to deliver the whole counsell of God to his people not concealing any part of it for favour or feare of any man Jer. 23. 28. He that hath my Word let him speake my Word faithfully 1 Cor. 4. 2. It is required of Gods Stewards that every man be found faithfull 2 Tim. 2. 2. What things thou hast heard of me the same deliver to faithful men which shall be able to teach others This hath great force to procure us reverence in the hearts of all men When the Pharises would give a reason of the reverence they pretended to beare to our Saviour they give this Math. 22. 16. Master we know that thou art true and teachest the way of God truly neither carest for any man for thou considerest not the person of a man And when the Apostle chargeth Titus to looke to it that no man despise him he prescribeth him this way to keep himselfe from contempt Tit. 2. 15. These things speake and exhort and rebuke with all authority see that no man despise thee Titus might have â—aid this was a strange direction this is the way rather to procure us the contempt and hatred of all men if we shall not only teach such particular duties as he hath mentioned before but apply them also so particularly by exhorting and rebuking men specially if we do it with authority and boldnesse as thou speakest of No saith the Apostle feare it not this will gaine thee estimation and honor in the hearts of men yea of all men yea even of them that were most offended with thee for they faithfulnesse if they belong to God And this is that that Salomon saith Prov. 28. 23. He that rebuketh a man shall finde more favour at the length than he that flattereth with his tongue The third and last Meanes we are to use and maintaine our honour and estimation in the hearts of Gods people is to make our selves an example and patterne to them in all the duties of holinesse towards God and righteousnesse towards men and to shew care of this not in our selves only but in all that are of our family also This direction is given Tit. 1. 6. â—e must be unreproveable and not so only but his children also must be faithfull not scandalous for riot neither disobedient See the great force that this hath to gaine reverence to our persons and Ministery in two examples 1 Tim. 4. 12. Let no man despise thy youth but be unto them that beleeve an example in word in conversation in love in spirit in Faith and in purenesse The other is in John Baptist see what honour the holinesse of his life did gaine him with all men Mar. 6. 20. Herod reverenced John because he knew him to be a just man and a holy Now to apply this to our Non-Residents they do not carefully use these meanes to preserve the credit and estimation of their persons in the hearts of the people Ergo they deserve not the name of Christs Ministers and consequently should be removed 5 Argument against Non-Residents THe faithfull Ministers of Christ Iesus must labour to be fruitfull and profitable in their Ministery But carelesse Non-Residents do not labour to be fruitfull and profitable in their Ministery Ergo they are not the Faithfull Ministers of Christ I prove the Proposition by 4 reasons First God hath placed us in this calling and given us the gifts we have to this end Even for the perfecting of the Saints and for the edifying of the body of Christ Ephes 4. 8. 12. The manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit withall 1 Cor. 12. 7. Secondly every man should count it his misery to be unprofitable it is noted for a great part of the misery of our estate by nature that we are altogether unprofitable Rom. 3. 12. How much more a Minister Matth. 21. 30. Cast yee the unprofitable servant into utter darknesse there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Thirdly Nothing will yeeld us that comfort in life or death as this not all the wealth wee have gathered nor the credit and applause we have had 1 Thess. 2. 19. They whom he had won to God were his hope and joy and crown of rejoycing Fourthly this is the chiefe thing that will assure us that God hath indeed called us to be Ministers of his Gospell and â—pproveth of our Ministery when we are fruitfull when the Porter the Holy Ghost appeareth unto us and giveth entrance unto our Ministery in the hearts of the people John 10. 3. as we know he did to Pauls Ministery in the heart of Lydia Acts 16. 14 We have heard all the Ministers of the new Testament are called Reapers The servants to whom God committed his talents if they were good and faithfull servants gained somewhat to their Master Mat. 25. 23 Thus Paul approveth himselfe to be an able Minister of the Gospell the Corinthians that were converted by his Ministery were his letters of commendation written in his heart yeelding him much inward comfort and assurance of his calling and also known and read of all men such an evidence of his calling as was apparent unto all men 2 Cor. 3. 2. This he cals the very seale of his Apostle-ship 1 Cor. 9. 2. The Assumption viz. that Non-Residents do not labour to be fruitfull and profitable in their Ministery I thus prove First because they are not diligent and painefull both in study and in preaching Give attendance to Reading to Exhortation to Doctrine neglect not the gift that is in thee but both by diligence in Study and in Preaching labour to stirre it up and increase it saith the Apostle unto Timothy 1 Tim. 4. 13. 14. But this blessed Counsell of the Apostle they disrespect as is manifest to all men Ergo Secondly when they do teach which is but seldome they teach that wherein they themselves may shew most learning or eloquence not which may be most profitable and of use to them that are committed to their charge Contrary to Tit. 2. 1. and 3. 8. Thirdly they do not apply their Doctrines to the present estate and condition of their hearers as they are commanded 2 Tim. 4. 2. Fourthly they do not take heed to their lives as they are required 1 Tim. 4. 16. for they swell with pride and are unsatiably addicted to outward things reaping most greedily where they sow sparingly Fiftly they are not earnest with God in Prayer that he would make their Ministery fruitfull as Paul was Ephes. 3. 14. they were never acquainted with fervency in Prayer and therefore in stead of praying they say Let us pray for c. Finally they do not enquire for fruit and deale with their people in private to see how they profit by their labours as did our Saviour with his hearers Mat. 13. 51. And the Apostle Acts 20. 20. who did not only teach publikely but from house to house And indeed how can they do thus since
alas a pot of treasure hid in the ground which no man is the better for Wisdome that is hid and a treasure that is not seen what profit is in them both O then do not knit up your masters talent in a napkin smother not his light under a bushel pinch not his servants of their due provision put not up the Manna you have gathered till it stink and the wormes consume it but above all squander not away your rich portions by riotous living Let not either sloth or envy or pride or pretended modesty or any other thing hinder you from labouring to discharge faithfully that trust and duty which God expecteth which the necessity of the Church challengeth which the measure of your gifts promiseth which the condition of your calling exalteth from you Remember the manifestation of the spirit was given you to profit withall And since the end of all gifts is to profit aime most at those gifts which will profit most and endeavour so to freame those you have in the exercise of them as they may be likeliest to bring profit to those that shall partake them Covet earnestly the best gifts saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 12. 31. and you have his Comment upon that Text in the first verse of the fourteenth Chapter Covet spiritwall gifts {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} but rather that ye may Prophecy and by prophecying hee meaneth the instruction of the Church and People of God in the needfull doctrines of Faith towards God repentance from dead works and new and holy obedience It is one stratageme of the arch-enemy of mankind and when we know his works we may the better be able to defeate him by busying men of great and usefull parts in by-matters and thiugs of lesser consequence to divert them from following that Unum necessarium that which should be the maine of all our endeavours the beating down of sin the planting of â—aith and the resormation of manners Controveâ—sies I confesse are necessary the Tongues necessary Histories necessary Philosophy and the Arts necessary other knowledge of all sorts necessary in the Church for truth must be maintained Scripture perhaps opened Heresie confuted the mouths of Adversaries stopped Schismes and Novelties suppressed But when all is done Positive and Practique Divinity is it must bring us to Heaven that is it must pause our judgments settle our consciences direct our lives mortifie our corruptions encrease our graces strengthen our comforts save our soules Hoc opus hoc stadium there is no study to this none so wel worth the labour as this None that can bring so much profit to others nor therefore so much glory to God nor therfore so much comfort to our own hearts as this This is a faithfull saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly saith Paul to Titus that they which have beleeved in God might be carefulto maintain good works These things are good and profitable unto men You cannot do more good unto the Church of God you cannot more profit the people of God by your gifts then by pressing effectually these two great points Faith and good Works these are good and profitable unto men The Assumption viz. that carelesse Non-Residents neglect the grace of Edification is found too true by experience For first they absent themselves from their Cures Secondly if you hunt these Foxes to their Dennes to their Cathedrals there they preach not above once or twice in a yeare nay they are so far from preaching themselves that they discountenance all faithfull Preachers in the places where they be resident and upon the Lords day in the after-noones they will not go to the Assemblies of the Saints where they may heare Gods Word but content themselves with Prayers in their Cathedrals Yea if there be power in their hands they will suspend such faithfull Ministers as breake unto the people the bread of life though they themselves are not worthy to be named with them the same day I must therefore conclude that they are not the faithfull Ministers of Christ Iesus and humbly I beseech God to put it into the heart of his Majesty and the great Counsell of State assembled in the High Court of Parliament to endevour their reformation and if they will not be reformed to remove them Amen 4 Argument against Non-Residency THey that by the use of all good meanes do not seek to preserve the credit and estimation of their persons in the hearts of Gods people deserve not the name of Christs Ministers But Non-Residents do not by the use of good meanes seek to preserve the credit and estimation of their persons in the hearts of Gods people Ergo they deserve not the name of Christs Ministers and consequently ought to be removed The proposition is proved by the 1 Tim. 4. 12. Let no man despise thy youth and Tit 2. 15. See that no man despise thee It is therefore the bounden duty of Gods Ministers to labour to maintain their credit for if they lose their reverence and estimation in the hearts of Gods people their doctrine will do them no good The Assumption will be easily proved if we take into our consideration the meanes chalked out unto us by Gods Word whereby we may maintaine our estimation in the hearts of the people and I find in Gods Word three speciall meanes whereby this may be done First by our diligence and care to teach profitably that is the chiefe thing that will procure us reverence and estimation if we do our work well 1 Thess. 5. 13. Have them in singular love for their works sake this is that that the Apostle teacheth 2 Tim. 2. 15. Study to shew thy selfe approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed dividing the Word of God aright And 1 Tim. 4. having charged Timothy verse 2 to looke to it that no man despiâ—e his youth he telleth him by what meanes he may preserve his person and Ministery from contempt and disdaine verse 13. and standdeth principally upon this give attendance to reading to exhortation and to doctrine Verse 14. Despise not the gift that is in thee but stirre it up and seek to increase it and addeth Verse 15. These things exercise and give thy selfe unto them that it may be seene how thou proprofitest amongst all men If this care and conscience be in us we shall be sure to have honour though Satan and all the World should conspire to disgrace us a Prophâ—t a true and faithfull Prophet he meanes is not without honour Mat. 13. 57. Mar. 6. 4. If this be wanting no wealth no titles no hospitality no good-works we can do will be able to preserve us from contempt The second Meanes is by our faithfulnesse in our Ministery this differeth from the former for a man may be a diligent and very sufficient Teacher and yet not faithfull in his Ministery This is faithfulnesse when we are carefull
with all manner of learning we have abundance of quotations and allegations out of Fathers Schoolemen and other learning which no question edifies much and therefore we may be the better borne with and ought not to bee accused of idlenesse though wee preach but once or twise in a yeare Let Non-Residents know that they justly displease good men because they propound to themselves not Gods glory or the edification of the Church but their owne praise and applause To what end else is this vaine ostentation of Wit Eloquence Reading and all variety of learning wherein first they prevaricate with Christ pretending to wooe the soules of men unto Christ but indeed intending to win reputation to themselves Secondly they faile the hope and expectation of their brethren who repairing to them for instruction received no more benefit by their Sermons than Calicula's guests did by his golden banquet which onely delighted the eye but neither pleased the palate nor satisfied the stomack VVise and wholsome is the Counsell of Saint Hierome when thou teachest in the Church non clamor populi sed gemitus suscitetur stirre you up not the applause but the grones of the people Lachrymae anditorum laudes tuae sint let the teares of thy auditory be thy praises if thou canst with Peter pricke the people at the heart and make them say Men and Brethren what shall we doe if by discoursing of righteousnesse Temperance and Iudgement to come thou canst make Felix tremble thou shalt both glorifie God and procure honour unto thy selfe But if neglecting the glory of God thou ayme at nothing but thine owne prayse and commendation God will sure powre downe contempt upon thee for his mouth hath spoken it Them that honour mee will I honour and they that despise mee shall be lightly esteemed Our carelesse Non-Residents should from Schoole-masters learne a point or discretion they range their Schollers into Formes and though themselves bee never so learned yet they read unto their seuerall Formes no deeper points than they are capeable of if they should doe otherwise well might they shew their learning they would shew no discretion neither would the Schollars be the better for that which they should teach them and let these men remember that it concernes them so to distinguish their auditors Some learned Divines will not use the Latine or the Greek tongue when their hearers have not Latine or Greeke eares and they will content themselves with the delivery of GODs word because their Auditors are content to take GODs bare word without any further band or Testimony and may not Non-Residents preaching in a Country Parish imitate such a worthy Divine as this They say a plaine Sermon is but like their ordinary Communication their meaning is when they are in a good mood that is not to bee understood of all times and in all places for to my knowledge they usually rayle upon faithfull Ministers when they are at their Tables at their Dice and in their conference with their idle companions but let these Cathedrall Non-Residents know that there be many Ministers in the Country that preach twice upon the Lords day constantly and keepe also a Lecture upon a weeke day and if their Sermons bee weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary they will every one of them excell in worth those Sermons that they bring with them into the Country such as effect nothing else but quaint and curious phrases or are unmeasurable in their allegations out of all Authors both Ecclesiasticall and prophane or â—ore aloft in unnecessary speculations farre above the capacity of their auditors these over doe magno conatu magnas nugas take great paines and eviscerate themselves as it were to weave a webbe which when it is ended is fit for no other use but onely as an unprofitable thing to be swept away THough we be Non-Residents yet wee have done God good service executing the office of Magistrates and if we might still bee Magistrates wee would cut downe sinne and iniquity with the sword of Justice Hee is of a shamelesse forehead that will denie your desire to Magistrates how did they struggle for the sword of Justice at Salisbury enquire of the Citizens and they will tell you but it is unlawfull for Ministers of the Gospell to be Magistrates this appeareth by the words of our Saviour expressely forbidding his Apostles to be Rulers of Nations and leaving it to Princes the Kings of Nations rule over their people and they that bee great ones exercise authority with you it shall not be â—o that is you shall neither beare rule nor exercise authority over your brethren Object The word is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} they over-rule their Subjects with injustice and violence you shall not doe so Answer Christ in that place doth not traduce the power of Princes as unjust or outragious but distinguisheth the calling of his Apostles from the manner of Regiment which God hath allowed the Magistrate Christ saith not Princes be Tyrants you shall deale more courteously than they doe but hee saith Princes be Lords and Rulers over theiâ— people by Gods Ordinance you shall not be so againe the word which Saint Luke hath is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} without any composition They be Lords and Masters and Saint Paul confesseth of himselfe and other Apostles {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} not that wee bee Lords or Masters of your Faith yea the Compound {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} is with power and force to rule men whether they will or no not with wrong and injurie to oppresse them and therefore the conclusion is inevitable that Princes may lawfully compell and punish their Subjects which Bishops may not This distinction betweene them is evident by their severall Commissions which God hath signed the Prince not the Priest beareth the sword Ergo the Prince not the Priest is Gods Minister to revenge Malefactors Peter himselfe was sharply rebuked by Christ for using the sword and in Peter all Pastors and Bishops are straitly charged not to meddle with it All that take the sword shall perish with the sword and of all men a Bishop must be no striker for hee that should feed his Masters houshold fall to striking hee shall have his portion with Hypocrites The servants of God must be gentle towards all instructing those that resist with mildnesse not compelling any with sharpnesse their function is limited to the preaching of the word and dispensing the Sacraments which have no kind of compulsion in them but invite men only by sober perswasions to beleeve and imbrace the promises of God to conclude Pastors may teach exhort and reprove not force command or revenge onely Princes be Governours that is publike Magistrates to prescribe by their Lawes and punish with the sword such as resist them within their Dominions which Bishops may not
2 p. 35â— M. Hildâ— sâ—â—â—m on Ioh. 4. p. 261 Mat. 25. 26 28 30. 1 Tim. 5. 17. M. Down on Titâ—â— 15. p. 22. Bishop Latimer 4 Serm. before King Edward p. 526. Non Residents to be cast out Propos. assumpt. Bishop Lake on 1 Cor. 15. 10. p. 267. Note Exhortation 〈◊〉 Ministers See D. Saundesson on 1 Cor. 12. 7. p. 117. 1 Cor. 12. 8 Luk. 21. 15. Syrac 20â— 30. Luk. 19. 20. Mat. 5. 15. Luk. 12. 42. Exod. 16. 20. 1 Cor. 14. 1. Prophetas interpretes dicit Scripturarum Amb. Prophetia id est donum interpretandi Scripturas Piscat. Scol in 1 Cor. 1. 21. Misticum sensum ed salutem auditorum explanantes Eraâ—in Paraphras ad 1 Cor. 14 Tit 3. â— Proposit. assumpt. How Ministers may maintaine their estimation in the hearts of the people 1 Meanes 2 Meanes Vide M Hildersham on Ioh. 4. p 367. 3 Meanes Application Propos. assumpt. See M. Hildersham on Iohn 4. pag. 289. Non-Residents labour not to be fruitfull and profitable in their Ministry proved by six Reasons Proposition Assumption Conclusion Luke 4. 16. 31. Acts 17. 2. 2â— 4. Justin Martyr Apol. 2. Tertull. Apol. 3 9. Eum in populo verbum veritatis recte tractantem omni die Dominâ—co audiebam August Confess lib. 6. cap. 3. Si ad Ecclesiam frequenter veâ—ias aâ—rem divinâ— literis ad moveas explanationen mandatorum Coelestium capias 〈◊〉 scaro ità spiritus verbis divinis convalesâ—et Origen Hom. 9. in Levit. Illud nâ—verit dilâ—ctio vestra nunquam me abse tâ—m fuisse licentiosà libertate sed necessariâ servitute Aug. Epist. 138. Esa. 58. 1. Esa. 4. 11. Ezek. 34. 10. 1 Pet 5. 4. Ephes. 5. 20. Revel. 3. 2 Tim. 2. 15. 1 Cor. 3. 10. 1 Pâ—â— 4. 10. 〈◊〉 3. 10. 1 Cor. 4. 2. Mat. 5. 14. Mat. 5. 13 1 Cor. 3. 19. Heb. 13. 17. Obje 1. Answer See Doctor Tailor on Titus pag. 727. Non-Residents would bee excused by their substitutes But may not be excused by hem for three Reasons For three Reasons 1 R. Prov. 27. 23. 2 R. Heb. 13. 17. 3. R. Heb. 13. 17. 1 Pet. 5. 4. Negligenter pascens convincitur non amare summum Pastorem Damas Epist. 4. Non-Residents want 1 Love 2 Faith 3 Contentednesse 4. Humility 5. Fidelity 6. Equity and Iustice Note 7. Right reason Perald 2. Tom. tract. 4. in avar part 2. cap. 11. Note Doctor wilâ—et in 1 Sam cap. 14. ver. 28. Objection 2. Answer Mr. Downe on Tit. 2. ver. 15. Actâ— 2. 37. Acts â—4 25 1 Sam. 2. 30. Good Lessons â—o Ministers Bishop Lake Master Harris Absaloms funerall Epist. Object 3. Answ Mat. 20. and Mark 10. Bishop Bilson of Christian Subjection pag. 17â— Luk. 22. 2 Cor. 1. Rom. 13. Mat. 26. 1 Tim. 3. and Tit. 1. Mat. 24. 2 Tim. 2. 2 Tim. 3. 4. Sâ—e Bishop Lake on page 408. Exod. 19. Bishop Smâ—ith his Sermons pag. 236. Doctor Willet in Rom. page 613. Objection 4. Answ 2 Tim. 4. 10. Objection 5. Objection 6. Answ. Master â—ike on the Heart pag. 235. Doctor Slater in Rom. 1. 11. Why good Ministers will not be Non-Resident 1 Cor. 9. 16. 2 Cor 5. 14. Mat. 9. 36. 1. Tim. 4. 16. Object 7. Answ Col. 4. 9. 17 2 Cor. 2. 16. 1 Tim. 3. â— 1 Tim. 5. 71. Doctor Sutton on Rom. 11. p. 254. Gal. 4. 20. Perkins in â—ocum 1 Pet. 5. 8. Ephel 6. â— 12. Gal. 4. 20. Gal. 6. â— 6. 1 Cor. 9. v. 14 See the Booke of Consecration of Deacons Priests c. Hierom. iin cap. 5. Eccles. Exod 24 3. Gâ—â—g 〈◊〉 31. cap â—9