higher and sweeter relish than any created enjoyment thou ever tastedst in this world? O then separate, devote, and wholly give thyself, thy time, thy strength to this most sweet transcendent Study.
Lastly ) Let me close the whole with a double caution ; one to ourselves, who by our callings and professions are the ministers of Christ ; another to those that sit under the doctrine of Christ daily.
First, If this doctrine be the most excellent, necessary, funda- mental, profound, noble, and comfortable doctrine*, let us then take heed lest, while we study to be exact in other things, we be found ignorant in this. Ye know it is ignominious, by the com- mon suffrage of the civilized world, for any man to be unacquainted with his own calling, or not to attend the proper business of it : it is our calling, as the Bridegroom's friends, to woo and win souls to Christ, to set him forth to the people as crucified among them, Gal. iii. 1. to present him in all his attractive excellencies, that all liearts may be ravished with his beauty, and charmed into his arms by love : we must also be able to defend the truths of Christ against undermining heretics, to instil his knowledge into the ignorant, to answer the cases and scruples of poor doubting Christians. How many intricate knots have we to untie ? What pains, what skill is requisite for such as are employed about our work ? And shall we spend our precious time in frivolous controversies, philosophical niceties, dry and barren scholastic notions ? -f- Shall we study every thing but Christ ? revolve all volumes but the sacred ones ? What is observed even of Bellarmine, J that he turned with loathing from school divinity, because it wanted the sweet juice of piety, may be convictive to many among us, who are often too much in love with worse employment than what he is said to loathe. O let the knowledge of Christ dwell richly in us.
Secondly, Let us see that our knowledge of Christ be not a pow- erless, barren, § unpractical knowledge : O that, in its passage from
* Peritum esse, et sine doctrina pietatis periturum : i. e. To be skilled in other things, and not in the gospel, is to perish. Augustin.
-f- We are not to study the niceties of rhetoric, so much as plainness and perspicu- ity; nor are we to speak in a high florid strain, as orators; but with the earnest- ness and zeal, and sincerity of the apostles: we are not to talk fine things, but what may convince the understanding, and touch the heart.
\ Quod a studiis scholasticce theologize avertereturjere nausebundus, quoniam succo cere- bunt liquide pietatis, Fuligat. in vita Bel.
§ Beware, lest, while the tree of knowledge daily flourishes and thrives, the tree of practice should become barren. Take heed that ye rest not satisfied in the gifts of the Spirit, and begin to think nothing of the Spirit himself, the best gift. Ford, ay/vb. Sacr. p. 55.
SEItM. L THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 41
oar understanding to our lips, it might powerfully melt, sweeten, and ravish our hearts ! Remember, brethren, a holy calling never saved any man, without a holy heart ; if our tongues only be sanc- tified, our whole man must be damned. " We and our people must " be judged by the same gospel, and stand at the same bar, and be M sentenced to the same terms, and dealt with as severely as any " other men : We cannot think to be saved by our clergy, or to " come off with a Legit ut clericus, when there is wanting the " Credit et vixit ut Christianus ,-" as an eminent * Divine speaks. O let the keepers of the vineyard look to, and keep their own vine- yard : we have a heaven to win or lose, as well as others.
Third!//, Let us take heed that we withhold not our knowledge of Christ in unrighteousness from the people. O that our lips may disperse knowledge and feed many. Let us take heed of the napkin, remembering the day of account is at hand-f\ Remember, I beseech you, the relations wherein you stand, and the obligations resulting thence : Remember, the great Shepherd gave himself for, and gave you to the flock ; your time, your gifts are not yours, but God's ; remember the pinching wants of souls, who are perish- ing for want of Christ ; and if their tongues do not, yet their ne- cessities do bespeak us, as they did Joseph, Gen. xlvii. 15. " Where- " fore should we die in thy presence ? Give us food, that we may live " and not die." Even the sea monsters draw forth their breasts to their young ones, and shall we be cruel ! cruel to souls ! Did Christ not think it too much to sweat blood, yea, to die for them ? and shall we think it much to watch, study, preach, pray, and do what we can for their salvation ? O let the same mind be in you which was also in Christ !
Secondly, To the people that sit under the doctrine of Christ daily, and have the light of his knowledge shining round about them.
First, Take heed ye do not reject and despise this light. This may be done two ways : First, When you despise the means of knowledge by slight and low esteems of it. Surely, if you thus reject knowledge, God will reject you for it, Hos. iv. 6. It is a despising of the richest gift that ever Christ gave to the church ; and however it be a contempt and slight that begins low, and seems only to vent itself upon the weak parts, in artificial dis- courses, and untaking tones and gestures of the speakers; yet,
* He approves himself a clerk, — but he neither believes nor lives as a Christian. Gildas Salvianus, p. 27.
-f- We may apply to ministers what Tacitus speaks of magistrates, Ita nati estis, ut bona viclcH/ue vesira ad rqrublicam jwtineant, i. e. On your good or bad conduct de- pends the good or ill of society,
42 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SERM. II.
believe it, it is a daring sin that flies higher than you are aware, Luke x. 16. " He that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that " despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me.11 Secondly , You des- pise the knowledge of Christ, when you despise the directions and loving constraints of that knowledge ; when you refuse to be guided by your knowledge, your light and your lusts contest and struggle within you. O it is sad when your lusts master your light. You sin not as the heathens sin, who know not God ; but when you sin, you must slight and put by the notices of your own con- sciences, and offer violence to your own convictions. And what sad work will this make in your souls ? How soon will it lay your consciences waste?