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
Glory 1 Cor. 2.7 8. But some may say How came the Preachers of the Gospel in that day to this Wisdom Not from Universities or humane Learning but from the Grace and Spirit of God as you have it But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things mark it yea the deep things of God vers 10. And this Paul proves vers 11. For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of a man which is in him Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God this is further witnessed unto vers 12 13 14 15 16. Object 6. May some say How shall a Preacher be able to withstand or confute gain-sayers without learning For every one that is a Scholar and subtil will sophisticate and use fallacies and wrest the Scriptures and his Arguments from him if he be not a Scholar Now Beloved I pray you do but consider what is said in this Objection and you have here discovered the learned Man's Excellency it is to sophisticate and deal fallaciously with the Simple and the Truth Beloved take heed of them as such who have learned the skill to deceive the simple But yet a little further to Answer this seemingly so weighty an Objection Know God's way or the right way for a Preacher to answer Gain-sayers is to have the Word of God dwell richly in him in all wisdom that out of that Library or good Treasure he may be able to convince them of the contrary part Thus Paul taught injoyning Preachers to hold fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and convince the Gain-sayers Tit. 1.9 10. the like you have in 2 Tim. 3.13 14 15 16 17. Object 7. Some may say This is to subject Preachers and Preaching to contempt and scorn For if Preachers need not be learned who will not be a Preacher Who more bold than the ignorant or men of ignorance And who will reverence Preaching or Preachers if it be so easie and common a work for any man that is unlearned Will it not be very simple and mean Preaching if Preachers want Breeding Arts Languages and Sciences to garnish and dress out their Preaching with Lively and Apt Similes Rhetorical and Elegant Words To all which I thus Answer in the fear of the Lord. First It is never the more easie but much more the harder for any to Preach whilst we affirm no humane Acquirements but supernatural Attainments that fits or qualifies Persons for Preaching Secondly If all or any seek or undertake to Preach it follows not that all shall or can Preach No there are many Learned yea and unlearned Intruders upon Preaching which do not nor can Preach for all they rush or run upon the work for it is written A man can receive nothing that is no such Gift except it be given him from Above John 3.27 And saith Paul How can one Preach except he be sent And thirdly Though this unnecessary Tool be laid aside yet are there many other helps which every Preacher must have both Natural and Divine which every man hath not no not every Godly Man nor can attain to therefore to be an Accomplished-Preacher is not so easie though it matters not how easie But fourthly If it be said Who then will reverence Preaching or Preachers I Answer Though an undue reverence is not to be sought or desired and every able Preacher is truly and most eminently worthy of reverence yet when the Love of God and the Work of God lies warm upon the Preachers heart then the main business of a Gospel-Preacher will be to get Christ not himself reverenced For we Preach not our selves but the Lord Jesus and our selves your Servants for Christ's sake 2 Cor. 4.5 And let me tell you as David said to Michael 2 Sam. 6. Even of the Hand-maids shall such be had into honour whilst the proud Locusts of the bottomless Pit despise them I say Every such Soul that is Preached to will reverence that lip which hath spoken Christ to his heart as hereafter may more appear but if the blind cannot yet the seeing eye will reverence such Preaching and that the more because it is plain and simple But lastly Whereas they tell us that Preaching will be very mean and simple if the Preachers be unlearned and want Arts Sciences Rhetorick and Logick to help them to apt Expressions Similies to set forth Heavenly things by I Answer No if men be wise that Preach it will not be simple Preaching If Preachers be dayes-men or men of experience in Christ's Gospel and Satan's Wiles for if the Spirit of God can help the unlearned to words sufficient to speak to God in Prayer surely he is much more able to help the unlearned Preacher to sufficiency of words to speak to the Satisfaction and Advantage of unlearned simple sinful earthly ignorant Men and Women yea Babes and Sucklings therefore no need to serve an Apprentiship for Words at the Schools Thus I have Answered this Objection Object 8. Some may say If Preachers be not Scholars and Artists there are many things in the Scripture which they cannot resolve or explain at the weights of the Sanctuary of old and Places and Countries as where they lie and in what Continent Scituation Latitude and Distance one from another c. To which I Answer This is but superfluous or unnecessary Knowledge which every Gospel-Preacher may honourably be without And if a Preacher cannot attain it without humane Learning he may Preach as truly and as profitably Christ's Mysterie and Man's Duty from such Scriptures as if he could resolve such Riddles or unnecessary Questions For could not Ezckiel Amos and the Prophets prophesie against Egypt Tyrus Moab Babylon and the rest of the Heathen-Countries as well as if they knew their Longitude or Latitude Yes doubtless as clearly as other-ways for that did not concern them but only to denounce the Judgments of God against them other knowledge of Places is onely or mostly necessary for such as are Travellers or Historiographers who else may miss their way or mar their Work but 't is not so with a Preacher 't is enough for such to Preach that Babylon shall fall because she hath sinned and that Nineveh repented and therefore was spared wheresoever the one or the other Country is and that whatsoever Countrey or People soever they be that sin against the most High and do not repent shall also perish first or last yea even England though we know where it lies without repentance must doubtless perish Object 9. May not some say to me Doth not Solomon the Wise even the Preacher in my Text say Prov. 1.22 It is fools only that hate or slight Knowledge so it is only unlearned ignorant mechanicks that speak thus slightly and contemptibly of Learning and Knowledge Is not every thing beautiful in its season I Answer It is not to
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
Spirit saith to hear and receive even still to teach the people knowledge Rev. 6.7 So much for this fifth Doctrine I should come now to a second particular offered from this first Act of the wise Preacher That he still taught the people knowledge that is He went forward and made progression in Preaching He did not stick or remain upon first Principles but rose higher and higher in his Preaching he still taught the people knowledge that is higher measures and degrees of knowledge As he was wisely diligent so was he wisely proceeding and going forward from step to step in the degrees and measures of his Knowledge and Preaching The Point of Doctrine hence is Doct. That wise Preachers are prospering or thriving Preachers They are not only diligent and constant Preachers but also they are growing Preachers he still taught the people knowledge that is more and higher knowledge This was shadowed out in the Waters of the Sanctuary which rose first to the Ancles then to the Knees then to the Loyns afterward to a River that could not be passed over Even so do Preaching Qualifications in a wise and painful Preacher who as Paul saith when in their Childhood or first entrance may speak like Children and act like Children yet when they grow up to be men they will Speak Preach and Act like men 1 Cor. 13.11 This is that which is promised Psal 1. where David tells us The blessedness of the man that walketh not in the way of the ungodly but his delight is in the Law of the Lord and in that Law doth he meditate day and night he shall be like a Tree planted by the Rivers of Water that bringeth forth his Fruit in season His leaf shall not wither but whatsoever he doth shall prosper This is the blessing of not onely the Godly Christian but especially of the truly wise and Godly Preacher he shall grow and flourish The like promise we have in Psalm 92.12 13 14 15. where the Psalmist tells us how it will fare with Righteous and Wise Preachers They shall flourish like the Palm-Tree and grow like the Cedar in Lebanon Those that be plauted in the House of the Lord shall flourish in the Court of our God they shall bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing to shew that the Lord is upright This also Paul implies in that saying of his to Timothy 1 Epist 4.15 That thy profiting may appear to all men Thus we see the Point a little confirmed but because this Truth has in part already been spoken to and will necessarily fall under consideration in another place I shall say no more to the proof of this but only make one Use from it and that is for encouragement to all wise and painful Preachers The fourth Vse is of Encouragement Know assuredly the Lord will bless your Seed and the fruit of your increase You may reckon your selves Children that cannot speak in the Name of the Lord but the Lord hath told you He will be with you and make you as a defenced City and an Iron Pillar and a Brazen Wall Jer. 1.6 7. compared with vers 18. Oh! be encouraged to be sound faithful and diligent for though you may go out to Preach as Jacob went forth from his Fathers House when he said With my staff I passed over this Jordan but now I am become two Bands Gen. 32.10 Even so you faithful Preachers shall have a time to say to the Glory of Free-Grace I am become two Bands The Lord hath promised That his Spirit shall lead you not only unto Truth but from Truth to Truth till you are guided into all Truth John 16.13 Therefore be encouraged to persist and go on in Preaching the Word in season and out of season for the Lord is with you and he will uphold your goings in his Paths Oh Beloved be neither discouraged at your own weakness nor your many discouragements for the Righteous shall flourish like the Palm therefore still teach the people knowledge guide them by the skilfulness of the Lord's hand upon you from Truth to Truth from first Principles to higher and more ennobling Conclusions Be not Children in your knowledge but go on towards perfection as good Ministers of Jesus Christ Preachers that receive freely or largely of the Spirit should give forth as freely and still teach the people knowledge As Preachers grow in knowledge they should seek that the people might grow in knowledge also as waters of knowledge flow into them so should they flow forth unto the people for as your day is so shall your strength be Jesus Christ hath promised to be with you alwayes in such work Matth. 28. And to conclude take the Counsel of Solomon Eccles 9.10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave whither thou goest You labouring Ones in this Work of the Lord feed on that Promise Mat. 13.12 For whosoever hath to him shall be given and he shall have more abundance And to close take that good word 1 Cor. 15.58 Therefore my beloved Brethren be ye stedfast unmoveable alwayes abounding in the Work of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. I now come to the next particular in the Text which is the Matter which the Preacher preached that is Knowledge He still taught the people Knowledge it was knowledge the Preacher taught He Preached not to make himself known or his knowledge known but to make the people know for he still taught the people knowledge One Question may from hence be asked and that is What Knowledge is Or secondly What knowledge this is the wise Preacher taught the people To speak a little to the first Query What knowledge is It is the opposite to ignorance and consists in the enlightning or informing the Understanding either concerning the Author or the Nature of things or the End and Use of things I say knowledge is an enriching excellency enabling men to make true judgment concerning things He that is destitute of knowledge knows not how to discern things or to difference one thing from an other But I shall not inlarge here though I might add there is a double sort of knowledge Natural and Supernatural or the knowledge of things or objects Divine and Heavenly or the knowledge of things or objects Natural This Supernatural knowledge consists either in the knowledge of God or his Will or the knowledge of our selves or others But secondly It may be inquired What this knowledge in particular is which the Preacher taught the people spoken of in the Text I Answer Not humane knowledge or understanding and skill in worldly things but it is knowledge of Divine things or Heavenly things More particularly it may be distinguished into the knowledge of God as in Himself Attributes and Word Considered secondly It consists in the knowledge of our
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
Apollos Acts 18.24 25 26. To name no more Instances of this kind When words may truly be seasonable and acceptable or both I say when we see the Peoples sin openly and dangerous to the insnaring and indangering of others then 't is most seasonable to step in with reproving words Thus Paul dealt with Peter Gal. 2.12 13 14. And with the same spirit we find him acting against Elimas the Sorcerer when he sought to turn away the Deputy from the Faith Acts 13.9 10 11. Thus much may suffice for the proving and opening the Point let me now give you two or three Reasons or Arguments why this must needs be a Truth Reason 1. First Because 't is then only Preachers can be said in preaching to preach or in doing the work of preaching to preach when we preach acceptably or speak seasonable words All other preaching is foolish preaching or for the present but lost preaching But again Reason 2. Secondly Such Preachers and Preaching are only acceptable to God as such only should be to wise Hearers as the Lord seems to imply in that expression of the Prophet He that hath a Dream let him tell a Dream and he that hath my Word let him speak my Word faithfully What is the Chaff to the Wheat saith the Lord Jer. 23.28 Reason 3. Lastly Preachers ought to seek out acceptable words because such preaching will only answer our engagements and pretentions both to God and Man Our engagement who preach is like our Lord Christ who said I came from Heaven not to do my own Will but the Will of him that sent me John 6.38 And no Preacher is so foolish or unwise a Preacher as to pretend less than thus to do wherefore let as many as preach be so wise and honest to do what they pretend to do and as Paul saith Not to preach themselves but Christ Jesus the Lord and themselves Servants for Jesus sake 2 Cor. 4.5 I proceed now to the Application because I promised to be short Use of Reproof The first Use may be for a word of Reproof to as many Preachers that are not so wise as to make this their work to seek out acceptable seasonable words even sound words or words of truth and uprightness Oh how many foolish careless and unconscionable Preachers there are that neither study the Scriptures to find out sounds words nor consult with God or with the People to know what may be an acceptable word or a word spoken in due season either in reference to what God is a doing or the People are wanting in These may more aptly be stiled foolish than wise Preachers who more study humane than divine Writ and consult the mind of men especially great men rather than the mind of God and their own gain and interest more than the Peoples profit All I shall further say to these is As their sin is great against God and the Souls of the People even so without repentance and more wisdom their judgment will be heavy and their damnation slumbers not Let such think seriously of that saying of Peter But these as natural bruit beasts made to be taken and destroyed speak evil of the things they understand not and shall utterly perish in their own corruption 2 Pet. 2.12 But to be brief Secondly For Exhortation Secondly This shall serve for a word of Exhortation and that to two sorts of Persons First To such as Preach Secondly To such as Hear First Let me exhort and provoke all you that are wise Gospel Preachers to remember this word Seek out acceptable words even words of Truth and let that which is written be upright Oh suffer me to beseech you to seek out seasonable words both upon God's and his Peoples account Oh consider what Generation-work God hath in hand in your day in the present day and give it your word as Nehemiah did in his day Chap. 2. vers 3. In times of abounding of iniquity Lift up thy Voice like a Trumpet cry aloud spare not shew the people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sin Isa 58.1 And take that encouraging word and charge you have given to the Prophet Jeremiah Thou therefore gird up thy loyns and arise and speak unto them all that I command thee and be not dismayed at their faces Jer. 1.17 Oh my Brethren be prevailed upon to make it your main business next to the looking after your own Vines to look after acceptable words for the People Oh search out the cause you know not and see what your and Christ's Sheep want and Preach words seasonable or in due season Oh Beloved be not knowers but doers of the Word not deceiving your own Souls This will bring much honour to Christ and you will then so do your work as to have joy and not grief in the great day of Jesus Christ Secondly Let me exhort you that are Hearers to suffer a word of Exhortation not onely from me but from your Preachers also which enjoy wise and painful Preachers that make it their business to seek out acceptable words for you Oh esteem such highly for their work sake and their work for Christ's sake Oh slight not such words as cost them so dear or so much to find out for your use Oh sin not against such words as are seasonable and should be to you acceptable Suffer your Preachers to deal home and plainly with you 't is their duty and their love to Christ and you make their work easie take their labour of love kindly despise not pervert not prophesyings of such as seek out acceptable words and what-ever they speak is words of Truth and of uprightness If necessity be laid upon them to seek out acceptable words do not think you are at liberty whether you will receive or refuse them Nay think of that dreadful word Lo when this cometh to pass then shall they know that a Prophet hath been among you Ezek. 33.33 The great God that made nothing in vain hath not made wise Preachers in vain or that you should turn a deaf ear or a rebellious heart towards them They must sift hunt and search out acceptable words for you and you ought to receive them with all readiness of mind and take heed that they lose not through you the things which they have wrought Oh believe it your spiritual wise Preachers do bring you acceptable words meat in due season and therefore let him that hath ears hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches And lastly If Preachers must seek out acceptable words for the People then let their acceptable words be acceptably entertained of you As Daniel said to the King so let me say to all you to whom this Truth shall come Let my Counsel be acceptable to you and break off your sins by Righteousness and your iniquities by shewing of mercy Dan. 4.27 I mean your sins against wise Preachers and their acceptable words from Jesus Christ Thus much for this Word and this
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
to God the things that are God's And this I have done so far as I might without sin or flattery Wherefore vouchsafe to peruse soberly and throughly these lines and know here is Milk for Babes and stronger Meat for stronger Ones And let me tell you God is now speaking to you and saying to you as of old How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in scorning and fools hate knowledge Turn you at my reproof behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you and make known my words unto you Prov. 1.22 23. 'T is now your day of Grace Jesus Christ is wooing all his People to come out of Babylon but if ye will not hear and fear and repent your selves ye must be sure to partake of her judgment as well as of her sins Rev. 18.4 O! do not think Superstition or Idolatry or Will-worship or mens invention in God's Worship a small sin but remember that dreadful word Do we provoke the Lord are we stronger than he O no be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap 1 Cor. 10.22 Gal. 6.10 Wherefore do nothing partially in the matter of Religion be not circumspect about Doctrine and careless about Discipline or Church wayes be not strict for second-Table-Duties and make no Conscience of first-Table-sins Neither make it all your holiness to mind Family-Duties but also look well to your publick-Worship or your walking with Jesus Christ in his Publick Worship Such things as these Christian Reader are in this little Treatise presented to thy view and consideration be pleased to take nothing in the evil or worse part but as thou hast all from love so let thy love accept of all that carries Christ's Image and Superscription upon it and with thy Mantle of Love cover all thou meetest with of humane frailty And if by all or any thing herein presented to thee thou reapest any real benefit or profit I request you to give God all the glory and say Of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever which is and shall be the earnest prayer of him who is and will remain thine to serve thee S. MORE The Contents Ecclesiastes 12.9 Moreover Because the Preacher was wise he still taught the people knowledge Yea he gave good heed and sought out and set in order many Proverbs c. THe words in general contain an account of an Accomplished Preacher 1. As to his Qualification 2. As to his Work Act and Dispensation 3. The blessing and advantage of enjoying such Preachers But more particularly take notice of these things following 1. A Preface in this word Moreover 2. A Reason of what was done Because the Preacher was wise 3. The Person spoken of The Preacher 4. That which is related or declared concerning him and that in these particulars 1. The Act his constancy in Teaching c. 2. Perseverance in this Work He still taught the People Knowledge 3. His wariness or circumspection in managing this great Work Yea he gave good heed 4. His diligence industry or laboriousness He sought he did not catch up or deliver any thing but what he had sought out and found meet to be delivered 5. We have his fidelity or perfection in Preaching he did set in order many Proverbs He set in not out of God's or due order his Preachings or Proverbs amplified in these Words The Preacher sought out acceptable words But again In the next place we have the Property or Excellency of that which was Preached or Written it was upright even words of Truth 6. Lastly We have the Vse and Benefit of the properties of such Preachings or Preachers in these words The words of the wise are as Goads and Nails The Wise Gospel-Preacher's Praise and Practice ECCLES 12.9 10 11. 9. Moreover because the Preacher was Wise he still taught the People Knowledge yea he gave good heed and sought out and set in order many Proverbs 10. The Preacher sought to find out acceptable Words and that which was written was upright even words of Truth 11. The words of the Wise are as Goads and as Nails fastned by the Masters of Assemblies which are given by one Shepherd SOlomon the Wise is declared to be the Composer of this Book and it may probably be the last he wrote the which I shall not positively determine nor whether these three Verses be his because they seem more probable to have been wrote by his Historian or that hand which committed this Book to the Churches Treasury rather than by himself and are part of the conclusion of this Book As to the Book it self I shall say nothing the words I have pitched upon having no dependance upon any thing that went before unless to commend it and incourage to improve it because both of the excellency of the Preacher and of that which was Writ or Preach'd The words in general contain an account of an Accomplished Preacher First As to his Qualification Secondly As to his Work Act or Dispensation Thirdly The Blessing and Advantage of injoying such Preachers But more particularly take notice of these things in these Verses 1. A Preface in this word Moreover 2. A Reason of what was done Because the Preacher was Wise 3. The Person spoken of The Preacher 4. That which is related or declared concerning him and that in these Particulars First The Act his constancy in teaching c. Secondly Perseverance in his Work He still taught the People Knowledge His wariness or circumspection in managing this great Work Yea he gave good heed Thirdly His Diligence Industry or Laboriousness He sought out He did not catch up or deliver any thing but what he had sought out and found meet to be delivered Fourthly We have his Fidelity or Perfection in Preaching He did set in order many Proverbs He set in not out of God's or due order his Preachings or Proverbs amplified in these words The Preacher sought out acceptable words But again in the next place we have the Property or Excellency of that which was preached or written it was upright Even words of Truth Lastly We have the Use and Benefit or Properties of such Preaching and Preachers in these words The words of the Wise are as Goads and Nails fastned by the Masters of Assemblies which are given from one Shepherd I shall not trouble you with the opening or clearing of any obscurity in the Text at this time but refer that till afterwards where more conveniently I may dispatch it but shall proceed to some Doctrines or Conclusions hence observable The first is taken from the first word or Preface Moreover We may take these words not only litterally as spoken of the Typical Solomon but as Prophetical and pointing at a greater than Solomon our Lord Jesus That so spake as never man spake John 7.46 And also we might eye these words as dogmatical or instructing what every Wise Gospel-Preacher
ought to be and do whence we may collect thus much Doct. 1. That the Lord is not sparing or scant in means of Grace to his Church and People but hath provided and doth afford them one and another means of help and advantage for Soul-Concernments God as God hath in Mercy and Wisdom dealt with the Second Creation and state of Grace as with the first Creation In Nature he hath not made single Fruits Flowers Plants Grain or Beasts Birds or Fishes but innumerable in number and manifold in kind even so great variety and plenty that even the wisest of Moralists or Naturalists scarce knew what need or end there is even of that variety or plenty unless to commend the Creator Men are often times at a loss how to improve and not despise that plenty Even so is it in spiritual and supernatural things Men are so fully provided of them that they even surfeit and are wanton under God's Divine Ordinances and Provisions of Grace as once Israel did of Manna yet it seems good to God to have moreovers and to minister himself in manifold wisdom to his People To instance thus God dealt with Israel he gave them not onely Moses but Aaron also not onely Sacrifice but Circumcision also nor Circumcision only but the Passeover also nor the Tabernacle but the Temple also not onely Priests and Levites but Prophets and Nazarites likewise That so God might say as Isaiah 5. What could I have done more for my Vineyard which I have not done And this Job tells you Chap. 33.14 15. So Solomon in the 9th of his Proverbs Even so hath he done under the Gospel not tying us to any one Way or Means but affords us various Means and Seasons We have the Heaven and the Earth declaring his Glory and Handywork Psal 19. Also we have the Law and Statutes of God in his Scripture which is able to make the Man of God wise unto Salvation We have also the Law written in our hearts We have Instruments without and Instincts within We have the Word and Men without and the Spirit within We have Mercy and Judgment all whispering to us Fear ye the Lord. So that we may truly say God as well as Man hath his Moreovers And we serve not a hard Master nor is our reproof and destruction less than sufficiently of our selves Now the Grounds and Reasons why God walks thus towards his People are briefly these Reas 1. That the Glory of the Wisdom Power and Bounty of God might the more gloriously appear by the riches of his Liberality and plenty of Provisions afforded to his People Prov. 16.4 Rom. 2.4 Ephes 1.18 19. Col. 1.27 Reas 2. God makes his Provisions to be very large and plentiful affording us moreovers to the end that we might with the more ease and facility do his Will and attain the knowledge and enjoyment of Salvation so Isa 28.9 10 11 12. and this the Apostle seems to eye Acts 17.30 31. And the Prophet Micah Chap. 6.6 7 8. Christ saith His Yoke is easie and his Burthen light because he affords light sufficient to see it with and strength enough to do what is required and helps many to assist us and rewards full and rich enough to quicken and incourage us But again Reas 3. The Lord doth it to comply with our nature and frailty which is not so well satisfied nor so effectually furthered or helped by one Way or Means as by diversity and variety and therefore vouchsafeth us his Moreovers or Line upon Line and Precept upon Precept Reas 4. And lastly It is to stop the Mouth and leave silent and inexcusable all neglecters and despisers of Gospel-Grace and Provisions since God can say to all such What need I have done more than what I have done This God pleads for himself 2 Chron. 36.15 16. and Luke 13.7 8 9. The first Vse is of Information By way of Improvement or Application briefly let this first admonish us to believe how inexcusable wicked and ungodly Men and Women are who have God's overpluses and moreovers I mean that living under the light of the Gospel among the Saints enjoy such means to better them and change them and yet remain ignorant profane and ungodly Will not all this present favour and goodness of God to them one day rise up in judgment against them and be an aggravation against them as Paul saith Rom. 2.3 4 5 6. Oh! let such think seriously and timely upon two Scriptures and I shall say no more to this Use Luk. 19.41 42. And when he was come near he beheld the City and wept over it saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peace but now they are hid from thine eyes compared with Heb. 6.4 5 6 7 8. For it is impossible for those who were once inlightned and have tasted of the Heavenly Gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good Word of God and the Powers of the World to come if they shall fall away to renew them again unto repentance seeing they crucified to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame For the Earth which drinketh in the Rain that cometh oft upon it and bringeth forth Herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed receiveth blessing from God But that which beareth Thorns and Briars is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned Secondly Caution Secondly Let it be a word of Caution to all of us not to be wanton and despise and slight God 's moreovers or his overplus kindnesses as I am afraid too many do among Professors at this day like wanton Israel that despised God's Manna Numb 11.4 5 6. calling it light Bread Chap. 21.5 Even saying as Christ's Disciples What need this waste Matth. 26.8 Like unto many now-adayes that say What need so much Preaching Yea What need of such long Preaching Is not shorter Preaching better Preaching I beseech you take heed of such thoughts lest God takes away our plenty and give us scarcity enough Oh let me perswade such wanton Christians to take the Counsel Peter gives to Simon Magus Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee Acts 8.22 23. Oh Friends take heed of such thoughts of such vain yea vile thoughts for surely we are not grown such quick Learners or good Scholars or so soon taught what the good and perfect Will of the Lord is as to conclude we need few Preachers or little Preaching Neither is the Preaching of the Gospel such a mean Excellency as worth little more than to be despised or hath the Lord Christ given Gifts to men in vain Oh no he that hath given Gifts to many not to one he well knew many Preachers were necessary that by here a little and there a little by Line upon Line and Precept upon Precept because the
People are so hard to learn Isa 28.9 Therefore the Lord hath conferred upon the Church diversity of Gifts though they proceed from one Spirit He hath set in his Church not only Teachers but Prophets also and dare we despise Prophets or Prophesyings and say What need have we of these Ministrations Hath the Lord given diversly as to Degrees or Measures to one three to another five Tallents and shall he that hath received the least be thought unmeet to have the freedom to improve his Measure for his Lords Honour or his Brethrens Advantage or where the Lord bestows a larger Measure and his Servants are faithful in the Stewardship thereof dare any say the time is waste and the Message too long Not remembring that although he that can speak but five words understandingly must be accepted yet he which can speak ten must not be muzled or restrained Christ and his Spirit ought to be free Wherefore remember that saying of Paul Let no man blame us in this abundance which is administred by us 2 Cor. 8.20 And to cure this evil take this short direction Be more sensible of your want of the means of Grace and more humble spirited truly hungring and thirsting after Gospel-Ordinances Lastly Let it be a word of Exhortation If our Means and Provisions be abundant and redundant let not our fruitfulness be short lest what the Lord Jesus said to Jerusalem he say to us also The Kingdom shall he taken from you and given to a People bringing forth the Fruit thereof and he let out his Vineyard to other Husbandmen Matth. 21.34 41 43. with Heb. 6.8 How dreadful then will thy state and mine be to enjoy much means of Grace and to bring forth none or little Fruit by it Oh! consider this all you that forget God So much for the first Particular or word in the Text Moreover Now let us consider the next Particular which contains the Reason of what the Preacher said or did that is in these words Because the Preacher was Wise Before I go further Three things need some clearing or Exposition First How this suits with some other of Scripture-Expressions for Solomon to commend himself or to say the Preacher was Wife or Painful yea Useful also Secondly What a Preacher is or what this Preacher was Thirdly What this Wisdom is that is here spoken of For the clearing of the first thing Though this Book is Solomons and bears his Name and was by him Composed yet is it not clear that this Copy or these Words were his own But as David and other Kings had their Scribes and Pen-men which did write for them and wrote after them even so might Solomon and doubtless had as his Story in 1 Kings 4.3 compared with 2 Chron. 9.29 doth declare And so though he did not yet they well might set him forth But secondly Although in moral respects and at some time it is not fit for a man to commend himself yet in two respects a man may especially a Preacher so do and be innocent in so doing First in case of scandal he may vindicate himself from unjust aspersion and reproach So Samuel did the people had clouded and eclipsed his worthy and innocent Government 1 Sam. 8.4 5. therefore Chap. 12. he vindicates himself So also did Jeremiah Chap. 15.10 So Paul in 2 Cor. 10.3 7. so in Chap. 12. with that of Job 29. Secondly In furtherance of man's Work or Imployment a man may commend himself So Paul did 2 Cor. 2. and it Gal. 1.12 to 19. with chap. 2.6 7 8 9. Anâ— thus Nehemiah acted in chap. 5. from vers 14 to the close of the Chapter And thus I conceive if Solomon did commit this to the Churches Treasury from his own Hand or Pen in this latter sense he might humbly and innocently do it Bâ—â— possibly the stick or obscurity may be from thâ— Translators so rendring the Words for if thâ— words be thus read this difficulty is easily avoided and the sense preserved intire Moreover A Wisâ— Preacher will still give good heed and so it speak Duty and not Commendation Secondly Let me a little open this Particular What a Preacher is or this Preacher was that here is spoken of A Preacher is not onely such as are under Ministerial Unction or calling in Office oâ— Ministry But a Preacher is any or every such Person or Disciple of Christ that hath received Gifts of the Spirit to profit withal and is able to speak a word in due season to him that is weary for Edification Exhortation and Comfort and theâ—â— in Scripture are called Prophets or Prophesying Preachers as in that of Gen. 20.7 1 Cor. 12.28 And such a Prophetical or Prophesying Preacher was Solomon the Preacher in my Text and not an Official Ordained or Ministerial Preacher for such were only at that time the Tribe of Levi the High Priest Priests and Prophets Extraordinary But the Book tells us this Preacher was by Office a King not a Priest he was onely a Prophet or Membral Preacher even such a Preacher as that Church had many of and any Brother or Member of that Church who was able though not so able might as freely and as lawfully preach as Solomon as that passage Acts 13.15 compared with Luke 4.16 17. Ye men and brethren if you have any word of exhortation for the People say on And such Preachers Moses and Paul allowed Numb 11.29 And Moses said Enviest thou for my sake Would God that all the Lord's people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them compared with 1 Cor. 14.29 31. Let the Prophets speak and let the other judge for ye may all prophesie one by one that all may learn and all may be comforted Many other Testimonies may be added but because I shall speak to this more hereafter let this at present suffice The third thing to be cleared is What this Wisdom is or what is this Wisdom that Solomon saith the Preacher had and what that Wisdom is that every Preacher ought to have that will thus wisely or profitably Preach Wisdom as Solomon phraseth it doth not onely excel Folly Eccles 2.13 but Wisdom also excels Wit Wit is a quickness or acuteness of the Understanding to catch or apprehend things by But Wisdom is that depth of Reason and Judgment whereby Apprehensions Thoughts Sciences Purposes and Businesses are begun and compleated or are honourably profitably and regularly performed A Fool may have Wit only a Wise Man can have Wisdom or carry on his Design or Business wisely But still the Question is What Wisdom that is that is here treated of or is Preaching Wisdom even that Wisdom without which a man cannot be competent or profitable Preacher To which Question I Answer first Negativeâ— It is neither Moral Natural or acquired Wisdoâ— as Languages Tongues Arts or Sciences Thâ— I not only affirm but shall also confirm thouâ— when all is done no doubt but so saying mâ— make some
some men for Preaching-Work therefore Preaching-Work is God's Ordinance The proof of this lies most apparent in the first Argument and is confirmed further to us Psal 68.11 The Lord gave the Word great was the Company of them that published it compared with Ephes 4.8 12. Wherefore he saith when he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men For the Perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ Yea he that saith No man lighteth a Candle in vain or to put it under a Bushel Would not himself light so many Preaching-Candles or make so many Preachers in vain if Preaching were not his Ordinance Reas 5. Satan and sinners would never have so opposed Preaching had not Satan known that Preaching was God's Ordinance Satan opposes not sin no not the grossest wickedness but the purest and the most powerful Preachers and Preaching he hath alwayes most eagerly opposed witness Micah Zechariah Jeremiah Peter Paul Stephen And which of Christ's eminentest Preachers hath he not persecuted witness Acts 13.49 50. And the Word of the Lord was published throughout all the Regions but the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable Women and the chief Men of the City and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them out of their Coasts compared with Acts 17. and Rev. 11. Yea our own Times witness this how much the design of the Devil and his Creatures is to obstruct and hinder the Spiritual Preaching of the Gospel Like the Men Paul speaks of 1 Thess 2.15 16. Who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own Prophets and have persecuted us forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved to fill up their sins for the Wrath is come upon them to the utmost Reas 6. I might add that which not onely good Men have both practised and been persecuted for yea both the Lord himself and Angels have practised and Preached to us as our Work that must needs be God's Ordinance but this both Christ and his Apostles have taught and injoyned us Therefore to Preach is their Duty as they are able to Preach Mat. 28.19 Go and teach all Nations with 2 Tim. 4.2 Preach the Worâ— be instant in season out of season reprove rebukâ— exhort with all long-suffering and Doctrine wâ—â— 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3 4. First Vse of Reproof But now by way of Application this may serâ—â— for conviction or confutation of all such sensuaâ— sinful anti-scriptural men as deny the Preaching of the Gospel to be God's or a Divine Ordinance but mens device and design to advance their hâ—nour or profit in the World Do not some thâ— would not be thought to be small Fools spurn 〈◊〉 Preaching as needless uncertain mens pride 〈◊〉 not men say What can the Preachers tell us bâ— what they have told us and what we know a ready Nay are there not some even too many whose pride will not suffer them to own thâ— Preaching of the Word To these let me speaâ—â— that word of Solomon Prov. 1.22 How long simple ones will ye love simplicity and ye scorneâ— delight in scorning and fools hate knowledge 〈◊〉 that such that presume to question this undoubteâ— Truth of God Preaching even by men thereuâ—to qualified to be God's Ordinance because me that Preach are not nor ought to pretend to be in fallible would but consider this Are none sit 〈◊〉 Preach to you fallible ignorant shallow things iâ— things of Religion but who are infallible Diâ— not Paul that great Light say That he knew bâ—â— in part and prophesied but in part Yet was admitted to be a Preacher in full or a Preacher full worth hearing What these say argues no morâ— against Preaching than for a Scholar to say Mâ— Master is not a Scribe or Teacher in perfection therefore I will not learn of him yet may he be very able to teach the Scholar that he hath not yet learned Even so may an imperfect Preacher be very sufficient to teach an imperfect Christian Secondly Though the best of Preachers are or may be in some things fallible much of what Spiritual Preachers teach is infallible and you Hearers prove all things refuse nothing but hold fast only that which is good And thirdly Though Preachers preach proudly or may so do yet hear Gospel-Preachers humbly and the defect will be theirs not yours Else it will evidence pride in you not to hear such whom Christ appoints that you should hear Matth. 23.2 3. The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses Chair All therefore that they bid you observe that observe and do c. Fourthly Are they covetous of your Wealth be you never the less covetous yea more covetous of Christ's Treasury in their earthen Vessels and remember Solomon's Counsel Buy the Truth and sell it not also Wisdom Instruction and Understanding Prov. 23.23 And in so doing you shall at most but do as every wise Merchant-man ought to do when he had found one Pearl of great price he went and sold all that he had and bought it Mat. 13.46 Fifthly Do you know afore-hand what your Preachers will or can tell you which is more than you know yet Hear then for if they can tell you no new things they can tell what you should do with old things If they can tell you no new things they can tell you what you should do with old Truths which you say you know And 〈◊〉 arguing of yours proves you have not yet learn even to practise what you know of God for 〈◊〉 the knowers but the doers of the Law shall be â—â—stified Rom. 2.13 And remember what Peâ— saith in 2 Pet. 1.12 13. Wherefore I will not negligent to put you alwayes in remembrance of thâ— things though you know them and be establish in the present Truth Yea I think it meet as lâ—â— as I am in this Tabernacle to stir up your pâ—â— minds by putting you in remembrance Oh theâ—â—fore receive and consider this reproof Psal 4. Hâ— long ye Sons of Men will ye turn my Glory iâ— shame How long will ye love vanity and follâ—â— leasing or lying Arguments And consider whâ— the Lord saith to such as you are O Generation see the Word of the Lord Have I been a Wildeâ—ness unto Israel a Land of darkness Wherefâ—â— say my People We are Lords we will come no mâ— unto thee Jer. 2.31 And to conclude thâ— Use think upon that Scripture Psal 50.22 Consider this ye that forget God lest he tear you 〈◊〉 pieces and there be none to deliver you Second Use of Reproof This reproves such as own Preaching yet oppose it and these are not mean illiterate but glittering potent even learned Enemies of the preaching of the Gospel a Generation that are pure iâ— their own eyes but are not washed from their own filthiness Prov. 30.12 These are such that deal with Preachers and Gospel-Preaching as once he did with Jeremiah of whom we read ch
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
notice of you both at Hearing and when you omit and needlesly neglect to hear for he will not let his Name or Ordinances be taken in vain Exod. 20.7 Remember that Text Eccles 5.1 Take heed to thy foot when thou goest to the House of God and be more ready to hear than to offer the Sacrifice of Fools for they consider not that they do evil Men and Women must not think 't is hearing of men but hearing of God by men or through men it is not Man's Word or Ordinance but God's therefore take heed slight it not dally not with it the God of this most sacred Ordinance will not bear it at your hands Hearken what God saith 2 Chron. 24.19 Yet he sent unto them Prophets to bring them again unto the Lord and they testified against them but they would not give ear and the Spirit of the Lord came upon Zachariah the Son of Jehoiada the Priest which stood above the People and said unto them Thus saith God Why transgress ye the Commandment of the Lord that ye cannot prosper because ye have forsaken the Lord he hath also forsaken you Compare with this what you have Mat. 23.34 3â— 39. and then consider if there be not need to receive this Exhortation to take heed how you hear Oh! be not sleepy proud unbelieving forgetful unthankful or unfruitful hearers of the Worâ— of God for if the Lord Jesus when he broughâ— forth but barley Bread and small Fishes said Gather up the Fragments and let nothing be lost do you think then he will let such precious Breaâ— of Life which none but the Son of Man can givâ— you be lost John 6.12 Therefore to conclude Take heed that you despise not him that speaketh from Heaven in thâ— Ministry of the VVord Consider it and seâ— that you refuse not him that speaketh For if the escaped not who refused him that spake on Earth much more shall not we escape if we turn awâ— from him that speaketh from Heaven Heb. 12.25 Oh therefore be swift to hear though slow to speak against what you hear and let every one that hath ears to hear hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches Jam. 5.19 with Rev. 2.7 Thuâ— much for this first Observation Doct. 2. That which I noted from the opening of the words was That Prophetical Preaching or Prophesying by Saints or Brethren by vertue of Gifts and Membership without Office or Ministry conferred upon them is God's very Ordinance and a lawful way of Preaching Else Solomon how wise soever had sinfully Preached For the clearing of this Truth consider first what the Scripture speaks to this point First Moses that well understood the Mind of God was thus minded when he spake these words Enviest thou for my sake Would God that all the Lord's people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them Numb 11.29 Two things among others we may note here First That Moses did noâ— envy or disallow the Prophesying or Preaching of any that the Lord had made able and therefore puts by the envy and ignorance of those that did with this reply Enviest thou for my sake as if he had said you do evilly and sinfully in so doing Secondly Observe Moses how faithful soever in the House of God and against Usurpations and Innovations in the Church yet allows and approves that any one and every such one that the Lord should put his Spirit upon and make able might this do even Prophesie or Preach I would all the Lord's People were Prophets could and would Preach for I shall not forbid them Object 1. But if any shall Object and say This is not to the thing in hand For first these were eminent Elders and Officers or Rulers among the people and not private persons or ordinary Members of the Church I Answer Though it be granted that these were such even part of the seventy yet note they were not preaching Elders Secondly Neither preached they because such or such but because they had the Spirit and that moved and also filled them with matter and gave them utterance Thirdly Neither was this separation or pouring out of the Spirit mentioned vers 17. the Spirit of Preaching Gifts or Qualifications but the Spirit of Rule and Government as is most clear by considering what is offered 't was a portion of Moses Spirit to assist Moses not in Preaching but in Râ—ling and Governing Object 2. But if any shall object to this testimony That it proves not the thing for which it brought because this was extraordinary prophesying and these were immediate Prophets and not â—â—dinary or such as the Doctrine intends I answer True it is these were extraordinarâ— Persons but whether their Prophesying in thâ— place spoken of were extraordinary Preaching oâ— Prophesying doth not appear in this or any otheâ— place that I know of although I acknowledâ— there is such a kind of Prophesying But howeveâ— this is clear from this place That as many as tâ—â— Lord will spirit or qualifie for one or other sortâ— Preaching may and ought to Preach Else Mosâ— had wished too much and not answered the caâ—â— propounded but this may serve for this Object on But take a second VVitness which you haâ—â— 2 Chron. 17.7 8 9 10. where you find Jehâ—shaphat sent out his Princes as well as his Priest and Levites to Teach in the Cities of Judah anâ— the success was very glorious But take a third VVitness 1 Pet. 4.10 11 where we have the Apostle not only allowing but also provoking and enjoyning every man thâ— feareth the Lord to be a good Steward of the manifold Grace of God and he that hath receive that Gift of speaking a word in season is to minister and to speak according to that ability Goâ— giveth Take but one more 1 Cor. 14.29 31. wheâ— the Apostle allows and directs all the Prophets or prophesying Brethren in the Church to Prophefie Yea he asserts the truth of this Doctrine and justifies this for a lawful and laudable practice for so many in the Churches of the Saints as have preaching Gifts to Preach saying You may all prophesie one by one and let the Prophets prophesie and let no man forbid or envy it And thus the Preacher in my Text preached as a Prophet or Member of the Church not officially or as a Minister ordained unto this Work of Preaching is clear For by Office he was a King not a Preacher such were the high Priests and Levites only but our Preacher was a Membral Preacher or one exercising his Gifts according to his Liberty and Duty Yea our Lord Jesus who preached in the Jewish Synagogue and was allowed so to do thus he preached in the account of the Congregation not by virtue of that anointing by which he was Christ and Lord For though he were so yet they knew it not nor allowed it they only gave him the liberty and priviledge of other Members of the Church Such a priviledge was given
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
humane Learning but layes down Rules for choice without this expedient 1 Tim. 3. Object 2. But possibly some may say Is it not there said Let not him that is chosen be a Novice and is not that as much as to say unlearned or unskilful in learning To which I Answre 〈◊〉 but our learned Tribe Novices God forbid they should think so or the Lord's Peoples Portion be no better for then none besides the Learned should have been capable of choice but Paul acknowledgeth that the Corinths were wise not only their Ministers but they 1 Cor. 1.4 5. with Epist 2.11.19 But to Answer this more fully Paul intends onely a young unskilful unexperienced Christian and not a young Grammarian or Logician for he may be as proud as any that hath most skill in Arts as many Instances shew and this is the reason laid down by the Apostle why he must not be a Novice lest he be pussed up with pride and surely if the learning here meant be Oxford Cambridge I mean of the Schools Paul it seems knew men were very quick to know what learning he meant since Scripture and himself knew another Learning better which the Scriptures shew as I have offered or else he foresaw men would as at this day idolize and dote upon these painted Feathers wherefore he saith if any thing but very little for this University-breeding cryed up as so absolutely necessary for Preaching although the Scriptures know nothing of it Object 3. But some may say Are not the Schools of the Prophets mentioned in Scripture as in the place 2 Kings 22.14 Is it not said that Huldah the Prophetess dwelt in a Colledge and had not the Prophets peculiar places of residence and habitation wherein as in Vniversities or Nurseries of Learning they studied and improved themselves in order to Preaching or Prophesying as we real 2 Kings 2.3 5. 〈…〉 Acts 19.9 If there were any more of these 〈◊〉 I should have considered them also but so many have onely come to my knowledge To all those Scriptures I Answer they do not in the least oppose the Truth I have asserted that not Humane but Spiritual Wisdom fits for Preaching the Gospel of Christ For grant that these places intended Colledges and Universities and such like places yet it follows not that these were places imployed or improved for Trayning or preparing Persons for Gospel-preaching for it doth not appear that any Gospel-preachers issued forth from thence And secondly The Prophets and Prophetesses we read of were extraordinary Prophets and not such Preachers or Prophets as the Doctrine intends and speaks of but if Schools and Universities will fit us to be such Prophets as can declare things to come from the Lord then let us all that fear the Lord go to these Schools that we may learn thus to Prophesie But this is not a mediate but an immediate Gift either by Dreams Visions or Oracles And thirdly For Tyrannus his School mentioned in the forecited Acts 19. nothing is there declared concerning what he taught nor whom he taught but most probable it was not Gospel-knowledge and infallible it is it was not how men might be qualified for Preaching for this was not permitted or allowed any open Schools in that place at that day as appears by the contradiction Paul there met withal and how needless had it been to a learned Hebrew or Greek since that was their Mother-Tongue many of them being Jews and Greeks as vers 10. declares but Tyrannus was allowed to teach in his School wherefore it is probable he taught nothing of this sort of Knowledge Object 4. Some do Object and say How can a Preacher know that the Scripture is rightly translated that knows not the Original I Answer By the same way and means that the unlearned People of the Lord come to know it and it concerns them and is necessary for them to know though I say not of the same necessity For if they be not assured that the Scriptures as translated are rightly translated what shall they build their Faith on except on their learned Leaders and Translators honesty and ability and this is to pin their Faith in a business of most weight and concernment on the Priests sleeve and this is but to believe as the Church believes and so the blind leading the blind they may both fall into the Ditch Secondly I Answer It is not by knowing Arts and Sciences or Languages Preachers or People can come to be assured that the Scriptures are the Word of God and rightly translated but by the humble sanctified and diligent searching into and studying of the Scriptures 't is by comparing things spiritually together as the Apostle tells us saying Which things also we speak not in the words which Man's wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual 1 Cor. 2.13 I say by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus must we nay may we know the Power and Spirit Truth and Purity of the Scriptures and it is the Godly judicious Spiritual Christian best knows how aptly or corruptly they are translated And thirdly I Answer Grant this were so which I do not grant yet this Learning and Excellency is more requisite and essential to a Translator Examiner or Corrector of translated Copies than to a Gospel-preacher But lastly Since so many thousand Learned as well as Godly have sealed the Truth of the Scriptures Purity and Divine Authority notwithstanding all its humane Imperfections in Translation therefore we need not now or continually University-Learning to do that Work which is already sufficiently done to our hands Object 5. Some do Object and say How can the Scripture be interpreted in dark passages without this help I Answer As a Lanthorn without a Candle will no way help to shew a man his way though a Candle without a Lanthorn may no more can this dark Lanthorn of humane Learning and Languages without the Candle of the Lord as too abundant experience hath witnessed but that Candle singly can and doth Miserable Experience sheweth what Interpreters the School-men and Fathers have been and yet are even the Fathers of well-nigh all the Individual Errors in Judgment and Practice in the European World The Devil and the Learned may be admired for them if for any thing but take some Scriptures for proof of so weighty a Point when our Lord comes to shew how Ministers and Interpreters of Scripture shall be furnished for this Work he saith When the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak and he shall shew you things to come John 16.13 The like Testimony gives Paul But we speak the wisdom of God in a Mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the World unto our Glory which none of the Princes of this World knew for had they known it they would not have Crucified the Lord of
hate Knowledge to cry up the Spirit 's Teaching and the Scriptures Wisdom the best of Learning and to cry down this empty dangerous smoaky humane Learning I say 't is not slighting or despising Learning to distinguish and difference it from Spiritual and Heavenly Knowledge to teach that humane Learning such as the difference is about is not necessary or helpful for Preaching doth neither deny or imply that Learning is useful or less than a Gift of God and useful as other natural Gifts and Excellencies are Is that Plant good for nothing which is not good for food or delightful to smell on Oh no for it may be good and profitable for Physick Even so is Learning even this Learning in Controversie to teach men Civil and Political Government or fit men for Magistracy but dangerous for Gospel-Preachers good for Physitians Lawyers Historians Navigators Surveyors of Land and the like but needless for Preaching good for Travellers Merchants Souldiers and the like but not for Home-dwellers or Church-men doubtless there are many lawful and laudable uses for humane Learning though this be spared therefore I hope none will say I despise it though I affirm it ought not to be injoyned or imposed as essentially necessary for Gospel-Preaching And thus I have endeavoured to Answer all such Objections as I have met with that are brought against that which hath been offered to wit that humane natural or artificial Wisdom or Learning is not the Gospel-Preachers Wisdom mentioned in the Text or that which will fit a man to be a Gospel-Preacher or qualifie unto Wise and Gospel-preaching in the Negative Let me in the Affirmative now declare what this Wisdom is which every Gospel-Preacher ought to have and cannot be competently qualified unto Preaching without it it is the saving sanctifying Grace of God and Spiritual Gifts and assistance of the Spirit of God This Divine Wisdom is Essential Wisdom for a Preacher and having this Wisdom though without other Wisdom a Preacher may be sufficiently accomplished unto Preaching For the better clearing of this I shall more particularly open wherein Preaching-Wisdom lies in three things First That the Preacher be enriched with the Wisdom of Grace or the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of Wisdom and a good understanding have all they that do thereafter Prov. 1.7 Psal 119.10 To be spiritually Wise is to be seasoned with Salt of Grace to be instated in Covenant with the Lord Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom as well as Righteousness 1 Cor. 1.30 31. Though every gracious Person is not a Preacher yet he who-ever he be that undertakes to Preach cannot be wise enough to be Christ's Preacher that is not Holy and Sanctified in Jesus Christ this the Lord seems to prove to Jeremiah 1.5 Before I formed thee in the Belly I knew thee and before thou camest out of the Womb I sanctified thee and ordained thee a Prophet unto the Nations Mark God layes the Foundation of Prophecy or Preaching in electing Love and sanctifying of the Heart not education of Learning or excellency in Brain Thus the Lord Jesuâ— dealt with Paul to qualifie him for Preaching Gal. 1.15 16. It pleased God who separated 〈◊〉 from my Mothers Womb and called me by hâ— Grace to reveal his Son in me that I might Preacâ— him among the Heathen immediately I conferrâ— not with flesh or blood neither went I up to Jerusâ—lem to them which were Apostles before me â— So 2 Tim. 1.5 6. with chap. 3.14 15. But secondly Preaching-Wisdom or the Gospel-preaching-Wisdom consists in having mucâ— and plentiful experience of the way of God's dealing with poor Souls when he delivers them out 〈◊〉 sin and brings them into a state of Grace Everâ— wise Preacher or skilful Work-man that needeâ— not be ashamed ought to have clear and plentiful acquaintance with Satans Wiles Temptations anâ— Delusions and with all the Concernments of a poâ—â— sinning sinking sorrowing Soul and therefore ought not to be a Novice in the dealings or out goings of God with poor Creatures He is 〈◊〉 Preach from Experience not for Experience a Merchants that travel to the Indies or the Antichristian Priests of the World do A Gospel-Preacher should be able to say as John saith iâ— his first Epistle Chap. 1. vers 1. That which was from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the Word 〈◊〉 Life that declare we unto you v. 3. So saith Paul 〈◊〉 are not ignorant of his wiles and devices 2 Cor. 2.11 He that Preacheth â—ithout or beyond Experience is like a man that tells one his way to a Place or Countrey he never saw he must do it very rawly and uncertainly Even so it is in this case He that is to guide others in their way to Heaven ought to have gone it before himself or else he will prove an uncertain Guide to others Thirdly and lastly Every Gospel-Preacher's Wisdom should lie in having rich and plentiful acquaintance with the Scripture not only or so much in the Letter as in the Sence Scope Doctrine and real Interpretation of the Word And if these things be in a Preacher and abound with continual Prayer and uninterrupted fellowship of the Spirit of Grace he shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus 2 Pet. 1.8 And thus having proved and opened this Doctrine to wit That every Gospel-Preacher ought to be wise that is spiritually Wise I shall proceed to make some Application of the Point The first Vse is of Information First Let it be a word of Instruction or Information first To shew us how unwise such Preachers are and how unfit to be Preachers unto others who are so unwise as to oppose and deny this Doctrine That Grace and Spiritual Gifts or Wisdom is sufficient and essential to a Preacher Nothing shames and truly cloudes the honour and reputation of persons pretending to worth and judgment more than to be ignorant or deceived in or about their own Callings or Imployments For a Philosopher to mistake in the Nature of Philosophy or a General of an Army to be ignorant of the very Theory or Discipline of War Is it not a great shame It is no less shameful for the Trâ—â—â— of Levi the Princes and Fathers of the Church the Popes and Prelates of our day to be such â—â—staken deceived Doves as to be ignorant and 〈◊〉 madly confident in bewraying their Egyptian blindness concerning their professed Art at Trade Preaching and the right qualifications 〈◊〉 Preachers although they get all their great Wealâ—â— by Preaching or Appendixes thereunto as 〈◊〉 Universities Courts Pulpits and learned Vâ—lumes to assert this blind and Anti-scriptual Coâ—clusion that Humane-Breeding University-Learâ—ing Languages and Sciences are essential Qualiâ—cations such as without which no man can 〈◊〉 ought to meddle with Gospel-Preaching contraâ—â— to what hath largely been proved May I not
People or Multitude of Believers being intrusted with this business will chuse simple and unwise Preachers I Answer briefly Their Rule in this business prevents this Objection For they must be wise that ought to be admitted to Preach and the Church must not only be simple and ignorant but undutiful and disobedient to Christ's commands or else this danger is avoided And though Babylons Builders are blind in this matter yet Christ's Church is wise and seeing and the Spiritual Man discerneth all things 1 Cor. 2.15 2 Thess 2.15 And so much for this Objection The second Use is of Caution Secondly Let this Use be a word of Caution to all such as either design or are already engaged in Preaching-work Look to this Doctrine That you are in God's as well as his Peoples account wise truly wise richly wise with the Spiritual Heavenly Gospel-wisdom Oh Beloved undertake not this weighty glorious honourable Work or employment of Preaching without sutable aptness and fitness thereunto Run not before Jesus Christ sends you remembring Rom. 10.15 How can they Preach except they be sent 〈◊〉 Take not this honour this undue honour to your selves to be judges of your sufficiency For it is written Heb. 5.14 No man taketh this honour t◠himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron Be of the temper and spirit of Jeremiah have lo◠thoughts of your selves and abilities and uprightly say as he did Ah Lord God behold I cannot speak for I am a Child Jer. 1.6 And with Moses say Oh my Lord I am not eloquent neither heretofore nor since thou hast spoken to thy Servant but I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue Exod. 4. Oh you Beloved to whom I am now speaking in this Use be mindful of that word Eccles 5.2 Be not rash with thy Mouth and let not thy Heart be hasty to utter any thing before God for God is in Heaven therefore let thy words be few 'T is Soul-work you are to do therefore be wise 't is Christ's Work therefore be wise 't is honourable Work therefore be wise 't is hard Work very difficult Work therefore be wise For who is sufficient for these things 't is dangerous Work yea most dangerous of all Work If we do this deceitfully or negligently or foolishly think on that word Eccles 5.6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin neither say thou it was an error Wherefore should God be angry at thy voice and destroy the work of thy hands Oh remember Ezek. 3.17 18. If thou warn not the wicked from his wicked way the same wicked man shall surely die in his iniquity but his blood will I require at thy hand Be therefore wise truly wise Heavenly wise spiritually wise richly wise in all the revealed wisdom of God for God hath said He will be sanctified in them that draw nigh him and before all the people he will be glorified Numb 10.3 But that you may be wise take these few Directions and helps as sufficient for the attainment of Preachers-wisdom Direct 1. First and above all Be much in Communion with God by Prayer for wisdom for every good and perfect Gift cometh down from the Father of Lights and your way to have it is by Prayer So saith James If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth liberally and upbraideth not chap. 1.5 Beloved all we that Preach and all ye that desire this great Work of Breaching we do all of us lack wisdom yea very much lack wisdom therefore pray Oh pray abundantly for wisdom that we may receive it Thus did Solomon and pleased God and obtained his request 1 Kings 3.7 8 9. And this Paul the great Apostle of the Gentiles desired the Thessalonian-Church do do for him even to pray that the Word of the Lord might have free course and be glorified by him and his Companions On Brethren and Beloved pray much and fervently for your selves and beg also the constant fervent Prayers of all the Saints and Churches of the Saints that you and all that labour in the Word and Doctrine may be truly richly Spiritually wise Direct 2. Secondly Would you be Spiritually wise Be diligent painful and abundant in the study and searching into the Scriptures for this is able onely able of outward helps to make the Man of God wise even throughly wise unto Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 with 1 Tim. 4.15 16. Meditate on these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all continue in them that thou mayest save thy self and them that hear Oh my dear Brethren and Friends this is a Preachers study and work to search and study the Scriptures not Fathers Commentators or School-men as his business this is but a by-study it is Scripture-study even the Old and New Testament which is our great business even our all to study for 't is Scripture and Gospel that you must Preach not Books nor mens Opinions therefore study the Scripture diligently and humbly Direct 3. Thirdly Be very much in the practice of Godliness walk much with God if you would be wise and know much of the mind of God Thus God acted towards Abraham Gen. 18.17 He would not hide his Counsel from him because he was Godly and would command and reach his Family the fear of the Lord so in Danel's case So our Lord also promiseth John 7.17 saying If any man will do his Will he shall know the Doctrine whether it be of God Direct 4. Fourthly Be much in Communion with Saints for with the well-advised is wisdome therefore if Preachers would be wise they must walk in the way of good men and keep the paths of the Righteous Prov. 2.20 Paul sat at the feet of Gamaliel and thus Apollos became wise through converse with Aquila and Priscilla and thus Mary may be said to become wise by sitting at the feet of our Lord Jesus Acts 22.3 with chap. 18.25 26. and Luke 10.25 So that if a Preacher desire to be wise his way is to hold and maintain much Christian-fellowship and Communion with the Saints even with the wisest and most experienced among them This may serve for direction in this matter therefore I beseech you that are Gospel-Preachers to strive to be wise by the exercise of all holy Means for by so doing you may obtain to be such Preachers of whom it may be said Moreover because the Preacher was wise he still taught the People knowledge And this shall suffice for the first Branch of this Verse concerning what the Preacher was and his qualification I come now to the second Branch of the Text which contains the first part of the wise Preachers Act or Work He still taught the People knowledge First These words contain either the Preacher's persistency or going on with his Work Or Secondly His proficiency or ripening at or in his Work He still taught the people knowledge Not as one that was at a stand or height but as
5.20 Oh! let such understand that though such persons actings Christ may love yet oft-times he loves not the principle of their obedience nor will save their Souls as is hinted Mark 10.21 22 23. Man's good Nature is bad Nature with God and such men are as fit and fair for Hell as the worst Natures and vilest of men as Christ saith Mat. 21.31 Preach to men the knowledge of themselves and their undone condition without the Lord Jesus and his Righteousness put them often in mind of that Scripture 2 Tim. 3.5 Having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away Forms of Godliness or Worship will no more help a sinful Creature to Heaven than Food or Physick can give a dead man life or strength or empty dishes satisfie a hungry stomach Though Rome say otherwise that bare Forms will save sinful Souls as a little Water Oyl Cream c. used in Baptism will save the Infant from damnation and make it regenerate and a Child of God and that every one that receives their idol Host in the Mass receives infallibly Jesus Christ and so in other particulars But you that are wise Preachers teach your people knowledge and make them understand That without holiness no man shall see God Heb. 12.14 Without forms men may go to Heaven though never Baptised and though they have never received the Supper of the Lord but none without holiness Doing of those things whilst in a state of Nature is not Holiness for the heart may be as unholy after as before yea in the very Act of Communion in the Ordinances as Judas Mat. 26.20 23. Isa 1.11 to 16. with that excellent place Gal. 6.15 Therefore Preach men into the understanding and knowledge of their own vileness and weakness and unbottom men from leaning or depending on their moral or legal Righteousness make them know this was that Rock on which the Jews were split and dropt into Hell Wherefore because they sought it not meaning Righteousness by Faith but as it ware by the Works of the Law Rom. 9.32 But again You that are wise Preachers Preach the people into the knowledge of God as well as into the knowledge of themselves make them to understand the knowledge of God as just and as merciful Oh let sinners know God is Just Holy and Righteous And will by no means or not at all clear the guilty or acquit the wicked Nahum 1.3 Cause the deceived Multitude to know the Just and Holy Nature of God that they may not flatter and deceive themselves with hopes and thoughts of happiness in a sinful state and wayes of wickedness because God is merciful and gracious for he is also equally written to be Just and Holy and a God visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children and upon their Childrens Children unto the third and fourth Generation Exod. 34.7 Oh beloved Cause ignorant Souls to know and consider if God be just as well as merciful that they must also be righteous and holy or else God's justice will not spare them but condemn them to all eternity unless they believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus Oh! cause sinners to know the Justice of God and how impossible it is to walk on in wickedness and disobedience to the Mind of God and Righteousness of the Gospel and be happy by causing them to know the sense of that Scripture Deut. 29.19 20. And it come to pass when he heareth the words of this curse that he bless himself in his heart saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imaginations of my heart to add drunkenness to thirst The Lord will not spare him but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoke against that man and all the curses that are written in this Book shall lie upon him and the Lord shall blot out his name from under Heaven Brethren when you have done this make them know that are bitten with fiery Serpents that God hath provided a ransom for wounded sinners and as Moses lifted up the brazen Serpent in the Wilderness so lift up the Lord Jesus Christ in the Preaching of the Gospel shew all wounded and undone sinners the way of healing by the alone Righteousness and Satisfaction of the Lord Jesus make them know when wounded in Conscience and undone in themselves that then if they come sinners with their sin and misery upon them without any Righteousness Qualifications Preparations or Performances only as sinners with Ropes about their Necks weary and heavy laden he will ease them and they shall find rest to their Souls and this without money or monies worth without regard to their humiliation repentance reformation and amendment of life Oh make them understand the free Grace of God to the vilest of returning sinners make them to know the new and unchangeable Covenant of God with his people even the Covenant of freest Grace to pardon in pardoning all sinners past present and to come and never to alter or change the state and happiness of such Souls to all eternity Jer. 31.31 32. Oh be exhorted all you that are and would be accounted wise Preachers thus to Preach to your people and teach them this good knowledge of God both as just to all not in Christ and merciful to all in Christ how vile and miserable soever in themselves and thus to do is to teach the people knowledge aright Oh Brethren you Nurses of the Children of God draw out the Brests of your Consolation and give the little ones of Christ nourishment nourish them with the Word of knowledge and having begotten them to Christ do not starve those you have begotten to Christ as bad Nurses do many times their Children but having begun a good work in any perfect it to the day of Christ be Epaphrases alwayes labouring that the Saints may alwayes stand perfect and compleat in all the Will of God Col. 4.12 Objection But some may possibly say to me Is it in the Preachers power how wise soever to teach or infuse knowledge into the people Is not this the peculiar prerogative of Jesus Christ to be eyes to the blind and to give understanding to the simple And doth not Paul say He may plant and Apollo water but God must give the increase Prov. 8.14 20. 1 Cor. 3.6 And therefore why do you urge it on the Preacher as his Work and Duty to distil and infuse knowledge into the people as if it were in his power to teach the people to know Answer To this I Answer Doubtless and beyond a peradventure it is in every wise Preachers power to do his duty which is thus to lay out himself to the utmost that the people may know And secondly Every wise Preacher and the most of Preachers though wise might do more at this work than they do But 3ly Though without Divine concurrence and presence with them in the Work their Work will produce little yet if they work not diligently
at this work very little advantage can be expected But if they be faithful and painful they may yea shall do much through him that strengtheneth them and hath promised to be with them in their way They are in God's way and in God's way God will be found as he hath said Exod. 4.12 with Mat. 28.20 Lastly Wise Preachers should still teach the people knowledge for though they know they without God cannot teach the people knowledge yet God can by them teach his people knowledge even then when they think they can do least for the people Therefore to conclude the Answer of this Objection Let us that Preach the Gospel consider that of Solomon Eccles 11.6 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 alike good Therefore you who are Spiritually-wise Preachers of the Gospel be prevailed upon to make the peoples knowing your main business and work in Preaching like Paul that great Preacher of the Gentiles whose work was to teach all men in or unto all wisdom that he might present all men perfect in Christ Jesus Whereunto saith he I also labour striving according to his working which worketh in me mightily Col. 1.28 29. And to conclude this Use Let as many as be perfect be thus minded Phil. 3.15 The third Use is for Direction The next Use or Improvement I shall make of this Point is for Direction to such Preachers as faithfully endeavour thus to do First Would you teach your people Knowledge or make your Hearers knowing in the Knowledge of Christ Then let me beseech you to Preach humbly for a proud Preacher is not likely to become a profitable Preacher This was the frame of Spirit Paul went forth Preaching the Gospel with Acts 20.19 Serving the Lord in all humility in that Work A proud Preacher will more strive to Preach out himself unto the people than the saving Knowledge of Jesus Christ into the people A proud Preacher will be too high to stoop or condescend to the weakness of the capacities of the People as the proud in heart will not receive Commandments even so the proud in heart will not teach Commandments 'T is too hard for such to teach Knowledge or for the people by such to be taught Knowledge Such Preachers as desire to be profitable Preachers unto others must learn of that wonderful Preacher the Lord Jesus to be meek and lowly of heart Mat. 11.29 and do as Paul adviseth Rom. 12.16 Not to mind high things but to condescend to men of low estate To which I may add what he writes to the Bishops and Deacons of Philippi saying Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves Look not every one on his own things but every man also on the things of others Phil. 2.3 4. Secondly Would you Preach profitably and cause the people to get Knowledge then labour to Preach plainly 'T is plain Preaching will only prove profitable-Preaching This Paul seems to mind in 1 Cor. 14. as the very scope of that Chapter to provoke Preachers to Preach plainly within not above the understanding of the People Asserting that if a Preacher preach never so rarely yet if he preach above the understanding of the people he shall be but as a Barbarian to the people and not beneficial to them at all Plainness and Pureness are the two great excellencies of Preaching and as ever a Gospel-Preaches would be found a profitable Preacher let him become a plain Preacher Though high Strains hard Notions and obscure or hidden Expressions may most commend amongst men yet plainness and profitableness will most commend to God and be most acceptable and advantagious to those that are perfect and prudent Oh therefore Brethren all you that Preach the Gospel so Preach as Paul did as you have it 1 Cor. 2.1 2 3 4 5. compared with 2 Cor. 3.12 as ever you intend to teach your people Knowledge Thirdly If you would distil or infuse your Knowledge into the people do not only Preach to the people but live out that you Preach before the people be not only an Audible but a Visible word to the people How shall the people learn that from our lips which they cannot learn from out lives This made the Scribes and Pharisees the great Preachers of that day they could do no good to the people but as blind Leaders led the people blindly into the Ditch was it not from hence because they say and do not Mat. 23.3 with that of Jer. 23.18 22. Oh as ever you would be profitable Preachers to others be not unprofitable Preachers to your selves practise what you Preach if ever you mean to profit others by that you Preach Nothing more dulls and blunts the edge of Preaching than not living out the life of Preaching therefore let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Mat. 5.16 Fourthly And especially Water all your Preaching with Praying if ever you would reap the fruit of your Preaching Oh! my beloved Brethren Would you profit your people much by Preaching then water your people much by Praying let the best Seed that can be sowen be sowen into the best ground that can be yet if showers be with-held a fruitful crop will never be obtained Even so here the best Sermons will be but lost Sermons unless they are watered Sermons Oh therefore water your Sermons by Prayers do not only pray for a Sermon but for a blessing upon that Sermon pray not only publickly but privately for a blessing upon your Labours lose not your Sermons through shortness or wantingness in praying performances This was Paul's way to get Knowledge to be the blessing of the Ephesians Philippians and Colossians as you may see at large in the first Chapters of those Epistles Therefore to conclude these Directions Watch and pray that the Enemy steal not your Seed or Christ's Seed rather away out of the minds and understandings of the people If any shall say This is no more then we knew before yet let me as once Peter did tell you I think it meet as long as I am in this Tabernacle to stir you up by putting you in remembrance of those things though you know them and be established in the present truth 2 Pet. 1.12 The fourth Vse is a word of Exhortation to the People The fourth Use shall be a word to the people enjoying wise Preachers that thus labour among you Let it be a word of Exhortation to all such to take the Apostle's counsel 1 Thess 5.12 13. We beseech you Brethren to know them that labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and esteem them very highly for their work sake Such are truly wise Preachers yea such are painful Preachers and therefore
ought to be honoured Preachers such are profitable Preachers therefore worthy to be honoured Preachers Therefore esteem highly them that are such I do not mean to provoke you only so to honour or esteem as to approve commend or encourage such in their Labours but especially honour these by submitting and subjecting your selves yea your Souls to their Doctrine by living and acting according to their teaching who teach according to the form of found Doctrine contained in the Scriptures Oh my dear Friends this is the greatest honour esteem and encouragement you can possibly bestow upon painful Preachers thus saith the Apostle John in 3 Epist 3 4. I rejoyced greatly when the Brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee even as thou walkedst in the truth I have no greater joy then to hear that my Children walk in truth or according to truth The like saith Paul in that forecited 1 Thess 2.19 20. For what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoycing Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming For ye are our Glory and Joy But what was the reason of this exceeding Joy you have it declared in the first Chapter We give thanks to God alwayes for you all making mention of you in our prayers remembring without ceasing your work of faith and labour of love and patience of hope c. For our Gospel came not unto you in Word only but also in Power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake and ye became followers of us and of the Lord having received the Word in much affliction with joy in the Holy Ghost So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia For from you sounded out the Word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia but also in every place your Faith to Godward is spread abroad so that we need not to speak any thing This Beloved is the honour esteem encouragement and rejoycing wise and Spiritual Preachers most desire that you that hear them should be wise truly wise holy diligent fruitful Hearers There is nothing so much discourages grieves and dishonours wise Preachers as to find their Hearers unwise idle unthankful unfruitful and unholy this grieves them to the heart when they run in vain and labour in vain as you have his expression Phil. 2.16 Oh grieve not the Spirit of God nor the Spirit of your Preachers by quenching the Spirit and despising Prophesie as too many do If it be a sin to neglect Preaching and not to teach the people Knowledge as I have largely proved yea if it be not only a neglect but a most unconscionable neglect not to teach the people Knowledge Let me then tell proud carnal unbelieving negligent forgetful disobedient unfruitful Hearers 't is not only a sin but a complicated sin yea it is not infirmity but most unconscionable dealing with the Lord Jesus your painful Preachers and your own Souls Therefore look well to it for God will not bear it nor hold such sinners guiltless that thus take his Name in vain and turn his Grace into wantonness I beseech you think seriously of a Text or two 2 Chron. 36.15 16 17. And the Lord God of their Fathers sent to them by his Messengers rising up betimes and sending because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling-place But they mocked the Messengers of God and despised his Words and misused his Prophets until the Wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy Therefore he brought upon them the King of the Caldees who slew their young men with the Sword in the House of their Sanctuary and had no compassion upon young Man or Maiden old Man or him that stooped for Age he gave them all into his hand Oh mark how dreadful a sin it is to be a despiser or an opposer of Preachers you may read the hainousness of the sin in the dreadfulness of the judgment Take one place more 2 Thess 2.10 11 12. With all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved Oh mark it you that do or might if the fault be not your own enjoy good Preachers and pure Preaching and will not may and care not for it God will send you Preachers sad or bad enough that shall only deceive and delude you and for this very cause Even because saith the Apostle God will send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned that believed not through the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness Oh think seriously of this you sinful proud unthankful forgetful or unfruitful Hearers God will not alwayes strive with you or wait upon you or continue the Preaching of the Gospel among you Therefore provoke not the Lord to jealousie by neglecting and perverting of his Ordinances But to close this Use let me give you two or three Directions how to answer this Use First Is this yet true acquaintance with the greatness and grossness of ignorance and especially of your own ignorance in particular Pride makes men think they see and despise the ignorance and simplicity of others but 't is ignorance and blindness that makes poor and proud Souls like their own ignorance Therefore if you would be found the Friends and Preservers of Knowledge learn to know your own ignorance in the things of Jesus Christ Yea consider how dishonourable and truly reproachful it is for a Professor or a Christian to be an ignorant person 't is as reproachful as for a Guide to be blind or a Ruler to be clad in Rags than which what is more dishonourable A Fool in Civil or Natural things is counted a dishonour to a Family and a burthensome Relation even such are foolish Christians or persons ignorant in the Mysteries and Knowledge of Jesus Christ Now that the most yea the best of Professors are too ignorant take two Texts 1 Cor. 13.9 For we know but in part and prophesie but in part therefore let none how wise soever think themselves wise enough but it is these thoughts keeps many Hearers from being wise Jer. 8.8 How do you say we are wise and the Law of the Lord is with us and we will come no more unto the Chap. 2.31 Therefore as the cure of this Disease in the first place remember what Paul writes for this purpose 1 Cor. 8.2 If any man thinks that he knoweth any thing he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know Again Secondly Take this Direction if you would be a knowing people be found a doing people faithfully and humbly doing what you know of Jesus Christ This is the way to know more and much of Jesus Christ to be practical Christians Hos 6.3 Then shall we know that is we shall then know what we knew not before when or how
thing for I am a great King saith the Lord of Hosts The third Vse is of Exhortation But again The next Use I shall make of this Point is for Exhortation in two Branches and that to two sorts of persons First Such as Preach the Gospel Secondly To such who hear the Gospel preached The first Branch First Let me presume to speak a few words to all such as fear the Lord and preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus first Be exhorted so to Preach or make manifest the Gospel as it ought to be preached or made manifest as Paul words it Col. 4.3 4. Oh! as wise Preachers and not unwise seek and search after the mind of Christ contained in the Proverbs Problems or Word of Christ Oh! hunt as Hunts-men do for Game follow it hard and follow it close through thick and through thin through Bryars and through Thorns as such who are resolved not to lose their time and labour or desire if it be possible Even so let every wise Gospel-Preacher endeavour to preach the Gospel as striving not to lose his labour so Preaching that he may reap the Harvest or Blessing of his preaching and not onely preach but so preach as every wise Preacher ought to preach not only unto men or unto mens ears but unto mens ears and into mens hearts also if possible Thus Paul preached to the Galatians travelling in Soul for the good of their Souls until Christ was formed in them Oh Beloved study not only to preach Notions unto the People so much as to preach Motions into the People that Christ may be formed in them Oh! study Soul-convincing and Soul-converting Doctrine striving and designing that all your Hearers may be delivered into the form of that Doctrine which from Christ by you is to them delivered Oh! this will cause you not only to have matter of Peace but of Joy and Thanksgiving also with Paul Rom. 6.17 It is easier to seek out and find out a Sermon to preach unto the People than to find out this skill and wisdom how to be able to distil or preach a Sermon into the People for if God that gives us a Door yea an open Door of Utterance unto the People do not also graciously give us a Door an open Door of Entrance into the People also our Preaching will be vain and lost Preaching as to the People to whom we Preach no good will be done the People will be undone rather by us for the better the Preacher is and the more he preaches and the People not the better but the worse the more dangerous is that peoples case and condition and the greater will be their damnation Wo to thee Capernaum which art exalted to Heaven thou shalt be brought down to Hell For if the mighty Works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom it would have remained till this day But I say It shall be more tolerable for the Land of Sodom in the Day of Judgment than for thee Mat. 11.23.24 Oh therefore as the High Priests of old bare the Children of Israels Names upon their Breasts even so let all wise Preachers carry their Hearers upon their Hearts that God would make their labour of love useful and not a savour of death unto death unto any of them But again Let me perswade and exhort such as Preach to seek that they may first be preached to and that doubly Get thy Soul first preached into Christ before ever thou goest to preach Christ unto any Secondly Get the mind of Christ preached unto thy Soul before thou goest about to preach the mind of Christ to any Soul remembring what is written How can they preach except they be sent Rom. 10.15 Oh Preachers seek before ever or whensoever you go to preach to others to get Christ to preach forth his blessed Truth to the which he would that day have preached forth by thee to others For how can one receive any thing except it be given him from Above or from Heaven Joh. 3.27 Oh seek and search out diligently what Message is most meet for the People and what Message Christ would have thee now hand forth to the People for 't is not every Message but present Message is a meet Message to be delivered to the People This we have hinted in the Description of the wise Scribe that he brings forth of his Treasury things new and old things sutable and necessary for present concernment Mat. 13.52 The Peoples present need should be every wise Preacher's business to supply and that in the first place Oh search as after the Peoples Lessons so after the Peoples profiting be not foolish Seedsmen as to sow your Seed yea Christ's principal immortal Seed of the Word and never look after it be not like the World's Sons of Levi that only preach to preach themselves into the People and the Peoples Money into their Pockets and having performed as much of this as Law requires and will effect their end they never care what becomes of their preaching Oh pray over your preaching yea pray after your preaching that God would bless your preaching and add the upper as the nether Springs to your preaching and not let you run and labour in vain Search after the profiting of your Hearers and see how the Seed sown makes increase in some thirty in some sixty in some an hundred fold Mark 4.8 But again Let me once more exhort wise Preachers to seek out the deep things of God contained in the Mysteries of the Gospel or manifold wisdom of God Oh! be not blind Leaders of the blind World lest you and they fall into the Ditch search and study the Scriptures which are able to make the Preacher or the Man of God perfect or throughly furnished unto preaching Knowledge Gospel-Knowledge is deep Waters Apply your diligence to draw it out of the Wells of Salvation But lastly Suffer me to add one word of Exhortation more Search and see there be no root of Gall or Wormwood springing up to trouble you in your Work I mean see that the mouths of gain-sayers and such as oppose your preaching or slander your good Conversation be silenc'd that they which speak evil of you may be ashamed The better and more wisely any Preacher preaches the more will be his opposition and therefore his wisdom should be to take away occasion from such as seek occasion that they of the contrary part may be ashamed Oh seek to preach preventingly that whosoever be Hearers they may not find any occasion against you save onely in the matter of your God Strive to countermine Satan and Sinners that whilst you are sowing precious Seed will not spare to sow the Tares Therefore strive so to preach as to leave them no place or advantage for the Tares yea seek especially so to preach as the Children that come to you for Bread may not meet with Stones or suppose you give them Serpents for Fishes I mean Fancies and Errors instead
ought with all diligence endeavour to comprehend and cause others to comprehend the Wisdom Sense and Order of the Scripture This is every Gospel-Preacher's Trade and Business Two Acts or Particulars the Doctrine includes First With Relation to the Preacher Secondly With reference to the Preacher's Charge or Flock First In reference to himself He is most diligently to design and endeavour to understand and comprehend the Mind and Will of God contained in the Word This is To set Proverbs or God's dark Sayings or Truths in order as to himself Secondly In reference unto the People His Duty saith this Doctrine is to help them to understand what he comprehends of the Proverbs of God or meaning of the Scripture for as he neither is a Preacher for himself much less preaches to himself no more ought he to know understand or comprehend the Proverbs or Mysteries of Truth for himself only but for the People as well as for himself That this is so consider a few Scriptures Nehem. 8.7 8. you shall find Jeshua and Bani and Sherebiah Jamin Akkub Shabbethai Hodijah Maaseiah Kelita Azariah Jozabad Hanan Palaiah and the Levites caused the people to understand the Law and the people stood in their places They read in the Book of the Law of God distinctly and gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading Here we have a large account of the Work and Design of wise Preachers and good Ministers it is to set Proverbs in order or to clear and make known the sense of Scripture to the people and v. 13. it is said That the People rejoyced at this enjoyment But again Solomon tells us That the Wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way but the folly of fools is deceit Prov. 14.8 Whence mark A wise or prudent Person such every Gospel-preacher ought to be his work is to understand his way that is his way of preaching how to give the true sense of God's Word to his People that is setting Proverbs in order the contrary of this was that God complained of in the false Prophets or foolish Preachers of Israel saying His Watchmen are blind they are all ignorant they are all dumb Dogs they cannot bark sleeping lying down loving to slumber Yea they are greedy Dogs which can never have enough and they are Shepherds that cannot understand c. Isa 56.10 11. Mark it well They are foolish Shepherds or unwise Preachers that cannot understand the Mind of the Lord and know not how to set his Parables and Proverbs in order the like you have Jer. 9.12 Who is the wise Man that may understand this and who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken that he may declare it Take that of Prov. 22. where you have Solomon the wise Preacher both doing this Work and teaching wise Preachers also to do this work when he saith Have I not written unto thee excellent things in counsels and in knowledge that I might make thee to know the certainty of the words of truth that thou mightest answer the words of truth to those that send unto thee vers 20.21 also Chap. 10.31 32. The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom and the lips of the righteous knoweth what is acceptable Take that also of Luke 1.1 2 3 4. Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us even as they delivered them unto us which from the beginning were eye-witnesses and Ministers of the Word It seemed good to me also having had perfect understanding of things from the very first to write unto thee in order most excellent Theophilus that thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed To name no more take Paul's charge and direction to Timothy Till I come give attendance to Reading to Exhortation to Doctrine meditate on these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all 1 Tim. 4.13 15. I should now give you the Reasons of the Point I shall onely name them at present Reason 1. First Every wise Preacher should thus do because this is no more than they all profess to do and what men profess to do that lawfully may be done that they ought to do therefore thus wise Preachers not only may but must do Reason 2. Secondly This is that which wise and pious People warrantably promise themselves will be done for them by such as preach to them and therefore ought not to be denyed unto them nor can without sin be with-held from them Reason 3. Thirdly If this be not done how shall the People know what they have to do how shall the People prepare themselves to duty if duty be not made plain to them or the Parable set in order before them If Doctrine be not clear Practice must be doubtful as Paul expresseth If the Trumpet give an uncertain sound who shall prepare himself to the Battel 1 Cor. 14 8. Reason 4. Fourthly If Preachers do not make it their business to set Proverbs or God's Word in order or in due order nothing is more certain than this That they will set them out of order but let such that so do think of that passage what the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite My wrath is kindled against thee and against thy two Friends for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right Job 42.7 Oh what a dreadful thing is it for God to be angry with a Preacher view that of Numb 10.1 2. with that of 2 Sam. 6.7 Reason 5. Lastly This is that which wise Preachers may do if they will but spiritually make it their business so to do and therefore are without all excuse if this they do not for it is written He maketh his Ministers a flame of fire Heb. 1.7 But I told you I should only name the Reasons and come to Application in the which I shall also be the briefer because I have formerly had occasion as you may remember to speak to the substance of this Doctrine all I intend I shall comprize in a few serious words of Exhortation to all that are or would be esteemed wise and Gospel-Preachers Vse of Exhortation Oh let such remember and never forget it is their Duty and Business to set God's Proverbs in order that is in God's or Gospel-order that he that runs may read the Visions of God in the Scripture Oh let us not be like the foolish Preachers which the Lord reproveth by the Prophet saying Seameth it a small thing to you to have eaten up the good pasture but ye must tread down with your foot the residue of your pastures and to have drunk of the deep waters but ye must foul the residue with your feet And as for my flock they eat that which you have troden with your feet and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet Therefore behold saith the Lord I will judge you Ezek.
34.18 19 20. I beseech you dear Brethren let it be our Work and Business to do what the Prophet was commanded to do when the Lord answered and said Write the Vision and make it plain upon Tables that he that runneth may read it Habak 2.2 Oh let it be our main business not onely to know that the Lord hath Proverbs and that our Lord Jesus spake nothing without a Parable Mat. 13.34 that is little without a Parable I say This is not so much our business as to comprehend and understand how to set these Parables in order in due order in their own order Oh this is necessary and becoming wise Preachers thus to do and not to set Proverbs out of order into their own or other mens order labouring more in Preaching to keep close to their own or other mens sense and order in opening the Scripture than unto Christ's and the Scriptures order It matters not what Commentary or Commentâ— or we decline or contradict so we harmonize the Scripture and agree with the Original Sense and Scope thereof Let such as preach and would preach wisely and approvedly bâ—onfult the Sense and Interpretation of Text as well as Observation or Application of Text. For how can the Observation be true or natural or the Application forcible and strong if the Interpretation be wrong Oh taâ—e heed of wronging Proverbs by knocking Proverbs even God's Proverbs out of order and lie and say not the truth when you say the Lord saith it or the Lord's Word teacheth it and the Lord hath not said it neither doth his Word reach it Oh think frequently of that word Behold I am against the Prophets saith the Lord that use their tongues and say The Lord saith it Jer. 23.31 Think it not wisdom or excellency to darken vail or lobscure the Scripture or the Proverbs thereof but to unvail or enlighten the Scripture that is make its real Light appear lest by so doing we not only contract to our selves our own but the sins of other men also even the sin and right to the punishment of as many as have received and believed our dreams for the Visions of the Lord. 'T is more than we can well bear our own guilt and the chastisements of our own sins and errors But O! how intolerable and heavy may it prove to us to bear the guilt or punishment of the many deceived and corrupted by us The greatest of Preachers and Writers without conformity to this Doctrine lie in greatest danger as being the greatest of Deceivers But I shall say no more to this Use or Doctrine save only a closing word because I am speaking to the wise and a word to the wise may suffice and truly such as are otherwise 't is not the many words will do any good as Solomon tells us Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a morter among wheat with a pestle yet will not his foolishness depart from him Prov. 27.22 Wherefore my Brethren let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you Philippians 3.15 And so I come to the next verse or next words of the Text though I might offer another Observation from the number of Proverbs the wise Preacher set in order 't is many or the All of the many Proverbs that are in the Scripture We might note Wise Preachers are fruitful Preachers not barren lean or dry Preachers that can onely interpret some one or other single Proverb but can set in order the many or manifold Proverbs in the Scripture but I shall rather proceed and hasten to a close As this Scripture is Prophetical and looks towards the truly wise or transcendently wise Preacher our Lord Jesus that greater than Solomon we might note divers things but this I now shall want time for you find in vers 10. The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words and that which was written was upright even words of truth In general This Verse gives us account of what the Preacher sought even acceptable words and this is the second thing he sought as this verse compared with the former acquaints us But more particularly In the Verse we have two things First An account of what the Preacher sought to find out even acceptable words Secondly The excellency or property of those acceptable words in these words and that which was written was upright even words of truth or according to truth not only upright but also words of truth To begin with the first of these The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words This is every wise Preacher's Work to seek how to find out acceptable words or how to make his words acceptable For the improvement of these words one question is necessary to be resolved to wit What acceptable words are or such acceptable words are which Preachers ought to seek out I Answer First Negatively Not flattering words or deceitful words though sometimes such words Preachers seek out and the People account them acceptable as in that passage of the false Prophets who knowing the affection of the King to be for War finds out acceptable but deceitful words who said with one consent Go up for the Lord shall deliver it into the hands of the King 1 Kings 22.6 But you find these were neither upright words nor words of truth but of deceit and falshood as the consequent declared it but the words the wise Preacher sought to find out as acceptable to the People were upright even words of truth But secondly Affirmatively I say Acceptable words which wise Preachers should or do seek to find out are words meet to be accepted from him that preaches by them to whom he preaches and so is every word of truth in the general though some words more especially as Paul implies in that expression This is a saying worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the World to save sinners of whom I am chief 1 Tim. 1.15 Thirdly Acceptable words imply words which God accepts and therefore should be acceptable with the People Though the People do not accept them yet they may be accepted of God Such were Mieaiah's words to the King when he said I saw all Israel scattered upon the Hills as Sheep that have no Shepherd and the Lord said These have no Master let them return every man to his House in peace 1 Kings 22.17 Fourthly Acceptable words imply sometimes such words as are not only words of truth in themselves and so acceptable to God but words accepted with the People and so acceptable in all respects Such were Philip's words to the Eunuch If thou believest with all thy heart thou mayest Acts 8.37 The former of these cannot be wanting in an acceptable word the latter may and yet the words be acceptable as in that of Jeremiah when he told the King of Judah Behold Pharaohs Army which is come forth to help you shall return to Egypt into their
own Land and the Caldeans shall come again and fight against this City and take it and burn it with fire Jer. 37.7 8. But though these words were acceptable or truth in themselves and so to the Lord and should have been so to them as being profitable to them Yet for all this they were unacceptable to them as is manifest vers 15. Wherefore the Princes were wroth with Jeremiah and smote him and put him in Prison This may suffice for the Answer of this great Question What acceptable words are Let me now raise this Observation or Conclusion The tenth Doctrine That the wisdom and work of wise Preachers is and ought to be to preach acceptable words or acceptably I shall the briefer pass through this Doctrine because I have had occasion already to speak to the main things in it contained Wherefore for the proof of what hath been asserted to wit That every wise Preacher's wisdom and work is to preach acceptable words or acceptably Consider This is Paul's charge not to Timothy only but in him to all Preachers to preach acceptable words as you have it in the following words of the Text words of Truth Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard from me 2 Tim. 1.13 So to Titus speaking what Preachers or Elders of Churches should be he saith They should be men able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and convince gain-sayers Tit. 1.9 so Chap. 2.1 Speak thou the thing which becometh sound Doctrine and once more you have it given in charge among other Directions Sound speech that cannot be condemned that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed having no evil thing to say of you vers 8. And this Paul begs the Prayers of Saints to God for him in this behalf That he might not onely Speak or Preach but so Speak or Preach as he ought to do Ephes 6.20 with Col. 4.4 But may not some say How doth it appear all this while that preaching sound words is preaching acceptable words However I shall grant That to unsound hearts unsound words are and may be most acceptable as we read where the People spake to the Prophet saying Prophesie not unto us right things speak unto us smooth things prophesie deceits Isa 30.10 Yet sound Hearts or gracious Hearers they count no words acceptably spoken or worthy their acceptation but sound and wholsome words as we read of the Church of Ephesus that they hated the Deeds or the Doctrine of the Nicholaitans which the Lord also hated Rev. 2.6 In the opening of this term acceptable words I told you it implyed words of truth which and which only ought of honest and wise Hearers to be accepted Therefore to preach sound words or words of Truth is to preach acceptable words being such words which only should be preached and are alwayes worthy of all mens acceptation And doubtless this among other things Paul also intended in that phrase to speak as he ought that is only and alwayes Truth or the lively Oracles of God not but that Preachers have other things to mind that their words may be acceptable words So secondly Seasonable words are or ought to be accounted acceptable words Therefore Solomon speaking of seasonable words saith A word spoken in due season how good is it or how acceptable is it Prov. 15.23 Now a word may be fitly said to be seasonable or seasonably spoken either in reference to God's account or the peoples concernments First In reference to God's when God's Cause and Honour calls for our speaking then to speak such words as may most conduce to the Cause and Case in hand is to speak acceptable or seasonable words such as wise Preachers ought to seek out speak out Such were Mordecai's words to Hester when he declared to her the state of the Jews and charged her That she should go in unto the King to make supplication to him and to make request before him for her People Chap. 4.8 And when she seems to be backward to entertain these words vers 10 11. Mordecai doubles former seasonable words as becomes wise Preachers so to do and tells her Think not that thou shalt escape in the Kings House more than all the Jews For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time then shall their enlargement arise from another place but thou and thy Fathers House shall be destroyed vers 13 14. The like seasonable were the words of Elijah both to the King and to the People when he told the King I have not troubled Israel but thou and thy Fathers House in that ye have forsaken the Commandments of the Lord and ye have followed Baalim and to the People when he said How long halt ye between two Opinions If the Lord be God follow him but if Baal then follow him 1 Kings 18.18 21. And such were Paul's words to the Athenians when he saw them so given to Idolatry Acts 17.16 to the close of that Chapter And by the way note That oft-times God in a wonderful manner stirs-up the Spirits of his Servants to be speaking such acceptable words as are timous and most seasonable in order to present work as in the instances cited with many more may easily appear But secondly Words may then be counted seasonable and acceptable when most sutable to or suiting with the Peoples present Case State and Necessities The work of wise Preachers should be to sute their words to such occasions when a People are secure setled in sin and sinful wayes then awakening quickning reproving words are most seasonable and to God most acceptable when spoken and should be so to the People Such were John's words to the sinful Jews when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadduces come to his Baptism he said unto them O generation of Vipers who hath warned you to fly from the wrath to come bring forth therefore fruit meet for repentance and think not to say within your selves We have Abraham to our Father When the Peoples case is trouble and sorrow for sin then comforting words are seasonable and acceptable words This the Lord himself teacheth saying Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished Isa 40.1 2. And in obedience hereunto when Peter saw that the People were pricked at their hearts he said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost for the promise is to you and to your Children and to all that are after off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Acts 2.38 39. When the People are ignorant of Truths necessary or in some sense of necessity to be at present known Now 't is wise Preachers work to seek out seasonable and acceptable words of information for the removing the peoples ignorance Thus Peter did in that fore-cited Acts 2.14 15. And thus did those wise ones Aquila and Priscilla deal with
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
heed that we open not the mouths of the uncircumcised Philistines to rejoyce or blaspheme Let Professors know what they can and talk what they will 't wil signifie little unless they walk also in this Spirit of Truth and Uprightness Vse of Exhortation But secondly and especially Let this be matter of Exhortation to us all even as many as fear the Lord both Preachers and Hearers to labour for and walk in a Spirit of Truth and Uprightness This we have seen is a most excellent choice frame of Spirit in the esteem both of God and Man Oh therefore labour to attain such a frame of Spirit For naturally our Spirits are otherwise in the frames of them for what the Prophet once said is still truth Every one is an hypocrite and an evil doer and every mouth speaketh folly or falshood Isa 9.17 'T is Mortification of earthly Members and Sanctification of the Spirit must make us Men or Women of this frame of Spirit for naturally we are born of another temper and you who know what Mortification is know it is not easie work to mortifie the deeds of the flesh but be it what it may be yet be prevealed upon in the fear of the Lord to set upon this duty even to get our Spirits into this frame even into this good frame and if it will cost us the plucking out of our right eyes or cutting off our right hands yet subscribe to it And first Let me freely tender this word of Exhortation to us that are Preachers and should be wise Preachers seeking out acceptable words and that which by us is at any time preached and written upon the heart of the People should be upright even words of truth Let us be a living Word as well as a speaking Word let our lips and our lives joyn together and speak one thing even Holiness to Jehovah Oh let not us reprove sin in others and allow or indulge it in our selves What is that but down-right dissimulation Oh let us not commend Patience and be impatient and Humility and be Sons of Pride our selves This is not to walk with the foot of uprightness according to the Gospel This is not to be a wise but an unwise Preacher if not a proud Pharisee and a very Hypocrite Wherefore if a Preacher be under such temptations as to pretend Christ and preach Self and to seek Christ and seek mostly Self as to cry down all sin and yet live in cry'd down sins to commend Grace and Vertue and yet live short in Grace and empty of Virtue placing thy excellency and piety in seeming so and saying so and in washing the out-side neglecting the inside make broad the Phylacteries and enlarging the borders of your Garments that is in using singular or peculiar restraints and modes of Gesture and Vesture from other sober and pious Persons Oh know 't is not marring of our Beards or Locks and having our Cloaks long and our Girdles strait that can or will prove us wise Preachers or men of this excellent Spirit of Uprightness and Truth Oh no! we may be Fools and Hypocrites for all this and therefore it nearly stands us upon to do as that great Preacher and Apostle of the Gentiles did Even to keep under or beat black and blew our body and bring it into subjection lest O mark it that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should be a cast-away 1 Cor. 9.27 And answer all temptations to contrary-mindedness or contrary-spiritedness to this Doctrine and frame of Spirit as good Nehemiah did saying Shall such a man as I flee Who being as I am would desist Chap. 6.11 So let us Who that is as I am a Man Ah more than a Man a Christian yea more than a Christian a Preacher to Christians that would seek great things for himself under pretence of seeking great things for Christ Oh who that were a Preacher as I and preached down Covetousness Idleness Earthly-mindedness in others would live in these things himself Oh no my Soul I will not I dare not lest I be not found a wise but an unwise Preacher and that which by me is written or preached be not words of Truth and Uprightness And in the Close what-ever I may be to others I be to my self a cast-away O therefore let Preachers especially receive and improve this Exhortation and see that our conversation be only as becometh the Gospel Phil. 1.27 And to close up this Head of Exhortation Let as many as are and would be found wise Preachers be perswaded to think often and deeply of that Scripture 2 Cor. 4. Therefore seeing we have this Ministry as we have received Mercy we faint not but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftiness nor 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 Having thus tendred my Mite to Preachers let me now be your Exhorter that are Hearers Men and Women fearing the Lord Oh let this be your frame of Spirit be like your Father Jacob of a plain Spirit who hath his commendation in his youth that he was a plain man Gen. 25.27 Oh such let us that fear the Lord be let our inside be manifest by our out-side let our Words and our Works agree our professions both to God and Man and our performances agree and correspond together let our Light and our Life agree our publick and private walking agree so shewing forth that we are Israelites indeed in whom there is no guile Even the Epistle of Christ written not with Ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of Stone but in fleshly Tables of the heart as we have it 2 Cor. 3.3 Oh 't is living forth this Doctrine will speak us forth clearly to be Christians or the Epistles of Christ when we have such frames of Spirit as are throughly seasoned with Uprightness and Truth Christians look to your frame of Spirit Hypocrites can look to their Words and Speeches Look you to your Hearts good Words and good Works Hypocrites have for God 't is Saints onely have good Hearts for God Oh look well to your Spirits how the frame stands bent whether for Truth and Uprightness or for Falshood and Hypocrisie and forget not that word Mal. 2.15 Take heed to your Spirits Oh dress your Spirits with Truth and Uprightness for the dress of the Soul goes further with God than all the dresses of the Body with men can do as Peter informs us where he advises Women Not to let their adorning be outward adorning but let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which in the fight of God is of great price 1 Pet. 3.3 4. Oh my Brethren look mostly after the dress and adorning of your Spirits for God is not only a Spirit but converseth most with
regardest not the persons of men Matth. 22.16 And to you Hearers that are wise Heaâ—ers of the Word of God take that counsel of Zechariah These are the things ye shall do speak ye every man truth to his Neighbour execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates and let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his Neighbour and love no false Oath for all these are things that I hate saith the Lord Zech. 8.16 17. Thus I have briefly finished this Point and this Verse because I am not willing to detain you any longer I shall proceed to the next Verse and Words in the Text Vers 11. The words of the wise are as Goads and as Nails fastned by the Masters of Assemblies which are given from one Shepherd This is the close of this Argument and of the Text and is the third Particular asserted concerning all wise Preachers in the 9th Verse we have his pains and diligence mentioned in the 10th Verse we have his Doctrine vindicated and in this Verse we have the Original and Advantage of such Preachers and Preaching declared The words of the wise are as Goads and as Nails fastned by the Masters of Assemblies which are given from one Shepherd In which words generally we may observe two things First The Nature and Property of wise Words or the words of the Wise They are as Goads and as Nails fastned by Masters of Assembles Secondly We have presented to us the Rise and Original both of such Preachers and Preachings they are given from one Shepherd In the first we have also two Particulars first The Persons spoken of only the Wise and the Words or the Words of the Wise Secondly That where-unto the Wise and their Words are resembled and that is Goads and Nails In the second general we have also two Particulars First The Person or Spring from whom wise Preachers and wise Words come that is from the one Shepherd Secondly Note how they come from the one Shepherd voluntarily freely they are given from one Shepperd Let me briefly open or explicate the Text. Explication First What are those Goads and Nails to which the words of the Wise are resembled A Goad seems to be that usual and necessary Instrument which Neat-herds or Drovers use about Oxen at labour and in travel such we read of Judges 3.31 and in 1 Sam. 13.21 Nailes are either such as were used to fasten Tents and the Tabernacle with or other Habitations and things withal Such was that Nail Jael took to kill Sisera with Judges 4.21 Masters of Assemblies or Masters of Companies or Master-workmen in all Occupations Some are choicer Workmen than others one Shepherd or the great and chief Shepherd is our Lord Jesus Christ The drift of these words are only to imply the choiceness and usefulness of Wise-Preachers and Wise-Preaching They and their Work are as perfect useful and necessary as the choicest Artists and their Works Such being as necessary and useful in Spirituals as any other things can be in Humane Cases and Concernments From the words thus opened divers Observations or Doctrines might be raised as from the Persons and work here spoken of The Words of the Wise We may note Doctrine 1. That it t is not any Preacher or Preaching but only the wise Preacher and wise Preaching that is the Peoples Blessing and Advantage such only will prove like to Goads and Nails The second From the Comparison as Goads and Nails which are not only good and exact in their Nature and Kind but needful and necessary in their Use from which I might note Doctrine 2. That wise Preachers and Preaching are very necessary and needful for the People Thirdly From the ground and occasion of Goads and Nails which are not only good but also to quicken and fasten From whence we may note Doctrine 3. That the best of Saints need quickning and setling which are the ends of Goads and Nails Fourthly From the manner of attaining these Note Doctrine 4. Either to be wise Preachers and capable to give wise words or to be a People so priviledged as to have wise Preachers and wise Words is a free gift of God as 't is said in the Text which are given from one Shepherd Doctrine 5. Lastly Note All divine Ministries and Ministrations come from the Lord Jesus that one Shepherd or that original Shepherd For brevity sake I shall only insist upon two Observations into which I shall draw the substance of all the rest The first is this That wise and spiritual Preachers and their words are very useful and necessary for the spiritual service and benefit of God's People as the things mentioned or the choicest things in Nature are or can be for natural ends and purposes The second Conclusion is this That all Divine Ministries and Ministrations spring from the alone Will and Wisdom of the Lord Jesus that one Shepherd and are freely given for the advantage of his People as we have it in the Text which are given from one Shepherd or from the one Shepherd To begin with the first of these to wit That wise and spiritual Preachers and their words are very useful and necessary for the spiritual service and benefit of God's People as either the things mentioned or the choicest things in Nature are or can be for natural ends or purposes The truth of this Conclusion shines evidently in Scripture as in that of Solomon A word fitly spoken is like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver As an ear-ring of Gold and an Ornament of fine Gold so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear or as the cold of Snow in the time of Harvest so is a faithful Messenger to them that send him for he refresheth the Soul of his Masters Prov. 25.11 12 13. Hear also what the Apostle saith How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard And how shall they hear without a Preacher Oh see the great necessity and utility of a wise Preacher But lest this were not enough he adds from the Prophet as it is written How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of Peace and bring glad tydings of good things Rom. 10.14 15. To trouble you with no more take that Ephes 4. where we find the End and Use of wise Preachers it is for perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for edifying of the Body of Christ that we hence-forth be no more Children cossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive vers 12 14. Two or three things in the Text clear this sufficiently Reason 1. First The Appellation put upon Preachers I mean onely wise and profitable Preachers they are stiled wise and that is as honourable to the Preacher so also profitable to the People For as that
Peoples loss is great whose Preacher is a Fool even so that Peoples gain is much whose Preacher is wise unless themselves be in fault This our Preacher gives us saying The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them because he knoweth not how to go to the City Woe to thee O Land when thy King is a Child and thy Princes eat in the morning Blessed art thou O Land when thy King is the Son of Nobles and thy Princes eat in due season for strength and not for drunkenness Eccles 10.15 16 17. Secondly They are stiled Masters of Assemblies or Societies which is a title and place of honour Now as it is Preachers honour thus to be accounted so it is the Peoples blessing and advantage have such Master-Workmen to be their Servants that can wisely and profitably serve them That this is Preacher's honour who are wise to be styled Master-Workmen in God's Israel take a Text or two Master we know that thou art true and teachest the way of God in truth Mat. 22.16 with 3 John 10. Therefore to have such Workmen must needs be the Peoples blessing and advantage Objection But some may Object and say Is it not written But the Anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things 1 John 2.27 Answer To which I Answer first The Scripture no where really contradicts it self any where but agrees with it self every where and only so ought to be expounded Therefore this of John must not contradict those of Paul which have been cited which it would if this were admitted to be the sense That sanctified or anointed Persons need not the teachings of any man no though the wisest of men Which what can be more contrary to this How shall they hear without a Preacher But let us take great heed of making Scripture so much as seem to fight with it self But secondly to what hath been Objected I Answer The word need not may be taken comparatively not absolutely or positively not no need at all but not that need ye once had and all have that have not your anointing such as are partakers of the Unction of the Holy Ghost in a work of conversion have not afterward such need of any to teach them as once they had because now under the teachings of that Anointing Nor thirdly have they such a degree of need as such have who are yet without this Unction and are unregenerate They mostly need teaching who are unregenerate how much soever taught with other teaching But fourthly Consult the place and the scope is not to put by the preaching of wise but of seducing Preachers as appears vers 26. These things have I written unto you concerning them which seduce you Now though they had no need of the teachings of such as would seduce them yet it follows not that they had no need of the teachings of such who would not seduce them Fifthly Consider that though those who lived under the Apostles teaching had not such need of teaching as such who wanted that teaching yet that they wanted no teaching doth not follow And lastly Take this for Answer Such as have received the Anointing spoken of though they never enjoy afterwards any humane or instrumental teaching yet shall be taught by the Anointing provided it be God's providence not the improvidence which keeps other means of teaching from them In extraordinary cases God can and will work without means In ordinary cases God will work by means and ties us to attend upon him in the use of means and thus Faith comes by Hearing and Hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10.17 And so much for Answer of this Objection But now to return to the confirming of this Doctrine As their Titles so the Acts assigned to them by the Text and which ought to be performed of them or at least designed by them that is to be as Goads and Nails in the sense given upon the place They are Leaders Conductors or Guides of the Flock of Jesus Christ And how unskilful are the choicest Sheep to lead and conduct themselves aright in their way or journey Any Pastor as well as their proper Pastor shall become their Pastor if not conducted and guided by wise and skilful Leaders or Overseers Therefore saith the Psalmist He chose David also his Servant and took him from the Sheep-folds from following the Ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his People and Israel his Inheritance So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands Psal 78.70 71 72. But again Wise Preachers are not onely necessary because Master-Workmen and so Skilful and Guides and Leaders of the Flock and so useful But Thirdly They are resembled to Goads and Nails and how necessary are they the use of Goads are to excite and quicken dull and slothful Cattel to go forward and of such use is the wise Preacher both towards Sinners and Saints And thus practised Holy Peter who saith This second Epistle beloved I now write unto you in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the Holy Prophets and of the Commandments of us the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour 2 Pet. 3.1 2. And the need the Church hath of such Workmen the Prophet Isaiah tells us saying There is none that calleth upon thy Name that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee Isa 64.7 But Lastly To set out the worth and need of wise Preachers and their words they are resembled to Nails alluding as I suppose to the fixing stablishing Nails of the Tabernacle which how glorious a contrivance and workmanship soever in it self yet would have been of little lustre small use and short continuance if it had not injoyed these Stakes Pins or Nails to fix and fasten it as in a sure place Isa 22.23 24 25. In like manner O how mutable unsetled and like unfixed and wandering Meteors would the World and the People of God be were they without these sure hold-fasts these divine Nails and Pins as witnesseth Moses where he saith For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt your selves and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you Deut. 31.29 Which Prophesy was fulfilled Judges 2.10 11. But this may suffice to confirm and clear this Doctrine That wise and Spiritual-Preachers and their words are very useful and necessary for the spiritual benefit and service of God's People as the things mentioned or the choicest things in Nature can be for natural use or service Let me now come to the Application hereof The first Vse is of Information The first Use shall be for Information If wise Preachers and their words be such choice blessings to that People which enjoy them then how mistaken are such as
think otherwise of them as burthensome and unprofitable persons such as there is little or no need of and they can live well enough without knowing so much as others or that which others can tell them and have Grace and Light within and need not such to guide them and are wise enough to know the things of their own concernment and therefore need not others to teach them All that I shall say to these is what the Lord said by Moses O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end Deut. 32.29 To which I add Wo unto them that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight Isa 5.21 And Lastly Let these hear the Word of the Lord How do you say we are wise and the Law of the Lord is with us Lo certainly in vain made he it the Pen of the Scribes is in vain the wise men are ashamed they are dismayed and taken Lo they have rejected the Word of the Lord and what wisdom is in them Jer. 8.8 9. Exhortation But Secondly This Doctrine affords us a double word of Exhortation First To such as are or ought to be wise Preachers First As Goads and as Nails and as Masters of Assembles Let your Light so shine before men that they may see your good Works as well as hear your good Words Thus Paul did saying Be ye followers of us as we are of Christ For we have given you an Example that so doing you should feed the Flock 1 Cor. 11.1 and Acts 20. O let us that preach to others preach to our selves to be like what we are resembled to even Goads and Nails and Masters of Assemblies though under that great Shepherd the Lord Jesus as Peter tells us as not being Lords but skilful Master-workmen quickning and exciting the Flock to love and good Works And for this end take we care of two things First Be shining Examples in the practice of what-ever light of Doctrine we hold forth to others Practice in our selves is best preaching unto others But Secondly Since we are resembled to such useful necessary things let us as Leaders of the Flock both know and take care of the state of the Flock quickning and provoking such as are backward dull and wanting both by encouragement and reprehension as the Peoples case requires imitating Holy Peter who resolved so long as he was in this Tabernacle to stir the People up by putting them in remembrance 2 Pet. 1.13 That so the state of Jerusalem may be a quiet Habitation a Tabernacle that shall not be taken down nor one of the Stakes thereof ever be removed neither any of the Cords thereof be broken Isa 30.20 Exhortation 2. But Secondly Let me now offer a word of Exhortation to you that are Hearers which is If wise Preachers should be like goads and nails and masters of Assemblies then let me persuade you to suffer them so to be unto you suffer them to oversee your state and to deal wisely and faithfully with you quickning and exciting you rebuking and reproving you when your Condition calls for it and let them stablish strengthen settle you according to their Duty as Joshua Ezra Nehemiah and Paul and other Master-workmen did as you may read Josh 23. with Ezra 10. and Nehemiah 5. with Acts 20. And consider although this is the Preachers Duty thus to do yet is this more than many Hearers and Church-members can bear either to be observed rebuked quickened or fixed in their places to their work and duty But are rather like those Psalm 2. who say Let us break their bonds asunder and cast their cords from us or like those that said Our tongues are our own who shall controul us Psal 12. And how then can a Preacher how wise how diligent how zealous how faithful how loving how watchful soever do his Duty to be as goads and as nails when the People cannot submit to him but are like those the Lord complains of saying Let no man strive or reprove another for this people are as they that strive with the Priest Hos 4.4 O therefore let me exhort you that are wise Hearers and enjoy wise Preachers accept of the Counsel given Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves For they watch for your Souls as they that must give an account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you Heb. 13.17 But again Lastly If wise Preachers be such great Blessings such useful necessary enjoyments even almost of necessity to be enjoyed then all you that enjoy such Blessings bless God abundantly for them and be a blessing to them by accepting them and their Labours by obeying and submitting to them and their Doctrine Be enlightned by their enlightning words and quickened by their quickning words and fixed by their fixing stablishing words and Arguments Not being wavering-minded ones carried about with every wind of Doctrine or cunning craftiness of men Heb. 13.9 Eph. 4 4. But suffer your Preachers to say as Job did When the ear heard me then it blessed me and when the eye saw me it gave witness to me I was eyes to the blind and feet was I to the lame I was a Father to the poor and the Cause which I knew not I searched out I brake the Jaws of the wicked and pluckt the spoil out of his teeth Job 29.11 15 16 17. and so much for this Doctrine One thing more I shall speak to and so conclude the Text which is this The Fourteenth Doctrine That all Ministries and Ministrations spring from the alone will and wisdome of the Lord Jesus that one Shepherd and are freely given for the advantage of his people As we have it in the Text Which are given from one Shephard Take for the proof hereof these Testimonies Wisdome hath builded her house she hath hewed out her seven Pillars she hath killed her beasts she hath mingled her wine she hath also furnished her Table she hath sent forth her Maidens c. Prov. 9.1 2 3. But again hear what John saith All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made John 1.3 and Paul tells us Of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen Rom. 11.36 And again he tells us God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondly Prophets thirdly Teachers after that are Miracles then Gifts in Healing helps in Government diversity in Tongues 1 Cor. 14.28 This may suffice for the proof of this point That all Ministers Ministries Ministrations which are divine and evangelical must and do come from the alone good will and wisdome of the Lord Jesus and are freely given for the good of his People But for the better opening of this Doctrine let me explain these few things 1. What I mean by Ministers Ministries and Ministrations 2. How they spring from the alone
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
That of these men that have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us beginning from the Baptism of John unto the same day that he was taken up from among us must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his Resurrection Vers 22. And thus they chose Ministers Acts 6. according to Apostolical Direction who said Wherefore Brethren look you out from among your selves seven men of honest report full of the Holy Ghost and Wisdom whom we may appoint to this business vers 4. Again ask those who profess themselves Christ's Ministers Who put them into their Ministry the Church or any particular sort of men distinct from the Congregation whose Ministers they are For none but the Church I mean a particular Church can make a Man a Minister of any of Christ's particular Churches or Golden Candlesticks It was the Church not the Apostles chose accepted and admitted those into the Office of Deaconship which we read of Act. 6.5 6. And they chose Steven a man full of Faith and of the Holy Ghost and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenos and Nicolas a Proselyte of Antioch whom they set before the Apostles And if the Churches of Christ should not have this power to give the Beeing and Ordination to their own Servants and Ministers without dependance on others then should the power and priviledges of Christ's Churches be less than of civil Corporations or private Families which were absurd to imagine Not to grant this to every individual and particular Church and Congregation were to maintain That Christ's Churches are in Bondage and not Free States or Politick Bodies which were derogatory both to Christ and to his Church Further either the Church or persons less than the Church must make Ministers but the Text tells us The lesser must be blessed of the greater Therefore every Church of Christ and not any distinct sort of Persons there-from must make Ministers for themselves Heb. 7.7 we read And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the greater yea and subjected to the greater even every Gospel-Minister to his Congregation who may not only when occasion requires say to Archippus Take heed to the Ministry thou hast received of the Lord to fulfil it Col. 4.17 But likewise if Archippus will not here reform and obey them as they gave him admittance into their Fellowship and into his Ministry they also may take from him both the one and the other and let him be unto them as an Heathen and a Publican Mat. 18.17 Again ask these what Ministers of Christ they are Apostles Evangelists and extraordinary Prophets they cannot be who-ever they be for they ceased with Foundation-work and Dayes and as they were raised up and filled with Gifts and Grace suiting such who were to lay the Foundation of Faith Church-Worship Ministry and Ministrations according to commission from Christ Mat. 28.19 20. So they were to be but twelve in number as Acts 1. with Rev. 21. where it is said And the Wall of the City had twelve Foundations and in them the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb Vers 14. The last Vision John saw and the most glorious City that upon Earth the Saints shall ever see will have but twelve Apostles names in the Foundation thereof wherefore try them that say they are Apostles and they will be found lyars Rev. 2.2 And for Evangelists to assist Apostles in writing Scripture and such like Services there being now no Apostles to assist or Scripture to write or fill up there is no need of these as no way to attain these for all these extraordinary Officers came not into the Church by the Door or Way that ordinary Ministers or Officers do but by a more immediate way from Heaven as Paul witnesseth Gal. 1.1 Paul an Apostle not by man nor of man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead And for extraordinary Prophets as we have none so all that are acquainted with the Scripture know they were immediately made Prophets by the Lord All therefore that say they are Christ's Gospel-Ministers must profess or acknowledge themselves to be either Pastors or Teachers or Elders or Deacons and Deaconnesses Now he that is a Pastor cannot at the same time be a Teacher that is an official Teacher whose Work and Office is distinct as well as his name from the Pastor and the Elder or Ruler is distinct in Name and Work from both the former and the Deacon from all the rest as the formentioned Scriptures declare Now if they have neither Name nor Gifts of Christ's Ministers then can they be none of Christ's but another sort of Ministers I do not say that a bare assuming or owning a Man's self to be a Pastor or Teacher or Elder will prove him one of Christ's Ministers but try what men are called into the Office and Ministry of Objection And if any should Object and say But are not these common names viz. Pastors Elders Teachers Bishops and the like Answer I Answer In a common acceptation and use of the term they are and may be so improved but yet these names are properly the names of Christ's distinct and peculiar Ministers and answerable to their proportionableness thereunto are they to be chosen into that very Ministry they are mostly fitted and adapted for As he whose Gift and Spirit mostly disposes him to Exhortation and Application of Principles received and believed ought to be chosen into the Pastor's Office and he whose Gifts and Qualification bends most to Expound Interpret and open the sense and meaning of the Word is meetest to be chosen into the Office of a Teacher and so he that is wise zealous grave vigilant and most disposed to see the Churches Affairs done decently and in order is most meet for the Office of â—uling-Elder or Governor in the Church of Christ And he that is most inclined to mercy kindness charity bountifulness liberality and giving is meetest of all the Church for the Office of Deaconship in the Church For as Adam called every thing by its proper name even so would the Second Adam have his Ministers called by their proper not improper names from their fitness and sutableness to their Work chosen and called either Pastors Teachers Elders or Deacons But lastly Would you know whether Persons pretending to be Christ's Ministers be so or no ask them whose Servants they are and whom they obey Christ and his Will or Man and his Will For you know who said it His Servants ye are to whom ye yeeld your selves obedient Rom. 6.16 Now try whose Will and Mind Ministers obey Christ's or Man's whose Word they walk by Christ's or Man's whose Worship they offer up Christ's or Man's For by their Fruits saith our Lord you shall know whether men are true or false Prophets Mat. 7.15 16. Christ's Ministers offer no strange Fire nor make any composition to anoint God's