Blessed is he to whom the Lord imputeth no sinne and in whose spirit there is no guile Bee glad oh ye righteous and reioyce in the Lord. But who are righteous And be ioyfull ye that are true of heart Ver. 10. Heare we Dauids prayer for such Psal 125.4 Do good to those that bee good and vpright in heart Whereas that man that wants this soundnesse of heart in doing of good duties he doth but loose his labour they are but abhomination vnto the Lord As it is said of Amazia 2. Chron. 25.2 He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord but not with a sound heart Now the grounds of this are Reas 1 God hath commanded it Gen. 17.1 Walke before me and bee thou perfect or sincere Reas 2 Secondly it is onely comfort a Christian hath in all that we do that the same is performed of vs in singlenesse of heart In the world we see the best duties of a Christian traduced and oftentimes they are called Hypocrites for their paines and mocked and derided as Dauid was when he danced before the Arke But this was Iobs comfort when his friends layed such an imputation vpon him Iob 27.5 I will not part with my innocency saith he vntill I dye And this was Hezechias his comfort at such time as hee was summoned to death Isa 38.3 Remember Lord that I haue walked before thee in truth and with an vpright heart Reas 3 Thirdly it is that which distinguisheth a true Christian from an hypocrite who may go as far in the worke done as the best Christian in outward performances The thorny ground and the stony ground went wondrous farre our Sauiour sheweth that these receiue the word with ioy and beleeue for a time Matth. 13. onely the good ground are they which with honest and good hearts heare the word and keepe Reas 4 And last of all God hath appointed a day in the which all our actions shall be iudged and scanned not as they haue seemed to men but as they haue beene indeed and in truth before God We must al appear before the iudgment seat of Christ 2. Co. 5.10 that euery one may receiue the things done in his body according to that hee hath done whether it be good or bad Vse 1 It may serue to admonish euery one in the feare of God that we labour after this sinceritie and puritie of heart without which no dutie that we can performe can finde acceptation with God But how shall I know in the performance of holy duties Quest that my heart is thus qualified There are many markes and tokens of this integritie of heart Answ whereby it may bee discerned amongst the rest these Marks of a sincere heart First it is discerned by the manner of performance of any dutie it doth the same humbly keeping an eye still vpon it's owne wants in doing of them fearing still that something may be amisse that may hinder the Lords gracious acceptation of them a sincere heart is still ready to complaine of its best actions and dare not present any seruice it doth vnto God further then it hath the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ to couer all the imperfections of the same Secondly it is discerned by the ready and chearfull performance of holy duties God loueth a chearfull giuer This was the great commendation of the Church of the Romans Ye haue obeyed from the heart the forme of doctrine that hath beene deliuered vnto you Thirdly with much affection and loue Psal 119. So Dauid O that my wayes were so direct that I might keepe thy statutes c. Fourthly it is the propertie of a good heart to haue an eye vnto all the commandements of God to the duties of the second Table as the first This was the great commendations of Cornelius when he could say Act. 10. Wee are all here before God to heare whatsoeeuer is commanded vs of God So Dauid I shall not be confounded whilest I haue respect vnto all thy commandements And lastly it wil do them constantly not by fits when he is in a good mood but at all times in prosperitie as in aduersitie in sicknesse as in health which an Hypocrite doth not for so saith Iob Doth an hypocrite pray alwayes Iob 21. The meaning is he doth not Secondly this may serue for matter of singular consolation vnto the godly that can approue themselues vnto God that whatsoeuer they do in his seruice and worship they do the same in singlenesse of heart such need not to doubt but they shall meet with the Lord in his owne ordinance And albeit they may haue in them many wants and infirmities yet this singlenesse and integritie that is in the heart makes amends for all and causeth the Lord to passe by them all An husband beares with many infirmities of his wife so long as she keepeth her faith to him in the maine duties of Matrimoniall loue So dealeth the Lord with his seruants so long as they keepe their hearts vpright with him See we this in King Asa a catalogue of whose infirmities the Scriptures affoord vnto vs as namely that he tooke not away the high places that in his displeasure hee cast the Lords Prophet into prison that hee oppressed his people that in the time of his sicknesse he sought to the Physitian and not to the Lord. And yet for all this see the account the Lord made of this man the Text saith 1 Kin. 15.14 Asas heart was vpright with the Lord all his dayes The Lord so regarded that as that he passed by all the rest And he said I beleeue that Iesus Christ is the Sonne of God Philip hath no sooner put the question Doct. A Christian must be readie to giue an account of his faith 1. Pet 3.15 but the Eunuch makes the answer readily and willingly It is a commendable duty in a Christian to giue an account of his faith whensoeuer he shall be demanded it is an Apostolicall iniunction Sanctifie the Lord in your hearts and be ready alwayes to giue an answer to euery man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you And hence is it that Christians are exhorted To keepe the profession of our faith without wauering Heb. 10.23 See this in Paul in his boldnesse before Felix I confesse vnto thee Act. 24.14 that after the way which they call Heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers The grounds of this we haue heard before The vse serues to perswade to this duty Vse as a most necessarie fruit and consequence of faith Psal 116.10 I beleeued and therefore did I speake What faith beleeueth the mouth will speake Hee that is afraid to make an open confession of Christ hath not as yet by a liuely faith put on Christ But is a Christian bound at all times to giue an account of his Quest Faith and of his Religion he doth professe to
must perish When I say to a wicked man thou shalt surely dye Ezech. 33.8 if thou doe not speake to warne that wicked man he shall dye in his iniquitie c. Seeing then that the Ministers of GOD must conscionably discharge their duties Vse 1 whatsoeuer trouble or danger they meet withall This may serue to reproue diuers in the ministery as vnfaithfull in Gods house 1 Ignorant Teachers that are not able to acquaint the people with the counsell of God such haue no calling from God and were neuer sent by him for whom God sendeth and imployeth in this honourable seruice he furnisheth with gifts in some measure for the discharge of the same 2 False Teachers and such as by false and erronious Doctrine seeke to poyson mens soules and these are no lesse dangerous then the former for whereas the one destroyes mens soules for want of food the other poysons them with corrupt food 3 Idle teachers which feede of the flock but feed not the flocke fearefull is the account that such men one day are to giue vnto God 4 Flattering Teachers these are also vnfaithfull in Gods house these are they of whom the Prophet speaketh of that sow cushions vnder mens elbowes dare not or will not with Nathan say thou art the man Vse 2 Secondly if troubles and apparant dangers are not to hinder the Ministers of GOD from doing their duty How farre then are such from approuing themselues faithfull in their calling who when there is no danger in the way no Caiphas to call them to account nor Saul to trouble or molest or to make hauocke of the Church as at this time Neither their liues sought for as Elias was yet are negligent and sloathfull in feeding the flock of Christ Then the Aâ—gell said to Philip. This being at that time when there was such great persecution at Ierusalem when Saul made hauocke of the Church and when Stephen is puâ— to death We may further obserue Doct. 2 Faithfull Ministers most subiect to persecutions That it is the lot and portion of Gods Ministers aboue all others to meete with persecutions When troubles arise in the Church they are the first ordinarily that come into danger This was the condition of the Prophets themselues as our Sauiour testifieth vnto the Iewes Mat. 23. Which of the Prophets haue not your fathers persecuted Moses was often resisted by Iannes and Iambres 2 Tim. 3.8 There were seuen thousand men in Israel that neuer bowed their knee to Baal 1 Reg. 19.10 But yet the Prophets were slaine and put to the sword And Elias being left his life was sought for aboue all others At the time of Christs passion there were many faithfull Christians in all places yet Christ and his Apostles were the obiect of the Iewes malice and they were singled out by the Scribes and Pharisies as men vnworthy to liue So that Gods faithfull Ministers may say with Ieremy This is my portion and I will beare it Ier. 13. Now the reasons are First Reas 1 that contrarietie that is betwixt a godly and a wicked man There is nothing in the world wherein there is the like contrarietie this was prophecied of of old I will put enmity Gen. 3. c. This enmity is maintained in the world at this day These are the Spirits of deuils that goe about in the world that prouoke men to warre against Christ and his Church Reu 16.14 And this battell betwixt Michael and his Angell and the Dragon and his Angels shall not cease till time be no more Reu. 12. Reas 2 Secondly the nature of their Ministery cannot but produce this effect in wicked and vngodly men that liue vnder the same for their doctrine is like vnto good salt which doth cause smart and paine when it is applyed vnto a sore so doth their doctrine when it is applied to a festered conscience Reas 3 Thirdly in them many times the Lord doth punish the people I will strike the Shepheard Zach. 13.7 and the sheepe shall be scattered If the Pastor be good it is many times the sins of the people that hee is impeded of his Ministery if he be euill they are his owne sinnes that draw his miseries vpon him Reas 4 Fourthly thorough the Ministers side Sathan many times doth wound the truth and by bringing disgrace vpon the person of such a one aliens the hearts of his people from that due respect vnto his doctrine For Sathan knowes that the credit and honour of the person of such a one giues no small aduantage to his ministery and therefore by his Ministers is hee still raising vp of persecutions reproches against such This teacheth Gods Ministers to resolue to fight that good fight and to suffer affliction as the good souldiers of Iesus Christ 2 Tim. 2.4 They are the Lords Captaines to leade vs his people in the face of the enemy Their liues must not be deare vnto them so that they may fulfill their ministery with ioy Acts 21. Nothing can more beautifie the calling of a Minister then a godly resolution to suffer for Christ Secondly let neither Minister nor people then thinke it strange if this betide vs of the Ministery at this day If this were the condition of Gods seruants in some one age and not in another it were to be wondred at But there is no age of the Church wherein they haue not met with persecutions yea the more zealous the doctrine of Gods Ministers is and the more it strikes at Sathans kingdome the more resistance and opposition will it merit withall from wicked men and such as are enemies to godlinesse Thirdly this should moue pitty in our people and those that are our hearers If any one Souldier in a field were hardly beset and ouer matched by many euery one would pitty such a one and step in to his succour but if a Captaine in a field were singled out from the rest and in danger what Souldier would nor aduenture his life for him and hasten to his succour Ministers they are the Lords Captaines and many times are hard put to is it meete then that you stand still and looke on Euery good hearer then must set to his hand to helpe his Teacher I doe not meane so much by any outward strength or power as by earnest and hearty prayer So Paul Brethren pray for vs 2 Thes 3 1. that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified and that we may bee deliuered from vnreasonable and wicked men Thus did the Church for Peter Acts 12.5 and thus ought wee to doe for all the faithfull Ministers of Christ And the Angell of the Lord spake vnto Philip. The word Angell in the Originall signifieth a Messenger or an Ambassadour And so indeede they are the Lord of Hoasts according to that Heb. 1.7 Hee maketh his Angels spirits and his Ministers a flame of fire and againe Heb. 1.14 They are
Esay 56.7 2 Chro. 20.13 and all Iuda stood before the Lord with their young and with their old with their wiues and with their children Yea those that haue had in them the greatest measure of knowledge and grace haue beene euer most frequent in this duty The Disciples were continually in the Temple Luke 24.52 Euen so in the Primitiue Church it is said that the true beleeuers continued with one accord in the Temple Acts 2.46 And Ioseph and Mary albeit poore and dwelt far from Ierusalem yet at the time of the Passeouer they went vp duly to Ierusalem to worship So that we see it is a most cleare grounded truth that Gods people in all ages and from time to time haue in no one thing testified their ioy and delight then in this to be imployed in Gods worship in the publike assemblies And there is reason for it First in regard of Gods promise of speciall presence there Dauid calleth Sion The habitation of Gods house Psal 26.8 and the place where his honour dwelleth It is Christs owne promise that where two or three are met together in his Name hee will bee present amongst them Mat 18.20 Christ walketh in the midst of the seauen Candlestickes that is the Churches by his speciall presence And in this regard the Lord giues aspeciall charge concerning these assemblies Leuit. 26 2 yee shall keepe my Sabbaths and reuerence my Sanctuary And this Dauid professeth by way of thankefulnesse I will giue thankes to thee in the great Congregation Psal 35.18 and will praise thee amongst much people Doct. 2 Secondly in respect of our own good for we may look for a greater blessing from God vpon his ordinances in publike then in priuate The same prayers you may vse at home that are vsed there the same Psalmes yee may sing at home that you sing there the same word you may reade at home that is read there but not with the same fruit and comfort as in the publike assemblies of the faithfull For Dauid speaking of Mount Sion and the Temple there saith Psal 133.2 There the Lord promised his blessing and life for euermore and againe Psal 87.2 The Lord loueth the gates of Sion more then all the habitations of Iacob Doct. 3 Thirdly prayer is said to bee the seeking of a thing Mat. 7.7 Aske and ye shall haue seeke and ye shall finde Now the more there be that seeke a thing the more hope there is to finde it And this was the reason why the Church in time of misery and distresse called for a solemne assembly Blow a Trumpet in Sion Ioel 2.15 proclaime a fast call a solemne assembly as the most powerfullest meanes to preuaile with God Doct. 4 Fourthly in respect of the sweetnesse of those duties which are there performed in those publike assemblies such as are the preaching of the Word the Sacraments prayer singing of Psalmes Gods people finde more sweetnesse in these then in any thing in the world besides Of this speaketh the Prophet Esay saying In this mountaine shall the Lord of Hoasts make to all people Esay 25.6 a feast of fat things a feast of fined wines of fat things full of marrow of wine fined and purified Indeed I confesse it is not euery mans case to finde this sweetnesse in these things It is possible at the daintiest feast some may loathe those things that to others are most delightfull and desired But this is the case onely of the godly and regenerate man so Dauid Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to come vnto thee Hee shall dwell in thy Courts and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thy house euen of thy holy Temple Doct. 5 The last reason though not the least to cause vs to esteeme so highly of the publike assemblies of Gods people is in regard of religion it selfe the profession wherof we haue taken vpon vs for herein we doe testifie our homage and obedience vnto God Now the more publike our profession is the more acceptable is it to God I will giue thankes vnto thee Psal 35.18 and will praise thee amongst much people Vse 1 Seeing then that it is so requisite a duty belonging vnto all Gods people highly to esteeme and diligently to frequent the publike assemblies of Gods people Hence diuers sorts of men are iustly to be reproued Diuers sorts of men reproued First such as turne backe vpon Gods ordinance in the publike assemblies make no reckoning nor account thereof and this is the condition of the greatest sort of men that will not be brought constantly to Gods seruice but either the feare of the labour or shame of men brings them sometimes thither otherwise many would neuer come at all How often haue I complained of this sinne in this place but little reformation What shall I say doe but consider Sauls dealing with Dauid Saul marked Dauids seate when he was wanting at the feasts and assemblies Surely the Lord doth marke these empty Seates and solitary Pewes of ours when we are wanting And were it not for their sakes that wanting the food of life at home are faine to trauaile abroad I should long ere this haue eased you of some of this burthen and my selfe of this paines Neither is this all a sinne of negligence in absenting of your selues when God cals you to his seruice But by this negligent and carelesse comming vnto Gods house men doe in effect say with those in the time of the Prophet Malachy Mal. 3.14.15 It is in vaine to serue the Lord c Secondly such as absent themselues from these publike assemblies vnder the pretence that they can finde no such sweetnesse nor comfort in them To such as so say or thinke giue me leaue to tell thee that there is no one more certaine signe of a dead heart voyd of grace and the sense of Gods loue then this not to delight and to take comfort in these publike duties I may say of such a mans soule as of the house shut vp with the Plague Lord haue mercy on them Gods people if at any time they grow dull or heauy in the performance of holy duties here they are refreshed quickned comforted these meetings reuiue a mans spirits and put a kind of heauenly life in him Blow the coles and if there be any fire it will shew it selfe so will grace in the heart when the gales of the Word shall blow vpon it Now then to finde no taste no relish no comfort at all in these ordinances of God is a cleare demonstration of a dead heart and a gracelesse soule But what though for the present thou canst not finde that comfort in the word yet in comming to these publike assemblies thou shalt testifie thy homage to God and shew thy reuerence to his ordinance and the Lord at last may cause his Word to penetrate thy heart and to warme thy soule that thou
namely to be zealous in religion and forward in good duties should now become matter of scorne and derision The sinnes of this Land at this day are many and grieuous yet this if there were none other this this doth prognosticate no good to this land Secondly Vse 2 this serues for admonition to prouoke vs to the serious seeking of Gods face in his ordinance and not negligently and carelesly to slubber ouer the Lords worke such are threatned with a curse as wee haue heard before Our Sauiour tels vs that from the day of the Baptist vntill now the kingdome of heauen suffereth violence and the violent plucke it vnto themselues But alas in our dayes we may say that the kingdome of this world of Darkenesse Antichrist of the deuill suffereth violence insomuch that men are more remisse in seeking for grace and the things that concerne their euerlasting welfare then they are for seeking for iron for brasse for lead nay many prefer their seeking for Coles Stone Marle and Morter before the rich pearle of the Gospell that will make men rich vnto saluation what doe men thinke on lesse what doe they speake of lesse what doe they lesse labour for what doe they lesse bewaile the want of then this If men make not good markets they mourne if their crop or cattell miscarry they cry out or if any temporall calamitie betide them they are oppressed with griefe But as for their deadensse of heart their want of appetite to heauenly things and desire of grace this doth neuer trouble them O that men could see their barrennesse in heauenly duties and seeing it bewaile it and bewailing it labour to come out of it The Lord will be serued with all our might with all our strength and with all our power the Lord cannot abide that men should haue a heart and a heart a heart for God and a heart for the world a heart for Christ and an heart for Antichrist There is no halting with God 1. Reg. 18.21 if God be God worship him is Baal be god follow him Vp to Ierusalem to worship But why found not this Eunuch an Apostle there to teach him Quest The Lord seeth not as man seeth Answ wee must not measure the Lords wayes by our carnall wit or reason for that is foolishnesse to him he is onely wise Rom. 8 7. and knoweth when and where and how to bestow his blessings It may be it was not so seasonable for Philip to haue instructed him at Ierusalem for at Ierusalem his outward sences had beene filled with goodly shewes and with the great pompe of those ceremonies wherein the seruice and worship of God at that time did consist and during that time haply hee could not be so sit for the glad tidings of the Gospell For wee know when men haue that which delighteth the outward senses they are not so fit to receiue that which concerneth the inward man Abigal would not tell Nabal what Dauid had purposed against him whilest hee was in his drunkennesse his senses being stupified and shall wee thinke that God doth not obserue his fittest time when to teach and instruct his people Againe it may be that a benefit or a treasure vnlooked for is more acceptable Iacob going to Lahan was comforted by the way Euen so the good tidings of the Gospell might be the more acceptable vnto this man because he expected it not This teacheth vs still to wait vpon God in the conscionable vse of the meanes wherein he will Vse be found of vs vntill the Lord be pleated to teach and to reueale his will vnto vs. And not to doe as many doe because they haue not the comfort they desire in religion and religious exercises by and by cast off all care and giue ouer and so likewise in the time of affliction especially when the rod shall bee continued vpon them vse vnlaw full meanes to come out of the same as Saul that resorted to the witch of Endor this will yeeld no comfort in the end whereas to such as wait vpon God Deliuerance will come as Mordecai said to Hester and there is a reward for the righteous at last VERSE 28. Was returning and sitting in his Chariot hee read Esayas the Prophet Text THe man when hee had beene at Ierusalem to worship hee left not his religion and deuotion at the Church dore there to take it vp when hee came againe as many doe that if they haue beene at the Church and haue made a few poore prayers heard a Sermon and ioyned with the congregation in Gods seruice think they haue done enough and then betake themselues to their pleasures and liue in all manner of prophanesse all the weeke after and think they may doe what they list like that lewd woman Solomon speakes of I haue pence offerings with mee Pro. 7.14 this day haue I payd my vowes let vs take our fill of loue Shee thought that shee had then free liberty to do whatsoeuer she pleased in regard of her late seruice So these thinke they may giue themselues to all manner of licentious courses especially seeing they haue performed the outward parts of Gods seruice But this Eunuch is of another minde being led by another spirit hee is the same in priuate that hee is in publique in his Chariot or Coach that hee is in the Church And herein will teach all men vnto the end of the world That he that will be a Christian indeed Doct. A true Christian must bee the same in priuate hee is in publique must regard the duties of godlinesse in priuate as publique at home as well as abroad It is not enough that wee haue borne a part in Gods seruice with the assembly in Gods house but wee must bring religion home to our houses The disciples being met together Luk. 24.14 talked of those things that were done and this was the great commendations of those noble Bereans they searched the Scriptures at home Act. 17. Daniel three times in a day prayed in his chamber his eyes towards the Temple So Dauid besides the publique exercise of Gods worship Seuen times a day said hee will I praise thee Ps 19.164 And amongst all other the demonstrations of a godly man that shall bee blessed indeed this is not the least Hee meditates in the Law day and night Psa 1.2 So Isaac hee went out in the euening to meditate and so Iob it is said that he rose vp early to offer sacrifice Iob. 1.3 and hee called his family together and there is reason for it for First Reas 1 God that commanded the publique hath commanded the priuate Secondly Reas 2 this distinguisheth between the seruice of Gods people and the seruice of hypocrits Doth an hypocrite pray alwayes saith Iob meaning indeed that he doth not pray constantly Thirdly without this Reas 3 our publique duties are but abomination vnto the Lord. What master can like of that seruant
euery man his owne family when they themselues haue beene throughly grounded Reas 6 Sixtly by this meanes Ministers shall leaue all men without excuse in the day of the Lord. The vses follow Vse 1 This serues then to reproue the great and generall neglect of this duty both in Ministers and people First Ministers that goe about to raise vp a building without a foundation that teach their people the high mysteries of Christ and saluation whilst in the meane time they remaine ignorant euen of the Principles of religion What Scholler when hee is first set to schoole is put the first day in his Grammer surely this is the reason why in so many Congregations of this land there is so much preaching to so little edification Secondly such people that take it ill at the hands of their Pastors if either in publike or priuate their Minister take triall of their estates by asking them questions they think Philip too ouer-bold to question them this is a manifest signe of a barren and gracelesse heart Bankrouts would not haue men to pry into their estates but a man of sufficiency will neuer feare it Secondly Vse 2 this serues to iustifie that excellent and commendable duty now so much pressed vpon vs euen by authority of catechising our people and may prouoke both Ministers and people to be more frequent therein Ministers that they lay a good foundation instructing their people throughly in the principles of religion such may they with comfort admit to the Lords Table as long as they are not openly wicked scandalous and prophane for there is more hope of a wicked man or close hypocrite that hath knowledge so long as his life is not openly prophane then of a meere naturall man that is ciuill and voyd of knowledge So should it incourage Masters and Parents yea all heads of Families to traine vp their children and those that are vnder them in instruction and information of the Lord for howsoeuer in the best families some Esaus and Ismaels may bee found yet if men belong to God this course will proue one day no small aduantage vnto them Vnderstandest thou what thou readest In this Question of Philip how plainely or bluntly soeuer propounded wee may further Doct. What are those things that God requireth of euery Christian Holy duties must be performed with vnderstanding namely that wee vnderstand the things we reade or heare or speake or sing all these duties must be performed with vnderstanding Who so readeth Mat. 24.15 let him vnderstand Thus Christ after his resurrection when hee appeared vnto his Disciples and they knew him not Luk 24.45 He opened their vnderstanding that they might vnderstand the Scripture So Paul Eph. 3.3.4 I wrote afore in few words that when ye reade ye may vnderstand This is the thing that Dauid often prayes for at Gods hand Giue me vnderstanding Ps 119.34 that I may keepe thy law So Paul 1 Cor. 14.15 I will pray with the Spirit and I will pray with the vnderstanding also And this is that grace the Apostle Saint Paul prayeth for in the behalfe of the Philippians Phil. 1.9 I pray that yee may abound more and more in know ledge and in all iudgement that ye may discerne things that are most excellent Without this true vnderstanding of the Scripture Reas 1 the word doth not profit for the comfort of euery true beleeuer in the Scirpture lyeth in the true sence knowledge and vnderstanding of the holy Ghost therein and this being true knowne and rightly applyed yeelds sound comfort Reas 2 Secondly without this true knowledge and vnderstanding both in reading of the Scripture praying singing of Psalmes c. We doe but offer the sacrifice of a foole which is an abhomination vnto the Lord. For the Lord delights that his seruants should performe the duties of his seruice and worship in iudgement and vnderstanding which such doe not that remaine ignorant of that they doe This serues to reproue such as content themselues to reade now and then a Chapter Vse 1 and neuer care to get the vnderstanding of the same euen as a Boy faith his lesson or like a Parrat that knoweth not what hee saith but wee must by all holy helpes and meanes labour to finde out the meaning of the holy Ghost therin otherwise we lose our labour and all our reading will doe vs no good Secondly who in singing or giuing of thankes neigher marke nor vnderstand what they doe how many haue we amongst vs that will runne ouer the Lords Prayer tenne Commandements and Creede for prayers know not the meaning nor regard to know it This is indeed little better then to take the name of God in vaine lip labour and such a seruice as God can no way accept Thirdly our common Papists who haue all in an vnknowne tongue in such wise that whether they blesse or curse they cannot tell Vse 2 Secondly this serues to teach vs to be affected with all that we doe in reading hearing singing praying c. That we labour to vnderstand what wee doe in all and euery of these that so we may doe the same in faith and obedience to Gods Commandement without which no duty can finde acceptation with him How can I Here we haue the milde modest and meeke answer of the Eunuch wherein he doth freely confesse his ignorance and that for want of an Interpreter he could not vnderstand the Scriptures and how desirous hee was to vnderstand them he shewes by his request to Philip to come vp into his Chariot to instruct him Though Philip spake thus bluntly and as it might seeme vnciuilly yet he is not by and by in a heate as commonly great men are when they are thus roundly and plainly dealt withall As Ieroboam that when the prophet had denounced the iudgement of God against the Altat in Bethel he commanded saying 1. Kinâ— 13 â— Lay hold on him And as the proud Sodomites said sometimes to Lot Gen. â—9 9 This Fellow came in as a stranger and shall he be a Iudge And as the Priests dealt with Ieremy Ier. â—6 8 who when hee had denounced the iudgements of God against Ierusalem tooke him and said Thou sualt surely dye And thus dealt Ahab with Micha Amaziah with Amos and Herod with the Baptist And thus is it with many in these dayes if they be told of their faults will swell and controll a man men cannot abide to bee questioned withall touching religion A manifest signe that the spirit of enuie and of pride dwelleth in them they had rather retaine their swinish affections and sottish manners then to submit themselues to bee taught like a man that hath a festered sore that cannot abide the searching of it But this man is led by another spirit and guided by another principle he doth truly confesse his ignorance and desireth Philip to instruct him in the wayes of God Note hence That it is a
generall sense doth include the preaching of the word and so doth all other wayes and meanes whereby Gods power wisedome truth goodnesse mercy c. come to be declared But in that strict and common sense wherein the preaching of the word is taken it cannot bee vnderstood of reading See we this cleare in that of our Sauiour who when he came into the Synagogue vpon the Sabbath day the Text saith He opened the Booke and read the Scripture Then hee closed the Booke sate downe Luk. 4.17 and the eyes of all them were fastened on him and he began to preach unto them Thus Nehemiah The Leuites read the booke of the Law Neh. 8.7.8 that done they gaue the sense and caused the people to vnderstand So that wee see the Scripture takes notice of reading and preaching as two distinct things And vnto the preaching of the Word is the promise made Vse 1 Seeing then that without the preaching of the Word ordinarily we cannot know Christ or attaine to the worke of regeneration The first vse then concernes the Ministers of the Word to exhort them that they discharge the duties of their callings with all diligence and faithfulnesse that they preach this word of life in season and out of season 2 Tim. 4.2 hereby they shal not onely deliuer their owne soules but shall turne many to righteousnesse This is the end of their calling and the happie fruit the Lord hath promised to the powerfull preaching of the word the conuersion of soules the enlarging of Christs kingdome and the winning of many to God Vse 2 Secondly this shewes the miserable estate and condition of those thousands in Israel who want their guides and faithfull Pastors to bring them to Christ who would not pittie a poore blinde man that should wander vp and downe without a Guide especially in dangerous wayes and places Much more are such people and congregations to be pittied in regard of the perill of their soules who want a Guide to direct them it is an heauie iudgement of God vpon such VERSE 31. And he desired Philip that he would come vp and sit with him Text. THe religious disposition of this Nobleman comes further to be described vnto vs as by his great paines in trauelling vp to Ierusalem there to worship God and by his diligence in reading of the Scriptures and that in his iourney and in his Chariot so by his desiring of Philip to come and sit with him to instruct him in the knowledge of Christ And herein againe wee haue another instance of his great meeknesse and humilitie that he would thus accept of Philip a poore man thus to come into his Coach and to sit with him Much vnlike to this Eunuch are many men in these dayes and times though farre inferiour to him yea it may be to some of his seruants yet would thinke scorne to call Philip into their company Nay they would hardly indure Philip to be so bold with them as hee was with this Nobleman What else meane these disgrace full speeches so often spoken by so many men what shall he teach me doth he thinke to haue our heads vnder his girdle O how farre are these men from the spirit of this Eunuch Yet God be thanked we haue some Chiefe Rulers that beleeue on Christ Ioh. 12.48 We haue some Corneliusses that will receiue Peter Act 10. Some Sergius Paulas that will entertaine Paul the Apostle The Lord increase the number of such daily more and more This this must needs bee no small commendations vnto this so great a man to intreat Philip thus to come into his Chariot to instruct him Hee doth not onely acknowledge his ignoâ—â—nce that he could not vnderstand the Scriptures without a guide but he doth also desire Philip to teach and instruct him Note hence That it is the property of a true disciple of Christ Doct. It is not enough to see our ignorance but wee must labor to come out of it and of a gratious heart not onely to see his ignorance but also to desire to come our of it to be taught and instructed in the wayes of God This is in deed Gods owne ordinance The Priests lips shall preserue knowledge Mâ—l 2.7 and the people shall heare the law at their mouth And thus the men of Macedonia came to Paul and besought him that hee would come and preach in their City the word of God And indeed none profit more wee know in the schoole of Christ then they that desire to be taught that hunger and thirst after knowledge that will go to the Ministers of God as she widdow did to the Prophet in the new Moones and solemne Feast dayes Indeed in the matters of the world men will not be a shamed of their ignorance but will confesse it as in the sowing of their ground when after what manner with what kinde of seed c. and they will desire to be directed But alas in this heauenly art how many dissemble their ignorance will not desire the direction of Gods husband men by which meanes their hearts lye vntilled and barren It is a signe of a good stomacke and perfect digestion when men grow in strength and haue a good appetite to their meat Pro. 9.5 A wise man saith Solomon will heare and increase in knowledge And thus it is with that man that is made wise by the word hee growes still in grace and hungers and thirsts more and more after wisedome And there is reason for it Reas 1 First that of our Sauiour Luk. 8.18 To him that hath shall be giuen But froÌ„ him that hath not shall be taken away God hauing betrusted any of his seruants with a Stocke of sauing knowledge they increase in the same daily and thriue and prosper in grace and godlinesse Whereas wicked men and hypocrites that haue all but in shew and nothing in truth God many times doth take from such that which they seeme to haue Reas 2 Secondly when God doth once open the vnderstanding of his seruants they discouer daily more and more in them the defects of their vnderstanding and knowledge and in them is that verified of Solomon Hee that increaseth knowledge increaseth labour For none labour and trauell more earnestly after knowledge and grace then such as haue already attained to a competâ—nt measure there of It is with a Christian herein as it is with a worldling the more the world comes on hand the more gripple and couetous they are So the more knowledge and grace that any of Gods people haue the more they couet after it Reas 3 Thirdly they and they onely know the worth of knowledge and of grace and this makes them earnest seekers after it whereas Ignoti nulla cupido Such as know it not neither prize it nor labour after it A godly man is insatiable in his desire after knowledge and grace he is greedy in hauing he reades daily he heares as often as
1 Pet. 1.23 We are borne againe not of mortall seed but immortall the word of God c. Secondly it is a christian mans euidence for life and saluation Reas 2 Thy Testimonies haue I claymed as my heritage for euer for why Psal 119.111 they are the very ioy of my heart wee can neuer haue true faith firme hope vndoubted assurance without it Thirdly it is by the Word Reas 3 that we come to haue a sanctified vse of the creatures All things are sanctified by the word and prayer So David I had perished in my affliction Psal 119. bad it not beene for thy word Seeing then that it is so necessary a duty Vse to be conuersant in the Scripture as the ordinary meanes of our saluation as the Christian mans euidence to eternall life and to procure vnto vs a sanctified vse of the creatures and of all estates and conditions of life This shewes how trecherously the Church of Rome doth deale with mens soules herein that barre the people from reading the Scriptures locking them vp in an vnknowne tongue like the Scribes and Pharisees of whom our Sauiour faith thus That they shut vp the kingdome of heauen against men If a Captaine should leade out a Company into the field and permit them to take no weapon in their hands who could but thinke that he intended to betray them into their enemies hand And is not this the practice of that grand Captaine of Rome that whereas the word of God is the sword of the spirit Eph. 6. â—7 a part of a Christian mans armour both offensiue and defensiue whereby we repell the fiery darts of the Deuill how is this wrung out of the hands of men they must not dare to meddle therewith then the which what greater iniury can there be to the soules of men Hitherto of the Preface the Scripture it selfe followeth Hee was led as a sheepe to the slaughter and like a lambe dumbe before the Shearer so opened hee not his mouth The words are the Prophet Esayes in his fifty third Chapter and the seuenth verse This Text is a cleare prophecy of Christ and this 32 verse sets out his humiliation only Wherein are obseruable 1 person he 2 passion was led 3 the illustration 1 as a sheep 2 as a lamb 4 extent to be slaine to be shorne 5 the reddition or application of the whole vnto the person of the Lord Iesus Christ so opened he not his mouth He was led as a sheepe c. Q.d. And that as you haue heard Meâ—â—ph he was reading in his Chariot So that ye may know what he read the very place of Scripture on which hee was imployed at the instant of Philips approach vnto the Chariot was this and none other He was led c. First for the meaning of the words He that is Christ Iesus the eternall sonne of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for so doth Philip expound it verse 35. Hee began at the same Scripture and preached vnto him Iesus Was led that is was taken and carried away by the traytor Iudas and the high Priests seruants with swords and staues as if he had beene a theefe or male-factor As a sheepe as an innocent and harmelesse sheepe that had beene altogether profitable and commodious and neuer hurtfull or iniurious vnto any To the slaughter to bee slaine and sacrificed for the sinnes of men as sheepe in the time of the Law being offered in sacrifice were first slaughtered and slaine And like a lambe and that ye may yet more fully conceiue of his innocency 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if a lambe a meeke and harmelesse lambe bee meet more fully to expresse the manner of his suffering hee was like an innocent lambe a very lambe vndefiled and without spot Before the shearer that meekly and without resistance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth remaine quiet before the shearer suffering his fleece to bee shorne off So opened he not his month euen as it is with a sheepe when hee is slaine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and a lambe when he is shorne so was Christ Iesus silent he did not striue nor cry nor was his voyce heard in the streets according to that prophecy of old He did not cry Esa 4â— 2 nor lift vp nor cause his voyce to be heard in the street He roared not like a Swine nor raued like a Dog nor strugled and bit like a wolfe but silently meekly and patiently submitted to the putting off his fleece his tabernacle his life he yeelded vp without resistance The summe of all is this that he that was Lord of all and had all power in heauen and earth was content to be taken by wicked men and carried to the slaughter to the place of shearing yea as a sheepe is slaine without noyse and a lambe shorne without resistance so was it with the Lord Iesus Christ in his death in laying downe of his tabernacle Hitherto of the sense of the words the particulars follow He was led as a sheepe c. He First for the person he 1 The person that is the Lord Iesus Christ for so doth Philip expound the place verse 35. Hee began at the same Scripture and preached vnto him Iesus It is Iesus then that is the proper subiect of this Text of whom the Prophet speaketh Then the Lesson is That Christ Iesus in the onely high Priest Doct. Christ the true sacrifice for sin anoynted of his Father by the sacrificing of his own body to put away sinne hee is the true Paschall Lambe that was slaine from the beginning To him giue all the Prophets witnesse poynting at Christ as the onely Mediator betwixt God and man by his death and passion wee are fully and perfectly redeemed and the iustice of his Father fully satisfied that place of the Prophet Esay is cleare to this purpose Esa 53.5 Hee was wounded for our transgressions he was broken for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was vpon him and with his stripes we are healed The Heaue offering Leuit. 21. Gen 22. Numb 21. the sacrificing of Isaac the Brazen Serpent were all of them but types of Christ And the like may be said of all those sacrifices in the time of the Law as Lambs and Beasts that were slaine and their bloud shed whereto serued these but to leade vs to Christ who by his owne death and bloud-shed put an end vnto them all Heb. 9.12 Not by the bloud of Goates and Calues but by his owne bloud hee entred in once into the holy place hauing obtained eternall redemption for vs. Wee are sanctified by the body of Iesus once for all Heb. 10.10 and againe He was made sinne for vs who knew no sinne 2 Cor. 5.21 that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him So the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 2 2â— Who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his body on the tree that we being