A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…

Doct. Such as are the Instruments under God of our Conversion, Justification and Sanctification, they are to us as Spiritual Fathers, and we to them as little Children.

It is a speech often used by the Apostle, 1 Cor. 4.15. where he prefers himself before all other Teachers they had, he begat them; so he calls Timothy, 1 Tim. 2.2. Tit. 1.4. so he calls Onesimus in Philemon, Phil. 2.22.

It is a speech often used by the Apostle, 1 Cor. 4.15. where he prefers himselfe before all other Teachers they had, he begat them; so he calls Timothy, 1 Tim. 2.2. Tit. 1.4. so he calls Onesimus in Philemon, Phil. 2.22.

Reas. From the resemblance betwixt them and Natural Parents, as they beget Children of that seed they infuse, so Ministers beget Children of the Immortal Seed of the Word, 1 Pet. 1.23, 24, 25. as in Natural Seed, so in Spiritual, there is a more Material, and a more Spiritual part, the Material part is the Letter of the Word, the more Spiritual part is the Spirit conveyed in it; now because Ministers together with the Word convey the Spirit, therefore they begetting Children of such a Word, they are called Fathers, and those so begotten, Children.

Obj. Mat. 23.9. Call no man Father, &c.

Ans. He doth not forbid to call such Ministers Spiritual Fathers, but he forbids the affectation of such Titles, many affect to be called Fathers of the Church, that never begat any to God, as the Pharises did; Non appellatio, sed affectatio prohibetur.

2. Non appellatio, sed denominatio prohibetur; If any one will be the Father of such a Sect or Faction, to draw Disciples after them, 1 Cor. 1.12. as if any ⟨p. 47⟩affected to be called Calvinists, or Lutherans, because they affected their Doctrine, the domination of Factions and Sects is forbid, but we should look at all as Members of one Christ, and Ministers are but all Servants of the same Christ, 1 Cor. 3.5. to 9. if men will be divided, and some will be of Paul, and some of Apollo, &c. this is forbidden.

2. Non appellatio, sed denominatio prohibetur; If any one will be the Father of such a Sect or Faction, to draw Disciples after them, 1 Cor. 1.12. as if any ⟨p. 47⟩affected to be called Calvinists, or Lutherans, because they affected their Doctrin, the domination of Factions and Sects is forbid, but we should look at all as Members of one Christ, and Ministers are but all Servants of the same Christ, 1 Cor. 3.5. to 9. if men will be divided, and some will be of Paul, and some of Apollo, &c. this is forbidden.

3. Non appellatio, sed fiducia interdicitur, not the call of such, but the confidence on them, as when we trust more to their sayings, because they are ancient; then to the Scripture, or to others of equal Grace and Gifts.

3. Non appellatio, sed fiducia interdicitur, not the call of such, but the confidence on them, as when we trust more to their sayings, because they are ancient; then to the Scripture, or to others of equall Grace and Gifts.

2. Ministers are not to affect such Titles, to be called Rabbi, or Master, &c. this is forbidden, so then we see Christ did not simply forbid such Titles.

Use 1. Of direction to Ministers, or such as intend the Ministry, what is it about which they are most to bend their endeavours? to be fruitful, to beget Children to God: it is meet for a Minister to look at the good respect of the people, and living, and maintenance, but he is chiefly to desire and bend his endeavours to beget Children to God, to beget such to God whom he may respect as Children, with like care and diligence; for a man to look at preferment, or credit, or wealth, these are but husks of his employment, the true end of his Calling is to beget Children.

Ʋse 1. Of direction to Ministers, or such as intend the Ministery, what is it about which they are most to bend their endeavours? to be fruitfull, to beget Children to God: it is meet for a Minister to look at the good respect of the people, and living, and maintenance, but he is chiefly to desire and bend his endeavours to beget Children to God, to beget such to God whom he may respect as Children, with like care and diligence; for a man to look at preferment, or credit, or wealth, these are but husks of his imployment, the true end of his Calling is to beget Children.

How may that be done?

1. He is to look that he grow strong himself, for weak men in nature are not prolifici, therefore Ministers must labour to grow strong in grace, a man without grace seldom begets any to God, therefore they must first mortify sin, and then increase in grace, Prov. 11.13.

1. He is to look that he grow strong himselfe, for weak men in nature are not prolifici, therefore Ministers must labour to grow strong in grace, a man without grace seldome begets any to God, therefore they must first mortifie sin, and then increase in grace, Prov. 11.13.

2. There may be strength in Ministers, yet there may be a disproportion betwixt them, and their people, therefore Ministers and people must strive to keep a proportion and correspondence, he must see how he may accommodate himself to the temper of his people, they must with Paul, become all to all, that they may beget some: in any thing that is lawful he must accommodate, but he must by no means comply to the evil humours of his people, Jer. 15.19. for then he brings contempt upon his Life and Doctrine.

2. There may be strength in Ministers, yet there may be a disproportion betwixt them, and their people, therefore Ministers and people must strive to keep a proportion and correspondence, he must see how he may accommodate himself to the temper of his people, they must with Paul, become all to all, that they may beget some: in any thing that is lawfull he must acommodate, but he must by no means comply to the evill humours of his people, Jer. 15.19. for then he brings contempt upon his Life and Doctrine.

3. Look that your Seed be Spiritual, that is, the pure Word dispensed in the Spirit and Power, mingle no Traditions or Tricks of your wit with it, if you do, your Seed is corrupt, and wants vigour, a velvet scabbard dulls the edge of the Sword, so the Word decked over with Human eloquence is like a Sword in a velvet scabbard, it hinders the power of it, what hath the Chaff to do with the Wheat? Jer. 23.28, 29. you must not mingle the Word with the dreams and fancies of men, but dispense the Word in the power and evidence of the Spirit, and labour to have the Word sealed in your hearts, that you may speak out of the heart and inward affection; that Word which comes from the heart, sooner goes to the heart.

3. Look that your Seed be Spirituall, that is, the pure Word dispensed in the Spirit and Power, mingle no Traditions or Tricks of your wit with it, if you doe, your Seed is corrupt, and wants vigour, a velvet scabbard dulls the edge of the Sword, so the Word deckt over with Human eloquence is like a Sword in a velvet scabbard, it hinders the power of it, what hath the Chaffe to doe with the Wheat? Jer. 23.28, 29. you must not mingle the Word with the dreams and fancies of men, but dispence the Word in the power and evidence of the Spirit, and labour to have the Word sealed in your hearts, that you may speak out of the heart and inward affection; that Word which comes from the heart, sooner goes to the heart.