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SERM. IX.
noman that gives up his name as a shield to Chriſt, but ſhall thereby ſecureand increaſethe truehonourof it. And though wicked men, for the preſent may beſpatter them, yet Jeſus
Chriſt will take itout ofthe dirt, (as one ſpeaks), wipe it clean, andgive it us again *. O, it is the leastone cando, to interpofe ourſelves and all thatisdear to us, betwixtChriſt and the wrath ofmen, whenhe (asyou hear) interpoſed himself betwixtyou and the eternal wrath ofGod !
++ SERMON IX.
Opens the firſt Branch of the Prophetical Office, confifting in the Revelation of the Will of GOD.
Acts iii . 22. A Prophet shall the Lord yourGod raiſe up unto you, ofyour Brethren, like unto me ; himshall ye hear in all things, whatsoever heshallsay untoyou, HAVING, in the former diſcourſes, ſhewnyou the folemn preparations, both on the Father's part, and on the Son's, for the bleſſeddeſign ofreconciling us by the meritorious mediation ofChriſt ; and given you a general profpect of that his mediation, in the former fermon : method now requires, that fproceed to ſhew how he executes this his mediation, inthediſcharge ofhis bleſſed offices of Prophet, Priest, andKing.
His prophetical office confiltsoftwo parts ; one externalconfifting ina true and full revelation of the will ofGod to men, according to John xvii. 6. " I have manifeſted thy name to the " men thou gaveſt me."
The other in illuminating themind, andopening the heart to receiveand embracethatdoctrine. The firſt part is contained inthe words beforeus ; "Aprophet ſhall
" the Lord your Godraiſe up," &c.
Whichwords are thoſe ofMofes, recorded inDeut. xviii. 15.; and, here, by Peter pertinently applied to Chrift, toconvince the incredulousJews, that he is the true and only Meſſiah, and the great prophet ofthe church ; whoſe doctrine it was highly
1 * O, if I could be a bridge over the water for my Lord Jeſus to walkupon, and keep his feet dry ! O, if my poor bit ofheaven couldgo betweenmy Lord and blafphemy and dishonour !faid anotherWorthy..
SERM. IX.
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dangerous tocontemn, thoughoutofthe mouths offuch(otherwifecontemptible) perſons as he and John were. And it iswell obſerved by Calvin, he ſingles out this teftimony of Mofes , rather than any other, becauſe of the great eſteem they had for Mofes, and his writings, beyond any others. Now in the words themſelves are two general parts .
First, Chrift, according to this prophetical office, deſcribed.
Secondly, Obedience to him, as fuch aprophet, ſtrictly enjoined.
First, You have here adeſcription of Chriſt in his prophetical office ; " A prophet ſhall the Lord yourGod raiſe up unto you of your brethren, like unto me."
Where Chrift is deſcribed,
1. By his title, Prophet; and that, princeps prophetarum, the prince ofthe prophets, or thegreat andchief ſhepherd, as he is ftiled, Heb. xiii. 10. 1 Pet. v. 4.
It belongs to a prophettoexpound the law, declare the will ofGod, and foretel things to come all theſe meet, and that, in a fingular and eminentmanner, in Chriſt ourprophet, Matth. v. 21 , &c. John i. 18. 1 Pet. i. II .
2.He is deſcribedby his type ; aprophet like unto Moſes,who therein typified and prefigured him. But is it not faid ofMoſes, 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 reſpectofhis familiaritywithGod, or ofhis miracles which he wrought in the power of God * : butMoſes himselfwas buta ſtar to this ſun.
However, in theſe following particulars, Chriſt was like him. He was a prophet thatwentbetweenGod and the people, carried God's mindto them, and returned theirs to God, they notbeingable to bear the voice ofGod immediately†, Deut. xviii . 16, 17. " Accord.
66 ing to all that thou defireft of the Lord thyGod inHoreb, " in the dayofthe afſſembly, ſaying, Let me not again hear the / " voice of the Lord myGod, 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 ſpokenthat which they have ſpoken : Iwill * Not like, inthe following particulars, namely, his familiarity withGod, and miracles.
Eft. on thisplace.
† They who dreaded that majeſty of God, ſpeaking fromhea. ven, could not be afraid to hear it, when in flesh, and made like themſelves.
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" raiſethem up aProphet like unto thee," be.
Moſes was a veryfaithful 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 fervant, for a " teſtimonyofthoſe things which wereto be fpokenafter : but " Chriſt as a Son over his own house," Heb. iii. 5, 6.
Again , Mofes confirmed his doctrine by miracles, which hewrought in the preſence, and to the conviction ofgainſayers. Herein, Chrift our Prophet is alſolikeunto Motes, whowrought many, mighty, and uncontrolled miracles, which could not be denied, andby them confirmed the gospelwhich he preached.
Lastly, Mofes was that prophet which brought God's Ifrael out of literal Egypt, and Chriſt his out of ſpiritual Egypt, whereof that bondagewas a figure Thus he is deſcribed by his likeneis toMoſes,his type.
3. He is describedby his ſtockand original, fromwhich, according tohis fleſh,he ſprang; " I willraitehimup fromamong thybrethren. Of Ifrael, as concerningthe flesh, Chrift came,
Rom. ix. 5.
And " it is evident that our Lord ſprang out of " Judah," Heb. vii. 14.
He honoured that nation byhis nativity.
Thus the prophet isdescribed.
Secondly, Here is a ſtrict injunction ofobedience to this Prophet, Him shall ye hear in allthings, &c.
By hearing, underſtandobedience.
Sowordsoffenſe are frequentlyput in ferip. ture, to fignify thoſe affections that are moved by, and uſe to followthoſe ſenſes. And this obedience is requiredtobe yielded to this prophet only, and univerfally, and under great penalties *.
'Tis required to be given to him only, for fo [him] in the textmust be understood,as excluſive ofallothers. ' fis true, weare commanded toobeythe voice ofhis miniſters, Heb. xiii.
رو 17. But ſtill 'tis Chriſt ſpeakingto them, towhom we pay our obedience : He that hearethyou, heareth me : We obey them in the Lord, i. e. commanding or forbidding inChriſt's name and authority.
So whenGod ſaid, Deut. vi. 13. [ " Thou shalt " ſerve him,"] Chriſt expounds it excluſively, Matth. iv. 10.
"Himonly ſhalt thou ſerve."
He is the only Lord, Jude 4. and therefore to him only our obedience is required.
And as 'tis due tohim only, ſo to him univerfally ; " Him ſhall ye hear " inall things :" his commands are to be obeyed, notdiſputed.
Ajudgmentofdiscretion indeed isallowed to Chriſtians, tojudge whether it be the will of Chrift or no. Wemuſt "provewhat
* Him ſhall ye hear, i. e. Him only; ſo thou shalt ferve him, Deut. vi. 13. is explained, Him only, Matth. iv. 10.
SERM. IX.
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"His is that holy, good and acceptable will," Rom. xii. 2 . fheep 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 ofGod's requiring it at our hands, as itis in Deut. xviii. i. e. of revenging himſelfin the deſtruction of the diſobedient.
Hence the obſervation; Doct. That Jesus Christ is calledandappointedby God to be the great Prophet and Teacher ofthe Church.
He is anointed topreachgoodtidings to the meek, andſentto bind up thebroken hearted, Ifa. lxi. 1. When he came to preach thegoſpel among the people, then was this ſcripture fulfilled,
Matt. xi. 27. " Yea, all things are delivered him ofhis Father ; " ſo asno man knoweth who the Father is,but the Son, and " he towhom the Son will reveal him."
All light is now collected into onebody of light, the Sun ofrighteousness ; and he enlightneth every man that cometh into the world," John i.
9.And though hediſpenſed 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 ofGod to us is fixed and ſettled in Chriſt : In these last times he hathspoken to us byhisSon.
Twicehath the Lord folemnlyfealedhimto this office, or approvedand ownedhim 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 andopened, viz. What Chriſt's being a Prophet to the church implies :"andhow he executes anddiſcharges 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 andblindness ofmenin the things of God.
This ſhews us that " vain man is born as the wild afs's " colt." The world is involvedin darkness : the people fit as in the regionandſhadowofdeath, till Chriſt arife upon theirfouls,
Matt. iv. 15, 16, 17.
'Tis true, in the ſtate ofinnocency man had a clear apprehenfion ofthe will ofGod, without aMediator; butnowthat lightis quenched in the corruption of nature,
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SERM. IX.
" andthenaturalman receivethnotthethings ofGod," 1 Cor, ii. 14.
Theſe things ofGod are not only contrary to corrupt and carnal reaſon, but they are alſo above right reaſon .
Grace indeedufeth nature, butnature cando nothing without grace. The mind ofanatural manhath notonly a native blindnefs,by reaſonwhereof itcannotdifcern thethings ofthe Spirit, but alſo a natural enmity, Rom. viii. 7. and hates the light,
1John iii . 19, 20.
Sothat until the mind be healed, and enlightened by Jefus Chriſt, the natural facultycan no moredifcernthethingsofthe Spirit, thanthe ſenſitivefacultycandifcern the thingsof reaſon. The mysteries of nature maybeditcovered by the light of nature; butwhen itcomes to fupernaturalmyſteries, there, omnis Platonicorum caligavit fubtilitas, as Cyprianſomewhere ſpeaks, the moſt ſubtil, ſearching, penetrating wit and reaſon, is ataloſs.
2. Itimplies the divinityofChriſt, andproves himtobetrue God; foraſmuch asno other can reveal tothe world, inallages, the ſecrets that lay hid in the heart ofGod, and that with ſuch convincing evidenceand authority.
|| He brought his doctrine from the boſom ofhis Father ; John i. 18. " The onlybegot- " tenSon, who is in the boſom of the Father, he hath revealed
" him."
The fame words which his Father gave him he hath givenus, Johnxvii. 8. He ſpake to us that which he had feen
† 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 todepraved reaſon : Nature ſtands inneed of grace, for the right diſpoſing of themind to receive a ſupernatural object; and grace uſes nature, that,by ſtrength of mind, clearness ofjudgment, andthe light ofgood education, greaterprogreſsmaybe made in the ſtudy of the ſacred writings. Reynold.Animalis homo.
|| If the doctrine of Chriſt, andhisdiſcourſes be examined, it will beas clear as fun-ſhine, that his words are not the words ofa man, orſomeprophet, but of the Father himself, that is, ofthe trueGod.
ForChriſt not only brought his gofpel anddoctrine fromtheboſom of the Father, but likewife he taught, not as the Pharifees andother mere men, but ως εξεσίαν εχων, as one having divine authority,
Luke iv. 23. which his enemies, the officers ſent bythe Pharifees, confeſſedin 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, thathe mustbe the trueGod, fince adivine effect argues adivine caufe; and ſince there is but one only trueGod, Chrift must be one, and co-effential, with the Father, Dietericus AnalysisEvang. par.3-P. 341-
SERM. IX.
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withhis Father, John viii. 38. What man san tell the boſomcounſelsand fecrets ofGod ? Who but he thateternally lay in thatboſom can expound them ?
Beſides, otherprophets had theirtimes aſſignedthem toriſe, ſhine, and ſet againbydeath, Zech. i. 5." Your fathers, where
66 are they? Anddo the prophets live for ever ?" But Chriſt is afixedandperpetual fun,thatgives light inallages ofthe world : for he is " the ſame yesterday,to day, and for ever," Heb. xiii.
8. Yea, andthe very beams ofhis divinity ſhone with awfulness upon the hearts ofthem that heard him: ſothat his very enemieswere forced toacknowledge, that " never any man ſpake
" like him," John vii. 46.
3. It implies Chriſt to be the originaland fountainofallthat light which is miniſteriallydiffuſed up anddown the worldby men.
Miniſters are but ſtars,which ſhine with aborrowed 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, togive the light oftheknowledge, oftheglory
" ofGod, in the face ofJeſus Chriſt." Thoſethatteach men, mustbe firſt taught byChrist. All the prophets ofthe old, and all the prophets, paſtors, and teachers of the New Testament, have lightedtheir candles athistorch: itwasChriſt that " gave
" themamouth andwisdom," Luke xxi . 15. WhatPaulreceiv edfromthe Lord, hedelivered tothe church, 1 Cor. xi. 23. Jeſus Chriſt is the chiefShepherd, 1 Pet. v. 4. and all the underſhepherds receive theirgifts andcommiſſions from him .
Theſe thingsare manifeſtly implied inChriſt's prophetical office.
Secondly, We shall next enquire how he executes anddifchargesthishis office, or howhe enlightens and teacheth men thewillofGod. And this he hath done variously, gradually, plainly, powerfully, ſweetly, purely, and fully.
1. Our great prophet hathrevealeduntomenthe will ofGod varioufly; notholding one evenandconſtanttenour in themani feſtations ofthe Father's will, but as the apostle ſpeaks, πολυμε φως και πολύθροπως, at fundry times andin divers manners, Heb. i. 1.
Sometimeshe taught the church immediately, and in his own perſon, John xviii. 20. He declaredGod's righteouſneſs inthegreat congregation, Pfal. xxii . 22.
And fometimes mediately, by his miniſters and officers, deputedto thatſervice by him: Sohediſpenſed the knowledge ofGod to the churchbeforehis incarnation ; it was Chriſt that inthe time, andby the miniſtry ofNoah, went and preached to the ſpirits in prifon, as itis 1 Pet. iii. 19; that is, tomen and women then alive, bur
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SERM . IX.
now ſeparated from the body, and imprisonedinhell for their -diſobedience: And it was Chriſt that was with the church in the wilderness, inſtructing andguiding them bythe miniſtry ofMofes and Aaron, Acts vii. 37, 38.; and fo he hathtaught the church fincehis aſcenſion. He cannot now be perſonallywith us, having other buſineſs todo for us inheaven; but,however, he will not be wanting to teach us by his officers, whom, for that end, hehath fet and appointed in the church, Eph. iv. 11 , 12 .
2. He hath diſpenſed his bleſſed light tothe church gradually.
The discoveries of light have been πολυμερως , that is, in many parts or parcels; ſometimes more obfcure 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 lightſprung up glorionfly inthe goſpel-diſpentation : "Andwe allwith openface,behold
" as inaglaſs, the gloryofthe Lord."
It is to us not a twilight, but the light of a perfect day ; and ſtill is advancing in theſeveral ages of theworld.
I know more (faith Luther) than bleſſedAuſtinknew; and they that come after me, will know more than I know.
3. Jeſus Chriſt, ourgreat Prophet hath manifeſted tous the will ofGod plainly and perfpicuouſly.
Whenhewas on earth himſelf, hetaught the people by parables, and " without a para- " blehe ſpake nothing," Matt. xiii. 3, 4. He clothed fublime and ſpiritual myfteries in earthly metaphors, bringing them thereby to the low anddull capacities ofmen, ſpeaking fo familiarly to thepeople 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. " andby manifeſtationof
" the truth, commending themselves to every man's confcience,"
ICor. iv. 2. * Yet not allowingthem to be rude andcareleſs in expreffion, pouring out indigeſted, crude, immethodical words ; no, aholy, ſerious, ſtrict, and grave expreſſion befits the lips of * But the apostle does not deſignby this apology, that teachers
Should take the liberty to throw out every low, fordid expreffion, or whatever comes into their heads, without ſenſe, method, folidity and judgment ; for who a greater awakener ofmens confciences thanhe ? or who a ſtronger convincer of their judgments by the weightof his arguments ? who, with a ſweet, butheavenly, power captivates the affections.
Reynold.
SERM . IX.
The Fountain of Life. his ambaffadors: and who ever ſpake more weightily, more logically, perfuafivelythan that apoſtle, bywhoſe pen Chriſthath admoniſhedus to beware ofvain affections and ſwelling words ofvanity? But he wouldhave us ſtoop to the underſtandings of the meaneſt, and notgivethe people a commentdarker than the text: hewouldhave us rather pierce their ears, than tickle their fancies; and break their hearts, thanpleaſe their ears.
Chrift was a veryplain preacher.
4. Jeſus Chriſt diſcovered truthpowerfully; ſpeaking"asone " having authority, and not as the Phariſees," Mat. vii. 29.
Theywerecoldanddull preachers, their wordsdid even freeze betwixt their lips ; but Chriſt ſpake with power; there was heat aswell as light in his doctrine: and ſo thereis ſtill, though itbe in the mouthofpoorcontemptiblemen, 2 Cor.x. 4. "Thewea- " ponsof our warfare are not carnal,but mighty throughGod,
" to the caftingdown of ſtrong holds : 'Tis ſtill quick and "powerful, ſharper than atwo edgedfword; and piercing, to " the dividing afunder offoul and ſpirit, and ofjoints and mar- " row," Heb. iv. 12. The bleſſed apoſtle imitated Chriſt ; and being filledwithhis Spirit, ſpakehome andfreely to thehearts ofmen. Somanywords, fomany claps ofthunder (as one + faid of him) which made the hearts of finners ſhake and tremble in their breasts .
All faithful and ableminiſters arenot alike gifted inthis 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 ofGodin a ſweet, affectionate, and taking manner : his words made their hearts burn within them, Lukexxiv. 32.
It was prophefied of him, Ifa. xlii. 2. "Heshall not cry, nor lift up, " nor cauſehis voice tobe heard on high. A bruiſed reed he
" ſhall not break, and ſmoaking flax he ſhall not quench. He " knew how to ſpeak aword in ſeaſon to the weary foul," Ifa. lxi. 1. "He gathered the Lambs withhis arms, and gently led
" thoſe withyoung," Ifa. iv. 11. How ſweetlydid his words lide to the melting hearts about him ! he drew with cords of love, with thebands ofaman : hediſcouraged none, upbraided none thatwerewilling tocome tohim : his familiarity and free condeſcenſions tothe moſt vileand deſpicable ſinners, was often made the matter ofhis reproach.
Such is his gentle and ſweet † Auguſtine wiſhedtohaveheardPaul fromthe pulpit, whom he called Chriſt's trumpet, and God's cloud ; fo manywords, fomany claps ofthunder ſeemedto found in his ears.
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carriagetohispeople, that the church iscalledthe Lamb's wife, Rev. xix. 7.
6. Herevealedthe mind ofGod purely to men ; his doctrine hadnot the least dash oferror todebaſe it; his moſt enviously obſervant hearerscould find nothing to charge him with : he is
" the faithful andtrue witneſs," Rev. i. 5. and he hath com mandedhis miniſters toconſerve the ſimplicityandpurity ofthe goſpel, andnot to blend and ſophisticate it, 2Cor. iv. 2.
7. And lastly, Herevealedthe will ofGod perfectly and fully, keeping back nothing needful to ſalvation.
So he tells his diſciples, Johnxv. 15."Allthings that I have heard ofmy Fa- " ther, Ihave madeknown unto you." He was " faithfulasa
" Sonover hisown house," Heb. iii. 6.
Thusyouhaveabrief accountofwhat is implied inthis part ofChriſt's prophetical office, andhow he performed it.
Inference 1. If Jesus Chriſt, who isnow paſſed into the heavens, be the great prophet and teacherofthechurch ; hencewe mayjustly infer the continual neceſſity ofastanding ministry of thechurch:forby his miniſters henow teacheth us,and to that intenthathfixedthemin the church,byafirm conſtitution, there toremain tothe end of the world, Matt. xxviii. 20. Heteacheth men nomore perſonally, but miniſterially. His minifters ſupply thewant ofhis perſonal prefence, 2 Cor. v. 10. " We
66 prayyou in Chriſt's ſtead." Theſe officers he gave the church athis cenfion,i. e. when heceased toteach them any longer with his own lips; and ſo ſet themin the church, that their fucceſſion ſhall never totally fail: for ſo the word έθετο, he hath fet, 1 Cor. xii. 28. plainly implies.
They are ſetby afure eſtablishment, a firm and unalterable conſtitution, evenas the times andfeafons, which the Fatherbath put [swaro] in hisown power:
'tis the fame word; and 'tis well theyare ſo firmly ſet and fixed there; for how many adverſaries in allages have endeavoured to ſhaketheveryoffice itſelf ? pretending that 'tis needleſs tobe 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 fons anddaughters ſhall propheſy," c.
And Jer . xxxi. 34.
"Theſe ſhall teach nomore every man his neighbour, and every manhis brother, ſaying, Know
" the Lord; for they ſhall allknowme from the leaſt ofthem " tothe greatest of them."
As to thatof Joel, it is anſwered, That if an Old Testament prophecy may be understoodaccording to a New Testament interpretation, then that prophecy doth no wayoppoſe, butconfirm the goſpel miniſtry. How
the apostle understood the prophet in that his prophecy, may
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be seenin Acts ii. 17. when the Spiritwas poured outonthe dayof Pentecoſt upon the apostles. And surely he must be a confident perſon indeed, that thinks not an apostle to be as good anexpoſitor of theprophet, as himself. And for that in Jer. xxxi. we ſay, 1. That if it conclude against miniſterial teachings, itmust equally couclude against Chriſtianconferences.
2. Wesay that cannotbethe ſenſe ofonefcripture, which contradicts the plainſenſe ofother ſcriptures: butſo thiswould,
Eph. iv. 11, 12. 1 Cor xii . 28 .
3. Andwe fay, the ſenſe of thattext is notnegative, but comparative. Not that they ſhall haveno need to be taught anytruth, butnofuchneedtobe taughtthe first truths ; That there is aGod,andwho is this trueGod : " They ſhall nomore
" teach everymanhis brother, ſaying, Knowthe Lord! forthey " thall all know me." To conclude; God hath given miniſters tothe church for the work ofconverfion and edification, " till
" weallcomeintotheunityofthefaith, toaperfect man,"Eph. iv. 11, 12.
So that when all the elect are converted, and all thoſeconverts become perfect men; when there is no error in judgment or practice, and no ſeducer to cauſe it, then, and nottillthen, willa goſpel miniſtry beuseless. But (as 'tiswell obſerved)there isnotamranthatoppoſes agospel miniſtry, but theverybeing ofthat manis afufficient argumentfor the continuance of it.
Inference 2. IfChriſt be the great prophet of the church, andfuch a prophet; then it follows, That the weakest Chriftiansneednot bediscouragedat thedulness and incapacity theyfind in themselves : for Chrift is not onlya patient and condeſcendingteacher, but he can alſo, as hehath oftendone, reveal that to babes, which is hid from the wife and learned; Matt. xi.
25.
" The teſtimonies of the Lord are fure, making wife the ſimple," Pfal. xix. 7.
Yea, and fuch as you are, the Lord delights tochuſe, thathisgrace may be the more confpicuous in your weakness, 1 Cor. i. 26, 27.
You will havenothing of your own to glory in: you will not ſay, as a proud wretch once faid, Ego et Deus meus ; " I and my God did this."
Jefus Chriſt affects not ſocialglory, 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 muchas ſhall fave your souls, if Chriſt will be your teacher.
Inother knowledge theyexcel you ; but ifye know Jeſus Chriſt, and the truthas it is in len, one drop of your knowledge is worth awhole fea oftheir gifts: one truth
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SERM . IX.
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 fupernatural, from the ſaving illuminations and inward teachings of the Spirit: and ſo is one of thoſe better things that accompany falvation.
'Tis better in reſpect of effects; other knowledge leaves the heart as dry, barren, and unaffected, as ifit 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 flides ſweetly to your. melting hearts.
So that as one" preferr'd the moſt defpicable " 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. IfChriſt be the great prophet and teacher of the church ; it follows, That prayer is a proper means for the increase ofknowledge : Prayer is the golden key which unlocks . that treasure.
WhenDaniel was to expoundthat fecret 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 thetext,.
Dan. ii. 17, 18. " and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mi- , " ſhael, and Azariah his companions ; that they would defire :
" mercies of theGod of heaven concerning his fecret." And: then was the fecret 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 faints to be at his feet .
Inference 4. If Chriſt be the great prophet and teacher of the church, We may thence difcern andjudge of doctrines, and itmayferve us as a test to try them by.
For fuch as Chriſt is, ſuch are the doctrines that flowfrom him : every error pretends to derive itſelffrom him ; but as Chriſt was holy, humble, heavenly, meek, peaceful, plain and ſimple, and in all things alien, yea, contrary to the wisdom ofthe world, the gratifications of the flesh; ſuch are the truths which he teacheth.
They have * Si mihi daretur optio, eligerem Chriſtiani rufticifordiliffimum et maxime agreste opus, præ omnibus victoriis et triumphis Alexandri et Cæfaris..
† Triafaciunt theologum, menitatio, tentatio, precatio, Luther.
SERM. IX.
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his character andimage engraven on them. Wouldyou know then whether this or that doctrine be from the Spirit ofChrift or no ? Examine the doctrine itſelf by this rule.
And whatſoever doctrine you find to encourage and countenance fin, to exalt felf, to beaccommodated to earthlydeſigns andintereſts, towrap and bend to the humours and luftsof men ; in a word, what doctrinefoever directly, andas a proper cauſe makes them that profeſs it carnal, turbulent, proud, fenfual, &c. you may ſafely reject it, and conclude this nevercame 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 fenfes 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 comenever ſo ſpecioufly) thathath not ſome reliſh of Chriſt andholineſs in it. Be ſure,
Chrift 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 ferve us for a teſt of doctrines, foit fervesfor a test of ministers ; and hence you may judge who are authorized and fent 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 theirminiſtry for Chriſt, as Chriſt did for his
Father: " As my Father hath fent me (faith Chriſt) ſo ſend " I you," John xx. 21.
They take Chriſt for their pattern in thewhole courſe of their miniſtration, and are fuch as fincerely 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 tomen. Ofhim itwas prophetically faid, 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 thegreat congregation."
To the ſame ſenſe, and almoſt in the fame words, the apoftle Paul profeſſed, in Acts xx. 20. " I have kept back nothing
" thatwas profitableuntoyou ;" andverſe 35. " I have ſhewed " you all things," Notthat every faithful minifter doth in the courſe ofhisminißry, anatomize the whole body of truth, and fully expoundandapplyeach particular to thepeople: No, that VOL .
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SERM. IX.
is not the meaning, but ofthoſe 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 ofGod, or fo corrupt and abuse his words, as to ſubject truth to theirown, orother mens lufts: " They preach not aspleaſing men, but " God,"
1 Theff. ii. 4.
For ifwe yet pleaſemen,we can " notbe 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.
Hewas full ofbowels to poor ſinners. "Hegrieved at " the hardness ofmens hearts," Mark iii . 5. He mourned over Jerufalem, and said, " O Jerufalem, Jerufalem ! how oft would I " have gathered thy children, as ahen gathers her brood under " her wings !" Matth. xxiii. 27.
Hisbowels yernedwhen he fawthe multitude, as sheep having no ſhepherd, Matth. ix. 37.
Theſe bowels of Chrift must be allin the under ſhepherds.
"Godismywitneſs, (faith one ofthem)howgreatly I longafter you all, ‡ in [or after the pattern of the bowels of Chrift
" Jefus," Phil. i. 8.
He that thews a hard heart, unaffected withthedangers and miſeries offouls, can neverſhewa commif on from Chriſt to authorize himfor minifterialwork.
3. Jeſus Chriſt was a laborious painful minister, he puta ne ceffityon himself to finiſh his work in his day ; awork infinite ly great, in a very little time ; John ix. 4. " I must work the " works ofhim that fent me, while it is day : the night com,
" eth, when no man can work." O how much work did Chrift doinalittletime on earth ! " He went aboutdoing good," Acts x. 38. He was never idle. When he fitsdown at Jacob's well, to reſt himself, being weary, preſently he falls into hiswork, 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 idleminiſter ſeems tobe a contradiction in adjecto ; as who ſhould fay, adark light.
{ 4. Jesus Christ delighted in nothing more than thefuccefs of hisminiftry; to fee the workof the Lord profper inhis hand, this was meat and drink to him.
When the ſeventy returned, and reported the fucceſs of their firſt embaſſy, " Lord, eventhe
" devils are ſubject to us through thy name !" Why, faith Chriſt, " I beheld Satanfallas lightning from heaven." As ifhe had
I In here is put for inftar, as, like unto, after the manner of pattern of,&c.
SERM. IX.
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faid, You tell me no news, I saw it when I fent you out at firſt :
Iknew the goſpel would make work where it came. "Andin " that hour Jeſus rejoiced in ſpirit," Luke x. 17, 18, 21.
Andis it notſo with thoſe ſentby him ? do not they value the ſucceſs oftheir miniſtry ata high rate ? It is not (faith one) the expence,but the recoiling ofour labours back again upon us, that kills us.
Miniſters would not die ſo faft, nor be grey headed fofoon, could they but fee the travailoftheir fouls. "My
" little children, (faith Paul) ofwhom I travail again in birth, " πάλιν ωδινα, tillChriſt be formed inyou," Gal. iv. 19.
As for thoſe that have the name ofſhepherds only, who viſit the flock onlyonce 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 willbe their condition at the appearingof this great Shepherd.
5. Jesus Christ wasa minifter that livedup to his doctrine : his life and doctrine harmonizedin allthings. He preſſed to holiness inhisdoctrine, and was thegreat pattern of holiness in his life, Matth.xi. 28. " Learn of me, Iam meekandlowly."
Andfuch his miniſtersdefire to approve themselves, Phil. iv. 9.
" Whatye haveheard, andſeen in me, thatdo." Hepreached to their eyes, aswell as ears. His lifewas acommentonhis doctrine.
They might fee holiness acted in his life, as well as foundedby his lips. He preached thedoctrine, and livedthe application.
6. And lastly, Jesus Christ was a miniſter that minded and maintainedfweet,fecret communionwithGod, forallhis conftant public labours.
Ifhe had been preaching andhealing allthe day, yet he would redeem time from his very fleep to spend in ſecret prayer ; Matth. xiv . 23. " When he had fent the mul
" titudeaway, he wentup into amountain apart to pray, and "was therealone." Obleffed pattern! Letthe keepers ofthe vineyards remember they have a vineyard oftheir own tokeep, afouloftheir own that must be looked after as well as other mens.
Thoſe that, intheſe things, imitate Chrift, areſurelyfent tousfromhim, and areworthy ofdouble honour : They are a choicebleffing to the people.