their Ministry to the glory of Christ and the profit of the Church And if they have not power to and do not exercise the Authority and execute the Laws of Christ to see too and require orderly walking of all the Members and Authoritatively to deal with Offenders and Transgressors of his Laws who hath power or can do it A Church of Believers as hath been shewed is a Family a Corporation and houshold of God and it is known to all men that all Families and incorporated bodies of men do or ought to live under and submit unto the Laws Orders and Discipline of those Families and Corporations whereunto they belong and in order thereunto they have such among them as have power and Authority to exercise Discipline and execute Laws to Command Order and Appoint what where when and how matters and things shall be done amongst them for the good of the whole I think that the Discipline of a Family or Church of God ought most carefully to be attended too and practised and who shall exercise it but his Ministers and Overseers Act. 20.17 28. It is true that Christ hath set in his Church also another sort of Rulers which I think are said to be helps to which Governments is joyned 1 Cor. 12.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is as I judge God hath chiefly entrusted the ruling power in the Church in the hands of his Teaching Elders and impowered others to help and assist them namely such as are called Ruling Elders in 1 Tim. 5.17 For they have need enough of such helps in their well governing a Church of Christ Of which more afterward This is another part or parcel of Teaching-Elders work Thirdly Their work is to Watch I say to watch over the Church They are the Churches Watchmen to take the oversight of them and to make inspection into them Acts 20.17 28 31. 2 Tim. 4.5 1 Pet 5.2 They are to watch the Wolves and Devil that would come amongst them to sow false Doctrines and Divisions to the breaking of their Peace and spoiling their Communion and that would corrupt their faith and leaven their judgments and drive them away from the Sheep-fold Acts. 20.29 30 31. Tit. 1.10 11 12 13. They must also watch their walkings and conversations and see if they are such as becomes the Gospel of Christ Phil. 1.27 or whether they be reprovable and scandalous so also if they keep to and practise their several duties to God and one another or neglect them that they may from Christ encourage the obedient and rebuke the negligent 1 Thes 5.14 They must also watch and make inspection into the state and condition of their Souls and see how matters go or stand with them that they may know how to administer Remedies to them as their cases do require They should enquire into their growth or decayes in grace whether the word Ordinances of Christ do profit or disprofit them as much as possible they should know what use and improvement they make of their Gospel-mercies as also their Tryals and Temptations their faith and judgments whether they continue found and sincere The Elders of a Church of Christ must not only carry about the names of watchmen but they must do and attend with diligence the real and full work of watchmen they are set by him upon his walls to watch and inspect his Church which indeed is no easie work but full of care trouble pains and difficulty And therefore 't is no wonder the Apostle says who is sufficient for these things for they are to take care of all the spiritual and soul-concernments of the whole Church Fourthly They are to endeavour the preservation of all the Truths and Ordinances of Jesus Christ amongst them and to maintain them in their power and purity in the Church When they know any truth or matter of faith or practice doubted of or called into question by any in the Church they must with all possible care wisdom faithfulness and diligence endeavour the removal of the doubts and questions maintain the Truths and establish all the Members of the Church in them for should the errours at any time sowen among them be let alone and suffered to take Root in their heads they will eat into the heart like a Canker or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cancer or Gangrene To prevent which the Apostle charges Timothy and Titus and all Elders of Churches in them to hold fast the form of sound words 2 Tim. 1.13 And to hold fast the faithful word Tit. 1.9 That by sound Doctrine they may convince Gainsayers And this was alwayes Paul's care and practice as was shewed either to prevent the corrupting of Truth and mens Souls with errours or to overthrow and root them up where they were entertained Thus the Ministers of Christ ought to do now and that for Christ his Truths and Churches sakes Fifthly They must administer all Church-Ordinances with all possible diligence care zeal and faithfulness It is their work and place to do it and therefore they must not be careless or negligent but watch seek for and observe all opportunities for the doing of it that the Church suffer no detriment by their neglects which they will quickly do if neglected as experience shews They must not only care to Preach well but to administer all other Appointments of Christ also in their seasons for all the Ordinances of Jesus Christ are the Churches food and provisions and the means and way appointed by him for the Communicating and dispensing of his Grace Spirit yea and himself unto their Souls and indeed without the Ordinances of the house the house or Church cannot subsist and they are the authorized Stewards of the house to give the Lords Houshold all their provisions in due season that they may be fat and flourishing under his keeping and Donations 1 Cor. 4.1 2. Mat. 24.45 Psal 92 12 13 14. 1 Tim. 3.5 Every Church Ordinance is a Golden Pipe to convey light life and holiness into Believers hearts and as Breasts to convey nourishment to the Soul They are spiritual Ladders to carry the hearts and graces of Believers up to Heaven and lodge their minds and affections there and they are as the Ark where God will come and meet his people Esa 64.5 Therefore they must be carefully frequently and holily dispensed and administred by them who are set there to do it Sixthly They must stand between God and the Church with holy hearts hands and tongues lifted up to Heaven for the Church or in their behalf and that privately and publickly For their work and office is not only to Minister to them from Christ but they are to present their wants desires and gratitude to God for them also which is no easie work to do They must pray and wrestle with God for them as for their own Souls and carry them upon their hearts and souls in their secret addresses to God and plead with God importunately for them
holy ends of God in desiring Communion with them As 1 To enjoy God and hold communion with him in all his ordinances and appointments 2 To worship God there in Spirit and Truth and give him your homage and service in his house 3 To shew and declare your subjection and obedience unto him and to make a publique and open profession of him before men 4 To receive of his Grace to enrich your Souls with his fulnesse and to be sealed by his Spirit unto the day of your Redemption 5 That you may walk orderly and beautifully and shine as Lights in the Churches and in the world before Saints and Sinners 6 That you may be established in the Truth live under the watch and care of Christs Ministers and of fellow Members that by their inspection and faithful dealings with you you may be kept from and brought back from sin to God by their wise Reproofs and holy Instructions 7 That you may yield up your selves in Universal obedience unto Christ and do all things whatsoever he commands you that you may have the right use and enjoyment of all your purchased priviledges and be secured against the Gates of Hell Are these and such like ends in your minds and hearts in your walking in Church-fellowship and can you find the forementioned mark or signs of Grace in you in measure though not so clearly and fully as you would Why then I may boldly and humbly tell you that you are fitted and qualified for Church membership that you are called and invited into the house and Temple of God and that you are indispensibly bound to answer to the call of God and say behold Lord we come unto thee and will freely without delay thankfully without grudying humbly without pride with mourning and rejoycing enter into thy Courts joyn with thy Churches and grow into a holy Temple to thy Praise and Honour We will no longer slight our great priviledges neglect our great and indispensible Duties or walk disorderly as we have done but we do now willingly come and offer our selves unto thee and to enter into a solemn engagement to be thine to walk in all thy ways and do the things that please thee I say that Church priviledges are yours the doors of Gods house stand open for you Christ stands at the door and waites for you he invites you to come in sit down at his Table and you shall be most freely and heartily welcome to your Lord and his people And know that it is your unavoidable and indispensible duty to enter into his house 5. Quest Ought a Church of Christ especially the Guides thereof to let in any that professe the name and waies of Jesus Christ and offer themselves unto them or ought they not to try and prove them first whether they are rightly qualified by the grace of Christ for full membership with his people if so then what are the qualifications they should look for and find in them for their own satisfaction which they admit into the holy Temple of God Answ 1. It is certain that all that professe the name of Christ and his waies ought not may not be admitted into the Lords holy Temples because many if not the most of them are very Ignorant of Christ and his ways and notorious scandalous in their Lives as sad and wofull experience shews 2. It hath been I think sufficiently proved before that not any but real-hearted sound Believers are fit materials for a house and holy Temple of God and if so then a Church or the Guides thereof may not admit any into it but such only as they judge by the word of God and their own charitable discretion are such indeed although 't is possible they may be Hypocrites but they may not admit them if they groundedly know or think them to be such For if they should admit such against their knowledge they betray their Trusts and defile Christs holy Temple by taking in such persons as they know or ought to know Christ would not have there And that they ought to try and prove persons that they may know their worthinesse and fitnesse before they admit them in is clear in Acts 9.26 and because Christ hath committed the keys of his Temple unto them to take in and put out according to his will and Appointment Moreover he blames Some for suffering Tares if meant of persons to be sowen in his Kingdome and not endeavouring to prevent and keep them out Matth. 13.25 says he while men Slept the Enemy came and sowed Tares that is while such as should have kept the Temple Gates shut against them to have kept them out were negligent and carelesse of their duty for they should have done all they could to have kept out the Devils seed for what agreement hath the Seed of the Serpent with the Seed of the Woman the Rebells with the true Subjects of Christ or as Paul saith what concord hath Christ with Belial 2 Cor. 6.14 3. As to satisfying qualifications in persons desiring admission into Churches I say that when they have been well tryed and are found in the Judgment of Charity such as Christ hath received and competently qualifyed for Church membership they ought to receive them in the Lord Rom. 14.1 Rom. 15.7 1. If they can make forth and declare unto the Church their at least seemingly Regeneration Conversion Repentance and Faith in Christ their knowledge of Christ and his ways Laws and Ordinances of their lost and perishing state in Sin and by reason of it and their sincere desires and Resolutions to become the Lords and to walk with him unto all well-pleasing in all his ways 2. If they are sound in the Faith of the Gospel I mean in the chief and principal Doctrines and Truths thereof although they may be ignorant of or err in lesser matters If they have some distinct knowledge and Faith concerning these and other such Truths and matters contained in the word of God As of the state and condition wherein man was first created How he lost that holy and blessed State and the misery he brought himself and all his posterity into thereby Concerning themselves that they are by nature Children of wrath dead in Sins and Trespasses and condemned to eternal Death That they are Enemies to and at enmity with God That they have neither will nor power by nature either to will or do that which they ought and is pleasing to God That they have forsaken God and are under the Curse of the Law and that they are the Children Subjects and Servants of the Devil World and their own Lusts That God left not all men in this State and condition but provided an all-sufficient Remedy namely Jesus Christ and that by an Everlasting Covenant entered into with Christ in the behalf of men before the Foundation of the World Tit. 1.2 2 Tim. 1.9 Prov. 8. and that in pursuance thereof he elected and gave some to Christ that he might
hope I may affirm and assert without reflection on or offence to such as are otherwise minded if any such there be that fear God Believers being thus built and formed together are now become a holy Temple of God and are accordingly owned by him as such and now they are the seat and subject of all the Laws and Ordinances power and Authority that Jesus Christ hath given to and for his Churches use and benefit I mean they or this Church so formed and built have all these essentially though not formally until Christ set one or more teaching Elders in it for the orderly using and managing of that his power and Authority given to the Church Yet I say I think that it doth essentially reside in them as the first subject of the Keys for I find the keys given unto them for the use and behoof of the Church Matth. 16.18 19. which said power of the Keys cannot be given only to Peter nor unto the universal or Catholick Church that it should use them as such for that is impossible but they were given to particular Churches as formed up of Believers namely to such as could have matters brought to and be received and heard by them from an offended Brother Matth. 18.15 16 17. and such a Church is here meant as had power to deal with a sinning member in case of obstinacy and therefore the Catholick Church as such is nor there intended Now this Church spoken of hath power to elect and call such persons out from amongst themselves to use and exert the power and authority of Jesus Christ already given them and Ministring to them in the Name of the Lord as they judge the Lord Jesus hath fitted qualified for given to and sent amongst them and invested with Authority and abilities for their Good I say they have power to elect and call such to office power over them in the Lord and that they ought with all convenient speed after they are built up to do it because till that be done they cannot orderly and regularly administer or receive the Seals of the Covenant for all cannot exert and exercise that power that doth essentially reside in themselves as a Church neither can any private Member while such and therefore it must be done by Officers or one in Office that is called set apart and wholly dedicated to the work of the Ministry amongst them Therefore they may and ought to look out from among themselves and call to Office such as they judge Christ hath sent them Act. 6.3 Act. 14.23 CHAP. V. Shewing what Officers Christ hath appointed for and given to his Gospel-Churches and what are their Offices and works in a Holy Temple of God 7. QUest What officers hath Jesus Christ given to the Church Answ The Lord Jesus hath by his Sovereign Authority given to his Church Pastors and Teachers Ruling Elders and Deacons All which Officers are invested with different power and entrusted with different works in the Church Now the Teaching-ruling Officers have several names and appellations given them according to the particular parts and branches of their work in the Church As Pastors Teachers Elders Bishops Guides All these names are given to the same Persons and Officers in the Church Sometimes they are called Pastors and Teachers Eph. 4.11 sometimes Elders 1 Tim. 5.17 1 Pet. 5.1 sometimes Bishops or Overseers Act. 20.28 sometimes Guides Heb. 13.7 17. and they are of the same sort order and degree their work office and power the same for although they have different names in sound yet not of work power and Authority in the Church The persons are the same their office power and authority the same and their work the same The Scripture doth no where give one ordinary teaching Officer more power and Authority than another or set one sort of Teaching Elders over another sort nor give them distinct and different work to do in the Church but so as that whatever power or work a Bishop hath in the Church to exercise and do the same hath an Elder or Pastor also Hath a Bishop power and authority to command and Teach so hath an Elder too hath a Bishop I mean one of Christs making the ordering of Church-matters and managing the discipline thereof so hath an Elder also 1 Tim. 5.17 for they are the same Besides Teaching Elders the Lord Jesus hath given and appointed meer ruling Elders to his Church also for the well-being peace and establishment of the Church and to assist and help the Teaching ruling Elders in looking after taking care of the concernments of the Church called Helps 1 Cor. 12.28 and they are expresly called Ruling Elders distinctly from the Teaching ruling Elders 1 Tim 5.17 and Helps Governments in 1 Cor. 12.28 and in Rom. 12.8 it is said he that ruleth let him do it with diligence and distinguisheth them from Treaching Ministring and exhorting Rulers for Teachers have the power of rule and discipline as well as the meer ruling Elders in 7 8. verses And the Apostle speaks not there of different Offices in the same persons though that is a Truth but of different persons and Officers for says he let the Teachers wait on their Teaching Ministring and exhorting that is as it is their great and principal work as indeed it is and therefore to ease them a little of the ruling part of their work and that they may the more fixedly and chearfully attend unto and perform that other part of their work namely to teach and Minister in the Church the Lord Jesus hath appointed some to attend only ordinarily to the work of ruling to keep all in order in the Church and therefore charges them to do it with diligence Rom. 12.8 Besides these the Lord hath given Deacons to his Church also Act. 6. 1 Tim. 3.8 to 14. vers and Phil. 1.1 for another kind of work namely to attend Tables to look after the poor and provide for them to dispose of the Churches distributions and charity for the profit of the whole and relief of the poor of the Church 8. Quest How ought Pastors and Teachers to be qualified or what is required unto their right constitution and officiating in the Church as such Officers Answ First They must be furnished with Ministerial Gifts for their work namely such as Christ promised and ascended up to Heaven to give unto men for the work of the Ministery and which he received of the Father for them even then when he gave all things into his hand Joh. 3.35 which are absolutely necessary for all that take upon them the great work of the Ministry and the care and charge of Souls or to oversee and edifie the Body of Christ These Gifts are spiritual which they receive not from men but from Christ their Lord who sends them as his Stewards into his houshold to give them meat in due season Matth. 24. as his servants into his vineyard to dresse prune and order it to keep and
why should not their reasons be soberly and humbly considred of by you and oblige you to practise unless you can null them and with peace and meekness propound better to them for their satisfaction It is sad when Members of Churches shall be so highly conceited of themselves and their own Notions as that they shall despise and turn as it were a deaf ear to all the reasons of their Elders and delight in being singular from them and their fellow-Brethren in Church-matters and in contending for Victory rather than for Truth This ought not to be For it makes Church-work tedious spoyls the beauty and loveliness of it yea it marrs the Harmony of Church order And this is dishonourable to Christ and the Church and exceedingly grievous to your Teachers who do unfeignedly seek and aim at your good in all and dare not do otherwise for fear of offending Christ their Lord. 7. Encourage them with your Purses also For it is the will of Christ that you should do so They labour for your Souls and spend their time and strength to do you all possible service in their places and capacities and therefore it is most reasonable that you should labour and provide for their bodies They spend for you and therefore you should spend for them They are Shepherds do watch over and wait on you their Flocks And I appeal to any indifferent Judgment if it be not a most reasonable thing that they should live by the milk of their Flocks surely Paul yea the Holy Ghost thought so 1 Cor. 9.7 8. and therefore have declared it for our Learning and practise It was Gods Ordinance under the old Testament and it is ratified and confirmed to men under and by the new Testament also namely that Ministers should be honourably and comfortably maintained by their Congregations The Great God took special care about it and made provisions for their maintenance assoon as he had ordained and set them up and appointed and set them out their work And God strictly-charged his people to see that they did not at any time forget or neglect the Levite but pay them all that he had set out and appointed for them and that then when by reason of Age or other impediments they could not Minister to them and for them as well as when they did Numb 3.6 to the 14. vers Numb 16.9 10. Deut. 26.2.15 vers Deut. 10.8 9. Numb 7.1 2 3 4 5. Deut. 12.19 Deut. 14.26 27 28 29. Deut. 18.1 9. Now Gods care of and goodness to his Embassadours did not dye with the Ceremonial Law but he hath continued it under the Gospel and therein straitly charged his people to provide for them according to their abilities God commands his people to communicate to their Teachers in all good things Gal. 6.6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that Teacheth in all good things And in 1 Cor. 9.14 The Apostle assures us that it is not of men but a real and unchangeable Ordinance of God now by and under the Gospel For says he so hath God ordained that they that Preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel Mark it is ordained God hath made it a Statute Law that cannot be altred neither may it be transgressed under pain of Gods high displeasure And the Apostle argues by the Spirit the justness and the undoubted reasonableness and righteousness of mens so doing and that the evidence of meer Reason and the Dictates of natural Conscience without either written Law or Gospel will abundantly prove and undeniably conclude this Truth against all opposition whatsoever 7.10 verses And proves that it is not matter of gift or charity as it is to give to men in distress to whom we are not endebted nor related but that it is debt and justice or a due debt in strict Justice and that by a threefold Law viz. The Law of Nature the written Law of God in the old Testament and the new Law or Gospel as in this 1 Cor. 9. from the 5. to the 15. vers he evinces so in Gal. 6.6 and Rom. 15.27 And says the Apostle in 1 Cor. 9.11 v. If we have sowen to you spiritual things is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things As if he had said alass These are but light small and low matters that you give us for our pains and labours in comparison of what we do for and dispense to you Your carnal things that you impart to us for our bodies are not comparable to our labour pains and care to impart spiritual Riches to your Souls And therefore if you grudge at your parting with yours to us know that you grudge us small and very inconsiderable things in comparison of what we distribute to you This is another of your works and duties to your Teachers You must therefore do it and that 1. Chearfully and willingly not grudgingly heartily not hypocritically and indifferently dutifully and in obedience to the will of Christ not as an arbitrary thing that you may or may not do at your own will and pleasure Constantly and perseveringly not for some time onely And see that your ends be right in it namely to encourage your Ministers propagate the Gospel to profit Souls to serve please and honour the Lord Jesus and that in the right performance of your duty to Christ his Ministers you may enjoy the good of the promises and the blessings of all Christs Ordinances administred by them But that I may a little more inforce this on your Consciences be pleased to consider First That your Ministers are appointed commanded and they do wholly attend on Christ and the service of your Souls They are said to wait at the Altar 1 Cor. 9.13 and commanded to give themselves wholly to their work of Teaching Ruling Reading Meditation Study and Exhortation that their profiting may appear to all that they may rightly divide the word of Truth and that by so doing they may both save themselves and them that hear them 1 Tim. 4.13 14 15 16. 2 Tim. 2.15 They must Preach the word in season and out of season c. 2 Tim. 1.2 Feed their Flocks and take the care and oversight of them Act. 20.28 1 Pet. 5.1 2. And therefore you must take care of their bodies on whom they attend For you see that they may not cannot follow other Employments to get Bread because they are commanded to do other work for you the greatness difficulty of their own proper work necessitates them to wait on and attend to it with all diligence Therefore you ought to provide for them all suitable supplyes because they cannot may not do it themselves 2. Consider that you are plainly and peremptorily commanded and charged to Communicate to them in and of all your carnal things as you heard before And therefore you are by Christs Authority and revealed will indispensibly bound to do it and that without grudging or gain-saying For a plainer