〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But when I say we doe thus I meane it is the sinne and shame of our coat and calling not the personall crime of vs here assembled Nay we haue learned that wee are co-workers with God and therefore for God not for our selues and therefore to make in Gods behalfe what good vse we can not to make shew or sale of what is much lesse of what is not in our selues In a word not to bee as manie that make marchandize of the word of God but as of sinceritie but as of God in the sight of God so to speake of Christ. Thus from this point much hath bin said oh how much more might bee said concerning the calling of the Ministerie and yet something remaineth not to be omitted for the hearers that so I may passe vnto them and that point which properly concerneth them Consider well my brethren the Minister is Gods fellow-labourer the Minister I say not the hearer The scholler must not presume to bee a teacher the timber to bee a Carpenter I speake of ministeriall teaching no man taketh this honour vnto himselfe Heb. 5.4 but he that is called of God as Aaron But the Church wanteth labourers What then Ier. 17.16 Thrust not thou thy selfe in for a Pastor after God but pray to the Lord of the Haruest Mat. 9.38 to thrust forth laborers c. He that is ignorant 1. Cor. 14.38 Vers 16 let him be ignoraÌ„t that is coÌ„teÌ„t to supply the place of the ignoraÌ„t Else he shal neuer sing with a good conscience Lord my heart is not haughty Psal 131.1.2 nor my eyes lofty I haue not medled in matters to high for me Nay loue reuerence the Minister of Christ 1. Thess 5.13 for his works sake because he is a laborer for his Lords sake because he is Gods fellow-labourer with whom in whoÌ„ his Lord is receiued or despised Pauâ— commendeth the Thessalo Luk. 10 16 1. Thess 2.13 for receiuing from him the word of the preching of God not as the word of man but as indeed the word of God and not so onely but he commends the Galatians Gal. 4.14 for receiuing him as an Angell of God yea as Christ Iesus You vnderstand this in regard of his office not of his person Thus is a Prophet receiued in the name of a Prophet and the reward is great Mat. 10.41 euen the reward of a Prophet So is the perill great if a Prophet as a Prophet be despised For is not the sound of his Masters feete behind him 2. King 6.32 Dauid neuer shewed extremitie but once the Kings of Israel were merciful Kings 1. King 20.31 and that once was when his Embassadors were abused 2. Sam. 10.4 Embassadors of peace The refusall of peace brought warre vpon the Ammonites and the euill entreatie of the Embassadors brought the wretched people vnder sawes harrowes and axes of iron 2. Sam. 12.31 As God is a greater King so is the abuse of his Embassador the refusall of his peace and amitie more contemptuous and dishonourable As hee is more iust so is his wrath more inexorable as hee is more mightie so is his vengeance more intolerable Ye haue heard somewhat of your place and dutie from this that God is the chiefe worker and owner somewhat againe from this that we are Gods fellow-labourers but now I come wholy to you my deare brethren and to that part of my text which properly concerneth you Ye are Gods husbandrie and Gods building First ye are Gods husbandrie Beza translates it Gods arable but as I presume that word is of too narrow signification seeing God is called an husbandman euen in respect of his Vineyard which euery man knowes is not arable and Noah is said to play the Husbandman planting a vineyard So then from what part of Husbandrie soeuer the metaphor bee taken ye are that husbandrie From the vineyard Ioh. 15.1.5 We are branches of the Vine whereof God is the husbandman The Vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the house of Israel Esay 5.7 and the men of Iudah are his pleasant plant From the arable ye are Gods corn-Corne-ground that must be fallowed Ier. 4.4 Break vp your fallow grounds sow not among the thornes And what other is meant by the ground good or badde receiuing the seed Mat. 13. Luc. 8. but the bearers of the word preached From the pleasant pasture The Church for pleasure and plentie is Gods Carmel Esâ—â— â—2 16 Psal 68.15 Iustitia in Charmel sedebit Gods Bashan The mountaine of God is as the mount of Bashan finally vpon the Church as vpon Iacob is the smell of a Field that the Lord hath blessed Gen. 27.27 Yee are Gods building house and land mannor and demaines make an absolute possession The Church is not onely Gods vine but his vine vpon his house sides Psal 128.3 such is the wife to her Husband Such is Christs Spouse or rather Vineyard and house and all His corne-ground and his barne but his corne-ground here his barne in Heauen His pleasant pasture whiles hee wanders in her loue His retrait Pro. 5.19 and place of habitation when turning from the troubles of the world hee quiets himselfe in his loue Zeph. 3.17 His husbandry tilled dressed fenced by him his building founded fashioned furnished by him and both husbandrie and building in one because both rooted built in him Col. 2.7 Esay 61.3 Rooted in him as a tree of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified Built vp in him Ephes 2.21 in whome all the building coupled together groweth into an holy Temple in the Lord. In whom ye also are built together to bee the habitation Ephes 2.22 of God by the spirit Loe here then a growing-Temple Psal 92.13 in which whosoeuer bee planted shall flourish in the courts of God Gods house and the furniture of his house is built of greene growing timber Our bed is greene of liuing stones Can. 1.16 1. Pet. 2.5 Else how should the Church bee a spirituall house as there she is called vnlesse shee were an house not inhabited onely but animated also with the spirit of life a liuing house that she may be the house of the liuing God 1. Tim. 3.15 For application of this point If yee be Gods husbandrie beloued and that laboured vpon by his seruants the Ministers ye must yeeld fruit for God and fruit for his seruants Fruit for God If in all this time with all this paines the Regions bee not white to haruest they are drie and barren for the fire But what fruit thernes and weeds Indeede that is the fruit our corrupt nature naturally yeildeth being as the accursed earth that brings forth thornes and thistles to Adam Gen. 3.18 and his sinfull issue But ye are Gods husbandrie not his possession onely but his possession husbanded therefore yee must bee Heb. 6.7.8
duellatores fighters at home fighters abroade Cant. 1.6 keepers of our owne vines and keepers of the cōmon vineyard of Christ our Salomon Cant. 8.11 Others haue a single wee a double warfare with others and for others with others as wee are of the house of Israel for others as we are of the house of Aaron for both regards we are to take heed Act. 20.28 for the first to our selues for the second to al the flock ouer which the holy Ghost hath made vs ouer-seers If wee neglect the charge of our owne vines may not the Lord say that from the Prophets Ier. 23.15 wickednes is gone forth into the whole land For how shall wee perswade others to fight against sinne vnlesse wee can commend vnto them the same fight Phil. 1.30 which they see or beare to bee in vs how shall wee presse to kill our Lords Enemies in others if wee nourish them in our owne bosomes if wee resolue not with blessed Paul 1. Cor. 9.27 that euen our owne flesh first being sedes hostis shall be sedes belli and being sedes peccati shall bee sedes supplicii Leuies blessing consists of Thummim Deut. 33.8 aswell as Vrim integritie as sufficiencie and on the skirt of Aarons Robe Exo. 28.33 c. there were not only Bells but pomegranats a type to be expressed in vs Ministers of the new Testament of whom the people must not only heare the sound but see the fruit or else our golden bell will be but as sounding brasse 1. Cor. 13.1 or as a tinkling cymball In a word as the sinne so the reformation of the people beginneth in our Tribe The Lord so purge and fine vs sons of Leui that wee first may bring offerings to the Lord in righteousnesse Mal. 3.3 4. and then the offerings of Iudah and Ierusalem may bee acceptable to the Lord. On the other side if wee neglect our charge concerning the vineyard of Christ If wee seuer the worke from the worship the dutie from the dignitie If we thinke our selues too good or too great to till our Lords ground which as one said of the arable of old Rome reioyceth to bee turned vp vomere patritio If wee bring no stuffe to our Lords building or insteed of stone timber mettall nothing but glasse bright and brittle If wee bee like Sauls Souldiers without speare or sword in the day of battaile 1. Sam. 13.22 or hauing a sword a gift doe not vnsheathe it or but vnsheathe it for shew nor brandish it for vse If we doe but muster not fight or flourish only as Fencers with a rebated edge but neuer drawe bloud Ier. 48.10 If we doe cauponari bellum 2. Cor. 2.17 not belligerare make merchandize of our war and boot-haling in steed of battaile If we vainly thinke to discharge our selues of the account of soules committed to our keeping because whiles wee had here to doe 1. Kin. 20.39.40 and there to doe not idle but otherwise employed they slipt away miscaried without our knowledge Ezek. 44.8 Jf we our selues keep not the ordinances of the holy things of God but set others for vs to take the charge of his Sanctuarie If such be our practizes and pretences Fathers and Brethren what shall we answere vnto that great shepheard and Bishop of soules 1. Pet. 2.25 at the dreadfull day of his oecumenicall visitation True it is the conflict is so great Ier. 15.10 to striue with the whole earth the labour so thanklesse to vex them that dwell therein Reuel 11.10 the successe oftentimes so vncomfortable Esa 49.4 to spend our strength in vain and for nothing that no maruaile if the best seruants of Christ taking their hard taske to heart bee readie sometimes to bewray their frailtie and to crie Ier. 15.10 Woe is me my mother that thou hast borne mee c. and otherwhiles to giue ouer resolue Ier. 20.8 9. not to make mention of the Lord or to offer his word to the daily reproch and derision of prophane men But this tentation cannot long preuaile Ibid. if either we feele the word of God as a burning fire shut vp in our bones and forcing a vent or see the Lord Ibid. vers 11. as a mighty giant standing at our right hand readie to rebuke Zech. 3.1 2. not men only but also Satan 2. Cor. 2.14 15 and to make vs alwaies to triumph in Christ as a sweet sauour vnto God whether in them that are saued or in them that perish Nay rather if we be truly humbled with the awe of Gods holy Maiestie we shall see and be waile euen the best of vs our owne share in the common corruptions and crie out with the Prophet Woe is me Esa 6.5 I am vndone for I am a man of polluted lips and I dwell in the middest of a people of polluted lips c. that mourning with Iohn Baptist we may happily prevaile with some to weepe after vs and hastning the haruest of conversion Matth. 9.37 Reuel 14.14 15. wee may preuent the Angell otherwise readie with his sharpe sickle to the haruest of destruction Mal. 4.6 so turning the hearts of the Fathers vnto the children and that is Luk. 1.17 of the disobedient to the wisedome of iust men that the Lord may not come smite the earth with cursing The Lord make vs such Pastors after his owne heart Ier. 3.15 15.19 after his owne mouth that we may both saue our selues 1. Tim. 4.16 and them that heare vs 1. Pet. 5.4 and that when the chiefe Shepheard shall appeare being found so doing Luk. 12.43 we may receiue at his hand an incorruptible crowne of glorie S. C. THE MINISTERIAL HVSBANDRIE 1. CORIN 3.9 For we are workers together with God ye are Gods Husbandrie ye are Gods building RIght Honorable Reuerend and welbeloued brethren in Christ being all met together by the prouidence of God in the presence of God about the worke and businesse of God what meditation can there be more sutable and seasonable for the worke in hand more profitable for vs then to consider First who it is in whose presence and about whose worke we are met 2 Who and what wee are that are met 3 What the worke is where about we are met For which purpose I haue made choise of a portion of Scripture taken out of the first Epistle to the Cor. Cha. 3. vers 9. For wee are workers together with God ye are Gods husbandrie ye are Gods building VVHich wordes will lead vs into all these considerations and answere all these questions 1 Who it is in whose presence and about whose worke we are met God the chiefe worker with vs the onely owner of you 2 Who and what are we An. 1 Wee Ministers labourers with God vpon you 2 You hearers the subiect of Gods labour and ours 3 VVhat is
and propagated it So that siue per Angelos siue per Prophetas siue per Apostolos c. Whether by Angels Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Pastors We shal still find God to be our Husbandman saith Augustine and he that laboured more abundantly then all the rest saith yet not I 1. Cor. 15.10 but the grace of God which is with mee 1. Cor. 15.10 The Papists abuse that place as also the words of this text to the establishing of the error of free will that thereon they may build their gainefull doctrine of merit How impertinently euery one may iudge that can but read and reading consider the purpose of the writer which is not to intreat of men in generall but of Ministers nor to shew any concurrence of nature with grace vnto well doing but of the sanctifyed instruments of the Holy-Ghost vnto the worke of the ministry wherein notwithstanding our blessed Apostle disclaimeth any sufficiency as of himselfe and ascribeth all to God not that wee are sufficient of our selues to thinke any thing 2. Cor. 3.5 as of our selues see how carefully hee excludeth himselfe but our sufficiency is of God Sufficiency happily they will yeeld to be of God that is of grace but yet liberty is of nature an insufficient liberty then it must needs be and so indeed it is a liberty to doe but not to doe well a liberty not constrained but yet confined vnto sinne and confined not by Creation but by the fall not by Gods default but by our one forfit we are not kept straight in him but in our owne bowels But the grace of Christ bringeth liberty to the captiues Esay 61.1 and to them that are bound the opening of the prison 1. And now as Prosper saith Libertate agimus sed libertate redemptâ we doe well freelie but that freedome is of the grace of redemption It is not by created liberty for that in regard of good was lost in Adam not by corrupted liberty for that though freely yet onely and necessarily enclineth vnto euill but by the liberty of grace the grace of Christ who as he telleth vs without me ye can do nothing Job 15.5 so the thankfull Christian heart maketh answer and saith Truth Lord loe I liue yet not I now but Christ liueth in me I worke yet not I now Gal. 2.20 but the grace of Christ which is with me Phil. 4.13 I can doe all things yet not of my selfe now but through the help of Christ which strengtheneth me Thus haue wee seene how God is a worker yea the worker being alone in the principall work and principall in the ministeriall worke who then can deny him to be an owner the husbandry and building both are Gods Hee that made all things made them for himselfe Prou. 16.4 and if the wicked for the day of euill how much more vs that are his workmanship created by him in Christ Iesus vnto good workes Eph. 2.10 He parts labor as wee shall see but not possession It is enough for the labourer if he haue his hire his penny men do not vse to diuide their ground with the plowman or their house with the Mason Iohn 3.29 Hee that hath the Bride is the Bridegroome so is not hee that prepareth 2. Cor. 11.2 and presenteth her so is not hee that standeth by and reioyceth to heare the bridegroomes voice Thus Christ differed from Moses both faithfull I say not alike but yet both faithfull But Moses as a seruant in his Lords house Heb. 3.5 6 Christ as the sonne ouer his owne house Thus the Church differeth from vs Church-men the Church is not ours but we the Churches that the Church with vs may be Christs and he Gods God therefore is both a worker and an owner 1. Cor. 3.23 The chiefe worker and the onely owner The chiefe worker both because he doth the greatest part of the worke himselfe which Paul in no sort can doe and because hee worketh by Paul that which he enableth Paul to do The onely owner because as by him onlie the work is set on foot so vnto him onely of right it tendeth for as of him and through him so for him are all things Rom. 11.36 to him bee glorie for euer Amen With which words of the Apostle according to his owne Method I passe from the doctrinall part of this point vnto some application for our vse and benefit Is it so then that God hath reserued the greatest part of the worke which is to giue increase onely vnto himselfe then surely neither is preaching enough for vs not hearing for you but it behooueth both vs and you to follow the publike action with prayer both in publike and in priuate vnto that God who only is able to giue a blessing Else Paul may plant and Apollos may water 1. Cor. 3.6.7 and both their labours come to little passe One shower wee see oh that God would let vs see but wee haue seene that one shower doth more good then a great deale of pains in watering so much is God the better husbandman euen in the earthly husbandry how much more in the spirituall When God let fall his showers of spirituall operation vppon the Iewes there were at one sermon 3000 soules added to the Church Act. 2.41 a great increase none such in Christs time Ioh. 7.46 Why was Peter the better Preacher Ioh. 3.34 nay neuer man spake as hee spake for God gaue him the spirit not by measure but now the spirit was giuen plentifully to the hearers which before was either restrained or very sparingly imparted Oh then God forbid the minister should thinke all his worke done when hee hath ended his exhortation God forbid he should sinne against the Lord 1. Sam. 12.23 and cease praying for his people though he haue shewed them the good and right way But if the Lord in iudgement with-hold his blessing from his owne ordinance and deny the prayer of his seruant know for thy comfort it is Gods part that is to doe not thine who will one day make it knowne why hee denied his blessing vpon thy labours praiers Neither let the hearer imagine that when the sound is out of his eare hee hath done with God or God with him For yet the greatest doubt remaineth whether the word heard shall bee that sauor of life or of death vnto thee 2. Cor. ◠16 Of life if the Lord by his spirit settle it in thy hart and ingraffe it in thee of death if it lie like a surfet on thy stomacke to breede some deadly sicknesse in thee Iam. 1.21 Wherfore if grace after meat be requisite surely grace after the word heard is much more necessary and if much good doe it you bee good manners after dinner surely much good doe it vs much good doe it my soule is more then a complement after the Sermon The earth mee thinkes teacheth vs this lesson
as the ground which drinking in the Raine that commeth ost vpon it and bringing forth hearbes meete for the vse of them by whom it is dressed receiueth blessing of God not as that which bearing thornes and briars is nere vnto cursing whose end is to bee burned The Maniches abhorred husbandrie counting it murther to kill the weeds c. This is no Heresie for a good husband to bee of Gods ground must not receiue seed among thornes but into an heart well manured purged from the loue of sin and of this world into an honest a good and a patient heart Luke 8.15 If not thornes then what fruit surely such as the Lord soweth or planteth the sweet milde and wholesome fruits of sinceritie humilitie pietie mercie and sobrietie c. These fruites must they bring forth that will bring forth fruit vnto God that hauing their fruit in holinesse Rom. 6.22 they may haue in the end eternall life But ah beloued if the Lord come to take a tast of our fruites how soone shal his teeth be set on edge If hee looke for sinceritie hee shall meete with palpable hypocrisie if for humilitie selfe-loue and singularitie if for pietie prophanesse and blasphemie if for mercy oppressō vsury robberies if for sobrietie surfeiting and drunkennesse all manner of loosenesse and superfluitie And all those vnder a visor and vaile of the profession of Christianitie and with names of excuse and pretences of neighbourhood and good fellowship of frugalitie of libertie and in genuitie and I know not what to blere the eyes of men that are easily deceiued with sowre grapes with wildings and with starued corne and tares instead of Grapes Apples and good graine Gal. 6.7 But bee not deceiued God is not mocked If these be the fruits wee yeeld in recompence of his care and husbandrie Esay 5.5 hee will take away the hedge and wall of protection from bodily and spiritual enemies Psal 80.12.13 and then the wilde Bore out of the Forrest will root vs vp and the roaring Lion that seeketh for his prey may quickly deuoure vs he will giue off his care and cost of dressing vs by his word and then the Bryars and Thornes will grow vp the seeds of vice wil horribly breake forth and ouer grow vs he will commaund the cloudes aboue Esay 5.5 that they raine no Raine vpon vs that is hee will restraine his grace euen his restraining grace shall be taken away and the curse of euerlasting barrennesse and filthinesse pronounced Mat. 21.19 Ezek. 24.13 neuer more fruite grow on thee because I would haue purged thee and thou wouldest not bee purged neuer bee thou purged from thy filthinesse Fruit vnto Gods seruants 1. Cor. 9.7 and fellow-labourers Who feedeth a flocke and eateth not of the milke of the flocke It is a hard bargaine that will not maintaine both the Housholder and his charge especially so many as beslow their trauell vpon it The earth is the Embleme of Iustice and of her Vsurie may be taken with a good conscience and what vsurie one of tenne nay tenne for one Loc then how God deales with thee for temporall matters giuing thee with thy trauaile where to hee enables thee ten for one hee demaunds of thee for the maintenance of his seruants the Ministers one of tenne ten in the hundred They are bound to impart to thee all the counsell of God the treasures of his wisedome loue Act. 20 27 truth c. Oughtest not thou then that art taught in the word make him Gal. 6.6 that hath taught thee partaker with thee of all thy goods partaker of all that is of euerie kind some share must come to Gods fellow-laborer who whiles hee sowes vnto thee spirituall thinges an emploiment 1. Cor. 9.11 that disables him frō worldly busines yet freeth him not from the cōmon necessities of other mē is it a great matter if he reap thy carnal things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to haue the Gospell without cost were a thing would like this age well But the Age is past that could afford it and yet did not alwayes afford it much lesse enioyne it for perpetuitie I meane the Apostle age wherin men extraordinarily called were immediatly furnished to preach the gospel called without preparation furnished without premeditatiō Now the case is otherwise Vbi nō est farina ibi non est lex no maintenance no Ministrie Men must serue more then one Apprenticehood in the schooles of the Prophets ere they bee fitted for this calling and euery exercise if performed with care and conscience will set a worke both head and heart And couldest thou find in thy hart 1. Cor. 9.9 to muzzle the mouth of this Oxe that treadeth out the corne for thee 2. Sam. 24.24 Dauid would not serue God of that which cost him nothing How farre from Dauids spirit are they that thinke nothing so well gained or saued as from the allowance appointed for Christs Ministers But how fearefully far off or rather contrarie are they who to scrape a little pelfe Act. 8.20 that shal perish with them open no doore vnto the pastor of soules but that of indirect Symonie and direct periury no maruel if the charg so sold and so bought prooue Aceldama a field of bloud both to the seller Act. 1.19 and to the buyer If ye be Gods building beloued ye must be squared to his model fitted furnished for his entertainmēt squared to his model The pattern platforme of Gods building cōsisteth in faith loue 1 Faith whereby we relie on Christ the foundation being spiritually glued and cimented to him that we may be one spirituall bodie with him in which sence it is said Hee that is glued to the Lord is one spirit Cords will binde 1. Cor. 6.17 so will the cords of loue Hos 11.4 Zech. 11.7 and bands of discipline but cords may be vnknit nailes will fasten and wee haue the wordes of the wise as nailes fastened by the Masters of the Assembly but nailes may slippe or leaue a chinke But the glew of faith ioynes close or rather all these together will cause vs Act. 11.23 with purpose of heart to cleaue vnto the Lord. 2 Loue whereby wee are knit one vnto another euery stone so fashioned to that hee ioynes withall that it may seeme as one saith there is not in Gods building a stone vpon a stone but all the stones are one entire stone Thus is Ierusalem built euen as a Citie compact together in it selfe Psal 122.3 c. where there is vniformitie of worship the Tribes goe vp to praise the Lord and vniformitie of gouernment the thrones are set for iudgement Woe worth they that renting themselues 1. Tim. 1.19 from the foundation by shipwrack of faith or from the building by breach of loue or rather first falling out with the walles and then with the foundation for this is the