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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A94261	The crovvne of righteousnes: or, The glorious reward of fidelity in the discharge of our duty. As it was laid forth in a sermon, preached in S. Botolphs Aldersgate, London, Sept. 25. 1653. At the solemn funerall of Mr. Abrah: Wheelock, B. D. the first publick professor, and reader of Arabick, and of the Saxon, in the University of Cambridge. Whereunto is added, an encomium of him. / By William Sclater Doctor in Divinity, now preacher of the Word of God in Broad-street, Lond.	Sclater, William, 1609-1661.	1653 (1653)	Wing S916; Thomason E221_6; ESTC R4044	30,757	39

observed by the Hebrews that in the Essentiall Name of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the Letters are Litera quiescentes Letters of Rest to denote that without God there can be no solid joy or quietnesse of Soule which will still be tossed in a kinde of restlesse inconsistency till it doe indeed terminate at last in him which made that man so much after Gods owne heart as in a flame of fervent zeale experimentally to put the question Psal 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee The next particular that fals under my consideration is the time of donation when this Reward is to be actually conferred expressed to be in That Day and at the Lords appearing These s 1 Tim. 4.1 and 2 Tim. 3.1 latter times into which the t 1 Cor. 10.11 ends of the world are fallen abounding as men in old age with variety of u Mund●● senescens patitur phantasias Gerson phancies have given us occasion to enquire what Day of the Lords appearance it is which is here meant whether it be the great and w Act 2.20 2 Tit. 4.1 notable day of the x Joh. 6.39 40 41. last generall Judgement or else of some other manifestation of the Lord Christ upon earth before that last day of all doth come There are some otherwise abundantly knowing whose wits have herein proved more wanton than their judgements solid whose apprehensions have led them to conjecture if not to believe an appearance of the Lord Christ personally in a way of raigne and triumph to be manifested upon earth a thousand yeares before the last day of the Generall Judgement such in the Greek expression are called Chiliasts and by the Latines y Vid. Aug. lib. 20. De Civ Dei c. 7 Philastr c. 59. De Heres Aug. De Heres c. 8. Mistenaryes some have fetched the name and conceit so high as from z Euseb 1.3 c. 25. Histor Ecclesiast Cerinthus a blasphemous Heretick even in the dayes of the Apostles themselves who daringly avouching the Lord Christ to be no more than a meer man and borne after the common way of humane generation which gave occasion to S. John that soaring a Euch. 1.10 Eagle to write that his so sublime Gospel wherein in the very b Joh. 1.1 2 c. entrance of it He proves his Divine Nature He gave out that after the resurrection there should be in the great City Jerusalem an outward way of pomp and a kinde of voluptuous indulgence to corporall vanityes and delights during the terme of a thousand yeares which opinion He was thought to have sucked from the Breasts of the Jewish Synagogue that people mistaking the nature and quality of Christs c Mat. 20.21 A 1.6 Kingdome thinking it to be after an externall glory and not as it is indeed consisting d Luk. 17 21. within in the soule after a e Rom. 14.17 spirirtuall manner ruling and raigning over the spirituall part of man But this Blasphemer being exploded and cryed down by all the Primitively-Orthodox Fathers and Christians as the Historyes of those Times informe us The next who most clearely speak of it or was indeed supposed the first who more directly vented the opinion was one Papias Bishop of Hieropolis as f Euseb l. 3. c. 36. Eccl. Hist Eusebius acquaints us a man of a weak and slender judgement who if not utterly neglecting yet but slightly valuing the Authority of the Holy Scriptures pretended for his conceit Apostolicall Traditions and by reason of the venerable name of Antiquity it is not to be denyed but that some of the ancient Fathers received some tang of the same opinion from him as may be seen or collected of g Justin Martyr Dialog Cum Triphon Jud pag. 239 Justin Martyr and in the end of Trajans time h Baron in Annal. Ann 118. sect 2. Hieron in Catalog illustr cap. de Papiâ Apollinarius i Tertul. l. 3. advers Marc. c. 24. Tertullian too much misled by Montane and Lactantius who were in part spiced with this Millenarisme so perilous a thing it proves to the Supine and out of a secure or carelesse disregard to suffer Humane Tradition to become a Diotrephes and to have the l 3 Epist John 9. preheminence above the infallibity of the undoubted Scriptures which sacred and unerring written Word of God doth hold forth as of certaine credibility inspired by the Divine and first verity that can never deceive no such clear truth that the Lord Christ shall in Person before the General Resurrection come visibly and corporally upon the earth and as by a m Re 20.6 first resurrection cause all those who dyed n Re. 14.13 in and for him to arise and with him in a peacefull tranquility and glory to reigne and to beare sway over the wicked as Vassals for a thousand yeares which date of time being expired immediately shall ensue the General Resurrection and the day of the last Judgement No such evidentiall verity is demonstrated in Holy Writ as of Absolute Necessity to be believed unto salvation But whatsoever is alledged out of the prophetick Scriptures for the stablishing of that opinion is to be understood either of the first coming of Christ in the flesh or of the state of the N. T. in generall or else of the glorious estate of the Church triumphant to be expected hereafter in the eternall Kingdome for ever in Heaven as o Joh Gerard loc com To. 9. c 7. sect 80 Gerard judiciously I have not time to alledge or you patience to heare on this occasion the severall Texts cited by the Chiliasts or of the Orthodox many p See Bish Hall in his Revelations unrevealed edit 1650. D. Prid serm on 2 Pet. 3.13 serm on Joh. 6.14 Per. Dem. of Probl. vid. Dierer In die fest Bar. Ap. p. 7 14. c. vol. 4. Bul. l. 2. c. 11. con●r Anabapt sixt Senens l. 6. Annot. 347. reverend and renowned Divines have eased us all of that labour let it suffice at the present to take notice from our Saviours own lips that his Kingdome is not of this world John 18.36 but within us Luke 17.21 and from Heaven and besides we finde in our Creed which is founded on k Lactant. l. 7 c. 24. Institut the Scriptures and may in every article thereof be q Art 6. of the Ch of England proved by them we finde I say in our Creed mention made but of two visible comings of Christ the first in r Phil. ● 8 Mat. 21.5 Humility to suffer and to be judged the other at the end of the world but not before in the s 2 Pet. 1.17 glory of his Father to t Acts 17.31 2 Tim. 4.1 1 Pet. 4.5 judge the world both quick and dead in righteousnesse and unto them that look for him

saith the great Apostle shall he appear the u See my Sermon stiled The Grand Assizes pag. 37. edit 1653. preached at Winchester second time without sinne that is without suffering any more as a sacrifice for sin unto salvation Heb 8.28 Leaving then those Millenarian conjectures to such as abound with leisure rest we in the solid determination of Orthodox and stable judgements who resolve by the day and by the appearing here mentioned in this text to be meant the last great day of the generall Judgment according to that Scripture Acts 17.31 and the Lord Christ his second w 2 Tim. 4.1 coming upon that day in * Mat. 25.31 glorious Majesty unto the judgement of all the wolrd so that however those who x 1 Tim. 5.17 labour in the Word and Doctrine meet often with so great discouragements that they seem to labour all in vaine and spend their strength for nought as the Prophet speaks Isa 49.4 yet surely their Judgement is with the Lord and their worke that is the reward of their work is with the Lord his goodnesse is laid up for them O how great Psal 31.19 In the mean time let it be our delight and contentment that we y Mat. 24.46 doe our Masters work not as by constraint but z 1 Pet. 5.2 willingly sith indeed such a vertuous service ever carryeth its owne reward with it as being a thing to be desired and embraced for its own worth and certainly that sweet comfort and complacency that a righteous soule findeth in the sincere discharge of his duty within its proper station in conscience of God is infinitely more valuable than all the a H●b 11.25 treasures the earth can afford without it only as the Husbandman we may not anticipate the season of the Harvest but we must b Jam. 5.7 wait then in due time we shall reap if we faint not Gal. 6.9 Heb. 10.36.37 when the reward actually cometh it being so large will abundantly recompence all our work yea end all our patience too sith the manner of it will be the more manifest and conspicuous before all in that great day when c Rev. 20.12 all of all sorts both great and small shall upon the generall summons stand before the last Tribunall and then upon the appearance of the Chiefe Shepheard we shall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5.4 Hereof S. Paul had a particular assurance in his owne person when he saith Henceforth is laid up for me a Crowne of Righteousnesse and if for him why may it not be also possible for others to be in like manner assured of the same especially provided that we are such as do love his appearing This question I confesse is solid yet such as wanteth not its intricacies The Roman Catholicks in this controversie are wont to resolve thus that indeed for so great a Saint as S. Paul was this assurance might be possible yea was attained to by Revelation extraordinary by meanes of his fides privilegiata his special and priviledged faith which as an Apostle and a d Act. 9.15 chosen vessel of honour he was endowed and adorned withall from Heaven for that God had a great e 2 Tim. 4.17 service for him to do who was selected as it were to take up the Gauntlet in the quarrel of the Gospel against the manifold fierce and potent f 1 Cor. 16.9 Adversaries of the same so that as I said in the beginning to steele his resolution with the greater courage he was fortifyed before-hand and armed with an extraordinary assurance of a glorious reward after his work and warfaring therein was over Quer. But now whether this assurance be possible for an ordinary Christian by the use of ordinary lawfull means to attaine is the next disquisition Answer To which the resolution is affirmative the thing is possible though confessedly very difficult and this possibility is both Certitudine Objecti and also Certitudine Subjecti both as it is sure in it self as it is determin'd by God likewise in the particular evidence speciall experience of the same in the soule of a true believer and this is proved partly from those Scriptures which exhort unto a diligent endeavour after it 2 Pet. 1.10 2 Cor. 13.5 Now the nature of Evangelicall precepts and exhortations in a contradistinction to those of the Law is that they carry a spirit a secret energy vertue and power with them inabling through grace unto observation therefore the Gospel is called g John 6.63 life and spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 and I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me Phil. 4.13 partly also this is proved from one principall end of the spirits Donation his being given us namely That we may know the things that are freely given unto us of God and to co-witnesse with our spirits that we are his Sons and Daughters 1 Cor. 2.12 Rom. 8.16 1 John 5.13 Thirdly from the duties required of us upon this account as thankfulnesse Ephes 1.3 Col. 1.12 13. What wise man will give thanks for that which he hath no certainty that he doth enjoy this were for a man to boast of a h Prov 25 14. false gift as of a i Jud. v. 12 cloud without water so likewise of Love we love God because he first loved us 1 John 4.19 in so freely giving his Son to us John 3.16 and together with him all things that do accompany salvation Rom. 8.32 even to be the Author of life and salvation unto all that obey him Heb. 5.9 And how come we to know of all this love but by that experimentall proofe thereof that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us Rom. 5.5 And lastly by the examples of Saints that have had this assurance in themselves as Job 19.25 Abraham Rom. 4.21 and here in my Text Saint Paul which eminent Saints were not set forth in Holy Writ as Wonders meerely to be gazed at but as Patternes of imitation and though ordinary Christians and Saints cannot reach to the same steps yet they may walk in the same path and may possibly attaine though not to the same measures yet to the same foundnesse of perswasion and indeed as a reverend k B. King lect 38. on Joan. Divine observes its firmnesse rather than fulnesse of assurance namely in respect of adherence or of recumbency that the Saints in this life arrive unto but to this firmnesse they may come by the use of the ordinary and of the right means as here S. Paul did by fighting the good fight by finishing his course and by keeping the faith hereby as by the ordinary meanes he concluded therein likewise shewing us an example that from henceforth there was a Crowne of Righteousnesse laid up in Heaven for him yea and for all others with himselfe who loved the appearing of the Lord Jesus But though it be

Divine assistance therein Answ Answ To which saith venerable Bede Absit ut tantus Doctor ignoraverit legem Dei Deut. 8.17 God forbid that so great a Doctor should be unacquainted with the word of God which teacheth utterly to disclaime all selfe-power though it were but to become wealthy or potent even in things Temporall yea himselfe seriously acknowledgeth all spirituall sufficiency to be of God 2 Cor. 3.5 evermore ascribing the totall of his supernaturalls to the free grace of Christ 1 Cor. 15.10 through whose strength alone it was that he discharged his Trust in the Gospell and went through with all other gracious performances Phil. 4.13 Quaer 4 The fourth and last Querie is How Saint Paul came to know so assuredly that there was a Crowne of Righteousnesse laid up for him in Heaven Answ Answ To which some answer That he had it by Revelation extraordinary as an Apostolicall priviledge daigned to him from God the better to chear him on in the course of the Gospell and to steele his resolutions against all opposers of the glorious Truth therein revealed or as Anselme thus He had that assurance Non re plenissimâ sed spe firmissimâ grounded upon a firme hope and expectation But of this more anon Having thus pointed at the Quaeries I come now to the more particular handling of the words out of which I observe two generall parts 1. A solemne Profession of the discharge of his Office verse 7. 2. A large Remuneration and Reward of that Discharge verse 8. In the former we have 1. The Person I. 2. His Act fought 3. The object of that Act A fight 4. The quality of that fight A good fight 5. The time of all this noted from the expression in the Praeter tense I have fought 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have fought a good fight the rest of the words in this verse I take to be upon the matter but as the exegesis and exposition of the former In the second maine part The reward We have it amplified 1. By the Donor or bestower of it The Lord described here by a Periphrasis and styled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Righteous Judge 2. By the Title given to it A Crowne of Righteousnesse 3. By the manner of it it is laid up 4. By the time of Donation In that Day 5. By the persons to whom bestowed To Paul himselfe and that not by any restrictive enclosure as if onely to himselfe and to none other besides but by a farther expansion it reacheth unto others with himselfe provided they be found under due qualification of loving the appearance of the Judge Not unto me onely but unto them also that love his appearing These at least as to my observation are the parts of this Scripture which being so many I must be constrained as the Disciples passing through the Corne-fields upon the Sabbath day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to pluck but an eare g Mat. 2.23 or two of the choycest notice or as some Lapidaries of rich Jewells are wont shew them onely in a short cursory view and so lay them up againe The first words I have fought a good fight admit of a divers Interpretations yet each of them suitable to the Analogy and * Rom. 12.6 proportion of Faith They may then be taken either as the expression of Saint Paul himselfe quatenus Apostolus as under the notion of an Apostle or else as a Christian in the condition with other Members of the Church of Christ with himselfe for that we read in the close of the eighth verse The Crowne of Righteousnesse was laid up for all that loved the appearing of the Lord. If we take them in the former sense then from the first particular The Person The note of h Magalianus ad loc Magalian is apposite Stus Paulus Dux fuit antesignanus eorum quae praecipiebat That we looke at Saint Paul as an Exemplary leader to all his successors though indeed not in an Apostolicall Latitude yet in the office and worke it selfe of the Ministery practically first doing what he would have others to observe in and about the dispensation of the Gospell see Phil. 4.9 And this was our Saviours owne Course Act. 1.1 He began to doe and Teach first to doe and then to Teach it s noted by Barradius upon that Prophesie Isa 9.6 which had relation to our Saviour it was said The Government should be upon his shoulders intimating that himselfe would first beare in his owne person what he intended to impose upon others to wit in things capable of Imitation even as he said unto John Baptist when he cender'd himselfe to be Baptized of him and he in an humble renuence grew shy as deeming himselfe unworthy of so great an Honour Mat. 3.15 Suffer it to be so now saith he for thus it becommeth us to fulfill all Righteousnesse Haec est enim Iustitia ut quod alterū facere velis prior ipse incipias tuo alios horteris exemplo as Saint i S. Am●●●●e in Luc. Ambrose expounds the words This was righteousness that is an equal and just thing that what thou wouldest have another to observe and do thou thy selfe shouldest first exemplifie in thine owne actions suitably whereunto was that serious advise of S. Paul unto his Son Timothy 2 Tim. 4.16 Take heed unto thy selfe and unto thy Doctrine for so thou shalt both save thy selfe and those that heare thee Where the chiefest heed was to be given to himself Truly spake k Saint Gregory in Job 23. Saint Gregory cum Imperio docetur quod prius agitur quàm dicatur Then shall we with Authority speake what we doe when we doe what we speake But this is a Discourse fitter for a Visitation than a Funerall were it not that it is at the obsequies of such a worthy Divine for whom we now performe this last Christian good office whose practise herein was an accurate Comment upon the whole speech From the second and third particular in this acception of the words its obvious to every apprehension that the worke of the Ministery is a Fighting yea a continuall Warfare so Bruno and with him l Espenceus ad Loc. Espencaeus observes that where the Verbe and Substantive run in the same termes one conducing to the other to perfect the Emphasis of the expression there is evermore a Frequency of that Act implyed I should but cast drops into the Ocean to endeavour a large proof of so clear a Truth Whilest Noah both by his Lips and by his Hands in m Heb. 11 7. building the Arke was a n 2 Pet. 2 5. Preacher of Righteousnesse in the old world was it not thus whilst the spirit of God in his Ministery o Gen. 6.3 strove with the obstinate corruptions of that wicked world what aspersions what oppositions what misusages and abasures had the Prophets in their dayes being p Ier. 20.7 derided traduced q 2 Chro. 36.16

Mat. 23.37 misused insulted on even for the Conscientious discharge of their Function The pretious Sons of Sion comparable to fine Gold how were they esteemed as earthen Pitchers the worke of the hands of the Potter Lam. 4.2 And who knowes not the exact accomplishment of old Simeons Prophecy of our Saviour himselfe Luke 2.34 How he was set for a signe which was and should be r In signum contrad cib●le Tert. de Ca●ne Christi cap. 28. Is 8.13 spoken against 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a signe of contradiction he should be as a common s Illirio Bishop Hall in Paraphr Piscator Franciscus Lucas marke whereat the arrowes of reproach shall be fully shot Of all the Holy Apostles its noted 1 Cor. 4.13 They were made as the filth of the world and the t Confer Lam. 3.45 off-scouring of all things continually 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth that rejectament which is scraped from the dirty pavement from whence the shooes gather defilement and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it being a word in a Composition carryes with it the greater Emphasis and denotes the polluted rakeings of the streets fit for nothing but the common Dunghill In so low a state of abjection and in so vile an esteem were those very u 2 Cor. 5.20 Ambassadors of Heaven among an Atheisticall and w Act. 2.40 Phil. 2.15 crooked generation our very Apostle here professeth 1 Cor. 15.32 That he fought with Beasts at Ephesus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some would have meant Literally of his being dilaniated and rent in his body as many Primitive Christians were in the first Cruell times of raging persecution by wilde Beasts to which Nero that Dedicator Damnationis x T●rt in Apologet. as Tertullian styles him being himselfe a y 2 Tim. 4.17 Lyon was wont Tyrannically to cast the bodies of the Christians But others better in my poore understanding expound it of those Ethicall or Morall Beasts who with Demetrius and the rabble that cryed up the great Diana of the Idolatrous Ephesians so violently withstood and opposed Saint Paul who cryed downe that their abhominable superstition at Ephesus Act. 19. in which place a great door and effectuall was opened unto him but there were many z 1 Cor. 16.9 Adversaries 1 Cor. 16.8 9. those Apostles indeed experimenting the proofe of what their Lord and Master foretold them that they must be sent forth even as Sheep among a Mat. 10.16 Wolves who would attempt to teare them in pieces and which of us in particular encounters not his discouragements Yea woe is me We seeme to be fallen into those times wherein many men as if directly b Isa 6.10 infatuated from Heaven out of a grosse misprision apprehend the Ministery it selfe the greatest inconvenience and that great cheat that grand Pantomime of Christendome the cunning Jesuit now almost bare-fac'd hath instilled as is feared so pernicious a principle into such as are for ought we can see willing to be deceived as to question the c 1 Tim. ● 1 Rom. 11.13 office it selfe and to dispute the Institution as if they would have men scorne the Physitian when sickest and shun the Chirurgion when sorest And which must not be forgotten there are not wanting some who are apt to charge on that sacred Calling the occasion if not the cause of all the Calamities of this latter Age just as those of whom Suidas reports that they were wont to write with Inke or blood on a glasse and so set it against the Moon making all those spots or blurres that were in the glass to be in the Moon and not at all in the glasse upon which alone they were written meane while never at all anatomizing their owne Ulcerous Corrupt insides or repenting for their d Prov. 13.5 Ezek. 36.31 loathsome selfe-abhominations and among them as principall for the contempt of Gods faithfull Ministers Which sins becomming so Epidemicall and Nationall as they are call for Wrath and Indignation from that Lord who is here styled in my Text the Righteous Judge And yet though this be a Fight neverthelesse it is for the quality a good Fight and that for these reasons First of all because it s undertaken for the e 1 Tim. 6.12 Faith of Christ and for the Salvation of Soules whereof even one single one is more worth than a f Mat. 16.26 whole World O what comfort will it be in the day of retribution when a g 1 Cor. 4.2 faithfull Minister after all his sharpe conflicts with the * Act. 2.40 wayward oppositions of corrupt men shall say Loe me and the h Isa 8.18 Heb. 2 13. people which thou hast given me as the fruit of all my labour in thy Gospell being able thus to give up an i Heb. 13.17 account with joy and not with griefe Secondly Because it s undertaken for a good reward which is no lesse than a Crowne of Righteousnesse What S. Gregory said of afflictions for a good Conscience will hold here alone Consideratio praemii minuit vim flagelli The consideration of the Reward abates of the Difficulty of the Fight even so it s noted of Moses that having respect unto the recompense of the reward he preferred the reproach of Christ to all the richest treasures in Aegypt Heb. 11.26 the same was it likewise that animated that noble Prophet under all his discouragements and fruitlesse endeavours among men Isa 49.4 I have laboured in vaine and spent my time for nought yet surely my Judgement is with the Lord and my worke that is the reward of my worke is with the Lord who rewardeth his Ministers secundùm laborem though not secundùm proventum as S. Bernard speakes according to their Labour and pious endeavours which themselves undergoe in the Gospell though not according to the successe of their Labours which is k 1 Cor. 3.6 Gods alone to bestow And thus farre of the words in their first acception uttered by S. Paul as an Apostle I might next consider them also as spoken in the name of all other Christians at large even of all such as who love the appearing of the Lord Christ Jesus at his comming And under that notion of them we may observe That the Life of a Christian is a continuall warfare upon the Earth so Chrysologus Christiano militare est id quod vivit in seculo suitably unto that of Job Chap. 7.1 Where the word rendered an appointed time is by many translated a Warfare which was hinted to us in the first l Gen. 3.15 enmity between the two seeds after againe in Esau and Iacob m Gen. 25.22 strugling together in the same wombe and to this effect is that speech of our Saviour I came not to send Peace on the Earth but War Division n Mat. 10.34 35. and variance namely between Grace and Corruption which was experimented mightily in the breast of this our