Vertue very requisite for a Minister who hath to doe with all sorts of men some are dull some froward some weak some wayward so that without patience there is no good to be done 'T is for Pusillanimons spirits to be alwayes murmuring complaining and seeking revenge The weakest Creatures are most Vindicative But noble Heroicke Spirits passe by Offences contemne Contemners and are silent under the greatest pressures They are prudent men and so are patiently silent under Gods afflicting hand Amos 3.5.13 See the various acceptation of this Text in Caril Iob 13.5 page 367. 'T was a good Answer of Chrysostome to Eud xa the Empresse if the Queen saith he will banish me let her banish me the earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof If she will saw me asunder Let her doe it Isay suffered as much yea if she will throw me into the Sea I will yet remember Ionah This is an Ornament of great worth not onely in the sight of man but also of God 1 Peter 3 4. without it we are unfit for duty as the troubled Sea unfit for voyage Without it we double and increase our burthens like a wilde Bull in a net or the untamed Heifer we may gall our necks but never break the yoke Without Patience no Grace is perfect Faith hath but halfe its strength and hope is feeble Iames 1.4 By our Patience we please God displease the Devil rejoyce the Angels and many times melt and convert our enemies by this means we heap coals of conversion or coals of confusion upon their heads Romans 12.20 This will keep us good in a bad condition so that a man enjoyes himself when he hath nothing else and though he have nothing yet is as one that possesseth all things The consideration of this made Tertullian to cry Farewell all so I may but get patience Now that we may attain it 1. Get Knowledge that will help to answer Objections and Doubts and so quiets the soul. 2. Get Humility Pride breeds impatiency but this will make us quietly to submit our wills to Gods Will. God is the Potter and we are his Clay We must be content to be raised or ruined made or marred according as he pleaseth 3. Get Faith this breeds Patience Romans 5.2 3. 4. Get love it endureth all thing and makes hard things easie 1 Corinthians 13.7 For Patience See Robinsons Essayes Observ. 35. Ames CC. Lib. 3. Cap. 14. Bishop Andrews on first Comment Cap. 14. Byfield on Colossians 1.11 Master Valentines Sermon on Zeph. 3.8 Preach't 1643. December 28. Churches Miscel. Page 122. Master Samuel Fisher on Psalm 39.9 Doctor Preston on Iames 4.7 Drexelius Gymnasium Patientiae See 16. Reasons to move us to Patience in Master Youngs Counterpoyson against grief Chapter 17. And Master Francis Rous Art of Happinesse Chapter 10. VERSE 11. Persecutions afflictions which came to me at Antioch at Iconium at Lystra what persecutions I endured but out of them all the Lord delivered me THere are two things which doe usually much trouble the Ministers of the Gospel 1. The swarms of false Teachers and Seducers 2. The persecutions which they meet with from such Against the former the Apostle comforts us Vers. 9. against the latter in this Verse where he shewes what persecutions and afflictions he cheerfully underwent for the Gospels sake that so he might animate and excite Timothy to a prudent expectation and patient enduring of the like and withall he tells him How the Lord delivered him out of all In this Verse we have first Pauls sufferings set down in the lump in general q. d. Thou knowest what persecutions I endured and how I was chased from place to place Thou knowest what storms and tempests were raised against me both by Jews and Gentiles by Grecians and Barbarians by Princes and People by open enemies and false Brethren by violence and deceit seeking my ruine 2. The better to arm Timothy he tells him what afflictions he endured both Internal and External in soul and body from the world from Satan and from his own corruption The word is plural and indefinite including all manner of afflictions 1. External as Imprisonment banishment reproach hunger thirst nakednesse cold 1 Corinthians 4.11.12.13 he was oft in prisons oft in deaths five times he was scourged thrice he was beaten with rods once he was stoned thrice he suffered shipwracke c. 2 Corinthians 11.23 24 25 26 27. and 2 Corinthians 6.4 to 11. there you may see large Catalogues of his sufferings 2. As for internal afflictions and trials from sinne and Satan See what sad complaints he makes against them Romans 7. and 2 Corinthians 12.7 8. So that his life was a perpetual Warrefare he was beset with enemies within and without which put him to much sorrow and affliction 2. He descends to particulars and names the places where he suffered that he might the better record the whole History and the better work upon Timothy who was partly an eye-witnesse and partly an eare-witnesse and had heard of many of his sufferings by the relation of credible witnesses for Pauls persecutions at Antioch Iconium and Lystra are recorded Acts 13. and 14. But Timothy began not to cleave to Paul till Acts 16.2 c. Paul had suffered much in other Cities as appears in the Acts of the Apostles but he mentions his sufferings in these three Cities because Timothy had heard more of these being born at Lystra which was a neighbour City 1. Antioch and Iconium and so they were more fresh in his memory Or else because the persecutions in those places were raysed more especially by the Jewes who were more violent in persecuting Paul then the Gentiles were However the Apostle the better to animate his son Timothy puts him in mind of these particular persecutions of his that he might not faint if God should call him to like sufferings q. d. O my dear son Timothy though thou hast suffered something for Christ yet thou never hadst those trials that I have had thou never wast cast out of so many Cities nor so oft imprisoned whipt and stoned as I have been my troubles have been great and my afflictions many yet this is my comfort let it be thine also that the Lord who hath delivered me will also deliver thee out of all thy troubles and afflictions 1. Paul comes to Antioch in Pisidia not Antiâ—ch in Syria this Pisidia was a part of lesser Asia of which Antioch was the Metropolis here the believers were first called Christians Acts 11. hither came Paul and Barnabas whose Ministry finding good successe they were envied by the Jewes who expelled them out of their coasts Acts 13.14.44.45 50 51. being expelled from Antioch they go to Iconium the Metropolis of Lycaonia where many believe to the grief both of Jewes and Gentiles who with their Rulers thought to stone them which the Apostles discerning fled unto Lystra and Derbe Cities of Lycaonia Acts 14.1
doth this great Apostle here he sendeth his salutations and best respects to Aquila a Tent-maker and his wife Priscilla and is not ashamed to own them as his coadjutors Romans 16.3 The Church of Christ in this world for the most part consisteth of mean and obscure persons as appeareth by those men and women whom the Apostle saluteth Rom. 16.1 to 16. not many wise not many noble not many mighty but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and the weake to confound the mighty 1 Cor. 1.26 27. Salute Aquila Salute Priscilla Salute Onesiphorus And why so because of their Piety and Zeal for Gods glory We had doubtlesse never heard of these persons but for that 6. Observation Hence Observe Piety bringeth praise It begetteth a good name and maketh a man famous to posterity Such honour God and therefore he honoureth them and setteth an Ecce of Admiration on them Iohn 1.47 Behold an Israelite indeed What hath made Iob Nehemiah David and all the good Kings of Israel so famous to all Generations but their Piety Wicked men by fine fare fine cloaths c. may beg a little praise but Piety commandeth Esteem even from those that cannot practice it themselves The intemperate man cannot but commend the Temperate though he cannot imitate him and the time-serving Polititian cannot but commend the sincere and constant man that sticks to his Principles though himselfe like a Wethercock cannot but turn with every wind VERS 20. Erastus abode at Corinth but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sicke ERastus is a Greek name and signifieth Amiable and lovely He was Chamberlain of the City of Corinth Romans 16.23 he was one that attended on Paul when he sent with Timothie into Macedonia Acts 19.22 Whilest Paul was prisoner at Rome he did abide at Corinth as appeareth by the Text waiting on his publick Office it seemeth he was a great man the Treasurer of the City yet neither his riches nor his great place could keep him from loving the Apostle and the people of God 1. Observation Hence Observe There are some great men that are good men not many yet some 1 Corinthians 1.26 Lot and Abraham two great men and yet good men Genesis 13.2 5 6. and 24.35 So was Iob 1.3 and Zaccheus Luke 19.2 David died full of riches and honour 1 Chronicles 29.28 Nehemiah a Courtier and Cupbearer to a King yet one that feareth the God of Heaven Neh. 1. ult So in the New Testament we read of a noble Theophilus Luk 1.3 and of an Elect Lady that loved the Truth 2 Iohn 1.2 and of a Ioseph of Arimathea and Sergius that embraced the Gospel 1. The Lord hath so ordered it to stop the mouths of wicked men who are ready to say as the Pharisees Iohn 7.48 do any of the Rulers or great ones believe in him q. d. there are none that follow Christ but a few simple people and illiterate fishermen c. Yet God hath some Kings and Queens some Lords and Ladies some of the great ones and some of the fat of the earth that worship him Psalm 22.29 He hath a learned Nicodemus and Paul with an eloquent Apollos to defend his truth 2. The Lord calleth some such that they may draw on others who are apt to be led by great ones They are the Looking-glasses of the Countrey by which many dress themselves 3. For the greater conviction of wicked men when they shall have the light of such and such great men who have broke through great temptations and denied themselves many lawful liberties that they might be the fitter for Gods service when many that had not the Tythe of these Tentations and hinderances yet would not serve him 4. For the greater manifestation of Gods Almighty Power though it be a very hard thing for a rich man to be saved and with men it is impossible by reason of the many snares and impediments which lie in their way hence the Apostle telleth us that none of the Princes of this world have known Christ id est almost none very few 1 Corinthians 1.8 yet Christ can pare off this Camels bunch and so untwist this cable rope that it shall goe through the eye of a needle Trophimus have I left sick at Miletum This Trophimus was a Citizen of Ephesus a Disciple of Pauls and his companion in his travels Acts 20.4 and 21.29 Paul travelling through many places after his first imprisonment at Rome leaveth this Trophimus sick at Miletum a City in Asia not far from Ephesus famous for its wooll and cloathing Question But would not the Apostle work a miracle and so heal him as he had done other sick persons Answer It was not in the Apostles power to work Miracles when they pleased but onely when there was a necessity for the conviction or conversion of unbelievers then the Holy Ghost enabled and excited them to it Acts 3.12 2. Observation 2. Sickness may seize even on good men As they are subject to death so to sickness also which is the fore-runner of death Epiphraditus a good man whose recovery Paul so greatly rejoyced in yet was very sick and nigh unto death Phil. 2.27 and so was Paul himself 2 Cor. 1.8 Hezekiah and David two holy men yet sick of the Plague as it is conceived the Corinthians were chastned by the Lord with the same violent disease as 't is conceived that they might not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11.30 But this needs no proof for we experimentally see that all things come alike to all and sickness is the portion of good men as well as bad only the wicked are punished in wrath their sickness and pains here are but praeludia futuri judicii fore-runners of greater pains besides they are hardned and made worse by them as Pharaoh and Ahaz 2 Chron. 28.22 God rains snares on wicked men if they be in health 't is a snare to them Psal. 69.22 Prov. 1.32 if sick 't is a snare to them their sin is drawn out discovered and ripened by it 'T is Luthers Observation that after long journeyes and long sicknesses few were better Cast a stinking weed into the fire and it smelleth worse but cast a sweet Herb into the fire and it smelleth the better God punisheth the wicked as a Iudge but he correcteth his children as a Father For their good to bring them nearer to himself and to fetch home his Prodigalls which wander after the creature and to bring their sinnes to remembrance In prosperity men cannot awhile to think of their sinnes but when sicknesse cometh they shall have time enough night and day they shall have no rest by reason of their sinne We reade of some Psalms whose Titles are A Psalm to bring to remembrance So we must say of many diseases A Feaver to bring our sinnes to remembrance a Consumption to bring our sinnes to remembrance As Pharaohs Butler said sometimes I remember my sinnes
and so thou art rich Rev. 2.9 In him we are Lords of all all is yours 1 Cor. 3.21 22. though we have little in possession for present yet we have much in reversion Onely it behoves us to walk as Spiritual Kings leading Holy Heavenly Spiritual lives It is a debasement to a Christian who looks for a Crown of Glory to mind earth and to pursue these low things this is as if a King should leave his throne and go rake in a kennel or fight for bones We may well trust God for crusts who hath promised us a Crown he that hath given us his Son which is a greater gift then ten thousand worlds with him will much more give us all things Rom. 8.32 Observation 5. 5. Christians may have an eye to the recompence of reward In our race we may eye the crown which is set before us to quicken and encourage us in our course Though our work be hard yet our wages is great We shall have a sure Reward Prov. 11.18 a full Reward 2 John 8. an everlasting Reward 2 Cor. 4.17 1. That which God himself hath used as an Incentive and Motive to Obedience that we may use as a Motive and by consequence have an eye to it But God hath used Heaven and Happiness as a Motive to quicken us to obedience as appears 2 Tim. 2.12 Iames 1.12 and 5.7 Rev. 2.10 God will not be served by his creatures for nought all his precepts are backt with promises he never saies to the house of Iacob seek my face in vain Isay 45.19 2. The Servants of God have practised it Moses had an eye to the recompence of Reward yet was no mercenary man Heb. 11.26 and so had Christ who was greater then Moses Heb. 12.2 Paul had a most free and ingenuous Spirit yet he had an eye to the price of the high calling of God in Christ Philip. 3.13 14. Colos. 1.5 and David comforted himself in the midst of his conflicts with this that God would yet bring him to glory Psal. 73.24 Onely this Caution must be remembred that in all we do or suffer Gods glory must be the ultimate and primary end we look at 1 Cor. 10.31 Colos. 3.17 We must love Christ for himself and for his own excellencies and not for loaves or self-respects We are never sincere till we can serve Christ simply out of love to himself purely in obedience to his Commands onely because he requires it The Lord. Observation 6. 6. Christ is the Lord. He is God coeternal and coequal with his Father See this largely proved V. 1. Observation 7. 7. Christ is a righteous Iudge Yea righteousness it self He will give to every one according to his works His Judgment is the Judgment of God and so must needs be true and just Rom. 2.2 He is the Iudge of all the world and cannot act unrighteously Rom. 3.5 6. He may as soon cease to be as cease to be just with him is no respect of persons no power kindred gifts or greatness hath influence upon him Rom. 2.11 1 Pet. 2.17 He judgeth not according to the outward appearance and colours of things Isay 11.3 but according to the truth of every case cause Rom. 2.6 His judgment is true without errour or mistaking Rev. 19.11 Then poor afflicted oppressed ones shall be relieved Psal. 72.24 and the wicked shall not be able to stand in Judgment Psal. 1. ult God smites his hands in anger against unrighteous persons here Ezek. 22.6 7.12 13. And bars them out of his Kingdom hereafter 2 Cor. 6.9 Be Patient then my Brethren till the coming of the Lord and let the remembrance of this righteous Judge comfort thee against all unrighteous judgments which shall here pass against thee Eccles. 3.16 17. and 5.8 1 Cor. 4.3 Iames 5.7 2. Labour to resemble Christ in Righteousness As we must be perfect as he is perfect so we must be righteous as he is righteous by way of similitude though we cannot by way of equality yet in our degree and according to our measure we must resemble him having righteous Habits righteous Principles and righteous Practices God loves to meet those in wayes of mercy who are not onely Praisers but Practisers of righteousness Isay 64.5 The eye of Gods special Providence is on such Psal. 11.7 and 34.15 He will so openly and visibly reward them that even the wicked shall say Verily there is a reward for the Righteous Psal. 58.11 When Families be habitations of righteousness then they are blessed habitations and prosper Ier. 22.15 and 31. 23. This exalts a Nation Prov. 14.34 and brings peace to people Psal. 72.1 2. Isay 26.2 and 32.17 To such God will reveal his secrets Prov. 3.32 Their memorial shall be precious here Prov. 10.7 Psal. 112.6 2 Cor. 8.18 and they shall have Heaven hereafter Psal. 15.1 2. Ier. 33.15 16. The Crown of righteousness belongs to such righteous ones Matth. 11.43 and 25.46 Though the wicked may kill them yet they cannot hurt them for the righteous have hope even in death Prov. 14.32 Magistrates especially must do Justice impartially to all like Levi in this case they must know neither father nor mother Deut. 33.9 they must resemble Christ for whom they Judge who is no respecter of persons Iohn 2.4 No Star so beautiful as Justice It pleaseth God above all Sacrifices Prov. 21.3 It is a mean to stay plagues Numb 25.17 18. When Achab was stoned there was peace in Israel Iosh. 7. When Sauls sons were hanged the famine ceased 2 Sam. 21.24 It is not Cruelty but Mercy to cut off incorrigible evil doers from a land with such Sacrifices God is well pleased Shall give me Observation 8. 8. Eternal blessedness is the free gift of God Here is no fore-seen faith works merit desert but from our Election to our Salvation all free grace love and mercy Grace is the spring-head of all our mercies it is the Title page of the book of Life 1. Our Election is wholly free It is but a remnant through the Election of grace that are saved and if it be of grace then not of works else grace were no grace Rom. 11.5 6. and 9.11 18. 2. Our Vocation is of free Grace When we were dead in trespasses and sins he quickened us Ezek. 16. Ephes. 2.1 he called Abraham when he was an Idolater Iosh. 24.2 Manasses a blood-sucker Paul a persecutor it is not for any merit of ours but of his own meer goodness that he calls us 2 Thes. 1.11 2 Tim 1.9 God freely called and quickned the Ephesians 2.5 when they were dead in sins .i. Insensible Impotent and odious to God and good men by reason of their Idolatry Acts 19. And hatred of piety there is but one good man amongst them and it is said they banisht him out of their city Magick and witch-craft abounded amongst them witness those Magick books which they burnt at their conversion Acts 19.19
He doth not stand by as a meere Spectator of their conflicts but he is with them to assist them with wisedome Prudence and Courage and to strengthen them under all their burdens that they be not despondent nor sink under them That by me the Preaching might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might hear Q. d. I was strengthned by God for this end that the Gospel preached by me might be more fully and freely known to the world Rome at that time was the Queene of the world and in its most flourishing condition people flockt thither from all parts and when they heard and saw Pauls constancy and boldness in confessing and professing the Gospel before the Tyrant it must needs work on them and the fame of the Gospel thereby be spread over all the world And I was delivered from the mouth of the Lion Some conceive these words to be a Proverbial speech noting some eminent present devouring danger Q. d. I was delivered from the extremeest hazard of death even as a man that is rescued out of a Lions mouth and pulled from between his teeth This is true but most genumely and properly by the mouth of the Lion is meant Nero's rage and cruelty who for his Potency in preying on the flock of Christ is here fitly compared to a Lion which devoured and destroyed the sheep of Christs Pasture Tyrants and potent enemies of the Church are frequently so called in Scripture Psalm 35.17 and 91.13 Ier. 2.15 Ezekiel 19.2 Question How dares Paul call Nero a Lion when the Scripture condemâ—s speaking evil of dignities Jude 8. and forbids us reproaching them Exodus 22.28 it telleth us that all Power is ordained of God Rom. 13.2 and that even Tyrannical Magistrates and Hypocritical Rulers are sent in wrath by him for the sinnes of a people Job 34.30 and Christ telleth Pilate that he had no power but that which was given him from above John 19.11 How then dares Paul give Nero so harsh a Title Answer 1. Paul was a Minister of Christ and Ministers by vertue of their Office may and must doe that which a private person who wants that call may not do 2. Paul had an extraordinary measure of the Spirit he knew the haunts and courses of men and so might the more boldly reprove them Thus Christ calleth Herod a Fox David calls cruel men Dogs and Lions Psalm 22.13.21.22 Solomon calls a wicked Prince a hungry Bear Prov. 28.15 Observations 1. All men forsooke me But the Lord stood by me Hence Observe That mans extremity is Gods opportunity or when mans help faileth then God appeareth He then cometh in as an Auxiliary So he did to Paul when he was in prison Acts 23.11 and so he hath promised to be with his Ministers especially to the end of the world Matthew 28.20 Christ is a friend â—haâ— sticketh closer then a Brother He goeth with Paul to the Bar and stands by him and strengthens him there God doth never totally and finally forsake his people leave them he may for a time to try them but never so as to forsake them He may delay to help them but it is for their good to bring them into nearer communion with himself Hos. 5.15 Call over the Catalogue of the Saints and they will all tell you that God never failed them in their distreâ—â—â— Aske Noah Lot Abraham Iob Daniel Paul and they will all tell you that nothing hath failed of all the good which God hath promised Ioshua 23.14 Creature-comforts indeed are vain and will fail and forsake us in our troubles In time of War Riches will leave us in time of sicknesse health will leave us in time of Famine bread will faile and in time trouble Friends will fail The Lord onely is immutable he never faileth his at their need Gods people are never less alone then when they are most alone never less forsaken then when then are forsaken of all When Iacob hath nothing but stones for his pillow then hath he the sweetest Visions of God Genesis 28.11 12.13 when the Prieâ—â— and the Levite past by us then comes the good Samaritan with his Oyle and Wine to comfort us when Father and Mother forsake us then is Gods time to take us up Psalm 27.10 when the Pharisees excommunitate and cast out the blinde man then Christ receives him Iohn 9.34 35. when the Disciples could not doe the cure then cometh Christ and doth it Matthew 17.17 God could deliver his people without this deserting of them but he is pleased to let things come to extremity that he may have more praiers and prayses from us He could have delivered Israel as soon as ever they came into Egypt but he lets them lie some hundreds of years in deep distress thaâ— so his Glory might be the more perspicuous in their deliverance Exodus 14.13 14. When Gods people lie in captivity so long till they are as so many dâ—y bones without lâ—fe then God comes and breaths upon them Ezekiel 37.11 to 15. When it is Evening with Gods people and we can expect nothing but night to follow then God causeth light to appear Zach. 14.7 At Evenining it shall be light When Creatures fail in point of Prudence and cannot advise and in point Power and cannot help then is a time for God to help Psalm 60.11 All the fenced Cities must be taken and the enemy come even to the walls of Ierusalem then and not till then doth God appear 2 Kings 18. 13.17 so Micah 5.5 when the Assyrian is entered the Land and is ready to destroy all then Christ brings Peace to his People When Ishbibonob the Gyant is ready to seise on weary fainting David then God sends Ahishai to his succour 2 Samuel 21.16 17. Ionah must lye three dayes and three nights in the Whales belly till in all humane probability he was drowned and then he is saved Lazarus must lie till he stink before Christ will raise him Pine not then away ye seed of Iacob there is yet corn in Egypt there is help enough in God onely doe him the honour now to trust him Blessed is he that believeth and hath not seen John 20.29 What ever then the distress be whether it be Personal Domestical or National yet command thy soul to wait on the Lord who though he come not at thy time yet he will never fail his own In the mount will the Lord be clearly and wonderfully seen Gen. 22.14 See more Doctor Preston and Master Mocket on Genesis 22.14 Mason his Cure of Cares c. 4. p. 41. Dyke on Iohn 4.46 p. 341. Brinsly on Exodus 14.13 p. 100. Hicks fast Sermon on Isay 28 5. p. 5. c. Preached 1644. June 26. Burroguhes on Contentment p. 311. Master Bridge his Sermon 2 Vol. page 154.174.192 Door Reynolds on Hos. 14.2 3. 2 P. p. 62.63 The Lord assisted me 2. Observation 2. Christ is the Lord. He is the