proof and example of such a practice; since he was an apostle, and had the care of all the churches upon him, and could administer all ordinances unto them; but to urge and follow his example, is to usurp what is peculiar to apostles, and to confound ordinary and extraordinary ministers together as one; whereas, Are all apostles? They are not. Upon the whole, It may justly create a scruple in the minds of such who receive the ordinance in a church where the adminstrator is not a pastor: either such an one is not clear in it, or he is, that it is his duty to receive it from such hands: if he is not clear in it, but doubts, he is self-conde mne d; and be it, he is clear in it, he is culpable, since hereby he approves and abets the pastor's unlawful power to administer it, and encourages him in it, and draws upon himself the guilt of his unlawfu administration, and of a compliance with an authority assumed by him, but not legally given.

Second, Another question may be put upon the former, Whether a brother or private member of a church, may be deputed by the church to administer the ordinance of the Lord's-supper? This may seem to carry in it a better face than the former; since, though he is a non-officer, he is upon a par with a pastor of another church, who is no more an officer in such a church the brother belongs to than he is; and besides, he is a member of the church, which the pastor of another church is not. But the ordinance of the supper cannot be administered authoritatively but by an officer, since it is an act of officepower, and must be administered in the name of Christ, by one as a substitute of him; and if the church may delegate and substitute others for the discharge of all ordinances whatsoever, without elders or pastors, then it may perfect the saints, and complete the work of the ministry, without them; which is contrary to Eph. iv. 11, 12. and, as Dr. Owen' further observes, it would render the ministry only convenient, and not absolutely necessary to the church, which is contrary to the institution of it; and such a practice would tend to make a church content without a pastor, and careless and negligent of seeking after one when without one.

Third, Another question is, Whether a pastor may remove from one congregation to another? The answer is, if it is for worldly advantage, and he has a sufficient provision where he is, He ought not. There are some cases in which it may be lawful for him to remove; as when it appears to be for the good of the interest of religion, and of the church of Christ in general; but this should not be without the consent of the church of which he is pastor; nor without the advice of other churches and ministers; and when a church, of which he is pastor, indulges immoralities, or has imbibed erroneous doctrines, from which they cannot be reclaimed; and if there are such divisions in the church as are not to be cured; and especially if the pastor has such a concern in them, that there is no probability of their being healed but by his removal; also when a competent provision is not made for him and his family, but they

True Nature of a Gospel-Church, ch, 5. p. 94.

are not only exposed to want, but the gospel also to the reproach and contempt of the world.

Fourth, It may be asked, Whether on account of bodily weakness, or a decay of intellectual abilities, a pastor may resign his office, or be desired to desist from his work? the answer is, He may voluntarily lay down his office, with the consent of the church; or he may be desired to drop it, provided, if his case requires it, a provision is made for his temporal subsistence.

Fifth, If it is a question, Whether a pastor of a church may be deposed from his office, and be cast out of the church for immorality or heresy, it may be answered in the affirmative; for he may be admonished and reproved for negligence in the discharge of his office, and be stirred up to it, Col. iv. 17. a charge of sin may be brought against him, under proper witnesses, according to the rule 1 Tim. v. 19. an elder or pastor is a brother, and to be dealt with as such, according to Matt. xviii. 15. Indeed, if the sole power of excommunication lies in the pastor, he cannot be dealt with in such a manner; but that is not the case; it lies in the church, as will be seen hereafter; to which power a pastor of a church is equally subject as a private member.

OF THE DUTIES OF CHURCHES TO THEIR PASTORS. As pastors of churches have a work to do, which is both honourable and use. ful; so there are duties incumbent on those who are under their care, with respect to them, for their work's sake. Though they are nothing, with respect to God, to whom they owe all they have, 1 Cor. iii. 7. and with respect to the churches, they are theirs, for their use and service; yet they are not to be reckoned as nothing by them, and to be treated with contempt; Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ; made such and put into the ministry by him, being furnished from him with gifts and graces for it, and as such, to be highly accounted of; and though they are not lords and masters in the family of God, yet they are stewards in it, the highest officers in the house of God; and therefore are to be accounted of as stewards of the mysteries of God, having the secret and hidden things of God entrusted with them; the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, the sublime as well as plainer doctrines of the gospel, which they are to minister: and since it is given them of God to know them and make them known to others, they are worthy of respect on that account, 1 Cor. iv. 1. The several duties which members of churches are under obligation to perform to their respective ministers, pastors, and elders, will be considered farther as they lie in various passages of scripture.

*

I. In 1 Thess. v. 12, 13. We beseech you brethren to know them, &c.

1. It is the duty of church-members to know their pastors; which is not to de understood of a bare knowledge of their persons; for it cannot be supposed,

that there can be such a relation between pastors and members, and yet the members not know their pastors; the sheep know their shepherd and his voice.

1. To know them is to be acquainted with them; to make themselves and their cases known unto them; for sometimes to know signifies to make known; as in 1 Cor. ii. 2. Members of churches should freely converse with their pastors, and make known the state and condition of their souls; and especially when they have any matter of difficulty and cases of conscience to be resolved, or are in any soul-trouble and distress; they should open their minds to them, and declare their case, that they may speak a word in season to them; for though their cases may sometimes be hit upon and reached in the general ministry of the word, yet this is owing to an extraordinary direction of providence, and cannot in common be expected by all; at least it cannot be assured of, unless persons unbosom themselves to their ministers, and tell them their case. 2. To know them is to acknowledge them as their ministers and pastors. Not to know, is not to own and acknowledge; as in Luke xiii. 27. It is for members so to know their pastors, as to own them as such; as theirs in a peculiar sense, in which other ministers are not; as in a special relation to them, and under their particular care; and this acknowledgment of them should be testified by their submission to them in their ministerial services and pastoral acts; of which more hereafter. 3. To know them, is to take notice of them, to shew respect to them, to hold such in reputation, as the apostle advices, Phil. ii. 29. to give them the honour that is due to them; not to know Christ, his ministers, and his people, is to despise them, and to treat them in a disrespectful manner, 1 John iii. 1. Luke x. 16. -4. To know them, is to love them; for words of knowledge oftentimes connotate love and affection, 2 Tim. ii. 19. and so the apostle explains this of members knowing their pastors, by esteeming them very highly in love, verse 13. such as the Galatians expressed to the apostle Paul, though they afterwards became cool and indifferent to him; yea, the reverse of their former love. 5. To know them, is to shew a concern for their comfort and welfare, their safety and protection, Psalm cxlii. 4. people should be concerned for the safety of their minister in the discharge of his office; to protect him from the insolent attempts of wicked men, that he may be with them without fear, while he ministers to them; as the apostle exhorted the Corinthians, with respect to Timothy, 1 Cor. xvi. 10. and they should be careful to preserve his credit and reputation, and defend his character from the false aspersions of men, and not suffer, even among themselves, any thing to be wispered to his discredit, and to the hurt of his usefulness; nor any accusation to be brought in public against him, without sufficient evidence, 1 Tim. v. 19.

Now the arguments and reasons made use of to enforce this duty are, 1. Because such persons laboured among them; they were not non-residents, but were upon the spot where the people were, they had the care of; as the flock was among them they were to feed, so they were among the flock, resided

in the midst of them, or near them; for where should pastors be, but with their flocks, to feed them they have the oversight of? 1 Pet. v. 2, and faithful ministers are not only among their people, and continue with them, but they labour among them; they are not loiterers, slothful servants, who hide their talents in a napkin, and may be called idle shepherds, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber, who serve not the Lord Jesus, nor the souls of men, but their own bellies but faithful ministers are labourers, labour in the word and doctrine, and so are worthy of double honour.-2. Because they are over the churches to whom they minister; they are set in the first and most eminent place in the church, and have the rule over the members of it; and this superiority over them is in the Lord, in things pertaining to his interest and glory; not in civil, but spiritual things; and though they are over the churches, yet under Christ the Lord, as Head of the church and King of saints; and they are governors in and by his appointment, and therefore are to be regarded.-3. They admonish the saints, with whom they are concerned, or put them in mind, as the word signifies of their former experiences, which are delightful and refreshing to them, and of the doctrines of the gospel they have been instructed in, and have received, and are food to their souls; and of the duties of religion, which are incumbent upon them, the observance of which makes for their peace and good, and for the glory of God: and they admonish, warn, rebuke, and reprove; they warn of approaching danger from their spiritual enemies, sin, Satan, and the world; and rebuke and reprove for errors and immoralities they may fall into, for the recovery of them. On all which accounts they are deserving of respect.

m

11. It is the duty of church-members not only to know their pastors; but to esteem them very highly in love for their work-sake, or superabundantly", as the word signifies; over and above common esteem and affection, and above common christians, in honour preferring them to others; they are to think highly of them, and entertain an high opinion of them, of their grace, gifts, and abilities for their work; for if they think meanly, and entertain a contemptible opinion of them, their ministry is not likely to be of much use unto them: and they should speak very highly and very honourably of them; for if members of churches do not speak well of their own pastors, it can hardly be thought they should have much respect and esteem from others; and they should speak respectfully to them, with a becoming decency, considering the character they bear, and the high office they are in, in the church: and this esteem must be cordial and affectionate, it must be in love; not through fear, nor in dissimulation and hypocrisy, but in sincerity and truth; and that, for their work-sake, which is laborious, attended with weariness of body; and sometimes, through it, are nigh unto death, as Epaphroditus was, Phil. ii. 30. and which also exposes to the reproach and contempt of the world. To which may be added, that it is, hotwithstanding, a good work and honourable, and very beneficial to the souls

το Ναθετώντας. Ο Υπερ εκ περισσω.

of men; and therefore those employed in it, should be esteemed for the sake of it; for the work that they have done, in which they have been useful to men for conversion, or for comfort and edification; and for as much as they have continued in it, and may be more useful in their day and generation, both for good of souls and the glory of God.

II. Other branches of the duty of members to their pastors are expressed in Heb. xiii. 7, 17, 18.

1. In verse 7. Remember them, &c. -1. They should remember them, be mindful of them at the throne of grace, as is after exhorted to; should remember the doctrines preached by them, and treasure them up in their minds; which may be of after-use to them; these they should carefully retain in their memories, and not let them slip from them; they should remember to give them the honour and respect that is due unto them, and to make a suitable provision for the outward supply of life. The reasons enforcing this exhortation are because they have the rule over them; being appointed by Christ, the Head and King of the church, to govern them under him; not in a lordly manner, according to their own wills; but according to the laws and rules which Christ has given; and when they rule according to these, they rule well, and are worthy of double honour : the words may be rendered, who are your guides or leaders". Now such are the ministers of the gospel; they are the happy instruments of guiding men into the understanding of the scriptures; and of leading, under a divine direction and blessing, into the truths of the gospel; and of pointing out to them the way of life, peace, and salvation by Christ; and of directing them into the paths of faith and holiness, and are examples to them, and therefore deserve to be remembered by them. And moreover, they are said to have spoken to them the word of God, the scriptures, given by inspiration of God, which contain his mind and will, and the doctrines which declare his grace and favour to the sons of men; these they explain truly and faithfully, according to the best light and knowledge they have; and deliver out the doc trines of them with great freedom, boldness, and fidelity: and their memory, on these accounts, is and should be blessed to truly gracious souls, -2. Their faith is to be followed, or imitated; either their faithfulness in the several parts. of their ministrations; or the grace of faith, their strong exercise of it, and the fruits and effects of it; or their profession of faith they hold fast with out wavering; or the doctrine of faith they preach, by embracing it, abiding by it, standing fast in it, and persevering therein to the end: the motive to it is, considering the end of their conversation; either the drift and scope of it, which, as in connection with the following verse, is Christ, his honour and glory, who is the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever; or the whole of their conduct in the discharge of the various duties of their office, and the manner of it; or else the issue of it in death; or the good end which, through the

το των ηγεμένων υμών.