel tels Saul is as the sinne of witchcraft and shall neuer escape the reuengefull hand of God The Lord threatned this vnto the people That if they would not hearken and obey they should die of the sword Ier. â—â—â—â— famine pestilence so that none of them should escape Disobedience shut Adam out of Paradise Moses out of Canaan and Saul out of his kingdome Vse 1 Let this then serue to prouoke all men vnto this duty not to coâ—sult with flesh and blood in the things of God or to bee directed by carnall reason for then we shall neuer obey God Had Philip done this now that the Angell bids him goe not telling him what was to bee done hee had neuer obeyed the Angell The Minister though hee see not that his preaching doth or is like to do any good yet because God hath commanded hee must doe his duty Thus must Magistraâ—es doe though sinne abound still Thus must masters of families doe though it take little effect for God hath commanded these duties to be done and must be obeyed And behold a man of Ethiopia c. The word Behold is commonly verbum admirationis a word of wonder and cals vs to that speciall parenthesis of our Sauiour Let him that readeth consider Mat. 24.15 And is for the most part of the same nature that Selah is sooften vsed in the book of the Psalmes Behold q. d. Consider this thing that howsoeuer Philip at this time were in great danger and hazard for preaching of the Gospell by reason of Caiphas the high Priest and Saul that made hauock of the Church yet obeying the commandement of the Angell though for the present hee could see no reason for the same mark what followed see the good successe of his obedience Behold a man of Ethiopia The instruction is plaine Doct. We are to take speciall notice of the obedience of Gods seruants That God would haue vs in a speciall manner take notice of the obedience of his seruaÌ„ts the examples of his children obeying him and all to this end to prouoke vs vnto obedience This truth is clearly manifested by the
Lord commanded Samuel when he was to annoint Dauid King Looke not on his countenance nor on the height of his stature 1 Sam. 16.7 and he addeth this as a reason for God seeth not as man seeth man locketh on the outward appearance but the Lord beholdeth the heart This truth is further cleared by testimonies and examples God chose Abraham an Idolater Manasses a soothsayer Matthew a Publican Cornelius a Captaine Paul a persecutor Rahab a harlor Zacheus an extortioner Acts 10. Act 〈◊〉 Ioâ— 7. Luâ—e 19. â—â— yea and our Sauiour saith that Publicans and Harlots shall enter into the kingdome of heauen when others shall be shut out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reas 1 First Eph. 1. his gifts and graces are on his part free and on our part altogether vndeserued and therefore often called in the Scripture his free election and his free grace Reas 2 Secondly if any outward priuiledge or respect should preuaile with God to moue him to choose some before othersome then must the rich man haue been preferred before poore Lazarus and the proud Pharisie before the poore Publican Now this were an vnequall valuation to prize those things that haue no proportion to grace and goodnesse to things that are not to be valued for betwixt temporall and spirituall things is no compareson Vse Seeing then that of all sorts and conditions of men GOD hath some that belong to his kingdome wee are taught not to despaire of the saluation of any though for the present they walke in that broad way that leadeth to destruction Publicans haue been called Matthew from the receit of custome Pharisies haue beene called Paul a Pharisie and bloudy persecutor Harlots haue beene called Rahab Mary Extortioners haue beene called Zacheus apostates Peter yea God chooseth many times the weake and foolish things of this world to confound the wise and mighty and the poore ones of this world to be rich in faith yea Iew and Greeke bond and free male and female they are all one in Christ he accepteth of the person of no man Secondly seeing no outward priuiledge preuailes any whit with God but that his election is free riches and honours and dignities make none the more or lesse esteemed wiâ—â— God Why then should any outward thing gaine our hearts and our affections seeing that when wee enioy all that we can desire we are neuer the nearer in Gods fauour No man knoweth loue or hatred saith Salomon by these things Eccl. 9.2 If outward priuiledges would preuaile any whit with God Antiochus Herod Saul Iezabel Nero c. must needs haue beene deepe in Gods fauour yet wee know the Lord left these shewed them no mercy but caused them to serue his iustice An Ethiopian Here we haue him described by his Country a Moore By his country a Gentile by nature one that was without the pale of the Church yet hee worshippeth God at Ierusalem making good that prophecie of old Esa 2.2 It shall come to passe in the last dayes that the mountaine of the Lords house shall be established c. and all Nations shall flow vnto it meaning indeed of the inlargement of the Church by all Nations farre and neere vpon the face of the earth So that in this Eunuch we haue an carnest of that promise that God had made vnto his people Doct. The Gentiles to be conuerted That the Gentiles should be called and brought in and that little Sister that had no breasts Cant. 8. made fruitfull This couenant and promise did the Lord thinke vpon in calling in al ages and from time to time so many of the Gentiles to the knowledge of his truth Such as are Ruth Iob Rahab Cornelius this Eunuch c. Vse And blessed bee his Name that we that sate in darkenesse and in the shadow of death haue had this light reuealed vnto vs especially in this part of the world which we call Europe wherein the light of the glorious Gospell for these sixe hundred yeares last past especially hath shone more and more and still shall vntill the comming of the Bridegroome himselfe the Lord Iesus Of great authority vnder Candace Queene of the Ethiopians who had charge of all her treasure c. As this Noble man is here described by his person and by his Country so is he likewise described by his office or place and that indeed By his office Treasurer vnto a great Princesse imployed no doubt in many great and weighty affaires in the gouernment of a kingdome yet trauaileth vp to Ierusalem to worship God Whose godly example and zealous practise may commend to all posterities this lesson That neither the greatnesse of mens persons Doct. The greatnesse of none must exempt them from the performance of holy duties nor places may exempt them from the performance of holy duties if God haue once called a man with a holy calling to the knowledge of his Sonne Christ it is neither person nor place that may with hold vs from his seruice that must bee preferred aboue al. Dauid though he were a King how frequent was he in these holy performances which sheweth that they were more delightfull vnto him then his kingly robes They were the very delight of his soule Gods precepts being sweeter vnto him then the honey and the honey combe Psal 5.3 Thou shalt heare my voyce O Lord early in the morning will I direct my prayer vnto thee and will looke vp Neither might this seeme to be a worke of supererogation in Dauid because a King that might plead the publike affaires of his kingdome for then would hee not haue exhorted others of the same condition to the same godly practise Be wise now therefore O yee Kings Psal 2 11.12 c And it is obserued to haue beene the great praise of Hezechiah 2 Chro. 20.19 that he sent abroad messengers to call the people to the seruice and worship of God and not onely so but ioyned himselfe also in the same And amongst all other the titles that serued to set out the honour of Salomon and his magnificence this was not the least Eccl. 1.12 The words of the Preacher sonne of Dauid King of Israel And for this is Abraham commended a great Prince yet instructed his family Iosuah a man full of imployments in the publike affaires yet I and my house will serue the Lord. Ios 24. The like of Cornelius yea the greatest honour that euer came to the Kings of Iuda and Israel Acts 10. was this that they were zealous for the worship of God and the greatest dishonour that euer did betide them was this they were negligent and carelesse therein Now the reasons of the poynt are Reas 1 The first may be drawne from the rule of Equitie where much is giuen much shall be required God hauing honoured such men aboue others lookes to be honoured by them aboue others and indeed who should doe the greatest worke but they
Esay 56.7 2 Chro. 20.13 and all Iuda stood before the Lord with their young and with their old with their wiues and with their children Yea those that haue had in them the greatest measure of knowledge and grace haue beene euer most frequent in this duty The Disciples were continually in the Temple Luke 24.52 Euen so in the Primitiue Church it is said that the true beleeuers continued with one accord in the Temple Acts 2.46 And Ioseph and Mary albeit poore and dwelt far from Ierusalem yet at the time of the Passeouer they went vp duly to Ierusalem to worship So that we see it is a most cleare grounded truth that Gods people in all ages and from time to time haue in no one thing testified their ioy and delight then in this to be imployed in Gods worship in the publike assemblies And there is reason for it First in regard of Gods promise of speciall presence there Dauid calleth Sion The habitation of Gods house Psal 26.8 and the place where his honour dwelleth It is Christs owne promise that where two or three are met together in his Name hee will bee present amongst them Mat 18.20 Christ walketh in the midst of the seauen Candlestickes that is the Churches by his speciall presence And in this regard the Lord giues aspeciall charge concerning these assemblies Leuit. 26 2 yee shall keepe my Sabbaths and reuerence my Sanctuary And this Dauid professeth by way of thankefulnesse I will giue thankes to thee in the great Congregation Psal 35.18 and will praise thee amongst much people Doct. 2 Secondly in respect of our own good for we may look for a greater blessing from God vpon his ordinances in publike then in priuate The same prayers you may vse at home that are vsed there the same Psalmes yee may sing at home that you sing there the same word you may reade at home that is read there but not with the same fruit and comfort as in the publike assemblies of the faithfull For Dauid speaking of Mount Sion and the Temple there saith Psal 133.2 There the Lord promised his blessing and life for euermore and againe Psal 87.2 The Lord loueth the gates of Sion more then all the habitations of Iacob Doct. 3 Thirdly prayer is said to bee the seeking of a thing Mat. 7.7 Aske and ye shall haue seeke and ye shall finde Now the more there be that seeke a thing the more hope there is to finde it And this was the reason why the Church in time of misery and distresse called for a solemne assembly Blow a Trumpet in Sion Ioel 2.15 proclaime a fast call a solemne assembly as the most powerfullest meanes to preuaile with God Doct. 4 Fourthly in respect of the sweetnesse of those duties which are there performed in those publike assemblies such as are the preaching of the Word the Sacraments prayer singing of Psalmes Gods people finde more sweetnesse in these then in any thing in the world besides Of this speaketh the Prophet Esay saying In this mountaine shall the Lord of Hoasts make to all people Esay 25.6 a feast of fat things a feast of fined wines of fat things full of marrow of wine fined and purified Indeed I confesse it is not euery mans case to finde this sweetnesse in these things It is possible at the daintiest feast some may loathe those things that to others are most delightfull and desired But this is the case onely of the godly and regenerate man so Dauid Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to come vnto thee Hee shall dwell in thy Courts and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thy house euen of thy holy Temple Doct. 5 The last reason though not the least to cause vs to esteeme so highly of the publike assemblies of Gods people is in regard of religion it selfe the profession wherof we haue taken vpon vs for herein we doe testifie our homage and obedience vnto God Now the more publike our profession is the more acceptable is it to God I will giue thankes vnto thee Psal 35.18 and will praise thee amongst much people Vse 1 Seeing then that it is so requisite a duty belonging vnto all Gods people highly to esteeme and diligently to frequent the publike assemblies of Gods people Hence diuers sorts of men are iustly to be reproued Diuers sorts of men reproued First such as turne backe vpon Gods ordinance in the publike assemblies make no reckoning nor account thereof and this is the condition of the greatest sort of men that will not be brought constantly to Gods seruice but either the feare of the labour or shame of men brings them sometimes thither otherwise many would neuer come at all How often haue I complained of this sinne in this place but little reformation What shall I say doe but consider Sauls dealing with Dauid Saul marked Dauids seate when he was wanting at the feasts and assemblies Surely the Lord doth marke these empty Seates and solitary Pewes of ours when we are wanting And were it not for their sakes that wanting the food of life at home are faine to trauaile abroad I should long ere this haue eased you of some of this burthen and my selfe of this paines Neither is this all a sinne of negligence in absenting of your selues when God cals you to his seruice But by this negligent and carelesse comming vnto Gods house men doe in effect say with those in the time of the Prophet Malachy Mal. 3.14.15 It is in vaine to serue the Lord c Secondly such as absent themselues from these publike assemblies vnder the pretence that they can finde no such sweetnesse nor comfort in them To such as so say or thinke giue me leaue to tell thee that there is no one more certaine signe of a dead heart voyd of grace and the sense of Gods loue then this not to delight and to take comfort in these publike duties I may say of such a mans soule as of the house shut vp with the Plague Lord haue mercy on them Gods people if at any time they grow dull or heauy in the performance of holy duties here they are refreshed quickned comforted these meetings reuiue a mans spirits and put a kind of heauenly life in him Blow the coles and if there be any fire it will shew it selfe so will grace in the heart when the gales of the Word shall blow vpon it Now then to finde no taste no relish no comfort at all in these ordinances of God is a cleare demonstration of a dead heart and a gracelesse soule But what though for the present thou canst not finde that comfort in the word yet in comming to these publike assemblies thou shalt testifie thy homage to God and shew thy reuerence to his ordinance and the Lord at last may cause his Word to penetrate thy heart and to warme thy soule that thou
be offended at my rudenesse and boldnesse if I should offer my selfe to come into his company or else hee might haue alledged his owne simplicitie alas I am but a poore simple man and what hope can I haue to do him any good But Philip we see alledgeth none of these but being called and sent of God hee goes boldly and most willingly about the worke of the Lord and the duty of his calling Philip ran thither Our lesson is That God would haue vs to obey Doct. him God loues chearfulnes in his seruice and to performe the duties of our callings readily willingly and chearfully We may see this here to the great commendations of Philip who being bid to go he ranne thither saith the Text He ranne thither not to get a Benefice but to preach the Gospell and this is it indeed that pleaseth the Lord greatly diligence and sedulitie in doing his will and the duties of our callings That which Paul speaketh of a chearfull giuer God loueth a chearfull giuer is true of all other duties God loueth a chearfull hearer a chearfull prayer a chearfull receiuer and of Christ it was said That it was meat and drinke vnto him to doe the will of his Father And for this wee are taught to pray that we may doe Gods will on earth as the Angels do the same in heauen Now the Angels doe Gods will readily willingly and chearfully and therefore are they said to haue two wings to flie because of their speedy execution of Gods will And this was the great commendations of those Noble Bereans aboue those of Thessalonica Act. 17.11 that with willingnesse they receiued the word And so was it the praise of Abraham Gen. 2â— that being commanded of God to sacrifice his sonne Isaac that hee rose vp early in the morning to do it Yea this readinesse and willingnesse to doe the Lords will is a thing so pleasing vnto God that wicked men themselues albeit in by respects when they haue readily executed the Lords command the Lord hath taken speciall all notice of it and recompensed the same 2. Kin. 10.30 Wee may see this in Iehu Because saith the Lord thou hast beene diligent to execute that which was right in my eyes against the house of Ahab therefore thy sonnes shall sit vpon the throne of Israel to the fourth generation And yet wee know that Iehu did it not so much in obedience to Gods commandement as to settle himselfe in the kingdome Men make no reckoning of such a seruant that goeth about his businesse lazily or grudgingly much lesse can the Lord away with such that do his worke negligently â—â—r 4â— 10 formally customarily and but for fashion sake This serues to reproue many in the Ministery Vse who are so backward in doing of their duties who do the Lords worke coldly negligently and carelesly Some are so farre from doing the Lords worke readily willingly and chearfully as that they do it not at all but are rather like the wilde Asse â—er 2.24 swift to wickednesse and sinne They runne to an Ale-house but haue no heart at all to Gods house haue in them no compassion at all towards those thousand in Israel that like wandering sheepe are out of the way and are in danger to perish euerlastingly Surely it is not the least blemish of our Church that there is no better course taken with such these are spots and blots amongst vs opening the mouthes both of Papists and Atheists to speake euill of our sacred calling and are a stumbling blocke to many Some againe are backward in doing the Lords command like Ionas who ranne from his dutie another way The Lord bids Philip go and hee runnes with all speed and readily and chearfully doth the will of God But though the Lord command these men to run they scant go they must be called againe againe they haue so many excuses to hinder them from doing their duties Yea were it not many times more for feare of mans law and shame of the world then loue to God and compassion to the poore soules of their people I feare me that many would make small haste to preach the word at all Secondly as many Preachers so many hearers of the word are here likewise faultie who when they should come to the publicke preaching of the word which is Gods ordinance to saue mens soules There is a Lyon in the way or a Beare it is too hot it is too cold something or other hinders them from their dutie or if they do come they stay not to the last but come with the last and go with the first euen as a Beare comes to a stake so come these to this duty Well the Lord loues a chearfull giuer and no other dutie can finde acceptation with him no farther then it hath chearfulnesse to commend the same vnto God Oh then let vs runne to Gods house it will bee the more comfortable vnto vs and then may wee looke to meet the Lord in his owne ordinances when readily and chearfully wee set our selues to meet him therein But vnderstandest thou what thou readest Philip might seeme to want discretion greatly to begin thus bluntly with this Nobleman Much vnlike is this dealing of his to other the seruants of God who when they haue beene to speake vnto great personages haue seemed to vse more reuerence and to giue them better respect Thus one of the sonnes of the Prophets when he came to anoint Iehu king comes with reuerence to him saying I haue an arrant vnto thee 2. King 9.5 O Captaine And thus Daniel with his O King so often in his mouth Dan. 4.18 doth shew the reuerend respect that he gaue to so great a personage to whom he spake And this was that reuerent carriage of Paul Act. 26.7 when hee was to speake to King Agrippa So that this behauiour of Philip at this time towards this man a man would haue thought might haue forestalled the good which otherwise he might haue done on the man But surely Gods wayes are not as mans wayes Here is Gods seruant now to deale not with a Iehu as the sonne of the Prophet was nor with a Nabuchadnezzar as Daniel was nor with an Agrippa as Paul was men carnally minded proud fleshly and vaine But with an humble soule a meeke seruant of God one that loued not to bee soothed vp and flattered in his sinnes but to be truly and plainly dealt withall and therefore was Philip so much the more welcome vnto him And thus againe the Lord vseth sometimes to speake vnto his seruants 1. King 21. as Eliah to Ahab It is thou and thy fathers house that troubleth Israel Amos 4.1 So Amos to the Princes of his time calling them that Fat kine of Bashan that fed vpon the mountaines of Samaria Now this dealing of Gods seruants thus commendeth vnto vs this instruction That wee are not to measure the truth of the message
of God Doct. The truth of Gods Word not to be measured by outward appearance by the outward forme of words or manner of deliuery of it or by the messenger for God is not tyed vnto such meanes but he can by the foolish things of the world confound the wise as the Apostle saith When the world by the wisedome of it knew not God in the wisedome of God 1 Cor. 1.21 it pleased God by the foolishnesse of preaching to saue them that beleeue Euen so by this poore and plaine man Philip the Lord conuerted this great Noble man We may not then thinke as the manner of many is that the power of the Gospell consisteth in eloquence of speech but the euidence and demonstration of the Spirit is best seene in plainenesse So Paul Our reioycing is this 2 Cor. 1.12 the testimony of our conscience that in simplicitie and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisedome but by the grace of God wee haue had our conuersation in the world And why should the world wonder at this Reas 1 Seeing that in the choyce thus of such simple and weake meanes that haue little or no force in them his glory doth most of all appeare Now he will maintaine his owne glory That no flesh should glory in his presence 1 Cor 1.28.29 And hence it is that the Lord chooseth the foolish things before the wise and weake things to confound the mighty and the base things of the world to bring to nought things that are for the clearer manifestation and setting forth of his owne glory Reas 2 Secondly God seeth not as man seeth outward priuiledges and respects oftentimes preuaile with men but not with God who respecteth the heart and not the outward appearance And hence is it that the Lord gaue this charge vnto Samuel when he was to annoynt one of the sonnes of Iesse to be King 1 Sam. 167 Looke not on his countenance or on the height of his stature for the Lord seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart And hence is it that the Lord maketh choyce of such instruments which the world so highly condemne in regard he seeth the heart and principally regardeth the integrity of the same Vse 1 This then meeteth with the vaine conceit of those that thinke that vnlesse the Preacher be eloquent and soare aloft in such a manner of stile aboue the reach of the vulgar and decke and trimme vp his Sermon with Doctors and Fathers and humanity think meanely of the Word though otherwise he speake vnto the conscience and conuince the same of sinne Such must know that simplicitie doth best become the Gospell of Christ and that herein the Apostle Saint Paul doth approue himselfe a faithfull Minister of the same in that he came not with the inticing words of mans wisedome Let men then take heed how they despise those whom God hath thus honoured and set apart for this seruice for this is indeed to crosse the proceedings of God and to barre vp the way against our selues and our owne soules of life and saluation Vse 2 Secondly seeing he chooseth thus the weake things of this world to confound the mighty and maketh such many times excellent instruments of his glory that haue no outward beautie or excellencie in them It teacheth vs then to giue God alone the glory and praise of his owne worke acknowledging it to be his owne gift and to returne him the praise Thus did our Sauiour himselfe I thanke thee O Father Mat. 11.25 that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent of the world and hast reuealed them vnto Babes and sucklings euen so O Father for so it seemed good in thy sight And this indeed doth belong as a speciall duty vnto vs when wee shall see and take notice of those great workes in the world in the conuersion of soules as ordinarily are wrought at this day by such weake meanes and instruments of Gods glory so much contemned Vnderstandest thou what thou readest Philip begins first with the Eunuch not waiting vntill the Eunuch began with him And this indeed will a gratious heart doe euen set forward Gods worke whensoeuer wheresoeuer and in whomsoeuer any oportunity shal be offered to doe God seruice He begins first with a question But vnderstandest thou hereby first of all to discouer the state and condition of this man with whom he was now to deale Doct. Ministers must know the state of their flock and in priuate as in publike instruct them in the waies of God that so hee might proceed the better in the worke of his ministery Hereby teaching the Ministers of Christ a necessary duty to labour to know the state of their flocke ouer whom they are set and to take all occasions in priuate as in publike to edifie their people and to doe good to the poore soules of men But especially by asking of questions and Catechising them as Philip doth here and by laying amongst them the foundation of religion This was that most commendable practise of the Church in the Apostles time as it appeareth by the Author of the Epistle vnto the Hebrewes Heb. 6.1 where it seemes there were sixe principles of Christian religion taught vnto the people 1 Repentance from dead workes 2 Faith towards God 3 The doctrine of Baptisme 4 Of laying on of hands 5 Of the resurrection of the dead 6 Of the last iudgement Which Principles being first laid as a foundation in religion the Author of the Epistle exhorts the Hebrewes not to rest there but to goe on vnto perfection for this was Abraham Gen. 18. Ios 24. Acts 10. Iosuah and Cornelius so highly commended in the Scriptures their well trayning vp of their children and families in the feare of the Lord. This was it in the primitiue Church and in all reformed Churches euer since Reas 1 And there is great reason for it For first by this kinde of priuate conference and dealing with them especially by questions and answers men are brought to the knowledge of God and of Christ Reas 2 Secondly it is an excellent meanes to bring men to see their natural misery to see their wants and to helpe them to a supply for the same for herein they haue most freedome in propounding the doubts and so may receiue instruction Reas 3 Thirdly it is an excellent meanes for the Minister to know the state of his flocke that so hee may diuide the Word aright to giue to euery one his portion in due season for as a Bell is knowne by the sound so are men by their answer known what knowledge they haue in the mystery of saluation through Christ Reas 4 Fourthly men by this means are made fit and prepared to the hearing of the Word to iudge of Sermons reading conferences and so fortified against seducers Reas 5 Fiftly by this meanes men are more able to teach and instruct
they might for a few houres of that pretious time wee so wastfully mis-spend My brethren there is no prodigalitie in the whole world like vnto this of mis-spending of time If a man waste his estate and mis-spend his inheritance it is possible to recouer it againe But time precious time once lost can neuer be recouered They came to a certaine water See here through the especiall prouidence and goodnes of God how happily euery thing comes to hand to set forward this mans saluation If the Lord doe but giue him once an heart to seeke him and to serue him here is a Ierusalem to go to to worship God For the further building of him vp in the knowledge of Christ here are the Scriptures to be read doth hee sticke at them as being beyond his vnderstanding Here is a Philip ready to teach and instruct him and to interpret the Scriptures vnto him Doth Philip tell him how necessary a thing it is to be baptised see here They came to a certaine water Whatsoeuer his wants and necessities are the Lord stil makes supply thereunto Thus thus dealeth the Lord with his seruants he neuer wanteth meanes to bring his own purpose to passe Our Instruction then is this That God neuer wanteth means for the good of his children Doct. God wanteth not means for the good of his seruants what soeuer the wants and necessities of his seruants are God neuer wanteth meanes for the supply thereof whether wee consider their corporall necessities or spirituall wants he is God all-sufficient for them both Let the Israelites his owne people be in misery and distresse the Lord can supply their wants with Manna from heauen If there bee a time of famine and dearth in the Land hee can cause the widowes oyle to increase and not to diminish vntill the Lord send plenty in the Land rather then Ionas shall perish the Whale shall attend his seruice rather then Elias shall perish for want of food the Rauens shall feede him And as for the spirituall miseries of his seruants hee is able to send comfort and deliuerance many wayes Act. 9. Paul being a chosen vessell the Lord can bring him home many wayes at his pleasure as by that sound from heauen and afterwards to send him to Ananias Let Cornelius with an vpright heart seeke the Lord with fasting and prayer hee shall not want a Peter to instruct and comfort him in the waies of God Act. 10.30 Let Peter be cast into prison he shall haue the ministery of an Angell at hand for his deliuery Act. 12. And this Eunuch that trauelled farre to worship God and to know Iesus Christ and him crucified rather then his expectation shall faile and his labour shall be in vaine in the Lord the Lord will raise vp a Philip by whose ministery hee shall be brought to beleeue And why should any wonder at this Is he not the Lord of Hosts Reas hath he not all creatures in heauen and earth ar a becke and command for to execute his will Let Daniel be cast into the Lions den hee can muzell the mouthes of those cruell beasts Dan. 3. Let the three Children bee cast into the fierie fornace the fire shall haue no power at all against them It skills not what the miseries of Gods seruants are so the Lord bee with them Vse 1 This then serues to reprooue those who in their fits and Feuers of affliction thinke the Lord hath forsaken his people and left off to be gracious vnto his inheritance We are proue to looke too much to the meanes an arme of flesh a bow of steele not considering that the Lord is in heauen and doth whatsoeuer it pleaseth him This was Dauids case Hath God forgotten to be gratious and hath hee shut vp his louing kindnesse in displeasure This was Ionas case Ion. 2. I said I am for euer cast out of thy sight Whereas indeed God doth neuer forsake his people He hath said Heb. 13. Hee will neuer leaue them nor forsake them Vse 2 Secondly this may serue to teach vs in all our miseries and necessities still to waite on him Thou art compassed about with many miseries know that God wants not meanes of deliuerance when he is pleased to helpe Thou art kept vnder many corruptions and infirmities which cleaue vnto thee here which faine thou wouldest shake off and be rid of Know thou for thy comfort that God is able to tread downe Sathan vnder thy feet with whom all things are possible Here is water what doth let me Philip hauing no doubt instructed him in the vse of the Sacraments that by Baptisme he was to be admitted into the Church and that it was the badge and cognizance of a Christian See we now his ready disposition to put on this Christian profession the Liuery of such a Lord and Master See here is water what doth let me Q. d. Is Baptisme a signe of our profession and is it a symbole of our putting on of Christ Here is water what lets but that according to thy Doctrine I bee now baptised See here with what readinesse and cheerfulnesse we should put the Lords will in execution Doct. Gods will being once made knowne we ought readily to put the same in exacution being once made knowne vnto vs. Is Baptisme so needfull and so necessary well fare a good heart it will not omit any opportunitie offered but takes the benefit of the first water he met withall in his iourney to be baptised Men should make haste to be in couenant with God and Christ like the sonnes of Zebedeus would leaue all to be entertained into his seruice All our actions will finde acceptation with God so farre forth as they sauour of chearfulnesse For that which Saint Paul speakes of giuing is true of all other duties God loueth a chearfull giuer God loueth a chearefull hearer God loueth a chearefull receiuer chearfulnesse is all in all in the doing of good duties And hence is it that this is obserued to the great commendations of Abraham that when the Lord had commanded him to sacrifice his sonne Isaac Gen. 22. Abraham arose vp early in the morning to do it But of this before What doth let me to be baptised The Eunuch hauing readily and willingly entertained the word in his heart doth now in Baptisme desire to put on the outward profession of Religion also to testifie vnto the world the â—â—uth of his profession And herein will teach vs That he that hath truly put on Christ Doct. Heaâ—tie Christians must bee heartie pâ—ofessors Ro. 10.10 will be ready to make profession of the name of Christ With the heart man beleeueth to righteousnesse and with the mouth confession is made knowne vnto saluation For this publicke profession of the truths sake Daniel was cast into the denne The three Children into the fiery fornace The Apostles being charged to hold their peace and to preach no more in the name