Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 56 – Part 57
Here some obiections of the Anababtists are to be answered.
Obiection. 1 Paul laboured with his hands in making of tents. Act: 18.3. that he might not bee chargeable to any. 1. Thess: 2.9. 2. Thess: 3.8.
Therefore Ministers and Preachers are to maintaine themselues by their labours, and not to be chargeable to the Church.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; Pauls example proues not that Ministers are to maintaine themselues by their labours.
For first, Paul himselfe receiued exhibition. Philip: 4.16.
Secondly, when he would not take any thing of the church of Corinth, and of some others, it was for speciall reasons; as namely, Least he should bee a burden to them, 2. Cor: 11.9. that false Apostles should not slander him and his Ministery, that hee was giuen to filthy lucre, verse 12. that he might giuegive example to others. 2. Thess: 3.9.
Obiection. 2 It was vnlawfull for the Apostles to take any reward for their labour. Mat: 10 8 9.
Therefore so it is for Preachers at this day.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; first that text is specially to be vnderstood of the extraor…inary gift of working miracles, as appeares by the wordes, vers: 8. which Christ hauing freely bestowed on the Apostles hee would hauehave them to vse freely, not seeking thereby to inrich themselues; therefore Peter saide to Simon Magus. Act. 8.20. Thy money perish with thee.
Againe, if it be vnderstood of preaching the word as of working miracles, it is to bee taken as a precept onelyonly, forbidding filthy lucre, and making marchandise of the word, preaching the word onelyonly with a purpose to benefit themselues, to feede their belleys and such like, which things are forbidden in other places of Scripture. 1. Tim: 3.3. Tit: 1.7.
Now concerning the Minister or Pastor.
Quest. Wherein stands the due respect and due carriage of the Minister or Pastor towards his people or flocke?
…zech: 3.17. …zech: 33.7. …ob. 33.23.24. …ct. 20.28.31. …eb: 13.17. 1. …et: 5.2.Answ. In watching carefully or faithfully ouer his people, diligently ouerseeing them, and carefully endeauouring to doe good to their soules, both to gaine and call them to God that are not called: and also to preserue and keepe them in Christ that are called.
Quest. Wherein is the Minister or Pastor to expresse and to shew forth his faithfull watching ouer his people or flocke, and his carefull endeauour to doe good to their soules?
Answ. Both in vsing and applying his gifts for the best good of their soules, and also in going wisely in and out before them.
Quest. How is the Minister or Pastor to vse and to apply his gifts for the best good of the soules of his people?
Answ. Two wayes.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; by diligent and faithfull preaching the pure word of God to them,Ier. 3.15. 1. Cor. 9.16. 2. Tim. 4.2. in season, and out of season. The Minister or Pastor is diligently and faithfully to preach the pure word of God to his people for the best good of their soules.
Quest. How is the Minister or Pastor to preach the pure word of God to his people for the best good of their soules?
Answ. Thus; he is to open to his people,Nehem. 8.8. Ier. 23.16.28. Ezech. 13.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10. 1. Cor. 2.4. Tit. 1.9. 2. Tim. 2.15. the will of God reuealed in his word, faithfully and truly expounding that to them, that they may vnderstand it; and to deliuer to them sound and wholsome doctrine, and that in plainenesse and power, to their capacity and consciences; and to make right vse & application of it to them: giuing to eueryevery one his portion as neede shall require, and as iust occasion is offered.
Quest. How is the Minister or Pastor to apply his doctrine to his people, and to giuegive eueryevery one his portion as neede shall require and as iust occasion is offered?
Answ. By instructing the ignorant,Heb. 5.12. 2. Tim. 2.25. 2. Tim. 4.2. Tit. 1.9.10.11.12. Act. 18.28. Isai. 58.1. Tit. 2.1.6.15. Ier: 23.14.17. Ezech. 13.10.11.18.22. 1. Cor. 14.3. and endeauouring to build vp his people further in knowledge of the truth of God, by refuting errours that either the whole flocke, or any of them are tainted withall, or may fall into; by exhorting and stirring them vp to piety, and all good duties: by admonishing them that are vnruly, and wisely rebuking and reprouing them for their corruptions and sinnes; and that with meeknesse or sharpnesse as iust occasion is offered: by strengthening the weake, and comforting such as stand in neede of comfort▪ and are iustly to be comforted.
Quest Is the Minister or Pastor thus to instruct, refute, exhort, admonish, rebuke, and comfort only in publike?Ierem. 23.2. Ezech. 34.4. Act. 20.20.
Ans. No; but in priuate also, as any iust occasion is offered.
Quest. Is the Minister or Pastor bound to teach his people eueryevery truth of God; and may not he in teaching conceale from them any part of the truth at any time?
Answ. He is to teach and to instruct his people as they are capable, in eueryevery truth of God, profitable and needfull to saluation: and not to conceale any thing from them that is needfull to be knowne to Saluation. Acts. 20.20.27.Act. 20.20.27. compared together: but if either his people bee vncapable of the Doctrine, and not fit to receiue it,Ioh. 16.12. Mark. 4.33. Heb. 5.11. Act. 20.20.21. it may bee concealed till they be prepared for it: or if the teaching of a lesser truth, will hinder the teaching of a fundamentall truth, then the lesser truth may be concealed, that the fundamentall truth may be taught and take place: for the Minister must in wisedome fit his doctrine to his people, so as it may do them most good, and build them vp in faith and repentance.
Quest. What is the fourth way whereby the Minister or Pastor is to vse and to apply his gifts for the best good of the soules of his people?
Cor: 4.12. …at: 24.45. …rou: 27.23. …hillip: 2.19. Sam: 12.23. …hillip: 1.9. …oloss. 1.3.9. …. Thess. 1.2. …. Thess 2.13. …. Thess. 1.3.1.Answ. Both by a wise and right dispencing of the Sacraments to them, and also by praying for them, and praysing God on their behalfe: the Minister or Pastor is wisely to disp…nce the Sacraments to his people, examining them how fit th…y be to partake in those holy things of God: & inst…ucti…g them, and endeauouring to make them fit to partake in them to their comfort: and hee is also to pray for their spirituall good, and to praise God for the spirituall good that is bestowed on them.
Quest. What if the Minister finde any of his people vnfit to partake in the Sacrament, what is he then to doe?
Answ. If he finde any of them altogether vnfit, either in regard of ignorance,Mat: 7.6. or obstinacy in sinne, hee is to ke…pe them from the Sacrament: for they being admitted to it they prophane the holy ordinance of God to themselues.
Quest. Is the Minister or Pastor to pray for the spirituall good of his people, and to praise God for it onelyonly in publike?
Coloss. 1.1.3.9. Ier: 13.17:Answ. No; but in priuate also, as any iust occasion is offered.
Quest. How is the Minister or Pastor to goe wisely in and out before his people?
Exod: 28.30. Phillip: 4.9. 1. Tim: 4.12.Ans. Thus; in going before them in all holy example, and being a patte…ne of holy life to them. Exod: 29.30. Vrim and Thummim, light and perfection, knowledge & good life must goe together.
Quest. Wherein is the Minister or Pastor to shew himselfe a patterne of good life to his people?
Mat: 5.14, 15, 16. 1. Tim: 4.12. Tit: 2.7. 2. Tim: 2.3. 1. Tim: 3.4.5.7 1. Cor: 9.19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25.Answ. Both in doing good things, and in the practice of eueryevery good worke, and also in suff…ring, being carefull wisely and religiously to gouerne both himselfe and his whole family, and being afraid to giuegive the least off…nce that may bee to any.
Quest. How long is the Minister or Pastor to shew forth his carefull endeauour for the good of the soules of his people or flocke?
Answ. So long as he liueth, and as much as is in his power,2. Tim: 2.2. 2. Pet: 1.12.13.14.15. after his departure and death.
Now to that relation of certaine persons: either of superiority, or inferioritie in the common wealth.
Quest. What is that relation of certaine persons, either of superiority, or inferioritie in the common wealth.
Answ: It is a fourefold relation; it is either in regard of
1. Authoritie, or
2. Age, or
3. Gifts, or
4. Care.
Quest. What is that relation of certaine persons; either of superioritie, or inferioritie in the common wealth, in regard of authoritie?
Answ. It is that which is betweene the Magistrate and the subiect.