Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 55
Of these seuerall; and first concerning the people or flocke.
Quest. VVherein stands the due respect, and due carriage of the People or Flocke, towards their Minister or Pastor?
Answ. In yeelding foure things to their Minister or Pastor.
1. Reuerence.
2. Submission.
3. Assistance, and
4. Thankefulnesse.
Quest. What is that Reuerence that people are to yeeld to their Minister or Pastor?
Answ. This;1 King. 17.18. 2 King. 4.16. 1 Cor. 4.1. 2 Cor. 5.20. 1 Thess. 2.13. Tit. 17. they are to hauehave him in reuerent account and estimation; they are to esteeme of him reuerently in their hearts, and to expresse their reuerent estimation of him both in word and deede; and especially they are to heare him (teaching the truth of God) with reuerence: euen as a messenger sent to them of God, and as standing in Christ his stead, and as Gods Steward and disposer of his seruants to them, be he neuer so weake or poore.
Quest. What is that Submission that people are to yeeld to their Minister or Pastor?
Answ. This;Exod. 24.3.7. Ioh. 10. to 6.27. H…b. 13.17. they are willingly to yeeld themselues to be taught and guided by them; they are to heare and to know his voice, and to obey his doctrine truely deliuered to them out of the Word of God, and to follow him as the sheepe of Christ in his holy doctrine and conuersation.
Quest. Are people to yeeld themselues to be taught and guided by a wicked Minister; and as the Sheepe of Christ, to heare him and to follow him?
Answ. As he is a Minister, and teaching the truth of God purely and soundly, and agreeable to the word of God: they are to heare him, and to be guided by him:Mat. ….1.2, 3. but not to follow him as he is a wicked man, and of wicked life and conuersation: for that is his sinne,1 Cor. 11.1. and therein hee is not to be followed.
Quest. What is that Assistance that people are to yeeld to their Minister or Pastor?
Answ. It is two-fold: people are to yeeld to their Minister or Pastor assistance two wayes.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Rom. 15.30.31 Ephes. 6.19. Colos. 4.3.4. 2 Thes. 3.1.2. Philem. Epist. 22. Heb. 13.18.Answ. This; they are to assist him by their prayers, they are to pray for him that the Lord would giuegive him both abilitie and libertie to execute and to fulfill his ministeriall-office, and that hee would giuegive him strength, courage, and power to stand against men and diuels that seeke by force or subtiltie to discourage him, and either to driue him away, or to hold him backe from the faithfull discharge of his duty.
Quest. What is that thankefulnes that people are to yeeld to their Minister or Pastor?
Answ. This; it is not onelyonly an acknowledgement in word of their Ministers care ouer them, and of his paines taken with them for their good, hee being well qualified, and being faithfull and carefull, and taking paines with them as hee ought for their good: but a care and an endeauour also in people so farre as they are able, to answere that care and paines of their Minister, and the good they doe or may receiue from him by doing good to him againe.
Quest. Wherein stands that care and endeauour of people to answere the care and paines of their faithfull Minister, and the good they doe or may receiue from him by doing good to him againe?
Answ. In two things.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Isai. 52.7. Philip: 2.29Ans. This; in reioycing in him, and giuing thankes to God for him. People are to reioyce and to praise God for the good gifts of their Minister, and for his faithfull care ouer them, and paines taken with them for their good: for the Minister being qualified with gifts fit for his calling, and faithfully discharging his duty, the people hauehave the benefit of his gifts and paines.
Quest. What is the second thing wherein stands the care of the people to answere the care and paines of their Minister or Pastor, and the good they do, or may receiue from him, by doing good to him againe?
Answ. This;1. Tim: 5.17.18. Deut: 12.19. Gal: 4.15. 1. Thess. 5.12.13. 1. Cor: 9.7, 8, 9, to 16. Gal: 6.6. in yeelding him double honour (that is) both singular louelove for his workes sake, and also sufficient maintenance both in regard of his person and calling.
Quest. Is the Minister to hauehave his maintenance by set stipend, or by common and voluntary contribution from the people?
Answ. Rather by set stipend, as by tithes and other dues, then by common and voluntary contribution, both for the auoiding of many inconueniences, as of flattery and such like; and because also a set stipend comes nearer to the order appointed by God for the maintenance of the Priests vnderunder the Leuiticall lawe.