The Pastors Charge and the Peoples Duty, Chapter 3
CAP. III. The Doctrine improved by way of Inſtruction.
THIS Doctrine would be uſeful, more ways than I ſhall be able now to apply it. Yet give me leave to ſuggeſt ſome of the more neceſſary things, under theſe three general Heads.
Inſtruction.
Exhortation.
Encouragement.
1. By way of Inſtruction; and that in theſe eight particulars.
1. In the Right and Propriety, that Chriſt hath in his Church. They are his own Sheep, Joh. 10.3.4. No Shepherd in the World ever had, or can have that abſolute, undefeaſible, ſupream, independent, and natural Propriety in his Flock, as Chriſt hath in his. They are His, both as God, and as Redeemer. His by right of Creation, Donation, Purchaſe, Regeneration; and their own voluntary Choice and Self-dedication. His Portion, His Inheritance, His peculiar Treaſure. Nothing is nearer, nothing dearer to him than they. His Mark and his Name is upon them; his Spirit, his Nature, his Image, his Glory ſhines in them. The Scripture is full of his Claims to them; and by which they are diſtinguiſh'd and ſeparate from all the reſt of the World, Joh. 15.19. And this is the ground of that Caution. 1 Pet. 5.2, 3. Feed the Flock of God, which is among you—Neither as being Lords over God's Heritage. foreign Ruling, but not Domineering; Governing, but not Tyrannizing, more Regio imperantes; as Deputies and Rulers in truſt, not as Lords and Kings. Non Regnum, ſed Cura Preſbyteris commiſſa eſt; beccauſe they are not Yours, but God's Heritage, his Clergy; whether Miniſters or People; for the word, in the uſe, as well as derivation of it, reaches both. Church-Tyranny is an Encroachment upon Chriſt's peculiar Right. To Rule with a Lordly Grandeur, with Rigour, or Arbitrarineſs, to Monopolize the Power, which ought to be more equally diſtributed, is very injurious, not only to the Flock, but to him, who is the LORD of it, and whoſe Servants and Stewards we profeſs our ſelves to be And, which is a guilt that the proudeſt He upon Earth will not have the hardineſs to own before his Judge another day.
2. In the tender Affection and Care he hath for them. Nothing is more apt to endear a thing to us, than Propriety. That which is our own, we love; though it be not as it ſhould be, nor as we wiſh, yet becauſe 'tis our own. And thoſe that do otherwiſe, are juſtly reckoned among the foreign, without natural Affection, and worſe than Infidels. But ſhould I begin to tell you, what dearneſs of Affection the LORD Jſus Chriſt hath for his poor little Flock, where ſhould I end? Eternity will be little enough, with admiration and praiſe to recount the glorious Soul-raviſhing Inſtances of this Love. He loved them ſo, as to leave the Eternal Throne of his Glory, and the ſweet Repoſe he had from Everlaſting in the Boſom of the Father, for them: So, as to humble and abaſe himſelf to the vile Raggs of our Humane Nature; to the Miſeries and Neceſſities of an indigent life; to the proud Scorns, and blaſphemous Indignities of a wicked, and horridly ungrateful World; to the foul Temptations and Buffettings of Satan; to the imputation of Sin, the only thing ſo abhorrent to his pure and ſinleſs Nature; to the Bondage, Obedience and Curſe of the Law; to the Wrath of God, which he never in the leaſt, for himſelf deſerved; and which, to any one elſe, would have been utterly unſupportable; to the moſt ign…inious, torturous and accurſed Death of the Croſs; and to the power of Death, his own Servant and common Executioner, for a time. And all this his Love to them overcame, and ſweetned to him. Yea, and having loved them, he loves them ſtill, and will love them to the end, yea, without end. And therefore delights to ſpeak of them, always with ſome Intimations of their dearneſs to him; as his Friends, his Brethren, his Children, his Lambs, his Spouſe, his Members, &c. for all which I had no need to quote you the Scriptures. And as is his Love to them; ſo is his Care of, and Proviſion for them. When he ſaw it expedient for them to depart from them, as to his bodily preſence, and to leave them here in a Militant ſtate, expoſed to the Rage of his and their Enemies, both Temporal and Infernal; to be hated, and tempted, and perſecuted to the death for his ſake; O how did his Soul pity them! with what compaſſion did he embrace them! and ſeal his unchangeable Love to them! what a ſtream of endearing Affection and Care doth there run thro' his parting Diſcourſes with them! Joh. 14.15. and 16. How ſweetly doth he counſel and comfort them there! and is ſo concerned for them, that he ſeems to take no care for himſelf! though he knew that dreadful Hour was now come, wherein that Wrath muſt be poured out upon him, which none but the Omnipotent could ſtand under! And then how affectionately doth he recommend them to his Father! Chap. 17. Leaves his written Word, his ſealing Ordinances, and his Ordained Miniſters, whom he ſtrictly charges with them; yea, gives his holy Angels a charge concerning them; ſends his Holy Spirit, as a Sanctifier, and a Comforter to them; goes before, to prepare a Place for them; Negotiates all their Affairs, as a Faithful, Powerful and Prevalent Interceſſor with the Father, in their Names and Nature; and aſſures them, that he will come again, and in due time receive them into the Eternal Poſſeſſion of his own Glory and Joy, with Himſelf and the Father in Heaven; and in the mean time will, in an inviſible manner, be with them alway, even unto the end of the Word! LORD! what is*foreign Homo mortalis & Miſer. Rad. ſecundum Euſeb. foreign obliviſci. Enoſh, wretched, worthleſs, guilty, ſin-ſinful Man, that ſo forgets Thee, and deſerves to be for ever forgotten of thee, that thou art ſo very mindful of him?
3. That the Miniſters of the Goſpel, i. e. Thoſe that are duly qualify'd, and commiſſioned, are the LORD's deputed Shepherds: They have both their ability and authority, originally and fundamentally from him, the only truly Catholick, Infallible and Supream Shepherd, and Head of his Church. And in this ſenſe, we may without vanity ſay with the Apoſtle; Gal. 1.1. That we are the Miniſters, not of men, nor by man; but by Jeſus Chriſt, and God the Father, who raiſed him from the dead. We are appointed of him to be in his ſtead, to the Flock; and he hath promiſed to be with us, to direct us in, and to conduct us through both the Duties and the difficulties of our Work, to the end of the World.
Suffer me now (my dear Brethren) to make a few ſhort Remarks on this Head, both for my own Admonition and yours.
1. Theſe only are Shepherds, that are duly qualify'd and call'd; I ſent them not, ſaith the Lord, yet they prophecy a lye in my name, that I might drive you out, and that ye might periſh, ye and the Prophets that prophecy unto you, Jer. 27.15. God never ſends a Meſſenger without his Errand: Whatever the Qualification ſeem to be, if the Call be not of God, be ſure there is a lye of one kind or other, in the Prophecy; for if God have no Errand in it, the Devil hath.
2. 'Tis no contradiction, nor Solociſm in this caſe, for the ſame perſon to be both a Shepherd, and a Sheep; nay, nothing is more congruous. He that is a Captain had need to be a Souldier, yea, one of the beſt of Souldiers. Our great Shepherd is the Lamb of God, and his deputed Shepherds ſhould not be Goats, nor Wolves. For a man to be a Teacher of others, and himſelf a Caſt away, What is there more ſhameful, or more dreadful.
3. Thoſe that are Shepherds but by deputation, be ſure muſt give an account: The great Proprietor will not be defrauded: Of my hand, didſt thou require it, whether ſtolen by day, or ſtolen by night, Gen. 31 38. What miſcarries, through the Shepherds neglect, the Shepherd muſt account for: If thou doſt not ſpeak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man ſhall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thy hand, Ezek, 33.8. And of the greater value the Flock is, the more ſevere will the account be.
4. Shepherds muſt cum Ovibus pernoctare, & excubias agere; be the LORD's Watch-men: While the Shepherd is ſleeping, the Fox and the Wolf are waking and walking. O let not a night of ſecurity ſo ſoon eclipſe our dawning from the night of our late adverſity! Morning naps are ſweet, but in this caſe moſt dangerous. Our Enemy knows that we are apter to ſlumber in a calm, than in a ſtorm; and 'tis eaſy, though ſad to ſee what advantage he begins already to make of it. How can we forget what an Emphaſis our dear LORD hath ſet on that Word foreign, Watch therefore, Mat. 24.41. Chap. 25.13. Chap. 26.41. Mark 13.35. and 37. Luke 21.36. & alibi. On that miraculous Deliverance at the Read Sea it is ſaid, then believed they his words, they ſang his praiſe, they ſoon forgat his works, they waited not for his counſel, Pſal. 106.12, 13. Are not the Songs of our deliverance yet in our mouths; and a deliverance but begun, as was that of theirs? O let us not ſing our ſelves aſleep.
4. It informs us how neceſſary the Miniſtery of the Goſpel is. What becomes of a Flock without a Shepherd? of a Family without a Steward? Of the Blind, without a Guide? Of the Infant, without a Nurſe? Of the Sick, without a Phyſician? Of an Army without an Officer? Of a City without a Governor and a Watch man? In a worſe condition than any of theſe, is a Church, were it proper to call it a Church, without a Teacher and a Ruler. The Devil is aware of this, and very well knows where the ſtreſs of his Intereſt lies. If he can but effectually ſmite the Shepherd, the Sheep are his own; Therefore like the King of Syria, he commands his Captains and Legions, To fight neither with ſmall nor great, ſave only with the King of Iſrael, 1 Kings 22.31. And hence are all his Intrigues and Attempts by force and fraud, to diſgrace, diſcourage, divide, or corrupt, and any way to deſtroy the purity and the power, and were it poſſible the being of the Miniſtry of the Goſpel in the World; Were it not for that promiſe, and that power and faithfulneſs that hath, and will alway make it good, Matt. 16.18. The gates of hell ſhall not prevail. It might have been written long ago, on the univerſal ruins of God's Zion: THIS WAS ONCE THE CHURCH OF GOD. If it had not been the LORD who was on our ſide, now may Iſrael ſay Then they had ſwallowed us up quick, Pſal. 124. beg. But O how ſottiſhly unſenſible are the moſt of men, even of thoſe that are call'd Chriſtians; What a bleſſing and priviledge the Goſpel Miniſtry is? yea, is it not a burthen with too many? Thou haſt been weary of me, O Iſrael, Iſa. 43.22. ſome on one account, and ſome on another, are ready to look on the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, as an incumbrance, an unneceſſary charge, which might better be ſpar'd, and to ſay in their hearts, from the principles of Judas's frugality; To what purpoſe is this waſte?
Had I not many other things yet to ſpeak to how readily would my Pen run beyond the bounds aſſigned it, in commenting on the ineſtimable uſefulneſs of this glorious bleſſing of the Goſpel; and the ſhameful Atheiſtical, Heaven-tempting ingratitude of thoſe that are weary of it? O that a wanton, wrangling, ſelf-will'd, Goſpel-glutted Generation, may not, after all that the God of patience hath done for us, provoke him to teſtify againſt us; that he is as weary of us, as we are of him!
5. It informs us, what an honourable work the work of the Goſpel is. 'Tis ſo both in its ſelf, and with relation to its Author, its Object, and its Ends: How contemptible ſoever it be in the eyes of ſome, and how unworthy and vile ſoever, ſome of thoſe are, that are admitted, or thruſt themſelves into it, to the reproach of it. 'Tis not only a Work, but an Office, and an Office of the higheſt dignity; on the account of its Author, the LORD Jeſus Chriſt, who is exalted above all Principalities and Powers, and hath a Name above every Name; The LORD of Lords, the King Eternal, Immortal, Inviſible, the only wiſe God; and unto whom every Knee ſhall bow; No man taketh this honour unto himſelf, but he that is called of God: 'Tis an Honour too great for any but God to beſtow; an Honour more immediately deriv'd from the Everlaſting Fountain of Honour, than any other Office in the World. On the account of its Object; the Myſtical Flock, and ſpiritual Kingdom of Chriſt; the Noble Family and Houſhold of God. Miniſters are Chriſt's Embaſſadors, not Pages nor Porters, though that were an honour, but his Embaſſadors and Repreſentatives, 2 Cor. 5.20. The Stewards of his Houſe, 1 Cor. 4.1. The Angels of the Churches, Rev. 1.20. He hath put his own Honour upon them, and hath told the Word, That what is done to them, he takes as done to himſelf; and hath required his Churches to honour them, for his, and for their Work ſake; foreign. Let them be accounted worthy, or let them be dignified with double honour. The honour of reſpect and maintenance is due to all that are faithful; but a double or greater degree of honour and authority to thoſe that are beſt qualify'd for, and moſt laborious in their Work. Where, by the way you may take notice, that Miniſters do not live, as perhaps ſome are ready to think, and to upbraid them too, on the Peoples Alms. Their maintenance is of God's allowance and precept; Non Eleemoſinae, ſed Honoraria; not Alms, but Rewards, by Divine Right due to them; I ſay, Divine Right, in genere, though not in ſpecie.
But of this I would not now have once opened my lips but for your ſakes, who are the people, that no guilt of this kind may reſt on any of you, and that you may not have any unbecoming thoughts of us on this account.
Laſtly, it is honourable too on the account of its ends; The converſion, edification, and ſalvation of Immortal ſouls, The deſtroying the Works of the Devil in the World, and the pulling down his ſtrong holds, the repairing the ruins of mankind by the Fall, and the reſtoring the Image of their Maker upon them, the negotiating the grand Affairs of a Peace between God and man, and of all the concerns of the Kingdom, of the Mediator upon Earth, the higheſt truſt that ever was committed to meer Creatures; The great Work and Deſign which the God of Heaven hath eſpouſed to glorify all his Attributes in, and which the Son of God was ſent into this lower World for. What are Earthly Kingdoms and Dominions, and Intereſts to this? this is that ſwallows up all.
Sirs, 'Tis not without regret that we ſhould be compell'd, as Paul once was, To magnify our Office, and to become fools in glorying, 2 Cor, 12.11. 'Tis an honour that we acknowledge our ſelves infinitely unworthy of; yet it is the honour that our God hath put upon us, both for his own, and for your ſakes.
6. It informs us what a Burthenſom Work the Miniſtry is. Burthenſom, not only in reſpect of the Labour of it; wherein if that faithfulneſs and diligence be uſed, as is neceſſary and required, it is the heavieſt of all Employments in the World, and that which ſpends the ſtrength both of Body and Spirit more than any other. 'Tis true, there are too many that live idly, and work eaſily enough in this Laborious Calling, whoſe praiſe is not great in the Churches, and whoſe comfort is not like to abound in the day of account; but thoſe that love their Maſter, and their Work, and are duly ſenſible of their Charge, can find little time to be Idle.
Alas, Sirs, what you ſee and hear of our Pulpit Work, is, or ſhould be the leaſt part of our Labour. Beſides, it is a burthenſom Work in reſpect of the many Temptations, Oppoſitions, and Diſcouragements that attend it; both from the World, the Fleſh, and the Devil. God knows, we are (the beſt of us) men, and but men ſubject to like Paſſions as others are; We that teach others, muſt teach our ſelves: We that carry the Light before you, have as much need of the Light as you. Not as though we had already attained, or were already perfect, Phil. 3.12. The boldeſt Officer is in himſelf no more ſhot-free than the Common Soldier, though his dangers may be greater. Pity us then, and pray for us, when you ſee a Temptation too ſtrong for us. We are more the Butt of the Dragon's Envy, and the Mark that his Rage aims at, than you, which makes our Poſt by ſo much the more difficult,
Again, It is a burthenſom Work, in reſpect of the unſucceſsfulneſs of it; neither is this the leaſt part of our Burthen. How very gladly would we ſpend, and be ſpent in the Service of our dear Flocks? We would not think the labour of our Brains, or Breaſts, our Studies, or Watchings; our Travels, or Cares; our Reproaches, or Sufferings; no, nor our blood too much for them, could we but be comforted by them, with the good ſucceſs of all this: But when after all, our pains and adventures, and Prayers, and Tears, we ſee ſo little of the good Fruit we long for; ſo little Humility, ſo little Charity, ſo little Self-denyal, ſo little Mortification to the World; ſo little regular and diſcreet Zeal for God; this is that breaks our hearts, and makes us to walk heavily.
Laſtly, It is a burthenſom Work in reſpect of the conſequence of it, both to our hearers, and to our ſelves. To our hearers. Their Souls and Eternal Happineſs (and what have they dearer, what have they more?) is bound up in this burthen. To our ſelves. O the tremendous Charge, not only of our own, but of our Peoples ſouls, and the Account that will ſhortly be required of us, when the time is come, that is at hand, that we may be no longer Stewards! The ſerious conſideration of this is aſtoniſhing; O that it may now be awakning! Well might the Apoſtle cry out, foreign; Who is ſufficient for theſe things?
7. It ſhews us the Sin and danger of intruders into this Office. 'Tis dangerous both to themſelves, and to the Flock. To themſelves, in reſpect of their Uſurpation, which is highly Sacrilegious, in reſpect of their Ends; which are wont to be baſe, vain-glorious, and ſelfiſh; and in reſpect of the Account, they muſt at laſt give for the blood of ſouls, which will be dreadful and damning; dangerous to the Flock. The Thief cometh not but to ſteal, and to kill, to divide and ſcatter the Flock, and to ſerve his own Luſts on it, whatever his flattering pretences may be. The Shepherd that comes not from God, and of God's ſending, tho in Sheeps Clothing, comes not to do God's, but his own and the Devils Work. I need not endeavour to prove that, which the diſmal Experience of the Churches hath in ſo many pernicious Inſtances, in all Ages more than ſufficiently proved; in whom Chriſt, and his Apoſtles Predictions are fulfilled, Matt. 24.24. Acts 20.29, 30. 2 Pet. 2.1. 2 Tim. 3. begin. &c. Whoſe judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and whoſe damnation ſlumbereth not.
I would not ſpeak this to the diſcouragement of any, whoſe hearts God hath ſtirred up to put their hands to the work of the Temple; but for the caution of thoſe, who for baſe and low ends, or on wrong and miſtaken Principles, are ready to run when they were never ſent; tho the Tribe of Levy be numerous, and the Miniſtry, as well as many other Profeſſions among us, ſeems to be overſtock'd; yet have we ſtill need to pray the Lord of the Harveſt to ſend forth more Labourers into his Harveſt; ſuch as are both willing, and wiſe, and fitted for the Work of God, whereunto they are called; and then accordingly ſucceeded in it.
8. Laſtly, It informs us of the Sin and danger of abuſing, oppoſing, ſlighting, or any way diſcouraging the leaſt of thoſe, whom Chriſt hath ſent and ſet to feed his Flock. To affront an Ambaſſador is all one as perſonally to affront him that ſent him. You know how dear, and doleful an Experiment Hanan and his people made of this, in the caſe of Dàvid's Meſſengers, 2 Sam. 10. To abuſe an Herald of War from a potent Enemy, is daring, and diſingenuous; but to deal injuriouſly with the Meſſenger of Peace, is moſt provoking; none that hath power to do it, but will avenge ſuch a villany to the uttermoſt. This is the caſe; We are ſent by the Lord Jeſus Chriſt as the Ambaſſadors of Peace to the World, with the Miniſtry of reconciliation, 2 Cor. 5.18. Let them that now herein oppoſe, or malign us, ſee to it, how they will juſtify themſelves at that Barr, where they and we muſt ſhortly appear together indeed, as men, and as common Chriſtians: we neither deſerve, nor expect any other than what is due to ſuch: But as we are the Miniſters of Chriſt, be aſſur'd that he very critically obſerves how we are treated; who they are that receive us; and who they are that receive us not: he obſerves not only how our Doctrine, but how our perſons are entertain'd; as every thing that is done for us, even to a Cup of cold Water: So every thing that is done, or ſaid, or contriv'd againſt us, is on record with him. You know what a caution he hath given; Touch not mine anointed, and do my Prophets no harm, Pſal. 105.15. He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye, Zech. 2.8. and what a Woe to the world he hath denounced, becauſe of offences, Matt. 18.7. To wrong us in our perſons, or perſonal concerns, will not be taken well by him: But to oppoſe or hinder us in that regular and faithful diſcharge of our Work and Office, and be reſented by him with a far greater indignation.
Alas, Sirs, The trampling on us, as we are in our ſelves poor ſinful Worms, is hardly worth our complaining: what are we better than our fellow Mortals? But to trample on Chriſt in us; as we are not only his Children, but his Stewards, and Ambaſſadors, and bear his Authority, is a guilt that will make the ſtouteſt and ſecureſt heart tremble, and cry to the Rocks and Mountains another day. Nor will the reproachful Names, of Schiſmaticks, or Separatiſts, wherewith they now ſalſely load us, juſtify them in that day.