The Christian hearer's first lesson a sermon preached at St. Mary's Church in Nottingham on Thursday, Octob. the 4th, 1694 : the first day of a lecture preached there weekly by the ministers of that town and country : publish'd to satisfie the desire of some of the auditors / by Clem Elis ... Ellis, Clement, 1630-1700. 1694 Approx. 55 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 16 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A39249 Wing E551 ESTC R20476 12562858 ocm 12562858 63282 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A39249) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 63282) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 315:3) The Christian hearer's first lesson a sermon preached at St. Mary's Church in Nottingham on Thursday, Octob. the 4th, 1694 : the first day of a lecture preached there weekly by the ministers of that town and country : publish'd to satisfie the desire of some of the auditors / by Clem Elis ... Ellis, Clement, 1630-1700. [4], 26 p. Printed for W. Rogers ..., London : 1694. "Imprimatur. Novemb. 10, 1694. Ra. Barker" Reproduction of original in Bodleian Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Clergy -- Sermons. Sermons, English -- 17th century. 2003-06 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-06 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-02 John Latta Sampled and proofread 2005-02 John Latta Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion The Christian Hearer's First Lesson . A SERMON PREACHED AT St. Mary's Church IN NOTTINGHAM , On Thursday Octob. the 4 th . 1694. The First Day of a LECTURE preached there Weekly , by the MINISTERS of that Town and County . Publish'd to satisfie the Desire of some of the Auditors . By CLEM. ELIS , Rector of Kirkby in Nottinghamshire . IMPRIMATUR . Novemb. 10. 1694. Ra. Barker . LONDON : Printed for W. Rogers , at the Sun over against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet . 1694. TO THE Christian Readers . THIS plain Sermon , preached at the Request of my Reverend Brethren of the Clergy , and here published in compliance with the Desire of Them , and ( as they assure me ) of some others who heard it ; I do first most humbly offer to Almighty God in Prayer for his Blessing , that it may become in some measure useful to his Church ; and next to you the Christian Readers , to make the best use of it you can . If any one of you receive Profit by it , pay , as you are here directed , all your Thanks to Him alone who giveth the Encrease : I only beg that you would assist the Sinful Author with your devout Prayers for the encrease of Grace , lest that by any means when he hath preached to others , he himself should be a Cast-a-way . THE Christian Hearer's First Lesson . 1 COR. iii. 7. Neither is he that planteth any thing , neither he that watereth ; but God that giveth the encrease . SAINT Paul ( as we read in the XVIII th . Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles ) had , by the good Blessing of God upon his Labours , been very successful in preaching the Gospel of Christ at Corinth , so reasoning , and perswading , that notwithstanding all the opposition and blaspheming of the Jews , Crispus , the chief Ruler of the Synagogue , believed on the LORD with all his house : and many of the Corinthians hearing , believed , and were baptized . Ver. 8. After his departure thence , came Apollos , an eloquent man , and mighty in the Scriptures , who being fervent in the Spirit , spake and taught diligently the things of the LORD at Ephesus : and being come into Corinth , helped them much which had believed through Grace ; mightily convincing the Jews . ( ver . 27 , 28. ) And this is it that St. Paul here saith , v. 6. I have planted , Apollos watered , but God gave the encrease . An Encrease indeed very considerable , as it appears by the Apostle's Thanksgiving to God for it . I thank my God ( saith he , Ch. 1. v. 4. ) always on your behalf , for the Grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ ; that in every thing ye are enriched by him , in all utterance , and in all knowledge ; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you . So that ye come behind in no gift ; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. And in the Second Epistle , c. 8. v. 7. he testifieth of them , That they abounded in faith , in utterance , and knowledge , and in all diligence , and in their love to him , and their other Teachers . Here then , by the planting of Paul , and the watering of Apollos , and the Success which God gave to them both in their Ministry , an eminent Church grew up in a short time , and flourish'd at Corinth , of persons sanctified in Christ Jesus , and called to be Saints . But alas , how imperfect are all the most perfect things that are under Heaven ? This so lately planted , so plentifully water'd , so highly commended Church , ( as the purest and best constituted Church on Earth will always have ) had its spots and blemishes ; and those not a few , but many ; and some of them of the foulest sort too , and such as did not only stain her beauty , but endanger'd her very Life . The Resurrection of the Dead was denied by some among them ; Fornication and Incest , such as the Gentiles would blush to hear of , was committed by others ; the holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was prophaned by the Irreverent and Uncharitable , by the Drunkard and the Glutton ; Stumbling-blocks were laid in the way of the weak Brethren , and their tender Consciences wounded by an unnecessary and uncharitable use of Christian Liberty : Little conscience was made of scandalizing their holy Religion , by going to Law before Infidels ; nay , by wronging and defrauding one another : Discipline lay neglected , and there was none of that mourning , which should have been for all these Abominations committed among them . Here then were Corruptions many and great , both in Faith and Manners , and such as , tho' they would not warrant any Member in a separation from this Church , were more than enow to fire the holy Zeal of all the Members of it , and to engage them all in the most vigorous endeavours for a speedy Reformation in it . What then is to be done in such a case as this ? Why , truly all that can be done , providing still for the safety and preservation of the whole , and as much as may be , of every part . All that can be to heal , and cleanse , and edifie , but nothing to destroy . Let every Member of the Body , according to its station and office therein , contribute what possibly it can to the preservation of its Life , and restoring of its Health , but let no Member be cut off , so long as the Body may be preserved without such mutilation , and there is hope remaining that the corrupt Member may be cured by gentler means : much less let any Member tear it self off , so long as by continuing in the Body it may have life and nourishment . Dividing is a very untoward way of healing , and I think should never be used , but when the case is otherwise desperate . Indeed the Body may sometimes be saved by the loss of a corrupt Member ; but it will be very hard , if possible , to keep a Member from dying , that separates it self from a living Body , tho' diseased . St. Paul takes a great deal of pains to correct and reform the many Errors and Disorders among these Christians of Corinth ; but whatever he doth , or orders to be done , for a Reformation , he seems to have his Eye continually fixed upon the Peace and Vnity of the Church ; considering well , how unhopeful a thing such a Reformation is in a House that is divided in it self : And therefore he goes to work like a skilful Reformer . He would have the old leaven purged out , but so , that they might still continue one , tho' a new lump , c. 5. v. 7. He would have the House repaired without pulling it down , or taking it in pieces Stone from Stone : So that the Foundation , which he as a wise Master-builder had laid , continue , he thinks it better to leave the Wood , Hay , and Stubble , which others had built upon it , to the trial of the Fire , when God shall send it , than to take the building asunder , c. 3. v. 10 , &c. He would have the Body kept sound ; yet so , if possible , that it may also remain entire ; that so it may still grow up into him in all things , which is the head , even Christ : from whom the whole body fitly joyned together , and compacted by that which every joint supplieth , according to the effectual working in every part , maketh encrease of the body , unto the edifying of itself in love , Eph. iv . 15. Therefore in the first place , he most earnestly exhorts the Corinthians to Vnity , and warns them to beware of Divisions , c. 1. v. 10. Now I beseech you brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ , that ye all speak the same thing , and that there be no divisions among you ; but that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same mind , and in the same judgment . And that this earnest Exhortation may appear the more reasonable , he proceeds to demonstrate unto them the unreasonableness of that , which at least was one , and it may be a principal cause of the Divisions which were among them : which in St. Jude's Phrase , v. 16. is , their having Mens persons in admiration because of advantage : and in St. Paul's , ch . 4. v. 6. their being puffed up for one against another . One will be of Paul , another of Apollos , a third of Cephas , and a fourth is too wise or too good in his own conceit to be taught of Man , and will therefore confine Christ to his own Party , that he may be taught of God only . St. Paul with all plainness informeth their Understandings in the Truth , that Faith may take good rooting . And for this , it may be , his speech seemed contemptible , 2 Cor. 10.20 . What ( might some say ) can this dry preaching signifie ? Give us an awakening Preacher . Apollos with a flood of Eloquence watered what St. Paul had planted . And what 's all this ( might others say ) but a vain-glorious ostentation of Art ? Let us have plain Reason or Scripture , without all this flourishing of words . O how hard a task have the Ministers of Christ in a Corinth , in a populous and wealthy Town ! where much People is , there is always much variety of Temper . and Humour ; and where is much Ease , and Leisure , and Plenty of all things , there will be also much Pride , and Wantonness , and Curiosity . And what Paul or Apollos is sufficient to deal with all these ? Every one's Humour or Fancy is his Idol , and if God himself will not minister to it , he is offended . Every one would limit God in his own Work , to such Instruments as he finds himself most affected with , not considering what he is here told , That tho' Paul himself plant , and Apollos water , yet neither is he that planteth any thing , neither he that watereth , but God that giveth the encrease . Well then , if we believe St. Paul , The whole vertue and efficacy of Man's Ministry in the Church of Christ , for the conversion and salvation of Sinners , is from the blessing of God. Neither Paul's planting , nor Apollos's watering , nor all the unwearied endeavours of the most accomplish'd Preachers , can make us good Christians , and bring us to Heaven , without the Special Grace of God. This is it that I would at present earnestly commend to your most serious thoughts : It is indeed a very plain truth , and stands not in need of an elaborate proof ; but the as plain and necessary consequents of it are not , I fear , sufficiently ponder'd by us ; and therefore I have thought it not unseasonable at this time to mind you of them . I intend therefore , by God's help , I. For the preventing of all Mistakes , briefly to illustrate the Doctrine contained in these words . II. For the help of such as may need it , to point at some of the Vses we should make of it . I. For the preventing of all Mistakes , I shall briefly illustrate the Doctrine contained in these words . And this , I hope , may be sufficiently done in the shewing you these four things , viz. 1. What every Minister of the Gospel may , and ought to do . 2. What one Minister may be able to do , more than another . 3. That all which the Best can do , is in it self of no efficacy . 4. That the efficacy of all is of God only . But before I enter upon this , it will be fit to tell you what I suppose , and take for granted of the Persons here spoken of ; which is this . ( 1. ) That they have a sufficient Call to the Office of the Sacred Ministry , and Authority to exercise the same , and are no bold Intruders , who run before they be sent . ( 2. ) That they be furnished with a competent stock of Divine Knowledge , and understand the things they are to teach and minister unto others , and are not blind Leaders of the Blind . ( 3. ) Lastly , That they have , at least , such a Faculty of expression and elocution , as that they may be understood by those whom they are to instruct ; and that they and their Hearers are not Barbarians to each other . These things supposed , because I know not how he should be accounted a Minister of the Gospel that wants them ; I am now to shew . 1. What every Minister of the Gospel may and ought to do . And it is very plain , that such an one as is qualified as abovesaid , may both plant and water , and do the whole Work of God , so far as he hath thought fit to instruct Man with it , and to work himself by the Ministry of Man. All Ministers of Christ may and ought catechise and instruct the ignorant , and exhort the knowing ; strengthen the weak , and establish the wavering ; comfort the afflicted , encourage the timerous , and lift up the dejected ; awake the sleepy , spur on the lazy , and warn the confident ; rebuke the wicked , correct the erroneous , and direct the doubtful , terrifie the presumptuous , and reprove the scorner . They may and ought to feed the Flock of God , and to give to every one his Portion in due season , giving Milk to Babes , and strong Meat to them who are able to bear it . They may preach the Word plainly and constantly , administer the Sacraments duly and reverently , pray for all Men both publickly and privately , fervently and devoutly . In short , they may exercise the whole Ministry of Reconciliation , which Christ hath committed unto them ; behave themselves as Examples to the Flock whereof they are made Overseers ; shewing themselves Patterns of Good Works , and making others see in their holy conversation the narrow way to Heaven . These things , I say , all who are fit to be called Ministers of the holy Gospel of Christ , may and ought to do . And these are indeed great things , and they who do them are not to be set at nought and despised , but to be esteemed very highly in love for their Work 's sake ; and so , no doubt of it , they will be , if , as it there follows , ( 1 Thess. 5.13 ) we can once again be so happy as to be at peace among our selves . They are God's Ministers , by whom men may believe , v. 5. His Servants , sent forth to invite us to Heaven and Eternal Blessedness ; his Attorneys ( if I may so speak ) to seal unto us in his Name the Mercies of the new Covenant . They can tell us words whereby we and our Houses may be saved . Act. 11.14 . By taking heed unto themselves , and to their Doctrine , they may both save themselves and them that hear them , 1 Tim. 4.16 . They are labourers together with God. v. 9. Stewards of the Mysteries of God , Ch. 4. ver . 1. Ambassadors for Christ , 2 Cor. 5.20 . Whilst therefore they are faithful to their Great Master , they ought to have the Honour due unto their Character . We have thus in short seen what all Ministers ought to do . 2. Let us now see , What one Minister may be able to do more than another . And that one may be able to do a great deal more than another , I think no man can doubt , when he considers , that God hath not given to all the same number of Talents to improve withal : And one may do five times as much with five Talents , as he can do with one . There never was ( that I know of ) such an equality in Ministers , as excluded all difference in degrees of excellency or usefulness . Whilst immediate inspiration lasted , and the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit were in a manner common , every one who had them , had them not all ; nor had all they who had the same Gifts , those same Gifts which they had , in the same measure ; the Spirit divided to every one severally , as he would ; to one this , and to another that , yet to every one to profit withal , 1 Cor. xii . 7 , 11. All the Apostles had not St. Peter's boldness of Spirit , presence of Mind , quickness of Apprehension , forwardness of Speech , Zeal , or Courage : All were not , like James and John , Boanerges , Sons of Thunder : All had not Paul's Learning , nor his admirable Patience , and indefatigable Industry ; nor can all be supposed to have had Apollos's Eloquence . One Minister of Christ may have a more faithful Memory , and another a clearer Judgment , and a third a more fruitful Invention , and a fourth a better Elocution . One may have more Reading , and another more Experience , a third more Zeal , and a fourth more Prudence . One may be more knowing , and another more dexterous in teaching what he knows . One may discourse more copiously and plainly , and another may argue more closely and nervously , and another perswade more warmly and affectionately . One may insinuate more sweetly , and another may rebuke more cuttingly , and a third may instruct more convincingly . One may be more dexterous at planting , another at watering , a third at weeding , and a fourth at fencing ; and another may exceed all in pruning off the luxuriant Branches , and cherishing the tender Plants . Now , all these , and the like , wherein one may be able to do more than another , are very good things , and in some competent measure necessary in every Minister of Christ. And yet it is no less absurd , to expect the same abilities , and degrees of such Ministerial Accomplishments and Perfections in all Ministers , than it would be to imagine , that all Artists , or Men of any one Profession , should be of equal Skill , Prudence , Industry , and Activity . Taking it therefore for granted , That one may do more than another , and all the Builders in God's House must not be thought equal to that wise Master-builder St. Paul ; let us now see what we may expect from the very best of them . To this I say , 3. That all which the Best can do is in it self of no efficacy . Neither is Paul himself , nor Apollos , any thing ; that is , of any use at all to us , without the special Blessing of God , whose very weak Instruments , and no more but so , all , even the best qualified Ministers of the Gospel are . Let us do all that ever we can to do you good , we cannot by any Art or Skill , Power or Pains that we have or can use , make any one of those whole that are sick , strong that are weak , and much less can we make alive them that are dead in Trespasses and Sins . We cannot in the least measure benefit any one of those , towards whom we exercise our Ministry . It is true indeed , we find St. Paul ( Chap. iv . 15. ) speaking thus of himself to the Corinthians , In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel : And thence he rationally enough inferreth , That though they had since that Ten thousand other Instructers , yet should not their kindness for any of them , how well soever they had deserved it , abate any thing of the love and honour which were still nevertheless due to him , as the first Instrument of their conversion . They might respect their other Teachers as good and tender Nurses , but ought still to give him the honour due unto a Father , and be followers of him . Yet after all , St. Paul acknowledgeth himself herein to be no more but an Instrument in another's hand . He beg at them , but in Christ Jesus , and that by the Gospel , whereby was sown in them by God himself that incorruptible Seed of which alone Men are reborn Christians , 1 Pet. 1.23 . He tells the Galatians also ( Chap. iv . 19. ) That he travelled in birth again till Christ was formed in them : This is indeed a high expression of his truly Parental Affection for them , of the great pains he took with them , of the troubles he cheerfully underwent for their sake , and of his earnest sollicitude , and ardent desire of their proficiency under his Ministry , and his great grief of Heart to see them so soon turn'd away from the Doctrine he had taught them , and unto which he now labours again to reduce them . But the forming of Christ in Men is the work of no less than that Divine Power that once formed for him an Humane Body in a Virgin-womb . What is it that the ablest Ministers can do to make Men good Christians ? Alas , all comes to no more but this : They can declare and lay open the Doctrine of the Gospel to Men fully , plainly , and sincerely . They can exhort , perswade , and desire Men frequently , earnestly and heartily to believe and practise it , and shew them very good Reasons why they should do so . They can direct them to the best helps , and warn them to take heed of all Letts and Impeditaments , and shew them the danger of Temptations . They can admonish them when they are out of the way , and labour by all means to reduce them into it again , comfort them in it , and encourage them to persevere therein unto the end ; and , in a word , administer unto them all the things which Christ hath put into their hands to administer , as they can have opportunity of administring , and can find persons capable of receiving the same . Finally , They can incessantly pray to God for a Blessing upon all they do : And so indeed they have great need to do ; for when all that they can do is done by them , they have but done what the Husbandman can do towards a good Harvest ; they have ploughed and sown , but know not what the Crop will prove . They do but hold a glorious Light before a blind Eye , and sing a melodious Song to a deaf Ear , and give very good Advice to Fools and Madmen . To make Men see with their Eyes , and hear with their Ears , to bring them to themselves , and make them understand with their Hearts , that they may be illuminated , converted , and healed , is not the work of Man ; our Necks are too stiff to bend , our Wills too sturdy to yield , vicious Habits and Customs too deeply rooted to be plucked up , fashionable Sins too impudent to be put out of countenance , our Lusts too rebellious and imperious to be subdued and tamed by Mens reasonings and perswasions . The strong man armed , that hath got the possession , will be too strong for all men , and will keep the possession he hath gotten in spight of all that can be done , till the Man who is God too , come upon him and disarm him . The strong bolds of Satan within us will not be cast down by the little Batteries of Mens Tongues . And though we that are Ministers must never hold our Peace , but lift up our Voices like Trumpets ; though we must not cease to cry aloud ; though we spare not , but shout till these earthen Vessels of ours crack and fall in pieces , the walls of this cursed Jericho will not be so blown down . None but He , whose Voice shaketh the Heavens and the Earth , can rend the stony Hearts of Sinners . Which is the last thing to be now shewn , viz. 4. That the efficacy of all is of God only . Whoever planteth , or watereth , God giveth the encrease . All are as good as nothing , and labour in vain without him . 'T is true indeed , it hath pleased God to make use of the Ministry of Men in the building of his Church , and to make them workers together with and under Himself ; and their great business it is , to beseech us not to receive this Grace of God in vain , 2 Cor. vi . 1. He hath put his Words into their mouth , and his Seed into their hands ; they are made his Seeds-men , and go forth to sow by his command : but still the Seed it self , and all the prolifick vertue of it , the skill and activity of the Sowers , the goodness of the Ground , the Warmth and the Rain , the Growth and Harvest , are all of him . Who must soften the Highway's-side ? Who must add depth of Earth to the Stony Ground ? Who must root up the Thorns and the Bryars ? Who must fright away the devouring Birds ? It is God alone , the Father of Spirits , that can create a right Spirit within us , restrain our Thoughts from wandering abroad , and the Devil's Temptations from entring in and prevailing . It is he only that can empty our Hearts of Cares , and the love of Riches , and the Pleasures of this Life , which choke the good Seed . He it is that can make the Heart good and honest , and prepare and enable it with due attention and affection to receive , and with serious meditation to cherish the Seed sown , and with constancy of resolution to bring any Fruit to perfection . Though Ministers are sent to invite us to Christ , yet hath Christ himself told us , Joh. vi . 44. saying , Mo man can come to me except the Eather draw him . It is God ( as St. Paul saith , 2 Cor. ii . 14. ) that maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge in every place . He that by the foolishness of preaching saveth them that believe , 1 Cor. 1.21 . He opened Lydia's heart to attend to the things which were spoken of Paul , Acts xvi . 14. St. Paul saith , He laboured more abundantly , than they all ; yet he adds , Not I , but the Grace of God that was with me , 1 Cor. xv . 10. Indeed , our Blessed Saviour had sent forth his Apostles to a very unhopeful work , sending the Lambs to convert the Wolves , a few poor contemptible Men to make Disciples all Nations , had he not promised himself to be with them , Matth. xxviii . And the greatest encouragement that St. Paul had to abide preaching the Gospel in such a Town as Corinth , lay in those words of Christ , Act. xviii . 8. I am with thee , and I have much people in this City , and therefore fear not . He had prepared the Hearts of the People as the Books to be written in , and then he made use of St. Paul's Tongue as the Pen of a ready Writer ; and this Writer was God himself . I ( saith he , Heb. viii . 10. ) will put my laws in their mind , and write them in their hearts . Therefore ( saith the Apostle to these Corinthians , 2 Cor. iii. 3. ) Ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ , ministred by us , written not with ink , but with the spirit of the living God. Who shines in our hearts , to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ ; 2 Cor. iv . 6. Indeed , to give light to our dark minds , and to keep the God of this World from blinding them , is the work of him alone who at first brought light out of darkness . He alone can make us new Creatures , that is , Christians , who breath'd into our Dust the Breath of Life , and made us Men. With what Treasures then soever it hath pleased God to instruct any of us , that we may dispense them unto you ; yet still both you and we must know , that we have this treasure in earthen vessels , that the excellency of the power may be of God , and not of us , 2 Cor. iv . 7. I have held you , I fear , too long in the illustration of so plain a Truth ; I shall therefore conclude this part of my Discourse with those words of St. Augustine upon St. John's Gospel , God gave the Encrease , not by them , but by himself . This is a work which is above not only the meanness of Man , but the height of Angels : nor doth it at all belong to any other but to him who is the Husbandman , that is , the ever blessed TRINITY . The Doctrine thus cleared , II. For the help of such as may need it , I will point at some of the Uses we should make of it . And truly , methinks they lye very obvious , both to Preachers and Hearers . We are this day , by the good Providence of God , entering upon an * Exercise , wherein our whole design and business is to minister , as God shall enable us , to the good of your Souls . Far be it from us to beguile you with enticing words , with fair speeches to deceive the simple , or with feigned words to make merchandise of you . Expect not to have your Heads filled with airy Notions , or your Curiosity fed with fine Speculations ; and fear as little to have your Minds perplexed with doubtful Disputations ; least of all let any Jealousie possess you , that you shall be entertain'd with splenetick and virulent Invectives against Men and Parties : these things become not us , nor will they profit you : We seek not yours for our selves , but you for God ; and I doubt not but I may say it in the Name of all my Brethren , who are engaged on this Service of your Faith , That we preach not our selves , but Christ Jesus the Lord , and our selves your Servants for Jesus sake : That we have no ambition to exercise a dominion over any Man's Faith , but earnestly desire ( may GOD of his Goodness make us so happy ) to be helpers of your Joy. 'T is God's Honour , and your Happiness , and both these in the reviving of a sincere and unaffected Christian Piety , now languishing even to death among us , that we solely aim at . But alas , what are we , that we should attempt such things as these ? We are nothing , we can do nothing of our selves towards so weighty a Work ; all our Sufficiency must be of God. The sense of this directed me to the choice of this Subject , as most proper to humble us , and instruct you . To humble us , I say , in consideration of our utter insufficiency for the important work which lyeth upon us ; and to instruct you how , notwithstanding all our weakness , you may be sure to reap some profit by the weakest of us all . And truly , I the rather hope for God's Blessing upon our Endeavours , when I consider with what unanimity and cheerfulness of Mind my Reverend Brethren have consented to this Service . It will now much confirm this Hope , if you shall be pleased ( Worshipful and Beloved ) not only to countenance us with your presence and attention , but to assist us with your devout Prayers . 1. And therefore , next to the humbling of our selves in the presence of God , as nothing without him , unable to serve either Him or you without his Special Assistance , and because of our manifold Sins most unworthy of that also ; the first Use which I very heartily desire you to make of what hath been said , is to help us with your daily fervent Prayers at the Throne of Grace , for the pardoning of our Sins , and the sanctifying of our Souls , and the supplying of all our Defects : That in simplicity and godly sincerity , not with fleshly wisdom , but by the Grace of God , we may have our conversation in the World , and more abundantly to youwards at this time , not handling the Word of God deceitfully , but by manifestation of the Truth , commending our selves to every man's Conscience in the fight of God : That God would open unto us a door of utterance , that we may open our Mouth boldly , that the Word of God may have its free course , and be glorified with you . Therefore Men profit so little by the Ministry , because they so seldom or so coldly address themselves in Prayer to God , for his Blessing upon it . Whilst we bestow so much more time in Hearing than we do in Praying , as being the far easier Task of the two , it may be feared we expect more from Men than we do from GOD ; and tho' we may carry the Sermon home , we leave God's Blessing behind us . Therefore , 2. Because we are nothing , and all the Encrease is of God , let us take heed how we depend so much on the Ministry of Men , who are nothing , as to attend too little in their Ministry upon God who doth all . Whilst you are pleased to afford us your Ear , be sure that you give God your Heart . Neither regard ye what we say any farther than we speak as the Oracles of God. Imitate the Thessalonians in this , who when they received the Word of God , which they heard of St. Paul , and others , received it not as the Word of Men , but ( as it is in truth ) the Word of God , which effectually worketh in them that believe , 1 Thess. ii . 13. Come with a desire and resolution to hear God himself speak to you ( by what Mouth soever he shall speak ) and , be sure of it , the Word will be mighty , and prevail . It is a very lamentable thing , to see in what Extreams we are apt to lose both God and our selves ; First , Because neither Paul nor Apollos are any thing without God , or in comparison of God ; therefore some very rashly conclude , that they are nothing at all to them , and that the Ministry of such Men is of no use in the Church , but all are to be taught of God only . And 't is true , that our chief Teacher is God himself ; but if we will be taught of him , we must submit our selves to be taught by him as it pleaseth him to teach us , and not as we have a mind to be taught . What though the very best Instrument be able to do nothing by its self , out of the Workman's hand ? Yet even an indifferent one may do much , when managed by the hand of a skilful Workman . I shall only desire one thing to be granted me by him that resolves to be taught of God alone , without the Ministry of Men ordain'd to teach ; and I think it a very reasonable request , that before he thus put it to the venture whether he shall be taught or no , he be first very sure , that God will , as well as that he can , so teach him ; or , that he hath not ordained the Ministry of Men in his Church , or that he will , meerly to humour him , change his ordinary method , and cancel his own ordinance . It is certainly God alone that gives the Encrease in the Field , as well as in the Church ; and yet Men are not so unreasonable or confident , as to expect and relye upon a good Harvest from God without the Labour of the Husbandman . Why then should they expect the Fruit of the Spirit without the Labour of the Ministry , till God give them some better assurance of it than yet he hath done ? We must not indeed stint God's Power as though he could not work without this or that Instrument ; and yet neither must we slight his Institution , and neglect his ordinary method . He that would pluck God's Instruments , how mean soever they seem , out of his hand , and not give him the Glory of magnifying his Strength in the Weakness of Men ; tho' he do not thereby disable God from working , yet doth he enough to provoke him not to work . Others there be , who in another Extream seem to make God himself almost nothing , and the Minister all . Such are they who place the greatest part of their Religion in hearing many Sermons ; and when they have heard enough , are apt to perswade themselves , that they have served God well enough . They are wont to be very attentive , with a great deal of Affection , and it may be a great deal too much Admiration , to the Preacher ; and to talk much of him , and of his excellent Sermon ; and yet all the while are as regardless of God , and address as little to him for his Blessing , as tho' they had heard nothing at all of him , nor had any thing to do with him . It is very well , if God be not too often thus put off with a vain shew of Worship , and if the Preacher have not all , but only what in the coveted reputation of Hearers and Professors we catch at for our selves , of the Honour which is due unto Him. The delight which many of us take seems to be too much in the meer planting or sowing , and if that be done , according to our own opinion , artificially , we are mightily pleased ; and if not , more offended , and we count all the time lost ( as in sad truth it is ) which we have spent in hearing . The Harvest and Encrease is the thing that of all others we least think of ; as tho' we heard only for hearing 's sake . So our Ears be but constantly exercised , a barren Heart , which bringeth forth no Fruit of Righteousness to God , or to our Neighbour , in our Life and Conversation , never troubles us . We are apt to fancy , howsoever we live , that we love God very well , because we love to hear of him ; and if this love cool a little , so long as we can ever and anon warm it again by hearing we keep our selves , as we imagine , spiritually alive unto God. To these two sorts of People a third may be added , who seem to attribute so much to the choice of the Instrument or Preacher ; as if they thought that God himself is like to some Workmen , who cannot do their Work to any purpose , unless they have the very best Tools to work withal . Indeed , the Religion of a great many seems to lye in nothing else but the itch of the Ear ; which is a Disease , and not a vertue ; and no good Symptom of a sound Heart . The Apostle said long ago , That a time would come when Men would not endure sound doctrine , but after their own lusts would heap to themselves teachers , having itching ears , 2 Tim. iv . 3. Now , we may be sure , that where Mens Lusts and Affections chuse their Teachers , tho' the Ear may be clawed , the Heart will remain unsearched . Sound Doctrine will sit too hard upon the sore place , and make it uneasie . There are some soft Doctrines , which mightily please whilst they profit nothing . These prick not at the Heart , and so long the Itch may daily encrease , the more that the Sore within putrifies . And tho' the Christian decay , yet as the Itch encreases , the fancy of being a good Christian encreaseth with it ; and the Disease within becomes mortal e're it be felt , and the deluded Soul , in a ravishing Dream of going to Heaven , sinks pleasantly into Hell. 3. Let us , from what hath been said , learn how we are to behave our selves in relation to the Ordinances of God administred by Men. And first more generally , Let us see that we rightly discern and distinguish between the Work of GOD , and the Ministry of Man in every Ordinance ; neither expecting from Men what God alone can do , nor expecting that God will do that alone , which he ordinarily doth by the Ministry of Men. Remember what St. Paul hath told us , That tho' Men are Ministers by whom we believe , yet is it even as the Lord hath given to every man , ( v. 5. ) that he can either work in any measure , or hope to speed by his working . And tho' Ministers are Labourers together with God , in tilling and building , yet still we are God's husbandry , we are his building , ver . 9. Except therefore that the Lord build the house , they labour in vain that build it . Nay , if we trust too much to the Builders , then is their preaching vain , and our faith is also vain , seeing it stands , as the Apostle saith it ought not , in the wisdom of men , not in the power of God. More particularly , remember that the Men who minister to you in holy things , are still Men , and will as long as they live have more or less the Infirmities of Men. You must therefore be so just , as to allow for the common Infirmities of Human Nature , and so charitable too as to overlook some personal Failings . If the Workman build on the right Foundation , and by his true Rule ; if he do his Work truly , faithfully , and substantially ; this ought to satisfie : and tho' possibly there may be wanting something of that . stateliness , art , and politeness , which a more masterly and finer hand might have added to it , yet even thus , by the Blessing of God , it will go up apace till it reach Heaven . If we have already profited any thing by the Ministers we have had , we have already also learned thus much of them , That as they are Ministers of Christ , they are not to be despis'd ; and as they are no more but Ministers , they may be too much magnified . That as God can work by the very meanest of them , and we ought not to doubt but he will do so for them that love him ; so , provok'd to displeasure by our Sins , he may refuse to work by the most eminent and holy . For us therefore to side with , or to be puffed up for one against another , is a very unreasonable thing ; and we do but shew thereby , that we are yet too much carnal , and walk rather as Men than as Christians . If he that glorieth in Apollos had indeed profited by Apollos's preaching , as he ought to have done , he would be very well pleased with Paul. And if he that glorieth in Paul had improved in sincere Christianity by Paul's Ministry , he would be well enough pleased with Apollos . He hath not profited by either as he might have done , who is not very thankful to God , who hath provided so well for his Soul by the ministry of either ; or doth not wait with Faith and Patience for a Blessing , whichsoever of the two it is that he at present enjoyeth . I know , that it is pleaded by some , That they cannot profit , or are not edified so much by some as by others ; and possibly there may be some truth in this Plea of theirs , and yet , it may be , the fault doth not always lye where they would have it laid , but where they have no mind at all to find it . However , what is here pleaded deserves to be consider'd . And first , suppose we ( what in this whole Discourse is taken for granted ) that the Word of God , the wholesome Food of our Souls , is duly and fully , tho' it may be in a very familiar , and the most homely manner administer'd unto us . If so , then I must needs say , that I see no room at all for this Plea ; for it is no less than the Word of God that we receive , and that 's the Food whereby our Souls may live eternally , by whom soever , and after what manner soever it be convey'd unto us . The same living Water , coming from the same Spring , hath the same vertue , thro' what Conduit soever it may pass unto us . The sound we hear is the Man's , and that may be less grateful ; but still the Word is God's , and should be always welcome . Were it the Word of Men we are to be instructed in , we might well entertain it , according to the credit and reputation the Men have got with us , and so receive it proportionably with more or less Faith and Affection . But being the Word of God , as no instrument of conveyance , can add any thing to its worth and value , so neither ought any one to lessen its welcome . What , shall we vile Worms take that piece of state upon us , that we will not receive a Message of Peace and Reconciliation from the great and glorious King of kings , unless he will do us the honour to send it by one of his chief Servants ? Indeed he hath already , as unworthy as we are , done us a far greater honour than that , even to send it by his only Son , whom he hath made heir of all things , by whom also he made the worlds . God was in Christ , reconciling the world to himself , and Christ hath committed to us the word of reconciliation , 2 Cor. 5. We are Ambassadors for Christ , and in his stead , and though one may deliver the Mind of his Lord in better language , or with a more graceful behaviour than another , yet all speaking the same thing , in the same great name , and to the same end , ought to be honourably treated for their Master's sake . There is , without all dispute , a great deal of difference in the Abilities of Preachers , as there is also in the Tempers , Capacities , and Gusts of Hearers , and in the suitableness of the one to the other . And I will not say , that one may not profit more by some than he can by others . But what then ? Can he profit by the best and ablest without the Special Blessing of God ? And may he not with his Blessing profit by the weakest ? And ought he therefore to hate the one and love the other , to forsake the one and cleave to the other , or to be puffed up for the one against the other ? Let it be consider'd , First , That the Scales , it may be , hang a great deal evener than we ( for want of a single Eye ) yet think they do . As many good and pious People are edified , for ought we know , by him whom we forsake , as are by him we follow . As this Preacher suits best with the Capacity , Humor and Palate of some , so doth that also with those of others . And then where is the Advantage which the one hath above the other ? Or , what hath one Party here to glory in that another hath not ? Certainly it well becomes both to joyn together in the Praises of GOD , who as he hath given Men divers Capacities and Palates , hath also by as great a variety of Gifts left none of them unprovided for . If this Air , or this Dish of Meat , agree best with my Constitution , doth it therefore become me to decry all others as unwholesome , tho' they may agree as well with other mens Constitutions as these do with mine ? Secondly , That which is here pleaded is indeed a Disease and not a Virtue , a thing to be resisted and striven against , and , if possible , to be master'd , and by no means to be indulg'd in our selves . It is a shame for us to be always Children , and it is no advantage or commendation to any one to have a squeamish Stomach . Would we endeavour after a more healthful Constitution , and to be of a more masculine Temper ; would we learn to be Men indeed , both in Understanding and Humour , wholesome Food would at once both please and nourish us : and so long as we can have our Food in due season , and in full proportion , we would be less curious and nice , and no more pettishly refuse our Meat , because it is not so prepared as in every thing to hit exactly our Palates . Though therefore the Minister that excels another in any thing should not want from us his due Praise and Respect , yet neither need we under another want any thing that is necessary to our Spiritual Health . And were we as sensible as we ought to be of our great Unworthiness of the least of these Helps which God affords us , we would soon grow more thankful for what we have , and not through a squeamish humour lose the benefit of it . But next I ask this Question , and I beseech you take some pains in examining your selves , that ye may be able to answer it aright . Is there indeed , generally speaking , any truth in this Plea ? I dare not say there is none ; but I hope I may , without offence to any one , commend unto you all this ( as it seems to me ) very necessary Caution . Be not over-hastily confident , either that you cannot be edified , where as yet you are not ; or that you are indeed edified , where you think you are . Some persons I have known , who through an unreasonable prejudice have been even sick at the sight of some Meat , whereof they could never be perswaded to taste , and yet after they have but once or twice been prevailed with to eat of it , have fed upon it with much both delight and benefit . Possibly then you may not be edified , not because you cannot , but only because you think so , and will not try . And though you think you are edified , you may but think so ; for it may well be doubted that you are not edified by the Word of God , if you find it hath not the same good effect upon you delivered by one as by another . Take heed , lest what you call Edification be only the heightening of your Fancy for a Man , the enflaming of your Zeal for or against a Party , or the exciting of some Passion or other by certain modes of speech or gesture . I say this to no other end , but to put you upon an impartial examination of your own Hearts ; for I conceive , that pure Religion and Devotion are grounded upon and cherished by the Word of God only ; and therefore I see not but where that is plainly preached , and yet doth not move so much as when dressed according to Mens Fancies , those Men are not in love with the natural beauty of Religion , and God's Image thereon , but with the artificial beauty that Men bestow upon it . If the fault of your not profiting be really in the Minister , you are so far excusable , and no body can blame you if you go abroad to seek your Meat , when otherwise you must be famish'd at home . But if he preach God's Word soundly and intelligibly , how is the fault in him ? Some of you will say , it may be , that he is not a powerful Preacher ; but do you indeed know what it is that you say ? Why is not the same Word of God as powerful deliver'd by one as by another ? Doth it not sufficiently inform your Understandings ? That cannot be , for we suppose it soundly and intelligibly preached . Doth it not equally move your Affections ? That 's it you mean by powerful preaching , or nothing that I know of . And if so , why doth it not ? Here is the Word of God to do it , what then is wanting ? Is it a neat and curious composure , a smooth stile and fine cadence of Sentences , a pleasing noise and gingling of Words , a nimble Tongue and glib Elocution , a passionate and hot way of expression , the affected accenting or tuning of the Voice , the setting of the Countenance to the matter in hand , and humouring it either with smiles , frowns , or tears , a mimical action of the Body ? Or what is it ? Whatever it is , it is well if it be not something of Man only . I say not ; but most of these things are , in due place and season , decent and commendable : yet are they but such things as would work the same thing in the Theatre as in the Church , from the Stage as from the Pulpit . Now certainly there must be a great fault , where the Art of Man can affect us , and the Word of God cannot . To prevent this Self-deceit , I know nothing more proper than the often thinking on the Text I am now preaching on . Whomsoever therefore you hear , remember how very a Nothing he is in himself , and make your humblest and closest , and warmest applications to God himself . If you think you have not met with a Minister altogether suitable to the Needs of your Souls , yet blame not him that labours for you according to the measure of his talent . Reflect rather very seriously upon your selves , and see if you cannot find Sins enough to provoke God to with hold from you the Blessing you desire . The way to obtain a better , is to praise God for his Mercy in affording you any , and to acknowledge his Justice in sending you a worse , even for your Sin of not improving more under the worst of all . When you are truly humbled , and by Humility prepared to make a good use of whomsoever God at the present affords you , He will either bless the present more to your advantage , or send you a better in his stead . How mean soever you may think the person whom you at present hear , remember for your comfort , that God's power is always the same it ever was , and his Goodness no less to all that love him in sincerity . Come then purely in love to God , and he will never send you home without his Blessing . Your only business in these religious assemblies , is to apply the whole attention of your Souls to God in the several parts of his Worship ; and till you do so , you come for something else than to honour him . And how can you expect his Blessing when you are not employ'd in his service ? To close all . Come hither to treasure up the Word of God in your Hearts , that you may not sin against him , and let it dwell in you richly in all wisdom , that you may grow in grace , and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ daily . Wherefore laying aside all malice , and all guile , and hypocrisies , and envys , and all evil speakings , as new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word , that ye may grow thereby . And let your conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ. Stand fast with one spirit , in one mind , striving together for the faith of the Gospel : and do all things without murmurings and disputings , that ye may be blameless and harmless , the sons of God without rebuke , in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation , among whom may ye always shine as lights in the world , holding forth the word of life , that we may rejoice in the day of Christ , that we have not run in vain , neither laboured in vain . God grant you according to the riches of his glory , to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man ; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith , that ye being rooted and grounded in love , may be able to comprehend with all Saints , what is the breadth , and length , and depth , and hight : and to know the loue of Christ , which passeth knowledge , that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God. Now , unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think , according to the power that worketh in us , unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus , throughout all Ages , World without end . Amen . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A39249-e290 Deus incrementum dedit , non per illos sed per seipsum . Excedit hoc humanam humilitatem ; excedit angelicam sublimitatem ; nec omnino pertinet , nisi ad agricolam Trinitatem . * A Lecture preached weekly there .