Law-Power, Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
WHat an influence this law of Relation written in the heart by the finger of God, hath upon the doctrine, and practiſe of a Miniſter; We will ſpeake of him ſingle; for as it is with one, it is with all, who find that law as aforeſaid, and of his Doctrine firſt,
§ 1 Firſt, He is his Lords Paranymph, or ſpokeſman, he ſpeakes a good word for Chriſt where ever he comes, if it be ſeaſonable, thereby to make-up the match, and betroth the ſoule unto Him; He laboureth to come within the boſome of a ſinner, and grapple ſo powerfully with his ſpirit, that He may take no nay at his hand: and for the attaining this end, and to make him ſee what need he hath of Chriſt; He will lay open the lothſome nature of ſin, and let-in the terrour of the Lord upon the Conſcience, that the careleſſe, and rebellious ſinner may come to a parley of peace, and be content to take Chriſt upon His owne tearmes, and take up the profeſſion of the Truth, and not ſtand at the Coſt *This is Gods reſolution to humble the ſoule ſo low till it can in truth and ſeriouſneſs bid Chriſt welcome upon any conditions. His mercy and the blood of His Son is ſo pretious and unvaluable, that He will not caſt-it away where no notice ſhall be taken of it; but He will make the he…rt ſubſcribe experimentally to that Truth of His. 1 Tim. 1. 15. D. Re. Tr: p. 389.: Though ſo doeing he muſt part with all he hath of His owne, his deareſt luſt and all: And here He diſcovers to the ſinner, as he can, the cunning fetches of his curſed heart, and hunts him out of his Muſes, that he may not cozen himſelfe, and ſit downe with ſome reſerved Deluſion, and goe no farther. And this is the Lords way ſure in whoſe ſtead he ſtands, and therefore craves of Him dayly His eye-ſalve, that he may ſtand in His counſell, and walke in His way, and doe that which he hath ſeene with his heavenly Father, as He hath done, and by His Word and Spirit ſtill doth; ſo doth he in His ſtrength, and by the directions of His Word; Wee will inſiſt upon this a little.
When ever the Lord brings any ſoule over to Himſelfe, He firſt hideth pride from his eyes. Man, every man borne into the world, and growing up there, is a ſtout rebell, a ſtiffe-necked, creature, as his father is; and as yeares adde Cubits to his ſtature, ſo is there an addition made to his pride, and rebellion: as he growes-up, he growes more like his father every day; now ſo ſoone as the Lord God is pleaſed to deale with this man by His Word, and Spirit, He knocks downe this Monſter pride, for this beares-up mightily againſt the Word, and Spirit, and, like the poſſeſſed man, breaks the cords, and bands, the good Spirit would binde him with; as eaſily till the Spirit hath ſet them on, as we can doe, burnt flax, or make a thred ſnap before the Candle. Therefore this prido is diſcerned, and ſlaine firſt, which is enmitie in the will, affections, and mind; There it is ſtill when diſcovered, and ſlaine there; but it doth a man no hurt, being diſcovered, and ſlaine, as pride doth not: for though it be, as they ſay, as the heart is, the firſt that lives, and the laſt that dyes, yet the man is humbled for his pride, and walks ſoftly all his dayes, and doth put forth an holy enmity now againſt all that in his ſoule, which exalts it ſelfe againſt his God, his Lord, his Chriſt, and Word of His grace.
Secondly, This is it he would bring home to his owne, and others hearts. The Lord God by His Word, and Spirit, hides pride from our eyes firſt, by giving us a ſight into our ſelves, what an hell there is within us, and makes it looke like hell, whereas before it might looke like heaven; what a dunghill there is within us, and makes us ſmell the ſtench of it as of a Dunghill, whereas before it did ſavour with us, as a garden of ſpices, or a bed of Roſes; And then according to the exceeding riches of His grace, and abundant merciemercy through Chriſt, gives us a ſight of Himſelfe,Job 42. 6. a ſaving experimentall knowledge of Himſelfe in Chriſt; we heard of Him before with the hearing of the eare, (and how did we ſlight Him, till pride was hid from us, our proud heart was ſubdued) but now our eye hath ſeene Him. And what then? Now He is exalted in our ſoules, for we are made low; Now He, and He alone riſeth in our thoughts higher, and higher ſtill, and ſo we fable; now ſin appeares to be ſin (the worſt can be ſaid of it) and grace appeares to be grace (the beſt can be ſaid of that too) it is grace; now Chriſt is exceeding welcome; for ſin is above meaſure ſinfull. He is pretious, ſin is vile.
The hony-combe trampled upon before, while we were full ofProv. 27. 7. our ſelves, that is, proud, reliſheth now like an honey-combe, as it uſeth to doe with an hungry ſoule, and truely now we would abhorre our ſelves, and repent in duſt and aſhes.
Firſt, To apply this to our purpoſe, ye muſt take Gods way, if you meane to doe Gods worke; and this way you cannot chooſe, but take when ever ye goe to worke, as workmen, that need not be aſhamed, feeling the law of their Relation written upon their hearts.
Secondly, Preach Chriſt unto the People, lift Him up as an Enſigne before them; So the Apoſtles did, ſo the Miniſters of Chriſt doe, that feele the law of their Relation; they tell their hearers what loſt ones they are without Him, what glorious creatures they are being found, and accepted in Him; His fullnes will convince us, as one ſaith, abundantly of our emptineſſe, HisJob 9. 148. purity will ſhew us our ſpotts; His All ſufficiencie, our nothingneſſe labour by all meanes, attend, and inſiſt upon the meanes, which you cannot, but doe, if you feele the law of your Relation, how to wooe for Chriſt, as His Paranymphs, ſpeaking a good word for Him.
Thirdly, Be ſure you lay your ground-worke well, we are more than jealous of you about that matter, as we told you before. Tell your people home, as you can to their hearts, what a Cup of wrath they are borne to, and that they muſt drinke it up to the bottome, the very dregs of it, if they goe out of the world, as they came in, without any reall change wrought upon them by the Word and Spirit; for they were borne Children of wrath, ſo ſoone as they were Children of men; and they have been ever ſince they were borne, filling-up their meaſures; and after their hardneſſe, and impenitent heart, treaſuring-up to themſelves wrath againſt the day of wrath, and the revelation of the righteous Judgement of God.
Fourthly, And tell them herewithall, which you muſt needs doe, if ye know the law of your Relation, and feele it written upon your hearts; That their Church- priviledges they hold themſelves borne unto, being Baptized there, truſted to, and gloryed In, as the manner is, ſtand them in no more ſtead, than the Arke at Shiloh did the Jewes, or ſacrifices multiplyed, or the Temple of the Lord; The Rocke and Manna; Circumciſion, or the Lords Super adminiſtred at Corinth; Beate them off from putting any Confidence in the fleſh; if you doe not, you doe nothing to purpoſe; nay you muſt tell them more, If no inward glory be gained by our glorious priviledges, (which indeed the Nation partakes off above many, if not above all in the world) theſe will ſerve but to expoſe us to more wrath, and fiery indignation from the Lord, rendring our condition worſe, than was theirs of Coraſin, Math. 10. 15. …am. 4 6. 10. Ezek. 5. 10.and Bethſaida, and our judgement from the Lord more intollerable, even in this world, as Jeruſalems was, and at the end thereof, than Sodome's, and Gomorrah's was. And theſe things you will ſpeake before the people ſadly, and mournfully, as the Apoſtle ſaith; weeping; for you know who ſaid it, though you know he was an Heathen; If you will have us weepe, you muſt weepe firſt. When you find the law of your Relation preſſing upon your ſpirits, Ye will not mention before your people the principles of Infant Baptiſme, as ye have gloſſed them with a Comment worſe than the text; nor will you make mention of god-fathers, or god-mothers either; Something we have read how they came in at firſt; But when the law of your Relation conſtraineth you, ye will ſee no need of them now, the Church of the living God ſhall be no more abuſed with them, nor that ordinance prophaned. But theſe things yee know better, than we can tell you, Bleſſed are ye, if ye doe thereafter; And what are you if ye doe contrary to what you know? we ſay not, but leave it upon your thoughts.
Fifthly, Preach ſound doctrine to them, holding faſt the forme of ſound words; and whatſoever is contrary to it, Command them to bid defiance to it, yea to curſe it as Paul did, being that, which their ſoule muſt abhorre, when they feele the law of their Relation; Thus ye doe, ye will ſay but we doubt it, becauſe your people are ſo well pleaſed with your doctrine; Now certaine it is, as once the Apoſtles found it to be, and told us it would ever be, eſpecially in theſe latter times, they will not endure ſound doctrine, 2 Tim. 4. 3.which will make them ſound in the ſaith. Sound doctrine is to a ſwiniſh ſpirit, (ſuch is every ſpirit by nature, till the good Spirit hath wrought thereon,) like a corroding plaiſter to proud fleſh, or a launce to a ſore full of corruption, which will cut to the core, and cut it out. We intend cheifly this.
Sixthly, While you are delivering forth unto them ſound doctrine, take this in with it, which ſhall argue its ſoundneſſe, and you ſound alſo; That your peoples hearts are very unſound, and their eares uncircumciſed, notwithſtanding with their eare they muſt attend, for therefore they have an eare, and the very male of their flocke they muſt lay out this way, all their ſtrength, elſeMath. 1. deceivers they are, and they are accurſed.
But this is not all you tell them, you will make them know, as ye can, That there is an intus prohibens, that ſtands within like an armed man, and till it be remooved, or ſubdued, will oppoſe all that is good, keepe it from entring the ſoule, viz: The enmities that are there againſt God, and the word of His grace. They comeJames 1. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 1. to heare, and caſt it out they cannot, nor is it poſſible with them, as their caſe is ſo to doe; yet are they commanded to doe it, nor is the command in vaine; They muſt endeavour to doe it, looking up to Him, and ſpreading it before Him, and attending the meanes whereby it is done, we meane, whereby this enmity (for that one word containes all) is diſcovered to us, and ſlaine in us by ſound doctrine ſoundly preached. This is the point you muſt inſiſt upon, as did your Lord before you; The abſolute neceſſitie of regeneration, or of being begot and borne againe; doe not ſooth up your Diſciples with that vaine title, and lying vanitie, They were borne and baptized ſuch. It is notoriouſly falſe and knowne ſo to be in all the earth: We are borne more like Devills, than Saints; at the beſt, we beare the Image of the earthly.
Indeed you muſt tell them ſo, they are, while they are, as they were borne into the world, and beſt pleaſed to be what they are, ſo far from being Beleevers, Diſciples, Saints, that they are, as was ſaid, wolves, dogs, ſwine, and much worſe, becauſe a beaſt in the ſhape of a man is the worſt beaſt.
Ye have heard, or read what that excellent man Mr Bolton ſaid to his deare Children, when he was departing from them, He verily beleeved that none of them durſt thinke to meet him at that great Tribunall in an unregenerate ſtate. And was he not well aſſured of what he ſpake from his Lords owne mouth? Except Joh 3. 3.a man be borne againe he cannot ſee the kingdome of God. And he gives the reaſon at the ſixth verſe, (we borrough that LearnedDr. K. Preface, pag 4. mans words) for that which is borne of fleſh is fleſh, and is as uncapable of ſeeing the myſteries of the kingdome of God, as fleſhly eyes are of ſeeing Spirits.
Ye muſt preach this ſound Doctrine to their eares ſoundly, and till it ſound unto their hearts, and is taking there, what ever they are in your eyes, they are as vile, as the vileſt in the Lords eyes, and in the eyes of His people, (for they are not waſhed from their dung *Pro. 30. 12. Iſa. 4. 4.and accordingly they muſt be dealt with, thruſt away from partaking in ſacred things, as you would heapes of dung out of the chiefeſt roomes. When ye are at this point dealing ſoundly with them, ye will ſee cauſe to pray, and the godly with you, as the Primitive Saints for th' Apoſtles of Chriſt, Grant unto Acts 4. 29. 5. 20.thy ſervants that with all boldneſſe they may ſpeake thy word, all the words of this life, that He commands you, for if all muſt be heard, all muſt be ſpoken, and ſpoken it muſt be, as the Oracles of Acts 10. 33.God, and not teach onelyonly, but command with all authority, that ſo ye may commend your ſelves to every man's conſcience in the ſight of God, as he did who felt the law of his Relation written in his heart; Your people ſhall know, if ye know the law of your Relation, That ye are the Lord's Ambaſſadours, ye ſpeake in the perſon of Chriſt, and in the vertue of His Spirit, and muſt ſpeake as if Chriſt by you ſpake unto them, that is, as having power and authority committed to you for the edification of the Church.
And be ſure ye begin right, Aſſuring them they were not borne with a Chriſt in their hearts, but enemies to Him; that they ſtand at an infinite diſtance from Him, and are wilfully ſet on it to have no acquaintance with Him; therefore they are but falſe conceits, and preſumptions, of their being in Him, before the Word, and Spirit hath been praevailing with them. Aſſure them, they, by nature, hate the Lard of life, and holineſs by Him, more than they hate that, their ſoule moſt loatheth; and they love Prov. 8. 36.death, and a curſe in the procureing cauſe of it) as a father loveth his deareſt Child Theſe things ye muſt ſpeake to them with all boldneſſe, for theſe things are moſt profitable for them to know firſt. This our hurt is not to be healed with pleaſing words; But now ye ſhall be dealt hatefully with, dealing faithfully with them, as was told you, We cannot endure wholeſome words.
But the law of your Relation will helpe you to ſwallow that, and more; and ye can remember what the Lord, and Maſter found from His hearers, and all His faithfull ſervants ever ſince; This may comfort you too; you ſhall have no hurt from them, though they doe their worſt. And if you gaine any of them unto Chriſt, they will be your deare Friends to their death, becauſe you told them the truth. And for them that perſiſt in their hatred, you know it is not a ſimple hatred, with which we hate moſt hurtfull creatures; for it is mixed with feare, and dread of you, ſpeaking to them, as men that know the law of your Relation; they hate you, but they feare you too, as a man (ſo that learned man Dr Reynolds) hateth a Lyon, or as a Malefactour hateth the Judge, as a theife hateth the light: For juſt reaſon we have been longer at this point; we leave it upon your thoughts, and ſo haſten to the practiſe of a Godly Miniſter, to ſee what that will be before his people, when he feeles the law of this Relation written upon his heart by the finger of God. But firſt we would for you and our Inſtruction, from theſe premiſſes draw theſe concluſions, and then, we will proceed to ſhew what a Godly Mans practiſe is, we meane, his, who feeles the law of his Relation written in his heart.
§ 2 Firſt, That the ſame finger of God, which doth write the law of this Relation upon Miniſters hearts, ſheweth them the ordinances 1 Tim. 3. 16.of their Lords houſe, how they ought to behave themſelves there, all the formers thereof, and all the lawes thereof, writethExek. 43. 11. he in their ſight, as in former times ſo now that they may keepe the whole forme thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and doe them; But this the Spirit of God never doth before He hath made them aſhamed firſt of all they have done, contrary unto the true way of Gods worſhip; They ſhall ſhame themſelves for this, or God will caſt ſhame upon them; He will humble them for all their abhominations before; He will reveale to them the right way of the ſervice of His houſe. And therefore it may be, God will not uſe thoſe Miniſters, how choice ſoever are their parts, who departed from God, when there was a generall departure of the Nation; for why may it not be now, as once God threatned; when Iſraell d…d depart from Him to falſe worſhip, That they ſhould beare their iniquities; they might be imployed in meane ſervices, but they ſhould not Come neare Him; The Lord had liſted up His hand againſt them; And it may be feared the Lord may doe ſo againſt ſome Miniſters, now adayes; How ever, except there be extraordinary repentance, and taking ſhame unto themſelves, The Lord may remember what they have done, when Iſraell departed from God: and what their complaints were, and what little uſe, and improovement they have made of the bleſſed liberties they have had ſince to order matters in their Lords houſe full-up to what He hath commanded. In the next place
Secondly, They that know whoſe ſpokesmen they are, in whoſe ſtead they ſtand, have learnt Chriſt, and can teach Him, uſeing great boldnes, and liberty of ſpeech; They are as the Officers of a great Prince going before Him, to praepare a way for Him, and will make bold to ſtrike and to ſcatter thoſe unruly throngs of men, who preſſe too neare upon His ſacred preſon; They will boldly ſmite with the rod of His mouth; they will cry aloude, and not ſpare; they will (as he ſaith) pull downe mountainous luſts, ſubdue ſtrong holds; They will, in the ſtrength of God (that is the ſcope, and end of their Miniſtery) bring low every mountaine, and hill; make the crooked ſtraight, and the rough ſmooth; This in deſire and endeavour they doe. And if any ſhew themſelves ſtout againſt againſt God, making their browes braſſe; Theſe will ſet their faces as flint againſt all theſe; for ſo God hath commanded, and ſo doth the law of their Relation command
Thirdly, They doe all things in right order, and according to their patterne: they proclaime war firſt with mens luſts, comeing as with a ſword in their hand, and fire in their mouth againſt them, and ſo make roome for peace in the hearts of men, which paſſeth all underſtanding; But they will make them know firſt they are enemies to this peace, while they are enemies to holineſſe, and friend with themſelves, and their ſins. Theſe that underſtand their Commiſſion, the power of Chriſt they are inveſted with, together with the law of their Relation, will aſſure them, that they muſt caſt hell upon their ſins, or upon their ſoules; If they will continue to be workers of iniquitie, they will hold-on to worke out their damnation to the utmoſt.
Fourthly, They that preach as men that know the law of their Relation, find not one principle (of holineſſe) no not one, thorough the whole booke of God, which is peaceable.
Indeed all tends to peace at laſt, but intends warre at firſt. What may be found among the principles of Infant Baptiſme, they know not, nor will they ſeeke to know; They will goe by Scripturerule, which aſſureth them, if they pleaſe men (mens luſts) they cannot pleaſe God.
Fifthly, Theſe ſearching, and reprooveing Miniſters, theſe profit the hearers, and doe their ſoules good; theſe, and onelyonly theſe; whereas a partiall, unſearching, and un-reprooveing Miniſter (to uſe that learned mans words) is one of Gods curſes againſt a place, the forerunner of a finall, and fearefull viſitation;Hoſ. 9. …. The dayes of viſitation, and recompence come ſaith the Lord; the Prophet is a foole, the ſpirituall man is mad; for the multitude of iniquitie, and the great hatred. If a man,Mich. 2. 11. walking in the Spirit, and falſhood, that is, profeſſing the worke of a ſpirituall man, and yet betraying His Office, or in a falſe, and lying Spirit prophecying of wine, and ſtrong drinke, that is, cheriſhing and encourageing ſenſuall Livers in their pernicious courſes; He ſhall even be the Prophet of this people. Thus in all ages, and never more apparently thus, than now in our dayes hath the Lord puniſhed with an extreame revenge the Rebellion of a people againſt His Goſpell.
Sixthly, They that will preach the Truth as it is in Jeſus, as their love of Chriſt, and law of their Relation conſtraineth them, ſhall find Luthers words true, That this preaching will derive the hatred of the world againſt them. They ſhall ſtand as a Marke for all the world, with the god thereof, to ſhute againſt. Therefore, (for ſomething hath been ſpoken this way already, and more may be ſpoken anon.) In the laſt place.
Seventhly, Theſe are, and there is more than need they ſhould be ſo above the world; They are dwellers in heaven; Chriſt in them by His Spirit, they in Him by their faith; they feele the law of their Relation working as ſtrongly in them, as the law of ſin in their enemies; and ſo they can, as was ſaid of Luther, beare the hatred, and ſhocke, the rage and violence of the whole world; they have a backe of ſteele, and underneath everlaſting Armes; they cannot be greatly mooved, never remooved from their Anchor-hold. We proceed.
§. 3 The law of the Relation written upon a Miniſters heart, is marvailouſly prevailing to regulate his practiſe before his people, and within Gods houſe.
Firſt, His practice will be humble, and meeke; ſo he will walke with his God, and before His people. The Godly wiſeA lifted-up ſpirit (in any man) the greateſt cloſer of the heart againſt the truth of God. Dr. Owen of Jol. 72. will never thinke him to be a man of God, if he be proud, and haughtie. It was a diſtinguiſhing Character, that Beda gives, whereby to know a man of God, and that he will preach to the people the preaching of God: If he be a man of God follow him, ſaith he of Auguſtine, that counterfeit Saint, And Englands faigned Apoſtle. But how ſhall we know, ſaid the people, whether he be a man of God, or no? Beda anſwered; If he be gentle, and lowly of heart, he carryeth the yoake of the Lord, and will offer unto you to carry the ſame yoake; but if he be diſdainfull, and proud, then it is certaine, he is not of God, nor hath heard Gods word, nor can endure His yoake, and little good ſervice can he doe; A proud perſon being like a gouty hand, or ſwelled Arme, which troubleth the body, doth it no ſervice.
Surely a true ſervant of Chriſt is as like his Lord and Maſter as can be, lowly, and meeke; for he remembers ſtill, that for His ſake, and to teach him, He ſtooped as low, as the feete, and waſhed them; and a little while after became a Worme and no Man, humbled Himſelfe, and became obedient unto the death, even the Death of the Croſſe.
Secondly, As he feeles the law of that Relation, of a Miniſter, ſo alſo, of a father to His people, and they to Him in the Relation of Children, even as Paul was, he deſires, and endeavours to be gentle among them, as a nurſe, cheriſhing her children;1 Theſ. 2. exhorting, comforting, charging every one, as a father doth his children; And how curiouſly doth he walke before them, looking round about him, leaſt he ſhould looſe his way, or miſſe his end,Eph. 5. 15. and ſhould be blamed in that, for which he blames others; he conſiders with all his heart, turpe eſt Doctori, And remembers all along his walke, that his people obſerve him more in the ſtreete, within, or without the houſe, than they doe in the pulpitt; their eyes are more intent upon his doings; than their eares are unto his ſayings; and thereafter they faſhion themſelves, and their whole courſe commonly, by what they ſee him doe, not to what they heare him ſay, unleſſe he ſpeakes to pleaſe their Luſts; Therefore feeling this Law of his Relation, with all his care, he is carefull here; ſo as he can ſay, as his patterne before him; Yee are witneſſes, and God alſo how holily, and juſtly, and unblameably We behaved our ſelves among you that beleeve; (And they were as carefull to give no offence to them that were without) We muſt adde this, That there be no miſtake here. Theſe that know the law of their Relation, behaving themſelves thus gently, are as ſharpe as who are ſharpeſt, in reprooveing of ſin, for it is good to reproove, as God reprooves. Ye remember who he was, that did not frowne upon ſinners becauſe they were his ſonnes; but God frowned upon him, and brought ſore diſpleaſure upon his family: Great ſinners muſt have great reproofes; as he ſaith;Job 13. 39…, Some muſt be ſaved by feare, a ſanctified meanes to pull them out of the fire. Ye muſt caſt them into the fire, that they may eſcape the fire; Pittifull cruelty is better than cruell pitty. Some in dealing both with ſinfull practiſes, and erroneous opinions of men, handle them, as men handle thornes, as if they durſt not touch them; this fatneth ſin, and confirmeth errour. May we not adde; doe not ſome deale with Drunkards, as ſweetly, as they ſhould deale with Diſciples? And with notorious ſinners (unexcommunicate) as if they were Saints? It were infinitely better for them, if they had been delivered-up to Satan; for now they are delivered-up to their owne hearts luſts. Lyars, evill Beaſts, Slow-bellies, (as the moſt of your Nominall Beleevers are, if not all) muſt be rebuked cuttingly, that they may be ſound in the faith. Sores muſt be cut, and lanced, before they be healed.
Thirdly, They that know the law of their Relation, and feele it upon their hearts, doe know, they ſtand before the people as Ambaſſadors ſent unto them from the Prince of the Kings of the earth; nay they are in Chriſts ſtead; therefore as they muſt ſpeake unto them, whereof before; ſo muſt they deale with them, as to all Church-Adminiſtrations; neither more nor leſſe; but full-up to their Commiſſion; even as Chriſt Himſelfe did doe, when He was upon the Earth, and hath appointed to be done, till His returne from Heaven, all that, which is comely to be done, by all thoſe, that ſtand in His ſtead; and are Stewards in His houſe; whereto ſo much hath been ſaid, that we ſhall ſay no more to it in this place; Nor ſhall we ſpeake to this Relation, which indeed containes much: they ſtand in Relation of Shepheards to their ſheepe; they walke-on before them (like the Admirall Ship carrying the Light) and they looke well to their walke, and obſerve as well, who followes them; and accordingly they deale with them; and who will not follow them, but follow after Srangers, unto Strangers let them goe; for theſe good Shepheards will make a difference, as becometh men inſtructed toEzek. 34. 17. Diſcretion: and ſo are enabled to judge between Cattle, and Cattle, the Rams, and the He-Goates.
When we have ſaid all, (and how little is our All in theſe matters?) ye may ſumme-up all in this one Relation of a Miniſter of Chriſt; he that finds the law of that one Relation written in his ſoule by the finger of God, they humble themſelves to walke with their God; and treate with their people, as a father with his children; ſtanding before them in Gods ſtead, they deale with them, as becometh faithfull Stewards, and good Shepheards. In a word, They make cleare proofe, that they have learnt Chriſt, and can teach him; when they ſhew forth His life in theirs; when they walke, even as He hath walked; when, as He was, ſo they are in this world; when the ſame minde, judgement, affections are in them, which were in Chriſt Jeſus their Lord.
From all this, we would draw theſe Concluſions, and then proceed.
§ 4 This Miniſter of Chriſt, that feeles the law of his Relation written upon his ſoule, fully knowes, Intus & in cute as ye ſay, or endeavours his utmoſt ſo to know, the ſtate of his people, as exactly well in deſire, and endeavour, as a father doth the ſtate of his children; a Steward the ſtate of the houſehold; the Shepheard the ſtate of his flocke. It is his foreign, and not a foreign, his very worke, and buiſines to know That; we meane the ſtate of his people; for,
Secondly, Put the caſe, (for teaching ſake we may doe it, though it be not poſſible, but that a Miniſter knowing that Relation muſt know it) That he knowes not the ſtate of his people; then this muſt follow; he muſt ſpeake unto them generalls onelyonly, for not knowing their ſtates in particular, he cannot ſpeak unto them in particular, and ſo deale with them anſwerably. Some of them declare their ſin as Sodome, they hide it not: they trample pearles under their feete, turne againe and rent the Diſpenſers of them; accordingly theſe muſt be dealt with. Some againe, and none of the worſt have need of Corroſives; other ſome may need Cordials; Some have need to be ſearched, and humbled; ſome to be encouraged, and comforted; their ſtates in particular muſt be enquired into, that the Miniſter of Chriſt may doe accordingly. We remember the expreſſion, that James ſaith, Confeſſe your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. As if he ſhould ſay, none can be able to pray for you ſo effectually for your comfort, as thoſe, That know your ſins well, and ſo can confeſſe them before God. A Miniſter muſt know the ſtate of his flocke.
Thirdly, That there is no caſe, or condition, theſe people can be ſuppoſed to be in, but this Miniſter of Chriſt upon whoſe heart the law of his Relation is written, is able in the ſtrength of Chriſt, by the ſupply of the Spirit, to give in that, which ſhall fitt the caſe, be an adequate, or proportionate helpe, ayde, ſuccour, cure thereunto; he ſhall be able to give-in Reproofe, correction, inſtruction, counſell, comfort, as the caſe and condition ſhall require. And
Fourthly, In the laſt place▪ This will follow: If their eſtates in particular muſt be enquired-into, then they muſt be dealt with in particular, alone, and apart; And there muſt be time and place for it. This the people will not endure, and this courſe ye ſeeme not to approove, neither, we ſhall heare your reaſons, wherefore, in due place. We have told you what you will teach in point of Doctrine, and what you will doe in point of practiſe, ſo ſoone as ye ſhall feele the finger of God writing the law of your Relation upon your hearts.