THis mournful Prophet Ioel sent from The time of this prophesie the Lorde vnto the Iewes onely , at that time when Hoseah prophesied vnto the ten tribes ( as it is thought ) giueth that whole nation of the people , most lamentable signes of sorrowfull plagues , and imminent dangers hanging ouer their heads . For the condition of this people began to be like the estate of a desperate sicke man , whose health being wasted by continuall diseases , the Physicians surcease to administer medicines , and leaue him to be lamented by his friendes , that their waterie eies and sorrowfull soules , may either speedily worke the recouerie of his health , or else religiously adorne his carcase for the graue : Euen so the prophet beginneth where nature faileth , that whereas the sinnes of this people could not be purged by plentie , nor the sores of their soules be cured by mercie , he commeth foorth like a mourner with sad gestures and dolefull speeches , either to turne them from their euils , or else to lament them to their funerals . His words be few because his teares be many , and his Sermons short because they tell of sorrowes .

This is therefore my purpose so farre foorth to expound The scope of this labour . this prophesie , as is requisite for the present times : for seeing there is too pleasant an harmony in the sinnes of Iudah and England , it shall not be amisse to follow the example of the Spirite of God , either to marre the musicke by these mournfull ditties , or else to bring these instruments oft euill out oftune , that the strings of their sinnes may be vntwisted by the teares of their soules . The prophet by his owne example teacheth , and by his continuall Sermons exhorteth the people to lament their dangers that now were hanging ouer their countrie .

The Spirite of God deliuereth this message in these two partes . The first concerneth the nation of the Iewes God The diuision of this prophesie . his deere people , in the two first chapters : and the other part concerneth their deadly enimies , which is deliuered in the thirde chapter . That part which concerneth the Iewes , containeth most fearefull and forcible reasons to moue their rebellious harts : as first a particular rehearsal of those iudgements that now were comming , which is in the first chapter and vnto the eighteenth verse of the second . Secondly , most sweete promises of large liberalitie , if yet ( though sentence of destruction were pronounced ) they would receiue the pardon : before the iudgements is set the stile of the prophet , or the inscription of the whole booke contained in the three first verses ; wherein he describeth the summe of the prophesie , by calling it the word of the Lord : First by shewing the ministering cause thereof , namely , The word of the Lord which came to Ioel the sonne of Pethuel ; verse the first . Secondly , the subiect or persons whom it concerned in the two next verses , by most excellent exhortations first of hearing , where he noteth the persons , namely , the elders and all the inhabitants of the land ; and then the thing it selfe , whether they euer heard of the like , in the second verse : Heare ye this O elders , and harken ye all inhabitants of the land , whether such a thing hath beene in your daies , or yet in the daies of your fathers , &c. The other exhortation is to perswade them not to silence the prophesie , but to tell and declare it first to their children present . Secondly , that they shewe likewise the same to other ages following , which the prophet expresseth in these words , in the third verse , saying , Tell you your children of it , and let your children shew to their children , and their children to another generation . Thus much for the diuision , now to the wordes and exposition .

Ioel. verse 1. The word of the Lord which came to Ioel the Cap. 1. vers. 1. sonne of Pethuel . These words of the prophet are thus much in effect , This selfe same prophesie which hereafter followeth is the very word of God , which he himselfe sent to the people by the ministerie of Ioel the sonne of Pethuel , where we obserue these doctrines following . First , that the sermons The prophets sermons are the Lordes owne words . of the prophets are the sermons of the Lorde himselfe : for so saith this scripture , that Ioels prophesie is the word of God . In Nehemiah the ninth chapter , and the thirtieth verse , in that sweete confession which the Leuites made vnto God in the behalfe of that whole people , thus they say , Thou didst forbeare them many yeeres , and protestedst among them by thy spirite euen by the hands of their prophets , but they would not heare : Euen thus they confesse their rebellion after they had been well whipped with seuentie yeeres captiuitie , they had taken foorth this lesson , that those despised sermons which once they spurned with their shooes , and trod vpon with their feete , were now manifestly declared to be the very word of God . Wherein no doubt they shewe and testifie vnto vs , that the truth of scriptures in the mouthes of Preachers , will then be acknowledged , when men haue been well nurtured in the schoole of aduersitie , in so much that euen these wordes which now are but like the dreames of phrentick men , will then become as deere vnto vs as the oracles of heauen . Oh how stubborne is the conceite of our hard harts , which will not be taught till they smart , nor yet be instructed till they be corrected . Shall the seruant say he hath no master , except euery day he punish his faults ? or the sonne denie his owne father , because in lenitie and fatherly pitie he beareth with his lewdnesse ? Yet our miserable times are such wherein men thinke preaching to be vaine , except in persecution ; and reading to be needlesse , except in calamitie ; and praier to be friuolous , except in their sicknes . But bid these wretches to the banket of afflictions , wherein they may be throughly scourged with temporall miseries , as the proud persons to shame , the Atheists to death , the swearer to the slaughter , the drunkard to famine , the gentleman to pouertie , and the theefe to the halter : then they will crie as lowde as hungrie lions , that the scriptures which they neglected , the prophets whom they reuiled , the sermons which they contemned , and the words of preachers which they disobeied , are the actes of parliament made by God himselfe ; like these Iewes , which now were humble after they had been in Babylon . In the second Epistle of Peter , cap. 1. vers . 21. the holy Ghost also witnesseth , that Holy men of God spake as they were mooued by the holy Ghost . What is that but plainly to auerre , that not the preachers but the spirit that speaketh in the preachers . This also is confirmed by waightie and special arguments or reasons drawne from the very word it selfe . First in Numbers the two and twentieth chapter and eighteenth verse , where Balaam telleth Reason 1. the seruants of Balaack that if he would giue him his house full of golde , he cannot goe beyond the word of the Lord to doe more or lesse . If then such sorcerers and diabolicall persons in the cause of God , can speake nothing but what he suggesteth , much more the prophets and heauenly preachers can vtter nothing but what the holy Ghost inspireth . Againe the prophets and true ministers of God for the words sake only 2 aduenture their states and hazard their liues . 1. Kings . cap. 22. vers . 14. 27. which they would not nor could not except vpon sure ground of heauenly warrant : Who would ( except desperate mad men ) vndoe themselues and suffer most intolerable torments for rebuking of sinne ; vnlesse they were caried by an ouerruling power , euen as Ionah to Niniueth , or Micheah to Ahab , to eate the bread ofsorrow , and drinke the cup of death , that when they might ioyfully solace themselues among their friendes , or quetly rest in their poore habitations , they are sorowfully vexed by their cruell enimies , hauing the stinking prison for their easelesse harbour . I grant that heathen men haue for vaine deuises endured many torments , & Popish Iesuits neglecting their owne liues , & their princes mercy , haue & do daily imbrace the gallowes , but their sufferings are for matters cleane contrary to the worde of truth : and therefore with Tertullian it may better be saide to bee desperate presumption , then Christian persecution , and the diuels souldiers rather then the Lords martyrs . Wherein let vs with teares of brine lament our humane miserie , that thus casteth it selfe away from worldly comfort and heauenly ioyes , vpon bare and weake groundes of vncertaine seruing of God . Howe strong are the delusions of subtill Sathan , which hath bewitched the mindes of men so farre , that they haue also offered their yoong children and tender babes through violent flames for the diuels sacrifice : could not their weeping eies and crying teares , procure no pittie in their hard harted parents : No , no , where superstition sitteth iudge , neither nature nor reason may dare to pleade the cause . This is the diuels cunning to bewitch his members , ( imitating the true seruants of God ) to endure death . Augustine said well , Mendacium ex veritate & superstitio religionem imitatur . Lies come of truth , and superstition taketh Religion for a patterne : yet for all this lies are not truth , superstition is not religion , nor the torments which desperate men for euill causes endure , shall euer make good mens sufferings to be lesse regarded . The sheepe must not leaue off her skin because somtimes the wolfe commeth in her likenesse , nor we must lesse esteeme the martyrs paines , bicause the diuels souldiers likewise die for his sake : by these two reasons it is euident that the prophets sermons are the Lords sermons . Nowe let vs make some godly vses of this doctrine . The first generall exhortation which we make Vse 1. heereof is that sentence of the Apostle . 1. Thess. 5. 20. Despise not prophesying . That is , now it hath been cleerely prooued that the prophets speeches are the oracles of God , be not so beastly as swine , to tread those precious pearles of deuine wisedome in the filthie dregs and stinking myre of your vaine displeasures : It being apparant that God his ministers speake no more without his spirit then the conduit runneth without his fountaines springs , those disgracing words which many vse of the spirituall exercises , some at their table , others in their clossets , many at the tauerns , and most in their houses , are nothing else but meere reuilings and spitefull raylings against the spirit of God . Sometimes the preachers want eloquence to smooth the itching eares of gallant persons ; sometimes they want learning to feede the curious mindes of vaine religion bablers ; sometimes they want wealth to maintaine their countenance with outward brauerie ; and sometime they want manners to make them companions to the gentle sort . And euerie one of these thinke his sermons and labours in God his church to be nothing worth where he spieth but one want , which his vaine conceite desired . I like not this sermon saith one bicause he wanted words : it was a silly peece of worke saith another , bicause it was not bombasted with the sayings of Fathers , and he seldome or neuer confuted the papists : another saith that the preacher was but a poore beggerly fellowe , and therefore it is no matter what hee say , none of the great men would haue saide so much : and others saide , he hath more learning then wit , more zeale then behauiour , and his confident wordes are impudent speeches , vnto all these I say , Despise not prophesying . See you not howe the diuell driueth you to condemne all for want of one , and to a generall neglect , for a particular desire : shall the spirite of God be blamed because euery mans humour is not satisfied ? God forbid that such iniquitie should lodge among the professours of religion : that those sermons which displease some should be despised of so many : there is no pearle which all men will praise , there is no garden so pleasant but some will dislike it , nor anie house so commodious but some will dispraise it : shall wee cast away pearles , plowe vp gardens , and race downe houses , bicause all men are not pleased ? No verily , no more shall prophesying , preaching , praying , and exhorting be reiected , although euery mans idle disposition be not answered . Oh miserable and lamentable daies wherein men come to the congregation like buyers to a faire , and they all crie it is naught it is naught , though the Lordes wares be freely solde , yet who will buie them at his hands ? The more plentifully they are offered , the more scornefully they are reiected : for looke vpon those places where the ministerie hath beene of longest standing , and greatest practise , where pastors according to the Lords owne hart are planted , where the voice of the worde soundeth at least euerie Sabbaoth day : I say , looke there euen as narrowly as Ezechiel looked ouer Ierusalem , and you shal finde them more ignorant in knowledge , more lewde in liuing , more obstinate in wordes , and more disobedient in deedes , then other people are . Euen thus the diuell laboureth painfully , where the Lord speaketh abundantly , that he may maliciously condemne , where the Lord woulde mercifully saue ; insomuch that the Lord may say to the congregations of England , as he once saide to the assembly of Israel . Ierem. 6. vers. 10 Vnto whom shall I speake and admonish ? that they may heare : behold their eares are vncircumcised they cannot harken , behold the worde of the Lorde is vnto them as a reproch . And where the worde of the Lorde can haue no being , the wrath of the Lord will take vp the lodging : therefore we may say as the prophet speaketh . Abak. 1. 5. Behold yee despisers and woonder and vanish away , for I worke a worke in your daies , a worke which you will not beleeue though a man declare it . Consider this yee scornefull hearers among vs , that God shall punish your contempt with infidelitie ; and although myracles should be wrought to conuert you , yet they shall not profite you , euen the myracles of Egypt , till yee be vtterly consumed , you which with lesse deuotion serue the Lord then your pleasures , with lesse diligence followe the Church then the tauerne , with more delight exercise vanitie then religion ; with more labour occupie your trades of life , then the words of life ; euen you I meane are the despisers of heauenly pearles for earthly trash , which neuer are pleased with the seruants of Christ . It is your condemnation that sleepeth not , whose conscience can pretend no excuse at the day of all daies , that either yee wanted preachers , or leasure , or abilitie , or time , or meanes , to beleeue those heauenly oracles . Behold this yee despisers , and repent , shewe your sorrowe by your amendement , and redeeme the time by diligence heereafter . If the Lorde vtter his voice the earth is mooued , and the mountaines tremble , Psal. 29. Mooue therefore your harts , you rebellious sort , from the world to god , from ignorance to knowledge , and from disobedience to faith : stirre vp your resty bodies and idle limmes , and go from strength to strength , till you come to the Lords mountaine : let not feare of sicknesse , dread of pouertie , loue of pleasures , desire of profit , drawe you from heauen , but draw neere vnto God , and hee will draw neere vnto you : The gates of heauen are open , enter you therein . Secondly another vse we may adde heereunto , Vse 2. is that exhortation of the Apostle . 1. Cor. 14. 1. Aboue all other gifts desire prophesie : what was more admirable , then healing of sicke persons ? or more commendable , then to speake strange toongs ? or more glorious , then to worke myracles ? or more necessarie , then to discerne spirits ? yet aboue all these saith Paul , rather desire Prophesie . Neither is it maruell that so great an honour is bestowed on so noble a gift , because the Prophets speeches are the Lords sermons . Then my beloued as for the merchandise of gold , men endure the longest traficke , the sharpest pains , and greatest charges , euen so for the obtaining of prophesie ( whether it be to preach or heare preachers ) sustaine ( my bowels in the Lord Iesus ) the roughest waies , the longest studies , the weariest iournies , the coldest daies , the hottest threats , and dearest cost , for euen for these shall you receiue many thousand times more comforts in this world , and ioyes in the world to come . But oh my deerely beloued in the Lord , I may complaine of the neglect of preaching and prophesiyng as Ieremie did of Ierusalem Lament . 1. How doth that citie remaine solitarie that was full of people , she is as a widow : she that was great among the nations , and princesse among the prouinces is made tributarie . Euen so weepe you chaste doues of the Lord , and you solitarie Pellicans professours of the truth , take you vp this Lamentation and say , how doe those loftie cities which are builded on the Lords hill ( the ministers of the word ) remaine desolate ? for there is none that come vnto them , to buy their heauenly wares , preaching of the vulgar and greatest sort is counted meere babling , the glorious gifts of the spirit , are as little as dreamers fits , and many peraduenture in some one man haue some delight , like to a strange muse wrought in a male contented minde , by a consort of Musicke , but what sinnes will they forsake at his request ? Surely as many as did Herod at the preaching of Iohn Baptist ; nay rather farewell friendship then welcome repentance , though they like such a preacher well , yet they loue their pleasures better . Hereby may we of the ministerie try our owne friends and manifest the Lords followers , if we meekely reprooue their follies , which will beare vs in hand they loue and like vs well . As for example , if they be of the gentle sort , tell them of their vaine expences ; if of the meaner , tell them of their carnall minds ; if of the poorest , tell them of their ignorance ; if the brauest , shew them of their pride ; if the learnedst , declare to them their vaine glorie , and finally if the noblest , bid them beware of despising the Gospell ; if they will abide these blowes and turne you the other cheeke also , then account him for a Dauid , or else reiect him for a Herod . Oh how is the world altered from following preaching , and prophesie ! in the purest age of the church , their greatest glorie was in the ministery ; since that time euen in our owne memorie , how would the people of the countrey flocke to follow preaching , but now euen in our daies ( my beloued ) we our selues haue liued to see the preachers mocked , as Elishah was ; the same people which once woulde seeme to care for nothing saue Christ , the more are the preachers the fewer are the hearers : Euen the Sabaothes of the Lorde are polluted with all manner of villanies , and vanities , as boldly as if the Gospels sounde had neuer beene shewed among vs . Euen the princesse of all professions , I meane Diuinitie , & the Queene of al sciences the preaching of the worde , is become the vilest in shew , the poorest in practise , the meanest in request , and the greatest in slauerie . The word of the Lord that came to loel the sonne of Pethuell . That is to say , which he sent or spake vnto Ioel the sonne of Pethuell . In old time God spake diuers and many waies saith the Scripture . Heb. 1. 1. to our fathers by the Prophets , & them I finde principally to be these first , by vision as to Salomon 2. Chro. 1. 7. secondly by dreames as Moses saieth . Deut. 1. 2. 6. and so he spake to Ioseph Mat. 1. 20. Thirdly by plaine face to face as hee did to Moses . Fourthly by Angels Act. 8. 26. and lastly by secret instinct or motion of the spirit Luke 2. 27. and in this manner it is most likely the prophet Ioel receiued this prophesie . Out of this we obserue this doctrine , that if God send not his worde among vs we our selues euen the greatest among vs could or would not apprehend it . For this cause the Scripture calleth it the If God did not send his word , none would aske for it . word that came to Ioell : meaning that then it came vnto him , when he thought least of such strange euents & terrible iudgements , which he had giuen him in commission to denounce to his countrey men . And the truth hereof may appeare by many testimonies of the word of God . In that sinfull estate wherein all Israell stood in the time of Esay the prophet , the Lord cried out Esay 6. 8. Whom shall I send vnto them ? as if there were none that would offer themselues to this busines . And in the prophesie of Ieremie , the Lord many times complaineth , that he himselfe intended this busines earely and late , morning and euening , to send his prophets vnto them for their conuersion . In other places where he bewaileth the destruction of his people he assigneth this for the cause , The Prophets ran , but I sent them not , neither did they teach my ordinances . So that if there be any forwardnes in the preachers and ministers that way , to goe on their message before they receiue their arrand , it rather destroyeth then saueth , curseth then blesseth , scattereth then gathereth , the flocke of God togither . Indeede when the Lord sendeth any he giueth them before hande the knowledge of his word , so that they only which are apt and willing to teach , are to be accompted the Lords ministers and no others . Euen as the Lord gaue either more talents or fewer to euerie one of his seruants , and we read not any called his seruant but he which had a talent at the least : euen so in the ministerie , where is not some sufficiencie to discharge that function , I can neuer say he was of the Lords sending . Therfore we must know that the great store of godly preachers and ministers of the word that abound in our daies in most corners of our countrey ( I would to God I could say in all ) were not either for desire of liuing , or glorious estimation , or any wordly cause aduaunced to the churches seruice : but the Lord who hath indued their minds with knowledge , their hearts with courage , their toongs with vtterance , and themselues with his spirit and word , euen he , aboue , hath chosen them to be souldiers in his wars , against Sathans kingdome , and by the voice of his word like canon shot , to batter downe the castles of darkenes . The reasons hereof are manifest : first because that Reas. 1. mans nature , in it selfe abhorreth nothing more then God his seruices . Exo. 3. 11. 12 , 13. when Moses was called by the Lord to carie his name before Pharoh , and the children of Israell , how many delayes did he make , and how many shifts did he inuent , to exempt himselfe from this heauenly message : sometime he wanted toong , sometime strength , and sometime authoritie ; now one while hee feared the king , another while the people ; and although the Lord wrought miracles for him , yet would he gladly auoide it . Secondly it is apparant , that when the people were in 2 greatest extremitie and most of all felt the heauie hand of the wrath of God , there was no calamitie that touched them so neerely or pressed them so deadly as this , to thinke they had no Prophets left , to inquire of the word of the Lord . For as a shippe in the midst of the sea tossed too and fro amongst ten thousand waues , being full of passengers , without either pilote or mariner , is in extreme hazard of drowning , bicause they haue none to sound the bottomes , for to throw foorth their anchor , to staie them in the stormes , or when the calme commeth , they haue not one among them to direct them to the shore : euen so when the floudes of troubles shall threaten the ouerthrow of any particular church or nation , they hauing no preachers or prophets among them , who should perswade them to patience , during their aduersitie , and to cast out the anchor of their hope during their danger , or hauing escaped those fierie and fearefull troubles , yet who but the ministers of God , shall instruct them in righteousnesse , and direct them to heauen ? In the raigne of Iosiah , although his daies were happie , through peace , and his subiects ioyfull through a good king and religious nobles : yet this was the glory of his kingdome , that there was one Huldah a Prophetesse , the wife of Shallum , that tolde him his owne prosperitie , bicause his hart melted at the voice of God his worde ; and also that there is one Helkijah a priest , 2. Kings . 22. that gaue him the law of his God : so are we happie through long enioyed peace being shadowed vnder the wings of a mercifull Prince , and religious Magistrates , yet this is the glorie of our nation that many Prophets and Preachers haue offered vnto vs the verie word of God , the which if it were wanting , all were worth nothing , therefore if God build not , who can reare ? If he send not , who can prosper ? If he speake not , who can prophesie ? and if he diminish the number of his seruants , the preachers , we may complaine in our miseries as the Iewes did , There is not one Prophet more left , and yet remaine comfortlesse . The vses which we will briefly make here of are these . First the same which our Sauiour Christ teacheth vs vpon this doctrine . Mat. 9. 28. Pray ( saith he ) the Lord of the Vse 1. vineyard that he would thrust foorth labourers into his haruest . There is no more Christian exercise or necessarie practise , then with vnfeined soules to desire at the handes of him , who ruleth all with his hand , that in times of ignorance and neglect of heauenly worship when the corne is ripe and fit to be gathered into the Lords barne , that he would haue pitie vpon his wandring , sheepe , and care of his planted corne euen the worke of his owne handes , and not suffer them to be cast away for want of instruction . Oh , howe would it and doth it grieue a christian soule to consider , that the image of God himselfe should be lost which shineth so beautifully in euerie one of mankind : pray therefore my beloued in the Lord , for hereby onely shall you performe a worke acceptable to God , because you are humbled , beneficiall to the church , because you aske for her labourers , comfortable to your selues , because you tender your brethrens soules , and ioyfull to the verie angels for the conuersion of sinners . The ruler of the temple Mat. 9. 18. hauing but his daughter sicke and diseased , yet came to our Sauiour and entreated him for her health , which he performed and she recouered . Let vs therefore in pitie of many thousand sons and daughters of the world come to the courts of the Lords house , within the closets of our owne soules and desire with feeling and earnest prayers , the Lord Iesus that he would shewe , and shine forth his truth , by his word in the mouthes of many more ministers of peace to conuert many moe sinners vnto righteousnes , to turne the hearts of fathers to their children , of mothers to their daughters , of princes to their subiects , and of the nations to their God . There is not any one point that proueth more substantially to a mans soule that hee loueth Christ vnfaynedly , then this , the practise of it to pray for the increase of heauenly pastors : Euen as in the world nothing is so commendable as the workes of mercie , as to feede the famished , to cloath the naked , to deliuer the imprisoned , and to acquite him that is wrongfully condemned ; so in the church of God there is no grace like to the gift of the ministerie , the starued are fed by them with the bread of life , the naked are cloathed by them with the garments of a Sauiour , they which lye fast bound in the verie dungeons of hell and the prisons of darkenes are deliuered by them , into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God , and euen they which were condemned to temporall miseries and eternall calamities are acquited , discharged , and released by their message . Let vs all therefore say vnto the Lord : Lord increase the number of painefull preachers . And if 2 we ought to pray for them , how damnable is their estate that pray vpon them : if it be the highest seruice of God to promote them , then is it the highest seruice of the diuell to persecute them . If they be blessed where the word is preached and beleeued , then are they accursed where it is not heard nor receiued . If Christ blamed his disciples that would haue had him to blame them that cast deuils out in his name , then are they to bee blamed which will vpon euerie light and easie occasion labour to the vttermost to stop the mouthes of Gods seruants , to discourage the people from hearing , the olde men from instructing , the yoong men from studying , the children from learning , the women from asking , & the seruants from obeying the word of God . Therefore if we haue any care of the Lords seruice , any compassion of them that are tyrannously oppressed , any conscience of the soules of men , then pray for the peace , and number of the preachers . For as when the teeth are fallen out of the mouth , the life is hardly nourished , and quickly turnd : Euen so when the ministers which are the teeth of the church , to grinde the word vnto them , are remooued ; then followeth the graue and sepulchre of the Lords family . To Ioel the sonne of Pethuell : heerein is no hardnes , and euerie one may easily perceiue the meaning hereof , for the prophet nameth himselfe and also declareth his parentage , and it is very like that his father was a man of good estimation , that the Prophet thus barely without any further addition prefixeth his name to this prophesie . We obserue out of this description of the ministring cause of this prophsie : this doctrine , that God preferreth the seruice of men before the seruice of angels in the building of Men preferred before angels in the preaching of the word . the church , he rather choseth and appointeth that his heauenly & immaculate word , should be manifested by earthly and sinfull men then by celestiall & holy angels Act. 1. 8. The Lord Iesus maketh this his ordinance that his disciples shall witnes the redemption in Ierusalem , Iudea and Samaria and the vttermost parts of the earth . Euen the same Lord which not long before told them that he had the angels at commaund , now rather vseth the helpe and ministerie of men . Men would thinke it a strange proceeding that he which is cracked in credit , and as it were one prooued periured , shoulde come afterwardes in a triall of death and life , whereas they which are neuer detected of the like enormities shall be excluded . But God his thoughts are not like to mens thoughts , nor his waies as mens waies , the weakest things of God are stronger then the strongest of men , and he choseth the despised castawaies to confound the mightie ; he looketh on a begger and regardeth not a prince ; the angels lie in the chaines of darknesse when men are aduanced to their places in heauen . Euen this doctrine you may reade in the 1. Cor. 4. 9. where the Apostle teacheth that we are appointed vnto the ministerie as men are condemned to death , that we might be made a gazing stocke to the worlde and to angels and to men : shewing vnto vs that the very angels are beholders of the labours of the ministerie , being present by the appointment of God at the assemblies of his saints , that they might be witnesses of our labours vnto God , as we are of Christes sufferings vnto the world . The reasons of this doctrine may be easilie gathered out of the worde of God , whereof this Reas. 1. may be one , that as our redemption was to be wrought onely in the nature of man not of angels , no more was the preaching of the saide redemption to be declared by angels or any other creature saue onely man . This reason the apostle seemeth to vse , 2. Cor. 5. 18. when he saith , All things are of God which hath reconciled vs vnto himselfe by Iesus Christ , and hath giuen vnto vs the ministerie of reconciliation : where he maketh our reconciliation made by the man Iesus Christ to be the ground or beginning , or commission of the ministerie , for without Christ , and without reconciliation there is no ministerie . And this serueth most highly to commend vnto vs the dignitie of the ministerie of the Gospell , which is as it were the trumpet of peace and pardon vnto the godly to sounde vnto them those victories which they haue obteined against the kingdomes of darknes , and vnto Christ to proclaime his royall maiestie ouer all the kingdomes of the worlde , insomuch as those which labour against the preaching of the Gospell , as all the Romish Religion-bond-slaues do , they bid war vnto the king of glory , and as our sauiour tolde Paul , Act. 9. They kicke against the pricke , and procure their owne paines : Then it is manifest that Christ is no where more exalted then where hee is daily and continually preached , so is hee no where more denied then where his word is silenced , his ministers banished , his members afflicted , and all good exercises idly and carelesly frequented : Then let vs that are the ministers and professors of the Gospell gather this comfort to our selues , that we are the soules and persons which haue glorified his maiestie in this world , by telling and teaching , hearing and studying the praises of him who is blessed and praised for euermore , Amen . Secondly another reason of 2 this doctrine , why the Lorde hath committed the dispensation of his worde rather to men then to angels or anie other creature is this : because none can be so neerely touched with the feeling of humane infirmities as men can be ; who knoweth a mans hart sauing a man ? If they preach , they speake by experience ; if they exhort , they do it as if they were exhorted . And this was one cause wherfore Christ became man , that he might taste of our infirmities . Heb. 4. 15. For my beloued , when a man seeth his own flesh weeping , wil he not weep also ? if he see his owne flesh afflicted , wil not he be compassionate toward that ? if a man should see a father preaching to his sonne , a brother to his brother , a husband to his wife , or one kinsman to another , would not this mooue him more to see his deerest friend spending this labour vpon him , then if a stranger whose face he neuer saw should perswade him ? Yes verily : euen so the Lord to mooue vs more earnestly to the obedience of his son , hath made choise of such dispensers of his mysteries , as we know to be men like our selues , feeling our paines , desiring our pleasures , wishing our welfare , lamenting our losses , and abhorring our sinnes : to this intent that when we see them speake vnto vs in the name of God , we shoulde thus presently reason with our selues . This is a man like my self , I am addicted naturally to fulfill my lustes , to enlarge my profits , to reuenge my malice , to care for no pleasure but pastime , to feare no displeasure but the worldes ; but these men ( although men ) haue denied their lustes , and are become contemptible to the worlde ; they speake the worde of God boldly , and feare no mans person , they bring themselues to pouertie , their names to ignominie , their liues to shame , and their friendes to hate them . What shoulde be the cause of all this ? either they haue no wit , or we haue no zeale , they are not blessed , or we are vngodly : Reason thus with your selues : then will it come to your mindes that surely for your sakes , euen for the peoples sakes are the ministers made fooles , that they might be wise ; the preachers poore , that they might be rich ; and the prophets despised , that the flocke might be honorable . 1. Cor. 5. 10. Therefore my beloued when you see vs earnest in rebuking of sinne , or exhorting to righteousnes , that then we speak with feeling of those dangers that threaten destruction to all , comming vnto you as the Syrians came to the king of Israell with the halters about their neckes to mooue him to pittie them : or rather we come vnto you as the prophet came to Ahab , 1. King . 20. 35. willingly offering our sides to be gored , and our bodies to be wounded , that our bloud may be your sorrow , by the sight of our wounds you may come to the feeling of your sinnes , by the paines we take in this worlde you may consider what are the plagues of the world to come . Surely if we make but a calfe to cry in the field , all the beasts come roaring & running vnto it to succour it : how much more ought men of better understanding then beastes , hearing their owne kinred and friends crying vnto them the vengeance of God , with all speed to runne to the preachers to knowe the cause of their complaint , and crie with the Iayler , Men and brethren what shal I do to be saued ? Be not so rude as beastes , be not woorse then bullockes . The vses which naturally arise out of this Vse 1. doctrine are these : first we ought not lesse to esteeme of the ministers of the worde being sinfull men , then if they were more honorable creatures . The Apostle Paul , Gal. 4. 14. expresseth the sincere affection which the people ought to bear towards their pastors , when he witnesseth that they receiued him as an angell of God , testifying vnto them their great fall , which once thought euery worde of his mouth to be a deuine oracle , and that his person was more then a man ; but nowe the worlde was turned with them , they being bewitched with the false Apostles , for at once they had forsaken their faith towards God , and their reuerence toward the preacher . The diuell is subtill , and knoweth very well that so long as the ministers credite raigneth , his kingdome decreaseth ; and therefore where he cannot at the first ouerthrow the doctrine , there he laboureth to bring the prophet into disgrace . But hearken ( my beloued ) I beseech you a while , and shut your eares against the diuels accusations . If you will euer liue vnder the winges of the Gospell , you must euer loue the feete of God his ministers : so long as these Galathians bore this minde towardes their Apostle , their faith was glorious , their church was famous , their liues were godly , and their endes were happy : but when they accounted the Lordes messenger but as a man , when they thought him worthy no more then a common person ; although they would once haue plucked out their eies to haue done him good , then followed and fell vpon them , like hailestones vpon the Canaanites , heresies , to disquiet them ; diuisions to molest them ; ignorance to condemne them ; and the wrath of God to consume them . Looke to it my beloued , the contempt of preachers , of ministers , and seruants of the Lorde hath already wrought many strange effectes among vs . Those reuerend fathers of our church , which haue brought vs out of Babylon , as Moses and Aaron brought the Israelites out of Egypt , whereof some haue sealed vp our safetie with their owne blood ; others haue wasted their health and wealth in defence of our religion , state , and profession ; and many yet liuing holding great places in the Church of England , hauing onely for the Gospell and the Lords Ierusalem , endured many strange conflictes and vnknowen troubles : these I say , euen by the railing libels of counterfaite and vnknowne Christians , haue beene laide open to the view offoes and friends , both by truthes and vntruthes , if it were possible to the vtter ruine of learning , extreme sorrow of many good men , and euerlasting disgrace of the ministerie : As Origen was woont to say , Sicut omne bonum ab ecclesia prouenit , sic omne malum ab ecclesia egreditur ; As al goodnesse commeth from the church , so all euill commeth from the church : so I feare that the Lorde may say to the ministerie , as to Israell , O Israel , thy destruction is of thy selfe , but in me is thy saluation . The ministerie hath been lamentably diuided , and for this cause euen by base persons , they haue beene and are scornfully reuiled ; we our selues haue wrought our discredit , but the Lord is our comfort . The ignorance of many silly and dumbe fellowes disgraceth the learned , the pride of many lofty preachers discrediteth the humble , the couetousnesse of many encroching parsons ouerthroweth the liberall minded ; and finally the negligence of many noble and excellent men in their charges , giueth a deadly discouragement to the painfull . But yet these are the faultes of the persons , not of the places , and a personall action dieth with the person : therefore my beloued pray vnto the Lord for discerning spirites , that you may liue by the line of the word , and not by the lines of many : although we should forsake the Lord by our falles , yet doe not you cast away your selues by our example . Maintaine the name and credit of euery one , whose ministerie the Lorde vseth in gouerning and instructing his Church ; stand not vpon titles , for they which labour well are woorthy of double honour : regarde not garments , for Iustine Martyr preached Christ in the attire of a heathen philosopher : looke not too much vpon their faultes , for euen amongst the Apostles there wanted not diuisions : esteeme them as the ministers of God , which watch when you sleepe , labour when you rest , fast when you feast , and pray for the saluation of your soules when you are sporting in pleasures . Your soules then lye open to the diuell when you are growne in dislike of your pastors : for if the man displeaseth , we cannot like of the doctrine . If our countreymen the Lords flocke can once againe ioine with the preachers and promoters of the Gospell , then shall Atheisme be banished , Poperie ashamed , hypocrisie discouered , diuisions ended , and truth shall flourish out of our nation .

Secondly , another vse we may profitably make heereof , which is this , that exhortation of the Apostle Philip. 2. 29. 2 speaking of Epaphroditus , a faithfull minister of God , whom he sendeth vnto them , Receiue him ( saith he ) therefore in the Lord with all gladnesse , and make much of such : we must open our houses and churches with reioycing spirits , when we see the embassadours of peace comming vnto vs , and account most pretiously of them who trauel with the Lords message for our good . Wee reade that the Shunamite to entertaine Elishah built him a chamber , that when he came that way he might visite their familie : how much more ioyfull ought we to bee to entertaine the messengers of better things then Elishah brought . It was a great commendation of the Iewish women that followed our Sauiour vp and downe , that they ministred vnto him : but most lamentable it is , that in our daies the ministers and preachers haue almost as slender entertainment , as Christ himselfe had among the Samaritans . Their houses be too great , their liuings be too large , their reuenues ( say some clawbacks ) will suffice a good knight , or a worshipfull gentleman : and why may not a good minister be allowed as well as a good magistrate ? or a man of learning dwel in as faire a house as a lawyer ? Indeede our houses in your conceite are too great for vs , and in our harts we thanke God that they are too little for you ; wee see many ministeries and parsonages defaced but none built , many gathered but none sowed : we are receiued very ioyfully of great numbers , where they hope to haue any gaines by vs , and their purpose being obtained , then they bid a fig for the parson . Oh , this is the sinne of many gentlemen , that they will neuer or seldome allow the fourth part of that , which of dutie they owe vnto vs ; but will wage the customes at the lawe , to giue nothing to the Lord . Who seeth not that these men woulde haue offered if they had liued among the Iewes , surely I thinke burnt offerings and peace offerings should haue discontinued , and the Lord must haue thought him beholding vnto them , if they gaue him one for a thousand . And for our ministerie and preaching , I dare say it was not lesse regarded ( except persecution ) one hundred yeere a goe then now it is . If gentlemen or noble men receiue their tithes , the people are well contented ; but if the preachers take them , it greeueth them deadly : belike because they goe to the right owners . And thus the world make much of vs , our liuings are diminished , our labours are neglected , our presence despised . They account their parishes the happiest , where is no preaching ministerie , no controlling of sinners , no fighting with the diuell , no conscience of religion . O miserable times ! O miserable manners ! they had rather goe with musicke to the gallowes , then with mourning to a sermon : they choose rather to goe singing to hell , then weeping to heauen : cursed are they which speake euill of the way of righteousnesse , and say to the prophets depart from vs . The Lorde shall come with speede to render vengeance to them that receiue him not .