HAuing lately spoken of these wordes ; In all thinges giue thankes , and quench not the Spirite : Touching the first , I shewed you , that it is an easier thing to obtaine of God , than to bee thankfull to him ; for moe haue gone away speeders , Luke 17 , 17. than haue gone away thankers . Then howe the wicked are beholding to God aswell as the iust , and therefore it is saide , that the sunne dooth shine vppon the iust and vniust . Then howe Iaacob came not so bare to Laban , Gen 19 , 30. ( when he brought nothing with him but his staffe in his hande ) as man commeth into this worlde , without strenght or staffe to sustain him , which made the Apostle to aske : 1 Cor 4 , 7. What haue you which you haue not receiued ? Therefore , to teach man to bee thankefull vnto his Maker , he was not made in Paradise , the place of ioye and happinesse ; but being made out of Paradise , hee was brought into Paradise , Gen 2 , 8. to shew how all his ioy and happinesse came from God , and not from Nature , that hee might knowe where to bestowe hys thankes . Therfore Dauid to perswad all men vnto thankfulnesse , saith : It is a good thing and pleasant to be thankfull . Psal 147 , 1. If hee had saide , no more but good , all which loue goodnesse were bounde to be thankfull , but when he saith not onely good , but pleasant too , all which loue pleasure are bounde to bee thankefull : and therefore , as Peters Mother in lawe , Math 8 , so soone as Christ had healed her of a feuer , rose vp immediatly to minister vnto him : So we so soone as Christ hath doone any thing for vs , shoulde rise vp immediatly to serue him . 1 Sam 1. As Annah when she had receiued a sonne from God , did consecrate him to God againe : so what soeuer we receiue of God , we must giue it to God againe ; that is , vse it to his glory , and make it one of our meanes to serue him , for all things which wee receiue in this life , are giuen vnto vs , least we should want any meanes to serue God .

Then because the Apostle requireth thankes for all thinges , I shewed you , that hee is not thankfull before God , which thanks him only for his benefites , but hee is thankefull in deede , which thankes him for his chastisement . It may bee while the Lord giueth , many will say : Blessed be the name of the Lord : but when the Lord taketh away , Iob 1 . who will say blessed be the name of the Lorde . There is one example them of Paules doctrine , which is : in all things to giue thankes . There is an other example of Paules doctrine , which gaue thankes to GOD for his rodde : for an obedient childe dooth not onely kisse the hand which giueth , but the rod that beateth .

After , speaking of these wordes , Quench not the Spirite ; I shewed you that the Spirite , doth signifie the gifts of the Spirite : the Spirite in the third of Mathewe , Math 3 , is likened to fire , and therefore Paule saieth well , Quench not the Spirite , because fire may bee quenched .

Heere I tooke occasion to speake of zeale , which is the fire of the Spirite ; shewing you that GOD is pleased with zeale , as men are pleased with loue . But as Christ did baptise with fire ; Math 3 , 11. so Iohn did baptise with water : And , as the holie Ghost descended with fire ; so hee did descend with a winde that cooleth fire : Acts 2 , shewing , that our zeale should bee a temperate zeale , Esay 58 , 2 , as our Masters was . Esaiah was commaunded to crye , but not to roare . The Iewes might not gather too much Manna , Exo 16 , 18. no more than they might gather too little : as there is a measure in knowledge , so there is a measure in zeale ; that is , be zealous according to discretion , as Paule saith , Rom 12 , 3. Bee wise according to sobrietie . The Disciples were commended for their zeale , Math 10 , 28. when they left all to followe Christ : but Christ reprooued them for their zeale , when they woulde pray for fire from Luke 9 , 55. heauen to consume the Samaritanes . Therefore zeale and discreation vnited togeather , are like the two Lyons which supported the throne of Salomon ; 1 Reg 10 , 20. and hee which hath them both , is like Moises for his mildnes , and like Phineas for his feruencie : therefore , as wine is tempered with water , so let discretion temper zeale . But I neede not bring water , to quenche that fire which is out already ; I would rather I could say of you , you are too zealous , as Paule tolde the Athenians they were too superstitious . Acts 17. 22. But our sicknesse is not a hot sicknesse , but a colde sicknesse ; the hotte bodie is distempered , but the colde bodie is dead .

Then I shewed you , howe the Spirite is quenched , as a man dooth quench his reason with ouer much wine : and therefore wee saye , when the wine is in , the wit is out ; because before hee seemes to haue reason , and nowe hee seemes to haue none : So our zeale , and our Faith , and our loue , are quenched with sinne . Euerie vaine thought , and euery idle worde , and euerie wicked deede , is like so many droppes to quench the Spirite of GOD . Some quench it with the businesse of this worlde : some quench it with the lustes of the flesh : Some quench it with the cares of the minde : Some quench it with long delaies : that is , not plying the motion when it commeth , but crossing the good thought with badde thoughtes , and doing a thing when the Spirite saith doe it not : as Acbab went to battaile after hee had consulted with the Prophet : therefore Paule saith ; Eph 4 , 30. Grieue not the Spirite : shewwing that the Spirite is often grieued before it be quenched , and this is principaly to bee remembred that when a man beginnes to grieue and checke , and persecute the Spirite , lightly hee neuer ceaseth vntill hee hath quenched it ; that is , vntill he seeme to haue no spirite at all , but walketh like a lumpe of flesh .

After Quench not the Spirite , followeth Despise not Prophecying : In the ende of this Epistle , Paule speaketh like a Father which is come to the ende of his life , who because hee hath but a while to speake , heapeth his lessons together , which he would haue his sonnes remember when hee is gone : so Paule , as though he were set to giue good counsaile , and had no leysure to speake that he woulde , sendeth the Thessalonians a briefe of his minde , which their meditation should after amplifie and expounde vnto them : His first aduise is , quench not the Spirite : that is , when a good motion commeth , welcome it like a friende , and crosse it not with thy lustes : for lustes are enemies to the benefite of the Soule .

The second Admonition teacheth how the first should be kept , Despise not prophecying , and the Spirite will not quench , because prophecying dooth kindle it .

The thirde Admonition teacheth howe to make fruite of the second , Try the doctrines of them which prophecie , & thou shalt not beleeue errour for trueth , but holde the best .

The fourth Admonition is the summe of all , and it commeth last , because it is longest in learning ; that is , Abstaine from all apparance of euill . This is the summe of al , for he which can abstaine not onely from euill , but from the apparance of euill , is so perfect a man , as can bee found in this sinfull life .

Place all these together , and it is as if Paule should say , Quench not the Spirite by despising of Prophecying , neither despise Prophecying , because all doe not Prophecie alike ; but rather when you heare some preach one way , and some an other ; when you see some follow him , and others followe him , doe you trye the doctrines by the Scripturs , Acts 17 , 11. as the men of Beroea did , and choose that which is best , and soundest , and truest , hauing alwaies such an eye to the Trueth , that you abstaine from all apparance of errour ; so iealous the Holy Ghost would haue vs of our faith , that wee set no Article vpon our Religion , but that which is an vndoubted truth ; as Moyses did nothing in the Tabernacle , but that which was shewed in the patterne set downe before him .

The occasion of these Lessons , seemes to come of this ; that there were some among the Thessalonians as there bee among vs , which did forsake all Religion , because the Preachers did not agree , or because the liues of Professors gaue some offence , therefore Paule sheweth that there is no cause , why they shoulde mislike the Word for the Preacher ; or why they shoulde despise Religion for the Professour , because the Word & the Religion is not theirs : for they can no more bee polluted by them than God . Then he concludeth , that seeing it is necessarie , that there shall be alwaies errours and heresies , to trye vs ; we should also trye them , and thereby bee prouoked so much the more from errour or heresie , that we abstaine euen from the appearance thereof , least wee fall into the sinne ; this is the scope of these wordes .

Despise not Prophecying . This Admonition is ( as it were ) the keeper of the former : for by prophecying the spirite is kindled , and without prophecying , the spirite is quenched ; and therefore after Quench not the spirite , Paule sayth , Despise not Prophecying : shewing , that as our sin dooth quench the spirite , so Prophecying doth kindle it . This you may see in the Disciples that went to Emaus : of whome it is sayde , when Christ preached vnto them out of the Lawe and Prophets , their Spirite was so kindled with his prophecying , Luk 24 , 32 , that theier heartes waxed hot within them .

This you may see againe in Saules Messengers , which were sent for Dauid , 1 Sam 19 , 20. when they came among the Prophets , and hearde them prophecie , their Spirite was so kindled , that they coulde not choose but prophecie also : in so much , that when Saule came after himselfe , and hearing the Prophets , as they did , the Spirite came vpon him likewise , and hee prophecied too , where-vpon it was said : 1 Sam 19 , 23. 24. Is Saul also among the Prophets ? This is no maruell that the Spirite of man shoulde bee so kindled , and reuiued , and refreshed with the word , for the word is called the foode of the soule : Heb 5. take away the worde from the soule , and it hath no foode to eate , as if you should take foode from the bodie , the bodie woulde pine : And therefore Salomon saith , without visions the people perrish : Prou 29 ▪ 18. that is , without out Prophecying the people famish . Therfore , he which loueth his soule , had not neede to despise Prophecying , for if hee despise Prophecying , then verily he famisheth his owne Soule , and is guiltie of her death .

The Apostle might haue said , Loue Prophecying , or honour Prophecying : But why dooth he forbid , to despise Prophecying ? Why did Christ say , The poore receiue the Gospell , Mat 11 , 5. but to shewe that the rich did contemne it ? Why dooth Paule say , I am not ashamed of the Gospell , Rom 1 , 16. but to shewe that manie are ashamed of it ? Euen so he saith , despise not Prophecying ▪ shewing , that the greatest honour we giue to Prophets , is not to despise them : and the greatest loue which we carrie to the Worde , is not to loath it . If wee doe not despise the Preachers , then we thinke that we honor them enough ; and if we doe not loath the Worde , then we thinke that we loue it enough : therefore the Apostle saith , Despise not Prophecying , for honour Prophecying .

Prophecying heere dooth signifie Preaching , Rom 1 ▪ 14. as it dooth in Rom 1 , 14. Will you knowe why Preaching is called Prophecying ? To adde more honour and renowne to the Preachers of the Word ; to make you receiue them like Prophets , and then Christ saith , Mat 10 , 41. you shall haue a Prophets rewarde : that is , not such a reward as you giue , but such a rewarde as God giueth .

Lastly , if you marke , Paule sayth not Despise not Prophets , but Prophecying ; signifying , that from the contempt of the Prophets , at last wee come to despise Prophecying too , lyke the Iewes , when they were offended with the Prophet , charged him to prophecie no more . Iere 11 , 21. Therfore as Christ warned his Disciples , to heare the Scribes and Pharisies , Mat 23 , 3. although they did not as they taught , so Paule warneth the Thessalonians , that if any Prophets among them , do not as they teach , and therefore seeme worthie to bee despised like the Scribes and Pharises : yet that they take heede , that they doe not despise Prophecying , for the Prophets .

Because the Preachers are despised , before the worde bee despised ; therefore we will speake first of their contempt . Christ asked his Disciples what they thought of him ? Mat 16 , 13. So I woulde aske you , what you thinke of Preachers ? Is he a contemptible person , which bringeth the Embassage of God ? 2 Cor 5 , 20 , which hath the name of an Angell , Reu 1 20 , and all his wordes are Messengers of life ? is he a contemptible person ? Prophets are of such account with GOD , that it is sayde : God will doe nothing , Amos 7 , 3. before hee reueale it vnto his Prophets : so Prophets are as it were GODS Counsellers . Againe , Kinges , Priestes , and Prophets , were figures of Christ : all these three were annointed with Oyle , 1 Kings 13 , 1 , to shewe that they had greater graces than the rest , but specially the Prophets are called men of God , to shewe that all which are of God , will make much of Prophets for Gods sake : therefore , 1 Cor 14 , 34. women are forbidden to take vppon them to prophecie , least that noble calling shoulde become vile and despised , by such vnskilfull handlers of it . Therefore when the Prophet Elisha , would send for Naaman the leaper , to come vnto him , these were his words : 2 King 5 , 8. Naaman shall knowe that there is a Prophet in Israell : as though all the glorie of Israell were chiefely in this , that they had Prophets and other had none . Therfore , when this Prophet was dead , Ioash the King came vnto his corse , and wept ouer his face , and cryed : O my Father , 1 King 13 , 14. my Father , the Charet of Israell and horsemen of the same : shewing , that the Chariots and horses , and Souldiours doe not so safegard a Cittie , as the Prophets which teach it , and pray for it . Howe ioyfull and glad was Lydea , when shee coulde drawe Paule and Silas to her house : If you thinke me to be faithfull come to Acts 16. 15. my house : shewing , that neuer any guests were so welcome to her house before . Howe tender was the Shunamite ouer Elisha , that shee built an house to welcome him , and to keepe him with her , thinkes all the places in her house too bad for him , shee built him a newe roome , and made him stay .

Howe much did the Galathians make of Paule , Gal 4 , 1● . that hee saith , They woulde pull out their owne eyes to doe him good ; So , once a Prophet was esteemed like a Prophet , and hath hee bidde you despise them nowe , which bad you to honour them before ? No , Paule chargeth vs to receiue our teachers , as hee was receiued himselfe : saying , Hee which laboureth in the Word is worthy of double honour : 1 Tim 5 , 14. That is , the preachers ( after a sort ) are as well to be honoured as the Ruler .

Aaron and Moyses were brethren . If Aarons Vrim and Thumi woulde haue serued : Exo 28 , 30. Moyses rod and staffe should not haue needed . But when the tongue could not perswade , then the rodde did compell .

As Paule sheweth the Thessalonians , howe the Preachers of the word should be honoured , so he teacheth the Phillippians how to honor their teachers , Phil 2 , 29. saying : Receiue him in the Lord with great gladnes , and make much of such : that is , shew your selues so glad of him , that hee may be glad of you . Haue you neede to be taught , why Paule woulde haue you make much of such ? because they are like Lampes , which consume themselues to giue light to other : so they consume themselues to giue light to you ; Because they are like a Henne , which clocketh her chickens together from the Kite : so , they clocke you together from the Serpent ; Because they are like the Shout , Ios● 6 , 20. which did beate downe the walles of Iericho : so they beate downe the walles of sinne ; Because they are like the fiery Piller which went before the Israelits to the lande of Promise , for they goe before you to the lande of promise ; Exo 13 , 20. because they are like Moises , which stept betweene the plague and the people , because they are like good Andrewe , that shewed his bretheren the Messias , Iohn 1. 14 , so they call you to see the Messias , and therefore make much of such . If wee shoulde make much of Prophets , how much should we make of prophecying ? If we should loue our instructers , howe much should we loue instruction ?

Simeon keeping in the Temple met with Christ , Luke 2 , 28. so , many hearing the Worde haue met with knowledge ; haue met with comfort ; haue mette with peace ; haue met with saluation ; but without the Word neuer any was conuerted to God : therefore , whensoeuer the word is preached , euery one may say to himselfe , as the Disciples saide to the blinde man ; Be of good comfort , Mar 10 , 49. he calleth thee : Be of good comfort the Lorde calleth thee ; But when the word is not preached , them euery man may say to himselfe , Beware the deuill calleth thee . When the Prophets went from Ierusalem , then sworde , and famine , and pestilence , and all the plagues of God rayned vpon them , euen as the fire came vppon Sodome , Gen 19. so soone as Lot was gone out .

There be two trades in this lande , without which the Realme can not stand ; and one is the Queenes souldiours , and the other is the Lordes souldiours , and the Lordes souldiers are hardly vsed , like the Queenes souldiers ; for from the Marchant to the Porter , no calling is so despised , so contemned , so deryded , that they may beg for their seruice : for their liuing is turned to an almes ; one saith , Moyses is quis : that is , the Magistrate is some bodie : but Aaron is quasi quis : that is , the Minister is no bodie , because no bodie is despised like him . Receiue a Prophet in the name of a Prophet , nay , receiue a Prophet in the name of an enemie , as Achab receiued Eliah , Art thou heere myne enemie ? 1 King 21 , 20. If Paule had liued in our dayes , he would not haue saide , Despise not the Prophets , but persecute not the Prophets : for hee shoulde haue seene , not onely despisers of the Prophets , but mockers of them ; not onely mockers , but slaunderers of them ; not only slaunderers , but hunters , biters , and smiters of them . Charme the Charmer neuer so sweetly , let his song be neuer so pleasant , yet many Adders are readie to stoppe their eares , and to stoppe his mouth ; like a Birde which is smitten in her song , of the Archer whom she singeth vnto ; euen as Saule let his speare flye at Dauid , 1 S●m 19 , 10 while he played vppon his harpe to solace and comfort , and driue the euill spirite from him . Once they did builde houses for the Prophets like the Shunamite , 2 Kin 4 , 10. but nowe they take their houses from them , and thinke they doe God good seruice , when they make them , and their Wiues , and their Children , and their Seruants beggars . Once Paule saide to Timothie , 1 Tim 4 , 12. Let no man despise thy youth : shewing , that Preachers shoulde not bee despised for their youth ; but nowe they despise the younge Prophets and the olde too , with great contempt .

Howe is the double honour turned to single honor ? Nay , how is our honour turned to dishonour ? Mal 1 , 3. If I bee a Master ( saith God ) where is my feare ? so , if we be Prophets , where is our reuerence ? Dooth not the contempt of Prophets crye vnto God , as well as the blood of Abell . Gen 4 , 10.

When the Messengers which were sent vnto the Vineyeard for fruites , were beaten of them which shoulde haue laden them ; then it is said , that the Lorde of the Vineyarde waxed worth , Mat 21 , 43. and saide , that hee woulde let the Vineyarde vnto others , which shoulde yeelde vnto him the fruites thereof .

The meaning of this Parable is this , that when the Preachers and Teachers which Christ sendeth to his Church for fruits , are abused and persecuted , or contemned and scorned , by those whom they ( by him appointed ) doe call vnto the heauenly banquet ; then will hee remooue the glorie of their Light , and the sweete comfort of his Gospel to others , which will yeelde him the fruites thereof . Theerfore what may those feare which haue vsed Christs Ambassadours , as Ammon vsed Dauids Ambassadours . 2 Chro 10 , 4. Ierusalem is left without one Prophet , because shee despised them . Sodom was burned because she dispised Lot : & the whole world was drowned because it despised Noah . And are not these examples written for our warning .

The time came when Saul sought for a Prophet , 1 Sam 28. and GOD woulde not aunswere him by Prophets , because hee had despised his Prophets before : so , the time commeth , when you shall aske , Wheere is the Seer ? and they shall say , he is rapt away like Elias ; a Prophet was amongst vs , but when hee was despised in Ierusalem , 2 Kings 2 , 2 , 11. he was sent to Niniuie , Is not iudgement begun already ? dooth not the Gospell stande at the doore , as if shee were ready to take her leaue : are wee not come from despising of Prophets , almost to the despising of prophecying too ? Doe not many walle in the streetes , while wee preach in the Temple .

The beastes came to the Arke to Gen 7. 9. saue themselues , and men will not come to the Church to saue themselues . But we maye crye vnto them as the Children did vnto their fellowes in the Market : Wee haue pyped vnto you , Mat 11 , 17. and you woulde not daunce , Wee haue lamented vnto you , and you would not mourn . Some come to heare vs , but they come as Naaman came to Elisha , 2 Kings 5 , 11. when the Prophet had tolde him what hee shoulde doe , hee mocked him for it , and thought that hee knewe a better way than that himselfe . So they come to heare vs , but they thinke they can teach vs . But they must remember that Paule sayth : 1 Cor 1 , 27. GOD hath chosen the foolish to confound the wise . Therefore , if they thinke themselues wise , let them thinke vs those fooles whome God hath chosen to confounde them . For although at all other times we are as plaine and simple as Iacob , yet at this time we haue a promise , and it is giuen vs for your sake , to speake sometime that which we conceiue not ourselues , because the houre is come when GOD hath appointed to call some of you , as he hath done some of you before : therefore as the Princely spirite came vppon Saule when hee should reigne , to teach him howe he should rule ; so the Propheticall spirite commeth vpon Teachers , when they should teach , to teach them how they should speake : therfore Christ was content to be baptised of Iohn , so be you contented to bee instructed of vs ; that if wee bee more simple than you , the glorie of God may appeare more in conuerting you by vs .