IN this comandement & charge givē by the Apostle to Timothy, we have heard already in what a waightie manner he imposeth this duety upon all that are Pastours & teachers unto the worlds end, It is a charge from the mouth of the Apostle, and a charge in the sight of God & of God considered in his omnipotency: in that hee quickneth all things and it is before Iesus Christ to be considered of us as, a patterne for us to follow in his wit∣nessing a good confession before Pontius Pilate.

Now it followeth that wee should speak of those things wherewithall Pastours stand charged, what the matter is which is of this high moment which the Apo∣stle doth lay with such authoritye upon all Pastours & teachers, & this is layd downe in this verse in these words, that thou keepe this commandemēt without spott unre∣bukeable ūtill the appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ, this is the matter, the keeping of this commandement, and Page  32 the keeping of it without spott unrekukeable, and continuing this till Christ appeare againe.

Now to encourage all pastors and teachers in the performance of this duetye which must last til Christes appearing againe, he setts us downe the assurance of his comming againe in the next verse, to keepe us that we doe not faint under the difficulties that we shall find in keeping this commandement: untill Christs second coming, which in his due time he will accomplish, God hath reserved this time in his owne hands, and in his owne time hee will shew it: Now that we may be assured that God will performe this, he setts downe a glorious description of this God, that wee may see in God wonderfull and undoubted reasons that God will in his time shewe the Lord Iesus againe. This de∣scription of God is one of the most magnificent de∣scriptions that is sett downe of God in all the scriptures, to let us see what need wee have to take to heart this precept.

First he setts downe God that he is the most blessed one, which in his time will shew that hee is the blessed.

Secondly that he is the onely potentate, and this he illustrateth by more particular demonstrations, in this that he is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, his blessed∣nesse is further expounded in these particulars, 1. that he hath onely immortality, 2. that hee is inaccessible dwelling in that light which no man hath seene nor can see. This description he concludes with ascribing to God two things, honour, and power everlasting, thus wee see how the Apostle in most divine manner & high stile, doth still propound this charge to all those that are mi∣nisters of his word, that all the world may see the neces∣sity that lyeth upon Pastours & teachers to doe their duetye, seing they are so straytlye charged before this God of might, majestie, and blessednes, to whom belonges all power and glorye, so that wee must not dallye in this Page  33 point of keeping this commandement here charged upon us, therefore it stands us upon under no lesse payne then the wrath of God, to keepe this charge against all the world that shall oppose it.

Now let us come to the words in particular, the first thing that all Pastours are Charged with all, is the kee∣ping of these commandents; and that is not onely char∣ged upon them, but the keeping it without spot, and un∣rebukeable, the time how long they must keepe it, is set downe, till the appearing of the Lord Iesus; So we have 3. things in this precept, which the Apostle lays upon all Ministers, to be considered by us. First wee must con∣sider what is the matter we must keepe without spot, unrebukeable, and that untill the appearing againe of Christ.

The matter is, this commandement: What means the Apostle by this commandement? by this, he means all the dutyes that he hath in this Epistle charged upon all Pastours and Teachers, this he calls a commandement, to let us see and understand, that the office of Pastours so described as we have heard, is this straite commande∣ment of the liveing God, and it is the Law of God him∣selfe that is laid upon us to keepe.

Now he calls it a commandement, that we might un∣derstand what is the thing that we must obey and practise and it is a great incouragement for us to doe this, since it is the charge of the liveing God, and the precepts which Pastours must lay to heart, that these are the things which God hath commanded. Therefore those which make no conscience to transgresse this charge, but they will make all the order of Gods howse to be indifferent, and will make all the precepts of this Epistle to be alte∣rable and changeable, as some cursed divines have writ∣ten to prove that this commandement of God may be changed, whereas we see, the Apostle doth charge us in the sight of God and of Christ, to keepe this comman∣dement Page  34 of God without spot, and that till Christ come. Againe is then this a changeable commandement? can any power of flesh or bloud alter or change this, when we are charged under paine of damnation to keepe this as inviolable, and unchangeable an ordinance? I say the curse of God must light upon him that takes upon him, to alter any of these ordinances, seing in so streit a maner we are charged and commanded to hould them.

Well then, these things are commandements. I marke this for another end, and not onely to shew that these things are not indifferēt things for men to doe, or to leave undone; but this doth likewise let us see, that these are of the nature of such things which are absolutely neces∣sary, and therefore are not onely councells as the Papists speake, when they make distinctions betwixt precepts and councels, and they make these things not necessary, but voluntary.

And in nothing under the Tunne hath the Church of Rome gone more against Gods ordinances, and comman∣dements then in this, yea they have wholy troden this precept under their feete, which here the Apostle com∣mands them to keepe so straitly, that neither the function it self may be abolished, nor any particulars of them may be neglected of any Bishop, nor the duty he should per∣forme in preaching or in Governing, but long since all is changed among them, and a new fashion is set up in the ordring of Gods house, which God never commanded.

Wee have the more need to looke unto our selfs in this, seeing there is no precept of God which hath beene more adulterated and violated then this precept of the Apostle, yea not onely in popery is this so, but this violation of it remaines in the reformed Churches themselvs, our duty is therefore in this respect to looke to our selvs, and see how short we come of performing this commandement, and how we shall answer in the day of Iudgment for our abuse thereof.

Page  35Next, observe upon whom this charge is laid, it is laid, upon Timothy, and in his person upon all Pastours, by which we may see who are cheifely to keepe this or∣der in Gods house, which are the Pastours in Gods house, most and Cheifely here charged on us, it is not on the Magistrate so much laid to keepe, at it is charged on us, & judgmēts shall light upon us if wee keep not this charge, we are they that are commanded of God to looke to this, the ordering of Gods house is not so much committed to any as to us, therefore we must looke to it; Let the world rage as they will against pastours, yet they may not neglect to keepe this.

If the Apostle had not knowne that this was a difficult thing to practice,, and that there would be mighty opposition against it, he would not have laid the necessity of doeing it, with such waighty charge as hee hath done, but he knew that the world would not endure to worship God as they are here commanded, there∣fore hee had great care to back this commandment with the waightyer authority of the liveing God, now we see who it is that is cheifely charged for the or∣dering of Gods house, namely his ministers. It is a wofull thing, and the Lord in mercy forgive this iniquity, for now every mann wil have a law for Pastours and Teachers, hee must not preach but as they will, neither must he administer the sacraments, but as they please, whereas the Lord of Lords hath commanded to keepe his ordinaunces pure, and there∣fore it is a great arrogancy against God and his or∣dinaunces, for men to lay any law upon Gods mini∣sters, how they should order Gods house, nay happy were the church of God, if Pastours were not thus led away, that those which are appoynted over the church of God to direct it, that they themselvs are led away by others, by which means religion is come to ruine, let them Page  36 which usurpe this authority, take example by Ahaz & Vzziah the King, who for usurping the Priests office and presuming to offer incense, was strucken with Leprosy, & so remained all his dayes, the other for presuming to make a more costly altar.

By this we may see how dangerous it is to meddle with the holy things of God without a calling, which is set apart for those God hath ordained for that end, we are said in the scriptures to be those that are set over you to rule you, and admonish and instruct you, and you are commanded to obey us; why is this? but to shew you that we are the men which God hath given the authority and power unto, to order the affayres of his house in his worship.

To come more particularly to speake of this keeping of it. Keeping is our duty; wherefore then doth the Apostle use these words, that thou keepe this comman∣dement? he knew Satan would steale it away if he could pervert the Pastours by the glittering shews of honours, and earthly preferment, and so Satan by men of corrupt mindes hath usurped this holy order; against this, all Gods Servants must stand couragiously, and Pastours must keepe it, and hould it fast. A Pastour cannot be more unfaithfull in any thing then in this, to suffer the power that God hath put into his hands to be taken from him, in this he is as unfaithfull to God as he can be in any thing, the Preists of ould were not ashamed to oppose themselves to Kings, telling them plainely to their faces, that it belonged not to them but unto the Priests to doe this and that; so it becometh Ministers well, to say to any Magistrate under heaven, that the ordering of Gods house, the affaires belonging to his true worship is not in them to prescribe any other manner then the Lord Iesus Christ hath by his Apostles prescribed; It is the Magi∣strates duty to order the common wealth, and the affayres of policy, but for Magistrates to take this authority Page  37 from Ministers which Christ hath given them, and so to betray the Church of God, and deprive them of their lawfull power which Christ hath committed into their hands, is an high dishonour to God, and a vyolating of this grand charge which the Apostle hath so straitly commanded.

That this superstitious Church of Rome and the Ido∣latrous tricks in these points of their Religion, there is more duty observed, then among Christians, for among them none of their Magistrates meddle with the Mini∣sters Authority, but in humility they submit to the order of their lawes to them which are their teathers, whereas none are so undutifull unto God, as Christians are in the reformed Church, for there the Magistrate usurpes the place of Pastours, and this is the cause why that a∣mongst the Magistrats that are at this day, that God treads them, and their authority under foote, and gives them over unto so many Iudgments, all because neither God nor his servants can have that respect or honour among Christians, as the servants of Satan have amongst Infidels.

Let us marke it then, we are commanded to keepe this precept, and not to suffer it to be taken from his Church. This keeping hath many parts.

Many ment hinke it well kept if they keepe it where it is written, and this they both should and ought to doe, that is, they must see that the Word of God perish not, but that it may remaine as a perpetuall lawe to bin∣de the conscience of the saincts unto the worlds end: but this is not enough honely to keep it in print in a booke, but we must have it in possessiō, as Iohn is commaun∣ded in the Revelation, having a little booke given him, he is commaunded to eate it, they must lay it up within them in their hearts, so that the teachers of Gods Word should be well instructed in those doctrines which God hath charged him withall, to keepe till the end of the Page  38 world; This is that which Christ requires himself of every Christian, that they keep his word, it is not enough to lay the Bible besides thee in the house that wil serve the turn, but he will have thee to read in it, and to meditate in it day and night, and to keep it in thy minde, as the Apostles of Chist are said, to lay up Christs words in their hearts, and God opened the heart of Lydia that she gave heed to the things, that Paul spake. This is the keeping of his commaundements, whenas they doe not onely keep them in writings, but in their hearts, and have knowledge to doe them, and he commands us by keeping them to practise them, so all Pastours are bound to practise them contynually, and to performe whatsoever precepts concerne their duty which the Apostle hath set down in this epistle, if they look that God shall approve of them in the day of their great ac∣compt.

And not this onely is to be meant by the Apostle, but more also, that we must not suffer this commaunde∣ment to be changed or altered, or to perish or decay, but we must bould it in perpetual use in the house of God, and if it be fallen, Pastours must rayse it up, if it be corrupted,* Pastours must reform it, if it be chaunged, Pastours must bring it to the auncient institution, as Paul did in Corinth, where hee found the celebration of the Lords supper corrupted amongst them, hee reduced it to the first institution by Christ, to reform them to the right practise of that duty which they had corrupted: so likewise in manie other churches where the truth of doctrine concerninge justification was corrupted, the Apostle in his epistle to the Romans, to the Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, Gallatians, reforming the miserable abuses wherwith Gods worship was pro∣faned, in which he reformed the errors, as doth appear in these epistles, to inforce their wicked harts to bow to Gods ordinaunces, for, the preists lips shal preserve know∣ledge, Page  39 and they shal ask the law at his mouth: But alas now adayes ministers must take the lawe from other mens mouths, and they must doe nothing but as other men direct them, wheras it is his part to instruct all by the law of God, as wee have shewed what a strait charge God hath layd on his messengers which they must not be ignorant of, hee must keep this commande∣ment that it be not altered nor corrupted, I tell you that these alterations will bringe the fierce wrath of God on us, we protest before God we desire to walk in the trueth of God, and wee have shewed the truth, and if ye will not suffer yourselvs to obey this truth wee have taught you, your bloud be upon your own heads, for unto alterations wee will never consent, and if God assist us, while we breath, I will yeald to doe no otherwise then is here commanded, the mini∣sters they must keep this, and preserve this, and not suffer it to be altered or changed for anie mans pleasure in the world, the keeping of this is the maine part of the Pastours office, as he will avoyd the wrath of God and of Christ at his appearing.

Now let us consider the manner how they must be kept; and here wee may take notice of another misery in our time, which is, preaching is kept, the Sa∣craments are kept, & the ministery is kept, but whether these be kept without spot or rebuke judge ye, first con∣sider the meaning of the words, there be manie which doe putt no difference between these two words; but onely this, that the first word spot signifies a lesser slip in the duty of the ministery, and the second word unrebu∣kable signifies greater offences in the duty of the ministe∣ry, some reason there is for this distinction, for there are some things as spotts, which are not worthy to be repro∣ved, but that which is worthy reproofe is a palpable sinne: but the true distinction of these words is this, according to the new Testament, there is a two fold thing Page  40 to be observed by Pastours in the worke of the mini∣stery, the first is without spott which argues his inward sincerity in his judgment, minde and understanding; and unrebukeable is in respect of his outward practise before the world, and these two words we may either referr to the person that is commanded these dutyes, or to the commandement itself, which they stand bound to keepe, either to the commandement, that hee keep it without spot, or that he keep himself without reproofe, both these stand with the truth of the Scriptures, elsewhere we must keep the practise of this comandement without spott or rebuke, and we must keep our selvs without re∣buke, that the word of God be not evill spokē of by our iniquityes, and that we suffer nothing to be added or taken away from the blessed ordinaunces of God, for every addition of man to Gods ordinaunce is a blott, every device of man is a fleshly spott, it pollutes and de∣files the things that are holy, and the teaching of them by profane pastours doth pollute the holy commande∣ment of God, yea to suffer them to be dispenced pro∣fanely in a profane manner, or in an unlawfull forme, contrary to the patrern which the Apostles have sett be∣fore us is miserable profanesse.

Besides as men should keep the word and ordi∣naunces of God pure and unpolluted in the sight of God: so he must keep this charge himself in his own person in an unspotted manner, and certainly this is principally to be referred to the persons, for a man cannot spot him∣self, but he must defile the worke hee hath in hand, if hee deserve rebuke himself, then hee brings rebuke therby upon his office; It is a ministers going out of the waye, and yealding to mens traditions, which brings pollutions upon Gods ordinaunces; If ministers would stand fast, and not dispence otherwise then they are commaunded, it is moste certaine Gods worship should never be so polluted, there never came pollution into Gods house, Page  41 but it came in by those that had the charge of Gods house, all the blotting of Gods ordinaunces came in by those that had the power to dispence them.

But marke, in them two things are to be looked unto, first they must be without spot, secondly they must be without rebuke, to be without spot, I take it (as before) to be meant, of an undefiled conscience, judgment & affe∣ctions, by yealding unto anie devices of men, so that if he suffer his judgment to be defiled, or his affections to be polluted, or suffer anie evill thing to take place be∣sides or contrary to this commandement, hee is a polluted persō before God, therefore he must keep him∣self unpolluted, & then his practise will be unpolluted, for it is true as Christ tells us in the Gospell, that out of the abundaunce of the heart the mouth speaketh, & so the hād practiseth; out of an evill heart coms evill practises, so that if a Pastour his heart be kept pure & spotlesse, he will embrace nothing but the trueth of God, hee will suffer nothing to defile Gods ordinaunces, but he will be sure to keep them pure & unpolluted: wheras on the con∣traty if the hearts of scismaticks & heretiques were seen, & the hearts of all that corrupt Gods trueth, if wee had spirituall eies we might discern the corrupters of the trueth of God, there is no sound cleanesse in them who mainteine idle toyes, and sett them down in place of solid substanciall truths of Gods worship, in such mens hearts is nothing but a stinking idoll of corruption.

Secondly as a Pastour must not onely keepe himself pure within, so must he not suffer his affections to he taynted without, but that hee keepe them pure in his own integrity, so that he keepe himself unrebukable, and this will follow on the former, for so long as he re∣mains without spott, so long the world cannot finde fault with his practise, they may bark at his practise, they may backbite him, and say of him as they did of Christ, that hee had a divell, but in truth to lay ought to his Page  42 charge they cannot, for it is most certayne that a pure practise flowes from a pure hearte, that there can be no just cause of reproach against him which keeps himself within the compasse of Gods truth, we know how against Christ they hired witnesses to get matter to charge him with, when in truth they could finde nothing against him, yea the same Scribes and Pharises when they sent for the Apostles, and caused them to be scourged, yet they could finde nothing to lay to their charg, to punish them, because they did keep them∣selvs pure, and kept this commaundement without spott, so they were punished not for anie vice, nay they them∣selvs were constrayned to confesse, that they had nothing to taxe them with, and that they had nothing to accuse Christ, yet they said, if we suffer this man to live the whole world will follow after him; So at this day there be manie that punish Gods servāts, not for anie fault they can finde in their ministrye, but because their owne authority & po∣licy would be taken from them, if they suffer Gods truth to be spoken plainly. To goe forward, we see ministers must doe nothing which may give just occasion to the world, to blame them, because he is charged before God that hee keep this commaundement without spott. But why doth the Apostle this? since (as I have said) hee must walke, more holy then Christ if it were possible, that they should not be evill spoken of, and Christ tells his A∣postles that all shall speake evill of them for his sake, and this Pastours must expect to finde of men, not for that hee handles the Word of God deceitfully, but be∣cause hee teacheth the truth in sincerity in the evidence of the spirit to the consciences of all men in the sight of God▪ as the Apostle avoucheth concerning him∣self, that hee had preached the truth in the evidence, of the truth, and in the spirit of God, to their con∣sciences, so that if their consciences were examined be∣fore God, they durst not but saye hee is faithfull; there∣fore Page  43 the Apostle saith, if the Gospell be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, and shall perish, so that the wicked themselvs, as Peter tells us, shalbe compelled to justify, them in the daie of their visitation, they that rayle upon them now, shalbe forced to justify them, these then bee the two things which the Spirit of God will have Pa∣stours to looke unto, that they keep this commaunde∣ment, without spott or rebuke. Out of this wee may see and discern, what the estate of Gods church is this day, there is no church under the sunne but is guilty of one of these two miseries, the one is this, that Pastours can∣not be suffered to perform this, or else that Pastours have suffered themselvs to be corrupted to doe the con∣trarie, either their hands are shortened that they have no liberty, that though they would never so faine practise Gods commaundements, yet they cannot get liberty to doe it, or if they have liberty to doe something, yet not all things: he may doe a part, yet not the vhole truth of God, this is one of the miseries which lyes upon the Church of God this daye; I will not enter into judg∣ment whether the faulte be in the Pastours, or in the peo∣ple, but this I am sure, if there were more courage in Pastours for Gods truth then there is, it were well, wee will leave them to answere for themselvs, which are guil∣tye of it.

The second impiety is this, that Pastours for the pleasure of men have corrupted the ordinaunces of God manie waies, even in the reformed churches, which they have taken frō the church of Rome, see what corruptiō now there is in Gods house in manie places, see if such be chosen for Bishops as the Apostle hath here described in this epistle, come to the administration of the Sacra∣ments, and then unto the preachers of the word, is anie thing more corrupted than they are? is anie thing left of publique prayers and preaching or of administration of the Sacraments according to Gods appointment? is Page  44 that order of government practised among them as the Apostle hath here layd down for the churches practise? Let them looke to this epistle, and judge themselves ac∣cording to the rules here sett down, and doe not say be∣cause it is like the best church, therfore it is the best church; No, if it be not according to this commaunde∣ment it is accursed, I need not speake of this, for it is too palpable and abhominable. In manie churches there is all corrupted, they will have mens inventions, they are not content with Gods ordinaunces, but they will have them to be mingled with human inventions, or with the devises of that cursed church of Rome; this is no small cause of Gods anger, and of his fierce wrath, to see this charge thus to be troden under foot by Pa∣stours, who have so little studied this portion of scrip∣ture: they learn all things which others should pra∣ctise, and learn nothing which themselvs should pra∣ctise and learne,

We all know this, that a phisitian that studies na∣turall phisick for the good of mens bodies, that it is a dangerous thing if he shall proffer anie phisick to the patient, except those things that are of use, and with such mixtures which are profitable for the sick, be∣cause a little thing amisse may kill the patient: and doe we thinke that there is such danger in naturall helps for the preserving of our naturall life, and is there not much more daunger in corrupting of the spirituall me∣dicine, which should keep us in the life of God that it be-not extinguished? what a wofull change is it to corrupt the word and Sacraments, so that there is nothing but the very poysoning of the word and Sacraments, it is nothing else but poysening the ordinaunces of God. The Apostle letts us see this plainly, that the force of saving grace is taken from Gods ordinaunces whē they are done other∣wise thē he cōmanded. In the 1 Cor: 1. The Apostle shew∣eth the reason why he will not preach the Gospell in the Page  45 intiseinge words of mans wisdom, lest (saith he) I should make the crosse of Christ of none effect; & is it not a strange thing that the preaching of the word in the in∣tiseing words of mans wisdom or eloquence should take away the force of Christ cruifyed from saving of our soules? and yet the Apostle saith it doth so.

In the 1. Corinths 11.20. When ye come together therefore into one place this is not to eat the Lords body, or Lords supper, the abuse in eating the Lords supper made that it could not serve as Gods ordinance to comfort the conscience, thus we may see the saving force of Gods ordinaunces are taken away, when they are polluted by human authority and vain inventions.

To goe further you see how purely and without spot God will have his ordinaunces to be kept, he will not have men to deale with them, but that they must be kept intire and pure, but how longe must they be so kept? vntill the appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ, what an im∣portant charge may this seeme to bee unto Timothy! This letts us see two things in the duty that God hath charged on all Pastours, first that in this charge all Mini∣sters are charged with it, and that this is not a commaun∣dement to Timothy onely in his time, but for all that shall follow in the ministery unto the end of the world, till Christe appeare again.

Secondly let us see another thing, namely, how this must be done, every Minister must keepe it pure, and pure he must deliver it into the hands of them which shall succeed him, that is, he must keep it sincere, as the Apostle tells Timothy in his second Epistle, deliver that thou hast received unto faithfull men, that they may deliver it to others, there must be a delivering of it from hand to hand as the Apostle taught Timothy, so should he teach other Ministers, that they should so preach and ad∣minister the sacraments, as they might be examples unto Page  46 them that should come after them to doe the like, and this Timothy is said to doe this, till Christs appearing when he doth it all his owne time.

Oh what a fearfull thing is it when Pastours are not carefull to leave the ordinaunces of God and of Christ, and the purity of them to those that follow after them, they know not what they must answere, for who are examples of the contrary, oh with trembling remember the history of Ieroboam the King of Israell, who was the first that caused the Iewes to separate from the Temple of Salomon, and he is branded with this note, Ieroboam, that made Israell to sinne, he was the first occasion of it, and he is charged above all, for corrupting the Worship of God: The like we read before of Gideon Iudges 8. who thinking to adorn an ornament God had commaunded his Preists to weare, but it was abhomination unto the Lord, and it was the utter destructiō of him and his house, for which the Lord recordeth all Israell went a who∣ring after it.

If those men were so noted that have caused the Church to erre from Gods law, and not imbrace his or∣der he hath set down, but in the place of it to receive idle ceremonies, certainly they shall know, that God takes this to remembrance and more to his heart then they doe dream of, yea they shall see that of all men they are lya∣ble to the greatest judgment in the sight of God, their own devices shall aggravate their judgment for corrup∣ting the Church of God, therefore faithfull Pastours must have a double care in their own persons and of others committed to their charge, that they keep it without spott, and that they deliver it to others with∣out spott.

Again we doe here see that these ordinaunces are not to be changed so long as the worlde endures, the A∣postle to the Hebrews comparing the law with the Gos∣pell, and the dispensation of the Gospell to the dispensa∣tion Page  47 under the law, he calls them both Kingdoms, be∣cause they were in his church where his Kingdom is; now saith the Apostle this word once more signifyeth the re∣mooving of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things that cannot be shaken may remain, where the Apostle shews that the dispensation under the law was not to continue; but (saith he) we receiving a Kingdom which cannott be moved, let us have grace wher∣by we may serve God acceptablie with reverence and godly feare, so that these ordinaunces of his Kingdom under the Gospell they cannot be shaken, except thou wilt shake thyself out of Gods Kingdom; This Kingdom must re∣main constant till the end of the world, so that it is a fearfull matter when men keep not this in their time, since it must not be chaunged till the worlds end, yet there is scarce anie degree of men in the ministery that doth not pervert this.

What a fearfull and daungerous matter is it to us, that we cannot keep it for so short a time? and if the King∣dom of God had stood and his ordinaunces accordinge to his truth, here prescribed, there had never been another ministery nor an other government, or other doctrine then this here commaunded, if Gods will were observed, and Pastours had been faithfull, they would ne∣ver have corrupted Gods ordinaunces and worship as they have done, This Epistle is the onely form that God allows, and by which ministers shalbe examined, for men neede not to doubt how the Church may be reformed and set in right order, if the fear of God did possesse their hearts to looke unto this Epistle, but when this is not looked unto, nor regarded, but what will please men, and what is the custom of these times, this makes that Gods house is pestered w•th vanityes, and still remains defiled, and if Pastours would bend their studies to learn this Epistle, it would shew them their folly, and therefore all which labour to avoyd Page  48 Gods fierce wrath in this age, and love the salvation of their souls in obeying God according to his ordi∣naunces, let them read and understand this Epistle, for this will teach them the truth of God, how his Church should be ordered and governed.

One lesson more I will ad, and withall will make an end, This commaundement you see is to be kept till the worlds end, let us gather this lesson from it. Hath God charged his Church to doe this, and will he not have his Church to practise it? let the devill and Antichrist rage as they will, and rage against his servants, yet the Lord will keep them, and this commaundement shal be kept till Christs coming again in despight of them, though not in the most part of the world, yet in some obscure places he will have his own witnesses to stand for him, to con∣vince the world of error, the reason of it is this, God gives no commaundement to his church that he will have kept to the worlds end, but it must stand as long as the time that he hath appointed it, so that all the power of darknes shall not roote it out of the world, although they may banish it in manie countries, but out of the world they shall never banish it, but there shalbe one or other that shall stand for the truth.

This we may see hath been accomplished, as we finde in historyes, although manie of their testimonies are sup∣pressed, yet in all ages God hath had sundry who have mainteyned the truth, so that there shalbe a Church of God in which the purity of his worship shalbe main∣teyned, so longe as the world shall remaine. It is testifyed that Noe cōdemned the world, so the testimonie of Christs witnesses shalbe condemnatiō to the world, to this end the Apostle saith, if our Gospell be hid it is hid in them that are lost, in whom the God of this world hath blinded their mindes; So God and Christ will and shalbe worshipped, although ob∣scurely, although not at Ierusalem nor among the scribes and pharises, yet in the wildernes there shalbe a Iohn Page  49 Baptist; or in some corner of the earth or other God will have his faitfull witnesses, for this commaunde∣ment shall take place as long as God doth reigne, al∣though the tyrants of the earth obscure it, this is most sure, that his Gospell is an everlasting Gospell, and God will keep it in some corner of the earth till the end of the world, therefore raise up your hearts with joy, although it be put downe in this or that place, yet it shalbe raysed again in an other quarter of the world, it came from the East to us, and we had it a long time, and now it is going from us, and God hath appoynted another place to re∣ceive it, never shall God want a place to keep his ordi∣naunces, let the world doe what they can to hinder it, it is vaine for men to seeke to suppresse that which God will have kept.