Psal. lxviii.

John xv.

Acts xvi.

fully down from heaven, and to fulfil the work begun, and to increase and multiply his grace in them. So ought all preachers and servants of God to do in their sermons. For, alas! what are we? What is our word? What is our labour without the assistance of God? We are only the voice of a crier in the wilderness : we call upon the people to prepare the way of the Lord, and to make his paths straight: we give warning that the Lord is even at hand. He that teacheth is nothing he that planteth is nothing: he that watereth is nothing: our tongue is nothing: our word is nothing: our wit is nothing: Peter. is nothing: Paul is nothing. It is God which openeth the hearts of the people, and maketh them tremble at his words. It is God which giveth the increase, and maketh his word to be of force.

The prophet saith: "The Lord gave the word: great was the company of preachers." It is the work of God both to make his word mighty, and to make the people to receive it and yield unto it. He giveth us hearts to feel the comfort of his word, and to yield our obedience in doing as the word requireth. For he is "the Father of lights," from whom all gifts are poured down upon us. We are the children of Adam: we are flesh and blood, and nothing but vile clay and ashes. Our eyes are dim, our senses dull, and our hearts heavy. Christ telleth us truly: "Without me ye can do nothing;" neither hear the word nor believe it.

I mark your presence, that you are many gathered together this day in this place. Every man seemeth to stand with bent countenance, and earnest looks, and desirous to learn. And, albeit I which speak am but a worm, unworthy to creep upon the earth, yet the word which we have heard is the word of God, the word of comfort, and the word of life. But God knoweth in all this company how many have ears to hear. In the Acts of the apostles, when God opened their hearts, they understood the scriptures. Before, they heard, and knew not what they heard. Paul preached: Lydia, a woman which sold purple, heard him: "the Lord opened her heart, that she hearkened unto Paul." Then she understood his words, and believed. This comfort is of God, who hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation: he will give you understanding hearts, and will stablish you in every word and good work.

2 Cor. iv.1

CHAPTER III.

Ver. 1. Furthermore, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free passage, and be glorified, even as it is with you.

PRAY for me, that I may be a faithful servant, doing the will of God from my heart, that he will open my mouth boldly to publish the secret of the gospel, and to declare the riches and glory of his kingdom. For of myself I am nothing. I have not the key of David, I cannot give light unto the world, and am not able to open the hearts of the people. "That the word of God may have free passage." He saith not, Pray for us, that my word may have passage; or that my name may be spoken of and glorified; or that the people may behold my doings, and talk of me. "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Christ's sake." I am but an unprofitable servant. I am the poor ox that treadeth out the wheat: I am a poor crier, to proclaim the will of the Lord.

Pray you that the word of the Lord may have free passage; that the gospel of Christ may be glorified; that the hearts of the people may be ready and greedy to receive it; that the kingdom of heaven suffer violence, and the violent take it by force; that the word may so possess the hearts of the people as fire hath passage through stubble; that it may shine as the sun-beams over all the world; that it may be known from east to west, and from north to south. In this sort pray, that the word may have a glorious entrance into you, and also among other. Herein shall appear the love you have to the saints, and the zeal

[' 1594 omits this reference.]

you bear to the house of God, when you wish others to be partakers of this? blessedness with you; when you seek not your own glory, but the building of the church of Christ; when you pray that God will be merciful unto others as unto you, that a light may be given to them that3 sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, that they may know the time of their visitation.

Such a prayer made David: "God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and Psal. Ixvii. cause his face to shine among us; that they may know thy way upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. people praise thee." Thus did Lord; and we shall be turned."

Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the Hieremy pray: "Turn thou us unto thee, O Lam. v. Give us a new heart and a new spirit, incline our hearts unto thy testimonies, that we may know and fear thy name. So did Christ "Hallowed be thy name" among the infidels which know thee Matt. vi. be had in reverence among all people. "Thy kingdom come, There is no other God but only thou: let all the earth come Even so must we also pray, that the word of God may have free passage, and his name be glorified in all places.

teach us to pray: not let thy name thy will be done." and worship thee.

Ver. 2. And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil1 men; for all men have not faith.

3. But the Lord is faithful, which will stablish you, and keep you from all evil.

4. And we are persuaded of you through the Lord, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.

5. And the Lord guide your hearts to the love of God, and the waiting for of Christ.

"From unreasonable and evil men:" which conspire against the Lord and his Anointed; which blaspheme that good name that is called upon us3. Such were Jannes and Jambres, which resisted Moses in the time of the law. Such were they in the time of the prophets, which said, "The word that thou hast Jer. xliv. spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hear it of thee. But we will do whatsoever thing goeth out of our own mouth, as to burn incense to the queen of heaven as we have done, both we and our fathers, our kings and our princes." Such were in the time of the gospel the scribes and the Pharisees; "which made the commandment of God of no authority by their tradition;" Matt. xv. which turned darkness into light, and light into darkness. Such was Alexander the copper-smith. Such were others. The whole scriptures are full of such. They were false prophets, false apostles, false brethren. They caused division in the church. They went out to preach in the name of Christ, but inwardly they were ravening wolves.

mass.

Such were in the days of our fathers, and such there are in our days: such Jannes and Jambres, such idol-worshippers, such scorners of God's word, such scribes and Pharisees, such Alexanders, such false prophets, false apostles, and false brethren, we have more than a good many in our days. They pretend the gospel; no man more. In company of protestants they will be protestants; in company of others they are quite become contrary. They come to the church, and receive the holy communion: they resort secretly to corners, where they hear They like the one, and like the other. They like the light, and they love darkness, and make no difference between them. These are ready to serve Christ, and also ready to serve antichrist; faithful neither to God nor to Baal. And this is among many counted the highest point of wisdom, to be able so to colour and hide himself that you shall not know what profession he is of, to what church he joineth himself, what religion he holdeth, whose word or gospel he followeth, in what God he believeth. Such there are: and they only be the singular men, reckoned the fine wits and cunning fellows of the world. This is to be lamented, that in a christian estate there should be any such; that they, at whose hands God shall require a straiter account than of others, because he

[ His, 1584.]

[3 Which, 1583, 1584, 1594, 1609.]

[* Ill, 1583, 1584, 1594.]

[JEWEL, II.]

[5 Upon of us, 1594.]

[ Scornes, 1611 ]

25

Matt. xiii.

hath given them the use of greater talents, either of wit, or of learning, or of preferment, or of riches, should so misspend the good gifts of God, or use his talents to such evil purpose, that they more than all other should devise means how to deny Christ among men, and, as much as in them lieth, to seek to crucify again the Lord of glory.

The Jews deal not so wickedly: the Turks deal not so traitorously. The Jew, although his case be miserable, and his heresies most dangerous, yet he is earnest in his folly; he will not dissemble his profession: the Turk is faithful unto Mahomet, and will not deny or forsake him.

These false brethren and dissembling Christians are worse than Jews and Turks. They are void of conscience, void of faith, void of fear, of shame, and of the grace of God. They are filthy swine, shameless dogs, and the enemies of the cross of Christ. These hinder the passage of the gospel, and blaspheme the holy word of their salvation, and do all that in them lieth to abolish the light of God's truth. St Paul telleth us, "All men have not faith:" many hearts be1 naked and void of faith: many seem to live, and yet are dead.

Howsoever these men carry out their doings in this life, they cannot mock God. He knoweth who are his. Christ shall say unto these cunning-witted dissemblers: "Depart from me, ye hypocrites: I know you not. You shall receive your portion with the devil and his angels."

Pray that we may be delivered from such unreasonable and evil men; that they stop not the free passage of the gospel; that they may have no power against the glory of God. Then shall it appear that God is faithful in all his words, and holy in all his works; that his truth and mercy shall last for ever. He will establish us in all goodness, and defend us from all evil: he will keep us from all the power of Satan: he will keep us from all temptation, that the wicked shall not prevail against us.

"And we are persuaded of you through the Lord, that ye both do and will do the things which we warn you of." You know what commandments we gave you by the Lord. I spake unto you the will of God, and not mine own. I was unto you but a messenger, to deliver unto you such an errand as God sent unto you: I hope ye have received it in such duty as becometh, and that you both do and will hereafter obey it. I am your physician: the receipt which I have given you is sovereign, and shall work your health: I trust it tarrieth with you, and you brook it well. I have spoken unto you in the name of God: his name is holy. He will cause that my labour shall not be in vain, but will make it fruitful in you. Although all men have not faith, yet all men are not void of faith. Although there be many the children of this world, yet there be some the children of light: he that is of God heareth the word of God. They that be the sons of God are obedient to the wisdom of God their Father. God guide your hearts, that you may love him, that you may know what good God hath wrought unto your souls; that you may see the depth of his mercy; that in all your tribulation and adversity under the cross, and in your death, you may look for the day of Christ, when the trumpet shall be sounded, the graves shall be opened, the dead bodies shall come forth, and we shall be taken up into the clouds: then shall he change our vile body, that it may be like his glorious body: then shall we be like the angels of God, we shall see God face to face, and rest with him for ever.

Ver. 6. We warn you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh inordinately, and not after the instruction which he received of us.

The kingdom of God is like to a draw-net cast into the sea, that gathereth of all kind of things: it is like a field, wherein groweth both corn and weeds. Sundry virgins went out to wait upon the spouse: some were wise, some were foolish : some had oil in their lamps, some had none. Many came to the marriage: some had their wedding-garment, some lacked it. Many are called, but few are chosen. Some bear the name of Christians, yet live in usury, to the spoil and

[ Lie, 1583, 1584, 1594, 1609.]

undoing of their brethren. Some bear the name of Christians, yet live in adultery and fornication, as the heathen which know not God. These be they through whom the name of God is evil spoken of.

Therefore saith Paul, "I warn you, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh inordinately." Forsake him, refuse his company, eat not with him, drink not with him, that so he may be ashamed of his filthiness. Receive him not to your house, nor bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. Have you no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but even reprove them rather. A little leaven doth leaven the whole lump. The wrath of God shall come, not only upon those which commit wickedness, but also upon all those which consent to the working thereof. Among the Corinthians one had committed incest, and taken his father's wife: St Paul saith, "Let such one2 be delivered unto Satan, for the destruction of the 1 Cor. v. flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." Deliver him up to Satan.

Mark his words, and in what case he speaketh them. For they that delight in wickedness, and are sold over unto sin, which are filthy, and increase in filthiness, they are not of God, they have no part in the church of God. The devil and Satan hath power over them; therefore deliver them up unto Satan. The reward of sin is death: the soul which hath sinned shall die. For this cause hath the church of God ordained excommunication; that he which hath done wickedly may be ashamed; that others who are guiltless may be afraid; and that the heavy displeasure of God may be avoided.

"We warn you (saith he) in the name of our Lord." You know me, and my name, and that I am an apostle of Christ. But the commandment which I give you is in the name3 of our Lord Jesus Christ. I warn you by the glorious day of his coming, that you withdraw yourselves from every one that liveth inordinately. Receive him not to your company, bid him not God speed, that you be not partakers of his evil, that he may know his filthiness, and be ashamed. Yet let us pray for such, that they may be sorry, that they may know whom they have offended, and turn again unto the Lord. For God would not the death of a sinner, but that he repent of his wickedness and live. The mercy of God is above all his works.

Ver. 7. For ye yourselves know how ye ought to follow us; for we behaved not ourselves inordinately among you:

8. Neither took we bread of any man for nought; but we wrought with labour and travail night and day, because we would not be chargeable to any of you.

9. Not because we have not authority, but that we might make ourselves an example unto you to follow us.

10. For even when we were with you, this we warned you of, that if there were any which would not work, that he should not eat.

11. For we hear that there are some which walk among you inordinately, and work not at all, but are busy-bodies.

12. Therefore them that are such we warn and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that they work with quietness, and eat their own bread.

13. And ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing.

66

Here Paul maketh his speech against those who under the pretence of the gospel lived idly, and would not labour. Take an example of me: I lived not idly, I earned my bread, I was not chargeable to any. Do you as you have us for an example. So ought the servants of God to live, that their well-doing may be a pattern for the people to follow. St Paul telleth Timothy, A bishop must be 1 Tim. iii. unreproveable." He saith not, without sin; for no man is without sin; but, "without rebuke." And again: "Let no man despise thy youth; but be unto them 1 Tim. iv. that believe an example in word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in pureness." And unto Titus the bishop of Candia he saith: "In all things

[Such a one, 1594.]

[3 Give is the name, 1594.]

[ Ensample, 1583.]

1 Cor. ix.

shew thyself an example1 of good works, with uncorrupt doctrine, with gravity, integrity, and with the wholesome word, which cannot be condemned; that he which withstandeth may be ashamed, having nothing concerning you to speak evil of." So, in this place to the Thessalonians, he saith, You behold my conversation, how I have lived among you. Be ye followers of me: let me be the pattern for you to follow. Such should be the speech of all those who are bishops and ministers in the church of God. They must walk so uprightly, that they may be unto all others the patterns of good life, of liberality, of mercy, and of love. They must carry the ark of the Lord, that the people may follow them.

"We behaved not ourselves inordinately," &c. Whereas I was an apostle of Christ, the first-fruits of the gospel, a chosen vessel, called from above and set apart from mine own business, to be the embassador of God into the world, and had so much to do; yet I used my hands and pained my body, to get my bread. I lived like one of Adam's children in travail of my body, and sought my bread in the sweat of my brows. Not that I might not lawfully have lived upon you, and have required my maintenance at your hands. It was lawful for me to have done so; for the workman is worthy of his hire. God hath appointed, that he which teacheth the gospel shall2 live by the gospel.

This matter St Paul reasoneth with the Corinthians: "Have we not power to eat and drink? or have we not power to lead about a wife, a sister, as well as the rest of the apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?... Who goeth a warfare at any time at3 his own cost? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?" I might eat and drink at your charge, and require charges of you for me and mine. I am the soldier of God: Christ is my captain: I have planted the vine of the Lord of hosts among you: I have fed you: you are the sheep of the house of Israel. The hire due to the soldier, the fruit whereof he should eat which keepeth the vine, and the milk which Christ's sheep yield to their feeder, is nothing else but your charitable benevolence towards the servants of Christ. Again: "It is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn." He travaileth for thee, that thou mayest live: suffer him to lick a little for his pains. We are the Lord's oxen, we thresh forth his corn. "If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your carnal things?" We are God's husbandmen, we travail and take pains, we plough, we sow, we harrow, we are abroad in wind and weather, in storm, in hail, in lightning and thunder. No man knoweth the care the poor husbandman taketh. Winter nor summer our work is never at an end. Now, if we by our labour minister to you the bread which cometh from heaven, is it much that you give us the bread of the earth? "Do you not know that they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?" It hath so seemed good unto God, it is his appointment: he hath established it by his law; and it is most agreeable to the law of reason and nature.

Yet this is also to be weighed in the consideration hereof, that whosoever asketh the pay of a soldier must buckle his armour, and go a warfare. He that drinketh the wine must plant the grape : he that requireth milk must feed the flock he that will not be muzzled must thresh the corn: he that reapeth carnal things must sow spiritual things: he that requireth the bread of the earth must minister to his hearers the bread of heaven: he that will live of the sacrifice, or of the altar, or of the gospel, must offer the sacrifice, wait upon the altar, and teach the gospel. He that teacheth not the gospel, nor careth for the teaching; he that serveth not the altar, nor careth for the serving; he that goeth not on warfare, that planteth not, that feedeth not, that thresheth not, that plougheth not, that travaileth not, that taketh no pains, that abideth not lightning, thunder, wind, weather, storm, and hail; he that careth not to do these things, I can make no account of him. He is not within Paul's reckoning. The workman is worthy of his hire: but what right hath he to the hire which is not a workman?