THE ESPECIAL DUTY OF PASTORS OF CHURCHES. 89
improved among the people. If persons light or profane in their habits, garbs, and converse, corrupt in their communication, unsa- voury and barren as unto spiritual discourse; if such as are covetous, oppressive, and contentious; such as are negligent in holy duties in their own families, and so cannot stir up others unto diligence therein ; much more, if such as are openly sensual, vicious, and debauched, — are admitted into this office, we may take our leave of all the glory and power of religion among the people committed unto their charge.
To handle this property or adjunct of the pastoral office, it were necessary distinctly to consider and explain all the qualifications assigned by the apostle as necessary unto bishops or elders, evi- denced as previously necessary unto the orderly call of them unto this office, 1 Tim. iii. 2-7, Tit. ii. 6-9; which is a work not consis- tent with my present design to engage in.
These are some instances of the things wherein the office-duty of pastors of the church doth consist. They are but some of them, and these only proposed, not pursued and pressed with the considera- tion of all those particular duties, with the manner of their perform- ance, way of management, motives and enforcements, defects and causes of them ; which would require a large discourse. These may suffice unto our present purpose ; and we may derive from them the ensuing brief considerations : —
1. A due meditation and view of these things, as proposed in the Scripture, is enough to make the wisest, the best of men, and the most diligent in the discharge of the pastoral office, to cry out with the apostle, "Who is sufficient for these things?" This will make them look well to their call and entrance into this office, as that alone which will bear them out and justify them in the susception of it; for no sense of insufficiency can utterly discourage any in the undertaking of a work which he is assured that the Lord Christ calls him unto, for where he calls to a duty, he gives competent strengtli for the performance of it. And when we say, under a deep s^nse of our own weakness, " Who is sufficient for these things?" he doth say, " My grace is sufficient for you."
2. Although all the things mentioned do plainly, evidently, and undeniably, belong unto the discharge of the pastoral office, yet, in point of fact, we find, by the success, that they are very little con- sidered by the most that seek after it. And the present ruin of re- ligion, as unto its power, beauty, and glory, in all places, ariseth principally from this cause, that multitudes of those who undertake this office are neither in any measure fit for it, nor do either con- scientiously attend unto or diligently perform the duties that belong unto it. It ever was and ever will be true in general, " Like priest, like people."
3. Whereas the account which is to be given of this office and
90 TRUE NATURE OF A GOSPEL CHURCH.
the discbarge of it at the last day unto Jesus Christ, the considera- tion whereof had a mighty influence upon the apostles themselves and all the primitive pastors of the churches, is frequently proposed unto us, and many warnings given us thereon in the Scripture, yet it is apparent they are but few who take it into due consideration. In the great day of Christ's visitation, he will proceed on such ar- ticles as those here laid down, and others expressed in the Scripture, and not at all on those which are now inquired upon in our episcopal visitations. And if they may be minded of their true interest and concern, whilst they possess the places they hold in the church, with- out offence, I would advise them to conform their inquiries, in their visitations, unto those which they cannot but know the Lord Christ will make in the great day of his visitation, which doth approach. This I think but reasonable In the meantime, for those who desire to give up their account with joy and confidence, and not with grief and confusion, it is their wisdom and duty continually to bear in mind what it is that the Lord Christ requires of them in the dis- charge of their office. To take benefices, to perform legal duties, by themselves or others, is not fully compliant with what pastors of churches are called unto.
4. It is manifest also from hence how inconsistent it is with this office, and the due discharge of it, for any one man to undertake the relation of a pastor unto more churches than one, especially if far distant from one another. An evil this is like that of mathematical prognostications at Home, — always condemned and always retained. But one view of the duties incumbent on each pastor, and of whose diligent performance he is to give an account at the last day, will discard this practice from all approbation in the minds of them that are sober. However, it is as good to have ten churches at once, as, having but one, never to discharge the duty of a pastor towards it.
5. All churches may do well to consider the weight and burden that Ifes upon their pastors and' teachers in the discharge of their office, that they may be constant in fervent prayers and supplications for them; as also to provide, what lies in them, that they may be with- out trouble and care about the things of this life.