Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 72
Now to things proper to Superiours, and especially to Ministers.
Quest. What are the things proper to superiours, and especially to Ministers, that doe hurt or hinder the life of the soule of another or others?
A. They are either things of omission, or things of practice.
Quest. What are the things of omission proper to Superiours that are not Ministers, or to Ministers not as they are Ministers but as they are Gouernours in their priuate Familie, that doe hurt or hinder the life of the soule of another or others?
Answ. They are such good things omitted as ought to be performed by them to their inferiours for the good of their soules.
Quest. How are good things omitted by Superiours that are not Ministers; or by Ministers, not as they bee Ministers, but as they are Gouernours in their priuat… Families, which ought to be performed by them to their inferiours, for the good of their soules?
Answ. Two waies especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This;Gen. 18.19. Deut. 6.7. Iosh 24.15. Ephes. 6.4. when they vse not the meanes by which their inferiours, their children and their seruants; and such as be any way vnderunder their charge, may be taught and instructed in the knowledge of God and of good things that concerne their saluation: when they hauehave no care either to teach those that are committed to their charge, as they ought, the knowledge of God and of good things: or are carelesse to bring them to the publike ministerie of the Word, and as much as is in them, to see that they profit by it to their sanctification and saluation.
Question. What is the second way by which good things are omitted by Superiours that are not Ministers; or by Ministers not as …y are Ministers but as they are Gouernours in their owne priuate Families, which ought to bee performed by them to their Inferiours, for the good of their soules?
Answ. This; when they doe not hinder their inferiours and such as bee vnderunder their charge, as much as they may, from falling into sinne; or doe not seeke to reclaime them when they hauehave sinned,Num. 25.4. 1 Sam. 2.23.24 1 Sam. 3.13. 1 King. 20.42. by due reproofe or due punishment accor…ing to their power; but rather doe winke at their faults, or vse too much lenitie in censuring of them.
Quest. What are the things of practice proper to superiours that are not Ministers; or to Ministers not as they are Ministers, but as they are Gouernours in priuate Families, that doe hurt or hinder the life of the soule of another or others?
Answ. They are such euill things done by them as doe minister matter of infection and poyson to the soules of their inferiours, or they goe before them in the practice of sinne; in swearing, in lying, in gaming, in drinking, and in all kinds of sinfulnesse, and so make their houses as it were Nurseries, and Seminaries of sinne. Psal. 101.2.…sal. 101.2. Dauid was farre from this. Pro. 11.29.Pro. 11 29. they are said to be troublers of their owne houses that corrupt them with sinfulnesse. Pro. 15.27.Pro. 15.27.
Quest. What are the things of omission proper to Ministers as they be Ministers, and hauehave charge of the soules of others, that doe hurt or hinder the life of the soule of another or others?
Answ. Two things especially; the one inward in the heart, the other outward.
Quest: What is the thing of omission inward in the heart, proper to Ministers as they be Ministers and hauehave the charge of the soules of others, that doth hurt or hinder the life of the soule of another or others?
Answ. This; want of pitty and feeling compassion towards them,Mat. 9.36. Mar 6.34. whose soules they hauehave the charge of, in regard of the miseries and wants of their soules: when Ministers either omit or refuse to pitty those whose soules they hauehave taken the charge of, in regard of the miseries and wants of their soules.
Quest. Whence comes it that Ministers want pitty towards them whose soules they hauehave charge of, in regard of the miseries and wants of their soules?
Answ. From hence; because they either doe not see and take notice, or they will not see and take notice as they ought, of the miseries and wants of the soules of their people, though they bee told of them and made acquainted with them.Pro. 27.23.
Q. What is the thing of omission outward proper to Ministers as they be Ministers, and hauehave the charge of the soules of others that doth hurt or hinder the life of the soule of another or others?
Answ. This; the omitting of such good things as ought to be performed by them, to those whose soules they hauehave taken the charge of, for the good of their soules.
Quest. How doe Ministers omit the good things which ought to be performed by them to those whose soules they hauehave taken the charge of, for the good of their soules?
Answ. Two wayes especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This;Isai. 56.10. Iere. 2.34. Pro. 29.18. Mat. 5.13. Mat. 15.14. when through insufficiencie being idle Pastors, dumbe Dogges, and blind Guides: they doe not at all preach and admonish their people of their sinnes, and the danger they are in by reason of their sinnes.
Quest. What is the second way by which Ministers omitte the good things which ought to be performed by them to those whose soules they hauehave the charge of, for the good of their soules?
Answ. This; when, though they be able,Ezech. 3.17.18. Ezech. 33.7.8. Ezech. 34.2.3.4.8.9.10. Zach. 11.15.16 17. Acts 20.26.27.28. Heb. 13.17. yet either through sloath and negligence, being present with their people; or by reason of their absence, they being not resident and abiding among their people as they ought: they doe either not preach to their people, and admonish them of their sinnes plainely and faithfully, or they preach to them very seldome.
Quest. Is the absence of a Minister from his people whose soules he hath taken the charge of, altogether vnlawfull so as in no case he may be absent from them?
Answ. Vsuall, ordinary and willfull absence from them, is altogether vnlawfull; yet there be three cases wherein a Minister may lawfully bee absent from his people whose soules he hath the charge of, so as he prouide, as much as possibly he may, that his people may be taught and admonished, and that they be not by his absence endangered.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; In case of sicknesse, or any violently withholding of him, by imprisonment or the like: when a Minister is by sicknesse or imprisonment kept and held from his people for a time: Thus Epaphroditus was withheld by sicknesse. Phil. 2.26.27.28.
Quest. What is the second case wherein a Minister may lawfully bee absent from his people whose soules hee hath taken charge of, he prouiding as much, as possibly he may, that his people be not by his absence endangered?
Answ. This; In case of publike imployment by the Church, when a Minister is for a time, either by his owne people imployed in some necessary,Coloss: 4.12. waighty, and publike businesse for their good: or is by publike authoritie, sent for a time about some necessary, waighty and publike businesse, for the good of the whole Church. Thus Epaphroditus, Phil. 2, 25.…hilip. 2.25. Thus Epaphras, Coloss. 1.7.Coloss. 1.7.
Quest. What is the third case, wherein a Minister may lawfully be absent from his people, whose soules he hath taken charge of, he prouiding, as much as possibly he may, that his people be not by his absence endangered?
1 King. 18.4. Act. 9.29.30.Answ. This; In case of open persecution, when a Minister is so persecuted as that he is enforced to flye, and sees no hope at all to procure his safety.
Quest. What are the things of practice proper to Ministers as they be Ministers, & hauehave the charge of the soules of others, that do hurt or hinder the life of the soule of another or others?
Answ. They are either things in their teaching, or in their manner of liuing and leading their liues.
Quest. What are the things in a Ministers teaching, that doe hurt or hinder the life of the soule of another or others?
Iere. 6.14. Iere. 23.17.31.32. Ezeh. 13.1….16. Rom. 16.18. Ephes. 4.14. 1 Tim: 6.3.4 Tit. 1.10. Mat. 15.4.5.6.9.Answ. They are either flattering teaching, or corrupt teaching; when Ministers in their teaching either flatter and sooth vp their people or any of them in their sinnes; or they deliuer to their people, or to any of them, either vaine and curious things, or corrupt, erronious and false things, whereby their mindes are troubled or infected.
Quest. What are the things in the manner of the Ministers liuing and leading his life, that doe hurt or hinder the life of the soule of another or others?
Answ. Such euill things done by them in the sight of their people,1 Sam. 2.24. Iere. 23.14. Galat. 2.13. as doe minister matter of infection to their soules, when Ministers goe on in the practice of sinne openly, and liue wickedly and loosely, in the face of their people: they doe thereby infect their people, and draw many after them to the same course of life.