^ There are divers other fundamentals of the highest nature, as the mystery of the Trinity, into which we are baptized, the union of the two natures in the person of Christ, that the scriptures are the word of God, &c.
^ ' Ipsse fceminse sunt nobiscum in eadem confessionis gloria constitutae.' — Cyp. Mart, ' Cum triumphantibus viris et fceminae veniunt, quae cum sseculo dimicantes sexum quoque viceruut.' — Cyp. Serm. de Lapsis.
' ' Efficacius est vitae quam linguae testimonium. ' — Bernard.
120 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [YeR. 3.
the church. To men, you are to quicken those that have gifts to look to_ their duty in this kind : i ' Say to Archippus, Take heed to thy ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,' Col. iv. 17. Many may be stirred up by your exhortations, that otherwise would lie use- less in idleness and privacy : in the battle the trumpeter hath his use as well as the soldier. Neither are they to be admonished only, but assisted ; and by that means you have an interest in the glory of the work : 3 John 8, ' We ought to receive such, that we may be fellow- helpers to the truth ;' avpepjot, co-workers ; your helping hand is to the action, and God will not be unmindful of it : yea, if you bear any part of the toil, by performing any labour of love to them, it shall turn to a good account in the day of the Lord. Hezekiah's servants did but copy out the proverbs, and it is mentioned to their praise, Prov. XXV. 1. All this may be done by persons of a private gift and station.
[2.] There is something that the magistrate may do : 'He is the minister of God for good,' Rom. xiii. 4 ; not only for good civil, but spiritual ; and therefore doth the apostle bid us pray for them, that they may be keepers of both the tables : 1 Tim. ii. 2, ' That we may lead a quiet life under them, in all godliness and honesty.' Heathena have asserted, that it belongeth to the magistrates' duty chiefly to look after matters of religion ; 2 much more is it evident by the light of Christianity. The kings of the Old Testament are commended for their zeal in this kind ; and in the times of the gospel it is prophesied that 'kings shall be the church's nursing fathers, and queens her nursing mothers,^ Isa. xlix. 23, which they cannot be if they suffer poison to be given to God's little ones without any let and restraint. It is a clear truth that if a man give up himself to Christ, he is to give up himself to him in every relation ; his wit, wealth, parts, autho- rity, all to be laid out for the use and service of Christ : he that doth not give up all, givetli nothing ; we are to be Christ's in every capacity. Therefore a magistrate as a magistrate must not only countenance religion, but also discountenance error, and hinder the spreading of it within his charge. It is by Christ that ' kings reign,' Prov. viii. 15, from him they received their power, and to him must they give an account of the exercise of it in the great day of recompenses ; there- fore they are bidden to ' be wise and to kiss the Son,' Ps. ii. 10-12, which certainly noteth more than a negative act or not opposing : there must be something positive, a zealous defence of the truth in their way, or else God will reckon with them. Those Gallios that are indifferent to Christ and antichrist cannot expect a long and happy reign. I cannot see how they can be true to civil interest unless they be careful for the suppression of error ; for when false doctrines are freely vented, it is to be supposed they will find a general reception, for the most are the worst ; and then, when the generality of a nation are corrupted, national judgments will not long be kept off, the whole body is sure to smart for it ; for, as the Jewish proverb is, two dry
■^ ' Gladiatores perfectissimos non tantum magistri et prsBpositi sui, sed etiam idiotae e.t supervacui quique adhortantur de longinquo, ut saepe ab ipso populo dictata suggesta profuerint.' — Tcrtul ad Mart.
^ ' T6 irepl delof i-jrifx^Xeia,' &c. — Arist. Polit., lib. vii. cap. 8.
VeK. 4.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 121
sticks will set a green one on fire. Besides that erior is masterly and bloody, and loveth to give law ; therefore, ere it be too late, they should look to the civil peace, for if men be quiet, God will not, when his honour and truth and worship is neglected. But of this more hereafter.
[3] Ministers are to contend for the truth, for by their office and station in the church they are captains of the people in this war against Satan and his adherents ; therefore it is required of them that they should be able to handle the sword and the trowel ; not only to ' exhort by sound doctrine,' but to ' convince the gainsayers,' Titus i. 9. These are iriaroL avOpwiroL, 2 Tim. ii. 2, ' The faithful men,' the feoffees in trust, to whom truth is committed ; they are the salt of the earth, Mat. v. 13, those that must season the world with gracious principles ; therefore they must above all others labour in the defence of the truth, otherwise they are compared to ' dumb dogs that bark not' when the thieves come to steal away the treasure, Isa. Ivi. 10, 11. Now ministers must contend, partly by preaching, warning the people of the wolves that are abroad, Acts xx. 29 ; partly by disputing, Acts XV. 2, and xviii. 28, that by the knocking of flints light may fly out, and that truth may beat its enemy hand to hand in the open field ; and partly by writing, ^ for many times disputes are carried on with so much tumult and popular noise, that truth is lost in the crowd ; besides, by this means we are a help to posterity, that, together with the poison, the antidote may be transmitted to them.