1. It teacheth men not to adventure upon the preaching of the word till they have a good spiritual furniture, or are stored with a sufficiency of gifts. It is not for every one that can speak an hour to adventure upon the work of teaching. John was thirty years old when he preached first, Luke iii. 1. In the fifteenth year of Tiberius,^ that was John's thirtieth year. Augustus reigned fifty-five years, and
^ Stapyld. in Prompt. Monxl. in Dom. 3, Advent.
134 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [JaS. I 19.
John was born in his fortieth year, and preached in the fifteentli of Tiberius, his next successor. Every one itclieth after the dignity of being a teacher in Israel. There is somewhat of superiority in it (upon which reason the apostle forbiddeth women to teach, 1 Cor. xiv. 34, because by the law of their creation they cannot be superiors), and somewhat of profit, and therefore the time is hastened and pre- cipitated. Few stay till their youtliful heats be spent, and thirty years' experience hath fitted them for so great a work and burthen. It is observable that Jesus Christ had also fulfilled thirty years ere he entered upon his public ministry. Though I do not tie it merely to the years ; either too young or too weak, it is all one to me. There are (as Ignatius saith in his epistle to the Magnesiaus) r7]p -rroKtav ficLTiv cf)epovre<i, some that in vain hang out the bush of grey hairs, when they have no good wine to vend or utter. Indeed, the drift of that whole epistle is to persuade them to reverence their bishop, though but of small years,i where he instanceth in Daniel, Solomon, Jere- miah, Samuel, Josiah, whose youth was seasoned with knowledge and piety, and concludeth that it is not age but gifts make a minister, and, through the abundance of Spirit, there may be an old mind in a young body ; and Timothy, though younger in years, was an elder in the church. For my own particular, I must say, as Pharaoh's chief butler said, Gen. xli. 9, ' I remember my faults this day.' I cannot excuse myself from much of crime and sin in it ; but I have been in the ministry these ten years, and yet not fully completed the thirtieth year of my age ; the Lord forgive my rash intrusion. Whatever help or furtherance I have contributed to the faitli and joy of the saints by my former public labours, or my private ministerial endeavours, or shall do by this present work, I desire it may be wholly ascribed to th<-' efficacy of the divine grace, which is many times conveyed and reached forth by the most unworthy instruments. But to return. TcrtuUian- hath a notable observation concerning some sectaries in his time, Nunquam citius 'projicitur quam in castris rehellium, uhi ipsum illic esse j)romereri est — that men usually have a quick dispatch and progress in the tents of heresy, and become teachers ere they are scarce Christians. He goeth on : Neopliytos collocant, ut gloria eos ohligeni, quia veritate non 'possunt — they set up young men to teach, that they may win them by honour, when they cannot gain them by truth. Certainly this is a bait that pride soon swalloweth ; and that which hath drawn many into error, is a liberty to teach before they are scarce anything in religion. Oh ! consider, hasty births do not fill the house, but the grave. Men that obtrude them.selves too soon upon a calling do not edify, but destroy. It is good for a while to be slow to speak. Aquinas, when he heard Albertus, was called Bos mutus, the dumb ox, because for a great while he was altogether silent. It is not the Sj»irit of God, but the spirit of vainglory which putteth men upon things which they are not able to wield and manage. It is good to take notice of those compressions and constraints that are
^ Tlortatur Magnesianos : ' Mtj Karatpipovetv ttjs rjXiKias tov ewiaKdirov, oii irpol ti]v tpai- voiJ.ivi)v a.<popu)VTas vebrriTa dXXd trpol ttjv iv Gty 4>p6inrjciy.'' — Ignat. Epist. ad Magncs. tub initio Jipixt.
• Tertul. in lib. de Prsescript. adversus Haeret.
JaS. I. 19.] UroX THE EPISTLE OF JAMES. 135
within our spirits ; but it is good also to take heed tliat they do not arise from pride, or some carnal affections.
2. It showeth that we should not precipitate our judgments con- cerning doctrines and points of divinity. That we may not rashly condemn or defend anything that is contrary to the word of God, or of which we have certainty from the word. Be slow to speak ; that is, do not speak till you have a sure ground. The sudden conceptions of the mind are not always the best. To take up things hastily engageth a man to many inconveniences. Moses would not give an answer suddenly ; Num. ix. 8, ' I will hear what the Lord will speak concerning you.' That great prophet was at a stand till he had spoken with God. Under the law the tip of the priest's ear was to be sprinkled with blood ; first he must hear Christ, and then speak to the people. Well, then, be not too hasty to defend any opinion till you have tried it. How mutable do men of a sudden spirit and fiery nature appear to the world ! Eashly professing according to their present appre- hensions, they are forced to change often. There should be a due pause ere we receive things, and a serious deliberation ere we defend and profess them.