touched Isaiahs lips it is he that said to Jeremiah Do not say thou art a child for I have sent thee c. This I say then is a consideration that may encourage Ministers in their Work that the weaker they are the honor and glory will redound to Christ for he said unto me saith the Apostle My Grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness Not that this is an encouragement or argument for any to take upon them the great work of the Ministry without sufficient qualifications abilities But where there is not that degree of ability as is desired where there is a true sensibleness of their weakness this may be an encouragement unto them that God delighteth to shew his power in them that by so much the more they are weak so much honor he wil gain For a conclusion it comes to this viz. That we lay no stress upon any outward things There is no stress or happiness in these outward things those that seem to be of some concernment as strength of body and other outward qualifications that are of remark yet consider they are fading and transitory this should teach us in the enjoyments of outward things a great deal of humility Though we are Vessels of gold in regard of the treasure and improvement yet in regard of our selves we are Vessels of Earth and so should be in respect of humility Let us look upon all these things as given to us of God even for this very end That we may be more serviceable to him and his people So I have done with the two general parts of the words and so with the whole verse viz. We have this Treasure in earthen Vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us Do we begin again to commend our selves saith the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 3.1 or need we Epistles of commendation to you or Letters of commendation from you ye are our epistle in our hearts c. But this is applicable to the present sad occasion now before us This reverend and blessed man of God Mr. James Nalton was a person of great note and eminencie among us one well known in this City and in this place where he spent his labour and pains many years I could give large accounts and testimonies of him if need were from my own knowledge of him having been acquainted with him many years He was not only a Minister but the son of a Minister his birth and education suting together He lookt upon it not only as an honour but as an engagement to be careful to walk in those steps set before him and to continue the work of the Ministry begun by his religious father Certainly the children of godly and holy parents cannot come off so cheap in their carriages as others they have greater accounts to make as having greater examples set before them greater advantages of prayer exhortation c. and so greater engagements this was thought on and observed by him And as he was the son of a Minister so when he came to years and was fitted he took upon him the Ministry as he was one of great abilities so accordingly he discharged them faithfully and conscienciously He was a spiritual powerful consciencious Preacher he preached by his Life for as Erasmus saith we should not only love to speak truths but we should digest truths on our own hearts before we commend them to others and so they will be the more effectual He was a man of a very meek sweet and humble spirit a man of great humility and of great meekness in the midst of great abilities which was a great ornament in him a man full of tenderness and condescension to others a man of a very yeilding and melting frame of spirit soon dissolved into tears It was the saying of one that a good man is full of tears so this good man was full of tears not affected but very real and hearty drawn from the fullness of his Spirit as the Apostle Paul saith he served the Lord in much humility and many tears This was remarkable that in these times our Reverend Brother was full of tears in delivering his doctrine which was sutable to the age we live in being full of sin and calamity there is much need of a bewailing spirit to bewail the iniquities and miseries of the times they that cannot bewail themselves need the tears of others He was a man of great integrity and single-heartedness in his exhortations he had much of the simplicity of Christ as the Apostle Paul speaks In reference to the Ministry he had no worldly and base affections he had no carnal designs therein but his chief design was to bring souls home to Christ that was his chief business As the Apostle saith of himself may also be said of him that in simplicity and godly sincerity be had his conversation in the world not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully but by the manifestation of the truth commending himself to every mans conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4.2 He was a man that had ability to speak a word in season he was very compassionate to wounded spirits he himself having been much afflicted He was a man much in communion with God and had much acquaintance with God and was careful in improvement therein he was a Jacob in wrestling with God a Moses that stood in the gap an Elijah that prayed earnestly the whole land was the better for such a person being much with God he made many addresses to him and had much holy familiarity with him And as in his publick performances he was very faithful and beneficial so in his family and private he was very fruitful and serious In a word not to multiply much in this kind you need it less in this Auditory but onely by way of grateful memorial there was much of God and Christ in him and he was a great example to his fellow servants there was much of his Treasure spoken of in the Text in this earthen Vessel as in the matter of it he was one of a Gospel spirit and in the conveyances of it he had great abilities for the work of the Ministry and discharged it with a great deal of success As he had this treasure in an earthen vessel so his vessel his frail body was no disparagement to him but the advancement of the treasure in setting forth the power to be of God his outward man was much weak and worn away but his inward man was upheld by the grace of God His first work in the Ministry was in that place where my self have relation to he was an assistant to my Predecessor being then past labour Mr. Richard Couder and performed the work so well that he was exceedingly beloved of Mr. Couder and well beloved of the Parish and other places He left a good impression behind and I found good effects by the foundation there laid The Apostle Paul indeed desired not to work there where another had laid the foundation but I thought it a great advantage that the foundation was laid by such a Master-builder He was called into the Country to Rugby in Warwickshire there he continued very fruitful and did much good For some occasion he removed and returned into the City and came into this place where he continued about 18 or 19 years discharged the work of the Lord carefully I need not say much of his carriage in this place I appeal to your own consciences I may say of this servant of Christ as the Apostle Paul said of himself 1 Thess 2.10 11. Ye are his witnesses and God also how holily and justly and unblameably he behaved himself among you as you know how he exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a father doth his children that ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory Therefore there lies an engagement upon you to walk answerable to the truths he delivered and to follow his steps considering the end of his conversation I shut up all in the words of the Apostle Paul to the Philippians ch 4.9 Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in him Do and the God of Peace shall be with you FINIS
Gospel are conveyed this is agreeable to what went before Some false Teachers in Corinth pleased themselves with eloquent and enticing words of worldly wisdom and so endeavoured to render Pauls preaching despicable in regard of the plainness of it therefore saith the Apostle we have this treasure in earthen vessels h. e. familiar conveyances that so we may easily understand it Thus I have explained this Earthen Vessel and so have done with the first considerable part viz. the dispensation it self This Treasure we have in Earthen Vessels I come now to the second viz. II. The account of this Dispensation That the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us Which words may be considered two wayes 1. Either absolutely as lying in themselves Or 2. Connexively to the words before going 1. Take them absolutely as they lie in themselves and two things are exhibited 1. The excellency of the Gospel and Ministry it self called Power 2. The Author and Original of it laid down two ways positively of God and negatively not of us 1. The excellency of the Gospel and Ministry thereof called Power There is a great deal of power and efficecy in the Gospel 't is in its nature powerful and efficacious so the Ministry of it Rom. 1.16 I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth See 1 Cor. 2.4 Paul's preaching was in the demonstration of the Spirit and of Power c. 'T is called the Arm of God's Power the sword of the Spirit Eph. 6.17 'T is quick and powerful and sharper then any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit c. Heb. 4.12 and many other places We may conceive it to be so according to the various effects and consequences of it viz. as to 1. Conviction 2. Coversion 3. Consolation 1. 'T is powerful in regard of conviction 't is a word of conviction and one part of the Work of the Ministry is by the Spirits co-operation to convince the world of sin to open mens eyes to shew them the vileness of their wayes to discover such courses to be sinful the Conscience is awakened by the Spirit in the Ministry of the Word herein 't is powerful and efficacious There are divers instances in Scripture how powerful the Word hath been in point of conviction in Foelix the Apostle Paul preached to him of righteousness and judgement to come c. He trembles The Judge on the Bench trembleth at the Word delivered by the Prisoner at the Bar Sa powerful is the Ministry of the Word as to discover our sinfulness So the Disciples going to Emans their hearts burnt within them when our Saviour opened to them the Prophets c. So it was with St. Peters Auditors Acts 2. they were pricked in the heart when they heard tha he did preach to them in the power and demoustration of the spirit and plainly discovered that sin that they were more especially guilty of and when they heard that they were pricked in the heart c. 2. It is a word of Conversion also Conviction is one thing and Conversion is another Sometimes men may be convinced but yet have no change wrought in them therefore conversion is another work it is a turning men from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God c. to receive an inheritance among them that are sanctified Herein is the Word powerful viz. in regeneration I have begotten you by the Word to a lively hope c. of his own will hath he begotten you c. 3. It is a word of comfort and consolation it is a powerful word and able to comfort the heart and the Ministry is very effectual herein when set on by the Spirit to quiet satisfie and pacific the consciences of men which declareth the remission of sin and whosoevers sins are forgiven must needs be comforted Indeed it is not in the power of men to forgive sint yet they can speak a word of comfort in season by the administration of the promises the Spirit of God going along with them and then they are not only declarative but operative Where I say it pleaseth God to bless and sanctifie the Word it is effectual for the quieting of the mind for pacifying of the conscience and setling of the troubled soul Thus you see how powerful the Ministry is and seeing it is so this should teach us how to behave our selves under it it is powerful in it self and powerful in its dispensation and hath none of that weakness mentioned before of the dispenser of it I was with you saith S. Paul in much weakness and in fear and intrembling 1 Cor. 2.3.4 and my speech was in demonstration of the Spirit and of power These may seem to be contradictory but 't is answered the Word is powerful in the demonstration of the Spirit though delivered by one of humane weakness as before is declared This spiritual power we should look at and labour after which power doth not consist in matter of elocution the enticing words of mans wisdom nor in matter of voice which indeed is a good thing and sutable to the nature of the matter a quick and powerful delivery is of great efficacie and power for the setting home of truths Yet this doth not make a powerful Ministry for a whisper in the ear may cause a thunderbolt in the conscience the power lies first in the nature of the matter the matter consists in the nature and condition of mankinde the certainty of judgment the necessity of Christ the covenant of Grace and the graces and priviledges thereof c. These carry a great deal of power and efficacie with them when they are carefully and frequently dispensed and Gods spirit going along with them so they become powerful for the Ministry consists not in empty notions and speculations that will only tickle the sancie but never reach the conscience Moral discourses though they be of great use yet if we rest in them they leave us as they found us Evangelical truths which are manifold are to be delivered in the Ministry Now as the matter of the Ministry must be powerful so the expressions must be powerful there should be sutableness of expression to the matter h. e. with gravity sobriety affection c. Strong lines make but weak preaching and take away the efficacie but delivering truths in the demonstration of the spirit and in power that is most effectual when we speak feelingly and from our hearts it comes then through the blessing of the Lord with it with power This is then to learn us of the Ministry viz. 1. Use Let us be careful that the matter of our Ministry be powerful so that the handling and dispensing thereof be powerful that so it may come home to the conscience thus we should deal with all the words of the wise are as goads and as nails fastned by the Masters
will know what affliction is both in the nature of it and the comforts of it and God's gracious assistance therein and so they may speak comfortably and be enabled to comfort others as the Apostle Paul speaks 3. God is pleased so to order it sometimes for their humiliation to keep them low that so they may not be lifted up by reason of extraordinary manifestations and impartments thus St. Paul had given him a thorn in the flesh that Messenger of Satai to buffet him lest he should be exalted above measure 2 Cor. 12.7 A thorn was given him c. 't is twice repeated both in the beginning and end of the verse that so this thorn in the flesh might keep out pride in the heart that so they may have a more low meek and humble frame of spirit and thereby fitted and prepared for greater services And 4. That they may be also more conformable to those they have to deal with Israel desires Moses to speak to them and not God why because he was like unto them and would therefore compassionate them from whom they therefore desired to receive the commands of God Thus it pleaseth God to deal with his servants that as they may pity those they have to deal with so likewise to draw the affections of their people unto them to make them more loving and the more to attend on their Ministry seeing they are so fleeting and going away it pleased God that Epaphroditus should be sick even to death to endear the Philippians more to him chap. 2.25.28 that their love and tenderness may be drawn forth the more by the discovery of his frailty Let us improve this Use 1. First as to Ministers see how the condition is with us in our Calling We are Earthen Vessels taken out of dust We should often consider our frailty to make us more humble more meek and more compassionate to others more diligent in doing good that we may make amends for our frailty and natural weakness that are upon us We must not think much of it it being no more then in former times it was the condition of the Apostles themselves they were Earthen Vessels they had such weaknesses upon them men subject to the like passions as we Use 2. Secondly As for the people this they may improve in all the notions and considerations of an Earthen Vessel First In regard of the meanness you must not esteem the gospel according to the vessel according to the disparagement of the Vessel a Vessel of dishonor in respect of its matter may be a Vessel of honor in regard of the gold that is in it those Members of the body that are weak and in themselves less honorable we afford a great deal of honor upon them in decking and cloathing them So the Ministers Work and Employment and the Doctrines they bring are excellent and of great use when all is done we have that we serve for according to the employment we are put to we are honorable though outwardly â—â—ean Wicked and base men are called filij terrae they are sâ—… of the earth Job 30.8 Children of fools yea children of base men they are viler then the earth i. e. Men of no account as one saith the earth groans under such ingracious persons but gracious persons are Vessels of honor as it was said of the giants of old so it may be said of these They are men of Renown and so we should esteem of them Worldly men look at the outside and so esteem of them so was Christ dealt with Is not this the Carpenters Son So those Teachers in Corinth endeavoured to render St. Paul his presence weak and his speech contemptible 2 Cor. 10.11 that so they might make his Ministry contemptible also But this glorious Treasure is in Earthen Vessels You know saith St. Paul Gal. 4.13 that through infirmity of the flesh I preached the Gospel unto you at first This was their commendation v. 14. But my temptation which was in my flesh you despised not nor rejected but received me as an Angel of God even as Christ Jesus All his weaknesses and what ever was matter of discouragement they did not despise but honourably entertained him even as Christ himself So it was the commendation of the Thessalonians 1 Thess 2.13 that they received not the word as the word of man but as it is in truth the word of God looking to the mighty God to make it effectuall so should all others do upon this consideration 2. Seeing Ministers are earthen Vessels in regard of moral infirmities which adhere to them in respect of their corruptions and weaknesses judge of them as men but esteem of what is righteous in them though they have great advantages against sin and be very careful against sin yet notwithstanding they are not totally exempted and freed from sin as they are Ministers so they are men 3. In regard that Ministers are earthen Vessels in respect of their frailty Seeing then they are so frail and transitory therefore accordingly you should make use of them deal kindly and affectionately with them in that they are quickly broken What is sooner broken then a Glass or an earthen vessel Ministers are quickly taken away and therefore you should be tender of them while you have them Where are all the Fathers Do the Prophets live for ever the Word of the Lord indeed indureth for ever but the Preacher of it doth not the Gospel is eternal but the Dispenser is mortal the Calling is lasting but the Minister is transitory and therefore you should carry your selves With all tenderness and respect to them take heed of grieving their spirits seeing they are so soon broken Endeavour also to improve by them and to get as much good as you can by them It is a great argument to work while it is day because the night comes when no man can work whilst God affords means and opportunities make use of them we are but passengers therefore this is a great ground for you to endeavor to get all the good you can by your Ministers seeing they are frail Lastly By way of improvement Take notice of the ways of God as different from mans God puts excellent treasure into Earthen Vessels we keep treasures in strong holds in the strongest Repositories God's wayes are not as our wayes he goes another way then we do he makes use of the poorest meanest and most frail creatures sometimes he lays aside many times men of greater abilities parts and quality and makes use of weaker to do this great Work Chrysostome makes an expostulation If it be excellent treasure why in earthen vessels Therefore it is a Vessel of Earth because an excellent Treasure Thus Gods ways are unsearchable This is the improvement Now besides this interpretation given of it there is another that will not be impertinent Some understand by Earthen Vessels the expressions words and phrases of the Ministry through which the doctrines and truths of the
of assemblies c. Eccl. 12.11 So our words should have a force and power in them This as the Apostle says is mighty and powerful to the beating down of strong holds c. Use 2. Secondly in reference to hearers seeing the Ministry is powerful you must then submit your selves to the power of it Many people are Sermon proof and think to stand it out against the power of the Word but if it comes in power to the conscience they will not be able to resist it as it is said of them in the Gospel they were not able to resist the spirit by which he spake viz. Stephen And for those that desire the conversion of others what course should be taken by them for that end but by good counsel instruction prayer and good example to endeavour to convince them and more especially to bring them to the Word and administrations thereof which God hath sanctified for this end So much for the excellency of the Gospel viz. The excellency of the power c. I come to the second 2. The Author of it 1. Positively it is of God And 2. Negatively it is not of us First positively it is of God and that in all the considerations of it in the full extent of it it is of God So the Ministerial gifts the performances of it and the success of it are all from God First Ministerial gifts are from God it is he that makes us able Ministers of the New Testament there are saith the Apostle Paul diversity of gifts to one is given the Word of wisdom to another the Word of knowledge by the same Spirit c. 1 Cor. 12.4,5,6 It is God that bestows every good gift Secondly The performance also is from God his grace concurs and assists therein the habit and the act are both from him God gives gifts to men and he enables them to dispence them Ministerial employments are not only for general but particular applications and so need not only general but particular assistances That I might be enabled saith St. Paul to fulfil the work c. the Lord stood by me and strengthened me that my preaching might be fully accomplished It is God that makes the work powerful efficacious and successful Alas when we have used our best endeavours all the success is from him he must make it effectual it is said our Saviour went about doing good for God was with him enclining him to the work and assisting him therein So he is with all his servants their gifts employments and success thereof are all of God not of us Obj. But it may be objected Is all from God and nothing from us Are we not said to concur with him and is not then the power partly ours Ans I answer No 't is of God and not of us we are indeed subjects of the Ministry the Recipients thereof persons employed in the Work and therefore are said to be workers together with God 2 Cor. 6.1 but the power and efficacy thereof is from God alone Paul and Apollo are but Ministers 't is God that giveth the blessing 't is not of us in two respects 1. 'T is not merited by us 't is not of our deserving nor of our procuring 1 'T is not of our deserving the best most accomplisht do not merit it I received mercy saith Paul to be faithful he accounted it a mercy to be employed and to be faithful therein 2. 'T is not of our own procuring we do not obtain it by our own power as Peter said in the recovery of the lame man It is not by any power and holiness of ours that this man is restored c. and so it is not our gifts and industry onely that will make our Ministry powerful and therefore in this Work let us be looking up to God and desire him to assist us as Moses said If thou goest not O Lord up with us wherefore should we go hence so say I If the presence of God be not with us what can we do And further when we do partake of any measure of ability see where we must determinate it Not unto us Lord not unto us but unto thy Name be all the glory We must not sacrifice to our own net nor give the honor to our own industry but wholly give the praise to God because the excellency is of God 2. But in the second place if you look upon the words reflexively or as having their connexion to the words going before and so they will agree and hold together and thus you may read them Therefore is this Treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the Power may be acknowledg'd to be of God and not of us If it were in Angels or had we never so strong bodies yet the excellency of the power of God would not be so clearly seen as it is now being laid up in poor frail Vessels Here 's the power of God here 's the lustre and glory of God most manifested for so much the more apparently it will be seen to be from God by so much the weaker the instrument is that is employed by God therefore if any thing doth act beyond its own power it must have some forreign powers for the producing such and such acts therefore when we see any great matte done by poor frail and contemptible persons of earthen vessels this doth plainly shew the excellency of the power to be of God and not of men therefore look from man to God it is God that doth these things we should overlook earthen Vessels we should I say overlook men that are these earthen vessels and look to God that makes the Ministry powerful in such conveyences as these are Furthermore It may satisfie us of the Ministry in that we are Vessels viz. men of frailty c. we are apt to be discouraged and to think hardly that we are followed with so many weaknesses that we have a hard matter that when we have taken such pains in the work of the Ministry we should be thus rewarded but this should satisfie us the more weakness in us the greater honor will come to Christ This Treasure we have in earthen Vessels that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us The weaker the Vessel the more honor will redound to Christ Furthermore this may take off the servants of Christ from unwillingness unto those works and performances which God calls them unto by reason of their weakness Thus it is when God calls to any work or employment the servants of God are apt to plead their own inability Moses sayes he is not eloquent Jeremiah sayes he is a child Jonah sayes he is a man of unclean lips Thus we have their delayes their excuses whereby they endeavour to discharge themselves from that Work that God calls them to by their own weakness c. but God refuses such excuses for who makes the blind to see the dumb to speak but God It is he that