The Cure of Church Divisions, Directions to pastors 2 · Direction 15
DIRECT. XV.
Discourage not the Religious from so much of Religious exercises in their families, or with one another, as is meet for them in their private stations.
BY this means many Pastors have been very great causes of schisms and separations. Some of them are so carnal and selfish, that they make the Ministery but a trade for their benefice and honour: And therefore for fear left the people should encroach upon their advantages, they drive them as far off as they can, and care not how ignorant they are, so that thereby they may but lock up the mystery of their trade securely for themselves; and keep the people in a blindfold reverence, dependance and obedience: How ordinarily the Roman Clergy practise this iniquity, the nations that are kept in darkness by them, are doleful testimonies. Like the great dog that will not endure the little one to come near his carrion or his bone. And some are so excessively fearful of schism, that they dare not endure the people to pray together, or repeat a sermon, or search the scripture, and exhort one another daily, in that manner which God requireth private men to do, for fear lest they should go further, and grow proud of their own gifts and doings, and despise their Pastors, and set up for themselves! When as this very inordinate jealousie is the likely and the commo… way to bring them, to the evil that is so much feared. While peoples care of their salvation is cherished and stirred up, and the Pastors do provoke them to pray and search the scriptures and help each other in the way to heaven, they are honoured and loved by the faithful of their flocks, as men that indeed are true to their great trust, and have a love and care for the peoples souls: And then those Pastors who further the people in such religious exercises, may usually as fathers rule them in it, and keep them from usurping any thing that is proper to the officers of Christ, and from errours, and factions and divisions; and may easily suppress any arrogancie when it appeareth. And that honest desire which religious persons have to do good to others, is thus satisfied by such sober exercises as belong to them: And so Pastor and people do peaceably, lovingly and successfully concur to carry on the work of Christ, whilest each one moveth in his proper place. I speak this, through the great me…cy of God, from very great and long experience: having still kept up such lawful meetings and sober exercises as are not unfit for private Christians, and thereby kept out all heresies, factions, schisms, and arrogancies from the flock; with the great increase of their knowledge, humility, piety, and just observance of their guides.
Whereas when the foresaid inordinate jealousie doth restrain people, or discourage them from any of that which is their proper work; First, they grow into distaste of such Pastors, and take them for enemies to godliness and to their souls: Secondly, they grow next as jealous of all the Pastors doctrine, as he is of them; and think it no fault to draw oft further from him themselves, and then to disaffect others to him: Thirdly, their appetite to religious exercises, when it is restrained groweth inordinate, and affecteth that which belongeth not to them. Fourthly, they conceit that there is some necessity of their turning teachers, to do that which the Teachers will not do. Fifthly, they next keep their meetings by themselves, from under the eye and inspection of their Teachers. Sixthly, then they take liberty to vent what cometh in their minds, whilest there is none to regulate and contradict them. Seventhly, and at last they set up for themselves, and the chief speakers among them become Pastors to the rest, and so too often speak perverse things to draw away disciples after them. Act. 20. 30.
Wisdome and Love may prevent all this: Envy not the gifts or graces of your people? Is it not the end of all your studies and labours to to promote them? Are they not the fruits of Gods mercies and your own endeavours: Will you grudge at your own successes? In stead of restraining them, let none so earnestly drive them …n, to such religious exercises that belong to them, as your selves; and help them and over…e them in the performance; And then you shall have advantage to restrain them from that which belongeth not to them: And you shall have them the great assisters of your Ministery, who will more uphold your honours, than all the prophane and ignorant will do: yea they will be your glory, crown and joy at the appearing of Jesus Christ. 1 Thes. 2. 19, 20.