Gospel are conveyed this is agreeable to what went before Some false Teachers in Corinth pleased themselves with eloquent and enticing words of worldly wisdom and so endeavoured to render Pauls preaching despicable in regard of the plainness of it therefore saith the Apostle we have this treasure in earthen vessels h. e. familiar conveyances that so we may easily understand it Thus I have explained this Earthen Vessel and so have done with the first considerable part viz. the dispensation it self This Treasure we have in Earthen Vessels I come now to the second viz. II. The account of this Dispensation That the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us Which words may be considered two wayes 1. Either absolutely as lying in themselves Or 2. Connexively to the words before going 1. Take them absolutely as they lie in themselves and two things are exhibited 1. The excellency of the Gospel and Ministry it self called Power 2. The Author and Original of it laid down two ways positively of God and negatively not of us 1. The excellency of the Gospel and Ministry thereof called Power There is a great deal of power and efficecy in the Gospel 't is in its nature powerful and efficacious so the Ministry of it Rom. 1.16 I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth See 1 Cor. 2.4 Paul's preaching was in the demonstration of the Spirit and of Power c. 'T is called the Arm of God's Power the sword of the Spirit Eph. 6.17 'T is quick and powerful and sharper then any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit c. Heb. 4.12 and many other places We may conceive it to be so according to the various effects and consequences of it viz. as to 1. Conviction 2. Coversion 3. Consolation 1. 'T is powerful in regard of conviction 't is a word of conviction and one part of the Work of the Ministry is by the Spirits co-operation to convince the world of sin to open mens eyes to shew them the vileness of their wayes to discover such courses to be sinful the Conscience is awakened by the Spirit in the Ministry of the Word herein 't is powerful and efficacious There are divers instances in Scripture how powerful the Word hath been in point of conviction in Foelix the Apostle Paul preached to him of righteousness and judgement to come c. He trembles The Judge on the Bench trembleth at the Word delivered by the Prisoner at the Bar Sa powerful is the Ministry of the Word as to discover our sinfulness So the Disciples going to Emans their hearts burnt within them when our Saviour opened to them the Prophets c. So it was with St. Peters Auditors Acts 2. they were pricked in the heart when they heard tha he did preach to them in the power and demoustration of the spirit and plainly discovered that sin that they were more especially guilty of and when they heard that they were pricked in the heart c. 2. It is a word of Conversion also Conviction is one thing and Conversion is another Sometimes men may be convinced but yet have no change wrought in them therefore conversion is another work it is a turning men from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God c. to receive an inheritance among them that are sanctified Herein is the Word powerful viz. in regeneration I have begotten you by the Word to a lively hope c. of his own will hath he begotten you c. 3. It is a word of comfort and consolation it is a powerful word and able to comfort the heart and the Ministry is very effectual herein when set on by the Spirit to quiet satisfie and pacific the consciences of men which declareth the remission of sin and whosoevers sins are forgiven must needs be comforted Indeed it is not in the power of men to forgive sint yet they can speak a word of comfort in season by the administration of the promises the Spirit of God going along with them and then they are not only declarative but operative Where I say it pleaseth God to bless and sanctifie the Word it is effectual for the quieting of the mind for pacifying of the conscience and setling of the troubled soul Thus you see how powerful the Ministry is and seeing it is so this should teach us how to behave our selves under it it is powerful in it self and powerful in its dispensation and hath none of that weakness mentioned before of the dispenser of it I was with you saith S. Paul in much weakness and in fear and intrembling 1 Cor. 2.3.4 and my speech was in demonstration of the Spirit and of power These may seem to be contradictory but 't is answered the Word is powerful in the demonstration of the Spirit though delivered by one of humane weakness as before is declared This spiritual power we should look at and labour after which power doth not consist in matter of elocution the enticing words of mans wisdom nor in matter of voice which indeed is a good thing and sutable to the nature of the matter a quick and powerful delivery is of great efficacie and power for the setting home of truths Yet this doth not make a powerful Ministry for a whisper in the ear may cause a thunderbolt in the conscience the power lies first in the nature of the matter the matter consists in the nature and condition of mankinde the certainty of judgment the necessity of Christ the covenant of Grace and the graces and priviledges thereof c. These carry a great deal of power and efficacie with them when they are carefully and frequently dispensed and Gods spirit going along with them so they become powerful for the Ministry consists not in empty notions and speculations that will only tickle the sancie but never reach the conscience Moral discourses though they be of great use yet if we rest in them they leave us as they found us Evangelical truths which are manifold are to be delivered in the Ministry Now as the matter of the Ministry must be powerful so the expressions must be powerful there should be sutableness of expression to the matter h. e. with gravity sobriety affection c. Strong lines make but weak preaching and take away the efficacie but delivering truths in the demonstration of the spirit and in power that is most effectual when we speak feelingly and from our hearts it comes then through the blessing of the Lord with it with power This is then to learn us of the Ministry viz. 1. Use Let us be careful that the matter of our Ministry be powerful so that the handling and dispensing thereof be powerful that so it may come home to the conscience thus we should deal with all the words of the wise are as goads and as nails fastned by the Masters
Rich Treasure in Earthen Vessels A SERMON Preached Jan. 1. 1662 3. at the FUNERAL OF That Reverend and faithful Servant of Jesus Christ Mr. JAMES NALTON Late Minister of God's Word at St. LEONARDS Foster-Lane By T. HORTON D.D. Your Fathers where are they and the Prophets do they live for ever LONDON Printed in the Year 1663. To the READER Courteous Reader I Do here present unto thee a Sermon preached by a Reverend and Learned Minister in this City at the Funeral of that faithful godly and truly consciencious Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. James Nalton whose Name is as a precious Oyntment poured forth unto all the godly in this Nation He was one of those precious sons of Zion of whom the world is not worthy ejected by men but now taken into a better Living by the great Bishop of souls Surely Englands sins are very great and hainous that have turned God and Man against us Our Teachers are thrown into corners by men and called away from us by God Oh that our eyes could run down with Rivers of tears but who layes this to heart the righteous are despised rejected and taken away but no man regards it if our wrestling Jacobs our Moses's in the gap our praying Elijahs our weeping Jeremiahs be called home Lord what will become of England whose prayers will be instrumental to remove those judgments incumbent and prevent those which are imminent if the mourners in Zion cease from among us surely then 't is not only our duty but our safety to pray for and consequently bewaile the loss of their lives who are our Fathers the chariots horsemen of England for whose sake this Nation is kept from the judgements of Sodom Gomorrah yet guilty of greater abominations I shall say no more but commend this Sermon to thy reading and intreat that candor from thee that if thou findest any errata in words or phrases or any thing that seems imperfect not to impute it to the reverend and learned Dispenser but to the Transcriber hereof So I commend thee to God Far well Rich treasure in Earthen Vessels c. 2 Cor. 4.7 But we have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us THere is nothing so excellent or compleat in this World but hath its diminishment and qualifications and something that doth disparage it and abates of the excellency thereof not the things of this World onely but spiritual things in some sort as to enjoy them and partake of them in this life have their inconveniences and disparagements annext and are mingled with something that abates of their worth an instance of which we have here in this present Scripture which the Apostle Paul signifies to us concerning the enjoyment of the Ministry of the Gospel of Christ He had in the verse before the Text told us the great priviledge that both Ministers and others had in having the glorious Gospel viz. The light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ shining into our hearts the consideration of which is of great encouragement to us yet adds this as a qualification of it viz. But we have this treasure in earthen Vessels c That which doth qualifie it is That this excellent treasure hath its conveyances through weak and mean persons men of frailty and mortality In the words there are two main parts I. The Dispensation it self II. The Account of it I. The Dispensation it self This Treasure we have in earthen Vessels c. II. The account of it That the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us I shall begin with the first the Dispensation it self which hath two blanches 1 The Depositum the thing laid up 2. The Repository in which this Treasure is laid up First The Depositum or thing laid up which is a Treasure and what is this Treasure but the Gospel of Jesus Christ The Gospel is a Treasure according to a twofold consideration In respect of the 1. Matter of it In respect of the 2. Ministry of it Both make up a treasure The Matter of it the things of the Gospel are rich things and the conveyances of it the Ministerial gifts and ability by which the Gospel is administred do make up the Treasure 'T is a Treasure in both respects 1. In respect of the matter of it therefore it is we read of the Riches of Christ of the Riches of the Gospel The Scripture makes mention of three things wherein the Gospel is agreeable to a treasure 1. A Treasure is a thing of dignity and worth 't is not a company of pebbles though many that will make up a Treasure a Treasure consists of things of worth and dignity and thus is the Gospel in it are contained excellent and admirable truths the Mysteries of salvation by Christ the doctrine of the Gospel brings glad tydings of peace and reconciliation with God in Christ there we have the gifts and graces of God there we have glory and immortality c. and those things in the Gospel are administred to us there is no science in the world brings such treasure as this 2. The Gospel is a treasure for variety abundance and plurality 'T is not one thing of worth but many that makes up a treasure if few yet much worth must be comprehended in them so in the Gospel we have the manifold wisdom of God the rich treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge The Gospel though it be but one for substance yet 't is many for improvements 't is a chain of many links one faith but divers articles of it so it is a treasure in that respect 3. 'T is a treasure for its closeness We do not open a treasure to every one but it is kept close The Gospel is a secret mystery hidden not revealed to every one it is not discovered to carnal worldly men though it may be revealed to them in the outward proposition yet not in the spirituality of it But where shall wisdom be found and where is the place of understanding saith Job ch 28. v. 12. The peace of the Gospel is a treasure hid in the field not found by every one 2. The Gospel is a treasure in respect of the ministry of it so the Apostle hints 't is not onely light but a shining light which hath shined into our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God c. 'T is a treasure in this respect viz. in the discovery and shining of it the conveyances the several gifts and graces of the ministry by which the Gospel is conveyed to us makes up a treasure and as the Ministry is a treasure so the opportunities and advantages thereof are Thus the Gospel and the Ministry thereof is pretious and ought to be esteemed and made use of by us We should highly account of the Gospel and put a high value on it for it is a treasure yea it
is a treasure in the want of other treasures they are rich that are made partakers of it Silver and Gold have I none saith S. Peter to the Cripple but such as I have I give it thee this is the priviledge of Ministers though it may be poor in respect of themselves yet are rich to others These excellent riches are committed to us and accordingly we must not only make use of them our selves but make them known to others the Gospel is a treasure not for us to keep up but to discover reveal and manifest to others to give the light of the glory of God c. This is the work of the Ministry We have indeed this treasure but not for our selves only but for others so we are to keep it to preserve and maintain it but so as to be diligent to impart what is committed to us for the edification of others Every Scribe instructed in the Kingdom of Heaven as a good housholder bringeth forth things new and old The Gospel is a treasure therefore we ought to carry our selves answerable to it As 1. We must labour for it be diligent in the search of it dig for it as for hidden treasures Lift up thy voice for understanding c. Prov. 2.2,3,4 Dig for it you know there is a great deal of pains taken and labour used to get Worldly treasure What would not men venture for it they will go over Sea and Land go through sire and water expose themselves to all dangers for earthly treasure make unto themselves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness pass away a great deal of time and take a great deal of care for it 2. Esteem this treasure this heavenly wisdom this Evangelical knowledge even the Gospel of Christ labour to understand it and have the efficacy wrough upon your hearts 3. Rejoyce in it how do men rejoyce in earthly treasure so should we as the Merchant in the Gospel when he had found the Pearl of Prize rejoyced exceedingly so we ought as being made partakers thereof I rejoyced at thy word even as one that had found great spoyls saith David so should we rejoyce always in this treasure 'T is said of those that sate under John Baptists Ministry that they rejoyced but for a while and that is the condition and misery of many The City of Samaria when they had received the Gospel 't is said they had great joy Act. 8.9 4. Be careful to keep and preserve it for it is a treasure and therefore we must treasure it up in our hearts and the rather because it will keep us It keeps as Chrysostome saith the house where it is other treasures cannot secure themselves but if we keep this treasure it will secure us Discretion shall preserve thee and understanding shall keep thee Prov. 2.11 thus you see the excellency of this spiritual wisdom So much for the first thing considerable in the first branch viz. the Depositum the treasure The second thing considerable is the Repository h.e. Earthen Vessels or vessels of Earth earthen Pitchers these are the Repository but we have this treasure in earthen vessels c. Earth is a word of diminution and disparagement and that in three regards 1 In regard of its meaness and baseness 2 In regard of its foulness and pollution 3 In regard of its frailty and transitoriness 'T is passing away in all these respects these earthen vessels in the Text is to he understood the Apostles and Ministers of Jesus Christ in regard of their outward man are so called and are so according to this threefold notion I. In regard of their meanness their outside is mean either for person or sometimes for estate body outward deportment This was the condition you know of the first Ministers of Christ mean and ordinary persons outwardly God made use of Nay our Master our blessed Lord and Saviour was mean in regard of his humane birth and reckoned of by most men according to his birth and parentage So it is with the servants of Christ they are in their persons generally base mean low and accordingly rendred despicable to the eyes of the World II. In regard of foulness and pollution Ministers are called earthen Vessels they have many weaknesses they are men subject to the like passions as others T is true the Ministers of Christ have greater advantages then others in regard of their education knowledge gifts and imployments being more free from those desilements and snares that others are intangled in yet through the remainders of the flesh in them they have many infirmities so Satan watches them more then others lays more snares for them in regard of their parts and imployments so that they are more subject to his temptations then others Satan hath a desire to sift them as the Apostle Peter as wheat because he knows they will draw many after them so that they must needs be subject to many weaknesses and infirmities Sometimes God makes use of the worst sort of men even the most vitious and malicious first he changeth them and then makes use of them as instruments of glory The Apostle Paul was a Vessel of Election to carry the name of Christ unto the Gentiles yet in times past a great persecutor So it pleaseth God to make use of such that the excellency of the power may be of God c. III. Ministers are called Earthen Vessels in regard of the frailty and mortality of their persons and earthen Vessels are soon crakt and broken Ministers are subject to many infirmities of body This Heavenly light of the Gospel shineth often through Lanthorns of glass which are soon broken Ministers have weak and frail bodies Timothy had his bodily infirmities and Trophimus was left sick at Miletum 2 Tim. 4.20 and Epaphroditus was sick nigh unto death Phil. 2.27 And Paul had need of Luke the Phyician probably in regard of his weakness Thus the servants of God are subject to many infirmities Besides the reasons in the Text there are other reasons why God will have it so 1 That they may be more compassionate and more sensible of the weaknesses of others for likeness of condition breeds sympathy of affection Men are apt to pity those in the like condition with themselves so our Lord took our nature upon him that he might pity us he took flesh and blood upon him he was tempted in all things like unto us but without sin that so he might succour those that are tempted So his servants many of them are much tempted which may breed in them a sympathie of affection to others that are in such a condition 2. God will have it so that Ministers may have the more experience of the truths they preach to others concerning an afflicted condition those that have had no sickness or other affliction cannot preach from experience of such truths that concern such a condition they cannot preach so feelingly and savory as others when they have been under affliction they
touched Isaiahs lips it is he that said to Jeremiah Do not say thou art a child for I have sent thee c. This I say then is a consideration that may encourage Ministers in their Work that the weaker they are the honor and glory will redound to Christ for he said unto me saith the Apostle My Grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness Not that this is an encouragement or argument for any to take upon them the great work of the Ministry without sufficient qualifications abilities But where there is not that degree of ability as is desired where there is a true sensibleness of their weakness this may be an encouragement unto them that God delighteth to shew his power in them that by so much the more they are weak so much honor he wil gain For a conclusion it comes to this viz. That we lay no stress upon any outward things There is no stress or happiness in these outward things those that seem to be of some concernment as strength of body and other outward qualifications that are of remark yet consider they are fading and transitory this should teach us in the enjoyments of outward things a great deal of humility Though we are Vessels of gold in regard of the treasure and improvement yet in regard of our selves we are Vessels of Earth and so should be in respect of humility Let us look upon all these things as given to us of God even for this very end That we may be more serviceable to him and his people So I have done with the two general parts of the words and so with the whole verse viz. We have this Treasure in earthen Vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us Do we begin again to commend our selves saith the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 3.1 or need we Epistles of commendation to you or Letters of commendation from you ye are our epistle in our hearts c. But this is applicable to the present sad occasion now before us This reverend and blessed man of God Mr. James Nalton was a person of great note and eminencie among us one well known in this City and in this place where he spent his labour and pains many years I could give large accounts and testimonies of him if need were from my own knowledge of him having been acquainted with him many years He was not only a Minister but the son of a Minister his birth and education suting together He lookt upon it not only as an honour but as an engagement to be careful to walk in those steps set before him and to continue the work of the Ministry begun by his religious father Certainly the children of godly and holy parents cannot come off so cheap in their carriages as others they have greater accounts to make as having greater examples set before them greater advantages of prayer exhortation c. and so greater engagements this was thought on and observed by him And as he was the son of a Minister so when he came to years and was fitted he took upon him the Ministry as he was one of great abilities so accordingly he discharged them faithfully and conscienciously He was a spiritual powerful consciencious Preacher he preached by his Life for as Erasmus saith we should not only love to speak truths but we should digest truths on our own hearts before we commend them to others and so they will be the more effectual He was a man of a very meek sweet and humble spirit a man of great humility and of great meekness in the midst of great abilities which was a great ornament in him a man full of tenderness and condescension to others a man of a very yeilding and melting frame of spirit soon dissolved into tears It was the saying of one that a good man is full of tears so this good man was full of tears not affected but very real and hearty drawn from the fullness of his Spirit as the Apostle Paul saith he served the Lord in much humility and many tears This was remarkable that in these times our Reverend Brother was full of tears in delivering his doctrine which was sutable to the age we live in being full of sin and calamity there is much need of a bewailing spirit to bewail the iniquities and miseries of the times they that cannot bewail themselves need the tears of others He was a man of great integrity and single-heartedness in his exhortations he had much of the simplicity of Christ as the Apostle Paul speaks In reference to the Ministry he had no worldly and base affections he had no carnal designs therein but his chief design was to bring souls home to Christ that was his chief business As the Apostle saith of himself may also be said of him that in simplicity and godly sincerity be had his conversation in the world not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully but by the manifestation of the truth commending himself to every mans conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4.2 He was a man that had ability to speak a word in season he was very compassionate to wounded spirits he himself having been much afflicted He was a man much in communion with God and had much acquaintance with God and was careful in improvement therein he was a Jacob in wrestling with God a Moses that stood in the gap an Elijah that prayed earnestly the whole land was the better for such a person being much with God he made many addresses to him and had much holy familiarity with him And as in his publick performances he was very faithful and beneficial so in his family and private he was very fruitful and serious In a word not to multiply much in this kind you need it less in this Auditory but onely by way of grateful memorial there was much of God and Christ in him and he was a great example to his fellow servants there was much of his Treasure spoken of in the Text in this earthen Vessel as in the matter of it he was one of a Gospel spirit and in the conveyances of it he had great abilities for the work of the Ministry and discharged it with a great deal of success As he had this treasure in an earthen vessel so his vessel his frail body was no disparagement to him but the advancement of the treasure in setting forth the power to be of God his outward man was much weak and worn away but his inward man was upheld by the grace of God His first work in the Ministry was in that place where my self have relation to he was an assistant to my Predecessor being then past labour Mr. Richard Couder and performed the work so well that he was exceedingly beloved of Mr. Couder and well beloved of the Parish and other places He left a good impression behind and I found good effects by the foundation there laid The Apostle Paul indeed desired not to work there where another had laid the foundation but I thought it a great advantage that the foundation was laid by such a Master-builder He was called into the Country to Rugby in Warwickshire there he continued very fruitful and did much good For some occasion he removed and returned into the City and came into this place where he continued about 18 or 19 years discharged the work of the Lord carefully I need not say much of his carriage in this place I appeal to your own consciences I may say of this servant of Christ as the Apostle Paul said of himself 1 Thess 2.10 11. Ye are his witnesses and God also how holily and justly and unblameably he behaved himself among you as you know how he exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a father doth his children that ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory Therefore there lies an engagement upon you to walk answerable to the truths he delivered and to follow his steps considering the end of his conversation I shut up all in the words of the Apostle Paul to the Philippians ch 4.9 Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in him Do and the God of Peace shall be with you FINIS