Great Themes of the Bible
Church 57 of that kind. Tell it to the guides and governors of that Church, the minister or ministers, the elders or the deacons. Or, if such the constitution of the society be, tell it to the repreaerate or heads of the congregation, or to all the members of it.
"Tf he neglect to hear the Church"' let him be cast out of the communion of the Church, secluded from special ordinances, degraded from the dignity of a Church member.
g. THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH
It is in the Acts of the Apostles that we begin to see the Church at work. Paul and Barnabas' sojourn at Antioch gives us one peep into its workings (Acts x1. 26). They remained there a whole year, presiding in their religious assemblies, and preaching the Gospel. We observe:
(a) That the Church frequently assembled. The religious assemblies of Christians are appointed by Christ for His honour, and the comfort and benefit of His disciples. God's people of old frequently came together "'at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation''. People must come together, though it be with difficulty and peril.
(b) Ministers were the masters of those assemblies, and held those courts in Christ's name, to which all that hold by, from, and under Him owe suit and service.
(c) Teaching the people is one part of the work of mimsters, when they preside in the religious assemblies. They are not only to be the people's mouth to God in prayer and praise, but God's mouth to the people in opening the Scriptures and teaching out of them the good knowledge of the Lord.
(d) Preaching is not only for the conviction and conversion of those that are without, but for the instruction and edification of those that are within. A constituted Church must have its teachers.
If there were to be a Mother Church to rule over all other Churches, this Church at Antioch would have a better title to it than Rome can pretend to.
10. THE MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH
But it is to the Church at Ephesus that we turn to hear Paul's charge to the ministers of the Church (Acts xx. 28). He commanded them to mind the work to which they were called.
Dignity calls for duty. If the Holy Ghost has made them overseers of the flock, that is, shepherds, they must be true to their trust.
(a) They must take heed to themselves in the first place. 'They must have a very jealous eye upon all the motions of their own souls, and upon all they said and did. They must walk circumspectly, and know how to behave themselves aright in the house of God, in which they were now advanced to the office of stewards. '"'You have many eyes upon you, some to take example by you, others to pick quarrels with you." Those are not likely to be skilful or faithful keepers of others' vineyards who do not keep their own.
(b) '' Take heed to the flock, to all the flock." See that no part of it be neglected among you. See that none of them either of themselves wander from the fold, or be seized by the beasts of prey; that none of them be missing, or miscarry through your neglect.
(e) They must 'feed the Church of God". They must lead the sheep of Christ into green pastures; must lay meat before them; must do what they can to heal those that are distempered and have no appetite to their meat; must feed them with wholesome doctrine, with a tender evangelical discipline, and must see that nothing be wanting that is necessary in order that they may be nourished up to eternal life.
(d) They must watch as shepherds keep watch over their flocks by night. They must be awake, and wakeful; must not give way to spiritual sloth and slumber; but must stir themselves to their business, and closely attend it.
Let them consider the interests of their Master and His concern for the flock that was committed to their charge. It is the Church which He has purchased with His own blood. So, first, it is His own. It is your honour that you are employed for God, who will own you in His service. Secondly, He has purchased it. The world is God's by right of creation, but the Church is His by right of redemption. It ought, therefore, to be dear to us, for it was dear to Him, because it cost Him dear. Thirdly, this Church of God is what He has purchased, not as Israel of old, when He gave men for them, and people for their life (Isa. xliti. 3, 4), but '"'with his own blood'. In consideration of this, therefore, "feed the church of God'', because it is purchased at so dear a rate. Did Christ lay down His life to