6. " There being so many duties necessary unto the discharge of this office, and those of such various sorts and kinds as to require various gifts and abilities unto their due performance, it seems very difficult to find a concurrence of them in any one person in any considerable deo-ree, so that it is hard to conceive how the office itself should be duly discharged." I answer, — (L) The end both of the office and of the discharge of it is the due edification of the church ; this, therefore, gives them their measure. Where that is at- tained, the office is duly discharged, though the gifts whereby men are enabled thereunto be not eminent, (2.) Where a man is called
THE ESPECIAL DUTY OF PASTOES OF CHURCHES. 91
unto this office, and applieth himself sincerely unto the due discharge of it, if he be evidently defective with respect to any especial duty or duties of it, that defect is to be supplied by calling any other unto his assistance in office who is qualified to make that supply unto the edification of the church. And the like must be said concerning such pastors as, through age or bodily weakness, are disabled from attendance unto any part of their duty ; for still the edification of the church is that which, in all these things, is in the first place to be provided for.
7. It may be inquired what is the state of those churches, and what relation with respect unto communion we ought to have unto them, whose pastors are evidently defective in or neglective of these things, so as that they are not in any competent measure attended unto; and we may, in particular, instance in the first and last of the pastoral duties before insisted on. Suppose a man be no w^ay able to preach the word imto the edification of them that are pleaded to be his flock, or, having an ability, yet doth not, will not, give himself unto the word and prayer, or v/ill not labour in the word and doctrine, unto the great prejudice of edification; and suppose the same person be openly defective as unto an exemplary conversation, and on the contrary layeth the stumbling-block of his own sins and follies before the eyes of others, — what shall we judge of his ministr}^ and of the state of that church whereof he is a constituent part as its ruler? I answer: —
(1.) I do not believe it is in the power of any church really to confer the pastoral office, by virtue of any ordination whatever, unto any who are openly and evidently destitute of all those previous qualifications which the Scripture requireth in them who are to be called unto this office. There is, indeed, a latitude to be allowed in judging of them in times of necessity and great penury of able teachers, so that persons in holy ministry design the glory of God and the edification of the church according to their ability; but otherwise there is a nullity in the pretended office.
(2.) Where any such are admitted, through ignorance or mistake, or the usurpation of undue power over churches in imposing minis- ters on them, there is not an absolute nullity in their administrations until they are discovered and convicted by the rule and law of Christ. But if, on evidence hereof, the people will voluntarily adhere unto them, they are partakers of their sins, and do what in them lies to unchurch themselves.
(3.) Where such persons are, by any means, placed as pastors in or over any churches, and there is no way for their removal or reforma- tion, it is lawful unto, it is the duty of every one who takes care of his own edification and salvation to withdraw from the communion of such churches, and to join with such as wherein edification is bet-
92 TRUE NATURE OF A GOSPEL CHURCH.
ter provided for; for whereas this is the sole end of churches, of all their offices, officers, and administrations, it is the highest folly to imagine that any disciple of Christ can be or is obliged, by his au- thority, to abide in the communion of such churches, without seek- ing relief in the ways of his appointment, Avherein that end is utterly overthrown.
(4.) Where the generality of churches, in any kind of association, are headed by pastors defective in these things, in the matter de- clared, there all public church-reformation is morally impossible, and it is the duty of private men to take care of their own souls, let churches and churchmen say what they please.
Some few things may yet be inquired into with reference unto the office of a pastor in the church ; as, —
1. Whether a man "may he ordained a pastor or a minister without relation unto any par'ticular church, so as to he invested with office-power thereby?
It is usually said that a man may be ordained a minister unto or of the catholic church, or to convert infidels, although he be not re- lated unto any particular flock or congregation.
I shall not at present discuss sundry things about the power and way of ordination which influence this controversy, but only speak briefly unto the thing itself And, —
(1.) It is granted that a man endowed with spiritual gifts for the preaching of the gospel may be set apart hy fasting and pirayer unto that work, when he may be orderly called unto it in the provi- dence of God; for, — [1.] Such an one hath a call unto it materially in the gifts which he hath received, warranting him unto the exer- cise of them for the edification of others as he hath occasion, 1 Pet. iv. 10, 11; 1 Cor. xiv. 12. Setting apart unto an important work by prayer is a moral duty, and useful in church-affairs in an especial manner, Acts xiii. 1-3. [2.] A 23uhlic testimony unto the approba- tion of a person imdertakiug the work of preaching is necessary, — 1st. Unto the commuoiion of churches, that he may be received in any of them as is occasion ; of which sort were the letters of recommen- dation in the primitive church, 1 Cor. xvi. 3; 2 Cor. iii. 1 ; 3 John 9 ; — 2dly. Unto the safety of them amongst whom he may exercise his gifts, that they be not imposed on by false teachers or seducers. Nor would the primitive church allow, nor is it allowable in the communion of churches, that any person not so testified unto, not so sent and warranted, should undertake constantly to preach the gospel.