THE GOOD Shepherds duty. By George Phillips. Ecclesiast. 24.39. Behold how that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all them that seek wisdom and knowledge. printer's or publisher's device P S ET VSQUE AD NUBES VERITAS TVA Printed for William Leake, and are to be sold at his shop in Paul's Churchyard at the sign of the Greyhound. 1597. To the Worshipful and right Christian Gentleman, M. Thomas Aldersey Esquire, health and salvation. KNowing (right religious gentleman) that Idleness is as like the mother of goodness, as ignorance is to the mother of devotion, and having no meeter matter whereon to meditate then how I should bestow my study, nor fit opportunity wherein to exercise my talon, I durst not lay it up in a napkin, for I know that my Lord will have his own with advantage: I have so near as I could among many fields made choice of good ground, for there is hope of fruit, that he which soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together: may it stand with your good liking to accept of my poor pains, indicted to suppress Idleness, and presented to yourself in sign of good will, etc. Your worships to be commanded in all Christian duty George Phillips. ¶ To the Christian Reader, grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and his son our Lord jesus Christ. SEeing Paul was not ashamed to write one thing often, Phillip. 3, 1 I hope to be unblamed for publishing that to their eyes, that never heard it with their ears, Levit. 21, 3 that all may make public use of my private pains, like the clean Kine that chewed the cud: as jacob was not content to have his bones buried in Egypt, Gen. 47, 30 but made his son swear to carry them unto Cana: so my desire was that more might be edified by reading these small pains, than could have been profited by preaching of it in a long season, whereby thou seest (gentle Reader) how Christ standeth at thy doors, knocking: Open to me my sister, Cant. 5.2 my love, my dove: excuse not thyself then, with I have put off my clothes, and how shall I put them on? he ever loveth thee: for he never leaveth thee until thou hast given him entertainment, Acts. 12, 16 as Roda let in Peter: if thou art as desirous to find him as he is diligent to seek thee, Luke, 15.4 leaving 90, and 9 in the wilderness, to win one that wandereth: Cant. 1, 6 inquire after him. Where feedest thou at noon, where sleepest thou at night? that I may come unto thee. Matth. 17.2 The Lord grant thee to see him in his kingdom, as Moses and Elias did on mount Thabor. Thy servant for Christ's sake George Phillips. 2 Cor. 4, 5 The Text. Ecclesiastes. 12. verse. 9 And the more wise the Preacher was, the more he taught the people knowledge: and caused them to hear. THis scripture which I have taken in hand, showeth the pains of a faithful Pastor: first it commendeth the calling, Hebru. 5.4 as the author to the Hebrews did Aaron's Priesthood, by saying that no man taketh that honour to himself, but he that is called of God as Aaron was: and it showeth what diligence is required of him that is called, Mala. 2, 7 for as Mallachy said: The priests lips must preserve knowledge: so Solomon said, The more wise the Preacher was, the more he taught the people knowledge. The preachers mouth is like the gold pot wherein Manna was preserved for posterities: Exo. 16.33 we will hear of the goodness of this calling, and then know what pain is expected from him that hath this dignity. Exod. 2, 16 The holy tongue doth honour jethroe the priest of Madian with the name of a Prince, as here Solomon doth the name of a Preacher with the person of a King: and God admonishing Ezechiell of his place and charge, said: Son of man I have made thee a watch man over the house of Israel: Ezec. 33, 7 and to jeremy he said, Thou standest before me as my mouth: that none should doubt but that they are Gods Lieutenants upon earth in spiritual affairs, so God advanceth his ministers above the rest, as Pharaoh lifted up joseph above all the Egyptians: Gen. 41, 40 look what they command you in the Lord, that must you practise in your life as Israel said unto josua: josua. 1, 17 even as we obeyed Moses in all things, so will we obey thee, only the Lord thy God be with thee as he was with Moses. Therefore said Solomon The words of the wise are like goads and nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, given of one Teacher: Eccle. 12, 11 Goads to prick you forward to Godward in the way of goodness, wherein you are as slow as the leaden heeled Ass, and the Snail paced Ox: Colos. 3, 16 Apoc. 10, 10 nails fastened: because the word of Christ should dwell in you. As john did eat the Angel's book, and men are like a rotten post, wherein nothing tarrieth that is not fastened well or driven up to the head: by the masters of assemblies, because the Pastor is the master of the congregation: Therefore said the Disciples unto Christ, Master, Luke. 11, 1 john. 10, 14 teach us to pray, etc. Given of one teacher, because Christ is the head shepherd, and we all learn of him what to say, Ezec. 33.7 as you learn of us what you should do: Christ reasoning with the harebrained jews about their gadding into the wilderness to see john the Baptist, mocketh their folly with, Matth. 11, 7 Went you to see a reed shaken with the wind, went you to see a man in silken raiment? or went ye to see a Prophet? and at the last telleth them that he was more than a prophet, by how much he that saith: Christ is come, excelleth him that said long sithence, Christ will come: so that all this being laid together, john Baptist is better than a man of mean or weak gifts, john Baptist is better than a silken Courtier, john Baptist is better than a Prophet: teacheth that men should speak as reverently of the preacher, as the son of God did of this Prophet. Apoc. 2, 1, Therefore the spirit graced the seven Ministers of those seven Churches in Asia, with the name of Angel. God hath honoured them divers ways at sundry times, partly, by working miracles by them, as when Peter and john restored his limbs that was a cripple all his life before, Acts. 3, 2 to signify that God was with them, speaking to him by them, as he did to Ierichoes walls by seven trumpets of Rams horns, josua. 6, 20 partley by persuading men to amendment of life by them, as Agrippa said to Paul, thou almost persuadest me to be a Christian: Acts. 26, 28 But especially by evicting and convincing the hardest heart by them, as Pharaoh confessed to Moses and Aaron, The Lord your God is holy, Exod. 9, 27 but I and my people are wicked: when Paul spoke of his education, he said: Acts, 22, 3 I was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, signifying that men should honour their teachers, Luke. 10, 39 as Mary kneeled at Christ's feet: and therefore the king is commanded to receive the law at the hands of the Priest, 2 King. 12 as jehoash the Prince was instructed by jehoiada the priest: and they that will understand the excellency of this calling, Hebr. 7, 7 must know that when Abraham the Patriarch is blessed of Melchizedech the priest, the lesser is blessed of the greater. As the place is great, so the pains of the Preacher cannot be little, as Paul said: 1. Tim. 3, 1 He that desireth the office of a Bishop, desireth a worthy work: whether you take it for the place or for the pains, for he that desireth the place, must deserve it with his pains, because: jere. 48, 10 Cursed is he that handleth the works of the Lord negligently. I tell you the small care and great ease that a number have, is a great cause why God's building goeth forward so slackly. Wisdom is not compared only to a feast for the pleasure of it, Prou. 9, 2 but to that tree of knowledge, for the profit thereof, that men might desire to eat of it every day, Gen. 3, 22 as the people flocked about Christ to hear the word. Matth. 13.4 The fear of God is wisdoms ingress, the knowledge of God is wisdoms progress, and the glory of God is wisdoms perfection. The first point is, 1 Reg. 3, 9 Eccles. 5, 16 Acts. 7, 22 as Solomon desired wisdom, so he excelled in wisdom: as Moses did in the Egyptian knowledge. This was the means of joseph's advancement in Pharaos' kingdom, Gen. 41, 40 Dan. 2, 48 and of daniel's preferment in Babylon: and you may see how the spirit of David the father spoke in Solomon the son: the father said, Psalm. 78, 7 I feed Israel with a faithful heart: the son said, The more wise the preacher was, the more he taught the people knowledge. Solomon was like his ships, 1 Reg. 9, 28 that when they had gotten gold at Ophir, they brought it home to him: for he seeketh for wisdom to serve his people with it. The Queen of Saba first heard the report of salomon's great wisdom, and after that she must needs come to try it: so the wisdom of God resembleth the Adamant, by drawing unto it the furthest heart, 1 Reg. 10, 6 as it did the Queen of Saba: and the Iron rod bruising the hardest heart, Psalm. 2, 9 Exod. 9, 27 Dan. 4, 30 as it did Pharaohs: and the right sceptre, by suppressing the proudest king, as it did Nabuchadnezzar; if you lack heavenly wisdom, you must come to the Preacher, in whose mouth knowledge is preserved, like the manna that was laid up in the golden pot, Exo. 16, 33 for the spirits of the Prophets being subject to the Prophets: 1 Co. 14, 32 1 Co. 14, 12 some have the utterance of wisdom, as Paul like a wise master builder laid the foundation of religion in Corinth, 1 Cor. 3, 10 but if a man had as much wisdom as Solomon had, yet so like a bottomless pit is God's wisdom, that as he which cannot number the stars is taught to be content with seeing them: job. 22, 12 so what we cannot express, we must admire, as Paul said: O the depth of the riches, Rom. 11, 33 both of the wisdom and knowledge of God we may conjecture that God's wisdom is exceeding great, Matth. 2, 1 in that the wise men came from the East to seek more wisdom from his son. And in that they only are accounted right wise, Matth. 7.24 that hearing his word will be led by it, as the wizards followed the star. Matth. 2, 9 For although men say of themselves, like Laodicea, Apoc. 3, 17 I am rich and increased in goods, and have need of nothing, yet for so much as she was wretched, poor, and blind therefore Paul's counsel is, Roma. 12.3 Be not wise in your own conceit. Matt. 23, 34 And the spirit spoke not in sport that said: Behold I send unto you wise men: but meant that the neglecting of God's mercy, is the next way to pluck down his justice. 1 Sam. 3, 13 As old Ely broke his neck for not nurturing his young sons. You are never so safe as when ye serve God. Ely forgetting God, 1 Sam. 4, 18 broke his neck from falling with a low chair, as soon as jesabel by tumbling out of a high window. 2 Reg 9, 33 And they that stand (in their own conceit) were best to take heed of a fall, 1. Co. 10, 12 and use the Preachers knowledge like a looking glass: endeavouring to amend the fault while ye are before the glass; jam. 23, 24 25 lest going away, ye forget what was amiss. And then one sin will draw on another, as Lot's daughters first made their old father drunken, Gen. 19, 33 34 and then lay with him. Or use it as salt (for you must have salt in yourselves) as if you were either shaped out of the pillar that was Lot's wife: Mark. 9, 50 or Elizeus had sprinkled some of that salt upon you which he cast into the spring of jerico. 2 Reg. 2, 21 Solomon will note unto us now, what properties are found in a faithful Pastor. The first is knowledge or wisdom found in Solomon the Preacher: as if he had read the book offered to Ezechiel. Ezec. 2, 9 The second is zealous teaching, as if salomon's mouth had been set a kindling with the coal of zeal that touched Esayes mouth: Esay. 6, 6 for the more wise the preacher was, the more he taught the people knowledge. The third is holy life, wherein such men participate of the goodness of God: leading men by example of life, as well as by word of mouth. And therefore a book and hand were both presented to jeremy. jere. 1, 9 And this causeth the people to hear as willingly, as the preacher speaketh diligently. As Solomon caused the people to hear: so Christ saith, Matt. 15, 10 we must hear and understand: for Solomon taught the people knowledge. Havilah hath not only good gold: but it hath also Bdelium, Gene. 2, 11 12 and the Onyx stone, and wisdom comprehendeth many good things. Much teaching, and little learning: much speaking, and little hearing: much preaching and little practising, 2 Co. 14, 28 maketh men in years children in understanding. The wisdom of Solomon hath proceeded immediately from God, that granted him that favour in Gibeon, 1 Reg. 3.6 and as God gave it him, so he giveth it to his people: for such as have freely received must freely give. When the Queen of Saba had sounded salomon's wisdom she said: 1 Reg. 10, 9 Blessed be the Lord thy God which loved thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel, because he loved Israel ever, and made thee King, to do equity and righteousness. Honouring the giver, and praising the teacher of wisdom. Psal. 78.73 David ruled the people by the dexterity of his hands, and Solomon instructed them by the wisdom of his heart. So the king that careth not for his subjects, like Solomon, 2. Chro. 15 3 is like Asa that let his people be without a priest, to keep them in ignorance. The Magistrate that doth not zealously endeavour to minister discipline, is like the unjust judge, Luke. 18.5 that would not do justice but for shame. The pastor that instructeth not his flock painfully, is like the abomination of desolation: Matt. 24, 15 for he sitteth where he ought not. The father that bringeth not up his son in the fear of God, 1. Sam. 2, 22 23, 24 is like old Elie: And the mother that nurtureth not her daughter virtuously, can claim no kindred of the wife of Abraham: 1. Pet. 3.6 for they be Sara's daughters who do Sara's duties. Paul commended the grandmother and natural mother of Timothy, for their careful keeping of him in that faith, which maketh men wise to salvation. 2. Tim. 1, 5 And he thought that Titus was never wise enough, Titus. 2.2 until he could teach all sorts their duties. Because the Church is like a ship, and like a vine, and like a harvest, and like a body. For sith it is a ship, all should help to guide it (like the Mariners that were troubled in the tempest where jonas was) for their own safety. jona. 1, 4, 5 Seeing it is a vine all should help to plant the vine, in hope to drink the wine: as Noah drank of the vine that he planted. And seeing it is an harvest, they that look to mow must learn to sow. Gene. 9, 21 And if it be a body, let every member do his duty. When Elie was old, and sat in his chair with his sight dim, his hands shaking, his legs feeble, his back weak, and his heart trembling, he was so unwieldy that with fear he fell from his chair, 1 Sam. 4.18 and broke his neck. Serve God then while you are young, that he may save you, when you sit in a chair for very age like old Elie. The impotent must be borne withal, for they show that we may have our limbs, but not the use of them, as a man may have fire in a flint stone, and yet feel no heat. Therefore said Christ, that Lazarus lay at the rich man's gate. Luke. 16, 20 An image is so called, partly because it is the likeness of the thing it doth represent: but specially because it is the imagination of man, Gene. 6, 5 whose thoughts being only evil, he imagined that he could make his maker. As jereboam said, jere. 44, 17 The calves that he erected in Dan and Bethel were the gods that brought Israel from Egypt: 1 Reg. 12, 28 So the meaning of the Preacher is, that he which hath the chief place in the Church, and yet is like Dagon in the Temple: having a mouth that is shut up like jericoes' gates: A tongue, josua. 6, 1 and yet possessed with a dumb devil, having ears & heareth not his duty, and eyes but leadeth not the blind. He whose wisdom is pregnant, whose learning is competent, and whose body is healthful, & yet is in all points helpless in his calling, that is an Idol. The purest water with still standing soon stinketh, and is noisome, like those waters of jerico. 2 Reg. 2, 19 james. 5, 3 Coin hoarded up, is subject to cankering. And one talon must be used: Luke. 19, 23 for thy Lord looketh for his own with advantage. He that said, Psal. 128, 2 Thou shalt eat the labour of thy own hands, meant that men should earn bread before they eat bread. As Paul said, 2 Thes. 3, 10 He that will not work let him not eat. For such as eat that which they earn not, Gen, 3, 19 do refuse the burden of the sons of Adam. And transgress that law: 2. Thes. 3, 12 eat your own bread. But Solomon is like the honey Bee, giving us the sweet that we never sweat for. Solomon had not all his wisdom at once, but the more wise he was the more he taught the people knowledge. Exo. 24, 18 He attended on God's leisure for wisdom, like Moses for the law. And the people tied themselves to the preaching time, as the Cripples at Bethesda to the Angels moving of the water. john. 5, 3 All cannot say like Esay, Esay. 50.4 The Lord hath given me a tongue of the learned: Esay. 62.1 but all must say like Esay, For Zion's sake I will not hold my peace. They that cannot do what they would, must will what they can. Acts, 3, 6 As Peter said: Gold and silver have I none, but such as I have I give thee. job said, job. 31, 17 that he gave of his bread to the hungry: and Solomon imparted his wisdom to the ignorant. As birds record not always, but sometimes they sing out: as after buds cometh fruit: Num. 17, 8 So preachers devise how to make you heavenly wise: and bud like Aaron's rod, john. 5, 17 to give unto you the never dying fruit. My father worketh hitherto, & I work (said Christ) So no time is left for idleness, nor any occasion slipped over, wherein or whereby we may benefit our brethren by interpreting the Scriptures, as Christ did to the Disciples in the way to Emaus: Luk. 24, 27 Matt. 13.52 that they may be able so bring out of their treasure things both new and old. There be short tales, and our life is likened to one of them: to admonish us that seeing our days wear out of date, Psal. 90, 9 as a short tale that is told draweth quickly to conclusion, therefore all our life is little enough to do good in, and we should still be helping them that do most need, and chiefly desire our aid. Whether it be in temporal matters, or in spiritual affairs, Nehemiah said at the feast of Taberna●les: Eat of the fat, Nehe. 8, 10 and drink of the sweet, and send part to such as have none. And Christ opened the Scriptures to them that talked of the scriptures: seeing the Preacher taught the people knowledge, how say the Papists, that ignorance is the mother of devotion? The doctrine of Solomon the preacher was it from heaven or of men? if it be from heaven, upon pain of damnation they must believe it: if of men, for shame let it not be unconfuted. Christ was of salomon's mind, for he said: john. 17, 3 This is eternal life, to know thee the true God and jesus Christ whom thou hast sent: but by the Pope's principle they that will be saved, must be ignorant. Roma. 10.2 Paul condemned that devotion that was not begotten of knowledge: the papists commend devotion, and condemn knowledge, as though every one should not love him that doth beget, john. 5, 1 Matt. 22.29 as well as him that is begotten. You err because you know not the scriptures (said Christ) nay saith the Pope, the Church cannot err. Such as are blind, and would feign see, think themselves still out of the way: but they that are wilfully blind, think like Papists that they cannot step awry. They that kept knowledge under lock and key, Matt. 23, 13 claim kindred of the Papists: for they neither open to other nor enter themselves. When talents were delivered, Luke, 19.13 the owner said, occupy till I come: soft and fair saith the Papist, for we may do works of supererogation, and so you may soon have your own with advantage: Luke. 17, 10 as though none of them were unprofitable servants, but could perform their duties and more too. You ●●e how truly the Pope is called An●●christ, Matt. 28, 19 for opposing himself against ●hrist: Christ said, Go and teach all nation's: The Pope saith, stay & hold ●our peace. Esay. 62, 1 Therefore Esay thwar●●th him with, For Zion's sake I will not ●old my peace. Preachers love Zion for Zion's sake, ●hey love the Church, because it is ●he Church of God. 1 Cor. 4, 1, 2 They study to ●nstruct you, and therefore are called stewards to give that to you which is given to them: of whom it must be fulfilled that was said to our Saviour Christ: Mark. 12, 14 Thou teachest the way of God ●ruly. And the people must profit by his pains, as the Corinthians did by Paul's preaching, 1 Corin. 1, 5 who thanked God ●hat they were made rich in all learning and knowledge. Eccles. 1.7 As all rivers run into the Sea that it may send them back to benefit a common wealth: so God hath heaped many blessings upon one man, that he might help other that hath them not. Therefore Solomon caused the people to hear that the Pastor and the people might consent together in the word; 1 Reg. 7, 13 Acts. 4, 6 as Solomon and Hiram agreed in the Temples work: he must teach like the Apostles, and they must hear like Mary. Luke. 10, 39 The teacher applying him to the capacity of the hearer, and the hearers hearkening attentively to his doctrine: Exod. 25, 20 as the Cherubins that covered the mercy seat looked one toward another. God moved attention before he spoke to Israel, and David (by God's example) conditioneth with them, That if they will come and hear him, Psal. 34, 11 he will teach them the fear of the Lord, which proveth not that if the flock hold back from hearing them, the preacher may with draw his speaking. If Zion would not hear for her own good, Esay. 62, 2 Ezec. 2, 5 yet Esay must open his mouth for the church's sake: and Ezechiell must speak in the name of the Lord, that they may know that there hath been a Prophet among them: for his sure discharge, and their certain confusion. The Israelites always camped where the Ark was, josua. 3, 5 and if Christians would attend upon the Church, that would be verified of the Preachers pains in them, that was spoken of the twelve stones that joshua erected in jordan: josua. 4, 9 There they have remained until this day. But this maketh a great many to spend their time as idly as the prodigal son consumed his money vainly. Luke. 15.13 That sin hath so many & so mighty patrons to soothe it up: as the high priests hearted the Soldiers with we will save you harmless. Matt. 28.14 Therefore men are seldom or never touched in conscience with the Preachers pains, john 23, 22 as the Disciples were in spirit with Christ's spirit: but sit in the Church as though they neither knew where they were, nor what to do as Israel in captivity said, How shall we sing the lords song in a strange land? Psal. 137, 4 But take heed, for your conscience is like your eye: for as the least hurt offendeth the tender eye, so your conscience will accuse you both of every idle hour, and of every minute that you have misspent. And men sleep most, when they should wake most, like those fond Virgins who thought their oil would never be spent, Matth. 25, 5 and as the prodigal son thought his purse bottomless: but you see it is wisdom to have oil of our own, for The just man must live by his own faith. Abac. 2.4 Though the Preachers have the book in their hands, yet they hold the law in their mouth. Therefore said God to Ezechiel, Ezech. 2, 8 Open thy mouth and eat that I give thee. And to josuah: josua. 1, 8 Let not this book of the law depart out of thy mouth. Matth. 11, 7 So you must hear with your ears, and hearken with your heart, because the jews went but to see john Baptist, they carried eyes chiefly: but such as come to hear a Preacher, bring ears specially. Every gift was given to edify, as eyes to see with, ears to hear with: and they must be employed in their several service. Therefore said john that he wrote that which our eyes have seen, 1 john. 1, 1 our ears have heard, and our hands have handled of the book of life. Gen. 2, 17 He that of all the trees in the garden kept but one untouched, of all the seven days requireth but one to be sanctified to himself: Exo. 20, 10 and if we cannot afford him that we wrong him much. As the mean is directed to the end: so God sanctified the seventh day unto us, that we might still keep it holy unto him. And therefore we assemble ourselves to the house of God to hear the word of God: as the people said one to an other concerning Ezechiels' preaching: Ezec. 33.30 Come I pray you, let us go to the house of the Lord, and hear what is the word that cometh from the Lord. When God commanded that bells should be hanged on Aaron's garment he gave this reason for it; That when Aaron goeth into the holy place before the Lord, Exo. 28, 35 his sound may be heard. So that if Preachers must sound like Aaron's bells in their office of teaching, that they may be heard, than people must hearken like Israel to his sound, that they may be fruitful like the pomegranates on Aaron's garment. GOD would have a course of speakers, and a course of hearers: a course of teachers, and a course of learners: a course of Preachers, and a course of practisers: Psal. 122.3.4 when the Psalmist said that jerusalem was builded like a City at unity in itself; he proved it with: For thither the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord to testify to Israel to give thanks to the name of the Lord. So that jerusalem is never builded like a city at unity in itself, until the servants of God assemble themselves willingly to serve the Lord. Therefore come diligently and spend your time fruitfully in the house of the Lord, lest ye depart from the word like judas from the Sacrament, Luke. 22.3 as though you had tasted the savour of death. Luke, 22.3 Sit not in the house of God like joseph in the jail: Gone, 40, 14 thinking every minute a month until you be gone, you must forget your own people, and your father's house, and incline your ear to consider what God saith before he will have pleasure in your beauty. Psal. 45.10 11 Matth. 13.7 Some trees are fruitless of themselves, and keep the ground so too, and such are dumb ministers, who have no heavenly wisdom themselves, and much less can teach the people knowledge: Matt. 21, 19 and therefore are cursed like the Fig tree. Some ground is barren by nature, and maketh the trees fruitless that grow therein, and such are the hard hearted people; in whom the immortal seed can take no deep root: and these are hopeless, Matt. 13 20 21 like that stony ground in the Gospel, who have only the name, Apoc. 3, ● but not the nature of the true Church; as the Sardians were said to live when they were dead indeed. Zechariah 11. vers. 17. O idle shepherd that leaveth the flock: the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right ye. His arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. FINIS.