Ecclesiastes The worthy church-man, or the faithfull minister of Iesvs Christ. Described by polishing the twelve stones in the high-priests pectorall, as they were first glossed and scholyed on in a Synod-sermon; and after enlarged by way of discourse, to his two brethren. By Iohn Iackson parson of Marske in Richmond-shire.
Jackson, John, 1600-1648.
Page  29

The Vertue.

THE naturall property of this stone is to have an attractive power, thatc being rubbed, it drawes unto it leaves, strawes, brasse, iron, gold, and the like, in regard of which quality it is like to the load-stone, jett and amber; whereby thus much is strongly insinuated, that Ministers should endea∣vour for a winning and drawing facultie. Where∣soever true grace is in the hart of any good Chri∣stian, there is a desire and itch also to draw others to that sweetnes wch they themselves have found in the wayes of God; it is of a leavening and com∣municating nature: heredhidden bread is not plea∣sant, nor stollen waters sweet.eI and the lad, sayd A∣braham;fI and my house, sayd Ioshua;gI and my maides, said Esther.hCome and see, said Philip to Nathaniel;iCome see a man, sayd the Samaritane woman to her neighbours. Come and see was the word of the foure beasts, at opening the foure first seales, Apoc. 6. But a Church-man most of all should goe as the male goat before the flocke, kleading the willing, and drawing the backward. He being converted must strengthen his brethren: he having received a Talent of his Master must occu∣pie till he come: he must draw to, and build on the foundation Christ Iesus, proselytes and con∣verts of all sorts and conditions;lgold, silver, tim∣ber, hay, and stubble: he, as Amphion by his harmo∣ny brought men from savagenesse to civility, must bring men from reason to Religion: he as another Orpheus, must draw after him wilde beasts, and woods and stones to the building of the new Ie∣rusalem:Page  30 he like another Hercules the Lady Proserpina, must draw out of hell such poore soules as the Prince of infernall powers hath ravished, especially such as cry to Christ prin∣cipally, to him ministerially,mDraw me and I will runne after thee. And the Eare is that by which such must be drawne to God. Cynthius aurem vel∣lit: There is no message or embassage from God or man hath accesse but thorow these gates. There∣fore hath God placed them on the top of his buil∣ding, as on two turrets, the better to attend, be∣cause sound ascendeth: therefore also that the voyce doe not suddenly strike the braine, but may lengthen it selfe in the accesse, have they such slo∣ping and hollow entries, turning Labyrinths, and bowed Meanders, as wee know noises from a Trumpet or Sagbut find a longer life then from a Flute or Fife, and raise that eccho from betweene the teeth of hanging Rockes, which they doe not from smooth-browed Plaines: therefore also have we two eares, and those standing ever open to all suitors, and one mouth, and that fenced with a double port-cullis of the teeth and lips, that (as S. Iames counsels) we should be swift to heare as slow to speake: therefore also Mercury in Mytho∣logie though hee were a gentill-god, yet was a thiefe, because Eloquence steales away the heart of men. For men, like some beasts, are soonest ta∣ken and surest held by the eares. It is a notable Apophthegme of Plutarch,nThey say in the Pro∣verb, It is hard to hold a Wolfe by the eares, but who so will lead a city or a people, shall soonest doe it by the Page  31 eares: which they shall never doe, who come in∣to their Pulpits no oftner then the High-priest in∣to the Sanctum Sanctorum once a yeere: who, if at any time they flye from danger, I would wish them to goe hide them in their Pulpits, where none that knowes them will seeke for them.