CLII lectures vpon Psalme LI preached at Ashby-Delazouch in Leicester-shire / by that late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ, Mr. Arthur Hildersam.

Lecture XCVI. On Psalme 51.6. Septemb. 2. 1628.

IT followeth now that wee proceed to shew you what uses this Do∣ctrine may serve us unto. And they are principally two. First, To exhort and stirre us up unto a duty wee owe both unto others and to our selves.* 1.1 Secondly, To reprove us for neglect of duty in this kind. That which wee are heere to bee exhorted unto is, First of all a duty that wee owe unto others, Secondly, a duty that every one of us oweth unto himselfe.

And for the first Branch of this Exhortation it concerneth three sorts.

1. All of us in generall. 2. Such of us as are masters of families. 3. Lastly, Such of us especially as are Ministers of the Gospell.

For the first, Seeing (as wee have heard) knowledge is both the foundati∣on [ 1] and the seed of all other graces; wee are bound to desire and procure (so farre as in us lieth) that all men may have the meanes of knowledge. It cannot be denied nor doubted of but we are all bound to pity and commise∣rate the estate of all wicked men, even of Turks and Indians, of Iewes and Papists of the most dissolute and profane men; we are bound I say to pity their

estate, and unfeinedly to desire and pray for their salvation. I exhort (saith the Apostle, 1 Tim. 2.1.) that first of all, supplications, prayers, and intercessions bee made for all men. And that prayer which the Church maketh, Psalm. 67.3. and (to expresse the vehemency of her desire therein) repeateth againe verse 5. should (doubtlesse) bee the prayer of every good soule. Let the people praise thee ô God, yea let all the people praise thee. As if shee had said, Oh that all people, even the worst men that live upon earth, might bee brought to honour and worship thee aright. And the very summe and effect of all the three first petitions of the Lords prayer, Matthew 6.9, 10. is no more but this. Oh that thy great name may be knowne, and duly honoured every where, that all that thou hast appointed to save, may come in, and become thy subjects and ser∣vants, and so live as becommeth thy subjects and servants to doe. So that he that doth not heartily desire this, did never yet know how to pray aright. Now if any of us doe indeed pity the estate of wicked men, and desire that they may bee saved, let us then pray (and procure for them so farre as in us lyeth) that they may have the meanes of knowledge. For this is the way, yea this is the onely way to bring them unto salvation. God will have all men (saith the Apostle, 1 Timothy 2.4 that is, some of all sorts of men, for that phrase cannot bee properly meant of any that shall perish) God will have all men to bee saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. As if hee had said, Looke whom God will have to bee saved, them hee will bring to the know∣ledge of the truth. So when the Church maketh so fervent a prayer unto God for the conversion of all nations, Psalm. 67 3, 5. shee prefixeth this, as the meanes whereby that was to be effected, and brought to passe, verse 1, 2. God be mercifull unto us (to the whole catholique Church, to the whole number and company of his Elect, for so that prayer is to bee understood) God bee mercifull unto us, and blesse us, and cause his face to shine upon us, that thy way may bee knowne upon earth, and thy saving health among all nations. As if shee had said. This is the greatest mercy and blessing, the greatest fruit of Gods speciall favour unto a people, when hee giveth them the meanes, where∣by they may know his wayes, how to serve and please him, and his saving health, how to attaine unto the eternall salvation of their owne soules, and till this mercy bee vouchsafed to them (as appeareth by the coherence of the third verse, with these two) men can never praise God, nor worship him aright. This is the greatest outward fruit of Gods mercy and goodnesse towards men of all others, when hee giveth them able, and faithfull teachers, to bring them unto knowledge. As the Apostle also teacheth us, Ephes. 4.8. When Christ ascended up on high, and led captivitie captive (went up in his triumph after he had conquered Satan upon the crosse) he gave gifts unto men. And what were those gifts which that great King and conqerour at such a time when hee would expresse his bounty to the full, did bestow upon men? Surely they are expressed verse 11. He gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors, and teachers. As if he had said, He gave able ministers unto his Church, as the greatest outward gift that he had to be∣stow upon them. And as this is the greatest outward worke of mercy and love in God towards man; so is it certainly the greatest worke of mercy and chari∣ty in man towards man; to provide for them the meanes of sound knowledge and instruction. The Papists glory much of their good workes, and thinke they have therein a great advantage against us. And if their religion were indeed more fruitfull in good works then ours is, they had a just and great advantage a∣gainst us, for you shall know them by their fruits, saith our Saviour, Mat. 7.16. But what are the workes whereby they teach men they may merit most at Gods hands Surely to give largely to the Church. To what end? Was it to provide thereby that the people might bee taught and instructed how to know God,

and to worship him aright? No, no, the whole endeavour of their Church hath beene to take from men the key of knowledge, as our Saviour speaketh, Luk. 11.5, 2. that is, the meanes of knowledge, whereby (as by a key) men are to have their entrance into the kingdome of heaven; all that was given to their Church (wherein (as their fore-fathers the Pharisees did) they teach men to put such confidence) was to maintaine a sort of idle fellowes to say masses, and sing dirges for their soules. And what goodnesse (I pray you) was there in these workes? No, no, blessed bee the Lord our God, the Papists have no just cause of glorying against the Gospell in this behalfe. For though we have too many amongst us, whom the Lord hath greatly blessed with worldly wealth, that neither in their life, nor at their death, doe honour God with their substance, as the holy Ghost telleth us, Prov. 3.9. they are bound to doe, and that e∣ven with the first fruits of all their increase. As if hee had said, God should have the first part of all. Though wee have many (I say) that are too strait∣handed and hearted this way, that being of great ability, give nothing to God, (or at least nothing proportionable unto their estates) that when they make their wills, and find they have hundreds, and thousands to dispose of, yet ne∣ver thinke of God, give nothing (to speake of) unto pious uses, all is too lit∣tle they thinke for their children and kindred; (And shall their children and kindred prosper the better for this thinke you, when God is robbed of his part? No, no, the sentence of God shall stand, which hee pronounceth of the man that is bountifull in the workes of charity, Psalm. 37.26. Hee is ever mercifull, and lendeth, and his seed is blessed; his children shall bee never the poorer for that) Though wee have (I say) too many such of our profession; yet is not this the fault of our religion (our religion teacheth the necessity of such good workes, as much as Popery doth) this is onely the fault of these carnall, and worldly minded professours of our religion, having a shew of godlinesse, but denying the power of it, as the Apostle speaketh, 2 Tim. 3.5. these are spots in our Church, as the Apostle speaketh, Iude 12. they blemish and shame our religion. But though wee have too many such, yet is it (thanks bee to God) notorious to the world, that the Gospell hath beene more fruit∣full in all sorts of good workes (that have beene good workes indeed) then ever popery was. More hath bin given in this land within these threescore yeeres to the building and increase of hospitals, of Colledges, and other schooles of good learning, and to such like works as are truly charitable, then were in any one hundred yeeres, during all the time and reigne of popery. But this is a good worke, passing all other, wherein the Gospell glorieth and triumpheth against popery, that the Gospell hath made men carefull, and liberall to pro∣vide for the soules of Gods people, to provide meanes of knowledge, and sound instruction for them; That there have beene so many good Lectures founded of late; That there hath bin such care taken, and cost bestowed, for the redeeming of Impropriations, & restoring of them to the Church; That even in this last Session of Parliament, there was so earnest endeavour used by the state, (and God be mercifull unto them that were the hinderers of so honourable, and pious a worke) that out of every impropriation in the land, there should bee so much taken, as might make a competent maintenance for an able teacher. These, these are the works, which as they be proper and peculiar to the Gos∣pell, and such as popery could never skill of, so are they of all other the best works, most acceptable unto God, and most profitable unto men. And certain∣ly (to conclude this first branch of my exhortation) of all good workes, of all workes of charity that any man can doe, this is the best, and that that will yeeld him most comfort, when he hath beene the instrument to provide the meanes of knowledge and instruction for a people, to settle and establish a sound mi∣nistery among them that had none before, and to maintaine (and so to give in∣couragement)

to an able and conscionable minister, that is already setled and placed among a people. It is said of good Iehoshaphat, 2 Chron. 7.6 that his heart was lift up in the wayes of the Lord. As if the holy Ghost had said thus of him. Hee did most zealously seeke to promote and advance the true re∣ligion of God. And how did hee most shew his goodnesse and zeale? That you shall see in the three next verses, Hee provided carefully, that all his peo∣ple might bee well taught and instructed; he sent teaching Levites, and able mi∣nisters into all parts of the land, and magistrates also with them, to protect and encourage them in their ministery. And this is noted for one of the best works that ever Hezechiah did 2 Chron 30.22. He spake comfortably to all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the Lord, 1. he encouraged and heartned (he spake to the heart saith the originall of) all the Levites, 2. hee encouraged them because they were able, and conscionable teachers, because they taught the good knowledge of God to the people. And hee did not so himselfe onely, but it is said further of him, 2 Chron. 31.4. Hee commanded the people (to doe the like) to give the portion of the Priests and the Levites, that they might bee encouraged in the Law of the Lord. Hee knew they could never doe their duty with any heart and encouragement, if due maintenance were with-held from them. See yet a third example for this, in King Iosiah, of whom wee read also, 2 Chron. 35.2, 3. that hee encouraged the Priests and Levites to the service of the house of the Lord. No good worke wee can doe, will better argue that wee are truly religious, and feare God indeed, then the kindnesse and bounty wee shew to Gods faithfull ministers. Obadiah fea∣red God greatly (1 Kings 18.34. and marke the reason is given to prove this) for when Iezebel cut off the Prophets of the Lord, Obadiah tooke an hundred Prophets and hid them, and fed them. And it is worthy further to be observed in the example of Iehoshaphat, 2 Chron 17.7. that hee is said to have sent his prin∣ces to teach in the cities of Iudah. They were not preachers certainely, hee sent them onely to countenance and encourage the Levites, and even for that cause they are said to teach in the cities of Iudah. And so all you that doe en∣courage the ministers of God, that doe comfort, and protect them in their ministery, are your selves doers of this blessed worke. So saith our Saviour, Matth. 10.41. Hee that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Pro∣phet, shall receive a Prophets reward. A Prophets reward is due to him that doth the worke of a Prophet, but every one that doth entertaine and encou∣rage the faithfull ministers of the Gospell any way, doth the worke of a Prophet for he shall receive a Prophets reward.* 1.2 I know well this is a great para∣dox to many now a dayes, 1. they thinke they may bestow their bounty twenty wayes better, then in placing, and maintaining of able ministers; 2. they thinke there is no want of preaching, there are preachers enough and too many too every where, 3. they thinke it a great priviledge to give nothing to the maintenance, or to increase the maintenance of a prea∣cher, 4. they are so farre from encouraging the minister by any free gift for the increase of his maintenance, that by spoyling, and with-holding from him that which is his due, they discourage him in his ministery, all that they can. But to these men I have foure things to say. First. That in the judgement of those three worthy Kings (nay in the judgement of the ho∣ly Ghost, who noteth and commendeth them for this) to place and maintaine able ministers, is a chiefe good worke, a principall worke of mercy above all others. Secondly. That notwithstanding the plenty of teachers they talke of, yet there bee still a great number of congregations that want able teachers, whose case is extreamely to bee pitied, thinke of their case, and judge of it by the Prophets words, Now for a long season (saith he, 2 Chron. 15.3.) Israel hath beene without the true God, and without a teaching Priest, and without law.

Thirdly. That the want of sound knowledge, and instruction, is the chiefe cause of all the wickednes in the land, and that so many perish in their sins, as appea••reth by that complaint the Lord maketh, Hos. 4.6. My people perish for want of knowledge.

Fourthly and lastly. To him that is still resolved (notwithstanding all that hath beene said) it is no good worke, no deed of charity, to place and main∣taine able ministers, it is no sinne at all to shew no kindnesse, to give no encou∣ragement that way to his teacher, no nor to with-hold from him what hee can, I can say no more but what the Angell of God saith. Revel. 22.11. Hee that is unjust, let him bee unjust still. But let him withall blot out of his Bible, (and so his owne name also out of the booke of life) that expresse commande∣ment of God, Gal. 6.6. Let him that is taught in the word, communicate with him that teacheth in all good things. And this shall suffice for the first branch of my exhortation that concerneth the duty wee owe unto other men, wee are bound to desire, and procure (so farre as in us lyeth) that all men may have the meanes of knowledge.

Secondly. If knowledge bee both the foundation, and the seed also of all [ 2] other graces (as wee have heard it is) then such of us as have charge of others, (as all we that are parents and governours of families have) are bound to use our best endeavour, to bring them to knowledge that are under our charge. It is a vaine thing for us to hope that either by correction, or example, or by any other meanes of civill education, they can bee brought to grace, till the knowledge of religion bee first wrought in them. This is plaine by that direction the Apostle giveth unto parents, Ephes. 6.4 and that that he saith to parents of their children, may as well bee said to masters of their servants. And yee fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the instruction, and information of the Lord. To this end. 1. We must hold our selves bound to teach them our selves. God established a testimony in Iacob, (saith the Prophet, Psal. 78.5.) and appointed a law in Israel, which hee com∣manded our fathers that they should make them knowne unto their children. All parents you see are commanded to instruct their children themselves, in the law of God. 2. Wee are bound to bring our children and servants with us, to the publique meanes of knowledge and instruction. When El∣kanah went to the house of God in Shil••h, 1 Sam. 1.21. his manner was to take his whole family with him. 3. We are bound to examine our children and servants, what they have learned, and how they have profited in know∣ledge, by that which hath beene taught them. For this we have the example of the best master of a family that ever was, Matth, 13.51. For though ma∣ny that have beene from their childhood brought up thus in the knowledge of religion, for the present seeme to be as void of grace as any other, yet is not our labour lost, for (if they belong to God) even this dead and senslesse knowledge which they have gotten by these our endeavours, will be of good use unto them one day, and a great advantage unto them, when the time of their visitation shall come; as there is good use of laying the wood together in the chimney before-hand, though it will not burne till fire be put to it. So that knowledge which the Iewes learned of Iohn the Baptist, concerning Christ though for the present they regarded it not, but rather were offended at it, yet in the day of their conversion, it proved a great advantage unto them, and helpe unto their faith, Iohn 10.41, 42.

Thirdly and lastly. Seeing knowledge is both the foundation and seed of [ 3] all other saving graces, wee that are ministers, must be exhorted to make it our first and chiefe care to bring the people to knowledge, to ground and stablish them in it. True it is, this is not all that we have to doe, we must apply, as well as teach. Hee that prophesieth (saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 14.3.) speaketh unto

edification, and exhortation, and comfort. Wee must labour to worke upon the heart and affection, as well as upon the understanding; Speake to the heart of Ierusalam, saith the Lord, Esay 40.2. Yet is this our first and chiefe worke, to open the eyes of Gods people, and to turne them from darknesse to light, as the Lord told Paul, Acts 26.18. to worke upon their understanding, and to bring them to knowledge. As he is said to bee a pastor according to the Lords owne heart. Ieremy 3.15. that feedeth the people with knowledge and understanding. That is that, that feedeth the soule. The Preachers chiefe care must be to teach the people knowledge. Eccl. 12.9. The minister then that hath taken the charge of soules upon him, and would approve himselfe to be a pastor, according to Gods owne heart and liking, must doe these things.

First. He must hold himselfe bound to catechise, as well as to preach, and count catechising a chiefe part of his ministery. The Apostles (the great master builders) tooke this course, they taught first the chiefe principles of religion, and laid that as a foundation to all their preaching, Heb. 6.12. The Romans had a forme of Doctrine (a catechisme) delivered unto them this way, Rom. 6.17. And so had other Churches also, that the Apostles did plant. Hold fast the forme of sound words (saith the Apostle. 2 Tim. 1.13.) which thou hast heard of me.

Secondly. Hee must not content himselfe to teach diligently, but hold himselfe bound also to teach plainely, that the people may understand the text that hee handleth, understand how his Doctrine riseth from it, under∣stand how it is confirmed by the word. Thus is the preaching of the Levites commended, Nehem 8.7, 8. They caused the people to understand the law; they gave the sense, and caused the people to understand the reading. Thus it is said of Moses, that hee laid before their faces, all the words that the Lord had commanded him, Exodus 19.7 Hee made all things most plaine, and evi∣dent unto them.

Thirdly. We must lay a good foundation of Doctrine, for all our exhortati∣ons and reproofes, and deale substantially, and soundly in our ministery. Be in∣stant (saith the Apostle, 2 Tim. 4.2.) reprove, rebuke, exhort, but do it with all long suffering and doctrine.

Fourthly and lastly. We must study and take paines for our sermons. It is said of Ezra. 7.10. that hee prepared his heart to teach in Israel, statutes, and judgements, hee studied much. Because the preacher was wise (saith Solomon, Eccles. 12.9, 10.) he still taught the people knowledge, yea hee gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many parables. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written, was upright, even words of truth. I know well there is a great difference betweene that preacher, and the best of us, for hee spake and wrote by divine, and immediate inspiration, but that addeth much to the strength of the proofe I bring from this place. For 1. If hee gave good heed to that he taught, and sought out, and set in or∣der his parables, was carefull both to find out good matter, and to deliver it in a plaine and good method, if hee had such need to take these paines? If Paul the Apostle, 2 Timothy 4.13. had such need of bookes, and of his parch∣ments too (which may appeare to bee note-bookes of his owne making; the Syriak translateth it, the bundle of writings folded up together, for they used then, parchment to write in, as wee doe paper now) how much more need have wee (who may expect no immediate inspirations as they had, but must attaine all the knowledge wee have, by reading, and meditation, and prayer to God for his blessing upon these ordinary helpes) both to have bookes to read, and note-bookes, and common-place bookes of our owne, and to study hard, that wee may bee well furnished, and prepared for this worke? 2. His reasons concerne us as much as him. For 1. we must still teach the

people knowledge; strive to teach them more then they knew before; and bee as good stewards, bringing forth new as well as old. Matthew 13.52. 2. We must labour to find out acceptable words, such as may give our hea∣rers content, and make them delight to heare us. 3. Yet not by hu∣mouring them, but by words of truth. And this cannot bee done with∣out study.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vse 1.
• * 1.2

  Applic.