is pleased to second with his powerfull and most efficacious Cooperation Necessity is Twofold Absolute as it is absolutely necessary for the first Being to Be. Relative or Hypothetical when one thing is necessary in order unto or upon supposition of another Obedience unto God is a Necessary duty to be done Blessedness a necessary End to be pursued unto the performance of this Duty there is a necessity to know the Rule wherein it is prescribed unto the obtaining of this End there is a Necessity to know the Means whereby it may be promoted for understanding whereof we shall premise two or three Propositions 1. Though there remain some ingrafted notions of the Law of Nature touching God and a service due to him in the heart of Man yet that Law is much darkned and defaced by that sinfull Corruption which doth as well indispose the minde as any other faculties unto its due operations Of this blindness and vanity we have frequent mention 1 Cor. 2 14. Ephes. 4. 17 18. and therefore albeit rare things are recorded of the moral Vertues of many Heathen men and though diverse of their Philosophers Plato Aristotle Hierocles Plutarch Cicero Seneca Epictetus and others have written excellently on those Arguments yet unto a full knowledge of Moral Duties to be in a due manner performed unto God and Men there is necessary a further patefaction of the Divine will then those remaining Principles of the Law of Nature can dictate unto us And this was done by the Ministery of Moses by whom to the Church and unto whom by the Ministery of Angels the most holy and perfect Law of God was fully discovered 2. Though the Law delivered by Moses be pure and perfect though it be Holy Just and Good and though the Commands thereof be Exceeding Broad yet thereby Salvation cannot be had since by the Law is the knowledge of Sinne Rom 3. 20. and therefore it can Curse onely and not Blesse or Save us as the Apostle argues Gal. 3. 10 11. All that the Law can do is to shew us duty to discover the sinne whereby we come short of duty the punishment due unto that sin and our Impotency to prevent remove endure or avoid that Curse And Consequently there must be a further patefaction of life and grace by another Prophet 3 The doctrine of the Gospel as it stands formally distinguished from the doctrine of the Law is wholly Mysterious and supernatural there are no seminal notions in the minde of man from whence it may by rational disquisition be deduced And therefore it is usually in Scripture called a Mysterie the Mysterie of Christ Eph. 3. 4. Col. 4. 3. the Mystery of the Gospel Eph. 6. 19. of the Faith of Godliness 1 Tim. 3. 9. 16. Hidden from ages and generations Rom. 16. 25. which eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor hath entred into the heart of man to conceive 1 Cor. 2. 9. as a Mysterie Above Natural Reason as a Mysterie of Godlinesse against Carnal Reason Except therefore it had been by some Pastor Revealed to the Church wee could never have had the knowledge of it 4 Unto the perfecting of Salvation by the Gospel Two things Concurre A Valid Impetration of Grace by the Merit of Christ. And an Effectual Application thereof by his Spirit which he doth by begetting Faith in us called the faith of the Operation of God Col. 2. 12. This knowledge of Christ is Simply necessary to Salvation Isay 53. 11. Joh. 8 24 And it is not of our selves but the Gift of God Eph. 2. 8. and God works it by Hearing Rom. 10. 17. So there is a Necessity of a Divine Pastor by whose teaching this knowledge so necessary to Salvation may be effectually wrought in us 5. The doctrine of Redemption layeth an Obligation on the Redeemed to live unto him that bought them Christ therefore died and rose that he might be the Lord of dead and living the Grace which bringeth Salvation Teacheth to Deny ungodliness c. Tit. 2. 11 12. Sanctification is necessary to Salvation as being the Inchoation thereof Nothing can be perfected till it be begun Heb. 12. 14. Since therefore Holinesse is Necessary and it belongs to him to whom this Service is due to prescribe the manner of it and since we have naturally in us Ignorance Impotency and Enmity wholly disabling from the doing of it there is upon these Accompts an Absolute Necessity of such a Pastor who may Reveal the Right way of Holinesse unto us and may efficaciously incline our wills thereunto Upon these Grounds we may see the Necessity of the Great Pastor for Revealing the supernatural Mysteries of Life and Salvation by Free grace for working Faith whereby Life and Salvation may be applied unto us for Enabling us unto the duties of Holinesse and removing those Impediments of Ignorance Impotency and Enmity which indispose us thereunto And now because the Office of Inferior Pastors under this great Shepherd hath in these late unhappy and licentious dayes by the subtilty or rather bungling of Satan been greatly oppos'd It will not be unseasonable to speak a little of the Necessity of these also to feed the flock That which God hath appointed as an Office in his Church is to be acknowledged Necessary God hath by his special Institution appointed Pastors and Teachers in his Church whose function the Scripture owneth as an Office called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim 3. 1. Col. 4 17. therefore they are to be acknowledged Necessary The Lord is said to have set or constituted them in his Church 1 Cor. 12. 28. to have given them to her as part of her Dowry Eph 4. 11. they are sent forth by the Lord of the harvest Matth. 9 38. They are called Ministers of Christ Col. 1. 7. They receive their Ministery from the Lord Col. 4. 17. He hath made them Overseers Acts 20. 28. Therefore none can without Sacriledge against Christ and his Church reject them 2. Necessary Ordinances presuppose necessary Officers to administer them Christ hath appointed necessary Ordinances to be to the End of the world administred therefore the Officers who are to administer them are Necessary likewise He did not appoint a work to be done and leave it to the wide world who should do it but committed the Ministry of Reconciliation to Stewards and Ambassadors by him selected for that Service 1 Cor. 4. 1. 2 Cor. 5. 19. 3. That which was Instituted for Necessary Ends so long as those Ends continue must be Necessary likewise The Office of the Ministry was Instituted for Necessary Ends which do and will still continue therefore the Ministery by which they are to be promoted is still to continue Those Ends are The proclaiming Repentance and Remission of Sins the bringing Glad tydings of Good things the turning men from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God the saving of souls the perfecting of Saints the Edifying the body of
with their doctrine they build and with their lives they destroy The Minister who will winne his people must not only doctorem virtutis se praebere sed ducem as Lactantius ut si praecipientem sequi nolint sequantur antecedentem The salt which is it self unsavory will hardly season other things I conclude this point with that wholsom passage of Hierom ad Nepotianum Let not saith he thy works shame thy doctrine lest they who hear thee in the Church tacitly answer Why doest thou not thy self what thou teachest others He is too delicate a teacher who perswadeth others to fast with a full belly A Robber may accuse Covetousness Sacerdotis Christi os mens manusque concordent a Minister of Christ should have his tongue and his heart and his hand agree I shall conclude all with Two words of Exhortation one to my Reverend Brethren in the Clergy and the other to the people To my Brethren That they would with all their might set about this most necessary work of feeding the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made them Overseers therby testifie their love unto Christ who by that Love doth adjure us to feed his sheep and lambs John 21. 15. 16 17. If we would not be an Anathema Maranatha for not loving of Christ we must do that which he by so strong an argument as the Love of him doth injoyn Is it possible for a man to love the father and to starve the children Is it possible to love the Lord and to neglect his doubled and redoubled command Is it possible to love God and to hate our brethren Or do we not hate our brethren when we betray their souls to perdition O let us lay to heart that most solemn and tremendous charge of the Apostle I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom preach the word be instant in season out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine 2 Tim. 4. 1 2. Let us consider the dreadfull Accompt which at that fiery Tribunal of this Great Judge will be required of us Heb. 13. 17. the woe which we incurr if we neglect it 1 Cor. 9. 16. and the horrid guilt of the blood of souls which thereby we contract Ezeck 3. 17 18 20 their blood will I require at thy hand Let us consider the unvaluable preciousness of the souls committed to our charge of more worth then all the world beside Mat. 16. 26. insomuch that Heathen men have said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is the property of a Reasonable soul saith Antoninus the Heathen Emperour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to preferre nothing before it self O what a doleful thing will it be to have the everlasting perdition of such precious souls to lie upon our betraying of them Consider the Inestimable price wherwith they were purchased even the Blood of God Acts 20 28. and how fearfull a thing it will be for the Blood of Christ to cry out against us for destroying those souls which that blood did purchase Consider the continual Dangers these precious souls are exposed to the vigilancy of a cunning a powerfull a malicious adversary who goeth about seeking to devour them 1 Pet. 5. 8 the baits snares examples and entanglements of an evil world the swarms of Innumerable inward lusts which warr against the soul. O how vigilant should we be to fore warn arm them against the assault of so great dangers Lastly consider we the weight and greatnesse of that Crown of Righteousness and glory which the Chief Shepherd reserveth for all those who willingly and with a ready mind feed the flock of God They who turn many to Righteousness shall shine as Stars for ever and ever 1 Pet. 5. 4. Dan. 12. 3. What a Glorious Testimony will it be before the throne of Christ at the last day when so many souls shall stand forth and say This was the hand which snatched us out of the fire This tongue was to us a tree of life his Reproofs and convictions awakened us his Exhortations perswaded us his Consolations revived us his wisdom counsel'd us his example guided us unto this Glory Some are apt to charge Clergymen with ambitious pursuance of dignities and preferments Behold here a preferment worthy the climbing after a dignity worthy to be contended for an holy an Apostolical Ambition as St. Pauls expression importeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 15. 20. which is as much as Ambitioso conatu praedicare EvangeliuÌ„ preaching the Gospel where it had not before been heard was the Apostles greatest honor which ambitiously he did aspiâ—e unto To the People 1. We exhort them to pray for their Ministers since they have a Service upon them which without divine Grace none are sufficient for that God would by his special assistance enable them to discharge so great a trust God commands it we beseech it our weakness wants it your souls require it the more you pray for your Minister the more you will profit by him You help to edifie your selves you help him to study and pray and preach for you while you pray for him 2 To take heed that the labour of your Ministers for your souls be not by your carelesseness all in vain Do not with our Sermons which cost us so hard labour as David did with the water of the well of Bethleem spill them on the ground and let them cry from thence like the blood of Abel against you So long as he keeps to his Commission and delivers the Counsel of God you cannot despise the work of your Minister but you do therewithall despise the blood of your Saviour If your souls be dear in their eyes should they be vile in your own Will you by your wickedness turn the prayers of your Pastors into curses their Sermons into a favour of death and their tears into the blood of your own souls Shall they begg mercy for you and will you reject it Shall they tender Grace unto you and will you resist it Shall they open for you the door of Life will you shut it against your selves Shall Christ by them beseech you and will you by your Impenitency refuse him Is it not a Reasonable Request though you will not love your Ministers yet not to Hate nor destroy your selves Must he Teach and you not Learn Must he open his lips and you shut your ears are Sermons preached to be praised onely and not obeyed Must he Reprove Sin in you and will you Reprove God in him Shall he take up the weapons of God to withstand sinne and will you take up the weapons of lust to withstand God! Is it good to kick against the pricks Will Gods word be impunè despised Can his Law be put to flight where it doth not perswade can it not curse Do we provoke the Lord to jealousie are we stronger then he Shall the Minister in the name of God forewarn us of the wrath to come and shall we belye the Lord and say It is not he Shall we blesse where God curseth and promise peace where God proclameth warre Shall we sell our selves to sin and make a Covenant with Hell and death as if we could sin securely and choose whither we would perish or no Will not the Lord make us know at the last whose word shall stand His or Ours O that the Love of Christ might constrain us and his Goodness lead us unto Repentance that when Christ doth beseech us we would be perswaded not to deny him Did Satan dye for us Did the world or the flesh ever redeem us were they scourged or mocked or crucified to save us O that Christ should be perswaded to dye for us and we should give him his blood back again and choose rather to dye our selves Consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding in all things FINIS Fuller Miscellan l. 6. c. 17 Quodammodo ante diem Judicii Judicant Hieron Ep. ad Heliodorum Serm. 15. in Cantic
Christ the nourishing of men in the words of faith the speaking a word in season to the weary to shew forth the Lords death till he come These and such like great and weighty workes the Apostle calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 4. 12. So long as these works remain to be done the ministery whereby they are to be done must remain likewise But it may be Objected others may promote these Ends as well as Ministers all Beleevers are commanded to Comfort Support Edifie one another 1 Thess. 5. 11. 14. Jud. v. 20. therefore no need of such an Office for the doing of them We answer Although every private Christian in his place and station ought to minister grace to the Hearers to have his speeches seasoned with Salt and fitted to the use of edifying yet these great Works are not done with the same authority efficacy certainty or order by a private hand as by publick Officers 1 Not with the same Authority A Learned Lawyer may resolve a mans Case as truly as a Judge but when he hath a Sentence declared by the Judge this doth more assure and quiet him because it is a Sentence not only of truth but of authority Ministers speak and exhort and rebuke with Authority Tit. 2. 15. 2 Not with the same Efficacy for the Lord hath made them Able Ministers 2 Cor. 3. 6. furnished them with power for Edification 2 Cor. 13. 10. anannexed a special promise of Blessing unto their service Matth. 28. 20. the Gospel ministred by them is not in word only but in power 1 Thess. 1. 5. not declarative only but operative they being therein workers together with God 1 Cor. 3. 9. 2 Cor. 6. 1. 3 Not with the same Certainty for How can it be expected that the Cases and Conditions of particular Consciences should be so well looked after by private Men who have Callings of their own to divert them as by those whose whole work it is to oversee the Souls committed to their Charge to whom they may in every case of difficulty resort for Counsel Or how can I expect ordinarily as full Satisfaction from a private Brother as from one whose duty it is to give himself wholly to these things whose Constant Businesse it is to give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine to meditate on them to take heed unto them to continue in them that his profiting may appear to all 1 Tim. 4. 13. 16. 4 Not with the same Order God is in all his works much more in his Church a God of Order 1 Cor. 14. 33. If the Apostles themselves found it difficult to attend the Word of God and Tables Acts 6. 2. It cannot but be much more difficult for private Brethren to attend their own domestical callings and the publick concernments of the Church of God If a great Apostle said Who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor 3. 16. shall we judge private persons fit enough for them If in the Body God hath set several Members for several uses shall we think so weighty difficult and important a service as publishing the glad tydings of Salvation should be intrusted at large in every hand and no peculiar Officers set apart for the dispensing of it 4. We may inferre this Necessity from the Titles given by God unto these his Officers they are called Angels Rev. 1 20. Ambassadors entrusted with the ministery of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5. 20 Stewards of the mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4. 1 2. Watchmen and Overseers of the flock Ezek. 3. 17. Acts 20. 28 Shepherds 1 Pet. 5. 3. Teachers distinguished from the people taught Gal. 6. 6. Preachers sent to publish peace Rom. 10. 14. Builders Planters Husbandmen Scribes instructed for the kingdom of God All which Metaphorical expressions import Services of absolute Necessity in States and families There are mutual and reciprocal Duties injoyned by God upon them and the people they to watch over the flock and these to love honour esteem and encourage them If they be not necessary Officers in the Church why should there lie upon them so severe a Charge why should there be due unto them so great a respect 5 They whom the Apostles took Order to be provided for the service of the Church are necessary Officers thereof for had they been superfluous they would not have burdened the Church with them But the Apostles took special Order for the succession of Ministers in the Church they Ordained Elders themselves Acts 14. 23. they directed Timothy and Titus to do so too 2 Tim. 2. 2. Tit. 1. 5. they call upon them to attend their service Col. 4. 17. 1 Pet. 5. 1 3. they call upon others to obey and encourage them Heb. 13. 17. Gal. 6. 6. Now certainly they would not have taken all this Care nor put the Church to so much duty and charge if the Office were not necessary to the Good and Interest of the Church Adde hereunto the uninterrupted prescription of all ages for not to mention the Heathen Nations where we find persons separated for divine worship in Egypt Gen. 47. 22. in Palestine 1 Sam. 6. 2. in Lycaonia Acts 14. 13. Such were the Chaldeans in Babylon the Magi amongst the Persians the Brachmanni amongst the Indians the Druidae amongst the Gaules the Pontifices Augures Flamines and others amongst the Romans and to keep to the Church of God we read in the beginning of Enoch a Prophet Noah a Preacher Abraham a Prophet Melchisedeck a Priest of the order of Priests and Levites in Israel before whom the first-born of the chief of the Families did bear that Honor for we read of Priests before the Levitical Order was instituted Exod. 19. 22. After that the Evangelical Ministry began in John continued in the Twelve Disciples and Seventy Elders held on in a constant Succession Christ and his Apostles appointed it and never repealed their own order If Jephte his prescription of 300 years possession was a good plea Judges 11. 26. much more the Churches of 1600. And now dear Brethren since our office is of so great necessity to the Church of God it greatly concerneth us to be duly therewith affected with all fear and trembling to discharge so important duties for the administration whereof this function hath been divinely instituted By the Holiness and Exemplariness of our Lives by the Evidence authority and purity of our Doctrine to keep our selves above the Contempt of men not to suffer any to despise us to magnifie our office and to bear up that double Honour which the Lord hath awarded unto those that Labour in the Word and Doctrine That in all things shewing our selves patterns of good works In our Doctrine shewing incorruptnesse gravity sincerity sound speech which cannot be condemned men that are against us may be ashamed having no Evil thing to say of us And this leadeth to the Second thing proposed the Consideration of the Duties wherein the discharge of this Pastoral office doth stand The