Saints Compared to Vessels

    SAINTS COMPARED TO VESSELS

    "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels," &c., 2Co 4:7.

    "But in a great house are not only vessels of gold and silver, but of earth and wood," 2Ti 2:20.

    Some understand by this great house, the world; others, the Church.

    METAPHOR

    I. A Vessel is made by a skillful artisan or workman; he forms and fashions it as he sees good.

    PARALLEL

    I. God hath formed or made all the children of men; they are all the work of his hands, formed and fashioned by him alone: and as he hath made and formed us in the first creation; so also he hath made or fashioned his saints in the second creation. "This people have I formed for myself," &c., Isa 43:21. "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works," Eph 2:10.

    METAPHOR

    II. There is a great difference between some Vessels. "There are some vessels of gold, silver, &c., and also some of earth, wood, &c.

    PARALLEL

    II. So there is a great difference between some men. The saints are golden Vessels, though of little esteem in the eyes of the world: "The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers?" &c., La 4:2. But the wicked are likened to Vessels of earth and wood.

    METAPHOR

    III. Vessels are made for some proper and peculiar use.

    PARALLEL

    III. God made all men, whosoever they are, for special use and service, viz., to honour, worship, and bring glory to his sacred Majesty.

    METAPHOR

    IV. Vessels are subject to contract filth and pollution, and therefore need often to be washed, &c.

    PARALLEL

    IV. So Christ's spiritual Vessels, viz., his Saints, as well as others, are subject to contract the inward filth of sin, such uncleanness as nothing but Christ's blood through faith can wash away

    METAPHOR

    V. Vessels of divers sorts, some very rich, and usually in a great house, in the house of a prince, or the like: some of honour, and some of dishonour.

    PARALLEL

    V. So in the house of God there are divers Vessels; some of gold and silver, as it were, viz., choice and precious Saints, who are Vessels of honour; and some who are like vessels of earth, and wood, viz., hypocritical and unprofitable ones, who without repentance are like to be Vessels of dishonour, 2Ti 2:20.

    METAPHOR

    VI. Some Vessels are made use of to hold precious treasure. We read of golden pipes, that empty the golden oil out of themselves.

    PARALLEL

    VI. Some of the Saints of God are made use of for ministers, to bear the precious treasure of the Gospel, also to empty it out of themselves, for the use and profit of others, Ec 4:12.

    METAPHOR

    VII. Sometimes precious treasure is put into earthen vessels; but whether it be Gold, Silver, or precious stones, that are put therein, yet they are never the worse because of the Vessel into which they are put, nor will wise men refuse or slight such treasure for the Vessel's sake.

    PARALLEL

    VII. Ministers of the Gospel, though inwardly very rich and precious, yet they are but men as others are, poor earthen vessels, and some of them very mean and contemptible, in the eye of the world: "You see your calling, brethren," &c., 1Co 1:26. But the treasure of wisdom is not the worse, though it be in such earthen vessels; nor will wise men refuse good doctrine, and wholesome counsel, because communicated by such servants of Christ. "But we have this treasure in earthen Vessels, that the excellency of the power might be of God, and not of us," 2Co 4:7. See the Gospel compared to Treasure, in the third book.

    METAPHOR

    VIII. An earthen Vessel sometimes proves defective, and lets out choice liquor that is put therein; nay, and sometimes the liquor tastes of the Vessel, or loses much of its precious relish, by reason an evil person puts some unsavoury matter into the Vessel; and by reason of this mixture, the pure savour is somewhat gone.

    PARALLEL

    VIII. So some men, like leaking Vessels, let out the precious grace of God; they lose their zeal, faith, love, courage, &c., Heb 2:1; Re 2:4. And also many times the word of God, as it comes from the preacher, savours of the earthen Vessel; for the best of men have flesh in them, as well as Spirit. Were there nothing but this precious treasure of grace and divine wisdom in them, it would not be so; but Satan, like an accursed enemy, stirs up the remainders of the old man in the soul, and through his subtle temptations, causes the preacher to mix the wine with water, or the pure doctrine of Christ, with man's wisdom, by which means he vaunts and prides it oftentimes in himself.

    METAPHOR

    IX. When a Vessel proves very defective, the owner perceiving he is like to come to loss, empties the choice liquor from Vessel to vessel.

    PARALLEL

    IX. So God many times finding his Vessels defective, and that they contract filth, or prove leaky, empties his choice liquor from Vessel to Vessel, according to that of the prophet, "Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and hath settled upon his lees, and hath not been removed from Vessel to Vessel; which is meant of afflictions, Jer 48:11. God, by bringing a people into adversity, in the sense of this text, may be said to move, pour out, or empty them from Vessel to Vessel. A long time of ease and prosperity proves hurtful to God's children; like as the wine receives detriment by settling on its lees. A day of general persecution proves various in its effects: some are thereby emptied of choice gifts and endowments that were in them, and others receive thereby a double measure; God takes away the one talent for want of improvement, and gives it to him that had five. Mt 25:28.

    X. Earthen Vessels are soon broken; they are very brittle things; alas! but with one knock they are gone.

    PARALLEL

    X. So the Saints of God, and ministers of the Gospel, are poor frail and brittle creatures; when God permits the enemy but a little to let fly against them, how they are dashed to pieces by their hands! how many precious Vessels did Queen Mary destroy, and consume to ashes! But this must always be considered, viz., God hath a gracious design in suffering the enemy thus to break in pieces his choice Vessels; and one reason thereof is, that the precious treasure of the Gospel may be the more diffusive, and spread itself, that its precious odour might perfume the more souls. The blood of the Saints hath been always accounted the seed of the Church.

    METAPHOR

    XI. Earthly Vessels are of little value; they are not much accounted of.

    PARALLEL

    XI. God's faithful Saints and servants, as they are of little esteem in the eyes of the world, "The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers?" La 4:2. So as they have but low and mean thoughts of themselves. "We have this treasure in earthen Vessels, that the excellency of the power might be of God, and not of us," 2Co 4:7; Ro 9:23.

    SIMILE

    I. Other Vessels are made by men.

    DISPARITY

    I. But the Saints and ministers of the Gospel are Vessels of the Lord's making: he did not only form them considered as men, but also as spiritual Vessels, viz., they are chosen ministers prepared for his blessed use: "He is a chosen Vessel to bear my name amongst the Gentiles, &c. Ac 9:15. The Saints are called Vessels of mercy, prepared unto glory.

    SIMILE

    II. Other Vessels, when broken into small pieces, are generally quite spoiled, and can never be set together again.

    PARALLEL

    II. But the Vessels of the Lord, though they be broken in pieces by death, are not thereby spoiled, and utterly lost, but shall be set together again, and be made far more glorious than they were before.

    INFERENCES.

    I. It may teach the Saints of God to have low thoughts of themselves. What is an earthen Vessel? it is true, the treasure may be excellent that is in the Vessel; but that doth not appertain to the Vessel. Let God have the glory of all: "What hast thou which thou hast not received?" 1Co 4:6-7.

    II. Take heed, you that are Saints, that you do not, like earthen Vessels, smite one against another, lest by one another you be dashed to pieces. Remember what frail and brittle creatures you are, even poor earthen Vessels.

    III. It may teach the Saints also to look to themselves, lest they gather filth; let every one keep their Vessels clean. Wash yourselves daily in the tears of true repentance, and by faith in that fountain that is set open for sin, and for uncleanness.

    IV. It may teach the Saints of God to be careful of their poor ministers, remembering always that they are also but poor frail Vessels.

    V. Let the wicked dread the thoughts of the great day, such I mean as have, or strive to break in pieces Christ's chosen Vessels; what will they do in that day, when he makes inquisition for blood?