Alexander or Caesar or such like but of Christ Iesus the great Generall of heauen and earth ought so to behaue himselfe in all things that appertayne vnto his duety as he may be approued and accepted of him that called him Vse 1 This doctrine to make some vse of it serueth first for the iust reproofe of those who not regarding the approbation of God doe affect and hunt after the vaine and popular applause of men gaping as greedily after it as the Camaeleon doth after the ayre which is her onely nourishment * Pulchrum est monstrari digito dicier hic est Pers Sat. 1. AElian Var hist lib. 9. cap. 17. They count it a goodly matter that men take notice of them and point at them for their gifts yea many times though they be neuer so meane that doe it As it is said of Demosthenes that he was filled with pride when he heard the Water-bearers whisper something in his commendation as he passed by them Now he that is thus affected can neuer be sincere in the execution of his ministerie For he will measure all things by his owne estimation and credit and will make all that he doth yea euen the doctrine that hee deliuereth to serue to that end And therefore the Apostle commending the sinceritie of his ministerie to the Thessalonians 1. Thes 2.6 taketh both God and them to witnesse that he neuer sought praise of men neither of them nor of others insinuating that if he had sought praise and approbation with men hee could not haue beene sincere For as Seneca saith well Controuers lib. 5 He that seeketh after praise is desirous to haue himselfe approued and not the cause which he handleth whereupon followeth this fault that he omitteth many necessary things while hee laboureth onely to make a faire shew And hence is it that vaine-glorious Ministers are not the same men in their preaching when they haue a great Auditory as when they preach to a few So that when wee see such a man Sen. Epist 29. famous in the estimation of the people applauded and commended wheresoeuer hee commeth wee haue cause to pitty him and to lament his estate because he cannot attayne to such fauour by sincere and faithfull dealing I doe not denie but a man may lawfully receiue that reuerent estimation that is due to vertue and good deserts For it is the commandement of God that they that are inferiour in gifts should honor those whose gifts are more eminent Exod. 20.12 And it is agreeable to iustice that they that are indued with more excellent gifts of God and doe vse them to the benefit of others should in thankefulnesse receiue some recompence Now what better recompence can be giuen them then honor and due respect Besides it is very profitable For they that haue gifts in any measure are hereby excited and stirred vp to striue to a greater excellency And the reuerence that is done vnto them doth procure them authority with others and cause them to be had in higher reputation and so their paines and diligence doth the more good And therefore the Apostle doth not say that he refused that reuerence and honor that was giuen to him and his Apostleship Gal. 4.14 though he acknowledge that the Galatians receiued him as an Angell of God yea as Christ Iesus but onely he saith he affected it not he sought not after it ambitiously as too many doe which is the greatest vanitie in the world 2. Cor. 10.18 For as he that prayseth himselfe is not allowed as the Apostle saith so neither is he allowed that by this meanes is fondly praised of men but hee whom the Lord prayseth Vse 2 Secondly it serueth to admonish euery one of vs to labour aboue all things for the Lords approbation in our ministerie that we may be Pastors according to his heart Jer. 3.15 as the Lord himselfe saith For this end first it is required of vs that we be faithfull in the discharge of our dueties The Apostle exhorteth earthly seruants Tit. 2.10 to shew all good faithfulnesse vnto their bodily Masters Much more must wee bee faithfull that are Gods Stewards 2. Cor. 4.1.2 to whom he hath committed the dispensation of his holy mysteries whereupon faith Luther Let euery man bee faithfull in his ministerie Let him not seeke his owne glory Let him not rest in the vaine applause of the foolish multitude but let this be his greatest care that he may performe his worke well that is that hee may purely preach the Gospell But our faithfulnesse must especially appeare in this that we labour to gather Disciples vnto Christ We may not be like those false Teachers which the Apostle speaketh of Act. 20.30 To draw Disciples after our selues that is to make Sects and cause men to giue vp their names to vs. But all our endeuour must bee to bring men to Christ And this is insinuated in the commission which Christ giueth his Apostles Mat. 28.19 and in them the Ministers that succeed them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 namely To goe and teach all Nations where the word signifieth to make them Disciples As all the gaine of earthly seruants doth redound vnto their Masters and not to themselues so the soules that we gaine by our preaching should redound vnto God And therefore Ioh. 1.19.20 when the Iewes began to make account of Iohn Baptist both for the austeritie of his life and for the excellency of his preaching and the rarenesse of his baptisme he would by no meanes suffer them to be too highly conceited of him Ioh. 26.27 but laboureth to make them acknowledge Christ whom hee so farre preferred before himselfe as hee confesseth hee was not worthy to vnloose the latchet of his shoo And when his owne Disciples began to dote of him more then was fit and went about to breed some emulation in him against our Sauiour Christ because he also began to baptize Ioh. 3.26.28 30. and all men came to him hee telleth them in plaine termes that it was meet they should doe so And as for himselfe he had told them that he was onely a fore-runner sent before him Mat. 11.2 and saith he He must increase but I must decrease Yea afterwards hee sendeth them also to Christ that they might know him to be the only true Messias and so also become followers of him Secondly we must in all our ministerie chiefly ayme at the glory of God and the saluation of the people committed to our charge It is the generall duety of all Christians in all their actions to propound the glory of God as their chiefe and principall scope 1. Cor. 10.31 Whatsoeuer yee doe saith the Apostle doe all to the glory of God Much more should Ministers make the glory of God the principall end of all their ministeriall dueties And indeed the glory of all our actions is wholly due to the Lord who worketh whatsoeuer is
vse labour to increase them but rather suffer them to gather rust and become vnprofitable Hence it commeth to pasle that either they preach very seldome or when they doe preach they make such cold collations and bring forth such flashy and vnsauory stuffe as can neuer profit nor benefit their happines It was said of the Heathen Orator Cael. Rhodig lib. 5. cap. 13. that his orations did smell of the candle Much more should a Christian minister desire to haue his Sermons which he deliuereth to Gods people to smell of study and of painefull diligence For if there be a curse denounced against him Ier. 48.10 that doth the worke of the Lord negligently much more shall he be accursed that shal be negligent and carelesse in the performance of this great and waightie worke of the Ministerie Secondly this may serue to excite and stirre vs vp to diligence and painefulnesse in our studies Wee should remember that charge which the Apostle giueth to Timotheus as if it had beene giuen to euery one of our selues Gine attendance toreading to exhortation and to doctrine that is 1. Tim. 4.13 we must so apply our selues to the reading and studying of the Scriptures as out of them we may be able to gather exhortation doctrine for the instruction and edification of Gods people For as Caluin saith vpon that place What shall Pastors teach others if they bee not diligent in learning themselues Againe the Apostle saith Despise not the gift that is inthee c. vers 14. God would not haue the Talents which he hath giuen vs to perish or to be hid vnprofitably vnder the ground A gaine Vers 15. These things exercise and giue thy selfe vnto them that it may be seene how thou profitest c. This should be the continuall practice this should bee the daily occupation this should bee the chiefe businesse of euery godly Minister to labour by diligent studie to increase the gift which God hath giuen him For this cause he must carefully auoide euery thing that might hinder him from the performance of this duty And first of all he must take heed that he be not too much giuen to the world 2. Tim. 2.4 No man that warreth saith the Apostle entangleth himselfe with the affaires of this life If the Apostles would not be troubled with seruing of tables Act. 6.2 3 4. that is with care for the poore which yet was a godly and religious worke but appointed others to that businesse that they might more freely giue themselues continually to prayer and to the ministration of the word much lesse should a Minister be encumbred with worldly businesse For if the buying of farmes Luke 14.18 19. and prouing of oxen and the vse of Marchandise doe hinder men from hearing the Word much more will they hinder a minister from studying of the Word Our Sautour Christ would haue a minister to bee taught to the Kangdome of God Matth. 13.52 as hath been said That must be his scope which he must chiefly aime at Let other men be skilfull in buying of cattell or in ordering of farmes the chiefe skill of a Minister should bee this that hee bee taught to the Kingdome of God And as wee haue heard the Apostle commandeth Timotheus 1. Tim. 4.15 These things exercise and giue thy selfe to them The exercise of a Minister must not bee in worldly businesse but in the study of the Word of God And indeed the office of a Minister requireth the whole man and hee performeth no small matter that is any way able to discharge the same For as the Apostle saith 2. Cor. 2.16 De confid lib. 4. Who is sufficient for these things If an ordinarie seruant saith Bernard to Eugensus the Pope bee not able both to keep the cattel and also to waite at the table how canst thou by thy selfe attend all these things And indeed the care of worldly things quencheth the zeale of a Minister that hee cannot so feruently attend his study as hee ought For as a riuer that is diuided into many streames hath a great deale lesse force then when it runneth in one current so the minde of a Minister distracted with worldly businesse cannot bee carried to the discharge of his dutie with that liuelyhood and chearefulnesse that is requisite If a Brooke saith Bernard can run out into the field Bern. vbi supra and not hurt the Corne then mayst thou meddle with these things without wounding thy mind And hereof we haue too much experience For euen as many seruants hauing got some competent stocke vnder a good master doe attend so much vpon the increase of it as they neglect the old care of their master so many Ministers hauing by Gods blessing enriched themselues become altogether carelesse of their dutie And this is it that giueth occasion to many prophane persons to thinke that it is best for Ministers to be kept vnder by liuing in want because many times it is seene that when they grow rich they waxe idle Secondly a Minister must take heede that he giue not himselfe to keepe company in Ale-houses and Tauernes and such like lewd and vngodly places I would to God there were not many Iuuat impallescere charlis sed pictis that are a great deale oftner in the Ale-house then in their Studies and that handle a paire of Chards more then they doe the Booke of God And I would this were only the fault of some base persons in the Ministerie that there were not some who otherwise are of excellent gifts and haue a good dexteritie in preaching are as frequent in Ale-houses as the greatest swaggerers in the Country This is the greatest disgrace of the Ministerie that can be And it were to be wished that they that haue authoritie would take notice of it and set themselues to redresse it It drowneth and vtterly quencheth the gifts of God in men and maketh them become altogether vnprofitable And this the Heathen men did know and therefore were carefull to preuent it Cael. Rhodig lib. 9. cap. 12. The Priests of Egypt were forbidden to drinke of the water of Nilus because it would make them fat and grosse And doe we not see the same effect in those Ministers that frequent the Ale-house that they heaue and puffe vp their bodies in a deformed manner which doubtlesse cannot but dull the spirits According to the old prouerb A fat belly seldome begets a fine wit Let all Ministers therefore be carefull to auoide these prophane and scandalous courses Let them bee as loth to come into an Ale-house as into a Pest-house and let them sequester and retire themselues into their Studies that so they may bee furnished with knowledge and may discharge their duties more profitably to others and more comfortably to themselues The second thing wherein the labour and worke of a Minister consisteth is in feruent and ear̄nest prayer to God for his people Deut. 9.25.26
though hee will not turne from his wicked way Ezech. 3.19 and so die in his iniquitie yet hee should deliuer his owne soule True it is that it ought to bee the desire of euery good Minister that if it please God all his people may be conuerted and so come to saluation But if this cannot bee effected but that the Lord doe rather by his Ministerie make them fagots for hell fire and though his preaching bee the sauour of death vnto death vnto them all and not the sauour of life vnto any 2. Cor. 2.15 16. yet if hee haue faithfully and conscionably done that that was required of him he shall still be a sweet sauour vnto God And herein our condition that are Gods husbandmen is farre better then the condition of an earthly husbandman When he hath cast his seede into the ground if the haruest doe not answere his expectation hee loseth not onely his labour but his seede also But if we haue done our duty to the vttermost of our power though for any thing that we can see as the Prophet saith We haue laboured in vaine Isa 49.4 5. and spent our strength in vaine and for nothing yet our indgement is with the Lord and our worke with our God And though our people will not be gathered by our Ministery yet shall we be glorious in the sight of the Lord. Yea though our people out of a froward disposition do wrong vs and offer vs iniurie yet wee must not giue ouer our paines A mother casteth not away her childe though it haue made her brests sore with sucking but with patience endureth the smart to doe the childe good So must we 2. Tim. 2.24 25. 4.2 as the Apostle commandeth vs suffer euill men patiently and instruct them with meekenesse that are contrary minded prooning if God at any time will gine them repentance c. Nay we must not be discouraged though our people become our enemies and persecute vs. As many times it commeth to passe especially if we bee sincere in our Ministerie and doe plainely rebuke them Leui. 19.17 and not suffer them to sin Then they rage and then they vse al their power to worke vs trouble As indeede that speech of Luther is most true To preach the Word of God sincerely is nothing else but to draw vpon a mans selfe all the fury of hell and the deuill and all the power of the world And it is a most dangerous kind of life to offer a mans selfe to so many teeth of Satan This was the condition of all the Prophets and Apostles as may be seene in the whole course of the Scriptures And there are but a few faithfull Ministers at this day but they haue experience of it But we must not faint for fall this De Consid lib. 4. but rather as Bernard saith if they be of an hard forehead wee must also harden ours against them There is nothing so hard that will not yeeld to a harder And this is that which the Lord said to the Prophet Ezechiel that though the people Ezech. 2.6 3.8 9. with whom he had to deale were rebels and thornes and scorpions yet saith he I haue made thy face hard against their faces and thy forehead hard against their foreheads I haue made thy forehead as the Adamant and harder then the flint feare them not therefore neither bee afraid at their lookes And the like commandement did the Lord giue to the Prophet IEREMIAH Jerem. 1.17 Thou therefore saith he trusse vp thy loines and arise and speake vnto them all that I command thee be not afraide of their faces lest I destroy thee before them Wee may not bee dumbe and cowardly dogs that dare not barke at mens beards if they be great and of any power but we must be of generous spirits not fearing the face or big looks of any man And indeed seeing we are the seruants of God we need not feare but that he will protectvs in the discharge of our duties Wee see that great men in the world doe beare out their seruants much more will the Lord beare out his seruants that doe him faithfull seruice in the Ministerie of his Word As he promised the Prophet IEREMIAH Behold Ier. 1.18 19. I haue made thee this day a defenced Citie and an iron pillar and walles of brasse against the whole land c. For they shall fight against thee but they shall not preuaile against thee for I am with thee to deliuer thee saith the Lord. The vse of this doctrine for the people is first to reproue them that account the Ministers life to be an easie life As the most of them thinke that we get our liuing easily we take no paines but patter on a booke a little c. But wee see by that that hath been spoken that they are greatly deceiued Our Sauiour Christ compareth the work of a Minister to things of great labor as to plowing fallowing planting rearing an house feeding of cattell and such like in all which great paines and diligence is required Cato saith In lib. de agricult He that tilleth the ground must not sit still for he hath alwaies something to doe And indeede the worke of the Husbandman is neuer at ende Sometimes hee fallowes sometimes hee stirres sometimes he carrieth out his compasse Sometimes he sowes sometimes he harrowes sometimes he weedes yea euery moneth bringeth with it new worke So the Minister that is Gods husbandman if hee haue a care to do his dutie well shal find husinesse enough to keepe him from being idle And howsoeuer it be true that he doe not toyle with his body so much as the other doth yet his labour is much more profitable The Master of the ship seemeth to be idle hee stirres not the pumpe he driues not the oares he rides not the ropes hee doth no other work that is painefull to the body and yet his study and care is more auaileable to the safetie of the ship then all their labour In like manner wee may say of faithfull Ministers as Seneca said of Philosophers and a great deale more truely They doe not leade an idle life their ease and rest is more profitable to men then other mens sweating and running vp and downe Nay if the matter be well considered it will be found that the continuall exercise of his minde in diligent study and the enforcing of his voice in deliuering the word doth more enfeeble and weaken the bodie then any other bodily labour As Seneca saith well (a) In prolog Declam The wearinesse of the wit is no lesse then the wearinesse of the body but more secret And Luther maketh no bones to say that the labour of the Husbandmen hath no proportion to our toyle and sweat And whosoeuer shall compare them both together shall easily see this to be true The Husbandman that toyleth all the yeere in the field hath a sounder complexion
A WORKEMAN That NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED OR The faithfull Steward of Gods house A Sermon describing the duety of a godly MINISTER both in his DOCTRINE and in his LIFE By CHARLES RICHARDSON Preacher at S. KATHARINES neere the Tower of LONDON LVKE 12.42 Who is a faithfull and wise Steward whom his Lord shall make ruler ouer his houshold to giue them their portion of meate in due season LONDON Printed by W. Stansby for William Barret and are to be sold at his shop in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the three Pigeons 1616. TO MY REVEREND GOOD FRIEND MR. D. SPARKE MINISTER OF GODS WORD AT BLETCHLEY IN BVCKINGHAMSHIRE Grace and Peace SIr I present vnto you here a Sermon penned by mee concerning the duety of a Godly Minister I confesse it may be thought great presumption that I who am the least of many thousands of my brethren should take vpon me to teach others * Magis mihi discendum quam docendum Macrob. Saturn l. 1. c. 4. who stand more need to learne my selfe But I may truly say as a Sui magis admonendi quam aliorum docendi gratia lib. 16. c. 5. A. Gellius said of a certaine booke of Laelius That I writ it rather for mine owne admonition then for the instruction of others Whatsoeuer it is I am bold to publish it to the view of the world in your name both in regard of that desire I haue to testifie my thankefulnesse vnto you for the great and vndeserued kindnesse I haue many waies found at your hands especially for that as I doe willingly acknowledge you were the first that perswaded and encouraged me to enter into the Ministery and the first place which I had in the Church I had of your free gift and also in respect of that reuerence which I beare vnto your graue and venerable old Age b Venerabilis non annorum sed virtutum numero Bern. de amore Dei part 2. Venerable I say not so much in number of yeeres though they bee very many as in aboundance of vertue It is not with you as it is with too many who being decrepit with age and ready to be laid on the Beere c Senec. de breuit vitae haue no other argument to proue that they haue liued long but their gray haires and their wrinckles But you haue verified that speech of SALOMON Age is a crowne of glory Prou. 16.31 when it is found in the way of righteousnesse The paines that you haue taken in the Church 2. Tim. 4.2 in preaching the word in season and out of season as the Apostle commandeth will no doubt make you famous to posterity especially considering that euen now when your strength is spent and your body worne so as you might iustly with * Veianius armis Herculis ad postem fixis latet abditus agro Horat. Veianius long agoe haue hanged vp your armour and betaken your selfe to rest yet still you continue your wonted labour as though you desired to end your life your preaching both at once And when you shall be gathered hence as a ricke of Corne you shall suruiue in those three worthy Sonnes of yours M. Thomas Sparke of New Colledge in Oxford M. Andrew Sparke of Peter-house in Cambridge M. William Sparke of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford whom you haue beene carefull to traine vp in the Schooles of the Prophets two of them being already profitable Ministers in the Church and the third as he hath attayned to a great measure of learning so I doubt not but he will imploy it to the edification of the body of Christ. But I am not willing to detayne you with any further mention of these things I beseech you to accept of these weake meditations with the same minde and affection wherewith I offer them And howsoeuer I confesse Cypr. in Symbolum Apostolorum they be not worthy the exercise of great Diuines yet if hereby I may excite some yong beginners to the more conscionable discharge of their dueties I shall thinke my labour well bestowed I pray God still to blesse your godly labours that when you shall haue finished your course you may receiue that Crowne of righteousnesse which is laid vp for you in the Kingdome of heauen Your W. in all Christian affection CHARLES RICHARDSON Errata Page 15. lin 8. for happines reade hearers p. 21. l. 27. for and r. c. p. 23. l. 32. after find r. them p. 26. l. 14. for Trade r. flaile p. 42. l. 5. for with r. to p. 45. l. 23. put out these words and the worke is an establishment to the life p. 46. l. 27. after filthinesse r. might p 47. l. 31. for heal r. heart p. 55. l. 34. for they r. he p. 67. l. 27. for filleth r. fitteth A SERMON DESCRIBING THE DVTY OF A GODLY MINISTER 2. TIM 2.15 Study to shew thy selfe approued vnto God a Worke-man that needeth not to be ashamed diuiding the Word of truth aright THis Timotheus to whom both these Epistles are written hauing beene brought vp in the knowledge of the holy Scriptures from his cradle 2. Tim. 3.15 and hauing alwaies been faithfull in the profession of Christian Religion was therefore in very great estimation with the Apostle Paul Act. 16.3.4 20.4 Rom. 16.21 and was either one of his Companions in his peregrinations or else when the Apostle himselfe was kept in prison he imployed him as a Minister and sent him to confirme the Churches which he had planted Thus was he sent to the Corinthians 1. Cor. 4.17 1. Thes 3.2 To put them in remembrance of that which the Apostle had taught Thus was he also sent to the Thessalonians To establish them and to comfort them touching their faith For this cause 1. Cor. 4.17 16.10 Phil. 2.22 1. Thes 3.2 Act. 16.9.10.1 Tim. 1.3 wheresoeuer the Apostle maketh mention of him he doth alwayes giue him very great commendation Now when the Apostle was himselfe to depart into Macedonia where the Lord had called him by a vision to preach the Gospell he left Timotheus at Ephesus to resist the false Teachers which were crept into the Church and began to corrupt sound doctrine thereby to draw men from the sinceritie of faith And because there was not yet a sufficient number of Ministers in the Church of Ephesus to preach the Gospell therefore the Apostle giueth him authority to ordayne as many as should be needfull And for his better direction in so waighty a businesse 1. Tim. 3.15 hee writeth the former Epistle vnto him teaching him what hee is chiefly to respect in the imposition of hands and shewing who are to be admitted vnto that great and high calling and who are to be reiected And because Timotheus 2. Tim. 1.4 as a louing Schollar was much grieued and shed many teares at the departure of so kind a Master 1. Tim. 3.14 therefore to comfort him
the storie and also to prepare them and fit them the better to the hearing of Sermons and therefore God forbid that any man should derogate from it But yet I must say withall that in an ordinarie time reading is not sufficient to bring the people to saluation without preaching And this the Apostle prooueth plaincly 2. Tim. 3.16 17. and 4.1 2. where hee saith that the whole Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable to teach to improoue to correct and to instruct in righteousues that the man of Godmay be absolute being made perfect vnto all good workes And then immediately he addeth that charge which we heard before I charge thee therefore 〈◊〉 preach the Word Whereupon Caluin giueth this note The inference that the Apostle maketh is diligently to be obserued because he doth plainely ioyne the Scriptures with preaching For hauing intreated of the profit of the Scriptures he doth not onely inferre that all men must therfore read them but that teachers must administer the same 1. Tim. 4.13 And the Apostle commandeth Timotheus to giue attendance not to reading onely but also to exhortation and doctrine And the Apostle Peter hauing taught vs 1. Pet. 1.23 25. that the Word of God is that immortall seede of our new birth he addeth and this is the Word which is preached among you Plainely giuing vs to vnderstand that for the effecting of this blessed work of regeneration it is necessarie that the Word of God be preached And therefore this was obserued in the Church of the Iewes from time to time In the time of Nehemiab before the comming of our Sauiour Christ it is said of Ezra Nebem 3.4 5 8. that hee stood vpon a Pulpit of wood which hee had made for the preaching and being aboue all the people hee opened the booke of the Law before them and hee and his assistants read in it distinctly and gaue the sense and caused them to vnderstand the reading What can be spoken more plainely then this It is euident then that as reading was by no meanes excluded so it was neuer vsed alone in the Church but was ioyned with preaching And this our Sauiour Christ practised Luke 4.16 17 18 19 20 21. who comming to Nazaret and entring into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day he stood vp to reade and hauing read a portion of Scripture he closed the booke and sate downe and preached vnto them out of that which hee had read Act. 15.21 Onus ipsis Angelis formidandum And the Apostle IAMES affirmeth that Moses was not onely read in their synagogues in euerie citie but also preached euery Sabbath day Furthermore the worke of a Minister is a worke of great difficultie Bernard calleth it a burden dreadfull to the very Angels And Caluin saith it is a businesse of rare and excellent vertue farre aboue the abilitie of man Yea the Apostle PAVL himselfe though he were extraordinarily furnished with gifts from heauen yet considering the waightinesse of the dutie hee cryeth out Who is sufficient for these things 2. Cor. 2.16 And where the Apostle calleth the worke of a Bishop a worthy worke 1. Tim. 3.1 Caluin vpon that place obserueth well that hee putteth vs in minde that it is no common or ordinarie worke For saith he when hee calleth it a worthy worke hee alludeth to that old prouerbe so often repeated of PLATO that excellent things are hard And so concludeth that it is a laborious and a difficult charge Now I hope it will easily bee granted that there can be no such difficulty in the bare reading of the Word But for further euidence of this point let vs see a little wherein this difficultie consisteth First then the very framing and compiling of a Sermon is a matter of no small labour It requireth great skill for a man to draw out of the bottomlesse Ocean of the holy Scriptures such instructions as may serue to the edification of the hearers then to dispose them in an apt and fit methode and last of all to vtter and deliuer the same in such manner as the people may vnderstand them wee may more truely say of this then the Heathen Orator said of his facultie in pleading It is a greater matter then men imaginc Againe that which the Minister must labour to effect and performe by his Ministery doth plainely prooue how hard and difficult a thing it is The Apostle deseribing the properties of a good Minister Tit. 1.9 he saith De doct Chr. lib. 4. he must bee able both to exhort with wholesome doctrine and to improoue them that say against it Whereunto agreeth that speech of S. Augustine where he calleth a Minister a maintainer of the truth and a subduer of falshood a defender of the right faith and a vanquisher of errour And Bernard De consider lib. 3. writing to Eugenius telleth him that it is his dutie to do his vttermost endeauour that the vnbeleeuers may bee conuerted to the faith that they that are conuerted may not bee turned away that they that are turned away may returne againe that they that are peruerted may be disposed to vertue and honesty and that they that are subuerted may bee called againe to the truth Now hee that shall goe about to doe any of these things shall finde to bee workes of greater difficultie then can be effected by bare reading Last of al if reading were sufficient and if there were no more required in a Minister to what purpose did our religious and deuoute forefathers found and erect so many famous Vniuersities to be nurseries of learning what vse is there of the knowledge of arts and tongues which cannot be attained without great paines and industrie and to what end serue the learned writings of so many worthy ancient fathers A man without any of these helpes may be sufficiently furnished Jsa 50.4 and inabled to reade the Word He needeth not the tongue of the learned which yet is requisite in him that would know to minister a word in time to him that is wearie that is would comfort an afflicted conscience which Luther saith is harder to do then to raise the dead if bare reading will serue the turne To conclude therefore let vs acknowledge that the Word preached and applied to the conscience is that ordinance of God which he hath sanctified for the conuersion and saluation of men As the Apostle saith It pleased God by the foolishnesse of preaching as profane men esteeme of it to saue them that beleeue 1. Cor. 1.21 And yet more plainely Rom. 10. 14 15. How shall they call on him in whom they haue not beleeued and how shall they beleeue in him of whom they haue not heard and how shall they heare without a Preacher And how shall they preach except they be sent The vse of this is first for vs that be Ministers Secondly for the people For vs that be Ministers it serueth first for the reproofe of
is a iust Iudge and will say vnto him Friend how camest thou in hither c. And indeede what comfort can a man haue in his place when his owne conscience shall tell him Ier. 17.16 23.21 that he hath thrust in himselfe to bee a Pastour as the Propbet saith and that hee hath runne when the Lord hath not sent him TINDAL that blessed Martyr doth sharpely reproue such kinde of Ministers Exposit in Matth. 5. In what case are they saith he that haue benefices and preach not verily though they stand at the Altar yet they are excommunicate and cast out of the liuing Church of Almightie God And againe Priests that preach not are none of Christs nor none of his anointing but seruants of the beast whose marke they beare And good Father Latimer saith after his blunt and plaine manner In a Sermon preached before King Edward the sixth If there were but one vnpreaching Minister there were too many by one And againe as good Preachers are worthie of double honour so these are worthie of double dishonour And what is this double dishonour saith he If the salt be vnsauory it is good for nothing but to cast out and to be troden vnder foot of men By this salt is vnderstood such as haue cure of soules If they be negligent what be they worthy of wherefore serue they for nothing but to be cast out that is one dishonor Another dishonour is to be troden vnder foote of men that is not to be regarded not to be esteemed And againe I say if one were admitted to view hell and to behold it throughly the Deuill would say On yonder side are punished vnpreaching Ministers I thinke a man should see as farre as hee could kenne and see nothing but vnpreaching Ministers This was the iudgement of these worthie men and reuerend Fathers of our Church thus they thought of all such Ministers as occupy a roome in the Ministery and haue no abilitie to doe the dutie of Ministers And indeed they are the very calamity and plague of the Church They keepe the people in ignorance and blindnesse to the destruction of many a poore soule if God be not mereiful As the Lord saith Hof 4.6 Prou. 29.18 My people are destroyed for lacke of knowledge And Where there is no vision that is where there is no preaching of the doctrine of God out of the Law and the Prophets the people decay Tremel in annot in locum Serm. on 1. Pet. 4.11 or as Tremellius readeth it are made naked Bishop Iewell vrging the necessitie of preaching hath a good saying that euen as when the Sunne is taken out of the World all things are left dorke so is it when the voice of the Pastor is not heard in the Church And in another place he saith Serm. on Luke 10 23.24 Wher e the Word is not preached there the Church must needes runne vpon the rocke Little maruell is it if faith faile where good instruction wanteth Vbi supra And Latimer goeth yet further Take away preaching saith hee and take away saluation GOD helpe those poore Congregations that grone vnder the burden of such Ministers I haue no purpose to disgrace any mans person Onely my earnest desire is to perswade all that haue any gifts though neuer so small not to suffer them to rust as they doe for want of vse I confesse that it may not bee looked for that there should bee a like measure and proportion of gifts in all Ministers For as the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 12.11 The Spirit of God distributeth them seuerally to euery man as he will But as it was said of Dauids Worthies that though diuers of them did not attaine to the first three 2. Sam. 23.19 23. yet they were most excellent and honourable among others So though wee bee much inferiour to them Horat. lib. 1. Epist 1. whose gifts are most eminent in the Church yet let vs striue to bee as excellent as wee can And therefore they that haue any measure of giftes let them bee admonished to stirre them vp 2. Tim. 1.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 TIMOTHEVS Where hee vseth a word taken from a sparke of fre raked vp vnder the ashes which by gentle blowing is quickened and kindled to a flame And indeede there were neuer more helpes to further a man this way then there are in this age wherein wee liue if he haue any wit to make vse of them or any desire to doe good with them It was a very good speech which our worthy and reuerend Diocesan in his last visitation at Lincolne B. Barlow vsed to some vnprofitable Ministers there present that if they would but diligently studie the English bookes of Dininitie that are now in print they might doe much good in Gods Church For haue we not the writings of many excellent Ministers of our owne Church as D. Willet Mr. Greencham Mr. Perkins Mr. Dod and others published for the benefit of all men And are not the learned workes of Mr. Caluin and other Ministers of forraine Churches as also S. Augustines excellent booke of the Citie of God translated into our owne language All which if they bee read with diligence may furnish a man with competent knowledge of Diuinitie And haue we not many of our owne Writers that haue trauelled also very profitably in handling the controuersies betweene vs and the Papists as B. Iewel D. Rainold D. Abbot D. Willet D. Morton and others And if any man desire to bee instructed also in matter of historie and other humane learning are not the workes of Liuie Plinie Plutarch Iosephus Eusebius and others turned also into English Nay indeede what learning is there almost that a man desireth to know but God make vs thankefull for so great a blessing he may haue it in his owne mother tongue So that now vnlesse a man will be wanting to himselfe though he be neuer so much a Lacke-Latine as we vse to say though he vnderstand no more tongues then that hee was borne with yet he may be able to teach the people committed to his charge and to instruct them profitably at least in the grounds and principles of religion Let them therefore be excited to shake off that slothfull negligence that hath so long possessed them and let them at the last seriously set themselues to the Lords worke and pray earnestly for Gods blessing so shall they become more profitable to the Church and haue a great deale more comfort in their owne consciences But if there be any that haue no gifts nor abilitie at all to discharge their dutie as God knoweth there are many shepheards that differ but little from their flocke I know not what to say to them but as the poore woman said to the Heathen King that could not attend to doe her iustice Why then doest thou raigne so I say what doe they in the place of Ministers if they bee no way
do nothing at all to take no paines but to bury themselues in idlenesse is not to be faithfull and therefore such Ministers can haue no comfortable assurance that they are Gods Stewards Secondly this serueth to exhort vs all that are entred into this high calling with care and conscience to set our selues to preach the Word vnto the people committed to our charge Tacit. Annal. lib. 4. And that not now and then onely but with the greatest diligence we can vse For as the Apostle saith of almes that God loueth a cheerefull giuer 2. Cor. 9.7 so we should addresse our selues to the performance of this dutie with all alacritie and chearefulnesse counting the businesses of our calling our recreations Devita solitar as was said of Tiberius the Emperour and with good B. Iewell thinking it our greatest honour to die in the Pulpit And howsoeuer it may seeme hard and difficult at the first yet diligence and frequent vse will make it easie The Husbandman we see hath hard sinewes and strong armes Exercise saith Bernard hath made it so as by slouthfulnesse he becomes effeminate The will causeth vse vse causeth exercise and exercise ministreth strength in all labour And it was a good saying of Boetius Discipl-Schola that as in euery worke constancie and diligence is found to be a mother so on the contrary side of all learning and discipline negligence is the stepmother And as the Heathen Orator said Cic. pro. C. Rabir. vse and practice is the best master Neither must we be discouraged though as many times it falleth out we see little fruit follow our labours Plin. secund lib. 6. ep 29. He that taketh in hand to fell and cut downe a great Oke though after many strokes with his axe it seeme to stand as strong as euer it did yet hee giueth not ouer but redoubleth his stroke with greater force til at the last it fall and then hee seeth that his former strokes were not in vaine A louing Mother though the froward child do often refuse the meat and spit it out yet leaueth not for that but still feedeth it and putteth the meate into the mouth againe and at the last it eateth So though our people bee hard to worke vpon and froward to receiue any thing that is good yet wee must not leaue them to themselues but apply and follow them with instruction and in time they may become more pliable Neuer any of the Prophets saith Luther could conuert all that they taught In a Sermon vpon 1. Pe. 4.11 and B. Iewel God himselfe saith hee husbanded the Vine and yet it brought forth wilde grapes Isaiah 5.2.4 God himselfe stretched out his hands all the day to a rebellious people Isa 65.2 And Christ himselfe would often haue gathered Ierusalems children together as the hen gathereth her chickens vnder her wings and they would not Mat. 23.37 Let vs saith he doe our endeuour and leaue the successe to the Lord. For this cause we are called Fishers Mat. 4.19 Ouid. dearte Now we know that Fishermen whether they fish with net or with angle doe make many a draught and cast many a baite into the water and catch but a little fish Simon Peter and his fellowes had trauelled a whole night and caught nothing Luke 5.5 yet they were not discouraged but at Christs commandement let downe the net againe and then they inclosed a great multitude of fishes So in like manner though wee lose our labour many times yet we must not giue ouer Christ may bring fishes into our nets when we looke not for it We are compared to seeds-men Luk. 8.11 Now all the seed which the Sower casteth into the ground doth not fructifie Nay as our Sauiour doth teach vs in that parable that of foure kinds of grounds there is but one good ground which receiueth the seede with profit To which purpose De Doctr. Christ S. Augustine hath a good saying They that heare and learne not what is it to the seedes-man Nether the high-way nor the stones nor the thornes doe terrifie the hands of the Seeds-man he casteth that which is his he that shall be afraid lest his seede fal vpon bad ground doth not come vnto good ground We are called Phisicians of mens soules But there is no Phisician that cureth all his patients De Consid lib. 4. As Bernard saith wittily Be not discouraged there is care and diligence required of thee not curing and healing Thou hast heard it said in the Gospell Take care of him not cure or heale him One said ture It is not in the Phisicion alwaies to relieue the sick partie Paul saith I laboured more then they all he doth not say I profited more then they all Yea it may bee that the labours may doe good though thou seest it not A vessell that often receiueth water into it though it be presently powred out againe yet it is cleansed at the last though not at the first nor the second time In like manner doe not thou cease to powre water vpon the the vncleane though they be not cleansed at the first powring yet with often powring they may As Luther saith well to the same purpose It is impossible that the Word of God should be preached without fruite But though all bee not conuerted yet there are some that of sinners will become beleeuers and be saued For the successe of the Ministerie is not in the will of men but of God As Salomon saith Prou. 20.12 The Lord hath made both these euen the eare to heare and the eye to see that is to say It is both of the gift of God that there should be some to teach sound doctrine and some to obey the sound Teachers And a little further hee addeth The good ground will bring foorth fruite let the other three parts goe to the deuill But though it should fall out that no fruite at all should bee seene in respect of the people De Consid lib. 4. yet wee shall bee sure not to lose our labour For as Bernard saith Euery man shall receiue according to his labour not according to his successe So doe thou that that belongs to thee For God will sufficiently looke to that that appertaineth to him without thy care and thought-taking Plant water take paines and thou hast done thy part doubtlesse God will giue the increase when hee thinkes good and not thou But if he will not thou losest nothing as the Scripture saith God will render a reward to the labour of his Saints It is secure labour which no defect can make frustrate And this was the Apostle Pauls comfort that hauing been diligent in the discharge of his dutie and hauing omitted no paines neither publike nor priuate whatsoeuer fruite followed of his Ministery hee was pure from the bloud of all men Acts 20.26 And the Lord telleth the Prophet EZECHIEL that if hee faile not to warne the wicked of the danger of his sinne
and a better stomack then the poore Minister that sitteth all the day in his study and doth nothing as they thinke but pore vpon a booke Let them therefore learne to relinquish this error of theirs and at the last acknowledge that the life of a conscionable Minister is painefull and a laborious life In deede there are a number of idle Drones that occupy the roomes of Ministers and they I confesse liue easily enough for many of them doe little else Exod. 32.6 but sit downe to eate and drinke and rise vp to play as it was said of the Israelites But a godly Minister that maketh a conscience of his calling hath labour and trauell sufficient in performing the seuerall duties of it Secondly it serueth for instruction And first it teacheth all them that want good Ministers what manner of Ministers they should desire namely such as bee workemen such as be painefull labourers not loyterers As our Sauiour Christ saith Mat. 9.38 1. Tim. 5.17 Pray the Lord of the Haruest that he would send forth labourers into his Haruest such as will labour diligently in the word and Doctrine But alas the most men do little regard this of all other things If their Minister be a quiet man and will vse them kindely for their Tithes if hee be a good fellow and will sit neighbourly with them and spend his penny as they doe theirs in the Ale-house if he read them faite seruice as they cal it and trouble them not with preaching too often or if he doe step now and then into the Pulpit if he meddle not too much with their sins but will prophesie vnto them of wine and strong drinke Mich. 2.11 as the Prophet saith and so please their humours they care for no more he is the best Minister for them that can be Againe for those to whom God in mercie hath giuen faithful Pastours Jer. 3.15 which are carefull to feede them with knowledge and vnderstanding they must learne from hence to be thankefull vnto them And first they must haue them in high estimation and imbrace them with all loue and kinde affection 1. Tim. 5.17 For they that labour in the Word and doctrine are worthie of double honour To this purpose is that exhortation of the Apostle 1. Thess 5 12 13 Now we beseech you brethren that ye know them which labour among you c. That yee haue them in singular loue for their workes sake And when he sent Epaphroditus a faithfull Minister and his companion in labour to the Philippians Phil. 2.25.29 hee bids them receiue them in the Lord with allgladnesse and make much of such And the Apostle testifieth of the Galatians that they esteemed so reuerently of him as that they receiued him as an Angell of God Gal. 4.14 Ecclus 38 1. yea as Christ Iesus If we must honour the bodily Phisician because of necessitie much more must we honour the Minister whom God hath made the Phifician of our soules And indeed the labour of a faithfull Minister can neuer be sufficiently recompenced with any dutie or seruice which they can performe For if Alexander the great thought himselfe to owe more dutie to Aristotle his Master that trained him vp in the knowledge of Philosohie then to Philip his Father that begate him how much more are men bound to their godly Ministers who are not onely their instructers to teach them the knowledge of Gods will but also their spirituall Fathers 1. Cor. 4 15. to beget them in Christ Iesus through the Gospell But God knoweth it fareth with many of vs 2. Cor. 12.15 as it did with the Apostle Paul that the more wee loue our people and the more wee endeuour to doe them good the lesse we are loued againe Let them therefore bee admonished to reforme themselues herein and to bee affected with their Pastours with that loue and kindnesse that is due vnto them And the rather because it will be most profitable to themselues For if they loue the person of the Minister they will a great deale more willingly imbrace his doctrine and so it will doe them more good There is nothing more pleasing to them that are sicke Sanec lib. 4. declam 5. then to be healed of whom they would Secondly they must be obedient to their doctrin as the Apostle exhorteth Heb. 13.17 Obey them that haue the ouersight of you and submit your selues c. And that for their owne good For I pray you what doe the Ministers gaine by your obedience A comfort I confesse it is to them to see so good fruite of their labours but all the profit and benefit will be yours in the end And againe otherwise they are more hardly taught and healed For as the shepheard cannot easily cure the sheepe that spurneth and kicketh with the heeles and as the patient that struggleth doth more hardly receiue a medicine so the soule of man cannot bee cured vnlesse it doe willingly and of the owne accord submit it selfe vnto discipline Thirdly they must communicate with them of their goods and allow them competent maintenance that so without worldly distractions they may more chearefully attend their studies And there is great reason for this of all other duties Luke 10.7 For as our Sauiour Christ saith The labourer is worthie of his wages And this is part of that double honour which the Apostle saith is due to the Minister and therefore he applieth that precept of the law to that purpose 1. Tim. 5.17 18. 1. Cor. 9.14 Thou shalt not mouzell the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne And the Lord hath ordained that they that preach the Gospell should liue of the Gospell Gal. 6.6 And therefore the Apostle giueth commandement to all that are taught in the Word that they make him that hath taught them partaker of all their goods And in another place he saith There is no proportion betweene the maintenance which the Ministers receiue of the people and that which they afford them backe againe If we saith he 1. Cor. 9.11 haue sowne vnto you spirituall things is it a great matter if we reape your carnall things But our people are so farre from giuing vs maintenance of themselues as that they vse all meanes they can to with-hold that maintenance from vs which the Law hath appointed Luke 18.12 That proud Pharisee made his boast and it may bee truely that hee gaue tithes of all that euer hee possessed But our people in many places defraude vs by one deuice or other Eyther they haue some Popish custome to cut off our Tithes in kinde or they haue out-grounds in other Parishes and a thousand other trickes whereby they can defeat vs at their pleasure As it is strange to see how ingenious witty the diuel hath made euen the simplest of them to beguile their Minister But let them take heed that their crafty wit beguile not themselues