is written in the Law of Moses Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corne doth God take care for Oxen vers. 10. Or saith he it altogether for our sakes for our sakes no doubt this is written that he that ploweth should plowe in hope and he which thresheth in hope should be made partaker of his hope vers. 11. If we have sowen unto you spirituall things is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnall things vers. 13. Do not you know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the Temple and they that wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar vers. 14. Even so hath the Lord appointed that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel Matth. 10. 9 10. Provide neither gold nor silver nor brasse in your purses Nor scrip for your journey neither two coats neither shoes nor yet staves for the Workman is worthy of his meat Add to these and the like places the Analogie of the Primitive allowance in the Church of the Jews EXPLIC. V. IT is a promise to the Church under the Gospel that Kings should be her nursing Fathers and Queens her nursing Mothers Isa. 49. 23. To such it belongs principally to provide food and protection for those committed to them the fruit of this promise the Churches in many ages enjoyed Laws by supream and Kingly power have been enacted giving portions and granting priviledges to Churches and their Pastors It is so in many places in the dayes wherein we live on this ground where equitable and righteous Laws have allowed a supportment in earthly things to the Pastors of Churches arising from such as may receive spirituall benefit by their labor in the Gospel it is thankfully to be accepted and embraced as an issue of Gods providence for the good of his Besides our Saviour warranteth his Disciples to take and eat of their things by their consent to whomsoever the word is preached Luk 10. 8. But it is not alwaies thus these things may sometimes fail wherefore the continuall care and frequently the burden or rather labor of love in providing for the Pastors lies as in the Rule upon the Churches themselves which they are to do in such a manner as is suitable to the condition wherein they are and the increase given them of God This the whole in generall and each Member in particular is obliged unto for which they have as Motives 1. Gods appointment as in the Text cited 2. The necessity of it how shall he go on warfare if he be troubled about the necessities of this life They are to give themselves wholly to the Work of the Ministry 1 Tim. 4. 15. Other works had need to be done for them 3 The equity of the duty our Saviour and the Apostles plead it out from grounds of equity and justice Matth. 10. 10. 1 Cor. 9. 10. Allowing proportionable rectitude in the way of recompence to the wages of the Laborer which to detain is a crying sinn Iam. 5. 4. RULE VI ADhering to him and abiding by him in all trials and persecutions for the Word 2 Tim. 4. 16. At my first answer no man stood with me but all men forsooke me I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge 2 Tim. 1. 16. The Lord shew mercy to the house of Onesiphorus for he oft refreshed me was not ashamed of my chains V. 17. But when he was in Rome he sought me out very diligently and found me V. 18. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy in that day and in how many things he ministred to me at Ephesus thou knowest very well EXPLIC. VI A Common cause should be carried on by common assistance that which concerneth all should be supported by all when persecution ariseth for the words sake generally it begins with the leaders the common way to scatter the sheep is by smiting the shepheards The best of them is but a brier and who will leave their Pastor in such briers It is for the Churches sake he is reviled and persecuted and therefore it is the Churches duty to share with him and help bear his burthen All the fault in scattering Congregations hath not been in Ministers The people stood not by them in their triall the Lord lay it not to their charge The Captain is betrayed and forced to mean conditions with his Enemy who going on with assurance of being followed by his Souldiers looking back in the entrance of danger he finds them all run away in England usually no sooner had Episcopall persecution laid hold of a Minister but the people willingly received another perhaps a Wolf instead of a Shepheard should â— wife forsake her husband because he is come in trouble for her sake Would not such a thing be called villany Is the crime of a back-slider in spirituall things less Surely whilest a Pastor lives if he suffer for the truth the Church cannot desert him nor cease the performance of all required duties without horrid Apostacy RULE VII GAthering together in the Assembly upon his appointment with theirs joyned with him Acts 14. 27. When they were come and had gathered the Church together These are the Heads wherein the Churches duty consisteth towards him or them that are set over it in the Lord by all means giving them encouragement to the work saying also unto them take heed to the Ministry you have received that you fulfill it in the Lord Col. 4. 17. For what concerneth other Officers may easily be deduced hence by analogie and proportion Rules to be observed by those who walk in fellowship and considered to stirre-up their remembrance in things of mutuall duty one towards another which consisteth in RULE I. AFfectionate love in all things to one another like that which Christ bare to his Church Jo. 15. 12. This is my commandement that ye love one another as I have loved you Jo 13. 34. A new Commandement I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another V. 35. By this shall all men know that you are my Disciples if ye have love one to another Rom. 13. 8. Owe nothing to any man but to love one another he that loveth another fulfilleth the law Eph. 5. 2. Walk in love as Christ also hath loved us 1 Thes. 3. 12. The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another 1 Thess. 4. 9. Your selves are taught of God to love one another 1 Pet. 1. 22. Seeing ye have purified your soules in obeying the truth through the spirit unto unfaigned love of the brethren see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently 1 Jo 4. 21. And this commandement we have from him that he who loveth God do love his brother also Rom. 12. 10. Be kindly affectioned one to another in brotherly love EXPLIC. I. LOve is the fountain of all duties the substance
of all rules that concern the Saints the endless bond of communion the fulfilling of the Law the advancement of the honor of the Lord Jesus and the glory of the Gospel The primitive Christians had a proverbiall speech received as they said from Christ never rejoyce but when thou seest thy brother in love and it was common among the Heathens concerning them see how they love one another from their readiness for the accomplishment of that royall precept of laying down their lives for the brethren it s the fountain-rule scope ayme and fruit of Gospel-communion and of no one thing of present performance is the doctrine of the Lord Jesus more eximious and eminent above all other directions then in this of mutuall intense affectionate love amongst his followers for which he gives them innumerable precepts exhortations and motives but above all his own heavenly example to treat of love in its causes nature subject fruits effects tendency eminency and exaltation would not suit with present intention only it may be plainly affirmed that if there were no cause besides of reformation and walking in fellowship but this one that thereby the possession and practice of this grace shamefully to the dishonor of Christ and his Gospel lost amongst those who call themselves Christians it were abundantly enough to give encouragement for the undertaking of it notwithstanding any oppositions now this love is a spirituall grace wrought by the Holy Ghost Gal 5. 22. in the hearts of believers 1 Pet. 1. 22. whereby their soules are carried out 1 Thess. 2. 8. to the good of the children of God as such Phil. 5. Eph. 1. 15. Heb. 13. 11. uniting the heart unto the object so beloved attended with joy delight and complacency in their good Motives unto love are proposed from 1. The example and command of God and Christ 2. From the nature use and end of love it self 3. From the state and condition of the persons to be beloved and that so variously as they are too long for the present to be insisted on Love which is the bond of communion maketh out it self and is peculiarly exercised in these things following II. RULE COntinuall prayer for the prosperous state of the Church in Gods protection towards it Psa. 122. 6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love thee Phil. 1. 4. Alwayes in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy ver. 5. For your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day untill now Rom. 1. 9. Without ceasing I make mention of you all in my prayer Acts 12. 5. Peter was kept in prison but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him Isa. 62. 6. Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence ver. 7. And give him no rest till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth Eph. 6. 18. Praying alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints Col. 4. 12. Epaphras who is one of you a servant of Christ saluteth you alwayes labouring fervently for you in prayers that you may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God EXPLIC. II. PRayer as it is the great engine whereby to prevail with the Almighty Is. 45. 11. so it is the sure refuge of the Saints at all times both in their own behalf Psal. 61. 2. and also of others Acts 12. 5. It is a benefit which the poorest believer may bestow and the greatest Potentate hath no power to refuse this is the beaten way of the soules communion with God for which the Saints have many gracious promises of assistance Zech. 12. 10. Rom. 8. 26. innumerable precepts for performance Matth. 7. 7. 1 Thess. 5. 17. 1 Tim. 2. 8. with encouragements thereunto Ja 1. 5. Luk. 11. 9. with precious promises of acceptance Matth. 21. 22. Jo. 16. 24. Psal. 51. 15. By all which and divers other wayes The Lord hath abundantly testified his delight in this sacrifice of his people now as the Saints are bound to pray for all men of what sort soever 1 Tim 2. 1 2. unless they are such as sin unto death 1 Jo. 5. 16. yea for their persecuters Matth. 5. 44. and them that hold them in bondage Jer. 29. 7. so most especially for all Saints Phil. 1. 4. and peculiarly for those with whom they are in fellowship Col. 4. 12. The Lord having promised that upon every dwelling place and all the assemblies of Mount Syon that there shall be a cloud of smoke by day and a shining of a flaming fire by night Isa. 4. 5. it is every ones duty to pray for its accomplishment he is not worthy of the priviledges of the Church who continues not in prayer for a defence upon that glory prayer then for the good prosperity flourishing peace increase edification and protection of the Church is a duty every day required of all the members thereof 1. Estimation of the Ordinances 2. Concernment of Gods glory 3. The honour of Jesus Christ 4. Our own benefit and spirituall interest With the fourth expresseness of the command are sufficient Motives hereunto III RULE EArnest striving and contending in all lawfull wayes by doing and suffering for the purity of the ordinances honor liberty and priviledges of the Congregation being joyntly assistant against opposers and common adversaries Jude 3. And exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the Saints Heb. 12. 3. For consider him that endured such contradictions of sinners against himself lest ye he wearied and faint in your minds V. 4. ye have not resisted unto blood striving against sinne 1 Jo. 3. 16. Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren Gal. 5. 1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not intangled again with the yoke of bondage V. 13. For Brethren ye have been called unto liberty 1 Cor. 7. 23. Ye are bought with a price be ye not the servants of men Cant. 6. 4. Thou art beautifull O my love terrible as an Army with banners 1 Pet. 3. 15. be ready alwayes to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear EXPLIC. III. THe former Rule concerned our dealing with God in the behalf of the Church This our dealing with men to the right performance hereof many things are required as 1. Diligent labouring in the Word with fervent prayer to acquaint our selves with the mind and will of God concerning the way of worship which we profess and the rules of walking which we desire to practise that so we may be able to give an account to humble enquirers and stop the mouths of stubborn opposers according to our knowledge such will be our valuation of the ordinances
this rule the maine whereof and here cheifly intended is that of Admonition whereunto the first is previous and conducing the latter in some cases consequent and attending Christians conversation whether you consider the glory of God and the Gospel therein concerned or the bonds of relation with those mutnall endearments wherein they stand ingaged and obligations that are upon them for the generall good and spirituall edification one of another ought to be watched marked and considered by each other not that we should curiously prie into one anothers failings much lesse maliciously search into doubtfull unknown things for the trouble or disparagement of our brethren both which are contrary to that love which thinketh not evill but covereth a multitude of faults but only out of a sense of the glory of God the honour of the Gospel and care of each others soules to observe their walking that what is exemplary therein may be followed what faileth may be directed what is a misse may be reproved that in all things God may be glorified and Christ exalted Now admonition is two-fold 1. Authoritative by the way of power 2. Fraternal by the way of love The 1. again is two-fold 1. Doctrinall by the way of teaching 2. Disciplinary which belongeth to the whole Church Of these we do not treat The latter also is two-fold Hortatory to encourage unto good and Monitory to reprove that which is amisse It is this last which is peculiarly aimed at and intended in the rule This then we assert as the duty of every Church-member towards them with whom he walks in fellowship to admonish any from the Word whom they perceive not walking in any thing with a right foot as becommeth the Gospel thereby to recover his soule to the right way that much caution and wisdome tendernesse and moderation is required in the persons performing this duty for want whereof it often degenerates from a peaceable remedy of evill into fuell for strife and debate Let them then who are called to perform this duty diligently consider these things 1. That in the whole action he transgresse not that rule of charity which we have 1 Cor. 13. 7. Gal. 6. 2. 2. Let him have peace at home by an assurance of constant labouring to cast out all beams and moates from his own eye Mat. 7. 5. 3. Let him so perform it that it may evidently appear that he hath no other aime but the glory of God and the good of his brother reproved all envy and rejoycing in evill being farr away 4. Let him be sure to draw his admonitions from the Word that the authority of God may appear therein and without a Word let him not presume to speak 5. Let all circumstances attending time place persons the like be duly weighed that all provocation in the least manner may be fully avoided 6. Let it be considered as an ordinance whereunto Christ hath an especiall regard 7. Let him carefully distinguish between personall injuries unto himselfe whose mention must have farr more of forgivenesse then reproof and other offences tending to publick scandall Lastly Let self-examination concerning the same or the like miscarriage alwaies accompany the brotherly admonition These and the like things being duly weighed let every brother with Christian courage admonish from the Word every one whom he judgeth to walk disorderly in any particular whatsoever not to suffer sin upon him being ready to receive content and satisfaction upon just defence or promised amendment and without this in case of just offence a man cannot be freed from the guilt of other mens sins Let also the person admonished with all Christian patience accept of the admonition without any more regret of spirit then he would have against him who should break the weapon wherwith he was in danger to be slain Considering 1. The authoritie of him who hath appointed it 2. The priviledg and mercy he enjoyeth by such a spirituall prevention of such a danger or cur of such an evill which perhaps himself did not discern 3. The dreadfull judgements which are every where threatned to dispisers of reproofs Prov. 29 â— and so thankfully accept just admonition from the meanest in the Congregation For the last or repairing unto the Church in case of not prevailing by private admonition our Saviour hath so plainly laid down both the manner and end of proceeding in Matth. 18. that it needeth no explanation only I shall observe that by Church there ver. 17. cannot be understood the Elders of the Church alone but rather the whole Congregation for if the offended brother should take with him two or three of the Elders unto the offender as he may then were they the Church and the Church should be told of the offence before the reproof hath been managed by two or three which is contrary to the rule RULE XV EXemplary walking in all holinesse and godlinesse of conversation to the glory of the Gospel edification of the Church and conviction of them which are without Psal. 24. 3. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord or who shal stand in his holy place He that hath clean hands and a pure heart who hath not lift up his soule unto vanity nor sworn deceitfully Matth. 5. 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in heaven ver. 20. For I say unto you except your righteousnesse shall exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no wise enter into the Kingdome of heaven Matth. 21. 19. And when he saw a fig-tree in the way he came to it and found nothing thereon but leaves only and said unto it let no fruit grow on thee hence forward for ever c. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Having therefore these promises dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of flesh spirit perfecting holinesse in the fear of God 2 Tim. 2. 19. And let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity Tit. 2. 11 12. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us that denying ungodlynesse and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world ver. 14. Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Ephes. 4. 21 22 23. If so be that ye have heard him and have beene taugt him as the truth is in Jesus That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitfull lusts And be renewed in the spirit of your mind 1 Pet. 3. 1 2. Likewise ye wives be in subjection to your own husbands that if any obey not the Word they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives While they behold your chast conversation coupled with feare Heb. 12. 14. Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which no man shall see the Lord Ephes. 5. 15 16. See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Redeeming the time because the dayes are evill 2 Sam. 12. 14. Howbeit because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme the child also that is borne unto thee shall surely die EXPLIC. XV HOliness becometh the house of the Lord for ever without it none shall see God Christ died to wash his Church to present it before his Father without spot or blemish to purchase unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works It is the Kingdome of God within us and by which it appeareth unto all that we are the Children of the Kingdome Let this then this be the great discriminating of the Church from the world that they are a holy humble self-denying people Our Master is holy his Doctrine and Worship holy Let us strive that our hearts may also be holy This is our wisedome towards them that are without whereby they may be gained or convinced this is the meanes whereby we build up one another most effectually Examples are a sharper way of instruction then Precepts Loose walking causing the Name of God to be blaspemed the little ones of Christ to be offended and his enemies to rejoyce is attended with most dreadfull woeâ— boâ—h that all who are called to an holy profession and do enjoy holy Ordinances did shine also in holynesse of conversation that those who accuse them as evill doers might have their mouths stopt and their hearts fil'd with shame to the glory of the Gospel To this generall head belongeth that wise walking in all patience meeknesse and long-suffering towards those that are without untill they evidently appear to be fighters against God when they are to be prayed for Hither also might be referred the patience of the Saints in all tribulations sufferings and persecutions for the Name of Christ Motives for the exercise of universall holinesse in acts internall and externall private and publick personall and of all relations are 1. The utter unsufficiency of the most precious Ordinances for any communion with God without it 2. The miserable issue of deceived soules with their barren emptie fruitlesse Faith 3. The glory of the Gospel when the power thereof hath an evident impression on the hearts thoughts words actions and lives of Professors 4. Scandall of the Gospel the advantage of its adversaries the shame of the Church and fierce wrath of God following the unsuteable walking of the professors 5. The sweet reward which the practice of holyness bringeth along with it even in this life with that eternall weight of glory whereunto it leadeth hereafter unto which the holy Son of God bring us all through the sprinkling of his most holy bloud And these are some of those Rules whose practice is required from the persons and adorneth the profession of those who have obtained this grace to walk together in Fellowship according to the Rule of the Gospel Towards others also ought they with severall limitations and in the full latitude towards the Brethren of the Congregations in commrnion with them FINIS Touching these cases see my Treatise of the Duty of Pastor and people distinguished