And thus we see the manifold usefulness of both these graces in the servants and stewards of Christ. Of such I may say, as Christ in the text. Who then is ajaithful and wise servant i Hie ntincii (in^ quit Piscator) rari sunt, ita id ex mille hominibus vix unus re^ periatur, qui munere illo recte fungi possit^i. e. These servants (saith Piscator) are so rare, that out of a thousand scarce one man may be found that discharges that office aright. Christ hath not many such servants, yet, blessed be God, some such there are. And,
3. Whoever^ or wherever such Jaithfid and wise servants are, Christ iclll abundantlij reward them in the da?/ of their account. Which casts me upon the third and last doctrinal head I promised to speak to. The glory prepared lor, and promised to such servants of Christ, is ele- gantly laid out, in shining terms, by the prophet Daniel, Dan. xii.3.
Tirfe rBABACTT* or A TXITE EVANGELIC Al PASTCH. 579
Xod they that be wise, fhail shine as the briehtness o^ the finna- cient; and they that tmrn m • irs for
ever and ener." A promise ^. id wise
ministeTS. What a beautifiil aigbt is ili.- azure canopv of hoavcrn, when it is about to shut its beaotifu] eye-Hds in a ser?ne evening ! and much more, when it is about to open them with a smile or blush, in the dawning of the mddv raorning I And bow is that beauty a- gain ootried by the glonr ol" the stms, where the pleasing ligti c sports and twinkles I how doth one star excel another in glory ! Yet thus, and more than thus;, eren above ihe brightne-'s of the sun itself, shafl die servants of Chri^ shine; whobytheirj' s and prudence,
have iMttntmndalltf turned many info rig'. . . i /
The qnestion about degrees of glory in heaven is not necessary, but proUeinabca]. We rgect with abhorrence the popish doctrine of tiifenily of glories^ as Sianded in the diversity of merits : Xor is it cpiestiooed, among the orthodox, whether there be an equality of gloij, as to the essentials ; but only in respect to the accidentals, and eoocomitants : Amongst which, thej place the additional glory and joy of such Diinisters, whose faithful and prudent labours Go*! hath bless- ed, and crowned with the conversion and edification of raanv sooLi And c€ this the apostle speaks, 1 Thess. ii. 19, 20. " For what is oar Ik^, or joy, or crown of rejoicing ? Are not even ye, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming ? For ye are our g^oij and joy.'' Where we find a very remarkable gradation. He caBs his Thessalonian converts, ^ his hope, his jcy, nay, his crown of rejoicing.'^ His hope, that is, the matter of his hope, that they diould be saved- His joy, as they had already given him abundant cause of joy, in their conversooa to Christ by his ministry. And the " crown of his rejiwing in the presence of Christ, at his com- ing-"* Tins is an high strain indeed \ The meaning, I suppose, is that the finit and success of his ministry among them, would add to his crown, and redound to his glory in the day of Christ.
'O brethren ! who would not study and pray, spend and be spent, in the service of such a bountiful Master ! Is it not worth all our la- bours and sufferings, to come with all those souls we instrumentally b^;at to Christ : and all that we edi£ed, reduced, confirmed, and ccmfbrted in the way to heaven ; and say, Lord^ here am I, and the children ikou hasi given met To hear one spiritual child say. Lord, this is the minister, hj whom I believed : Another, this is he, by whom I was edified, e^ahhshed, and comforted This is the man that re- solved my doubts, quickened my dyincr affections, reduced mv soul, when wandering from the truth 10 be tliv name, that'l ever
saw his fiwe, and heard his voice ! nk we of this, brethren ?
But fir beyond this ; what will it be to hear Chri.st, the prince of payors, say in that day, " Well done good and faithful servant; thou hast been ^thfiil over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things : enter thou into the joy of thy Lord,'' Mat, xxv. 21 . O sirs^f
580 THE CHARACTEIl OF A TRUE EVANGELICAL PASTOH.
we serve a good Master, who is not unrighteous to forget our worlr> and labour of love for his name-sake. He keeps an exact account of all your fervent prayers, of all your instructive and persuasive ser- mons ; and all your sighs, groans, and pantings, with every tear and drop of sweat, are placed like marginal notes against your labours in his book, in order to a full reward.
But 1 have far out-run my own intention, and (I doubt) your patience too, in the doctrinal part. I consider to whom T speak, and shall be the shorter in the application ; which I shall dispatch apace, in three uses.
Use I. And first for our information, briefly, in two or three consectaries.
Consectary 1. By this it appears, Christ hath established an order and government in his house, which none must violate^ The church is a well ordered family, or household, whereof Christ is the Head, Christians members, ministers stewards, the ordinances food to be dispensed by them in season. Every one is to keep his own place and station. Pastors must faithfully feed and govern the flocks of Christ, Acts XX. 28. People must know, honour, and obey those that are over them in the Lord, 1 Thess. v. 12. Heb. xiii. 17. the one must not impose, nor the other usurp ! but each walk according to the rule of Christ, with a right foot, ordinately and comely.
This order is the church's beauty, Col. ii. 5. and truly we may ex- pect so much of Christ's presence, as we have of his rule and order amongst us, and no more. O that the rules and orders of his house were better known, and observed ! then ministers and people would clearly understand, what they are to expect from each other in the way of duty, and each person keep his proper station. Ministers would not invade the civil callings of the people, nor the people the sacred calling of the ministry ; but all things would move ordinately secundum, sub et supra. The pleasure of such a sight, would as' much transport gracious souls with joy and pleasure, as the order of Solomon's house did the queen of the South.
Consectary 2. In the light of this truth, we may also read our duty, how we ought to goveim ourselves in the ordination of men to the nnimsterial office. This office is to be committed unto faithful and able men, 2 Tim. ii. 2. not to novices, 1 Tim. iii. 6. I know the necessi- ties of the churches are great, but no more haste (I beseech you) to supply their wants, than good speed. Satis celeriter Jiet, quicquid commode geritur : That is soon eiwugh, that is well enough. It is a less hazard, to put an ignorant rustic into an apothecary's shop, to compound and prepare medicines for men's bodies, than to trust a man, destitute both of faithfulness and prudence, with the dispensa*. tion of Christ's ordinances to men's souls.
♦THE CHARACTER OF A f ilUE EVANGELICAL PASTOR. 581