Knowledge and Practice, Part 2 · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Of the Duties of people towards their Paſtours and Miniſters.
HAving ſpoken of the Duties of Children to their Natural Parents, and of Inferiours to Magiſtrates, their civil Parents, I come now to thoſe of people to their Miniſters, their Spiritual Parents. Thus St Paul tels the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 4.15. That in Christ Jeſus he had begotten them through the Goſpel. And the Gallatians, Chap. 4.19. That he travels in birth of them, till Christ be formed in them.
Their Duties to them are theſe four.
Firſt, To eſteem them very highly in love for their work ſake, as the Apoſtle commands, 1 Theſ. 5.13. And ſurely this will ſeem very reaſonable, if either,
1. The Nature of their work be conſidered, or
2. Who it is that employes them.
I. Their work is of all others most excellent. No Calling or employment more honourable than the reſcuing of precious Souls out of the hands of Satan, and from endleſſe perdition.
II. 'Tis a great and an hard work. They are,
1. To inſtruct the people, to feed them with knowledge and underſtanding, Jer. 3.15. And teach them the right way to Salvation.
2. To pray for them: To be the Lords remembrancers, and their Sollicitors in the Court of Heaven.
3. To be an Example to the Flock in a holy and unblameable life and converſation.
4. To viſit the ſick.
5. To labour the ſetling the diſtreſſed Conſcience.
6. To watch over the Flock to preſerve them,
1. From corrupt Doctrine.
2. From a corrupt Converſation.
And to this end to endeavour the reclaiming the diſorderly by admonitions, and ſuch other Cenſures as Christ hath left in the Church.
Their work therefore is ſuch as ought in all reaſon to procure them love and eſteem, it being of ſo great advantage to the world. Joſephs Office in delivering out corn in a time of Famine, made him juſtly honoured by the Egyptians. How worthy an employment is it then to deliver out the Manna of Gods Word, the food of life to the ſouls of men, who without it, are in danger to periſh everlaſtingly.
2. Conſider who it is that employes them. They are Ambaſsadors for Christ, 2 Cor. 5.20, Ambaſſadors by the Law of Nations are to be treated with a reſpect anſwerable to the quality of thoſe that ſend them. Therefore Christ tels his Diſciples, when he ſends them out to preach, He that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth me; he that deſpiſeth me, deſpiſeth him that ſent me, Luke 10.16. It ſeems, 'tis a worſe buſineſſe than people ordinarily conſider, to deſpiſe the Miniſters of Chriſt. Let thoſe think of this, who make it their deſign and ſport to put affronts upon the perſons, and to deride the Calling of the Miniſters. Certainly there will be a ſtrict account requir'd of all that deriſion, ſlanders, reproaches, and hard uſage, the faithful Ministers of Chriſt do meet with in the diſcharge of their places and calling. And further, if it be Christ that employes them, then let thoſe conſider ſeriouſly of it, who dare preſume to exerciſe the Offices of this ſacred function, without being lawfully Call'd thereto. What is this, but as if a man on his own head, ſhould go as an Ambaſſador from his Prince. The Apoſtle ſaies of the Priests of the Law (which yet are inferiour to thoſe of the Goſpel) That no man takes this honour to himſelf, but he which was call'd of God, Heb. 5.4. Certainly they that uſurp ſacred Offices, for which they are not duly fitted, and to which they were never lawfully call'd, will be able to give but a very ſad account to God, when he reckons with them for this their preſumption. Let me adviſe ſuch to read the ſtory of Corah, in Numb. 16. Who being arrogant and ambitious, would needs take upon him the Prieſthood, and he, and his accomplices riſe up againſt Moſes and Aaron, and their plea is, all the Congregation are holy, ye take too much upon you; Wherefore lift you up your ſelves above the Congregation of the Lord? So that we ſee this levelling humour is no new thing in the world. To make head againſt Moſes and Aaron, to oppoſe Magiſtracy and Miniſtry you ſee was Corahs ſin; Take heed of imitating him, leſt you periſh likewiſe in the gainſaying of Corah, Jude v. 11. You may read the ſad end of him and his Company Num. 16.32. And ſo much of the first Duty people ought to pay to their Miniſters. They ought to love and eſteem them.
Secondly, They ought to pray for them, that they may be furniſhed with all thoſe Graces and Gifts, and bleſſed with ſuch aſsiſtances of Gods Spirit, as may enable them to diſcharge that holy Calling faithfully and ſucceſſefully: Of this I have ſpoken more, P. 323.
Thirdly, They ought conſcientiouſly to attend upon their Miniſtry, and ſubmit to their Spiritual guidance and direction, really endeavouring to grow in knowledge and Grace thereby. Obey them ſaith the Apoſtle, Heb. 13.17. that have the rule over you, and ſubmit your ſelves, for they watch for your ſouls, &c. Whatſoever they out of Gods Word ſhall make manifeſt to be his Will and Command, is to be obeyed, ſeeing 'tis not they, but God requires it, according to that of Chriſt, He that heareth you, heareth me, Luke 10 16. And this whether it be delivered by way of publick preaching, or private exhortation; for in both, ſo long as they keep them to the Rule, which is Gods Word, they are the meſſengers of the Lord of Hoſts, Mal. 2.7. People therefore muſt labour to grow in Spiritual knowledge and Grace anſwerably to the means of Grace afforded them, and thereby ſtrengthen the hands, and encourage the heart of their Miniſter in his work. The proficiency of the people in knowledge and holineſs is the Crown and rejoycing of every Faithful Miniſter, and though God will not reward him according to his ſucceſſe, but his ſincerity and induſtry, yet nothing more troubles him then to ſee his multiplied pains not anſwered with deſired ſucceſſe. Let people therefore look to it, that they bring forth the fruits of the Goſpel that is preached to them. The Husbandman laies his ground fallow, when he ſees it will not bring forth Corn, ſo as to quit charges. The Kingdom of Heaven ſaies our Saviour, ſhall be taken away from you, and given to others which will bring forth the fruits thereof, Mat. 21.43. 'Tis juſt with God to take away the means of Grace from a people, when he ſees they live unprofitably under them.
Fourthly, Seeing Miniſters ſow Spirituals, the people ſhould not begrudge them, if they reap ſome of their temporals, 1 Cor. 9.14. God hath ordained that they that preach the Goſpel, ſhould live upon the Goſpel. 'Tis but juſt and reaſonable, that they who by undertaking that holy Calling, are taken off from the waies of gaining a livelihood in the world, ſhou…d be provided for by them whoſe ſouls they watch over: And ſeeing the people receive Spiritual things from them, viz. Inſtruction and Aſſiſtance towards the obtaining eternal life, 'tis agreeable both to reaſon and Scripture they ſhould receive temporals from the people. Yet this ought not to be a Miniſters chief end and aim in ſetting his hand to this plow; but to Glorifie God in the ſaving of Souls. For what will it profit a Miniſter to gain his peoples Tithes, and by negligence and careleſneſſe to loſe his peoples Souls. Miniſters are to be Lights to their Flocks, and both by their Doctrine and life to ſhew them the way to Heaven. What a horrible ingratitude and unworthineſſe is it then in thoſe men who endeavour to extinguiſh thoſe Lights either by withdrawing the Oyl of maintenance, or blowing them out with the wind of perſecution?
Prov. 29.18. Where there is no viſion, the people periſh.
Hoſ. 4.6. My people are deſtroyed for lack of knowledge.
Jer. 3.15. And I will give you Paſtours according to mine heart, which ſhall feed you with knowledge and underſtanding.
Mal. 2.7. For the Prieſts lips ſhould keep knowledge, and they ſhould ſeek the Law at his mouth, for he is the meſsenger of the Lord of Hoſts.
Iſa 30.20. And though the Lord give you the bread of adverſity, and the water of affliction, yet ſhall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eies ſhall ſee thy teachers.
Mat. 13.52. Then ſaid he unto them, therefore every Scribe which is inſtructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man which is an Houſholder, which bringeth forth out of his treaſury things new and old.
Eph. 4.11. And he gave ſome Apoſtles, and ſome Prophets, and ſome Evangeliſts, and ſome Paſtours and Teachers.
V. 12. For the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Miniſtry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
1 Cor. 12.28 And God hath ſet ſome in the Church, firſt Apoſtles, ſecondarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers, after that miracles, then Gifts of healings, helps, Governments, diverſities of Tongues.
2 Cor. 3.6. Who hath made us able Miniſters of the New Teſtament, not of the Letter but of the Spirit.
2 Tim. 2.15. Study to ſhew thy ſelf approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be aſhamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
Col. 1.28. Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wiſdom, that we may preſent every man perfect in Christ Jeſus.
1 Pet. 5.1. The Elders which are among you, I exhort, who am alſo an Elder, and a witneſſe of the ſufferings of Chriſt, and alſo a partaker of the Glory that ſhall be revealed
V. 2. Feed the Flock of God which is among you, taking the overſight thereof, not by conſtraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.
V. 3. Neither as being Lords over Gods Heritage, but being enſamples to the Flock.
Col. 4.17. And ſay to Archippus, take heed to the Miniſtry which thou hast received from the Lord, that thou fulfill it.
1 Theſ. 2.4. But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Goſpel, even ſo we ſpeak, not as pleaſing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
V. 5. For neither at any time uſed we flattering words, as ye know, nor a Cloak of Covetouſneſs, God is witneſs.
V. 6. Nor of men ſought we Glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdenſom as the Apoſtles of Chriſt.
V. 7. But we were gentle among you, even as a Nurſe cheriſheth her Children.
V. 8. So being affectionately deſirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the Goſpel of God only, but alſo our own ſouls, becauſe ye were dear unto us.
V. 10. Ye are witneſſes, and God alſo, how holily and juſtly, and unblameably we behaved our ſelves among you that beleeve.
V. 11. As you know, how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you (as a Father doth his Children)
V. 12. That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his Kingdom & Glory.
V. 13. For this cauſe alſo thank we God without ceaſing, becauſe when ye received the Word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the Word of men, but (as it is in truth) the Word of God, which effectually worketh alſo in you that beleeve.
V. 19. For what is our hope, or joy, or Crown of rejoycing? Are not even ye in the preſence of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt at his coming.
V. 20. For ye are our Glory and Joy.
1 Cor. 16.15. I beſeech you Brethren (ye know the houſe of Stephanas, that it is the firſt fruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themſelves to the Miniſtry of the Saints.)
V. 16. That ye ſubmit your ſelves unto ſuch, and to every one that helpeth with us and laboureth.
Heb. 13.17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and ſubmit your ſelves, for they watch for your ſouls, as they that muſt give an account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief; for that is unprofitable for you.
V. 24. Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the Saints: They of Italy ſalute you.
1 Tim. 5.17. Let the Elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honour, eſpecially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine.
2 Cor. 12.15. And I will very gladly ſpend and be ſpent for you, though the more abundantly I love you, the leſſe I be loved.
1 Cor. 9.7. Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a Flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
V. 8. Say I theſe things as a man? or ſaith not the Law the ſame alſo?
V. 9. For it is written in the Law of Moſes, thou ſhalt not muzzle the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn.
V. 11. If we have ſown unto you Spiritual things, Is it a great thing, if we ſhall reap your carnall things?
V. 13. Do ye not know, that they which miniſter about Holy things, live of the things of the Temple? and they which wait at the Altar, are partakers with the Altar?
V. 14. Even ſo hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the Goſpel, ſhould live of the Goſpel.
Rom. 15.27. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their Spiritual things, their duty is alſo to miniſter to them in carnal things.
Gal. 6.6. Let him that is taught in the Word, communicate unto him that teacheth, in all good things.
V. 7. Be not deceived, God is not mocked; whatſoever a man ſowes that ſhall he reap, &c.
Mat. 10 41. He that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet, ſhall receive a Prophets reward, &c.