2 Cor. 5.11 as knowing the terrour of the Lord. Hence God stirs up the prophet in this context to warn c. for if he did not their bloud should be required at his hands Ezek. 1. O Beloved the bloud of souls will lye heavy one day upon the account of carelesse watch-men If Abel's bloud lay so heavy on Cain's heart Gen. 4. that his countenance fell O how will wretched carelesse ministers look God in the face when he shall ask them where is thy Brother wher 's such and such that I have committed to thy charge Heb. 13.17 and for whom thou must account O Deal not then with your charge with your flock as the Ostrich with her eggs leave them and forget that Iob 39.14,15,16 the foot may crush them that the wild beast may break them she is hardened against her young ones as though they were not hers Consider what God threatneth against such idol shepherds that leave the flock wo be unto him Zech. 11,17 the sword shall be upon his arm and upon his right eye his arm shall be clean dried up and his right eye shall be utterly darkned Since God speaks to every minister what that man of the sons of the prophets told Ahab was spoken unto him 1 Kin. 20.39 Keep that man if by any means he be missing then shall thy life goe for his life O how many may say to many ministers concerning their perisht relations as Martha did to Christ O Sir if you had been here if you had been faithfull and carefull and painfull in your charge my Brother sister friend had not died Consider then I pray you that dreadfull curse on him that doth the work of the Lord negligently Ier. 4.8.10 what 's due to him then that doth it not at all consider the threatning in this text His bloud will I require 'T is dangerous for watch men to be out of their stations it 's dangerous for such to sleep Consider how it fared with that sentinell his Generall found sleeping he thrust him through and left him with this sarcasme Mortuum inveni mortuum reliqui 2. From Hope Thus the Apostle Paul from arguments drawn hence encourageth himself from the 13. verse of the fourth chapter of the 2 Cor. to the 10. of the 5. chapter Now Gods watch-men bave a double hope 1. Of successe 2. Of reward 1. Of successe because God is with them in their work The woman of Tekoah 2 Sam. 14. was subtile and powerfull to perswade and prevail because the hand of Ioab was with her So are Gods ministers powerfull to perswade to throw down strong holds to hit the heart to convince the conscience because the hand of God is with them 1 Cor. 14.24 so that those who are convinced shall confesse that God is with them of a truth Cambyses being charged with drunkennesse by Prexaspes a noble Counsellour commanded this Counsellours son to be set before him as a mark and calling for his bow and arrow shot the lad through and opening of him found the arrow in his heart asking his father what he thought the sorrowfull father answered the Gods cannot shoot better And thus indeed Peter's hearers found Acts 2. who having in the beginning charged the Apostles with drunkennesse but at length were hit so right that they found themselves pricked at the heart and had good cause to say none could shoot better And so it is still however carnall and secure sinners mistake misjudge yet those that are indeed wrought upon will acknowledge that God was in his word 1 Cor. 14.25 and with his messengers of a truth Though ministers many times draw their bows at adventure as that man that killed Ahab 1 Kin. 22.34 yet God directs their arrows Psal 45.5 yea many times into the heart of Christs enemies 2. Of reward Isa 49.5 Though Israel be not gathered yet shall I be glorious Dan. 12.3 Mat. 24.46 They that turn many unto righteousnesse shall shine as the stars for ever They that be faithfull servants shall be blessed when their master comes and finds them so doing Consider 1. God hath honoured ministers in imploying them in his choicest service as his Embassadours and in some sort to represent him It was an excellent speech of Luther's that may encourage all ministers in the discharge of their duties Summa summatum haecest inaestimabilis gloria conscientiae nostrae contra omnem contemptum in mundo quod Christus nos praedicatores quasi deos plane creat dicendo qui vos recipit me patremque meum recipit Mat. 10.40,41 2. God hath engaged for their protection while they doe his work Christ holds Rev. 1.16 the stars in his right hand dogs may bark at them but ther 's no reaching of them Satan and his instruments cannot harm them without Christs commission we know that the devil could not enter the Gadarenes swine till Christ suffered them much lesse harm Christs ministers 3. God owns their quarrels revenge all their wrongs Psal 105.15 Touch not mine anointed do my prophets no harm They that do shall be sure to smart for it Mat. 25. Inasmuch as you have done it against these little ones you have done it saith Christ against me David sent Embassadours to Hanun and he abuseth them cuts their garments shaves their beards but you know how severely David revenged that indignity that was done to them he brought forth the people and 2 Sam. 12.31 put them under saws and under harrows of iron and under axes of iron and made them passe through the brick kills God now sends his Embassadours unto sinners to speak kindly to them and to proffer terms of peace but how many are there every where that cut their garments shave their beards rob them of their rights and wrong them in their names but what will be the issue such may read it 2 Chron. 36.15,16,17 2 Cro. 36.16 They mocked his messengers and despised his word and misused his prophets untill the wrath of the Lord arose against them till there was no remedy nor healing 4. God will be their pay-master Their reward is with him and unto him they are a sweet savour he will not be unmindfull of any labour of such love What though we have none or inconsiderable reward from men yet let us know that both our work is it self a reward and we are sure of a good reward if not here which yet usually God affords he being a good master that delights in the prosperity of his servants yet assuredly hereafter when we shall shine as the stars in the firmament for ever 2 Cor. 4.17 Our light afflicting labour for the present working out for us a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glorie Well then Reverend Fathers and Brethren let hope draw us let fear drive us but especially let love as the soul act within us 3. From love Let the
Enemy as lying nearest and most open to their approches and so is it with Christ's ministers they are first struck at They have most enemies and their enemies malice is most against them That command given 1 Kin. 22.31 Fight not against small nor great c. is comparatively true in this case The Churches adversaries principall spight is against the Churches watch-men This the experience of all persecutions have made good This the experience of our times verify Now then if they are exposed to the greatest dangers is it not reason they should have the greatest courage Ther 's many an Ahab will frown upon a faithfull preacher and had they had the power Est 7.9 would doe for them as Haman did for Mordecai and Francis the first of France for Charls the fifth his Ambassadour even set up a Gibbet for them Nemo attingat hujus muneris functionem nisi paratus sit millies animam suam in mortem tradere 2. Difficulty of their work Ther 's a great deal of hardship to be endured by civill and military watch-men Gen. 31.40 night and day cold and heat wet and dry Thus it is with spirituall watch-men They that think the ministeriall labour to be an easy and slight work know not what it is They that are acquainted with it cry out 2 Cor. 2.16 who is sufficient And indeed did not Christ help with us our shoulders were never able to bear that burthen Paul tells us Eph. 4.11 that Christ gave Pastours for the work of the ministry Now as the word ministry forbids lording so the word work forbids loitering Iacob's speech of himself shews us that a watch-mans employment though it be but over sheep is no easy work much more then our souls Gen. 31.40 I was in the day consumed with the heat and with frost in the night and my sleep departed from mine eyes There was in him and must be in ministers Isa 21.8 1. Assiduity night and day 2. Patience heat and frost 3. Sollicitousnesse sleep went from his eyes 3. Disregard from friends Even from those they watch over Ther 's not only opposition from the Devill and the world a forreign force but from mutineers amongst our selves the repulsing resisting and refusing to be warned How many sad complaints have God's watch-men made Isa 49.4 I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought and in vain Isa 53.1 Who hath believed our report and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed Jer. 20.7,8 I am in derision daily every one mocketh me The word of the Lord was made unto me a reproch and derision daily Yea our Saviour complains Iohn 1.11 that he came unto his own and his own received him not and hence those tears Luk. 19.41 when he wept over Hierusalem for her not understanding the things of her peace Now have not God's ministers need of courage that they may meet with and overcome all the oppositions they shall have in the way of their employment The enemies are many their work is hard their discouragements great They must as those that repaired the walls of Hierusalem have their swords in one hand and therefore need as our prophet to have Ezek. 3.9 adamantine faces that they may doe that which Paul commands Timothy 2 Tim. 4.5 even watch in all things endure afflictions c. intimating hereby what ministers must expect in the doing their work no other but what sheep and lambs find amongst wolves Mat. 10.16.23 c 34. They that enter this calling 2 Cor. 11.26.27 must resolve with Paul to be in deaths often disgraces reproches persecutions If they said Iohn hath a Devil Mal. 11.18,19 Christ was a wine-bibber what may not Christ's ministers expect It being as Luther speaks to preach the Gospel as it ought to be preached to stir up all the furies of hell against us And therefore such of all men have most need of resolution and fortitude to tread under feet all oppositions Contemptus est à me Romanus favor furor Spernere mundum spernere nullum spernere sese Spernere se sperni Quatuor ista beant 2. Understanding a discerning eye For how can they warn others of that they are themselves ignorant of how can they teach others what they themselves know not We find in sacred History that they who were placed as military watch-men were discerning men 2 Sam. 18.27 2 Kin. 9.20 One knows at a distance the running of Ahimaaz another the driving of Iehu And shall not Gods watch-men then who are the light of the world shall not they be as of old 1 Sam. 9.9 they were called seers Acts 20.28 Episcopus est oculus Ecclesiae yea the Churches overseer shall he be blind nay rather he ought to be as those beasts about the throne full of eyes Rev. 4.6 least being blind God call for the beasts of the field and the forrest to devour them Isa 56.9,10 Now there are three things that watch-men especially such that are not only seers but ouerseers are to discern 1. The strength stratagems and approches of the enemy 2. The weaknesse danger and infirmities of their charge 3. The course to disappoint the enemy and the way to secure their charge If we know not all these we shall make but bad watch men 1. The strength stratagems and approches of the enemy This Paul knew 2 Cor. 2.11 when he tells us we are not ignorant of his devices Our spirituall adversaries can put on disguises and therefore we had need know them that as the Prophet did Ieroboam's wife 1 Kin. 14.6 we may call them by their own names least as the Saracens in the slain French mens attire had like to have surprised Damiata Knowls Turk Hist p. 105. so Satans temptations disguised by plausible appearances prevail for an uncontrouled entertainment 2. The dangers weaknesses and infirmities the estate and condition of their own charge How else can provision be made for them if we are unacquainted with their conditions How can a Physician prescribe to a patient whose disease he knows not What advice can a Lawyer give in a case he is ignorant of Hence that counsel Prov. 27.23 be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks and look well to thy herds This Paul did Phil. 2.19 and therefore sent Timothy to the Philippians that he might know their state 3. The course to disappoint the enemy and the way to provide for their charges safety The Physician must know his Art as well as his Patients disease The Counseller must know the Law as well as his Clients case God's ministers must know God's mind Mal. 2.7 The Priests lips must preserve knowledge and the people seek it at their mouth Thus then to mention no more watch-men must be seers have a discerning eye be skilfull to judge enemies from friends and friends from disguised
servants owning their injuries and espousing their just quarrels if God be thus for us and with us who can be against us who can prevail against us so as to procure harm to us 3. You have assurance of good successe Ezek. 2.5 whether they will hear or whether they will forbear yet they shall know that there hath been a prophet amongst them Isa 49.5 Though Israel be not gathered yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and my God shall be my strength 2 Cor. 2.15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish Now shall not this embolden us when probabilities of successe make men venture far We read of Agesilaus that to encourage his souldiers before a battle clapping his hand upon the Altar by a fore-plotted device he brought of victory engraven on his palm which he shewed to his souldiers who were thereby so encouraged that they got an unlookt and an unlikely victory Now to encourage Gods watch-men and souldiers we have an assurance that we shall be Rom. 8.37 Mat. 18.18 more then conquerours the gates of hell shall not prevail Well then Reverend Fathers and Brethren let us consider that where a door is open though there be many adversaries frowning Ahabs persecuting Iezabels scoffing Ishmaels mocking Micals and sometimes angry Asa'es Yet we have Gods warrant his presence his promise and so as Elisha told his fearfull servant 2 King 6.16 there are more on our side then there are against us Let us not then fear man who have a God to warrant us his presence with us and who hath promised a comfortable successe unto us Especially considering that 1. Our fear of man is the next way to lay us open to Gods fury That watch-man that removes from his station for the fear of an enemy doth thereby actually incurre the danger of a capitall sentence from his own Generall 2. Herein if ever that observation is verified Cowards are cruell The Emperour Mauritius enquiring concerning Phocas what he was heard he was a coward then answered he is a murderer It 's most true in this case Ministers cowardise is cruelty he that fears faces hates kills souls 2. Labour for a discerning eye Why ministers should be men of knowledge you have heard I shall only now point to you from the text how they may be such Text. Therefore hear the word at my mouth Gods mouth which spirituall watch-men are now since immediate converse with him is ceased to hear Gods mind from is 1. His works 2. His Scriptures For as Aristotle had two sorts of writings one called exotericall for common auditours another called Acroamaticall for his private Scholars familiar acquaintance so God hath two Books 1. The creatures the shepherds Calendar the plow-mans Alphabet Vniversus mundus nihil aliud est quam Deus explicatus Rom. 1.20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and Godhead 〈…〉 Psal 19.12 The heavens declare the glory of God and the earth shew forth his handy work In which Scripture as one observes the Psalmist shews that the creatures are 1. Diligēt preachers at all times 2. Learned preachers in all tongues 3. Catholick in all countries 2. The Scriptures the most plain evident and clear discovery of his mind Psal 19.7 The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple c. And those are for his choice and domestick scholars He sheweth his word unto Iacob his statutes and his judgements unto Israel Psal 147.19,20 He hath not dealt so with any nation and as for his judgements they have not known them Now Gods watch-men must hear his mind from both Gods works and word but especially the later In reference to which I shall leave with you these two directions 1. Search the Scriptures Ioh. 5.39 Converse much with those sacred pages thereby 2 Tim. 3.17 the man of God may be perfest throughly furnished unto every good work And therefore the counsell that Paul gives Timothy let me beseech you in the name of Iesus Christ to have regard unto 1 Tim. 4.13,14 Give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine Neglect not the gift that is in thee meditate upon these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all The Scriptures are the more sure word whereunto we do well that we take heed as unto a light shining in a dark place 2 Pet. 1.19 It 's Gods revealed will alone must be our light It 's not Thus saith Austin c. but Thus saith the Lord must be our warrant As those in the 137 Psalm would not sing the Lords song in a strange land so ministers must not sing strange songs in the Church which is the Lords land Hos 9.3 Embassadours must not go extra mandata besides their instructions neither may preachers bring doctrines which the word warrants not whatever great names they may be ushered in by We are to be Gods mouth and therefore must not speak hominum commenta but divina oracula Aaron was to speak as Moses bad him ministers what Christ commands It is his bread which we must break that which Christ hath blessed or else t will not multiply in our hands And therefore let me beseech you especially those of the younger sort that you would bestow your pains and time in the study of the Scriptures When Isaac Casaubon sent his Notes on Diogenes Laertius being the first fruits of his studies to his Father who was a Reverend minister in France his Father sent him this Answer Leigh Epist Dedic in Notas in N. T. Mi fili laudo tuum studium verum hoc scito rem gratiorem te mihi facturum si velunum dictum sacrae scripturae difficultatibus aliquibus obstructum explicaveris quam si mille profanorum scriptorum loca depravata correxeris 2. Beg of God and labour for an experience of the word in your own hearts It is as one notes the chief mystery in divine Rhetorick to feel what a man speaks and then speak what a man feels The heart understands the language of the heart It 's but a cold breath that comes only from the mouth They can best teach the way to cure others that are sensible of the cure wrought on themselves Psal 51. Then will I teach transgressours thy waies and sinners shall be converted unto thee Luke 22.32 When thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren Psal 66. I will tell you what the Lord hath done for my soul Ministers then ought to be as good Physicians that first experience on themselves or as nurses that feed their hearers with what themselves have eaten Ezek. 3.1 Ezekiel was first to eat the roul and then to
put it from you for in so doing Acts 13.46 ye judge your selves unworthy of eternall life When Saul rejected Gods counsell God rejected him When Ahab hated Micajah and Elijah he soon perished When Pharaoh drove away Moses his destruction was near What though ministers are in themselves but mean and contemptible instruments yet it's Gods 1 Cor. 1.21 pleasure by the foolishnesse of preaching to save them that believe that all the glory may be his own Hence it is that God usually works by such weak means that praise cannot rationally be attributed to Hence the Apostle tells us 2 Cor. 4.7 we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us We read in the history of the Iudges that the Midianites were destroyed by Gideons three hundred souldiers who had nothing but a trumpet on one hand and pitchers and lamps in the other and in Ioshua how Ierichos wals were blown down with the priests Rams horns weak means yet in the hand of God are strong enough to doe what they were commissionated for Learn then not from mans weakness to despise but from Gods appointment to value the ordinance of the ministry Be convinced of the necessity and usefulnesse of the preachers employment which was the great legacy which Christ leaving the world left unto the earth Eph. 4.11.12 who when he ascended on high gave gifts unto men some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some pastours teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying the body of Christ 2. Help them in their work If ministers be watch-men ought to be men of courage faithfull c. if their work be great and weighty then Further them in it encourage them in the doing of it Say unto them as Shecaniah did unto Ezra Ezra 10.4 Arise for this matter belongeth unto thee we also will be with thee be also of good courage and do it There are two things I shall commend unto you 1. Pray for them that 's your duty that they need and such as are faithfull much desire see how earnest Paul is Rom. 15.30 Now I beseech you Brethren for the Lord Iesus Christ his sake and for the love of the Spirit that you strive together with me in your praiers to God for me and Again Eph. 6.18,19 Praying alwaies with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints And for me that utterance may begiven unto me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel And what he had thus importunately desired from the Romans and Ephesians he is likewise earnest with the Thessalonians for 2 Thess 3.1 Finally my Brethren pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified even as it is with you There are many are ready to complain against their preachers that they are dead and dull and to them unprofitable but few there are that pray for them and therefore let me entreat you to take this rule with you Never speak against your ministers unto men untill you have spoken unto God for them Shall we think to have blessings and never beg them one great reason why ministers labour in vain preach so unsuccessefully I am perswaded is because their congregations pray no more for them and therefore know the more you pray for us the better we shall preach to you 2. Encourage them stir them up say to Archippus Col. 4.17 take heed to thy ministry Break not their hearts by your obstinacy who are spending their spirits for your good Be not robbing of them of their dues who are wrestling with God for your souls 1 Cor. 9.11 It is a great matter when they sow spirituals that they reap carnals Consider watch-men cannot forrage much lesse plunder for themselves but must keep their stations and shall they be starved while they are doing their work shall there be no provision made for them 1 Cor. 9.9 Doth God take care for oxen and shall not he that preacheth the Gospel live of the Gospel Superstition Hypocrisy Idolatry have enough but truth goes a begging Iezebel nourisheth eight hundred false prophets but Elijah flies the kingdome but blessed be God it is not yet so amongst us and let it never be so though too many desire it were so O know there 's nothing lost which is laid out for God in the necessary maintaining of his Embassadours Matth. 10.41 they who entertain a Prophet in the name of a Prophet shall have a Prophets reward That widow that first made a Cake for Elisha her oyl increased Consider what God speaks in this Case Mal. 3.10,11,12 Bring you all the tithes into the store-house that there may be meat in mine house and prove me herewith saith the Lord of Hosts if I will not open to you the windowes of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground neither shall your vine tree cast her fruit before the time in the field saith the Loyd of Hosts And all nations shall call you blessed for ye shall be a delightsome land saith the Lord of Hosts And again by Solomon Prov. 3.9,10 Honour the Lord with all thy substance and the first-fruits of all thin increase so shall thy barns be filled with plenty and thy presses shall burst out with new wine There 's nothing lost by a just dealing with or a liberal bounty to Gods ministers 3. Regard their warning O suffer the word of exhortation Heb. 13.17 obey them that have the rule over you for they watch for your souls Let not God's calls counsels warnings admonitions be alwayes to no purpose Let not God alwayes stretch out his hand to a stubborn rebellious and gainsaying generation that provoke him to anger every day Let not Christs complaint be directed against us as it was against the Iews that he would have often gathered us as an hen gathereth her chickens but we would not and that we would not come unto him that we might have life that he would have healed us but we would not be healed We read of Noah that preacher of righteousnesse how he warned the old world a long while but they took no notice of it and of Lot how he warned his sons in law but he was unto them as one that mocked Now what was the issue an inundation of water overwhelmes the one and God rains down as it were hell from heaven and destroies the other and hath recorded both as examples for us on whom the ends of the world are come that we may take warning not to despise warnings Let us then be prevailed with to have an eye to the watch tower
and when the beaken is fired be not secure Let us not hear sermons which are Gods watch words to admire much lesse to deride preachers but to learn our own state and mend our own consciences Consider He profiteth most by a sermon that saith how ill have I lived not how well hath this man spoken Let us entertain Gods messages that he sends to warn us as David did 2 Sam. 12. who humbled himself and acknowledged his sin not as Ahab did 1 Kin. 22.27 who stormed at the message and imprisoned the prophet As Peter's hearers did Act. 2.37 who were pricked at the heart and cried out Men and Brethren what shall we do viz. to be saved as the sailer in the like case expressed and Peter's answer implies Not as Stevens hearers Act. 7.54,57,58 who being cut to the heart gnashed on him with their teeth cried out with a loud voice stopped their eares and ran upon him with one accord cast him out of the city and stoned him Be not like Herod that was well pleased w th Iohn while he preached against others he heard him gladly but when he touched him on his sore reproves him for Herodias then Iohn shall sooner loose his head then Herod leave his lust The Pharisees could not away with Christs teaching when he came home particularly to them so that their consciences forced them to say Mat. 21.45 In so saying thou reprovest us and when they perceived he spake of them they sought to lay hands on him and at another time Luke 16.14 the Pharisees that were covetous heard these things they derided him Thus it is still if preachers beat in the air and onely preach general notions without descending to particular applications these hearers like them well enough but if once they come close and speak home as Nathan to David and Iohn to Herod then then the land cannot bear his words and as they of Paul that they are ready to say Away with such a fellow It is not fit that he should live They that turn the world upside down are come hither also But Beloved if ever you would have the cure wrought be contented that the plaister be applyed to close the sore that ministers speak home to your Conscience that being convinced you may say that God is in them of a truth That plaister is most like to cure that makes the wound smart like then those sermons best that come home closest to your states and Consciences and say as David Psal 141.5 Let the righteous smite me it shall be a kindnesse let him reprove me it shall be an excellent oyl which shall not break mine head Let us attend Ministers as desirous to be better'd by them to learn what 's amisse and to amend to know our danger and endeavour to escape it Now shall we neglect to attend upon and shall we sleight these warnings the Apostle tells us Heb. 2.2 there can be no escaping viz. either the bloud of our own Corruption the snares of Satan the Iudgements of God or the damnation of Hell I shall end all with my earnest desire unto you that you would seriously consider how it fared with those Egyptians whom we read of who were all warned of the approching tempests Exod. 9.20,21,25 He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and cattle flee into the houses and they escaped And he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and cattle in the field and they perished So will it be in this case if hearers take warning they save their souls if not they are sure to miscarry However as for us Ministers let us be sure to give warning that wee may secure our selves that the bloud of our charge be not required at our hands Let us all have this resolution Especially you my Brethren that are now solemnly set apart for this work to stand it out to the uttermost against all oppositions and as that wise and valiant soldier William the conquerour who when he had landed his men burnt his ships cast away all draw backs and remember that solemn sentence of our saviour with which I shall conclude Luke 9.62 No man having put his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the Kingdome of God FINIS