Tropes and Figures · Benjamin Keach
Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 7 · Part 21
The Church compared to a Family or Houſhold.
Amos 3.2. You have I known above all the Families of the Earth.
1 Tim. 3.15. The Houſe of God, which is the Church of the Living God.
Gal. 6.16. As we have Opportunity, let us do good unto all Men, but eſpecially to the Houſhold of Faith.
Eph. 2.19. Now therefore ye are no more Strangers and Foreigners, but Fellow-Citizens with the Saints, and of the Houſhold of God.
A HOUSE in the holy Scripture is ſometimes put for the Family or Houſhhold, and ſometimes for the Structure or Building it ſelf: In both theſe reſpects the Holy-Ghoſt runs the Parallel, in reſpect of the Church.
| Metaphor. | Parallel. |
| 1 Tim. 2.20. IN a great Houſe are not Veſſels of of Gold, and of Silver only, but of Wood, and of Earth; ſome to Honour, and ſome to Diſhonour. | SO in the Church of God, there is a Mixture of Good and Bad, Sheep and Goats, ſincere Chriſtians, and Hypocrites; like as in a Eield there is a Mixture of Wheat and Tares; and in a Floor of Grain, there is Chaff as well as Corn: tho when any appear unſound, droſſy, and ungodly, ſhe turneth them out. When the Family of Chriſt conſiſted but of twelve Men, there was a Judas amongſt them. |
| II. In a great Family there are Perſons of different Ages, of different Strength, of different Relations to the Maſter of the Family, and of different Employments. | II. So in the Church of God there are little Children, young Men,2 Joh. 2.12, 14. Heb. 5.11, 12, 13, 14. and Fathers; there are weak and ſtronger Chriſtians, ſome that ſtand in need of Milk, ſome that are fit for ſtrong Meat; ſome that need to be led, and carried in Arms; ſome that are Teachers and Rulers, and others that are taught and ruled. |
| III. The Maſter, chief Head, or Governor of a Family, provides and takes care of all that belong to him;1 Tim. 3.8. hence the Apoſtle ſaith, He that provides not for his Family, is worſe than an Infidel, and hath denied the Faith. | III. So God, the great and good Maſter of this heavenly Family, doth and will provide for all and every Soul that belongs to him.Mat. 6.25, to 30. Take no thought for your Life, what ye ſhall eat, or what ye ſhall drink; nor yet for your Body, what ye ſhall put on. Why take ye thought for Raiment? Conſider the Lillies of the Field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they ſpin. Therefore if God ſo cloath the Graſs of the Field, which is to day, and to morrow is caſt into the Oven; ſhall he not much more cloath you, O ye of little Faith? The young Lions do lack, and ſuffer Hunger; but they that fear the Lord, Pſal. 84.11 ſhall want no good thing. He will give Grace and Glory, and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly. My God ſhall ſupply all your Wants, &c.Phil 4.19. Caſting all your Care upon him, for he careth for you, &c. |
| IV. A Family is alſo under the Government of him who is the chief Head and Ruler thereof. | IV. So is the Church under the Government of Chriſt; and every Member is ſubject to that Authority, Order, and Rule, which he hath left therein. |
| V. The Maſter of a Family defends his Family, to the uttermoſt of his Power, againſt all Enemies. | V. So doth the bleſſed God defend and preſerve his Church, whoſe Power is infinite. So will the Lord of Hoſts defend Jeruſalem; defending, Zech. 9.15 alſo he will deliver. |
| VI. Every Perſon in a Family, is privy to all ſuch things as are publickly done in the Houſe, many of which ought to be concealed, and not divulged to others. It is a Reproach to a Perſon of an honourable Family, to make known any thing that is done in the Houſe, which ought by all means to be kept ſecret. | VI. So each Member of the Church is privy to all ſuch things as are done publickly therein; and many things done therein do ſo particularly relate to the Family, that it is an evil thing, and juſtly to be reproved, for any Member to divulge or make ſuch private Matters known to others. The Church of God in this reſpect, as well as in ſome others, ſhould be as a Spring ſhut up, Cant. 4.12 as a Fountain ſealed, &c. |
| VII. It is a great Honour to a Family, when it is well governed. It was this very thing that the Queen of Sheba was ſo much taken with, when ſhe came to ſee Solomon: 2 Kings 10.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. It is ſaid, When ſhe ſaw his Wiſdom, and the Houſe which he had built, and the Meat of his Table, and the Sitting of his Servants, and the Order of his Miniſters, and their Apparel, and his drinking Veſſels, and his Burnt-Offerings, that he offered in the Houſe of the Lord, ſhe was astoniſhed, &c. In a Family, the Governor ought to know his Place, and all the reſt to be in ſubjection; or elſe great Confuſion and Diſorder will break forth. Hence a Biſhop ought to be one that rules well his own Houſe, having his Children in ſubjection, with all Gravity. What is more lovely in a Family, than to ſee every one behaving himſelf well, living in ſweet Concord, Peace, and Love together. | VII. So it is a great Honour to the Church of God, when it is well and wiſely governed. In this reſpect Solomon was a Type of Chriſt, and his Family a Type of the Family of the Faithful, or Church of God. The Lord Jeſus ought to be acknowledged as the Head, and chief Governor; and next to Him, the Biſhop or Paſtor thereof muſt be obeyed, and ſubmitted to in all things, in the Lord.Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the Over-ſight of you, and ſubject your ſelves; for they watch for your Souls. There is nothing that doth more beautify the Church of God, than good Order. What is any Society of Men, without Rule, and good Government? Strict Diſcipline muſt be kept up in Chriſt's Family. Every Member ought to know his Place, and to ſtrive to behave himſelf well. To this very end Paul wrote to Timothy, 1 Tim. 3.15. That thou mayeſt (ſaith he) know how thou oughteſt to behave thy ſelf in the Houſe of God, &c. All the Saints ſhould live in perfect Peace, Unity, and ſweet Concord together, as Children of the ſame Father, and Heirs of the ſame Crown and Kingdom. Hence the Apoſtle exhorteth the Saints,Eph. 4.3. to endeavour to keep the Ʋnity of the Spirit, in the Bond of Peace. Nothing is at this Day more grievous to a ſincere Soul, than to ſee the great Diviſions, and Want of Love, that is amongſt us; nor doth any thing more encourage our Popiſh Adverſaries. Jovianus the Emperor, was much troubled at the Diviſions that were amongſt Chriſtians in his Time, and ſhewed his Diſlike at their Contentions, in theſe Words: I tell you truly, I cannot bear with Contention, but ſuch as are for Concord and Unity I willingly honour and embrace; and certain I am, that ſuch as ſtrive for Truth and Peace, Chriſt will embrace, Diſcord amongſt Brethren being one of thoſe things he chiefly hates. Prov. 6.16 |
| VIII. There is, and ought to be, ſome ſpecial Order and Diſcipline kept up in a Family, that every one may know his Place, Work, and Buſineſs. | VIII. So in the Church, or ſpiritual Family, there is a ſpecial Order and Diſcipline to be learned and kept up, and every one is to know his Place, Work, and Buſineſs, ſome of which we ſhall briefly hint in this place. The firſt thing that I ſhall mind is, the Choice of Officers, viz. Elders and Deacons: They ſhould be choſen according to the Rules and Directions God hath left in his Word, viz. Men fitly qualified: A Biſhop muſt not be ſoon angry, 1 Tim. 3.2, to 8. Tit 1 5, 6, 7. not given to Wine, no Striker, not ſelf-willed, not a Brawler, not Covetous, not a Novice. He muſt be blameleſs, one that rules well his own Houſe, apt to teach, a Lover of good Men, ſober, juſt, temperate, able by ſound Doctrine to convince Gainſayers. There are Directions alſo given about their Wives. 2. Every Member hath his peculiar Vote in chuſing of their Officers; after Election, they are to be ordained, by Prayer, and laying on of Hands.Acts 6.6. & 13.3. 3. The Paſtor or Biſhop is to feed the Flock, to be faithful and laborious in preaching the Word of Life, exhorting, reproving, comforting,1 Tim. 4.12, 16. according as he finds occaſion. 4. It behoveth him, together with the Church, to be careful whom they receive into the Family, viz. none but ſuch as are converted, true penitent and believing Perſons, as near as they can. 5. They ought to know the State of the Flock,Prov. 27.23. Heb. 13.17 and to watch over every Member thereof. 6. The Members of the Church ought to ſtudy their Duty, (1.) To their Paſtor, to provide for him a ſufficient Maintenance,1 Cor. 9.9, to 14. that he may not be encumbered with worldly Affairs, and thereby made unfit for his great Work and Buſineſs he is called to. See Planters, Labourers, &c. (2.) To pray for him, and ſhew him all due Reſpect,Eph. 6.19. as the Steward and Embaſſador of Chriſt. (3.) As to their Duties one to another, as Fellow-Members of God's Church, it is needful for them to know how they ſhould carry and behave themſelves towards their offending Brethren. And as touching this, it is neceſſary to conſider, 1. The Rule touching private Offences. 2. Touching publick and ſcandalous Offences and Offenders. 1. Touching private Offences, Chriſt hath left us Directions, in Mat. 18.15, 16. If thy Brother offend thee, tell him his Fault between thee and him alone; but if he will not hear thee, take one or two more, &c. But if he ſtill neglect to hear them, tell it to the Church: But if he will not hear the Church, then he is fit for Church-dealing, or Excommunication. Let all take heed they do not make publick any Evil or Offence of their Brethren, that is private; for this is an utter Fault, and a Violation to the Law of Chriſt, and Order of his Houſe. 2. Touching publick and ſcandalous Sins and Offenders, ſuch as expoſe the Name of God to a Reproach, as Fornication, Covetouſneſs, Idolatry, Drunkenneſs, Rioting, &c. theſe, without thorow and unfeigned Repentance, ought forthwith to be delivered up to Satan, or put out of the Church, into the Kingdom of Satan,1 Cor. 5.5 from whence they came. And truly it cannot be known quickly who hath true Repentance, that fall into ſuch great Sins, until there be ſome Time of Trial. Reformation of Life is the chief part of Repentance; therefore to clear the Name of God from Reproach, and the better to bring the Offender to the Sence of his Sin, the Ordinance of Excommunication ought, in my Judgment, immediatly upon Conviction, to paſs againſt him. 3. In the Adminiſtration of Juſtice and Judgment in the Church, ſpecial Care ought to be taken, that with all Wiſdom and Impartiality Perſons may be dealt withal. Let the Church and Paſtor ſee to it, that the Rich be no more ſpared than the Poor. Levi was not to know his Father in Judgment. |
| IX. In a religious Family, Devotion is carefully and duely performed, Prayer, reading the Word, &c. 'Tis a Reproach to a Family, eſpecially to the Maſter, or Governor and Governeſs, to have this neglected, and a Sin very provoking to God: Pour out thy Fury upon the Heathen that know thee not, Jer. 20.25. and upon the Families that call not upon thy Name. | IX. So the Church of God is the chief Place of Publick Devotion; there the Word of God is and ought to be read. And hence Paul ſaith to the Coloſſians, When this Epiſtle is read amongst you, Col. 4.16, 17. cauſe it to be read alſo in the Church (mark) of the Laodiceans. There the Word of God is truly and duely preached, and the Sacraments adminiſtred. Out of Zion, the Perfection of Beauty, Pſal. 50.2. Eph. 3.10. God hath ſhined. To the intent, that now unto Principalities and Powers in heavenly Places, might be known by the Church the manifold Wiſdom of God. Hence God is ſaid to love the Gates of Zion,Pſal. 87.2. (viz. the Place of his viſible Worſhip) more than all the Dwellings of Jacob. Can there be a greater Reproach to a Church, or any thing more provoking to God, than to have Prayer, and other Branches of Publick Worſhip and Devotion, wholly neglected among them? |
| X. All the Family, yea, every particular Perſon thereof, ought to be called together, and they diligently to obey that Call, and come together at the Time of Devotion, or when Prayer is ſolemnly performed therein. | X. So the whole Church (I mean each Community of Chriſtians) yea, every particular Member thereof, ought to be called together, and they diligently to obey that Call, at all Times, when Prayer, or any other part of Church-Service, Devotion, and Worſhip is to be performed.Heb 10.25 Not forſaking the aſſembling of your ſelves together, as the manner of ſome is, &c.Acts 2.1. They were all with one accord in one Place. |
| XI. Some Families are exceeding great, conſiſting of many Perſons, eſpecially if it be the Family of a Prince, or noble Perſon. | XI. The whole Family of Chriſt, the great Prince of Heaven and Earth, I mean the whole univerſal Church, both Militant and Triumphant, is exceeding great, the one part of which is in Heaven, and the other on Earth:Eph. 3.15, 16. For this Cauſe I bow my Knees unto the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named, &c. Epheſ. 3.15, 16. |
| XII. It is exceeding commendable and honourable, for all that belong unto a Family, to be truly and cordially affectionate one to another, to be ready and willing to do all Offices of Love and Kindneſs, ſo far as the Law of ſuch a Relation doth require of each, in their reſpective Places and Callings. | XII. So the Lord Jeſus, the Head and Governor of his Church, hath ſtrictly commanded, and doth exceedingly commend the Grace of Love in and among all his Family. The Church is never more deſirable or comely in this World, than when the Love of each Member doth abound one towards another; when Miniſters love the People, and the People heartily love them; and when every one, in the Station wherein God hath ſet him, is ready and willing to do any Office of Love: How amiable upon this account is the Church of God! |
Inferences.
THis ſhews, that the Church of God are a choice and peculiar People, ſuch who have given up themſelves in the Order and Fellowſhip of the Goſpel, walking together in Love, as a holy, religious, and united Family, according to the Order and Diſcipline Chriſt hath left in his Word, having ſweet Acquaintance and Intimacy one with another.
And now to conclude with this Head, from the Whole we may infer,
I. That God's Church is moſt dear and precious in his Sight, or a People that he hath moſt choice Love and Affections to, and takes great Care of.
II. That the Church of God, under the Goſpel-Diſpenſation, is not National, Parochial, &c.
III. That the Church of God are a People ſeparated from the World, in reſpect of the Worſhip, Traditions, and ſinful Cuſtoms thereof, &c. Non-conformity to the World in theſe reſpects is an indiſpenſible Duty: Be not conformed to this World, Rom. 12.2. Come out from amongſt them, and be ye ſeparated, ſaith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, &c. 2 Cor. 6.17.
IV. That the true Church of God is a Number of ſincere and godly Chriſtians, who have ſolemnly covenanted, and given up themſelves, to walk in the true Order and Fellowſhip of the Goſpel, according to the exact Rule of God's Word, amongſt whom the Word of God is truly preached, and the Sacraments are duely and in a right manner adminiſtred.
V. That God's Church hath many Enemies, and yet in deſpite of them all, ſhall abide, and the Gates of Hell ſhall never prevail againſt her: And tho for a time ſhe may be low, and under great Sufferings, yet ſhe ſhall ariſe to a great Degree of Glory in the latter Day.
THE Eighth HEAD OF Metaphors, Allegories, and Similes, WITH Other Borrowed TERMS, That reſpect MEN.
I. Of Men in general.
II. Of the Godly, or good Men.
III. Of Sinners, or wicked Men.