Oh that our words might take impression upon all your hearts, that are Ministers and Elders within the Province! what a glorious thing were it, if it might be said of all our Congregations, that they are not only true, but pure Churches, and Churches united in love, and in the truth? How would this tend to the honour of Jesus Christ, the King of his Church? How would this make him delight to dwell in the midst of you? How would this stop the mouthes of Anabaptists, Brownists, and Independents? How would the blood of Jesus Christ be preserved from prophanation, and the wicked in time gained to repentance, and the blessing of God be upon us, together with peace and plenty in all our dwellings?
We beseech you once more, by the blood of Jesus Christ, which was shed for your souls, that you would not prostitute it to open sinners, but use all possible means to make your Congregations more and more pure. For this purpose, consider, what the Directory for Church-Government, advisedly and religiously requireth of you, namely, That where there are many Ruling-Officers in a particular Congregation, some of them do more especially attend the inspection of one part, some of another, as may be most convenient. And some of them are, at fit times, to visit the several families for their spiritual good. And for the better inabling you to do these things, we exhort you further:
5. That you would labour to abound more and more in all knowledge, and soundnesse of judgement, and in all manner of godly conversation; for he that would be fit to purge Gods house of ignorance and scandal, must first purge himself of ignorance and scandal. Church-purification and reformation, must begin in self-purification and reformation. He that will reprove sin in others, must be free from that sin himself; otherwise it will be said, Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou shalt see clearly, to cast out the moat out of thy brothers eye. And he must be free from all other scandalous sins also; otherwise men will be ready to say, This man reproveth me for drunkenness, but he himself is covetous; he reproveth me for swearing, but he himself will lie. And therefore our prayer to God for you is, [102]That you may be filled with the fruits of Righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God, that your love may abound yet more and more, in knowledge, and in all judgment; that ye may approve the things that are excellent: That ye may be sincere, and without offence, till the day of Christ. For you are appointed by Christ to convince gain-sayers, and therefore you had need to let the Word of God dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, especially in these dayes, wherein there are many unruly and vain talkers, and deceivers, whose mouthes must be stopped; who subvert whole houses, teaching things they ought not, for filthy lucres sake. You are appointed by Christ, to be examples to the flock. And that which is but a little sin in others, will be a great one in you. Your sins are not sins, but monsters: You are like Looking-glasses, according to which, others dresse themselves; you are like pictures in a glass-window, every little blemish will be quickly seen in you: Your lives are looked upon as Presidents, your examples, as Rules: And therefore you ought to be exemplarily holy, or else you shall receive the greater condemnation.
6. That you would labour to be good in all your relations, good Parents, good Masters, good Husbands, dwelling with your wives according to knowledge, as being heires together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered: For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God? How shall he be a good Ruling Elder, that doth not rule well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity? How can he perswade others to set up the worship of God in their families, that hath none in his own? And therefore, that you may rule the better in Gods Church, you must make your houses as it were little Churches.
7. That you would labour to be men of publique spirits, seeking the things of Christ before, and more then your own; mourning more for the miseries of the Church, then your own; and rejoycing more in the prosperity of Sion, then your own.
A Church-Officer must be like old Eli, who was more troubled at the losse of the Ark, then the death of his two sons. And like the Psalmist, that bewailed more the burning of Gods house, then his own; and the desolation of Gods Church, then of the Kingdome.[103]
8. That you would labour to be of a liberall and free spirit, feeding the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. A Covetous Judas will betray Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver, and sell a good conscience for a messe of pottage; and be prodigal of the blood of Christ, rather then lose his trading.
9. That you would labour to be of a courageous and resolute spirit, valiant for the truth and cause of God; as Luther was, who alone opposed a world of Enemies; and as Athanasius, who was both as an Adamant, and a Loadstone, in his private converse[104]; he was very courteous and affable, drawing all men to him, even as a Loadstone doth iron; but in the cause of God, and of his truth, he was unmoveable, and unconquerable as an Adamant. There is nothing will cause you sooner to apostatize from your Principles, and from your practices, then base fear of men. This made even Peter deny Christ; and David, run to the Philistines, & Abraham, to dissemble. The Wise man saith, The fear of man bringeth a snare, but who so putteth his trust in the Lord, shall be safe. Our prayer to God for you, is, That the [105]Lord would speak unto you with a strong hand; and instruct you, that you may not walk in the way of this people, saying a Confederacy unto those unto whom this people shall say a Confederacy; nor fear their fear: but sanctifie the Lord of hosts in your hearts, and make him your fear and your dread. And you have a most blessed promise added, That Jesus Christ will be unto you for a Sanctuary, to protect and defend you in the day of your greatest fears and dangers.
10. That you would labour to be of a tender spirit, tender of the honour of God, of the blood of Christ Sacramental, of the souls of the people committed to your charge, of the truths and Government of Christ. A Church-Officer must not be a Gallio, not caring what becomes of Religion, and the interest of Christ. Nor a luke-warm Laodicean, neither hot nor cold, lest he be spewed out of the mouth of Christ. But he must be a Josiah, whose commendation was this, that his heart was tender, a David, whose eyes ran down with rivers of tears, because men kept not the law: a Jeremiah, who wished, that his head were waters, and his eyes a fountain of tears, that he might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of his people.
11. That you would persevere and continue in the great trust committed unto you, not deserting, nor neglecting the duty thereof, for any present discouragements whatsoever; remembring what out Saviour saith, He that hath put his hand to the plough, and looketh back, is not fit for the Kingdome of Heaven.