The Gospel Ministers Maintenance Vindicated, Section 4
The Great and Weighty Work of a True Goſpel Miniſter opened.
THE Nature and Weightineſs of the Work of the Faithful Servant of Chriſt, together with the neceſſity and difficulty of it, we ſhall conſider in its parts in a brief and compendious manner.
Firſt, 'Tis a Holy and a ſublime Office; he is placed in a very high Sphereand Station, hence called the Ambaſſador of Chriſt; What higher Dignity can be conferred on Man? The greatneſs of the Prince whoſe Meſſengers they are, ſets forth their Dignity; they are in Chriſt's ſtead Imployed in the great Affairs of His Spiritual Kingdom; and have received Authority from Him, and are alſo prepared and qualified for this Sacred Work by Him, and indeed therefore ought to be blameleſs, as the Stewards of God: And hence it is that thoſe who are ſaid to receive them, receive Him; and thoſe who deſpiſe them, deſpiſe Him. O! with what Holy Fear, Dread, and Reverence ought they to enter upon this Work and Office, leaſt they ſhould diſhonour their great and glorious Prince and Heavenly Soveraign, whom they repreſent! Is it not a weighty thing to be made the Mouth of Chriſt?
2. Nay, and this is not all, they are intruſted with matters of the higheſt moment in the World, Chriſt having committed the Management of his Glorious Intereſts, and great concerns he has on Earth into their Hands; they are ſent to treat with poor Sinners about Eternal Matters, even the Eternal Life, or Eternal Death and Damnation of their Precious and Immortal Souls, in and about theſe things Miniſters of the Goſpel are Fellow Workers together with Chriſt. 2. Cor. 6.1. Though but as Inſtruments, ſerving him as the principal Agent, and efficient Cauſe: He trod the Wine-Preſs of his Fathers Wrath alone; but in the Application of the purchaſe of Man's Salvation, he admits of Fellow-workers, tho the internal Work be his, i. e. the effects of his Spirits upon the Souls of thoſe whoſe Hearts are changed; yet there is a Miniſterial part which lyeth on the faithful Diſcharge of the Miniſter's Duty, which conſiſteth partly in Exhortations, Motives and Arguments, by the Ear conveyed to the Soul; and thus Miniſters may be ſaid to be Workers together with Chriſt, and without him they can donothing, they are Workers, but they muſt have Chriſt Work with them, or they will find that they Labour in Vain.
But is it not think you a high and moſt ſacred Place and Office thus to be imployed? May not every one of us ſay, who are ſufficient for theſe things, for we are unto God (ſaith the Apoſtle) a ſweet ſavour of Chriſt in them that are ſaved, and in them that periſh, 2 Cor. 2. for that God whom we, ſerve, will not Judge of us, nor reward us according to our Succeſs (as a worthy Author obſerves) but according to our Faithfulneſs and Diligence in his Work, we give (as if Paul ſhould ſay) a good ſavour by our Doctrine unto all, and our Labours are a ſweet ſavour in the Noſtrils of God, whatever effects they have upon the Souls of Men; God accepteth of our Labours, as to good Men, to whom we are Inſtruments of Eternal Life and Salvation; and though others deſpiſe the Goſpel, and refuſe the ſweet ſound thereof; yet as to themalſo, we are a ſweet ſavour in the Noſtrils of God, tho Iſrael be not ſaved, ſaith the Prophet, yet I ſhall be glorious; it is not through any neglect in us, as to our duty if any periſh, but from their own Willfulneſs and Rebellious Hearts. To the one, we are the ſavour of Death unto Death, and to the other, the ſavour of Life unto Life. And who is ſufficient for theſe things. ver. 16.
As ſweet ſmells, which are to ſome pleaſant and comfortable (ſaith a Worthy Author) yet are to others pernicious and deadly; ſo it is with the ſweet ſavour of the Goſpel; the report which we in all places make of Chriſt, to ſome (through their unbelief, and hardneſs of their Heart, and fondneſs of their Luſts) proveth; but the Savour of Death unto Death, hardning their Hearts to their Eternal Ruine and Deſtruction; but to ſuch who (being ordained to Eternal Life; believe our Report, and) imbrace the Goſpel, and live up to the Precepts and Rule thereof; our Preaching proves a Cauſe ofSpiritual and Eternal Life to which that leadeth; but O how great a work is this! What Man? What Angel, is ſufficient for it? O it is a mighty VVork to Preach the Goſpel, as we ought to Preach it; it is that by which Faith cometh, How ſhall they believe on him, of whom they have not heard? And how ſhall they hear, without a Preacher? And how ſhall they Preach, except they are ſent? Rom. 10.14. i. e. Unleſs they have an extraordinary or ordinary Miſſion, i. e. either from God more immediately (which Call is long ſince ceaſed) or elſe, by the Election of the Church, and Ordination of the Elders, or Presbytery; this is neceſſary in all Regular Miniſters: How elſe can they duly or profitably in the Name and Authority of Chriſt, preach the Word of Life? Brethren, (you who are Chriſt's true Miniſters being orderly called to this ſacred Work,) your Preaching hath attendency, either to ſave, or eternally to condemn the Souls of Men; and with what trembling then,ought this Work to be undertaken and performed; you are intruſted with Men's Souls, and muſt be accountable for them; eſpecially, ſuch who are committed to your Charge; did we conſider it, and duly ponder upon it in our Minds, certainly, we ſhould have little elſe to think upon, nor trouble our Heads and Hearts about, it would be ſure cauſe us to be more Serious, and Laborious, we are perſwaded, than we are: VVhat ſhall we do, if through our Neglect and Remiſneſs in this great VVork, any ſhould die and periſh in their Sins? Mind what God ſaith in that of Ezek. 3.18. Unto his VVatchman, When I ſay unto the wicked, thou ſhalt ſurely dye, and thou giveſt him not warning, nor ſpeakeſt to warn the wicked from his way, to ſave his Life, the ſame wicked man ſhall die in his Iniquity, but his Blood I will require at thine Hand; tho ſome do prophanely ſcoff and deride, yet muſt we ſpeak to them, and warn them, until it do appear they are ſuch as will turn againand rend us, Men muſt be told their Sins, and their Dangers, that ſo we (as Inſtruments in God's Hand) may preſerve their Souls, and recal them a… once both from Sin and Death, the Man who is not warned, will certainly die in his Sins, his Ignorance will not be ſufficient to prevent his Ruin and Damnation; but if Miniſters admoniſh him not, warn him not, that will involve them alſo under Guilt and Danger, God will puniſh ſuch Miniſters and Watchmen, who poſſibly might have ſaved thoſe periſhing Sinners, however they ought to have warned them, And
Hence how Careful was St. Paul, ſee Acts 20.26. that ye might be pure from the Blood of all Men; he appeals to the Church of Epheſus, in that matter they knowing his great Care, Faithfulneſs, and unwearied Induſtry, upon every Reſpect; and ſhews that no Soul had been loſt through his default, he having ſincerely, and in all ſimplicity declared to them the way of Life, and perſwaded them to walk therein, andhad not kept back any part of the Will and Mind of Chriſt from them, but had ſhewed them the whole Counſel of God, and ceaſed not for …hree Years (which was all the whole …ime he was amongſt them) to warn …very one Night and Day with Tears. Acts 20.31. The precious Worth of the Immortal Souls of Men lay upon the Spirit and Conſcience of this Bleſſed Apoſtle: And in this he laid forth himſelf as an Example for all true and faithful Miniſters, who are in…oyned elſewhere to follow his Steps. …f one Soul be worth more than all the World; How great is the charge of Chriſt's Miniſters, that have many Souls committed to their Care and Truſt? But
2. This is not all, they are Intruſted with that Holy, High, and Peculiar Intereſt which Jeſus Chriſt hath …ere below, which is dearer to him …han Ten Thouſand Worlds; He is gone into Heaven, and hath left H… great Concerns He hath here … Earth to them to mind and look afte… … and take the care of: For the good of which, and to carry it on, and for the perfecting of it: He hath ſhed His moſt Precious Blood, and given His Holy Spirit to them in the Gifts and Graces of it, and appointed them a Livelyhood, without being incumbred with worldly Buſineſs; and hath alſo promiſed them a Crown of Glory at laſt, if they abide Faithful to the end, aſſuring them that they, and all others who turn many to Righteouſneſs, ſhall ſhine as the Stars for ever more. Dan. 12.2,3.
3. They are not only Stewards of the Myſteries of God, 1 Cor. 4.1. But alſo Intruſted with the charge and care of his Churches, and Holy Doctrine of the Goſpel; Miniſters are the Stewards of Chriſt's Houſe: Moreover, It is required in Stewards, that a Man be found Faithful, 1 Cor. 4.2. Eſpecially ſuch Servants who are entruſted with their Maſters Goods, to be diſpenced out to others: Now the Faithfulneſs of ſuch Stewards lies in …heir giving to every one their due Portion, according to their Maſters order, and not detaining any thing from others which he hath ordered them to have; the ſame in quality, not Water inſtead of Wine, nor Droſs inſtead of Gold: not Mens Inventions and Traditions, inſtead of his Holy Sacraments and Sacred Inſtitutions. And the ſame for quantity; not now and then a ſmall Portion, but as Chriſt hath provided plenty, ſo they ſhould plentifully hand forth to all His Servants: And they alſo muſt be Faithful to cheriſh and ſtrengthen the Weak, and heal with all Skill and Tenderneſs the wounded and ſickly Ones of Chriſts Family, and every way improve their Maſters Money, and do what they can to gather in Souls to him: For one chief End of Goſpel Miniſtry is for the gathering together of the Saints; as well as for the Edifying the Body of Chriſt; therefore in every place where there is a Door opened for them, they muſt work hard whilſt there are any Sinners to be called into the Vineyard, and muſt not leave their MaſtersBuſineſs to follow their own; eſpecially when they know not but Chriſt hath much People in and about the place where they live, who are to be brought into His Fold.
Secondly, The neceſſity and uſefulneſs of their Work and Miniſtration is opened by divers other Metaphors: viz. they are called Shepherds; What would ſoon become of the Sheep, if the Shepherd ſhould be careleſs, they will quickly go aſtray, &c. the Wolf would devour them. They are called alſo Guides, and of Old Seers and Watchmen; being ſet to diſcover and give warning of approaching danger.
The Greatneſs and Labouriouſneſs of their Work, is ſet forth by their being called Planters, Builders, and Labourers.
The Dignity and Honourableneſs of their Work and Office is ſet forth by their being called Fathers, Angels, Ambaſſadors, Stars and Rulers: Now from the whole it muſt needs appear to all, that the Miniſters Work is hard and difficult: We may well ſay, Who is ſufficient for theſe things? 'Tis ſuch a Work that it cauſed ſome of God's Servants of Old, to undertake it with much Trembling; nay it made Moſes to cry out, Send by whom thou wilt ſend. Exod. 4.13,
'Tis ſo hard and difficult, that a man with all his acquired Parts is not ſufficient for it; nay, a Saint with all his Spiritual Gifts and Graces is not able to perform it without freſh ſupplies of renewed Strength every Day.
But to proceed, the difficulty of the Miniſters Work lies in theſe reſpects following.
Firſt, In regard of themſelves who are Imployed in it.
1. They are but Men; Son of Man I have made thee a Watchman. And as they are men, ſo commonly they are not the wiſeſt and moſt learned in reſpect of humane Parts and Knowledg neither. You ſee your Calling Brethren.
2. Man at beſt is but a Worm, he is but a poor dark-ſighted Creature, we (ſaith the Apoſtle) know but in part.
3. Man at beſt with all his Accompliſhments, is attended with Weakneſs,and carries about with him, a Body of Sin and Death. Rom. 7.
4. Man at beſt with all his Heavenly Graces, hath but ſmall Skill, and ſhort Experiences.
5. Man at beſt is ſubject to great Diſcouragements, and lyable to many grievous Temptations.
Secondly, The difficulty of their Buſineſs, lies in the Work it ſelf, the Miniſters Imployment is hard, and no ways eaſie. Becauſe,
1. 'Tis a Myſterious VVork, what Myſteries are greater than thoſe a Miniſter is to ſtudy, and dive into? Without Controverſy, great is the Myſtery of Godlineſs. 1 Tim. 3.16. But we ſpeak the Wiſdom of God in a Myſtery, even the hidden Wiſdom. 1 Cor. 2.7.
That which the moſt wiſe, and knowing in the ſame Art, can reach or underſtand but part of, muſt needs be a great Myſtery; but ſo it is here, for the Apoſtles who had the greateſt and cleareſt Knowledge of theſe Myſteries, as any ever had in the VVorld; yet declare, they knew but in part, andſaw but in part, darkly, as through a Glaſs. ver. 13.9.12. 'Tis ſuch a Myſtery, that he that thinks he knows any thing, knows nothing, as he ought to know.
VVhat a Myſtery is that of the Incarnation of our Lord Jeſus? That the Nature of Man ſhould be joined to the Divine Nature of God, and both make but one Chriſt.
What a Myſtery is there in the Doctrine of Faith? 1. That a Man ſhould go out of himſelf, and be carried above himſelf, to believe things impoſſible to Man's Natural Reaſon, that he ſhould ſeek for Juſtification, by the Righteouſneſs and Obedience of another; for a Man (as one would think) to have a great ſtore of Holyneſs, and good Works, and yet throw it (as it were) all away, and be dead to it in point of Truſt, and Dependance, is to Natural Men a ſtrange Myſtery. 2. To believe when every thing is oppoſite to it: To Work for Life, and oppoſe ſome Sin, a Natural Man is ready to do; but to believe in Chriſt, for Life and Holyneſs, to rely on his Doings, his Works,his Merits; this the Heart of Man can't underſtand, but is naturally averſe to; nay, and Satan alſo oppoſeth it, and the World mocks at it, and accounts it Fooliſhneſs. 3. That a Man ſhould believe and not ſee; nay, believe as Abraham did, in hope, againſt hope is a Myſtery.
Yet, may be there are ſome greater Myſteries than this which a Miniſter is to Study, in reſpect of Chriſt the Mediator; his Work, Offices, Glorious Covenant, Ordinances, and Providences of God in the World, and therefore his VVork is a difficult VVork.
2. 'Tis difficult, in that it calls for the greateſt Care and Exactneſs imaginable, every thing muſt be done according, to the Holy Pattern ſet by Chriſt in the Goſpel, there muſt be no adding to, no diminiſhing from, nor altering of any thing in the leaſt, without eternal hazard and danger.
3. 'Tis difficult and very hard in that it calls for the greateſt ſtrength that the moſt ſtrong in Grace and Wiſdom can arrive unto, it requires all the Powers of the whole Soul to be exerted or put forth to a right Diſcharge thereof.
4. It calls not only for all our ſtrength, but alſo all our Time and Diligence; a ſlothful or Idle Perſon is not fit to be a Miniſter, 'tis a work that muſt be followed continually, let the times be what they will; Preach the Word, be inſtant in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon, reprove, exhort, with all long Suffering, and Doctrine; be not Slothful, but Diligent, fear no Faces, regard no Threats, reſpect no Mans Perſon, reprove all impartially, be no fawning nor flattering Preacher; nor like thoſe who rather vent their own Paſſion, than perſue the end of Inſtruction, and Reformation of Souls; and this is a hard Work to do.
5. 'Tis difficult Work, in reſpect of the oppoſition that is made againſt them, and the Grand Obſtructions they meet withal.
1. From their own Hearts, the Fleſh is weak, tho the Spirit indeed is willing, many times, that it is ready to ſay with Peter, Maſter, pity thy ſelf; Why doſtthou ſpend thy Time, thy Strength, and ware out thy poor Body at this ſort? Leſs may do, &c.
Beſides, The Heart of a Miniſter (who is ſenſible of the Nature of his Work,) cauſes him oft to tremble, in Conſideration of his Unfitneſs, and Unworthineſs for ſuch a ſacred Undertaking and Imployment.
2. From Sin, in dwelling Sin, and other Humane Frailties; alas, they are Men of like Paſſion and Infirmities with others.
3. From Satan, he is an Implacable Enemy to them, and to their Work; hence he raiſes up all the Oppoſition againſt them imaginable, to hinder them in their Buſineſs, or take them off of it, or make them Remiſs and Negligent in doing it, we are not Ignorant (ſaith Paul) of his devices. 2 Cor. 2.11.
4. From the World, 1. by Reproaches and Contradictions of Ungodly Men, 2. By Hereticks and Falſe-Teachers, with theſe they are forc'd to fight, and many times are hard put to it, as Paul when he ingaged thoſe evil Beaſts at Epheſus.
5. Laſtly, By Perſecutors, allways the heat of this Battle falls upon Chriſt's poor Miniſters; they are the Mark theſe wicked Archers ſhoot at; hence they like Paul are oft in Bonds, and Priſoners for Chriſt's ſake.
Now, put all theſe things together, and is it not needful (think you) that your poor Miniſters be thought upon, and incouraged by you, as Chriſt hath appointed? But we ſhall ſay no more, only, conclude all with one VVord to our Fellow Labourers. Brethren, let us ſtrive to double our Diligence, and ſhew to all the ſenſe of the greatneſs of our work is upon our Spirits; and tho we have not that incouragement from the People that God has Ordained; yet, remember we ſerve a good Maſter: Beſides, a Neceſſity is laid upon us, we muſt Preach the Goſpel; and let us, be contented, with that State and Portion we meet with in the World; 'tis our great Buſineſs to approve our ſelves the Miniſters of Chriſt, in Labours, in Watchings, in Faſtings, by Pureneſs, by Knowledge, by the Holy Ghoſt, byLove unfeigned, by the Word of Truth, by the Power of God, by the Armour of Righteouſneſs, on the Right Hand, and on the Left; by Honour, and Diſhonour; by evil Report, and good Report, 2 Cor. 6.5,6,7,8. Poſſibly, we may be reproached, and ſenſured for what we have done, and ſaid, in this ſmall Tract. But ſhould it be ſo, we matter it not, ſince we have the Teſtimony of our Conſciences, that our Deſign is the Glory of God, and the promoting his Bleſſed Goſpel in the Nation, and the good of his poor Churches; and alſo, becauſe we know we have the ſure Word of God to confirm the Truth of what we plead for: VVherefore, whilſt we make it appear to all, 'tis not the Hire, the VVages, &c. that we aim at, but contrariwiſe, the Honour of the ever bleſſed God, and to VVitneſs to the Sanction of every one of his Juſt and moſt Holy Precepts, we cannot be without Peace in our own Souls.
FINIS.
End of the text · Hanserd Knollys, The Gospel Ministers Maintenance Vindicated (1689)