Graphautarkeia, or, The Scriptures sufficiency practically demonstrated wherein whatsoever is contain'd in Scripture, respecting doctrine, worship or manners is reduced to its proper head, weighty cases resolved, truths confirmed, difficult texts illustrated and explained by others more plain.

CHAP. XXVI. Of Preachers in general: Gospel-Ministers, of what spirits they should be, their Duty and Recompence. (Book 26)

AND though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more: but thine eyes shall see thy teachers, Isa. 30. 20.

The Lord said unto Jeremy, Thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee: and whatsoever I shall command thee, thou shalt speak. Be not afraid, &c. Jer. 1. 7, 8.

If thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth, Jer. 15. 19.

The word of the Lord was made a reproach, &c. and a derision daily: then said I, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name: but his word was in mine heart, as a burning-fire shut up in my bones: and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay, &c. Jer. 20. 8, 9.

Freely ye have received, and freely give: provide neither gold nor silver, nor brass in your purses, &c. for the workman is worthy of his meat, &c. I send you forth as sheep, &c. be ye therefore as wise as serpents, and harmless as doves, Mat. 10. 7, 8, 9, 10, 16. Joh. 20. 21.

Go ye therefore, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo I am with you, &c. Mat. 28. 19, 20.

He who speaketh of himself, seeketh his own glory: but he who seeketh his glory who sent him, the same is true, &c. Joh. 7. 18.

The Apostles were very desirous to do good to the souls of others, and therefore took all occasions possible to preach the Gospel every where, Acts 2. 13, 14, &c. ch. 3. 12, 13, &c. ch. 4. 8, 9, 10, 11. ch. 5. 29, 30, 31, 42, ch. 7. 1, 2, 3, &c.

When the Apostles were forbid to preach Christ, they answer, Whether it be right in the sight of God, to hearken unto you more than unto God, judg ye: for we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard, Acts 4. 19, 20.

We will give our selves to prayer continually, and preaching of the word, Act. 6. 4.

These are the servants of the most high God, who shew unto us the way of salvation, Act. 16. 17.

Paul being a tent-maker, abode with Aquilla, being of the same craft, and wrought with him, &c. He reasoned in the Synagogue every Sabbath, &c. He testified to the Jews, that Jesus was Christ, &c. Apollos shewing by the Scrip∣tures, that Jesus was the Christ, Acts 18. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 28.

Paul preached three months, disputing and perswading about the kingdom of God; but when divers were hardned, &c. he separated the disciples, &c. Acts 19. 8, 9.

Paul said, I kept back nothing which was profitable unto you: but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, &c. testi∣fying, &c. repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. neither count I my life dear, so that I might finish, &c. the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testifie the Gospel, &c. I am pure from the blood of all men: for I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole conn∣sel of God, &c. I have coveted no mans silver, or gold, &c. ye your selves know that these hands have ministred to my necessity, and to them who were with me, Acts 20. 20, 21, 24, 26, 27, 33, 34, 35.

The Gentiles to whom I now send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, Acts 26. 17, 18.

Paul dwelt two years in his own hired house, and received all who came in un∣to him: preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, Acts 28. 30, 31.

I thank my God, &c. that your faith is spoken of, &c. without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, &c. I Iong to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established, &c. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation, Rom. 1. 8, 9, 10, 11, 16. Col. 1. 9. Ephes. 1. 15, 16.

I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, &c. I beseech you brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christs sake, &c. that ye strive together with me in your prayer to God for me, that I may be delivered from them who do not be∣lieve, &c. Rom. 15. 18, 30.

When I came to you, I came not in the excellency of speech, or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God: for I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified, &c. and my speech and my preaching was not with inticing (or, perswasible) words of mans wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit, &c. which things also we speak, not in the words mans wisdom teacheth, but which the holy Ghost teacheth: comparing spiri∣tual things with spiritual, 1 Cor. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4, 13.

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as spiritual, &c. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able, &c. I have plant∣ed, &c. but God gave the increase: so then, neither is he who planteth any thing, &c. 1 Cor. 3. 1, 2, 6, 7.

Account of us as, &c. stewards of the mystery of God; moreover, it is re∣quired in stewards, that a man be found faithful, &c. Even to this present hour we hunger, &c. and labour, working with our own hands, 1 Cor. 4. 2, 11, 12.

Have we not power to eat and to drink, &c? Who goeth to warfare at any time upon his own charge, &c? so the Lord hath ordained, that they who preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel, &c. but I have used none of these things, &c. wo is unto me if I preach not the Gospel, &c. though I be free from all men, yet have I made my self servant unto all, that I might gain the more: and unto the Jews, I became as a Jew, &c. I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some, 1 Cor. 9. 4, 7, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23.

I speak as to wise-men, judg ye what I say; the cup of blessing, &c. Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved, 1 Cor. 10. 15, 33.

In the Church, I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue, 1 Cor. 14. 18, 19.

By the grace of God, I am that I am, &c. I laboured, &c. yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me, 1 Cor. 15. 10.

You also helping together by prayer for us, &c. not for that we have domi∣nion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy, 2 Cor. 1. 11, 24.

If I make you sorry, who is he then who maketh me glad, but the same who is made sorry by me, &c? out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears: not that ye should be grieved, but that, &c. we are not as many who corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ, 2 Cor. 2. 2, 4, 17. chap. 4. 1, 2.

Not that we are sufficient of our selves, to think any thing as of our selves, but our sufficiency is of God: who also hath made us able ministers, &c. 2 Cor. 3. 5, 6.

Commending our selves to every mans conscience in the sight of God, &c. we preach not our selves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and our selves your servants for Jesus sake, &c. We have the same spirit of faith, &c. we believe, and there∣fore speak, 2 Cor. 4. 2, 5, 13.

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we perswade men, &c. the love of Christ constrains us, &c. God hath given unto us the ministry of reconci∣liation, &c. We are embassadors for Christ, as though God, &c. 2 Cor. 5. 11, 14, 18, 19, 20.

Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed; but in all things approving our selves as the ministers of God, in much patience in affli∣ctions, in necessities, in distresses, &c. by pureness, by knowledg, &c. 2 Cor. 6. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. 10.

We have wronged no man: we have corrupted no man, we have defraud∣ed no man, &c. though I made you sorry, I do not repent, &c. I do rejoyce, not that you were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance, &c. that ye might receive damage by us in nothing, 2 Cor. 7. 2, 8, 9, 10.

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, &c. 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5.

Paul (being forced to it for the Gospels sake, justifies and commends him∣self, 2 Cor. 11. ch. 12.

I will not be burdensome to you: I seek not yours, but you: for the chil∣dren, &c. and I will very gladly spend, and be spent for you; though, &c. we do all things for your edisying, dearly beloved: for I fear, &c. lest when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many who have sinned, and have not repented, 2 Cor. 12. 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21.

We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth, &c. I should use sharpness according to the power which the Lord hath given me to your edi∣fication, &c. 2 Cor. 13. 8, 9 10.

—Do seek to please men; for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the ser∣vant of Christ, Gal. 1. 10.

Paul blamed Peter for dissembling, openly, Gal. 2. 11, 12, 13, 14.

Paul had a holy jealousie of the Galatians: and after he had written largely to them about their turning back to the law, he saith, Ye observe days, and months, and years: I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed labour in vain, Gal. 3. ch. 4. 10, 11.

When he ascended up on high, &c. he gave gifts unto men, &c. and he gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastours and Teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, &c. Ephes. 4. 8, 11, 12, 13.

Praying, &c. for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may o∣pen my mouth boldly, Ephes. 6. 18, 19. 2 Thes. 3. 1, 2. Col. 4. 3, 4.

God is my record how greatly I long after you all, in the bowels of Jesus, &c. some preach Christ out of envy, &c. what then? notwithstanding every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached, and I therein re∣joyce, yea, and will rejoyce, Phil. 1. 8, 15, 16, 17, 18.

If I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, &c. I have no man like-minded, all seek their own things, not the things which are Jesus Christs, Phil. 2. 17, 19, 20, 21.

Not that I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account, Phil. 4. 16, 17.

Christ whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus; whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, who, &c. Col. 1. 27, 28, 29.

I would that you knew what great conflict I have for you, and for they at Laodicea, &c. that their hearts might be comforted, Col. 2. 1.

Our exhortation was not of deceit, &c. but as we were allowed of God, &c. even so we spake: not as pleasing men, but God, who tryeth our hearts; for neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness, God is witness; nor of men sought we glory, &c. but we were gentle among you, even as a Nurse cherisheth her children; so being affection∣ately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, &c. labour∣ing night and day, because we would not be chargeable to any of you, we preached unto you; ye are witnesses, and God, how holily, and justly, and

unblameably we behaved our selves, &c. what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoycing? are not even ye, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 1 Thes. 2. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 19.

I could no longer forbear: I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter, &c. for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord, 1 Thes. 3. 5, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Brethren, pray for us, 1 Thes. 5. 25.

We behaved not our selves disorderly among you: neither did we eat any mans bread for nought, but wrought with labour and travel night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you; not because we have not power; but to make our selves an ensample unto you to follow us, &c. 2 Thes. 3. 7, 8, 9, 10.

Resuse profane and old wives fables, and exercise thy self unto godliness: These things command and teach, &c. be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity, &c. give at∣tendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine, neglect not the gift which is in thee, &c. meditate upon these things; give thy self wholly unto them, that thy profiting may appear to all (or, in all things): take heed to thy self, and to the doctrine, &c. 1 Tim. 4. 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.

Stir up the gift of God which is in thee, &c. hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love, &c. 2 Tim. 1. 6, 13.

The things thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also; thou therefore endure hardness, as a good souldier of Christ Jesus: no man who warreth, entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a souldier, &c. I endure all things for the elects sake, &c. study to shew thy self a work-man that needeth not to be ashamed, right∣ly dividing, &c. foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gen∣der strifes: But the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient (or, forbearing), in meekness instructing those who oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance, &c. &c. 2 Tim. 2. 2, 3, 4, 10, 15, 16, 23, 24, 25.

Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season: reprove, rebuke, ex∣hort with all long-suffering, and doctrine, &c. but watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an Evangelist, make full proof of (or, fulfil) thy ministry, 2 Tim. 4. 2, 5.

There are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, &c. whose mouths must be stopped, &c. wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, &c. Titus 1. 10, 11, 13, 14.

Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: in all things shew thy self a pattern of good works, in doctrine, uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech which cannot be condemned: that he who is of the contrary part, may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you, Titus 2. 1, 7, 8.

Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about

the law; for they are unprofitable and vain, Titus 3. 9.

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God, &c. that God, &c. 1 Pet. 4. 10, 11.

I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth: yea, and I think it meet, as long as I am in this present tabernacle, to stir you up, by puting you in remembrance: knowing that shortly I must put off this my ta∣bernacle, &c. moreover I will endeavour that you may be able after my de∣cease, to have these things always in remembrance: for we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and com∣ing of our Lords, &c. 2 Pet. 1. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.

That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, &c. 1 Joh. 1. 3.

I rejoyce greatly, that I found of thy children walking in truth, 2 Joh. ver. 4. 3 Joh. ver. 3, 4.

See more of the officers of Churches, Chap. 27.