Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 9 · Part 15
Miniſters compared to Rulers.
Heb. 13.7. Remember them which have the Rule over you, who have ſpoken unto you the Word of God, &c.
MIniſters of the Goſpel are Rulers or Governors, &c.
| Rulers. | Parallel. |
| RUlers are Men in high Place, endued with Power and Authority over others; 'tis a Name of Dignity. | SO Miniſters are the chief of God's People, ſuch as have great Power committed to them, as the Deputies and Ambaſſadors of Chriſt. |
| II. Rulers or Governors have a Law, by which they ought to rule and govern in all things. | II. So Miniſters are to rule the Houſe and Church of God by the Rule of God's Word. |
| III. 'Tis an evil thing, and juſtly reprovable in Rulers, to exceed the Limits and Bounds of the Law by which they are to rule and govern, or to carry things according to their own Wills and Luſts, not regarding the fundamental Laws of the Land where they live. | III. So 'tis an abominable Evil in Miniſters, to rule according to their own Wills, violating the Law of God. Miniſters may exceed their due Bounds, and be arbitrary, and tyrannize over the People in things ſpiritual, as well as Civil Rulers or Magiſtrates in things temporal. |
| IV. Rulers (in ſome places) are choſen by the People whom they govern; 'tis the People's Privilege to chuſe their Magiſtrates. | IV. So Miniſters ought to be choſen by the Church; 'tis the Privilege of the People to chuſe their own Paſtors, and other Officers, according to the Qualifications laid down by the Spirit of God.1 Tim. 3.1, 2, 3. Acts 6.3. Wherefore, Brethren, look ye out among your ſelves, &c. |
| V. Rulers ought to be wiſe Men, Men fearing God. See Jethro's Counſel to Moſes, Exod. 18.21. Thou ſhalt provide out of all the People, able Men, ſuch as fear God, Men of Truth, hating Covetouſneſs, 2 Sam. 23.4. &c. The God of Iſrael ſaid, the Rock of Iſrael ſpake unto me, He that ruleth over Men muſt be juſt, ruling in the Fear of God. What a ſore Rebuke doth God give covetous Rulers by the Prophet!Ezek. 22.27. Her Princes in the midst thereof are like Wolves ravening the Prey, to ſhed Blood, and to deſtroy, to get diſhoneſt Gain. | V. So Miniſters ought to be Men wiſe, holy, and of a blameleſs Converſation, ſuch as are given to Hoſpitality,1 Tim. 3.2, 3. and not greedy of filthy Lucre. 'Tis an odious thing to ſee a Miniſter covetous, who is required to open the Nature of, and preach againſt that Sin, as well as all others, and ought to live accordingly. How can he preach againſt that Sin he is guilty of himſelf? or, if he doth, what good effect can he think it will have upon other Mens Hearts, when the Word reflects back upon himſelf, (as it were) Phyſician, heal thy ſelf. Paul could ſay in the truth of his Heart to the Saints, It is not yours, but you, I ſeek. This was the beaſtly Sin which God ſo loathed in the Prophets and Rulers of Iſrael: You are greedy Dogs, which can never have enough, that cannot underſtand; they all look to their own Way, every one for his Gain from his Quarter: Compared with that of Micah 3.11. The Heads thereof (ſpeaking of Zion) judg for Reward, and the Prieſts teach for Hire, and the Prophets divine for Money; yet will they lean upon the Lord, and ſay, Is not the Lord amongſt us? |
| VI. Faithful Rulers are a great Bleſſing to a People, and ought to be cheerfully obeyed, reverenced, and ſubmitted to. 'Tis a great Sin to ſpeak evil of Dignities, or deſpiſe Dominions:R…m. 13 1. Let every Soul be ſubject to the higher Powers, &c. Submit your ſelves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's ſake, 1 Pet 2.13, 14. whether it be to the King (foreign of foreign, a Foundation, and foreign, the People, the Foundation of a People) as Supreme, or unto Governors, &c. | VI. So Miniſters, faithful and able Miniſters, are no ſmall Bleſſing, and Sign of God's Favour to a People; yea, great Benefit we receive by them in many reſpects, as might be ſhewn: They feed, guide, counſel, and pray for us, as well as rule and govern us; and therefore they ought to be with all readineſs obeyed: Obey them that have the Rule over you, Heb. 13.17 and ſubmit your ſelves; for they watch for your Souls, as they that muſt give an Account, &c. And to ſpeak evil of Miniſters, is to deſpiſe their high and holy Function; 'tis a God-provoking Evil. There were ſome in the Apoſtle's Times, who were crept into the Church, who (like Corah) ſpake againſt the Dignity and Power of the Apoſtles and Miniſters of Chriſt, (who in a ſence are ſaid to be the Foundation of God's People) whom the Apoſtle characterized, and ſhews what their End is like to be: Who were preſumptuous, ſelf-willed, and were not afraid to ſpeak evil of Dignities. Their Hearts roſe againſt the Servants of God, for exerciſing Authority in Chriſt's Name, which is given to them. What ſaid Korah? All the Lord's People are holy, &c. as if he ſhould have ſaid, Is this Moſes more than others? But we ſee what became of him, Numb. 16. |
| VII. Some Rulers, or chief Magiſtrates, do not, cannot paſs any Act or Law, (ſuch is the Nature and Conſtitution of the Government where they live) without the People: No Law can be made, but with the Aſſent and Conſent of the People, in their Repreſentatives in Parliament, as it is here in the Engliſh Nation. | VII. So Chriſt's Miniſters, or Paſtors of Churches, cannot, by virtue of any Authority given by the Lord Jeſus, paſs any Act, either for the receiving in, or caſting out of Members, &c. without their Brethren, &c. They muſt have the Aſſent and Conſent of the Church. Many Reaſons might be given for it, which I ſhall omit. If he neglect to hear the Church, Mat. 18.17 let him be unto thee as an Heathen Man, or Publican. |
| VIII. Rulers ſhould rule their People in Love, ſhewing all Tenderneſs and Bowels to the Diſobedient, like tender-hearted Fathers, unleſs it be towards thoſe that are notorious Criminals. | VIII. So ſhould Miniſters labour to act in their places towards the Saints in Love, and to ſhew all Tenderneſs and Meekneſs, with Compaſſion, to ſuch who through weakneſs tranſgreſs; [See Fathers] and not to be ſevere to any, unleſs obſtinate and capital Offenders; on ſuch Juſtice ought to be executed. |
| IX. Rulers, that rule well, are worthy of double Honour. | IX. So faithful and laborious Miniſters, that rule God's Houſe well, ought to be greatly reſpected:1 Tim. 5.17. Let the Elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double Honour. |
| X. Rulers are very needful; there is a great Neceſſity in all Societies and Communities of Men, of Government, and Rulers. What is a Nation, City, or Family, without Rule, Rulers, or Government, but Diſorder and Confuſion? | X. The Need there is of Rulers in God's Church is very great, God being a God of Order, and not of Confuſion, in all the Churches of the Saints. The Neceſſity of them appears, by conſidering the Nature of divers of the Metaphors we have opened concerning them. What would become of a Flock of Sheep, if they had no Shepherd? &c. |
| Rulers. | Diſparity. |
| RUlers, or earthly Governors, are commonly Noble-men, Men of great Name, cloathed with outward Glory and Grandure. | CHriſt's true Miniſters are of little or no eſteem in the eyes of the Men of the World; they are commonly accounted baſe, low, and contemptible, &c. Ye ſee your Calling, Brethren, 1 Cor. 1.26, 27, 28, 29. how that not many wiſe Men after the Fleſh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: But God hath choſen the fooliſh Things of the World, to confound the wiſe; and God hath choſen the weak Things of the World, to confound the Things that are mighty; and baſe Things of the World, and Things which are deſpiſed, hath God choſen, yea, and Things that are not, to bring to nought Things that are; that no Fleſh ſhould glory in his Preſence. |
| II. Many earthly Rulers are Lords, and lord it over their Brethren. | II. But Chriſt's Miniſters are contented to be Servants. Even as their Lord and Maſter came not to be miniſtred unto, but to miniſter, and was on Earth as him that ſerved: So his Miniſters muſt not aſſume the Title of Lords, nor muſt they lord it over God's People: Neither as being Lords over God's Heritage, but being Enſamples to the Flock. 1 Tit. 5 3. |
Inferences.
ANd now to conclude with this Head, from the Whole we may infer theſe Particulars following:
1. That a true Miniſter of Chriſt, is one that is truly converted, a gracious, holy, and ſincere Perſon, one that hath the experience of the real Work of God upon his own Heart.
2. A Member of a true conſtituted Church, i. e. a Community of godly Chriſtians, that have given up themſelves in a ſolemn Covenant, in the Fear of God, to walk in Fellowſhip and Communion together, according to the Rule of the Goſpel; amongſt whom the Word of God is truly preached, and the Ordinances duly and in a right manner adminiſtred.
3. That he ought to be choſen by the Church, according to the Direction left by the Apoſtle, 1 Tim. 3.1, to 6. Tit. 1.5, to 9.
4. That he ought to be a diſcreet Perſon, endued with conſiderable Gifts and Abilities by the Holy-Ghoſt.
5. If called to be a Paſtor or Elder, he ought to be ordained by the laying on of hands of the Presbytery, or Elderſhip. 1 Tim. 4.14.1 Tim. 4.14.
6. That he ought to be very laborious, and give himſelf wholly to the Work of the Miniſtry; making the Word of God in all things his Rule.
7. That he ought to have a comfortable Maintenance allowed him by the Church, to which he belongs, if they are able to do it: That this is their Due by Divine Right, tho not a forced Maintenance, otherwiſe than Love to God, his Truth, and People, whoſe Duty forceth them to allow their Miniſters a Competency.
Secondly; We may infer, That the Work of a Miniſter of Chriſt is no eaſy, but contrariwiſe a very hard and difficult Work: Who is ſufficient for theſe things? 2 Cor. 2.16 Exod. 4.13 Jer. 20.9.So hard, that many of Chriſt's Servants of old undertook it with much trembling, which made them cry out, Send by whom thou wilt ſend, &c. So hard, that a Saint with all his natural Parts is not ſufficient for it; nay, a Saint with all his acquired Parts is not ſufficient for it; nay, I may ſay, a Saint with all his ſpiritual Gifts, Graces, and Endowments, without freſh Supplies of new Strength, is not ſufficient for it.
Thirdly; It informs us wherein the Difficulty of the Miniſters Work doth lie; and that,
1. In reſpect of themſelves, who are employed in it. (1.) They are but Men: Son of Man, I have made thee a Watchman; 1 Cor. 1.27.and they commonly none of the wiſeſt and moſt learned in the eſteem of the World neither. (2.) Man at the beſt is a darkſighted Creature: We know but in part. 1 Cor. 13.9 Rom. 7.(3,) Man at beſt is attended with Weakneſſes, and carries a Body of Sin and Death about with him. (4.) Man at beſt hath but ſmall Skill, and ſhort Experience. (5.) Man at beſt is ſubject to great Diſcouragements, and liable to Temptations.
2. In reſpect to the Work it ſelf, a Miniſter's Employment is very hard and difficult. (1.) 'Tis a myſterious Work; what Myſteries are greater than thoſe a Miniſter is to ſtudy and dive into?1 Tim. 3.16. Without Controverſy, great is the Myſtery of Godlineſs, &c. (2.) 'Tis difficult, in that it calls for the greateſt Care and Exactneſs imaginable: Add not to his Word, &c. (3.) In that it calls for the Strength of his whole Soul. (4.) In that it is a Work that conſiſteth in divers Parts; there are many Things in which a Miniſter ought to be well inſtructed, as appears by what hath been ſaid. (5.) In that it is a Work which calls for much Diligence; a ſlothful or idle Perſon is not fit to be a Miniſter. 'Tis a Work that muſt be followed continually: Preach the Word, be inſtant in ſeaſon, out of ſeaſon, reprove, exhort, with all Long-ſuffering and Doctrine.
3. Tis a difficult Work, in reſpect of the Oppoſition that is made againſt them, or from thoſe grand Obſtructions they meet with, 1. From their own Hearts; 2. From Sin; 3. From Satan; 4. From the World, (1.) By Reproaches and Contradictions of the Ungodly; (2.) By Hereticks, and Falſe-Teachers; (3.) From Perſecutors, &c.
Fourthly; We may infer from what hath been ſaid in opening theſe Metaphors, That Goſpel-Miniſtration is of abſolute Neceſſity.
1. Becauſe God hath ordained Preaching as the ordinary Means for the Converſion of Sinners:Rom. 10.17. Faith cometh by Hearing, and Hearing by the Word of God.
2. God hath gifted, and graciouſly endowed ſome Men, on purpoſe for this Work.
3. He hath given plain Directions to his People, how and whom to chuſe and ordain, &c.
4. The Neceſſity further appears, by conſidering the Nature of the Similes and Metaphors we have opened: Sinners are in Arms againſt God; and theſe are his Ambaſſadors, by whom he treats, and offers Terms of Peace to them. Chriſt deſigns to eſpouſe Sinners to himſelf, and theſe are his Spokeſ-men, by whom he effects this glorious Enterprize.
Fifthly; It ſhews alſo, That the Miniſters Function is a moſt noble and honourable Employment; and that all due Reſpect, Eſteem, and Obedience ought to be given to them.
Sixthly; We may infer, That many who pretend themſelves to be Chriſt's true Miniſters, are none of his Miniſters, but rather a Shame and Reproach to that venerable Name, Work, and Office.
Seventhly; Let us learn from hence to bleſs God, that we have ſo many able and worthy Miniſters of Chriſt in our Land. O let us pray for them, and deſire God to ſend more of theſe Labourers into his Harveſt. Pray ye the Lord of the Harveſt, &c.
Eighthly; It ſharply reproves many Churches and Profeſſors, for the great Neglect of their Duties towards their Miniſters: What a Day do we live in! How is Chriſt's Intereſt, Miniſters, and poor Saints, forgot, ſlighted, and neglected! O that God would raiſe up ſome to cry aloud, and ſpare not, but lift up their Voice like a Trumpet, to ſhew God's People their Tranſgreſſions, and the Houſe of Jacob their Sins!