faithful Labourers in Gods Vineyard What an honour and happiness is it to a man to be made a Common Blessing unto all men round about him to be Eyes to the Blind Legs to the Lame a Mouth to the Dumb a Staff to the Feeble a Physician to the Sick a Counsellour in hard Cases a Watchman in Danger a Captain in Conflicts so much and much more is a Minister unto his People if he do his duty as he ought And unworthy are they of that office who scorn to take the pains that belongs to it or think it an easie or small matter to save a soul from death 2. Vse Hence we may see by what hath been said that the Office of the Ministry is no base office nay the whole world hath not a greater Office in it The Apostle tells us That Jesus Christ the Prince of the Kings of the Earth was a Minister to confirm the Promise made unto the Fathers The office of a Minister is an Angels Office the Angels of Heaven the highest of them in their places never go on greater Errands When they came to the Shepherds what did they do but tell of the Birth of Christ Peace on earth and good will towards men Luke 2.14 And is not this our business also to treat between God and man about eternal life We are the Friends of the Bridegroom We are Ambassadours for Christ and God doth beseech you by us We are sutors not for our selves but for him desiring to Espouse you unto one Husband and to present you chast Virgins to Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 Our work is to Cater for Heaven to seed the slock of God 1 Pet. 5.2 to win souls to gather together with Christ Matt. 12.30 to bring in Custom for the Kingdome of God So that a Minister doth not darken knowledge but his Lips keep and disperse Knowledge Prov. 15.7 and the people therefore should seek the Law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts Mal. 2 7. openeth the window to let in the light breaketh the shell that we may eat the kernel putteth aside the curtain that we may look into the most holy place removeth the cover of the well that we may come by the water Is he then a Contemptible person which bringeth the Message of God which hath the name of an Angel the ministry of Life or else what is the meaning of the Text Now then we are Ambassadours for Christ Certainly the least man in the Ministry ought not to be contemned As in a Building some bring Stones some Timber others Morter and some perhaps bring onely Nails yet these are all useful in their places the very Nails serve to sasten the work in the Building Thus the Church of God is a spiritual Building some Ministers bring stones like James Cephas and John Pillars in the House of God Gal. 2.9 are more eminent and useful Others useful pleces of Timber though not Pillars others less they may have but a Nail in the Work yet all serve for the good of the Building The least Star gives light and the least drop moistens Grandis dignitas Sacerdotum c. Hieron in Ezek. The least Minister is no less then an Angel the least Nail in the Ministry serves for the fastening of Souls unto Christ there is some use to be made even of the lowest parts of men the weakest Minister may help to strengthen ones Faith though all are not Apostles all are not Evangelists all have not the same dextrous abilities in the Ministry yet all edifie And sometimes it comes to pass that God crowns his labours and sends most fish into his net who though he be less skilful is more faithful and though he have less of the Brain like Jacob in respect of Esau Gen 25.27 yet he may have more of the Heart go away with the Blessing and therefore not to be Contemned Lâ—t a man so account of us saith the Apostle as of the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4.1 q. d. Take heed how you sleight our Ministery you cannot despise sleight and contemn our Persons and Office and have Life and Salvation You cannot have the the mysteries of grace saving knowledge regeneration and faith without us effectual calling Justification and glorification What the Lord may do in an extraordinary manner that I will not dispute but this is Gods ordinary way which he hath established and we may not expect another not a new Revelation from heaven Rom. 10.14 How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Preacher Acts 26.17,18 Saith God to Paul I send thee to the Gentiles to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light There is Effectual calling under which is comprehended union with Christ Regeneration inabling us unto Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ That they may receive remission of sins there is justification under which is contained Gods remission of our sins and his acceptation of our persons unto Life and Salvation And an inheritance among them that are sanctified There is glorification under which is couched as well Gods glorifying of us in this life First By conferring upon us glorious priviledges as Adoption Kingship crowning every good soul with that stile Regale sacerdoâ—…um Royal Priesthood 1 Pet. 2.9 to be Royal without Priesthood seemed not to him Dignity enough and indeed of all the Offices of Christ his Priesthood is the main Secondly Imparting to us here in this world glorious graces and thereby inabling us to glorious performances Thirdly His Crowning us with glorious Joys and sweet peace of Conscience So then that which I clearly collect from the words is this That the Preaching of the Gospel is the means appointed by God whereby we shall be Called Justified and Sanctified Therefore our Office is no mean Office When the Prophet Elisha sent fot Naaman the Leper to come unto him these were his words He shall know that there is a Prophet in Israel 2 Kings 5.8 â—…s though all the glory of Israel were chiefly in this that they had Prophets and others had none So when Elisha was dying Joash the King wept over his face and cryed O my Father my Father the Chariot of Israel and the Horsemen thereof 2 Kings 13.14 Shewing that the Chariots of Israel and the Horsemen thereof do not so safe guard a City as the Prophets which teach it and pray for it How joyful and glad was Lydia when she could draw and constrain Paul and Silas to her house If ye have judged me faithful to the Lord saith she come into my House and abide there Acts 16.15 shewing that never any Guests were so Welcome to her House before The Shunamite perceiving that Elisha was an holy man of God spake unto her husband to build a new Room to welcome him and to keep him with her she thought all the places in her
fellowship friendship and acquaintance with God desire so to continue like some of the Israelites who began to be in love with their bondage and slavery in Egypt And how many thousands and millions have we cause to fear there be who are dead while they live or at the best but luke-warm such as Christ threatens to spue them out of his mouth Rev. 3.16 serving of God in such a sleight perfunctory negligent and careless manner only for fashions sake and by fits sometimes perhaps pray when the night comes hear when the Sabbath comes fast when Lent comes and think to repent when death comes And alas all this while they are under the wrath and Curse of God liable to all the miseries of this life to Death it self and those pains that are endless easeless and remediless And yet men are in a golden Dream and bless themselves in their evil ways until the very flames of Hell take hold on them The Lord threatens he will not spare them but his jealousie and anger shall smoke against them blot out their name from under heaven Deut. 22 20. separate them unto evil what can be more miserable and dreadful then and desolation Let me then in the name of God Exhort you all to seek the Lord in good earnest while he may be found Know in this your day the things of your eternal peace without which you had better never to have come upon the Stage of the World O what will become of men at that great Day that have all thâ—ir time here been found fighters against God treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath Acts 5.39 Rom. 2 5. every day carrying a Faggot to that Pile which shall burn them for ever a Brand to that Hell which Sin and the Wrath of God hath made so hot already O for men to be in the very gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity Acts 8.23 possessed with most wicked malice slaves to the Devil to do all manner of wickedness to be given up to blindness of mind utterly destitute of the true knowledge of God and of his Son Jesus Christ under strong delusions to take pleasure in believing lies 2 Thes 2.11,12 This is the greatest judgment that can befal you unless the earth should open and swallow you up like Korah Dathan and Abiram Numb 16.32,33 when Husbands and Wives Parents and Children Masters and Servants went all quick to hell together Yet for ought we know while God in justice killed their bodies he might in mercy save some of their souls He that repenteth not to day will have one day more to account for and one day less to repent in And who knows what may depend upon one day Yet Prayers and Tears may do you good But stay a while and though streams of blood should flow from you and you should cry and howl to God to all Eternity it would never do it therefore know your time It is a happy thing for a man to do a business in such a time wherein he may have the comfort of it the benefit of it God proclaims and says to every one of you this day Friend poor soul as ever you expect to receive mercy look to it now for now the golden Scepter is stretched forth now is the acceptable time and the day of grace and salvation come in and accept of the offers and tenders of grace and mercy now or else you may be lost and gone for ever qui jam non credit imposterum sentiet he that will not now believe shall hereafter feel sooner or later The sinner an hundred years old shall be accursed Isa 65.20 Tua res agitur non Dei thou art the person concerned this business concerns thy life thy Eternal estate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys in Loc. It is not said Reconcile God to your selves for God doth not make the breach but reconcile your selves to God Certainly it concerns men that have not made their peace with God to spend their days in bewailing their sinful and miserable condition to exchange all their carnal joy for some godly sorrow that God may give them that in tears which they could never find in sensual pleasures that God may give them salvation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naz. Orat. 17. God hath joyned salvation with sorrow and sighing godly sorrow and sighing is the souls food and the minds refection Therefore do not ruffle it out in the world taking your fill of Pleasure as if this world were made on purpose for you to sport in Remember what the Prophet Isaiah saith And what will ye do in the day of visitation in the great Day whom will ye flye for help to Isa 10.3 when the Earth shall burn and the Heavens shall flame and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat and all the Tribes of the Earth shall mourn before the Lord. Although the Lord keep many terrible privy Sessions and sharp and severe Visitations for to keep this world in order yet he hath reserved the great Assise the great Visitation until the last Day And therefore is this a time to be carnal and secure and sleeping when you should be running for the Crown of glory to be an Athiest in the world The wicked through the pride of his countenance will not seek after God God is not in all his thoughts Psal 10.4 or all his thoughts are there is no God non esse Deum sunt omnes cogitationes ejus Junius This is that fool that hath said in heart there is no God Psal 14.1 it is rather an Option then an Opinion faith S. Austin He could be content there was none Ita tacitus loquntus est impius non est Deus vel utinam non esset Deus God is not the object of his joy his thoughts and meditationsu either is he careful and solicitous aboutheavenly and divine things being intentive about prophane The best things are shut out of his heart Intus existens prohibet alienum he lives as if there were no God with no due sense awe or reverence of the most Holy and glorious God These men are most truly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Without God in the World Eph. 2 12. hic labor hoc opus And therefore to get men to be reconciled to God this is a work indeed a very difficult work Well might Paul say Who is sufficient for these things Herein consists the great work of Reconciliation when Parties between whom hath been friendship and afterward breaches made then they are brought into favour again as S. Bernard tells us in his 32. Sermon super Cantica Quidest reconciliatio nisi iterata animorum dissidentium conciliatio And the same Father tells us that there are three to whom we ought to be reconciled To God Angels and Men. Unto Men by manifest deeds clear and shining which are to be wrought before men Joh. 3.21 Let your light so shine on earth to the glory of your Father in heaven Matt 5.16 There
's a demonsiration Feed the hungry relieve the Poor There 's another demonstration When this is done in Faith and in Obedience to the Commandements of God 't is one excellent way for rich men to lay up some of their treasures in heaven and then let their hearts follow their treasure thither This is a brave noble way of giving Earth a translation and to improve every Alms and Penny to the best laying up in store for themselves a good Foundation against the time to come That they may lay hold on eternal life 1 Tim. 6.17,18,19 Secondly Unto Angels by hidden and secret signs which are sighs and groans Angelorum delitiae Poenitententium lacrymae and other signs of repentance which please and delight the Angels who are sent about Gods Messages to this Earth There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth Luke 15.10 And good Ministers are glad too when they can perceive it How glad was the holy Apostle when he perceived it in the Romans and asked them What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed Rom. 6 21. Certainly sin is not a gainful way without doubt more men are impoverished and beggered by sinful courses then enriched sin cannot be the way to Glory and Honour for we dare not avow our sins but are ashamed of them when they are done fruitless unprofitable before shame and dishonour after Mens Souls are desperately sick of sin and at Deaths door must we tell them of Heaven and an immortal Crown and Kingdom before repenting of their wickednesses till they be first recovered in some measure from the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity Acts 8.22 from the jaws of Hell and snare of the Devil Revive them with the Gospel before they be humbled with the Law Without any humiliation repentance sighs and grones certainly we cannot give you comfort We dare not apply the oyl of Consolation till we have scoured your festred wounds with the sharp wine of Reprehension Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap Gal. 6.7 If ye live after the flesh ye shall dye Rom. 8.13 When Iniquity hath played her part then shall Vengeance leap upon the Stage The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God Psal 9.17 And that with a Go ye Cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels Mat. 25.41 Could we behold your Cheeks blubbered with Tears your Hands beating your Breasts like the poor penitent Publican Luke 18.13 your Cryes resounding at Heaven Gates for mercy or any way but perceive your Repentance and Indignation against Sin Then should we think it high time and seasonable to sing as sweetly as we can of the tender mercies of God and the Riches of his grace unto afflicted and broken spirits Thirdly We must be reconciled to God by Purity singleness and sincerity of heart wherein the perfection of the Gospel doth consist Mat. 5.8 And now Men Brethren and Fathers with what words shall I bespeak you all to live to that God from whom you shine That when the Grave shall be open for you Heaven may not be shut against you O you that are yet asleep in sin is it not high time for you to awake Rom. 13.11 And that knowing the time that now it is high time to awake out of sleep The time of the light of the Gospel which is as it were the Dawning of that great everlasting Day the words are an Alarm or Summons unto spiritual vigilancy an appeal to Conscience for the necessity of the Duty And now knowing the time the Propinquity and nearness of salvation The night is far spent Shall the Heavens be all in flaming fire 2 Thes 1.8 and the Elements melt with servent heat before you will begin to fear God The Sun shined upon Sodom in the morning and yet the horrible wrath of God fell upon them before evening and thy Soul may be in Hell before the next morning as that rich Churls who reckoned upon many years and had not a day to live Luke 12.20 Shall the great Luminaries of Heaven the Sun and the Moon be darkened Mat. 24 29. before that soul of thine be inlightened And the Stars fall down from Heaven before thou wilt fall down in all humility before thy Maker confessing and forsaking thy sins Shall the Sea give up her Dead before thou art alive and the Harvest of the world to come before the Seeds of grace and eternal life be sown in thy heart art thou so dead and buried in sin that no Sermon shall stir nor awaken thee but the last Trumpet shall sound before thou wilt hear O wo to thee when thy days are ended Then the great Judgment and Visitation will fall most dreadfully upon thee And yet I declare unto you this truth in the name of God that there is not the worst the vilest in the Congregation that is come through the Providence of God before God this day but for ought we know it is possible for thy sins to be pardoned for God to be reconciled unto thee and thy soul to be saved though even now an enemy a rebel against God a slave of sin and Satan O therefore prize this Doctrine of Reconciliation prefer it above your appointed food as Job did the holy Scripture yea before thousands of gold and silver Job 23.12 For upon your forsaking a Course of sin God will not onely pardon you let all Suits fall cancel all Bonds quit all scores but also receive you into favour Now herein the Lord infinitely excelleth all the Princes of the Earth If a Subject offend his Prince and his offence be hainous and capital be accounteth it a singular and great favour from his Prince if he can be pardoned but he shall never be honoured more never be trusted more But now the Lord doth not onely pardon great sinners upon true repentance but he highly honours them and Crowns them with very glorious Rewards and the choicest Joys and Delights that heart can wish And this may be said with all grateful commemoration and great truth that when by Divine Providence Almighty God the Father of all Mercies returned our most dread Sovereign unto us the People of England to the execution of his Kingly Office he did not onely pardon many Offenders but hath also honoured them with titles of quality and places of trust I will Answer but one Objection and so I will draw to a Conclusion What infinite Pity is it to consider how some forsake all Religion because the Preachers do not Agree or because the Lives of Professors give some offence But certainly there is no Cause why they should mislike the Word for the Preacher or why they should despise Religion for the Professor Because the Word and Religion are not theirs which Preach it and Profess it but Gods The Seed sown in good Ground may grow