and blindnesse before our effectual calling and conversion and by day our estate of illumination and grace after our conversion Let us therefore saith the Apostle cast off the workes of darknesse Sin may be called workes of darkenesse 1. Because for the most part they proceed from the ignorance of Gods will not revealed to such as are yet unconverted Thus Paul saith That the Gentiles walked in the vanities of their minde having their understandings darkened Eph. 4.18 being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that was in them and did men know the dangers that follow sinners they would be more wary of their wayes yea doubtlesse we may say when we see men run headlong into fin that either they see not what they do which is pitiful or else that they wilfully winke and will not see which is much more perilous 2. Sins may be called workes of darknesse because they be for the most part done in the darke and the doers of them still delight to be in the dark and are ashamed that their doings should be brought to light for what Job saith of one sinner Job 24.15 saying The eye of the Adulterer waiteth for the twilight saying No eye shall see me and disguiseth his face Our Saviour affirmeth to be true of all sin and every sinner saying Joh. 3.20 that every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light least his deeds should be reproved or 3. Because they are evermore suggested to us either by Satan himself the Mint-master of all mischief the Prince of darknesse or by some of his wicked instruments that be Amici Curiae Proctours Factours and sollicitours of that black Prince in his Court of darknesse 4. Because they carry those that live and die in them into Hell the place of utter darknesse Let us then that are enlightned with the true light cast off the workes of darknesse and put on the armour of light that is have our conversation suitable to our profession The Gospel is the day Christ is the light Luther in Rom. Faith is the eye which apprehendeth this light therefore seeing the day is come and the light shineth let us walk as in the day and in the light the eye of faith and the foot of obedience which two concurring make an holy life are called armour of light they be called armour because thereby we may defend our selves from the fiery darts of the devil Eph. 6.16 and they be called armour of light for three causes 1. Because they proceed from the Father of lights James 1.17 2. Because they make them that wear this armour shine like lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation Phil. 2.15 3. Because like true bred Eagles they abide the light and need neither care nor fear who looks upon them as our Saviour telleth us He that doth the truth Joh. 3.21 cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God viz. according to his will revealed in his Word 1. Get in a lightsome principle therefore into your hearts look that the light that is in you be not darknesse do not act by mens courses and by precedents from others but get a principle of light within to guide thee in all thy actions 2. Let all thy aimes also be full of light labour in all your actions to approve your selves to God and above all things aim at his glory To have low ignoble and base endes is not to act as a childe of light but to have high glorious and supernaturall endes and aimes to confide in his word to trust in his mercy to rest upon his grace to stay upon his power and faithfulnesse to adhere to his promises to sanctifie the Lord in your hearts to glorifie his Name to praise him for his goodnesse to be zealous for his glory to walke in the light of his countenance and to have communion with him in all holy ordinances these are the ends that become the children of light 3. See that thou walke by a lightsome rule let the Word of God be your rule let the Word be a lampe Psal 119.105 or candle to your feet and a light unto your paths all our deviations and aberrations from the light of this bright-shining candle are dark steps or steps into darknesse when men walke by a lightsome rule their actions are full of light Let us then walke decently as in the day abhorring all workes of darknesse you know discreet men in the night are carelesse of their attire not regarding what colour or stuff or fashion it be so it keep them warm because they know that the darknesse covereth both it and them but in the day time when they mean to go abroad or admit any body to see or speake with them they will be ashamed unlesse they be in some good fashion like men of their place and ranke and therefore will have their apparel beseeming men of their qualities and conditions So let knowing Christians walke as becometh Saints and avoid whatsoever is of evill report Let your light so shine before men Math. 5.16 that they may see your good workes and glorifie your heavenly Father saith our blessed Saviour Vse 4 Let me adde a use of caution 1. Art thou a man enlightned with the knowledge of God take heed how thou sinnest against the light of knowledge which God hath set up in thee to direct thee Oh the great wickednesse that is in mens hearts in these dayes the light now shineth more gloriously than it did heretofore the word is more common more frequently and powerfully taught more and better helpes to the attainment of knowledge than were in former Ages may not we demand with the Apostle Have they not heard Rom. 10.18 19. Did not Israel know Men are not ignorant or may not be ignorant what duty they owe to Gods Sabbaths what reverence to his Name what respect to his word and yet men prophane the Lords day despise their teachers contemne the Word Quo major est revetatio eo magis est cognitio quo magis c gnitio peccatum quo magis peccaum eo magis judictum Bernard and sinne against cleare light and act as if they were ignorant in the mystery of Christ and to seek in duties appertaining to God and their neighbour The sinne of such men shall be more heinous then many others whom God hath not given to know so much as he hath to them Make conscience thereof committing sinnes against conscience and of thwarting those holy rules which the Spirit of God by the preaching of his Word hath written in thy heart this makes the wayes of God to be evil spoken of and the seeking after knowledge to be condemned as the cause of all licentiousnesse when men bring scandal upon Religion by walking contrary to what they know 2. Art thou a knowing man take heed of being proud of thy
by his birth Nazareth by his education and Capernaum by his habitation and so it is called his own City Matth. 9.1 By the phrase of lifting up to heaven he meaneth that it was much in request in the eyes of the world not only by reason of her great wealth and riches but also because she had the means of knowledge and of salvation having Christ daily conversing with them and preaching to them and by her casting down to hell he meaneth that she should be abased and have her pride pluckt down in regard of her temporal estate which came to passe not long after when it was ruined by the Romans and all such her inhabitants as did reject the preaching of Christ and his messengers sent unto them were condemned and went to Hell eternally Many there are that dream of Anabaptistical revelations and I know not what kind of strange and immediate inspirings despising the publick teaching and ministry of man I know God can teach otherwise but I have no ground to think that he will he that desireth to Iodge among the wise Prov. 5.31 let him prepare his eare to hearken to the instruction of life saith Solomon thou maist never expect a blessing from him who is a teacher of the heart if thou despisest him whom God hath appointed to be a teacher of the Eare as the holy Scripture is the book of wisdome out of which God giveth subtilty to the simple so teaching by his Ministers is the Pipe by which this heavenly wisdom is conveyed to us from the Fountain and no man is assured by the word of God to attain this knowledge but by this course 3. All those that reject prayer which is a seeking of God for a blessing upon the means whereby knowledge might be acquired The Psalmist saith that the Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God Psal 14.3 If thou criest after knowledge and liftest up thy voyce for understanding Prov. 2 3. c. there are many that pray not for knowledge nor for a blessing on the means of knowledg and those are such as despise knowledge Paul speaks of such as despise the Word the Ministery Prayer and the means of knowledge as if their case were desperate and saith 1 Cor. 14.38 if any man be ignorant let him be ignorant as if he should say if any man will despise the means of knowledge and chuse to be still ignorant let him be ignorant to his own perill be it he will run through inner darknesse to utter darknesse I fear brethren that the commonnesse of the word and of preaching hath bred the contempt thereof I read that when Elephants were first brought into Asia and two of them brought and presented to King Antiochus he made great account of them and held them in high esteem calling the one Ajax and the other Achilles but in processe of time growing common in the countrey by reason of their traffick into those places whence they came notwithstanding they were of no lesse use then they were before Nay in all likelihood of more because they were better acquainted with the use of them and knew better how to mannage them yet because they were common they contemned them and called them Lucanian oxen So doubtlesse the word of God in the dayes of our fore-fathers in this nation when the light of Gods truth first brake out of that grosse darknesse of Popery it was highly esteemed and the godly Ministery and Preachers of the word were valued as precious jewels but now it is just an hundred years that we have had the Gospel among us this very year 1658. therefore it is as odious and loathsome as it is common but did men know the worth of it they would not despise the means of knowledge Repr 3 This may reprove such as go about to hinder and discourage others from getting knowledge such as will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven themselves nor suffer others how many sottish and wicked Parents will discourage their children from reading the Scriptures and frequenting Sermons they will not get knowledge themselves nor suffer their children how many Masters will not allow their servants one hour in a week to hear a Lecture but cry to them as Pharaoh to the Israelites when they spake of going out to serve the Lord ye are idle ye are idle and so encrease their tasks many ignorant Masters are well contented with ignorant servants with an ignorant family like themselves wicked wretches that are wholly led by the Prince of darknesse do labour to hinder others from attaining the light of saving knowledge Thus when Sergius Paulus a prudent man called for Paul and Barnabas defiring to be instructed by them in the knowledge of Christ Elymas the sorcerer withstood them seeking to turn away the Deputy from the faith Acts 13.8 and for this the hand of God was upon him the Lord smote him with corporal who laboured to keep others in spiritual blindnesse verse 11. and after the stubborn Jews had rejected the word the Apostles turne from them to the Gentiles yet then the Jews stirred up devout and honourable women and the chief men of the City and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them out of their coasts verse 50. and for this very cause the Apostle saith 1 Thess 2.16 they filled up their sins and the wrath of God comes upon them to the uttermost Vse 3 If ignorance be the chief cause of a peoples destruction then suffer the word of exbortation Let us all labour after knowledge that we may be men of knowledge Prov. 10 14. wise men will lay up knowledge saith Solomon or store it up as the covetous man layes or storeth up his bags of silver and gold Wisdom is the principal thing Prov. 4.7 therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting get understanding many men spend so much of their time about getting of the world that they can find little or no time to get wisdom and knowledge they see the want of riches as they think but they see not the want of spiritual knowledge Diogenes had a pretty answer to some that askt him why Philosophers rather followed rich men then rich men Philosophers why that is no marvaile at all said he for Philosophers know that they want rich mens wealth but rich men will not acknowledge that they want Philosophers wisdome Job 11 11 Most men hate the imputation of ignorance vain man would be wise so pleasing a thing is knowledge to reasonable creatures not too much degenerated and though men run a course tending to ignorance and errour yet they hate the imputation of ignorance as a thing very reproachfull and yet some such monsters there are that care not to acquire any more knowledge then is necessary to the keeping up of a poor sottish and halfe-brutish kind of life and for God
they know him not nor do they care to know him and if you speak of God to them they presently cry out like Pharaoh who is the Lord Let therefore both ministers and people labour to be filled with knowledge 1. But especially the Ministers of the Gospel should be knowing men A Minister must not be like young Samuel 1 Sam. 3.4 who knew not the voyce of the Lord from Elies when the Lord called him nor like Ahimaaz that would needs run to carry the King newes from the Camp but when he came knew nothing every Scribe that is instructed unto the Kingdom of God is like an householder that bringeth forth of his treasury things both new and old Matth. 13.52 Ministers must be knowing men 2. Because they are to be lights to others therefore are they called the light of the world they are to give the knowledg of salvation to Gods people Mat. 5.14 Luke 1.77 as Zachary prophesied of John Baptist by giving of knowledge is not meant infusing of knowledge for this is proper to God alone but to give notice or make to understand so they are said to give knowledge instrumentalitèr organicè as they are said to give faith 1 Cor. 1.5 and to confirm men in the faith Acts 14.22 he that will draw disciples to Christ and prepare their hearts for him he must be acquainted with the Scriptures and able out of them to instruct his people in the knowledge of salvation Job 33.23 Ministers are Gods Embassadours and therefore must be able to treat of the affaires of the holy state they must be able to publish the secrets of the Gospel Isa 50.4 Eph. 6.19 they must have the tongue of the learned to know how to minister a word in season to a wearied soule his lip◠must preserve or be a store-house of knowledge and Elihu saith such a messenger or interpreter is but one of a thousand and Paul saith quis ad haec idoneus who is sufficient for these things not quisquis but quis Therefore the Holy Ghost at the Feast of Pentecost fell upon the Apostles in fiery cloven tongues Acts 2.3 In linguis in omni genere linguarum faecundi essent to furnish them with zeale and knowledge to instruct all Nations in tongues that they might be eloquent in all manner of tongues and in fiery tongues that they might be inflamed with zeal if Christ had only given his Apostles cloven tongues and not fiery tongues also then should they have been full of knowledge but voyd of zeale if fiery tongues only and not cloven they should have abounded with zeale but not according to knowledge Vt fervor discretionem erigat discretio fervorem regat Bern. serm 23. in Cant. Pecoris ignorantia est pastoris ignominia Hieron but Christ who knew what was best in every respect sent down the spirit both in fiery and cloven tongues that they might have the tongue of the learned and shew themselves men of God perfectly instructed to every good work that their zeal might raise their discretion and discretion govern their zeal One saith that Luthers zeal and courage with Melancton's discretion joyned with Calvin's eloquence would make an excellent preacher Every Minister must be willing and able to teach for the ignorance of the flock is the reproach of the Pastor if it be his fault especially A Minister is to teach like a man of knowledge his mouth must speak of wisdom Psal 49.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he must warn and teach in all wisdom Col. 1.28 knowledge and much wisdom is requisite to a Minister 1. In the choyce of a fit matter a Minister must teach non inepta futilia not with philosophical speculations Jerem. 23.28 lying legends and frierly fables for what is Chasse to the wheat saith the Lord his doctrine must be like fire full of light to dispell the darknesse of ignorance by enlightening the minds of his hearers with the saving knowledge of Gods truth and full of heat to enflame their affections with the zeal of Gods glory the word of God must onely be taught by him nec aliud 1 Tim. 3. nec aliter he must teach no other doctrine If we were to deal with the Heathen we might use humane testimony to convince them as Paul doth Acts 17 28. Titus 1.12 but yet sparingly The main scope of the ministery is to preach sound doctrine Scripturararum mamillas dum durius presserunt sanguinem pro lacte biberunt August and for this much knowledge is requisite for the right opening of the Scriptures that they may no◠mingle gold and drosse wheat and chaffe together of which dealing an Ancient saith of hereticks the harder they suckt and drew the breasts of the Scriptures the more they drunk down blood instead of milk 2. In respect of the manner of his preaching knowledge is requisite for 1. A Minister is not rashly to run upon the handling of holy things without deliberation and due premeditation and preparation his heart must be first enditing of ◠good matter before his tongue can be th◠Pen of a ready writer whether in Sermons Psal 45. disputations or the like A grave Divine said Deering Lect. 27. in Hebr. it were better men had neither tongues in their heads nor parts in their bodies then so boldly and busily many times to employ them in rash reasoning about Election Predestination and the sin against the Holy Ghost without serious consideration and mature deliberation and the second part of Arch-Bishop Cranmer's Preface before the Church-Bible is for the most part spent in reproving such persons so also the 37. injunction apointed to be publiquely read in Queen Elizabeths time for want of this wisdom and discretion men many times wrangle about what they understand not like two men meeting together the one would be of Doctor Martins and the other of Doctor Luthers opinion who were both one and the same 2. As the scope of the ministery is to preach the word purely Caeci Caecorum duces Matth. 14. so to apply it powerfully to the consciences of men therefore he must not be like Pope Bonifaces Priests no Clerks nor as our Saviour speaks of some that are blind leaders of the blind a Minister must sometimes be a Boanerges a son of thunder in denouncing the dreadful threatnings of the law against obstinate sinners and sometimes a Barnabas a son of consolation in pronouncing the sweet and comfortable promises of the Gospel to the broken hearted penitent he must be able likewise by sound doctrine both to exhort and convince gainsayers Tit. 1 9. Mark 12.34 he must be able to resolve doubts and to answer questions therefore our Saviour commended the Scribe for answering wisely or discreetly he must likewise deliver the word with authority and gravity now to all these purposes wisdom and much knowledge is requisite in a Minister of the word 3. Ministers
this running after Sermons and reading and studying of the Scriptures if we can but say our Belief and the Lords Prayer and the ten Commandements we know as much as we need to know and as much as all the preachers of the world can tell us and we know and are told that if we can but love God with all our hearts and our neighbours as our selves it is enough and this we are instructed in and what need we to know any more Resp If a man should speak of any Art or Science in the world and should discourse of the great skill and long experience that is requisite to make a man a proficient in this or that Science and another man that standeth by should say tush it is nothing but to go and do such a thing would not such a person be an object of derision to those that should hear him for it is not unknown though this or that be the summe of every Art and Trade yet in every Science there are some particular mysteries which are not so quickly learnt and put in practice which a man must understand before he can be an ingenious Artist if he have not skill in such a mystery his labour will be without successe as his undertaking was rash and inconsiderate so in the businesse of Religion we must be acquainted with the mysteries of godlinesse there are profunda Dei Spiritus the deep things of God and of the Spirit and though to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbour as our selves be the summe of the moral precepts yet it is necessary that we have a more particular knowledge then the knowledge of these generals that we know the particular branches of the mystery of godlinesse without which we shall neither love God with all the heart nor our neighbour as we ought if thou wilt learn a trade thou must first understand the rules and principles of it and every particular branch belonging to every mystery so if thou wilt have any understanding in the mystery of Christ thou must be acquainted with the rules and grounds of spiritual understanding 2 Pet. 1.8 so thou shalt neither be barren nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of Christ Object 6 Some are ready further to object that God is not easily known the Scripture tells us that no man hath seen God at any time John 1.18 and no man hath seen him nor can see him and God is often said in Scripture to hide his face how then can he be known by such poor creatures as we are Resp We cannot know Gods Essence here in respect of the manner of his being thus no man hath seen him at any time or can see him for when Moses desired God to shew him the fulnesse of his glorious Majesty God tels him the granting his request would be very hurtful to him Exod. 33.10 for saith he there shall no man see me and live the weaknesse of mans fraile nature cannot bear the infinite glory of the divine presence but is swallowed up with the transcendent lustre of the heavenly Majesty even as we see the sight of the eye to be dazzeled with the brightnesse of the Sunne shining in his strength or a Chrystall glasse to be broken in pieces with the strong operation of the fire but yet there is much of God that may be seen and known as the Lord tels Moses Exod. 33.22 I will put thee saith he in the cleft of a rock and I will cover thee with my hand when I passe by after I will take away my hand and thou shalt see my back-parts but my face shall not be seen where God speaks to us of himself as of a man having face and back shewing us hereby that it is impossible for any man in this mortality to know the nature and being of the most high We know God here but in part like the sight of a man in transitu as he passeth along by us whose face we discern not whose back-parts onely we do behold the more exact knowledge of him is reserved for that time 1 Joh 3.2 when being changed into his likenesse we shall see him as he is even face to face but yet much of God may be seen and known in this life which he calleth his back parts his wisdom goodnesse mercy grace his long-suffering his faithfulnesse and truth his slownesse to anger being provoked daily by the sins of men his readinesse to pardon iniquity transgression and sin these back-parts of Jehovah are clearly revealed in the word And when God is said in Scripture to hide his face from his people it is not that we should not see him but that we should the more earnestly seek after him the Lord is willing to be known unto any that have a mind to know him God takes no delight in hiding himself from us but is willing to open and manifest himself to us God stands not upon State as some great Princes do that seldom shew themselves but think their presence and converse lesseneth their respect the more we know man the more we shall understand his errours and imperfections as well as his excellencies but the more we know God the more we shall â—dmire him none admire him so much as the holy Angels that see most of him Matth. 18.10 that alwayes behold the face of our Father which is â—n heaven therefore the Lord hides not himself as though he were unwilling to be known but he desireth to be known by us â—e bids us seek his face therefore if we do â—ot know the Lord the cause is not in God but in our selves that we are not willing to know him nor desirous of his acquaintance Object 7 Ignorant persons are ready further to object and say What though we be ignorant yet God is a mercifull God and his mercie is over all his works and therefore we hope to find mercy from God notwithstanding he that made us will surely save us Resp Let such poor souls see what the Prophet Isaias saith to them Isai 27.11 It is a people of no understanding therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour if thou art ignorant under the means of knowledge thou art wilfully ignorant therefore he that made thee will not save thee c. God will not be mercifull to men because they are ignorant what then will he do to them Prov. 30.31 you may read it at large Prov. 1. For that they hated knowledge and did not chuse the feare of the Lord they would none of my counsell they despised all my reproof therefore shall they eat the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices But they are ready farther to say Christ dyed and we hope to have some benefit by the death of Jesus Christ for he came into the world to save sinners I answer No. You are like to have no