member unnaturally fall upon member would not the body be destroyed Can saint and saint be at variance and the publick be safe Let us pray for this publick spirit A selfish spirit hath kindled the flames a publick spirit must quench them The ninth and last Character is very comprehensive 9. Car. the publick spirited man in all things prefers the common before his own private interest Let the ballance goe down on my side if it may rise there let me be laid low if it may but goe well with Church and State 't is very well I say when the private sheaf bowes to the publick her 's a man of a publick Spirit I am willing to dye said that famous Bishop if the Church may do well when I am dead and gone Peream ego modo ille imperet Moriar ego modâ— me moriente vigeat Ecclesia said Agrippina of her son Nero so here let me be laid as low as may be if Christ may but reign if the Gospel may be but advanced if peace may be continued I have enough Nehemiah prefers the publick before himself when the King bids him make his request doth he aske something for himself Nehe. 2.4.5 no his eye is upon generations good He asks that he may goe and build the Sepulchre of his Fathers Like that famous Terentius who petitioning to Adrian that the Orthodox Christians might have liberty of worship by themselves the Emperour in great indignation tore his petition in pieces but bade him aske something for himselfe and it should be granted the good man gathers up the pieces of his petition again and tells the Emperour If he could not be heard in the cause of God and of his people he would never make request of any thing for himselfe And thus I have described unto you this publick Spirit and where now shall we finde it T is cafie to say what it is but 't is hard to say where it is Take your candle and lanthorne and make the most diligent search you can you will hardly find a man of this temper Narrow private spirits abound but David's Nehemiah's Mordecai's their number is very small Blessed be God we have some in this Nation in this City but would to God we had more Use 3 The third Vse shall be for Exhortation and here let me stirr you up to the practice of that which is the duty and the glory of a man Oh serve your generation write after Davids copie in this be publick blessings in the places where God hath set you be not slothful and selfish but of an active and publick Spirit Selfe is a carnal mans god his Vnity in Trinity as one expresse it Honour Pleasure Profit are the Trinity selfe is the Unity Let it not be so to you crucifie it and keep it down as an enemy doe not obey it and advance it as a God T is the greatest conquest in the world for a man to overcome himself and his own Interest Doe you devote what ever you are what ever you have what ever you can doe to the good of your generation I will press this upon 3 sorts First You that are private Christians do you lay out your selves for the publike good Alas you 'le say what can we do we that are so mean and inconsiderable in our stations wherein can we be serviceable to our generation Let me tell you there 's not the meanest Christian that hears me this day but some way or other he may be instrumental to the publick There is not the least starre but it hath its light Exod. 35.6 there is not the meanest member in the body but it hath its use They that brought but hair to the building of the Temple were serviceable I will reason the case a little with you many of you though but private men yet you have great estates Why do you not honour the Lord with your substance Prov. 3.9 Why do you not serve your generation by being charitable Are there not many naked backs why do you not clothe them Are there not many hungry bellies why do you not feed them Go to the University go to the Hospitals see if there be not there to be found opportunities and objects for your service In your civil capacity you may serve your generation You have friends acquaintance relations children servants you may serve your generation there bring them in to Christ advance the power of godlinesse amongst them instruct them in the mysteries of the Gospel Nurture them up in the fear of God Eph. 6.4 In your relative capacity you may serve your generation Again you have grace why do you not trade it for God By your holy conversation you may either convince or convert many 1 Pet. 3.1.16 Is not this good service You have a spirit of prayer Isa 43.26 You are the Lords remembrancers like so many Jacobs to wrastle with God and prevail with him By your prayers you may save a Nation and turn away the judgements that are threatned Is not this generation-service Moses stands in the breach Psal 106.23 and saves the people of Israel from destruction Even private Christians are the props and pillars of a place the stay and the staff thereof how Isa 3.1 by their prayers and wrastlings with God We reade of a German who was wont as oft as he heard of rumours of wat to say I fear it not so long as Luther lives Luthers prayers would prevent Nationall miseries You say you cannot serve your generation Go and pray for the peace of Jerusalem Again Psa 122.6 you can mourn for publick sins you can reprove them that go astray you can encourage the Ministers of the Gospel you can contend for the truths of God These and many such things you may do and thus in your spiritual capacity you may serve your generation Do but do what you can and you will do enough It is not want of power but want of will that makes many private Christians so unserviceable Secondly Let me speak to my self and to my brethren in the Ministry let us serve our generation Shall we call upon others and not stir our selves Like the Bell that cals others to Church but moves not it self Of all men we Ministers if we be sluggish and selfish are the basest men An idle self-seeking Minister is a flat contradiction to his office Paul sayes of Timothy Phil. 2.20 he did naturally care for the state of the Church and Paul himself sought not his peoples good for his advantage but his peoples good for their own advantage I sought not yours but you This is the spirit that becomes us Is there work to be done 2 Cor. 12.14 We are to spend and to be spent in the doing of it Chrysostome tels his hearers He lived only for their profit 2 Cor. 12.15 and he would refuse no labour if he might be serviceable to them What though
they have not been idle nor unprofitable nor self-seekers but in some measure active for God and publick good These men when they come to dye shall have in their consciences un-speakable joy and satisfaction and after death they shall enter upon an everlasting Sabbath of rest the truth is a lazy sluggish man upon the approaches of death though others have but little greife yet he himselfe is filled with abundancâ— of horror others doe not much lament him say they who was the better for his life who will be the worse for his death let him dye and let his name perish but he doth very much lament himselfe conscience gripes him and flashes in his face O how little have I done for God how unprofitable have I been in my place c. I say these reflections make death to be very terrible to such a drone but to a David that serves his generation death is welcome and full of comfort He fell asleep But I come to the fourth and maine Proposition where I intend to dwell a little upon this occasion and that is this T is the glory and the duty of a man to serve his generation to have a publick Spirit not serving himselfe but his generation I say this is the glory and the duty of a man David served his generation and this is recorded here by the Spirit of God for his honour and for our imitation He did not make himselfe the Center of his designes and actions he was not a man of a private selfish Spirit no he minded the good of others and laid out himselfe for the good of others he was active and active for the publick he served his generation Now as for particulars wherein he did thus I must leave the finding out of them to your selves in the reading of the Historicall part of the Bible To the point in hand Narrownesse and selfishnesse of Spirit t is a mans shame and sin but largenesse and publicknesse of Spirit 1 Kings 4.29 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sâ—pâ—uag Lati. tudinem cordis h.e. mentem multarum rerum capacem quemadmodum arena longe lateque occupat circalittus Maris Vatabl. t is his glory and duty T is said of Solomon God gave him largenesse of heart I doe but allude to it oh this largenesse of heart is an excellent thing when a person lookes beyond his own private ends and interest lays out himselfe for the good of the community trades every Talent power preferment gifts wealth grace with respect to the publick good here 's a man of worth and one who is faithfull to his duty I le prove the truth in some few particulars and so come to the application which I mainly intend First serving our generation is a frame of Spirit not onely highly commended but strictly commanded the word is full of this Gal 6.10 1 Cor. 10.24 Phil. 2.4 As we have opportunity let us doe good to all men Let no man seek his own things but every man anothers wealth Look not every man upon his own things but every man also on the things of others Let me tell you he that lives to himselfe and doth not lay out himselfe for his generation this man mark him lives in an open and flat contradiction to the word of God let such professe what they will they are very Antipodes to the rule of the word Secondly This is one great end of our Creation Why doth God send us into the world â—inc monemur quorsum homines vivant in mundo ut scilicet alii alios mutua communicatione juvent Neque enin sibi quisque natus est sed inter se quasi sacro nexu colligatum est humanum genus Ergn nisi leges Natuta evertere libeat meminerimus non privatim nobis vivenduÌ„ esse sed proximis nostris Calvin in loc To be idle and selfish to gratify our selves in the present delights to be immersed and swallowed up in our own private interests No this is not the end of God in our being we are made for higher things then these namely the publick good and the service of our generation If the Scripture was silent the Schoole of nature would learne us this lesson we are not borne for our selves or made for our selves a Heathen can tell us that the Law of our very being calls upon us to eye and serve the Community A private spirited man is a shame to his Creation because he walks so contrary to the great intendment of God in it for as Fulvius said to his Son Ego te non Catilinae genui sed patriae so here God did not make us for selfe but for the Community And further this is the designe of God in all our gifts parts indowments injoyments all are as so many Talents concredited with us and put into our hands not that we should wrap them up in Napkins but that we should trade them for the glory of God and the good of others Some have wisedome knowledge understanding why that their generation may be the better for them some have wealth God blesses them with great estates why Not that they should have their Gold and Silver lye moulding in their coffers but that they may releive the poore and be charitable to them that are in wants Look upon all that you have received the end of God in all is this he gives in to you that you may give out to others you are not as Vessells where the mercy is to be lodged but as Pipes to convey it to others He hath filled the Sun with light the Sea with water that they may communicate of their fulnesse to the benefit of the world and so t is here as the Apostle speaks concerning gifts The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 How shal many answer for their gifts at the great day who have onely studyed how to advance themselves and not to profit others Peters advice here is very seasonable 1 Pet. 4.10 As every man hath received the gift be it what it will even so minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold grace of God The Steward doth not receive money from his Lord for his own use but he is to lay it out for the good of the Family so saith the Apostle Be yee Stewards of the grace of God what ever you are what ever you have all is Grace improve and lay out all in service for the benefit of others this is to be good Stewards of the grace of God Manna stank if it was not eaten and so parts and gifts are offensive if they be layd up and not layd out for God Thirdly Our common union in the Mystical body cals for this that we should serve our Generation T is with the Church as t is with an Army which is divided into several Regiments yet t is but one Army Or as t is with a civil Corporation there are in it
several Companies yet the Corporation is but one or as it is with the body which consists of many parts and members yet t is but one body Thus it is in the Church it consists of many Christians is made up of various Professors but still the Church is but one and all the people of God where ever they live they are all united in this own body for there are many members 1 Cor. 12.20 Eph. 4.4 Eph. 3.6 but one body There is one body and one spirit c. Jew and Gentile all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but one body Now upon this union it should be in the body Mysticall as it is in the body Naturall all the members in the body conspire for the good of the whole The Eye sees not for it self the hand takes not for it self the Stomach digests not for it selfe but all their Organical acts tend to the benefit of the whole body Thus I say it should be in the body Mystical or politique the members wherof must not keep their Graces their Comforts their Abilities singly and seperately to themselves No but all must be layd out in a blessed subserviency to the publick and common good Paul having made a large discourse in setting forth the Church by allusions to the naturall body shuts up all thus 1 Cor. 12.25 That there should be no schisme in the body but that the members should have the same care one for another Let me onely say this further under this head The self-seeker the Gallio that cares not what becomes of the body Acts 18.17 this man is but like a Glassie Eye or a wooden Leg he is no living member in this body he is a prodigious Monster rather then a genuine Member Nothing more unsuitable to our common union then a private spirit Fourthly This publick spirit discovers much of that excellent grace of love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist Rhetor. l. 20. c. 40. Faith and Love are the two great graces of the Gospel Faith is a getting grace Love is a spending grace Faith layes up Love layes out Faith layes out from Christ Love layes out for Christ Faith receives all Love returns all Now I say this serviceable active spirit for generation good discovers much of love for love is a diffusive communicative grace t is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sociable and publick grace Love is noble and generous it keeps open house wil not eat its Morsels alone if it hath good if it can do good Job 31.17 others shal be the better for it 1 Cor. 13.5 Love seeketh not her own its designs are vaster then so Nâ—rrowness of heart argues much scantness of love I may set this reason higher A publick spirit discovers the truth of grace t is an inseperable adjunct from saving grace David was a man after Gods own heart and he serves his Generation The true Israelite cannot but pro modulo lay out himself for the good of others if any be weak he must strengthen him if any be sad Luke 22.32 he must comfort him if any walk disorderly he must reprove him T is the voice of a Caine to say Am I my brothers keeper What have I to do with my brother Gen. 4.9 I 'le mind my self The Children of God say with the Lepers We do not wel this day is a day of good tydings 2 Kings 7.9 and we hold our peace We have received many mercies shal we bury them We have many opportunities shal we not improve them This is the language of grace Do not mistake me here I do not say that every publick spirit is a gracious spirit but this I say every gracious spirit is a publick spirit Fifthly This publick spirit is our due conformity to God to Jesus Christ to the choicest and most excellent Saints First This is our due conformity to God He is Summum bonum summe bonus the cheifest good and cheifly good infinitely good and therefore infinitely communicative He is a Fountaine full and overflowing and all the creatures in Heaven and in earth do all participate of his goodnesse so far is he from ingrossing all to himselfe The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his workes Psal 145.9 Psal 33.5 The earth is full of the goâ—dnesse of the Lord. There is not the meanest creature but it receives something from this inexhaustible treasury nay there is not the vilest man the most wicked man but God doth good to him Hee causes his sun to arise upon the bad as well as the good Matth. 5.45 Nieremberg Vt nemo sine illius gustu vixerit And as for his owne people his goodnesse there is written in the beames of the Sun there we must say Truly God is good to Israel even to them that are of a cleane heart Psal 73.1 And why doth God thus open his hand and his heart unto us why such bounty why such bowels the reason is cleare He is good and therefore he doth good He might injoy himselfe in his owne fulnesse Matth. 5. ult 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Synes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Marc. Anton and keep to himself the sea of his owne blessednesse but he will not no his poor empty creatures also shall receive from him for he looks upon his goodnesse as his glory What then makes a man more like to God then a publick Spirit To be good to do good this is to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect Do you see a man that aimes at nothing but himselfe that never lets the Cock run but when it is for his own advantage that envys every drop that is not for his owne use that limits and confines all to himselfe and none shall be the better for him how contrary is this man to God and how little of God appears in him Here 's Walking indeed as man but here is no walking as God 1 Cor 3.3 But on the other hand do you see a man that makes it his businesse and designe to do good to communicate to others t is not well with him if others be not the better for him this man is a lively image and representation of God himself Secondly This is our conformity unto Jesus Christ who as he is a publick Head so he is of a publick spirit Acts 10.38 He went about doing good Why did he come downe from Heaven into the World To save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 Why did he set himself apart to the work of his Mediatorship For the good of others John 17.19 For their sake also sanctifie I my self that they may be sanctified by the truth Why did he lay downe his life Not to merit any thing for himself but for his sheep I lay downe my life for the sheep Why did Christ arise againe John 10.15 Rom. 4. ult For our justification For whom doth he intercede at the right hand of his Father
shall see further A publick-spirited man is more sensible of the publick miseries then he is of his own private mercies There is not so much in the latter to comfort him as there is in the former to grieve him Though all be well with him wealth enough health enough comfortable relations all sweet yet if the Church or state be like a ship not only toss'd upon troublesome waters but even ready to sink this imbitters all his comforts and puts a check upon all his joy Neh 2 2.3 See this in good Nehemiah sayes the King to him why is thy countenance sad seeing thou art not sick what hast thou to trouble thee art not thou in my favour my cup-bearer is not thy condition very good True but yet hee 's sad why Why should not my countenance be sad when the City the place of my Fathers Sepulchers lieâ—h wast and the gates thereof are consumed by fire The publick suffered therefore Nehemiah mourned So Vriah who denied himselfe in his private comforts upon this account The Arke and Israel and Judah abide in tents 2 Sam. 11.11 shall I then goe into my house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife as thou livest and as thy soul liveth I will not doe this thing David when he had rest from all his enemies and was in a very prosperous condition in which he might have solac'd himself to the utmost you shall finde this put a damp upon all his enjoyments 2 Sam. 7.2 I dwell in an house of Cedar but the Arke of God dwelleth in ourtains Fourthly 4. Car. A publick-spirited man rejoyces in publick good and more in the publick then in his own private good How farre are they from this excellent Spirit who fret and envie at the good of others The Angels I sinde thrice rejoycing in the Scriptures and 't is alwayes for the good of others oh ther 's the publick Spirit At the Creation of the world Job 38.7 when the morning starrs sang together and all the sons of God shouted together for joy At the Incarnation of Christ And suddenly there was with the Angel Luk. 2.13.14 a multitude of the heavenly Host praysing God and saying Glory to God in the highest c. At the conversion of a sinner There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God Luk. 15.10 Scias illum plurimis abundare virtutibus qui alienas sie amat Plin. Ep. 17. over one sinner that repenteth The blessed Angels are not so much concerned in this good as we and yet they rejoyce at it But this is not all A publick-publick-spirit doth more rejoyce in the publick good then in his own private good This you see in David Let my hand forget her cunning and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth Psal 137.6 if I doe not preferr Jerusalem before my chief joy The Churches wellfare was the object of Davids highest joy 't was not his crown his victories his treasures the weal of Jerusalem which was a publick good was his chief joy Fifthly 5. Car. A right publick-spirited man will not stick at danger if he may bring about publick good What though I lose my name my estate my liberty my life if I may but serve my God and my generation 't is no matter Esth 4.16 I will goe in to the King and if I perish I perish O brave Spirit Esther knew her danger was great for this was not according to the Law she knew how Vashti had been dealt withall before her she knew that she had many enemies that would aggravate this boldness but all this is nothing to her to save the lives of the Jews she will hazzard her own What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart saith S. Paul For I am ready not to be bound only Acts 21.13 but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus Come what will come a publick spirited man will serve his generation though he suffer for it Sixthly 6. Car. A publick-spirited man desires of God rather that which may make him useful then that which may make him great You may know what Spirit you are of by what your hearts doe most run out after in prayer Sayes the selfish man Lord give me ease and safety and wealth sayes the publick spirited man Lord give me a heart to serve thee abilities to serve thee opportunities to serve thee Take the instance of Solomon for this 1 King 3.9.10 Give thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and bad for who is able to judge this thy so great a people And the speech pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing Solomon doth not aske long life nor riches nor any thing for himselfe but parts that he might be useful to his generation here was a publick-spirit and a spirit very pleasing to God I say look to the matter of your prayers and the end of your prayers you ask of God such and such gifts and therefore you ask them not that you may be proud of them or applauded for them but that you may be serviceable with them her 's a choice Spirit Seventhly A publick-spirited man will rejoyce in publick good done 7. Car. though he himselfe have not the glory of it Some men are like the Senate of Rome that would not let Christ have a place amongst their gods because another would have the honour of it they do what they can to retard and stop any motion for publick good if they themselves shall not have the credit of it Nothing makes their mill to goe but the wind of popular applause T is otherwise with the man I am characterizing if good may be done though he be not advanced by it he rejoyces and blesses God for it The carriage of Paul was excellent in this Some preach Christ even of envie and strife and some also of good will What then Phil. 1.15.16 17. Notwithstanding every way whether in pretence or in truth Christ is preached and I therein do rejoyce and will rejoyce Let the world say they preach better then I and so Eclipse my reputation that 's nothing to me so long as Christ is preached for the salvation of souls I doe rejoyce and will rejoyce Gen. 13.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Agath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 8. Eighthly publick-spirited men will pass by private differences and wrongs rather then indanger the publick Let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee for we be brethren saith Abrham to Lot Oh that this spirit did but more prevail in our times But what rancor and bitterness and rage is there even amongst Brethren upon private differences though hereby the common safety be so much indangered This is a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation Can the marriners fall out amongst themselves and the ship not be in danger Should
of men What a Chaos of confusion and cruelty What a wildernesse of wilde beasts would the world be was it not for Laws Liberty is good for it is one of the sweetest flowers in the Nosegay of our civil happinesse Peace is good for as the wreath of the Fagot bindes all the sticks together so doth this all your comforts break this in peeces and all your comforts fall asunder And therefore stand up in your places for the defence of these things and do not easily part with that which cost your Fore-Fathers sweat and bloud Epaminondas will either dye with or for his buckler he would either defend it or it should defend him the Application is obvious But yet what are these things to the Gospel to the grand Concernments of Religion The Gospel is the Glory of a Nation 1 Sam. 4.21 Florente verbo florent omnia in Ecclesiâ Luther 2 Sam. 6.12 the very Nerves and Sinews of a Kingdom it makes not onely the Church to flourish but the State also where it is It brings all blessings along with it not onely spirituall but temporall too as the Ark made Obed-Edoms House to prosper Religion is the Cement or Bond and * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Plutarch Ligament of all Societies When that is lost no Comforts can make up the losse of it Phinehas his Daughter hath a Childe but what is a Childe when the Ark is taken You may have peace and plenty and all outward enjoyments but if the Gospel be removed call them all Ichabod for the Glory is departed 1 Sam. 4.21.22 And therefore in the first place be active and zealous for these things of Christ Phil. 2.21 that the Gospel may yet be continued that the Protestant Religion may yet flourish notwithstanding all the contrivances of Jâ—suites amongst us 2 Sam. 14.19 for Is not the hand of Joab in all this that the Truths of God may prevail that the Worship of God may be administred in its spiritualnesse and purity that the Ministers of Christ may have due honour and maintenance that the Government of Christ may be setled Government did I say I did and doe not recall it though we live in an Age very zealous as to the Government of men very cold as to the Government of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutarch Sympol What is the Ship without a Pilot What is a City without a wall What is a Vineyard without a Hedge and what is the Church without a Government I think no Government is so bad as no Government at least wise Some Oppression is better then Ataxy and absolute Confusion God shew us the Pattern of his House Eze. 43.10.11 Quoties est ut populus aliquis posteaquam disciplina religio corruerint salvus stererit Zwing De Provid that we map all know what is that Forme of Discipline which is to be erected But I digresse though the Lord knows not out of any bitternesse of Spirit I say In the first place Lay out your selves for these things this will be to serve your Generation indeed Nay the Generations that shall succeed you will reap the Benefit of this Service Your Posterity and Childrens Children will blesse God for such Progenitors The Advantage of this your activity will remain when you are dead and gone Direct 2 Secondly Labour to be good your selves as well as to doe good to your Generation There is a great difference betwixt a good man and a good Magistrate betwixt a Gracious Christian and a Serviceable Common-wealths-man There are many that are but bad men as to their inward state and yet they are good men in their places as to outward Service God makes use of Gifts sometimes where there is little or no Grace The Raven was an unclean Creature 1 Kin. 17.4 and yet God fed the Prophet by it 1 Kin. 5.10 Hiram was but a Heathen yet he sends Timber to the Building of the Temple And so it is in this case Gracelesse men are not alwaies Uselesse men nor Usefull men alwaies Gracious men God in his over-ruling Providence useth many whom he will never save How many Ministers are eminent in Service and yet they shall be but Cast-aways 1 Cor. 9. ult Oh! that is a terrible and awakening thing How many Magistrates are very active for good that God will never own in the matter of Salvation Many in publick places are but like the Carpenters that built the Ark for others but were drowned themselves They doe good to others but themselves shall perish to all Eternity And therefore I beseech you rest not in serviceablenesse for generation-Generation-good but get Grace in your hearts for your own good Be upright men as well as usefull men There are two things in this Chapter where my Text lyes The Spirit of God sayes of David He was a man after his own heart ver 22. ver 36. and He served his Generation That is a blessed thing indeed and let it be your care that sincerity towards God and serviceablenesse for God may go together Direct 3 Thirdly In all your activeness for publick good see that you doe all in a right manner As the object must be right and the person must be good so all must be done in a regular manner What 's that what you doe do it with zeal with sincerity with courage with perseverance with humility I might much inlarge upon these heads but I must not First Doe all with zeal be not lukewarme indifferent lazie slothful in publick concernments but what ever you finde in your heart to doe Eccl. 9.10 doe it with all your might as Solomon speaks Jehosaphats heart was lifted up in the way of the Lord. 2 Chro. 17.6 2 Chro. 31.21 Hezekiah in every work which he began to doe in the service of the house of God c. He did it with all his heart Even Artaxerxes commands whatsoever is commanded by the God of Heaven Ezâ—â— 7.23 let it be diligently done for the house of the God of Heaven what a shame is it to see the common Enemy so zealous to doe hurt and we so cold and lukewarme in doing good that Jesuites should cross sea and land to make one Proselyte Mat. 23.15 that when we see their zeal in their way we may well wish as once Agesilaus did of Pharnabazus Cum talis sis utinam noster esses That I say these men should be so active and we so careless and secure Where is your zeal for God for Christ for the Gospel Oh that zeal and wisdome might goe together Some have zeal and no wisdome and they are too hot some have wisdome and no zeal and these are too cold Zeal with wisdome is like a Diamond set in a ring of gold When wisdome regulates the zeal and zeal acts and animates the wisdome when zeal is the spurre and wisdome guides the reine there is much done for publick good Both
THE ACTIVE and PUBLICK SPIRIT HANDLED In a SERMON Preached at Pauls October 26 th 1656. By Thomas Jacomb Minister at Martins-Ludgate LONDON When Sanballat the Horonite c. it grieved them exceedingly that there was a man come to seek the welfare of the Children of Israel Nehem. 2.10 And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not As we have therefore opportunity let us do good to all men especially to them who are of the houshold of Faith Gal. 6.9 10. Nihil habet fortuna magna majus quam ut possit nec natura bona melius quam ut velit bene-facere quam plurimis Cicer. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Marc Antonin LONDON Printed by T. R. for Philemon Stephens at the gilded Lyon in S. Pauls Church-yard and Abel Roper at the Sun neer S. Dunstons-Church in Fleestret 1657. Titchborne Major Tuesday 4. of Novem. 1656. It is ordered that Mr Jacomb of Martins-Ludgate be desired from this Court to Print his late Sermon at Pauls TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL SIR JOHN DETHICK lately LORD MAJOR AND To the Right Worshipfull the Aldermen of the famous City of LONDON Right Worshipfull YOUR Order brought this Sermon some few moneths since into the PULPIT and now into the PRESS Might I have been mine owne Chooser I should have wished that this slender Discourse like David in the Text after it had done some small service to its Generation might have fallen asleep and seen the light no more But obedience to your Commands must make me to break through all my owne private desires I hope the Matter here handled did not nor will not give you or any other person any occasion of offence I know Truth is biting where there 's guilt Veritas loquendi grande praesagit malum Lactant and therefore to some it is very dangerous to preach it but yet the sound back will endure to be touch'd Amara est veritas quisquis eum praedicat amaritudine satiabitus Hieron and there 's no kicking at it I humbly beg your candid acceptation of this poor Mite such as it is and your pardon for two things First That so much time is runn'd out since your Order before it was obeyed which hath not been occasioned from an elaborateness in the Work as every Reader will easily perceive such Mushroomes as this may grow in a very little time and a few daies are enough for so mean a Birth But partly by many occasions interveniug partly by some threatning tryals in my Relations which have much distracted me in my Studies and partly by my very great backwardness to appeare thus in Print unto which during my present yeares and abilities nothing should drive me but meer necessity I further beg your favour in excusing some variations that possibly you may take notice of in the Printing and in the preaching the substance and matter is the same here and there some expressions and enlargements are altered which I have done because I judge that which is presented to the Eare may with greater advantage be presented to the Eye when it is a little put into another dress The drift and designe of my Sermon was to quicken you up to an active and publick Spirit And I pitcht upon this Subject not in the least to reflect upon you as being slothfull and selfish in your places but that I might stir you up yet to abound more and more in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 35. â—â—â— and in your activenesse for the good of your Generation Should I say the former I should very much wrong you and should I say there was no need of the latter I should very much wrong my self It is observed of the Planets the higher they are in their scituation the quicker they are in their motion God hath set you in very high places a low Monstrosa res est gradus summus animus infimus sedes prima vita ima Bern. de consid l. 2. and lazie and un-active Spirit is very unbecomming to your places I beseech you therefore with indefatigable diligence lay out your selves for God and the publick trade your Talent of power to the utmost advantage Let your Spirits be as publick as your Places are Hath God set the Sun in a publick Orbe to give light to its self Self-seeing was alwaies naught but in such times as these it is naught with a witnesse Seekest thon now great things for thy self Jer. 45.5 seek them not Let the blessing of many come upon you for your zeale and sincerity in serving your Generation It is better to have the Prayers of the publick then the Profits of the publick Do you work for the people of God in the Court they will work for you in the Closet let them have your Power you shall have their Prayer do you rule for them they will pray for you To you Right Worshipfull in whose hands the Sword of Authoritie hath been latelie held at the laying down of which this Sermon was preached I hope you find the comfort of what Service you have done Generation-work is like the gathering of Roses which in the gathering may be they prick the fingers but when they are gathered they are very sweet I think he went too far that writing the life of Anastatius said thus Stella de vit Pontif. Aquo haud quicquam habetur quod merito reprehendi queat I am sure I should not go far enough as to your Government if I should not say much was done by you which deserves justlie to be commended you are not yet fallen asleep though as to that Office you are The Lord heighten your zeale and make you yet more instrumentall for good that your Life may be comfortable to others and your Death comfortable to your own self Which is the heartie prayer of Febr. 26. 1656. Your worthlesse Servant in the Work of Christ Tho. Jacomb Errata Epist p. 2. l. 16. r. any in the Margent r. eam satiabitur Sermon p. 13. l. 7. r. up p. 18. l. 17. r. disserve in the Margent r. temporum p. 22. l. 13. add did AN ACTIVE PVBLICK SPIRIT HANDLED In a SERMON preached at Pauls October 26. 1656. Act. 13 36. the former part For David after he had served his own Generation by the will of God fell on sleep THIS Text is part of a Sermon preached by Paul at Antioch v. 14. the drift and argument whereof is to prove this fundamental truth that Jesus Christ is the onely and the true Messias And this the Apostle makes good v. 25. partly by the testimony of John partly by the prophesies or promises which were made to the Fathers but fulfilled in Christ v. 32.33 And these prophesies do principally relate to Christs resurrection for that being proved the truth of his Messiah-ship would evidently appeare And therefore I find the Apostles in the proving this main Doctrine of
spirits be wasted health prejudiced strength weakened we are not propter vitam vivendi perdere finem as that great Scholar answered his Physicians D. Reynolds when they desired him to spare himself We live to serve and if we may by all our pains but turn one soul to God that is worth all our pains Are there divisions in the Church we are to labour to heal them and lament them Vid. Calv. in Ep. ad Arch. Cranmerum Tragoediae LutheÌ„ranae mihi ipsi calculo molestiores Erasm Are the Truths of God opposed we are to stand up in their defence with all our might to put a stop to the inundation of errours Do National sins spread and prevail we are to reprove them not sparing the greatest of men I will not enlarge because this is not so proper in this Assembly We are non nobis sed multorum utilitati nati as Bucer speaks Mal. 5.14 God hath set us as Lights in a publike place and we are to communicate to others we must tread in the steppes of our Master who went about doing good Act. 10.38 Our generation will not be able to answer well for their contempt of us but we shall worse be able to answer for our neglect of them Thirdly I come to you the Right Honourable Magistrate and Magistrates of this great and famous City Do you especially serve your generation God hath set you in a publick Orb You are worth ten thousand such shrubs as we are You have many Talents in that one of power and authority Oh improve it to the utmost for generation-good I do not speak to you under this or that quatenus as rich men No but only quatenus Magistrates We bless God and are thankfull to you for your great care diligence and faithfulnesse in promoting our good We reap the fruit of your labours sit under the shade of your Government with much peace and quietnesse you have been drawn out in zeal for the strict observation of the Lords Day Great encouragement you have given to the Ministers of the Gospel which in these times is no small mercy to us you do appear to punish sin to execute justice and I hope the poor Orphans will have cause to blesse you for your securing and improving that livelihood which is left to them Many Fathers adopt their Children these Children have adopted you to be their Fathers Shall I go on in your praise No I forbear rather I beseech you go on in service and yet do more worthily for God and for your generation Let me with all humility quicken you to this active and publick spirit by these few short considerations First Secure the publick and the publick will secure you Is not your private safety wrapt up in the publick What becomes of the Cabbin if the Ship be lost The best way to secure the Cabbin is to secure the Ship So the best way to secure your private comforts is to secure the publick good Secondly You shall not lose by serving your Generation Act for God and your community God will blesse you and reward you for it Quod grave perpendit ex opere leve existimat ex remuneratione Greg. Moral l. 8. c. 7. Hag. 2.19 2 Sam. 7.13 Ezek. 29.20 1 Cor. 15. ult As no man seeks him in vain so no man shall serve him in vain From this day will I blesse you He shall build an house for my Name there is his service I will establish his Kingdom for ever there is his reward A Nebuchadnezzar shall do nothing for God but he will requite him for it Abound in the work of the Lord your labour in him shall not be in vain Thirdly The remembrance of this will be matter of comfort to you when you come to die Nehemiah had been active for the good of the people See how he spreads this before God Think upon me my God for good Neh. 5. ult according to all that I have done for this people Lay out your selves Right Honourable in the wayes of service Service and sincerity in service will unsting death Fourthly God hath done great things for you will you do nothing for him What you do for the generation you do for God Hath not God blessed you exceedingly in the things of the world Are not Estates encreased Are not comforts providentially heaped upon you Job 29.3 6. Doth not the Candle of the Lord shine upon you You wash your steps in butter and the rock pours you out rivers of oyle as Job speaks What hath been done to Mordecai for all this Esth 6.3 Now you have such opportunities make some requitall This is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 W. But lastly This will interest you in the hearts of Gods people and 't is no small thing to have an interest in the hearts of such Serve your generation they will desire your life they will lament your death You shall nor die as Jâ—horam did 2 Chro. 21.20 undesired and unlamented Serve your generation they will prize and honour you Your Name shall be as precious ointment to them It is said of Mordecai He was accepted of the multitude of his Brethren Esth 10.3 Why so Seeking the wealth of his people Serve your generation you shall have their prayers Let them have your labours and you shall have their prayers Lord blesse such a man and spare his life to us for he doth much good in his place I say you shall have the hearts of the people of God Jud. 5.9 My heart is toward the Governours of Israel that offered themselves willingly amongst the people They are weary of men that seek themselves and fain would be rid of them but a usefull man hath their very heart such a one they love contend for could even lay down their lives for him And therefore upon all these motives I humbly beseech you let head and heart and hand and power and estate and interest and all be acted and laid out sincerely and faithfully for the good of your generation Titus the Romane Emperour Amice diom perdidi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if a day passed him wherein he had not done some good was wont to say Friends I have lost a day and this day I have not reigned The Lord give you this active spirit which will be so much for his glory our benefit and your own comfort both in Life and Death Vse 4 That I may not be over-tedious one Use more shall shut up all and that is of Direction In a few words I will give you some advice in the discharge of this great duty Direct 1 The first is this In the serving your generation mainly and chiefly lay out your selves for the Gospel for the things of Christ for Religion For this is the best service you can do to your generation 1 Chro. 29.2 Davids service was Temple-service Laws are good for they are the bulwarks of property and the boundaries of the lusts
these you shall finde in this David Psal 78. ult So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands Secondly Do all with Sincerity There must be the sincerity of the Work as well as of the Person Do never so much if you be not sincere in it 1 Cor. 3.15 your Work shall be burnt and you shall suffer losse Others may be the better for it but you your selves shall not Do never so little if it be done in the integrity of your Hearts God will accept of it and reward you for it Jacob serves Laban a great many years but all that while his eye was upon his Rachel It was not love to Laban but love to Rachel that made him undergoe so much Many take much pains in Generation-work but all that while the heart is not right It is not the publick good that they aime aâ— but something of self for many serve and advance Self by serving the Publick What brave things would Absalom doe if he was upon the Throne 2 Sam. 15.4 and all this was but to make himself more popular We have too many such popularis aurae vilia mancipia as Hierome speaks Ep cd Julian I speak to Magistrates to Ministers to all Let Sincerity runne through the Veine of all your Service and that thus Doe all from Love according to the Word for the Glory of God For three things make up this Sincerity Aright Principle A right Rule A right End When Love is the Principle the Word the Rule the Glory of God the End here is Sincerity The Truth is The Hypocrite doth but make use of God and God doth but make use of him He doth but make use of God for though he looks and pretends to Gods Glory yet he rows another way And God doth but make use of him for he hath nothing within him to incline him to any Service onely God overrules him and so makes use of him Well be sincere that when you shall be laid open at the great day 1 Cor. 3.14 Rom. 2. ult your work may abide and your praise may be not of men but of God Thirdly Serve your Generation with Courage Goe on through difficulties and dangers with undaunted Resolution Doe men scoffe and reproach you Care not for it Nehemiah is not discouraged at the scoffes and taunts of Tobiah and Sanballat It is no new thing for Dogges to barke at the Horse that goes apace Active men shall have many to snarle at them but so long as they act for the good of others it is nothing May be Estate Liberty nay Life it self may be in danger Esth 4.16 yet hold on If I perish I perish said that Heroicall Spirit Can you Sacrifico your Lives better then for the Cause of God and the Publick Good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I would to God it might be so said Basil Whatever you lose here Matth. 10.30 will not Christs Hundred-fold make up all to you Fourthly Persevere in your activity for Publick good Many are like your Bells that strike very fast till they be raised and then but very seldome Many Magistrates and Ministers are very diligent and sedulous till they have got a Name and are up in the esteems of the world and then they can put their hands in their bosomes and do as little as who doth the least This is base We must hold out with an even pace in our Service Indefatigableness and Perseverance is the Crowne of all If any man draw back my soul shall take no pleasure in him Heb. 10.38 Be not weary in well-doing ye shall reap if you faint not He that endureth to the end he shall be saved Gal. 6.9 Matth. 10.22 If the house be not covered all over and the tiles well joyned together the rain will come in Benefacta benefactis pertegito ne perpluat saith Plautus If there be gaps and flaws in your good service censures will get in and to be sure the wrath of God will get in and fall upon you Oh Mar. 9.50 be not like Salt that hath lost its savour Fifthly Doe all humbly And that in two things Fetch all your strength from God Ascribe the Glory of all to God Enter upon all things by Prayer Shut up all by Praise Nehemiah in order to publick Service first prayes So I prayed to the God of Heaven Paul ascribes all to God by praise Neh. 2.4 1 Cor. 15.10 I laboured more abundantly then they all yet not I but the Grace of God which was with me Never set about any thing in your own strength Luk. 17.10 Valdè perfectorum est sic ostenso opere gloria a authoris quaerere ut de illatâ laude privaâ—â nesciant gaudere Gregor Go to God for Wisdome Direction c. When it is done never ascribe any thing to your own parts And when you have done all say You are unprofitable The Ear that is full of Corn and the Bough that is loaden with Fruit bowes down towards the Earth The most serviceable are the most humble They that do most think they do least and this is a rare thing to see men high in service and low in spirit Direct 4 Fourthly Serve your Generation By your Example as well as by your Power Men live more by the Examples of others then by the Precepts of God not squaring their actions by quà eundum but quà itur not by what ought to be done but by what is done especially the examples of such as are great have a great influence upon them A wry neck in Neroes Court was the mode because he himself was wry-necked Facore reclè cives suos princeps optimus faciendo docet cumquesit imperio magnus exemplo major est Vellei Pater Tit. 2.7 You that are Magistrates Let me humbly tell you Good Laws without good Examples will do but little good Would you have the Sabbath observed strictly see you doe not prophane it at home You cannot better serve your Generation then by being Patternes of Good Works unto them Direct 5 Fifthly Serve your Generation but Doe not neglect work at home One Duty must not justle out another You have your Callings minde them You have Relations provide for them for he that provides not for his owne hath denyed the Faith and quoad hoc is worse then an Infidell Aquinas 1. Tim. 5.8 You have Salvation-work to minde Serve your owne Generation but in the first place Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling phil 2.12 You are to be laying up as well as laying out Magis mihi me debeo quam hominibus caeteris quamvis Deo magis quam mihi August Retract l. 1. c. 8. And indeed upon these two things as upon two Poles all Religion turns Doing good and getting good Direct 6 Sixthly In all Service look to your Call otherwise you will be but Busie-bodies and Intruders upon those things which doe not concerne you 1 Pet. 4.15 Vid. Bez. in Phil. 2.4 Your Service must be regular otherwise it will End onely in scandall to the Gospel and in Judgement upon your selves Uzzah got nothing by laying his hands upon the Ark when he had no Call to it Direct 7 Seventhly In serving your Generation keep to that great rule of the Scripture Do not do evil that good may come of it Will you lye for God Job 13.7 and speak falsly for him Direct 8 Eighthly Serve your Generation but do not comply with your Generation in that which is evil This is to serve the Times not your Generation In bad times In bad places be you as Lots and when you can doe no good to your generation let your generation do no hurt to you Direct 9 Ninthly In the carrying on of Gods Providentiall will doe not swerve from Gods Preceptive Will for it is not Providence but the Word that is your Rule Providence without the Word is doubtfull but Providence against the Word is dangerous Direct 10 Lastly That you may thus serve your Generation Mortifie Self get large Affections Great Service in the Life 1 Chr. 29.3 begins with large Affections in the Heart These things I thought to have insisted upon more fully but I see the work grows to too great a bulk therefore I break off The Lord blesse this Sermon to all that heard it to all that shall reade it that we may be all men of Davids Spirit Serving our Generation that having so done we may with comfort fall asleep FINIS