A Christian Plea, Treatise 3 · Chapter 4
CHAPTER IIII. Touching the Paſtors and other Officers adminiſtration.
VVHether it lye not upon the Paſtors and all others that beare office in the church of God, to fulfill their Miniſterie, and to performe al things perteining to their office, according to the word of God: And not according to the Statutes or Edicts of Princes and States; the Canons of Prelates; the Conſtitutions of Synods; the pleaſure or voyces of the people; or any other vvay invented or obtruded upon them by men. 1 Cor. 4, 1, 2. Col. 4, 17. Act. 20, 17 — 24 — 32. vvith 13, 24, 25. Rom. 12, 7, 8. 1 Theſ. 5, 12, 13, 14. 1 Pet. 5, 1 — 4. with Mat. 28, 18, 19, 20. and 6, 24. The Epiſtles to Timothee, and Titus. Heb. 3, 1, 2, 3. and 13, 7, 17. Ioh. 15, 14, 15, 16. Gal. 1, 8, 9, 10. Rev. 2, and 3, and 14, 4, 6, 9, 12. compared with Lev. 10, 1, 2, 3. Deut. 4, 2. & 12, 32. & 33, 8 — 11. 2 Sam. 6, 6, 7. 2 Chron. 26, 16 — 21. 1 King. 22.13, 14. Pſal. 19.7, 8, 9. and 119. and 132.9.16. Prov. 30, 5, 6. Eſa. 8, 11 — 20. and 33.22. and 55, 4. Ier. 1, 17, 18. 19. and 6, 13, 14, 16. and 23, ch. Ezech. 2, 6, 7, 8. and 3 chap. Mich. 2, 11. and 3, 5, 8. Rev. 22, 18, 19.
I. Becauſe the Paſtors and miniſters of the church are by Chriſt giuen to the church for the vvork of the miniſterie, and are by their office the houſehold ſtevvards and diſpenſers of the myſteries of God. And it is required in ſtewards, that a man be found faithful. Eph. 4, 11, 12, 13. 1 Cor. 4, 1, 2. Luk. 12 42 — 48. and 19.12 — 26. 1 Tim. 3, 15. and 5, 17 — 21. 2 Cor. 5, 20. Col. 4, 17.
II. And Chriſts commiſſion, and charge which he hath ſtraitly giuen to his Miniſters, is, to teach and obſerue al things whatſoever he hath cō manded them, & neither to adde thereunto, nor to diminish therefrom: but to keep this his commandement vvithout ſpot and unrebukeable, untill that his glorious appearing. To which commandement alſo he hath annexed a promiſe of aſſiſtance and bleſſing, to ſuch as shal be ſyncere & faithfull herein; and a denunciation of judgment and curſe upon ſuch as are unfaithfull and diſobedient hereunto. Mat. 28.20. 1 Tim. 6.13.14. Ezec. 2.6.7.9. and 3.10.11.17. &c. Mat 25.14 — 30. Col. 4.17. 1 Tim. 5.17. Rev. 2. and 3 ch. and 22.18.19.
III. The miniſters of Chriſt muſt therefore euen unto kings & princes, to Prieſts and people, to high and low, of all eſtates and conditions, make knovvne the will of God, shevv them their ſinnes, denounce Gods judgments againſt them, and in all things fulfill and execute all the dueties of their office and functions, as there is need, and juſt occaſion. So far ought they to be, from performing their miniſterie, and dueties of their calling, according to the preſcription or pleaſure of man: but onelyonly according to the will and word of God. And that ſo, as we ought not to be moved with any afflictions or troubles in this behalf, neyther to count our liues deare unto us, ſo as vve may finish our courſe with joy, & the miniſterie vvhichwhich vve hauehave received of the Lord Ieſus, to teſtifie the Goſpell of the grace of God: not shunning to declare the whole counſel of God, that we may be pure from the blood of all men. Ier. 1.17.18.19. Ezech. 3.16 — 21, Hoſ. 5.1. 1 Sam. 15.13 — 23. 2 Sam. 12.1 — 14. 1 King. 18.17.18. and 21.17 — 24. 2 Chron. 26.16 — 20. with Deut. 33.8 — 11. Mat. 10.16.17.18.28.32. 33.37 — 39. and 14.3.4. and 23.13 — 39. Act. 9.15.16. and 20.24 — 28. 1 Tim. 1, 3.…. and 5.1.2.20.21. and 6.13.14.17. 2 Tim. 4.1 — 5. Tit. 2.15. Rev. 2, and 3 ch. and 12. 8 — 11. &c. And if all that vvill follovv Chriſt, muſt caſt their account what it will ſtand them in ſo to doe, & muſt neither louelove father nor mother, wife nor children, brethren nor ſiſters, lands nor goods, no nor their ovvne life, in this behalf; but muſt be content to leaue and forſake all, if they vvill be Chriſts diſciples: how much more should the Miniſters of Chriſt be carefull hereof, who are to be guides & examples to the flock, of all godlines, pacience, and faithfulnes to the end? Luk. 14, 26 — 33. & 18.18 — 30. with 1 Tim. 4.12 — 16. 2 Tim. 2.1.2, 3. and 3.10— 12. and 4.5.7.16.17.18. 1 Pet. 5.1 — 4. Rev. 2.8 — 11.
IIII. And herein vve hauehave the examples of the godly miniſters and ſervants of God in all ages; who being faithfull to God, and performing the dueties of their calling according to his vvord, received comfort, ſtrength, and bleſſing from the Lord, in the midſt of all the oppoſition made againſt them by any meanes. 1 King. 22, 13 — 28. 2 Chron. 16, 7 — 10. & 24.17 — 22. and 25, 14.15, 16. and 26, 17 — 20. Ezra 9. and 10 ch. Eſa. 8, 11 — 20. and 50, 4 — 9. Ier. 15, 10-21. and 26, 8 — 24. and 37, 6 — 21. and 38, ch. and 39, 11, 12 — 14. and 40, 1 — 6. Micah 3, 8 — 12. Zach. 3 ch. Act. 4. and 5, and 12, and 16. ch. &c. 2 Tim. 4, 6, 7, 8, 16, 17, 18. Rev. 2, 7, 10, 13. and 7, 7, 10, 11, 12. and 17, 14. For vvhichwhich alſo ſee the hiſtories of the Martyrs. Beſides the contrarie examples of ſuch, as being not careful, or faithful to God in his ſeruice, to miniſter according to his word, hauehave had heavie judgements come upon them. Which alſo are written, for inſtruction and example to all others. Lev. 10, 1, 2, 3 Num. 16 ch. 1 Sam. 2, 13-36. & 3, & 4 ch. 2 Sam. 6, 6, 7. 1 King. 13 chap. Jer. 28, and 29 ch. Hoſ. 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Amos 7, 10— 17. Mal. 1, 6 — 14. and 2, 1 — 9. Mat. 23, 13 — 36. 2 Cor. 11, 13, 14, 15. 2 Pet. 2, 1, 2, 3, &c. And memorable is the example of Saul (though a king) who doing that vvhichwhich pleaſed the people, and ſeemed good in his own eyes, contrarie to the word of God: is therefore sharply reproved by Samuell the Prophet, and ſeverely punished by the Lord. 1 Sam. 15, 13 — 24.
V. Moreover, the Scriptures alone are ſufficient, for the direction of the Paſtours and other officers adminiſtration: being giuen by inſpiration of God, and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, & for inſtructiō in righteouſnes, that the man of God may be perfit, & throughly furnished to everie good work. 2 Tim. 3, 15, 16. Pſa. 19, 7, 8, 9. And Chriſt himſelf (vvho alone is the head and Lavvgiver of his church) hath left ſufficient direction in his vvord, both for the faith, and for the order of his church. Neither may any men vvhoſoever ſuper ordeyn to his Teſtament, nor any vvay diſanull it, or adde thereunto. Mat. 28, 18, 19, 20. Epheſ. 1, 22, 23. Col. 2, 2 — 23. Eſa. 33, 22. Heb. 3, 1, 2, 3. and 12, 25 — 29. with Gal. 3, 15. and Rev. 22, 18, 19.
VI. Otherwiſe the Paſtors and other Officers of the Church should ſinne not onelyonly againſt God, but alſo againſt themſelues, and againſt the Princes, Prelates, and people whomſoever, whoſe preſcription & pleaſure they should ſo follovv. And that both in making them to be the Lords of our religion, and in corrupting them, or ſuffering them to be corrupted by themſelues and others, in religion and converſation, and ſo to be in continual daunger to be ſeduced and dravven into errors, hereſies, ſuperſtititions, and iniquities, &c. Whereas the Miniſters & Officers of Chriſt should in all things be careful ſo to walk, as they may be meanes and inſtruments (under God) to bring them to the obedience of Chriſt in this life, and to eternall ſalvation by him in the life to come. Ezec. 3, 16 — 21. & 33, 1 — 9. Mark 8, 34-38. 1 Sam. 2, 12 — 36. and 4 chap. 2 King. 16, 10— 16. vvith 2 Chron. 28, 23. Dan. 6, 10— 22. Pſal. 2, 10, 11, 12. and 132, 9, 16. Deu. 33, 8, 9, 10. …. 1, 17, 18. Mal. 1, 6 — 14. and 2, 1 — 9. 1 Cor. 4, 1, 2. Gal. 1, 10. 1 Tim. 4, 16.
VII. Neyther should they els be blamed (as they are for the neglect hereof, if it vvere not their duetie, & in the povver of their office, to performe and fulfill it in the Lord. Rev. 2, 12, 14, 15, 18, 20. &c. with 1 Sam. 3, 13, 14. and 2, 12 — 36. Ezech. 13, and 33, and 34 ch. Hoſ. 4, 6, 8, 9. Mal. 1, 6 — 14. & 2, 1 — 9. and with 2 Chron. 26, 16 — 20. Luk. 12, 42 — 48. Act. 13, 25. Col. 4, 17.
VIII. Els alſo the miniſters and other Officers of the church, should not now at this time be as ſtraitly bound to be faithfull to the Lord in their functions and in the miniſtration thereof,*Heb. 3, 1, 2, 3. & 13, 7, 8, 17. with Deu. 33, 8, 9.12. Mal. 1, 6 — 14. and 2, 7. as were the Prieſts and other Officers of Iſrael heretofore: Nor as vvere†Act. 20, 17, 28 — 32. Cal. 4, 17. 1 Tim. 6, 13, 14. 1 Pet. 1, 1 — 4. Rev. 2, and 3 chap. the miniſters & other officers in the Primitiue churches, vvhiles the Apoſtles lived. Which is contrarie to the Scriptures,
IX. Laſtly, they could not els diſcharge the dueties which God hath laid upon them, ſo as to giuegive account thereof, vvith comfort, to God, at that day: vvhen the Lord vvill graciouſly revvard all ſuch as hauehave ben faithfull unto him, and ſeverely punish them that hauehave dealt unfaithfully in his ſervice and work, committed unto them. Mat. 25, 14 — 30. 2 Cor. 5.9, 10, 11. 2 Tim. 4, 1, 2. Heb. 13, 17. 1 Pet. 5, 1-4. Dan. 12, 3. Rev. 2, 10 & 22.16-20.
Chryſoſtome ſpeaking to thoſe that miniſtred the communion, ſaith, No ſmall puniſhment hangeth over you, if knowing any man to be wicked, you ſuffer him to be partaker of this Table. His blood ſhalbe required at your hands. If he be a Captain, a Conſul, or a crowned King that commeth unworthily, forbid him, and keepe him off: thy power is greater then his. And againe, I will yeeld my life rather, then the Lords body to any unworthy perſon; and ſuffer my blood to be ſhed, before I will grace that ſacred blood to any, but to him that is worthy. Chryſoſt. homil. 83. in Mat 26. Many the like things about the Sacraments and cenſures, might be shewed out of the auncient writers. But to let them alone: the Scripture is evident and undeniable, that Iehojadah the Prieſt ſet porters at the gates of the Lords houſe, that none vvhichwhich vvas uncleane in any thing, should enter in. 2 Chron. 23, 19. Alſo, that Azariah the chief Prieſt, and the other Prieſts with him, vvould not ſuffer Vzziah the king of Iudah to burne incenſe to the Lord; yea and vvhen he was ſtricken vvith leproſie, thruſt him out of the Temple, 2 Chron. 26, 16 — 20. Thus the Apoſtle likewiſe chargeth Timothee before God, and the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and the elect Angels, that he obſerue the things preſcribed in that Epiſtle, without preferring one before another, and vvithout partialitie. 1 Tim. 5.21. And that he should keep this commandement without ſpot and unrebukeable, untill the appearing of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. 1 Tim. 6, 13, 14. Which Timmothee could not doe in his owne perſon, being but to ſerue his time, and then to depart out of this life: but thus the Apoſtle taught, that thoſe cōmandements vvere preſcribed, not for him onelyonly, but for thoſe alſo that should ſucceed afterward in the miniſterie & government of the church, untill the appearing of Chriſt our Lord, euen to the ende of the world. Which yet further appeareth, in that Chriſt doeth ſo plainly and particularly blame the Angels and Paſtors of the Churches in Aſia, becauſe they …uffered falſe teachers and corrupt livers in the churches, and did not reſtreine and repreſſe them, as they ought to hauehave done, according to the duetie and power of the office laid upon them by the Lord. Rev. 2, 14, 20, &c. with Act. 20, 17, 28 — 30. 1 Tim. 1, 3. and 5, 17 — 25. and 6, 13, 14. Tit. 2, 15. But of theſe things I hauehave ſpoken before, and shall hauehave occaſion hereafter to note ſomewhat more againe thereabout.