A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 186 (Question 64 cont.)
SERMON CLXXXVI.
Secondly, WE proceed to Conſider, The Duties which … People …e to their Miniſters. That there are ſuch Duties is certain, for the Goſpel hath preſcribed them; … it fo…lows from the very Nature of …erre…ater, between which the Duties are Mutual, and the …e …s from the other. But that I may not ſ…k in the Air, it will be requiſite that we a … Conſider, Who are this People, wh… thus do … re…ted to the Elderſhip, and owe their Duty to them as ſuch. Now, Though there be a …ice to the Church Catholick, which all Min…es and People that are Chriſtians do bear; ſo that a Miniſter may Lawfully Preach Ex…, to any Aſſembly of Chriſtians, and Ad…ter the other Ordinances to them if orderly …ed thereunto; and the Members of …he Church may, on that Score. Communicate with … Occaſi…nally: Yet it is certain. That C…i… hath Ordained, that there ſhall be P…r… A…emblys of His People, in the ſeveral Ph…es where ſuch dwell; hence we not only l…d of a … at Rome, at C…ri…th, &c. but … Churches in …tis, Gal. 1.2. Now for the …i…ng of theſe Churches, it is neceſſary … there be both E…ders and Brethren, and …eſe to be peculiarly Related each to the other: For this Reaſon the Apoſtles and Apoſtolical Men, when they … in any Place Converted a …er to the G…ſpel P…ſeſſion, they Ordain… …ed and 1. …nt Pr…ſh…ters …ver them …s every where Witneſſed: And the very Light … Nature tra… us. That if theſe E…ders are by Chriſt's C…nmand to take the Charge of this … that F…k, as their Overſeers; then every … of ſuch a Fl…ck are to acknowledge the ſpeci… …eſ… … and themſelves … B… to … m… …. And it is againſt right Reaſo… that … ſhould be …and and the other at …: and without any … that … A…d this Pre…ce, tho' too much …olic…ed by … yet hath a natural t…nd…rcy to …ſtroy … G…ſpel …p…ine: Not as if …t…les are I…ſ…ns but becauſe it is neceſſary that a De… be u…d it M…s pa…i…g … one to another, and S…and …e …revent…d. For which Reaſon, ali…e Reformed, every where that I k…w of have provided, that no Perſon be entertained in one Communion, without a Regular Recommendation from that whe…e they formerly were Communicants.
NOW concerning ſuch as th…ſe, who have a proper Relation to thus or that particular Soc…ety, and conſequently are in mediately under the Watch and Care of this particular E…derſhip, we may conſider what are the Principal and moſt Comprehenſive Duties imcumbent on them; which may come under Two Heads.
1. THERE is a ſuitable Reſpect which they …ght to ſh… to their Perſons. There is an Honour due to them for the ſake of the …ſt which Chriſt hath put them in which is H…no…rable: And there is an Honour due to them, when they are Faithful to God, and to the Souls of their Hearers. Now this Honour is to be ſho…n to their Perſons principally:
[1.] In their hearts. And indeed it muſt begin here, or all the reſt is but Buttery and Abuſe. And there are Two things wherein this Honour ought to be maintained;
1. IN …n …ntire …ord a… L…ve of them. There is a peculiar Love which a People over to their Faithful Miniſters: Their Relation is very near, and the Cement of this Relation is Love, which ought to be Real; for that is a general Rule, 1 Joh. 3.18. Let us not love in w…rd, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. The Apoſtle obſerves what Affection his Galat…ans once had for him, which he blames them for the L…ſs of Gal. 4.14, 15. And if we Love Chriſt, we ſhall certainly Love theſe that come from Him, on His Errand, and do truely diſcharge it.
2. BY a Precious Eſteem maintained for them. And indeed this will be the genuine Fruit of a Cordial Love; eſpecially if we conſider who they are, and what it is for, that we have them. The Place which Chriſt hath ſet them in, the Errand they come upon, and their Fidelity in the diſcharge of it, challengeth an Honourable Reſpect for them, in the Hearts of th…ſe to whom they are ſent. They are Chriſt's Ambaſſadors to us, and do Repreſent His Perſon 2 Cor. 5.20. Now then we are Ambaſſadors for Christ —. They are Men of God, … by whom he hath been pleaſed to communicate His Mind to us; and theſe that deſpiſe them deſpiſe him; and He reckons it as ſo. They are Chriſt s…ſ…ention Gifts, (Eph. 4.10.) and for that reaſon to be Valued: They bring us Good Ty…ings from Heaven, and therefore … their Foot to be beautiful. Iſa…. … 7. T…at gives th… Advice to P…pl…, 1 G… … 1… … ſo …nt of …s, is … of Chr… and ſ…wards …f the … …es of God. And without this Eſteem, there is little hope of Profiting by their Adminiſtrations: Let their Perſons be what they will, their Commiſſion cal…s for this Reſpect for them.
[2.] IN their Words. Words are, or ought to be, the Expreſſion of the Heart: And there i… a Duty here alſo, which theſe ought to teſtify this Reſpect by; and that,
1. BY …pe…king Reſpectfully to them. They ought to acknowledge to them, the Office Relation which they bear; and avoid all Reviling or diſdainful and inſolent Language; particularly thoſe Terms of Reproach and Contempt, that many delight to entertain them withal. It is the Apoſtle's Direction in, 1 Tim. 5.1. Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father, and the younger men as brethren. And we find what a fearful Judgment of God befell very Children, who Affronted the Prophet with Reviling Language, 2 Kings 2.23, 24.
2. BY ſpeaking Honourably of them, and defending their Reputation. We ought to be tender of every Man's Reputation; but peculiarly of God's Ambaſſadors: As not to Revile them our ſelves, ſo to be ready to ſpeak for them, when others Calumniate them. We ſhould neither ſlander them ourſelves; nor be ſilent, when we hear others do ſo. We ſhould both Commend what is Laudable in them; and ſpeak Charitably of their Infirmities: And except we thus do, we ſhall hinder our own Edification by them.
3. IN their Actions or Carriages towards them. And here I ſhall only offer at Three things,
1. THEY ſhould ſhew this Reſpect by a Civil Carriage towards them in their Station. God hath ſet them in an Honourable Poſt; and they ought to have a Deference paid to them according thereunto. The Word of God is far from teaching Chriſtians to make no difference in their Deportment to Men, of Higher or Inferiour Rank; and doubtleſs all thoſe eminent Titles put in the Scriptures upon the Miniſters of the Word, do evidence that they ought to be regarded as ſuch, and Practically acknowledged ſo, by thoſe that are under their Watch and Charge. The Apoſtle tells us what is Duty in this regard; 1 Tim. 5.17. Let the elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honour, eſpecially they who labour in word and doctrine.
2. BY hearty and aſſiduous Prayers to God for them. They need ou Prayers; and if we have a due Reſpect for them, it will make us ſervant and frequent in offering them up to God in their behalf. How often therefore have we Paul earneſtly asking Prayers for himſelf, of the Churches, which he directs his Epiſtles unto? And indeed, in our ſo doing, we not only ſhew our Love to them, but to ourſelves too. They need great Aſſiſtance from Heaven, to help them in their Work, to influence them with … ſ…pp… of G…fts, … embolden them in their diſ… of D… faithfully, to preſerve them … Temptations to which the… are …, to … mate them under their ſick … Diſcouragements, to keep them …un…e… ſ…pply then with Matter ſuitable and … t… g…ve them a door of Utterance …pan… aff…rd good Succeſs to their Labours, and give them to ſee the precious Fruits of their …de…ars And in all this our Profiting i… … …ned; and all muſt …ome from God, and is to … in the way of Prayer; and no wonder if th…ſe Profit little by their Miniſters, who are fl…ghty in their Prayers for them. And it is but a Reciprocal Duty in Anſwer to their Prayers for us.
3. BY an Honourable Maintenance a…ed to them. It is a great Miſtake in thoſe who think that all that is done for the Support of the Miniſtry is Charity and A…s; and that accordingly Men are at their Liberty another they will do any thing or nothing towards it; and that they have no other Rule in their doing, but their Arbitrary Ple…ſu…e. It is c…rtainly an Act of Juſtice; and God hath ever ſince He had a Church in the World, takes Care of the Comfortable Supply of thoſe who Serve Him in Religious Orders. It was ſo in the times of the Law: Hence that, 1 Cor. 8.13. Do ye not know that they which miniſter … holy things, live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar, are partaker …th the altar? And he aſſures us, that the ſame Rule ſtands under the Goſpel, Ver. 14. Yea, he proves it by many Arguments, thereby to let us know, that his particular Inſtance of not taking Maintenance of ſome Churches, was not to be a Rule for other Miniſters, or improv'd by the People to withold their Dies from them. And tho' there may be dinere… ways of Prudence for the Raiſing of this yet theſe Two things are undeniable, vis. That there is ſome Proportion of Men's Abilities to be obſerved; and, That all that are Partak…rs i… their Labours, do owe. a Portion to this: Hence we have that, Gal. 6.6. Let him that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that teacheth, in all good things. And they have no Reaſon to think it much, as he gives a Demonſtration, 1 Cor. 9.11. If we have ſown unto you ſpiritual things, is it a great thing if we re…p your carnal things? Faithful Min…ſters ſpend their Time for the Souls of their People; and it muſt therefore be but Reaſon, that they ſhould ſee that they may Live without Fear for the Maintenance of their outward Concerns: and ſo ſome interpret that, 1 Cor. 16.…0. Now of Timotheus come, ſee that … may be with yea without fear for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I alſo do.
II. THERE is a ſuitable Entertainment due to them in all their Miniſterial Adminiſtrations. And as the former is in order to this, ſo it cannot be rightly expreſſed without this. It is for their Work ſake, that they are to be Reſpected, 1 Theſ. 5.12, 13. And we beſeech … y…, … ever y…: … ſize. And be … … Certainly … a Reſpect to be paid to them in … it ſeal a … …th called them … ber… the gr… and main D…ties of this Relation are conce…d And there are two Reſpects in which this may be conſidered;
[1.] IN reſpect of their I…drive. The … and pri…p…l port of a Miniſter's work …es in Preaching of the Goſpel to that People to whom God ſounds them, and among whom they are orderly fixed. I am not here councerned to enquire low on in what way ſuch Congre…s are to be determined you what Rules are to determine a Man's Duty in has fiving himſelf in this or that Aſſembly, p…ultarly in ſuch Places where there are more than One: …nt I thick it undeniable, That all Chriſtians that are ſit…ed in their Habitations, ought alſo to a…p… themſelves to one Society of Profeſſors, …ed put themſelves under the Diſpenſation of the Ordinances there, for this was the Deſign of particular Churches. Suppoſing therefore, that he hath thus diſpeſed of himſelf, there are theſe Duties which naturally flow from ſuch a Relative in this Regard under conſideration; 1. HE ought Ordinerily to give its Attendance upon the In…g of ſuch a Mini…ry, as nature … I ſay Ordinarily for there may be ſuch Occaſions offered him in the Prorik…ce of God which call him to be elſewhere, and be ought not to neglect theſe opportunity in the Place where he may enjoy it. And for this Reaſon there is a Ce…munion of Churches neceſſary to be uphelp: Nor is there Reaſon to be Cafari us of ſuch, as may on ſpecial Conſide… for once and away, Attend upon the Preaching in another Congregation, eſpecially if in the ſame Town: But for ſuch on the Sab…h, to go to other Towns for their Cur…fity or Frejudice, when they are at conſiderable Diſtance, when they have the Word Preached at their Doors, and in their own Congregation; this is not only a caſting of entempt upon their own M…niſters, but alſo a Preſanction of the Lords-Lay: And for ſuch to Run this Day, export of the Day, to one, and the pent to another, meerly to pleaſe their Forty, of it…bing her, is contrary to the Mind of Chriſt. I…al Wri…g to a particular Church, giveth that Caution, Heb. 10.25. Not forſaking the aſtembleing of J… ſelves to ether, as the manner of ſane is. And if many ſhould drive this Trade, as their are too many that do, it would offer unworthy Diſcourtagements to Gods Stewards, who have then Pains to provide their Spirit…a N…uriſhment. Nor can a Chriſtian with a regular Faith, ordinartly promite himſelf that Ble…ng and Profit from another, that he might from him whom God hath appointed to diſpenſe to him 2 THeY ſhould Hearken dilipertly to the … of God… it … any them. As they ſhould Attend in their Miniſtry, ſo they ſhould … C…riſt, and ſ… in Fin … is … it … Feath… … that Chriſt Flir…ſelf … himſelf to them: That was the: wiren … of ſme. … of God … the word if …, but … the and of God. Hunt they ſhould me with a Re… … to … as they make a Pretry… of; J… 42.3.1. T…ex thy ſ… …. The Lord be a tra… and J…al xitrejs bet… so, if we do … even … things for the which the Lord thy God … ſind the is at. It ether it begand, ei… a…ther it …, we will they the … of th… Lord … God, … whom we ſend thee, that it may to …ed an… … the we … the wice of the I… … God. A Negligret Hearer caſts a Neglet. and Contempt. both en him that is ſixt, and Him that ſends him. 3. THEY ſrwaid Pender diligently on the Troubt t… theſe declare were them. Though they ought to receive the Truths of God from them, as delivered with Authority from God Himſelf, yet they are not to …le their Faith upon their Authority: For tho they come from Chriſt, and have Promiſe of His being with them in their faithful Endeavilrs; yet they are not Infai…bly Inſpired. And if they were, yet it is no ReEcc…on upon t…ere. b…t… Credit to them, when their …earers delay up their Dectrines in their Hearts, and take …re to ſatisfy themſelves, that this is the Mind of God: Hence they are ſo… commended, Acts 17.11 Theſe were …re…ble than theſe in Theſe in … that they received the word with … rec…eſs of mind, and ſcarched the ſcripture d…t…y, whether it…oje things were ſo. 4. THEY ought to Bleſs God for them, end Cer…orate their Love to them, wh… they are made the Inſtruments of Spiritual & Saving Good t…t…em. They ought not to of ribe unto them the ſrine Efficiency of this, as if they did it by their … Vertue; they deſire it not, but utterly ten unce it, as …, 1 Cor. 2.7. Set…en, …en or as he that phent…th any thing …ther be that n…te…th: … G…d that give…: … …ſe. Nevertheleſs, if God have n… … of them for our Saving Benefit, we are not only to Thanks God for the thing, but to bleſs … for th…me whom He hath make It …un…ts f…this Fer…fit. We ſhould acknowledge our ſelves to … Seals of their Miniſtry, and Love them as our Spiritual Fathers: And we ſhould Cheer their Hearts. by letting them …, that their Lo…t is n…t an v… … Lord; but that …cit it travanling pains for at, … Chriſt … in us. are not left, or mini…ity. … ſay. 1 Cor. …. 15. For th… … ſand in … Ja… … f…r … t… … the …ſſel. And, … T…eſ 2. … and ſure we owe us much Love to … Ser… Ta…, as …our, Natural ones; at leaſt in ſome Reſpects. 5. THEY … to Practice according to the …nes this they are Inſtructed in by them. … …l of the Mini…iry, is, as the Converſion of Sinners, to the Edification of Saints; and this is the preſent Comfort of ſuch as are the true S…iv… Chriſt: And there is nothing that more grieves them, than to ſee that they loſe this Deſign, Iſa. 4….4. The End of all Evangelical Truths is Practice; and if all our Hearing and Inquiring do not had us to this, it is loſt upon us: All the Airy Commendations that we may give to their Sermons, are but Idle Compliments, if mean while we regard them not, but live as we liſt; nor can we throw more Scorn upon them: Hence that, Ezek. 33.31. And they come unto thee as the prop a ecometh, and they ſit before thee as my people, and they hear thy nords, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they ſhow much love, but their heats goeth after their covetouſneſs. 6. THEY ſhould avoid entertaining Prejudices againſt them. The Perſon that will ſuffer fixed Prejudices at his Miniſter, doth thereby hinder his own Profiting under him: There are F…angs in theſe, (for they are of like Infirmities,: theſe are to be Covered; there are Dubious things, th…ſe are to be interpreted with the moſt Candid Gloſſes that they will admit of; there are Columnies and falſe Reports ordinarily rais'd againſt them, theſe are not to be eaſily believed & entertained. There was good reaſon for that Rule in this regard, 1 Tim. 5.19. Againſt an elder receive not an accuſation, but before two or three witneſſes. 7. THEY ought to Conſult them in their Spiritual Concerns. There are frequent Occaſions wherein the People of God want Aſiſtance, which poſſibly they do not meet with in the Publick Miniſtry, but muſt enquire for in a more Private way. We formerly obſerved, that God hath made it the Miniſters Duty of their Hearers to Addreſs to them; and if they do it Cordially, they may Hope to receive Help from God by them, to enlighten them in their dark Queſtions, to Reſolve their Doubts, to clear their Way for them, to ſtrengthen them againſt their Temptations; and to neglect them in theſe Caſes, is to deſpiſe an Ordinance of God: Hence that in, Mal. 2.7. For the prieſt lips ſhould keep knowledge, and they ſhould ſeek the law at his mouth: for be is the meſſenger of the Lord of hoſts.
[2.] IN Reſpect of their Diſcipline. That there is a Diſcipline which Chriſt hath appointed to be upheld in his Churches, is very evident by the Goſpel: And that the Adminiſtration of this Diſcipline, belongs to the Presbytery in the Church, is equally evident: Peace and Purity cannot be preſerved in the Church without it; nor will goſpel Order be obſerved. And here Two things,
1. THEY ought to acknowledge their Authority over them, which Chriſt hath veſted them withal. If there be Rulers, there are Ruled; and theſe are Correlates: and are for that Reaſon to own the Relation, and the Obligations of it. True, They are not Lords over God's … ritage, are not left to Govern Athitrarily; but they are …o…rſ…ers. Raters, Stewards, which intimates, That they have a Power from Chriſt, to Exerciſe in His Church: and unleſs it be acknowledged by us, we are not like tp pays due Deference to it: If we deny their Office Power over us, we Reject the Diſcipline of Chriſt; and this do all thoſe, who Run from … to another upon every Diſguſt, and ſo think to eſcape Government: Such alſo are thoſe Churches, who Uſurp upon the Office of the Preſbytery.
2. THEY ought to Submit to their Reproofs and Cenſures, which are Regularly Adminiſtred in the Name of Chriſt. There is a Submiſſion required in the Goſpel, by Chriſt Himſelf; hence that, Heb. 13.7.17. Remember the… which have the rule over you, who have ſpoken unto you the word of God: whoſe faith fol…, conſidering the end of their converſation. Obey them that have the rule over you, and ſubmit your ſelves, for they watch for your ſouls, as they that muſt give account: that they may do it with joy, and not …uthgrief: for that is unproſu… for you. 1 Thef. 5.12. And we beſeech you, breibren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admoniſh you. Theſe have the Authority of binding and looſing, both Doctrinally and Diſciplinarily; Joh. 20.23. Whoſe ſoever ſins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whoſe ſoever ſins ye retain, they are retained. They have a Power to Reprove Sin in thoſe that are under them, Authoritatively, and that both Privately and Publickly; and to adminiſter Cenſures upon ſuch as are Obſtinate and Impenitent; and take them off from thoſe who duly reſtify their Repentance: And Chriſt hath ſaid, That He will Approve and Ratify them, if diſpenſed according to Goſpel Rules: They ought therefore to receive them as from Him, and demean themſelves accordingly.
USE. LET us then Think of theſe things; and when we at any time are ready to Deſpiſe the Perſons of ſuch, and count our ſelves too good to be Taught or Rebuked by them; let us confider, They are ſent to us by Him who is the great Shepard and King of His Church. And let the image of His Authority in them, Suppreſs all ſuch up-riſings: And let us take heed of grieving them, leſt we ſo grieve the Lord Jeſus Chriſt and His Spirit: And this will be the way to profit by them in this Life, and to meet them with Joy in that which is to come.
[APRIL 4. 1704.]