Chapter 52. How to know what kind of Ministry God speaks most in.
But have not the prelates silenced those men who worked most upon the heart and conscience? If any preached in such a way that their ministry became powerful and prevailed upon the hearts and consciences of men, the prelates would not allow them to remain.
Chapter 52.
How to know what kind of Ministry God speaks most in.
Now you will say, "How shall I know what kind of ministry it is wherein God speaks most?"
For the answer to that, I appeal to your consciences: what kind of preaching do you think, in your consciences, there would be if Christ himself were preaching to you? How do you think that Christ himself would preach if he were here upon the earth? That which comes closest to how Christ would preach—that is what you must favour, certainly. Christ would not preach to defend superstitious vanities.
When Christ came to preach, he did so in such a way that many people derided and scorned him. On one occasion, after he had finished his sermon, they carried him to the brow of the hill of the city, intending to throw him off and break his neck. Just read that sermon of Christ in Matthew 5, 6, and 7. What kind of preachers do you think would compare to your courtiers if Christ were preaching to you? That which comes nearest to what Christ would preach is what you should most favour and appreciate.
Secondly, consider what kind of preaching you think, in your conscience, most prevails in the authority of the word, humbling the most hearts and converting the most souls—what Christ has set his seal upon. I appeal to you: what kind of preaching has humbled the most souls and done the most good? Has not some poor country preacher, who has preached with evidence and demonstration of the Spirit, converted more souls to God than a hundred bishops? So much so that he may be able to say, at the great day of judgment
(according to his measure), as our blessed Saviour said, "Here am I, and those whom thou hast given me."
Thirdly, examine which side you are on. Those who are on God's side know His voice; "My sheep hear my voice," but a stranger they will not follow. Take any town, and divide the people, and see how the minister is regarded; some are for him, and some against him.
Now, consider the difference in the lives of these two groups—the ones who support the minister and those who oppose him. See how differently they live. Come into a place such as this (because it is said there are a thousand alehouses belonging to this place, Stepney); I think there are hardly five that savour the ministry of the word. All your profane ones, in general, speak against the ministers.
Now I appeal to your consciences: if you were to stand before God on the day of judgment, on which side would you be? Would you be on the side of drunkards, swearers, unclean persons, and those who rail against the ministry of the word, or on the side of those who are willing to make an effort to hear the word of God and bless God for the ministry of His word? Certainly, that preaching which has the most of Christ in it is most appreciated by those who have the Spirit of Christ, for they recognise His voice, and a stranger's voice they will not follow. They can understand it, even though the wicked and ungodly cannot. That is the second use.