Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

things fpeak, and exhort, and rebuke with all arithority, Tit. ii. 15. The word in the firft language may be rendered command with all command. Minifters are clothed with authority from God, and in his name, by virtue of a commiffion received from him, they are to preach the gofpel, and to speak the counsel of God, as being his mouth to the people, i Pet. iv. 11. This is the principal part of the minifters work, and therefore to hear the word of God from them in this manner should be the great design of these who call a gofpel minifter, that they may hear from them as the mouth of God, what by nature they are, and what through the grace of God in Chrift Jefus they may be. But now,

2. When a people call a gospel minifter, they fhould defign the regular and orderly performance of the worship of God. This worship of God, as It is contradiftinguished from the doctrine of the gofpel, of which under the former head, confifts principally in the adminiftration of the facraments and prayer, public prayer, I mean, under which praises are comprehended, as belonging to, and always to be joined with it, according to our bleffed Lord's appointment in that form, commonly called the LORD'S PRAYER, which concludes with thanksgiving. In that iid of the Acts 42. we have an account of the public worfhip of the church, which confifts in preaching, there expreffed by doctrine, and breaking of bread, that is, adminiftering the facrament of the Lord's fupper, and prayers and praifes. And they, faith the fpirit of God fpeaking of the church, continued in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And ver. 47. Praifing God. The celebration of the

fa

facraments, public prayers and praises, are divine inftitutions for the falvation and edification of the church, which cannot be gone about or orderly performed without a gofpel ministry, who only have commiffion to celebrate the facraments, and to be the mouth of the people to God, in their public affemblies, being furnished with fpiritual gifts for the work, Matth. xxviii. 19. 1 Cor. xi. 23. and xiv. 16. And therefore, when a people call a gospel minister, they fhould have this in view, as one great defign, that thereby they may have the gospel worship celebrated among them in all its parts, according to Christ's inftitution, to their fpiritual advantage, and his glory.

3. They fhould call a gofpel minifter to rule over them. This is one part of the minifter's work, to rule over his flock, 1. Tim, v. 17. Let the elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double bonour, efpecially they who labour in the word and doctrine. This fuperiority which gofpel minifters have, is not a lordly dominion either over the perfons or faith of their flock. No, any thing of this fort that ever crept into the church, had its rife from the fubtilty of Satan, who envied its peace, and is directly oppofite to the gofpel, which forbids lordly dominion, the gofpel minifters authority being given only for edification and not for deftruction, as the apoftle has it, 2. Cor. x. 8. And it confifts, 1. in an authoritative publication of the laws of Chrift's house.

2. In an authoritative enforcement of them by a minifterial offer of the gospel privileges. as the rewards of obedience. And, 3. in a pow. er to inflict, according to Chrift's appointment, the gospel punishments upon the disobedient, the highest whereof is excommunication, whereby the

[blocks in formation]

difobedient are delivered over to Satan, for the deftruction of the flesh, that the Spirit may be faved in the day of the Lord Jefus, as the apoftle has it, I Cor. v. 5. And to one of these three ends might all be reduced, according to the common diftinction of gospel ordinances in doctrine, worfhip and government: but that you may the better understand this matter, we fhall name fome more particular defigns: and therefore, we fay,

4. A people, in calling a gofpel minister, should defign the clofing of a bargain, and making a match with Chrift upon his own terms. It is the work and bufinefs they are fent out for, to efpouse finners to Chrift, 2 Cor. ii. 2. to woo a bride for the lamb. They have a commiffion as Abraham's fervant had, to go and seek a wife for their mafter's fon; and thefe who call them, should do it in order to the conclufion of this happy match, that from them they may hear the terms whereon they are to be admitted into this near relation, the advantages that shall accrue to them by it, the inconveniencies they will run themselves into by. a refufal, and the warrant they have to enter into fo high and honourable a relation.

5. They fhould defign their own furtherance in acquaintance with Chrift. They should as new born babes defire the fincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby, 1 Pet. ii. 2. that they may be furthered in their joy and faith, growing in grace, and in the knowlege of the Lord Jefus Chrift.

6. They should defign their own establishment in the ways of God, that they may not be toffed tod fra with every wind of doctrine, but that being rooted and grounded in the faith, they may grow up in all things to him who is the head and

Sa

Saviour of the body. This is exprefly declared to be the defign of the miniftry, Ephef. iv. 11. The apostle having fpoken of Chrift's exaltation, and his having received gifts for men, tells us of him in this verfe and the following, That he gave fome apostles, fome prophets, and fome evangelifts, and fome paftors, and teachers, for the perfecting of the faints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Chrift; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowlege of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the ftature of the fulness of Chrift: that we henceforth be no more children toffed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the flight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lye in wait to deceive, etc. And to the fame purpofe fpeaks the fpirit of God frequently elfewhere of the defign of the miniftry. Paul, Rom. i. 11. expreffeth his earneft defire to fee them, and to impart fome spiritual gift unto them, to the end they may be efiablifhed. Thefe who are already engaged in God's ways fhould defign their own eftablishment in them in their calling a gofpel minifter.

7. They fhould defign their own direction through all the difficulties of religion. The Lord's people have many dark fteps in their way: fometimes they are under temptation, and know not how to carry; fometimes they are engaged in a clofs fight with their adverfaries, and know not how to wield their spiritual armour to advantage; fometimes they are out of the way, and know not how to get into it again: and therefore, they need fome to guide them into the meaning of God's word; for how can they understand unless they be taught, Acts viii. 31. How can I under

Stand

Stand, fays the Ethiopian eunuch, unless some man Should guide me: And who fhould guide them but thefe who are guides by office, as the word may be rendered, Heb. xiii. 8. Confider them who have the rule over you, or who are your guides. This is the end a gospel ministry is promised for. Ifa. XXX. 29, 21. And though the Lord give you the bread of adverfity, and the water of affliction, yet fhall not thy teachers be removed into corners any more, but thine eyes fhall fee thy teachers : and thine ears fhall hear a voice behind thee, fay ing, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right-hand, and when ye turn to the left. "It is impoffible we fhould condefcend on all the particular intentions or ends a people should propose to themselves in calling a gospel minifter; and therefore, we fhall conclude all in this one, which is fure to comprehend them.

8. They should seek to have one who may anfwer in fome meafure Timothy's character, with refpect to the church of the Philippians, Phil. ii. 20. one who may naturally take care of them, that is, one who may, out of love to their fouls, affectionately, prudently, carefully, and with impartial boldness, open and apply the word, difpenfe the facraments, and adminifter difcipline, for the inftruction of the ignorant, ftrengthening the weak, comforting the difconfolate, affecting the impenitent, reproving the faulty, recovering wanderers, directing and helping forward thofe who doubt and halt; that he may both fave himfelf and them, to the praife of the glory of God's grace. We shall not infift upon each of these particulars, which would require not one or two, but many fermons, which fuits not our prefent defign. We hall therefore proceed, in the

Se

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »