The Duty of Gospel Ministers to Preserver a People from Corruption, Doctrine
DOCTRINE.
THE Miniſters of the Goſpel are by their Office to preſerve the People from Corruption.
IT is a great miſery to a People to be corrupted, to be like putrifyed and rotten Meat, they will be an affliction and enemies one to another, and expoſed unto the Judgments of God. But the Miniſters of the Goſpel are means to preſerve them from corruption. Magiſtrates in their place have their influence on them to preſerve them from corruption: but eſpecially Miniſters are uſeful that way. In ſuch Nations where there is no Goſpel Miniſtry, People are very corrupt: if by the light of Nature and ſeverity of Rulers, they be preſerved from groſſer iniquities, yet they are always very corrupt. But the Faithful Services of Goſpel-Miniſters is a ſpecial help to preſerve from corruptions. A Goſpel-Miniſtry is looked upon by ſome Perſons as an heavy charge, they groan under the burden of it; but Men have little reaſon to think much of the charge conſidering the benefit that they are to a People, as they are means to prevent the growing of corruption. Miniſters had need be careful that they do fulfill their Miniſtry, for their work is not only of great concernment to themſelves, but alſo to Multitudes of others, by keeping the Country from corruption.
Conſider 1. THAT People are very prone to grow corrupt. As the Bodies of Men if they be not duly looked after, will grow corrupt, ſo will the Souls of Men. A profeſſing People are in great danger, many of them are in their natural condition, and godly Men that are among them, are but in part ſanctifyed; and there are a great many young ones growing up among them, that are born in ſin, and abundance of temptations; and there is a great deal of danger that in a little time they will be corrupted. As Buildings are ſubject to decay, and Fields to be tainted, ſo People are to be corrupted. Iſai. 1.21. How is the faithful city become an harlot.
1. IN reſpect of the Principles of Religion. The Church of God is called the pillar and ground of truth, 1 Tim. 3.15. And if they don't hold faſt the form of wholſom words, they will quickly run to ruin. The practice of Religion doth depend upon the principles; if they looſe the knowlege of the truth, they can't make due improvement of it. Blindneſs is a corruption and it leads to corrupt practices. And that they are in danger of,
(1.) By Ignorance. A knowing People may in time become an ignorant People. The People of Grece were ſome of the learnedeſt People of the World, in former Generations. Corinth and Athens were called the two eyes of the World, but ſince that they are become very ignorant. Darkneſs many times ſucceeds where there was a great deal of light. If the preſent Generation be knowing Men, in a few years many of them may die, and the young Generation, if they have not ſuitable means of inſtruction will be very ignorant; though they grow to years of underſtanding, may be ignorant of the principles of Religion. Parents may bequeath their Eſtates to them, but they can't bequeath their Knowlege to them. If their Teachers be blind and ignorant, as the complaint is, Iſai. 56.10. no wonder if the People be ignorant. The People of Iſrael grew in continuance of time a very ignorant People. Hoſ. 4.1. There is no knowlege of God in the land. If a People be a knowing People, yet by the change of a Generation, they may be children in underſtanding.
(2.) BY Errors. Men have a great deal of carnal reaſon, and ſo are in danger to grow erroneous. There be a great many temptations from without to errors, there be many falſe Doctrines publiſhed in the World. Men have mightily corrupted the Doctrine of the Chriſtian Religion: there have been heretical teachers that have broached dangerous errors. 2 Pet. 4.1. There ſhall be falſe teachers among you, who ſhall privily bring in damnable hereſies. And Satan is buſy to blind the minds of Men. 2 Cor. 4.4. The God of this world has blinded their minds. And there be many temptations in Mens own hearts to ſeduce them: carnal men don't love Evangelical truths; and the pride of their hearts expoſes them; they are unwilling to acknowlege ſuch truths as they cannot comprehend. The luſts of Mens hearts do incline them to receive heretical Doctrines. 2 Tim. 3.6. They lead captive ſilly women laden with ſins, led away with divers luſts. Many errors have mightily prevailed in the World. The ſmoak that has come out of the bottomleſs pit has darkned the air, Rev. 9.2. Arianiſm did ſo for a while, and Pelagianiſm, and Popery, and Arminianiſm: many Countries are corrupted.
2. IN reſpect of Practice. Fallen Men are great enemies to the power of Godlineſs, and in great danger to carry themſelves corruptly: it is difficult to make a profeſſing People grow better, but they eaſily grow worſe. It is natural to thoſe that have chronical diſeaſes to grow worſe and worſe. People that are in a declining way, are in great danger to decline more and more. Jer. 16.12. Ye have done worſe than your fathers. Land that begins to be tainted is liable to be tainted more and more.
(1.) BY Formality. Where the Worſhip of God is ſet up, Men don't readily looſe the form, but it is a frequent thing to looſe the power of Godlineſs. It is an eaſy thing to carry on Praying, to attend Publick Worſhip, and to attend duties of Religion on the Sabbath: this may be done, though their hearts are violently ſet upon the World, and they be under great prevailings of evil affections: but it is very croſs to nature to mortify corruptions, and to exerciſe themſelves in ſelf-denial; give their hearts to God, and to be rejoycing in the righteouſneſs of Chriſt. Many times People that retain the name of living looſe the life of Religion, Rev. 3.1. People are wont to grow lukewarm, Rev. 3.15. The ſpirit of Religion doth decay by degrees.
(2.) BY Vice. Evil practices frequently gain ground among them: the luſts of Mens hearts hurry them into bold tranſgreſſions. There be bad examples and ſmall means of reſtraint, and ſo evil practices get head. Many times People grow knaviſh and injurious one to another; they have their ways of deceit and oppreſſion that mightily prevail Jer. 6.6. She is wholly oppreſſion in the midſt of her. Sometimes they fall into ways of Drunkenneſs, and lie at the Tavern, and are pouring in ſtrong Drink, they can't work without it, nor play without it, nor make bargains without it. Hoſ. 3.1. They love Bottles of Windfall into ways of wantonneſs and rudeneſs. Sin abounds in all profeſſing Countries.
Conſider, 2. HOW Miniſters are to preſerve a People from Corruption.
1. THEY are to do it by their Preaching. Miniſters are God's Meſſengers or Ambaſſadors, ſent to publiſh the Goſpel. Mar. 16.15. Preach the Goſpel to every creature, i. e. every humane creature. This is the principal part of their work. 1 Cor. 1.17. Chriſt ſent me not to baptize but to preach the Goſpel Therefore they are called Preachers. 1 Tim. 2.7. I am ordained a Preacher. Other ſervices are to be done occaſionally, but this is the conſtant ſervice that they muſt addict themſelves unto. 2 Tim. 4.2. Preach the word, be inſtant in ſeaſon, out of ſeaſon. And it is upon that account eſpecially, that double honour is due unto them. 1 Tim. 5.17. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, eſpecially they that labour in the word and doctrine. The Word of God duly Preached is the ſpecial means to advance the work of ſanctification. Joh. 17.17. Sanctify them by thy truth, thy word is that truth.
(1.) BY inſtructing them in the Principles of Religion, and the Rules of God's Word. The light of nature teaches Men ſome things concerning God and His Attributes, and it teaches them the difference concerning many things that are morally good and evil; but this light ſhines but dimly, and the characters that are written in the heart are much blurred and obliterated, and they have need to have thoſe things clearly inculcated. But the way of Salvation by Chriſt is a thing of pure revelation. Natural reaſon is utterly ſilent about it. The Goſpel is called the Wiſdom of God in a myſtery, and bidden wiſdom, 1 Cor. 2.7. And the work of the Miniſter is to feed Men with the ſincere milk of the word. Joh. 21.15, 16. to Feed the Sheep, and Feed the Lambs. And it is not enough that Men are able to ſay their Catechize by rote, but the Miniſter muſt labour in it, that they may have a confirmed knowledge of the truth: that they may have a clear, diſtinct and explicit underſtanding of the Doctrines of Religion: they muſt take pains to make them underſtand. Heb. 5.12. Ye need that one teach you again the firſt principles of the oracles of God.
(2.) BY ſolemn Warnings. That was Pauls practice. Act. 20.31. I ceaſed not to warn every one of you night and day with tears. That is the duty of the Watchman, Ezek. 33.8. There is great danger many times of publick calamities, becauſe of the abounding of Sin among them; and he muſt warn them and reprove them. Iſai. 58.1. Cry aloud, ſpare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, ſhew my people their tranſgreſſion, and the houſe of Iſrael their ſins. Godly Men are in danger to provoke God and bring ſorrow upon themſelves; and the Miniſter muſt warn them. Many lie in a natural condition, and in danger of damnation; they had need be warned. Mar. 16.16. Some are of an unruly and ungoverned converſation, if they continue ſo, their end will be deſtruction; theſe muſt be warned. 1 Theſ. 5.14. Many Men that are in a dangerous way, are ſevere and bold, and the Miniſter muſt ſet the terrors of God before them; putting them in mind of the jealouſy of God, and the terribleneſs of his indignation. There be many Scriptures wherein God ſpeaks terribly to ungodly Men, and Miniſters ſhould make theſe Scriptures ring in their ears, and be with utmoſt ſolemnity telling them of their danger. Phil. 3.18, 19. Many walk of whom I have told you often, and now tell you weeping, that they are enemies of the croſs of Chriſt, whoſe end is deſtruction.
(3.) BY ſuitable Encouragement. Awakened Sinners are in danger, though ſeldom of deſpairing, yet of being diſcouraged; and that will be a great wrong to them, and Miniſters muſt be careful to encourage them. God puts ſuch words into their mouths. Iſai. 55.6, 7, 8. Mat. 11.28. Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden. Some are in danger to be diſcouraged from doing their duty, from fear of want, from fear of the anger of Man, for fear of reproach; but there are many promiſes in the Word of God to ſtrengthen Mens hearts in ſuch caſes. Gal. 6.9. Let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due ſeaſon we ſhall reap if we faint not. Some are ready to ſink in their Spirits, becauſe of their afflictions, their ſins, their temptations, and their dangers: it is very fit ſuch ſhould be encouraged. 1 Theſ. 5.14. Comfort the feeble-minded, ſupport the weak.
2. MINISTERS ſhould preſerve a People from Corruption by good Government. God has given power of ruling to Miniſters. Heb. 13.13. Obey them that rule you and ſubmit to them. He has given a power of binding and loſing. Mat. 16.19. What thou ſhalt bind on earth ſhall be bound in heaven. And he appoints that they rule well, 1 Tim 5.17. Miniſters have a corrcive power to execute cenſures on them that are obſtinate. Miniſters muſt have a tender and compaſſionate ſpirit, but when Men are ſturdy and rebellious, ſeverity is compaſſion; executing Eccleſiaſtical cenſures is a terror to evil doers: this is a proper means that their ſpirits may be ſaved in the day of the Lord Jeſus, 1 Cor. 5.5. Though private revenge is utterly forbidden, yet they are to revenge diſobdience: 2 Cor. 10.6. Having in a readineſs to revenge all diſobedience. This is the way to purge out the old leaven, to bring Men to repentance, and to put a ſtop to prowing iniquities, that the Land be not defiled.
3. BY being good Examples. Miniſters muſt be Examples to the People in all virtuous carriages. When Miniſters teach Men their duty, they muſt be obedient, whether the Miniſter practices ſo or no. Mat. 23.3. Whatſoever they bid you obſerve, that obſerve and do: but do not ye after their works, for they ſay and do not. But Miniſters had need give good Examples. 1 Tim. 4.12. Be thou an example of the believers in word, in converſation, in charity, in ſpirit, in faith, in purity. If they give a good Example, their words will ſink more into the hearts of Men. But if they addict themſelves to any vice, Men will deſpiſe them, and their counſels and warnings, they will judge they don't believe themſelves what they ſay, they will nauſeate their Preaching. It would be very unpleaſant to hear a Phariſee make a grave haurange againſt hypocriſy, and to hear a Judas declame againſt ſtealing. If Miniſters be not of good converſation, People will count their Preaching to be art and diſſimulation: it will render them contemptible in the eyes of the People. Mal. 2.8, 9. Men could hardly be patient to hear a Drunkard ſpeak in the commendation of temperance, and a wanton Man enlarge in the commendation of chaſtity.