signe of a gratious heart and humble soule Doct. It is a signe of a gratious heart for a man to confesse his owne ignorance Pro. 3â— 2 Psal 73.22 Iob 42.3 to confesse his owne ignorance Thus Auger Surely I am more brutish then any man and haue not the vnderstanding of a man Thus Dauid So foolish was I and ignorant as a beast before thee Thus Iob I haue vttered words that I vnderstood not Things too wonderfull for me which I knew not This Eunuch here is a patterne of a gratious heart and humble soule see how ready he is to make publication to the world of his owne ignorance and weaknesse to shame himselfe and to become nothing in his owne eyes to the end he might bee a meet schollar in Christs Schoole And indeed that man that seeeth his owne ignorance and sinne is poore in spirit mournes for that he knows so little in Gods matters This is a soule fitly qualified to be taught of Christ Psal 25.9 They that bee meeke shall hee guide in iudgement and teach the humble his waâ— To such the promise belongs The reasons are First Reas 1 till a man see his owne ignorance hee is not capable of instruction This is acknowledged by the blessed Virgine in her song Hee hath filled the hungry with good things 〈…〉 but the rich he hath sent empty away The rich that is such as see not nor perceiue their owne spirituall pouertie these 〈◊〉 profit aright by the means The reason is they are like a â—â—â—â—ne Bladder puffed vp with â—â—â—â—ceit of their owne worth 〈◊〉 and knowledge and 〈…〉 â—â—â—ze the meanes of life 〈…〉 Secondly the iudgements of Gods people are rightly informed which giues them 〈…〉 and more to discoâ—â—◠〈…〉 â—â—rall defects â—ha◠〈…〉 Lord 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—â—standing a 〈…〉 which the 〈…〉 into the miâ—â—â— â—he more 〈◊〉 it discouers the spirituall 〈◊〉 thereof Vse 1 By this then a man may be able in some measure to come to the knowledge of himselfe and of his owne estate Doest thou discouer daily more and more in thee thy naturall ignorance and blindnesse in Gods matters canst thou deny thy selfe and thy owne will see thy owne emptinesse in heauenly things and freely confesse the same with this Eunuch here this is a good signe of a gratious heart and this selfe denyall of thine doth qualifie thee to bee a scholler in Christs schoole to beâ— taught of him who hath promised to teach the Humble Whereas on the contrary if vpon examination thou findest no such want in thy selfe but rather with the Church of Lâ—odicea thinkest thy selfe to be rich rich in knowledge vnderstanding and grace Know O know these very thoughts of thine prooue sufficiently thy spirituall pouertie and nakednes that thou knowest as yet nothing as thou oughtst to know Vse 2 Let this serue to admonish euerie man therefore in the feare of God to try his owne heart how farre he is guiltie of this sinne of ignorance it is the first steppe to sound and sauing knowledge for a man to know and acknowledge his owne ignorance with this Eunuch here for till we come to finde out this naturall ignorance that is in vs in heauenly matters and mysteries of Christs kingdome and mourne and lament for the same it is impossible for vs euer to attaine to sound and sauing knowledge But how shall I attaine to this sauing knowledge you speake of Quest The way is Answ 1 First to be conuersant in the Scriptures For as water is drawne out of the well so is sauing knowledge from the word as from a fountaine This doth our Sauiour point at vnto the Pharises Mat. 12.5 Haue ye not read in the Law And when the young man demanded of our Sauiour what he should doe to inherit eternall life The answer is Luk. 10.26 What is written in the Law how readest thou Answ 2 The second meanes to be vsed is earnest and heartie prayer to God for it is one of Gods gifts sauing knowledge and therefore must be sought for at his hands without whose blessing no man can profit aright for hee that is the Authour or the Scriptures knoweth best how to giue vnderstanding to his seruants to edifie that â—â—â—ues in their holy saith Answ 3 The third meanes is our daâ—â—â— fellowship with Gods seruants and conference with those that 〈◊〉 made wise by the word This is an excellent meanes to build men vp in the sauing knowledge of Christ Thus those two disciples going to Emaus they talked of the things that had happened touching Christ and were further instructed in the truth of the matter and vnderstanding of the Scriptures How can I without a guide Notwithstanding Philips plainnesse this Nobleman doth not catch and câ—â—pe at him againe as to reply What is it 〈◊〉 thee whether I vnderstand or not c. but â—â—e freely confesseth his ignorance that hee could not vnderstand without a guide Wherein wee haue further to obserue the great humilitie that was in this holy seruant of God and in him are taught What an excellent ornament Humilitie in a Christian is Doct. Humility an excellent ornament in a Christan no one grace doth more adorne the profession of the Gospell in men making profession of the same then this gift and grace of true humilitie Humilitie indeed is the very first step vnto Christianitie as the first sinne was pride So when God doth repaire the decayes of nature by the worke of grace the first grace wrought in the renewed man is humilitie The first worke of true grace in the heart of any is to cast downe the high thoughts of the heart and to lay them low A man this is not humble and hath not 〈◊〉 â—â—ained a base and meane 〈◊〉 of himselfe is not fit for any good For so soone as the eyes of Gods children come once to be opened to see their owne sinnes and the vilenesse of their nature they abhorre themselues the combe of their naturall pride is poole downe and they then come to abase themselues before God and men See the truth of this in those excellent worthies of the Lord mentioned in the Scriptures who are memorable as for their faith and other graces so especially for this Mother grace the grace of true humilitie Thus Ahraham Gen. 18.17 I am but dust and ashes This was Iacobs voice I am not worthy of the least of Gods mercies This was Dauids voyce Who am I Lord This was Gideons voyce Iudg. 6.15 My fathers house is the least in all Israel This was the Baptists voyce Whose shooe latchet I am not worthy to vnlose This was Peters voyce Lord go from mee for I am a sinfull men This was Pauls voyce I am not worthy to be called an Apostle Thus thus haue Gods children cast themselues downe that God might raise them vp humbled themselues that he might exâ—â—â—â—â—â—em and the more vile in our 〈…〉 eyes at any time the more preâ—â—â—â—â— Gods sight
euery man his owne family when they themselues haue beene throughly grounded Reas 6 Sixtly by this meanes Ministers shall leaue all men without excuse in the day of the Lord. The vses follow Vse 1 This serues then to reproue the great and generall neglect of this duty both in Ministers and people First Ministers that goe about to raise vp a building without a foundation that teach their people the high mysteries of Christ and saluation whilst in the meane time they remaine ignorant euen of the Principles of religion What Scholler when hee is first set to schoole is put the first day in his Grammer surely this is the reason why in so many Congregations of this land there is so much preaching to so little edification Secondly such people that take it ill at the hands of their Pastors if either in publike or priuate their Minister take triall of their estates by asking them questions they think Philip too ouer-bold to question them this is a manifest signe of a barren and gracelesse heart Bankrouts would not haue men to pry into their estates but a man of sufficiency will neuer feare it Secondly Vse 2 this serues to iustifie that excellent and commendable duty now so much pressed vpon vs euen by authority of catechising our people and may prouoke both Ministers and people to be more frequent therein Ministers that they lay a good foundation instructing their people throughly in the principles of religion such may they with comfort admit to the Lords Table as long as they are not openly wicked scandalous and prophane for there is more hope of a wicked man or close hypocrite that hath knowledge so long as his life is not openly prophane then of a meere naturall man that is ciuill and voyd of knowledge So should it incourage Masters and Parents yea all heads of Families to traine vp their children and those that are vnder them in instruction and information of the Lord for howsoeuer in the best families some Esaus and Ismaels may bee found yet if men belong to God this course will proue one day no small aduantage vnto them Vnderstandest thou what thou readest In this Question of Philip how plainely or bluntly soeuer propounded wee may further Doct. What are those things that God requireth of euery Christian Holy duties must be performed with vnderstanding namely that wee vnderstand the things we reade or heare or speake or sing all these duties must be performed with vnderstanding Who so readeth Mat. 24.15 let him vnderstand Thus Christ after his resurrection when hee appeared vnto his Disciples and they knew him not Luk 24.45 He opened their vnderstanding that they might vnderstand the Scripture So Paul Eph. 3.3.4 I wrote afore in few words that when ye reade ye may vnderstand This is the thing that Dauid often prayes for at Gods hand Giue me vnderstanding Ps 119.34 that I may keepe thy law So Paul 1 Cor. 14.15 I will pray with the Spirit and I will pray with the vnderstanding also And this is that grace the Apostle Saint Paul prayeth for in the behalfe of the Philippians Phil. 1.9 I pray that yee may abound more and more in know ledge and in all iudgement that ye may discerne things that are most excellent Without this true vnderstanding of the Scripture Reas 1 the word doth not profit for the comfort of euery true beleeuer in the Scirpture lyeth in the true sence knowledge and vnderstanding of the holy Ghost therein and this being true knowne and rightly applyed yeelds sound comfort Reas 2 Secondly without this true knowledge and vnderstanding both in reading of the Scripture praying singing of Psalmes c. We doe but offer the sacrifice of a foole which is an abhomination vnto the Lord. For the Lord delights that his seruants should performe the duties of his seruice and worship in iudgement and vnderstanding which such doe not that remaine ignorant of that they doe This serues to reproue such as content themselues to reade now and then a Chapter Vse 1 and neuer care to get the vnderstanding of the same euen as a Boy faith his lesson or like a Parrat that knoweth not what hee saith but wee must by all holy helpes and meanes labour to finde out the meaning of the holy Ghost therin otherwise we lose our labour and all our reading will doe vs no good Secondly who in singing or giuing of thankes neigher marke nor vnderstand what they doe how many haue we amongst vs that will runne ouer the Lords Prayer tenne Commandements and Creede for prayers know not the meaning nor regard to know it This is indeed little better then to take the name of God in vaine lip labour and such a seruice as God can no way accept Thirdly our common Papists who haue all in an vnknowne tongue in such wise that whether they blesse or curse they cannot tell Vse 2 Secondly this serues to teach vs to be affected with all that we doe in reading hearing singing praying c. That we labour to vnderstand what wee doe in all and euery of these that so we may doe the same in faith and obedience to Gods Commandement without which no duty can finde acceptation with him How can I Here we haue the milde modest and meeke answer of the Eunuch wherein he doth freely confesse his ignorance and that for want of an Interpreter he could not vnderstand the Scriptures and how desirous hee was to vnderstand them he shewes by his request to Philip to come vp into his Chariot to instruct him Though Philip spake thus bluntly and as it might seeme vnciuilly yet he is not by and by in a heate as commonly great men are when they are thus roundly and plainly dealt withall As Ieroboam that when the prophet had denounced the iudgement of God against the Altat in Bethel he commanded saying 1. Kinâ— 13 â— Lay hold on him And as the proud Sodomites said sometimes to Lot Gen. â—9 9 This Fellow came in as a stranger and shall he be a Iudge And as the Priests dealt with Ieremy Ier. â—6 8 who when hee had denounced the iudgements of God against Ierusalem tooke him and said Thou sualt surely dye And thus dealt Ahab with Micha Amaziah with Amos and Herod with the Baptist And thus is it with many in these dayes if they be told of their faults will swell and controll a man men cannot abide to bee questioned withall touching religion A manifest signe that the spirit of enuie and of pride dwelleth in them they had rather retaine their swinish affections and sottish manners then to submit themselues to bee taught like a man that hath a festered sore that cannot abide the searching of it But this man is led by another spirit and guided by another principle he doth truly confesse his ignorance and desireth Philip to instruct him in the wayes of God Note hence That it is a
lost labour since himselfe confesseth that hee could not vnderstand without a guide As hee read with a desire to learne so he was edified thereby Answ Quamuis multa obscura multa oâ—uia sunt as it appeareth by his trauelling vp to Ierusalem to worship And howsoeuer he confesseth his ignorance in that place he now read yet no man is so ignorant but in reading of that booke may get some profit Though many places of Scripture be hard to be vnderstood Doct. Men must reade the Scriptures though man things be therein obscure yet we must not giue ouer reading for that which seemes hard to be vnderstood in one place may be easie and plaine in another And when men make conscience to bee acquainted with Gods will reuealed in his word and are desirous of the knowledge of the mystery of their saluation God will at one time or other giue such to vnderstand and direct them to some Philip or other that shall open the same vnto them Thus God commended the Booke of the Law vnto the people not onely to the learned but euen to the vnlearned also that all sorts conditions of men might be familiar therein Deut. 31.11.12 Thou shalt reade the words of this law before all Israel that they may heare it and learne to feare the Lord and in the same place he nameth their men women Ier. 36.6 and children So Ieremy commandeth Baruch to reade the word of the Lord before all Iuda and in the audience of all the people Therefore it concerned all and to this end our Sauiour giues this charge vnto all Search the Scripture Ioh. 5.39 Now all these were not Clergie to whom these spake What though some one place we meete withall be hard to be vnderstood shall we therefore lay aside the whole Booke of God and reade none at all God forbid The Scriptures are such a fountaine wherein the Elephant may swim and the Lambe may wade What man is there that hauing a Deede whereby he holdeth his Land will cast the same away because it is hard and he cannot vnderstand it Nay will he not the oftner looke into it and desire the helpe of those that haue more skill Then much lesse should we cast aside the word of God though some place therein seeme to bee hard to bee vnderstood which is our deed and sheweth vnto vs our assurance vnto the kingdome of heauen nay wee should reade it the more often and desire the helpe of others that we may vnderstand the same Reas 1 The Scriptures are obscure and darke onely to naturall men The naturall perceiues not the things that are of God for they are foolishnesse vnto him neitheâ— can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Now the reason why the Scriptures are so hard to be vnderstood of these men is not in the Scriptures themselues but in this blind and corrupt nature of ours A blinde man he seeth not the light of the sunne when it shineth most bright is the fault in the sunne no but rather in the imperfection of the mans sight Thus is it with the Scripture with naturall men But to that man whose eyes God hath opened the Scriptures are not obscure but this man comming thereunto with humility and feare in a sense of his owne wants with a desire to be instructed hee is sure to vnderstand them at least so much as shall be necessary for his owne saluation according to that of Salomon â—o 8.9 They are all plaiâ— to him that vnderstandeth and straight to him that would sinde knowledge Reas 2 Secondly God hath promised to teach all the elect and to giue them his spirit to inlighten their mindes according to that of our Sauiour Ioh. 6.45 and they shall be all taught of God and againe He will teach the humble in the way that he shall choose Psal 25 9 Vers 12. and What man is hee that feareth the Lord him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose So the blessed Virgin in her Magnificat He filleth the hungry with good things and hath sent the rich away empty Vse 1 This then serues againe to meet with tabt damnable doctrine in the Church of Rome who teach and hold that because the Scripture is hard and difficult to be vnderstood teach that we must not reade them neither haue them in a knowne tongue but locke them vp from the knowledge and vnderstanding of the simple teaching them to cast themselues vpon the Church and by a generall implicite faith to beleeue as the Church beleeueth to rest there a most damnable doctrine Is not this left in the great praise and commendations of this Eunuch that he searched into the Scriptures Doth Philip any where blame him for this his prying into the Scriptures nay rather to shew how pleasing and acceptable this was with God the Lord declareth by sending of Philip vnto him to teach and instruct him wherein he was ignorant Vse 2 Secondly let this admonish vs to make conscience of this duty to be frequent in reading the Scriptures and that we be not beaten off this duty through the hardnesse of any one place we see in other things vse makes perfect nesse and that which at first seems impossible to be attained vnto yet by industry is attained vnto at last as this is true in all Arts and Sciences in the world so in the study of the Scriptures Here is milke for Babes and meate for strong men this is that riuer wherein children may wade and the Elephant may swimme And to prouoke vs to the more diligent searching into the Scriptures consider Motiues to reade the scriptures First the Word of God is the onely euidence a Christian hath for his eternall inheritance Vse 1 Thy testimonies haue I claymed as my heritage for euer c. Psal 119. Vse 2 Secondly the Word is able to make thee wise vnto saluation â—â—â—l â—9 7 how simple soeuer thou be Vse 3 Thirdly it is able to conuert thy soule hoâ— strong soeuer thy corruptions be Vse 4 Fourthly the Word is able to giue thee comfort in thy afflictions how bitter soeuer they bee so Dauid I had perished in my afflictions 〈…〉 had it not beene for thy Word VERSE 29. Then the Spirit said to Philip Texâ— goe neare and ioyne thy selfe to this Chariot HEre wee haue Philips commission to goe and instruct the Eunuch Where wee are to note first of all the circumstance of time when he went Then that is when the Eunuch was thus religiously imployed in reading of the Scriptures and vsing the meanes to worship God aright and to know him â—hen is Philip sent to instruct him and to preach Christ Iesus vnto him to the saluation of his soule Note hence That God vsually dealeth with his children Doct. God will â—e found in the 〈…〉 as with this Eunuch and poore heathen man hee read and searched the Scriptures conscionably
opportunitie serues hee takes all occasions with this Eunuch here to edifie and build vp himselfe in his holy faith And what might be the reason of all this he knows his wants and withall the worth of this heauenly treasure and this makes him the more he receiues the mote to hunger and thirst after it Vse 1 This shewes how farre such men are from approuing themselues the true seruants of Christ and such in whose hearts the work of grace is truly wrought who hate to bee instructed who say to the Prophets Isa 30.10 Prophecie not and with those wicked ones Iob speaketh of Iob 21. We desire not the knowledge of Gods ways Who refuse instrudion though the Ministers of God doe tender their seruice vnto them they scorne them and care not for them Pro. 1.22 O ye fooles how long will ye learne foolishnesse and the scornfull take pleasure in scorning and the foole hate knowledge They thinke themselues wise enough and good enough and therefore desire not to bee taught in the word But what saith Wisedome there Vers 26 I will laugh at your destruction How many haue we in the world that conceit themselues to haue knowledge enough yea they will not sticke to say they know as much as the Preacher can tell them and out of the abundance of their pride they sleight Gods ordinance But let such heare what the Spirit of God testifieth in this case to the conceited Laodiceans Reu. 3.17 When they said they were rich c. Christ tells them that they were indeed wretched and poore and blinde and naked He that hath as much knowledge as hee doth desire did neuer as yet desire to know as he ought And this serues likewise for the iust reproofe of those that make no reckoning and account of Phillips company or vse of Philips presence This Nobleman desires his company and makes good vse thereof Many in our dayes will haue their houshold Chaplaines and sometimes a Philip about them to bee in their companie and at their tables but what vse make they of them Surely little more then if they were a dumbe Minister Let a Lawyer bee with them and they will make vse of his knowledge Let a Physitian be with them and they will make some vse of his skill But how long may many a faithfull Minister of Christ be in the company of many before he bee asked one question or haue one doubt or case of conscience propounded vnto him Let this then admonish all in the feare of God that as we desire to approue our selues to haue the worke of grace truly wrought in vs that we manifest the same by this our hungring and thirsting desire after the increase of knowledge and euen to long after the Sabbath-day and such times when we may be instructed in the wayes of God and that wee reioyce in the fellow ship of Gods people whereby we may be edified in our holy faith This is it that will yeeld sound comfort at last when all other comforts faile and thus shall we be inriched daily more and more with grace and holinesse and shine forth as lights to the credit of the Gospell in the midst of a crooked and forward generation VERSE 32.33 The place of Scripture that hee read was this He was led as a sheep to the slaughter and like a lambe dumbe before the shearer so opened he not his mouth In his humiliation his iudgement was taken away and who shall declare his generation for his life is taken from the earth THe Text is a relation of that portion of Scripture which the Eunuch was reading at such time as Philip ioyned himselfe to his Chariot The place is Esay 53.7 where the same words are vsed The Eunuch desiring to know the mystery of mans saluation and to bee acquainted with the word whereby he might attaine the knowledge of the same By Gods speciall prouidence lighteth here vpon such a place of Scripture wherein is contained the very summe of the whole Gospell of Iesus Christ and of the Christian faith yea such a place wherin Christs death passion and glorious resurrection are most clearely and perspicuously set out vnto vs. In handling these words wee haue 1 The Preface the place of Scripture that he read 2 The Scripture it selfe Hee was c. In the Preface 1 Who the Eunuch 2 What he read 3 The subiect matter the Scripture In the Scripture it selfe wee haue 1 Christs humiliation v. 32. 2 Christs exaltation v. 33. In Christs humiliation 〈◊〉 haue 1 The person He 2 The passion was lea 3 The illustration 1 as a sheepe 2 like a Lamb 4 The extent of his passion 1 to be slaine 2 to be shorne 5 The reddition or application So opened he not his mouth The place of Scripture that hee read He that is The Preface the Eunuch this great Noble man as wee haue heard before The note is That great men must be great possessours Doct. Abraham a Prince his great commendation Great men must be great professors was his zeale in religion so Dauid Heze chias Iosias Kings of Iuda and Israel all of them very memorable in the Scriptures for their forwardensse in religion The poynt we handled before He read he was not idle nor gaue himselfe to his ease or pleasure but was well imployed in reading And because hee might reade many idle lasciuious books to no profit therefore this was it that added greatly to his praise that he read the Scriptures and therein spent his time in his iourney The place of Scripture that hee read c. We are taught hence Doct. Christians â—â—ght to be conuerâ—â—nt in the Scripture that it is an excellent duty belonging to euery Christian to be conuersant in the Scripture The Lord would haue men familiarly acquainted with the Word and to haue it at hand with them as their Councellor vpon all occasions to aduise them And hence is it that the Lord hath commanded besides the ordinary course of teaching by the Leuites in the Temple Deut. 6.6.7 These words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart c. And thou shalt binde them as a signe vpon thy hand and shalt write them vpon the poasts of thy house and vpon thy gates c. and all to this end that men might be familiarly acquainted with the word This is Christs owne charge Search the Scriptures Io. 5.39 Col. 3.16 2 Tim. 3 15 so is it likewise an Apostolicall iniunction Let the word of God dwell plentifully in you c. And great reason Reas 1 Because the Word is the ordinary meanes that God hath sanctified and set apart for the working of sauing grace in the hearts of all the elect Psal 19.7 The law of the Lord is perfect conuerting the soule when Paul had preached vnto the people the Text saith Acts â—3 48 As many as were ordained vnto eternal life beleeued and the Apostle Peter
make himselfe fit to speake vnto the people and not to doe as the manner of some is trot vp and downe all the weeke about worldly affaires and then on the Sabbath deliuer whatsoeuer comes to hand This is not to diuide the word of God aright The Ministers of Christ must first eat the roll of Gods book Ezek. 2.1 and haue their tongue touched wito a Cole from the Altar Isa 6 7. before they come â—â—to Gods place and in his stâ—â—d to speake vnto the people And is there not reason thinke you Reas 1 Let such but consider whose place they occupie is it not the place of God himselfe and is it not his message they deliuer vnto the people Now will an Embassadour of an earthly Prince go about his seruice but will premeditate aforehand what to say And is it not much more requisite that the messengers of the Lord of Hosts should in an holy manner prepare themselues to the deliuery of the Lords message Reas 2 Secondly the Ministery of the word is the Lords owne ordinance his worke that they are appointed to doe Ier. and are not such accursed that do the worke of the Lord negligently Reas 3 Thirdly it is no lesse requisite in regard of the people to whom they speake and ouer whom they are set Is not the Priests lips to preserue knowledge and are not the people to heare the Law from his mouth Mal. 2.7 Now if the people must learne to know Gods will from the mouth of the Minister it is requisite that hee should bee well acquainted with Gods will For to this end is he placed ouer them Vse 1 And surely this shewes the greatnesse of their sin that sleight this worke of the Minister study little reade little pray little and meditate least of all yet will seeme to speake something vnto the people This is indeed no better then to tempt God when men shall neglect the meanes which God hath appointed for this worke of the Ministery Wherefore hath God giuen Arts and Sciences and the knowledge of tongues but that men might vse them as helps and hand-maids to this worke of the Ministery I could wish such men would but consider Iacobs diligence and paines in attending of Labans flocke Gen 31 40 In the day time saith hee I was consumed with heate in the night with frost and my sleepe departed from me Alas what comparison betweene Christ and Laban the one a churlish master the other a mercifull Redeemer And what comparison betweene the sheepe of Laban and the sheepe of Christ what a shame were it 〈◊〉 the sheepe of Laban should be better serued then the sheepe of Christ purchased with his own blood If this moue vs not cast wee our eyes vpon the Lord Iesus Christ himselfe the Cheef Shepherd and Bishop of our soules somtimes in the temple somtimes in the garden somtimes preaching somtimes praying and somtimes suffering A Minister that is so sparing of a little sweaet for Christ what would hee doe if hee should call for his blood Surely he will ill abide the pangs of burning for Christ that wil not abide the pains of preaching for Christ Would any man giue wages to such a sheepherd that should neglect his flock and suffer them to be starued for want of pasture or leaue them to be deuoured I trow not What then can such expect at Gods hand that feede themselues and not the flock which he hath purchased with his owne blood Vse 2 SecoÌ„dly as Ministers are bound in this solemn manner to prepare themselues to preach the word So are people in as solemne a manner bound to prepare themselues to the hearing of the same Both preaching and hearing are Gods worke and both lye vnder the curse that doe the same negligently When Peter was to preach the Word to Cornelius Cornelius and his whole company were ready prepared to receiue the same wee are all here before God saith he to heare whatsoeuer is commanded vs of God Act. 10. He began at the same Scripture Philip being to preach Iesus Christ vnto this Eunuch and having considered what to say hee beginneth at this Scripture herein taking the present occasion that was thus by Diuine prouidence offered it seruing so fitly to his purpose in hand For albeit there bee many places that set foorth Christ and the mystery of our Salvation through him yet none to this For indeed throughout all the Prophets we haue no where a clearer Prophecy of Christs death and resurrection then this place of the Prophet Esay And therefore as the Lord was pleased in his good Prouidence to direct the Eunuch at this time to fall vpon this Scripture to reade it Philip takes the present opportunity the text of Scripture now read as the fittest text to preach of vnto him And heerein will teach the Ministers of Christ a necessary duty Namely that they ought to be so wise to make choice of speciall texts Doct. Ministers must make choice of speciall texts for special occasions and places of Scripture to treate of vnto their people as occasion still shall bee offered vnto them For albeit that all Scriptures are full of Diuine and heauenly truths yet some Scriptures fit some persons and occasions better then others There are many comfortable promises which God hath made in his word Come let vs reason together though your sinnes were as scarlet c. Esay 1.18 Mat. 11.28 Come vnto mee all ye that trauaile and are heauy laden c. But for a man that is not yet truly humbled the threats of the Law are fitter That place of Iohn Ioh. 9.31 God heareth not sinners Is an excellent Scripture very requisite to be taught but not to one distressed in conscience and beaten downe in the sense of sinne A Steward in a family must haue aswell wisedome to know what is necessary for euery member of the family as fidelity to dispence his Masters goods The Minister is to know when to speake and what to speake for as Salomon saith A word spoken in due time is like Apples of gold pictures of siluer Arons Bels must be wisely rung sometimes the treble of Mercy sounds well at another time the tenor of Iudgement sounds better A Minister is wisely to change his note as occasion shall require approuing himself to euery mans conscience in the feare of God 2 Cor. 4.2 sometimes wee are to come in a still voice as the Lord appeared to Elias sometimes againe to play the part of a Bonarges a Sonne of Thunder Vse 1 This shewes then what wisdome skill is required of euery faithfull Minister of Christ Like a faithfull Steward in Gods house hee must measure out to euery man his due Exhortation to whom exhortation is due reprehension to whom reprehension belongs Vse 2 And it serues likewise to admonish hearers not to expect that their Pastors should at all times come vnto them with the same
taught him the maine Principle sof our faith and mystery of our saluation through Christ Such as were Christs Incarnation Christs humiliation and those great things he suffered for our sakes His Resurrection and exaltation on high at the right hand of his Father together with the vse of the Sacraments of the Church Baptisme and Christs Last Supper That these things were taught vnto the Eunuch this Text doth make it cleare by his desiring of Philip so soone as they came to the water to baptise him And as they went on their way Text. they came to a certaine water c. Here we see the fruit and effect of Philips Ministery in another particular first we haue heard before that he is brought to be a beleeuer here againe to put on Christ by the badge and liuery of his profession Baptisme It teacheth vs then What is the true end of preaching the Gospell Doct. The end of true preaching is to bring men to Christ namely to bring men to Christ See the truth of this in the scope and drift of Pauls Ministery Vnto the Iewes I became a Iew that I might gaine the Iewes 1. Cor. 9.20 2â— 22. To them that are vnder the Law as vnder the Law To what end That I might saue them that are vnder the Law To the weake I became as weake that I might gaine the weake I became all things to all men that I might by all meanes saue some And this I do for the Gospels sake Ver. 23 See wee the truth of this in the commission Christ gaue vnto his Disciples Go ye into all the world and preach the word to euery Nation Mar. 16.16 hee that beleeueth and is baptised shall bee saued So that saluation is the end of preaching So Paul I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ Rom. 16.17 because it is the power of God to saluation For therein is the righteousnesse of God reuealed from faith to faith begetting faith in vs and is therefore called 1. Tim. 4.6 The word of faith because it begetteth faith in the hearts of Gods seruants This is the maine end of the preaching of the word and so of the Gospell of Iesus Christ See the exhortation of Paul to Timothy Instruct them with meeknesse which be contrary minded 2. Tim. 2.25 prouing if at any time God will giue them repentance vnto saluation This is the true end that the Minister of the word must ayme at namely to bring men out of darknesse into his maruellous light Thus Paul and Sylas willeth the Iaylor to be leeue in the Lord Iesus Act. 16. and hee should be saued All true preaching aymes at this as the true end thereof Vse 1 Seeing then that this is the end of the Ministery of the word to bring men to Christ Euery faithfull Minister of Christ must then propound vnto himselfe Gods end in euery Ministeriall duty whether he preach the Doctrine of the Law or the Doctrine of the Gospell all his exhortations reprehensions and instructions must still ayme at this and tend to this And indeed the true glory of a Minister consists in the number of those that by his Ministery are gained to Christ Such are his crowne and glory the Seales of his Ministery And comfortable will the reckoning and account of such one day be when they shall say Here come I Father with those thou hast giuen me Vse 2 And as Ministers are taught their duties what ought to be the end of their Ministery So are hearers likewise to be admonished to stoupe vnto Gods ordinance in their Ministery that so they may be brought to Christ If we neglect or contemne this meanes no creature in heauen or earth can do vs any good fast pray afflict thy soule yea giue thy body that it burne be thou neuer so rich in the workes of charity and mercy if in the meane time thou turne thy backe vpon the word this ordinance of God Ion. 2. Thou forsakest thy owne mercy For the word preached is the word of faith and it is faith that brings vs to Christ Vse 3 And last of all this may serue for matter of triall whether or no wee haue profited aright by the hearing of the word For then indeed haue we beene fruitfull hearers and then and not till then haue we heard the word sauingly when our Iudgements haue beene thereby informed and our liues reformed and wee brought to Christ Now indeed there be but few that haue thus heard the word The Drunkard Swearer prophane and beastly liuer hath not yet profited aright by the preaching of the word All the husbandry bestowed vpon such a one is not worth the labour Such ground is neare to cursing and burning for so saith the Apostle The earth that drinketh in the raine that cometh often vpon it 1. Cor. 3. Heb. 6.7 and bringeth forth fruit meet for them by whom it is dressed receiueth the blessing from God But that which beareth thornes and bryers is neare vnto cursing whose end is to be burned Let vs then at last my brethren be awakened out of our securitie and whilest it is called To day not to harden our hearts but answer the Lords call lest we come at last to be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne and by our wilfull rebellion and contempt of grace offered shut vp at last the gate of grace against our selues And as they went on their way It seemeth then that Philip preached in his trauell sitting in the Chariot and as they iournied Certainly great was the zeale and pietie of this man in the improuing of his time so well He would either reade himselfe or heare Philip preach euen in their trauels and in their iourney Now inasmuch as the Spirit of God is so carefull in setting down this diligence of his in euery circumstance thereof it teacheth vs Doct. Time is to be well spent That the carefull improuing of our time is a thing well pleasing vnto God and that delighteth him and hence it is that wee are exhorted to redeeme the time And our Sauiour tells vs Eph. 5. That for euery idle word that men shall speake Mat. 12.36 they shall giue an account in the day of Iudgement Our Sauiour reproued this in those husbandmen in the Gospell Why stand yee here all the day idle Mat. 20. Time pretious time is one of those Talents for the which we are one day to giue vp account vnto God Which shews indeed the greatnesse of their sinne Vse that make no reckoning or account of time as if it were their owne to spend it they list Many men set their wits on worke how to spend time and to driue it away as they say as if time were so slow footed as that it stood in need to bee driuen Surely there are many thousands now in hell that shall there suffer the reward of the damned for euermore that would giue a thousand worlds if