through the blood of his Son the Chapters also of Genealogies in Numbers and Chronicles are of good use for the understanding of the rest of the Scriptures though but a few understand the same Of the Grace He calls Salvation Grace and that most worthily as being freely both Elected Redeemed and Effectually called 1. This condemns 1. That Luciferian conceit of Merit or Worthiness in us poor miserable sinners 2. Them that challenge part in Christ and all that he did and yet shew no part of thankfulness and duty again but live as they list and will not onely not part with their lives but not with their lusts for his sake they are lyars and deceive their own souls 2. It should teach us to acknowledge the whole work of our Salvation to be of Grace and thereupon to walk the more thankfully and zealously yea often meditate of this Free-grace and Salvation whetting up our selves thereby That should come unto you Why were they not partakers of Salvation themselves Yes as we have heard but they never saw the time of Christs exhibiting in the flesh nor so clearly They received not the promises onely saw them afar off aâ—d were perswaded of them Verse 11. Searching what or what maner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow SEarching what or what maner of time They took great pains to know Christ would gladly have learnd that he should have come in their days so they should have had a clearer Revelation yea seen him whom they so much longed for and loved Simeon waited for the Consolation of Israel as many Prophets and Kings desired to see and hear thereof and this was lawful unless God had enjoyned the contrary If then we know a thing to be good and profitable to be known we must refuse no pains in searching it out but Study Meditate Pray Confer Read c. We must call for Wisdom and cry for Understanding we must seek and search for her as for silver The Word is like a Noble man that one must make some suit and use some means to come unto with which being once acquainted wherein can it not pleasure us when we have sued to it by pains it will be beneficial unto us indeed whereas prophane Books easily enough attained unto usually work much mischief many of us read much of the Scriptures but take no notice whether we understand the same or not or take no pains to come to knowledge to be inquisitive of the meaning of this or that place of Scripture were profitable when Christians meet together whether Ministers or others or both As they desired to see Christs first so should we long for his second coming The Spirit of Christ which was in them See how they sought into this matter not of their own heads but by the guidance and direction of the Spirit and that 1. Because it was a matter so high and above their reach as in which they could know nothing without the help of the Spirit 2. To avoid curiosity searching no further then God should see good to reveal unto them This teacheth us that when we search into any point of Doctrine or to know any thing we must not go to work by our own head or wit for that were Pride and the way to Error but by the help of the Spirit and therefore no further then the Spirit shall guide us this we do if we keep our selves to the written Word of God for Gods Spirit teacheth us according to the Word and no otherwise This condemneth the frenzy conceits of the Anabaptists which boast of Revelations of the Spirit counting whatsoever comes in their head and they conceive though contrary to the Scriptures to be a Revelation which is wicked for the Word and Spirit cannot be divorced either the one contrary to the other We must hold us to the written word searching thereinto according to sobriety proceeding no further then it and there staying where it stayeth This is also contrary to the Papists that will have their humane Traditions and unwritten Verities whereby upon the point they overthrow the Scriptures Again in that the Spirit of Christ was in the Prophets when they prophesied see the authority of the Old Testament the Spirit of God is the Author of it therefore is it to be highly esteemed as the New and all questions are to stand and fall by the sentence thereof Read believe and obey it and be out of all doubt of it without ifs and ands As the Papists most wickedly would have the authority of the Scriptures to depend upon the testimony of the Church and because they say its Scripture therefore they believe it and otherwise would not they would give no more credit to Pauls Epistles then to Esops Fables if the Church did not give testimony thereof which is a blasphemous Opinion The Scripture is above the Church and that whereon it s grounded and hath no greater testimony then from it self we testifie that God is the true God from all Idols and Christ from all false Christs do they therefore depend upon our testimony and are we above them Though the Church discerneth the Word or Scriptures from false writings and therefore rejecteth a great many of Epistles and Gospels of Bartholomew Thomas Thaddeus as adulterous yet this proves not that they depend on the Churches testimony A Kings Letters come to a City the Officers thereof by the stile sign or some other thing whereunto they are accustomed accept of them yield to them and testifie that they are not false or counterfeit are they therefore above the King or his Letters Further here is a testimony of the Divinity of the third Person for the whole Scripture is given by inspiration from God and here it s said it was by the Spirit and who could foretel things so long before but God confer Acts 1. 16. with 4. 25. When it testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ Namely That he was to suffer for us and so to enter into his glory This we finde in the Old Testament both plainly expressed and under types and figures as of Isaacs offering the Brazen Serpent the Paschal Lamb Jonas c. This serves to answer all prophane Infidels that scoff at Christians because they believe in a crucified God for so do they contemptuously speak of Christ. A. He suffered what was necessary for the Savior of the world to suffer and what the Scripture foretold he should suffer and though he suffered and was abased yet he overcame it and entred into glory Had not these things been foretold they might have been offended at his dejected estate for so were the Disciples notwithstanding but being foretold they are not yea if he had not suffered for us
should not be accepted or if he did doubt whether he should or not this would take off all edge but when we are sure that 's a great encouragement For who would not be glad to do any thing wherewith God would be pleased Art thou afraid that he doth not accept thy Sacrifice as who hast prayed oft and long and art not heard Judge not according to that Thy Prayer sent up in truth was accepted at first though not granted by and by as not being then time The Lord stays till a fitter time Acceptable Not that God hath any need of them but it pleaseth him for our encouragement so to tell us for if we serve him never so diligently he is never the better but our selves are the better and our Neighbors by our good example So contrarily if we do never so ill he is not the worse as being most perfectly holy and good at first and so is and will be To God Here may seem a secret Antithesis between these words To God and these To Men For indeed Spiritual Sacrifices are nothing to Carnal men but such only as stand in outward Pomp Shew and Ceremony But it s the Spiritual service that pleaseth God He cares more for a broken heart and for the Sacrifice of praise Spiritually performed then for Thousands of Bulls or all the outside that so much pleaseth the eye He cares not for the Papists going on Pilgrimage numbers of Prayers Fasting days Pompous service and curious musick which doth more delight the ear then tend any way to edification And because we reject these they cry out upon us as having no Religion And are there not some among us with whom its a foul matter to neglect any outward Ceremony who yet do altogether neglect Spiritual services By Jesus Christ. Our Sacrifices are acceptable to God nor for own-worthiness or the worth of the service but for the sake and by the means of Christ Jesus He onely makes them acceptable to God 1. In taking away our sins by his Death 2. Covering us with his Obedience 3. Inabling us by his Spirit who can do no good of our selves to perform these services 4. Covering the wants thereof in his perfect Obedience and making Intercession for us and in this worthiness must we offer up our selves Prayers Thanks and Alms. 1. This condemneth them that do these Duties and yet are in their sins unpardoned not having Christs Righteousness made theirs and which do them not by the Spirit of God but by their own might Their services are abominable 2. Those that come in the worthiness of any Saint as the Papists which pray for this or that Saints sake do grievously sin Oh but say they he is indeed the Mediator of Redemption others may with him be Mediators of Intercession He is belike beholden to them that will leave him somewhat but there is no other Intercessor but the Redeemer he that 's the one is the other also Oh but they conclude all their Prayers per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum A good mends when they have robb'd him by joyning others with him to conclude with his Name So those that come in their own worthiness not asking for Christs But we ought not to think of God but in Jesus Christ coming between Note further that Our works even the best can never attain to that perfection to be worthy of themselves as being still full of imperfection but by Jesus Christ to all that perform them in Faith and to their uttermost they are accepted as perfect 1. This serves as to humble us while we live under the daily sence of the imperfections of our services So to warn us to shrowd them and our selves under Christs perfection 2. To comfort them that in Faith strive and yet cannot perform them to their mindes They must not be dismaid but believe that for Christs sake they shall be accepted This is necessary to be known and believed because many a good soul when they have pray'd or done any service in the best maner they can are yet discouraged Why nothing pleaseth God but that which is perfect and I know will such a one say how imperfect my poor service is I cannot in any sort pray as I would I cannot continue a short Prayer without wandrings c. Well what thou dost do in truth and with all thy might and Christs perfect obedience shall make it up Though thy service be short yet it is large enough to cover all wer 't not for this we might be dismaid at our best duties But this is not for the wicked and unbelievers they think they will do as well as they can and there 's an end Christ shall do the rest But what right hast thou to Christ and what canst thou do as good as nothing Verse 6. Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner stone elect precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded THe Apostle having already shewed both that Christ is the Foundation on which his Church is builded and that Believers are built up on him a Spiritual House c. he now confirmeth both out of the Scriptures and needful it was fully to prove them that so they might be strengthened to embrace Christ the Foundation of their happiness and against that common offence of the multitude which did not embrace but reject him Now that he had said he sheweth to be no new thing but such as was of old spoken of by God to his Prophets as the Scripture of the Old Testament beareth witness namely that of the Prophet Isaiah Chap. 28. 16. wherein is shewed of Christ that He is a chief corner stone and of Believers that they shall not be ashamed and therefore are accepted of God In that he alleageth the Scripture for his purpose Note we that That which must confirm and settle us in any Point of Doctrine is the Testimony of the Word of God If God speak to his in his Word we build that its true accordingly doing or leaving undone nothing else can satisfie not the minde of this or that man or many men or the practice of such and such no not of the best but we must build our Faith on Gods Word that cannot deceive us else shall we ever waver never be at a certainty Through men we may be driven hither and thither but if grounded on the Word of God nothing can remove us 1. This condemneth the Enthusiasts that boast of Revelations and so neglect the Word No Gods Spirit and his Word are joyned together and they that have at any time been most endued with the Spirit have at no time neglected the Scriptures but given themselves to the searching of the same Gods Spirit speaks no otherwise then according to the Word 2. Papists that thrust in Traditions and Humane Inventions as whereon people
be done in a Spiritual maner They cannot tell what they would have A. Alas poor people they would fain hear all is well and peace that they might make an easie matter of being a Christian and go to Heaven with ease Therefore they cannot endure to be put out of their Byas especially being Ancient and having all this while thought their case good and withal having been somewhat civil now to be told all is out of the way and nothing as it should be and to hear such duties required and to be done in such a Spiritual maner and that it will not serve to huddle them over as they have been wont O this is such a disquieting that they cannot away therewith therefore they count Preaching harsh But better begin again then still go wrong and perish If any hath gone out of his way half the day for want of asking and at Noon one tell him he is out of the way will he say Nay seeing I have gone so far I will not go back now but go on Or though it be more grief will he not rather return then go further out and so never come to his Journeys end he were else mad Our case is such and it is best to be told of it and herein Ministers should deal faithfully laying this as the Foundation of all their Doctrine that in themselves men be utterly lost thereupon denouncing Judgement whereby they may be brought to seek mercy They must herein follow those which have gone before them the Prophets our Savior himself and his Apostles As they must take heed they break not the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax so they must not give Childrens bread to Dogs We must not give Pearls to Swine and lavish out the mercies of God to Proud Prophane Impenitent persons First the Law must Arrest mens Consciences and they must be rowsed up by it else they will never seek unto Christ for pardon It is necessary we should thus Preach that we may be free from mens blood and that their ignorance or slackness in repenting be not imputed to our coldness in reproving such as more like or approve others wil one day curse the day that ever they heard such sweet-tongued flatterers or unskilful dawbers and they shall finde most favor at the last that deal most plainly Howsoever thus we shall please God and keep a good conscience Neither must thou stumble at those many marks and signs that they lay down whereby to try Faith Love Repentance Sincerity and the like for Gold fears not the Touchstone And they that hear grievous things in the Word if they would tarry by it should hear as comfortable and joyful whereof in time they might have their part but they must taste of the bitter ere they come to the sweet Such as are otherwise would be as it were lulled asleep even to their final destruction If any shun and say we would bring them to desperation they nor we shall not need fear that people be not so easily moved if Preaching humble them we fear not but it will also comfort them Holy desperation I would we could help men to but there 's more fear of desperation and horror for not believing and regarding the threatnings of Gods Word 8. Some stumble at plain Preaching If there were any witty conceits or Eloquence of words or plenty of Quotations of Writers and that in divers Tongues or ancient Stories c. I could like it well will some such say which now I do not A. They that have itching ears to hear the painted words of mans wisdom rather then the plain evidence of the Word of God and seek to delight their mindes rather then edifie their conscience if ever they receive any good it s of Gods exceeding mercy not the course they take These be commonly such as get something into their heads to talk of but yet live licentiously and at large and hence it is that they love such Preaching as is fair and far off rather then that which comes home to search their Conscience and sift them like a sieve But whatsoever they would have Gods Ministers must learn to distribute the Word as becometh the Word and to give that which is most wholesom and profitable for the peoples Souls They must Preach Christ Crucified in a Crucified Phrase The foolishness of Preaching God hath Sanctified It s better to speak five words with understanding which may convince the Judgement and Conscience as it may search the heart and so edifie the Soul in true godliness then Five thousand to no edifying but to fill the brain onely It s the true learned Preaching that open the Scriptures soundly and gather Doctrines naturally to confirm them strongly and apply them wisely and in all this to be so plain as that which is in the Teacher may be conveyed into the Hearer It s true Learning to make another Learn that 's Preaching which may pierce the Heart we may not deal Huckster-like with the Word as men do with their Wares rather to beguile then profit the buyer How little do most conceive when we speak the plainest Assuredly for the plainest Preaching people ought to be most thankful 9. Some take offence at us and our assemblies and refuse to joyn with us publikely and privately because they say our Church is not rightly governed our Ministers be not true Ministers and that there be many foul abuses among us and that we are no Church of God but an Antichristian company c. A. These are they that be too wise and over just that either would imagine a company more pure then is to be looked for on earth or condemn the Church of God to be none because of some wants and blemishes But That company that hath the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles soundly preached in all substantial Points and the Sacraments for substance according to Christs institution is a true Church of God though there be blemishes therein If it overturn the foundation it is none as if one want a head heart liver he is no man but a carkase who though he have scars and moles in his face yet having the other parts nay though he should want a leg or an arm yet he is a man Christ never forsook the Synagogues of the Jews though they were greatly corrupted and both Doctrine and life was foully faulty Sometimes two High Priests in one year sometimes others of other Tribes then of Levi came to the place by corruption yet seeing they held the foundation Christ forsook them not Again That Ministry which God hath used to convert many thousand souls is not Antichristian Ye are the seals of mine Apostleship We think a great deal more charitably of them then they do of us as that holding the foundation of Religion they may be saved And though we know that numbers of them be proud and idle persons and such as look not much to govern
strongly of some then others according to the grace of God and continuance in one duty as in another at home as abroad in prosperity as adversity yea suffering for the truth abiding constant in a godly course They that have experience and knowledge what is necessary to Salvation will look for these and rest in nothing else This we may have of others and this every man ought to labor to lay up in the hearts of his Neighbors A man must not onely lay up good evidence in his own conscience of his Election but give as full a Testimony to the conscience of others as may be This is a Crown to a man while he lives an Honor when he is dead better then a good ointment then silver and gold a comfort to his Friends a credit to them that are left behinde 1. This condemns them that so walk as charity it self cannot speak well of them or esteem them in the state of grace or any of Gods Elect What shall be said of these when they be dead There 's an old bibbing carnal man dead a proud yong man a wicked woman of a very malicious heart c. To speak well of these were to sin against conscience and the truth it self 2. Them also as walk so odly as though in some things they give good hope yet they are either suspected to abide in some known sin or take their liberty so much in gaming or give such way to some notable corruptions be so unreasonable hasty so covetous and worldly as men have no sound perswasion but being asked of them living or dead they that are of understanding can give no confident or comfortable but a lame and imperfect Testimony This is indeed a pittiful thing O leave something to comfort thy Wife Friends Kindred when thou art dead that they may not mourn excessively as without hope but may with others be perswaded thou art gone to God! O leave behinde thee a sweet memorial of thy self A royal priesthood Here 's a second priviledge of Believers cited as it seemeth out of Exod. 19. 5 6. By Christ they are made Kings Priests and Prophets O what a priviledge and admirable advancement it is that being by nature servants of sin and Satan they should be made Kings and so prophane that they had nothing to do to draw near to God may now be Priests and offer Sacrifices to God where may be noted by the way that even in the time of the Law Christ and the Gospel was also Preached to the Jews for they could not come to these priviledges by the legal Sacrifices but by the Lord Jesus And therefore wickedly do they that imagine God fed the Israelites onely with outward benefits and that they had no spiritual things which is contrary to the Scriptures Abraham saw Christs day and the godly also among them saw the Messias though darkly Again What Moses spake indefinitely to all the people the Apostle here applieth the same particularly to Believers Gods Elect to whom only the promises and priviledges appertain and they ought to apply them and make them their own wherewith the wicked are not to meddle To a wicked man there 's not a comfortable word spoken in all the Scriptures while he so abides Me-thinks he should be weary of his part and begin to turn in truth to God for then begins he to come within compass of these blessed promises and priviledges not before Nothing belongs to the wicked but sin and thereby the curses of God here and Hell hereafter as it was Judas his own place This priviledge flows from our Election which is the foundation of all good that comes to us here and hereafter And to become Kings Priests and Prophets who were by nature slaves of sin abominable to God and altogether darkness in matters of Salvation we obtain by the means of the Lord Jesus who was our Mediator and anointed King Priest and Prophet and discharged by the fulness of the Spirit which was in him above measure these offices for our Salvation Our King to gather guide defend us and overthrow our Enemies Men and Devils Our Priest to offer up himself a Sacrifice to God for us and to make continual Intercession on our behalf and our Prophet to teach us all that is necessary to know to Salvation and not this onely but he was King Priest and Prophet to make us such by conveighing a measure of that Spirit which is in him above measure to enable us hereto As Aaron being anointed with the holy oyl it ran down on the skirt of his Garment so did this from Christ to all his Members But of these three dignities I have elsewhere spoken Onely see what kinde of persons believers be other maner of ones then the world makes account They are Kings I tell you Heirs of a Kingdom as meanly as the world thinks of them and as little as they be in their own eyes and as Kings they conquer and over-rule those that conquer and over-rule the Devil the World and the Flesh They are also Priests and may come with confidence into the presence of God and bring Sacrifices that through Christ Jesus shall be well accepted of God and shew their Faces where the wicked may not come though never so mighty They are also Prophets to teach and their lips feed many 1. Therefore they are to be highly thankful for this high advancement and labor to walk worthy of it not in any carnal pride but in all godly humility but yet with notable courage and all true thankfulness to God This yet remember that though Kings yet its Spiritual and therefore hinders not subjection and obedience to civil Kings and Magistrates which I speak because Anabaptists do by such colours elude and take away the authority of Magistrates and exempt themselves from them So Servants are to be obedient to their Masters though not yet godly and to walk humbly christianly and wisely so every Christian is to give men their titles and their due according to their place yea though they be bad 2. Let all take heed how they meddle with these Reproach not rail not on them He that defends them is mighty Abuse not them whom God hath so highly advanced If thou knewest what they were thou wouldest fall down and kiss the ground on which they stand Be not an Ishmael lest thou be cast out of the house I tell thee its an ill mark Saul Saul why persecutest said Christ thou me many shall be condemned at the last day for not doing them good what shall then become of thee if thou do them any hurt I le tell you a far better way Take knowledge of their happy estate and labor to be one of them though despised in the world yet of account with God and Angels It s well said The Righteous is more excellent then his neighbor
have some extraordinary motion of the Spirit of God to the contrary as it 's written of some of the Martyrs or finde themselves as yet not strong enough to endure their rage Those I say may slie to be reserved as a seed to propagate the Church afterward Throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bythynia The places whereunto they fled for habor were Regions and Countreys in Asia the less where there were then famous Churches Note hence 1. The large extent of the Church of God in the time of the New Testament that whereas before it was kept within the pale of Judea in the New since our Saviours ascension it 's dispersed over all Nations far and wide from the Sun-rising to its going down that it might be fulfilled which God spake to Abraham that in his seed all the Nations of the world should be blessed But what 's become of those Churches of Asia now They are all lamentable to be spoken under the tyranny of the Enemy of God and Christ Jesus the Turk They are now no Churches but Synagogues of Satan cages of unclean birds so are also the Churches to whom Saint John wrote in his Revelation Be we not therefore high minded but fear for if God hath not spared the natural branches take heed lest he also spare not us yea considering our luke-warmness unthankfulness contempt of the Word and such other our crying sins we have cause to fear the like judgement 2. The singular diligence and care of this holy Apostle over the charge committed to him Not onely did he preach to them being present with them but wrote also being absent being in persecution and scattered throughout strange Countreys he encourageth them unto constancy and that they should not faint under their troubles of such helps there is great need in such cases and at such times He was careful not onely to gain them to God and the Faith but to hold them fast that as they were begotten so they might be nourished up in the faith as they were converted so he was careful to confirm them this being no less necessary then that For Non minor est virtus quam quarere parta tueri having offended but again put in trust with the sheep he is now careful of his Commission which is set down for the example of all Ministers even as we love Christ so will we must we feed his sheep and lambs We must labor by all diligence and faithfulness to convert and build up yea in times of sickness or any affliction when Satan waits to tempt them and they be weak we are to come and strengthen them we are to shoar them up that they reel not to comfort them that they despair not But how do they perform this duty that never come at their charges seldom or never preach put it off to another though never so unfit how also they that either preach not or but unprofitably which come not to a poor or mean mans house upon any occasion How shall they be able to answer the great Shepherd of the sheep when they shall be called to an account See Heb. 13. 17. Elect c. Here he describes them by their inward estate to God-ward I will not here handle the common place of Election I have done it at large and I reserve such things to Catechizing onely now of such things as are necessarily occasioned by the text whereof this may be one That God hath chosen out some men to salvation as he did of the Angels which are called the Elect Angels Before the world he Ordained and decreed some persons to obtain salvation even the vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory See to this purpose Acts 13. 48. Eph. 1. 4. 1 Thess. 5. 9. This must needs be so for whatsoever falls out in the world universally or particularly God in his eternal and unchangeable decree Ordained the same And if wise men do not especially great things whereof they have not before deliberated much lels doth God Let us hold fast this truth inviolable according to the Scriptures casting away all carnal conceits of cruelty or the like in the Lord and with the Apostle Paul what we cannot understand learn we to adore and admire Q. But how could the Apostle know they were Elect may one know the Election of another A. For our own we may as we shall hear by an by for others we may also though not with the same knowledge and judgement of certainty because the heart of man is known to none but to God only and a man may go far who yet may fall away but with the judgement of charity which hath degrees according to the fruits we see in them if they only profess Religion and be in the Church we may hope but it is but weak hope where we see no fruits where we see some good likelihoods of religion some good beginnings we may more strongly be perswaded for to such a man may say If these things be in you in truth you are the very Elect of God Now when we see the fruits of faith sanctification and godliness in men and that they shew it not by fits but constantly not in some things but in all not in prosperity onely but in adversity too in persecution and under the Cross we may the more yea very boldly judge of them as the Elect of God and so doth out Apostle here as appears by the next words Unto Sanctification of the Spirit He saw good signs of Sanctification in them and that they suffered persecution for Religions sake therefore he so hoped of them he so stiles them We should not onely labor to have sound testimonies to our selves of our Election and Salvation but so live as we may get a good and full testimony thereof in the conscience and minde of the Church and Brethren with whom we live For a good name in the Church is a precious thing and much to be desired The voice of the Church is the voice of God We are so to live that whatsoever befalls us as to die suddenly or strangely or to have great and extraordinary afflictions while we live our lives notwithstanding may have spoken so well for us as we may have good report while we live and when we be dead So have many poor godly ones in Scripture and in our times when great and mighty ones that have been wicked their names be rotten and so not at all or else stinking and so as a dunghil or puddle which the more it is stirred the more it stinketh They therefore that live vilely in their lusts bring an ill name upon themselves who can judge they are Elect or shall be saved yea many be desperate they care not what men say as bad a sign as can be such also as walk hollowly and by halfs in some things well and in some other taking
shall stand trembling and be cast into the lake which burneth with fire and brinstone yea though our Faith be tryed by afflictions and persecutions yet we should rejoyce for they will turn to our glory Our shame reproach infamy imprisonment and troubles will turn to our praise and honor and glory at that day when we are reviled by private persons when persecuted by publique Magistrates and false Witnesses coming against us yet we should not be troubled but rejoyce For great shall our reward be in heaven our poverty shall be recompenced with great riches our shame with honor and if we be rejected of men we shall be taken in of God Yet do not our afflictions or persecutions deserve any of this honor as the Papists would gather from hence and from 2 Thess. 1. 5 c. Alas no For the afflictions of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us God indeed will crown his own graces in us and hath promised to reward the sufferings of his servants with glory and so he is become our debtor not by taking any thing of us but by promising us all things We should therefore be comforted in all our sufferings and oppose unto the ignominy thereof the glory and honor we shall then have which is infinitely greater O who would not endure casting out by men being a token that we shall be honored of God and taken in at that day Indeed if there were no day of Judgement nor reward we might be sorry but seeing there is let us lift up our heads and wait for that day As the wicked shall have a second course to mar all their mirth so contrarily the godly to swallow up their sorrow At the appearing of Jesus Christ. Namely to Judgement True it is as we have heard our souls enter into glory at death but our perfect happiness is not till the end of all besides that which we have at death is not seen but to our selves whereas then it shall be manifest to all We must be content to wait for our full Redemption till then on that most solemn day shall we be honored by the Lord himself Then shall our Savior come to judge the quick and the dead and though he defer to gather his Elect and be gone into Heaven yet he will come and that in another fashion then he came first namely in wonderful majesty glory and power which cannot but be a terror to his enemies 1. This must needs comfort all that have and do still embrace Christ Jesus as their Savior and King for he shall be their Judge and therefore shall it go well with them 2. But wo to them that have despised him where shall they appear Not to appear is impossible for He numbreth the stars and calleth every one by their name he will not be bribed for he is more just and besides we have nothing to give To escape also is impossible for he filleth all places and whether can he go that hath this revenging Judge over his head Hell under his feet to swallow him on each side Angels and Devils to torment him within a tormented Conscience and without all the world on fire And to abide his wrath its intolerable for if when it s but a little kindled no man can stand then how when its all on fire to consume his enemies utterly Kiss therefore the Sun seek to be reconciled get him thy Savior and thy King get pardon of that which is past not adding more to the score against thy self One thing more The phrase here used seems to imply that The reward of Gods servants shall not be privy but seen and known yea and that of those that have most hated disgraced and persecuted them accounting them mad and esteeming basely of them even before them I say they shall be honored of God As it will be a torment to the wicked to see Christ whom they have pierced to be in such high dignity and power so will it increase their torment to see them whom they so basely esteemed of as not worthy to live to be received into honor and stand on Christs right hand and themselves of whom they were so well conceited cast out But its just with God that they which willingly and of purpose have vexed and disgraced his servants here on earth should against their wills see the glory that he hath prepared for them Verse 8. Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory HEre he proceeds to commend these believing Jews yet withal admonishing and exhorting them and that for the great measure of their faith and the fruits thereof love and joy which are described by that which might have hindred their faith namely that they never saw Christ and yet believed in him and rested on him for salvation and so loved him as they were well content to suffer for his Name yea and rejoyce with such a joy as for the excellency and greatness thereof could not be expressed In that he commends them it s to this end that he might encourage and provoke them to go on forward and increase more and more To this end doth the Lord commend the good Churches in the second and third of the Revelation and S. Paul in all his Epistles even that he might provoke them to go on in well doing And this must be the end of all good Ministers in the commendation of their people not of flattery that were abominable and being men-pleasers they could not be Christs servants nor out of a conceit that they have gone far enough and now may stand at a stay that were sensless for that we have is nothing to that we might have had or should have and want but to be a spur to provoke them to go on forward it being a shame for them not to satisfie the expectation of such as have a good opinion of them and so must the people take such at any time not being lifted up therewith but rather humbled thereby conceiving that the Minister rather sheweth what he would were in them or should be in them then what is indeed in them and that he would not have them stand at a stay but proceed and go on more and more Speak we particularly first of their faith though last set down as without which there can be no true love They never saw Christ yet they believed in him they saw the Scriptures speaking of him to come they heard of him also by faithful witnesses the Apostles had preached of his person birth life death resurrection and ascension and that he came to save them that were lost This they believed and so believed in him for salvation though they saw him not This shews the nature of true faith namely to believe things not onely that we see
if Preachers alleage Fathers Councels School-men c. O how they applaud them but if any shall alleage Scripture properly and plainly Oh he is a plain homespun Preacher he may do well in a Countrey Town but Christs sheep do otherwise they reverence and adore above all the Word of God This condemns the Papists that deal most treacherously and will not have the scriptures to be judge but Fathers Councels the Church And who is the Church but themselves and the Head of Councels but the Pope and so upon the point the Pope is the Church and so its like enough to go well on their sides And in their Councels who is any thing but the Pope and his Consistory as he will have every thing so it shal be as in their last Councel of Trent which they so magnifie as the most sacred Assembly that ever was which indeed was nothing else but a conspiracy of Traitors against the Crown and Dignity of Christ Jesus and his Truth there such were pickt as were fast to the Pope and the Religion of Rome and such as were sworn to be true thereto and when some few spake somewhat more boldly in some things then was well liked of they were quickly packt out and this charge they had after they had sate a while That they should interpret no Scripture but such as might stand with the Doctrine of Rome this was good stuff that whereas they should have brought their Doctrine to the rule of Scripture they must bring Scripture to their Doctrine as if the Carpenter should cut his rule according to the piece and not the piece according to his rule And howsoever they sate there at Trent disputing for a fashion yet nothing was concluded but such as the Pope and his Consistory at Rome devised which being set to them they were to publish and thus the parties become Judges and they that should stand at the Bar to be judged sit on the Bench to judge their own cause therefore it must needs go well on their side They cannot away that the Scripture should be the Judge because they then know how it would go with them and their Doctrine but we must receive it and try all Doctrine by it and stand to the sentence thereof as being the onely Judge So here the Apostle enjoyning holiness takes this as a sufficient proof It is written though that was against their nature and disposition though by following after it they might be counted Puritans Singular Proud Hypocrites c. yet they must not stand reasoning the case with flesh and blood they must be holy for so it was written If then we know any thing once proved by the Word of God we must make no more ado if the Word command a thing we must yield and obey if forbid a thing as vile we must dare no more meddle therewith then to eat poison For the Word of God is the Royal Law that Rule of Righteousness that must command all the world Prince and people must stoop hereunto This is the Law of his Kingdom whereby all we his Subjects must be ruled If the Lyon roar the Beasts tremble and if the Lord speak who is our Soveraign is it not meet that we should take knowledge hereof and yield obedience thereto this was ever Preface enough to the Prophets in their Sermons Thus saith the Lord The Word of the Lord c. and his Word not being left us in vain to shake it off at our pleasures the same may command obedience 1. This condemns the prophane and dissolute world do men go by any such rule and try ere they do any thing what God saith of it in his Word O that were too much preciseness But by what rules then If it stand with my pleasure with my profit with my ease with my credit most do so I shall be accounted a fool if I do not so O cursed rules What shall Profit Pleasure Mammon and our Lusts become now as it were our God dare we cast the word of God behinde us do we provoke the Lord to anger are we stronger then he Oh let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall It s written we must be holy therefore we must be so why then it s written we may not swear therefore we must not swear so oppress deceive commit uncleanness c. because the contrary is prescribed in the Word And yet how dare men live in those very sins against the Scriptures Hath not the world smarted sufficiently yet whereat to take warning What threw Adam out of Paradise drown'd the old World brought such variety of Judgements upon the Jews from time to time if not their disobedience have there drunkards enough swearers prophaners of the Lords-day Usurers c. been plagued and sent to Hell already This rebelling against the Word of God hath made all the racket and havock in the world and hath brought to confusion the Proudest and Mightiest If we had not the Word but were left to the light of nature God might condemn us for our sins how much more when by the Word he hath told us all his minde Well let us look to it if the Word may not be a light to guide us it will be a fire to consume us If it be not strong enough to make us yield obedience it will be strong enough to throw us headlong to confusion as whereby we shall be judged at the latter day If when God smites any one part of us with pain in extemity we be weary of our selves when yet we have many comforts and many to pity us and hope also of an end thereof what shall their care be that are smitten and plagued in all parts of Body and Soul there being no eye to pity them nor hope of an end which yet ensueth upon the disobedience to Gods Word Then will they fret and vex themselves O beast that I was that took not warning at such and such a time c. 2. For as many as are willing the Word should guide them and be it with or in appearance against them are willing to be ruled let these be of good comfort It s a good mark of Christs sheep they hear his voyce and follow him and he is of God that heareth and obeyeth his word Again in that it s said It is written we note That the Word of God is the rule of all Truth and Doctrine This condemneth the Papists which as if the written Word of God were insufficient and imperfect and the Prophets and Apostles either would not or could not or might not leave a perfect direction for us divide the word into written and unwritten Thereupon imposing a great number of Traditions Degrees and old received Opinions and Customs upon the people as matters whereon to ground their Faith and binde their Conscience as much as any of the written Word and that upon
peril of Damnation which is a fearful Abomination They have indeed need of unwritten Traditions to shore up a number of points of their Religion or else they would fal to the ground for all the written Word of God as having no authority from thence But what a Religion is that which must thus be maintained without the Testimony of the Scripture we must learn to detest all such Traditions else what a Flood-gate should we let open to let in all Errors and uncertainties without end Yea were this granted every dream of a Fryers brain and any old Custom would be imposed upon the people for a Law Cursed be they that adde to the All-sufficient Word of God God will adde to their plagues 3. The Text it self It s written where In Leviticus 11. 44. 19. 2. The Word is the Rule the written Word the Canonical Scripture that onely There are other Books called Apochrypha usually joyned with the Bible which are not Gods Word nor of equal authority of the same but are the writings of men of good men and have also good use some part for the helping out of the story of that dark time from Malachi to John the Baptist and other parts for instruction in good maners and to a godly life and are therefore to be read of us yet were not they written by any Prophet are not Originally in the Hebrew as all the Old Testament is but in the Greek neither were received of the Jews to whom were committed the Oracles of God for which they were not blamed of our Savior Christ as questionless they should have been if they had done amiss Further we finde no Testimony of our Savior Christ Evangelist or Apostle cited out of them They have also their weaknesses and imperfections and the best parts thereof savor of a man and have not the majesty and weight of Gods Word Therefore are they not sufficient whereon to ground any part of our Faith or to say This is true foâ—so it s written in such a book No but to read them and try them and where they consent with the Word then say its true not because it s so there but because the Scripture approves it where they jar from Scripture there are we to leave them we must walk in a middle path wisely and soberly as not to match them with the Word of God so not to reject them as some have done for that they observed others magnifie them too much hereby running into a contrary extremity As nothing makes a handmaid so much despised as when she is set in her Mistresses Chair so long as she stands as an handmaid all like her and say she becomes her place well So when the Apocrypha is equalled with the Scripture it is justly to be disliked when made to serve it of good use It is written But he tells not where because they were so well acquainted with the Scripture as they could straightway say Oh we know where it is It s written in such a Book such a Section This sheweth how cunning we should be in the Scriptures and every part thereof reading them diligently as by our selves so with our Families and great cause We have a corrupt heart within us therefore had need have the Word dwelling in us to subdue it We have plenty of duties therefore had need of plenty of knowledge in the Word we shall have plenty of strong and subtile temptations from the Devil and World and therefore had need to be ready herein to resist them Herein must we meditate day and night that we may observe and do and prosper that we may be as fruitful trees that we may become wise in all our ways yea wiser then our Enemies then our Ancients This is unto Gods Children a storehouse of all good things its Food to nourish us Armor to defend us a Light to guide us an Apothecaries shop containing all things for meat and medecine for the food and health of our Soul Purgations to purge out our sins Cordials to comfort us Preservatives against every poisonful temptation of Satan Herein is our Fathers Will wherein are our Legacies in every leaf and line some good 1. This condemns the Church of Rome that make it a deadly sin for the people to read any part of Scripture one of them saith He thought it was the device of the devil that the common people should read the Sriptures which might make all loath their Religion for is it any thing else but as thieves which blow out the candle that they may not be seen 2. This condemns those amongst our selves that say It was never merry world since every Plowman and Weaver could talk of the Scripture and that the world was far more quiet before these be noâ— led by the Spirit that Moses was who wisht That all the Lords people could prophesie and the Apostle Paul who often speaks of the encrease of knowledge 3. This condemns the woful carelesness of most people that regard not to read the Scriptures and therefore are exceedingly ignorant therein so that if a Minister quote a place he had need name both Chapter and Verse nay if it be amongst the books of the Old Testament yea some Epistles of the New they cannot tell whereabouts to finde them but are often fain to turn to the Table of the Book Rich men are so mad of the world that they can finde no leisure Mammon is so mighty with them as God and his Word have no time with them And might they not finde that in one leaf of the Bible whereof if they could make use it would profit them more then the whole world Some are all for the world out of one business into another others can finde leisure to play at Tables Cards Bowls c. or to stand in shops two or three hours spending the time in idle discourses and unprofitable frothy talk if not in hurtful slandering and backbiting their neighbors and reproaching the servants of God who yet can finde no time for the Word Others are very cunning in their Statute Books but not so in the Scriptures As for the poor because they be poor and not Book-learned they think it concerns not them or that God looks for any such thing at their hands and therefore are as ignorant as if they lived in Turky altogether without fruit as the fig-tree whereunto our Savior came foolish and carryed away with every temptation and all for that they meditate not in Gods statutes They live ignorantly and loosly and dye blockishly and miserably yea and they perish worthily for that being offered a guide to take them as it were by the hand and lead them through this wilderness this narrow unbeaten path from all by-ways and bring them to Heaven yet will not entertain the same If the King should send a Letter to any of his Subjects and they would not vouchsafe to open
work without the hand of the workman Joh. 1. 13. is a notable Exposition of this place where by Blood and the will of Man and of Flesh the same is meant that here he calleth mortal seed and that which is here immortal or incorruptible seed is there but of God All Men and Angels cannot do this whomsoever God useth as the instrument he himself is the worker therefore is the Spirit compared to water as washing and making fruitful and to fire as through whom our corruptions are purified 1. This should stir up those that are born again to labor with all their might to shew themselves thankful to God that hath done that for them that their own Father their Preacher nay all the men of the world could not have done for them and to labor to glorifie his name in all holy obedience all their days for therefore hath he done it that they should be as the first fruits of his creatures even set apart for his service as the first fruits were 2. For those that are yet natural let them not trust to Ministers nor means but desire Almighty God to open their heart and to work in them that work that may be to their Salvation 3. Here 's an exceeding comfort to all new born persons namely That though they have a corrupt Nature the Devil subtile the World naught and themselves subject to many temptations and dangers yet they shall never fall finally from God it s not possible they should perish for then the immortal seed the Spirit given them and which is in them should perish which is more impossible then that that should perish whereby they are sealed unto the day of Redemption By the Word of God It s the mean to make of the servants of sin the servants of God of unclean clean of vile persons like Lyons Tygers and Bears to make meek humble Lambs to raise up the dead in sin and to bring to the Kingdom of Heaven which is therefore called The Gospel of the Kingdom See to this purpose Psal. 19. 7. Isa. 53. 1. Rom. 1. 16. 1 Cor. 1. 21. Jam. 1. 18. Acts 26. 18. and for examples hereof Acts 2. 37. 11. 21. 16. 30. The Law preparatively makes a way for Conversion and Faith by humbling and affrighting the heart with the sight of misery the Gospel effectively This works Faith and Repentance tells us of the remedy the sufficiency of it and how freely it is offered then works an earnest desire after it and an heart to leave any thing that might let us from it not that God is tyed to this but thus it hath pleased him to appoint ordinarily to work In times of persecution he can bless and doth reading of the Word to convert yea the report of private men So also for Infants he hath another way no less easie to him then hidden and admirable to us how to work in them as he sanctified John Baptist in his mothers womb He hath not ordained Angels to come and tell us news from heaven nor any to come from the dead with tidings but Moses and the Prophets Ministers to open and apply the Scriptures and this he makes effectual It s true God prepares men sometimes by crosses as the fire doth the iron but most are moved presently at the Word some by sickness or terror outward or inward sent of God have something brought to their conscience that they have heard and so are converted as others thereby prepared to the Word and thereupon converted by it as by experience hath been often found This is the reason that the Devil hath ever been a spiteful enemy hereto an enemy to true sound plain and diligent preaching raising so many Enemies against it laying so many logs in the way to hinder the course of it raising up such in the Ministery as either preach not at all or seldom or in the fleshly words of mans wisdom crying down preaching under this or that colour c. for he knows well that its the mighty Engine to batter his Kingdom it s that which pulls down the walls of Jericho how base soever in the worlds eyes It s the strong voyce of God that casts Satan out of his hold and possession his mighty arm that plucks us out of his power and Kingdom and translates us into the Kingdom of his dear Son 1. This teacheth us highly to esteem of it above all other means not preferring or equalling thereto either Reading or Prayer publique or private For what were this but to thwart the Lord hath he blest these alike to win souls If thou sittest at home and readest when thou shouldest be hearing God will curse thy pride that thinkest to be wiser then he or teachest any so to do 2. It teacheth us to praise God for his unspeakable mercy towards us that whereas most of the world sitteth in darkness he hath given us the means of the new birth If thou art hereby Regenerate thou art happy if not thy case is hard then will it profit us when it hath wrought this in us therefore pray unto God to continue his Word and give it power to change thee and that he would whet this two-edged sword to pierce through thee and make it an hammer to break thy stony heart 3. They that have it not should mourn for it and pray for it as being subject to perish For where prophesie faileth the people perish we must pity them who do not pity themselves 4. Labor to profit daily by it for it s also for our further building up and whereby we go on to perfection praying that it may be so long continued till we shall have no more need of it or our poor children whom we leave behinde us 5. Pray to God to give it free passage every day to the winning of many souls to the accomplishment of the number of Gods Elect and let every man further it what he can to the utmost of his power herein shewing himself Christs true friend And let all men take heed of hindring the same hinderers are enemies to mens souls and to the Kingdom of Christ and friends to the Devils Kingdom Here I may speak how God hath appointed Ministers to be the bringers of this glad tidings that converts the soul and that the Lord useth them as instruments to win the soul who are therefore called in Scripture by many Honorable names as Men of God Angels Ambassadors from God Spiritual Fathers c. so Builders Laborers Watchmen Shepherds c. in respect of their pains They are appointed over the Lords flock they have the trust of Souls the greatest trust that can be other callings are about mens bodies or goods but this their Souls 1. Therefore for Preachers we must be faithful in token of our thankfulness to God that hath so highly honored us and deeply entrusted us
must settle 3. It teacheth us to search the Scripture laboring by all means that the Word of Christ may dwell in us plentifully that so we may be grounded If we hear God speaking in his Word we must sit down by it all mouthes must be stopt if not we must not be carried without it Again He alleageth the Old Testament as Christ and the other Apostles did for the Old was the same in substance with the New and of the same Authority Further In that he nameth not the place nor the Prophet it sheweth their skill and rebuketh our ignorance that have not the book of God clasped against us as in Popery but open if we can take our time for the place it self it s alleaged with some alteration of the words though not of the sence 1. He leaves out a word or two and takes that which fitteth his purpose 2. He turneth these words of the Prophet He that believeth shall not make haste into these He that believeth on him shall not be confounded The Prophet sets down the effect the Apostle the cause for unbelievers being ashamed it makes them run up and down in their misery for some other help seeing themselves disappointed and deceived The occasion of that promise there was to comfort the good in respect of the great threatnings against the bad and contemners namely that they should not be destroyed and cast off among the rest and that the wicked might not scorn them and think all Gods promises made to them fallen to the ground Behold This being a word to stir up attention implieth that What the Lord saith he doth He is true of his word the Almighty and who cannot be hindred He saith not Such a stone shall be laid but Behold I lay it whereby he confirms the good and puts them out of doubt who by reason of the threatnings were grown weak fearful and in doubt Here see our infidelity in Spiritual things especially if we see any things against us such was Zacharias So was not Abraham he looked not to carnal lets but rested on Gods Word had enough that God spake it so should we If we have any promise of Gods mouth we should be of good comfort and believe and not be dismaid at our sins and unworthiness Come unto me saith our Savior all ye that are weary and laden and I will refresh you c. What promise more comfortable and yet many seeing their sins and danger cannot be comforted and perswaded But we must give God the glory to believe him on his word and know that nothing can make him break promise or change his minde either any hinder him from performing what he hath promised I lay It s God that layes the Foundation of his Churches Salvation All the Men and Angels in the world cannot lay one stone in this building unto this Foundation Though God use the Ministery of his servants Men to this purpose yet its God that by his Spirit makes them fit and couples them hereto therefore much less could they lay this corner stone Paul saith he laid this Foundation By Preaching the same to the people not otherwise That Foundation which God had laid before the world and appointed to be Preached that he taught to the people and that was all he did If God gave Christ generally for his Church then for every humble soul that seeth his need of Christ and cometh with an heavy heart to him and desires him above all the world assuredly he will give him to such In Sion That hill in Jerusalem is put for the Church whereof it was a type and because the Gospel was first preached there Christ there revealed and from thence conveyed into all nations far and wide so that now by Gods mercy we have him no less preached unto us then the Jews had and have also our part in him as largely O unspeakable mercy A chief corner stone A chief stone a foundation stone This is the principal point in this first part of the Verse but of this on the fourth Verse where was shewed That he is not a stone as others be in the building but the foundation on which they are all built which sustains and holds them together there being no other foundation but he This the Papists overturn and that both in respect of his Kingly Prophetical and Priestly Office For his Kingly Office which is to rule over the consciences of his subjects by his Spirit and to have power to make Laws to binde their consciences they take it from him for with them the Pope may also make Laws of his to binde the conscience as much as any of Christs and doth and may repeal some of his at his pleasure For his Prophetical Office which is to be the onely Teacher of his Church and to reveal all his Fathers minde in the Books of the Prophets and Apostles this they take away by adding as if the Word were altogether imperfect unwritten Verities and mens Traditions which say they are of absolute necessity to be obeyed to Salvation For his Priestly they abolish both parts of it 1. His Sacrifice All sufficient and once offered on the Cross for all by their blasphemous Mass wherein they offer Christ daily as they say as a Propitiatory Sacrifice for the sins of the quick and the dead 2. His Intercession wherein they joyn many Saints with him What Salvation can there be for such le ts pray for and keep our selves far from them Elect Christ is chosen of God to the work of our Redemption and furnished for it therefore make we choyce of him for our portion wo to them that refuse him He that believeth on him shall not be confounded Hereby is meant a true particular justifying Faith Such as have this shall not be ashamed or seek at any time as confounded or deceived of sufficient help and Salvation therefore he shall never be put to make haste to seek any other The true Believer shall never be confounded but finde enough in Christ to satisfie him to the full to deliver him from all evil and make him partaker of all Happiness Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption and enough to make his minde peaceable and quiet and to stablish him against all that his own conscience or any yea the Devil himself can lay to his charge but he findes enough to answer all at large As Thou art a sinner and hast deserved Damnation and God is just R. I grant all but I have a surety able enough who hath born all Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It s God that justifieth c. His heart is fixed he believeth in the Lord In his life he hath that wherein he may quiet himself and never be to seek but may draw new life and grace from Christ to enable him to
carelesness of some Christians that walk so losely and lie so open as the wicked have their will even matter enough to talk of their covetousness of their wonderful impatience and the like such had need to repent much and by the contrary to labor by their well-doing to stop their mouthes which they have justly opened against Religion and the professors thereof O how far are some to blame who by too severe and sudden censuring cause many to loath the professors of the Word as if they were all such proud fellows and did condemn all but themselves O its good to have charity yet I mean not that we are to call black white c. The ignorance of foolish men Here is shewed what they be that are ready to rail and speak ill of Religion and open their mouthes against the Professors of the Gospel even ignorant foolish men Oh but many be great men for Wit and Parts and Learning that do thus It s all one such they be and no other They that will rail at a Trade for the fault of a Tradesman and condemn all of a Trade for the fault of some one of that Profession might they not be taxed of ignorance and folly So what ignorance and foolishness is it in a number to speak ill of the way of God and of the Word Preached and of the Preachers thereof and all for the fault of some that profess Religion It s true that some speak evil of Gods people not of ignorance but of hatred and contempt of the Gospel A good life will stop all cavils of the former not of these Ignorance Whoso speaketh ill of God of his Truth of his Servants that profess his Name are ignorant know not what they do as our Savior said of them that Crucified him As the Sadduces They erre not knowing the Scriptures Had the Pharisees known the Father they would not have hated and persecuted Christ the Son Had the Jews known They would not have Crucified the Lord of glory When men rail on Gods people O they know not what they say nor whom they despise for if they knew them and whose they be and their great Glory and Dignity they would catch them about the neck and earnestly desire that they may be like unto them But they know them not one brings Religion thus complaining I Religion am a meer stranger in the world therefore I do not wonder that the Dogs of this world do bark at me which I do not greatly regard my Pedegree my Father my Brother my Countrey is above yet I wish that while I stay among you you would not speak evil of me because you know me not And assuredly if men knew Christianity and the revenues thereof they would not onely not speak evil thereof but all the good they could yet this is not simple but affected ignorance therefore their judgement will be the more just and fearful 1. If therefore we hear any whosoever they be rich or poor reproaching the way of Salvation and calling it preciseness and niceness and railing on the best Preachers and most zealous Christians let us not be much troubled at it It s but the speech of ignorant men that know not what they say blinde that cannot judge of colours but through the darkness that is in them they call good evil and evil good who will one day see otherwise though it may be when it will be too late 2. While any is of this minde let him be what he will be have what knowledge he will or can have he is but an ignorant man that speaks and does he knows not what and walks in darkness and knoweth not how soon he may fall Foolish men Every natural man as long as he so continueth is but a fool even till God the fountain of all true wisdom do give him his Spirit of grace into his heart and make him wise unto Salvation whose fear is the beginning of wisdom Let men have wit to rule a Countrey to compound Controversies contrive businesses and to be so deeply fighted in the world as no man can go beyond them yet if they be in their natural and unregenerate condition they are fools the greatest fools that are such is Solomons fool throughout the Proverbs not he that wants wit but true wisdom nor one that wants natural parts but grace For is not he a fool that prefers toys and bables before matters of great and good worth such are they that are careful for the world for Profits Pleasures Honors and such transitory toys never regarding what shall become of their souls having no care of the pardon of their sins to escape from Hell and to obtain the Kingdom of Heaven such was the rich man in the Gospel Were not he a fool that in the Summer would neglect to prepare his Winter provision as having then no use thereof such is he that hath no care in the Summer of the Gospel and in the time of his health to lay up against the stormy time of sickness temptations and death Is not he a fool that runs on in the score and takes no care to discharge it such are they that go on in sin and in the abuse of Gods creatures Is not he a fool that will wallow himself in mire and think and speak ill of them that will not so do such are the wicked that wallow in their sins even wondring that others run not with them into the same excess of riot A fool will play with firebrands arrows and mortal things so the wicked make a sport of sin He is a fool that being condemned of Treason and yet in possibility to get a pardon defers to sue for it till it be too late such are the wicked that put off their repentance He is a fool that will laugh being in extream danger or being told he is going to execution doth jest at it yea if it were but to the stocks or house of correction yet thus do the wicked every day go nearer and nearer the place of their torment A fool hates those that tell him he is in danger and would help him out of it and can sleep soundly though it be told him the house is on fire over his head yet thus do the wicked being told of their sins and their danger thereby Thus are we to repute our selves being unregenerate and to labor by all means for the fear God which is the beginning of true wisdom Verse 16. As free and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness but as the servants of God HEre the Apostle prevents an Objection that they might make whereby he would cure the disease they were sick of even their not yielding subjection willingly and that both in respect of their badness which ruled and of their own liberty which they misconstrued and stretched beyond the bounds We be freed might they say by Jesus Christ therefore
present state They were once in a poor case in a piteous taking in a miserable and dangerous case but now through Gods mercy they were come home to Christ who most carefully did and would protect them to their Salvation Before they came to Christ their case was woful and dangerous as is the state of all unregenerate persons but now having taken hold of Christ their condition was safe happy as it s with all believers and penitent persons For ye were as sheep going astray Speak we first of the miserable state of all unregenerate men of all men without Christ they are as sheep going astray 1. Every Natural man is like a beast who is therefore in Scripture compared to several sorts of beasts for one ill quality or another as to Dogs for their malicious barking and biting at them they live with to Wolves for their greedy devouring of the poor to Lyons for their cruel tyranny to fat fat Bulls for their proud abuse of their prosperity to Hogs for their rude and unreverent base esteeming of Spiritual things as the Word and Sacraments and Gods Ministers to Foxes as Herod for their craft so to Horses and Mules for their ignorance and unruliness yea sometimes the beasts are preferred before them to shame them and sometimes they are sent to school to them nay all Gods Creatures are more serviceable then Man they obey God in their kind and abide in their first estate the Sun Moon and Stars obey God in their courses the huge Sea rageth and is calm at his bidding if he command it to stand as a wall it doth so to let Israel go through and will return again upon the same warrant and drown Pharaoh if God bid the Whale swallow Jonah and cast him up again it obeys him in both if he forbid the Lyons to touch Daniel they stir not though very hungry as the fire did not burn the three Children c. But man that should be best of all and for whom all were made as he for God yet walk stubbornly and rebelliously omitting what 's required of him and doing what 's again and again prohibited therefore God calls all Creatures to witness against man yea they are many times to set themselves against us as when the heavens become as brass and the earth as iron c. and to groan because of us as being weary of doing any further service to such as we are O how ought this to humble all that be such that know no mark of conversion or change in themselves from their unregenerate condition small cause hast thou to be proud the Horse thou ridest on is far better then thou art it doth that for which God did ordain it but thou doest not that which the Lord requireth of thee nay the Dog that keeps thy Yard and ears bones under thy table is in a better case then thou art its serves God in its kinde thou never didst any thing that God set thee here for O humble thy self before God crave of him to work an alteration in thee for he onely can do it and that by the Ministery of his word Thus can he bring it to pass delivering thee from thy brutish nature turning thee into a Christian man renewing in thee his image and working of grace that so thou mayest serve him in a better maner then other creatures either do or can do so shalt thou be more happy then they for they as they have no pain so they shal have no glory but thou shalt go from hence to everlasting glory in the Kingdom of Heaven But as for all that continue in their Rebellion as they are worse then beasts in their life so shall they be in their end for their death is but a beginning to eternal misery O how happy were it for every man that shall dye in his sins if he were turned this day into a Dog or Toad and no further account to be taken of him 2. As a Sheep that wandereth is out of his way so is every natural and unregenerate man quite out of his way out of the way to Peace and Happiness We were created in the right way but in Adam all went astray we have no minde but of wandering and roaming further and further the longer we live till God take us into the right way so that whosoever dyes in the way he was born in and lived in first must needs perish it s the way of ignorance of sin the broad way to destruction Some go out of the way by ignorance some by superstition some by prophaneness by hypocrisie by trusting to civility c. naturally we do all go from God and Peace to Hell and the Devil Abraham was out of his way whilest he was an Idolater so Paul whilest he was a Persecutor The wicked they go astray even from the womb they wander from every good work and do nothing well or pleasing to God They delight to wander and take pleasure in their sins yea that they thus wander may appear by these signs They refuse instruction and reproof whether publike or private whereas the regenerate account those to love them indeed which tell them of their faults they live even in known sins they are altogether for the world having no communion with God in holy duties they have no love to good company but associate themselves with others like themselves and of their own stamp If they do good duties it s for sinister respects not out of conscience Thus the Devil misleads some Antichrist seduceth thousands by false Doctrine and miracles as wicked Ministers by seldom or erroneous teaching and bad lives So is the world a great deceiver by bad examples by false reports of the servants of God and by the profits and pleasures thereof yea a mans own heart is a great deceiver as whereby many think they are in the way to Heaven when they be in the way to destruction Ignorance also of the Scriptures is a great cause of being deceived Ye erre saith our Savior not knowing the Scriptures nay God in justice gives some over to believe lyes as Ahab was seduced by false Prophets to his destruction they may provoke God so long by their wandering that he will never reclaim or bring them home but swear in his wrath they shall never enter into his rest they may despise the means so long as no Sermon shall do them good These are in a fearful state marked to destruction as Trees to be felled This also should humble men for what are they but stragling creatures and make them desire to get into the right way But how few will take knowledge they be out of their way thinking still their case to be good enough as the Lord complained by Jeremiah I hearkened and heard but none spake aright no man repented him of his wickedness saying What have I done c. There
pleasure but by fair means endeavor that he may see and leave the same she must also be obedient to all his lawful commands and frame herself to his nature and liking so far as she may with a good conscience Indeed to consent to his evil or to do evil at his command that she may not by any means for God is to be obeyed rather then man yet even in these she must refuse with humility and due respect to her husband Though she have a good cause yet she may handle it ill This rebuketh the contrary unreverence and base esteem which too too many wives have of their Husbands O how unseemly and stout is their behavior towards them Not a few having many good qualities in them yet are curst snappish stand too stifly in their own conceit will carry away the day and have the last word especially if they have a good cause such do grosly forget themselves Whatsoever parts a woman hath yet if she be not subject and dutiful to her husband they are nothing she is as a curst Cow that gives a good pail of milk and kicks it down with her foot Let such endeavor to see this fault in themselves and repent thereof from their heart striving against their froward nature let such know that as subjection is Gods Ordinance so it s the very being of a wife What 's an hand if it have no power of handling or any eye if it see not so a wife without subjection Though there may be Parentage Portion Beauty Housewifery c. yet if this be wanting there is nothing of a wife There are also others which be so unreasonable so froward so mad and bedlem-like which do so scold and brawl as they care not what they say being a vexation to their Husbands hearts and corruption to their bones that are as it were a whipping stock and house of correction to them continually the contention of such is a continual dropping and it is better to dwell in the corner of a house top then with such in a wide house But hereof I have heretofore spoken at large That if any obey not the Word c. Not onely must wives be subject that have good Husbands but even they which have infidel husbands cross unkinde and most irreligious Husbands for they are their husbands whom they have chosen and are now in covenant of God withal and which God hath laid out for them as a blessing or cross if any shall say This is very hard let such know that Christians mnst do difficult things and such as no other can do whether Papist Hypocrite or Civil persons every Bungler can make good work of good straight Timber but he that can make good work of that which is crooked and knotty is worthy commendation 1. This rebuketh those that except against their husbands Oh will some say if my husband were as such a womans husband kinde courteous religious c. it would not grieve me to do any thing for him I could lay my hand under his feet but mine is thus and thus Ans. Ye must not look what others be but what your own is though they fail in their duties towards you yet must not you in yours towards them stoppage is no payment Gods Word must be your rule 2. If they that have such ill husbands yet must do their duty willingly how much more they that have loving godly careful husbands How great is their sin that do not their duty to such but are ever finding fault complaining murmuring unquiet such may justly fear lest God take away those and send them such as will be a cross to them If any have found it so let it lead them to repentance and let others take heed by their example But howsoever it be necessary for wives to do their duties to unbelieving husbands yet it follows not that they may lawfully match themselves with such This were an unequal match which is often spoken against in the holy Scriptures This were to make league with the wicked and Gods enemies This were the way to pollute our selves Thus was Solomon himself beguiled This is the means of a corrupt and sinful generation for commonly children do follow the steps of their parents Such as were thus born spake half the language of Canaan and half of Ashdod When both Parents be godly their children for the most part prove gracious God vouchsafing to draw the threed of his election through the loyns of the faithful when both be wicked their children are for the most part ungracious yea if but one of them be wicked most children prove after the worse side Let therefore Parents as they regard their own comfort and the wel-doing of their posterity be careful with whom they match them and those that intend to marry let them in their matching not so much regard wealth beauty birth c. as Gods fear yet how many are carryed away with those not caring to please God herein matching themselves even with such as are most irreligious But how doth our Apostle decipher an unbeliever by his fruit disobedience he is such a one as doth not obey the Word Whosoever he is that liveth in flat disobedience to any of Gods Commandments is yet an unbeliever and without Faith In vain therefore do they boast of Faith whosoever they be that live in open disobedience and known sins May without the Word be won by the conversation of the wives In general note we that Although the work of conversion is to be ascribed to the preaching of the Word For faith cometh by hearing and its the Interpreter one of a thousand that must declare unto man his righteousness yet are good examples excellent preparatives hereunto as fire that heats the iron and makes it fit to be fashioned by them a man may be brought to a better liking of Religion and of the Word and so to the hearing thereof whereby he may be converted Davids constant and true carriage of himself towards Saul made him confess he was more righteous then himself Do not we then content our selves with forwardness in profession and other good gifts but look that our conversation be such so holy modest godly c. as that we may stop the mouthes of the bad and draw on the backward so much as in us lies and thus shall we adorn the Gospel but the contrary in most is every day too too manifest In particular that Wives professing Religion shew it in all meekness subjection and good behavior towards their Husbands according to the rule of Gods Word may in time be a means to bring home their Husbands to God What knowest thou O wife whether thou shalt save thine Husband saith the Apostle If not yet they shall so restrain them as that they shall be
hold or continue Even as Sarah He speaks of many and yet names but one yet such a one as they could not but acknowledge worthy of imitation Though more good men be mentioned in Scripture then women that was because of Genealogies and their publike places not that their number was greater then the others yet of neither of both are so many named by multitudes as were in all those ages God said he had Seven thousand which had not bowed their knee to Baal and it s said That at our Apostles Sermon Three thousand were converted yet none are particularly named In Heb. 11. some are named with their actions and commendations but that there were multitudes of others is there also implyed When therefore we read the Scriptures we must not think that there were no more good people then we finde there named Oh! there were many thousands more onely so many are Registred as might be for our good all could not As when we come out of a City or great Town looking back we see the tops of a few Steeples and great houses but when we were near we saw a great many more so when our backs are turned upon an Age alas it s but a few we can see then in comparison of them that lived in that age Howsoever be we of men remembred or not if we be holy men and women we shall not be forgotten of God our Names are Registred in Heaven whether one day our bodies shall come as well as our souls Obeyed Abraham calling him Lord That she obeyed him the story shews for whithersoever he went and flitted she went with him and when she was bid make ready for the strangers it was done and that speedily not a word against it and her calling of him Lord is here mentioned as an usual thing done by her proceeding from a reverend regard she had of him as her husband appointed her of God In all things lawful wives must be like Sarah therein though haply somewhat against their minde they must frame themselves to their husbands disposition They must not speak to them snappishly currishly curstly nor over familiarly calling them by their Christian Names but respectively and reverently Whose daughters ye are as long as ye do well Such women as live godly purely be subject adorn themselves with grace and are patient and meek they shall not lose by it but shall have peace to their Consciences and a good Name in the Church as Sarah and be heirs of Heaven as she is being like her they shall speed as she did As men Believers are called The Sons of Abraham he being the father of the faithful so all godly good wives The Daughters of Sarah that holy Matron that had a good Name in the Church while she lived and is now in Heaven Let this be a provocation to women to perform these duties I hope we give you no bad counsel neither wrong you in requiring of you but what Sarah did and to do what may make you like her here and hereafter what answer shall those make that are no whit moved hereby ungodly impatient immodest women are not daughters of Sarah but of that wicked one the Devil and with him shall have their portion As they that could not prove their Pedigree had no portion in Canaan so they that fetch not their Petigree from Sarah and be not her daughters in subjection pure conversation sweet speech quietness in spirit are not good wives nor shall have the blessing of such And are not afraid with any amazement It may be Christian wives were afraid that if they did not set out themselves in bravery of apparel their unbelieving husbands would not care for them but seek after others For this the Apostle prescribes a remedy let them not yield to do evil for avoiding that but trust in the Lord not being afraid with any amazement It s not enough to do duties but we must do them in a right maner that makes or mars Hence many in doing duties to God do them not in praying they pray not hearing they hear not because not from the heart in Faith but out of custom and in ceremony and formality Wives must not be dutiful because else they should lead a woful life their Husbands would cut them short in their will c. These are carnal respects for Heathens to be moved with but Christian women must be dutiful out of conscience towards God and love to their Husband as they whom God hath appointed to be their heads Verse 7. Likewise ye husbands dwell with them according to knowlege giving honor unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel and as being heirs together of the grace of life that your prayers be not hindred NOw he comes to the duty of Superiors particularly of Husbands whom he onely nameth for that he that is a good and godly Husband to his Wife will be also a good Magistrate or Minister if he be called to those places And in that he teacheth Superiors their duties we may note That Superiority exempts them not from duty every honor carries a burthen along with it The more high any is in place the more is expected of him as more was of him that had the five then of him that had the two talents as they look for much duty from others so not a little is required of themselves Every Superior should make his Inferior more beholding to him then he can possibly be to his Inferior even Inferiors may be as dear unto God as themselves are And they themselves have a Lord and Master in Heaven to call them to an account The Word also doth no less ininstruct them in their duty then the others in theirs No man holds his place to be idle but the greater it is the more is required of him The Word must guide them in their places they must not do as they list Likewise ye Husbands c. In other places the Husbands duty is set forth by love no love no husband a man not an Husband but here by the fruits which are 1. To dwell with their Wives 2. As men of knowledge and understanding 3. To give them honor and that 1. Because they be the weaker vessel 2. Heirs with their Husbands of Grace and Salvation 3. The contrary would breed unquietness and so interrupt and hinder their Prayers together which were grievous Herein he instructeth Husbands as before he did the Wives they standing in no less need of instruction and no less failing in their duty then Wives who therefore must humbly patiently and christianly hear their duties with a desire to be ruled accordingly Dwell with them The Husband must forsake Father and Mother and cleave to his wife they must keep together for all the marriage ends the procreation of Children the avoiding of sin and keeping themselves chaste and for the continual comfort they ought to have each
thy felf as lay hold on Christ for Salvation If any man speak c. Whoso is in the Ministery ought to Preach no gift makes a man a Minister allowed of God but the gift of preaching even to be able to open the Scriptures soundly and apply the same wisely to the peoples edifying How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard saith the Apostle and how shall they hear without a preacher and how shall they Preach except they be sent That is gifted and quallified by God for the place even being able to do that which is apt to convert souls which no gift else can do but that of preaching the Word The Scriptures read are but as a goodly Carpet folded up together but by preaching the beauty thereof appeareth This our Savior enjoyned his Disciples and the same did the Apostle Paul require of Timothy 1. This rebukes those which howsoever having an outward calling they stand in the room of Ministers and therefore their actions are not to be counted void or nullities run before they are sent are blinde watchmen Messengers without an errand dumb Dogs as Idols having mouthes but speak not c. 2. This rebukes a number of silly people which conceive it sufficient if their Minister be but a Reader We have a very honest man will such say true he cannot preach but he doth his good will and we can desire no more of a man and a very fellow-like man he is c. But if it happen they have a godly Preacher what is their note then we have a Minister I would we had never known him some say he is learned and he preacheth indeed but he is so troublesome he hath spoiled our Town quite we were all as quiet as could be till he came but now there is such finding of faults and bringing up new Orders as we cannot tell what to say a good many of the best of the Parish will do what they can to remove him c. Thus the world loves reading Ministers They say of Schollars they be the most conscionable They care not how little they have for their money but its true also of a number of silly miserable people They can have no more of a man then his good will they say But they would not say so of a Carpenter or any Workman or Servant they hire if they do not the business they are set about they would have others Let him speak as the Oracles of God That is both Preach the very Truth and Word of God and as its meet or as it becomes the Word to be handled Ministers must Preach the Word of God they must not deliver any thing to their people but that which they have received of God So did both the Prophets and Apostles they stand in Gods room and are to bring his Message neither must they deliver any word whereof they may not truly affirm Thus saith the Lord This is the Word of the Lord Nothing else feeds the soul other things are poyson or chaff yea we may answer for what we say before God upon our salvation or damnation 1. This reproves divers as namely such as by their erroneous Doctrine destroy souls they give in stead of an egge a scorpion and for food poyson Such as by telling strange and forged miracles of this and that Saint endeavor to uphold one lye of Popery or other Such as teach mens traditions or their own devices and opinions contrary to Gods Word Such as wrest the Word of God and discourage the hearts of the godly and strengthen the hands of the wicked making their Text speak what God never meant Such as Preach Gods Word but so mingled with mans inventions as they Preach not Gods Word but their own fancies Thus many stuff their Sermons with Authorities of men as of Heathen Poets Philosophers Historians and that in strange tongues which though turn'd into English yet what a loss of time what a breaking of the peoples attention must there needs be hereby what thrusting upon people mens authority use indeed may be made of those in private and humanity serves as well as an handmaid to Divinity but its Gods Word onely which can stablish the Conscience If we use them publiquely the same must be done sparingly to special purpose on some special occasions as when we have to do with Atheists c. and not to the common people 2. This may instruct people that they hear nothing at least receive nothing but the Word of God My sheep hear my voyce saith our Savior and a strangers voyce they will not hear Therefore they must be able to try what they hear we must not be like children carryed about with every wind of doctrine Solomon counts it the property of a fool to believe every thing if we should in stead of being fed we might be poysoned we must with the Bereans search whether the things we hear be so and so they were neither curious nor captious yet they would receive nothing but the truth A man may tell money after his own Father not because he thinks he would deceive him but because he may be deceived we take not upon us to have dominion over your Faith that you should believe whatsoever we say because we say it but if it be not according to Gods Word take it but upon exchange All that we hear and Ministers deliver must be according to the Scriptures which is the rule and touchstone and when people have knowledge and can try what we â—each we should be far from being angry and saying It was never merry world since every Taylor and Shoemaker could talk so much of the Scriptures and finde faults with mens preaching would we have the peoples eyes out True the Papists cannot abide it in the people but tell them They must believe as their Ministers believe c. This is as bad a sign in them as may be But alas we have cause to complain of peoples ignorance it were even just with God to let them fall into the hands of deceivers as having got no knowledge all this while Ministers must preach as it becomes the Word of God even with all reverence and authority with all courage and boldness yea so as that they declare by their lives that they believe it to be Gods Word even by being first in the practice thereof and obedience thereto 1. This serves to reprove divers as namely those that mingle tricks and conceits to tickle the ear and are all in their Inkhorn terms riming and running on the letter c. together with those that have itching ears and delight in such things It s a sign of a sickly ill disposed stomack to whom the wholesom food of the Word is not sweet except it have some such strumpetly sawces Those that through sear keep back Gods counsel not revealing his whole will those that live daily in
God were not Almighty or had made no promises or at least were not faithful O let us rebuke our unbelief and gather up our selves and Gods promises and examples of his goodness to his and rest upon them as on an unmoveable foundation In well-doing While we continue in a good course without turning out of the way we may comfortably commend our selves to God but not otherwise If we falter and shift for our selves and put our our hands to unlawful means then God takes no charge of us then have we cut off our selves from all hope and comfortable commending our selves to him with what face can we so do and what promise have we when we have broken our faithfulness 1. Therefore be we perswaded that our greatest comfort in our trouble must be to stick close to God and so long God hath tyed himself to us but if we shall do otherwise we defeat our selves of this Therefore in what danger soever we be let us never put out our hands to unlawful means as to run to wizards in poverty to steal in any danger to forfeit a good conscience Our comfort is then gone and Gods promise belongs no further to us at least till we humble our selves and be reconciled upon our repentance for it 2. No ungodly man in any strait can have any warrant or comfort to commend his soul or case to God where hath God made any such promise to such nor can they in their death A bad man cannot say Lord receive my soul upon what acquaintance God knows not this soul It s not redeemed washed It hath not used to serve him no such unclean souls ever came or shall come to Heaven No they go to him whom they have served they that have given their souls to God in believing and obeying here may with comfort yield up their souls and say Lord The soul thou gavest me and hast redeemed sanctified preserved and with which I have unfainedly served thee or which now in suffering I have sacrificed for thee I do now commend it to thy keeping This soul God will most readily take it s more his then thine he loves it well But for a wicked man either he cannot have the face to commend his soul to God as wherewith he hath at no time served him but the Devil his Enemy or if he be so impudent God will take no knowledge thereof In well-doing This may be taken particularly for patience and freeness from revenging our selves of them that persecute us for should we so do God would not take charge of us but if we pray for them love them wish their good we may the more confidently commend our selves to God O then rely we on God and in all constancy in well-doing commend we our selves to him in much assurance as unto a faithful Creator CHAP. V. THe Apostle proceedeth in holy Exhortations to sundry excellent and necessary duties and vertues from the begining of this Chapter to the tenth verse from which to the end there 's the conclusion of the Epistle The Exhortations be either Special or General Special to some special kindes of persons as to Ministers and to the yonger sort Ministers from the beginning to the fifth verse yong folks in the fifth and sixth The General belongs to all being to Faith to rely on God to sobriety watchfulness c. of which in particular when we shall come unto them Verse 1. The Elders which are among you I exhort who am also an Elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed THe Apostle knowing that there are three vices incident and very hurtful to the Ministery and Ministers of the Word of God namely Idleness Covetousness and Pride seeketh to prevent these in all Ministers by exhorting them to the diligent and faithful performance of their duties belonging to them namely 1. To feed the flock of God that is to Preach the wholsome Word of God diligently to them 2. To take the oversight thereof that is to have a special care of them and regard of all their lives and behavior applying themselves to them accordingly 3. To be examples to them of pure humble and godly conversation nor doth he onely exhort to the doing of these but to the right maner of performing the same They must be done 1. Not by constraint that is out of fear of Gods wrath or force of mens Laws but willingly 2. Not for filthy lucre but of a ready and free minde seeking Gods glory and the peoples Salvation 3. Not being lordly or haughty in their carriage but examples of humility and godliness The Reasons whereby he urgeth the same are diverse The 1. taken from his own person verse 1. where are three motives to perswade them to obey his counsel even for that he was a Minister as they were a witness of the sufferings of Christ and a partaker of the glory to come in Heaven The 2. For that the people were Gods flock and his heritage The 3. For that they did depend on them for instruction and means of Salvation The 4. For that hereupon they should receive a Crown of glory that fadeth not away Speak we first of those duties in general then in particular In general Ministers being here instructed in their duty as people elsewhere Note 1. That the Scripture is not partial binding some to duty and leaving others at liberty but indifferently teacheth all yea the greater place that any is in the more duty it requireth every honor carrying a burthen of duty and the more need have such to do their duties for the example of others Above all others Ministers have most need both to be instructed in their's and also to perform the same for on theirs depends the well-doing of the people both in their general and special callings for how shall the people have these things if they receive them not from the Ministers of God put apart for that end how shall they else be either good Christians or good Magistrates Husbands Housholders c. If the great wheel of the clock that should turn all the rest do stand still so also must all the rest 1. When people are informed of their duties and amongst others of their duties towards their Ministers as of love honor reverence obedience maintenance c. they must yield thereto not think much hereof for God hath laid as great a burthen on their Ministers which they are charged with yea they must be thankful to God that hath had such a special care of their souls as so weightily to charge Ministers therewith as it s no small comfort to the poor that God hath taken such order for them by so many commandments so many promises also and threats to the rich People also ought in any wise to be careful of their own souls and joyn with the Lord in care who is so careful of them Heavy
and consider well and tarry till they have a calling and let them not intend to live at ease to follow their pleasures to gather riches c. but let them make their reckoning to prove Laborers Soldiers Watchmen c. else no coming here Thus in general The elders which are among you I exhort c. This verse containeth the first Reason of the following Exhortation which is taken from his own person being one every way fit to exhort them namely 1. An Elder and Minister as well as they for the name Elder is of dignity and office here and not of age who therefore knew what belong'd to his place and did what he required of them to do 2. A witness of Christs sufferings and so well acquainted with his minde 3. A partaker of the glory that shall be revealed who therefore would not exhort you unto any thing whereby either I my self may be deprived hereof or you hindred from attaining hereunto 1. In that he an Elder exhorts them Elders note That Ministers are fittest to teach Ministers and to judge of their actions True people may and ought try our Doctrine modestly and humbly they may also dislike and speak against foul things in our life and conversation but of things not so apparent people must not be ready to censure much less think to teach their Ministers For the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets This rebuketh the too much rashness and pride of some this way ready to control every course of a Minister that is not pleasing to them yea their maner of teaching prophanely calling it railing and that they should have spoke thus and thus when such dislike any thing in a Minister it were their wisdom to ask the judgement of some godly Minister before they censure or give judgement against him 2. In that he requireth nothing at their hands but what he himself did note That The most forcible and profitable way of teaching whether private or publique is first to do that in our own persons which we require of others Jesus did and taught Parents may not rebuke swearing in their children and swear themselves Housholders bid their Servants go to Church and stay at home themselves having no necessary occasion to keep them from thence Abraham was circumcised with his Houshold Joshua and his Houshold served God the Jayler and his Houshold were baptized He is not the best Husband that puts over his work to be done by others saying Go but who puts his hand thereto saying Go we c. He is an ill Captain that bids his Soldiers go fight himself in the mean time tarrying behinde It s woful teaching by Ministers that do quite contrary Shall we not condemn our selves while we call for that in another which we our selves do not observe Neither is there likelyhood that in such a case any will give ear unto us 3. In that he besseecheth Note as his modesty and humility So that Peter was no Pope had no Supremacy was not Christs Vicar as the Pope of Rome affirmeth of him and challengeth of him by succession Had it been so there had been no fitter time wherein to have shewed it then this Howsoever what had it been to the Pope who hath wofully degenerated He calls himself a Pastor yet challengeth authority over all the Church not Kings themselves excepted He is an hideous Beast and Monster If he send any commands it s not I that am a fellow-Minister and that take pains in the same calling do beseech you but he proudly thundereth and threatneth c. A witness of the sufferings of Christ So be we it s an Article of our Faith and we look thereby to be saved but we are witnesses onely of that we have heard he of that he saw he was with him when he was apprehended when he was brought before the High Priest c. he was a witness by seeing them preaching them imitating them Now in that he urgeth this as a reason to back his Exhortation we may note 1. That if we have any Credit Honor Favor Dignity we ought to improve the same to the benefit of the Church and furthering of Gods cause 2. That Ministers must use all Spiritual wisdom and skill to perswade unto obedience as cunning Chapmen they must use many reasons to perswade Customers to buy their Commodities 3. That the troubles of Gods Ministers are so far from disgracing them as they honor them and make their persons and counsel the more to be regarded for their sufferings are a seal to their Ministery and shew their faithfulness for those we should respect them the more not think the worse of them And also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed Here note briefly 1. That we should much regard those and their counsels whom we see much graced of God and like to be heirs of glory 2. That such as are Partners with Christ in suffering shall also partake with him in glory 3. That God hath prepared glory for his Saints in Heaven 4. That a man may come to know in this life that he shall be partaker of the glory of Heaven whereof whosoever is as yet ignorant he must endeavor by all means to make it sure Q. How shall we come to know this A. If here we partake of grace we shall hereafter partake of glory on the contrary no grace no glory Lassure you This knowledge is that which doth here uphold us amidst our many troubles it 's Mount Nebo whence we see the Land of Canaan all the Grapes we have to comfort us in the wilderness of this world 5. That Faith makes things invisible to be seen things absent as the glory here spoken of to be present Through this a childe of God hath Heaven already in possession whereinto his Soul shall enter immediately after his death as his body also being coupled to his Soul on the day of Judgement He that believeth saith the Scripture hath eternal life and Whom he justified them he also glorified Verse 2. 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 minde THe first duty required of Ministers is laid down in these words Feed the flock of God which is among you Feed namely by preaching the word soundly and diligently The flock of God namely The whole company which is under your charge which is not yours but Gods and that whether by creation as all are or by redemption as some are Which is among you or dependeth on you for Instruction Comfort and Direction Feed This implies divers things as 1. That Ministers must preach the Word of God Now preaching is an opening of the Scriptures wherein as many things be dark and hard to be understood which God hath done in his great wisdom
Temple onely the Devil will be sorry as who loseth all but your selves shall have the benefit both here and for ever Further Being converted we should still listen and stoop to whatsoever commandment we have thence of renouncing and forbearing this or that evil or doing whatsoever good without reasoning delays excuses saying Now I see what the Word saith I have done I will yield and become obedient Thus it ought to carry us contrary to our profit pleasure ease custom of our selves fashion and example of others which yet but few do Thus of the first sence For the second The duties of youth to the aged As the Apostle hath been before in hand with Subjects Wives Husbands Servants duties and now with Ministers so doth he proceed to inform the yonger of theirs towards their elders Gods Ministers must not onely teach things generally belonging to all but even special things belonging to every age sex and condition of persons They must not onely labor that people may become Christians but that they may be good in their special calling like good husbands they must be in every corner instructing each in their duties they must finde out what be the special faults of youth as rashness pride unconstancy speaking against them and laboring to prevent or cure them so what be most needful for them as sobriety humility discretion stayedness accordingly calling for these thus must they do with the aged speaking against their testiness and covetousness and calling upon stayedness and soundness in all good judgement and conversation So they must take notice of the faults most incident to women as niceness curiosity loquacity accordingly endeavoring to cure them thereof for even in those that be good Christians yet there may be some such particular and special failings as whereby the name of God and his Gospel may be ill spoken of Thus did the Apostles being herein good and wise stewards to give to every one of the Lords Family their portion of meat in due season workmen that needed not be ashamed The Scripture teacheth every man his duty wherein accordingly revealing every piece of Gods councel we are to instruct them for want of this the Gospel hears ill even of those that have some good things in them Therefore as Ministers must be wise prompt Scribes taught of God and careful herein so people must be content nay like well hereof not repining nor finding fault with their Ministers for such weaknesses and faults as our nature is prone to Neither must people dislike and say What cannot the Minister be content to open his Text and teach us general things but he must meddle how we Husbands live with our Wives we Wives with our Husbands how we behave our selves in our Families how we Servants should do our work c This is an ill sign a good hearer is desirous the word should come home close to him and tell him of his duty yea ere thou come to the hearing of the Word pray O that the Minister may come home close to my corruptions O that I may be so instructed in my duty that I may please God by performing the same yea if the Minister come not home so close as we would we should go and enquire of him of our duties and what shall we do In particular The yonger must honor their elders as it s in the fifth Commandment here called submiting themselves under which be these duties 1. They must reverence them inwardly in their hearts and declare it by countenance gesture and behavior and this they must do because old age is a piece of Gods image and of his eternity who is termed the Ancient of days If there be gray hairs alone they require reverence but if with godliness then double honor for that is a great piece of the image of God 2. They must haste towards them when they are called and looking on them reverently answer them soberly and dutifully 3. When they speak they must have their ears open c. for which the ancient is wisdom 4. They must be obedient to them to their good councels admonitions rebukes and follow their good example and thank God they have those that have experience and have trod the way before them and who it may be have bought it dearly to tell them their duty freely As if one that had passed a dangerous water with much difficulty should tell another Travellor which way to go safely through 5. To pray for them to have all graces increased in them and they fitted more and more to do good to many and that they may live long to that end and to help on yong ones Alas if all were Colts in a Plough or Cart what work would be there usually therefore old ones are joyned to hold in and guide the yong So doth God in wisdom and mercy by those that are old guide and direct them that are yong so that youths must not behave themselves rudely or sawâ—ily in countenance word or deed neither babble nor prate nor shake off their counsel and example which God hath given them to follow 1. For Elders If the yonger must honor and reverence them then they must be such as deserve it and procure it they must speak so wisely and profitably as yong ones may willingly lay their hand on their mouth and be silent they must also give them godly and good counsel and an holy example which the yonger may follow when they see you dissolute disordered given to this or that vice Sabbath-breaking lewd company riot they must advise and perswade them to beware telling them from their own observation how many have by such means brought themselves to ruine so about their matching that they are to be ruled and guided by their Parents so when they see any trifle out their time and defer their repentance and live riotously they must thus from their own experience expostulate with them O make use of your time while you have it This is your freest time if I had not got somewhat in my youth it had been bad with me now being so dull and forgetful or if we lost our time then and God hath since brought us to repentance let us tell them from our own miserable experience O take heed do not as I did I lost my time and spent it away foolishly when I should have learned goodness and now how dull am I Alas I shall never come to any great matters now I am past and have lost my youth if it had not been Gods unspeakable mercy I had perished and he lets in a little light into me but alas how slow of capacity am I what a bad memory have I So if we see them that will not be advised by counsel we must rebuke them yea carry such a gravity and godly hatred of sin as the wicked may stand in awe and not dare abide our sight when they do evil But the