Shecinah, or, A demonstration of the divine presence in the places of religious worship being an essay, tending to promote piety, prevent apostacy, and to reduce grosly deluded souls, first to their right wits, then to the right waies, of Gods publick instituted worship / by John Stillingfleete ...

CHAP. X. Practical deductions from Gods Presence with his Ministers. The Ministers dignity. Their duty. As Embassadours. As Stew∣ards. As Co-workers with God. People must eye God and not men. Prize Gospel truths. Not be prejudiced against, nor un∣dervaluers of Gospel Ministers. Good grounds for Ministers to Preach, and peo∣ple to hear.

§ 1. FRom this third Argument to prove Gods Presence in Religious wor∣ship, as being represented by the Ministers of the Gospel; These practical deductions, might be prosecuted, and enlarged upon, which I shall briefly name, and come to the fourth and last Argument.

1. It informs Ministers of two things.

First, Of their Dignity; That God should set them in the Church, to repre∣sent the Majesty of Heaven. This ought not to puff up pride in Ministers, but to cause humble admiration of Gods good∣nesse, to honour their weaknesse so farre, as to be the representatives of God himself.

This may vindicate them from contempt amongst men. An affront is offered to the Prince, by affronting of his Embassador: So God is affronted by any indignities that are offered to His Ministers. He that de∣spiseth, despiseth not man, but God. Corinth was ruined by the Romans, for abuse of Em∣bassadors: And it were just with God to destroy any place or person for the con∣tempt of his Ministers.

§ 2. Secondly, it informs Ministers of their duty. Gods Presence with them calls for a three-fold duty from them.

1. As Embassadors, they must eye that mainly that God sent them about, viz. The salvation of Souls. Wee pray you in Christs stead be yee reconciled to God. Here is the main end of our Preaching, and your hear∣ing, that you may be reconciled. How then can any have so impudent a face, as to pretend they are sent of God, who make railing and reviling of others, to bee their work, with a neglect of the salvation of Souls, and holding out the VVord of re∣conciliation.

§ 3. 2. As Stewards of the mysteries of God, they must bee faithful. It's required in Stewards that they be faithful. That is, that they keep nothing back from the people of

God, but discover to them according to their ability the whole councel and will of God, that they deal faithfully with them in all things, that they may render a good account of their Stewardship at the great Audit. Now this faithfulnesse of Gods Stewards is seen in these two things.

First, that they seek Gods honour, and not their own praise. Hee seeks the glory and honour of God, that speaks as the O∣racles of God, that God in all things may bee glorified through Jesus Christ. Hee seeks praise of men, that so speaks that hee may please men, that hee may fan to himself some praise from them, for his wit, elo∣quence, and learning. Of this hunting af∣ter vain glory, and popular applause, St. Paul with disdain enough thus speaks, Do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not bee the servant of God.

Secondly, That to their utmost endea∣vour they promote the spiritual good, and eternal welfare of the Flock committed to their charge, by watching over them, pre∣paring suitable food for their souls, accord∣ing to their capacities and conditions, omit∣ting nothing that is necessary, and doing nothing that is prejudicial to their salva∣tion. An example of this wee have emi∣nently

in St. Paul. Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

§ 4. 3. As Co-workers with God. They must be diligent. If wee work with God, we must be diligent in our employment, least wee ruine our selves, as well as wrong o∣ther Souls, and dishonour God by our carelesnesse and indiligence. Prayer, Me∣ditation, and Affliction, contribute much to the making of a Divine: The two former, speak that care and diligence that is re∣quisite to the Ministerial Office, the other God uses as his lash to prevent lazinesse, and as a Spur to quicken to Duty. He that works together with God for the good of Souls, had need bee very diligent, In that men must have more than Sermons to lead them: The visible Preachings of Mini∣sters lives, must 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 co-operate, and joyn in the work of drawing sinners unto God, or else will hardly prove suc∣cesseful.

§ 5. II. Gods presence with the Mini∣sters, teaches the people to eye God more, and men lesse, in the Ministry of the Gos∣pel. It is an ill sign of a squeamish Sto∣mack, not to take meat down, unlesse it be dressed by such an hand; And as ill a

sign of a distempered heart, not to receive the Word cheerfully and readily, unlesse delivered by such and such Ministers. This wee have by eying men more than God. Three directions.

First, Own and prize Gospel truths, by whom ever they are delivered. An unclean hand may convey to you a precious Jewel, A wooden pipe may convey to you rich and generous Wine. Wee must have truth in admiration for Gods sake, and not enter∣tain Gospel truths because wee have the persons in admiration that do deliver them.

Secondly, Let not prejudice against mens persons, cause in you a prajudice against the doctrine they preach. The best way is to keep all prejudices against any out of out hearts, the next is to throw them out sud∣denly, when wee perceive they have cun∣ningly crept into us. Prejudices, against Ministers if harboured in our breasts any time, will bee very apt to make us con∣temptuous against God; And to contemn the truths of God, if upon any private grudge wee condemn the party that brings them. It's weaknesse to entertain groundless prejudices against Ministers; but it is wil∣fulnesse then to take revenge upon our

own Souls; And either in a pet to throw off hearing wholly, or not to embrace the word heard chearfully.

Thirdly, Let not the meannesse of mens parts cause you to sleight or undervalue Gods Ordinances. There are divers gifts, yet but one spirit. There is much of Gods power seen in mans weaknesse. If good men are without great parts, they are without that great pride that does attend them. And then those Sermons that have onely the plain trimming of Holinesse and Humility, as most befitting the simplicity of the Gos∣pel are most operative upon hearers. How ordinary is it, for great and learned Doctors, to leave their people meer dunces in Reli∣gion? Now others, what they want in learn∣ing and parts, God many times helps out by their tendernesse of affection for the good of Souls, and this is ordinarily accom∣panied with Gods blessing.

§ 6. III. Gods Presence with his Mini∣sters, affords good ground enough for Mi∣nisters to preach, and people to hear. Or∣dinances will continue, as long as Christs promise continues, and presence with the Ministers, and that is to the end of the world. If any do absent themselves or would with-draw others, from hearing the

Word publickly Preached, let them first prove that Christs promise is out of date, then may wee have reason to beleeve that hearing and preaching are out of date too. Till that bee done, let us assure our selves, that the enjoyment of Publick Ordinan∣ces, and the Presence of Christ in them, is the onely safe and sure way, for us to walk to the new Jerusalem in.

Notes

• 1 Thes. 4.8.
• 2 Cor. 5.20.
• 1 Cor. 4.2.
• Davenan∣tius in Col. c. 1. v. 7.
• 1 Pet. 4.11.
• Gal. 1.10
• 1 Cor. 10 33.