THE Mutual Duties OF Elders and People Delivered in a DISCOURSE AT Beckles in Suffolk Octob. 13. 1697. At the setting apart of Mr. John Killinghal to the Office of an Elder over a Church of Christ there By John Stackhouse Elder of a Church of Christ in NORWICH LONDON Printed by Tho. Snowden for Edward Giles Bookseller in Norwich near the Market-Place 1698. To the READDR THis Sermon was preached upon a special occasion at the setting apart of an Elder over a Church of Christ the Elders of the Churches and the People there present did earnestly desire our Reverend Brother to print his Sermon they were so affected with it and so they might well be The Sermon is so Judicious so Quick and Powerful that I hope the Lord will make it of great Use to many Here you have the Duties of Ministers and People set forth so excellently and fully that those that read this Sermon will see That this Servant of Christ is mightily in the Scriptures an able Minister of the New Testament and full of the Knowledge of the Lord. When I read over this Sermon as it was written by one that took it in Short-Hand I encouraged the Author all that I could to satisfie the Desires of those that were so earnest for the printing of it I have often in publick and in private praised God for the Grace and Gifts bestowed upon this Reverend Brother and now that I am old and under such great Pains walking in the Valley of the Shadow of Death it is a great satisfaction to me to leave this Church of Christ with one so able and faithful to take Care of them The Lord continue his Life and Strength pour out of his Spirit upon him more and more and grant that the Congregation may esteem him highly for his Works sake and be at Peace amongst themselves which is my hearts Desire and Prayer of Martin Fynch Decemb. 27. 1697. To my Dear and Reverend Brethren in the Work of the Gospel who desired the Printing of this Sermon WHether you may like this Sermon in reading it as well as you did in hearing it I who am conscious of the meanness of it should greatly doubt if I were not well satisfied concerning your Love and Candour My design and desire was therein as it is in all my weak Labours to profit more than to please and the profit of many was I believe your aim and hope in pressing me to the Publication thereof I have therefore yielded that your Request should over-rule my own Aversness to the Press The Text discours'd on led me to speak of so many several Particulars that they could not be fully discussed by me in one Discourse tho' long enough for the Occasion What I have briefly hinted to explain how Elders are over the Church I have read more largely declared in the Writings of Dr. Owen Dr. Goodwin and others as I suppose you also have where such as desire more full satisfaction concerning that or other Points may find it I follow them so far as I understand they follow the Word of God the only infallible Rule Now that the Father of Lights and the God of all Grace would teach Us and the several Churches of Christ over which he hath set us so to walk as is here plainly declared and much more abundantly according to his Holy Word and that he would strengthen our Hands in his great Work against all Discouragements and that the Word of the Gospel may greatly prevail and that this mean Discourse may be somewhat subservient thereunto is the earnest Prayer of Dear and Reverend Brethren Your Brother and Companion in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ though most unworthy J. STACKHOUSE Norwich Dec. 17. 1697. The Mutual Duties of Elders and People 1 Thessal V. 12 13. And we beseech you Brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in Love for their Works sake And be at Peace among your selves THE Exhortation is very suitable and seasonable for you now and Oh! that the Spirit of God would set it home upon your Hearts the Light of the Spirit is a more powerful Teaching than the Words of a poor Worm Above other places it pleased God that the Gospel preached had a very sudden and great success at Thessalonica a chief City in Macedonia You read in Acts 17. That Paul Preaching to them three Sabbath days some Jewes and many Greeks and devout Women not a few were converted And a Church was gathered for so he directs both these Epistles Vnto the Church of the Thessalonians and Officers were set over them as appears from the Text. And because they received the Word of God with much affliction the Apostle was very solicitous for Chap. 1. v. 6â— them and he sent Timothy from Athens that he might establish them and comfort them that they might not be moved by their afflictions Chap. 3. ver 2 3. And upon Timothy's return he wrote from Corinth this first Epistle and afterwards the second Epistle and all within the compass of the first Year of his Preaching to them Having in this Epistle declared the Truths of the Gospel to them and variously instructed them he comes to exhort them to those Duties that might make their Communion comfortable and edifying Chap. 5. v. 11. Wherefore comfort your selves together and edifie one another even as also ye do He would have them to consider those comfortable Truths and to observe those holy Precepts which he had laid down in this Epistle and so to comfort and edifie one another and he urgeth it and encourageth them thereunto by commending them that already they did so practise and that therefore they ought to abound yet more and more All Exhortation doth not imply a Reproof as if People did not do what they are exhorted to but that they should yet abound more and more Hereunto he adds in the Text an Exhortation to these necessary Duties that they owed to them that were over them their Pastors or Teachers for howsoever careful they might be in the discharge of those Christian Duties of mutual Exhortation and Comfort yet they must not think their Ministers needless Brethren are to watch over one another and exhort and comfort one another in a way of Love but Elders do it in the Authority of Christ as sent by him and as you may expect God's gracious Blessing upon your admonishing and comforting one another so much more may you expect it from the Ministry of them that are set over you Heb. 10. 24 25. Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works this is the Duty of every particular Member of the Church but then it follows not forsaking the assembling of your selves together Every Servant must watch over one another that nothing be done contrary to the Master's Will and Interest but the chief Steward does it with
sake That is the third part of the Text the Duties that are required from the People to their Ministers IV. He exhorts to another Duty that is that they should be at Peace one with another and with their Elders It seems to have connexion with the former Duties either as an effect and then you must understand it thus in your conscientious knowing esteeming and loving your Elders your mutual Peace will be best maintained and preserved But if any do despise their Elders Schism and Division will presently arise Or else this Be at Peace among your selves may be joined to the former as a means and then you may understand it thus mutual Peace will help you to carry it to your Elders according to your Duty but if you are divided one from another you will fail in your Duty to your Elders and quarrel with them also From these Verses I propose these Points of Doctrine to you I. That such as are set over a Church of Christ must labour among them and admonish them II. That it is the Duty of the whole Church and of every particular Member of the Church to know esteem and love most abundantly them that are over them in the Lord. III. That the Elder 's faithfully attending to his Work and the Peoples conscientious discharge of their Duty to their Elder and mutual Peace are strictly joined together I will make what haste I can a little to open and apply these Doctrines to you Doct. I. That such as are set over a Church of Christ must labour among them and admonish them Give me leave to open unto you their Dignity and their Duty and so to apply it I. For their Dignity First They are set over a Church Secondly In the Lord. 1. They are set over a Church of Christ we are not set over many Churches but each over that particular Church where Christ doth place us it is an human Device to set one Man over many Churches but Elders are over particular Churches And in the right Execution of their Office and the Duties of their Office they are over the whole Church and every Member thereof tho' as to their Persons they may be under them As Luther said In regard of my Person I will fall down before any Man but in regard of the Truth of Christ which I administer I look upon even the Kings of the Earth to be but as Dust. Whatever weakness or darkness may be in an Elder yet in his Holy Administrations he is over even all the People As the Master of a Ship whilst he guides the Ship aright in the work of guiding the Ship is over all that are in the Ship Mr. Shepherd s Cavâ—â—â— tho' a King were in it yet it belongs to the Master to order and guide the Ship It is true indeed that the Elders are the Servants of the Church for Jesus sake 2 Cor. 4. 5. But you are not from thence to argue that they are properly your Servants to be commanded by you but they are Servants that is they are to lay out themselves wholly in seeking the profit and edification of the Church according to the Duty of their Office And Aâ— Acts 13. 36. they are also the Servants of Christ to do his Work to the Church Thus in Col. 4. 12. Epaphras who is one of you a servant of Christ saluteth you always labouring fervently for you in prayer c. So the Apostle saith The servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach patient in meekness instructing them that oppose themselves 2 Tim. 2. 24. And being the Servants of Christ they must not persuade any to believe Men or please Men Do I now persuade men or God or do I seek to please men for if I yet pleased men I should not be the servant of Christ Gal. 1. 10. In the same Sence they are called Men of God 1 Tim. 6. 11. dedicated to his service in an especial manner they are instituted by Christ they receive their Authority from Christ by the Church they depend on Christ for the faithful discharge of their Work and their Authority is not to be taken from them unless they forfeit their Calling by such Errors and scandalous Enormities as deserve Excommunication till then they are over you and are your Rulers 2. They are over the Church in the Lord it is not an earthly Dignity no Magisterial Dictatorship no rigid Authority no Secular Grandure belongs to them So our Lord told his Apostles in Luke 22. 26. ye shall not be so i. e. ye shall not exercise Lordship and Authority in a rigid way but he that is greatest among you let him be as the younger and he that is chief it is the same word that is rendred Governor Matth. 2. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as he that doth serve We are not to lord it over Gods heritage 1 Pet. 5. 3. The means of the Elders executing their Office are not carnal means but Spiritual not carnal Force nor carnal Policy but the Word of God the Sword of the Spirit The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. Elders must not make their own Will but the Will of Christ the Rule of all their Actings in the Church of Chirst It is in the Lord. I design briefly to open unto you how they are over the Church in the Lord. First In General And Secondly In Particular I. In General I shall shew you That all the Names and Titles that are given to the Ministers of Churches in the Scripture do both speak Authority entrusted to them by Christ and to be exercised by them in the Name of Christ and for his Glory and do also import a tender Care Kindness Compassion and Watchfulness that they ought to have of the Flock 1 Tim. 3. 5. How shall he care for the House of God They do also import their faithfulness and subjection to their Lord Jesus Christ 1. They are called the Messengers of the Lord of Hosts Mal. 2. 7. They are called the Angels of the Churches Angels sent The word here used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is often rendred Angel As 2 Sam. 14. 17 20. by Jesus Christ unto the Churches Rev. 1. 20. They are called Ambassadors to treat with Sinners in the Name of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 5. 20. And they must not speak their own Words but their Lords Words they must not seek their own Will or their own Glory but his that sent them and they are compassionately to intreat poor Rebels to seek Peace with Christ and they are carefully to watch to preserve Peace between Christ and poor Souls 2. They are called the Fathers of the People So Elijah was called My Father my Father 2 Kings 2. 12. Even Idolaters did own this Title Micha in Mount Ephraim Judges 17. 10. desired the Levite to be a Father to him the Men of Dan told the Levite
12. For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Minstry for the edifying the Body of Christ There seems to be a transposition of these words for the work of the Ministry which lieth in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those two things here named the jointing in of the Saints into Christ and into Church Fellowship and the edifying of the Body that such as are not Saints may become Saints by the Power of the Word and be jointed into the Church and after that they are jointed in that the Body might be edified Particularly 1. They are to preach the Word of God and they are to administer all the Ordinances of God and they must do it diligently and faithfully This charge is given 2 Tim. 4 12. Preach the word be instant in season and out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine They must speak like the Oracles of God 1 Pet. 4. 11. with clear Evidence of Scripture Light that God in all things may be glorified They must not corrupt and mingle the pure Word of God with the sophistical Notions and Errors of Men 2 Cor. 2. 17. They must not lay wood and hay and stubble upon the foundation if they do their Work shall suffer loss and themselves be saved with great difficulty so as by fire 1 Cor. 3. 12 15. 2. They must watch for your Souls Heb. 13. 17. Obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your Souls They must watch with great care and great diligence tho' thereby they be exposed to great trouble and great danger They must warn the People of their Backslidings and of their Wanderings and they must charge them that they keep the way of the Lord they must exhort them to their present Duty and they must exhort them to lay hold on their future Reward They must be very watchful lest by some means the Tempter should tempt any and their labour should be in vain 1 Thess 3. 5. They must warn them when any danger approacheth as God chargeth Ezekiel in Chap. 3. 18 19 Verses When I say unto the wicked Thou shalt surely die and thou givest him not warning nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked ways to save his life the same wicked Man shall die in his iniquity but his blood will I require at thy hands c. Bear with us Beloved if we seem unto you to be too earnest and too warm in our Admonitions and Reproofs we speak for the life of your Souls and it is for the life of our own Souls also we must shew you the good way of the Lord convince you of the Equity of it and labour to impress you with a sence of your Duty and excite you by the most powerful Motives we can use to a cheerful even and constant walking in the ways of the Lord. 3. The Elders are to exhort and comfort all the Members of the Church yea and all that desire to receive Instruction from them as their Condition and Necessities do require They must do this with great gentleness and compassion with simpathizing Bowels and condescending Love such the Apostle tells the Thessalonions was his Carriage towards them 1 Thess 2. 7 8. We were gentle among you even as a Nurse cherisheth her Children So being affectionately desirous of you we were willing to have imparted to you not the Gospel of God only but also our own Souls because you were very dear unto us So also he chargeth us 1 Thess 5. 14. Brotherly Love doth oblige all to attend unto this Duty but the Office committed to the Elder doth much more oblige him to it he is to be patient towards all 2 Tim. 2. 25. and in meekness to instruct them that do oppose themselves if peradventure God may give them repentance that they may escape out of the snare of the Devil They are to do this generally in their publick preaching of the Gospel and also particularly from House to House Thus the Apostle declared his diligence Acts 20. 20. I have kept back nothing that was profitable to you but I have shewed you and taught you publickly and from House to House 4. They are to defend and maintain the Truth against all Corruption and Error 2 Tim. 1. 13 14. Hold fast the form of sound words in Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus That good thing that is committed to thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us And they are not only to keep it themselves but they must by sound Doctrine exhort and convince Gain-sayers the mouths of gain-sayers must be stopt who subvert whole Houses speaking things they ought not for filthy lucre's sake 1 Tit. 1. 11. And in Chap. 2. v. 8. it is required of them that they have sound speech that cannot be condemned that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed having no evil thing to say of them It is that which requireth great Wisdom that we do keep close to the Word that we hold fast the Form of wholesom Words according to the Scripture and that all that we speak in the Name of the Lord be sound Speech that cannot be condemned we must contend earnestly for the Faith which was once delivered to the Saints Jude 3. v. We must watch against grievous Wolves entering in amongst us This is the Charge given to the Elders in Acts 20. 28 29. The Churches and especially the Angels of the Churches Rev. 2. 2. must try them that say they are Apostles and are not and find them to be lyars 5. They that are over the Church must be exemplary in yielding Obedience to all the Commandments of Christ Whosoever therefore shall break one of the least of these Commandments and shall teach Men so shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 5. 19. If you teach it not in your Preaching and teach it in your Example that any of the Commands of Christ are too little to be regarded you incurr the Threatning of being excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven Oh what cause of trembling have we So the Apostle chargeth Timothy 1 Tim 4. v. 12. Be thou an example of the Believers in word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity And in 2 Tim. 2. 22. Flee also youthful lusts but follow righteousness faith charity peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart Elders are set up in a golden Candlestick to be Lights and they must be pure Lights they must be burning and shining Lights if there be any filthiness in them it will lessen the Light and make the Light offensive which they hold forth to the People They are set upon a Hill the Eyes of all Men are upon them and their not walking in exemplary Holiness brings a great reproach upon the Gospel and Truths of Christ which they preach But it is honourable if they can say as Philip. 3. 17. That is
Let not any say I over-do in pressing you I have the great Apostle giving me an example in my Text most seriously and most affectionately pressing this Exhortation We had rather be altogether silent in this matter but there is danger lest you should be unmindful of your Duty The Apostle saw it to be needful and we find it to be needful to exhort you and stir up your minds by way of Remembrance and if we should be totally negligent in this matter it would be such a piece of Modesty and Self-denyal as would turn to your loss Therefore I beseech you that you would thus love and shew the Effects of your love to your Elders And in order hereunto 1. You must understand aright and be convinced of your Duty to your Elders be not willingly ignorant of your Duty let not prejudice turn away your minds from the consideration of your Duty and let not your hearts be resolved against it Know and lay to heart that the station wherein Christ hath set your Elders calls for those Duties at your hands let not evil Customs desire of Reputation or of Domination or desire to obtain the Favour of any lessen your due respect to your Elders but get a deep impression on your Consciences that this is your Duty strive not against the conviction of it Consider Christ commands you and their work doth greatly oblige you that you should so carry it to them put your Consciences under the awe of Christ's Command and love them for their work sake if this Motive affect you you will do your Duty with more delight to your selves and with greater acceptation to Jesus Christ. 2. Do not watch for the failings of your Elders that so you might have somewhat whereby to confirm your prejudices and to justifie your murmurings against them be not like Flesh Fâ—ies that love to dwell upon the sore place they are Men subject to like Passions with your selves they are Angels in Office but they are not yet Angels in perfect Holiness therefore do you cover their Infirmities with a Mantle of Love never take pleasure in discovering the nakedness of your spiritual Fathers 3. Let your Love be constant do not you fall under that reproof which the Apostle gives the Galatians Gal. 4. 15 16. Where is then the blessedness ye speak of for I bear you record that if it had been possible you would have plucked out your own Eyes and have given them to me am I therefore become your Enemy because I tell you the truth Let that Love that appeared warm in your first joyning in this Relation be still encreasing let it not presently decay Be not like Children that are never pleased but with new things be not of an unstable mind always affecting changes I am afraid that I have tyred you in speaking to these two Doctrines I will say therefore but little to the 3 Doctrine That the Elders faithful discharge of their Duty and the Peoples consciencious discharge of thâ—â—r Duty and mutual Peace are strictly joyned together Do not expect that you shall find the one without the other and when you see these joyned together then do you see Zion in her Beauty then will you rejoyce in the Lord and say Look upon Zion the City of our Solemnities thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet Habitation a Tabernacle that shall not be taken down c. Isa 33. 20. Briefly let me mention every part of this Doctrine 1. The Elders discharge of their Duty is a means to oblige the People to a Conscientious discharge of theirs and to promote mutual Peace Therefore Say to Archippus take heed to the Ministry which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfill it Col. 4. 17. You may not expect Love nor Reverence if you do not faithfully fulfil the Ministry that you have received in the Lord. If Elders be proud and haughty and self-will'd they loose their hold of the Peoples Love 2 Cor. 1. 24. We have not dominion over your Faith but are helpers of your joy If Elders do not themselves Practise and teach the Church to Practise all things that Christ hath commanded If Elders Mat. 23. 4. be Sloathful and Dronish they may not expect the People should highly esteem them in Love Mal. 2. 9. Therefore have I made you contemptible and base before all the People according as ye have not kept my ways but have been partial in my love If Elders do not faithfully Advise the Church if they addict themselves to the pleasing of some particular Men and do not consult and aim at the general good of the Church then there is not like to be mutual Peace in the Church An Elders carriage in the Church must be like that of Mordecaies Esther 10. 3. who was accepted of the multitude of his Brethren seeking the wealth of his people and speaking Peace to all his seed So if an Elder expect to be accepted of his Brethren he must seek the wealth of his people and speak peace to all the Flock 2. That Peoples Consciencious Discharge of their Duty is a means to encourage the Elders to be faithful in their Duty and it is a means of mutual Peace If the People behave themselves proudly and contemptuously against their Elders if they strive with them and obstinately resist their Admonitions and Reproofs they will weaken their Hands and sink their Spirits and give occasion for Strife and Division in the Church For consider how great a matter a little fire kindleth But if the People carry it lovingly to their Elders and say Thine are we peace be to thee and to thy helpers for thy God helpeth thee then shall the Elders succeed in their Work and Labour having a free access to the Spirits of their People then shall all offence and occasion of Division be greatly prevented 3. Mutual Peace doth in an eminent manner tend to help the Elders in the discharge of their Duty and help the People in the discharge of their Duty Peace doth promote â—ll Godliness and all Honesty and doth promote the Edification of all Rom. 14. 19. Let us therefore follow after the things that make for Peace and things wherewith one may edifie another And in Cap. 15. v. 2. Let every one please is Neighbour for his good to Edification Behold how pleasant and good a thing it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity there the Lord commands the blessing even life for evermore Psal 133. But if a Spirit of Division doth prevail in a Church then the Devil gets Advantage to hinder the good success of the Ministry to obstruct the Elders in doing their Duty who cannot live comfortably nor labour industriously if they be in a fire and a flame of Division and the Devil gets advantage also to alienate the People from their Duty and to bring all Mischief into the Church James 3. 14 If ye have bitter envyings and strifes in your hearts glory not and lie not against