The Amendment of Life, Book 3 · Chapter 9
Of the duties of the Church to her Pastors and Miniſters of the word of God. Chap. 9.
IN as much as the word Father, mentioned in the fifth commandement of the law, doth alſo include the Paſtors and Miniſters of Gods word, it followeth that the word honor muſt comprehend the duties of the Church towards them: and ſeing the ſaid word honor, ſignifieth the louelove, reuerence, ſubiection, and obedience, with aſsiſtance in time of neede: it therby appereth that the members of the Church are bound to doe theſe duties to their Paſtors. Firſt to louelove and beare them affection: as alſo the dutye of this honoring is compriſed in the ſummary of the ſecond table of the law, which containeth the louelove to our neighbour. And indeed, if we ought to louelove al men, euen our enemies, how much rather thoſe whom God vſeth for to beget vsus to the Lord, that we may be the children and heires of his heauenly and euerlaſting kingdome? Surely ſith the ſoule is ſo excellent, and the holye and euerlaſting life ſo much to be deſired, wee cannot in truth ſufficiently louelove thoſe good and faithfull Paſtors,Iohn 6, 27. Fathers and nources of our ſoules that doe inſtruct vsus in holineſſe, and lead vsus to life euerlaſting. If we ought to labour, not for the meat which periſheth, but for that which endureth vntounto euerlaſting life: then truely the Paſtors that feede our ſoules with ſpirituall and eternall foode, are more to be loued, then they which giuegive vsus bodily bread. Alexander the great did highly reuerence and affect his ſcholemaſter Ariſtotle, and ſaid that he was no leſſe bound to him, then to his Father:Eraſ. Apotheg. lib. 4. for as from his Father he receiued the beginning of his life, ſo from his ſcholemaiſter he tooke the beginning liuing well: How much rather ſhould we affect & louelove our faithful miniſters, from whom we receaue our beginning to liue well according to God, whereby to attaine to life euerlaſting?Galat. 4.14. The Galathians ſhewed a maruelous louelove and affection to Saint Paul, as he himſelfe witneſſeth, ſaying: that they receiued him as an Angell of God, yea, euen as Chriſt himſelfe: teſtifiyng alſo that if poſsible they could, they would euen hauehave pulled out their eyes to hauehave giuen them to him.
2 Of this affection and louelove is engendred a certaine reſpect and reuerence toward them,1. Cor. 4.1. Tit. 1.7. 2. Cor. 5.20. 1. Cor. 3.9. 2. Cor. 3.6. the rather in conſideration of their charge, whereto God hath called them, in that they are the Stewards of the ſecretes and miſteryes of carnall ſaluation: Gods Embaſſadors for Chriſt, bringing the meſſage of our attonement with God: coadiutors or labourers with God in the ſaluation of men: Miniſters of the new couenaunt, not of the letter, but of the ſpirite. Theſe ſo honourable tytles and moſt excellent offices in the ſight of God, doe ſufficiently and plainely declare what reſpect and reuerence the Church ought to beare vntounto them. Alſo,Luke 10.16. that who ſo deſpiſeth them, deſpiſeth Chriſt in them, as himſelf proteſteth, and are vnthankfull for the benefites and bleſsings that God offereth by them: but eſpecially they are to be loued & regarded when they doe faithfully and diligently behaue themſelues in their charge, according as their tytles doe admoniſhe and binde them. And in this reſpect doth the holy Apoſtle Saint Paul ſo earneſtly exhorte the Theſſalonians to this duetye, ſaying: Bretheren, 1. Theſ. 5.12.we beſeech you that ye know, (that is to ſay, that ye louelove and reuerence) thoſe which labour among you, and are ouer you in the Lord, and admoniſhe you: that yee hauehave them in ſingular louelove for their workes ſake. The ſame doth he alſo ſignifie in his Epiſtle written to the Philippians. For hauing touched the vertues of Epaphroditus,Phil. 2.29. he exhorteth them to receiue him in the Lord with all ioye, and to eſteeme of all that are ſuch. Beſides that in ſo dooing the Paſtors will be the better affected to their flocke, taking the greater care for their good and ſaluation, and employ themſelues therto the more cheerefullye, as the Apoſtle Saint Paul writing to the Corinthians, ſaith of Titus, namely, that when hee remembred their obedience,2. Cor. 7.15. and that they had receiued him with feare and trembling, his affection was the more encreaſed toward them.
3 The ſecond principal point of the duty of the church to her paſtors, conſiſteth in ſubiection & obedience vntounto them. The Apoſtle writing to the beleeuing Hebrues, commandeth thē to obey their Paſtors,Heb. 13.17. & to ſubmit themſeues to them: his reaſon: For they watch for your ſoules, as they that muſt giuegive accompts, that they may doe it with ioy and not with griefe, for that is vnprofitable for you. This ſubiection and obedience conſiſteth eſpecially in three points: Firſt, in diligent hearing of Sermons, communicating in the holy ſacraments, and aſsiſting at publike praiers. Secondly, in bringing forth fruit, and ſhewing the effects of theſe ſacred exerciſes. Thirdly, in receiuing the admonitions, reprehenſions and exhortations of the worde in all humilitie and modeſtie.In the ſecond book. cap. 3.4.5. & 8. But ſeeing we hauehave ſufficiently before treated of theſe points, eſpecially of the two firſt, we will not any more inſiſt vponupon them in this place, onelyonly we will adde this briefe aduertiſement, that as they that ſit at a table doe eate, chewe, and diſgeſt their foode, ſo they that heare the word of God ought to liſten vntounto it, meditate vponupon it, & print it in their hartes, that ſo they may receiue the nouriſhment ſignified by the worde and duetie to feede, commended to the Shepheards of Chriſts flock. And as in meate we are not ſomuch to ſeek lickorouſnes as health, ſo muſt it be in the preaching of the worde: for Eccleſiaſticall aſſemblies be not like to common playes whereto men reſorte for pleſure: but in ſermons we are to loke for that which is helthſome for the ſoule: and as in a banquet, if any diſhe chaunce to be ouerſaulted, or otherwiſe it is not well dreſſed, the ſame doth not ſo offend vsus that therefore we can eate but little of the reſt that is well ſeaſoned: ſo if in ſermons we heare any ſentence or word, not ſo fitly applied as it wer to be wiſhed, we muſt not for that leaue to make our profite of the reſt that is wel & deuoutly ſpoken. S. Paul confeſſeth that himſelfe hath no eloquence, neither alluring ſpeeches in his preachings, and thereof addeth one notable reaſon, ſaying: That your faith may not be in the wiſedome of men, but in the power of God. 1. Cor. 2.3.And indeed when a man filleth out but a little wine into an excellent wrought and grauen cup, men regarde more the cup thē the wine: when contrariwiſe, if moſt excellent wine be brought in a ſimple cup, they conſider and commend the wine rather then the cup: euen ſo is it with the treaſure of the Goſpell preſented in a cup either of earth or of golde, as S. Paul ſaith, becauſe mans curioſitie hath more reſpect to the pot,2. Cor. 4.7. the mouth, or the eloquence, then to the treaſure.
4 Such as hauehave no taſte of the ſermon that is not ſtuffed with humaine eloquence, doe ſhew that they hauehave no appetite, and conſequently that they are inwardly out of frame, and this breedeth great greefe and heauineſſe to many faithfull Miniſters: as contrariwiſe, ſuch as ſhewe themſelues deſirous to heare the worde of their Paſtors, are a great encouragement to them to proceede the more cheerefully, and doe euen as it were bring wordes into their mouthes: as we ſee by experience, that the ſucking of the childe bringeth in milke into the mothers breſt. Moreuer, as it is in vaine to call the Phiſition and to heare his counſell, when wee liſt not to take the medicine that he doth preſcribe: ſo they that heare the ſermons and doe not put the wordes in practiſe, in ſteade of reaping profite, ſhall incurre the greater damnation: for as hee that hauing bene two or three yeeres at ſchoole and hath not profited, is worthie to be taken away: ſo they that hauehave bene many yeeres in the ſchoole of Chriſt and heard his worde, yet doe not amende, neither increaſe in faith and louelove, doe worthily deſerue to be depriued of ſuch a benefite of God, and according to the threatning of Amos, to endure ſuch a famine, not of bread, but of the worde,Amos 8.11. that the ſtrongeſt and moſt luſtie, ſeeking after it but not finding it, may periſhe.
5 Now it reſteth that we ſpeak of the third parte, ſignified in the worde Honor, which is the aſsiſtaunce of the Paſtour, and this is to be practiſed eſpecially in two ſortes: Firſt, the Church is in dutie to prouide that her Miniſters may hauehave conuenient mainteynance, leaſt they ſhould be withdrawne from their charge by labouring for the ſuſtenance of their family. True it is, that S.Act. 20.34. Paul did ſometimes labour with his handes for his liuing: but it was when the Churches had no meanes to prouide for him, by reaſon of perſecution: or elſe when he perceiued that by receiuing his maintenance from the Church, there was ſome back-ſliding in the preaching of the Goſpel: as at Corinth. For when ſome falſe Apoſtles preached there without reward, Saint Paul would be no preſident for them to receiue maintenance from the Church, as himſelfe writeth vntounto them, ſaying: We hauehave not vſed this power, 1. Cor. 9.12.namely, to take hyer of the Church, but ſuffer all things, that we ſhould not hinder the Goſpell of Chriſt: 2, Cor. 11.9.but otherwiſe hee vſually tooke of the Churches wherwith to liue, as himſelfe ſaith, that hee euen robbed them and tooke wages, to doe the Corinthians ſeruice.
6 Likewiſe, albeit himſelfe tooke nothing of them, yet doth he at large tel them their duties to their Paſtors. Who ſaith he,1. Cor. 9.7. doth go a warfare any time at his owne coſt? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruite thereof? or who feedeth a flocke and eateth not of the milke of the flocke? doth not the l…we ſay the ſame? For it is written in the law of Moſes, thou ſhalt not muſſell vp the mouth of the Oxe, that treadeth out the corne, doth God care for Oxen? or ſaith he it not for our ſakes? For our ſakes no doubt it is written, that hee which eareth ſhould eare in hope, Gal. 6, 6.and that hee which thraſheth in hope, ſhould be partaker of his hope And heereof he addeth a notable reaſon. If wee hauehave ſowen vntounto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your carnal things? Know ye not that they which minister about the holy thinges, eate of the thinges of the Temple, and they which waite at the aulter, are partakers with the aulter? So alſo hath the Lord ordeined, that they which preach the Goſpell, ſhould liue of the Goſpell. It ſeemeth that among the Galathians ſome had ſmall care of this duetie, for where S. Paul ſaith: Let him that is taught, make him that teacheth him partaker in all his goods: he addeth, Be ye not deceiued, God is not mocked, for whatſoeuer a man ſoweth, that ſhall he alſo reape. Here the Apoſtle ſheweth, that as the Church is bound to prouide for the maintenance of her Paſtors, ſo by ſuch employment of her goods, ſhe receiueth not onelyonly this incomprehenſible benefite of inſtruction to ſaluation: but alſo a reward in the life to come: and they which make no accompt of this dutie and of Gods promiſes, ſhall, as contemners of him, feele his vengeance. Likewiſe, as the Church is the houſe of God and the kingdome of Chriſt, ſo they that beſtow their goods vponupon the maintenance of the holy miniſterye, without the which this houſe & kingdome cannot ſubſiſt, do offer a ſacrifice of a moſt excellēt ſweet ſauour in the preſence of the Lord. Prouiſion therfore for the Paſtors, whether by the magiſtrate, or by the contribution of the flock, is a moſt neceſſary and profitable duty of the church.
7 The ſecond and principall aſsiſtance that the Church oweth to the Paſtors, is earneſtly and continuallye to praye to God for them: for as Chriſt cōmandeth vsus to pray to the Lord of the h… ueſt to ſend workemen into his harueſt,Mat. 9.…8. ſo is it our duty when hee hath giuen vsus faithful Paſtors, to pray vntounto him: firſte to preſe…ue them in health and long life, for the good and edification his Church: ſecondly, by his holy ſpirite to guide them, that they may faithfully and with fruit employ themſelues in their miniſterye. The rather is the Church bound to this dutie, becauſe it cannot otherwiſe expect any great fruit from man. And indeed Sain… Paul an Apoſtle, endued with moſt excellent giftes, doth neuerthe…eſſe deſire the Churches inceſſantly to make ſupplications for him: namely, writing to the Epheſians, he requireth thē to pray to God for him, that he may open his mouth boldely, to publiſhe the ſecrets of the Goſpell, that therein he may ſpeake boldely as hee ought to ſpeake. The ſame doth he alſo require of the Coloſsians, praying alſo for vsus, Coloſ 4.….that God may open vntounto vsus the doore of vtterance, to ſpeake the misterie of Chriſt: wherfore I am alſo in bonds, that I may vtter it as it becommeth me to ſpeake Writing alſo to the Theſſalonians, he ſaith: Brethren, 2. Theſ. 3.1.pray for vsus, that the worde of the Lord may hauehave free paſſage, and be glorified, euen as with you: Rom. 15.30.and that wee maye be deliuered from vnreaſonable and euill men: for all men hauehave not faith: Writing to the Romains he proceedeth further, ſaying: Brethren, I beſeech you for our Lord Ieſus Chriſts ſake, and for the louelove of the ſpirite, that ye would ſtriue with me by praiers to God for me. That I may be deliuered from them which are diſobedient in Iudea, and that my ſeruice which I hauehave to doe at Ieruſalem, may be accepted of the Saints. If ſo excellent an Apoſtle doth plainely confeſſe that hee cannot open his mouth to preach the worde: that he cannot auoide the croſſes and aſſaultes of the wicked: or that he can doe nothing that may be acceptable to the Saints without the aſsiſtance and bleſsing of God: If hee acknowledge that to obtain theſe graces, he ſtandeth in need of the praiers of the Church, and if in ſo many places & ſo inſtanly he deſireth her employment heerin: what good may we expect in the miniſtery of our Paſtors, euen of thoſe that be moſt apt and faithfull, vnleſſe feruently and continually we doe praye vntounto God for them? Moſt men hauehave ſmall minde of the dutie and importance of theſe praiers, yet is this negligence and ingratitude many times puniſhed, in the moſt dangerous faults of the Paſtors, which turn to the great preiudice of the Church: beſides, that God alſo in his iuſt iudgement, taking to himſelfe the faithfull Miniſters, or tranſporting them elſewhere, doth either giuegive vsus hyrelinges, or wholye depriueth the Church of the holy miniſtery. To the end therefore that according to the exhortation of Ieſus Chriſt wee maye amend, let vsus acknowledge how precious the ſpirituall, heauenly, and eternall giftes that we receiue, by the miniſtery of our Paſtors, are. And what an excellent charge God hath giuen them ouer vsus, that therupon we may hartely louelove them, reſpect them, obey them, be carefull for them, and eſpecially employ our ſelues diligently in feruent praiers to God, that he may vouchſafe to preſerue the good and faithfull Paſtors, and that he would repleniſhe thē with the gifts of the holy ſpirite, that they may faithfully employ themſelues in their charge, and that hee will mightily bleſſe their labours, to his glory, and the ſaluation of his Church.
8 Hauing now declared the duties as well common to the Huſband and the wife, as perticularly of the husband to the wife, and of the wife to the husband: of parentes to their children, and of children to their parents: of Magiſtrates to their ſubiects, and of ſubiects to their Magiſtrates: laſtly, of Paſtors and Miniſters of the worde to the Church, and of the Church to them: eueryevery one that deſireth to amend his life according to the exhortation of Ieſus Chriſt, is to examine himſelfe. Firſt becauſe he is a Chriſtian, by the law of God, that he may thereby know his ſinnes and wickednes, and ſo amend: Next eueryevery one in his vocation, as the husband, the wife, the father, the mother, the childe, the Magiſtrate, the ſubiect, the Paſtor, and the Church: each in his ſeuerall calling is likewiſe to enter into examination of himſelfe by that which hath bene aboue ſpoken in this third Booke, touching their duties: to the end that knowing and feeling in how many ſortes and waies we do faile in that which God requireth of eueryevery one in his perticular calling, we may aduiſe our ſelues how to amend our liues. And that we may be the more earneſtly ſtirred and moued hereunto, we will in the next book lay down the principall cauſes and reaſons whereby all Chriſtians in generall, and eueryevery one perticularly in his vocation ought & may in their harts be touched, and fele themſelues bound and affectionate to amendment, according as Ieſus Chriſt doth exhort.