For the dignity of this Office, the Saints have ever had a holy pride in being GODS servants; there cannot be greater honour than to serve such a Master as commands heaven, earth and hell: Non reputes magnum quod Deo servias, sed maximum, quod ipse dignatur te in servum assumere: Do not think thou doest honour GOD in serving him; but think how GOD honours thee, in vouchsafing thee to be his servant. David could not study to give himself a greater stile, thana O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thy hand-maid: and this he spake, not in the phrase of a humane complement, but in the humble confession of a Christian. Yea, so doth our Apostle commend this excellency, that (if we note it) he sets the title of Servant, before that of an Apostle: first Servant, then Apostle. Great was his office in being an Apostle, greater his blessing in being a servant of Jesus Christ: The one is an outward calling, the other an inward grace: Damnatur Apostolorum unus, servorum nullus; There was an Apostle condemned, never any servant of God: Judas preached to others, not to his own heart; he healed their bodies, not his own soul; wrought miracles upon others, not upon himself; cast out devils, yet himself was cast out as a devil. All which justifies that of Samuel, bTo obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of Rams. Prophets have been excluded; many say,c Lord, Lord, we have prophesied in thy name; to whom it is answered, I never knew you; depart from me ye that work iniquity. But never were Servants excluded; for the other, their book and clergy cannot save them; It will be demanded of them at that day; Non quid legerint, sed quid egerint, non modò quid dixerint, sed quomodo vixerint. Bern. Not what books they have read, but what life they have led; not what they have taught others to do, but what they have done themselves. God by this title commends Job, the greatest man of the East:d Hast thou considered my servant Job? Paul calls James the Lords Brother, Galath. 1.19. other of the Apostles saw I none, save James the Lords brother. James calls himself the servant of Christ, Jam 1.1. James a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ; quite leaving out the remembrance of that other stile If it were such a noble privilege to be a servant to Caesar, and free of the Roman State;
For the dignitie of this Office, the Saints have ever had a holy pride in being GODS servants; there cannot be greater honour than to serve such a Master as commands heaven, earth and hell: Non reputes magnum quod Deo servias, sed maximum, quod ipse dignatur te in servum assumere: Doe not thinke thou doest honour GOD in serving him; but thinke how GOD honours thee, in vouchsasing thee to be his servant. David could not study to give himselfe a greater stile, thana O LORD, truely I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the sonne of thy hand-maid: and this he spake, not in the phrase of a humane complement, but in the humble confession of a Christian. Yea, so doth our Apostle commend this excellencie, that (if wee note it) he sets the title of Servant, before that of an Apostle: first Servant, then Apostle. Great was his office in being an Apostle, greater his blessing in being a servant of Iesus Christ: The one is an outward calling, the other an inward grace: Damnatur Apostolorum unus, servorum nullus; There was an Apostle condemned, never any servant of God: Iudas preached to others, not to his owne heart; he healed their bodies, not his owne soule; wrought miracles upon others, not upon himselfe; cast out devils, yet himselfe was cast out as a devill. All which justifies that of Samuel, bTo obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of Rams. Prophets have beene excluded; many say,c Lord, Lord, we have prophecied in thy name; to whom it is answered, I never knew you; depart from me yee that worke iniquity. But never were Servants excluded; for the other, their booke and clergie cannot save them; It will be demanded of them at that day; Non quid legerint, sed quid egerint, non modò quid dixerint, sed quomodo vixerint. Bern. Not what bookes they have read, but what life they have led; not what they have taught others to doe, but what they have done themselves. God by this title commends Iob, the greatest man of the East:d Hast thou considered my servant Iob? Paul cals Iames the Lords Brother, Galath. 1.19. other of the Apostles saw I none, save Iames the Lords brother. Iames cals himselfe the servant of Christ, Iam 1.1. Iames a servant of God, and of the Lord Iesus Christ; quite leaving out the remembrance of that other stile If it were such a noble priviledge to be a servant to Caesar, and free of the Roman State;
- aPsal. 116.16.
- b1 Sam. 15.22.
- cMatth. 7.23.
- dJob 1.8.Iob 1.8.
