one that grew and proceeded higher and higher in the measures of his Divine Attainments He still taught the people higher knowledge or more profound Mysteries and this the after-words seem to declare I shall first take this word still as it gives forth the Preacher's fixation duration and continuation at his Work He did not tire or wax weary of his Imployment but he still went on teaching the People Whence Doct. 5. Take this Doctrine or Conclusion That every wise Preacher ought to persist and continue or go on with his Work of Preaching to the People He still taught the people knowledge This is that frame of Spirit the Lord seems to injoyn and expect at the hands of his Servants as the passage seems to imply Cursed be the man the doth the Work of the Lord deceitfully or as thâ— Margin hath it negligently Jer. 4.8 10. the liâ—â— we have chap. 17.16 where Jeremiah tells the Lord I have not hastned from being a Pastor to fâ—low thee Thus Jesus Christ practised Luk. 8. â— He went saith the Text throughout every City an Village Preaching and shewing the glad-tydings 〈◊〉 the Kingdom of God And this you have from thâ— Lord given forth Luk. 9.60 where Jesus saith No man having put his hand to the Plow and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God The likewise was Paul's practice as he tells the Churâ—â— of Ephesus Therefore watch and remember that frâ—â— the space of three years he ceased not to warn eveâ— one of them night and day with tears Acts 2â— 31 To name but one place more for the proâ—â— of the Doctrine that every wise holy Gospel Preacher once called to that Work ought to persevere and continue diligent therein as you have it He still taught the people knowledge The other passage I shall quote is in 1 Tim. 4.13 14 15 16. where Paul directs Timothy saying Till 〈◊〉 come give attendance to Reading to Exhortaties to Doctrine Neglect not the Gift that is in theâ— which was given thee by Prophesie with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery Meditate on these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all Take heed unto thy self and unto the Doctrine continue in them for in dâ—ing this thou shalt both save thy self and them that hear thee But a little further to open this Let me give you some Reasons or Arguments to clear this to be a Truth That every Preacher ought diligently to persist in Preaching Reas 1. First Because if the Preacher's opportunity be continued his diligence and painfulness in Preaching ought also to be continued for not only Gifts and Grace are Talents to be faithfully and diligently improved but Time also is a Talent to be improved and that as conscionably and diligently by Preachers as by any men That Time and Opportunities are to be husbanded and improved take Christ's own words upon this very occasion when his Disciples would have perswaded him to have desisted from Preaching for fear of the Jews a plausible Argument to avoid persecution but mark Christ's Answer Are there not twelve hours in the day John 13.9 Day-time is given us for day-work and walks not to idle and loyter in This the Ruler of the Synagogue well understood though misapplyed when he said to the people There are six dayes in the which men ought to work Luke 13.14 Therefore if Jesus Christ allow a Preacher life-time health and opportunity he ought to trade with that Talent and improve that Opportunity as the Apostle Paul witnesseth saying As we have opportunity let us do good unto all Gal. 6.10 Reas 2. Secondly Preachers should still persist and persevere in Preaching and Teaching the People Knowledge because the people still need knowledge and it is the peoples ignorance that calls for Preaching therefore while the people are short and wanting in knowledge the wise Preacher must not beshort or wanting in Preaching but stilâ— teach the people knowledge This our Lord declares he eyed in giving of Preaching-ministrations to the Church even the supply of the Churches need that the need of the Church should be removed by being supplyed as you find Ephes 4. from 11 to 16. where the Apostle tells us That the Lord Jesus when he gave Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers he gave then to the Church and Gifts to them for the perfecting of the Saints Note It was not only to convert and beget Saints but to perfect the state and grace of such as were through Preaching savingly begotten and vers 13. the Apostle tells us again That Preaching-Ministers are given to lay oâ—â— themselves until the Saints come to a perfect measure and stature in Faith and Knowledge even beyond danger of being like Children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine Now if these be the ends of Preachers given and gifted by Jesus Christ then until the Saints be come to this stature and full measure in the Grace and Knowledge of Jesus Christ every wise Preacher ought to continue still to teach the people knowledge Reas 3. Thirdly Every wise and Gospel-Preacher ought to persevere and go on in teaching of the people because that which he hath to Preach or Declare to the People from the Lord is not soon Preached or Declared therefore he had great need to attend diligently and continually upon this thing even still to teach the people knowledge For as their ignorance is not soon removed so is not the whole Truth of God soon preached It will be long yea very long e're the wisest of Preachers can either know or declare the whole Counsel of God to his People Now the whole Counsel of God is to be declared as appears Acts 20.26 27 28. The Commands of the Lord are exceeding broad and the Truths of the Gospel very many 'T is not a little time spent in Preaching will serve to reveal them Preachers may begin to Preach as young as Timothy and die as old as Paul the Aged and yet be behind-hand in this Work and therefore had need doubtless to be Preaching in season and out of season yea to be instant in Preaching that is without unnecessary intermission 2 Tim. 4.2 This is the third Argument why every wise Gospel-Preacher should still teach the People knowledge Reas 4. And lastly Those whose work is to Preach to others ought not to be idle or negligent in the work of their Callings such ought not to be idle or negligent working in their own Callings But every wise Preacher hath this for his Work among other things to teach the people of God not only to remember to keep holy the Sabbath day but also to remember that six days they labour and do all that they have to do Exod. 20. Therefore every wise and honest Preacher ought to remember himself Six dayes shalt thou labour and not do this Work of the Lord deceitfully but as Paul teacheth Timothy when he saith But watch thou in
The WISE Gospel-Preacher HIS Praise and Practice Duty and Dignity Opened in a SERMON On ECCLES 12.9 By S. M. Minister of the Gospel Isa 52.7 How beautiful upon the Mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tydings that publisheth peace c. Printed for the Author To that Congregation over whom the Lord hath made me an Overseer Increase of Grace here and Glory hereafter BRethren and Beloved in our Lord Jesus these Sermons as they were preached amongst you even so was their Publication earnestly sollicited by some of you at whose request I have yeelded to that I designed not in their Preaching nor intended to have done long since that task was finished But remembring I am not only a Debtor to Jew and Gentile but more especially to you also not onely by one means but by every means to endeavour your furtherance in the Faith I judged my self obliged to help you with that Printed which the Lord gave you in Preaching And I may safely say so near as I could your Eys now have only what once your Ears heard As to you my Beloved whose importunity prevailed upon me to undertake this Work know two Arguments prevailed upon me to Answer your Request The one My Love towards you the other My desire of your Spiritual and Eternal Welfare and if my Labour of Love for your sakes may providentially extend or reach to the advantage of any others that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity I therein shall and will rejoyce I need not here give you any account of the Nature of this Treatise you well know it is to open both the Wise-Preachers and the Wise-Hearers Work and Business you know I need the one and I also judge you want not need sufficient to learn the other As to the Method it is and ought to be plain as best becoming Gospel-Mysteries 't was Truth not Humane Wisdom or Eloquence that I designed to manifest and surely should I thus have acted I should have pull'd down with one hand what I was setting up with the other and so should have been found a transgressor As to my often hinting of any thing minded in this Discourse know the nearness of the Phrases in the Text one to another constrained it except I should have broke the bounds and dealt partially with the Text and my thoughts are that Plenty may even conduce to Profit And as for those Phrases Titles and Denominations of Persons which in this Discourse may seem unto any tender ear to be plain harsh or reproachful to any know this I have warily considered to fasten them only on persons really deserving such names and although I have herein followed the footsteps of the Saints Penmen of the Scripture yet have I abated rather than exceeded their practice as is most evident if you consider of some expressions wherein how great or learned or seemingly pious soever some sinners were yet both Christ himself and the Prophets and Apostles have spoken very home and hard against such Persons stiling them Hypocrites Devils Children Wolves Dogs Lyons Foxes Vipers painted-Sepulchres whited Walls Princes of Sodom Rulers of Gomorrah Adulterers Adulteresses and such like as the Scripture witnesseth wherefore marvel not at my freedom of expression to sinners of the same dye And lastly My resolution was to avoid the reproof due to such as give flattering Titles unto men and as Elihu saith Let me not I pray you accept any man's person neither let me give flattering titles unto men for I know not to give flattering titles forin so doing my Maker would soon take me away Job 32.21 22. And further If any suppose I have in this Discourse affected and discovered a Spirit of singularity and diversity of Opinion from the most of even pious judicious and sober men of this Age. I Answer in uprightness 't was not affectedly but constrainedly done and I suppose even such Objectors will not deny 't is better differing from men how wise soever than from Christ and since all men know but in part and Prophesie but in part that may be Christ's Truth which is not acknowledged or understood by many is it not written Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment Exod. 23.2 and as Paul saith I believed therefore have I spoken 2 Cor. 4.13 I shall willingly receive better information and then speedily change my present apprehension Lastly If any Object against the largeness of this Tract my Answer is 'T was my desire to have prevented it could I with fidelity and prudence have effected it and the truth is I have denyed my self and slipt over some Particulars which might more largel have been insisted on that this Exception might have been spared And now my dearly Beloved whose importunity begat me this labour Let me now crave leave before I conclude this Epistle to request a few things of you First My Brethren if you meet with any Advantage Content or Comfort by perusing these Lines pray give all the praise and glory to God whose hand alone hath wrought it and whose Spirit hath revealed it and think often upon 1 Chron. 29.10 to 16. Secondly Pray be not only knowers of these Truths but doers of the same Oh be not only so principled but so practising also let the height of Holiness in this Discourse discovered be your main business to attain so shall I not want a good reward for this my labour Thirdly Labour to train up and educate your Families in this good knowledge of the Lord and shew them the good old way wherein they should walk with God as Moses adviseth Deut. 4.9.10 saying Only take heed to thy self and keep thy Soul diligently lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen and lest they depart from thy heart all the dayes of thy life but teach them thy Sons and thy Sons Sons Especially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb when the Lord said unto me Gather me the people together and I will make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me all the dayes that they shall live upon the earth and that they may teach their Children with 11 19. Fourthly Wonder not neither be stumbled if you find these Truths evil spoken of scorned traduced but remember this was to be expected in such a day as this And lastly Forget not him that you have prevailed upon but in all your supplications remember me and pray for me both night and day that I may be faithful to the Death that I may be filled with the Spirit that I may be abundant in the Work of the Lord and that my Labours may be acceptable and succesful among the Saints that so I may finish my course with joy and not with grief according to the Will of God And thus with my Prayers for you also I commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is
Paul's work made to cut off occasion from them that sought occasion when he is to preach Justification by Faith only without the Works of the Law How did the Jewish Teachers oppose him Acts 21.27 28 29 30. When he teaches the Doctrine of Free-Grace for the worst of sinners notwithstanding the greatest of sins is he not slandered as if he taught liberty to sin Rom. 3.8 If he teach the cessation of the Law as to life How is his preaching opposed and slandred 1 Tim. 1.6 7. So when he preaches down legal Ceremonies as Circumcision and Mears Drinks Holy-dayes New-Moons and Sabbaths What labour is Paul forced to use to defend this Doctrine against those Philosophers and Deceivers Gal. 6.11 12 13. with Col. 2.8 16 17. downwards to the close of that Chapter Again when the Apostles preach the Kingly Power of the Lord Jesus Christ in his own Kingdom and Church how are they opposed Acts 3. with Chap. 17. Now the silencing answering and preventing the designs of Satan and his Instruments slandering and opposing the Truth makes the Preachers of the Gospel much labour to seek out how to defend and establish the truth of the Gospel But lastly Preachers work is made laborious and hard by the subtilty evasions glosses excuses colours and pretences which poor sinners strive to hide themselves under and to evade the power of the Word brought against them This makes the Preacher's labour very hard so to Preach that every Soul may be brought under the power of it and every mouth may be stopped By the doing of this Work also by preaching among Saints how much opposition do the Preachers of the Gospel procure by it as is clear 1 Cor. 4.14 to the end of the Chapter so in 2 Cor. 12 and 13 Chapters By all which it will appear that the Preacher had need yea great need to seek and search out Arguments to support incourage and uphold himself in the doing of his duty and to deliver the Gospel from being perverted and made of no use by the many designs and devices of Enemies and Friends Thus much for the clearing of the Point to wit That every wise Gospel-preacher's Work is not easie but very hard to seek after the attainment and comprehension of understanding requisite to be found in every Minister of the Lord Jesus Now by way of Application First If it be thus it informs us and instructs us in two Particulars The first Vse is of Instruction First How ignorant and mistaken such mens thoughts and principles are as report and imagine that Preaching is easie work and the Preacher's Life is an idle Life or Calling It appears to me as these never had the honour to be called to this Work so these little know what Gospel-preaching is but like Peter's natural bruit-beasts Speak evil of things and persons they know not 2 Pet. 2.12 Surely these never read or never considered what Paul found Preaching to be that thus speak contemptuously and foolishly of it 2 Cor. 6.3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Can that be slight easie idle Work which is Night and Day-Work which is Soul and Body-Work that must be done faithfully wisely in season and out of season Sure the ignorance pride and unbelief of such is very great I shall say no more to such deceived Souls but only this Consider what hath been upon this Doctrine offered and read the Rules and Directions Paul gives to Timothy about Preaching and then tell me whether it be an easie much less an idle trifling imployment yea or no The second Vse is of Instruction But secondly If Preaching be such an hard Work or Task and Labour to perform it wisely and spiritually Then this acquaints us what unwise and idle sinful Preachers such are as pretend to Preaching yet take no pains in the performance of this Work but trifle and idle in this weighty honourable Imployment Such may do well to bethink themselves it is required of Stewards that they be faithful and remember what God hath said He will not hold such guiltless as take his Name in vain Let such idle careless Shepherds as pretend to be Gospel-Preachers wise and honourable Preachers view that word Ezek. 34. with Zech. 11.17 Wo to the idol Shepherd that leaves the Flock the Sword shall be upon his Arm and upon his right Eye his Arm shall be clean dryed up and his right Eye shall be utterly darkned Such worthless Preachers are like the evil Spies we read of Numb 13.32 which brought up an evil report upon the good Land of Promise so these bring up an evil report upon the good Word and Ordinance of God the preaching of the Gospel by their light idle careless carnal and unprofitable preaching of the Word because they seek not out nor search after the setting of Parables or Gospel Mysteries aright neither take pains to consider what the Peoples wants are to supply them nor what the Peoples ignorance or error is to avoid it and deliver the preaching of the Gospel from their mistakings pervertings or avoiding by Armour on the right hand and on the left leaving the People under such generalities as that they can deceive and flatter themselves that their condition is good and the Promises belong to them though they are in the Gall of Bitterness and the Bond of Iniquity a form of Godliness without the power of it not making it their business to take away the Cloaks and Shifts Pleas and Excuses Pretences and Fig-leaves under which poor sinners shelter and hide themselves from the force of their Preaching and the wrath of God although they walk on in the stubbornness of their hearts and add drunkenness to thirst and cry God will spare Deut. 29.19 I say no more to these dumb idle Shepherds or Preachers of our day that by thus doing cause their or rather Christ's good Commodity to be evil spoken of But O that they would remember that saying of the Lord to their Brethren the Sons of Eli 1 Sam. 2.22 29 30. I say Remember those that honour God shall be honoured of him but they that despise him shall be lightly esteemed of him And wo to that Preacher that God esteems lightly of I shall say no more to these who-ever they be Prelates or Pesants Doctors or Dunces Batchelors or Novices in Divinity for the pure preaching of the Gospel who like unwise and foolish Shepherds and Preachers lightly or flightly preach onely hear and consider that Scripture Mal. 1.6 Wo unto you O Priests that despise my Name and ye say Wherein have we despised thy Name Yea offer polluted Bread upon my Altar and ye say Wherein have we polluted it In that ye say The Table of the Lord is contemptible And if ye offer the blind for Sacrifice Is it not evil And if ye offer the lame and the sick Is it not evil But cursed be the Deceiver that hath in his Flock a Male and voweth and sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt
able to build you up and to give you an Inheritance among all them which are Sanctified Your Servant for Christ STEPHEN MORE TO THE READER Christian Reader ALthough there is nothing new or strange now to be presented to thy view for as Solomon saith The thing that hath been it is that which shall be and that which is done is that which shall be done and there is no new thing under the Sun Is there any thing whereof it may be said See this is new It hath been already of old time which was before us Eccles 1.9 10. Wherefore let me intreat thee peruse this Book for Truth and not for Novelty lest so doing thou lose thy labour and reap no profit by thy pains And if any shall meet thee with their Out-cry crying Take heed for here are strange things presented to your eyes say No for there is nothing new or strange under the Sun And if any thing here written be to any strange I must take leave to tell them 'T is because they know not the Scripture and are strangers in Jerusalem and have not known the things that are come to pass there in these dayes Luke 24.18 And if any should yet retort upon me as a troubler of Israel or a bringer forth of strange Things or new Doctrines to their ears I will not think it strange to be thus dealt with for thus dealt their Fathers with the Prophets and Apostles in that first Book of Kings we find that thus Ahab said to Elijah Art thou he that troubleth Israel But he answered I have not troubled Israel but thou and thy Father's House in that ye have forsaken the Commandments of the Lord and hast followed Baalim vers 17 18. And thus was holy Paul served Acts 17. where you read That certain Philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoicks encountered him and some said What will this Babler say other some He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange Godds because he preached unto them Jesus and the Resurrection And they took him and brought him unto Areopagus saying May we know what this new Doctrine whereof thou speakest is for thou bringest certain strange things to our ears we would know therefore what these things mean vers 18 19 20. Therefore if such things befal me I shall not be moved for if thus they dealt with the green Trees marvel not they thus deal with the dry Wherefore Christian Reader notwithstanding such Out-cries as these which probably thou mayest meet with yet be pleased to read on and consider what is said and the Lord give thee understanding in all things that thou mayest search the Scriptures and try whether the things asserted for truth be so or no for no more is imposed upon your Faith than what evidence of Scripture doth demonstrate to be the Faith of Jesus and of his Elect and if any Fathers in our Israel shall say To what purpose is this waste Preachers doubtless know their Duty well enough it were well if others knew theirs better I shall only Answer these over-wise ones in the language of Job No doubt but ye are the People and wisdom shall die with you Chap. 12.2 Yet bear with me to shew my Love to Christ and offer my Mite to you remembring what Paul saith And if any man think that he knoweth any thing he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know 1 Cor. 8.2 And if you know these things already O how happy shall both you and I be when we shall be found doing the things we say we know and are here revealed And as for others or our Hearers know so far as the Work called for it they are not forgotten but remember that the more fully the Preacher lives up to his Duty the more the People will be furthered in their Duty Preachers being not only nominally called Stars and Shepherds or Bishops and Fathers but also they ought virtully to be Lights in their Candlesticks Shepherds feeding of their Flocks and Fathers laying up and laying out for their Children as the Lord teacheth saying Ye are the Salt of the Earth but if the Salt have lost his savour wherewith shall it be salted Ye are the Lights of the World a City set upon a Hill which cannot be hid Neither do men light a Candle and put it under a Bushel but on a Candlestick and it giveth light unto all that are in the House Let your Light so shine before men that they may see your good Works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Mat. 5.13 14 15 16. But if notwithstanding what hath been said by me my Mothers Children and Elder Brethren will yet be angry with me I will resolve not to pass for Man's Day or to be angry with them or to return evil for evil or railing for revising but pray for them with holy Stephen and cry Lord lay not this sin to their charge Acts 7.50 My end and ground both in Preaching and Printing these Sermons was an inward motion to follow the movings and workings of the Spirit upon my Soul in conformity to those I read of in 2 Pet. 1.21 where it is said Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 'T is truth as hath been already owned When these Sermons were Preached I thought not of Printing but since being called upon so to do I judged it my duty as one of Christ's living Creatures to walk streight forward whither the Spirit was to go and not to turn when going Ezek. 1.12 As for my great unfitness yea exceeding great unfitness for such a work I profess I am not unsensible of it neither shall be ashamed to own it to any that shall object it yet notwithstanding since God despiseth not the day of small things and will accept of what a man hath and not of what a man hath not wherefore I am resolved to be found faithful as becomes him that is a Steward not forgetting what the Lord said to Ezekiel Son of Man I have made thee a Watchman unto the House of Israel therefore hear the Word at my Mouth and give them warning from me Chap. 3.17 The Style is low and the Method plain and the Argument somewhat bold and impartial wonder not at it it being most like him that did it even one who was resolved to be one of Paul's Scholars in this Work to wit Not to come â—o you with excellency of Speech or of Wisdom declaring unto you the testimony of God for I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2.1 2. Surely plainness will hurt or hinder none though elegancy and obscurity might although it could have profited none who-ever it might have pleased If any think due respect hath not sufficiently been shown to Superiors let me say to such my aim and utmost endeavour hath been not to offend or over-look such but to give unto Cesar thâ— things which are Cesar's though
32.3 where we have it that Zedekiah King of Judah had shut him up saying Wherefore dos◠thou prophesie and say Thus saith the Lord Sinners cannot indure that God's Ministers should say Thus saith the Lord. Thus dealt those with Amos which said O thou Seer go flee thy way into the Land of Judah and there eat Bread and Prophesie but Prophesie no more at Bethel for it is the King's Chappel and it is the King's Court Amos 7.12 13. Oh that such Gospel-Opposers would but consider the two last Verses of this Chapter and tremble and not any more oppose and persecute the Gospel and the faithful Preachers thereof It is neither mens greatness in Authority or excellency of Parts will secure them from God's dreadful displeasure except they repent Oh how great is their sin and how inexcusable will they one day be that pretend love to Christ and friendship to the Gospel yet forbid the pure preaching thereof These are sinners of a double die and it were well that they would all view and consider what Paul saith concerning them 1 Thes 2.16 Forbidding us to Preach to the Gentiles that they might be saved to fill up their sins allway for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost This is not onely a crying but a filling sin Sure the sins of the Romish Prelates and Powers is full near the uttermost that have so long persecuted forbidding God's faithful Labourers to Preach the Gospel of Christ I shall only offer one Scripture to such mens consideration and so leave them under this reproof Isa 30.8 9 10 11 12 13. Now go write it before them in a Table and note it in a Book that it may be for time to come for ever and for ever That this is a rebellious People lying Children Children that will not hear the Law of the Lord Which say to the Seers See not and to the Prophets Prophesie not unto us right things speak to us smooth things prophesie deceits get ye out of the way turn aside out of the path cause the holy One of Israel to cease from before us Therefore thus saith the holy One of Israel Because ye despise this Word and trust in oppression and perversness and stay thereon Therefore this inquity shall be unto you as a breach ready to fall swelling out in a high Wall whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant and he shall break it as the breaking of 〈◊〉 Potters Vessel that is broken in pieces he shall not spare so that there shall not be found in the burstings of it a shread to take fire from the hearth or to take water withal out of the Pit Third Use of Reproof A third Use of Reproof from this consideration that Preaching of the Word is God's Ordinance shall be to reprove all such Preachers of the Gospel as though not forbidden of men yet forbid themselves and neglect this so great a Work and Ordinance as the Preaching of the Gospel Such idle Drones among the Bees had need consider that word 1 Cor. 9.16 For though I Preach the Gospel I have nothing to glory of for necessity is laid upon me yea woe is unto me if I Preach not the Gospel and woe will be unto such as are able and may but do not preach the Gospel Yea though men did forbid yet woe unto him that will be forbidden by any sort of men and doth not faithfully and fully preach the Gospel Such sleepy idle timerous or unprofitable Preachers that do not as the good Preacher did in my Text and every good Preacher in the World ought to do that is To give good heed and diligently set in order Parables But I shall not enlarge upon these mens Repoof hoping that a word to the Wise will be sufficient which every Preacher as my Text implies ought to be But to them or so many Preachers of the Everlasting Gospel as are otherwise spirited I would commend a Scripture or two to their consideration The first is Wo to the idol Shepheard that leaveth the Flock the Sword shall be upon his arm and upon his right eye his arm shall be clean dryed up and his right eye utterly darkned But why O Lord Mark Because he hath not visited those that be cut off neither doth seek the young Ones nor heal that which is broken nor feed that which standeth still but doth eat the flesh of the fat and tear their claws in pieces Zach. 11.16 17. with Ezek. 13.4 5. O Israel thy Prophets are as the Foxes in the Desarts yea have not gone up into the Gaps neither made up the Hedge for the House of Israel to stand in the Battel in the Day of the Lord therefore hear what the Lord saith vers 9. They shall not be in the Assemblies of my People neither shall they be written in the writing of the House of Israel and ye shall know that I am the Lord. Fourth Vse of Reproof But a fourth Use of Reproof is to such and so many as own and acknowledge the preaching of the Gospel to be the Lord's Ordinance and yet make not due and suitable improvement of it God will one day say to these without repentance as to those of old Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth and with their lips do honour me but have removed their heart far from me and their fear to me is taught by the precepts of men Therefore behold I will proceed to do a marvellous work and a wonder for the wisdom of the wise men shall perish and the understanding of the prudent men shall be hid Isa 29.13 14. There are two sorts of persons to whom this Reproof belongs First Such as are careless in hearing the Word Preached Secondly Such as are careless of doing of that which by the preaching of the Word they are taught they ought to do as well as know And I fear how many soever there may be found under the first Reproof or of the first sort there are yet many more of the latter sort even forgetful Hearers deceiving their own souls Jam. 1.22 25. First Such sleepy worldly carnal idle persons that seldom can find time and as seldom find an heart to come to hearing of the Word preached though God bring it even to the doors yet they can scarce move their feet over the threshold to come to it but cry out What need so much expence of time or attendance upon Preaching or else complement over their neglect as those did that were invited to the Feast make light of these opportunities or invitations and cry Pray you have me excused I have bought a piece of Ground and I must needs go see it And another I have bought Oxen and I must needs go prove them And a third sort I have married a Wife and therefore I cannot come Luke 14.15 16 17 18 19. But will these excuses serve to leave such men excusable that neglect or omit to come to the hearing of the Gospel Oh
no! mark the close of these Neglecters work When the King heard hereof he was wroth and he sent forth his Armies and destroyed those Murderers and burnt up their City Mat. 22.7 And therefore remember If the Gospel be hid it is only hid this day to such as perish 2 Cor. 4.3 Fifth Use of Reproof But lastly and mostly This Doctrine reproves all such how great Hearers soever as are at highest but Hearers not Doers of that they hear Though it is good to hear yet 't is not good to hear and not to practise it is bad not to hear but is worse not to practise That Servant must be beaten with many stripes that knows his Master's Will and doth it not Luk. 12.47 Not the knowers but the doers of the Word shall be blessed John 13.17 Oh! let such perverters of this so great and blessed an Ordinance as is the Preaching of the Gospel Consider God will one day come and call for an account of all the Sermons you have heard and see what Fruit you bring forth whether Fruit to Him or to your selves And then will he deal with unfruitful Vines barren Fig-trees and unpractical Hearers as with those we read of Isa 5.5 6. Hos 10.1 2 3. with Heb. 6.7 8. Oh! it is no small sin and shall have no small punishment to be an unpractical Hearer of the Word and perverter of this so great an Ordinance But this may suffice for that first Use to wit a Use of Reproof The second Vse is of Vindication The next Use of this Point shall be for Vindication or Justification of all such as are faithful painful diligent Preachers of the Gospel who because Preaching of the Word is God's Ordinance do Preach in season and out of season whoever forbids or sayes to the contrary saying as once Peter and John did Whether it be right is the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God judge ye For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard Acts 4.19 20. Where men have not sufficient power to command it can be no sin there not to be obedient So here these knew neither this Council nor any were from God intrusted with any such power as to forbid or hinder the Preaching of the Word therefore such Commands neither ought or need to be obeyed Even so at this day should the able Spiritual Preachers of the Word hold their peace because men even any sort of men forbid them or command them so to do the very Stones in the Street and the very Ashes of these Apostles might cry out against them and say in the words of the Text Whether it is right to obey God or Man judge ye Oh! it will one day be dreadful preferring Man's Commands before God's Commands when God shall visit for this holding the Truth in unrighteousness according to that expression Son of Man I have set thee a Watchman unto the House of Israel therefore hear the Word at my Mouth and give them warning from me When I say unto the wicked Thou shalt surely die and thou givest him not warning nor speakest to the wicked Oh! mark it Nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity but his blood will I require at thy hand Ezek. 3.17 Oh! is not this a terrible word to all silenced Preachers this day that have learned to be silent at the word of a man and let the wicked go without warning from them forgetting what God saith Who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a Man and the Son of Man that shall be made grass and forgettest the Lord thy Maker Isa 5.12 13. Therefore let such be this day cleared and acquitted as innocent and approved with the Lord as have not in such a day as this made the Commands of God of none effect through mens traditions but like Levi have said to their Father and Mother I have not seen him neither did he acknowledge his Brethren nor knew his own Children for they have observed thy Word and kept thy Covenant Deut. 33.8 Oh! when-ever you hear those Standard-bearers taxed who have not fainted nor feared in such a day as this but have humbly said Shall such a man as I flee Shall such a man as I whom Jesus Christ hath anointed and called to Preach the Gospel shall I be dumb and silent I will not I may not I dare not be silent Oh! vindicate these and when railed upon for faction folly and disobedience to Authority pride passion and the like Oh! then say as of old David in a like case said Is there not a cause 1 Sam. 17.29 And you Worthies of Israel be incouraged from the Word of the Lord Thou therefore gird up thy loyns and arise and speak unto them all that I command thee be not dismayed at their faces lest I confouâ— thee before them Jer. 1.17 So much for this Use The third Use is of Exhortation A third and last Use is for Exhortation First To Preachers who are intrusted with this great Ordinance and have this Word of Life in these earthen Vessels Be faithful in the improvement of this great Ordinance Secondly Let it speak before we part a parting word or two to you that are Hearers If thâ—preaching of the Word be God's holy and preciouâ— Ordinance then be exhorted both to hear and noâ— to despise him that speaketh on Earth nor neglect so great Salvation and also be exhorted to takâ— heed how you hear First Let the Preachers of the Gospel I mean Christ's Spiritual Preachers not Man's empty ordained Preachers who are crept into Ministry for a morsel of bread I say to you that are Christ's Witnesses and Preachers preach the Word be instant in season and out of season reprove exhorâ— with all long-suffering and gentleness because Preaching is God's Ordinance and such bright Lights were not intended to be lighted in vain it is our Lord 's own expression Mat. 5. Men do not light their Candles to put under a Bushel Then let not glorious Lights be lighted in vain but be diligent and laborious in this sin-condemning and Soul-saving Ordinance remembring what Paul faith 1 Cor. 4.2 Moreover it is required in aâ— Steward that he be found faithful it will one day be required Therefore in this day be faithful lest he that has given us Talents which we have not hearts and wisdom to improve do to our shame and loss recal them and take them from us and give them to him that hath improved Matth. 25.28 29 30. But because I shall have occasion to speak more to this hereafter in another Particular I shall say no more to this part or branch of this Use at this time but speak a few words to the second branch which is If Hearing be God's and not Man's Ordinance then be exhorted you that are or should be Hearers to take heed how you hear for God takes
pretend to a liberty to Preach neither pretend or affirm that every Preacher is an Official or Ordainâ— Minister of the Lord Jesus neither do they aspiâ— to equality or superiority with or above others 〈◊〉 Christ's Ministring Ones but acknowledge they aâ— neither the one nor the other of Christ's Gospel Ministry but Members in particular But thirdly Note There is no agreement be tween the design of those men and the work of theâ—â— men I plead for their design was sacrificing or offering Incense the work onely of Aaron and hiâ— Sons 't was Censering not Preaching as is cleâ—â— vers 15 16 17 18. But the highest of those meâ— or this Doctrines design is Preaching not offering or performing Ministerial Function but privaâ— Mens and Brethrens liberty as hath been prove from that passage Ye may all prophesie or Pread one by one To as little purpose will that Text answer our Clergy-mens design and errant for which they improve as this Numb 16. I mean thâ—â— 1 Cor. 7.20 Let every Man abide in the samâ— Calling wherein he was called This might if it had been written at that time have been applyed aptly by Moses in the businesâ— he had in hand but what is all this against the lawfulness of private Christians Preaching Preaching though an excellent Work is no peculiar Calling but may be performed by Persons of another Calling neither do such as assert our practice iâ— this way of Preaching depart from their Callings or not abide therein though this is no satisfaction to their Adversaries therefore these feeble Objections will not suffice to rational Christians enlightned in this Doctrine as sufficient to oppose this way of Preaching Therefore know and consider this day what I shall affirm till you can more substantially oppose it to wit That it is lawful and laudable a Liberty yea a Duty incumbent upon every Man that feareth the Lord and hath received the Gift to speak a word in due season for Edification Exhortation and Comfort to use and exercise the Gifts he hath received of the Lord in Prophesying or Preaching in the Congregation That all may learn and all may be edified 1 Cor. 14.31 Therefore not onely may Pastors or Teachers but any Brother of the Church that is qualified whether Young or Old Servant or Master Son or Father Rich or Poor Learned or Unlearned of what Imployment or Calling soever whether Miller or Merchant Inn-keeper or Shoop-keeper Brick-layer or Taylor Cobler or Shoo-maker one or other lawful Imployment For ye are all one in Christ Jesus Gal. 3.8 Thus much for this Use The second Vse is for Exhortation But a second Use and the all that I shall make of this Doctrine is That if Prophesying or Preaching of Brethren or such as have not received any Office or Ministry from Christ be an Ordinance of Christ and the duty of such as have received Gifts for Preaching to Preach Then two things from hence I may add First A word of Exhortation to all the Churches of the Saints to allow admit and incourage the Gifted-Brethren in this Work and Business of Preaching Oh! be not so like to Antichrist and his Synagogue as to forbid this liberty of the Saints which Christ hath so dearly purchased with his most precious Blood Consider what the Lorâ— saith to those Disciples of his who told him That they saw one casting out Devils in his Name which followed him not and they forbad him but Marâ— the Answer of Christ Forbid him not Mark 9.38 39. Will not Christ have such forbad that follow not him or his Disciples and will you my Brethren forbid such as follow the Lamb yea and follow you too because not Ministers as you are or competent or equal in Gifts with you My Brethren I beseech you do not this wickedness it smells of Rome of an Antichristian spirit but think what the Lord saith He that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad Mat. 12.30 You that will not joyn issue with Christ in furthering and permitting such to Preach whom Christ allows to Preach you even all you who ever you be how Wise and Learned and Pious soever yet are you against Christ and for Antichrist Enemies to Preaching though never so great Preachers and it were well you would please to suffer me to commend two Scriptures to your serious consideration The first is that of the Apostle Be of the same mind one towards another mind not high things but condescend to men of low degree or estate Be not wise in your own conceits Rom. 12.16 The second Scripture is that of Peter Feed the Flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy Lucre but of a ready mind neither as being Lords over God's Heritage but being Ensamples to the Flock 1 Pet. 5.2 3. But secondly Let this be a second Branch of this Use to exhort all such even such or so many as have received but one Talent or the least dogree of real competency or fitness though neither Prophets or Prophets Sons but of the meanest or most contemptible condition or Calling amongst men to Preach and that in season and out of season O remember it is your duty your Priviledge you may preach all one by one you are not only made Kings but Priests and this Priestly Act you yea any Gifted Believer may perform Rev. 1.6 Beloved Preaching is God's Ordinance his Peoples Blessing and your Duty O therefore Preach as well as Pray continually forget not that exhortation As every Man hath received the Gift even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold Grace of God 1 Pet. 4.10 Brethren let not your fellow Spies discourage you by telling you of the Sacredness Excellency and difficulty of Preaching But as every man hath received so minister the same as of the ability God giveth that in all things God may be glorified 1 Pet. 4.11 Remembring for your encouragement two Scriptures 2 Cor. 8.12 For if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that a man hath not Secondly Think on these words of Christ For unto every one that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath Mat. 25.29 Therefore quench not the Spirit 1 Thess 5.19 But what the Disciple said I may say to you The Lord hath need of it Luke 19.34 The Souls of Sinners call for your Labours yea the wants of your dear Brethren call for your words of Exhortation Edification and Comfort therefore be not wanting in the practice of this Ordinance even this great Ordinance of Preaching the Gospel Therefore my Brethren be stedfast unmoveable alwayes abounding in the Work of the Lord for aâ— much as you know your Labour is not in vain in the Lord. Thirdly Let this Doctrine
Prophets then certainly this must not be 〈◊〉 Preaching excellency and qualification of which they have no share nor can pass any competent judgment but they must try them as you have it 1 Thess 5.21 Prove all things hold fast that which is good compared with 1 Joh. 4.1 Beloved believe not every Spirit but try the Spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the World Therefore this Learning cannot be the Preaching qualification Arg. 9. And lastly What need of these Arts Logick Grammar or Rhetorick for opening of Moses and the Prophets or proving that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh Oh! bring better proof for Universities and Colledges or else never plead for these impure puddles and streams of impure waters for Preaching the Gospel But since this Truth and Argument lies so cross to some mens Interest and other mens Understanding I shall willingly consider of such Objections as I have met with and indeavour to try their strength and try whether their strength or the power of this Doctrine will prevail and be pleased to excuse me if I enlarge upon this Head since this Doctrine is so hotly yea so seemingly Scripturally opposed Therefore I shall take the more pains to clear to your Understandings and Consciences that the Learning and Wisdom which a Gospel-preacher needs for Gospel-preaching is not acquired humane Learning or Wisdom but is Spiritual and Divine for a man without Spiritual Wisdom though a Scholar and furnished with all Arts and Sciences is but like a Crow made outwardly gay with other Birds Feathers yet underneath he is a Crow still for all his outward bravery Therefore be pleased to consider of a few Scriptures and weigh the scope and tendency of them as that first when the Lord promiseth to do greaâ— things for the conversion of sinners and lifting 〈◊〉 of the Kingdom where he tells us who shall bâ— the Ambassadors and Preachers in that Work Not the Wise with this beggarly wisdom of thâ— flesh but a quite contrary Generation to wit the foolish and the simple even Babes and Suckling Isa 29.9 to 21. where we have these things offered first That in the dayes of the Gospel-eâ—altation when Lebanon the true Church shall be come a real fruitful Field and the false Church 〈◊〉 Lebanon of foolish Virgins or Professors shall 〈◊〉 turned into a Forrest then shall this be fulfilled God's Book shall not be read to the People by theâ— learned Ones for they shall say and confess 〈◊〉 well as the unlearned I cannot read no more thâ—â— the unconverted People or Multitude and thâ— shall not be the care of idle Ones or by accident but by the great design of God to glorifie himself another way as he saith I will do a marvellouâ— work and a wonder for I will turn the wisdom 〈◊〉 your prudent men backwards and the meek in the Earth shall increase their joy or divine knowledge and have my Vision opened to them and by them vers 18 19. therefore humane Wisdom anâ— Knowledge is not a Tool fit for this Work Object 1. But it is Objected This was spoken of the Jews and Priests of that time and concerâ— not us To which I Answer Grant that it were spoken of that Age first yet not of them only for it appears to the Spiritual Wise and truly Learned to be spoken of the way of God's dealing under the Man of Sin in the end of his dayes as appears vers 20 21. when the Lord saith The terrible one is brought to nought and the scorner is consumed and all that watch for iniquity are cut off c. That make a man an offender for a word and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate and turn aside the just for a thing of nought How truly these things are accomplished by the Man of Sin is most evident therefore you may see how clearly the former words concern his learned Clergy will e're long be manifest and it is most clear these Words or Prophesies are to be accomplished in that day when the Church shall be most fruitful but that is not in the day of the Jews apostacy or defection but this Glory is a reserved Glory for that day when the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and he shall reign for ever-more even that good Day which is coming upon us But again let any one shew me that the way of the Lord here spoken of is changed and that now our Lord Jesus Christ hath sanctified Wisdom and Learning for Preaching-work and is become reconciled to it then they will say something to the Point that they contend for But the Scriptures of the New Testament know no such reconciliation as appears Matth. 11.25 I thank thee O Father thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to Babes Luk. 10.21 compared with 1 Cor. 1.20 21. Where is the Wise where is the Scribe where is the Disputer of this World Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this World For after that in the wisdom of God the World by wisdom knew not Goâ— it pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching 〈◊〉 save them that believe and vers 19. it is written I will destroy the wisdom of the Wise and will briâ—â— to nothing the understanding of the prudent wiâ—â— chap. 2.1 And I Brethren when I came to you came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom declaring unto you the Testimony of God Wheâ— we have Paul answerably practising and vindication his so doing wherefore if by any other grounâ— more helpful to them than what they have offered they be able to prove that the Lord Christ haâ—â— taken their blunt Tools into favour I desire the to declare it But again consider that passage of Zachariâ— 13. concerning this learned Generation of thâ— Man of Sin 's Clergy-men it is said In that 〈◊〉 they shall voluntarily be ashamed every one of 〈◊〉 Vision I hope not of Christ's or the Gospeâ— Vision but of the learned Vision Education and Trade of Preaching which is most clear both with reference to the rise of this way of Preaching and also the matter of this Preaching and lastly the end of it All that is there said relate to the Preaching or Prophesying of our Times and not of the Jews Time they having no such Trade in fashion as an Artificial-Clergy they having only the Tribe of Levi Prophets and Nazarites Neither would Tongues Languages Arts or Sciences help to Preach in that day when onely or primarily Prophesie and Ceremony were to be Preached Therefore this Prophesie relates principally to our Time as a Prophesie of the Prophets or Clergy-men of the Man of Sin and I shall pray Come Lord Jesus and make haste to shame these Prophets But again I pray consider when Paul directs to the choice of Ministers I mean Preaching-Ministers he doth not once name or remember this great Diana I mean
that the Pope's Clergy do so vilifie and reproach Christ's Gospel Spiritually-wise Preachers stiling them proud busie-bodies in other mens business self-will'd presumptuous ignorant factious enemies to Caesar and what not that may render them odious dealing with Christ's Ministers and faithful Preachers as formerly their fore-Fathers dealt with that faithful Witness and Martyr of the Lord Jesus John Huss who when they burned him clad him in strange Garments painting Images of Devils upon him to make him odious to the People as you have it recorded in the Book of Martyrs But to close this Use Let all Christ's faithful Servants and Preachers remember what the Lord Christ saith Mat. 5.11 12. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you And if men of this breeding do scoff and deride you for this Preaching say as David If I be vile I will be yet more vile c. The next Use I shall make of this Point shall be for Caution or Counsel The first Use is of Caution First To all the Churches of Jesus Christ to consider That if every Gospel-Preacher ought to be wise and none may Preach but such who are Spiritual-wise then take heed in your choice and calling of men to Preach that you observe this Rule to Elect Ordain and Appoint to the Work of Preaching such have eye to this Rule And as Moses said to Israel let me now-say to you the Churches of the Saints Look you out wise and Spiritually understanding men and appoint them to the Work of Preaching Intrust no Spiritual Fools with so weighty and honourable a Work remembring God hath no pleasure in Fools Eccles 5.4 Fools or unwise-Preachers will Preach but foolishly and his people can have little Soul-advantage or few sinners be converted or the Lord Jesus little glory from or by such Preachers Preaching is too weighty and difficult a Work for ignorant unwise Carnal ungifted persons to accomplish therefore take the Counsel given Acts 6.3 Wherefore Brethren look out men for this Work full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom and them only appoint unto this business dishonour not Preaching by sending dishonourable Preachers about Preaching Imployment and mistake not the Rule by which you should judge who is wise and fit to make a Preacher Judge not according to appearance or man's judgment but remember what God said to Samuel in the like case Look not on his countenance or on the height of his stature because I have refused him for the Lord seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart 1 Sam. 16.7 Beloved in this business of judging who is fit to be admitted and allowed to Preach consult not with flesh and blood with the carnal wise and learned Rabies of the day lest like Samuel you be mistaken in your judgment and call him God's Anointed when the Lord saith This is not the man but consult the Record and Charter of the New Testament and see whom that Word calls Wise and a man fit to Preach the Gospel and as hath been demonstrated you shall find the Wisdom which comes from Above from the Father of Lights is the onely Wisdom that can fit persons unto Preaching Grace and Gifts of the Spirit of God are best qualifications for a Preacher as appears Acts 1.4 5. He will make the best Preacher which hath most Grace and Gifts of the Spirit Therefore take heed to this business I beseech you Brethren who are Christ's Porters see that no foolish idle or unholy Shepherds enter in at Christ's Doors or be his Peoples Pastors for if there do the sin and guilt yea and punishment also of such Preaching will lie at your doors John 10.3 Object But me-thinks I hear some Object and say This is preposterous erroneous and dangerous to make Preachers to depend and spring from the Congregations Approbation and Mission This were to make Ministers or Preachers depend upon the People whereas is it not better for Congregations to spring from and depend upon the Ministry or the Preachers and Dispensers of the Word I Answer This Objection smells strong of Rome who-ever be the Objectors and is calculated for the Interest of the Clergy to maintain their Pride Authority and Avarice and therefore may the rather be suspected to be Anti-scriptural or of no great strength to withstand Therefore first Though these suggest this to be preposterous as if we would put the Cart to draw the Horses and not the Horses to draw the Cart My Answer is Natural and Divine Reason would judge the contrary were it not preposterous that Servants should judge and chuse their Masters but Masters that are to have their service and provide them their maintenance should be judged unmeet to question or judge their ability Is not the House-holder more honourable than his Household-Servants and the House before the Household-Servants Even so in the Church of Christ Must Preachers and Ministers be the Churches as well as Christ's Servants and shall not the Church be concluded honourable and wise enough to judge of the ability of her own Servants Only they must judge whether the Church or Congregation is fit for their Profit or Honour God forbid Must the Church maintain them yet not call them to their work and be allowed to judge of them Yea the Church must try their Ministers and yet shall they not be equal or superior to them proved 1 John 4.1 Secondly This is not erroneous but most constaint and agreeable to Scripture and then it matters not what it is contrary to or who calls it Error But that this is agreeable to Scripture take Acts the first into consideration where Peter standing up in the midst of one hundred and twenty Disciples sayes Of these men that have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us must one be chosen or ordained to be a witness with us of his Resurrection and they meaning the hundred and twenty not the eleven appointed two Josephus called Barsabas who was sirnamed Justus and Matthias vers 15 21 22 23. with chap. 18. from 24 to 28. Truth it is this way of trying and sending forth and judging of the Preacher's Gifts and fitness for Gospel-Preaching is an erring from the Canon of the Romish-Church and their Book of Ordination of Priests and Deacons but is no erring from the Canâ—on of the New Testament as hath been cleared And Thirdly Whereas they say this Doctrine is dangerous give me leave to say thereto Truth is not endangered by tryal or good commodity by being searched into The wiser and more Spiritual Preachers are the less danger of their corrupting the Scriptures or ensnaring the people If the Objectors intend the danger lies in this That the ignorant
all things endure affliction do the work of an Evangelist make full proof of thy Ministry 2 Tim. 4.5 Wherefore what a sin and a shame is it for a Preacher to say to the people Be not idle or slothful in business and yet he himself be idle in Preaching Such had need to read and consider that place Rom. 2. from 17 to 24. And therefore I conclude Every wise Preacher ought diligently and continually to Preach as did the Preacher mentioned in the Text He still taught the People knowledge Application Now by way of Application This serves for a full word of Reproof to all idle lazy negligent Preachers of the Word of God by whatever Name or Title dignified or distinguished who-ever they are or where-ever they be let this Doctrine reprove them for if every wise Preacher ought still to teach the people knowledge and to persevere and persist in the Work of Preaching this looks wishly and reproves loudly all such Preachers or Idlers that stand in the place or room of Preachers and Preach not diligently frequently and continually The Lord complainâ— of these or such like in Ezek. 13.4 5 O Israel thy Prophets are like the Foxes in the Desarts Yea have not gone up into the Gaps neither made up the Hedge for the House of Israel to stand it the battel in the day of the Lord. How many such Foxes or Prophets are there in England at this day which have not gone up as they ought to do in the Gaps to stop God's Wrath from breaking forth upon poor sinners or to help sinful Souls to know how to stand guiltless and secure in the day of the Lord 's fierce anger Have we not too many Preachers that account Preaching a by-work and accordingly Preach seldom even when they please as well as how they please If so they be but Preachers and Preach at all though never or not at all but when constraint or covetousness constrains or induces them they will it may be Preach as much as Law not Gospel requireth or as much as their profit provokes or calls them to but no more These are none of the wise Preachers in my Text spoken of that still teach the people knowledge no these are such of the foolish preachers or prophets mentioned in the fore-cited Ezek. 13.3 Let these idle lazy sleepy Drones not wise Preachers though pretenders thereunto hear the reproof which the Lord gives them Isa 56. His Watchmen are blind they are all ignorant they are all dumb dogs and cannot bark sleeping lying down loving to slumber Yea they are greedy dogs which can never have enough they are Shepherds that cannot understand they all look to their own way every one for his gain from his quarter Come ye say they we will fetch Wine and we will fill our selves with strong drink and to morrow shall be as this day and much more abundant vers 10 11 12. How like to these Watchmen of Israel are too many Watchmen or Preachers in England Lordly Preachers and Learned Preachers Cathedral Preachers and Popish Preachers is but too well known to as many as know any thing of the state of England We may say of England this day as was said of Israel Hos 7.6 Their Baker sleepeth all night and the height of this sin lies in this That England's Preachers not onely do not and cannot Preach but also teach and maintain That they ought not or need not Preach often or frequently Lording and Reading of Forms of Prayers is more their business than Preaching or most to be minded Nay have they not gone higher than most scandalously and unconscionably to omit and neglect this blessed Work of Preaching but also to make their sin out of measure sinful they forbid and command such as both can Preach and would Preach that they should not Preach or so much and so often Preach as they ought to do such enemies to the Gospel-preaching and prosperity may read their doom and name in Mat. 23.13 But wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hyppocrites for ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men for ye neither go in your selves neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in Oh think of this ye Preaching-men that forget God lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver you Psal 50. last Let me tell you non-Preaching Preachers as your sin is out of measure sinful so will one day your condition be out of measure woful as Paul saith Necessity is laid upon me and wo unto me if I Preach not the Gospel Not to Preach when engaged called and enabled to Preach will make wo enough for such Preachers as feed not the Flock but themselves as you have it Ezek. 34.28 Son of man prophesie against the Shepherds of Israel prophesie and say unto them Thus saith the Lord unto the Shepherds Wo be unto the Shepherds of Israel that do feed them should not the Shepherd feed the Flock But now idle non-Preaching Preachers or Shepherds hear your doom at large Thus saith the Lord God Behold I am against the Shepherds and I will require my Flock at their hand and cause them to cease from feeding the Flock neither shall the Shepherds feed themselves any more for I will deliver my Flock from their mouth that they may not be meat for them And therefore thus saith the Lord God Behold I even I will judge between the fat Cattel and the lean Cattel because ye have thrust with the side and pushed with the shoulder and pushed all the diseased with your horns till you have scattered them abroad Therefore will I save my Flock and they shall be no more for a prey and I will judge between Cattel and Cattel Not to Preach when enabled to Preach is to quench the Spirit and that 's no small sin 'T is to be unfaithful and hide God's Talents in the Earth It is to starve Souls yea as much as in you lies to damn Souls by withholding the means of Salvation from them 'T is to multiply transgressors and transgressions both and under a Cloak of Sanctity and all this committed knowingly not ignorantly Therefore woful will be the state of all tyred idle dumb Preachers that with-hold the Truth in unrighteousness Solomon's Proverb will be your Portion He that with-holdeth Corn the people shall curse him Prov. 11.26 If such as with-hold bodily Bread or Corn are worthy of the peoples curse What Curse or bitter Anathema Maranatha must these with-holders of God's Corn and his Peoples Souls-bread from being given forth in due season be thought worthy of But to close Know and consider though men should keep their Curses from you yet God will not hold such high-handed sinners as you are guiltless whom I have been reproving of as appears Jer. 23. Wo be unto the Pastors that destroy and scatter the Sheep of my pasture saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the Pastors that feed my people Ye
have scattered my Flock and driven them away and have not visited them behold I will visit upon you the evil of your doings saith the Lord vers 1 2. Thus much for this first Use of Reproof The second Vse is of Exhortation Secondly This may be for Exhortation to all such as are wise Preachers and are called to the Work of Preaching Be exhorted still teach the people knowledge go on to your and their perfection and do not begin a good Work in the World and in the hearts of the Children of God and then leave it unwatched over or unwatered but still be teaching the people knowledge I remember this is made a note of folly in the Ostrich That she leaveth her Eggs in the Earth and warmeth them in the dust and forgetteth that the foot may crush them or that the wild Beasts may break them She is hardned against her young ones as though they were not hers Her labour is in vain without fear because God hath deprived her of wisdom neither hath he imparted to her understanding Job 39.13 14 15 16 17 18. Oh! you that Preach the Gospel-Wisdom and either are or would be counted wise Preachers be exhorted not to be like the Ostrich leave not your Eggs in the Dust nor to a foot that will crush them but look well to your Seed sown and secure your Conceptions and lose not or endanger your labours but watch and pray that you fall not into temptations but still teach the people knowledge If you decline to teach the people knowledge the Devil and his Brokers will still teach your people error and folly as you have it Mat. 13.25 But while men slept his enemy came and sowed Tares among the Wheat and went his way Now will not this grieve a wife Preacher that sincerely Preaches for the good of the people that through his negligence ease and idleness that not still teaching the people knowledge the people should be all over-grown with Tares and Errors Therefore my dear Brethren who labour in the Word and Doctrine still teach your people knowledge The good Husband-man went to Plow last season and will not forbear and lose this season and the good Merchant-man ventures to Sea his Goods in one Ship and another to one part of the World and another in another season so should a wise Preacher plow up the fallow-Ground this year the next send out his Commodity to this and the other good Port in one and another good Ship take Fraight send thy Winter and thy Summer-Adventures remembring Eccles 11.4 5 6. Oh! he that observeth the Wind shall not sow and he that observeth the Wind shall not reap As thou knowest not what is the way of the Spirit nor how the Bones do grow in the Womb of her that is with Child even so thou knowest not the Works of God who maketh all In the morning sow thy Seed and in the evening with-hold not thy hand for thou knowest not whether shall prosper either this or that or whether they both shall be of like good Oh therefore be exhorted who are wise Preachers still to teach the people knowledge And to this Work let me give you a few Motives still to teach the people knowledge For Motive 1. First It will much argue and evidence your love and affection to the Lord Jesus that you love his Flock and feed his Lambs John 21.14 'T is the greatest evidence of love to Christ and to the Lambs of Christ to be diligently and constantly teaching and feeding the Flock of God with the Word of Knowledge And if there be any Preacher that would have or carry a black and visible badge of neither loving Christ nor Saints then and not else forbear to teach the people knowledge Motive 2. Secondly Let this move Preachers even every wise Preacher still to teach the people knowledge Because the more you teach others the more Jesus Christ will teach you If you would have much of the Teachings of the Lord Jesus be much in the teaching of them that are Christ's For he that watereth shall be watered and he that disperseth abroad and giveth to the poor his Righteousness remaineth for ever Prov. 11.25 with 2 Cor. 9.9 Now consider not only the people need to be Preached unto by you but you and I have great even abundant need to have Jesus Christ Preach unto us therefore still teach the people knowledge Motive 3. Thirdly Still teach the people knowledge because 't is most honourable to be most diligent in this Work and honour is much taking in these dayes when every one seeks the Rulers favour Now this is the Preacher's way to honour by diligent Preaching as skill comes by diligence so honour and deserved reputation comes by frequent and painful Preaching Look how Solomon commends the diligent Woman Prov. last vers last Even so shall the diligent Preacher be commended also Prov. 11.30 He that winneth Souls is wise with chap. 22.22 Seest thou a man that is diligent in his business he shall stand before Kings he shall not stand before mean men Therefore though we may not seek the honour that cometh of men yet we may seek that which cometh of God John 5.44 Oh! How beautiful are the feet of them that Preach the Gospel of Peace and bring glad-tydings of good things Rom. 10.15 Motive 4. Fourthly My dear Brethren it will be very comfortable in a dying hour to have Preached diligently in the dayes of Life And when have we so much need of comfort as in dying hours When will sin guilt shame and scorn lie so heavy upon us as in a dying hour Therefore still teach the people knowledge that God may still continue your comforts and cause your comforts to abound in dying hours Thus should a wise Preacher strive to Preach that with Samuel he may look a dying hour with joy in the face 1 Sam. 12.2 3 5. So Paul comforted himself in the day of his departing because he had finished his course and made full proof of his Ministry 2 Tim. 4.5 6 7 8. therefore still teach the people knowledge Yea our Lord Jesus useth this as a means to support him under the sting of Death by this Consideration That he had finished the Work his Father committed him to do in John 17.4 5. where our Lord saith I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the Work thou gavest me to do And now O Father glorifie thou me with thy own self O! here is the way for a Preacher to find assured comfort in a day of Death that he hath finished his Work in a day of Life and still taught the people knowledge O! therefore ye that are appointed to be Lights to men in a dark World let not I beseech you your Light be put under a Bushel or at best but shine in a dark Lanthorn but receive this Exhortation and let me leave it as universal advice for every Preacher that hath ears to hear what the
mouth to cause thy flesh to sin neither say before the Angel it was a sin Eccles 5.6 But this I must speak more to on another particular and therefore shall come to the Reasons of the Point that Preachers had need to give good heed to what they Preach Reas 1. First Because if they Preach heedlesly Christ will mind it heedfully 'T is dangerous Preaching heedlesly in the ears of heedful Hearers but especially in the ears of Jesus Christ whose eyes are like a flame of fire and observes all our deportments in his Concernments If he hear us Preach heedlesly he will set this sin in order before us though he seem to over-look it and we think he hath forgotten it Carelesness and rashness in the Ministry of the Lord's Word meets with swiftest Observation and severest Chastisments Therefore take heed and be holy ye that bear the Vessels of the Lord remembring the case of Nadab and Abihu Levit 10. and of Vzzah 2 Sam. 6.6 7. Reas 2. Secondly The reason of Preachers heedfulness is this The Observance of men Are the Hearers Sinners and the worst of Hearers they will and do observe the best of Preachers and lie as it were in wait to entrap and catch them or intangle them in their talk or Preaching Such as can observe little of the Marrow of Preaching or a Sermon will be able enough to observe all the Mistakes or Errata's of a Sermon Therefore take away occasion from them that seek it as Paul did 2 Cor. 11.12 But again 2ly Let Preachers preach heedfully because of Saints their eyes are upon you and their ears open to you and they are taught of God to know all things and as Spiritual men judge all things and have senses exercised and like these noble Bereans will try all things Therefore O therefore Preach with good heed and Preach only good things for their Knowledge Reas 3. Thirdly Preachers had need Preach heedfully because that which they Preach is hard and difficult to Preach Preaching is not easie Work it is hard Work 't is curious Work it needs much wariness wisdom and circumspection to draw Water out of these Wells of Salvation and to fetch Gold out of these Mines of Divine Wisdom therefore ought they to give good heed to Preaching Reas 4. And lastly Preachers should give good heed how they Preach because of the worth and excellency of what they Preach Though men care not how they scatter their dross yet they are very careful what they do with their refined Gold Though the Husband-man passeth not what he doth with his Chaff yet he is very careful what he doth with his Seed-corn Even so should it be with Preachers they should be very heedful where they Sow and how they bestow their principal Wheat Oh! Sow not upon the Rocks nor on the High-way side but on good Ground and carefully look to your Seed to Christ's Seed it is too choice to sustain any loss Oh therefore heedfully Preach that you lose not your labour nor your reward Thus much for the Reasons of this Point now to close this Head with a word or two of Application First of Reproof Application First If Preachers ought to give good heed how they Preach then this ministers a word of Reproof to such as are heedless Preachers that think it is an easie facile Work to dispense and propagate Truth surely such do not remember the weightiness of Preaching so they can but Preach pleasingly to men profitably to themselves and securely in respect of others they think it is enough never applying themselves to over-see or consider the state of the Flock the various state of their Hearers the avoiding of their Enemies the Salvation of Sinners and the perfecting of the Saints by an acute exact circumspect thorough search and enquiry after Gospel-Truths that they might Speak and Preach as the Oracles of God Well I shall not stand upon this only be minding these of that sad word Cursed be he that doth the Work of the Lord negligently And let these Preachers know what God hath threatned to all slight Preachers by the Prophet Jeremiah saying Therefore I am full of the fury of the Lord I am weary with holding in I will pour it out upon the children abroad and upon the Assembly of young men together for even the Husband with the Wife shall be taken the Aged with him that is full of dayes And their Houses shall be turned unto others with their Fields and Wives together for I will stretch out my hand upon the Inhabitants of the Land saith the Lord For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one of them is given to covetousness and from the Prophet even unto the Priest every one dealeth falsly They have healed also the hurt of the Daughter of my people slightly saying Peace peace when there is no peace Jer. 6.11 12 13 14. Note And so I conclude this Use 'T is a dangerous and a destructive evil to be a sleighty Prophet or Preacher The second Vse is of Exhortation Secondly Let this exhort all wise Gospel-Preachers to remember the Text and also give good heed to the Work of Preaching 'T is not only honourable but difficult likewise 't is high 't is hard Oh therefore give good heed to this Work of Preaching 'T is not man's Work or a Work performed so much for men as for God 'T is Soul-Work as you love Souls or have a value of immortal Souls take heed to your selves in this Work this blessed Work of Preaching Oh be intent upon this thing to seek the profit of many that they may be saved Oh Speak or Preach as Paul words it as you ought to speak Ephes 6.20 study Scripture study Men listen to the Spirit follow its Guidance give your selves up to this Work taking Solomon's Counsel Eccles 9.10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might Oh strive mightily to be spiritually exact and perfect Preachers Oh remember It is required of a Steward that he be found faithful 1 Cor. 4.2 Therefore let me beseech you Men Brethren and Fathers even all you that are Christ's Stewards and Gospel-Preachers give good heed to this thing that you may give up your account with joy and not with grief of heart The third Use is of Vindication Thirdly Let this Doctrine vindicate such Preachers as give good heed in Preaching so to Preach that they may approve themselves good Work-men even Work-men that need not be ashamed dividing the Word aright such as Preach not as pleasing men but as pleasing God which tryeth the hearts 1 Thess 2.4 I say This Truth now cleared will acquit and justifie all such sober serious exquisite faithful painful wise Preachers which give good heed and apply themselves to be Physicians of Value such as endeavour both to sound their own and the peoples hearts and to see that they Preach as the Spirit gives them utterance and guidance Acts 2.4 Such
Preachers as seek not yours but you that your Souls may be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus I say Let this justifie the exactness and diligence of those that in the dividing of the Word make it their business to divide it aright and to omit nor lose nothing of all the Riches of such Scriptures as the Spirit of the Lord opens to them but endeavour to make full proof of their Ministry in a ministration of the All committed to their trust following that Direction of our Lord Gather up the Fragments that nothing be lost John 6.12 So these painful and laborious Bees move from Flower to Flower that is from Text to Text and from Syllable to Syllable that they may help you to Honey that by Line upon Line and Precept upon Precept here a little and there a little seek to impart to you the whole Counsel of God I say Let such Preachers be justified and not taxed as at this day by some who make use of that saying What need this waste Mat. 26.8 What need this curiousness this tediousness so much dwelling upon a Text Why let this serve to Answer such Is there not a cause when it is required of a Steward to be sound faithful And this is faithful dealing with Jesus Christ and his Word to let nothing be lost But again secondly If your Preachers wise Preachers do give good heed and consider the state of the Flock and whereof they have need and do deal home and plainly with your Consciences in all faithfulness not sparing any man or flattering any man or pleasing any man but dealing faithfully with all men as approving themselves to God Why then consider I pray you It is required of Stewards to be faithful and such are Stewards even of the manisold Grace of God and therefore it is required of them that they be faithful Oh let this justifie all wise holy humble diligent painful faithful Preachers that seek to turn many from their iniquity that give good heed and all diligence so to Preach that they may declare that they have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftiness not handling the Word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the Truth Commending our selves to every man's Conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4.2 And so much for this Use and this Point I now come to the next Word and Work of a wise Preacher that is He sought out This is the next Work and to search or seek out A good or a wise Preacher doth not only give out and not keep in any thing of all that good Knowledge or Will of the Lord Jesus made out to his Soul But further he seeks or searches out after more of the Knowledge of Jesus Christ to be further imparted to him in what is in part known by him or in what as yet of Christ is not manifest but hid from him and them and may be imparted to them For the choicest or most comprehending Servant or Preacher of the Lord Jesus knows but in part and prophesies but in part and therefore had need to search enquire or hunt after that of the mind of Christ yet behind or unknown of him and which may for ought he knows be made manifest to him Three things I suppose this Phrase may import First To examine and receive things already viewed or known Secondly To clear and discharge what we know from what-ever Objections or Cavils might be brought against what we know or conceive we know Thirdly To seek out is to endeavour to get either fresh Visions of God in our Souls or further and exacter insight into such Visions of God as already we have received All this seems clearly implyed in this Act of the wise Preacher as is most clear by considering the next word And set in order or in their due order many Proverbs The Work of the truly or spiritually wise Preacher is to search or seek after or search or seek into the knowledge of whaâ— is known or should be known or may be known This is the Trade of God's Commands in order to a Preacher's Duty Doct. 8. The Doctrine hence may be this That the wise Preacher's Work is not an easie but an hard task to attain the comprehension or full understanding requisite to be found in every Minister of Christ His life is a continued act of seeking or enquiring after fuller discoveries of the mind of Christ This is plainly implyed in this phrase he sought out or sought after or sought into the way of setting Parables in order To clear up this Point two things need proving First That the Preacher's Task or Duty is an hard Task or Duty Secondly His life is a continued Act of learning the mind of Christ As he doth not do all at once he hath to do for Christ neither doth he searn all at any one season he hath to learn from Jesus Christ He is alwayes doing and alwayes learning until he dies Therefore is the Preacher's Work hard Work This Moses well understood Exod. 3d 4th and 6th Chapters This Jeremiah also apprehended in his first Chapter And this Paul concludes concerning his Ministry 1 Cor. 16.15 But not to heap up testimonies for a thing so clear Consider this namely what the Preacher's Work is resembled to First 'T is called a Warfare or they are resembled to valiant Souldiers and a Souldier's life is a lâ—fe of hazard and hardship even so is the Preachers Secondly 'T is stiled a Watchmâ—â—'s life and to be a good Watch-man is a hard life and laborious Thirdly He is called a Shepherd and that is no easie life Fourthly They are called Husband-men and Labourers and Builders all which prove Preaching to be a hard Work But to make this more clear consider 't is a Trade or Business that is alwayes carrying on I had almost said night and day and therefore sure it can be no easie but hard Work because it is perpetual Work But such is the Preacher's Work He must not onely be alwayes preaching but alwayes learning yea learning while teaching in looking after the Mind of Christ His Work is never done alwayes doing running on more and more after fresh and fuller discoveries of the Will of God 'T is an every day yea night and day study of the Word and Wayes of God he sought out 't is opened to us in Prov. 2.1 2 3 4. 'T is a Work a man must cry for seek for yea â—â—g for and hunt for that intends to find it compared with Job 3.21 Take one passage more wheâ—e good and wise Preachers may be resembled to Servants and the Hand maids David speaks of Psal 123.2 Or to the good Woman perceiving that her Merchandizing Commodity is good therefore her Candle goeth not out by night From all which may easily be gathered what a hard and difficult constant and painful life and labour the wise Preacher's labour and life is Thus much for the proof of the
Point I proceed now from the Preacher's Work to the Preacher's Commendation And that which was written was upright even words of Truth The eleventh Doctrine Whence I might observe That as wise Preachers are wary and painful Preachers and search and seek out acceptable and seasonable words for their People so a pious and deserving People will not be wanting to give or afford them and their preaching due and deserved incouragement and commendation as might easily be made to appear But remembring what Solomon the Preacher hath writ in this case Prov. 27.2 Let another man praise thee and not thine own mouth a stranger and not thine own lips I shall forbear to proceed any further and shall now consider the words without relation to the Preacher as they hint forth the commendation of uprightness and truth not only in the Preacher's Spirit and Work but in every Man's Spirit and Conversation The twelfth Doctrine And the Observation may be this That a Spirit of Truth and uprightness is an excellent frame of Spirit in all that profess the Name of Christ I shall not need to spend time about the opening or discovering what Truth and Uprightness is because among such who enjoy wise Preachers this is much discoursed of amongst wise and gracious Persons this is well known if not better known than practised Therefore I shall briefly give you the proofs of the Point and then come to improve it That this frame of Spirit and walking is lovely and excellent take the witness of a stranger in Israel concerning David when he told him Surely as the Lord liveth thou hast been upright and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the Host is good in my sight for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me to this day 1 Sam. 29.6 Take also David's own testimony when he sings forth the excellency of his Spirit saying I was also upright before him and have kept my self from mine iniquity 2 Sam. 22.24 But setting aside Man's testimony to this Truth take the Lord 's own testimony concerning Job And the Lord said unto Satan Hast thou considered my Servant Job there is none like him in the earth a perfect and upright man Chap. 1.8 The like honourable acknowledgement doth our Lord give of Nathaniel saying Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile John 1.47 And Solomon tells us Such as are upright in their way are the Lord's delight or his delightful ones Prov. 11.20 But this may suffice for the proof of the Point though manifold Texts might have been produced for the further demonstrating this had it been necessary Let me now give you some Arguments to clear this Observation That truth and uprightness in the Spirit renders such Spirits excellent Argument 1. First Because this is the frame of God's Spirit or Beeing therefore to be like God in beeing must needs render us excellent in beeing That God is thus in his Beeing take that saying for it Good and upright is the Lord Psal 25.8 Also that of Isaiah Oh thou most upright dost weigh the path of the Just Isa 26.7 Now to have our Spirits according to the frame of God's Spirit is the most excellent frame that can be imagined But again Argument 2. Secondly This must needs be a most excellent frame because the contrary frame of Spirit is the most dishonourable and unlovely frame that can be 'T is said of Satan That he is transformed into an Angel of Light This is the emphasis or height of his iniquity he is not upright he is not as he seems to be he is really an Angel of darkness and pretends to be an Angel of Light 2 Cor. 11.14 Therefore when our Lord would set forth the vileness and unworthiness of the Spirit of the Jews he tells them They are of their Father the Devil and the lusts of your Father you will do John 8.44 And no Spirit is so disowned and detested of God as the Spirit of Hypocrisie Wo unto Hypocrites Math. 23.27 read that place at your leasure Therefore to be of the contrary Spirit to Hypocrisie must needs be excellent that is to be upright in Spirit But again Argument 3. Thirdly 'T is that frame begun in us here which will be our frame perfectly in the state of Glory Now to be in such a frame here as we shall be in glory must needs be a glorious and excellent frame When the Disciples saw Christ transfigured That his Face did shine as the Sun and his Rayment was white as the Light Mat. 17.2 Even so how glorious are such Souls as are transfigured into the Image of Christ even this image of Truth and uprightness of Spirit Such are the most excellent in their Generation But again Argument 4. Lastly This can be no other than a Truth which both Heaven and Earth bear witness to but that this is excellent even truth and uprightness in whom-soever it be found we have heard the testimony of Heaven and of the Scripture and if we enquire of all sorts of men under the Heavens they will all seal to this Truth that Men and Women of honest Spirits are most desirable and excellent Persons both to dwell with and converse with Therefore seeing this Doctrine knows no Adversaries as to the acknowledgment thereof I shall cease any further demonstration and come to Application wherein I shall speak some-thing by way of Information some-thing of Exhortation and then give some Motives Use of Information The first Use I shall make of this Point is to present you with a word of Information and that is Whence it comes to pass that the Preachers and People of the Lord are no more valued and esteemed than they are this day 'T is because they have no more of this excellent Spirit in them this Spirit of Truth and of Uprightness I do not say this is the only reason or that there is no other reason but I say it again amongst other Reasons this is one grand one They say Professors want Truth and Uprightness talk of Heaven and of Love and of Bounty and Patience yet love the World and pursue the World and keep the World as much as any love few but themselves and Men of their own Principles judging all that believe not as they believe and practise as they practise They are as miserable and impatient or forward upon every slight occasion as any other men Therefore men are apt to think that all is not true they say and that they speak not as they think but are deceitful meer words and shews Oh my dear Friends I wish that this were altogether groundless and that there were not too much truth or ground for this complaint But Sirs take notice how the want of visibility and activity in this frame of Spirit causeth our good commodity to be evil spoken of therefore let it be our wisdom and business to take away occasion from them that seek occasion and take
enough for so great and glorious an undertaking Paul speaking but of the accomplishment of the Work of one of Christ's Ministers saith and who is sufficient for these things Then surely much less sufficient to institute a Frame Constitution for Ministers and Ministrations which requires a greater capacity or sufficiency then the former wherefore John tells us No man in Heaven nor in Earth neither under the Earth was able to open this Book neither to look thereon Rev. 5.3 4. Wherefore this concern must be let alone to him to whom of right it doth appertain even to the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah our Lord Jesus for he onely is worthy and capable thereof as we read vers 5. compared with vers 9. But to proceed Reason 3. Thirdly This must needs be the peculiar Prerogative of Christ to appoint his own Ministers and Worship or Service because 't is his own 't is for himself 't is for his own Church and Kingdom and who shall appoint him Servants or impose Servants and Services upon him It stands not with his honour or faithfulness to admit it But again Reason 4. Lastly Ministries and Ministrations Spiritual Ecclesiastical appertaining to the Kingdom of Christ must spring from the Free-will and Royal-Pleasure of the Lord Christ because that as it stands not with his Honour Greatness Wisdom and Goodness to commit this concern into the hands of Angels or Men being below true fitness or capacity for the work so neither can any created Power snatch Authority or exercise Power of imposing Ministers and Ministrations upon him against his Royal Will and Pleasure and if they but attempt to do it let them look to it for he will one day dash them in pieces like a Potters Vessel Ps 2. And however the Sons of men may attempt to incroach this Power and Priviledge of the Lord Jesus into their hands yet let me say to these as the Prophet in a like case did What is the Chaff to the Wheat saith the Lord Jer. 23.28 Even so what is the Will or Power of Man to the Will and Power of the Lord Jesus that he should oppose him or impose upon him 'T is truth Man may impose upon the Son of Man but who can impose upon the Son of God Sampson and Peter were both imposed upon and carried whither they would not but none can impose any thing upon Christ against his will for he will and can refuse to drink such Gall and Vinegar however they be that offer it to him Therefore it remains most clear and visible from all that hath been offered That this is the alone Glory and Prerogative of the Lord Jesus to be the Spring and Fountaneous cause of all Ministries Ministers and Ministrations belonging to his own Church upon whom he freely bestowed them Thus much for the confirming and clearing of the Doctrine I come now to the Application of this great Point Use of Information First This serves for Information in two or three Particulars First It informs us how much such are mistaken that conceive and affirm that it is left free and arbitrary to States and Princes to judge and conclude what Ministry and Ministration the People of God should injoy in their Dominions whereas in truth it nothing at all appertains to them but only to the Lord Jesus to appoint and determine what kind of Ministers and Ministrations his People shall fall under as the Arguments before alleadged do manifest Men have liberty and freedom to judge and determine for themselves but no power to impose or determine for others as Paul saith Who art thou O man that judgest another Man's Servant to his own Master he standeth or falleth yea he shall be holden up for God is able to make him to stand Rom. 14.4 But again to proceed Secondly This informs us how far that assertion is from being a Scripture-Truth which maintains That Ministries and Ministrations depend upon the Christian Magistrate for confirmation whereas indeed it depends upon the good will and pleasure of none of the Sons of Men but onely upon the Son of God who is Lord of all things I suppose in this case I may say with truth what Korah and his Complices said with falshood Ye take too much upon you who-ever you are that thus affirm and practise Numb 16.3 Thirdly This acquaints us that such Ministers and Ministries and Ministrations that spring not from the Will Wisdom and Authority of the Lord Jesus are none of his Ministers Ministries or Ministrations but Man's either their own or other mens creation or creating Let them be dignified or distinguished by what Names or Titles soever even from the Pope to the Parator and if such will not be called Antichristian Ministers yet must they suffer me to call them Man's Ministerâ— and let all such Ministers of Man and of the Will of Man hear their doom Mine hand shall be upon the Prophets that see vanity and divine lies they shall not be in the Assembly of my People neither shall they be written in the House of Israel neither shall they enter into the Land of Israel and ye shall know that I am the Lord God Zech. 13.9 Further this informs us That all such Ministrations as spring not from the Lord Jesus neither are instituted by him nor found in the Writings of the New Testament are none of Christ's Ordinances but mens sinful inventions and superstition concerning which our Lord long time since gave his Judgment saying But in vain do they worship me teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of men Mat. 15.9 Fourthly and Lastly This acquaints us That the Innovation or bringing into the Church of God such Ministers and Ministrations as our Lord Jesus Christ never instituted neither spring from nor depend upon him is no small but a magnified Transgression If it be Treason against a King for any in his Dominion to introduce Offices Officers Laws and Ordinances without his consent O! what high Treason is it against our Sovereign Lord King Jesus the King or Prince of the Kings of the Earth Rev. 1.5 I say What Treason is it for any man or number of men to make and appoint Ministers and Ordinances in his Church and Kingdom without him Let all such Traytors against the Lord Jesus think seriously on two or three Texts of Scripture I shall commend unto them one is that of Isaiah Wherefore the Lord said Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouths and with their lips do honour me but have removed their hearts far from me and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men Therefore behold I will proceed to do a marvellous work amongst this people even a marvellous work and a wonder for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid Chap. 29.13 14. Again think on that passage of Ezekiel And he said to me Son of man the place of my Throne and the place
of the soles of my feet I will dwell in the midst of the Children of Israel for ever and my holy Name shall the Children of Israel no more defile neither they nor their Kings in their high places in their setting of their Thresholds by my Thresholds and their Posts by my Posts and the Wall between me and them they have even defiled my holy Name by their abominations they have committed wherefore I have consumed them in my anger Chap. 43.7 8. So much for this first Use or for Information The second Vse is Vindication or Justification A second Use of this Point may be for Vindication or Justification of all such Gospel-Ministers and Ministrations as proceed from the Will and Authority of our Lord Jesus Christ manifest by his Word to be Divine and Warrantable notwithstanding they are unapproved by humane Authority nay though they should be by them forbidden my Reason is this If such Ministries Ministers and Ministrations be given and allowed by the Lord Jesus whom alone God the Father hath intrusted with these Affairs then they have Allowance and Approbation from him whose Allowance and Approbation is only essential and sufficient for their Encouragement and Vindication and it very little matters as to their Justification whether such persons which are unconcerned in this Affair do approve or disapprove while the Lord though not man hath approved them This the Lord told Ezekiel Chap. 2. And he said unto me Son of man I send thee to the Children of Israel to a rebellious Nation that hath rebelled against me and their Fathers have transgressed against me unto this very day For they are impudent Children and stiff-hearted I do send thee unto them and thou shalt speak my words unto them whether they will hear or whether they will forbear Vers 2 3 with 5 7. To the Vindication of a Minister in his Work it little matters whether men of what rank or degree soever they be do allow permit or discourage him whilst his Lord and Master hath but sent and commissionated him he need not much be troubled with the prohibitions and oppositions of his fellow Servants Nay if he will not be rebellious like them he must go on his Errand and neither fear them or be prohibited by them but remember what is further added in that passage of Ezekiel But thou Son of Man hear what I say unto thee Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house open thy mouth and eat that I give thee vers 8. And therefore Christ's Gospel-Ministers may warrantably answer any that inquire by what Authority do you thus Administer Be it known unto you that by the alone Name and Authority of the Lord Jesus we thus administer and if any of their Mothers Children should be angry with them and threaten them with their thorney Arguments of persecution and affliction they may as others have done before them say O Nebuchadnezzar We are not careful to answer thee in this matter Dan. 3.16 with Acts 4. Query But some may say How shall a State or People know who are such Ministers and what are such Ministrations as are truly Christ's and arise from him minister to him and depend upon him Answer I Answer By doing that which God enjoyned all the Kings of Israel to do in Deut. 17. And it shall be when he sitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdom that he shall write him a Copy of the Law in a Book out of that which is before the Priests the Levites And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the dayes of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God to keep all the words of this Law and these Statutes to do them vers 18 19. By thus doing by Reading and Learning what God hath written in his Book of the Scriptures may they come to know who are the true Spiritual Gospel-Ministers of the Lord Jesus Thus did that great Reformer Nehemiah when he would know who were the Lord 's true Priests and Ministers He searched into the Register and such of the Priests as could not produce and shew their Genealogy he put as polluted from the Priesthood Chap. 7.64 65. Therefore if any profess themselves Ministers of the Lord Jesus and you would know whether they be Christ's or Antichrist's Ministers ask for their Genealogy and let them shew their Line from Judah not from Levi I mean from Christ and not from Men whether Pope or Presbyter for our Lord took care of this Concern when he spent forty dayes with his Disciples in setling the Things of his Kingdom Acts 1.3 And before he ascended upon High he gave Gifts unto Men for the Work of the Ministry some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors some Teachers Ephes 4.8 11. But we read not of any Pope or Vicar-General no Cardinals Arch-Bishops Lord-Bishops Fryers Monks Deans Doctors Batchellors Parsons Curates or the residue of these Locusts these never came into the World by Christ's Charter or Deed of Gift made over to the Church before his Ascention No no these came in the back way through the opening of the bottomless Pit Rev. 9.1 2 3. That wisdom of the Father even our Lord Jesus who builed his House killed his Fatlings also provided his own Maidens or Virgin-Servants which are but few yet not too few to do all his Work As his House stands upon seven Pillers even so he provided but seven sorts of Ministers or Ministries besides the Widdows those helps to Government as the New Testament testifies and an Old Testament Inistitution can give no beeing to a New Testament Ministration and in all the Records of Christ's Acts and Institutions we read not of any other Ministry ordained for the Church than the Ministry of Apostles Evangelists Prophets which three were extraordinary and temporary and are ceased and there remains only now to be enjoyed the Ministry of Pastor Teacher Elder and Deacon with the fore-named helps to Government as sufficient to all Ends and Purposes in Christ's Kingdom and of these we read Rom. 12. Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace given to us whether Prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of Faith or Ministry Let us wait on our Ministry he that teacheth on Teaching he that exhorteth on Exhortation he that giveth let him do it with simplicity he that ruleth with diligence Vers 6 7 8. Now such who have neither Name nor Nature of these Ministries can be none of Christ's but Man's or Antichrist's But again ask all such who pretend to be Ministers of Christ by what Door or Way they came into the Ministry For they who ever they be that come not in by Christ's Door into his Sheepfold are Theeves and Robbers John 10.1 Now Christ's way for men to become his Ministers is by first joyning and accompanying themselves with the Church or Congregation whose Ministers they are to be as appears by Acts 1.21 where we read Peter tells the Church
oâ—â— Ministry and our own proper and peculiar Work 'T is I fear a cause of the wantingness of many even Gospel-Ministers That they are too much ignorant of this thing even the Nature Property and Duty of their Office and Ministry like persons newly entered into the World or the Affairs thereof make more haste to get into than wisely to consider their Duty therein Even so I fear is it with too many of us Preachers or Ministers of the Lord Jesus They make more haste to be Christ's Ministers than to consult the great Duty of that Office and Ministry But Secondly Let me offer this sense We are Christ's Ministry or Ministers and the Treasure in our Earthen Vessels is his and none of ours Then let us be careful of giving away any of Christ's our Sovereigns Right and Priviledges who ever they be that demand it Be like Moses and Israel who would not part with nor leave in Egypt any thing of God's Portion as we read in that passage Exod 9.16 There shall not an Hoos be left behind us And thus did Israel deal with the Kings of Canaan So whomsoever the Lord our God shall drive out before us them will we possess Judg 11.24 Even so give not away to any the right of your Sovereign Lord King Jesus whose Ministers we are divide not the living Child to please the Harlot I mean mingle not Christ's and Antichrist's Ordinances together Plow not with an Ox and an Ass together nor wear Linsey-Woolsey Garments but remember it is written Thou shalt not sow thy Vineyard with divers Seeds much less may we sow God's Vineyard with divers Seeds Deut. 22.9 10 11. For the Ark and Dagon Christ our Lord and Belial cannot agree together 1 Sam. 5.3 4. with 2 Cor. 6.14 15. But remember the Lord our God is a Jealous God and he will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain Though there are some whose Prudence Moderation and Zeal to Preaching will permit them to do otherwise namely to mingle the Holy Seed and do that they otherwise would not do namely to conform to men that they may preach Christ to the People Administer Prayer and Sacraments by a formal Service-Book Baptize all Children even the Seed of the Adulterer and the Adulteress though God of old said Such Seed shall not enter into the Congregation of the Lord to the tenth Generation Deut. 23.2 Nay more if all this was too little they rather then stand out will spread the Lord's Table for that Troop which his Soul abhors even a People that neither have nor can examine themselves or discern the Lord's Body yet these must be Communicants and pay for it or else be Excommunicants Yea to make the measure full they dare meddle with Civil Actions and deceive the People as if to Marry and Bury the Dead were part of the Administrations committed by Jesus Christ into the hand of his Ministers then which nothing is more false For if it were unfit for some of Christ's Ministers to tend the Tables of the Living 't is much more unmeet for any of Christ's Ministers to tend the Dead or intermmeddle with Civil Concerns and Marry the living but these pass for pious sober peaceable men but let them remember who said of two evils they must chuse the least 'T is not to be taken of sins of clear and real sins for here we must chuse nor take neither for it is written Thou shalt not do evil that good may come thereof for if we do damnation is just Rom. 3.18 'T is not wisdom but folly to conform against Conscience to man's Inventions though to preach the Gospel 'T were better to say with Paul If I must sin and unwillingly and against Knowledge Conform that I may Preach I will chuse rather never to Preach than to Conform and so to Preach These sober men are unsober men wise beyond sobriety of Scripture and drunken with the intoxicating Wine of the Whore of Rome's Cup that thus stagger and reel up and down from one thing to another even to whatsoever is uppermost in their dayes Whether the men that thus do be pious I shall not determine onely this I may safely conclude Such mens practices which we have hinted are not pious practices but impious and ungodly as not being warranted and founded upon the Word of God Lastly 'T were well if this Zeal of theirs for Preaching be not but a blind Zeal and a bad Zeal a Zeal rather to preach out themselves and preach in themselves than to preach out Christ to or into the People But because I hope this Leaven of the Scribes and Pharisees neither hath nor shall leaven many of you that are wise even Spiritually-wise Preachers I shall add no more to this but that word of Peter Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee Acts 8.22 O Conforming Ministers if possible repent of this your wicked conformity and you my dearly Beloved who have yet escaped the corruption that is in the World through lust O take you heed lest you also be led away with the dissimulations of such But once more If you are Christ's Ministers and derive Office and Administration from him then let me intreat you to provide for the Cross and be neither afraid nor ashamed of it for if they of the World called the Master of the House Beelzebub how much more shall they call them of his Houshold Mat. 10.25 Think not much in such a day as this is to be evil spoken of traduced and slandered knowing that these afflictions are already accomplished in your Brethren and the best of Christ's Ministers have met with no better usage from the men of the Throne of Iniquity as Paul witnesseth saying I think that God hath set forth us the Apostles last as it were appointed to death for we are made a spectacle unto the World and to Angels and to Men We are Fools for Christ's sake we are weak we are despised Even unto this very hour we both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and have no certain dwelling places and labour working with our hands Being reviled we bless being persecuted we suffer it being defamed we intreat We are made as the filth of the World and are the off-scouring of all things unto this day 1 Cor. 4.9 10 11 12 13. O start not from your Ministry or Ministrations of the holy things of Christ because of such things as these knowing that in and from the World you must have persecution if you be the Ministers of the Lord Jesus John 16.33 But say with Paul None of these things move me neither count I my life dear unto my self so that I might finish my course with joy and the Ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testifie the Gospel of the Grace of God Acts 20.24 And Lastly Let me offer this to your consideration that