Use 3

USE III.

Hence fidelity and not bare success shall be the Ministers trial and crown another day. I confess, that here in this life, they that bring in many to Christ, have abundance of joy, and are highly beloved by them that have experienced saving good by them; and they that comfort few or none, have abundance of grief and sorrow. But when they shall come to stand before Christ's Tribunal, and are to receive their reward, that man shall have no more commendation than this: he did no more for God, though God did more by him. No, if there be degrees of reward according to what men have done and suffered for Christ, I am sure this man has done as much, and suffered more: and if this were not the support of the hearts of some of God's Servants, they would sometimes faint within them. Christ comforted himself with this (Isaiah 49:5): "Though Israel be not gathered, I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord."

4. We may here finally observe, that God oftentimes signifies his displeasure against unprofitable professors, to his faithful Ministers. Thus is the Owner of the Vineyard here brought in, deliberating with the Vine-dresser, complaining against, and threatening of the fig tree. How God signified his mind of old to his Prophets, is plainly intimated in Scripture: he used to appear to them in dreams, visions by Angels, &c., from where their prophecies were delivered in the Name of the Lord; and sometimes they were against the body of the people, when there was a general degeneracy, sometimes against particular persons. How he discovers himself in these respects to his Servants in Gospel-times, since extraordinary revelations are ceased, may seem to be more difficult to apprehend: only we are told that we have a more sure word of prophecy; and out of doubt there is still a truth in that which is expressed (Amos 3:7).

Those of God's servants that have obtained grace to be faithful, as they are exceeding desirous to do good, so they cannot but be very observant to see what success their labours have; and as to the general state and frame of the people they are sent to, it is practically obvious, by the entertainment they give to, and improvement they make of the means of grace which are afforded them. As to particulars indeed, there may be some who notoriously discover themselves by their lewd lives, and profligate carriages; others may act more closely, and make a fair show, when indeed they are unfruitful, and so impose upon their belief and charity; and yet some of these do often render themselves very suspicious. Now God herein mainly signifies his mind to his Ministers in this respect, not by telling them this and that in particular is a hypocrite, and has no true grace in him; but he touches their hearts with an apprehension of his displeasure, and stirs them up providentially to give warning to his people and tell them of their danger, and to be much and frequent in insisting upon these themes: and it is an observation worthy of remark, that when God is about to manage a controversy either more public, or more personal, there are unaccountable applications in the Ordinances to such, which oftentimes put men into admiration, and if the reason of this be asked, it may be considered.

1. That God is wont to give sinners in the Visible Church, fair warning, before he falls upon them in his wrath. It is a privilege of sinners that are under the means of grace, to be told of their sins and have the denunciations of God's wrath laid before them, before it seizes them, that so together with a space to repent, they may have a loud call to it: and this appertains to the singular long-suffering of God, which he extends to such, and will render them the more inexcusable, if at last they by their impenitency force him to make a way for his anger. He therefore first slays them by the mouth of his Prophets, before he executes his vengeance upon them in his Providence; and because he uses his Ministers as instruments, by whom he gives these warnings to his people, he therefore moves their hearts to eye and observe, and be deeply affected with the things that give him provocation, and accordingly guides their studies and meditations that way.

2. God often does it with gracious purposes, sometimes to his Ministers, to quicken them to a more earnest and repeated diligent endeavour for the people, both by interposing with God in their more ardent prayers to him for his patience, and farther to call upon such, and by more particular and solemn endeavours with sinners to quicken and awaken them to their duty; and by this means, whether they will hear or forbear, these will have the more peace in the issue, that they have used their best endeavours to do them good; and if they have any grace in them, such apprehensions will raise it up, and put it upon more than ordinary vigor and improvement, in labouring for and with sinners, whose danger they see and fear. Sometimes to unfruitful sinners themselves, by giving a blessing to such endeavours, and persuading them to hearken to their solemn counsels, and accept of the calls to repentance, that being rendered fruitful, he may have mercy upon them and spare them: and when it is so, his Spirit sets in with, and gives efficacy to these endeavours.