4. It informeth us of the madness of the world, that use Christ's ambassadors ill, when they come about such a message. It is against JUS gentium, the law of nations, to offer violence to ambassadors ; let their message be never so displeasing, their persons are secured by the civility of all nations. Yet Christ's ambassadors are often ill entreated : Mat. xxiii. 37, ' 0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee ! ' It is England's sin to malign and hate God's messengers, though they come with terms of peace. Never was the ministry more evangelical, yet never more hated than now. What should be the reason of this madness ? No calling is more profitable to human society, to civilise a people, to take them off from their brutishness and fierceness, and yet none more op- posed. Partly out of a Gadarene temper ; they grow weary of Christ's ministers. But chiefly out of a natural enmity against them. Since the fall, man is an enemy to his own happiness. In bodily miseries it is otherwise ; a blind man loves his guide, and as Elymas, when stricken blind, they seek about for some to lead them. A sick man loveth his physician ; but spiritual blindness and sickness is of another nature ; men hate those that offer to lead them and cure them. The guilty world would fain take a nap and rest ; and because God's mes-
488 SERMONS UPON JOHN xvii. [Ser. XXKII.
sengers will not let tlieui jilone, therefore tliey hate them. Errors and lusts are touchy. Mundus senescens paiitur pliantasias. The \vv)rld, as it grows old, is given to dreams and dotage, and is loath to be dis- turbed. A thief would have the candle put out that discovereth him. Christ's messengers, though instruments of common good, yet often meet with public hatred : Eph. vi. 20, ' For whom I am an ambassador in bonds, eV akuaet, in chains. ' A man would think he meant golden chains, because he speaks of his ambassadorship. No ; he means hard iron chains, which he suffered for Christ's sake ; and usually this is the lot of Christ's ambassadors.
Use 2. Advice both to people and ministers.
1. To people. If ministers be sent by Christ, then it adviseth you to respect their message, their calling, their persons.
[1.] Accept their message. When we speak for the honour and dignity of the ministry, we plead for a spiritual respect to them, not for a temporal domination and precedency in all meetings and com- panies. Our king whom we serve is a spiritual king ; his kingdom is not of this world ; he came not with external pomp and splendour ; therefore these are not things we should look after. Though some respect is due to their persons, yet chiefly we plead for a respect to their doctrine. Do not despise the message which they bring, though their persons be obscure and despicable. Doctrines delivered from the scripture have a divine authority; it is God's message, as if it had been spoken from heaven. And therefore, if we must speak as the oracles of God, you must hear it as God's word : 1 Thes. ii. 13, ' For this cause also thank w^e God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effec- tually worketh also in you that believe.' Never can you expect the word should work with you till you have this respect and reverence for it.
But you will say, Is all gospel that is delivered by one in office ?
I answer — No ; but you must humbly consider what is brought to you in Christ's name. When Ehud said to Eglon, Judges iii. 20, ' I have a message from God unto thee,' he arose out of his seat. See what it is, and let it move you more to look to your ways.
[2.] Kes2)ect the calling more. Many seek to undermine it, as if it were grown the burden of the christian world ; others think disgrace- fully and meanly of it, as if it were below their parts or rank and place. Let me tell you it is the highest honour that can be put upon a creature to be Christ's messenger. No nobility of birth, antiquity of house, plenty of estate is to be compared with it ; all worldly honours and titles are beneath it ; and so shall we judge Avhen once we come to see a prophet's reward. Do not think scornfully of the calling. It is a great mercy if God should choose any of thine to this work, the best and chiefest of thy family. The first-born were separated to God before the priesthood was settled upon the tribe of Levi. Usually men consecrate the worst to God, if any be lame, blind, unfit for work ; like the deceiver, Mai. i. 14, ' Which hath a male in his flock, and voweth and sacrificeth to the Lord a corru])t thing.' I speak the more in this matter, because if God suffer the wickedness of the age
VeR. 18.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 489