1First, whereas Christ the Doctor and Prophet of the church is called that faithful witness, we learn, That all ministers of the Gospel ought to be faithful witnesses: for every minister of the Gospel, when he preacheth Gods word is in the room of Christ, and speaketh that unto the church which Christ would speak. That they may be faithful witnesses, sundry things are required at their hands. First, they must deliver the testimony of Christ above all other things, and before all testimonies of man in the office of their ministry, This was meat and drink to Christ, to (b)teach his fathers will. Eleazar, Abraham's eldest servant, showed his fidelity, in that he would not eat or drink till he had done his masters message. Gen. 24.33. Much more ought the ministers of Christ have special care of that weighty message committed unto them. Secondly, they must testify all the will of God concerning matters of salvation, as faith, obedience, and a godly life: among men, we count him a faithful witness, which testifies all the truth, and no more but the truth: so should it be with all ministers, that be Gods witnesses to his church. Herein Paul cleared himself,3 That he was free from all mens blood, seeing he delivered the whole will of God in matters necessary for salvation, and kept nothing back. Thirdly, he must neither add unto, or take away, much less in any case deprave the word of God. And this is the true mark of a faithful witness: For false prophets teach some truth, but withal they add something of their own, or detract from Gods truth something that they ought not. In the church of Rome a man may hear things concerning moral virtues handled soundly: but come to Justification, and thereto they add the merit of mens works, & so they deal with Faith, and Repentance, matters of salvation: they take away one part, and add another to the scriptures: they hold the Creed in word, yet in deed they deny the same, as by their doctrine may appear, & so show themselves false witnesses. Fourthly, a faithful witness must deliver the testimony of Christ in that spiritual manner which best beseemeth the majesty of God, and which he best approveth, that is, in a plain, easy, and familiar kind of speech, that the conscience of the sinner may be touched, & the understanding of the simple may be edified.
1First, whereas Christ the Doctor and Prophet of the church is called that faithfull witnesse, we learne, That all ministers of the Gospell ought to be faithfull witnesses: for euery minister of the Gospell, when he preacheth Gods word is in the roome of Christ, and speaketh that vnto the church which Christ wold speake. That they may be faithfull witnesses, sundry things are required at their hands. First, they must deliuer the testimonie of Christ aboue all other things, and before all testimonies of man in the office of their ministerie, This was meat and drinke to Christ, to (b)teach his fathers will. Eleazar, Abrahams eldest seruant, shewed his fidelitie, in that he would not eate or drinke till hee had done his masters message. Gen. 24.33. Much more ought the ministers of Christ haue speciall care of that weightie message committed vnto them. Secondly, they must testifie all the will of God concerning matters of salvation, as faith, obedience, and a godly life: among men, wee count him a faithfull witnesse, which testifies all the truth, and no more but the truth: so shold it be with all ministers, that be Gods witnesses to his church. Herein Paule cleared himselfe,3 That he was free from al mens bloud, seeing he deliuered the whole will of God in matters necessarie for saluation, and kept nothing backe. Thirdly, he must neither add vnto, or take away, much lesse in any case depraue the word of God. And this is the true marke of a faithfull witnesse: For false prophets teach some truth, but withall they adde something of their owne, or detract from Gods truth something that they ought not. In the church of Rome a man may hear things concerning morall vertues handled soundly: but come to Iustification, and thereto they adde the merit of mens works, & so they deale with Faith, and Repentance, matters of saluation: they take away one part, and adde another to the scriptures: they hold the Creed in word, yet in deed they denie the same, as by their doctrine may appeare, & so shew themselues false witnesses. Fourthly, a faithfull witnesse must deliuer the testimonie of Christ in that spirituall manner which best beseemeth the maiestie of God, and which he best approoueth, that is, in a plaine, easie, and familiar kind of speech, that the conscience of the sinner may be touched, & the vnderstanding of the simple may be edified.
- 1The Use.The Vse.
- (b)Joh. 4.34.Ioh. 4.34.
- 3Acts. 20.26, 27.
