to give you an inheritance amongst all them that are sanctified HVmane Histories have been valued at such an high price that they have been dedicated to the most honourable persons as worthy of their serious perusual Plinies natural History to Vespatian Our English History to King James the small Treatise which Paulus Jovius wrote De Rebus Turcicis unto the great and mighty Emperour Charls the fifth scarce any National piece but its presented into the hands of the Prince Surely Divine Histories then such as this Treatise The Acts of the Apostles which contain the Heroick acts of the Lords worthies in their combats with and conquests over not onely men and the world but sin and Satan deserve the eye and ear and hearts of a Noble Theophilus of great and small of all men whatsoever The former part of the new Testament contains the great mistery of Christ the Head of his Church This book of the Acts contains the glorious History the Church the body of Christ In the beginning of the book some particulars are mentioned of all the Apostles to Chap. 13. but it treats most largely of Pauls trials and travails in regard that as his conversion was most miraculous so his conversation was most illustrious In this twentieth Chapter we have this famous Apostle in his fourth peregrination arriving at Miletus a City upon the borders of Jonia and Caesaria close by the shore of the Egean Sea and sending thence for and speaking to the Ephesian Elders In his speech we may observe these four parts First His Vindication of himself Ministers are bound not onely to look to their Consciences but also to their Credits Naturalists tell us if the Load-stone be rub'd with Garlick it loseth its vertue When the name of a Minister is contemptible his Doctrine will be the less acceptable The Apostle vindicateth himself 1. As to the Integrity of his life ye know from the first day that I came into Asia after what manner I have been with you at all seasons serving the Lord with all humility and with many tears verse 18. and 19. 'T is excellent when the Pastor can appeal to the consciences of his people for the purity of his conversation Holy Ministers are called Angels Rev. 2. but unholy ones are degenerated into Devils have I not chosen you twelve and one of you is a Devil 2. As to his fidelity in his Doctrine And how I have kept back nothing that was profitable unto you but have shewed you and have taught you publiquely and from house to house vers 20. The Steward is faithful who distributeth to every person under his charge their proper and peculiar portion Melch. Ad. The symbole of Wolfius will become every Preacher Pietate labore By a sacred life and sedulous labour he will best declare his love to his people Ministers must be stars by the influence of their lips feeding by the regular motion of their lives confirming and by the light of both directing many Paul magnified his Office why should others debase it Secondly His Exortation to them As he taught them before by his pattern so now by his Precepts take heed to the flocks over which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers vers 28. Take heed that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Toti sitis addicti totis animis ad hereatis let all your care and study be for your own and peoples welfare and prosperity like good Shepheards work and watch night and day for the good of your sheep This counsel the Apostle urgeth upon a threefold ground 1. From the person who committed to them this charge take heed to the flocks over which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers It concerns you to be true to your trust when t is committed to you by the Spirit of God That unfaithfulness which is but felony against the charge of a subject may be Treason when 't is against the Charge of a Soveraign O 't is ill trifling with the most high Gods trust 2. From the price paid for them To feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his blood verse 28. Things of the greatest cost call for our greatest care souls are infinitely precious and therefore deserve our utmost pains If God thought them worth his blood we may well esteem them worth our tears and sweat 3. From the Peril their flock was in verse 29 30 31. For I know that after my departing shall greivous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw Disciples after them therefore watch c. If Wolves will watch to devour shepheards must watch to defend the sheep Those Commanders who are intrusted with a Garrison when they are sure to have their quarters beaten up had need to be ever upon their guard Thirdly His Prediction of his future sufferings 1. Propounded And now behold I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem not knowing what shall befal me there saving that the holy Ghost witnesseth that in every City bonds and afflictions abide me verse 22 23. Christians of all men must bear their Crosses Ministers of all Christians must look to undergo miserie And the more good a Minister hath the more evil he must expect The fuller the Tree is laden the more cudgels will be thrown at it the most fruitful meadows hear oftenest in the year of the Syth Pious and laborious Paul was the chief Butt against which men and Devils shot 2. Amplified From the liberty it thereby denyed them of ever seeing Paul again And now behold I know that ye all amongst whom I have gone Preaching the Kingdom of God shall see my face no more verse 25. Sad news to honest hearts upon a double ground partly their lack of him he had told them of Wolves entering in among them now at such a time for the flock to be without a guide when the storm arose for the Vessell to be without a Pilot when the Souldiers were to engage in hot service with enemies for their expert Commander to be wanting must needs be woful That the Nurse should be taken away before the children could go alone did much affect and afflict their spirits Partly their love to him As Paul was a Religious person and as he was probably their spiritual parent who had begotten them brought them up in the nurture of the Lord and upon all occasions advised and assisted them they could not but love him in an high degree and therefore much lament his loss Fourthly His Valediction to those Ephesian Elders in the words of the Text And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance amongst all them which are sanctified verse 32. before he had given them a command from God and now he commends them to God The words contain the legacy which Paul bequeaths to his Christian friends
him They are his by promise I entred into covenant with thee and thou becamest mine I will be their God and they shall be my people Now because they are his therefore they go to him for protection I am thine save me Psa 119.94 and therefore he affords them his special and gracious presence Israel is holiness to the Lord the first fruits of his increase all that devour him shall offend evil shall befall them Jer. 2.3 None can wrong God in any thing that is his at an easie rate Secondly The worlds enmity against them The sheep need some Dogs to defend them that have so many Wolves to devour them They who have many and mighty enemies surely want some faithful able friend this was another ground why Christ commended his Disciples to God I have given them thy word and the World hath hated them because they are not of the world even as I am not of the World Joh. 17.14 Father keep thy Children for they are surrounded with a wicked World whose tender mercies are cruelties Alas what shall become of thy lambs who are ever amongst roaring ravenous lyons if thou shouldst not protect them The old enmity between the Serpent and the Woman is not yet neither ever will be worn out There are natural antipathies between some creatures for which little reason can be given As between the Lyon and the Cock the Elephant and Boar the Cammel and Horse The Serpent saith Aristotle will rather flie into the fire then come near the boughs of a wild Ash but there is a greater antipathy between the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent An unjust man is abomination to the just and he that is upright in his way is abomination to the wicked Prov. 29 ult The Eagle saith the Philosopher hath continually enmity with the Dragon and Serpent Saints are Eagles they have enmity with the Serpentine brood but it is odium offencionis they hate wicked mens sins but not their persons They loath the poison but not the cup in which it is As tender Physitians they hate the noisom disease but pity the patient thus the unjust man is abomination to the just but the wicked hate the godly odio inimicitiae with a hatred of perfect enmity wishing evil to their persons and working it to the utmost of their power They that are born after the flesh persecute them that are born after the spirit their rage is so great that were their power answerable to their malice they would cut Israel off from being a people that the name thereof might be had no more in remembrance Indeed every Christian may say as David They hated me without a cause the World hath no just cause to hate and curse the people of God but there is a reason of all their rage and wrath enmity and cruelty against the Saints and that is because they are Saints Wherefore did Cain imbrue his hands in his own Brothers blood Because his own works were evil and his brothers righteous 1 Joh 3.12 The light is burdensom and greivous to Owls and Bats and all night Birds the light of a Saints holiness is offensive to sinners that are used onely to the deeds of darkness nay the greater the light the more painful to their sore eyes Swine cannot endure sweet odours Those that are unclean and delight to wallow in the mire of vice hate the fragrant purfumes of grace The pleasant smell of Spikenard is poisonous to them Horse-flies are kild with Oyntments Now if Saints fight with enemies that are more politique and powerful then themselves they must be conducted by one that is strong indeed or they will be forced to leave the field Besides it is an engagement to God to help his people because for his sake the world hates them A Prince counts it a dishour to forsake him who hath ventured his life and lost his limbs in his cause and quarrel Thirdly Their own Impotentcy They are not able to take care of themselves and therefore must be commended to another In the Civil Law there is provision made for out-casts there are some Hospitals to entertain them By the common law if parents die there are Officers appointed to take care of poor fatherless Children With God the fatherless find mercy Hos 14.3 Those that are Orphans want a Guardian Children which cannot go alone need their Mothers helping hand The strongest Christian is but a child and except God hold him by his right hand will every day get many falls and knocks The greatest Saint is but a glass without a bottom which cannot stand any longer then it is held Hence they are compared to anew born infant which is both polluted and ready to perish if nonetake care of it Ezek. 16.5 If beleivers dangers be temporal their defence must be the Almighty and eternal God or they are foild We have no strength but our eyes are unto thee saith 2 Cron. 20.12 They cannot do the ordinary actions of nature without his assistance who is the God of all grace in him we live and move and have our beings Act. 17.14 They live in him and move by him as they have their beings from him If the fountain fail the streams soon are dryed up If God denieth his influence man droppeth into earth Inesse est de essentia creaturae Inherence is essential to the creature When spiritual perils overtake them they cannot hold out without Gods protection When Hezekiah was left but a little in his own hands how much doth he discover the pride of his own heart Though Peter seemed so resolute and valiant a Captain as to go before all the Apostles in courage yet when Christ did but for an hour or two withdraw how shamefully doth he flye back like a Coward the weak breath of a Maid bloweth down the strong Castle of his confidence If God do but depart from Sampson his strength departs also and the Philistines may make what pastime with him they please The holiest man is no match for a Devil If our God leave us our defence is departed from us and the uncircumcised one will make sport with us indeed All our power for sacred performances is wholly from another Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing 2 Cor. 3.5 To think we suppose is an easie thing but unless God help it is too hard for us God gave Israel their Manna every day or they could not have subsisted God must give us fresh supplies of his spirit in every duty or they cannot be rightly performed The greatest fulness of a Christian is not the fulness of a fountain but of a vessel which because always is letting out must be always taking in The Conduit which is continually running must be always receiving from the River The Christians disbursements are great and constant therefore such must his incomes from God be or he will quickly prove a bankrupt Habitual grace it self lieth as water at the
allurements It s rich Wine is apt to intoxicate our brains and make us stumble We are apt to fall on the left hand by its affrightments as the silver of its comforts fouls our fingers so the fire of its cross is apt to black and defile us Those that travail in rugged ways and on stony lanes often fall but God is able to keep you from falling If God keep his hold of you there is no fear but ye will keep your feet and your ground too We are kept by his power through faith unto salvation His power and his love are the Eagles Wings upon which the Saints are carried out of Egypt through the Wilderness and safely conveyed to Canaan He can keep you from falling two ways 1. He can deny temptations to you if he see they will be too hard for you All have not the same faith therefore all are not tryed in the same fire He may give a strong purge or vomit to a strong man but wil not to a babe in grace He knoweth whether the Armour will bow and if it will he can prevent the bullet He is acquainted with the hardiest Souldiers in his Army and them he will call to the hardest service Rev. 3.10 When the weather is very bad he will not venture his sickly child abroad 2. He can enable you to foyl the tempter Little David in his strength can conquer great Goliah he kept Josephs soul from being so much as sienged miraculously as the three Childrens bodies by that great fire which his Mistris made to have burnt him Though the Saint like Daniel be cast for his conscience into a Den there to fight with and in danger to be devoured by Lyon-like lusts he can bring him out as safe and as whole as he was cast in The Gold-smith would not venture his gold in the fire if he knew it would be consumed by it Man is no match for Devils but God over matcheth them Preservation from sin these two ways Austin acknowledgeth with much affection Lord saith he when I had an heart to sin thou didest keep off the temptation and when I had a temptation to sin thou didst keep off my heart If your hearts be as dry as tinder he can hinder Satan from striking fire if he suffer the tempter to strike fire he can make the tinder wet and hinder it from taking As he is able to defend you from what is hurtful so to releive you with what is needful Si Esuris panis tibi est si sitis â—qua tibi est â—i intenibris â—umen est c Aug. Tract â—n Johan As the fire both purifieth the air and warmeth them that sit about it he knoweth that ye are indigent and have nothing of your own to live upon but he can send you in such dayly supplies as may afford you an honourable subsistence I have read of one that feasted the vast Army of Xerxes Gods estate is infinite and therefore will bear a liberal provision for all his Children I know you desire proficiency of grace and perfection in glory above all the World He can build you up in grace he can cause all grace to abound If this Sun draw nigh to you the fruits of the spirit will ripen apace This well of Salvation can fill every vessel of your hearts be they never so wide he can make the babe of grace to grow till he become a young man a strong man and a Father If the Nurse be taken from the Child and the breasts be denyed it of which it used to suck w th so much delight he can make it thrive as well with the spoon in the want of pure publique ordinances he can be a little sanctuary to his Saints He often sendeth them a warm bit up to their Chambers when they cannot come down and feed with the rest of the family He can give you an inheritance that fades not away he can conduct you through all your hardships and crown you at last with heaven where ye shall be kept both from sin and suffering and freed not only from foyls but also from fighting where the love of God shall never be questioned nor his providence quarrelled where ye shall never offend others with your purity nor have cause to defend your selves from their injuries where all tears shall be wiped from your eyes and sorrow and sighing shall flee away Where persecutors cease from troubling and the weary are at rest Where your names shall be fully vindicated your infirmities be wholly banished your graces be perfected and your souls infinitely blessed being locked up in the bosom of Christ and lodged in the imbraces of God for ever and ever 2. He is the most Loving Friend Some have power to do their neighbours a courtesie but tell us they owe them not so much good will God as he hath power enough to enable him so he hath love enough to move him to do his people good Jonathan ventured far for Davids safety and the reason was for he loved him as his own soul They who have Gods heart are sure of his helping hand He chuseth his love and then loves his choyce he had precious thoughts of them before they had any thoughts of themselves God loves his people as they are his Eternal choice the Mother loves the childe whom she carried nine moneths in her womb O how then doth God love his people whom he carried in the womb of his purpose from all eternity He loves them as they are his own picture as they are like him in grace and holiness Men have loved others the more for resembling them in sin so did Heliogabalus his children God loves his children the more for resembling him in sanctity Grace is lovely God cannot but love his Saints because he loves himself he loves them as they are his Sons purchase They which were so dearly bought are not easily loathed Jacob was exceeding tender of Benjamin though he could as occasion required expose the ten Patriarchs to all weathers yet by his good will the wind must not blow upon Benjamin if Benjamin miscarry he dieth with him And what is the reason of this extaordiry affection possibly this Benjamin was the childe of his beloved Rachel Benjamin was dearly bought he cost the life of his dear wife So God loves his Saints with a singular love because they are the children of his dear Son the travel of his soul His beloved Son had many a sharp throw and many a bitter pang before he could bring them forth nay they cost him his very life He loves them above all the world besides All others are dross they are his gold This whole World was set up as a tent for them to lodge in for the time of their pilgrimage and when they shall be removed to their fathers house this tent will presently be taken down If all the wheat were but gathered into the heavenly Garner the chaff would not be an hour out of
the unquenchable fire He loves them as his own Son Joh. 17.26 27. Who can tell the love God bears to his Son the same love he bears to his Saints His name is love his nature is love his Son is the token of his love his Spirit is the earnest of his love the Gospel his love letter Hence it is that they are so happy who are committed to Gods keeping because he is so loving a Guardian All the while that his people suffer he doth sympathize and he will support them As a tender father he proportions the burden to the strength of his childrens back He doth like a Lutanist to use Chrysostoms similitude who will not let the strings of his Instrument be too slack lest they mar the musick nor suffer them to be too hard screwed up lest they break He who taught the Husbandman to use several instruments for the threshing of several sorts of grain and not to turn the cart wheel about upon the Cummin Isa 28.25 will certainly himself not suffer his people to be afflicted aboue what they are able 2 Cor. 10.13 His love will set all his other Attributes at work for his peoples good His Wisdom will contrive his Power will act and his Faithfulness will perform whatsoever he promiseth for the comfort of his Church and all because he loveth them What would not David have done for Absolom whom he affecteth so dearly when Absolom rebelled against him and sought his life his heart relented towards Absolom out of love What a charge doth he give his Captains concerning him Deal gently for my sake with the young-man even with Absolom What will not God do for his chosen whom he loveth when they wander and run from him he followeth after and wooeth them For the iniquity of his covetousness I was wroth and smote him I hid me and was wroth and he went on frowardly in the way of his own heart Mark Here is a childe in a great crime his Father corrects him and instead of kissing the rod he kicks at the hand that holds it He went on frowardly in the way of his own heart Well what is the fruit of this frowardness you might expect greater severity upon such contumacy surely if few stripes will do no good many must be laid on or if the rod will not do the ax might be used But lo what love doth I have seen his ways and will heal him I will lead him also and restore comforts to him and to his mourners Isa 57.17 18 19. Well though he be undutiful yet he is my child I will throw away my rods and draw him with the cords of love though he freez under the nipping frosts yet he will thaw under my warm beams 13. He is the most Faithful friend He is constant in his love Some are able and loving also for a time but their love like a candle though it burn a little in a closs room and calm weather is easily blown out by a stormy wind If a Christian be called to the cross he is like the Deer that is shot by the herd pushed out of their company but God is a lasting yea an everlasting friend his love like the Sun can never be abated much less extinguished by the greatest tempest but is always going forth in its full strength A brother is born for adversity A friend loveth at all times Prov. 17.16 Such a friend is God who when few men will never fails to appear for his suffering servants 2 Tim. 4.16 17. Basil ventured very far for a persecuted friend and being blamed for it answered Ego aliter amare non didici I have learned not to love otherwise The Antients pictured friendship in the shape of a fair young man bare headed with his breast open meanly apparelled with this inscription on his cloaths To live and to dye with you and this on his Forehead Summer and Winter and with this on his heart Prope longè far and near God is such a friend as will never disown or deny his people In the furnace the three children shall have his presence where ever he is absent When men are mutable and appear as Tertullian saith of the Peacock all in changeable colours use their friends as we do Sun-dials look no longer on them nor regard them then the Sun shineth on them God is a faithful creator 1. Pet. 4.19 will be sure to mind the house that he hath built and that most of all when it s out of repair and ready to fall Bucholcerus upon his friends going to Court to teach the Prince Electors children told him I will give you one piece of counsel which may do you good whilst you live His friend hearkned to him I commend saith he to you the faith of Devils Take heed whom you trust Indeed there are many men like ponds clear at the top and mud at the bottom fair in their tongues but foul in their hearts The greatest mens words are often like dead mens shoes he may go barefoot that trusteth to them But O what a faithful friend is God who never faileth his he is such a Physician as will be sure to visit his Patients often when sick although he may pass by their doors when they be well He is faithful to his promise his Word is the truth Col. 1.5 His Church is the Pillar of truth not to bear it up but to hold it out 1 Tim. 3. his Sacraments the seals of truth he himself is the Lord God of truth Psal 34.5 Who feares to be deceived when truth promiseth He keeps his promise to a word Quis falli tâ—… m at cum promittâ—t veritas Aug. confes lib. 11. cap. 1. Ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls that there hath not one good thing failed of all that the Lord promiseth Josh 23.14 The birth of the promise will answer their conception and they bring forth in full feature and glory God is usually better but never in the least worse then his word In sacra scriptura non solum bonitas est quod praecipitur faelicitas quod promittitur sed etiam veritas quod dicitur Hugo His promise is equivalent to possession He keeps touch with his people in the time of performance to a day The self same day Israel marched out of Egypt Ex. 2.4 The four hundred and thirty years were that very day expired nay to a night Dan. 5.30 In that night was Belshazer the King of the Chaldeans slain When the big-bellied promise had gone its full time the seventy years being then expired it could not stay till morning for its delivery but fell in labour that very night and was safe delivered The promises are the flowers of which the cordial Julips are made which refresh you in fainting hours but as Gods love is the root upon which they grow so his faithfulness is the hand that must bring them to you T is your happiness that your riches lye
of Divine supplies sutable to your sufferings That God like an indulgent Mother will be sure to tend his sick Children though he leave others to the Servants When Christ had caused Jacob to halt then the place was turned into a Peniel Beleive me there is no such joy in the World as the people of God have under the Cross saith Philpot. Israel never saw so much of God as in the Wilderness then Manna from Heaven then the Pillar goeth before them and the Rock followed after them Fourthly To be your Cordial in all afflictions The Rams-skin covered the Ark from the injury of wind and weather which typified the defence the Church hath by the Gospel from those miseries to which she is liable on earth This is my comfort saith David in my afflictions thy word hath quickened me When the weight of his afflictions was ready to sink him the Gospel like blown Bladders preserve him from sinking Some I remember expound that place Thou O God didst send a plentiful showre whereby thou didst refresh thine heritage when it was weary Psal 65.9 The Law was rained down with those heavenly Oracles on mount Sinai while the thunder affrighted the people the Law refreshed them If the Law did revive them in that terrible temp est what will the Gospel do If his precepts are sweeter then the honey and the honey comb how sweet are his Promises If his Statutes are the Saints songs surely the word of his Grace is his triumph Seneca going about to comfort his friend Polibius perswades him to bear his affliction patiently because he was Cesars Favourite The word of grace affords you infinitely richer cordials exceeding rich and precious promises wherein ye are admitted to be the friends of God the members of Christ the Temples of the Spirit and the heirs of heaven The feather of the promise hath dropt in some comfort into a broken heart when it hath been ready to die with despair and could take thing down That ye through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope This life would be little better then Hell saith Bernard were it not for the hope of Heaven but the hope of your future happiness which is discovered in the Gospel may like Cork to the line keep your hearts aloft all waters and afflictions Now ye have a storm but hereafter an everlasting calm now ye are tost too and fro and weather beaten but faith by the prospective glass of the Gospel discovers land and this without question may support your spirits Therefore when trouble comes take heed of fetching your comfort from any creature Alas they are all puddle water t is the word of grace which is the pure River of water of life clear as Chrystal the River whose streams make glad the City of God Thus I commend you to the word of his grace in this four fold respect To conclude all it is Reported of a friend of Cyrus that being asked where his treasure was he answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Where Cyrus is my friend I hope if any ask you where your Treasure your Riches your Honour your Happiness is ye will say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Where God is our friend Now to this God according to my power I have I do and I shall commend you to his favour and singular affection to his power and special protection and to his care and universal benediction I cannot commend you to one so faithful though others fall off like leaves in Autumn he will never leave you that are his nor forsake you I know not to commend you to one so loving he lived in love he in our natures dyed for love His love is like himself boundless and bottomles 'ts impossible to commend you to one so able he can suppy all your needs fill all your souls to the brim grace is lovely in your eyes who ever beheld it Glory is infinitely amiable in your judgments who ever beleived it He can build you up and give you an inheritance where all the heirs are Kings and Queens and shall sit on thrones and live and reign with Christ for ever and ever there ye shall have robes of purity on your backs palms of victory on your hands crowns of glory on your heads and songs of triumphs in your mouths there ye may meet together to worship him without fear and drinks freely of his sweetest dearest favour there your services will be without the smallest sin and your souls without the least sorrow If Pastor and People meet there they shall never part more It s some comfort now that though distant in places we can meet together at the throne of grace but O what a comfort will it be to meet together in that palace of glory But since we must part here Finally my brethren farewel be perfect be of good comfort be of one mind live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you And now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance amongst all them that are sanctified FINIS