To perswade them to be faithfull in the discharge of the great trust committed unto them. To be a Ruler in Gods house, as it is a place of great honour, so also of great trust; and he that hath this trust committed unto him, ought to be one of a thousand. It is a good saying of an Heathen, Magistratus virum indicat, Magistracy will try a man what he is, so will this office you. Such are the mountains of opposition you are like to meet withall; such is the courage you must put on; such is the wisdome and piety you must be cloathed withall, that we may truly say with the Apostle, Who is sufficient for these things? As Tacitus saith of Galba, that he was Capax imperii, nisi imperasset, thought very fit to have been an Emperour, had he not been an Emperour; so there are many that have been thought fit to be Elders, till they were made Elders. Many that seemed very good, when private Christians; when advanced into places of trust, have proved very wicked. To have the body and blood of Christ Sacramentall in your custody; To be made Keepers of Christs Vineyard, and watchmen over his flock; To have the keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven committed unto you: This is not only a great honour, but a great burden. And therefore it must be your exceeding great care, so to behave your selves in the Church of God, which is his house, that you may give up your account with joy at that great day. For this purpose we Exhort you;
1. That you would labour to discharge your Office with care and diligence, according to the advice of the Apostle, [96]Let him that Ruleth, Rule with diligence. The Apostle foresaw how negligent Elders would be, in the trust committed unto them; and therefore he chose to lay this speciall injunction upon them. You must not suffer the key of discipline to rust for want of using, but must remember, that the life of discipline is in the execution; and that the unprofitable servant was cast into Hell, not for abusing; but for not improving of his Talent.
2. That you would study to Rule with all humility and Self-denyal, [97]not as lording it over Gods heritage, but as being examples to the flock, remembring the saying of our blessed Saviour, [98]The Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship; And they that exercise authority upon them, are called Benefactors: But ye shall not be so. But he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, (or, as it is in the Greek[99], he that Ruleth,) as he that serveth. You must not be as Diotrephes who loved to have the Preheminence; not as the Pharisees, [100]who loved the uppermost roomes at feasts, and the chief seats in the Synagogue.
3. That you would labour to Rule the Church of God with all peaceablenesse, and quietness; doing nothing out of contention, envy, or malice; but all out of pure love, with the spirit of meekness and patience. That the people may read love and gentleness written upon all your admonitions and censures. [101]For the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in all meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance, to the acknowledgment of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devill, who are taken captive by him at his will. Famous is the saying of our Saviour, Have salt in your selves, and peace one with another. By salt, is meant (as Chemnitius and others observe,) sincere doctrine and discipline whereby the people of God are seasoned, and kept from the putrefaction of sin and errour; this salt is so to be sprinkled, as that if it be possible, it may have peace joyned with it. Have salt in your selves, and peace one with another. There are that think, that sincere discipline and peace cannot stand together, but they are confuted by Christs own words. The readiest way to have true peace one with another, is to have salt within our selves. There are indeed, some Congregations, that have this salt, without this peace; which is a misery to be exceedingly bewailed. There are others which have peace without this salt, but this peace is a wicked peace; a peace with sin and errour, which will end in damnation. But blessed and happy are those Congregations, that have salt in themselves, and true Christian peace one with another. A Church-Officer must not be a bramble, rending and tearing the people committed to his charge, but as a fig tree, vine, and olive tree, refreshing them with his fatnesse, swetnesse, and fruitfulnesse.
4. That you would labour to make your Congregations pure, as well as peaceable; following after piety, as much as verity and unity. That all your people under your charge, may be visible Saints at least. It is the great complaint that some take up against the Presbyteriall Government, that it studieth unity and truth, but neglecteth holiness and purity. And therefore we beseech you Brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, who is called the holy One, that you would labour to free the Government from this scandal. If there be any under your inspection grosly ignorant, or of scandalous life and conversation, you ought not to admit him to the Sacrament; for if you do, you are accessary to his sin of unworthy receiving; you are instrumentall to the damnation of his soul, you pollute the ordinance; you offend the godly amongst you; you render the Government obnoxious to just exception; and you bring down the heavy judgments of God upon the Congregation. If there be any that after admission prove scandalous, you are to admonish him; and if he continue obstinate, you are to put away from among your selves that wicked person, to purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump. And this you are to do:
1. For the Churches sake; that the Church in which you are Rulers, may not be infected; for know you not, that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
2. For the sinners sake; you must deliver such a one unto Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
3. For Christs sake, that his name may not be dishonoured, and that he may not be forced to depart from your Assemblies.
4. For the Ordinances sake, that they may not be polluted.
5. For your own sakes, that you may not be damned for other mens sins.