We cannot deny, but there are many things to dishearten you, and make you grow faint and weary, viz. your own insufficiency to so great a work; the untractablenesse, and unperswadeablenesse of many among the people to submit unto the Government; The small beginnings of reformation in Church-Government unto which we have yet attained, and especially the little countenance that it finds with many, from whom it might most justly be expected. Yet notwithstanding, we hope, that that God which hath stirred you up to help to lay the first stone in this building, will not suffer you to leave the work, till the head stone be brought forth with shoutings, crying, grace, grace unto it. For this purpose, we desire you earnestly to consider with us;
1. That the Authority by which you act, is divine. For the office not only of a teaching, but also of a Ruling Elder, is founded upon the Word of God, as hath been already shewed.
2. That the Government which you have entred upon, is not a Government of mans framing, but the Government of Jesus Christ; who as King and Head of his Church, hath appointed you your work, and hath promised, [106]That where two or three of you are gathered together in his name, there to be in the midst of you, to protect, direct, sanctifie, support, and comfort you. This Christ is [107]that stone cut out of the mountain without hands, that will destroy all the Kingdomes that oppose him and his Government, and will himself become a great mountain, filling the whole earth. The time is shortly coming, when the Kingdomes of this world shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; when the [108]mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be axalted above the hills, and people shall flow unto it: And many Nations shall say, Come and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us his wayes, and we will walk in his pathes. And that Nation and Kingdome, that will not serve the Lord Christ, shall perish yea those Nations shall be utterly wasted.
3. The reward you shall have for the faithfull continuance in your office, [109]is not from men, (though you deserve, and ought to have even from men double honour, and are to be had in high esteem from your work sake,) but from God, who hath promised to give you a [110]crown of glory, that fadeth not away, when the chiefe Shepherd shall appear; which promise is applicable, not only to the teaching, but Ruling Elder; the Apostle speaking there of Elders indefinitely, without restriction or limitation.
4. The strength by which you act, is the strength of Christ; and though in your selves you be insufficient for so great a work, (for who is sufficient for these things) yet by Christ that strengthens you, you are able to do all things. God never calls a man to any employment, but he giveth a competent ability thereunto; and is angry with those that pretend insufficiency for that Office to which he calls them, as appears by the example of Moses, Exod. 3.10, 11, 13, 14.
5. Consider what great things God hath brought to pass with weak instruments. Moses a shepherd was the deliverer of the Israelites out of Egypt; and a great part of the World was converted by a few Fisher-men. God delights to convey grace by contemptible Elements; as Water, Bread, and Wine, and to manifest his great power in mans great weakness, that so all the glory may redound to him alone.
6. That the greatest undertakings in the Church, have met with greatest difficulties and oppositions. [111]Jerusalem was built again even in troublous times. Tobia and Sanballat, and all their Adherents set themselves against it, both with scorns, false informations, and acts of violence, yet the work went on and prospered: and though it had very many years interruption, yet at last God raised up the spirit of Haggai, Zecheriah, and of Zerubbabel and Joshua, and the work was suddainly finished. Who art thou O great Mountain before Zerubbabel? thou shalt become a plain, &c. Oppositions should rather quicken, then cool activity.
7. That the greatest affairs and achievements are wont at first to have but small beginnings, like the Prophet Elias cloud. The repair of the Temple and of the City of Jerusalem was so small at first, as that the enemies mockt, and said[112]; Even that which they build, if a Fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall. And Iudah her self said[113], The strength of the bearers of the burden is decayed, and there is much rubbish, so as we are not able to build the wall. And yet notwithstanding God saith[114], Who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel. The hand of Zerubbabel laid the foundation of this house, his hand shalt also finish it, not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord[115].
8. Consider, who, and of what carriage the most of those are that oppose this Government, and upon what grounds they are against it, and it will adde a singular testimony to the goodness of it, and incourage you the rather to stand for it, seeing so many erroneous, superstitious, hereticall, leud and licentious persons of all sorts, are so violent against it.
9. If God countenance the Government, it is the less matter if it want the countenance of man. Let not the faultinesse of others, discourage Gods faithfull Ones from their trust and duty: The fewer stand for it, the more reason there is that we should. The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge: And therefore let us not fear what man can do unto us, for there are more with us, then against us.