passage of Paul's life so that it behoved him as to walk with more circumspection so also to expresse his hearty love towards them seeing they were in such a weak and uncertain condition Even as Aristotle observeth The affections of parents are most carried to those who are the weakest and most infirme And thus much for explication From the words we observe That the more evidences and demonstrations a people have had of Gods presence with the Ministry the more inexcusable will they be if they do not profit thereby The longer you have enjoyed the meanes of grace and the more powerfully God hath manifested his presence therein If still thou persist in thy rebellion and opposition to God the greater will thy condemnation be The Apostle doth much presse this upon the Corinthians as a special means to preserve them from revolting 2 Corinth 13. Since ye seeke a proofe of Christ speaking in me which to you-ward is not weake but mighty in you and thereupon biddeth them Examine themselves whether they be in the faith or whether Christ be in them or not And if so they must needs acknowledge this to be the fruit of his Ministry Oh it is an high aggravation of a mans wilfulnesse to sinne when he cannot but be convinced that the Minister doth his duty he dischargeth his Office he hath informed me fully of my dangerous estate yet for all that he will go on in disobedience We read of the Apostles pressing this likewise 1 Corinth 4. 15. with much earnestnesse Though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ yet have ye not many fathers He was the first that through the grace of God begot them a new from their former impieties So that the more good a people have received by a Minister the more they stand obliged still to follow his Doctrine Our Apostle dealeth in this Argument also with the Galatians Chap. 3. 2 3 4. This would I learne of you received ye the Spirit by the workes of the Law or by the hearing of faith He appealeth to what they had found experimentally by the preaching of the Gospel upon their owne soules and would they who had thus begunne in the spirit end in the flesh Our Saviour also telleth the Iewes concerning John They did once rejoyce in his light for a season John 5. 35. At the first while his preaching and life was new before he came throughly to convince them of their hypocrisie and wickednesse and then when they saw his preaching was against them and that he was not a man for their carnal interest they who once rejoyced in him afterwards reproached him and said He had a Devil But let us amplifie this point in several particulars First The longer time a people have enjoyed a faithfull Ministry the more inexcusable will they be if they answer not Gods expectation A great part of the world sitteth in darknesse and have nothing of this spiritual light arising upon them They have had no Prophet amongst them to warne and admonish every man to forsake his evil way If therefore God hath fixed Pastours and Teachers amongst us who continually informe us of our duties How great will our condemnation be if we shut our eyes against light Though thou doest not account the yeares yet God doth he taketh notice of the precise time that he hath been calling and inviting of thee to come in and submit unto him We see this notably in that Parable Luke 13. 7. Then said the Master to his Vine-dresser Behold these three yeares I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree and finde none It is but three yeares and yet this is accounted a great matter their unprofitablenesse though they had but three yeares trial was so hainous that there is a command to cut down the tree as that which cumbreth the ground What cause then hast thou to fear lest such a sentence passe upon thee who hast not onely for three yeares but many threes been dressed and pruned and yet continuest barren How should you number every Lords-day How should you account and set downe every Sermon For though you let them passe yet God will not Thus we have God complaining concerning the people of Israel mentioning the exact time they had been froward and rebellious against him under his gracious dispensations Psal 95. 10. which is also also alledged by the Apostle Hebr. 3. 9 17. They saw Gods workes fourty years in the wildernesse What a long time was here to convince them to humble them under all these wonderfull workes which God did before their eyes yet God complaineth that these fourty yeares they did only grieve God by their sinnes and provocations And is not this the sad case of too many May not God say fourty yea fifty and threescore years Ye have grieved him every Sabbath-day because not reformed or changed by the Word Remember this therefore the longer that the Ministers of God have continued with you the more is all excuse taken off from you if ye repent not Secondly The more faithfull and diligent the Ministers of God have been by publick preaching and otherwayes to convert you from all your evil doings the greater will your account be if ye be negligent about your soules Indeed people may have a Ministry but because a lazy corrupt one because a superstitious or prophane one men are encouraged more thereby in their wickednesse And although this will not free a people they shall not think to escape by laying the fault upon their blinde guides for rather than their bodies should starve they would break thorow stony walls and goe farre before they would be famished So if people were sensible of their soules undoing by such a Ministry if they lived where the famine of the Word is they would wander from sea to sea and from the North even to the East to look the word of God as you have it Amos Chap. 8. 12. Though I say the people will not be acquitted they shall die and be damned in their sinnes yet God will require their blood of such Idol-shepherds Ezek. 33. 8 9. But as it followeth there If they be faithfull shepherds if they doe warne every wicked man and yet they will goe on in their evil way then such faithfull Ministers have delivered their owne soules and the peoples blood will lie upon their owne head The more paines then and the greater labour that the Ministers of God have taken to reduce men from their evil wayes and yet thou continuest unreformed the greater will thy confusion be Their study their Sermons their prayers their sweat their wearinesse will all witnesse against thee at that day We may see this notably fulfilled in Christ himself that great shepherd of our souls Matth. 11. 20. It is there said Then began he to upbraid those Cities wherein most of his mighty workes were done because they repented not Woe to thee Corazin woe to thee Bethsaida c. And thou Capernaum which art exalted
as if he were in Hell already Can a man then believe this to be Gods Word and yet be so desperately mad as to live in a full contrariety to it If therefore this very Epistle be received as the Word of God that it 's no Apocryphal or humane Invention but Paul wrote it as inspired and directed by the Holy Ghost How can ye how dare ye reject the counsel and admonitions contained therein both as you are a Church and as you are particular persons But to enlarge this Doctrine consider these things First That the meer prefixing of a name though of some holy Authour is not enough barely of it self to confirm the Divine Authority of the Scripture For although indeed most of the Books both in the Old and New Testament have their names prefixed yet some of them have not as of Judges So in the New Testament the Epistle to the Hebrews hath not the name of its Authour But these are few only in respect of those whose Authours are known All the Prophets begin their Prophecies with their Names and the Authority they have by God that greater faith may be given to what they deliver If then the Authour of some Books be not known yet if these Books have all those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and marks which other Books have for their Canonical Authority then they are to be received as the Word of God Therefore I say a meer Inscription of the Name without other signs is not enough for there are false Gospels that go under the name of Thomas and Barnabas yea there is a third Epistle said to be of Paul to the Corinthians and Paul's Epistles to Seneca are mentioned by Austin and Hierom with some respect though both Papists and Protestants reject them as Apocryphal We must therefore besides the Name consider those other Arguments which prove the Divine Authority of the Scripture and see whether they be in it or not It doth appear that even in Paul's time there were some deceivers who would counterfeit Letters as if written by Paul and set his Name thereunto to get the more Authority This he informeth the Thessalonians of 2 Thess 2. 2. That they should not be shaken in mind by word or letter as from him c. You see there were some that preached the instant approach of Christs coming and they alledged Paul for it Paul said so and Paul wrote so Hence it is that to prevent such mistakes he doth so often mention his own hand in writing The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand 1 Cor. 16. 21. Gal. 6. 11. Col. 4. 18. 2 Thes 3. 17. Phil. 1. 9. he put his own hand as well as his own name to his Epistles Secondly Consider that Paul and so all other Pen-men of the holy Scripture they were not the principal Authours but instruments used by God and that not in a general or common way As when godly men make Sermons or write Books but in a peculiar and extraordinary manner So that there could not be any mistake or errour This is witnessed by Paul 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 given by inspiration All Scripture And although the Books of the Old Testament were it may be then only written yet it holds by proportion of all that shall afterwards be written Peter also confirmeth this 2 Pet. 1. 21. For the Prophese came not of old time by the will of man but holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost The whole Word of God then came not by mens inventions neither was it any designe in them to make such a Canon or Rule for men to walk by but they were inspired by God both in the speaking and writing of it so that both for matter and words they were infallibly guided And therefore though Chrysostome and others do admit of some repugnancy in the holy Writers of the Bible in matters of lesse moment and say That this makes more to prove the Divine Authority of the Bible because hereby it doth appear that they did not all conspire and agree together yet this is dangerous to hold so For if they might erre in matters of Less moment why not in greater Besides the Text saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All Scripture that is the whole Scripture in all the parts of it So that the Bible it 's Gods Book it comes from him he hath commanded it as a Rule in which we must search and by which we are to order our lives Oh then with what reverence and respect should we receive it There we see the mind of God the will of God who would not think that there should be nothing done in the Church of God but what is according to the Bible the Doctrine of the Bible the Worship of the Bible the good Order of the Bible Yea that there should be nothing done in Nations in Cities in Towns in Villages in Families but what the Bible commands For that being the Word of God all Laws all humane Authority and Power are to submit to that And certainly this is an infinite mercy That in all things necessary to salvation we may know the will of God what he would have us to do It 's not then Paul or Peter but God himself whose Authority you despise when you will not obey the commands in their writings for they are but the Pen-men or rather those that did dictate it for Paul had some others sometimes to write his Epistles as it 's thought Tertius wrote that to the Romans Therefore because he wrote that to the Galatians with his own hand he takes notice of it Gal. 6. 11. that thereby they might be the more earnest against those false teachers that would bring in the Ceremonial Rites for Justification yet though the Holy Ghost did thus inspire and direct the holy Writers thereof both for matter and words that doth not hinder but that it was in a sutable way to their Gifts and Parts Therefore there is a great difference between the Prophet Isaiah's and Amos's Prophesies in respect of the style and so of Luke and John Hence thirdly Seeing the Scripture is thus inspired by God and the Pen-men were moved by him in the composing of it this should teach us to rest satisfied in the style and method of it For the style because it hath not the florid and Rhetorical Ornaments that humane Authours have therefore some have disdained it Yea how many had rather read some quaint English Books or Poets or Oratours rather than that Oh be ashamed of that curiosicy and vanity of thine if thou art not ashamed to believe in a crucified God in Christ though born in a manger Why of such a Scripture that doth in a plain but majesticall manner relate these things They say where mines of Gold are there groweth little Grass and few Flowers Thus where divine and holy matter is affectation of words and humane eloquence would be a
from Christ and that having begun in the Spirit they would end in the flesh We might instance also in several other Churches But as the Father said elegantly We need not drink up the whole Sea to know whether the water be saltish a drop or two will suffice Secondly This may be demonstrated from the relation and comparison the Church is adorned with in reference to Christ It 's often compared to Christs wife now the wife continueth a true wife and is not to be deserted unless for Adultery which breaketh the conjugal knot otherwise though she have many sad infirmities which may make the relation bitter and uncomfortable yet it doth not unwise her The Church is also Christs body now a body is not forsaken by the soul though it be a sore body a leprous body a leper is a man though a leper It 's Christs â—arden now this may have many weeds in it and many things defile it yet it is not presently made a waste wilderness Thus it is with the Church of God she may have many failings in Doctrine and manners yet not be quite unchurched Thirdly From a godly man A true child of God may have sad falls as we see in Peter and David yet for all this not be quite excluded out of the Covenant of grace they did not lose their sonship even in those sad transgressions and will God be more severe to a whole Church than to one person Use of Instruction what a deal of prudence and wisdome is required in every godly man under Church-pollutions To know what to do to understand how to deport himself for this he must be guided by the Word and the advise of those that are faithfull on the one hand not to be stupid or careless much less complying and communicating with the Church defilements and on the other side not to be so transported with misguided zeal and impatiency against evil as there by to rend the Church causlesly and to sin our selves because others sin SERM XVIII The Preheminence of the Church of God above all Civil Societies As likewise concerning Paul's writing this second Epistle to the Corinthians how hard a thing it is for Churches to keep within their proper bounds and what great care Ministers ought to have to use all means lawfull to promote the Churches which they have relation to 2 COR. 1. 1. To the Church of God which is at Corinth THis clause hath been fruitfull for much spiritual and edifying matter I shall conclude it at this time There are three things more which are to be deduced from this subject And First Whereas you see that the Epistle is not directed to the Magiâ—â—â— or Civil Governours of the City neither is the least notice taken of their wealth oâ— external pomp We may observe That the Church of God as it is a Church doth farre surpass all Civil Societies and temporal Dignities The Apostle owneth nothing in this famous City but their faith their profession of Christ and subjection to him A Church is a supernatural Society for supernatural and spiritual ends where God is in a more special manner present and therefore though the civil Magistrate be also of God and civil Societies they are of him yet not in that peculiar relation as a Church is Thus the Psalmist saith Psal 87. 2. The Lord loveth the 〈◊〉 of Sion more than all the dwellings of Jerusalem that is the Assemblies of his people met together in holy Ordinances above all other their civil meetings though never so pompouâ— and magnificent Therefore it 's good to consider that in all the inscriptions which the Apostle 〈◊〉 to any Churches he doth not at all speak of any civil or temporal Dignities that the places where the Churches were had but only â—…on of their spiritual titles as a Church Saints Believers Beloved of God And certainly if we do truly consider things these Titles do as farre transâ—â—nd all civil glory as the Heavens do the Earth The Apostle writing to the 〈◊〉 in all that Epistle takes no notice of the glory of that City which was the Orbis Domina and which they usually called aeterna Urbs he mentioneth their faith which was known to the whole world Rom. 1. 8. not the Roman and warlike power whereby they were so terrible to all Nations It is good to consider this for how few Churches do esteem of or judge themselves by their Church consideration but by their civil respects As they are such a City such a Corporation glorying in their Liberties and Charters whereas the consideration of themselves as a Church should far more possess their hearts Briefly to understand this consider First That the Church and Commonwealth or any civil Society are two distinct things the Church is one thing and the State another thing In the times of Heathen Magistrates and while there was outward persecution by the civil Powers which then ruled it 's plain for the City of Rome and the Church of Rome in Paul's time were wholly different So at Corinth the civil Magistracy of the Town did not seem to be Christians the Corporation of the Town was not as I may say made a Church The Christian Religion was not at this time established in Corinth by the City-Laws and Government only many in Corinth were become believers So that it 's plain The same Corinthians as they were a Church lived by other Laws and by different principles then as members of the City of Corinth As he was a Citizen so he met in their civil Judicatories so he acted according to the Laws of the City provided nothing was against Gods command but as a member of the Church there so they meet with others in spiritual communion for holy and spiritual ends Thus it is in a State while they are generally Heathenish But some have doubted Whether if a Commonwealth become Christian then there is any difference there between the Church and such a Christian State Whether then they are not all one But certainly by the first Institution and plantation of Churches by Christ and the Apostles Churches were founded and imbodied their Officers imploiment and the end of their Society appointed without any relation to the civil State and Government where they lived And therefore a Christian State doth not civilly govern nor bear the Sword punishing with death neither are there supream Governours Lords or Noblemen in it as a Church for then these should be Church-officers and instituted by Christ a Justice of Peace is not of Christ as a Pastor in the Church Neither on the other side are the preaching of the Word the administration of Sacraments the exercising of Church-censures the effects of a Christian State but as a Church So that it 's necessary by Scripture to acknowledge these two a Church and the State as two distinct Societies though the same men may be members of the same Secondly It 's a most blessed thing when the civil State and Church are
happily united together so that both in their several stations do promote the Kingdom of Christ There are extremities on both sides some exclude all civil Government from the matters of the Church or Religion as if the Magistrate and the civil power had nothing to do to appoint any thing in reference to these spiritual matters which if so then Kings and Queens could not be nursing Fathers and Mothers in the Church Then the Magistrate should not be the Custos utriusque tabulae then holy Magistrates should sinne in reforming abuses and corruptions which are crept into the Church of God which yet Hezekiah and Josiah did and so likewise Constantine did to his great praise saying to the Officers of the Church he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He had an external Episcopacie and Superintendency Then in the second place there is another extream errour which is to confound the State and the Church as if Christ had appointed no distinct Officers or work but that any man authorized by a commission from the civil power was hereby inabled to do any Office in the Church and that Christ had not set Pastors or Teachers in his Church but civil Governours Now how blessed and happy hath it been when these Societies have been friendly complying and furthering one another The Commonwealth helping and furthering defending and protecting the Church The Church also performing all Church-Ordinances in such a manner that God may bless that state and make it to be as Obed-Edoms house while he entertained the Ark Quamdiu respublicae manent hospitia Ecclesiae tamdiu suns duraturae Hence in the third place The Devil and his instruments have alwayes laboured the ruine of godliness by making divisions and using several stratagems to overthrow the harmonious Unity that ought to be in the Church of God and civil State In Popery we see abominable mischief came to Religion by the usurping of the name of the Church for they excluded the Magistrates and supream Governours from any Government therein and at last pleading exemption from all Obedience and Subjection to the chief powers though so expresly contrary to Paul Rom. 13. Thus they make a few only yea but one the Pope at last to be the Church and then attribute to him a power to dispose of Kingdoms and States where and to whom he pleaseth directly and immediately say some and those who do most mince it say indirectè and in ordine ad spiritualia On the other side sometimes the civil State hath been jealous yea and violently perscuting the Church of God as if that of Julian were true A Church and a civil Society could not stand together as if Christ had commanded such things of his Church that were inconsistent with and would utterly overthrow all civil Government Thus Pilate he was jealous because he heard of Christs Kingdom and although it be known that his Kingdom is not of this world that Church power is wholly spiritual in order to mens souls yet how often are the Governours suspicious about it But these particulars are of large consideration and handled by learned Authours I come therefore to shew That a peoples consideration of themselves as a Church should be preferred above all their civil Glory and Dignity It ought to be more as one Emperour said to be a Member of the Church then an Emperour of the whole world The Church of Rome in Pauls time while pure in the faith was more admirable then the City of Rome which was Queen over the whole world The Grounds why we are to give this preheminence to a Church-consideration are First Because a Church-constitution is supernatural all is of God in a more special manner then in civil Societies For although all civil Powers be of God and the making of civil Societies of making Nations and Kingdoms be in an extraordinary manner attributed to him in the Scripture yet still this is in the course of Nature but a Church is planted by the grace of God and it 's above the work of Nature either ordinary or extraordinary to be made such a Society Secondly As we are a Church we have the nearest relation and reference to God not as a City or a Corporation are but as a Church are we his House his Body his Vinyard Neither can we expect such presence of God in our civil Assemblies and Judicatories as in Church-meetings The power and grace of God is in a more powerfull and special manner discovering it self there Thirdly Hereby we have greater Titles and more noble Dignity Although it 's true in the account of the world nothing is more contemptible The Church is called the Kingdom of God we are hereby the children of God the Covenant of Grace is made with us So that all who are not of the Church be they never such glorious victorious and wise Nations yet they are without God and they are under the Kingdom of Satan whereas Gods Church is the Object of his love there he is said to delight to dwell Use of Instruction to Believers who are the Church of God to consider that title and relation they are in as such Though great though rich though honourable yet let it not be accounted equal to the being one of Gods Church If the Devil should shew thee the glory of all the world promising to bestow it on thee upon condition thou renouncest thy Church interest and Church membership with great indignation refuse it What high esteem was put upon the being a Roman Citizen Paul stood upon his Roman freedom in a particular case but this is nothing to be of that free City which is Jerusalem from above even in this Earth By meditating on this thou wilt be more thankfull to God that he hath made thee one of his Church than if he had given all the Turkish Empire to thee for that is but as Luther said Mica cani a crum to the dog in respect of the childrens bread Again The consideration of a Church-priviledge and interest will make thee most to attend to that in disposing and setling thy self when at liberty Most people look to live where the best trading is the greatest priviledges or best earthly accommodation But if thou art one free to settle thy self where thou mayest thou that fearest God will look upon Church advantages as the greatest glory and profit of all Lastly This will take off all those general thoughts which do almost reign every where to consider of men by their Cities and Townes not by their Churches It 's the Town at such a place the Corporation at such a place but no attending to that place as it is a Church of God Hence it is that we are wholly drowned in the thoughts of our selves as a Town as a Parish in civil respects but never considering the relation of a Church and what duties we are obliged unto thereby The two other Observations are to be dispatched in a little room as
Chap. 3. he sheweth their folly by many convincing and piercing arguments in falling off thus from him and Chap. 4. 15. puts them in mind that they had other thoughts of him once Paul was once a blessed man and his preaching blessed preaching Where is the blessedness you once spake of Yea he saith their affections were so vehement and hyperbolical That they would have pluckt out their eyes their dearest and tenderest part and have given them him if this could have done him good yet how quickly did these boiling affections turn into ice They will receive other mens doctrines rather than his And if we see the Apostles of Christ that had their call immediately from him that were furnished with a large measure of the Spirit and inabled to do such wonderfull miracles before their eyes may come to be contemned and vilified and that by their own people who had once so highly honoured them No wonder if ordinary Pastors and Officers do often meet with such entertainment in the world Yea was it not thus with Christ himself Did not he find the grosse mutability of the people when one while they honour him crying Hosanna and at another time Crucifie him If they do thus to the green tree will they not much rather to the dry And shall the servant be above his master To inlarge this Consider First That it is an imbred corruption in all inferiours to be mutable and changeable to their Superiours Wise men do observe this mobility in the people even to their best Governours so unthankfull and ingratefull are people by nature Is not this plain in Moses What a faithfull Governour had he been to the people of Israel like a tender father he even carried them in his arms God had honoured him exceedingly before their eyes working many miraculous mercies for them by his means yet how often did they murmure against him which was a great sinne because as Moses telleth them Exod. 16. 8. Your murmurings are not against us but the Lord. Yea they are ready to fall off from Moses and to make themselves a Captain that they may go again into Aegypt Thus the people also dealt with David when they were in bitterness of spirit for the losse of their wives they spake of stoning David Among the Heathens there are plentifull examples of this unthankfull mutability Camillus and Themistocles with others which made the latter say when they had cast him off after all the good service he had none for them That they did with him as beasts doe in a storm runne to a tree to shelter themselves and when that is over they fall a browzing on it and breaking the boughs thereof How many of their famous Worthies have the Heathens banished most ingratefully and then in their necessities intreated them to come again Which made one wise Roman say when perswaded to enter upon some publick design for the common good but dangerous deny saying Why should wise men venture themselves for fools The Athenians were impetuous to put Socrates to death and after he was dead then they were grieved and impatient till they had destroyed those that were the Authors of it Now if it be thus in civil affairs no wonder if there be more changeableness and more ingratitude in Church-matters For in the faithfull discharge of our spiritual office there we directly oppose the natural inclination and love of men to their sinfull pleasures we deal chiefly with the inward man and the matter we propound for the Doctrine of it to be believed is wholly transcendent to their humane apprehensions and the goodness of it is altogether supernatural Yea contra-natural take man in his sinfull naturals Hence it is that spiritual governing is far more difficult than civil men being more willing to receive what maketh for their bodily good and welfare then for their souls and spiritual estate Secondly This inclination to changeablenesse and mutability in matters of Religion hath greater temptations in rich and famous Cities than in villages and small parochial places Now Corinth as you heard was a famous and rich City eminent for trading yea and for earning and gifts Hence Paul doth in none of his Epistles so much debase the wisdome of the world indeavouring to exalt Christ above all things as in his Epistles to these Corinthians and it seemeth they did a bound with many excellent gifts and abilities as the Apostle many times witnesseth Now this was their snare and temptation this made them proud of their knowledge this made them admire gifts more than grace this caused them to make parties and factions some cried up one teacher some another So that their wealth and gifts did prove a great temptation to them and by this means Paul came to be undervalued Thus it falleth out many times in great and populous places where are variety of Ministers and of gifts and a people raised up in knowledge and wealth it is very hard for them to keep in a constant real esteem of sound and soul-saving truths but with the people of Israel to be weary of Manna to desire even garlick and onyons above it The Gospel was at first preached and planted in Cities and their Churches were first constituted it being a long time ere the little villages in the Countrey did receive the Christian faith Hence to this day say some we call Heathens Pagans à pagis from villages because they did last of all receive the Christian faith But then they have this advantage that they are freed from those many temptations that are in the Churches of Cities for they having not many Officers nor hearing variety of gifts are not so tempted to be alwayes lusting after some new thing as in the fore-mentioned places yet for all this they have the same corrupt inclination and if they have not the temptation brought to them they will seek out for the temptations and hence many villages are quickly poisoned with corrupt and erroneous wayes For the Devil he goeth up and down roaring to seek whom he may devour whether in Cities or villages Now let us consider of the Causes which make such a change and alteration and that many times in those who are very good or at least apparently so And 1. This ariseth from the ficklenesse and inconstancy that is in many men There are few that profess Religion that do obtain to a sound mind that are well rooted in the first principles of Religion They content themselves with general and confused apprehensions and therefore can speak of those things which yet they have no clear understanding about Now how can such straws and feathers as these but be blown away with every wind of doctrine It is the Apostles expression Ephes 4. 14. implying that it is childishness levity want of a serious weighty and solid judgement that maketh us leave the faithfull Ministers of God and greedily run after false teachers 2. An overhasty and unadvised receiving of the
meer gift of God The time when this solemn rejoycing shall be is said to be the day of the Lord Jesus and as some Copies have it Of our Lord Jesus It is usual in Scripture to call the day of the Lord that wherein he doth work some great mercy and deliverance for his people or that wherein he doth inflict some eminent and famous judgements upon the enemies of his Church So that there is the day of his mercy and the day of his judgement Now because of the end of the world then Christ will in a full and compleat manner recompence his people and punish all the ungodly therefore that is in a more remarkable manner called The day of Christ It is true there are some learned men that besides the day of Christs first coming which was not to destroy but save and the day of his second coming they make a middle one and that is the day wherein God did punish the Iews and utterly destroy the Temple and City bringing wrath upon them to the full for their crucifying of Christ and their other sinnes And of this they would understand our Saviours discourse Matth. 24. and in many other places where they are commanded to watch and to pray or to be patient and joyfull because the day of the Lord is at hand That day say they when God would destroy Jerusalem and deliver the believing Jews from the unbelieving and persecuting ones Thus Grotius the late Annotator c. But because this is to go against the common rode of Interpreters we must not have some specious colours but strong reasons to make us depart from the beaten way To be sure here as in many other places by the day of Christ is meant that last day of his when he shall come as a King and Judge to give to every one according to his wayes From whence observe That Christ hath a solemn day wherein wonderfull and great changes will be made Though for the present Paul's joy and the Corinthians in one another was not very conspicuous and glorious yet at that solemn day then this glory would be no longer eclipsed but break forth in a marvellous manner Concerning this day that there is such an one as also the properties of it elswhere is spoken of in a Sermon on Act. 17. 31. and I shall not therefore meddle in that My work shall be to instance in some of those remarkable changes which this solemn day will then make and how we are to live in reference thereunto And First Let us take up that for which the Apostle mentioneth it here in the Text There will be an happy and a glorious change as to the comforts of a godly Minister and a converted people Oh the unspeakable gladness of heart that then shall be When the Minister shall see the success of his labour when he shall be able to say Behold my five have gained ten Behold I and the children whom thou hast given me These are the redeemed ones from the bondage of sinne and Satan and then the Lord shall give that comfortable acclamation Well done good and faithfull servant enter thou into thy Masters joy Matth. 25. 23. Oh what tongue can express what heart can conceive the joy that such a Minister shall have This day I say this day may make him despise all the reproaches all the injuries and contumelies that wicked men shall put upon him while they call thee such and such names Hearken to those titles Come thou good and faithfull servant The thoughts also of this day would exceedingly quicken us up in our studies in our ministerial labours so to preach so to study so to watch over your souls as those that have this solemn day in their hearts Again this day will make a wonderfull change as to a godly people How shall they then rejoyce in that Minister and in those Sermons which have been powerfull to convert them and to bring them to that place of glory Their hearts will then be enlarged Oh blessed be God blessed be the time that ever you were a Pastor to us that ever such and such a Sermon was preached When you shall see a blind Minister and a blind people both going to hell together and you delivered and that by such a Ministry you enjoyed in your life time This will fill your hearts up with your rejoycing Though now a faithfull Minister and godly people in their Church-ways may meet with much opposition much difficulty and discouragement yet lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh How pleasant will it be when you are come to the haven to think of the dangerous storms and tempests you were once in But this day will make as great but a sad change as to all wicked men who have been as weeds in Gods garden who though watered and tilled yet bring forth no fruit Oh the terrour of this day to you Though now no Sermon moveth thee thou sittest and sleepest while Gods word is preached though now thou goest from the Assemblies to thy sports and pleasures of sinne and there is no more matter made of it But wo and a thousand times woe to thee at this day of Christ when we Ministers and you people shall be brought face to face then we shall be your accusers then every Sermon will accuse you then every Lords-day will rise up and witness against you Oh be not so sottish as to think all things will continue as they do Remember there is a day that will make the most prophane the proudest and the most stupid hearer to be awakened Secondly At that day there will be a mighty change upon the prophane man wallowing in his sins and following the pleasures thereof Then he that pleaseth himself in these lusts will call to the mountains to cover him and hide him from the presence of God What a difference will there be between the man priding himself in his sinfull wayes and when he shall hear that sentence pronounced against him Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels In which sentence every word almost is terrible Depart from me they must be separated from God who is the fountain of life and joy Chrysostome thought this privative part more terrible than the positive To depart from God never to have his favor is worse than those eternal scorching flames of hell What if for the present such persons of honourand greatness bid thee come to them if God shall bid thee depart from him Oh remember when sin bids thee come when the world bids thee come one day God will bid thee depart Again that title and property given to such forlorn damned men is terrible yea cursed cursed by God and who then can blesse Cursed How much better if thou hadst never bin born then to be in the number of these cursed ones What if now thou blessest thy self and others bless thee thou wilt then be pronounced cursed
because none believe enough none love enough none are heavenly enough Several wayes the best Hearers may grow First In the amplitude of their knowledg They may know more things in Christianity than they did for seing we know but in part 1 Cor. 13. this light in our mind may still encrease more and more not indeed in more necessaries and Fundamentalls for then none could be saved because still ignorant of some Fundamental or other but in the Additionalls and Superstructures which have also a special use and efficacy to carry on the work of Salvation Even a Godly man may live in many Errors in many sinnes and not know them to be so as we see in many Ages when clearer light hath discovered that to be Superstition and a dishonour to God which was accounted once the great onour due unto him When God dispelled the Egyptian darkness of Popery from of the face of the face of the Church their Image-Worship their Indulgences their vowed Obedience and poverty which were admired as such eminent acts of Religion were manifested to be contemptible as having no foundation upon the Scripture and also very injurious to the Offices of Christ and in how many things do the best of men still continue ignorant and therefore with David though he had more understadding than his teachers are to pray that God would open their eyes that they might understand the wonderfull things of Gods law Psal 119. 18 Davids eyes were opened yet they must be opened more all the scales are not fallen from his eyes and therefore the Apostle prayeth for those Ephesians whose understandings were already enlightened Ephes 1. 17. that their eyes might yet be more opened and that God would give unto them the spirit of wisdome and revelation in the knowledg of him 2. By the Ministry they are to grow in the efficacy and experimental power of their knowledg For these two differ exceedingly men may grow much in speculative knowledg understand controversies in Divinity and dispute much about the Doctrines of the times that are agitated but unless a man grow in the savoury power of it he is but a tinkling cymbal if he do notgrow in the love of the truth if that knowledg doth not make him more pure more sanctified more reformed this will turn to his greater condemnation Therefore Tit. 1. 1. It s called the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness Savanarola Hom. 3. p. 29. bringeth a distruction of Divinity out of Aquinas to this purpose a man may know a thing saith he either per modum studii or per modum inclinationis men may know many things by way of study in Divinity and yet not have the least knowledg of them by way of inclination to love and delight in them May not a man have obtained much discoursive knowledg about Christ in respect of his Person and Offices as to be able to confute Arrians and Socinians yet be far from that heavenly inclination which Paul found in himself to know nothing but Christ crucified and to judg all things dung and dross in comparison of this knowledg That knowledg then which doth bring a savoury tast and experimental inclination to the good things we know that is to be imbraced that we are to grow in more every day He that knoweth a Country or a City by a Map cannot be so affected as he that hath really seen it 3. We may by the Ministry have a continued benefit in respect of the firmness and strength of our faith It is noted sometimes of the Disciples that upon some miracle that was wrought by our Sauiour that then they believed Not but that they did so before onely their Faith was then more strengthened and confirmed and truly this firmness of Faith this steadfastness of it is a precious Antidote against all fickle and sceptical Opinions Men do not grow in Faith but fancy and that maketh inconstancy in Religion How can a man be a Martyr for Christs truth now can he lose all he hath rather than deny it unless he have this quieting and satisfying work of Faith upon the soul Hence Faith is called Heb. 11. 1. The substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Those two words substance and evidence do denote the great power that Faith ought to have upon the soul Again this firmness of Faith is not onely seen in dogmatical Assent but in in fiducial Application of the Promises to our selves in which sense it is said twice or thrice The just shall live by his faith Such are the weak actings of our Faith so strong are our temptations so supernatural and mysterious is this way of believing that all have cause to cry out with the Apostles Lord increase our faith Lastly The best hearers need the Ministry for increase in Godliness to grow in grace more Thus the Apostle writeing to those whom he supposeth as converted already yet exhorteth to put off the old man and put on the new To be renewed in the spirit of their minde Epes 4. 23. 24. And our Saviour prayeth for the Apostles even in that Prayer wherein he acknowledgeth that they had believed and received the word of God That they were not of the world John 17. 17 That God would sanctifie them by his word which is to be understood of the progress therein There is no Doctrine so practically opposite to the Scripture as that of Perfection for every where the Godly are commanded to grow to be mortifying the body of sin to be perfecting holiness which were ridiculous Exhortations if we had already attained Perfection Hence we are compared to those who run in a race and therefore till death do not come to our prize Thus where the Minister may have little to do in respect of Conversion it may have very much to do in respect of Edification And the Godly are to Examine whether every Sabbath day the Minister doth not come with a new benefit a new advantage to them look for a new grace and favour in every new Sermon And so we proceed to the Use which is of Instruction What all people should look at under the Ministry Spiritual advantages spiritual light spiritual heat spiritual quickenings As where Christ went up and down he healed their diseased people so where the word of God is preached it should heal soul-diseases Thou art not to have the Pride the passions the worldly cares as thou usest to have but oh how rare are such Hearers who aimeth at this who prayeth for this in every Sermon he heareth Oh fear least some spiritual judgment upon thee deprive thee of this benefit If an Israelite had looked upon the Brazen serpent and yet not be healed If a diseased person had stepped first in order into the Pool of Bethesda and yet not have been recovered they would have been greatly troubled to see their hopes frustrated No less ought it to make thee grieve and tremble
unto Heaven By this we see the more abundantly Christ had discovered his willingnesse for their salvation and they refused him the greater woe did belong to them yea it would be worse with them at the Day of Judgement than the Sodomites the vilest of men whom God destroyed with such a sudden and terrible destruction Thirdly The more successe that the Ministry hath had where thou livest the greater change and conversion it hath made and yet thou continue the same prophane person thou wast the greater is thy guilt When it shall be a converting Word to others but not to thee an enlightning Word to others but not to thee Oh do thou tremble under thy condition lest God hath given thee up to a spiritual judgment that no preaching no Ministry no if Angels should come from Heaven or men raised from the dead yet they should do no good upon thee If there be but one man or woman in a Parish that can blesse God for the good their soules have got by the hearing of the Word this person will arise at the Day of Judgement against thee then God will say Why was it not a converting Word to thee as well as him Why did thy neighbours heare and tremble reforme and tremble but thou didst not Now the successe of a faithfull Ministery may be seen in these particulars 1. To enlighten thee to instruct and teach thee in the wayes of God For this end they are called Lights and Teachers Observe then if there be not many that have got knowledge in the truths of God when thou art ignorant how many by thee do know the principles of Religion the Ministry hath been instrumental to awaken them so that those who were ignorant do now understand this will condemn thee who livest in thy sottish ignorance 2. The successe of the Ministry is seen In the conversion and reforming of men from their evil wayes To turn swine into sheep weeds into flowers as we read of three thousand converted by one Sermon that Peter made If then God hath blessed our labours in this kind though it should be but to one man in the Congregation this will be a testimony against you Was not he once prophane as thou art Did not he follow all excesse of riot as thou doest Did not he deride and scorn at the power of godliness as thou doest but now he is wholly altered now he dare not do the things he once did Now he crieth out Oh such a Sermon struck to my very heart such a passage was like a thunderbolt Why then is it that thou doest not follow such a man and do as he doth He would not be the same worldling the same prophane person he was once for a world Oh remember this mans conversion this mans change will be a testimony against thee 3. The successe of the Ministry is not only to give spiritual life at first but to quicken up to edifie and to cause to grow up more and more in godlinesse that you may not be a people alwayes in low principles that you may not be babes alwayes but be more spiritual and greater proficients in godliness than formerly Thus our Saviour prayed Joh. 17. for the Disciples already converted that they might be more sanctified And here again is condemning matter to those who stand at a stay yea it may be go back and fall off from their first love Oh lay this to heart Seest thou not how such and such that did but lately look towards Heaven have overgone thee they have more knowledge more grace more life and vigour than thou hast Certainly this maketh thy case the sadder they are planted by the same waters thou art hear the same Sermons receive the same Ordinances and yet are farre more fruitfull than thou art 4. Another particular wherein the successefull efficacy of the Ministry doth appear is To antidote against errours to preserve from giddinesse and wantonnesse in matters of Religion This great effect of the Ministry the Apostle taketh notice of Ephes 4. 14. where it is said God gave gifts to men Apostles and Pastors to his Church that henceforth we be no more children tossed up and down with every wind of dóctrine This implieth that before the Ministry came they were tossed up and down but now it must be no more so This also will speak terrible guilt to some who are fallen off from the wholsom truths of God who have left their own stedfastness being carried away with the errour of the wicked For those who have been preserved and confirmed by the Ministry will be a testimony against such Apostates Lastly The word of God preached though it may not throughly reforme yet it doth sometimes restrain men from sinne Sometimes it maketh them with Felix tremble at other times with Agrippa almost to become a Christian Oh let such remember those times You have felt the word of God like fire in your bowels you have found it to be like a two-edged sword within Know that all those relentings and troubled agonies of soul will be a condemnation one day The Word preached hath more abundantly worked upon you than others though it hath not yet obtained a full and perfect change upon thee Thus you see wheresoever the word of God hath appeared more abundantly in any one particular in that respect the greater is the aggravation of those mens sins who have not thereby been reformed Let us proceed to the Uses And 1. This may aggravate the sinne of all those who are now departed from the Ministry and the Ordinances who are so arrogantly puffed up with a supposed perfection that they think they need not either hear or pray as if all fulness did dwell in them Now to these men we propound this Question How came you at first to that light to that knowledge you have How came you at first out of your prophanenesse Whence was it that your consciences were awakened once Was not all this at first by the Ministry If there be any good in you did you not receive it from these streams of God Why then is it that you depart from us Why is it that you despise what once you imbraced Certainly our Ministry hath had more of Gods power and presence to you-wards then to many ignorant prophane persons but this maketh your sin greater Use 2. To instruct us how inexcusable all they are who live now under Gospel-light and yet are not reclaimed from their evil wayes For though one particular Ministry may have more of life and power than another yet wheresoever Christ is faithfully preached there is the strongest argument that can be used to bring you to God All that do now refuse us preaching refuse Christ speaking from Heaven as the Apostle argueth Heb. 12. 25. This is more than to refuse Moses or the Prophets yea then Angels as Heb. 2. 3. And therefore the Apostle propoundeth this Question How shall we escape if we neglect so great