The system of doctrines, duties, and ordinances revealed in scripture is exceedingly plain, level to every capacity, and easy to be comprehended. That it is so, is one of its most engaging recommendations. Were it unintelligible, or wrapped up in obscurity and mysticism, this of itself would be a valid plea for rejecting it as an imposture or fraud. So plain is it, in its essential principles, that nothing but a willing mind to hear, receive, and attend to truth and duty is wanting. Were we sincerely and candidly disposed to hear and admit the truth, we should differ but little, in our opinions, about the distinguishing peculiarities and glories of Christian doctrine and practice. The reason, or at least, chief reason, why we omit what is clearly revealed to us as duty by God, is because we in heart are opposed to it. An unwillingness to believe and do, as we are expressly commanded, is the real difficulty in the way of our salvation. This unwillingness at heart puts us upon making objections against a duty, which is clearly revealed, and repeatedly revealed, raises prejudices against it, forms apologies for the omission of it, and sets to work, most vigorously, all the system of the selfish affections. For what we are really and deeply unwilling to do, or wish not to be true, we can easily work ourselves up to disbelieve.
On subjects of a moral and religious nature, a man by nourishing prejudices, by false reasoning, by artifice and delusion, can persuade himself to believe any thing, however absurd or impious or contradictory—even to admit that he is inspired,—or may lawfully murder himself and family; or that there are no Gospel ordinances, or stated worship of the Deity, or that a divine revelation, which bears all the marks of credibility and authenticity, that could be desired, is only a cunningly devised fable. This being the case, we ought in all conditions, to be most vigilantly upon our guard against the illusions of our own minds; and also against the temptations of the great adversary of souls, who always joins in with those illusions. He artfully attempts to rivet them, full well knowing that this is the most probable way to succeed in his designs to ruin us forever, and to make us the occasion of disturbance and divisions in society. A heated imagination, an erroneous conscience, and selfish affections of the heart, together with bitter prejudices against the truth are the most successful engines ever employed by the adversary of souls to deceive and ruin them. They are dangerous things, more so than can be easily conceived.—Nay, no person can, to a sufficient degree, dread the unhappy influence of an erroneous Conscience—heated imagination—inflamed passions—and intemperate zeal. They have led away many thousands from truth and duty, and sealed them down in fatal delusions. We are surprised to find what, we must acknowledge, is found by daily experience, that many, who profess sincerely to believe the truth of Religion, are notwithstanding discovered to be capable of rejecting some of its most important principles, and plainest duties.——Among these plain duties, that of supporting the Gospel may justly be reckoned one.
In the sequel, I shall attempt to offer the scripture-arguments
I. In favor of this duty.
II. To consider the manner, in which it is to be discharged.
III. And to invalidate the objections, which have ever been made against it.
1. The first thing intended is to offer the scripture-arguments to prove, that it is a plainly revealed duty, that the precious Gospel of our blessed Saviour should be supported by the people, who enjoy it. There is no part of God’s revealed will that may be kept out of view, or be omitted to be set before mankind. The whole truth, which he hath made known to us, whether pleasing or displeasing to the human mind, is to be exhibited. We may not stop short of it, or go beyond it. If it be a part of the counsel or will of God made known to man, in the holy scriptures, that the Gospel is to be supported by those who enjoy it, it may not, with a good conscience, be withheld or denied. A denial of it, it must be obvious to remark, has a great and unhappy influence upon the interest of the Gospel, and the Redeemer’s kingdom. It tends to the decay of piety and virtue. What is extremely painful to observe, is that it appears from the experience and the history of the Church, in past ages, and in the present age, that those who wish to break up the peace and order of particular Churches, and to foment divisions, pretty generally commence their operations, with a loud and absolute denial of this duty. They raise a loud cry, and vehemently declaim against it. They speak of it, in language not only bitter but scornful. They say it is utterly unlawful and exceedingly wicked; nay, and directly contrary to scripture. Mean while, they do not forget to impute to those who receive the support, the worst motives—the most selfish and mercenary; as having no eye to any thing beyond the pecuniary advantages of their sacred calling.
Such clamours set on foot against the obligations of supporting the Gospel, as they proceed either from ignorance, wilfulness, or parsimony, so they fall in with the current of the selfish passions of corrupt nature. And as interest is the idol of every man, who is unacquainted with the divine force of Virtue and piety, so whatever affects or touches this idol, nearly affects his heart: readily does he listen and easily makes himself believe what he, in his perverted mind, concludes to fall in with his supposed interest. The love of money, or an inordinate attachment to property, is the root of all evil. Thence most of the crimes which disgrace human nature, and disfigure the page of history. We full well know, that a man can easily collect arguments, sufficient to convince him, that he is justified in not doing, what he is totally opposed to doing.—
I am entering on a subject of great moment, affecting in its consequences, the very being and existence of public worship; and of course, the Christian Religion itself. It is a subject too, which is not often discussed, lest what we offer, should be considered either as a censure on people for failures in their duty, or implying a suspicion of their friendship or good will. But there may be circumstances, which may require that the obligations of supporting the Gospel, should be fully stated. They need not be often urged, and are not. But whatever doctrine, truth, or duty may at any time be opposed, or Providence may suffer individuals to rise up and deny: that doctrine, truth, or duty must not be relinquished; but there is a plain call to vindicate it.—Painful as it is to me, to speak where motives of self-interest, and not a sense of duty, may be but distantly inferred to influence me, or where malice and prejudice may accuse me of pleading my own cause, I shall proceed, regardless of reproaches, to adduce the Scripture-proof that the Gospel is to be supported by those, who enjoy it according to the express will of Jesus Christ.—
And, in the first place, we argue the obligations of supporting the Gospel, in a decent and honourable manner, from this consideration, it is the will of God that there should be stated public worship, and an order of men appointed to preside over, and to dispense to worshipping Assemblies, Gospel-truths and ordinances. The office of a Gospel-Ministry is sacred. It is derived from the great head of the Church. This is a true saying, if any man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a good work. That the work and office of an evangelic Ministry are of divine appointment, has often been proved on particular occasions. And the proof has very often been laid before us, in printed discourses. To enter largely on the proof now, would carry me beyond my design. But a brief stating of the most material parts of the proof, is now necessary, in order to establish the duty of supporting public worship and the Gospel. Is it, then, clear from the word of God that there should be Gospel-Teachers, regularly inducted into the work, in the New-Testament-Church, to the end of the world? To be satisfied on so interesting an inquiry, let us candidly listen to the voice of the Saviour. Hath he, who is the king of Saints and Bishop of souls, appointed and commissioned such an order of men to be the mouth of God to his people? That he actually hath, appears from those large and particular descriptions, in his Gospel, of their work and office. And he expressly declares that the office shall remain in his kingdom till the close of time.——There are many very express and marked passages of scripture, which inform us of the Institution of a Christian Ministry, and of its continuance in the world, as long as the world shall stand. Suffice it just to repeat, as a specimen, the subsequent ones. He, that is, a risen Redeemer, gave some, prophets, some Apostles, some Evangelists, some Pastors and Teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the Ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the fulness of Christ. Here is an account of what Christ, as risen and glorified, did with regard to Teachers in his Church, both extraordinary, such as prophets, Apostles, and Evangelists, and ordinary, such as Pastors and Teachers. And how long the institution of such an order of men as Pastors and Teachers, was to be continued: what their business and work were: and the ends of the institution. The ends, were the perfecting of the saints, the unity of the faith and promotion of religion. It was to continue as long as there were any among mankind to be called into the faith and fellowship of the Gospel, that is, as long as time should last.