ministring spirits sent forth for the weale of those that be heyres of saluation Whence wee are taught that he good Angels by Gods ordinance serue for the good of Gods people When Iacob was in feare of his brother Esau Doct. 2 Good Angels serue for the good of Gods people Gen. 32.5 Gen. 18.3 the Angell of the Lord met him to comfort him and to defend him The Angels appeared to Abraham to acquaint him with the destruction of Sodome And when destruction was nigh the Angels came to Lot to fore warne him Gen. 19.16 and to hasten him out When Eliah fled from Iesabell for his life the An gell came to him when he was asleepe and said 1 Reg. 15.5 arise and eate The Angel discomfited the Hoast of Senacherib that came vp against Israell The Angell of the Lord kept Daniel from the Lyon Dan. 3. and those three worthies in the fiery furnace that they perished not the Angell shewed Daniel the Dan. 10. vision and Philip here what hee was to doe So true is that of the Prophet Dauid The Angels of the Lord pitch their tents round about the godly And this thing comes to passe in regard of the Lord Iesus Christ our head to whom all the Angels are subiect as to their soueraigne Lord. It is true such is our vildenesse and wretchednesse by reason of sinne that the Angels those glorious creatures are not able to abide our presence but now in regard of our head Christ and that we are members of his body they reioyce to doe vs seruice Secondly the Angels in seruing vs they serue the Lord Christ Psal 91.11 and doe his will now the Angels obey Christ readily and chearefully Thirdly all Gods people are a Royall Priesthood now Princes haue their guard and the Christians guard is a company of glorious Angels that watch ouer them day and night This shewes then the happy priuiledge of Gods Saints and seruants 〈◊〉 â— that wee that are but dust and ashes should haue such glorious Angels to be our attendants Was it not a wonderfull honour to haue Mordacai Hest 6.10.11 a despised Iew to haue so great a Peere as Haman was to hold his stirrop and to ride by his side O ther what an honour may this bee thought to be to haue a guard of heauenly Angels to be our attendants and to doe vs that honour Let any of Gods seruants be compassed about with many enemies as Elisha was let his life be sought for as Elias was let him be in the fiery furnace as the three Children were let him be cast into the Lyons denne as Daniel was let him be bound in prison as Peter was yet still God hath his Angels to doe them seruice and to deliuer them Great is the securitie of the world that notwithstanding these excellent priuiledges and prerogatiues that belong vnto the faithfull yet are no way affected therewith But as these good Angels are messengers and Ministers for the good of Gods children so are they ready prest at all times to execute Gods iudgements vpon the wicked as they saued Lot Gen. 19â— they destroyed the Sodomites as they defended Elisha 1 Reg. â—â— so they strooke with blindenesse the messengers of the King of Aram. As the Angell was for the good of Hezechtah Act. 12. so likewise for the destruction of Senacherib as the Angell preserhaue Peter so he strooke Herod Let wicked men then take heed how they flatter themselues in sinne for the Angels are Gods Ministers for the execution of his wrath vpon the wicked as they are his messengers for the good of his people Secondly seeing we haue thus the ministery of Angels which serue for the weale of the godly who pitch their Tents continually about them The consideration hereof should teach vs that at no time we carry our selues vnreuerently in word or deed in their presence It is the exhortation of the Apostle touching women that they should not be vncouered in the congregation 1 Cor. 15.10 because of the Angell which some haue vnderstood to be the Minister How much more carefull ought wee to bee in respect of the presence of these holy Angels Then the Angel spake vnto Philip But why did the Lord send Philip to this Noble man hee might haue sent this Angell vnto him and a man would haue thought that hee would haue heard him sooner and that his ministery would haue been much more effectuall and that he must needs haue taken it as a singular fauour of God thus to haue instructed him by the ministery of an Angell But the Lord would not but Philip must be sent vnto him Surely this commendeth the great mercy of God that will be pleased to teach vs by such as wee our selues are for we are not able to heare the voyce of God nor to indure the presence of an Angell When the Lord had spoken vnto the people vpon the Mount how fearefull were they and how instant with Moses saying Talke thou with vs Eâ—â—â— 3.19 but let not God talke with vs lest we dye They were not able to abide his presence nor to heare his glorious voyce And so when Manoah had seen the Angell hee said to his wife wee shall surely dye because wee haue seene the Lord. Iudg. 13.12 Now the Lord knowing our weakenesse and tendering our infirmities is pleased to send vs men like vnto our seâ—ues to teach and instruct vs that are cloathed with the same infirmities that we our selues are and herein will teach vs and all men vnto the end of the world What is the ordinary meanes whereby hee will teach men Doct. 3 God will teach men by the ministery of men and bring them to life and saluation euen by the ministery of men and not by the ministery of Angels When the Lord sent the Angel here vnto Philip hee could if it had so pleased him haue sent the same vnto the Eunuch but the Lord will haue his word rather dispenced by earthly and sinfull men then by celestiall and heauenly Angels When Saul had heard the sound from heauen Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Act. 9.10 he is sent for direction not to an Angell but to Ananias Act. 10. So must Cornelius send for Peter When the rich man in the Parable desired Abraham to send to his Brethren the answer was Luke 16. they haue Moses and the Prophets let them heare them Whosoeuer heareth you Luk. 10.10 saith Christ heareth mee To this agreeth that of the Apostle where he teacheth 1 Cor. 4.9 that we are appointed vnto this worke as men condemned vnto death that wee might bee a gazing stocke to the world to Angels and to men And thus in all ages of the Church the Lord hath euer stirred vp such instruments for the inlarging of his kingdome who as Saint Iames speaketh of Elias are subiect vnto the same infirmities that other men are and there
will satisfie our hungry soules with good things After two dayes he will reuiue vs Hos 6.2 in the third day he will raise vs vp and we shall liue in his sight As he hath promised to feede our hungry soules and heale our wounded consciences so hee will performe his promise and powre in the sweet oyle of the Gospell into them Poore men if they heare of a doale they will waite all the day for it Wee then knowing the truth of Gods promises that hee will certainly heare and answer vs ought we not with patience stay his leisure till he make good his promise Go neare and ioyne thy selfe to this Chariot Text. This being the meanes whereby the Lord would instruct this poore man in the knowledge of Christ and mystery of his saluation and so in consequence to bring him to eternall life We are further taught What a wonderfull mercy Doct. A great mercy of God to send a faithfull Minister vnto a people and high fauour of Almighty God it is to send a Philip to any people towne or perish to any house or family for hereby Christ is preached and made knowne in whose name alone saluation is to be had Such are euer messengers of glad tidings of the newes of pardon and remission of sinnes of grace and mercy to them that truely repent and are the messengers of peace giuing men an admittance into the euerlasting kingdome of his deare Sonne The Lord promised this as a blessing vnto his people I will giue them Pastors after my owne heart Ier. 3.15 And herein indeed did Christ manifest his great care and loue to his Church both before and after his ascention in leauing behinde him a supply of Apostles Euangelists Eph. 4. Pastors and Teachers to continue herein euen vntill his comming againe What a blessing was this vnto the Church of Corinth that Paul should be sent vnto them and to continue there a yeare and a halfe see the blessed fruit thereof God had much people in that place Acts 18.10 Acts 16.14 What a blessing was this vnto Lydia that Paul is sent to her by which meanes her conuersion is wrought God opening her heart How happy was it with the Iaylor to haue such prisoners as Paul and Sylas were Acts 16.26 by which means he became a beleeuer How happy was Zacheus to get a sight of Christ by which meanes Luke 19. saluation came to his house When Christ had preached the Word in Samaria the Text saith Many beleeued in him and there was great ioy in all that City By all which testimonies and examples we may clearely see what a singular fauour of God it is to such persons and places to whom the Lord is pleased to send a faithfull Philip and painefull Minister And this truth will the more clearely appeare by the contrary How that it is a fearefull iudgement of God vpon that people that want a Philip when Paul and Timothy had gone through Phrygia and Galatia they were forbidden by the holy Ghost to preach the Word in Asia and were shewed in a vision that the Lord had called them to preach the Word in Macedonia Acts 16.6.9 which direction of the Spirit restraining the Apostle from some places and appointing him to othersome shewes plainely the singular fauour of God to the one and Gods heauy wrath on the other This truth is further cleared by that of the Prophet Amos where the Lord threatneth this as the most fearefull iudgement vpon the people for their sinnes Behold saith the Lord The dayes come Amos 8.11 that I will send a famine into the Land not a famine of bread or thirst of water but of hearing of the Word of the Lord. The like is that of Salomon Where prophecying failes the people perish Pro. 29.18 Neither let this seeme strange to any that it is so singular a fauour and mercy of God to any to haue a painefull and conscionable Minister and that the contrary is so fearefull a curse for consider but Reas 1 First how that the ministery of the Word is the onely meanes ordinarily that God hath sanctified and set apart to worke sauing grace in the hearts of the elect so Peter Being borne againe 1 Pet. 1.23 not by corruptible seed but of incorruptible 1 Cor. 1.12 the word of God which liueth and abideth for ever And againe it pleaseth God by the foolishnesse of preaching to saue them that beleeue Reas 2 Secondly it is the ordinary meanes to beget and to confirme faith in the heart of euery true beleeuer by which alone as by a hand we apprehend Christ aâ—d apply him with his merits vnto saluation for in the preaching of the Word Christ is both offered vnto vs and we through faith enabled to receiue him and is therefore called The word of faith Rom 10.8 Vse 1 Then what shall we thinke of those wretched men prophane beasts who thinke themselues best at ease when they haue none to instruct them no Philip to preach Iesus Christ vnto them none to tell them of their sinnes yea they are weary of the company of such they cannot be quiet till they be rid of them Oh the case of such is to be lamented it is a signe that God hath giuen such vp to their owne hearts lust and that such shall lye and rot in their sinnes vntill the Lord finde them out in the searching day of his account And yet alas such is the miserable condition of many a one that cannot abide the presence of Philip but hate him in their heart wish him out of their company as one that marrs their mirth and they cannot be merry whilst he is amongst them Vse 2 Secondly if God send you then a Philip amongst you a painefull and faithfull Minister to instruct you to preach Iesus Christ to you to saue your soules Oh then acknowledge this a singular fauour of God that hee meanes your good euen the saluation of your soules and be thankefull vnto him for it receiue not the grace of God in vaine but lay hold vpon the Lords tender of grace offered imbrace the Gospell let Gods Ministers be deare vnto you and blesse God for them and if you want a Philip a faithfull Pastor O pray to God for such a one that God would shew this mercy vnto you the fruition whereof is a singular mercy as the want wherof is a fearefull iudgement And last of all this may prouoke the people of this Land to thankefulnesse inasmuch as hee hath beene pleased to send many Philips amongst vs and hath opened vnto vs his chiefest treasure The Lord hath put the bars into the Rings of the Arke whereby his glory is carried throughout our Land Psal 44. vlt. The Lord hath not dealt so with euery Nation And let vs know that where much is giuen much shall be required and such a people whom the Lord hath thus honoured aboue others to
No man hateth his owne flesh Eph. 5 29. but nourisheth and cherisheth it Now if a man may not take away the life of another much lesse his owne life Reas 2 Secondly death in it selfe is an euill inflicted vpon man for sinne The day thou eatest thereof Gen. 2.17 thou shalt dye the death Now death being a punishment for sinne a man cannot seeke it but he seekes his owne iudgement Reas 3 Thirdly it argueth want of naturall affection and makes men more vnnaturall and bruitish then the very beasts which howsoeuer they may teare and goare one another yet will neuer hurt themselues Now the more vnnaturall any sinne is the greater the sinne is Fourthly it is an iniury to the State wherein a man liues to the King to the Country to the Church to a mans friends and family for euery man is pars rei publicae a part of the State wherein hee liues both politique and Ecclesiastique now to depriue himselfe of life is as much as within him lyeth to mayme that body whereof he is a member Reas 5 Fiftly life is the gift of God it is he that is the Author of life and to him belong the issues of death what to doe then haue we to diuide asunder those whom God hath so nearely knit together This cannot bee done by a mans selfe without manifest iniury against God and extreme hazard and danger vnto a mans own soule Reas 6 And last of all this course is as fruitlesse as comfortlesse it rather procures then preuents misery and it is much to be feared that whilst by this meanes they seeke to shun some temporall calamitie they procure vnto themselues eternall misery verifying the Prouerbe of the fish that leapeth out of the Frying pan into the fire Vse 1 This serues then to shew the hainousnesse of their sinne that stay not vntill they be led but leade themselues into misery especially such as despairing of Gods mercy become their owne executioners by hastening their ends Such sinne against Christs bloud and put the lye vpon all the principall attributes of God such as are his loue his power his truth his mercy and the like as if he were not able to help or that he had forgotten to be gratious Let euery man take heed of Sathans assaults in this kinde the deepenesse of whose policy and malice is seene in nothiâ—g more then in soliciting men vnto sinne and then afterwards in taintering the same to the vtmost pin and all to draw men into desperation But what shall we doe to resist these temptations Quest when Sathan shall solicite vs to this sinne Contemplate much and often Answ 1 Of Gods loue which is such as can neuer be altered or changed Can a woman forget her childe Esa 49.15 and not haue compassion on the sonne of her wombe yet will not I forget thee saith the Lord q.d. this were a thing impossible Now all the Loue in the creature is but as a drop of a bucket in comparison of the loue of God 2 Contemplate of Gods faithfulnesse who keepeth couenant with a thousand generations He abideth faithfull 1 Ioh. 1.9 and cannot deny himselfe Hath he said it and shall he not doe it Who hath resisted his will 3 Contemplate of the infinitenesse of Gods power who can make our crimson sinnes as white as snow and can as easily couer a multitude of sinnes as one in his seruants I haue put away thy transgressions as a cloud Esa 44.22 and thy sinnes like a mist Who for my names sake saith the Lord will put away thy sinne 4 And lastly contemplate much and often of the greatnesse of his mercy that he is a God of mercies Neb. 9.17 Psal 145 9. and the father of all consolation His mercies are ouer all his workes That hee is rich in mercy and hath a multitude of mercies in store for such as sue for mercy Psal 103.13 Hee remembreth whereof we be made he considereth that we are but dust As a sheepe to the slanâ—â—â—er Here we haue the third circumstance at first propounded The illustration of Christs passion and that is the illustration of his Passion the meaning is that as an innocent and harmelesse sheepe that had beene altogether profitable and commodious As a sheep and no way iniurious or hurtfull vnto any thus went Christ to his death Wherein the Spirit of God will teach vs that as sheepe and Lambs especially the Paschall Lambe in the time of the Law being offered in sacrifice were liuely representations of Christ the true Paschall Lambe slaine from the beginning So it was Christ himselfe in whose death there was an end put vnto them all who was that Sacrifice for sinne in whom his Father was well pleased Who as the Apostle saâ—th Heb. 9.12 Not by the bloud of Goates and of Calues but by his owne bloud he entred in once into the holy place hauing obtained eternall redemption for vs for all those sacrifices in the time of the Law serued but till the time of reformation came Now Christ in his death being thus compared vnto a sheepe in regard that he went so voluntarily vnto his death doth commend vnto vs this doctrine That Christ did voluntarily Doct. Christ wenâ— willingly to his death Ioh. 10.18 willingly and freely lay downe his life It was not by constraint but he offered vp the same freely as he saith I lay downe my life that I might take it againe No man taketh it from me but I lay it downe of my selfe I haue power to lay it downe and to take it againe Rom. 5.19 So Paul By the disobedience of one many were made sinners so by the obedience of one many are made righteous Phil. 2.8 He was obedient euen to the death on the Crosse And surely had not this death of Christ beene voluntary it had neuer beene acceptable with God I haue saith Christ a Baptisme to be baptised with Luk. 12 20. and how am I strained vntill it be accomplished Thereby manifesting that his earnest desire after the accomplishment of the worke of mans redemption yea those who crucified Christ were not more willing to doe it then he to suffer himselfe to be crucified This truth doth most manifestly appeare throughout the whole history of Christs passion when he told his Disciples the things he was shortly to suffer at Ierusalem at the hands of the Iewes Peter intreating him to fauour himselfe was called Sathan for his paines Get thee behind me Sathan When Christ was come vp to Ierusalem hee did not withdraw himselfe as at other times And albeit hee knew that Sathan had put it into the heart of Iudas to betray him yet kept hee accustomed time and place of prayer where Iudas might be sure to haue him Yea when the company came with swords and staues to apprehend Christ what did he but as it were offer himselfe into their hands by asking them saying whom seeke