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
is reason for it For first Reas 1 was not our redemption wrought in the nature of man and not of Angels why then should not this worke of redemption bee published rather by men then by Angels It is the Apostles reason All things are of God 2 Cor. 5.18 who hath reconciled vs vnto himselfe by Iesus Christ and hath committed vnto vs the word of reconciliation where these two are ioyned together Secondly God choseth many times the base things to bring great things to passe 1 Cor. 3. and this treasure hath hee put in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power might be of God and not of man Thus was Dauid chosen from the sheep-fold and many of the Prophets from their Heards Matthew from amongst the Publicans and Saul from the state of a Pharisie and a Supplanter to bee a master builder in his Church And this reason why the Lord hath committed the dispensation of his word to men rather then to Angels is because none can be so neerely touched with the infirmities of man as man themselues hauing experience of the infirmities of their brethren the deceitfulnesse of the heart the buffettings of Sathan and deceitfulnesse of sinne and this the Author of the Epistle vnto the Hebrewes sets downe to be the maine reason why Christ tooke our nature vpon him Heb 5.2 and so our infirmities that be might be a mercifull high Priest vnto God his Father Heb. 2.16.17 Seeing then that God hath chose such instruments for his seruice Vse 1 we are taught then not to despise those whom God hath thus honoured This the Apostle Saint Iames inforceth when hee saith Hearken my brethren hath not God chosen the poore of the world to bee rich in faith Iam. 2.5.6 and heyres of his kingdome c But ye haue despised the poore This is indeed to crosse the proceedings of God and to let our selues against him in despising those whom he hath honoured abasing those whom he hath exalted Secondly we are taught hence how to esteeme and to carry our selues towards the Ministers of Christ euen as if they were more honourable creatures Thus Paul exhorteth the Philippians to receiue such with all gladnesse and to hold them in reputation for their worke sake Phil. 2.29 How ioyfully did the Shunamite entertaine Elisha and Paul giues this commendations of the Galathians that they receiued him as an Angell from heauen nay more I beare you record saith he that if it had beene possible Gal. 4.14 ye would haue plucked out your owne eyes and haue giuen them to me But alas iâ— our dayes the Ministers of the Word haue the like enter tâ—inement that Christ their Master had amongst the Samaritans they came and besought him to depart out of their Coasts Mat. 8.34 So are many faithfull Ministers accounted a burthen to such places where they liue and the greatest crosse that possible could come vnto them And last of all seeing that God out of the very mouthes of such Babes and Sucklings hath ordained such strength to enlarge his own kingdome Psal 8.2 and to ouerthrow Sathan Wee are taught to praise God for his owne gratious power in his seruants This is thankefulnesse wee owe vnto God for so great a mercy by this meanes the Lord will be moued to blesse the Ministery of his seruants vnto vs. and make the same effectual without whose gratious blessing the most powerfull meanes that are can doe vs no good at all VERSE 26. Arise and goe towards the South c. HEre we haue Philips commission and calling vnto the worke wherein we are to obserue two things 1 The preparation that Philip is to make Arise and goe 2 The place or extent of his iourney towards the South Arise and goe these two words differ in their signification the one calling vp Philip as it were from sleepe arise the other setting him forward in his iourney goe Q. d. Sit not still be not any longer discouraged there is now some worke to bee done Arise and goe It is like that charge the Lord gaue vnto Ieremy Ier. 1.17 Trusse vp thy loynes arise and speake vnto them The word arise presupposeth one that was either fallen downe or one that sate owne as being weary If Philip were fallen downe at this time it was at the sight of the Angell and so indeed was Paul stroke to the earth when the voyce came from heauen And he fell to the earth Act. 9.4 So might the glory of this Angell worke this feare in Philip. The like appeares in Manoah Iudg. 13.20 when the Angell had declared himselfe vnto him and his wife they fell both on their face to the ground So the Prophet Ezechiel fell on his face â—zech 1. vlt. when the glory of the Lord appeared Euen so when the vision appeared vnto Daniel he confessed Dan. 10.8 there remained no strength in me And the Angels appearing vnto the Shepheards the Text saith Luk. 2.9 They were sore afraid Now then if Philip were thus cast down to the earth at the sight of this glorious Angell that came vnto him in mercy Vse What then shall be the terrour that these shall strike in the hearts of all wicked and vngodly men When they shall come not in mercy but in iudgement at that day when the Lord Iesus Christ himselfe shall come with all his holy Angels No meruaile though wicked men in that day shall cry to the mountaines to fall vpon them Reu. 6.16 Esay 2.19 and shall creepe into the holes of the rockes and caues of the earth for the feare of the Lord. O that all wicked and vngodly men would lay this to heart how fearefull the comming of the Lord Iesus will be at the last day when he shall come with all his holy Angels with him to take vengeance vpon wicked men Secondly the word arise presupposeth againe sometimes a man that sits downe to take his rest as being aweary and so it might be that this was the condition of Philip now at this time Either in regard that he saw not the fruit of his ministery as he desired or else in regard of the present trouble that lay vpon the Church This was the case of Elias being persecuted by Ahab and Iesabel Sitting vnder the Iuniper tree he seems to be so much disheartned as if hee were weary of his life It is enough O Lord take away my life I am no better then my Fathers And if this were the case of Philip we are taught That it is the condition of the best of Gods seruants in the Ministery Doct. Good Ministers â—ometimes disâ—â—uraged when they see not the truâ—â— of their ministeâ—y many times to be much discouraged and out of heart when they cannot see the happy returne of their labours And this is it many times that makes them dull and heauy in doing the duties of their calling This haply might bee the condition
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
THE ETHIOPIAN EVNVCHS CONVERSION OR The summe of thirtie Sermons vpon part of the eight Chapter of the Acts. By SAMVEL SMITH Minister of the Word LONDON Printed by Thomas Harper for Thomas Alchorne and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Greene Dragon 1632. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL Sir RICHARD NEWPORT Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of the Peace for the County of Salop Grace mercy and peace be multiplyed Right worshipfull THe whole bodie of Theologie may well bee rendered into these two heads The knowledge of God and of our selues the latter consists principally in the knowledge first of a mans naturall misery secondly of his selfe-insufficiencie to come out thereof And thirdly the All-sufficiencie that is in Christ And all sound preaching that aymes at the conuersion of hearers must ayme at these things as most necessarily to be knowne to life and saluation The Subiect matter of the ensuing History of the Eunuchs Conuersion is excellent to this purpose if the workmanship were sutable But herein haue I applyed my selfe to my countrey hearers euer endeuouring that they of the lowest forme might learne something But now as my defects in handling the History haue need to be couered and graced by the countenance of some who is of note and respect in Gods Church So why should I doubt of this fauour from you Sir hauing so constantly heard of your most religious respect vnto our Tribe and loue to the truth Blessed be his Name that hath so engrauen this part of his image vpon you whereby a good euidence is ministred vnto your own heart that you are translated from death to life It is the portion but of a few and therefore you are to esteeme it your greatest honour and your vnperishing riches whereas all earthly greatnesse abstracted from this cannot make you truly happie Theodosius that Noble Emperour was wont to say Magis se gaudere quod Membrum Ecclesiae Dei esset quam Caput Jmperij He accounted it more honour that he was a member of the Church then Head of the Empire Hoc est enim omnis homo Eccl. 12.13 To feare God and keepe his Commandements Continue herein and let your works be more at last then at first I dare promise your conscience more true tranquillity herein and your person more honour then the whole world besides can affoord you And thus humbly crauing pardon for my boldnesse I commend this worke to your reading The Noble Ethiopian to your imitation and your body and soule with all yours to the protection of the Almightie My selfe remaining At your worships seruice SAMVEL SMITH A Short view of such Doctrines as are enlarged with their Reasons and vses in this Booke Doctrines MInisters must discharge their duties notwithstanding all appearance of danger Page 9 Faithfull Ministers most subiect to persecutions Page 13 Good Angels serue for the good of Gods people Page 20 God will teach men by men Page 26 Good Ministers sometimes discouraged when they see not the fruite of their Ministery Page 37 Ministers must bee called before they preach Page 42 Wee must yeeld obedience to Gods Commandement though we see no reason Pag. 48 We are to take speciall notice of the obedience of Gods seruants Pag. 54 It is a rare thing for great men to bee good men Pag. 60 Of all sorts of men God hath some that belong to his kingdom Pag. 70 The Gentiles to be called Pag. 75 The greatnesse of none may exempt them from the performance of holy duties Pag. 77 The publike assemblies of Gods people ought highly to be esteemed and diligently frequented Pag. 87 Catechising a necessary duty Pag. 104 Religious duties ought earnestly to be pursued Pag. 109 A true Christian must bee the same in priuate hee is in publike Pag. 121 In Gods worship we must setch our direction from Gods word Pag. 125 Godly must bee conuersant in the Scripture Pag. 133 Men must diligently reade the Scripture though many things bee therein obscure Pag. 141 God will be found in the vse of the meanes that hee himselfe hath appointed Pag. 149 Ministers must still haue a calling for that they doe Pag. 154 God hath a seasonable time to speak to his people Pag. 163 A great mercy of God to send a faithfull Minister vnto a people Pag. 168 God giues things not onely for necessity but for ornament and delight Pag. 176 God loues cheerfulnesse in his service Pag. 185 Truth of Gods word not to be measured by outward appearaÌ„ce Pag. 193 Ministers to instruct in priuate as preach in publike Pag. 198 Holy duties must bee performed with vnderstanding Pag. 205 Signe of a gratious heart to confesse ones ignorance Pag. 211 Humilitie an excellent ornament in a Christian Pag. 217 Men by nature vnderstaÌ„d nothing in the Sâ—â—â—ptures Pag. 224 Without preaching of the word impossible truly to know Christ Pag. 233 We must not only see our ignorance but labour to come out of it Pag. 242 Great men must be great Professors Pag. 253 Christians ought to bee dayly conversant in the Scriptures Pag. 254 Christ the true sacrifice for sin Pag. 262 A dangerous sin for man to bee Instrument of his owne death Pag. 278 Christ went willingly to death Pag. 289 No other way to purchase life to the Church but through Christs death Pag. 301 As Christs death is cause of mourning his resurrection is cause of reioycing Pag. 334 Godly must through afflictions enter into glory Pag. 337 Christs death momentany but his life perpetuall Pag. 361 Heauenly truths are hardly beleeved and applied by vs. Pag. 366 In all straights goe to Gods Ministers for direction Pag. 378 True knowledge of God comes not by nature Pag. 378 Gods word must bee handled with all reuerence Pag. 384 Ministers must choose special texts on speciall occasions Pag. 393 Christ the subiect matter of true preaching Pag. 397 End of the preaching is to bring mâ—â—â—â— Christ Pag. 405 Time 〈◊〉 to be well spent Pag. 411 God neuer wanteth meanes for the good of his seruants Pag. 414 Gods will once knowne must be obeyed Pag. 419 Hartie Christians must be harty in their profession Pag. 421 Ministers must first instruct their people before they administer the Sacrament vnto them Pag. 433 Faith necessary to the due participation of the Sacraments of the Church Pag. 438 No perfection of Faith here Pag. 451 A beleeuing heart is a sincere heart Pag. 457 A particular Faith necessary to salvation Pag. 469 True Faith hath euer Christ for the obiect of it Pag. 481 All must stoupe to Gods ordinance Pag. 490 No place since the death of Christ more holy then another Pag. 495 The Lord would haue his seruants setled grounded in the truth Pag. 509 Sound Conuersion breeds sound ioy Pag. 514 The calling of a Minister a laborious calling Pag. 537 The Ethiopian EVNVCHS Conuersion ACTS 8.26 27 c. AND the Angell of the Lord spake vnto Philip saying
of Philip now at this time that hee had preached the word vnto the people and saw little fruit of his ministery and againe the troubles persecutions of the Church which hee now saw before his eyes might make him heartlesse and beate him off the worke of his calling that he sate downe as a man forlorne and out of heart till now the Angell giues him a call to preach the word to this man For the preuenting of this in the Prophet Ezechial the Lord tels him aforehand The house of Israel will not hearken vnto thee Ezech. â— 7 for they will not hearken vnto me yet the Lord would haue him to doe this duty and to leaue the successe to him And this is that indeed which all Gods people must looke vnto to doe their duties and to leaue the successe to God We are not in Gods stead to mollifie mens hearts no Paul may plant and Apollo may water but the blessing is from God He that laboureth to bring men to heauen though hee effect not his desire shall notwithstanding haue his reward But yet not withstanding such is the weakenesse euen in the best of Gods seruants many times that when they haue laboured in the workes of the Ministery and see not their desired fruit thereof to follow much deadnesse of heart and drowsinesse is ready to creepe vpon them that they are ready to be discouraged and beaten off from doing their duty But what may be the reason hereof First men are naturally impatient of delayes Reas 1 especially when men desire a thing Now what is that which a faithfull Minister doth principally desire but this That Israel may be gathered Now when after much labour paines taken in the worke of the Ministery their hope and expectation failes in this they cannot but bee discouraged and disheartened as Philip here Secondly such doe not consider that the word to some is to be the sauour of death vnto death as it is vnto others to be the sauour of life to life which thing were it duely considered Ministers would looke more to their owne duties and meddle lesse with the successe of their ministery which is wholly in God The vse concerneth Ministers Vse especially to teach them not to be discouraged because they see so little fruit of their labours they must instruct still with meekenesse prouing if God at any time will giue them repentance God hath many houres to call men into his Vineyard some in the sixt some in the ninth and some in the eleuenth In the morning saith Salomon sow thy seede and in the euening with hold not thy hand for thou knowest not whether shall prosper It may bee the season of grace is past with some and that GOD will now haue them left without excuse for certainely God doth send his word to the greater condemnation of some that will not bee gathered what then the Minister notwithstanding is to doe his duty If a Husbandman be commanded by his master to â—â—w his seed in a barren soyle where there is no hope of an increase It is answer good he did but his duty If the Lord send a Minister to a congregation where he can see little or no fruit for his labours yet still shall he serue the Lords purpose and prouidence and his labour notwithstanding shall be with the Lord Esa 49.4 and his recompence with his God And goe The Angell as he biddeth Philip Arise so he biddeth him goe It is like as we haue heard Philip might be much disheartened and discouraged in his calling and so began to be drowsie and heauy in the discharge of his duty in which regard Paul willeth Timothy to stir vp the grace of God in him 2 Tim. 1.6 But now the Angell giues him a new call and acquaints him with a speciall seruice he is now to doe and therefore wils him to arise and goe he doth not goe before he be sent but stayeth vntill hee haue a lawfull calling to the worke Now here is his warrant and commission to goe and preach to the Eunuch and herein will teach vs that That Ministers must haue a lawfull calling to the worke of the Ministery M Doct. Ministers must be called before they preach before they take that sacred function vpon them None ought to speake and teach in the name of the Lord that is not able to shew his authoritie from the Lord. This was it whereupon all the Prophets did depend both for their sitting downe and rising vp Moses would not goe vnto Pharaoh Ex. 3.11 before hee had learned his lesson perfectly Ier. 1.6.8 Ieremy is a childe Ier. 1.6.8 and knoweth not what to say till God had assured him to be with him And the Lord tels the Prophet Ezechiel that he should heare the word from his mouth Ezech. 3.17 and warne the people from him So Paul That which I haue receiued from the Lord 1 Cor. 11.23 deliuer I vnto you And thus the Apostles in all their Epistles they wrote vnto the Churches first shew their authoritie that the same was from God before they taught the people and the reasons are Reas 1 First without this they are but intruders as Vzza was and the same God that ouertooke him in that sinne of his will neuer suffer such intruders escape vnpunished Reas 2 Secondly the consideration that their calling is from God makes men bold and couragious in the performance of the duties belonging vnto the same and in time of their hottest opposition to say with Nehemiah Shall such a man as I flye and with Christ Neh. 6.11 Goe tell the Foxe Luk. 13.32 I walke to day c. And with Paul I passe not by my life Act. 20. so I may fulfill my Ministery with ioy Absolom bids his seruants 2 Sam. 13.28 Smite kill and feare not for I haue commanded you saith hee and shall not they speake whom the Lord hath commanded Thirdly Reas 3 the consideration of this calling that it is from God comforts a faithfull Minister against all the discouragements hee meetes withall to say with the Prophet Esay Yet my reward is with the Lord and my recompence with my God Hee hath done his duty he hath deliuered his owne soule Reas 4 And last of all without this we can expect no blessing for seldome doth a Minister doe any good in his place that hath not his calling from God Vse 1 This serues then to reproue such fantasticall spirits that runne before they be sent I haue not sent those Prophets saith the Lord yet they ranne Ier 23.22 I haue not spoken vnto them yet they haue prophecied Such can expect no blessing from God for whom hee sends he furnisheth with gifts toucheth their tongue with a cole from his Altar Those then that haue no gifts yet occupy the place of a Minister doubtlesse were neuer sent of God Let this then serue to admonish euery faithfull Minister of
Christ that hee labour aboue all things to be assured of the truth of his calling that the same bee from God that so they may performe the same in faith and obedience and feed the flocke of Christ that is committed vnto them But how shall a man truely know that he is called to preach the Gospell Quest This is knowne diuers wayes Answ How to know a Minister to haue his calling from God First by those gifts that qualifie a man for the worke of the Ministery for God neuer sends but qualifies first Secondly the testimony of a mans owne conscience that hee enters not for any other by-respect but for the aduancement of Christs kingdome Thirdly the approbation of the Church Fourthly a propense inclination to be exercised in that calling as if a Minister were like a creature out of it clement vnlesse hee were setting forward the Lords worke either in publike or priuate Fiftly if the Lord in some measure blesse his labours this is as the Lords signet or seale set to his calling VERSE 27. And he arose and went Text. c. HItherto of Philips Commission now of the execution of his Commission The Angell biddeth him goe but telleth him not what he shall doe or what profit should come of his trauaile yet Philip goes And thus the Lord made triall of the obedience of Abraham when hee called him to goe into the land of Canaan Gen. 12. not acquainting him with the end wherefore he sent him thither And thus the Lord tryeth the obedience of his seruants And surely this serued much for the commendations of the obedience of Philip that he reasoned not the matter with the Angell but being called presently obeyed He arose and went Teaching vs Doct. We must yeeld oâ—edience to Gods commandement though we see nâ— reason Gen. 7. that wee are to yeeld obedience vnto Gods commandement though wee see no reason and we are to know that this is sufficient for vs that our obedience be approued to God Thus Noah when God commanded him to build an Aâ—â—â— though he might haue had mâ—ny discouragements in that worke if hee had consulted with flesh and bloud as namely how it could be possible that he should bee saued and all the world drowned The difficulty of the worke men hauing no experience of Ships how such a vessell should saue Length of time one hundred and twenty yeares the mocking of that sinfull world c. Yet this is obserued to the great commendations of his faith By faith Noah moued with reuerence prepared the Arke Heb. 11.7 Abraham receiued a commandement to go out of his Country to leaue his kindred and his fathers house to goe into a place he knew not Now this is likewise obserued as a great commendations of his faith that he yeelded obedience not reasoning the caâ—â— with God Heb. 11.8 So likewise when God called him to sacrifice his sonne Isaac he yeelded obedience not consulting with flesh and blood what should become of the promise if Isaac were gone ver 17.18 but readily yeelds him vp vnto God A contrary example wee haue in Saul who spared Agag the king â— Sam. â—5 and the fat of the cattle whereas the Lord had Commanded him to destroy them all And of the Prophet that was commanded not to eat yet disobeyed and was therefore killed of a Lion 1 Reg. 13.8 And in what a miserable case had Naaman beene in had hee persisted in his opinion and had not hearkened vnto the Prophet And there is reason for it First in regard he is the Soueraigne Lord of all Reas 1 and must be obeyed his power and authority ouer men and Angels yea all creatures is absolute hee is the Creator we the creature â—â—e is our Father we his children hee our king we his subiects he the Potter wee but a peece of clay in his hands Now his relation to vs and ours to him cals for this duty Reas 2 Secondly in regard of that high price the Lord doth set vp on obedience as it appeareth by that of Samuel vnto Saul Hath the Lord as great pleasure in burnt offrings and sacrifices 1 Saâ—â—5 22 as when the voyce of the Lord is obeyed Behold to obey is better then sacrifice c. Reas 3 A third reason may be drawne from that reward the Lord hath promised to such as hearken and obey as If ye will heare my voice indeed saith the Lord and keepe my Couenant Ex. 19.5.6 Then shall yee bee my chiefe treasure aboue all people And againe Deu. 28.1 If thou wilt hearken diligently vnto the voyce of the Lord thy God to obserue and to do all his Commandements c. Then the Lord thy God will set thee on high aboue all the Nations on the earth c. Fourthly disobedience as Samuel tels Saul is as the sinne of witchcraft and shall neuer escape the reuengefull hand of God The Lord threatned this vnto the people That if they would not hearken and obey they should die of the sword Ier. â—â—â—â— famine pestilence so that none of them should escape Disobedience shut Adam out of Paradise Moses out of Canaan and Saul out of his kingdome Vse 1 Let this then serue to prouoke all men vnto this duty not to coâ—sult with flesh and blood in the things of God or to bee directed by carnall reason for then we shall neuer obey God Had Philip done this now that the Angell bids him goe not telling him what was to bee done hee had neuer obeyed the Angell The Minister though hee see not that his preaching doth or is like to do any good yet because God hath commanded hee must doe his duty Thus must Magistraâ—es doe though sinne abound still Thus must masters of families doe though it take little effect for God hath commanded these duties to be done and must be obeyed And behold a man of Ethiopia c. The word Behold is commonly verbum admirationis a word of wonder and cals vs to that speciall parenthesis of our Sauiour Let him that readeth consider Mat. 24.15 And is for the most part of the same nature that Selah is sooften vsed in the book of the Psalmes Behold q. d. Consider this thing that howsoeuer Philip at this time were in great danger and hazard for preaching of the Gospell by reason of Caiphas the high Priest and Saul that made hauock of the Church yet obeying the commandement of the Angell though for the present hee could see no reason for the same mark what followed see the good successe of his obedience Behold a man of Ethiopia The instruction is plaine Doct. We are to take speciall notice of the obedience of Gods seruants That God would haue vs in a speciall manner take notice of the obedience of his seruaÌ„ts the examples of his children obeying him and all to this end to prouoke vs vnto obedience This truth is clearly manifested by the
11.6 and therefore Timothy must charge rich men concerning the dangers of riches 1 T.m. 6.17 And surely such a vehement charge needed not if they were not in danger To see a man that is great and rich and mighty in the world yet zealous in religion as this Noble man is as rare as to see Saul amongst the Prophets But what doe riches honour Quest and authority make men prophane and keep men from being religious and so hinder their saluation No not of themselues Answ they are the good blessings of God but this thing so comes to passe through the abuse of them For this is the promise made to those that feare God Riches and Treasures shall be in their house Psal 112.2 and wisedome saith Salomon is good with an Inheritance Eccl. 7.11 Abraham was rich so was Solomon Iob and many others of Gods seruants And therefore the Apostle saith Not not any Noble but not many Noble So that riches and honours hinder not Religion as a cause but as occasions and that through the occruption of our nature who are ready to abuse all the good things of God to our perdition But would you know the reason of this A man would thinke that such men whom God hath thus Honoured aboue other should be the most forward to honour him aboue others and this thing so comes to passe Reas 1 Because great men haue many times great spirits and through their abundance their hearts are lifted vp What great men honourable men and rich men to stoope to so base a thing as preaching is to such meane persons as Preachers are whose power lyes all in their tongues words Many a man thinks it a dishonour to doe this thus riches and honour puffe vp the heart with pride and make men high minded and where there is pride there must needs be contempt of God and his word as we may see in Pharaoh Who is the Lord and therefore Christ teacheth first humility in his seruants as the first lesson in Christianitie to deny themselues vntill which time we can neuer profit by the Word And hence is it that the Prophet exhortech thus Heare Ier. 13.15 Heare and gine and gine and be not proud as if it were impossible while pride is in the hearts that men should euer heare sauingly Reas 2 Secondly rich men and great men they haue abundance to content the appetite to the full and therefore the more hard for such to ouercome themselues and their owne wils and to submit them selues to the will of God For nature being fed to the full is as a wilde Asle Ier. 2. as Ieremy speakes that will hardly be tamed and framed to obedience Let a man that is vsed but to a spare dyer at any time eate something either for matter or measure extraordinary and doth the not finde a great dulnesse and heauinesse to creepe vpon him in good duties yea a meruailous vnaptnesse to be exercised therein How much more they that are alwaies full gorg'd Besides this their outward abundance makes them insensible of their inward wants and as het that comes to the Physitian and feeles not himselfe sicke is of all others in the greatest danger so is it with those that are insensible of their miseries Reas 3 And last of all great men haue many times great imployments and howsoeuer no imployment should hinder men from Gods seruice as we shall see hereafter yet they thinke themselues they may bee excused because of their imployments When Paul preached Felix hath now no leysure to heare him he must come another time Howbeit Christ rebuked Martha for this fault that seemed to be well imployed But it had been her greater commendations the pot had sod ouer at this time of Christs preaching The vses follow Vse 1 Seeing then that it is so rare a thing for great men to bee good men this lets vs see then what a dangerous slippery estate it is to liue in honour in wealth and prosperity Such are in most danger to be kept from God How many haue we seene that whilest they were in low estate in the world were humble gentle meek forward and zealous in religion But afterwards in times of prosperity grew fat and wanton and spurned against the Lord. As the Moone neuer suffereth an Eclipse but when she is at the full so when men are full of honour wealth and pleasures now they are in danger of an Eclipse that the earth should come between them and heauen Vse 2 Secondly we learne hence not to enuy the prosperity of great men but with their outward glory and seeming felicity conside the dangerous condition they are in They haue many a stumbling block lyes in their way to heauen that â—hou art freed from that art a poore man Such are rather to be pitried then enuied Grudge not saith Dauid at the prosperity of the wicked for certaine it is it had beene good for many a man that he had neuer known what wealth and abundance had beene what honour and dignitie had beene since through the abuse of these things they indanger their owns soules A man of Ethiopia and Eunuch Text. The Ethiopian described Here we haue the description of this Noble man described first by his person an Eunuch or a gelded man By his person Such haue beene of old time and imployed about the keeping of great Personages as Quenes Mat. 19.12 c There are some Eunuchs saith our Sauiour which were so borne from their Mothers wombe and there are som Eunuchs which were made Eunuchs of men and there be Eanuchs which haue made themselues Eunuchs for the kingdome of Gods sake And that these haue beene imployed about the keeping of great personages it appeareth by those Eanuchs that attended Iesabel the Queene 2 Reg. 9.32 and the which at Iehu his command cast her out at a window Many times they were descended out of the loynes of royall bloud as it was said to Hezechiah Of thy sonnes which shall issue from thee Esa 39.7 which thou shalt beget shall they take away and they shall bee Eunuchs in the Palace of the King of Babylon This argueth this Eunuch to haue beene a great man and therefore the more admirable The instruction is plaine We are taught Doct. Of allsorts of men God hath some that belong to his kingdome that God is no accepter of mens persons but of all sorts and conditions of men he hath some that belong to the election of grace and appertaine vnto his glorious kingdome Hee accepteth not the persons of Princes saith Elihu nor regardeth the rich more then the poore Iob 34.19 they being all the worke of his hands To this accordeth that of the Apostle Peter vnto Cornelius Act. 10 34. Of a truth I perceiue that God is no respecter of persons but in euery Nation hee that feareth GOD and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him And thus the
Lord commanded Samuel when he was to annoint Dauid King Looke not on his countenance nor on the height of his stature 1 Sam. 16.7 and he addeth this as a reason for God seeth not as man seeth man locketh on the outward appearance but the Lord beholdeth the heart This truth is further cleared by testimonies and examples God chose Abraham an Idolater Manasses a soothsayer Matthew a Publican Cornelius a Captaine Paul a persecutor Rahab a harlor Zacheus an extortioner Acts 10. Act 〈◊〉 Ioâ— 7. Luâ—e 19. â—â— yea and our Sauiour saith that Publicans and Harlots shall enter into the kingdome of heauen when others shall be shut out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reas 1 First Eph. 1. his gifts and graces are on his part free and on our part altogether vndeserued and therefore often called in the Scripture his free election and his free grace Reas 2 Secondly if any outward priuiledge or respect should preuaile with God to moue him to choose some before othersome then must the rich man haue been preferred before poore Lazarus and the proud Pharisie before the poore Publican Now this were an vnequall valuation to prize those things that haue no proportion to grace and goodnesse to things that are not to be valued for betwixt temporall and spirituall things is no compareson Vse Seeing then that of all sorts and conditions of men GOD hath some that belong to his kingdome wee are taught not to despaire of the saluation of any though for the present they walke in that broad way that leadeth to destruction Publicans haue been called Matthew from the receit of custome Pharisies haue beene called Paul a Pharisie and bloudy persecutor Harlots haue beene called Rahab Mary Extortioners haue beene called Zacheus apostates Peter yea God chooseth many times the weake and foolish things of this world to confound the wise and mighty and the poore ones of this world to be rich in faith yea Iew and Greeke bond and free male and female they are all one in Christ he accepteth of the person of no man Secondly seeing no outward priuiledge preuailes any whit with God but that his election is free riches and honours and dignities make none the more or lesse esteemed wiâ—â— God Why then should any outward thing gaine our hearts and our affections seeing that when wee enioy all that we can desire we are neuer the nearer in Gods fauour No man knoweth loue or hatred saith Salomon by these things Eccl. 9.2 If outward priuiledges would preuaile any whit with God Antiochus Herod Saul Iezabel Nero c. must needs haue beene deepe in Gods fauour yet wee know the Lord left these shewed them no mercy but caused them to serue his iustice An Ethiopian Here we haue him described by his Country a Moore By his country a Gentile by nature one that was without the pale of the Church yet hee worshippeth God at Ierusalem making good that prophecie of old Esa 2.2 It shall come to passe in the last dayes that the mountaine of the Lords house shall be established c. and all Nations shall flow vnto it meaning indeed of the inlargement of the Church by all Nations farre and neere vpon the face of the earth So that in this Eunuch we haue an carnest of that promise that God had made vnto his people Doct. The Gentiles to be conuerted That the Gentiles should be called and brought in and that little Sister that had no breasts Cant. 8. made fruitfull This couenant and promise did the Lord thinke vpon in calling in al ages and from time to time so many of the Gentiles to the knowledge of his truth Such as are Ruth Iob Rahab Cornelius this Eunuch c. Vse And blessed bee his Name that we that sate in darkenesse and in the shadow of death haue had this light reuealed vnto vs especially in this part of the world which we call Europe wherein the light of the glorious Gospell for these sixe hundred yeares last past especially hath shone more and more and still shall vntill the comming of the Bridegroome himselfe the Lord Iesus Of great authority vnder Candace Queene of the Ethiopians who had charge of all her treasure c. As this Noble man is here described by his person and by his Country so is he likewise described by his office or place and that indeed By his office Treasurer vnto a great Princesse imployed no doubt in many great and weighty affaires in the gouernment of a kingdome yet trauaileth vp to Ierusalem to worship God Whose godly example and zealous practise may commend to all posterities this lesson That neither the greatnesse of mens persons Doct. The greatnesse of none must exempt them from the performance of holy duties nor places may exempt them from the performance of holy duties if God haue once called a man with a holy calling to the knowledge of his Sonne Christ it is neither person nor place that may with hold vs from his seruice that must bee preferred aboue al. Dauid though he were a King how frequent was he in these holy performances which sheweth that they were more delightfull vnto him then his kingly robes They were the very delight of his soule Gods precepts being sweeter vnto him then the honey and the honey combe Psal 5.3 Thou shalt heare my voyce O Lord early in the morning will I direct my prayer vnto thee and will looke vp Neither might this seeme to be a worke of supererogation in Dauid because a King that might plead the publike affaires of his kingdome for then would hee not haue exhorted others of the same condition to the same godly practise Be wise now therefore O yee Kings Psal 2 11.12 c And it is obserued to haue beene the great praise of Hezechiah 2 Chro. 20.19 that he sent abroad messengers to call the people to the seruice and worship of God and not onely so but ioyned himselfe also in the same And amongst all other the titles that serued to set out the honour of Salomon and his magnificence this was not the least Eccl. 1.12 The words of the Preacher sonne of Dauid King of Israel And for this is Abraham commended a great Prince yet instructed his family Iosuah a man full of imployments in the publike affaires yet I and my house will serue the Lord. Ios 24. The like of Cornelius yea the greatest honour that euer came to the Kings of Iuda and Israel Acts 10. was this that they were zealous for the worship of God and the greatest dishonour that euer did betide them was this they were negligent and carelesse therein Now the reasons of the poynt are Reas 1 The first may be drawne from the rule of Equitie where much is giuen much shall be required God hauing honoured such men aboue others lookes to be honoured by them aboue others and indeed who should doe the greatest worke but they
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
the time of the Law before the comming of Christ very costly So likewise his paines in trauell was very great it being farre distant from that place to serusalem yet not withstanding it is not the cost nor it is not the paines in trauell that can keepe him back or any whit discourage him but vp will he goe to Ierusalem there to worship God and herein will teach vs That the duties of Religion must earnestly bee pursued and followed after Doct. The duties of religion must be earnestly pursued and followed after not coldly negligently and carelesly but earnestly zelously carefully and constantly Men must not stick for labor for cost for their paines but the Lord must bee serued intentiuely and constantly In euery seruice wee doe vnto God he calleth for this zeale and godly resolution to go thorough with the same And surely this was the great commendations of the Prophet Dauid that he had a zeale as hot as fire Psâ—l 96.10 The zeale of thy house hath eaten me vp This forwardnesse and zeale wee may see to haue beene in the people of God in building of the Temple wherein they spared no cost as also in their diligent repairing to the same wherein they spared no labour and to this are we exhorted Seek for wisdome as for siluer and search for it as for hid treasures Now they that worke in Mines of the earth dig deepe and are not beaten off with much labour such resolution becometh it Gods people to haue in seeking the true treasure The Lord cannot abide that men should go about his seruice negligently coldly and carelesly Cursed are they that do the work of the Lord negligently Ier. 48.10 and How long halt yee betweene two opinions 1 Re. 18.21 c. And it was that our Sauiour was so highly offended with the Church of Laodicea Ren. 3.15 that shee was neither cold nor not and therefore the Lord threatneth to spew her out of his mouth It was the commendations of those in the days of our Sauiour that they flocked after him and pressed vpon him And in diuers places we reade that multitudes followed Christ to heare his heauenly doctrine Yea our Sauiour â—â—â—onisheth vs to labour but for what Not for the meat that perisheth Ioh. 6 but for the meat that endureth to eternall life Zoâ—â—◠〈◊〉 quâ—â—ed 〈◊〉 â—uâ—â—â— paâ—â— oâ—â—â—oâ—â— woâ—â—sâ—â—â— And this zeale and diligence I â—â—igâ—â—t haue â—hewed how God requires the same in euery part of his worship and seruice As First in the preaching of the word Wee are commanded to preach the word in season and out of season 〈…〉 to improue rebuke and exhort with long-suffering and doctrine Secondly in hearing of the word we are commanded to bee swift to heare Iâ—â—a 2.19 Thirdly in prayer we are com manded to be feruent in prayer 3 Râ—â—â— â—â— 12 And in all the duties of sanctification wee are commanded to redeeme the time and to worke out our saluation And great reason First in regard that such as do the worke of the Lord negligently Reas 1 slothfully and carelesly lye vnder an heauie and a fearefull curse Cursed is euery one that doth the worke of the Lord negligently Ier. 4â— â—0 But such are all those that come negligently vnto Gods seruice and therefore lie vnder this curse Secondly to doe any dutie to God negligently and carelesly Reas 2 it neuer hath any promise of any acceptation with him There is no duty that we can assure our hearts shall finde acceptation with the Almighty further then the same is zealously performed in faith repentance and obedience to Gods Commandement Thirdly such as performe any duty formally Reas 3 customarily and but for fashion sake are in great danger to fall away euen from that they make shew of as our Sauiour saith That shall bee taken away which they seemed to haue This was the curse of the Church of Ephesus a drowsie and dead-hearted people Reu 2 5. Thou hast lost thy first loue Such drowsie Christians are alwayes vnder a spirituall consumption for it fares with such a one as with him that hath a Consumption of the body for there the naturall heate decayeth daily more and more and threatneth death Euen so such as haue a spirituall consumption of the soule the spirituall heat doth diminish and threaten destruction Fourthly Reas 4 earnestnesse and zeale in the publicke duties of Gods worship is an excellent meanes to prouoke others to be more diligent in Gods seruice And this the Apostle affirmes to the great commendations of the Church of Corinth Your zeale hath prouoked many 2. Cor. 9.2 And last of all Reas 5 without this diligence and zeale we haue no promise to meet with God in his ordinances Pro. 23.4 If thou cryest after knowledge and liftest vp thy voice for vnderstanding if thou seeke her as siluer and search for her as for hidde treasure What then Then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God Feruency and zeale in good duties addeth wings vnto them and makes them sore aloft and pierce the heauens euen into Gods presence Whereas duties formally performed and but with lip labour onely bring no fruit at all but hasten Gods sudgements vpon him that doth them Seeing then that the duties of Religion are so earnestly to bee pursued and followed after Vse 1 This serues then for the iust reprehension of those that are so farre from being zealous themselues to trauell with the Eunuch here vnto Ierusalem to worship God as that they mocke and scoffe at others that doe their duties herein Certainly if this Nobleman liued amongst vs it were not his greatnesse that would free him from the imputation of Puritanisme and his zeale should not escape the disgraces of wicked men Is not this common in the world See wee not that if there be any one in a Parish as many God knoweth there be not that is more forward then others to sanctifie the Sabbath and to spend that day as set apart wholly for Gods seruice in the publicke duties belonging thereto how are these singled out aboue all others and derided and scoffed at for the same when drunkards swearers and prophane persons are neuer wondred at This hard measure Dauid met withall from Micol his owne wife 2. Sam. 6 20. who dancing before the Arke therein expressing the inward ioy of his heart she mockes him How glorious was the King this day To whom Dauid made answer It was before the Lord who chose mee before thy fathers house and I will yet be more vile Let it euer be the commendations of all Gods people so to be vpbraided and scoffed at for their godly zeale As for wicked men they are neuer so zealous as in the cause of sinne And this indeed is the misery of this age and time wherein wee liue that that which indeed is the greatest ornament to a christian man
be offended at my rudenesse and boldnesse if I should offer my selfe to come into his company or else hee might haue alledged his owne simplicitie alas I am but a poore simple man and what hope can I haue to do him any good But Philip we see alledgeth none of these but being called and sent of God hee goes boldly and most willingly about the worke of the Lord and the duty of his calling Philip ran thither Our lesson is That God would haue vs to obey Doct. him God loues chearfulnes in his seruice and to performe the duties of our callings readily willingly and chearfully We may see this here to the great commendations of Philip who being bid to go he ranne thither saith the Text He ranne thither not to get a Benefice but to preach the Gospell and this is it indeed that pleaseth the Lord greatly diligence and sedulitie in doing his will and the duties of our callings That which Paul speaketh of a chearfull giuer God loueth a chearfull giuer is true of all other duties God loueth a chearfull hearer a chearfull prayer a chearfull receiuer and of Christ it was said That it was meat and drinke vnto him to doe the will of his Father And for this wee are taught to pray that we may doe Gods will on earth as the Angels do the same in heauen Now the Angels doe Gods will readily willingly and chearfully and therefore are they said to haue two wings to flie because of their speedy execution of Gods will And this was the great commendations of those Noble Bereans aboue those of Thessalonica Act. 17.11 that with willingnesse they receiued the word And so was it the praise of Abraham Gen. 2â— that being commanded of God to sacrifice his sonne Isaac that hee rose vp early in the morning to do it Yea this readinesse and willingnesse to doe the Lords will is a thing so pleasing vnto God that wicked men themselues albeit in by respects when they haue readily executed the Lords command the Lord hath taken speciall all notice of it and recompensed the same 2. Kin. 10.30 Wee may see this in Iehu Because saith the Lord thou hast beene diligent to execute that which was right in my eyes against the house of Ahab therefore thy sonnes shall sit vpon the throne of Israel to the fourth generation And yet wee know that Iehu did it not so much in obedience to Gods commandement as to settle himselfe in the kingdome Men make no reckoning of such a seruant that goeth about his businesse lazily or grudgingly much lesse can the Lord away with such that do his worke negligently â—â—r 4â— 10 formally customarily and but for fashion sake This serues to reproue many in the Ministery Vse who are so backward in doing of their duties who do the Lords worke coldly negligently and carelesly Some are so farre from doing the Lords worke readily willingly and chearfully as that they do it not at all but are rather like the wilde Asse â—er 2.24 swift to wickednesse and sinne They runne to an Ale-house but haue no heart at all to Gods house haue in them no compassion at all towards those thousand in Israel that like wandering sheepe are out of the way and are in danger to perish euerlastingly Surely it is not the least blemish of our Church that there is no better course taken with such these are spots and blots amongst vs opening the mouthes both of Papists and Atheists to speake euill of our sacred calling and are a stumbling blocke to many Some againe are backward in doing the Lords command like Ionas who ranne from his dutie another way The Lord bids Philip go and hee runnes with all speed and readily and chearfully doth the will of God But though the Lord command these men to run they scant go they must be called againe againe they haue so many excuses to hinder them from doing their duties Yea were it not many times more for feare of mans law and shame of the world then loue to God and compassion to the poore soules of their people I feare me that many would make small haste to preach the word at all Secondly as many Preachers so many hearers of the word are here likewise faultie who when they should come to the publicke preaching of the word which is Gods ordinance to saue mens soules There is a Lyon in the way or a Beare it is too hot it is too cold something or other hinders them from their dutie or if they do come they stay not to the last but come with the last and go with the first euen as a Beare comes to a stake so come these to this duty Well the Lord loues a chearfull giuer and no other dutie can finde acceptation with him no farther then it hath chearfulnesse to commend the same vnto God Oh then let vs runne to Gods house it will bee the more comfortable vnto vs and then may wee looke to meet the Lord in his owne ordinances when readily and chearfully wee set our selues to meet him therein But vnderstandest thou what thou readest Philip might seeme to want discretion greatly to begin thus bluntly with this Nobleman Much vnlike is this dealing of his to other the seruants of God who when they haue beene to speake vnto great personages haue seemed to vse more reuerence and to giue them better respect Thus one of the sonnes of the Prophets when he came to anoint Iehu king comes with reuerence to him saying I haue an arrant vnto thee 2. King 9.5 O Captaine And thus Daniel with his O King so often in his mouth Dan. 4.18 doth shew the reuerend respect that he gaue to so great a personage to whom he spake And this was that reuerent carriage of Paul Act. 26.7 when hee was to speake to King Agrippa So that this behauiour of Philip at this time towards this man a man would haue thought might haue forestalled the good which otherwise he might haue done on the man But surely Gods wayes are not as mans wayes Here is Gods seruant now to deale not with a Iehu as the sonne of the Prophet was nor with a Nabuchadnezzar as Daniel was nor with an Agrippa as Paul was men carnally minded proud fleshly and vaine But with an humble soule a meeke seruant of God one that loued not to bee soothed vp and flattered in his sinnes but to be truly and plainly dealt withall and therefore was Philip so much the more welcome vnto him And thus againe the Lord vseth sometimes to speake vnto his seruants 1. King 21. as Eliah to Ahab It is thou and thy fathers house that troubleth Israel Amos 4.1 So Amos to the Princes of his time calling them that Fat kine of Bashan that fed vpon the mountaines of Samaria Now this dealing of Gods seruants thus commendeth vnto vs this instruction That wee are not to measure the truth of the message
of God Doct. The truth of Gods Word not to be measured by outward appearance by the outward forme of words or manner of deliuery of it or by the messenger for God is not tyed vnto such meanes but he can by the foolish things of the world confound the wise as the Apostle saith When the world by the wisedome of it knew not God in the wisedome of God 1 Cor. 1.21 it pleased God by the foolishnesse of preaching to saue them that beleeue Euen so by this poore and plaine man Philip the Lord conuerted this great Noble man We may not then thinke as the manner of many is that the power of the Gospell consisteth in eloquence of speech but the euidence and demonstration of the Spirit is best seene in plainenesse So Paul Our reioycing is this 2 Cor. 1.12 the testimony of our conscience that in simplicitie and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisedome but by the grace of God wee haue had our conuersation in the world And why should the world wonder at this Reas 1 Seeing that in the choyce thus of such simple and weake meanes that haue little or no force in them his glory doth most of all appeare Now he will maintaine his owne glory That no flesh should glory in his presence 1 Cor 1.28.29 And hence it is that the Lord chooseth the foolish things before the wise and weake things to confound the mighty and the base things of the world to bring to nought things that are for the clearer manifestation and setting forth of his owne glory Reas 2 Secondly God seeth not as man seeth outward priuiledges and respects oftentimes preuaile with men but not with God who respecteth the heart and not the outward appearance And hence is it that the Lord gaue this charge vnto Samuel when he was to annoynt one of the sonnes of Iesse to be King 1 Sam. 167 Looke not on his countenance or on the height of his stature for the Lord seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart And hence is it that the Lord maketh choyce of such instruments which the world so highly condemne in regard he seeth the heart and principally regardeth the integrity of the same Vse 1 This then meeteth with the vaine conceit of those that thinke that vnlesse the Preacher be eloquent and soare aloft in such a manner of stile aboue the reach of the vulgar and decke and trimme vp his Sermon with Doctors and Fathers and humanity think meanely of the Word though otherwise he speake vnto the conscience and conuince the same of sinne Such must know that simplicitie doth best become the Gospell of Christ and that herein the Apostle Saint Paul doth approue himselfe a faithfull Minister of the same in that he came not with the inticing words of mans wisedome Let men then take heed how they despise those whom God hath thus honoured and set apart for this seruice for this is indeed to crosse the proceedings of God and to barre vp the way against our selues and our owne soules of life and saluation Vse 2 Secondly seeing he chooseth thus the weake things of this world to confound the mighty and maketh such many times excellent instruments of his glory that haue no outward beautie or excellencie in them It teacheth vs then to giue God alone the glory and praise of his owne worke acknowledging it to be his owne gift and to returne him the praise Thus did our Sauiour himselfe I thanke thee O Father Mat. 11.25 that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent of the world and hast reuealed them vnto Babes and sucklings euen so O Father for so it seemed good in thy sight And this indeed doth belong as a speciall duty vnto vs when wee shall see and take notice of those great workes in the world in the conuersion of soules as ordinarily are wrought at this day by such weake meanes and instruments of Gods glory so much contemned Vnderstandest thou what thou readest Philip begins first with the Eunuch not waiting vntill the Eunuch began with him And this indeed will a gratious heart doe euen set forward Gods worke whensoeuer wheresoeuer and in whomsoeuer any oportunity shal be offered to doe God seruice He begins first with a question But vnderstandest thou hereby first of all to discouer the state and condition of this man with whom he was now to deale Doct. Ministers must know the state of their flock and in priuate as in publike instruct them in the waies of God that so hee might proceed the better in the worke of his ministery Hereby teaching the Ministers of Christ a necessary duty to labour to know the state of their flocke ouer whom they are set and to take all occasions in priuate as in publike to edifie their people and to doe good to the poore soules of men But especially by asking of questions and Catechising them as Philip doth here and by laying amongst them the foundation of religion This was that most commendable practise of the Church in the Apostles time as it appeareth by the Author of the Epistle vnto the Hebrewes Heb. 6.1 where it seemes there were sixe principles of Christian religion taught vnto the people 1 Repentance from dead workes 2 Faith towards God 3 The doctrine of Baptisme 4 Of laying on of hands 5 Of the resurrection of the dead 6 Of the last iudgement Which Principles being first laid as a foundation in religion the Author of the Epistle exhorts the Hebrewes not to rest there but to goe on vnto perfection for this was Abraham Gen. 18. Ios 24. Acts 10. Iosuah and Cornelius so highly commended in the Scriptures their well trayning vp of their children and families in the feare of the Lord. This was it in the primitiue Church and in all reformed Churches euer since Reas 1 And there is great reason for it For first by this kinde of priuate conference and dealing with them especially by questions and answers men are brought to the knowledge of God and of Christ Reas 2 Secondly it is an excellent meanes to bring men to see their natural misery to see their wants and to helpe them to a supply for the same for herein they haue most freedome in propounding the doubts and so may receiue instruction Reas 3 Thirdly it is an excellent meanes for the Minister to know the state of his flocke that so hee may diuide the Word aright to giue to euery one his portion in due season for as a Bell is knowne by the sound so are men by their answer known what knowledge they haue in the mystery of saluation through Christ Reas 4 Fourthly men by this means are made fit and prepared to the hearing of the Word to iudge of Sermons reading conferences and so fortified against seducers Reas 5 Fiftly by this meanes men are more able to teach and instruct
make himselfe fit to speake vnto the people and not to doe as the manner of some is trot vp and downe all the weeke about worldly affaires and then on the Sabbath deliuer whatsoeuer comes to hand This is not to diuide the word of God aright The Ministers of Christ must first eat the roll of Gods book Ezek. 2.1 and haue their tongue touched wito a Cole from the Altar Isa 6 7. before they come â—â—to Gods place and in his stâ—â—d to speake vnto the people And is there not reason thinke you Reas 1 Let such but consider whose place they occupie is it not the place of God himselfe and is it not his message they deliuer vnto the people Now will an Embassadour of an earthly Prince go about his seruice but will premeditate aforehand what to say And is it not much more requisite that the messengers of the Lord of Hosts should in an holy manner prepare themselues to the deliuery of the Lords message Reas 2 Secondly the Ministery of the word is the Lords owne ordinance his worke that they are appointed to doe Ier. and are not such accursed that do the worke of the Lord negligently Reas 3 Thirdly it is no lesse requisite in regard of the people to whom they speake and ouer whom they are set Is not the Priests lips to preserue knowledge and are not the people to heare the Law from his mouth Mal. 2.7 Now if the people must learne to know Gods will from the mouth of the Minister it is requisite that hee should bee well acquainted with Gods will For to this end is he placed ouer them Vse 1 And surely this shewes the greatnesse of their sin that sleight this worke of the Minister study little reade little pray little and meditate least of all yet will seeme to speake something vnto the people This is indeed no better then to tempt God when men shall neglect the meanes which God hath appointed for this worke of the Ministery Wherefore hath God giuen Arts and Sciences and the knowledge of tongues but that men might vse them as helps and hand-maids to this worke of the Ministery I could wish such men would but consider Iacobs diligence and paines in attending of Labans flocke Gen 31 40 In the day time saith hee I was consumed with heate in the night with frost and my sleepe departed from me Alas what comparison betweene Christ and Laban the one a churlish master the other a mercifull Redeemer And what comparison betweene the sheepe of Laban and the sheepe of Christ what a shame were it 〈◊〉 the sheepe of Laban should be better serued then the sheepe of Christ purchased with his own blood If this moue vs not cast wee our eyes vpon the Lord Iesus Christ himselfe the Cheef Shepherd and Bishop of our soules somtimes in the temple somtimes in the garden somtimes preaching somtimes praying and somtimes suffering A Minister that is so sparing of a little sweaet for Christ what would hee doe if hee should call for his blood Surely he will ill abide the pangs of burning for Christ that wil not abide the pains of preaching for Christ Would any man giue wages to such a sheepherd that should neglect his flock and suffer them to be starued for want of pasture or leaue them to be deuoured I trow not What then can such expect at Gods hand that feede themselues and not the flock which he hath purchased with his owne blood Vse 2 SecoÌ„dly as Ministers are bound in this solemn manner to prepare themselues to preach the word So are people in as solemne a manner bound to prepare themselues to the hearing of the same Both preaching and hearing are Gods worke and both lye vnder the curse that doe the same negligently When Peter was to preach the Word to Cornelius Cornelius and his whole company were ready prepared to receiue the same wee are all here before God saith he to heare whatsoeuer is commanded vs of God Act. 10. He began at the same Scripture Philip being to preach Iesus Christ vnto this Eunuch and having considered what to say hee beginneth at this Scripture herein taking the present occasion that was thus by Diuine prouidence offered it seruing so fitly to his purpose in hand For albeit there bee many places that set foorth Christ and the mystery of our Salvation through him yet none to this For indeed throughout all the Prophets we haue no where a clearer Prophecy of Christs death and resurrection then this place of the Prophet Esay And therefore as the Lord was pleased in his good Prouidence to direct the Eunuch at this time to fall vpon this Scripture to reade it Philip takes the present opportunity the text of Scripture now read as the fittest text to preach of vnto him And heerein will teach the Ministers of Christ a necessary duty Namely that they ought to be so wise to make choice of speciall texts Doct. Ministers must make choice of speciall texts for special occasions and places of Scripture to treate of vnto their people as occasion still shall bee offered vnto them For albeit that all Scriptures are full of Diuine and heauenly truths yet some Scriptures fit some persons and occasions better then others There are many comfortable promises which God hath made in his word Come let vs reason together though your sinnes were as scarlet c. Esay 1.18 Mat. 11.28 Come vnto mee all ye that trauaile and are heauy laden c. But for a man that is not yet truly humbled the threats of the Law are fitter That place of Iohn Ioh. 9.31 God heareth not sinners Is an excellent Scripture very requisite to be taught but not to one distressed in conscience and beaten downe in the sense of sinne A Steward in a family must haue aswell wisedome to know what is necessary for euery member of the family as fidelity to dispence his Masters goods The Minister is to know when to speake and what to speake for as Salomon saith A word spoken in due time is like Apples of gold pictures of siluer Arons Bels must be wisely rung sometimes the treble of Mercy sounds well at another time the tenor of Iudgement sounds better A Minister is wisely to change his note as occasion shall require approuing himself to euery mans conscience in the feare of God 2 Cor. 4.2 sometimes wee are to come in a still voice as the Lord appeared to Elias sometimes againe to play the part of a Bonarges a Sonne of Thunder Vse 1 This shewes then what wisdome skill is required of euery faithfull Minister of Christ Like a faithfull Steward in Gods house hee must measure out to euery man his due Exhortation to whom exhortation is due reprehension to whom reprehension belongs Vse 2 And it serues likewise to admonish hearers not to expect that their Pastors should at all times come vnto them with the same
they might for a few houres of that pretious time wee so wastfully mis-spend My brethren there is no prodigalitie in the whole world like vnto this of mis-spending of time If a man waste his estate and mis-spend his inheritance it is possible to recouer it againe But time precious time once lost can neuer be recouered They came to a certaine water See here through the especiall prouidence and goodnes of God how happily euery thing comes to hand to set forward this mans saluation If the Lord doe but giue him once an heart to seeke him and to serue him here is a Ierusalem to go to to worship God For the further building of him vp in the knowledge of Christ here are the Scriptures to be read doth hee sticke at them as being beyond his vnderstanding Here is a Philip ready to teach and instruct him and to interpret the Scriptures vnto him Doth Philip tell him how necessary a thing it is to be baptised see here They came to a certaine water Whatsoeuer his wants and necessities are the Lord stil makes supply thereunto Thus thus dealeth the Lord with his seruants he neuer wanteth meanes to bring his own purpose to passe Our Instruction then is this That God neuer wanteth means for the good of his children Doct. God wanteth not means for the good of his seruants what soeuer the wants and necessities of his seruants are God neuer wanteth meanes for the supply thereof whether wee consider their corporall necessities or spirituall wants he is God all-sufficient for them both Let the Israelites his owne people be in misery and distresse the Lord can supply their wants with Manna from heauen If there bee a time of famine and dearth in the Land hee can cause the widowes oyle to increase and not to diminish vntill the Lord send plenty in the Land rather then Ionas shall perish the Whale shall attend his seruice rather then Elias shall perish for want of food the Rauens shall feede him And as for the spirituall miseries of his seruants hee is able to send comfort and deliuerance many wayes Act. 9. Paul being a chosen vessell the Lord can bring him home many wayes at his pleasure as by that sound from heauen and afterwards to send him to Ananias Let Cornelius with an vpright heart seeke the Lord with fasting and prayer hee shall not want a Peter to instruct and comfort him in the waies of God Act. 10.30 Let Peter be cast into prison he shall haue the ministery of an Angell at hand for his deliuery Act. 12. And this Eunuch that trauelled farre to worship God and to know Iesus Christ and him crucified rather then his expectation shall faile and his labour shall be in vaine in the Lord the Lord will raise vp a Philip by whose ministery hee shall be brought to beleeue And why should any wonder at this Is he not the Lord of Hosts Reas hath he not all creatures in heauen and earth ar a becke and command for to execute his will Let Daniel be cast into the Lions den hee can muzell the mouthes of those cruell beasts Dan. 3. Let the three Children bee cast into the fierie fornace the fire shall haue no power at all against them It skills not what the miseries of Gods seruants are so the Lord bee with them Vse 1 This then serues to reprooue those who in their fits and Feuers of affliction thinke the Lord hath forsaken his people and left off to be gracious vnto his inheritance We are proue to looke too much to the meanes an arme of flesh a bow of steele not considering that the Lord is in heauen and doth whatsoeuer it pleaseth him This was Dauids case Hath God forgotten to be gratious and hath hee shut vp his louing kindnesse in displeasure This was Ionas case Ion. 2. I said I am for euer cast out of thy sight Whereas indeed God doth neuer forsake his people He hath said Heb. 13. Hee will neuer leaue them nor forsake them Vse 2 Secondly this may serue to teach vs in all our miseries and necessities still to waite on him Thou art compassed about with many miseries know that God wants not meanes of deliuerance when he is pleased to helpe Thou art kept vnder many corruptions and infirmities which cleaue vnto thee here which faine thou wouldest shake off and be rid of Know thou for thy comfort that God is able to tread downe Sathan vnder thy feet with whom all things are possible Here is water what doth let me Philip hauing no doubt instructed him in the vse of the Sacraments that by Baptisme he was to be admitted into the Church and that it was the badge and cognizance of a Christian See we now his ready disposition to put on this Christian profession the Liuery of such a Lord and Master See here is water what doth let me Q. d. Is Baptisme a signe of our profession and is it a symbole of our putting on of Christ Here is water what lets but that according to thy Doctrine I bee now baptised See here with what readinesse and cheerfulnesse we should put the Lords will in execution Doct. Gods will being once made knowne we ought readily to put the same in exacution being once made knowne vnto vs. Is Baptisme so needfull and so necessary well fare a good heart it will not omit any opportunitie offered but takes the benefit of the first water he met withall in his iourney to be baptised Men should make haste to be in couenant with God and Christ like the sonnes of Zebedeus would leaue all to be entertained into his seruice All our actions will finde acceptation with God so farre forth as they sauour of chearfulnesse For that which Saint Paul speakes of giuing is true of all other duties God loueth a chearfull giuer God loueth a chearefull hearer God loueth a chearefull receiuer chearfulnesse is all in all in the doing of good duties And hence is it that this is obserued to the great commendations of Abraham that when the Lord had commanded him to sacrifice his sonne Isaac Gen. 22. Abraham arose vp early in the morning to do it But of this before What doth let me to be baptised The Eunuch hauing readily and willingly entertained the word in his heart doth now in Baptisme desire to put on the outward profession of Religion also to testifie vnto the world the â—â—uth of his profession And herein will teach vs That he that hath truly put on Christ Doct. Heaâ—tie Christians must bee heartie pâ—ofessors Ro. 10.10 will be ready to make profession of the name of Christ With the heart man beleeueth to righteousnesse and with the mouth confession is made knowne vnto saluation For this publicke profession of the truths sake Daniel was cast into the denne The three Children into the fiery fornace The Apostles being charged to hold their peace and to preach no more in the name
of Iesus Answered boldly before the Councell Whether it bee right in the sight of God Act. 5.29 Act. â—1 11.12 1. Tim. 6.12.13 to obey you rather then God iudge ye For we cannot but speake the things that we haue seene and heard How resolute was the Apostle Paul this way when Agabus had told him the things that should befall him at Ierusalem and his friends went about to disswade him from going vp thither what doe ye weeping breaking my heart I am ready not only to be bound but also to dye at Ierusalem for the testimony of the Lord Iesus And in this doth our Sauiour comfort his Disciples against all the miseries and afflictions of this life Luk. 22.28 Ye are they which haue bene with me in my temptations therefore I appoint vnto you a Kingdom The point is cleare and plaine That such as by faith haue put on the Lord Iesus will not bee ashamed to make confession and profession of his name Euery man must be at the least a Confessor if not a Martyr that would raigne with Christ in glory And there is Reason for it Reas 1 First because it is one of the most proper fruites of Faith to make an open confession profession of the name of Christ Because wee haue the same spirit of Faith according as it is written I beleeued 2 Cor. 4.13 and therefore haue I spoken we also beleeue and therefore speake No better testimony of true Faith then heartily to confesse Christ whereas he that is afraid to confesse Christ hath no Faith Reas 2 Secondly there is made a speciall promise vnto such as make profession of his name Mat. 10.32 Hee that shall confesse me before men him wil I confesse before my Father which is in heauen Mar. 8.38 Whereas the contrarie is threatned with a fearefull curse Whosoeuer shall deny me before men him will I deny before my Father which is in heauen Reas 3 Besides God hath not giuen to any the light of his heauenly grace and the knowledge of his Sonne Christ to the end that the same be buried in the earth hid in wants not meanes of deliuerance when he is pleased to helpe Thou art kept vnder many corruptions and infirmities which cleaue vnto thee here which faine thou wouldest shake off and be rid of Know thou for thy comfort that God is able to tread downe Sathan vnder thy feet with whom all things are possible Here is water what doth let me Philip hauing no doubt instructed him in the vse of the Sacraments that by Baptisme he was to be admitted into the Church and that it was the badge and cognizance of a Christian See we now his ready disposition to put on this christian profession the Liuery of such a Lord and Master See here is water what doth let me Q. d. Is Baptisme a signe of our profession and is it a symbole of our putting on of Christ Here is water what lets but that according to thy Doctrine I bee now baptised See here with what readinesse and cheerfulnesse we should put the Lords will in execution Doct. Gods will being once made knowne we ought readily to put the same in execution being once made knowne vnto vs. Is Baptisme so needfull and so necessary well fare a good heart it will not omit any opportunitie offered but takes the benefit of the first water he met withal in his iourney to be baptised Men should make haste to be in couenant with God and Christ like the sonnes of Zebedeus would leue all to be entertained into his seruice All our actions will finde acceptation with God so farre forth as they sauour of chearfulnesse For that which Saint Paul speakes of giuing is true of all other duties God loueth a chearfull giuer God loueth a chearefull hearer God loueth a chearefull receiuer chearfulnesse is all in all in the doing of good duties And hence is it that this is obserued to the great commendations of Abrabam that when the Lord had commanded him to sacrifice his sonne Isaac Gen. 22. Abraham arose vp early in the morning to do it But of this before What doth let me to be baptised The Eunuch hauing readily and willingly entertained the word in his heart doth now in Baptisme desire to put on the outward profession of Religion also to testifie vnto the world the tâ—uth of his profession And herein will teach vs That he that hath truly put on Christ Doct. Heaâ—tie Christians must bee heartie professors Ro. 10.10 will be ready to make profession of the name of Christ With the heart man beleeueth to righteousnesse and with the mouth confession is made knowne vnto saluation For this publicke profession of the truths sake Daniel was cast into the denne The three Children into the fiery fornace The Apostles being charged to hold their peace and to preach no more in the name of Iesus Answered boldly before the Councell Whether it bee right in the sight of God Act. 5.29 Act. 21.11.12 1. Tim. 6.12.13 to obey you rather then God iudge ye For we cannot but speake the things that we haue seene and heard How resolute was the Apostle Paul this way when Agabus had told him the things that should befall him at Ierusalem and his friends went about to disswade him from going vp thither what doe ye weeping breaking my heart I am ready not only to be bound but also to dye at Ierusalem for the testimony of the Lord Iesus And in this doth our Sauiour comfort his Disciples against all the miseries and afflictions of this life Luk. 22.28 Ye are they which haue bene with me in my temptations therefore I appoint vnto you a Kingdom The point is cleare and plaine That such as by faith haue put on the Lord Iesus will not bee ashamed to make confession and profession of his name Euery man must be at the least a Confessor if not a Martyr that would raigne with Christ in glory And there is Reason for it Reas 1 First because it is one of the most proper fruites of Faith to make an open confession profession of the name of Christ Because wee haue the same spirit of Faith according as it is written I beleeued 2 Cor. 4.13 and therefore haue I spoken we also beleeue and therefore speake No better testimony of true Faith then heartily to confesse Christ whereas he that is afraid to confesse Christ hath no Faith Reas 2 Secondly there is made a speciall promise vnto such as make profession of his name Mat. 10.32 Hee that shall confesse me before men him wil I confesse before my Father which is in heauen Mar. 8.38 Whereas the contrarie is threatned with a fearefull curse whosoeuer shall deny me before men him will I deny before my Father which is in heauen Reas 3 Besides God hath not giuen to any the light of his heauenly grace and the knowledge of his Sonne Christ
duty Doct. Ministers must first instruct their people before they administer the Sacraments Namely that they must first teach and instruct their people in the nature of the Sacrament and the necessitie of sauing faith to the due participation thereof before they administer the same vnto them Euery one must throughly be instructed in the Sacraments before he come to participate of the same This was the charge the Lord gaue vnto the Leuites in the time of the Law before they came to the Passeouer Ye shall sanctifie your selues 2. Chron. 35.6 and prepare your brethren that they may do according to the word of the Lord. And thus doth Philip here instruct this Eunuch in the necessitie of sauing faith before he receiue this Sacrament of Baptisme Neither doth Paul presently baptise the Iaylor before such time that hee had preached the word vnto him and thereby made him fit to partake of the same This was that holy order that Christ himselfe commends vnto his Disciples Mat 28.19 Go teach all nations baptising them in the name of the Father c. And againe He that beleeueth and is baptised shall be saued Wherein we see that faith is most necessarie to precede Baptisme Men are first of all to be taught to beleeue before they receiue the Sacraments which are indeed The seales of the righteousnesse of faith And there is reason for it Reas 1 First in regard of their function and calling they are to watch for the peoples souls Heb. 13.17 as they that must giue vp an account thereof vnto God And therefore must warne them of the danger of vnworthy receiuing lest the people rush vpon holy things vnworthily and vnpreparedly and so incur Gods wrath and they themselues hereby become guiltie of their sinnes Reas 2 Secondly holy things are not to be giuen to dogges Mat. 7.6 nor pearles cast before swine it is requisite then that the Pastour should take away the precious from the vile and as much as in him lyeth Ier. 15.19 put the difference betwixt the one and the other Reas 3 Thirdly the doctrine that concerneth the right vse of the Sacraments is one part of the counsell of God which a Minister is to reueale vnto the people otherwise he cannot bee free from the peoples sinne This serues then for the iust reproofe of such Ministers as make no conscience at all of their duties in this kinde Vse to fit and prepare their people to the due participation of the Sacraments but promiscuously hand ouer head suffer all to partake of the same and so to defile these holy ordinances This was Eli's sinne for the which the Lord threatened to plague his house for euer That his sonnes made themselues vile 1. Sam. 3.13 and he restrained them not Surely it is not the least sinne whereof the Tribe of Leui stands guiltie of at this day that men are no more restrained and that herein wee deale not so faithfully with mens soules are we should And withall let this serue to admonish you that are our hearers that you suffer the word of exhortation and not to runne vpon the pikes of Gods displeasure where you may be taught your duties The Sacraments are the seales of Gods couenant Wherefore should wee require these things at Gods hands when our conditions are not obserued It is lamentable to see the generall neglect of this holy preparation amongst the most sort of men men almost disdaine to be admonished and instructed in their duties herein If thou beleeuest with all thy heart thou mayest Though the Eunuch desired neuer so much to be baptised yet Philip doth not by and by satisfie his desire therein but shewes him first the condition that is required on our part namely Doct. Faith necessarie to the due receiuing of the Sacraments that he must beleeue The Doctrine is That to the participation of the Sacraments of the Church faith is necessary The words are plaine If thou beleeuest thou mayest Q. d. there is more in it then so presently to be baptised now here is water ready This may be done and thou no whit the better nay it may be done to thy further condemnation If then thou wouldst haue true comfort by this Sacrament this is required of thee that thou beleeue The point is cleared by that of our Sauiour vnto his Disciples immediately before his ascention vp into heauen Mat. 16.15 16. And he said vnto them Go ye vnto all the world and preach the word to euery Nation he that beleeueth and is baptised shall be saued And hence is it that Philip doth instruct this Eunuch in the great necessitie of sauing faith to the due participation of this Sacrament So Paul Act. 16. the Iaylor before the would baptise him shews him the necessitie of faith And hence is it that the Sacraments are called The seales of the righteousnesse of faith Rom 4.11 Now it were absurde to set a seale to a thing that is not as to a blanke For a man to come to the Sacrament for a confirmation of his faith when he in the meane time vnderstandeth not what faith meaneth what an absurd thing were this And therefore the practise of the Primitiue Church herein was most commendable who had their Catechumeni a certaine sort of people that were well instructed in the principles of Religion and then were admitted to the Sacraments of Baptisme and the Eucharist being drawne to the Church from Heathenisme and Paganisme If faith bee so necessarie to the Quest due participation of the Sacraments of the Church How comes it then to passe that Infants are baptised that are not of yeares actually to beleeue This may be answered diuers wayes Answ First the common answer herein is good That the children of beleeuing parents haue a right to the Sacrament in regard of the couenant that God made with them and their seed And the faith of euery true beleeuer is so farre the Infants that it giues it an interest into the Sacrament for the beleeuing parent laies hold on the couenant not onely for himselfe but also for his seed As in the title of Lands at this day a man doth purchase lands to him and his heires after him And this is warranted by that of the Apostle 1. Cor. 7.14 If the root be holy so be the branches And in this sense may the children of beleeuers be said to be beleeuers Secondly it may be answered thus that Christ himselfe reckoneth Infants amongst the number of beleeuers Whosoeuer shall offend one of these little ones that beleeue in me c. Howsoeuer their faith be secret In infantibus qui adhuc per aetatem credere non possunt Spiritus sanctus in â—oâ—um cordibus fidei vices agit Pet. Mar. in Rom. 6. as their life it selfe is Though they know not that they do liue yet there is life in them So may the Lord in a maruellous manner giue them the seed and
it may as truely bee said of the Sacraments they profit not being not mixed with Faith in them that receiue them If thou beleeuest with al thy heart Heereby is not ment the perfection of Faith but the sinceritie of Faith that our harts may be blamlesse in holinesse 1 Thes 3.13 that the hid man of the heart bee vncorrupt According to that of the Apostle Singing to the Lord in your hearts that is sincerely Against this is opposed a heart and a heart which Saint Iames calleth a wauering minded man Such a single sincere heart such a Faith that is thus vnfained is here permitted to this Sacrament as one qualified for the same and so the Sacraments become excellent meanes for the confirmation and building vp of the same Faith Our Instruction is That the Faith of a Christian in this life is not so perfect Doct. No perfection of Faith here but it standeth in neede of increase and helpe Our knowledge saith the Apostle is but in part 1 Cor. 13.9 and therefore our Faith it selfe must needs bee imperfect and hence it is that we are often vrged pressed in the Scripture to grow in grace 2 Pet. 3.18 1 Thes 4.1 and to increase more and more The grace of Gods Spirit by the Prophet Ezechiel are figured by waters Eze. 47. issuing out of the Sanctuary which came first to the ancles then to the knees and at last to the loynes The Psalmist compareth the godly to trees which bring forth much fruite in their age And hence it is that the spirituall life of the godly in the Scripture is compared to seuerall ages of men some are babes some are men of perfect strength Now it were a wonder in Nature not to see an Infant grow but to stand at a stay 1. Pet. 2.2 As new borne babes desire ye the sincere milke of the word To what end that ye may grow thereby Grace is likewise compared to light which shineth brighter and brighter Isa 58.8 Then shall thy light breake forth as the morning and thy health shall spring forth speedily The Doctrine is cleare and plain and the grounds hereof may be these Fitst in regard that the greatest measure of grace that any man in this life can possibly attaine vnto is no more then needfull to saluation as the least measure of the true sanctified graces of Gods Spirit shall suffice so no man hath ought to spare when Death commeth Secondly the Lord to this end hath planted vs hedged dressed digged and watered vs and all to make vs more and more fruitfull now vnlesse this cost should be in vaine vnto vs and wee should proue our selues barren and vnfruitfull vines we must bring forth fruit daily more and more Vse 1 This may serue to admonish euery man in the feare of God not to rest in the beginning of any grace receiued but to be led forward daily more and more towards perfection It is a common fault in the world at this day and that amongst many that make profession of Religion that if they haue beene diligent in the vse of the meanes a time so as they haue got a good measure of knowledge and are able to discourse of Religion presently conceiue that they need not to be at that paines as in times past and so begin to slugge in their Christian race I would say to such as our Sauiour sometimes to the Church of Sardis Be awake Reu. 3.2 and strengthen the things that remaine that are ready to die Our nature is wonderfull prone to be filled with these things as the Israelites were glutted with Manna howsoeuer in other things wee are insatiable Surely it is a sure note of a gratious heart when men can see and bewaile their owne emptinesse in heauenly graces complaine still of their owne deadnesse of heart backwardnes in holy duties and their want of zeale in Gods seruice Whereas that man that conceits himselfe to haue knowledge enough and grace enough and so growes more and more negligent in the vse of holy meanes for the perfecting of Gods graces begun this man neuer yet had true grace For if he had he would labour more and more for the confirmation and increase of the same grace with this Eunuch here and so be led forward daily towards perfection Vse 2 Secondly this may serue for matter of triall vnto vs would we know whether wee haue learned Christ indeed to life and saluation and haue truly put on Christ with all the graces of his spirit Hereby wee shall know it by our daily growth and increase in grace and godlinesse True grace will certainly increase If it do not grow and increase wee neuer had but the semblance of grace like vnto Demos Hymeneus and Philetus counterfeit grace will not abide long it will not increase If then wee would not deceiue our selues we must not rest in the beginnings of grace but stirre vp the gifts of God within vs. Meanes for the increase of grace Now the means for the growth and increase of grace are 1. Meditation on the word preached and taught 2. Earnest prayer vnto God for grace to beleeue and obey 3. Thanksgiuing for grace already receiued 4. Daily conference with those that are of eminent grace 5. The well improuing of any gift or grace receiued these and the like are excellent meanes for the further building of vs vp in the wayes of godlinesse With all thy heart Hauing before shewed the necessitie of sauing faith to the due participation of the Sacraments of the Church as also that oy the vse of the meanes such as arâ— the Word Sacraments Prayer and the like we ought daily to grow and increase in the same Now he comes to shew the nature and qualitie of that faith that is so precious it must bee pure sincere heartie and vnfained If thou beleeuest with all thy heart The Doctrine is That true faith makes the heart of that man sincere and pure that hath it Faith purifieth the heart Doct. A beleeuing heart is a sincere heart Act. 15.9 Act. 26.18 Deut. 6.5 a beleeuing heart is a sincere heart and sanctifieth him that hath it This is that the Lord requireth of his people Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thy heart c. the Lord cannot abide that men should haue a heart and an heart a heart for God and a heart for the deuill a heart for Christ and a heart for Antichrist Such double mindednesse as Saint Iames speaketh Iam. 4.8 is abhomination vnto him Mat. 23. The Pharises could wash the outside of the cup and of the platter but inwardly were full of all hypocrisie Pilate washed his hands indeed but not his heart An hypocrite will sometimes stumble into a Church and pray to be seene of men But the honest and good heart will enter into it chamber Mat. 6.6 These are they that are pronounced blessed of God Psal 32.1