Fifthly, Human doctrines are so far from enriching the soul, that they usually impoverish the soul. They weaken the soul ; they expose the soul to the greatest wants and to the greatest weaknesses ; they play the harlot with the soul; they impoverish it, and bring it to 'a morsel of bread.' Who so poor in spiritual experiences and heavenly enjoyments as such that sit under the droppings of human doctrines ?
Sixthly, Human doctrines make men servants to the humours and corruptions of men ; they make men-pleasers of men rather than pleasers of God ; yea, they make men set up themselves and others, sometimes in the room of Christ, and sometimes above Christ. I hope
' "Whiles they burned us, said reverend Du Moulin, for reading tho Scriptures, we burned with zeal to be reading of them. But where is this brave spirit now ?
» These things had need be seriously minded in these days, wherein human doctrinea are so much exalted and admired.
EpH. III. 8.] RICHES OF CHRIST. 223
these few short hints may prevail with some to fall in with this counsel, that so they may the better preach the Lord Jesus to the people. And so much for this doctrine.
Unto me, ivho am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of ChHst, Eph. iii. 8.
Having spoken much concerning ministers' duty, I shall now speak a little concerning their dignity, and so finish this text.
' Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this orace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.' This grace, this favour, this honour is given to me, that I should preach, &c. I look not upon it as a poor, low, mean, contemptible thing, but as a very great honour, ' that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.'
The observation that I shall speak to is this :
06s. That the ojffice of a minister or preacher is honourable.
For the understanding of this point, premise with me two things :
First, That by a minister, I understand one that is qualified ac- cording to gospel rules, and that is internally called by God, and exter- nally called by the people of God, to the ministerial office.
The second thing that I would have you premise with me for the understanding of the point is this, that the common appellation of those that are set apart for the preaching of the gospel in the New Testa- ment is BiaKovoi, ministers. So in 1 Cor. iii. 5; 2 Cor. iii. 6, and chap. vi. 4, and chap. xi. 15, 23; 1 Tim. iv. 16, and in divers other places, the word minister is a title of ofl&ce, sei-vice, or administration given frequently to the preachers of the gospel. As for the names of ambassadors, stewards, and the like, wherewith they are often honoured, they are figurative, and given to them by allusion only.
These two things being premised, we shall now proceed to the open- ing of the point.
1. And, in the first place, I shall prove that the office of a minister is an honourable office.
2. And then, in the second place, I shall shew you what honour is due to them.
3. And tlien, in the third place, I shall shew you how you are to honour them.
4. And then, in the last place, we shall bring home all by a word of application.
Christians, give me leave to tell you this by the way, that since the gospel hath shined in England, a godly, faithful, painful ministry was never more subtilly and vehemently struck at by men that make a fair show, and by men of corrupt opinions and wicked lives. This age affords inany church-levellers as well as state-levellers. Some there be, that under that notion of plucking up corrupt ministers, would pluck up by the very roots the true ministry. But God has and will be still too hard for such men. If they will be monsters, God will be sure to be master. His faithful ministers are stars that he holds in his rio^ht hand, Rev. ii. 1 ; and men shall as soon pull the sun out of the firma- ment, as pull them out of the hand of God.
224j the unsearchable [Eph. III. 8.
Now, considering that there is such a spirit abroad in the world, I hope no sober, serious Christians will be offended at my standing up to vindicate the honour of a godly, faithful ministry. In order to which, I shall first prove that the office of a minister is honourable; and to me these following things speak it out :
[1.] First, The several names and titles that are given to them in Scripture, doth speak them out to be honourable. They are called fathers, stewards, ambassadors, overseers, and angels, as you all know that know anything of Scripture. To spend time to prove this, would be to light candles to see the sun at noon.
[2.] Secondly, Their luork is honourable. Their whole work is about souls, about winning souls to Christ, and about building souls up in Christ ; and to these two heads the main work of the ministry may be reduced. The more noble the soul is, the more honour it is to be busied and exercised about it : James v. 20, ' Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.'^
' Let him know,' that is, let him take notice that an honourable and o-lorious work is done by him. The soul is the immediate work of God ; the soul is the image of God ; the soul is capable of union and communion with God ; the soul is worth more than a world, yea, than a thousand worlds. Christ prayed for souls, and wrought miracles for souls, and wept for souls, and left his Father's bosom for souls, and bled out his heart's blood for souls, and is gone to heaven to make provision for souls, yea, he is now a-making intercession for souls. All which speaks out the excellency of their office whose whole work is about souls.
The Jews say of Moses his soul, that it was sucked out of his mouth with a kiss. Souls are dear and sweet to Christ.
[3.] A third thing that speaks out this truth is this, they are fellow- lahourers luith God ; they are co-workers with God in the salvation of sinners. And this is a mighty honour, to be a fellow-labourer with God, to be a co-worker with God : 1 Cor. iii. 9, ' For we are labourers together with God.' Who would not work hard with such sweet com- pany ? Who would not affect, prize, love, and honour such service ? Ministers are called the light and salt of the world, because they en- liorhten blind souls, and season unsavoury souls, and so save them from corruption and perdition. Mat. v. 14 ; John v. 35 ; Mat. v. 13; Mark ix. 59, 60. Oh, to be joined in any work with God, is an honour beyond what I am able to express !
The senate of Rome accounted it a diminution of Augustus CjEsar's dignity to join any consuls with him for the better carrying on the affairs of the state. Oh, but our God doth not think it a diminution of his dignity, that even his poor despised servants should be fellow- labourers and co-workers with him in the salvation of souls.