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noman that gives up his name as a shield to Christ, but shall thereby secure and increase the truehonourof it. And though wicked men, for the present may bespatter them, yet Jesus
Christ will take it out of the dirt, (as one speaks), wipe it clean, and give it us again *. O, it is the leastone can do, to interpofe ourselves and all that is dear to us, betwixt Christ and the wrath of men, when he (as you hear) interposed himself betwixt you and the eternal wrath of God !
++ SERMON IX.
Opens the first Branch of the Prophetical Office, consisting in the Revelation of the Will of GOD.
Acts iii . 22. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, of your Brethren, like unto me ; him shall ye hear in all things, whatsoever he shall say unto you, HAVING, in the former discourses, shewnyou the solemn preparations, both on the Father's part, and on the Son's, for the blessed design of reconciling us by the meritorious mediation of Christ ; and given you a general prospect of that his mediation, in the former sermon : method now requires, that fproceed to shew how he executes this his mediation, in the discharge of his blessed offices of Prophet, Priest, and King.
His prophetical office confiltsoftwo parts ; one externalconfifting ina true and full revelation of the will of God to men, according to John xvii. 6. " I have manifested thy name to the " men thou gavest me."
The other in illuminating the mind, and opening the heart to receive and embracethatdoctrine. The first part is contained in the words before us ; "A prophet shall
" the Lord your God raise up," &c.
Which words are those of Moses, recorded inDeut. xviii. 15.; and, here, by Peter pertinently applied to Christ, to convince the incredulousJews, that he is the true and only Messiah, and the great prophet of the church ; whose doctrine it was highly
1 * O, if I could be a bridge over the water for my Lord Jesus to walk upon, and keep his feet dry ! O, if my poor bit of heaven couldgo between my Lord and blasphemy and dish on our !said another Worthy..
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dangerous tocontemn, thoughoutofthe mouths offuch(otherwifecontemptible) persons as he and John were. And it is well observed by Calvin, he singles out this testimony of Moses , rather than any other, because of the great esteem they had for Moses, and his writings, beyond any others. Now in the words themselves are two general parts .
First, Christ, according to this prophetical office, described.
Secondly, Obedience to him, as such a prophet, strictly enjoined.
First, You have here a description of Christ in his prophetical office ; " A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me."
Where Christ is described,
1. By his title, Prophet; and that, princeps prophetarum, the prince of the prophets, or the great and chief shepherd, as he is ftiled, Heb. xiii. 10. 1 Pet. v. 4.
It belongs to a prophettoexpound the law, declare the will of God, and foretel things to come all these meet, and that, in a singular and eminent manner, in Christ our prophet, Matth. v. 21 , &c. John i. 18. 1 Pet. i. II .
2.He is described by his type ; a prophet like unto Moses,who therein typified and prefigured him. But is it not said of Moses, in Deut. xxxiv. 10. " that there arose not a prophet since
" in Israel, likeuntoMofes,whom theLordknew face to face ?"
True, of mere men there never arose so great a prophet in Iírael, as Motes was; either in respect of his familiaritywithGod, or of his miracles which he wrought in the power of God * : butMoses himself was but a star to this sun.
However, in these following particulars, Christ was like him. He was a prophet thatwentbetweenGod and the people, carried God's mind to them, and returned theirs to God, they notbeingable to bear the voice of God immediately†, Deut. xviii . 16, 17. " Accord.
66 ing to all that thou defireft of the Lord thy God inHoreb, " in the day of the afssembly, saying, Let me not again hear the / " voice of the Lord my God, neither let me fee this great fire
" any more, that I die not."
And upon this their request,God makes the promise which is cited in the text; verse 17, 18.
" They have well spoken that which they have spoken : I will * Not like, in the following particulars, namely, his familiarity with God, and miracles.
Eft. on this place.
† They who dreaded that majesty of God, speaking from he a. ven, could not be afraid to hear it, when in flesh, and made like themselves.
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" raise them up a Prophet like unto thee," be.
Moses was a very faithful prophet, precisely faithful, and exact in all things that God gave him charge, even to a pin of the tabernacle.
" Moses verily was faithtul in all his house, as a servant, for a " testimonyofthose things which were to be fpokenafter : but " Christ as a Son over his own house," Heb. iii. 5, 6.
Again , Moses confirmed his doctrine by miracles, which he wrought in the presence, and to the conviction ofgainsayers. Herein, Christ our Prophet is alsolikeunto Motes, who wrought many, mighty, and uncontrolled miracles, which could not be denied, and by them confirmed the gospel which he preached.
Lastly, Moses was that prophet which brought God's Israel out of literal Egypt, and Christ his out of spiritual Egypt, whereof that bondage was a figure Thus he is described by his likeneis to Moses,his type.
3. He is described by his stock and original, from which, according to his flesh,he sprang; " I willraitehimup from among thy brethren. Of Israel, as concerning the flesh, Christ came,
Rom. ix. 5.
And " it is evident that our Lord sprang out of " Judah," Heb. vii. 14.
He honoured that nation by his nativity.
Thus the prophet is described.
Secondly, Here is a strict injunction of obedience to this Prophet, Him shall ye hear in all things, &c.
By hearing, understand obedience.
Sowordsoffense are frequently put in ferip. ture, to signify those affections that are moved by, and use to follow those senses. And this obedience is required to be yielded to this prophet only, and universally, and under great penalties *.
'Tis required to be given to him only, for fo [him] in the text must be understood,as exclusive of all others. ' sis true, we are commanded to obey the voice of his ministers, Heb. xiii.
رو 17. But still 'tis Christ speaking to them, to whom we pay our obedience : He that hearethyou, heareth me : We obey them in the Lord, i. e. commanding or forbidding in Christ's name and authority.
So when God said, Deut. vi. 13. [ " Thou shalt " serve him,"] Christ expounds it exclusively, Matth. iv. 10.
"Him only shalt thou serve."
He is the only Lord, Jude 4. and therefore to him only our obedience is required.
And as 'tis due to him only, so to him universally ; " Him shall ye hear " in all things :" his commands are to be obeyed, not disputed.
Ajudgmentofdiscretion indeed is allowed to Christians, to judge whether it be the will of Christ or no. We must "prove what
* Him shall ye hear, i. e. Him only; so thou shalt serve him, Deut. vi. 13. is explained, Him only, Matth. iv. 10.
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"His is that holy, good and acceptable will," Rom. xii. 2 . sheep hear his voice, and a stranger they will not follow : they know his voice, but know not the voice of strangers,"
Johnx. 4, 5. But when his will is understood and known, we have no liberty of choice, but are concluded by it, be the
" duty commanded never so difficult, or the fin forbidden never so tempting : and this is also required severely, under penalty of beingdestroyedfrom among the people, and of God's requiring it at our hands, as it is in Deut. xviii. i. e. of revenging himself in the destruction of the disobedient.
Hence the observation; Doct. That Jesus Christ is calledandappointedby God to be the great Prophet and Teacher of the Church.
He is anointed topreachgoodtidings to the meek, and sent to bind up the broken hearted, Ifa. lxi. 1. When he came to preach the gospel among the people, then was this scripture fulfilled,
Matt. xi. 27. " Yea, all things are delivered him of his Father ; " so as no man knoweth who the Father is,but the Son, and " he to whom the Son will reveal him."
All light is now collected into onebody of light, the Sun of righteousness ; and he enlightneth every man that cometh into the world," John i.
9.And though he dispensed knowledge variously, in times past, speaking in many ways, and divers,manners, to the fathers ; yet now the nethod and way of revealing the will of God to us is fixed and settled in Christ : In these last times he hath spoken to us by his Son.
Twice hath the Lord folemnlyfealedhimto this office, or approved and owned him in it, by a miraculous voice from the most excellent glory, Matth. iii . 17. and Matth. xvii. 5.
In this point there are two things doctrinally to be discussed and opened, viz. What Christ's being a Prophet to the church implies :"and how he executes and discharges this his office .
First, What is implied in Christ's being a prophet to the church.
And it necessarily imports these three things.
1. The natural ignorance and blindness of men in the things of God.
This shews us that " vain man is born as the wild ass's " colt." The world is involved in darkness : the people fit as in the regionandshadowofdeath, till Christ arise upon theirfouls,
Matt. iv. 15, 16, 17.
'Tis true, in the state ofinnocency man had a clear apprehension of the will of God, without a Mediator; but now that light is quenched in the corruption of nature,
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" andthenaturalman receivethnotthethings of God," 1 Cor, ii. 14.
These things of God are not only contrary to corrupt and carnal reason, but they are also above right reason .
Grace indeedufeth nature, but nature can do nothing without grace. The mind of a natural man hath not only a native blindness,by reason whereof itcannotdifcern the things of the Spirit, but also a natural enmity, Rom. viii. 7. and hates the light,
1John iii . 19, 20.
So that until the mind be healed, and enlightened by Jesus Christ, the natural faculty can no moredifcernthethingsofthe Spirit, than the sensitivefacultycandifcern the things of reason. The mysteries of nature maybeditcovered by the light of nature; but when it comes to fupernaturalmysteries, there, omnis Platonicorum caligavit fubtilitas, as Cypriansomewhere speaks, the most subtil, searching, penetrating wit and reason, is at a loss.
2. It implies the divinityofChrist, and proves himtobetrue God; forasmuch as no other can reveal to the world, in all ages, the secrets that lay hid in the heart of God, and that with such convincing evidence and authority.
|| He brought his doctrine from the bosom of his Father ; John i. 18. " The onlybegot- " ten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath revealed
" him."
The fame words which his Father gave him he hath given us, Johnxvii. 8. He spake to us that which he had seen
† Heavenly things exceed the capacity of reason, for they are above what is called right reason ; they contradict the wisdom of the flesh, for they are contrary to depraved reason : Nature stands in need of grace, for the right disposing of the mind to receive a supernatural object; and grace uses nature, that,by strength of mind, clearness of judgment, and the light of good education, greaterprogressmaybe made in the study of the sacred writings. Reynold.Animal is homo.
|| If the doctrine of Christ, andhisdiscourses be examined, it will be as clear as fun-shine, that his words are not the words ofa man, orsomeprophet, but of the Father himself, that is, of the true God.
For Christ not only brought his gospel and doctrine fromthebosom of the Father, but likewise he taught, not as the Pharifees and other mere men, but ως εξεσίαν εχων, as one having divine authority,
Luke iv. 23. which his enemies, the officers sent by the Pharifees, confessed in these words, " Never man spake like this man;" therefore as his words are the words of the Father, and were not spoken with human, but divine authority, so it is certain, that he must be the true God, since a divine effect argues a divine cause; and since there is but one only true God, Christ must be one, and co-essential, with the Father, Dietericus AnalysisEvang. par.3-P. 341-
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with his Father, John viii. 38. What man san tell the bosomcounselsand secrets of God ? Who but he that eternally lay in thatbosom can expound them ?
Besides, other prophets had their times assigned them to rise, shine, and set againbydeath, Zech. i. 5." Your fathers, where
66 are they? And do the prophets live for ever ?" But Christ is afixedandperpetual fun,that gives light in all ages of the world : for he is " the same yesterday,to day, and for ever," Heb. xiii.
8. Yea, and the very beams of his divinity shone with awfulness upon the hearts of them that heard him: so that his very enemies were forced to acknowledge, that " never any man spake
" like him," John vii. 46.
3. It implies Christ to be the original and fountainofallthat light which is ministeriallydiffused up and down the world by men.
Ministers are but stars,which shine with a borrowed light from the fun: so speaks the apostle, 2Cor. iii. 6, 7. "For God,
"who commanded light to shine out of darkness, hath shined " intoourhearts, to give the light of the knowledge, of the glory
" of God, in the face of Jesus Christ." Thosethatteach men, must be first taught by Christ. All the prophets of the old, and all the prophets, pastors, and teachers of the New Testament, have lighted their candles a this torch: it was Christ that " gave
" themamouth and wisdom," Luke xxi . 15. WhatPaulreceiv edfromthe Lord, he delivered to the church, 1 Cor. xi. 23. Jesus Christ is the chief Shepherd, 1 Pet. v. 4. and all the under shepherds receive their gifts and commissions from him .
These things are manifestly implied in Christ's prophetical office.
Secondly, We shall next enquire how he executes anddifchargesthishis office, or how he enlightens and teacheth men thewillofGod. And this he hath done variously, gradually, plainly, powerfully, sweetly, purely, and fully.
1. Our great prophet hathrevealeduntomenthe will of God varioufly; not holding one evenandconstanttenour in the man i festations of the Father's will, but as the apostle speaks, πολυμε φως και πολύθροπως, at sundry times and in divers manners, Heb. i. 1.
Sometimes he taught the church immediately, and in his own person, John xviii. 20. He declared God's righteousness in the great congregation, Psal. xxii . 22.
And sometimes mediately, by his ministers and officers, deputedto that service by him: So he dispensed the knowledge of God to the churchbeforehis incarnation ; it was Christ that in the time, and by the ministry ofNoah, went and preached to the spirits in prison, as it is 1 Pet. iii. 19; that is, to men and women then alive, bur
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now separated from the body, and imprisonedinhell for their -disobedience: And it was Christ that was with the church in the wilderness, instructing and guiding them by the ministry of Moses and Aaron, Acts vii. 37, 38.; and fo he hath taught the church fincehis ascension. He cannot now be personally with us, having other business to do for us in heaven; but,however, he will not be wanting to teach us by his officers, whom, for that end, he hath set and appointed in the church, Eph. iv. 11 , 12 .
2. He hath dispensed his blessed light to the church gradually.
The discoveries of light have been πολυμερως , that is, in many parts or parcels; sometimes more obscure and cloudy; as to the Old Testament-believers, by visions, dreams, Urim,
Thummim, vocal oracles, types, sacrifices, &c. which, though comparatively, were but a weak glimmering light, and had no glory compared tothatwhichnow shines, 2 Cor. iii. 7, 8, 9.
10, 11. yet it was sufficient for the instruction and salvation of the elect in those times; but now is light sprung up glorionfly in the gospel-dispentation : "And we all with open face,behold
" as in a glass, the glory of the Lord."
It is to us not a twilight, but the light of a perfect day ; and still is advancing in the several ages of the world.
I know more (faith Luther) than blessedAustinknew; and they that come after me, will know more than I know.
3. Jesus Christ, our great Prophet hath manifested to us the will of God plainly and perfpicuously.
When he was on earth himself, he taught the people by parables, and " without a para- " blehe spake nothing," Matt. xiii. 3, 4. He clothed sublime and spiritual mysteries in earthly metaphors, bringing them thereby to the low and dull capacities of men, speaking fo familiarly to the people about them, as if he had been speaking earthlythingsto them, John. iii. 12. And fo (according to his
• own example) would he have his ministers preach, " using great " plainness of speech," 2Cor. iii. 12. " and by manifestation of
" the truth, commending themselves to every man's conscience,"
ICor. iv. 2. * Yet not allowing them to be rude and careless in expression, pouring out indigested, crude, immethodical words ; no, a holy, serious, strict, and grave expression befits the lips of * But the apostle does not design by this apology, that teachers
Should take the liberty to throw out every low, sordid expression, or whatever comes into their heads, without sense, method, folidity and judgment ; for who a greater awakener ofmens consciences than he ? or who a stronger convincer of their judgments by the weight of his arguments ? who, with a sweet, but heavenly, power captivates the affections.
Reynold.
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The Fountain of Life. his ambassadors: and who ever spake more weightily, more logically, perfuafivelythan that apostle, by whose pen Christ hath admonishedus to beware of vain affections and swelling words of vanity? But he would have us stoop to the understandings of the meanest, and not give the people a comment darker than the text: he would have us rather pierce their ears, than tickle their fancies; and break their hearts, than please their ears.
Christ was a very plain preacher.
4. Jesus Christ discovered truth powerfully; speaking"as one " having authority, and not as the Pharisees," Mat. vii. 29.
Theywerecoldanddull preachers, their words did even freeze betwixt their lips ; but Christ spake with power; there was heat as well as light in his doctrine: and so there is still, though it be in the mouthofpoorcontemptiblemen, 2 Cor.x. 4. "The we a- " ponsof our warfare are not carnal,but mighty through God,
" to the caftingdown of strong holds : 'Tis still quick and "powerful, sharper than a two edgedfword; and piercing, to " the dividing asunder of foul and spirit, and of joints and mar- " row," Heb. iv. 12. The blessed apostle imitated Christ ; and being filled with his Spirit, spakehome and freely to the hearts of men. Somanywords, fomany claps of thunder (as one + said of him) which made the hearts of sinners shake and tremble in their breasts .
All faithful and able ministers are not alike gifted in this particular ; but, surely, there is a holy seriousness and spiritual grace and majesty in their doctrine, commanding reverence from their hearers .
5. This prophet, Jesus Christ, taught the people the mind of God in a sweet, affectionate, and taking manner : his words made their hearts burn within them, Lukexxiv. 32.
It was prophesied of him, Ifa. xlii. 2. "He shall not cry, nor lift up, " nor cause his voice to be heard on high. A bruised reed he
" shall not break, and smoaking flax he shall not quench. He " knew how to speak a word in season to the weary foul," Ifa. lxi. 1. "He gathered the Lambs with his arms, and gently led
" those with young," Ifa. iv. 11. How sweetly did his words lide to the melting hearts about him ! he drew with cords of love, with the bands of am an : he discouraged none, upbraided none thatwerewilling to come to him : his familiarity and free condescensions to the most vile and despicable sinners, was often made the matter of his reproach.
Such is his gentle and sweet † Augustine wishedtohaveheardPaul from the pulpit, whom he called Christ's trumpet, and God's cloud ; fo many words, fomany claps of thunder seemed to found in his ears.
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carriagetohispeople, that the church is called the Lamb's wife, Rev. xix. 7.
6. He revealed the mind of God purely to men ; his doctrine had not the least dash of error to debase it; his most enviously observant hearerscould find nothing to charge him with : he is
" the faithful and true witness," Rev. i. 5. and he hath com mandedhis ministers to conserve the simplicityandpurity of the gospel, and not to blend and sophisticate it, 2Cor. iv. 2.
7. And lastly, He revealed the will of God perfectly and fully, keeping back nothing needful to salvation.
So he tells his disciples, Johnxv. 15."All things that I have heard of my Fa- " ther, I have made known unto you." He was " faithful as a
" Son over his own house," Heb. iii. 6.
Thusyouhaveabrief accountofwhat is implied in this part of Christ's prophetical office, and how he performed it.
Inference 1. If Jesus Christ, who is now passed into the heavens, be the great prophet and teacherofthechurch ; hence we may justly infer the continual necessity of a standing ministry of the church:forby his ministers he now teacheth us,and to that intenthathfixedthemin the church,by a firm constitution, there to remain to the end of the world, Matt. xxviii. 20. Heteacheth men no more personally, but ministerially. His ministers supply the want of his personal presence, 2 Cor. v. 10. " We
66 pray you in Christ's stead." These officers he gave the church at his cenfion,i. e. when he ceased to teach them any longer with his own lips; and so set them in the church, that their succession shall never totally fail: for so the word έθετο, he hath set, 1 Cor. xii. 28. plainly implies.
They are set by afure establishment, a firm and unalterable constitution, even as the times and seasons, which the Father bath put [swaro] in his own power:
'tis the fame word; and 'tis well they are so firmly set and fixed there; for how many adversaries in all ages have endeavoured to shaketheveryoffice itself ? pretending that 'tis needless to be taught by men, and wresting such scriptures as these to countenance their error, Joel ii. 28, 29. " I will pour out my Spirit
" upon all stesh ; and our sons and daughters shall prophesy," c.
And Jer . xxxi. 34.
"These shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know
" the Lord; for they shall all know me from the least of them " to the greatest of them."
As to that of Joel, it is answered, That if an Old Testament prophecy may be understood according to a New Testament interpretation, then that prophecy doth no way oppose, but confirm the gospel ministry. How
the apostle understood the prophet in that his prophecy, may
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be seen in Acts ii. 17. when the Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost upon the apostles. And surely he must be a confident person indeed, that thinks not an apostle to be as good anexpositor of the prophet, as himself. And for that in Jer. xxxi. we say, 1. That if it conclude against ministerial teachings, it must equally couclude against Christian conferences.
2. We say that cannot be the sense ofonefcripture, which contradicts the plain sense of other scriptures: but so this would,
Eph. iv. 11, 12. 1 Cor xii . 28 .
3. And we fay, the sense of that text is not negative, but comparative. Not that they shall have no need to be taught any truth, butnofuchneedtobe taught the first truths ; That there is a God,and who is this true God : " They shall no more
" teach everymanhis brother, saying, Know the Lord! for they " thall all know me." To conclude; God hath given ministers to the church for the work of conversion and edification, " till
" weallcomeintotheunityofthefaith, to a perfect man,"Eph. iv. 11, 12.
So that when all the elect are converted, and all those converts become perfect men; when there is no error in judgment or practice, and no seducer to cause it, then, and nottillthen, willa gospel ministry be useless. But (as 'tiswell observed)there isnotamranthatopposes a gospel ministry, but theverybeing of that man is afufficient argument for the continuance of it.
Inference 2. If Christ be the great prophet of the church, and such a prophet; then it follows, That the weakest Chriftiansneednot be discouraged at thedulness and incapacity they find in themselves : for Christ is not only a patient and condescending teacher, but he can also, as he hath often done, reveal that to babes, which is hid from the wife and learned; Matt. xi.
25.
" The testimonies of the Lord are sure, making wife the simple," Psal. xix. 7.
Yea, and such as you are, the Lord delights tochuse, that his grace may be the more conspicuous in your weakness, 1 Cor. i. 26, 27.
You will have nothing of your own to glory in: you will not say, as a proud wretch once said, Ego et Deus me us ; " I and my God did this."
Jesus Christ affects not social glory, hewillnotdividethe praise with any.
Well then, be not discouraged; others may know more, in other things than you, but you are not incapable of knowing so much as shall fave your souls, if Christ will be your teacher.
In other knowledge theyexcel you ; but ifye know Jesus Christ, and the truth as it is in len, one drop of your knowledge is worth a whole sea of their gifts: one truth
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fuck'dby faith and prayer from the breast of Christ , is better than tenthousanddrynotions beaten out by racking the understanding.
'Tis better in kind, the one being but natural, the other supernatural, from the saving illuminations and inward teachings of the Spirit: and so is one of those better things that accompany salvation.
'Tis better in respect of effects; other knowledge leaves the heart as dry, barren, and unaffected, as if it had its feat in another man's head: but that little you have been taught of Christ , sheds down its gracious influences upon your affections, and slides sweetly to your. melting hearts.
So that as one" preferr'd the most despicable " work of a plain rustic Christian, * before all the triumphs of " Alexander and Caesar;" much more ought you to prefer one saving manifestation of the Spirit, to all the powerless illuminations of natural men .
Inference 3. If Christ be the great prophet and teacher of the church ; it follows, That prayer is a proper means for the increase of knowledge : Prayer is the golden key which unlocks . that treasure.
When Daniel was to expoundthat secret which was contained in the king's dream, about which the Chaldean
Mavicians had rack'd their brains to no purpose ; what course doth Daniel take ? Why, " he went to his house," faith the text,.
Dan. ii. 17, 18. " and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mi- , " shael, and Azariah his companions ; that they would desire :
" mercies of the God of heaven concerning his secret." And: then was the secret revealed to Daniel.
Luther was wont to say †, " Three things made a divine ; meditation, temptation,
; " and prayer."
Holy Mr. Bradford was wont to study upon. his knees.
Those truths that are got by prayer, leave an unusual sweatness upon the heart.
If Christ be our teacher, it becomes all his saints to be at his feet .
Inference 4. If Christ be the great prophet and teacher of the church, We may thence discern and judge of doctrines, and itmayferve us as a test to try them by.
For such as Christ is, such are the doctrines that flow from him : every error pretends to derive itself from him ; but as Christ was holy, humble, heavenly, meek, peaceful, plain and simple, and in all things alien, yea, contrary to the wisdom of the world, the gratifications of the flesh; such are the truths which he teacheth.
They have * Si mihi daretur optio, eligerem Christian i rufticifordiliffimum et max i me agreste opus, præ omnibus victor i is et triumph is Alexandri et Cæsaris..
† Triafaciunt theologum, menitatio, tentatio, precatio, Luther.
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his character and image engraven on them. Would you know then whether this or that doctrine be from the Spirit of Christ or no ? Examine the doctrine itself by this rule.
And whatsoever doctrine you find to encourage and countenance fin, to exalt self, to beaccommodated to earthly designs and interests, to wrap and bend to the humours and luftsof men ; in a word, what doctrinefoever directly, and as a proper cause makes them that profess it carnal, turbulent, proud, sensual, &c. you may safely reject it, and conclude this never came from Jesus Christ.
The doctrine of Christ is after godliness ; his truth sanctifies.
There is a Guftus spiritualisjudicii, a spiritual taste, by which those that have their senses exercised, can diftinguith things that differ. " The spiritual man judgeth all things," I Cor. ii. 15. "His ear tries words, as his mouth tasteth meats,"
Job xxxiv. 3. Swallow nothing (let it come never so specioufly) that hath not some relish of Christ and holiness in it. Be sure,
Christ never revealed any thing to men, that derogates from his own glory, or prejudices and obstructs the ends of his own death.
Inference 5. And as it will serve us for a test of doctrines, foit fervesfor a test of ministers ; and hence you may judge who are authorized and sent by Christ the great Prophet, to declare his will to men.
Surely those whom he sends have his Spirit in their hearts, as well as his words in their mouths.
And according to the measures of grace received, they faithfully endeavour to fulfil their ministry for Christ, as Christ did for his
Father: " As my Father hath sent me (faith Christ) so send " I you," John xx. 21.
They take Christ for their pattern in the whole course of their ministration, and are such as sincerely endeavour to imitate the great Shepherd, in these six particulars following : i. Jesus Christ was a faithful minister, the " faithful and true
" witness," Rev. i. 5.
He declared the whole mind of God to men. Of him it was prophetically said, Plal. xl. 10. " I have
not hid thy righteousness within my heart ; I have declared thy faithfulness, and thy salvation ; I have not concealed thy
loving kindness and thy truth from the great congregation."
To the same sense, and almost in the fame words, the apostle Paul professed, in Acts xx. 20. " I have kept back nothing
" that was profitableuntoyou ;" and verse 35. " I have shewed " you all things," Not that every faithful minister doth in the course of his minißry, anatomize the whole body of truth, and fully expoundandapplyeach particular to the people: No, that VOL .
The Fountain of Life.
SERM. IX.
is not the meaning, but of those doctrineswhich they have opr portunity of opening, they do not out of fear, or to accom modate and secure base low ends, withhold the mind of God, or fo corrupt and abuse his words, as to subject truth to their own, or other mens lusts: " They preach not as pleasing men, but " God,"
1 Theff. ii. 4.
For if we yet pleasemen,we can " not be the servantsofChrist," Gal. i. 10. Truth must be spo ken, thơ' the greatest on earth be offended.
2. Jesus Christ was a tenderhearted minister, full of compaf sion to fouls.
He was sent to bind up the broken in heart, Ifa.
Įxi. 1.
He was full of bowels to poor sinners. "He grieved at " the hardness ofmens hearts," Mark iii . 5. He mourned over Jerusalem, and said, " O Jerusalem, Jerusalem ! how oft would I " have gathered thy children, as ahen gathers her brood under " her wings !" Matth. xxiii. 27.
His bowels yernedwhen he fawthe multitude, as sheep having no shepherd, Matth. ix. 37.
These bowels of Christ must be all in the under shepherds.
"Godismywitness, (faith one of them)how greatly I long after you all, ‡ in [or after the pattern of the bowels of Christ
" Jesus," Phil. i. 8.
He that thews a hard heart, unaffected with the dangers and miseries offouls, can nevershewa commif on from Christ to authorize him for minifterialwork.
3. Jesus Christ was a laborious painful minister, he put a ne ceffityon himself to finish his work in his day ; a work infinite ly great, in a very little time ; John ix. 4. " I must work the " works of him that sent me, while it is day : the night com,
" eth, when no man can work." O how much work did Christ doinalittletime on earth ! " He went about doing good," Acts x. 38. He was never idle. When he fits down at Jacob's well, to rest himself, being weary, presently he falls into his work, preaching the gospel, to the Samaritaness.
In this must his ministers resemble him; " striving according to his working, " that worketh in them mightily," Col. i, 28, 29. An idle minister seems to be a contradiction in adjecto ; as who should fay, a dark light.
{ 4. Jesus Christ delighted in nothing more than the success of hisminiftry; to fee the work of the Lord prosper in his hand, this was meat and drink to him.
When the seventy returned, and reported the success of their first embassy, " Lord, even the
" devils are subject to us through thy name !" Why, faith Christ, " I beheld Satanfallas lightning from heaven." As if he had
I In here is put for in star, as, like unto, after the manner of pattern of,&c.
SERM. IX.
The Fountain of Life.
said, You tell me no news, I saw it when I sent you out at first :
I knew the gospel would make work where it came. "And in " that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit," Luke x. 17, 18, 21.
And is it not so with those sent by him ? do not they value the success of their ministry ata high rate ? It is not (faith one) the expence,but the recoiling of our labours back again upon us, that kills us.
Ministers would not die so fast, nor be grey headed fofoon, could they but fee the travailoftheir fouls. "My
" little children, (faith Paul) of whom I travail again in birth, " πάλιν ωδινα, till Christ be formed in you," Gal. iv. 19.
As for those that have the name of shepherds only, who visit the flock only once a year,about shearing time; who have, " the inftru.
" ments of a foolish shepherd," (forcipes et muletra)the shears and pail, Zech. xi. 15.; woeful will be their condition at the appearing of this great Shepherd.
5. Jesus Christ was a minister that lived up to his doctrine : his life and doctrine harmonizedin all things. He pressed to holiness in his doctrine, and was the great pattern of holiness in his life, Matth.xi. 28. " Learn of me, I am meekandlowly."
And such his ministersdefire to approve themselves, Phil. iv. 9.
" Whatye have heard, and seen in me, that do." He preached to their eyes, as well as ears. His life was acommentonhis doctrine.
They might fee holiness acted in his life, as well as founded by his lips. He preached the doctrine, and lived the application.
6. And lastly, Jesus Christ was a minister that minded and maintainedfweet,secret communionwithGod, for all his constant public labours.
If he had been preaching and healing all the day, yet he would redeem time from his very sleep to spend in secret prayer ; Matth. xiv . 23. " When he had sent the mul
" titudeaway, he went up into a mountain apart to pray, and "was there alone." Obleffed pattern! Let the keepers of the vineyards remember they have a vineyard of their own to keep, afouloftheir own that must be looked after as well as other mens.
Those that, in these things, imitate Christ, aresurelyfent tousfromhim, and are worthy of double honour : They are a choicebleffing to the people.