The Dying Mans Testament to the Church of Scotland, Part 3 · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. What is called-for from Church-officers in the case of spreading errour.
WE begin now to speak particularly to the Church-officers duty, and what is called-for from them, especially from Ministers, which we may consider in a fourfold respect. 1. There is something called-for from the Minister in reference to God. 2, In reference to himself. 3. In reference to the Flock and people who are not tainted, but, it may be, under the tentation. 4. In reference to these that are in the snare, especially the promotters of these evils.
The first two are interwoven almost, Therefore we shall speak of them together: and we say,
1. When such a tentation setteth on upon a people,What a Minister is called to, in reference …o God and himself, at such a time. and beginneth to infect or hazard the infection of a particular Flock, or of many together, (for, the hazard of one, is the hazard of many in such a case, as is said) the Minister would look first to God as the great over-ruler, even of these things that are evil in the Churches; and he would consider if things be in good case betwixt God and him, especially in respect of his Ministery; for, such an infection in a Flock is a prime stroak upon a Minister, because the spreading thereof threatneth the unchurching of that Church and blasting of his Ministery, as, Rev. 2. is threatned against the Angel of Ephesus, and it never cometh but it hath with it a spirit and spait of bitternesse against, and many crosses, faintings and vexations unto, the Minister; he is therefore soberly and composedly to look to God as his party, and is not to think, that such things come by guesse, and spring out of the dust, nor from the corruptions of some giddie people only, but that there is a higher hand; without this there can be no right use made of such a dispensation; and this is it that should humble the Minister and make him serious, lest by the peoples sin, God may be smiting him: Paul hath this word when he speaketh of the Schisms and contentious debates that were in Corinth, 2 Cor. 12. 20, 21, I fear, saith he, lest when I come, my God will humble me amongst you, he did so construct of their miscarrying, as making for this humiliation: yet it is to be adverted, that it is not the Minister or Flock that the Lord is most displeased with, that alwayes is so assaulted and shaken, although it be ever matter of humiliation.
2. When the Minister is composed to take up Gods hand in the matter, then is he not only to look to Him for direction and guiding in his duty, and without fretting to reverence His dispensation, but he is to reflect upon himself, and to consider his bygone carriage, especially in his Ministery, if he may not be chargeable before God with some sinfull influence upon his peoples distempers and miscarriages. And particularly, he is to look to these four, 1. If he be in good terms with God, in reference to his own particular state and condition, and if there was that due tendernesse and watchfulnesse at the time of the outbreaking of such an ill: I grant it may be that things were right, as in the case of Iob, Iob 3. 26. yet it becometh him to try; for, such a thing may be trysted with security and negligence, that thereby he may be awakned to see his former defects. 2. A Minister would then reflect on his clearnesse to that calling, and particularly to such a charge; and though to both he may be called by God, yet it is his part to try, that he may meet the reproaches with the greater confidence, as we see Paul doth in the Epistles often mentioned; for, in such a case a Minister will be put to it, and who knoweth but possibly expectation of ease, quiet accommodation or credit in such a place, and tractablnesse in such a people, and such like, might have had weight with a good man to sway him to one place more than another? and by such a dispensation the Lord doth chasten that, to learn Ministers at their entry to be swayed alone with the Churches edification. But, 3. to come nearer, a Minister would try if he hath any sinfull meritorious influence (to speak so) in procuring that stroak to the people, to be given up to these delusions; for, it is certain, a Minister may be smitten in some stroak of this kind upon his people, as is clear from that threatning to the Angel of Ephesus, Rev. 2. even as a Magistrate may be smitten by a stroak that is immediately upon his people, as we see in Davids case, who thus procured the Pestilence, 2 Sam. 24. because, first, the people themselvs are not guiltless, so that there is no injustice. And. 2. Because there is a great sibnesse betwixt Minister and people, so that a rod upon one, doth indeed prove a rod to both: he would therefore try if possibly he hath been somewhat proud or vain of his authority, or respect amongst them, of their knowledge, orderly carriage, or dependance on the Ordinances, especially if he have any way affected such a thing, and hath withall sleighted the trying of their spiritual estate, and bettering of it, or if he hath been neglective to pray for them, and for their stability in the truth; if he hath been defective to warn or to keep up the authority of the Ordinances, and of a Ministery among them; if he hath been too familiar and triviall in his carriage with them, and such like; also, if he hath been affected with zeal for Gods honour, when other Congregations have been infected, if he hath sympathized with such Ministers, and born burthen with others in such cases; or, if on the contrary, he hath been carelesse, or, it may be, puffed up because himself was free: these and such like sins would be searched, because their is a Justice, and, if I may say, a congruity in Justice, in punishing such sins with such a rod; for its often when the husband men are sleeping that the enemy doth sow such tares. 4. He would try if he hath had any sinfull influence on such evils, as if he hath not been full and diligent in grounding them in the fundamentall truths, and clearing to them the Doctrines of the Gospel, as well as preaching duties, cases, and such like, or if he hath needlesly fostered curiosity in starting any questions, or in giving people way to follow them, if he hath made a sport of some errours publickly or privately, if he hath laughen at, or lightly spoken of, the errours and miscarriages of others, before them, if he hath not been faithfull to admonish and reprove the first gadings, or if he hath fed the people with empty notions and wind, and builded hay and stubble upon the foundation, and hath not seriously discovered to them their guiltinesse, and hath not put them to the exercise of Repentance for their corrupt inclinations, thereby to presse humility, fear, watchfulnesse, diligence, &c. that so their hand might be filled with a more solid work, and Christ by them imployed to preserve them, even from this tentation. These, I say, and such like, would be tryed, because where they are, the Minister wants not accession to their sin, as if in some respect he had combined with these seducers.
3. When this is done, the Minister would be affected with his own guilt, and then his sympathy with the peoples condition will be the more lively; and he would, first, endeavour the recovery of himself, and his restoring to good tearms with God through Christ Jesus. 2. As he would confesse his own faults, so also the faults of the people; and as he would pray for pardon for himself, so would he do for them, who, it may be, do reproach and curse him, yet would he not cease to pray for them, having that word fresh under such a stroak, As for these sheep, Lord, what have they done? 3. There would be special dealing with God, and dependence on Him for fitnesse rightly to manage such a case; for, the charge becomes more heavie: God therefore should be acknowledged for obtaining suitable furniture, even in reference to that particular: And Ministers would know, that it is not their abilities, gifts, nor parts that can do this; and if we cannot speak profitably to one that is not in such a distemper, what can we do where the person is so prejudged and distempered, if the Lord do it not? Ministers therefore would … reference to every word, unto such persons, in a …ly fear and jealousie, lest, lippening to themselves, they mar the Master's work, and stumble a poor soul rather than edifie the same. 4. He would aim seriously not only at exoneration, but at edification; and for that cause would begin, by dealing with God for successe, and that either the Lord would immediatly Himself convince or blesse His furniture to him for that end; yea, He would be blyth if any mean were provided and blessed, though in another hand than his own.
4. The Minister would now use ordinary means for fitting of himself to discover such errours as his people are guilty of, that he may be able solidly to convince them that are stumbled, and to establish others that stand; and pains would be taken in this, aswell as for preaching, or in the studying of common heads at the passing of tryals, which is but a proof of the man's gifts in a more remote reference to such a case, which now is specially to be put in exercise; Therefore he would, first, endeavour to be through in the wole body of Divinity and grounds of Christian Religion; for, there is such a connexion among truths, that when one is wronged, many are wronged, and one errour may overturn many foundations: And if a Minister have not some generall impression of the whole, he cannot with confidence search in, or undertake the refutation of, any one particular errour: Neither ought a Minister, who possibly for a time hath forborn studies of that kind, think it unbecoming him again to return to them, seing it is duty, and there is no shame to be learning what may fit one for his duty; And who knoweth but among other ends, this may be intended, that Ministers may be put to more constant study and search in the fundamentall truths of the Gospel? 2. He would then, like a wise Physician▪ endeavour to know the malady that hath infected and distempered his people, what are the errours they maintain, what are the arguments that …ave weight with them, what are the tentations they have had, or who are the tempters or instruments that have seduced them, and such like; What also is their natural humour, hasty or meek, proud or humble; What hath been their former way of walking, what are their parts and abilities, with whom they converse, who hath weight with them, or are esteemed by them, that by these and such like means he may be in better capacity to know how to apply the remedie, and to deal with them himself, or to make use of others for that end. 3. He would endeavour the furnishing of himself, especially in reference to these errours beyond others which they are tainted with, and for this cause would provide fit Books, converse with others that are able to help him, and gather his own observations from Scripture and other grounds, that through Gods blessing upon his labours he may be able to speak of these things confidently as to himself, and convincingly as to others. It is to be observed, that the former order laid down, doth not require a succession in time, in reference to the several steps (for, in some cases a Minister will be instantly put to what is beyond all these, and to deal by some other means) but it sheweth the order of nature, and what way is to be followed according as there is accesse and opportunity.
Further, It is necessary for Ministers, at such aUnion amongst Minesters and their flocks, is in such a case carefully to be s…udied. time especially, to endeavour union among themselves and amongst the people of their flocks; for, oftentimes division and delusion are trysted together, whereby the deluders are exceedingly strengthened, Truth, and the Ministers thereof, made exceedingly contemptible and put in an incapacity to edifie, or have weight, till that be removed. Therefore we see, that in the Churches of Corinth, Galatia and Philippi, where Seducers were driving their designs, and division had taken great footing, the Apostle hath a special regard to the recovering of their union at such a time: We may read it also in the Life of Basilius the great Antagonist of the Arians, who, being by some division with Eusebius, then Bishop of Cesaria, necessitated to withdraw for the Churches peace, Whereupon Valence the Arian Emperour, and other Arians, thought that a fit opportunity to vent their errour in Cesaria, which they could not succesfully do, while union continued there. To disappoint this design, Gregory Nazianzen advised his return and uniting with Eusebius, as the only mean to prevent the growth of that heresie amongst the people, which being accordingly done, and both of them forgetting their particular discontents for the publick good, the Church was so established, and the errour so opposed, that the forenamed enterprisers were constrained to give over their design upon that union.
In the third place, We come to consider a MinistersWhat is his duty in reference to his flock. duty in reference to the flock in generall (and certainly by proportion it may be gathered what seriousnesse, gravity and diligence ought to be amongst Ruling-elders in their concurring with him in such a case, who are also to joyn with him according to to their places in the former search and triall of their carriage, and in fitting of themselves for being usefull in such a time) for, it cannot be denied, but somewhat peculiar is called-for from the Minister, in reference to his Ministery in common amongst the people, more than is called-for at another time. As, 1. he is to be in respect of all Christian qualifications in his carriage and all ministeriall duties in his charge, singularly serious and eminently exemplary, because it is now a main and prime thing to have a testimony of sincerity, faithfulnesse and love to the peoples edification in their own consciences; and this cannot be obtained at such a time without the former. For, in experience we see that declining to errour, and falling from esteem of the Minister, go together: and where this is preserved, either the fall is prevented, or there is the greater accesse to recover the person that is fallen. Ministers therefore would especially study that, as a main mean of the peoples edification. And for that cause, would observe, 1. If any thing hath escaped them in their way, which might have given offence, and would by all means endeavour to remove it. 2. If any thing hath been unjustly imputed to them, they would condescend to clear it. 3. They would take notice of what particulars they use to be charged with, though, it may be, unjustly, or what usually Ministers are charged with by the corrupt men of the world, as pride, cove…ousnesse, self-seeking, hypocrisie and the like; and at such a time, Ministers would not only eschew these evils, but also the very appearance of them, which is a part of Paul's becoming all things to all, that he might gain and save some, 1 Cor. 9. And, in a word, a Minister would so carry in that time, as every look, word, action, gesture, yea, as every thing lesse or more in his Ministery, in his family, diet, cloaths, and such like, may abide the triall of the most narrow and watchfull observers, yea, of one that is a more high and narrow observer than they.
2. There are some things wherein particularly he would insist and seek to have born in upon the people. As, 1. to have them sensible of the evil of errour, and of the hazard that cometh by it, also of the devils subtilty and craft in carrying on of such a businesse. 2. To have them instructed and cleared in the truths of the Gospel, especially in such things as are controverted, that the errours and consequents following thereon, may be made as obviously clear and hatefull as may be. 3 This would be done so as they be not diverted from practice in the main duties of godlinesse by any speculation; but, searching, up-stirring and materiall Doctrines, with powerfull and convincing applications of all kinds, would be in a speciall manner pressed then, as we see in these directions to Timothy and Titus is clear: where, upon the one side, the taking head to fables and vain janglings is dehorted from, and convincing, exhorting▪ reproving with all authority, pressing of good works, and exercising to godlinesse, are, on the other side exhorted unto. 4. People would be pressed by all means, to eschew snares and the company of seducers, which was both our Lords practice, and the practice of His Apostles. There is no duty more frequently pressed than that: It is true, this is sometimes mistaken by people, yet it is the duty of Ministers to presse it; yea, they are charged to charge others in reference to this, as in the 1. to Tim. 4. 11. and 6. 13. being compared with the directions that are given in these Epistles. 5. It may be it were not unmeet in such a time, that something were done in writ, for clearing of these things which are especially controverted, and that some in particular might be designed for this part of the work: for, often seducers spread their errours by writ, as we may in see in Ier. 29. 25. And sometimes there will be accesse to instruct and edifie by writ, when it cannot be done by word, yea, so, some persons may have objections moved and answered to them, before they be confirmed in such and such opinions, which possibly they would have thought shame to move till they had settled in them; and so have been in a greater prejudice against the truth, and in a greater incapacity to be gained from them; and we see, that the Apostles used this way unto Churches and People, to confute materiall errours in writ, and so also to confirm the truth against all cavils of adversaries, even as they did it by word of mouth and preaching.
3. In all this, the Minister would take good heed to his manner of proceeding, that it be grave, weighty, serious, loving, and in every thing such as may convince the people, 1. Of his own seriousnesse, and being much affected with such a businesse, Therefore light and mocking expressions would be shunned, but the Minister would be affectionate and serious, like one travelling in birth, while Christ be formed in them again, as Paul speaketh, Gal. 4. 19. 2. To convince them of the evil of the thing, and for that cause would so carry, as he may make errour also hatefull and loathsome to the people, as any scandalous practice whatsoever; for which cause Ministers would rather endeavour to stir the peoples zeal against such evils, by grave, convincing, affectionate expressions regrates or expostulations, than to move their laughter with triviall mock… or taunts, in reference to such principles or persons; for, (as holy Master Greenham used to say) that doth but make sin ridiculous, when it ought to be made hatefull. 3. He would endeavour to convince them of his singlenesse in seeking of their good, and of love to them, and pitty to these that are misled; for which cause any thing that may make him be supposed to resent personall reproaches or indignities, or aim at upholding of his own credit, or to vent bitternesse against the persons of others, would be carefully abstained from: for, these things derogate much from the weight of what a Minister can do; and we see the great Apostle Paul, doth not stick to condescend in such cases to vindicate himself from such mistakes, and to use great expressions of love, yea, sometimes to attest God as to the sincerity of his professions, and such like, which are frequent in the Epistles to the Corinthians and Galatians, which may be an example to Ministers in such ca…es. 4. Their whole carriage would be affectionate, even to the persons of opposers; for, nothing prejudgeth more, than for a Ministe… to be thought carnall and passionate, whereas tender dealing and usage to persons and to their outward estates, doth prove as coals of fire to soften them, as in experience is found; however its becoming of a Minister; yet it is to be done without marring zeal and indignation against their errours, and without prejudice to his seeking to censure them for these, or his restraining them from venting of the same.
It is here to be adverted, 1. That what was spoken of the manner of a Ministers carriage in reference to practical scandals, and of his duty in a time when offences abound, is also to be remembred here and in what followeth. 2. That what is spoken of Ministers duty, will by proportion agree to Ruling-Elders according to their stations; for, they should no lesse endeavour the preventing and suppressing of corrupt doctrine than of other scandalous practices, and they especially are to endeavour to have the means used by the Minister, made weighty amongst the people; and for that end, are to endeavour to have himself weighty also.
We come now to the fourth step of a MinistersWhat is a Minister's duty in reference to those that are seduced. duty, and that is, as it relateth to those that are tainted with errour, (we mean grosse errours and delusions, such as this discourse runneth upon) We may consider it in these four steps, as it relateth, 1. to discovery, or tryal, 2. to conviction, 3. to admonition, 4. to rejection.
For the first, as the Apostle saith of men in general, 1 Tim. 5. 24. Some mens sins are open before hand, going before to judgment, and some mens follow after: So here, sometimes errour discovereth it self, and there is no need of search; yet sometimes also there will be many secret objections moved and harboured against truths, which will not be avowed, though they be privately muttered; yea, sometimes corrupt teachers will endeavour the vailing and hiding of their tenets, or errours, by many shifts, even when they are studying to leaven others with their delusions. There is therefore a necessity in such a case, 1. to try what opinions are held and vented, and to discover the absurdnesse and grossnesse of them; for, many will maintain the premisses ignorantly, who will not know that such absurd conclusions do follow thereupon; It is fit therefore to lay by the names and expressions used by seducers, and to expresse the thing as it is, especially if it be the reviving of some old absurdity under some new coat and pretext; Thus the Lord doth discover the abomination of the Nicolaitans doctrine, by comparing it unto, and evidencing it to be, upon the mater, indeed one and the same with the practices of Balaam and Iezebel, Rev. 2. 14. 15, and 20. This way is also followed by Peter, 2 Epist. 2. and by Iude, who compared corrupt teachers to Balaam, Korah, Dathan, &c. thereby to take the vi…orn off old newly revived errours, that they may appear as they are; for, often errour is commended to people under some new representation, and many will love it so represented, who yet will abhor former errours, which are still the same, though under another name, which are two tricks of the devils subtility, 1. To make old errour passe under the opinion and construction of some new light. And, 2. for that end to disguise it in some circumstances, and to change its name: And indeed, it is no little piece of spirituall dexterity to remove that mask. Secondly, There is a discovery to be made of the persons who hanker after such opinions, that it may be found who are infected thereby; This would be done to reclaim the persons, and to cure that distemper, before it break out, or come to a height; for, it is more easie often to cure one at the beginning than afterward: also, when it becometh publick, it hath with it some kind of engagement on the person, and he is more hardly recovered, lest he should seem thereby to appear weak, erroneous, unstable, or such like. Beside, it is more gaining-like when the Minister privately findeth them out, and endeavoureth to recover them secretly, before any publick notice be taken thereof, and often hath more successe with it, than after debats, as seemeth to be held forth in that place, Gal. 2. 2. where Paul saith, that he communicated with them of reputation, the Gospel, first, privately, lest by any means he should have run in vain. Therefore we conceive, persons suspect of errour, would not hastily be brought to publick, but in some respect, the publicknesse of their offence, would be, as it were, dissembled, or not positively so publickly taken notice of, that thereby there may be the fairer accesse for them to retreat. 3. If there be any retreat, the person would be waited upon▪ although at first it be not fully satisfying, and all due care and diligence would be used to have his former errour buried, as if it had never been, without any publick hearing, except some extraordinary circumstance perswade to another way. For, (besides the reasons given) errour becometh not readily a publick scandal, except there be tenaciousnesse therein, or some actuall stumbling-block laid before others thereby, which often the persons reclaiming, will remove more than their censuring. Therefore, upon supposition of a persons recovery, there is no great fear of hazard in abstaining from bringing such a thing to publick, except he hath been instrumentall to seduce others, or in some such case which doth make his carriage open before hand, as is said. 4. This secret discovery before things break out, is needfull to prevent the defection of others, because, if the persons be not reclaimed, they may be found out to be dangerous, and may so be noted, for the preventing of their being a snare to others, which they might have been more easily, had they not been marked to be such, which is the reason of that exhortation, Rom. 16. 17. Mark them that caus… divisions, and avoid them. When a person is discovered and found to be tainted, then all means are to be used for his conviction by conference, reasoning and other such means as may gain the end, this is a speciall qualification of a Minister, Ti…. 1. 9. that he may be able by sound Doctrine to convince gainsayers. And (as it is, 2 Tim. 2. 25.) in meeknesse to instruct these that oppose themselves: Which step may be considered under diverse respects, 1. As it tendeth to the gaining of the person directly, so especially private debatings are requisit, which are to be carried on with all meeknesse and long-suffering, although they meet with reproaches and reflection… in the prosecuting thereof. 2. Although there be little hopes of gaining the person, yet there is need of such means for the stopping of his mouth, and the edification of others, that thereby he have not occasion to seduce them; for, often such debatings solidly and judiciously carried on, though they do not convince the person, so as to make him silent▪ yet do they convince others of the absurdnesse of these errours, and the unreasonablnesse of such a persons carriage; and experience hath proven, that often such debats have been blessed for the credit and vindication of the truth, in reference to many others, and by that place, Tit. 1. 9. seemeth to be clear duty, though there be little hopes of coming speed, as to the persons seduced.