Ministers let this suffice them they are the men that must declare vnto man his righteousnesse euen he that scornes and contemnes the ministerie hee hath no righteousnesse in him vnlesse it bee by the meanes of a poore Minister then doe thou thy duty and bee that mockes thee hath cause to honour thee And let this encourage Students to consecrate themselues to the ministery for what calling hath so high an office as this to declare vnto man his righteousnesse And assuredly how euer in this wicked world thou art little accounted of for if it did not so it were not wicked yet thou art honoured in the harts of all Gods children and euen in the conscience of some whose tongues doe smite thee and the soules of thousands when they dye shal blesse thee who in their liues cared not for thee and the diuell himselfe doth enuy the holy Angels themselues doe wonder at the excellency of thy calling in that thou hast power to declare vnto men his righteousnesse In the next place hearers may heere learne first if their righteousnesse bee thus to bee declared as afore then if they will haue it they must seeke it as it may bee found namely both in the lawe and in the Gospell and not in the Gospell alone and first in the lawe then in the Gospell for he must neuer looke to taste the sweetnes of the Gospell which hath not first swallowed the bitter pilles of the law if therefore thou wouldest be declared righteous by the Gospell bee content first to bee pronounced miserable by the lawe if thou wouldst be declared righteous in Christ then bee content first to bee pronounced sinfull and vnrighteous in thy selfe Secondly all men may heere learne how they are to esteeme of Gods Ministers and what reuerence and obedience is due to their persons and their doctrine these are they which must declare vnto thee thy righteousnesse if thou hast any Art thou beholden to him who when thou hast lost a Iewell which was all thy wealth can tell thee where it is and helpe thee to it againe or to him who when thy cause is in triall at the barre will pleade it for thee or to him who when thy health is lost can tell thee how to get it againe then beholde how thou art beholden to a godly Minister who when Adam had lost both himselfe and thee that Iewell of righteousnesse which was and is the whole wealth of thy soule can truly tell thee where it is and howe it is to bee had againe and who when the diuell haleth thee to the barre of Gods iustice to receiue triall for thy sinnes can drawe thee there such a declaration as the diuell himselfe shall not bee able to answere and who when thy soule is sicke to death and euen to damnation can heale the deadly wounds thereof A good minister therefore is worthy as the Apostle saith of double honour whose dutie wee see is to declare vnto man his righteousnesse And to conclude this point also the consideration of the height of this office of a minister may encourage fathers to dedicate their sonnes to this holy calling for the Physitians care for the body or the Lawyers for thy cause are both inferiour duties to this of the Mininister A good Lawyer may be one of tenne a good Physitian one of 20. a good man one of 100. but a good minister is one of 1000. A good Lawyer may declare the true state of thy cause a good Physitian may declare the true state of thy body No calling no man can declare vnto thee thy righteousnesse but a true Minister And thus we see the office or function of a minister Now followeth the blessing Then will he haue mercy vpon him The fourth generall part of this description is the blessing which God giueth to the labours and function of a true Minister then that is when a man by the preaching of the lawe is brought to true humiliation and repentance and by the preaching of the Gospell to true faith in the Messias then will he that is God haue mercy on him that is on the penitent and beleeuing sinner Behold heere the admirable simpathy and the cooperation of God and the Ministers office Man preacheth and God blesseth Man worketh on the heart and God giues grace a minister declares vnto man his righteousnesse and God saith so be it he shall be righteous a minister pronounceth mercy to a penitent sinner and forthwith God hath mercy on him Heere wee see the great and glorious account which God makes of the worde of his ministers by them truly taught and rightly applyed namely that he as it were tyeth his blessing vnto it for ordinarily till a man knowe his righteousnesse by the meanes of an Interpreter God hath not mercy on him but as soone as he doth knowe it then as we see here God wil haue mercy on him and will say deliuer him c. This is no small honour to ministers and to their Ministerie that God himselfe giues a blessing vnto it worketh when they work and as it were staieth wayting when they declare vnto a man his righteousnesse and then hath he mercy on him so powerfull and so effectuall is the worde spoken by a minister of God This is that which Christ auoucheth Whatsoeuer you loose in earth shall be loosed in heauen Will you knowe the meaning hereof Reade Saint Iohn whose sinnes soeuer you remit they are remitted whose you retaine they are retained will you haue the meaning of both read Esay God destroyeth the tokens of Soothsayers and makes Wisards and Astrologers fooles turneth worldly wisemen backward and makes their knowledge foolishnesse but hee confirmeth the word of his seruants and performeth the counsel of his messengers Thus God bindeth and looseth with them remitteth and retaineth with them by confirming their word and performing their counsell For example A true minister seeth a sinner hardned in his sins still rebelling against the will of God he therfore declareth vnto him his vnrighteousnes his sin denounceth vnto him the misery curses of Gods iustice as due vnto him for the same here he binds on earth here he retains on earth this mans sins are likewise bound retained in heauen On the other side hee seeth a man penitēt belieuing he pronounceth forgiuenes of sins happines vnto him for the same he looseth him from the band of his sins by declaring vnto him his righteousnes this mans sins are likewise loosed remitted in heauen God himselfe doth pronounce him cleare in heauen when the Minister doth on earth Thus God confirmeth the word of his seruants and performeth the counsell of his messengers The vse of this doctrine is first for rulers and great men of this worlde this may teach them to be nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers vnto the Church whose authority they see is so great ouer them
must therefore know that his sinne in eating the forbidden fruite was thy sinne and thou sinnedst therein as well as he though thou wast then vnborne and that thou art guiltie of it before God and must answere for it to Gods iustice vnlesse Christ doe it for thee The reason hereof is because we are his seede posteritie we were thē in his loynes he was the father of vs all and was not a priuate mā as we are now but a publike person the pledge of al mankind and bare the person of vs all at that time therefore what he did then hee did it for himself for vs what couenant God made with him was made for himselfe and vs what God promised him and he to God he promised for himselfe for vs what he receiued in his Creation he receiued for himselfe and for vs and what he gained or lost by his fall he gained and lost for vs as for himselfe He lost the fauour of God and originall puritie therefore he lost it for all his posteritie guiltinesse and Gods anger and corruption of nature which he gained he got for vs all as well as for himselfe If we doubt of this point it is proued by the Apostle where the holy Ghost saith Sin entred by one man and death by sinne and that sinne went ouer all and that it went ouer all them which sinned not in the like transgression with Adam that is euen our children who as they are borne are borne not onely tainted with originall corruption but guiltie also of Adams sinne This is a most certaine truth though it seeme strange for fewe men thinke of it that euer they shall answer for Adams sinne and therefore if any obiect what reason is there that I answere for another mans sinne I answere true if it had bene Adams sinne alone but it was his and thine also for hee was thy father and stoode in thy roome and thou also since thou wast borne hast confirmed what hee did Now therefore though not one of many thinkes seriously thereof namely that he should stand guilty of a sin committed more then fiue thousand yeares before he was born yet seeing it is most true both in Scripture and good reason let euery man subscribe in his conscience to this truth And let this be thy first resolution in this Search that thou standest guilty of Adams transgression The second rule to bee knowne is that in euery man are all sinnes more plainly that in euery man by nature are the seedes of all sinnes and that not in the worst but in the best natured men make choyse of the best man and the greatest sinne and that worst sinne is to be found in that best man If any doubt of this let him consider what originall sinne is namely a corruption of the powers of our soules and that not of some or in part but of all and wholy This corruption hath two parts First a want not of some but of all good inclination a want of all goodnesse Secondly a deprauation pronenesse not to some but to all euill and not a pronenesse onely but originall sin infuseth into euery mans heart the seed of all corruption Many men stand much vpon their good meaning and vpright heart and bragge of a good nature but they are foulely deceiued for take the ciuilest man vpon the earth and the seeds of all sins in the world are in him by nature But to explaine this point fully obserue these two clauses First I say not the practise of all sinnes but the seedes for all men practise not all sinne the seedes are in their nature but the practise is restrained sometime by education sometime by good and wholesome lawes sometime the constitution of mens bodies deny the practise of some sinnes sometime the Countrey a man dwels in or calling a man liues in keepes him from the practise of some sinnes and alwayes a generall and limitting grace of God restraines the natures of all men from running into many sinnes which hand of God if God should take away and leaue euery man to his nature wee should see that euerie man would practise any sinne in the world yea euen the greatest sinnes that euer wee heard to bee done in the world All men which knowe themselues knowe this to be true And the more a man knowes his owne heart the more he seeth that his heart is a sea of all wickednesse that it is the mercy and grace of God that hee hath not fallen into the mightiest most monstrous sinnes in the world Secondly I say by nature For I know by good education by grace it is otherwise grace rectifieth nature but that is no thankes to nature for it is as euill and corrupt still being seuered from grace and therefore nature must be fully abolished afore man come to heauen And yet though all this be true I say not that sin breakes out in all natures alike though all natures be alike corrupt for the course of nature is restrained in some more then others by the meanes aforesaid but this is the truth that whereas some are not so angry some not so wanton some not so cruel some not so couetous som not so ambitious c. as others that comes not from any goodnesse of nature in them aboue the other originally but from Gods hand which tempereth restraineth and moderateth euery mans nature as he seeth good And if God did not thus moderate restraine the natures of men but suffer them to breake out to the full there would then be no order but all confusion in the world therefore as especially for his Churches quietnesse so also for the preseruatiō of publike peace and the vpholding of societie in the world betweene man and man the Lord holdes a hand ouer euery mans nature and keepes euery one in a certaine compasse limitted by the wisdom of his power which restraining hand of his if the Lord should take away all societies and common wealths would be turned vpside downe because euery man by the vniuersall corruption of his nature would breake out into euery sinne I ende this point with appealing to the testimonie of the consciences of all men and especially of the best and holiest men of whom I would aske this question whether they find not in their natures an inclination euen to the foulest sinnes in the world if shame or feare or else the grace of God restrained them not so that the best men doe knowe well enough what adoe they haue with their corrupt natures to keepe them within the compasse of Obedience Nay I yet adde further the nature of men and of all men is so corrupt since Adam that euen the seede of the sinne against the holy Ghost and a pronenesse to it is in the nature of euery man though not one man amongst many thousandes doe commit that sinne for seeing in that sinne there is a heape or Sea of all sinnes gathered together
their tryall let the ten Commaundements passe vpon them and thy sins and corruptiōs which thou findest to be chaffe blow them away by repētance so shalt thou remaine pure and cleane wheate fit for the house and Church of God in this world for his kingdome in heauen But if we will not doe this then alas what wil follow my heart grieueth to vtter it but I must vnlesse I should be a false prophet And therefore I wil. Our long peace plentie and ease haue bred great sinnes so great that they reach to heauen and prouoke Gods Maiestie to his face and so strong that they will violently drawe downe iudgments from God vpon vs which when they come they will bee so powerfull and so violent that they will blow vs away like chaffe and bring this kingdome to some miserable ruine O therefore how happy are wee if we can entertaine this Doctrine and practise it for in so doing we shall preuent Gods iudgements wee shall continue the Gospell to this land and preserue this glorious Nation from being destroyed or dispeopled by some fearefull iudgement Beloued you come hither to this place purposely to buy and sell and thereby to better your estates in this world how happy then are you if besides the good markets you make for your bodies and estates you learne also how to make your selues abide the triall of Gods iudgements and how to be made pure corne fit to replenish the garners of heauen how to continue Gods fauour and the Gospell to this Nation If thou goe away with this lesson thou hast a Iewel more worth then if thou shouldest goe home possessed or all the huge riches of this Faire you call this and such like times Faire times but if thou learne this lesson right then thou maist say that this was the fairest day in deede that euer shon vpon thee since thou wast borne This pretious Iewell which I haue spoken of all this while I heare offer vnto thee Euery one brings hither some-thing to bee solde this is the merchandize that I bring and set to sale vnto you what euer commoditie any of you bring it is from some quarter of this land but all is from the earth but this that I bring it is from heauen and all the earth cannot yeelde it and as it is from heauen so it is of a heauenly vertue and will worke that which all the wealth in this faire is not able to doe therefore cast not to buy the basest and let passe the best of all and neuer alledge that it is aboue thy compasse and being a Iewell it is too deare and costly for thee for I offer it freely vnto you and to euery one of you I pronounce vnto you from the Lord that here this blessed doctrine is offered vnto you all in his name freely and that you may buy it without money Happie is that day when thou comming so farre to buy things for thy bodie and paies so deare for them doest meete with so pretious a Iewell the vertue whereof is to saue thy soule and payest nothing for it Thou maiest hereafter reioyce and say I went to buy and sell and to helpe my body but I haue also learned to saue my soule I went thither to helpe to maintaine my owne estate but I haue learned to helpe to maintaine England in prosperitie for assuredly if wee would all of vs learne this lesson and practise it we might assure our selues of the glorious prosperity of England to cotinue from generatiō to generation whereas alas if we continue go forward in our sins impenitency it is greatly to bee feared that neither the Gospell nor this peace will reach to our posterities Therefore now to make an end I once againe lastly cōmend this doctrine to you al euery one of you for this marchandise that I bring is of that nature that though some take it yet there is also enough for euery one and I commend it vnto you euen from the very mouth of God himselfe thinke of it I charge thee as euer thou lookest to appeare before the face of Christ Iesus the great iudge at the last day and if thou wouldest escape the rigour of that iudgement enter now into iudgement with thy selfe and search thy selfe if thou now wilt not receiue this doctrine then shal it at the last day be a bill of Enditement against thee for if it saue thee not it shal condemne thee thinke of it therefore seriously as a matter that concernes thy soule and bodie yea and thy posteritie and this whole Realme all which shall smart for it if we repent not And if the body of our people and those whose harts are wedded to this world wil not enterteine this doctrine then I turne vnto you that feare the Lord and to you I direct my last warning Search O search and try your hearts and liues renewe and reuiue your faith and repentance that if iudgements doe come and blowe vpon this Nation and driue the Gospell from it and it to hell that yet you may haue a testimony to your consciences that you did not pull down this generall calamitie but for your parts laboured to haue preuented it by your earnest prayers and heartie repentance that so the posteritie ensuing may not curse you but speake reuerently of you and praise God for you and wish that al had done as you did for then had they enioyed this goodly land and al Gods blessings with it as wee their forefathers did before them so shall our names not rot but flourish amongst the posterities to come which shall bee partakers of the desolation And when we haue renewed our repentance let vs then euery one of vs deale with the Lord by earnest prayer for this Church and Nation that the Lord would shew his mercy vppon it and continue vnto it this place the Gospell it is nothing with the Lord to doe it his powerfull hand is not shortened he can continue our peace when the Papists look for hurli-burlies he can continue the gospell when they hope to set vp their Idolatry againe let vs therefore apply the Lord with our praiers and with Moses set our selues in the breach and pray for the ignorances of the multitude and bewaile their sinnes who bewaile not their owne So did Noah Daniel and Iob in their ages and prayed for the people in generall calamities Let vs all be Noahs Daniels and Iobs in our generations if we doe thus then when Iudgements come we shall either turne them away from our Nation or at the least wee shall deliuer our owne soules Let vs nowe turne to the Lorde in prayer and because it cannot be hoped but that this our generall sinfulnesse must needs end with some heauy Iudgment let vs desire the Lord still to defer our deserued punishments and still to spare vs and to giue vs time and leasure to repent that so we entering into our selues
trust thy owne iudgement to iudge of thy worthines or sufficience If therefore thy owne conscience tell thee vpon true examination that thou doest not loue and affect this calling aboue any other then God sends thee not and if thou enter with such a testimonie not God but some worldly and sinister respect doth send thee and put thee forward for though thou doest desire it yet if the Church of God giue not allowance of thy sufficieÌ„cie God doth not send thee But if contrariwise thy conscience doe truly testifie vnto thee that thou desirest to doe seruice to God and his Church in this calling aboue any other And if withal vpon signification hereof to the Church and vpon trial made of thy gifts and learning the Church that is maly learned wise and godly and such as the Church hath publikely appointed for that purpose doe approue of that thy desire and of thy sufficiencie to doe God seruice in his Ministerie and thereupon by a publike Calling bid thee goe then assuredly God himselfe hath bid thee goe And it is as effectuall a calling as if thou heardst the voice of God froÌ„ heauen for as in Repentance If thy conscience tell thee thou hast truly repented and if thou canst make that knowne to the Church by so good euideÌ„ce as thervpon a Minister of God pronounceth the pardon of thy sins vnto thee If thou rest herein and knowest it to be as effectuall as if God from heauen had told thee thy sinnes are pardoned So is it here if thou hast the testimonie first of thy conscience and then of the Church thou art to rest therein as in the voice of God And this is the calling that wee are to looke for in these dayes By which doctrine as those are iustly condemned of foule presumption who dare runne vppon priuate motions and carnall respects and are iustly left without blessing or protection so they on the other side doe offer great wrong to God and to his Church who when they cannot denie but they affest the Ministerie aboue any calling and haue approbation of their giftes from the Church of God yet will not beleeue the Testimonie of the Church herein but their own priuate IudgemeÌ„ts which in this case is no way a competent Iudge either for or against Let such men knowe that they oppose themselues euen against God himselfe it being certaine that where the inward calling of the conscience and the outward calling of the Church doe concurre there God himselse calleth and biddeth that man Goe and speake Now then to drawe to an ende let vs obserue in the last place with what authoritie a Minister of God comes vnto vs and executes his Function euen with an immediate authoritie Commission from God whereby he is bid Goe and speake If it bee so let it perswade the world to feare to doe any wrong either to that calling or to those persons who come with so faire a commission from from God himselfe But if it doe not perswade the prophane worlde at least let this be a comfort encouragement to all true Ministers for if God bid them goe he will goe with them himselfe If hee send them hee will not forsake them but assist them and blesse them and open their mouthes and enlarge their hearts and harden their foreheads and giue power vnto their words to conuer this children to confound and astonish the hearts of his enemies If he send them he will defend and protect them so that one haire of their heades shall not fall to the earth without his prouidence If hee send them hee will prouide for them and sufficiently reward them and will honour them in the hearts of his owne people and magnifie them in the faces of their enemies And lastly if hee send them he will pay them their wages euen an eternal waight of comfort here and of glorie in heauen And as they are here bid goe so once they shul be bid Come and that not onely with the generall call of all the Elect Come ye blessed of my father inherite the kingdome prepared for you But euen with that particular Call which especially belongs to them that are faithfull in this seruice Come thou good and faithful seruant enter into thy Maisters ioy Psalme 118. 16. Blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord. W. P. Daniel 12. 3. They that turne many to righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for euer and euer W. C. 1. Cor. 4. 1. Let a man so thinke of vs as of the ministers of Christ and disposers of the secrets of God The second time newly pervsed and published with Marginall notes Briefly laying down the matter and method FINIS Canitius in Catechisme Costerus in Enchiridio Corradus Nauarrus Loper Sairus Hallus Graffius many other Deeringâ— Grenham Bradford and many other Maister Perkings but forty yeares old at his death Psal 11. 16 Apoc. 2. 10 1. Thes 5. 24. IÌ„unius Lamen 3. Lam. 3. 22 Iere. 8. 6. Rom. 5. 14 Gen. 4. Exod. I. Gen. 18. 2. Sam. 15 16. Esay 38 Rom. 3. 2. Psal 143. 20. Deut. 32. 5 Psal 147. Acts 17. verse 30. Iohn 3. 1â— Iohn 10. 32. There were then present inhabitants of London Yorke Cambridge Oxford Norwich Bristow Ipswich colchester Worcester Hull Lin Manchester Kendal Couentry Nottingham Northampton Bathe Lincolne Durby Leicester Chester Newcastle and of many other most populous cities and townes of England 1. Sam. 2. 13. Matth. 3. In the plagu at London there dyed some weeks almost 2000 a weeke in 92. but in 1603. there dyed 3300. in a weeke At Sturbridg faire Esa 55. Eze. 14. 13. 14. Dan. 12. 3. a Answere to Perkins his reformed Catholike by B. a Priest The Coâ—â—rence of these words with the rest The parts of this Chapt. The some and scope of this text is a description of the instrument by whom God raiseth a sinner into the state of grace and saluation Namely a Minister of his word and he is described 1. By his titles 1. Title an Angel Reuel 2. and 3. Chapters Hee is Gods Angel the Churches Vse 1. for Ministers a This sermon was in the vniversitie church to the body of the vniuersitie 1. Vse for Ministers Go they must preach gods word as Gods word For they carie not the it owne message but gods 2. Vse for minister They must dreach Gods word in the euidence demonstration of gods spirit 1. Cor. 14. 24. 25. This is done First by teaching plainly Secondly powerfully in that plainnesse Ministers must magnify Gods spirit not themselues in preaching The 2. vse for hearers They are to receiue theÌ„ and their doctrine willingly and reuerenly Malach. 2. 7. For it is Gods message though they be men that bring it 1 Corinth 11. 11. 2 Title an Interpreter and that two waâ—es 1 Gods interpreter to his Church 2 Mans interpreter to God 1 Vse Ministers must haue the tongue of the
graces in good Ministers Vse double 1. For instruction 1. See how corrupt our naturâ— is 2. What a creeping nature sinne hath It wil creepe from Ministers to people from people to Minister Ergo stop sinne in the beginning 2. For our conuersation 1. Ministers Ergo labour to liue amongst people Iam. 1. 17. And in disposing themselues rather regard it then other commoditie A poore liuing with good people better then a great liuing and euil people 2. Ergo Ministers must take heed of their company All companies and all recreations are not for Ministers And people must not draw their Ministers too much into company 3 People must not condemne too sharpely such Ministers as are faultie in their liues for themselues are the cause of it being of euill liues themselues Looke what sinnes aboundes in any place and there generally the Minister is tainted with it But such Ministers as liue with a good people and yet are loose they are not worthy to be Ministers but to be depriued 2 Cause of his feare he sawe the Lord. How In a vision Doct the man that is in his sinnes endures not Cods presence 1 For God hates sinne aboue all things 2 Sin makes a man a debter to God 3 Sin is that that makes God angry Degrees of Gods presence 1 To our thoughts 2 To our namiâ—g him 3 Neere in his ordinaÌ„ces 4 Necrest at the last day A sinful man feares all these 1 He neuer or vnwillingly thinks of God Psal 10. 4. Psal 10. 5. 2 He neuer speakes of God vnlesse it be to abuse his maiestie 3 They loue not the word nor Sacraments Psal 14. 4. 4 They wish Christ would neuer coâ—e to iudgement 2. Tim 4. 8. Reuel 6. 16 Extraordinary apparitioÌ„s of Gods maiestie a sinfull man cannot endure The first vse for Ministers Ergo. let them not enter into that calling in their sins For it is into Gods presence chamber Exod. 3. â— Nor come to doe the duty of that calling without repentance and holy preparation 2 â—rgo They are to pray before and after sermon The 3 Vse Ergo such men are extreamly desperate who dare come to preach minister sacraments in their sinner Psal 50. 16. Such mens labours are fruitlesse And their leosenesse doth more hurt then their Doctrine good By Gods seacret iudgement Good words are vaine where there is no good life Math. 5. 13. The fourth vse for Ministers Ergo Good ministers must not fly from Gods presence because of their sins but repent and so approach to his dutie The second vse against the Papists Ergo The apparitions of God and christ which they make so ordinary are but collusions Gala. 2. 9. Mat. 17. 6. Luke 9. 33. Reasons iâ— 1. Apparitions of God cannot be mores dommon in the new then they were in the old Testament 2. Cor. 12. 2. No man in his flesh can endure gods glory 3. Vse to the people they may see Gods merey to them in teaching them by men like themselues and not by apparitions from heauen Deut. 5. 25 26 27. 28. 2. Vse Ergo they must prepare theÌ„ selues before they come to the word or Sacraments 3. Vse see the different natures of sinne and holinesse Sin drawes a man from Gods presence Holinesse inuites a man into Gods presence Reue. 6. 16. Luke 21. 28. Iob. 19. 25 26 27. Vse Ergo if a man would haue boldnesse with God he must be a holy man 2. Generall points His consolation wherein are 2. points 1. Circumstances of it 2. The ground of of it Circumstances are many 1. Circumstance the time that is after his feare Doct. No consolation but after humiliation Vse 1. To al men Ergo esteeme of afflictions namely as Psal 39. 9. 2 To men distressed in conscience that their state is not desperate as they Imagine but most comfortable Vse 3. The way to get excellent graces at Cods band is to labour to feele the wan of them Luke 1. 53. 2 Psal 107. 9. 2. Circumstance of the Minister An Angell a Seraphim Doct 1. Ergo there are seueral degrees of Angels that wee knowe not Doct. 2. That they are Gods guard Psal 34. Heb. 1. Doct. 3. that they are the guard of Gods children Doct. That they haue speciall charge and care of godly ministers Vse to Gods ministers I let them be content with their calling though it be full of crosses and contempts for it is honoured of the Augels aboue others 2 Ergo Let them haue courage for though men be against them Angels are with them 2 Questions 1. Ergo WheÌ„ce is it that Angels attend ministers more then other men Ans 2. reasons 1 From God ' he will haue it so because they worke his worke more then other callings Psal 91. 11. 12. 2 From the Angels themselues Because they are fellow-labourers 1 Cor. 4. 2. Heb. 1. 1â— Mal. 27. Reue. 2. 3 Chap. Because they conuert soules which delighteth the Angels aboue any in this world Heb. 1. 14. Luke 15. 10. Reuel 19. 10. 22. 9. 2. Question what duties then are good Ministers to performe to Angels Not worship them so as the Papists doe As all men should therfore honour that calling 1. So Ministers should labour to be faithfull in their calling 2. To adorn it with a holy life 3. To be painfull in their calling Thus to do is to honour them And if a Minister would reioyce theÌ„ let him labour seriously so to preach as he may winne soules 3. Circumstance the maner He flewe That is readily speedily willingly Doct. 1. So what excellent seruants of God Angels are The fourth petition Vse we must so serue Cod in our places 2. Corinth 9. 7. Doct. 2. What good friends they are to good men especially to good Ministers 1. Vse Ergo superiors loue their inferiors and contemne them not And shew it by doing them good 2. Vse Ergo Ministers must 1. Corinth 9. 19. 1. Be faithfull 2. Painfull 3. Vse Ergo al men serue God cheerefully If wee be like Angels therein we shal euen be like them in glory Pro. 22 29. 4. Circumstance the Instrument a Coale of fire A strange and wonderfull meanes And which seemes contrarie to reason Doct. r. see God commendeth the vse of meanes Gen. 1. from 4. to 17. Seeing himselfe alwaies vseth them Vse Ergo we are to vse the meanes appointed in all our purposes Doct 2. see how Gods power doth shew it selfe in weaknes Vse Ergo God can worke by his word and sacraments and mans Ministerie though neuer so base Doct. 2. The apâ— teacher must haue a fiery toong Acts 2. That is a powerfull tongue to reproue and burne vp sinne Ergo such Ministeâ—s are fauitie who reproue not sinne Whence came this Coale from the Alter which fire came from heauen Leuit. 10. 1. 2. Doct. The fire and zeale of the Minister must come from Gods spirit Acts. 1. 5. Math. 3. 11. Not from carnal affections Iames 3. 6 For that is
from hel not from heauen Circumstance the Application of the remedie to his lips which were polluted Doct Ergo ministers must apply their doctrin fitly 2 Point the ground of his consolation which is the forgiuenesse of his sinnes Doct 1. Forgiuenesse the meanes are annexed together Vse Ergo Vse the meaues with reuerence despise then not Doct 2. Here comfort is from forgiuenesse of our sins True in Dauid 2. Sam 11. And in this Prophet Vse Here is the true way to comfort distressed consciences Physick and outward comforts wil not serue Psal 3. 3. 6. 7. Psal 32. 3. 4. Psal 51 the whole Psalm This is done by the Author in his Cases of conscience Doct. 5. True qualification of a Minister is to be humbled and to repent Doct. 4. True Prophets ministers shall haue helpe and comfort in their labours else Angells shall to comfort them Geoerall points the renuing of his coÌ„mission which cositaineth 3 points 1 Gods question Whom shal I send Not as though God had none to seÌ„d or knew not whom 2. Tim. 2. 19. But to our conceits and for our sake to teach vs many good doctrines Doct. â— How hard to find a good Minister Ob. Ther are too many ministers for some goe vp and downe Ans 1. Then it is a disorder in a Church Iudges 19. 18. 17. 8. 6. Iudge 17. 6. Ans 2. He seeke not for any But for good ministers Job 33. 23. 2. Corinth 2. 16. Good ministers scarce euen in these dayes Vse 1. To Ministers 1 They in the vniuersities frame themselues to the ministerie 2. Labour to be worthy Ministers For God hath vse of them but none of vncoÌ„scionable or idle Ministers 2. Vse To the Cleargie of Rome A shame to them that being so many there are so few of them fit for God to send Most of all their Priests Monks are ignorant drones The Iesuites haue learning but no conscience and are rather Statesmen then Diuines Doct. 2. No man is to goe vntill God send him And not to run vpon priuate motions Ob How shall I know when God calles me Ans If Gods Church allowe thy calling Doct. 3. out of the repetition of holy 3. times Here is no sufficient proofe of the Trinitie as some thinke For the repetition made by the Angel sheweth onely how he cannot content himselfe in praysing God But he may be proued a pluralitie of persons Gen. 1. 16. Doct. 4. Ministers are Gods seruants they goe for God 1. Corinth 3. 9. Acts 27. 23. Confessed euen by the diuel himselfe Acts 16. 16. 17. q. What place is it they holde R. His Ambassadors Iob. 33. 23. Vse 1. Then they must seeke to please God their maister not themselues Vse 2. then let them do their seruice diligently and expect their reward assuredly Though the world doe not yet God will for they are his Ambassadors 3. Vse Let no man therefore wrong them for God will not suffer his Embassadors to be abused No king so poore that suffred it 1. King 22. 26. 27. 28. 34. c. 2. King 9. 33. c. Act. 12. 1. 2. 23. 4. Vse Ergo they must not be seruants of men that is men pleasers but his that sent them Great men must not thinke to haue Gods seruant at their command 5. Vse Ergo they must for the glory of God their Maister both in life and doctrin 6. Vse Etgo they must deliuer Gods embassage not their owne and as they receiued it 2. Point The Prophets answere here am I send me Doct. 1. He whose sins are forgiuen comes boldly to God to his dutie Vse 1. Here is the true way to peace of conscience and quietnes of minde Vse 2. To students 1. If they would be Ministers repent and get pardon of their sinnes 2. If they would be encouraged against the contempts and wrongs of the world be assured of Gods fauour in the Pardon of thy sinnes Doct. 2. We muâ—t not set others to the labour of the Ministerie but our selues also Vniuersitie men must not be alwayes sending out others but must also send out themselues And Students must not deferre too long but hasteÌ„ to the Ministerie For some too long as some goe too soone Doct. 3. The Prophet wil not goe till he be sent And that not by priuate motion onely but in expresse words Men therefore are to offer themselues but not to goe till they be sent 3 The Commission receiued Doct â— No maâ— is to preach without a Commission Matth. 28. 19. Acts 9. 6. c. This is so for these causes Rea. 1. Commissioners haue no power but from the King Real 2 Else what they doe is without vertue or blesâ—ing Reaâ—â—â—â—lâ—e their persoÌ„s haue no protection Ob. how may I know if God bid me goe Ans we must not expect Gods voice from heauen But hee speaketh to man two waies generally in his word 1. Corinth 4. 1. Iob. 33. 23. Acts. 16. 17. Pro. 29. 18. 2. Particularly God speaketh 1. by the voice of his conscience for his inclination 2. By the voice of â—is Church for thy gifts Where these 2. voices call a man there God bids him goe Vse 1. Against theÌ„ that run cry they be sent 2. Against such as are called by both voices and yet will not goe Doct 2. See the authoritie of a true mioister immediate froÌ„ God himself Vse 1. Ergo Let no man wrong them Vse 2. Ergo Let Ministers be comforted in doing their dutie for if God send them he wil neuer faile them Math. 25. 34 Math. 25 21