Reader
Tropes and Figures · Benjamin Keach

Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 9 · Part 8 – Part 9

Miniſters compared to Fathers.

1 Cor. 4.15. For tho you have ten thouſand Inſtructors in Chriſt, yet have ye not many Fathers; for in Christ Jeſus I have begotten you through the Goſpel.

MIniſters are Fathers, ſpiritual Fathers to Believers.

Metaphor.Parallel.
FAther is a Name of Dignity, Headſhip, and Authority; hence the Rulers of Iſrael were called Fathers.MIniſters are Men of Name, Power, and Dignity; they are Chriſt's Subſtitutes; hence called Rulers.
II. Some are called Fathers, becauſe they beget Children; this is the common Appellation and Notion of the Word.II. Miniſters, by the preaching of the Goſpel, in a ſpiritual way, beget Chriſtians to Jeſus Chriſt:1 Cor. 4.15. I have begotten you through the Goſpel.
III. Fathers train up and nouriſh their Children, ſhewing much Tenderneſs and Compaſſion towards them; they are ſaid to pity their Children.III. Faithful Miniſters alſo train up thoſe Chriſtians they have begotten to Chriſt, in the further Knowledg of the Truth, being very tender of them. As you know how we exhorted, and comforted, 1 Theſſ. 2.11. and charged every one of you, as a Father doth his Children.
IV. Fathers have Power to command their Children: I know him, (that is, Abraham) that he will command his Children, &c.IV. So Miniſters of Chriſt have Power in his Name, to command thoſe Chriſtians, who are under their ſpecial Care and Charge, to do their reſpective Duties: Theſe things teach and command. 1 Tim. 4.11. 2 Theſſ. 4.6. Now we command you, Brethren, in the Name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that you withdraw from every Brother that walketh diſorderly, &c.
V. Fathers ought to be reverenced and honoured by their Children, (Honour thy Father and thy Mother, &c.) and their juſt Commands to be obſerved and obeyed.V. So faithful and worthy Miniſters ought to be highly eſteemed and honoured by the Saints.Mal. 1.16. 1 Tim. 5.17. Let the Elders that rule well, be accounted worthy of double Honour, eſpecially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine.
VI. A Father ought not to be rebuked by his Children, (it becomes them not ſo to do, tho he may be in a Fault, and blame-worthy) but entreated.VI. So the Miniſter of Chriſt ought not to be rebuked by any particular Members of the Church to whom he belongs, tho in ſome things he may be blame-worthy: Rebuke not an Elder, 1 Tim. 5. but entreat him as a Father. Tho I doubt not, but that the Church, after a due and orderly Proceeding with an Elder, if he be under Evil, and obſtinate, may be rebuked, nay, not only ſo, but further proceeded againſt alſo.
VII. 'Tis the Honour of a Father to rule and govern his Children, and whole Family, with Wiſdom and Diſcretion.VII. So 'tis a great Honour to a Miniſter, or Paſtor of a Church, to rule and govern the Congregation where he is placed, wiſely behaving himſelf in all things; not to be ſoon angry, peeviſh, nor ſelf-conceited, but to ſtudy the Rule, and impartially to carry it with an equal Severity and Mildneſs to all, ſtudying the Nature and Diſpoſition of every Member.
VIII. Fathers ought to walk wiſely before their Children, in all Holineſs and Sobriety, ſetting themſelves as Patterns (to all that are in the Family) of Grace and Vertue.VIII. So 'tis the Duty of Paſtors and Miniſters of Churches, to lead an holy and godly Life, and be as Examples of true Vertue and Piety to all they converſe with. Be thou an Example of the Believers, 1 Tim. 4.12. in Word, in Converſation, in Charity, in Spirit, in Faith, in Purity.
IX. It is a great Sorrow and Grief to a good and godly Father, to ſee his Children froward, and fall out one with another, violating the Bonds of Nature.IX. So 'tis an Heart-breaking Sorrow to a godly and faithful Miniſter, to ſee the Saints and Members of the Church walk looſely, and live in Strife and Vain-Glory, wronging and abuſing each other, and thereby violate the ſacred Bonds of brotherly Love, Tenderneſs, and Forbearance: For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are Enemies of the Croſs of Chriſt. Phil. 3.18.
X. It is the Property of a godly Father to pray for his Children, and alſo for the whole Family committed to his Charge.X. So Chriſt's faithful Miniſters do not ceaſe to pray for thoſe whom they have been inſtrumental to beget (by the Word of Truth) unto Chriſt; nay, not only for them, but for all committed to their Charge; nay, for all the Children of God,Eph. 3.17. That Chriſt might dwell in their Hearts by Faith, and that they may be rooted and grounded in Love, &c.

Inferences.

WE may infer from hence, that the Office of a Miniſter is an honourable Employment.

2. It may in many things teach Paſtors their Duties to their Members, and Members their reſpective Duties towards their Paſtors.

3. It alſo ſerves to inform us, who are faithful, wiſe, and diſcreet Miniſters of Chriſt.

4. We may further learn, what a great Concern it is for a Church to chuſe wiſe and ſober Perſons to be their Paſtors.

Miniſters compared to Stewards.

Luke 12.42. Who is a faithful Steward, &c.

1 Cor. 4.1. Let Men ſo account of us as the Miniſters of Chriſt, and Stewards of the Myſteries of God.

Verſe 2. Moreover, it is required in Stewards, that a Man be found faithful.

Liegh's Crit. Sacr.STeward, Stewardſhip, the Original, foreign, rendred in 1 Cor. 9.17. Diſpenſation, properly ſignifieth the Adminiſtration of Houſhold-Buſineſs, whereof one taketh ſuch and ſuch Care, and doth ſo diſpoſe thereof, as that he appointeth every one what they are to do.

Note. True Goſpel-Miniſters are Stewards, ſpiritual Stewards, Stewards of God.

Metaphor.Parallel.
A Steward is an Officer that principally belongs to great Men; few, beſides rich and noble Perſons, have Stewards of their Houſes.SO true Goſpel-Miniſters or Paſtors, are Officers that belong to Chriſt's Houſe, who is a great Prince, nay, King of Heaven and Earth.
II. A Steward is a Perſon that hath a great Truſt and Charge repoſed in him; many rich and excellent Things are committed to his Care and Overſight, ſometimes all the Goods of the Houſe, and Charge of the Family.II. So faithful Miniſters have a mighty Truſt repoſed in them; the Lord Jeſus hath committed to their Care and Charge Things of very great worth and value, even all the Goods of his Houſe. 1. They are entruſted with the Truth, and every Branch and Part of it, called the Myſteries of God, which is of ineſtimable Value. 2. The whole Church; they have the Care and Charge of the whole Family or Houſhold of God. 3. They have the Care and Charge of Mens Souls committed to them. See Watchmen.
III. It behoveth a Steward to be faithful in all things, ſeeking the Honour of his Lord: They ought to be much in their Buſineſs, not leaving it to others, that are not experienced in it, nor careful to look after it; nor leave their Maſter's Buſineſs, to mind and look after their own.III. So ought every Miniſter of Chriſt to be faithful in all things, wholly ſtudying the Profit, Honour, and Intereſt of the Lord Jeſus. They ought continually to be about his Affairs, not leave the Management of the Church, and Concerns of the Miniſtry, (like ſome ſelf-ſeeking Prieſts of our Days) to others, who are unexperienced, negligent, and worſe; to follow their own Concerns, and living in Eaſe and Pleaſure, purſuing after the Riches and Vanities of the World, mattering not whether Chriſt be honoured or no, or whether his Intereſt ſink or ſwim, ſo that things go well with them, and they thrive in the World. There are too many ſuch in this Day, ſo that we may well ſay with the Apoſtle, All ſeek their own, and none the Things that are Jeſus Chriſt's.
IV. Stewards give direction to all inferior Officers. and others in the Family, about their reſpective Work and Buſineſs.IV. So Miniſters give directions to the Deacons, and other Members of Chriſt's Church, how to diſcharge their Duties in their reſpective places, &c.
V. Stewards muſt expect to be called to an account, and if unfaithful, are frequently put out of their Stewardſhip:Luk. 16.2. Give an account of thy Stewardſhip, for thou mayeſt be no longer Steward.V. So all the Miniſters of Chriſt muſt expect to be called to an Account: The Time is coming, when Chriſt will reckon with them; and happy will they be, that have their Accounts to give up with Joy, to whom the Lord Jeſus will ſay, Well done, good and faithful Servant, &c.