First, if every true Minister must be 1Gods Interpreter to the people, and the peoples to God, then hence we learn that every one, who either is or intends to be a Minister, must have that tongue of the learned, whereof is spoken in Isaiah 50. 4. where the prophet saith (first in the name of Christ, as he that is the great Prophet and teacher of his Church; and secondarily in the name of himself, and all true Prophets while the world endureth.) The Lord God hath given me a tongue of the learned, that I should know to speak a word in season to him that is weary: where note the ⟨p. 12⟩weary souls, or troubled conscience, must have a word in season spoken to him for his comfort, and that cannot be spoken without the tongue of the learned, and lastly that tongue of the learned must be given 2of God. Now to have this tongue of the learned, which Isaiah speaks of, what is it but to be this Interpreter, which the holy Ghost here saith a Minister must be: But to be able to speak with this tongue is, first to be furnished with humane learning. Secondly, with Divine knowledge, as far as it may by outward means be taught from man to man: but besides these, he that will speak this tongue aright, must be inwardly learned, and taught by the spirit 3of God: the two first he must learn from men, but the third from God: a true Minister must be inwardly taught by the spiritual school-master the holy Ghost. Saint John in the Revelation must take the book, 4that is the Scripture, and eat it, and when he hath eaten it: then (saith the Angel) he must go preach to Nations, tongues, people, and to Kings: which was done, not that Saint John had not eaten that book, in ⟨p. 13⟩the coming down of the holy Ghost, the 5very end of whose coming was to teach them spiritually: but that in him Christ might teach his Church for ever, that no Minister is fit to preach, to nations and to Kings, until they have eaten the book of 6God: that is, till after and besides all the learning that man can teach them, they be also taught by the spirit of God himself, and this teaching is it that makes a man a true interpreter, and without this he cannot be, for how can a man be Gods interpreter to his people, unless he know the mind of God himself, and how can he know the mind of God, but by the teaching of the spirit of God.
First, if euery true Minister must bee 1Gods Interpreter to the people, and the peoples to God, then hence wee learne that euery one, who either is or intends to be a Minister, must haue that tongue of the learned, whereof is spoken in Esay 50. 4. wher the prophet saith (first in the name of Christ, as he that is the great Prophet and teacher of his Church; and secondarily in the name of himselfe, and all true Prophets while the worlde endureth.) The Lorde God hath giuen me a tongue of the learned, that I should knowe to speake a word in season to him that is wearie: where note the ⟨p. 12⟩wearie soules, or troubled conscience, must haue a word in season spoken to him for his comfort, and that cannot bee spoken without the tongue of the learned, and lastly that tongue of the learned must bee giuen 2of God. Now to haue this tongue of the learned, which Esay speakes of, what is it but to be this Interpreter, which the holy Ghost heere saith a Minister must bee: But to bee able to speake with this tongue is, first to bee furnished with humane learning. Secondly, with Diuine knowledge, as farre as it may by outward meanes bee taught from man to man: but besides these, hee that will speake this tongue aright, must be inwardly learned, and taught by the spirit 3of God: the two first he must learne from men, but the third from God: a true Minister must be inwardly taught by the spiritual school-maister the holy Ghost. Saint Iohn in the Reuelatiō must take the book, 4that is the Scripture, and eate it, and when hee hath eaten it: then (saith the Angell) he must goe preach to Nations, tongues, people, and to Kings: which was done, not that Saint Iohn had not eaten that booke, in ⟨p. 13⟩the comming downe of the holy Ghost, the 5very ende of whose comming was to teach them spiritually: but that in him Christ might teach his Church for euer, that no Minister is fit to preach, to nations and to Kings, vntill they haue eaten the booke of 6God: that is, till after and besides all the learning that man can teach them, they be also taught by the spirit of God himselfe, and this teaching is it that makes a man a true interpreter, and without this he cannot be, for how can a man bee Gods interpreter to his people, vnlesse he knowe the mind of God himselfe, and how can he knowe the minde of God, but by the teaching of the spirit of God.
- 11 Use. Ministers must have the tongue of the learned.1 Vse. Ministers must haue the tongue of the learned.
- 2First he must be furnished with human learning. 2 with divinity.First he must be furnished with human learning. 2 with diuinity.
- 3•. He must be inwardly taught by Gods spirit.
- 4Revel. 10. 8.Reuel. 10. 8.
- 5Acts. 2.
- 6This is to eat the boo of God.
