not been faithful in the unrighteous Mammon who will commit to your Trust the true Riches Luk. 16. 9. Zacheus stood and said unto the Lord Behold Lord the half of my Goods I give to the Poor and if I have taken any thing from any Man by false Accusation I restore him four-fold And Jesus said unto him This Day is Salvation come to this House Luke 19. 8. There was a certain Man in Cesarea called Cornelius a Centurion of the Band called the Italian Band a devout Man and one that feared God with all his House which gave much Alms to the People and prayed to God alway He saw in a Vision an Angel of God and he said unto him Thy Prayers and thine Alms are come up for a memorial before God And now send Men to Joppa and call for one Simon whose Sirname is Peter He shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do Act. 10. 1. There was at Joppa a certain Disciple named Tabitha which by Interpretation is called Dorcas This Woman was full of good Works and Almsdeeds which she did And it came to pass in those Days that she was sick and died Then Peter arose and went with them When he was come they brought him unto the upper Chamber and all the Widows stood by him weeping and shewing the Coats and Garments which Dorcas made while she was with them But Peter put them all forth and kneeled down and prayed and turning him to the Body said Tabitha arise And she opened her Eyes and when she saw Peter she sat up Act. 9. 36. Neither was there any among them that lacked for as many as were Possessors of Lands or Houses sold them and brought the Prices of the things that were sold and laid them down at the Apostle's Feet and distribution was made unto every Man according as he had need Act. 4. 34. Now concerning the Collection for the Saints as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia even so do ye Vpon the first Day of the Week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him that there be no gatherings when I come 1 Cor. 16. 1. To their power I bear record yea and beyond their power they were willing of themselves praying us with much Entreaty that we would receive the Gift and take upon us the Fellowship of the ministring to the Saints Therefore as ye abound in every thing see that ye abound in this Grace also I speak not by Commandment but by the Occasion of the Forwardness of others and to prove the Sincerity of your Love 2 Cor. 8. 3. I thought it necessary to exhort the Brethren that they would go before unto you and make up before-hand your bounty and not as of Covetousness But this I say he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully Every Man according as he purposeth in his Heart so let him give not grudgingly or of necessity For God loveth a cheerful Giver 2 Cor. 9. 5. Charge them that are rich in this World that they be not High-minded nor trust in uncertain Riches but in the Living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy That they do good that they be rich in good Works ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in Scorn for themselves a good Foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal Life 1 Tim. 6. 17. To do good and to communicate forget not for with such Sacrifices God is well-pleased Heb. 13. 16. Let the Brother of low Degree rejoice in that he is exalted but the rich in that he is made low Because as the Flower of the Grass he shall pass away For the Sun is no sooner risen with a burning Heat but it withereth the Grass and the Flower thereof falleth and the Grace of the fashion of it perisheth So also shall the rich Man fade away in his Ways Jam. 1. 9. Whoso hath this World's good and seeth his Brother have need and shutteth up his Bowels of Compassion from him how dwelleth the Love of God in him My little Children let us not love in Word neither in Tongue but in Deed and in Truth And hereby we know that we are of the Truth 1 Jo. 3. 17. Tho' nothing can be said more fully yet it cannot be amiss to insert something out of the Old Testament that the Will of God may be yet more manifest in this point which is subject to so many Abuses When ye reap the Harvest of your Land thou shalt not wholly reap the Corners of thy Field neither shalt thou gather the Gleanings of thy Harvest And thou shalt not glean thy Vineyard neither shalt thou gather every Grape of thy Vineyard thou shalt leave them for the Poor and Stranger I am the Lord your God Levit. 19. 9. If thy Brother be waxen poor and fallen in decay with thee then thou shalt relieve him yea tho' he be a Stranger or a Sojourner that he may live with thee Take thou no Vsury of him or Encrease but fear thy God that thy Brother may live with thee Thou shalt not give him thy Money upon Vsury nor lend him thy Victuals for Encrease Lev. 25. 35. If there be among you a poor Man of one of thy Brethren within any of thy Gates in thy Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee thou shalt not harden thy Heart nor shut thine Hand from thy poor Brother But thou shalt open thine Hand wide unto him and shalt surely lend him Sufficient for his Need in that which he wanteth Thou shalt surely give him and thine Heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him Because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy Works and in all that thou puttest thine Hand unto For the Poor shall never cease out of the Land Therefore I command thee saying thou shalt open thine Hand wide unto thy Brother to thy Poor and to thy Needy in thy Land Deut. 15. 7. When thou cuttest down thine Harvest in thy Field and hast forgot a Sheaf in the Field thou shalt not go again to fetch it it shall be for the Stranger for the Fatherless and for the Widow that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the Work of thine Hands Deut. 24. 19. When the Ear heard me then it blessed me and when the Eye saw me it gave witness to me Because I delivered the Poor that cried and the Fatherless and him that had none to help him The Blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me and I caused the Widow's Heart to sing for Joy 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 Job 29. 11. If I have withheld the Poor from their desire or have caused the Eyes of the Widow to fail or have eaten my Morsel my self
ought to be deliver'd in such a manner as to be understood by the Hearers Thanks be unto God which always causeth us to triumph in Christ and maketh manifest the Savour of his Knowledge by us in every Place For we are unto God a sweet Savour of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish To the one we are the Savour of Death unto Death and to the other the Savour of Life unto Life For we are not as many which corrupt the Word of God But as of Sincerity but as of God in the Sight of God speak we in Christ 2 Cor. 2. 14 17. The Gospel ought to be preach'd by Word and by good Example To Falsifie or Change the Word of God is Sacrilegious Where there is not true Sincerity there is not the Spirit of the Gospel 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 But if our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost 2 Cor. 4. 1. To such Abuses are the most holy Things subject but how many Wo's to them that incurr this Guilt We preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord and our selves your Servants for Jesus sake 2 Cor. 4. 5. What Prophanation What Prostitution of the Gospel in those who undertake to preach Jesus Christ and under this Cover seek themselves We have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels that the Excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us We are troubled on every side yet not distressed we are perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroy'd always bearing about in the Body the Dying of the Lord Jesus that the Life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our Body 2 Cor. 4. 7. The Glory of Preachers is to be in God from whom is every good Gift In all Troubles their Confidence is to be in him whom they preach They ought every Way to be so Religious that the Life of Christ may be manifested in all they suffer and in all they do God hath given to us the Ministry of Reconciliation and hath committed unto us the Word of Reconciliation Now then we are Embassadors for Christ as tho' God did beseech you by us We pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5. 18. We then as Workers together with him beseech you also that ye receive not the Grace of God in vain Giving no Offence in any thing that the Ministry be not blamed But in all things approving our selves as the Ministers of God in much Patience in Afflictions in Necessities in Distresses in Stripes in Imprisonments in Tumults in Labors in Watchings in Fastings by Pureness by Knowledge by Long-suffering by Kindness by the Holy Ghost by Love Vnfeigned by the Word of Truth by the Power of God by the Armor of Righteousness on the right Hand and on the left by Honor and Dishonor by evil Report and good Report As Deceivers and yet True as Vnknown and yet well Known as Dying and behold we Live as Chastened and not Killed as Sorrowful yet always Rejoicing as Poor yet making many Rich as having Nothing and yet possessing all Things 2 Cor. 6. 1. How great is the Dignity of those who succeed in the Apostolic Function And what ought to be their Sanctity who are no others than Vicars of Christ Their Model is here describ'd by the Apostle and ought to be seriously consider'd in every Point Behold the third time I am ready to come to you and I will not be Burdensome to you for I seek not yours but you For the Children ought not to lay up for the Parents but the Parents for the Children And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you tho' the more abundantly I love you the lâ—ss I be loved But be it so 2 Cor. 12. 14. The Character of true Zeal to seek nothing but the good of the Flock An Hypocrite may pretend this for a time but none but the true Shepherds can persevere in this Practice To do otherwise is to be a Trader and not a Pastor Do I seek to please Men For if I yet pleased Men I should not be the Servant of Christ Gal. 1. 10. Hence is the Corruption of the Gospel they who should seek nothing but Jesus endeavour to please the World and to gain Esteem Preferment weighs more with them than Truth When it pleased God who separated me from my Mother's Womb and called me by his Grace To reveal his Son in me that I might preach him among the Heathen immediately I conferred not with Flesh and Blood Gal. 1. 15. Flesh and Blood are not to be Counsellors in the Cause of the Gospel and the Delivery of its Truths He gave some Apostles And some Prophets And some Evangelists And some Pastors and Teachers for the Perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the Edifying of the Body of Christ 'Till we all come in the Vnity of the Faith and of the Knowledge of the Son of God unto a Perfect Man unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ That we henceforth be no more Children tossed to and fro and carried about with every Wind of Doctrin by the slight of Men and cunning Craftiness whereby they lye in wait to deceive But speaking the Truth in Love may grow up into him in all things which is the Head even Christ Eph. 4. 11. The Ministers of the Divine Institution Their Charge is not a State of Idleness but of Work The end of this Ordinance was for establishing the Flock in the Unity of Truth And in all Holiness in this they ought to labor Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication for all the Saints and for me that Vtterance may be given unto me that I may open my Mouth boldly to make known the Mystery of the Gospel For which I am an Embassador in Bonds that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak Eph. 6. 18. They are to desire the Prayers of the Flock they are to use a holy Liberty in preaching the Truth of the Gospel without being aw'd by Shame Fear or Expectation They are to do nothing unworthy of him whose Person they represent Some indeed preach Christ even of Envy and Strife and some also of good Will The one preach Christ of Contention not sincerely supposing to add Affliction to my Bonds Phil. 1. 15. Strange Motives for preaching Christ Unhappy they whose Passions serve them for Steps whereby to ascend to the Chair of Truth which ought to have no Entrance but by the Love of Jesus If ye continue in the Faith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the Hope of the Gospel whereof I Paul am made a Minister
yet the Pastors of his Church are to teach This is the Ordinance of Christ and the Practice is confirm'd from Heaven And he trembling and astonished said Lord what wilt thou have me to do And the Lord said unto him Arise and go into the City and it shall be told thee what thou must do Act. 9. 6. Christ calls upon Saul stops him in his evil way but for his Instruction he sends him to a Disciple If this be the Will of God who can pretend to serve God and yet make exceptions against doing his Will When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small Dissension and Disputation with them they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders about this question Act. 15. 2. And the Apostles and Elders came together for to consider of this matter v. 6. Then pleased it the Apostles and Elders 22. Questions of Faith are referr'd to the Pastors of the Church S. Paul and Barnabas tho' great Apostles and particularly inspir'd pronounce not in this case but help to publish what the Pastors assembled had determin'd And as they went thro' the Cities they delivered them the Decrees for to keep that were ordain'd of the Apostles and Elders which were at Jerusalem And so were the Churches established in the Faith and increased in number daily Act. 16. 4. The Faithful receive the Decrees of their Pastors and thus was the Faith establish'd and they perserv'd from the dangers of Novelty and Error Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the Flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood Act. 20. 28. It is the Ordinance of God that the Flock be under the care of the Pastors by these it is to be fed and preserv'd from Error This Charge is given them by the Holy Ghost Who dare alter the Method They that stood by said Revilest thou God's High Priest Then said Paul I wist not Brethren that he was the High Priest For it is written Thou shalt not speak evil of the Ruler of thy people Act. 23. 5. Respect is due from the Flock to their Pastor they are not to revile him And when the Gentiles heard this they were glad and glorified the Word of the Lord and as many as were ordain'd to eternal Life believed Act. 13. 48. Those who are ordain'd to Salvation hear and believe the Apostles This was the way to Life Whosoever therefore resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Rom. 13. 2. Have the Pastors of the Church Power from God He gave some Apostles And some Pastors and Teachers For the perfecting the Saints for the edifying of the Body of Christ That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4. 11. If thus God has declar'd the design of his Goodness in the Ordinance of Pastors then it must be the greatest duty and interest of the Flock to adhere to the Pastors of the Church For thus has God appointed for preserving it in Unity and Truth Now I beseech you Brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment 1 Cor. 1. 10. Thus is strictly enjoin'd the Flock then they must be careful in observing the Means which God has ordain'd for Unity He therefore that despiseth despiseth not Man but God who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit 1 Thes 4. 8. If the Flock despise the Doctrin of those whom God has appointed to teach it they despise not Man but God We beseech you Brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake 1 Thes 5. 12. If these are to be esteem'd and lov'd this must be chiefly in their Instructions and Admonitions then no Contentions no setting up against them Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things Gal. 6. 6. Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9. 14. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine for the Scripture saith Thou shalt not muzzle the Ox that treadeth out the Corn and the labourer is worthy of his reward 1 Tim. 5. 17. Remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you the Word of God Whose Faith follow considering the end of their Conversation Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 7. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves For they watch for your Souls as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you v. 17. What Charge given by God to the Flock Remember Submit Obey Follow the Faith of those who have the Rule over you for these must gâ—ve account of your Souls But can they be any part in this account who refuse to obey He that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us Hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error 1 Jo. 4. 6. Are these thus discern'd Then the Flock must here see the necessity of hearing those whom God has appointed to feed the Flock And now having gone thro' the Principal Duties of a Christian Life as likewise the Particular States in some of which every Christian must have a part and having seen in all these what is the Will of God as it is deliver'd in holy Writ what better Conclusion can I make than earnestly to recommend to all that they would frequently read seriously consider and with exactness attend to what the Spirit of God says to them It is the effect of an infinite Mercy that God has thus left his holy Will manifested to us that in this we might have a sure Guide And there is no other Way to Salvation but this alone of doing the Will of God Thus Christ has declar'd and what greater Interest then can a Christian have than in knowing the Will of God This is the best Study this the best Learning All other without this are vain and useless Ornaments but this alone without all others will make a Man Wise to Salvation If the World sets up for other Ways if it has Number and Custom to give Authority to them yet all this makes them not warrantable to the Christian he must consult his Rule and whatever he finds not allow'd there he must renounce as Antichristian for it is Christ and not the World is his Guide to Salvation How perversly blind then are all those Christians who make it their Business to study the World and esteeming this the best Education are at a great Expence in training up their Children to an early Knowledge of whatever it admires And when this is done what is the Effect but only to be skill'd in Vanity to be learned in those things which lead them out of the Way And in the mean time the only thing Necessary is neglected and they are Strangers to that Knowledge which can be their only Guide to that Life for which they were born Whereas the great Business of all that believe is to know the Will of God and by doing it to work out their Salvation If this be the Error of such as are blind Lovers of themselves and the World instead of God then such as follow the Light of Faith must follow another Business They must make it their general Study to know the Will of God they must strictly inform themselves what he commands what he forbids what he approves and disapproves and this being most expresly deliver'd in holy Writ they ought to esteem the particular Knowledge of this their only solid Accomplishment and not think they have any thing valuable in them whatever their natural or acquir'd Abilities be as long as they are Ignorant of this By this Method Christians will soon be qualified for making a true Judgment of all Things and Circumstances of human Life they will judge the World and all its Ways and not be in danger of being deluded by its Specious and most Authentic Snares This is the true Christian Wisdom and whosoever takes another Way tho' he may come to an eminent Degree of admir'd Knowledge yet he will never be Wise to Salvation FINIS