THE PREACHERS CHARGE AND PEOPLES DVTY About Preaching and Hearing of the WORD OPENED In a Sermon being the first fruits of a publike Exercise begun in the Parish Church of Lownd for the benefit of the Island of Louingland in Suffolke By IOHN BRINSLEY Minister of the Word in great YARMOVTH LONDON Printed for ROBERT BIRD and are to be sold by Thomas Carre in Norwich 1631. TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL SIR IOHN VVENTVVORTH of Somerley-ton in the County of Suffolke Knight sauing health and eternall happinesse Right Worshipfull I Here send you the first fruits of your owne your owne by countenance your owne by maintenance What you heard with attention I questiâ—n not but you will willingly reuiew and in what concernes you readily practise The Charge which is here opened is directly ours but by consequence yours and whose not The Preaching of the Gospell being a publike worke though it requires not euery mans mouth to preach it yet his eare and his hand it doth to receiue it to vphold it This Arke of the new Couenant more is the pity it should be so frequently laid vpon the Cart is properly for our shoulders to beare but yet none are debarred from touching of it It is not onely the liberty but the duty of euery priuate Christian to further the cause of the Gospell in what hee may much more of them whom the Common-wealth calleth forth for publike imployments I blesse God that I haue no need to presse this charge vpon your particular or if I doe my arguments must bee commendations The bellies of the poore of these parts blesse you already in these times of scarcity I hope some of their soules shall blesse you for the Bread that perisheth not This religious exercise which God hath made you the instrument to erect and I hope to contiue shall honour you in the eyes of God and his Saints The Lord make it as prosperous as it is needfull and giue you the true comfort of it here and hereafter So prayeth Your Worships euer in the Lord IOHN BRINSLEY A Table for the Prophets chamber Parts â— The Ministers Charge A Duty inioyned Preach where is explained The thing what Preaching is The signification of the word implying The Preachers office viz A Cryer a Herald Manner of discharging it viz. To whom he is to speake to all In whose name his Masters How Boldly Faithfully Plainly The Word Christ. The Gospell of Christ. Consisting in foure particular actions Manner of performance Generall Be instant Earnest with Themselues Others Diligent Particular In Season At the set ordinary time the Lords day Speciall seasons and opportunities Out of season when the word seemeth to be so in respect of the Speaker Hearer Both viz. on the weeke day The Peoples dutie by way of application in fiue particulars 1. Heare 2. The Word not being offended at the simplicity of it 3. Be instant Earnest with Themselues in exciting To the dutie In the dutie Others God that he would giue to his Ministers Ability Liberty Efficacy Man Ministers themselues exciting them to their dutie by Christian exhortation which must be done with Loue. Wisedome Respect to their paces Incouragements Verball Reall Competency of maintenance Honor and respect due to their callings Entertaining the word with gladnesse in Receiuing Practising Priuate persons stirring them vp to attend vpon Gods ordinances Diligent 4. In Season At the set time the Lords day When God disposeth the heart after a speciall manner 5. Out of Season On the weeke day as occasion shall be offered When outward occasions may withdraw or hinder When inward indisposition may discourage THE PREACHERS CHARGE AND PEOPLES DVTIE 2 TIM 4. 2. Preach the Word be instant in season out of season IN all solemne Assemblies and publike meetings vpon ciuill affayres the first act vsually is to open and reade the Commission which may warrant the businesse to bee vndertaken This course I haue thought good to obserue and follow in making entrance vpon this holy and religious Exercise First to open vnto you the Commission which may warrant and beare out the duty wee are now to goe about and that not onely in the substance but also in the circumstance In this Exercise there are but two things subiect to question the Exercise it selfe and the season for the performance of it The Exercise it selfe The Preaching of the Word Carnall minded men who sauour not the things of God will happly conceiue of it at the least as not so necessary The season for the performance of this Exercise being on the weeke day others perhaps will censure it as not expedient To both these the Spirit of God in the words I haue now read giueth vs an expresse warrant and that not by way of allowance onely but by way of iniunction as of things that not onely may bee done but must bee done To the Exercise it selfe Preach the Word not onely a toleration but a peremptory command To the circumstance of time the season for the performance of it Be instant in season out of season No season vnseasonable for this so necessary a duty Euen that which may seeme to carnall reason to flesh and blood to bee out of season is yet seasonable Though it may seeme vnseasonable to the hearers yet it is seasonable in the speaker This is Saint Pauls charge to Timothy in particular and in him to all the Ministers of the Gospell Preach the Word be instant in season out of season In this Apostolicall charge there are two things present themselues to our consideration The duty inioyned and The manner of discharging it The Duty that is inioyned is Preaching of the Word Preach the Word The Manner how this duty must be discharged is With earnestnesse and diligence with vndaunted resolution with indefatigable industry Bee instant in season out of season To begin with the Duty it selfe Preach the Word This is a Duty imposed by God vpon all the Ministers of the Gospell They must Preach the Word This is the charge we see which S. Paul here imposeth vpon his sonne Timothy and he doth it with as much seriousnesse and earnestnesse as possibly can be conceiued I charge thee before God and the Lord Iesus Christ who shall iudge the quicke and the dead at his appearing and his kingdome Preach the Word Did you euer heare a charge set on with more pressing arguments with more compulsiue and commanding perswasions I but in imposing this charge vpon Timothy doth not Saint Paul deale as our Sauiour saith of the Scribes and Pharises who binde heauy burthens vpon other mens shoulders but they themselues will not moue them with one of their fingers Nothing lesse What he imposeth vpon Timothy he conceiueth and acknowledgeth to be as deepely charged vpon himselfe Necessity is laid vpon me yea Wee is vnto mee of I Preach not the Gospell So deeply did this great Doctor of the Gentiles account himselfe to stand charged with this Duty
earnest 1. With your selues 2. With others 1. With your selues and that both to stirre vp your selues to the duty and in the duty First bee earnest to stirre vp your selues to the duty great need of earnestnesse in exciting and stirring vp your selues this way For 1. there is a naturall auersnesse in euery man that sets him off from the duty Flesh and blood finde no taste no relish in this ordinance of God the Word purely preached This is one of those things of God of which Saint Paul speaketh That the naturall man receiueth not discerneth not vnderstandeth not Great need therefore to vse all holy meanes to quicken and to excite spirituall appetite And 2. Besides this naturall auersnesse you shall finde many pull-backes many auocations many lets and impediments to draw you aside to hinder you Those in the Gospell which I named before are too common Farms Oxen domesticall affayres ciuill imployments The worlds businesse will steale away the time from Gods businesse Our bodies will seeke to starue our soules our particular callings will ingrosse all the time that there shall be little left for the generall 3. Besides these auocations you must make account to meet with many discouragements It may be taunts and reproaches from prophane and wicked men it may bee an ouerly countenance from friends and alliance some dust or other Satan will bee ready to stirre vp to blinde your eyes withall that you should not see to finde the way to the house of God to attend vpon this his ordinance Great need of earnestnesse to excite and stirre vp your selues that you may ouerlook all these seeming lets impediments discouragements Secondly be earnest to stirre vp your selues in the duty as there is a naturall auersnesse in vs to the duty to keepe vs from it so there is a naturall slothfulnesse deadnesse dulnesse wearinesse which will be ready to seyze vpon vs in the duty to make vs performe it carelesly formally negligently The best of Gods people haue often experience of this malady in themselues Sometimes our bodies will be disposed to drowsinesse and sleepinesse as it was with Eutichus at Saint Pauls Sermon and that perhaps rather now than at any other time but oftner our hearts our soules I sleepe but my heart waketh saith the Spouse In hearing of the Word wee may often inuert the sentence I wake but my heart sleepeth Our bodies are present but our soules our hearts are absent Great need to awaken our selues that we may heare and heare with attention that we may watch vnto hearing as the Apostle exhorts the Colossians concerning prayer That ye should continue in prayer and watch in the same So continue in hearing and watch in the same Watch lest we should bee ouertaken with this spirituall deadnesse and drowsinesse which is so ready to creepe vpon the soule to come ouer the heart to bind vp the senses the affections of it Our Sauiour reproueth his Disciples that they could not watch with him one houre when as he himselfe was yet absent from them The reproofe will lye as iustly against vs if we cannot stirre vp our selues to watch with Christ one houre especially when as Christ himselfe is present with vs and that after a speciall manner as he hath promised to be in the midst of this his ordinance And therefore when we draw neere vnto God in this part of his worship and seruice let vs in his feare as in his presence awaken our hearts intend our spirits that we may attend vnto what the Lord shall say vnto vs. It is Lydiaes commendation after that God had opened her heart and wrought effectually vpon her she attended to the words that Paul spake Thus should Christians attend vpon the Word euen hang vpon the lips of the speaker as the Babe doth vpon the brest watch euery word to take it before it fall to the ground Thus should Christians bee earnest with themselues in stirring vp themselues to the duty in the duty They that will take the kingdome of heauen dispensed by the Ministers of the Word they must take it as they did in the dayes of Iohn the Baptist with violence 2. As you must be earnest with your selues about this worke so also with others and that both with God and with man First Be earnest 1. with God It is he that holdeth the bottles of heauen the clouds in his hand that causeth it to rayne vpon one place and not vpon another It is hee that watereth his owne inheritance his garden his Church where and when and how it pleaseth him And therefore forget not to be instant and earnest with him 1. That he would send forth faithfull labourers into his haruest such as may be indued with ministeriall abilities for the discharge of this worke 2. That hee would giue liberty vnto them that hee would set open for them a dore a wide dore of vtterances 3. That he would giue efficacy to their labours that he would not onely set open a wide but also an effectuall dore that the Gospell may haue free passage in their mouths and in the hearts of the elect people of God Ability liberty efficacie in the dispensation of the Gospell depends all vpon God himselfe And therefore be you instant with him that hee would bee pleased to water your inheritances with this dew of heauen It is Achsaes request I remember to her father Caleb that seeing he had giuen her the South-Country hee would giue her the springs of water also God hath allotted vnto you in this Island a seat pleasant enough euery wayes accommodated with all other requisite conueniences you want nothing but the springs of water springs of those waters those liuing waters flowing out from the Sanctuary Be instant with your God your heauenly Father that hee would strike the rocke for you that he would giue vnto you these Springs from aboue that hee would more abundantly refresh and make glad your dwelling places with these liuing waters be instant with God 2. Bee instant also with Men about this worke and that both with the Ministers themselues and others with the one to Preach the other to heare the Word both to attend vpon this ordinance of God 1. Be earnest first with vs the Ministers of the Word to put vs forward vpon this seruice It is not only your liberty but a part of your duty to put vs in mind of our duty whom God hath set ouer you Say to Archippus it is Saint Pauls charge to the Colossians it is a principall part of our duty to preach the Word if wee neglect it grow slacke and remisse in it as it was the case of that Angell of the Church of Ephesus Bee you instant with vs put vs in minde of it stirre vs vp to it Wee are but men and therefore subiect to forget you and our selues to forget our duty though
will not load a Bee neither will one Sermon though neuer so excellent load the head and heart of a Christian to make him rich in grace And therefore be Instant as Earnest so Diligent This is the third Vse to draw towards an end in the fourth place Be instant in season And that 1. at the set ordinary times set apart for this Exercise the Sabbath day the Lords day then goe forth to gather this heauenly Mannah to make your prouision for the weeke ensuing Then may you expect a speciall blessing from God in attending vpon this holy exercise because as the exercise it selfe is Gods owne ordinance so the day also is set apart by the like ordinance for that exercise 2. Be instant in season viz. At those speciall times and seasons when the Lord is pleased to fit and to dispose you vnto the duty after a speciall manner There are certaine seasons certaine gales of grace as we may call them which the experience of euery Christian can informe vs of when the Lord is pleased to breath more kindly more sweetly more effectually vpon the heart and soule to the quickening and inlarging of it than at other times Sometimes when it is kindely humbled and broken vnder some affliction either outward or inward sometimes when it is warmed and suppled and melted with the fresh apprehension of some new mercy especially with a clearer glimpse of the light of Gods countenance a more full and rauishing apprehension of the vnspeakeable loue and fauour of God in Iesus Christ Sometimes againe it is after a secret and vnexpressable manner moued and inclined and moulded to a more chearefull a more acceptable performance of all dutie Now these are seasons which should be very pretious in the eyes of Christians which they should not let slip without a speciall improuement take hold of them make vse of them as for other duties so for this When the wind blowes whilst the Spirit of God breatheth vpon the soule with a fresher gale in sweet motions inclinations affections resolutions hoyse vp the sayle make vse of that aduantage in hearing and applying of the Word to heare it with more frequency with more power with more life with more intention of Spirit Thus in season 5. And lastly Be instant out of season And that 1. At other times beside the set the ordinary time set apart by God himselfe vpon the weeke day as well as vpon the Sabbath day when God shall offer a fit occasion The word in it selfe is not cannot bee out of season at any time The Word is the bread of life shadowed out amongst other mysteries by the Shew-bread vnder the Law which signified not onely Christ himselfe but all other spirituall repast which the Church hath with and before God and the meanes of their repast Now bread we know is neuer out of season All other meats almost haue their times and seasons when they are in season out of season but bread is alwayes in season The like we may say of this ordinance of God the Word preached it is neuer out of season Some other ordinances of God there are as holy and religious fasting and feasting humiliation and thanksgiuing they haue their times when they are in season and out of season But this exercise of Preaching of the Word it is alwayes in season on the Sabbath day on the weeke day as the Shew-bread stood vpon the Table in the presence of God vpon the weeke day as well as vpon the Sabbath No time vnseasonable to appeare before the Lord in this ordinance of his 2. Out of season when it may seeme to flesh and blood to be something vnseasonable and that in respect of other occasions which may draw vs aside from it If those occasions be not important if they be such as may either bee neglected altogether without any great preiudice to our selues or others or such as may be dispatched sooner or deferred longer in this case let the lesser giue place to the greater If it be with some small detriment to thy selfe in outward respects yet remember what Dauid saith to Araunah he will not offer a sacrifice vnto God of that which cost him nothing Borrow a little from thy body thy estate thy worldly imployments to bestow it vpon thy soule Make bold a little with other occasions to purchase some time for God and his worship and seruice 3. And lastly Be instant out of season euen then when thou findest thy selfe vnfit indisposed vnto the duty yet euen then when thou findest a present indisposition hanging about thee attend vpon this ordinance of God It is a Word of life a quickening Word as well to put life into the soule and to stirre it vp when it is dead as to preserue and increase it It is an Anabaptisticall frenzie that Christians should neuer attend vpon this or any other duty but when the spirit moueth them Wee often see ships riding a long time in a road stead when they might bee in the hauen wherefore is it that they may bee in the winds way as we say to take the first oportunity that shall bee offered Euen thus should Christians anchor as it were in the house of God euen then when they seeme to be becalmed that they cannot stirre and moue themselues about holy duties as they were wont to doe yet euen then ride it out wait vpon God in the vse of this ordinance though vnfit for the present bemoane and bewayle thy vnfitnesse looke vp vnto God for life and seeke it from him in thy attendance vpon this ordinance This is Gods owne command as for vs to Preach so for you to Heare the Word to be instant in season out of season FINIS Diuis Doct. Verse 1. Mat. 23. 4. 1 Cor. 9. 161 Mar. 10. 7. Mark 16. 15. 1 Cor. 1. 17. What Preaching is Psal. 19. 1. Wherein the office of the Ministers of the Word consists 1 Sam. 12. 23. Ier. 15. 19. Neh. 8. 8. Preaching defined The signification of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Preach Ministers are Criers Heralds Mat. 3 3. 1 Tim. 2. 7. 2 Tim. 1. 11. They must deliuer the will of God to All. 2 King 18. 27. Marke 16. 15. Esay 55â— 1. Reu. 1. c. 2â— c. In the name of God Mat. 21. 9. Luk. â—â—â— 17. Mat. 7. 23. Boldly Ezek. 3. 8 9. Mat. 7. 29. Tit. 2. 15. Faithfully 1 Cor. 11. 23. Acts 20. 17. 1 King 22. 14. Plainly 2 King 18. 26 27. Neh. 8. 8. Act. 2. v. 6. Calu. in loc v. Esa. 40. 6. The Word taken two waies 1. For Christ himselfe Are in text Ioh. 1. 1. Gen. 3. 15. Ioh. 1. 18. 2. The Gospel Acts 15. 7. Ioh. 6 68. Ephes. 1. 13. Mat. 13. 19. Act. 13. 26. The subiect of Preaching is Christ and the Gospell Acts 8. 5. Acts 9. 20. 1 Cor. 1. 23. 1 Cor. 3. 2. Mark 1â— 15. Mat. 3. To preach Christ and the Gospel of Christ consisteth in foure parts Luk. 24. 27. Act. 2. 22. to 37 2 Cor. 5. 19. 20 Rom. 10. 8. 1 Ioh. 3. c. ver 23. Act. 16. 31. Cal. 4. 19. Reas. Rom. 1. 16. 1 Cor. 1. 18. Ministers must be instant two wayes Earnest and that With themselues Reas. 1. Zach 3. 1. Ier. 20. 9. Vers. 10. Others Luk. 14. 33. Iude 23. Esa. 55. 1. Ministers must be diligent Acts 18 25. Eccles. 11. 6. 1 Cor. 3. â— Acts 6. 4. In season taâ— heâ—â— 2. wayes For the set time the Lords day Exod. 31. 13. Ezek. 20. 12. Mark 6. 2. Luk. 4. 16 c. Act. 13. 14. Act. 2. Act. 20. 7. Other special oportunities Prou. 15. 23. Prou 25. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Out of season So the Word seemeth to be three wayes In respect of the Minister Hearer * A snowy morning To both Luk. 8. 1. vlt. Mark 20. * Luk. 19. 47. Act. 2. 46. Act. 12. 42. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v d. Bezam in an not in margintransl Engl. The peoples duty in fiue parts Vse 1. Heare Rom 10. 17. Bezannot inlâ—cum Matth. 4. 4. Esa 53. 1. Vse 2. The Word without offence at the simplicity of it 1 Pet. 2. 2. 1 Cor. 1. 23. Gal. 3. 1. Vse 3. Be instant two wayes Earnest Gal. 4. 18 With themselues exciting them seues To the duty Reas. Why 1 Cor. 2. 14. In the duty Act. â—0 9. Cant. 5. 2. Col. 4. 2. Ma 〈…〉 Ma 〈…〉 Act. 16. 14. Mat. 11. 12. Be earnest with otheâ—â— and that With God Amos 4. 7. For three things Mat. 9. 38. Col. 4. 3. 2 Thes. 3. â— Iosh. 15. 19. Be instant with men and that Ministers themselues to stirre them vp to their duty Col. 4. 17. Reu. 2. 4. Ion. 1. By Christian exhortations wherin three cautions 1 Tim. 5. 1. By incouragements chiefly reall in three things 2 Cor. 10 10. Be earnest with others Psal. 122. 1. Ioh. 11. Ioh. 4. Diligent Pâ—ou 10. 4. Vse 4. In season 2. wayes 1 Cor. 16. 2. Vse 5. Out of season three waies 2 Sam. 24. 24.
and passion belongeth to him and shall be imputed vnto him so by this particular application forming Christ in the soule from whence will follow a through change and conuersion both in heart and life This it is to Preach Christ and the Gospell of Christ. And this is the duty which S. Paul here imposeth vpon Timothy and which all the Ministers of the Gospell should principally be imployed about I might here now giue you some reasons of the necessity of this duty of preaching the Word after this manner To omit all other The reason of reasons is because it is the ordinance of God his power vnto saluation that is his powerfull instrument which he hath in his wisedome appointed and set apart for the working of the saluation of his people for the begetting beginning of grace increasing of grace perfecting of grace in the hearts of his chosen and so consequently to bring them through grace to glory The time preuents mee giue mee leaue now to passe from the duty it selfe to the manner of performance I shall make the application of both together The manner how this important duty should bee discharged is set downe first generally then illustrated and explayned more particularly generally Be instant particularly In season out of season I will be briefe in all Be instant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the originall the word signifieth to stand to or ouer a businesse Our English word expresseth it fully Be instant To bee instant in a businesse imports two things Earnestnesse and Diligence Thus must the Ministers of the Gospell be instant in preaching of the Word they must stand to and stand ouer the worke 1. with earnestnesse 2. with diligence First they must be instant and earnest about this worke of Preaching the Word Earnest 1. VVith themselues 2. with others 1. They must bee earnest with themselues and that in stirring and exciting vp themselues to the worke in putting themselues forward vpon this seruice great need of earnestnesse this way There are many auocations which will be ready to diuert and turne vs aside to call vs away to plucke vs back from the worke profits pleasures preferments ease quietnesse and the like Flesh and bloud will alwayes be whispering in our eares as Peter in his Masters Master fauour thy selfe Besides these auocations wee must make account to meet with many discouragements many dangers much hardship Beares and Lyons in the way stormes and tempests enow to make vs not onely to looke backe but euen to leaue the plough of God in the open field Besides these discouragements much resistance much opposition Euery Paul must make account to meet with an Elimas euery Moses with a Iannes and Iambres Alwayes in one kinde or other wee must make account to finde Satan standing at our right hands when we are to goe about this worke as hee stood at the right hand of Iehoshuah to resist him when he was to stand before the Lord to execute his office Great need of earnestnesse to put our selues forward in a seruice where we shall meet with so many auocations so many discouragements so much opposition All our earnestnesse will bee little enough to make vs beare vp head against this tide Strange it is how farre these haue preuailed many times against the faithfull messengers of God to the disheartning almost to the silencing of them It was the Prophet Ieremies owne case such was the entertainment that he met withall in the discharge of his office that hee had euen resolued with himselfe not to make mention of God not to speake any more in his name It made him almost to silence himselfe from Preaching any more and had not the Word beene in his heart as a burning fire shut vp in his bones as he there speakes hee had beene for euer silent Such defamations such minting and coyning of slanderous reports such catching at his words such watching for his haltings such lying in wayt to intrap him as himselfe telleth vs in the next verse that he had euen resolued to turne his backe vpon his office If any of the Messengers of God meet with better measure in the discharge of their duties it is more than God hath promised them or they can promise to themselues Great need therefore to stand vp to the worke that wee may ouerlooke and ouerleape all these blockes that lye in the way Great need to be earnest euen to offer a kinde of holy violence to our selues to stirre vp our selues to the worke Euen as the Cocke the true Embleme of a Minister of the Word first awakens himselfe by the clapping of his wings that hee may awaken others by his crowing so must wee offer a kinde of holy violence to our selues to awaken and stirre vp our selues to the worke of our Ministry that being stirred vp our selues first wee may 2. Awaken and stirre vp others Ministers must bee instant and earnest with others as well as with themselues offer violence to others in Preaching the Word as well as to themselues The Kingdome of heauen should suffer violence as well in the speaker as in the hearer in the mouth of the one as in the heart of the other It is the charge which the Master of the Feast giueth vnto his seruant when hee sendeth him forth into the high wayes to fetch in guests to the Supper Compell them to come in Thus should wee Preach the Gospell inuite men to the participation of Christ with commanding arguments with compulsiue perswasions so as to take no deniall So should we deale with the soules of men as the Angels did with the bodies of Lot and his family plucke them as fire-brands out of the flames and that with a holy violence It is the charge which the Lord giueth to the Prophet Esay Esa. 55. Cry aloud spare not Great reason the Ministers of the Word should Cry aloud they often speake vnto dead men such as are dead in trespasses and sinnes Doe we see men sleeping and snorting securely in their natural states and conditions without sense without remorse Cry aloud Maledictum silentium quod hic conniuet Cursed silence that now spares to speake Doe wee see men walking on securely in the paths of hell and of death liuing in any sinfull course posting on to hell and destruction Cry aloud spare not Crudelis misericordia Cruell is that mercy that suffers a man rather to bee drowned than to pull him out of the water by the hayre of his head Thus must wee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be instant about this worke of our Ministry bee earnest both with our selues and others Secondly we must be instant againe that is Diligent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sta cum diligentiâ so the Syriacke renders the word in this place Stand to the worke with diligence Ministers must be diligent as well as earnest This is the commendation of that eloqueut Apollos he was
not only seruent in the spirit but also hee spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord. Ministers in the dispensation of the Gospell are Gods seeds-men to sowe the seed of eternall life in the hearts of his chosen Now it is the seeds-mans charge giuen by the Preacher In the morning sowe thy seed and in the euening let not thine hand rest The Preaching of the Word must be a Ministers worke his daily worke not his recreation a continuall worke We are Gods Husbandmen his people are his tillage as Saint Paul maketh the comparison Now it is the Husbandmans portion redit labor actus in orbem his worke goeth round in a circle it is neuer at an end Spring Summer Autume Winter no vacation in any They that put their hands to Gods Plough must put on an indefatigable resolution to follow the worke with diligence It is the reason which the Apostles giue why they would haue Deacons chosen to take care of their poore because say they We will giue our selues continually to prayer and to Preaching of the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Instaâ—imus saith the vulgar Latine wee will be instant in it attend vnto it Thus must wee whom God hath honoured so farre as to make vs dispensers of his sacred mysteries we must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 attend vpon the worke stand to it be instant in it first with Earnestnesse secondly with Diligence This in generall more particularly Be instant in season out of season 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will bee briefe in both In season the word may be vnderstood two wayes 1. It may be taken for the ordinary set time appoynted and set apart for this exercise The ordinary time set apart by God himselfe for this duty is the Sabbath day the Lords day And then to Preach the Word is to Preach it in season The Sabbath was and the Lords day is a signe of sanctification vnto the people of God neuer are the meanes of sanctification so properly in season as then This season did our Sauiour and his Apostles vsually obserue Before his resurrection they went into the Synagogues and taught vpon the Sabbath dayes After his resurrection they met together euery first day of the weeke vpon the Lords day as at the day of Pentecost and at other times And this season the Ministers of the Gospell are to obserue after a speciall manner In this there is a difference betwixt the word of God and that Mannah which came downe from heauen in the wildernesse that fell vpon euery day of the weeke except the Sabbath this spirituall Mannah neuer falleth so seasonably as then 2. In season that is at such times and seasons when the Word may be most acceptable most profitable vnto the hearers There are certaine seasons when the Word is likely to finde better acceptance and entertainment to take place rather than at other times as viz. when men are humbled vnder the hand of God when the heart is broken vnder some great affliction or other whether present or feared that is a season when the Word is like to finde easier passage and to make a deeper impression So againe when the heart is warmed and melted with the fresh apprehension of some new mercy that is a season when the Word is likely to finde a wide and effectuall doore opened to it to let it into the soule So againe there are certaine seasons when some particular doctrin is more seasonable than others As to minister comfort and consolation to an afflicted deiected soule when the heart is pricked wounded when the spirit is broken vnder the apprehension of sinne and Gods wrath due to it then to preach comfort is like the powring in balsome into a bleeding wound or like a showre of raine falling vpon the new mowne grasse it is a word in season Now Ministers should obserue and watch and apply themselues to these seasons We know what commendation the Wiseman giueth of words thus spoken in season How good is a word in due season And againe A word spoken fitly Super rotissuis saith the originall spoken vpon his wheeles that is with a due concurrance and obseruation of all circumstances of time place person and the like which are as the wheeles vpon which our words and speeches should runne is like apples of gold with pictures of siluer both delectable profitable Herin should the wisdome of the Ministers of the Word be exercised in taking hold of these opportunities to improue them for the best aduantage that they may minister a word in due season They must be instant in season and a. Out of season What is the Word euer out of season that which seasoneth all other things is that euer vnseasonable Ans. In it selfe in truth it is not but in the opinion of men in the eye of carnall reason in the iudgement of flesh and blood it seemeth sometimes to be out of season Out of season three wayes in three respects 1. In respect of the speaker 2. In respect of the hearer 3. In respect of both First in respect of the Speaker the Minister himselfe the Preaching of the Word seemeth to bee out of season when his ease his pleasures his profits his worldly imployments some vnnecessary auocations or other draw him another way When there is no constraint no necessity of Preaching the Law of the Land requires it not neither is there any benefit but perhaps danger likely to accrew to himselfe by Preaching as in times of persecution then it may seeme to him to bee out of season In respect of the Hearers when their Farmes their Oxen their particular calling domesticall imployments perhaps sports pastimes recreations draw them another way When they cannot repayre to the hearing of the Word without some paines without some hardship in respect of the season the weather as it falleth out this morning or otherwise then the Preaching and hearing of the Word seemeth to them to be out of season Thirdly to both Speaker and Hearers it may seeme out of season When it is preached not onely at the set ordinary times vpon the Sabbath the Lords day but also at other times vpon other occasions vpon the weeke day then flesh and blood will be ready to think it as a showre of raine in the midst of Haruest out of season Now at these times which to carnall reason may seeme vnseasonable must the Ministers of the Gospell stand vp to the worke of their ministery take all occasions all oportunities and aduantages of Preaching publikely of instructing priuately Thus did our Sauiour and his Apostles they went about Preaching as they went into the Synagogues on the Sabbath dayes so they tooke all other occasions on the weeke day to instruct the people publikely beside their teaching from house to house And here is our warrant for this religious exercise
we haue neuer so much cause to remember it Ionas falleth asleepe in the hold of the ship in the midst of that stresse when hee should haue been praying for himselfe and those that were with him Thus it fareth many times with the Ministers of the Word wee are subiect to a supine forgetfulnesse to bee rockt asleepe with the profits and preferments of the world whilst in the meane time our flockes our charges nay our selues too are in eminent danger Let vs craue that fauour from you that in this case you would play the Marriners part that you would awaken and stirre vs vp to the discharge of our duty which concerns you and our selues so neerely Stirre vs vp but how Why 1. by Christian exhortations friendly aduice and counsell Awaken vs by word of mouth Herein onely obserue three Cautions that this be done 1. with loue 2. with wisedome 3. with a due respect to our places and callings With loue that it may be without bitternesse without any tincture of priuate spleene against our persons dip your reproofes and exhortations in oyle they will driue the better with wisedome with a due poyzing and weighing of all circumstances as time and place and the like as also a due consideration of our strength and ability for the discharge of this duty with respect vnto our callings and functions It is Saint Pauls charge to Timothy Rebuke not an Elder but exhort him as a Father Tart and masterlike reproofs out of your mouths though we deserue them yet doe not become you Exhort vs as Fathers Thus stirre vs vp by exhortations And 2. Stirre vs by incouragements what incouragements Why not onely verball but reall incouragements viz. 1. Competency of meanes and maintenance sutable to our paines and charge Take heed of being accessary to the staruing of this ordinance of God and your owne soules by muzling the mouth of the Oxe Let them that wait vpon and serue at the Altar liue and liue comfortably by the Altar 2. by giuing due honour and respect to our places and callings Though our persons perhaps deserue little yet our callings are honourable Paul himselfe was of a mean presence His bodily presence was weak of a low stature of a meane personage but his function challenged respect 3. By accepting our labours lending vs your presence your eares your hearts your liues giuing entertainment to the worke of our minister No incouragement to the Ministers of the Word like vnto this When the people are 1. ready to receiue the Word at their mouthes the one as ready to heare as the other to speake When they hang vpon the Priests lips for knowledge This is eâ—en like sucking of the breast which maketh the nurse to giue downe the milk more freely more plentifully euen whether she will or no It is the want of this sucking of this sincere milk that hath made so many dry breasts in the Church of God that hath disheartned and discouraged so many forward and hopefull instruments in the Church if not to the stopping of their mouthes yet at the least to the damping of their spirits to the quelling of the life and power of their Ministery And 2. when they profit by the Word grow and thriue in grace by it No such incouragement to an Husbandman as when he seeth his tillage to prosper no such incouragement vnto a nurse as when shee seeth her childe battle and thriue it maketh them thinke no paines too much Whereas on the contrary a barren soile and a starueling nursery kill the hearts of both No incouragement vnto the Ministers of the Gospell like vnto this when they finde the worke to thriue and prosper in their hands when they see that the seed which they sow is not cast away when they see that their labor which is not vain in the Lord is not in vaine neither in the hearts and liues of the hearers This will make vs stand vp to the worke watch when we should sleepe labour when we could be content to be at ease and quiet thinke no paines too much Thus stirre vp the Ministers of the Word be instant and earnest with them And 2. be instant with others priuate persons neighbours friends acquaintance stirre them vp to wait and to attend vpon this ordinance of God with more diligence with more care with more conscience Come let vs goe vp to the house of the Lord Philip calleth Nathaniel The woman of Samaria fetcheth her neighbours to come vnto Christ Thus should priuate Christians excite and stirre vp one another labour by friendly exhortations perswasions incouragements to bring their friends and neighbours to meet with Christ in this his ordinance This will be our comfort another day that we haue euery one of vs in the seuerall places and stations wherein God hath set vs bin instant earnest in the cause of God zealous and forward for the furtherance propagation of the Gospel Be earnest And 2. be Diligent in this worke The diligent hand maketh rich saith the Wise-man It is no lesse true in spirituall than in temporall riches Doe you desire to be rich in grace and holinesse the best riches attend wayt vpon this ordinance of God with diligence with coÌ„stancy If God be not weary of speaking be not you weary of hearing Frequent the house of God vpon all occasions What euer the world thinks and speakes of it it is no disgrace to be accounted a frequenter of Sermons so that other necessary duties be not neglected Christians must be like the Bee that goeth from flower to flower to gather a little honey from euery one to carry to the hiue to make vp the store We shall haue need of a stocke a store of grace and therefore let vs goe from flower to flower I speake the more liberally and freely because in these parts there is not the like feare of surfetting of the Word Preached of erring on the right hand by an vnwarrantable running from Sermon to Sermon to the neglect of mens particular callings as may seeme to be in some other parts of the kingdome imbrace euery occasion which the Lord offereth in the publike Ministry of his Word for the gathering of honey the gathering of grace to carry home to the hiue to lay vp in the heart to make vp a stocke a store against the winter against hard times euill dayes the dayes of triall sicknesse death We shall then finde all to be little enough and therefore whilest our Summer of health and liberty and peace lasteth vp and be doing euery day be increasing of the store get something from euery Sermon from this which you haue this day heard if you carry away nothing else yet carry away this resolution that by the grace of God inabling you you will endeuour to make better vse of all the publike means of grace which God shal hereafter in this or in any other place afford vnto you One flowre
There was a Necessity lay vpon him for the performance of it that Necessity backt with a Woe if hee should neglect it The like Necessity the like Woe lyeth vpon all the Ministers of the Gospell in their seuerall places and stations They must Preach the Word Woe is vnto them if they doe it not I must not dwell vpon confirmation This was the first and the last charge which our blessed Sauiour gaue to his Apostles when he was to send them forth into the world after hee had told them whither they should goe the first charge he giueth them is As ye goe Preach When hee himselfe was to leaue the world and to take his last farewell of them the last charge he giueth them is Goe ye into all the world and preach the Gospell to euery creature Preaching of the Gospell was the Alpha and the Omega in their Apostolicall Ministration and it is one of the maine businesses which the Ministers of the Gospell must attend vnto They must Preach the Word By way of explication and illustration I will here vnfold vnto you two things What is meant by Preaching what by the Word For the first To Preach in a generall and large acception of the Word is to declare or any wayes make knowne the will of God vnto man In this sense euery declaration of the will of God be it by any of his Mercies Chastisements Iudgements Creatures may improperly be called Preaching The heauens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy work Neuer a Creature in heauen and earth but readeth a Lecture preacheth to the eye of the beholder the mercie wisedome power and goodnesse of God And so in this generall sense Reading may also be called Preaching But more specially and properly in the ordinary phrase of the Scripture Preaching importeth a Ministeriall action wherein the will of God is made knowne to the Church after a speciall manner by the Ministers of the Gospell To speake distinctly The Ministers of the Word being Agents betwixt God and his people their office consisteth in two things 1. In dealing with God for the people 2. In dealing with the people for and from God First they are to deale with God for and on the behalfe of the people to be as it were their Mouthes vnto God in putting vp their suits and supplications and thanksgiuings vnto God in expressing their desires vnto God to pray for them God forbid that I should sinne against the Lord inceasing to pray for you saith Samuel vnto the people And secondly as they are to be the peoples mouth to God in praying for them so they are to bee Gods Mouth to the people in instructing them in declaring his will to them If thou take away the precious from the vile thou shalt be as it were my mouth saith the Lord to the Prophet Ieremy The Prophets of God the Ministers of the Word are Gods mouth whereby he speakes and makes knowne his will to his people The will of God is made knowne to the Church by the Ministers of the Gospell two wayes By Visible signes by Audible voyce By Visible signes The Sacraments which being presented to the Church by hands of the Ministers are as visible words to make knowne and ascertaine to euery beleeuer the eternall gracious purpose the euerlasting good will of God towards him in his Sonne But secondly and principally by Audible voyce By Audible voyce the will of God is declared to the Church by the Ministers of the Word in two Ministeriall actions In Reading in Preaching In Reading the Text the letter of the Scriptures in Preaching interpreting expounding applying them to the edification of the Church Both these Ministeriall actions you haue ioyned together in the practice of Ezra and the Leuites in Nehe. 8. 8. They read in the booke in the Law of God distinctly and gaue the sense and caused the people to vnderstand the reading That which we haue here to deale withall is the last of these Ministeriall actions Preaching properly so called which to speake shortly and fully is an action of the Minister of the Word soundly interpreting and opening the sense of the Scriptures by the Scriptures with Application of them to the vse of the Church by Doctrine Instruction Exhortation Reproofe Conuiction Comfort This is properly Preaching You now see the thing Looke we backe a little vpon the word that will afford vs something worthy our obseruation Preach the word in the originall is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word borrowed from publike Cryers or Heralds sent from Kings Princes States to proclaime and make knowne their mindes edicts determinations vnto others The Metaphor is no lesse elegant than fruitfull it readeth vs the Ministers of the Gospel a double lesson First what our office is Secondly how we are to behaue our selues in the discharge and execution of that office It first putteth vs in minde what our office is We are Cryers Heralds sent from the Lord of Hoastes the King of heauen from God himselfe to declare and proclaime his will to the Church This was the office of Iohn the Baptist he was a Cryer The voyce of a Cryar in the wildernesse A Cryer sent to proclayme to the world the comming of the Messias to worke the redemption of his people This was the office of the Apostle Saint Paul he was ordayned to bee a Preacher and an Apostle as himselfe telleth vs 1 Tim. 2. 7. 2 Tim. 1. 11. a Preacher the word in both places is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Cryer a Herald one sent from God to proclaime and make knowne to the Gentiles the glad tidings of saluation by Christ. This is our office and secondly it putteth vs in minde How wee are to behaue our selues in the discharge and execution of this office in declaring the will of God to the Church and that in three particulars To whom we are to speake In whose name we are to speake and How we are to speake 1. To whom we are to speake generally to All Criers Heralds they make publike Proclamations that All the people may heare and vnderstand It is the speech of Babshakeh to Eliakim we may make vse of the actions of wicked men as our Sauiour doth of the vnrighteous Iudge in the parable when hee was sent by his Master the King of Ashur as an Herald to giue a summons vnto Hierusalem Hath my Master sent mee to thy Master and to thee to speake these words hath hee not sent me to the men which sit vpon the wall Heralds make Proclamations they speake to all the people Thus must the Ministers of the Gospell declare the will of God publish the glad tidings of saluation offer Christ to all so runs our Commission giuen to the Apostles by Christ himselfe Goe Preach the Gospell to euery Creature that is to Iewes and Gentiles to bond and free of what