men to call them forth unto the works whom he hath gifted and qualified for it and this drawing out of the spirits of men in that way that the Lord would have them is a special work of the spirit of God 1 Sam. 10.26 God having gifted Saul he doth draw out the spirits of men to call him to the office of a King and to joyn with him in it whose heart God had touched and the finger of God is the spirit of God by whom the hearts of men are touched and therefore Zach. 4.6,7 Not by power and might but by my Spirit that is his spirit that is working upon the spirits of men both in instruments and opposites raising and elevating the one and subduing the other so that the spirit inclining and ordering and over-ruling of the hearts of men in such a work it is an evident testimony of a call from the spirit for their hearts God had touched c. Thirdly there is yet something more and that is persons being thus chosen there is a sanction and a stablishment from the Holy-Ghost that doth come upon them that as all the duties of the office lie upon their consciences by the command of God that whatsoever is required in that office the Lord expects it of them so all the honour and dignity of the office is due to them and that by a command from the Holy Ghost and men are to be subject for conscience sake as an act of obedience unto God as a wowan before she hath chose a husband is at liberty to marry whom she will only in the Lord but having once chosen a husband all the duties that belong to a husband she is to perform unto him by vertue of the Covenant of God and in obedience unto God and as it is with a people in the point of the Magistracy its true that civil government is appointed by God but that it shall be in this or in that form he hath not appointed and therefore though there be several forms of government yet all are lawful and may according to the rules of prudence be made use of in any state as shall be most for the publike good therefore all forms of civil government are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 2.13 but having made choice of Magistracy in what form so ever the authority of God then comes upon it and ye are to obey as unto God and to be subject for conscience sake Rom. 13.5 and so it is here also and upon these three grounds it is that the Holy-Ghost is brought in for the Constitution and establishment of Church-Officers and therefore it is that he hath set 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 20.28 He did constitute them in that particular place where they should be Thirdly for this cause the Apostles they took special care to set up all the Institutions of Christ as well offices as ordinances as the state and condition of the Church did require and therefore they did not only gather them into bodies but they did also set Officers over them Acts 2.14,23 They ordained Elders in every Church and the same charge and employment they gave to the Evangelists who were appointed to this purpose to confirm the Churches and to ordain Officers in every Church Fourthly and we see that all the Churches of Christ accepted of Officers and acknowledged them as such as there were Elders in the Church of Ephesus Acts 20.28 and the Church of Jerusalem had not only Apostles but Elders also Acts 15.2,22 and therefore the whole Church is brought under these two heads them that rule over you and all the Saints Heb. 13.24 They are not all Rulers all are not men in office there be Rulers that are distinguished from Saints To what end are officers appointed in the Church what need is there of them they are appointed by Christ for these ends First for the Churches perfection in the Constitution thereof for though a Church without officers be a true Church in respect of the Essence of it when there is a society of visible Saints united into one body by mutual consent in the profession of the faith of the Gospel as appears Acts 6. there was a Church at Ierusalem before there were Deacons and a Church at Antioch before there were Elders Acts 14.23 but yet it is nor a compleat Church in all the parts of it as an Organical body therefore it hath officers superadded and therefore as soon as the Apostle had converted a people to the faith first they did embody them and then for their perfection they set officers over them they did not look upon them as compleat whilest they were as sheep without a Shepherd till there be some to rule and to order them in the waies of a Church and according to the Institutions of Christ and therefore in all ages the officers have been in a special manner the glory of the Churches as the Apostles were Rev. 12.1 Upon their heads is a Crown of twelve stars and therefore Cant. 8.8 We have a little Sister and she hath no breasts that is a stablished ministery and settled officers from whom the sincere milk of the word might be sucked breasts of consolation whereby they might be supported Now this tends to the perfection of a Church as we see it described Ezek. 16.7,8 Thy breasts were fashioned and thy hair was grown it notes coming unto maturity and ripeness of age whereas a Church wanting officers is but a little sister yet in her infancy or minority c. Secondly Officers are appointed in the Church to avoid confusion therefore the Lord saw officers to be necessary 1 Cor. 14.33 God is not the author of Confusion but of Peace in all the Churches of the Saints and Col. 1.2.5 rejoycing and beholding your order according unto Gods order when every man keeps his place and rank that is they that rule keep their place and they that are to be subject keep their place for the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a military term and if either of these be wanting there will be confusion in the Church therefore he will have some to rule and others to obey that there may be no disorder and by this means no differences for its disorder that is the ground of all differences as it is order that is the ground of peace break order in a Church and you break the peace of it immediately Thirdly the Lord doth it for the Churches edification that as he doth give diversity of gifts and all of them to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 It is not that any of them should lie idle and be used barely for a mans self and his own advantage as an ornament to himself but for the good of the Church so the Lord doth also appoint diversities of administrations to officers in the Church that according unto mens gifts so they may have suitable employments in the Church in which they may encrease their gifts and thereby
acceptation and they stand in the relation of an officer unto that people only and unto none other so that though by vertue of their commission from Christ they preach as the ministers of the Gospel unto any people yet by vertue of the election of the people they have the relation of Pastors to none but those that chose them so to be Fourthly the office of a Pastor is to be reduced to two heads First the duties that he doth owe to the people Secondly the dispositions with which those duties are to be performed First the duties that he doth owe to the people and which he is by vertue of his calling bound to perform and these duties are First he is bound to instruct them Christ is the great Shephard of the Sheep they are but Shepherds under him Christ feeds the flock and so they must do Jer. 3.15 the promise is I will give them Pastors after my own heart that shall feed them with knowledge and understanding therefore 1 Tim. 3.2 He that is a Pastor he must be able and apt to teach he that is not able to feed a people with knowledge and understanding he is not qualified for this office feeding you know is a constant and a daily thing he must supply them with new food from day to day bring out of his Treasury things new and old Mat. 13.52 First he must be one that hath a Treasurie a stock to spend upon that will not be spent or drawn dry Secondly he must have all sorts of knowledge things new and old what ever may be either profitable or taking to the people he must be furnished with it is an allusion Par. observes of new and old wine some are taken with old wine and some desire new and some say Give us both new and old that is the knowledge of the Law and of the Gospel or else it may be their meaning in new notions and old experiences and he must bring them forth also for the people silk worm-like weave it out of themselves continually And the Pastors duty in point of teaching is reduced to three heads First it is the duty of the Pastor to catechize them and instruct them in principles in the foundations of the Doctrine of Christ they that are unskilful in the word of righteousness must have milk Heb. 5.13 and so the Pastors office is set forth Gal. 6.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he that is catechized in the word and so he is to take care of the weak ones in the Church and of the children of the Church-members that they be instructed also Secondly he is to lead them to perfection Heb. 6.1 for their care must be to build them up further Acts 20.32 not that they should stand at a stay in knowledge but grow in knowledge that the whole connsel of God may be known to them and the word of God may dwell richly in them their knowledge praised and thereby their graces improved for the Pastors are debters unto men for meat as well as unto babes for milk Thirdly they are to convince the gain-sayers Tit. 1.9 that if there be corrupt tenents and wicked Doctrines vented the Pastor should take care to strengthen and stablish the people against them that they may not be as children carried away with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4.14 For it is whilest men slept through the carelesness and negligence of the Pastors it is that the enemies have such power and opportunity of sowing tares as they have Acts 20.30 he bids them watch against the Wolves Secondly he is to pray for the people Rom. 1.9 God is my witness that I make mention of you alwaies in my prayers Col. 1.3 praying alwaies for you and in this though Paul was an extraordinary officer yet he is a standard and an example for our duty we are to pray for the people and to do all that doth belong to them to do for the Church and here consider three things First they are to acquaint themselves with the state of the flocks that so they may know their particular necessities and wants that they may go to God for them for sutable supplies he that is a Shepherd must know the state of his flock Secondly they are to pray for them not only ex charitate ut fratres but ex officio the brethren are to pray for one another as brethren it is their duty but the Pastors they are to do it as men in office and as those that God hath appointed and hath instituted unto that work and therefore they may expect to be answered for them in what ever petition they put up to God they may look for a gracious return of their prayers as we see under the Law it was enjoyned Joel 2.17 Let the Priests the Ministers of the Lord weep between the Porch and the Altar and let them say Spare thy people O Lord c. Thirdly they must pray for particular persons according to their necessities and engage their interest unto God for them James 5. Is any sick amongst you let them call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray c. Labouring to keep the Judgement off from the body of any particular member of it if any man be sick the Elders of the Church may pray over him and they shall save the sick and labour to attain the pardon of the sins that occasioned the sickness c. Thirdly he must watch over them Act. 20.28 Take heed of all the flock not in a careless and a formal manner for the Lord says Son of man I have made thee a VVatch-man and thou shalt watch over this people Ezech. For I will require their blood at thy hands But how must he watch over them First he must observe diligently that they be not corrupted in Doctrine and he must contend carnestly for the faith that they be not turned away from the Truths of the Gospel Secondly he must watch over them that they be not defiled in their conversations that there do no root of bitterness spring up amongst them that he neither suffer the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans or the woman Jezebel one by Doctrine and the other by practise to corrupt the Church Thirdly he is to observe and watch that their graces do not decay and that they do not fall from their first â—…ve but he is to quicken them in duty and stir them 〈◊〉 from day to day Eccl. 12.11 He is to fasten the goads and nails given by one Shepherd Fourthly if any be sick he is to visit them the Elders of the Church are to be sent to them Fifthly if any of them be offended or mis-led he is to labour to reduce them the wandering sheep he is to bring home upon his shoulders if any be going astray he shall seek that sheep and bring him back again to the fold Sixthly if any be weak he is to comfort them he is to bear the Lambs in his
success Some more and some less according as the Lord is pleased to use them or bless them and as suitable to the Churches necessities so he doth give gifts so heâ— doth give Officers also for no men are to minister in the things of God without a call from God therefore such Ordinances and Officers as the Church doth stand in need of he hath appointed and with these they ought to rest satisfied and to fancy or create no more to themselves which was the error of the first Churches when they began to degenerate and corrupt themselves when they brought in new Ordinances then did they begin to set up new officers immediately and they that will lay aside the Ordinances of God will bring in multitudes of their own as we see it in Israel they multiplyed their Idols and also they that wil lay aside the Officers of Christ wilmultiply Officers of their own Ambrose saith of the Church of God at first Ambâ—ose It did nothing without the approbation of certain Elders thereunto appointed but that being neglected doctorum desidia vel potius superbia dum soli voluerunt aliquid videri now they brought in all manner of new Officers to the great burden of the Church that under Popery they are as much burthened with officers as they are with Ordinances therefore it must be our care to have an eye to the pattern in the one as well as the other for what ever is not of the Lords appointment that he will neither own nor bless it is of such that Christ speaks of in Ioh Every plant that my Heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up it is those that did place themselves in Offices in the Church never planted by the Father Here are in the words two things First the Officers duty and that is first to rule and then to watch Secondly the object or subject of this authority it is not over the bodies and estates of men but their souls only Thirdly the great engagement and obligation that lies upon them so to do because they must give an account Fourthly here are the different accounts that Church Officers will give to God and that is some with joy and some with grief Secondly here is the duty of the people that are under their power First they are to obey Secondly to submit themselves Thirdly upon this ground because they are such as watch for their souls and must give an account Fourthly as knowing if it be with grief it will be unprofitable unto them And hence there are several propositions very useful to our present occasion which I will set down in their order First that the Lord Christ as head of the Church hath appointed that there shall be Officers in all the Churches there is as well an Institution of Officers and offices as there is of Ordinances and it is in a mans power to constitute the one no more then he may the other and the neglect of one is a neglect of the Institution and so of the authority of Christ as well as the other it will appear that there hath gone some great hands unto this and to manifest this appointment First Christ Eph. 4.11 it is counted there as one of his gifts which Christ gave upon his Ascension for he doth not only say that he gave the gifts that qualified men for that work and that is a mercy when the Church is enriched with gifts and the Lord doth pour out his spirit upon many of them that they be fitted for office if they be called to it 1 Cor. 1.7 2. in a Common-wealth though there be but a few Magistrates yet there be many that are fitted to be Magistrates as in an Army when the souldiers are valiant yet it s not expedient that every one is able to command a party or be an Officer c. But it is not the gifts only but the Officers also that Christ hath given his Church and they are to be looked upon as a special gift of Christ as a special fruit of his taking possession of the Kingdom when he sat down at his Fathers right hand and though they were all given for the gathering and the perfecting of the Saints yet some were but temporary others were to abide to the end of the world till all the Saints were gathered and perfected and therefore it is said that he hath set them in his Church 1 Cor. 12.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word notes a constitution a firm stablishment that cannot be changed Act. 17. the times and seasons which the Father hath put in his own power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by a firm appointment and decree c. 1 Thes 5.9 God hath not appointed us to wrath but to attain salvation it s the same word So that the word signifies to appoint by a firm and a sure decree which cannot be changed he hath set them there and therefore none shall or can remove them Secondly the Holy-Ghost he also hath a hand in this Constitution Acts 20.28 Over whom the Holy-Ghost hath made you over-seers it is spoken unto Officers when they meet with the Apostles c. and for the understanding of it we must consider That the Spirit is the Mediatory Kingdom hath undertaken to be as it were a Prorex to rule for Christ therefore before the Throne there are seven Lamps of fire that is the seven spirits of God Rev. 4.5 for in the gifts and graces the Spirit is given the Gospel it s Preached by the Holy-Ghost sent down from heaven c. Now there are two things mainly that the Holy-Ghost doth in this constitution First the Spirit doth gift the men and qualifie them for the work for though there be diversity of gifts yet it is the same spirit that works in every man even as he will to one man the gifts of wisdom to another the word of knowledge but by the same spirit 1 Cor. 12.7,8,9,11 that as before Bezaleel and Aholiab did set upon the work of the Tabernacle he was filled with all wisdom by the spirit of God understanding and knowledge in all manner of work-man-ship and when Saul was called unto the Kingdom the spirit of the Lord came upon him and he was turned into another man 1 Sam. 10. Whether we do look unto the providential or spiritual Kingdom it is now in the hands of the Spirit and he knowing what works he hath to accomplish in both he doth gift men for the work in which he will employ them for though the gifts be common yet they proceed from the spirit as well as graces Secondly when a man is gifted and by the furniture of the man there is a ground to conceive God hath done it that he may employ him yet it is not enough by and by for any man to say I am gifted and therefore I will employ my self but there is another work of the spirit and that is he doth stir up the hearts of men to chuse
having publike occasions they may be more publickly useful then otherwise ever their gifts could have been had they continued only as private Christians therefore the Lord having gifted men and thereby fitted them for the publike good he doth give unto them a call unto a publick office that thereby they may have opportunity to exercise these gifts that he hath given them which else in a private condition must needs in a great measure lie idle the man wanting opportunity to draw them forth as in an office he may do and thereby improve them so then officers there are by the appointment of Christ and we may not neglect them least we despise any institution and least we run into confusion and be enemies to our own perfection and edification and therefore it is a great fault in some Christians that they are without them sometimes they are without a Preaching Officer sometimes they are without Ruling Officers and all upon some curiosities they cannot have a man so qualified as they desire a man that hath eminent gifts or a great name an honourable repute there is a great deal of pride and vanity that men do manifest even in such things as these are that are spiritual pride as men glory in officers in Paul in Apollo c. They are said to be puffed up one against another 1 Cor. 4.6 that is they were puffed up for their Teachers and they grow proud and boast one against another because we have higher and more eminent officers then you therefore they despise one another and so they were in their boastings and glorying carnal there is a great deal of pride and vanity in mens glorying in them carnally when they have them and it s manifested in many that because their pride this way cannot be satisfied therefore they will chuse rather to be without them Secondly These officers have an office there is an employment and a power which is put into their hands by Christ for the good of the Church we read in Scripture of the power of the keyes Math. 16.18 which is an Ensin of Authority put for the Authority it self as to give a man a sword is to put the power of the sword into his hand to commit authority to him of which this is the Ensign and so it notes a Commission given by Christ unto some persons to rule in his house according to the order and the rules prescribed in the word and this power in Scripture is three-fold First it is Monarchical in respect of Christ the head Secondly it is Democratical in respect of the body of believers Thirdly Aristocratical in respect of the officers So Dr. Whitaker p. 2. pag. 519. there is a threefold power that belongs unto the members of a Church first a power of admission of members and of ejection of them therefore the people are taxed that they did not cast out the man there is a virtus expulsiva belongs to the body 1 Cor. 5.13 Take away from amongst you that wicked person and the same is the Judgement of Peter Martyr loc com p. 886. sect 9 10. where he doth peremptorily deny Absque Ecclesiae consensu quempiam excommunicari posse c. and if so ejusdem potestatis the same power that can cast out they only can admit for if the officers may admit without the body they may cast out without them also Secondly there is a power of Election they have a power given them by Christ to chuse their own Officers that the Apostles would not interpose but Acts 6. the Church do chuse their Deacons chuse out amongst your selves Thirdly there is a power also of admonition Math. 18.15 Take two or three with thee and admonish them and it is an authorative act for it is in a way of process after a private admonition hath been refused and if there were not such a power given unto the Church then First if Officers abuse their power they have no remedy against them they must lie under it for ever the Church having power to withdraw from any particular man may also do the same to an Officer Secondly then that Officer is without any remedy himself and he hath not the priviledge of the meanest member for if excomunication be an Ordinance and is for edification and to reclaim if an officer go astray and persevere in it it is a misery to be deprived of it but yet there is a power and authority that belongs to the Officers which must not be intrenched upon by the Community as to preach the word administer the seals observe the waies of the Church to visit the sick c. These are the acts of the Elders which the whole Congregation are not to meddle withal and though it is true that a private Christian may watch over his brother and visit the sick they are to do it yet he doth it not as an act of office but of brotherly love and Christianity only and there is a great deal of difference as it is one thing for a man to give an alms and another thing as a Deacon to communicate to the Necessities of the Saints as every one hath need the Church may chuse the Deacon but they cannot execute the office of a Deacon they must not give all of them their own alms because it is not the way into which Christ hath put it there is a great deal of difference between these two as it will appear in this we pray one for another ex charitate ut fratres non ex officio ut mediatores out of Love not out of office It is very different to do the same thing as a brother and as an officer these two powers must be kept distinct that as the Church must not meddle with the authority and power of the officers so neither must the officers ingross and take to themselves the whole power of the Church for in the primitive times it was not so Now these Officers have a power committed to them they are as the Churches servants and so they are to acknowledge themselves VVe preach our selves your servants for Christs sake and they are to manage it with all humility therefore not as Lords over Gods heritage for all is for the good of the Church and so the Angels are ministring Spirits because it is for the good of the Church though the greatest power and authority under Christ is committed unto them in ordering of all things here below but yet there is an authority committed unto them by Christ 2 Cor. 10.8 there is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an authority given them for edification of the body c. though to keep in and cast out belong to the body yet they have a special hand in it and the managing of all the business of the body belongs to them wholly and therefore the names that they have do note a great deal of power and great authority they are not only called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Thes 5.13 men
to Magistrates though it be given generally to Christians My Brethren be not many masters saith the Apostle in Iam. 3.1 When a masterless disposition bears sway in Rulers truly then if their pathes in every thing be not trodden they are so far from being Counsellors that they are themselves uncounsellable My desire therefore to you is this that such Breaches amongst your selves may be made up that amongst you there may be none such if it may be But I should further desire that if any such be you would with more wisdom keep them amongst your selves then you do if such differences and breaches whatsoever they be amongst you in counsels come abroad they cause great divisions amongst the people and great animosities in the hearts of the people some one way and some another as their party or their fancy leadeth them In the third place labour for union amongst the Ministers that should be one thing that the Magistrate should take special care for endeavour a union among the Ministers of the Gospel they will have still and God would have them have a great influence upon the people If there be jarrs between Paul and Barnabas it is no wonder then if one be for Paul and another for Apollo people presently fall to parties therefore I desire you to consider in a special manner let it be your care that the Ministers be united far be it that they should be men to stir up strife and that they should cause divisions or nourish them amongst the people surely it is your duty Rom. 14.19 to follow after the things that make for peace and those that will edifie one another It is an observation that Bullinger hath Bullinger I remember in a Tract that he hath written de persecutionibus Christianae Ecclesiae be saith that whensoever the Church had peace auctae sunt dissentiones praecipue inter Episcopos Doctores quibus populus nihil aedificabatur by and by there arose differences amongst the Ministers and by this means the people were not edified but destracted and what then then the Lord gave them to such a persecution and then to such a persecution ad abstergendam aeruginem and those of us now that cannot pray together nor give thanks together no by no means we can neither pray for the same mercy nor give thanks for the same deliverances truly then we may go together in the same prison and it may be die at the same stake far be it therefore from the Minister of the Gospel I say that they should cause division or uphold it but if such a thing be it was Nazianzens last request to the Emperour before he left the Court Nazianz. that he would use all the Authority he had to reconcile the Ministers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cause that dissention cause that war to cease Oh But you will say how is it possible we should do it how can it be Truly the Apostle hath a Rule if it were we I understood and as well practised would reach very far in it you have it in 1 Cor. 14.32 the Spirit of the Prophets is subject to the Prophets the Spirit of the Prophets is subject to the Prophets the Spirit of the Prophets that is the Doctrine which they did profess to speak by the Spirit this Doctrine is subject to the Prophets how prophetarum censuris to their examination and to their censure they were to try it by the rule of the word whether it were the word of God or no Now if the Spirit of the Prophets be subject to the Prophets then certainly if men were to undergo such a tryal of Doctrine they would not be so ventrous both in the Press and in the Pulpit as now every where they are but it is for want of this rule not being observed the spirit of the Prophets is subject to the Prophets That is the third direction Reconcile the Ministers and you will unite the Nation In the fourth place I will but add a word of the rest Take away all oppression and all partiality in judgement there will never be a union till then while there is oppression there will be division it is a sure rule Ubi desinit judicium ibi incipit bellum war begins where judgement ends a sure rule hold the reins of Government with an even hand I say do not hold them strait upon some and loose off upon others for if you do there will be a heart-division that will arise take but that Scripture but mark it is a notable Scripture Job 34.17 Shall be that hateth right Govern saith he the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall he that hateth right bind up so it is in the Original shall he that hateth right bind up truly that man that doth not administer judgement righteously in his Government that man will never bind up the breaches of a Nation he that hateth right will never bind up the sore In the last place pray for this mercy you that are Magistrates pray for it it is not only your duty to rule the people but to pray for them Hezekiah prayed for the people and you find upon every occasion Moses his hands were up and Samuel saith God forbid I should cease to pray for you saith he And God hath promised to hear the prayers of the Magistrates in an especial manner you pray ex osficio you pray as men in office their prayers are more then the prayers of any private and particular man if they be godly Consider I humbly beseech you as it is in Church-Officers Iames 5.14 15. saith the Apostle If any man be sick let him send for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him why not for the Brethren as well as for the Elders The Lord hath special respect to men in office and in an especial manner let your prayers be by strength of arguments of faith drawn from those great promises I will give them one heart and one way the two sticks shall become one in my hand and by this means the Lord may make you the healers of the breach the Corner-stone to unite as well as to uphold the people This is the dignity and this is the duty of Magistrates that as Corner-stones they uphold the building and that as Corner-stones they unite the building Now I have a word of Application suitable to the present occasion and I have done The Use that I shall make of it is unto you my Beloved that are to vote in this Election it is a great trust that the Lord hath committed to you the good and the publick welfare of this great rich and populous City I say it is a great trust that the Lord hath commited to you You are now to make choice of a Corner-stone to rest the weight of the building upon a Corner-stone in whom the several parts of the building be united You see what manner of person he ought to be You see what the office is to