The CHARACTER of a true Evangelical
The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor.
Let ministers rejoice, yea, let them rejoice with double joy to others ! they shall no more be driven into corners, nor put to silence, (a silence as bitter as death), whilst the royal sceptre is swayedbysuchhands, whereinGodhath now placed it.
Let all the people rejoice, for these their rulers shall be to them as the light of the morning, and as the clear shining after rain, 2 Sam. xxiii.3, 4. And let us all say, Ifa. xxv. 9. " Lo,
" this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us:
" This is the Lord, we have waited for him ; we will rejoice " and be glad in his salvation.
THE
CHARACTER
OF A COMPLETE
EVANGELICAL PASTOR,
DRAWN BY CHRIST.
MAT. xxiv. 45, 46, 47.
Who then is a faithful and wifefervant, whom his Lordhathmade ruler over his houshold, to give them meat in due season?
Bleffedis that servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, feall findfo doing. Verily, Ijay unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
THIS great and solemn assembly, (met upon a greater and } more solemn account,) brings to my mind those words, and with the words, a very sensible touch of the fame affection, with which the church uttered them, Ifa. xlix. 20, 21 .
" Children, which thou shalt have after thou hast lost the o- " ther, shall say again in thine ears , The place is too strait
" for me : Give place to me, that I may dwell.
Then shalt " thou say in thine heart,Who hathbeggotten me these, see- " ing I have lost my children, and am desolate ; a captive,
" and removing to and fro ? And who hath brought up these ?
" Behold, I was left alone: These,wherehadtheybeen?"
The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor.
Words, big with holy admiration and wonderment, at her strange and sudden increase and multiplication, after such a wasting time as these seventy fad years had been to her. This was a miraculous and surprizing work of God, in their eyes.
We have had our wasting time, as well as they ; multitudes of faithful and prudent ministers have been swept into their graves by EJECTIONS , BANISHMENTS, IMPRISONMENTS , and heart-breaking SILENCINGS.
Whence then are all these which our eyes behold this day ! Who hath begotten us, and brought up THESE ? THESE, where had they been ; and out of what secret recesses are they come?
Many thought the days of our prosperity, and opportunities of our service, had been numbered and finished, and that God had no more work (exceptfuffering work) for us ; when lo, aboveandbeyond thedespondingthoughts,and unbelievingfears of our hearts, we are here this day ina numerous assembly, with peace and liberty, toconfultthe affairs of Christ's kingdom.
Yea, to the joy of our souls, we see the plummets and lines, once more in the hands of our Zerubbabels ; Zech. iv. 10. " Who hath despised the day of small things ? For " they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of
" Zerubbabel, with those seven ; they are the eyes of the Lord, " which run to and fro through the whole earth."
Our prudent repairers, co-working with the divine providence, exprefsedemblematically by the seven eyes, will bring weak and contemptible beginnings, to happy and blessed results and issues.
What shall one now answer the messengers of the churches ?
ThatGodhath foundedSion ; and the poor of his people shall trust in it.
We are met this day in all hearty LOYALTY to the government, and PEACEABLENESS to the national church-establishment, to review and confider the cases of our respective congregations ; which I doubt we shall find too like that description, Prov. xxiv. 31. all over-grown with thorns and nettles, and the stone wall broke down.
Thus ignorance and error have over-spread the people, and the wall ofdisciplinegreatly decayed. Our business is to cleanse our churches, and repair their walls ; that so they may become gardens of delight, and beds offpices, for Christ to walk and take pleasure in.
You have ordered this meeting to be opened with a sermon, and demandated that work to my hand, by your earnest and unanimous call. I wish the work may not suffer by your choice.
When I confideredthe quality and occasion of this afssembly,
The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor.
my thoughts quickly centered themselves in those words of our Lord, which I have read unto you : "Who then is a faithful
" and a wife servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his " houshold, to give them meat in due season?" &c.
\ Here we find ourselves in a parable. A parable is the veil offome divine truth : whilst we are embodied and veiled with flesh, truth must embody and veil herself too, in order to our freer converses with it. There is much truth and reason in that observation of the ancient Cabbalists : " * The supreme light
" never descends without a covering."
Yea, faithDionyfius, the supposed Areopagite, " † It is impossible that a divine
" beam should otherwise shine to us, except it be covered with " variety of sacred veils, and umbrages ."
Not to spend much time about the order and relation of the text; Christ had been solemnly warning the disciples, and all the Christian world,of his most certain (though secret) coming to judgment ; and therefore to beware of luxury, idleness, and security, the fins of the world ; and that all be found, at his coming, watchful and diligent in their proper places of duty.
This exhortationhe infers, from what common prudence would teach any servant, especially any steward of an house to do, to whom his Lord hath committed thecareofhis family.
It is agreed by all, that the words have a special and immediate respect to gospel-ministers, the stewards of Christ's house, or church, to whom Christ, the Οικοδεσπότης, or Lord of the family, hath trusted the care and dispensation of the affairs thereof.
And in them we find, I. An evangelical pastor described.
II. The reward offuch as answerthatdescription, pro founded.
1. Christ's description of an evangelical pastor, ver. 45. which he doth by two excellent and essential properties, or qualifications, Πισος, και φωρονιμος,faithful and wife ; both which makeup the character of a complete gospel-minister : for if he be faithful, he deceives not others ; and if wife, or prudent, he is not apt to be deceived himself: his prudence suffers not deceivers cafily to impose upon him ; and his faithfulness will not suffer him knowingly to impose upon his people.
His prudence will enable him to discern, and his faithfulness oblige him to distribute wholesome food to his flock. These two therefore meeting
* Lumenfupremum nunquam defcenditfine indumento.
† Impossibile eft nobis aliter lucere radium divinum, nifi varie tatefacrorum velaminum circumvelatum.
Caeleft. Hier. cap. 1
The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor. together, make a pastor after God's own heart, according to Jer. iii. 15.
Both these are found in an interrogative form of speech in the text, but it is agreed, that Tis is put conditionally for ει τις, and is rather hypothetical,thaninterrogatory: but in this form of speech itinfinuates the rarityanddifficulty of finding such a servant. He is Σπάνις και δευσευρέλος, as Theophylact glosseth it.
And Chryfoftom, by way of admiration, Quam rari, et praeftantes effent tales ! i. e. ' How rare and excellent would such servants be ?" These are their properties.
2. The reward of those that answer these characters, is propounded, ; 1. In proper, 2. In metaphorical terms.
If 1. In proper terms ; Bless fed is that servant, ver. 46. he is certainlybleffed of God, whatever his usage be frommen. he be faithful, all his prudence will not secure him from the hatred and persecution of men, but it is enough that Christ calls and counts him blessed;and those whom he blesseth, are truly and eternally blessed.
" 2. In metaphorical terms ; ver. 47. " Verily, I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods."
In allusion to the custom of great kings and generals, who use to prefer and advance discreet and faithful servants to places of eminent trust, profit,and honour ; as Daniel and Joseph were.
The sense thus cleared, runs naturally and easily into this, Doct. That our Lord Jesus Christ willamply reward thefaithfulandprudentstewards of his house, in the day of their account.
This point will open itself to you in these three doctrinal branches.
1. That ministers, in a special sense, are the stewards of Christ's house.
2. Faithfulness and prudence are the necessary qualifications of Christ's stewards .
3. Wherever these are found,Christ will abundantly reward them.
1. Ministers, in aspecialfenfe, are the stewards, or chieffervants of Christ's house.
So speaks the apostle, 1 Cor. iv. 1.
" Let a man account of us as the ministers of Christ, and " stewards of the mysteries of God."
To them he hath committed the dispensation of the word and sacraments, which containthegreat mysteries of the kingdom of God.
Everyprivateperson,who hath receivedanytalent from God,
The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor.
(and to be sure the meanest among us hath one talent at least,) isa steward, and will be called to an account for the employment, or non-employment of that talent in the audit-day.
But ministers are stewards in the strict and special sense : Chriftditinguishes them from the others, as porters from the rest of the servants, Mark xiii. 34. Nor may any assume that office, but by order from Christ, the Master of the family. But this is too obvious to stay longer upon it.
2. We will therefore immediately take into consideration, the properties or qualifications of the rewards of Christ: which are, 1. Faithfulness.
2. Prudence.
Andconfider them, 1. Distinctly.
2 Conjunctly.
1. Faithfulness is an essential requifiteto afteward, 1 Cor.
Faithfulness. iv. 2. It is required in stewards, that à màn bè found faithful. What ground is there for trust, where there isho truth ? Hence is thatfolemn charge, 2 Tim. ii. 2. to commit that greattruftofthe ministry to faithful men.
And Paul blesseth God, 1 Tim. i. 11 , 12. who had accounted him faithful, andputhim into the ministry.
This faithfulness, as it refpectsGod, ourselves, and the flocks committed to us, includes, 1. Pure and spiritual aims and intentions.
2. Sincerity and integrity of heart.
3. Diligence in the discharge of duty.
4. Impartiality in the administrationofChrift's house.
5. Andunshaken constancyandperfeverance to the end.
1. Ministerial faithfulness includes pure and spiritual aims and intentionsforGod. Afervant is Ολεώς εκείνου; it is no this own, but his master's honour, and interest,he must design and aim at.
Fidelity will not endureself-ends,disguisedwithapretence ofzeal for Christ.
It is faidof the master workmen of the temple, 2Kings xxii. 7. that there was no reckoning made with them of the money collected for that use, because they dealt faithfully, i. e. they had given fufficientproofthat they appropriated not a farthing to themselves, but truly applied it to the public, sacred end and use, to which it was given.
O let us be all such faithful master-builders of the house of our God! Let us say, not our interest, but Christ's ; not our glory, but his.
Pure ends in our service, will give us abun-
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The Character of a true EvangelicalPaftor. dant comfort at the end of our service.
Have a care, brethren, of all artifices and designs, to accomodate carnal interests, underafhew of devotion to God.
Timothy is our pattern in this, of whom Paul faith, Phil. ii. 20, 21. " I have no man like-minded, who will naturally
" care for your state; for allseektheirown, not the things that " are Jesus Christ's."
Where the word naturally is not opposed to spiritually, but to artificially.
Others had the art to cloak self-ends under Christ's honour ; but Timothy was ignorantoffuch unfaithful tricks and artifices.
2. Ministerial faithfulness imports perfonalfincerity.
So the word signifies, where it is said of Abraham, that God Nehem. ix. 8. found his heart faithful ; that is, sincere before him. A faithful minister is afincere-hearted minister. And herein, brethren,O herein, or in nothing, let us approve ourselves the ministers of Christ: Let this be our
" rejoicing, that in all sincerity, andgodly simplicity, we have " had our conversations in this world," 2 Cor.i. 12. And the rather let us be careful in this, because no sin is more apt to insinuate itself into our hearts, and duties, than hypocrisy.
We, ofallmen, are most in danger to be deceived by it : For our employment lying in, and about spiritual things, we are, on that account, stiledfpiritual men, Hos. ix. 7. But it is plain, from that very place, that a man may be objectively a spiritual, and all the whilefubjectively a carnal man.
Believe it, brethren, it is easier to declaim, like an orator, against a thousand fins of others, than it is to mortifyone fin, like Christians, in ourselves ; to be more industrious inourpulpits, than in our closets ; to preach twenty sermons to our people,than one to our own hearts.
Believe it, firs, all our reading, studying, and preaching, is buttriflinghypocrify, tillthethings read, studied, and preached, be felt in some degree upon our own hearts. We tell our people (the Lord help us to tell the fame to our own hearts) that there arefimilar, as well as saving works of the Spirit, by which their (and why not our own) fouls may be loft ?
3. Ministerial faithfulness includes ministerial diligence. A flothful cannot be a faithfulfervant. Matth . xxv. 21. " His
" Lord said unto him, well done, thou good and faithful fer- " vant," &c.
And ver. 26. " His Lord answered, and said " unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant," &c.
I may say to him that snatched at the ministry, as Henry IV. did to hisfon, that hastily snatched at the crown,He littleknowswhat
The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor.
*" The labours of on heap of cares and toils hesnatcheth at.
" the ministry will exhaust the very marrow fromyourbortes, " hasten old age and death."
They are fitlycompared to the toil of men in harvest, to the labours ofa woman in travail, and totheagoniesoffoldiers in the extremity of a battle.
We must watch when othersfleep. i :
And indeed it is not so much the expence of our labours, as the loss of them, that kills us.
It is not with us, as with other labourers : They find their work as they leave it, so do not we.
Sin and Satan unravel almost all we do, the impressions we make on our people's fouls in one sermon, vanish before the next. How many truths have we to study ! how manywiles of Sat an, and mysteries of corruption, to detect ! how many cafesofconfcience to resolve ! Yea, we must fight in defence of the truths we preach, as well as study them to paleness, and preachthemuntofaintness : But well-spent head,heart, lungs, and all; welcomepainedbreasts, aching backs, and trembling legs; if we can by all but approve ourselves Christ's faithful servants, and hearthatjoyful voice from his mouth, " Well done, good and faithful servants."
4. Ministerial faithfulness includes our impartiality in all the administrations of Christ's house. He that is partial, cannot be faithful. O with what extraordinary solemnity doth Paul set on this exhortation upon Timothy! " I charge thee before " God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that " thou observe these things, without preferring one before " another, doing nothing by partiality," 1 Tim. v. 21 .
Brethren, you will shortly appear before an impartial God, see that ye be impartialfterwards; take the same care, manifest the fame love, attend with the same diligence, the poorest and weakest souls that are committed to your care, as you do the rich, the great, and honourable.
Remember all fouls are rated atone value in your Master's book, and your Redeemer paid as much for the one as for the other.
Civil differences must be civilly acknowledged, but these have noplace in our spiritual administrations.
5. Lastly, Ministerial faithfulness includes constancy and stedfastness : Not a backsliding, or flinching servant,
Rev. ii. 10. " Be thou faithful, (i. e. fixed and constant)to the death, " and I will give thee a crown of life." We look for happiness,
* Labores ecclefiaftici fuccum exhauriunt ab imis me dull is, Senium, mortemque accelerant.
Luther.
L112
The Character of a true Evangelical Paster. as long as God is in heaven , and he expects constancy, as long as we are on earth.
Many of us have cause to bless the Lord, and greatly to re joice in his goodness this day, who enabled us to be ftedfat and unmoveable in the trials that have passed over us ; and when the great earthquake shakeddown our liberties, our efrates, and made our hearts to shake, yet your resolutions for God and his truth, stood firm and unshaken ; Our hearts turu ednotback, nor did our steps decline, though we werebrokenin the place of dragons, and covered with the shadow of death.
This we wholly owe to him that holds the stars in his right-hand, but our warfare is not yet ended.
Our faithful ness isnotyetfaithfulness to the death; we hope it will shortly be called fo, whilst it thus involves our self-denial, sincerity, diligence, impartiality, and constancy.
These are the principal things included in the first qualification ofministerialfaithfulness.
In the nextplacelet us weigh and value, 2. The second qualification in the text, viz. ministerial prudence.
Th The Lord's servant must not only be 150s, faithful; but Φρονιμος, prudent, discreet, and wife. Fidelity and honesty make a good Christian; but the addition of prudence
Prudence to fidelity, makes a good steward.
Faithfulness will fix the eyeuponthe right end ; but it is prudence must direct to the proper means of attaining it.
If we look into Rev. iv. 6, 7. we shall there find a stately emblem oftruegospel-ministers. They are Ανθρωποι πολύομματοι,
Men full of eyes. They have eyes looking before them to God for direction, behind them to the flocks they lead, and with. in them to their own hearts ; left aftertheyhave preached to others, themselves become cast-a ways.
They have also fix wings , withtwotheycovertheir faces, manifesting their deep reverence of God; with two their feet, manifesting the humble sense of their infirmities ; and with twotheyfly with chearful expedition in the service of God.
They have not only the courage of the lion, the strength of the ox, the loftiness of the eagle, but the face ofa man, i. e. prudence and discretion.
The use of prudence to a minister of Christ, is unspeakably great: Itnotonlygives clearness and perspicacity to the mind, by freeing it from passions and corporeal impressions, enabling it thereby to apprehendwhatisbest to be done; but enables it in its deliberations, about the means, to make choice of the most apt and proper; and directs the application of them in
The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor.
the fittest season, without precipitation, by too much haste ; or hazard, by too tedious delay. And judge you, brethren, by this, what an interest the affairs of Christ's kingdom have in this second qualification.
I know there is a carnal policy, an unworthypufillanimity, that often shrewd themselves under the name of prudence ; I have nothing to do with mock-graces here : My business is to shew you, in what particulars true ministerial prudence is highlyserviceabletothe affairs of Christ's house, or kingdom. And this Iwillbrieflydiscourse in two respects.
The eye of prudence must look, 1. To our own proper personal work, to fee that be well done.
2. To others who work, 1. With us as friends, thatwemayhave assistance from them.
2. Or against us as enemies, that our work be not ruined by them.
1. Prudence will direct the servants of Christ, in their own properminifterial work, that it be well done. And in order thereto, it will guide them in their deliberations to the fixfollowingproper means, and excellent expedients.
Ift, Prudential expedient.
And ist, prudence will direct us, to lay agoodfoundation of knowledge in our peoples fouls, by catechizing and instructing them in the principles of Christianity, without which we labour in vain.
Except you have a knowing people, you are not like to have a gracious people.
St. Paul's prudentials lay much in this, 1 Cor. iii. 10. "As a wife master-builder, I have laid the " foundation." And indeed this is the master piece of a master builder. All your excellent sermons will be dashed to pieces, upon the rock of your peoples ignorance. You can never pitch upon abetter project, to promote and secure the success of your labours, than catechizing.
What age of Christianity ever produced more lively and stedfast Christians, than the first ages ? And then the care of this duty most eminently flourished in the churches. Clemens
Alexandrinus, Origen, Optatus,Basil, Austin, and Ambrose, were all catechists : And it is the opinion,both of Chemnitius and Zanchy, that that exercise, which Christ honoured with his presence in his youth, was a catechetical exercise.
We that live in this age, have as much obligation as they, andGodhath furnished to our hands the best help for it, that
The Character ofa true Evangelical Pastor. ever any age since Christ enjoyed. As chymists extract the spirits of herbs and minerals into some rare elixir, so have our venerable assembly(lately fitting at Westminster, now in glory) composed for us the most judicious and compendious sy-. stem, that ever blessed this age. And to make it yet more useful, divers worthy hands havebeenemployed, some in one method, some in another, to make those compendious answers. more intelligible to the people. And yet I am of opinion, somewhat maybe further done to advance that great design, ina third method, that shall not only make those points more. intelligible, than in answeringbyyea and no: or drawing out the fubfervientanswers to suchalength, as too much charges the peoples memory, but withal to intermix the most useful practical matter with what is doctrinal. Iffuch a course might obtain in all our congregations, I think it would greatly discover our prudence, and turn richly to the account of our peoples profit.
2d Prudential expedient.
Ministerial prudence discovers itself in the choice offuchfubjects,as the needs ofourpeoplesfoulsdo most require, and call for.
A prudent minister will studythefouls of his people, more than the best human books in his library ; and not chusewhat. is easiest for him, but what is most necessary for them.
Ministers that are acquainted with the state of their flocks, as they ought to be, will be seldom at a loss in the choice of the next subject: Their peoples wants will chuse their text, from time to time, for them.
The greatest part of ourcongregations are poor, ignorant, and unregeneratedpeople, that know neither their misery nor their remedy.
This will direct us to the great doctrines of conviction, regeneration, and faith ; and make us to fit with follicitous minds in our studies, pondering thus in our hearts :
* Lord, what course shall we take, and what words shall we * chuse, that may best convey the,sense of their fin and danger, with the fulness and necessity of Christ, into their
• hearts ?'
Others are withering and decaying in their affections, or staggering and floating in their judgments : Prudence will enable the man of God to give to everyone his proper food, or physic, indue season.
This will make us spend more hours in our studies, and set to it with all our might and skill, that thereby we may both save ourselves, and them that hear us.
3d Prudential expedient.
This ministerial wisdom, will not only direct us thus in the
The Character ofa true Evangelical Pastor.
choice of our subjects, but of the language too, in which we dress and deliver them to our people.
It will tell you, a crucifiedstile best suits the preachers ofa crucified Christ. A grave and proper stile becomes the lips of Christ's ambassadors.
Prudence will neither allow us to be rude, nor affectedly gaudy, in our expressions. * " Tertullian
" checks those preachers, whose sermons dress up Christianity " in philosophical, rather than evangelical terms."
Prudence will chuse words that arefolid, rather thanflorid: As a merchant will a ship by a found bottom, and capacious hold, rather than a gildedheadandstern.
Words are but servants to matter. iron key, fitted to the wards of the lock, is more useful than a golden one, that will not open the door to the treasure.
An Some of Christ's ministers excel in an eat and pleasing plainness of language.
For this Austin was so affected with the stileofAmbrofe : + " With his sweet words, which I loved,
" came into my mind the duties which I neglected."
And Zanchy faith ofViret, ‡ " I admired his eloquence, and the " force it had in moving the affections."
Prudence will cast away a thousand fine words, for one that isapt to penetrate the conscience, and reach the heart.
This made Basil look upon the famed allegories of his time, with a compassionate smile, saying, || " We take them forprettywit- " ticisms, but things of little use or value in the ministry."
Who, in the last age, was ever honoured with more success in his ministry, than blessed Mr. Burroughs ? And whoever excelled him in skill, to bringdownthe sublime mysteries of the gospel to the meanest capacity ?
4. Prudential expedient.
Ministerial prudence will shew us, of what great use our own affections are, for the moving of others; and will therefore advise us, That, as ever we expect the truths we preach should operate upon the hearts of others,we first lab our to work them in upon our own hearts.
Such a preacher was St. Paul ; he preached with tears accompanying his words, Phil. iii. 18. An hot iron, though blunt, will pierce sooner than a coldone, though sharper.
And why, my brethren, do we think,God hath commif- * Qui Platonicum Chriftianissimum procudunt Chriftianis.
+ Veniebant in an i mum meumfimul cum verbis, quæ diligebam, etiam res ; quas negligebam.
‡ Siugularem eloquent i am,et in commovendis effectibus efficacitatem admirabar.
The Character ofa true Evangelical Pastor. fionatedus, rather than angels, to be his ambassadors ? Was it not, among other reasons, for this ? Because we having been under the fame condemnation andmiferyourselvés, and felt both the terrors and confolations of the Spirit, (which angels experimentally know not), might thereby be enabled to treat with sinners more feelingly, and affectionately, in away more accommodate to them, and therefore more aptto move andwinthem .
5. Prudential expedient.
Ministerial prudence will direct the servants of Christ (who highly value, and earnestly long for the success of their labour) to be careful, by the strictness and gravity of their deportment, to maintain their esteem in the consciences of their people.
In yourpulpits, you are carrying on a treaty of peace betwixtGodandthem; and therefore itwillnotallow you to do any thing out of your pulpits, to make the breach wider, or hinder the happy close between him and them.
The fowler that spreads his net to take the birds, will not leave a feather, or make the least noise, to scarethebirdhe intends to take.
Let not them who aim nó higherthanabird, bemoré prudent and cautious, than you that are set to catch immortal souls.
Remember that of Solomon, Prov. xi. 30. " He thatwinneth "fouls is wife."
Prudence will not allow the ministers of Christ to intermix themselves with vain company, and take the fame liberty they do in vainjefts, and idle stories. Nor will it allow, on the other side, a morose reservedness, anddifcou raging austerity ; but temper gravity with condescending affability.
To you that are juniors and candidates for the ministry, I will assume the boldness to addrefsyou with one seasonable word of advice ; and it is this : Have a care of that light and airy spirit, which so much obtainseverywhere in this unferi ous age.
It was the charge ofGodagainftfome ministers of old, thattheywere lightperfons, Rev. iii. 4. and yet I cannot but think, comparatively speaking, with some of our times, they might pass for grave and serious.
The people have eyes tofeehowwewalk, as well as ears to hear what we say.
It will be out wisdom and great advantage, to be able to fay, as St. Paul did, Phil. iv. 9. "The things which you have both
" heard and seen in me, do."
6. Prudential expedient.
Ministerial prudence willfend you often to your knees, to seek a blessing from God upon your studies and labours, as
The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor.
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The Character ofa true Evangelical Pastor. fionatedus, rather than angels, to be his ambassadors ? Was it not, among other reasons, for this ? Because we having been under the same condemnation and misery ourselves, and felt both the terrors andconfolations of the Spirit, (which angels experimentally know not), might thereby be enabled to treatwithfinners more feelingly, and affectionately, in away more accommodate to them, and therefore more aptto move and win them .
5. Prudential expedient.
Minifterialprudence will direct the servants of Christ (who highly value, and earnestly long for the success of their labour) to be careful, by the strictness and gravity of their de portment, to maintain their esteem in the consciences of their people.
In yourpulpits, you are carrying on a treaty of peace betwixtGodandthem; and therefore itwillnotallowyou to do any thing out of your pulpits, to make the breach wider, or hinder the happy close between him and them. The fowler that spreads his net to take the birds, will not leave a feather, or make the least noise, to scare the bird he intends to take.
Let not them who aim nó higherthana bird, be more prudent and cautious, than you that are set to catch immortal souls.
Remember that of Solomon, Prov. xi. 30. " He that winneth fouls is wife."
Prudence will not allow the ministers of Christ to intermix themselves withvaincompany, and take the fame liberty they do in vain jefts, and idle stories. Nor will it allow, on the other side, a morose reservedness, and discouraging austerity; but temper gravity with condescending affability.
To you that are juniors and candidates for the ministry, I will assume the boldness to address you with one seafonable word of advice ; and it is this: Have a care of that light and airy spirit, which so much obtains everywhere in this unferiousage.
It was the charge ofGodagainstsome ministers of old, thattheywerelightperfons, Rev. iii. 4. and yet I cannot but think, comparatively speaking, with some of our times, they might pass for grave and serious.
The people have eyes to feehowwe walk, as well as ears to hear what we say.
It will be out wisdom and great advantage, to be able to fay, as St. Paul did, Phil. iv. 9. "The things which you have both
"heard and seen in me, do."
6. Prudential expedient.
Ministerial prudence willfend you often to your knees, to seek a blessing from God upon your studies and labours, as
The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor.
knowing all yourministerialfuccess entirely depends thereupon, Cor. iii. 7.
Those are the best sermons, that are obtained by prayer.
BleffedBradford studied upon his knees.
Luther obtained more this way, thanbyallhis studies.
If an honest husbandman could tell his neighbour, that the reason why his corn profperedbetter than his, was,because he steeped the feed in prayer, before he sowed it in the field;we mayblush to think, how much more precious feed we havefowndry, andunfteeped in prayer, and by this neglect have frustrated our own expectation.
Thus laying our foundations in the knowledge of principles, chusing ourfubjectsby the peoples necessities ; handLing them in apt language ; working them first upon our own affections, enforcing them by strict conversation, andsteeping this holy feed in prayer; we shall approve ourselves the prudent ministers of Christ.
2dly, Having faidthus much of prudence, with respect to ourfinglepersonal concernment in the work of the ministry ;
I come next toshew its great usefulness with refpectto others, who are concerned either, 1. With us, as friendly assistants in our work.
2. Or against us, as enemies, who labour to obstruct and frustrate our work.
1. As to ourbrethrenandfellow-workers in the Lord, prudence will dictate and enjoin it upon us, that by the firmest us nionwiththem, we make their gifts and graces as useful as is possible, for thefurtherance and advancement of our great and difficult work. We cannot be ignorant how much Satanhath gained, and Christ's interest hath sensibly loft, by those un happydivifions and alienations amongst brethren, and fellow. labourers in the work of the Lord.
Christ hath shed down variety of glorious ascension-gifts upon them, which are notca pableofa full improvement, but in union and conjunction with each other. Gifts are improved in us by prayer and stu dy, but the benefits of those gifts are shared among us by love and unity. Love and union bring every man's gifts and graces into the common bank, and instead of monopolies, they drive a free and open trade, to the great enriching of the church.
There is not a greater, or more pleasant variety of qualities, smells, and colours, among the herbs and flowers with which the earth isvariegatedand decked, for the delight and service of man, than there is in the gifts and abilities of ministers,
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The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor.. for the use and service of the church.
One hath quickness of parts, but not fo deep and solid a judgment : Another is grave and solid, but not so ready and presential.
One is waryand reserved, another open and plain : One is melancholyandtimorous, another chearful and couragious. When these different gifts and qualities shine together in the church, heavens, what a glorious glorious constellation do they make ! and what sweet benign influences do they shed down upon the Lord's heritage ! All these ministerial gifts and graces are improve able for Christ,
1. More privately, 2. More publicly, by brotherly union.
1. More privately. When God casts the lot of two, or more, fellow-labourers in the gospel, upon the fame city, town, or i neighbourhood ; what a blessed advantage have they beyond solitary ministers, to carry on the work of the Lord chearfully, vigorously, and successfully ! Whilst love causes their hearts to clasp and close, how must their work be facilitated, sweetened, and profperedin their hands ? But if once jars and jealoufies get in amongst them; if pride, envy, or carnal interest dissolve the bond of brotherly love ; if instead of planting for Christ,, they once begin tofupplant one another ; no words are able to shew what a train of mischief and fins will now break in amongst them, to the great dish on our of Christ, and obstruction of the gospel.
I'do therefore, in the name of Christ, as upon my bended knees, earnestly intreat and beseech my brethren, by all the regard they have to the honour of Christ, the souls of their people, their own comfort, or the success of their labours; that no envyings, or strifes, nosupplantings, or detractions, be once admitted, or named among them.
Methinks it is scarce imaginable, that those who have so lately and severely smarted, should fall again into the fame follies, for which God hath chastised them.
2.And as prudence directs us into the way of our profit and comfort, by this more private improvement of our gifts and graces, so into a more excellent way, by a general union and coalition with all our brethren, farther distant in place from us .
It calls upon us to bury, and forget henceforth the factious names of distinction, growing out of our differentapprehensions about smaller disciplinary points. Howmanyferventprayers have been poured out ! how many excellent irenicums have been written by those excellent ministers, that are now at perfect unity in heaven ! Though they did not, yet I hope we
The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor:
and our children shall reap the blessed fruits of those pious endeavours. God hath spoken with a strong hand to our pious and prudent brethren, in and about the great city of this kingdom: They have most wisely and seasonably projected this great and glorious design : They have followed it close with unwearied diligence, admirable patience, 'Christian humility, and condescension; and, by the good hand of the Lord with them, have brought it at last to a comfortable issue.
The happy result of their fervent prayers, and frequent brotherlyconfults,(all praise to the God of love and peace for it !) are now in our hands, in those blessed sheets, called Heads of agreement : Wherein God hath signally helped them to evidence their wisdom in the choice of words, and their humility and charity, in mutual andnecessaryconceffions.
They have, by the mouth of an eminent brother, (whose praise is in the gospel, and whose hand hath eminently assisted in this service), chearfully offered up their praises toJehovah-Shalom, for making the two sticks of Judah and Ephraim to become one stick in his own hand.
And now, brethren, they wait,yea, give me leave to say, Christ waits as well as they, for our explicit consent, and chearful fuffrages. We have heard the joyful found of our brethrens praises : Shall we not echo to it, and say, Hallelu jah, and again, Hallelujah ? Ephraim shall no moreenvyJudah, norJudahvexEphraim:Our swords are turnedintoplow-shares, and our spears into pruning-hooks: The Lord hath this day rolled away our reproach.
Thus prudence will direct us to carry it with love and unity towards our brethren, that labour in the work with us.
2. Let us next see, what direction it gives us, with respect to our enemies, who endeavour to obstruct and hinder the work of the Lord in our hands.
If we be heartily engaged in the service of Christ, we must expect many adversaries, and strong oppositions ; men that will raise clouds ofreproaches, to darken our repuration among the people ; men,that will represent us to them as ignorant andunlearned, factious and seditious, erroneous and enthusrastical.
Prudence, in this case, will restrain us from rendering reproach for reproach ; and propound to us the best project in the world, for the vindication of our names, and success of our labours ; and that is, that we fo preach the gospel, that the people may feel the power of Christ in our doctrine ; and so live, that they may fee the beauty of Christ in our conversations ; and so preaching and living, we
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The Character ofa true Evangelical Pastor. shall bear down all the prejudices of the world before us. Such doctrine, seconded with such a conversation, like the fun is the heavens, will not only break up and scatter all clouds of reproach,but sheddowntheir enlightening and enlivening influences upon the hearts of the people.
I neither do, nor dare suggest and infinuateanythingin this discourse, against any party or body of men; being convinced, that amongst those who differ from us, there are many learned, pious, andpeaceable men, who can heartily rejoice to see the work of Christ carried on by those that follow not them. But some there are, almost ineveryplace,who are more concerned for a ceremony, than for the substanceofreligion ; for atileupon the roof, thana stone in the foundation : Whose envy, if it cannot reach others by imitation, will be restless till it meet them bycalumniation. In this case, ministerial prudence will carefully shun alloccafions ofexafperation ; and if that care be not sufficient to avoid them, it will furnish us with that patience and constancy which will be sufficient to bear them.
Thus we see the necessity and excellency of ministerial faithfulness and prudence, distinctlyconfidered. Let us, next,
3. View them conjunctlyinsome special parts of our work, whereinto theysheddown theirjointandcommixedinfluences.
And these, among some others, are the duties of, 1. Defending truth against error.
2. Reproving offenders.
3. Dealing with distressed consciences.
1. There is great need of faithfulness and prudence, in defending the truths of Christ, against the errors of the times.
Our faithfulness indeed will oblige us to do it; but prudence must direct us how to do it.
The establishment of our people in the truth, is one special end of the institution of the ministry,
Eph . iv. 11. but without the assistance of both these graces, that end is never like to be attained. A faithful minister dares not befilent, where the fouls of his people are concerned ; yet all his endeavours to secure them, will be to little purpose, if prudencebewantinginthe management of that design. Prudencemuftboth timeourcontentions, and regulate the manner of them.
It will never suffer us to appear too soon, nor too late: Not too soon,because errors are sometimes best cus red by neglect, and in a little time growwearyofthemselves; not too late, left they get head, and be past retrieve : Hasty contenders, like young faulconers, let fly the hawk with her hood on. Upon the other side, if friendship, or relation to
The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor.
feducers, stop our mouths too long, we may in a few days be entertained by them, (as Thyestes was by his brother Atreus) with the limbs of our own (spiritual) children.
Prudence will not sufferourpulpits to ring with invectives against seducers, till the more private and gentle methods have been tried in vain; and then neither prudence nor faithfulness will admit of longer delay. But yet when they both advise us to engage, prudence must regulate the manner of the contention, and commands us to urge hard arguments,with mild and soft language.
Errorists are usually hot and passionate, proud and daring persons. Most true is that ofNazianzen, ψυσεις θερμαι και μεγάλαι ταυλης της ταρχῆς φιλίαις hot and haughty spirits are the causes of troubles and distractions in the church: Hot to hot will never do well.
These heights and heats are best taken down, and cooled by strong and mild reasonings : " The wrath of man
"worketh not the righteousness of God." f 2. The joint commixed influences ofboththese graces, must be found in all our ministerial reproofs.
Reprove we must, or we cannot be faithful; and prudently too, or we cannot be successful. Hethatisfilent,cannot be innocent ; and yet it is a measuring cast, whether cowardly filencebe more prejudicial to the reprover, than indiscreet zeal maybe to the reproved.
Faithfulness is loath to lose the soul of another for want of reproof: Prudence is jealousoflofing it by the ill management
! of the reproof.
Faithfulness faith, itisbetterto lose the smiles, than the souls of men: Prudence faith, to save both is best .
Reprehenfion is Χειρεργιαλῶν παθων, the chirurgery of the paflions; and cutting-work is no easy or pleasant work.
Sick and painedmen are wayward, and pettish; but prudence will cast fetters upon their passions, and make them lie quiet, whilst faithfulness probes and searches their wounds to the bottom.
Prudence can sometimes convey a reproofso effectually andinoffensively, that the conscience of the reproved shall sensibly feel it; and yet his passions not be awakened by the least injurious touch.
Faithfulness confiders, and urges the necessity of the duty ; prudence confiders the qualityoftheperfon, time, and manner of application.
It will reach the fin, and yet (if possible) avoid the offence of the sinner.
It sometimes directs us to convict an offender, by transferring the offence by way offuppofition to ourselves ; sometimes by relating a suitable history, or folding down a remarkable scripture threatening or example, as it were accidentally, to meet them .
How prudently did Nathan prepareDavid,before he came to
The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor. touch the quick, with,Thou art the man ? Above all, prudence adviseth us to keep ourselves pure from those sins we reprove in others; and when we must apply the precious oil of reproof to them, that we work it in with the warm, soft, gentle hand of love and compassion ; and then the reproof is like to do good, and the reprover receive thanks for his kindness.
" Let the righteous smiteme,it shall bea kindness : Let him 66 reprove me, it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not " break mine head," Psal. cxli. 5.
3. Once more ; their joint influences must also meet in all our dealings with distressed consciences.
Conscience is avery tender thing, and when sick and distressed, needs to be handled bothjudicioufly and tenderly.
The woundmustbe searched, faith faithfulness; it must be searched skilfully, faith prudence: He that can so search and cure it, deserves that excellent encomium, One among a thousand, Job xxxiii. 23. What expert anddextrous persons at this work, wereourGreenham, Crook,Dod, Ball, and Burroughs ! Every empiric can skin over a wound, but a faithful minister will search it thoroughly, and a prudent minister will heal it warily ; Ne vulnus in antiquum red eat, malefirma cicatrix ;
Lest it fester at the bottom, and break out again with greater danger.
It requires a great measure of both these graces, to bring general confusedtroublestofettle upon the right bottom ; to direct a fin -sick foul to Christ, in the true gospel-method ; to furnish the tempted Christian with proper weapons against Satan's assaults, and teach him how to manage them ; to dissolve the doubts, and remove the scruples which arise almost in every step of his way to Christ; and so to settle the fluctuating foul in a sweet and sure dependance upon him by faith.
These things, I say, require much faithful prudence, and prudent faithfulness .
And thus we fee the manifold usefulness of both these graces in the servants and stewards of Christ. Offuch I may fay, as Christ in the text, Who then is a faithful and wifefervant ?
Hic nuncii (in quit Piscato ) rarifunt, ita ut ex mille hominibus vix unus reperiatur, qui munere illo recte fungi poffit, i. e.
These servants (faith Piscator) are so rare, that out of a thousand scarce one man may be found that discharges that office aright.
Chrifthath not many such servants, yet, blessed be God, some such there are. And, 3. Whoever, or where-everfuch faithful and wife servants are, Christ will abundantly reward them in the day oftheirac-
The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor.
count.
Which casts me upon the third and last doctrinal head I promised to speak to.
The glory prepared for, and promised to such servants of Christ, is elegantly laid out, in shining terms,bytheprophetDaniel, Dan. xii. 3. " And they that be
"wise, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament ; and " they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever
" and ever." A promise which points directly to faithful and wife ministers.
What a beautiful fight is the azure canopy of heaven, when it is about to shut its beautiful eye-lids ina serene evening ! and much more,when it is about to open them with a smile, or blush, in the dawning of the ruddy morning !
And how is that beauty again outvied by the glory of the stars, where the pleasant light sports and twinkles ! how doth one star excel anotheringlory! Yet thus, and more than thus, even above the brightness of the fun itself,shall the servants of Christ shine ; who, by their faithfulness and prudence, have inftrumentally turned many unto righteousness!
The question about degrees of glory in heaven is not necef fary, but problematical. We reject with abhorrence the popish doctrine of diversity of glories, as founded in the diversity of merits : Nor is it questioned, among the orthodox, whether there be an equality of glory, as to the essentials ; but only in respect to the accidentals, andconcomitants : Amongst which, they place the additional glory and joy of such ministers, whose faithful and prudent labours God hath blessed, and crowned with the conversion and edification of manyfouls.
And of this the apostle speaks, 1 Theff. ii. 19, 20. " For what " is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing ? Are not even
" ye, in the prefenceof our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming ?
" For ye are our glory and joy."
Where we find avery remarkablegradation. He calls his Theffalonian converts, " his
" hope, his joy, nay, his crown of rejoicing."
His hope, that is, the matter of his hope, that they should be saved.
His joy, as they had already given him abundant cause of joy, in their conversion to Christ by his ministry. And the " crown of his
" rejoicing in the presence of Christ, at his coming." This is an high strain indeed ! The meaning, I suppose, is, that the fruit and success of his ministry among them, would add to his crown, and redound to his glory in the day of Christ.
Obrethren! who would not study and pray, spend and be spent, in the service of such a bountiful Master ! Is it not worth all our labours and sufferings, to come with all those souls we instrumentallybegat to Christ ; and all that we edified, reduced, confirmed, and comforted in the way to heaven ; and fay,
The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor.
Lord,here am I, and the children thou hast given me ? To heat one spiritual child say, Lord, this is the minister, by whom I believed: Another, this i she, bywhomIwas edified, establish ed, and comforted.
This is the man thatresolvedmydoubts, quickened my dying affections, reduced my foul,whenwan dering from the truth ! O blessed be thy name,that I everfaw his face, and heard his voice! What think we of this, brethren ? But far beyond this ; what will it be to hearChrift,the prince ofpaftors, fay in that day, " Well done good and faith.
" ful servant; thouhaftbeen faithful over afewthings, I will " maketheerulerover many things: Enter thouintothejoy
" of thy Lord," Mat. xxv. 21. O firs ! we serve a good Mas ter, who is not unrighteous to forget our work, and labour of love for his name-fake. He keeps an exact account of all your fervent prayers, of all your instructive and perfuative sermons; and all your sighs,groans,andpantings,with everytearanddrop of sweat, are placed likemarginalnotes against your labours in his book, in ordertoafull reward.
But I have far out-run my own intention, and(I doubt) your patience too, in the doctrinal part. I consider to whom
I speak, and shall be the shorter in the application ; which I shall dispatch apace,in three uses.
1. For Information.
2. For Reprehenfion.
3. For Exhortation.
Use I.And first for our information,briefly,in two or three confectaries.
Confectary1.By this it appears, Christ hath established an order and government in his house,which no we mustvio
Ον κατέσκησε late. The church is a well ordered family, or •Κύριος. houshold, whereof Christ is the Head, Christians members, ministers stewards, theordinances foodtobedifpensedby 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 thofethat are over them in the Lord, Theff. v. 12. Heb. xiii.
17. the one must not impose, nor the otherufurp ; but each walkaccordingtothe rule of Christ,witharightfoot,ordinately and comely.
This order is the church's beauty, Col. ii. 5. and truly we may expect fomuch of Christ's presence, as we have of his rule and order amongst us, and no more. Othat the rules and orders of his house were better known, and observed! thenminifters and people would clearly understand, what they are to
The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor.
expect from each other in the way of duty, and each person keep his proper slation.
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,fecundum,sub etfupra.
The pleasure of such a fight, would as much transport gracious fouls with joy and pleasure,as the order of Solomon'shousedidthe queen of the South .
Consectary 2. In the light of this truth, we may also read our duty,how we ought to govern ourselves in the ordination of men to the ministerial office.
This office is to be committed unto faithful and able men, 2 Tim. ii. 2. not to novices, I Tim . iii. 6. I know the necessities of the churches are great, but no more haste (I beseech you) to supply their wants, than good speed. Sat is celeriter fiet, quicquid commodegeritur : That is foonenough, 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 am an, destitute both of faithfulness and prudence, with the dispensation of Christ's ordinances to men's fouls .
Some men are moved by pitiful low ends. I Sam. ii. 36.
" Put me into the priest's office, that I may eat a piece of " bread."
Some by ambition,conceiting themselves as able and holy as the best, Numb. xvi. 3. What mens secret ends are,we cannot know; but their qualifications for that work we may, and ought to know. We are solemnly charged, to " lay
"hands fuddenlyupon no man," 1 Tim.v. 22. In Solomon's time, the Jews were exceeding careful and wary in admitting profelites, because they were then a flourishing and prosperous state ; not so cautelous in time of adversity, as Josephus observes.
I would discourage none that appear to have pious inclinations, matched with competent qualifications. Many be useful, that cannot be excellent.
Weaker gifts, rooted in agraciousheart, will grow by using; but nothing grows withoutaroot.
I think the plainestmen have done the greatest fervicein the church of Christ : as tender-eyed Leah brought forth more children than beautiful Rachel.
But still fidelity and prudence are indispensible qualifications.
Confectary 3. If there be such rewards, in the hand of Christ, for all his faithfulandwise servants ; Then we have no just cause or reason to repent of our choice of this office, whateverfufferingsand reproaches it hath, or yet may expose us to.
I believe none of us ever yet felt such straits, endured such miseries, or fustainedfuch labours, as the apostle mentions to have befallen
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The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor. him, 2 Cor. xi. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27. and yet he heartily thanks the Lord Jesus Christ, (for all that) who had counted him faithful, andputhim into the ministry.
Brethren, we have served a good Master, and have cause to admire his care over us, and bounty to us ; and whatever we have suffered, we may say to them that shall succeed us, as Toffanus did to his children and kindred, in his last will and testament: * " I charge you, my dear children and relations,
" That ye never be ashamed of the evangelical truth, either " for the sake of offences arising from within the church, or of " perfecutions from without it.
Truth maylabour, but can- " not be suppressed: And I have often found by experience,
" the Lord to be wonderfully present with them, that walk " before him diligently and uprightly." O he hath been a good God to us! he hath covered us in days of danger, made provision for us and ours, and yet his best rewards are behind.
Let none scare at the reproaches and perfecutions that attend the gospel.
Use II. This point casts an ireful countenance upon all unfaithful and imprudent ministers,who givetheirpeoplethe chaff for the wheat, and stones for bread; who glory in the title, and live upon the profits,but neither feed the flock,nor mind the account.
They preach, they pray, because they must do so; but none are the better for their prayers, or preaching. They seem to labour an hour or two in a week, but theirlabours turn to no account; nor can be expected to turn to any good account, whilst they are neither animated by faithfulness, nor guided by prudence.
Agicola, writing de animantibus fubterraneis, tells us of a certain kind of spirits that converse with minerals, and much infest those that work in them. They seem to busy themselves according to the customofworkmen; they will dig and cleanse, melt and fever the metals, yet when they are gone, the work men do not find that there is any thing done. I came nothi-
ther (I confess) to deal with this fort of men ; and therefore thall leave them to confider the words immediately following
* Obtestor vos, liberos et generos charissimos, ne ill i us veritatis evangelice unquam vos pudeat, vel propter scandal a domi, vel propter perfecutiones, quæ for is excitantur.
Poteft enim labor are,fed non vinci veritas.
Et nonfemel expertusfum Dominum Deummirabilliteraddesse iis quichoram ipfo ambulant, et infuavocutionefeduloet integre verfantur,&c. Melch. Adam in vitaToffani,p. 720.
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my text, which, like a thunder-clap from the mouth of Christ, discharges woes and threatnings upon them ; ver. 48. to the end: " If that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lordde- " layeth his coming ; and shall begin to smite his fellow-fer- " vants, and to eat and drink with the drunken : The Lord of " that servant shall come in a day that he looketh not for him,
" and in an hour that he is not aware of; and shall cut him a- " funder, and appoint him his portion with hypocrites. There
" shall be weeping, and gnashing of teeth." Who can aggravate their misery more, than these words of Christ have done?
But I am principally concerned at this time aboutourown defects, both in faithfulness, and in prudence ; though neither of these (I hope)be totally wanting in us, yet our defects and short-comings may, and must greatly humble us. Our vain expence of much precious time, our shuffling haste in so weighty a study as the salvation of our people is ; our sinful silence, when conscience faith, reprove ; our coldness anddeadheartedness ; our unserious and unprofitable converfes ; our
pride and oftentation of gifts ; our neglect of personal conferences : All these evidently discover, that both our brains and bowels need more strength and tenderness.
I will not insist here upon these particulars, (let us do that in our studies) but hasten to the exhortation, and therein to the close of this dis-. course.
USE III.
Are faithfulness and prudence the essential requifites of the servants and stewards of Christ's house ? And will he so amply reward them in whomsoever he finds them ? Then let it be our care and study to approve ourselves to him, such as he here describes and encourages.
But who am I, to manage such a work as this, amongmen every way above me ! However, you have called me to thi service, and Christ hath directed me to this subject : And should
I now filentlypass over this part of my work, how shall I approve myself, either a faithful, or a wise servant to him that sent me ?
I despair of ever having such another opportunity ; I fee many faces in this assembly, whom I shall never fee any more in this world. I speak to the ministers of Christ, the guides and pastors of fo many flocks. May I be in the least instrumental to quicken them in their duties, their respective numerous congregations will reap the benefit of it .
My brethren, this is the day I have often wished for, when Nnn2
The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor. in the sadandfilent years that are past, I have been searching my own heart, and enquiring into the causes of God's indignation (as I doubt not you also have done) ; I have bewailed the forementioned defects before the Lord, and engaged my soul by solemn promise to him, that if he would once more openthedoor of liberty, I would (through his grace) labour to reform, and do my utmost toperfuadeallmy brethren to exercise more ministerial faithfulness and prudence.
And now I am where my soul hath long desired to be, and the vows ofGodareuponme; fuffertherefore(dear brethren), yea, suffer from unworthy me, This word of exhortation : Take heedtoyourministry, that you fulfil it : Take heedtoyourselves, and to the flocks over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers. Let us so studyandpreach, let us so pray and converse among our people, that we may both fave ourselves,and them that hear us ; let us frugally and industriously husband our time and talents for Christ; let us prudently contrive, zealouslyand unanimously execute our holy contrivances, for the advancement of his kingdom and interest in the world:
These are plotting times, wicked men are everywhere plotting to disturb the civil peace; let us have our plot too, an honest plot, how to advance the interest of Christ in the souls of our people ; wherein we shall also promote and secure the civilpeaceofthat happygovermentwe live under. Let us learn prudence from our past follies, and constancy from our past experiences.
I look upon you that are aged ministers, as seasoned timber, that hath lain out near thirty years in the weather, yet neither warped, rained, nor rotten.
I confess, in all this time, the fun hath not much tried the force of his influence upon us, thoughthestorms have. I suspect our greatest danger will be in the sunshine of liberty.
If we hold it now, and manage this trial by liberty, with eminent faithfulness and prudence, humility and peaceableness, zeal and diligence; Christ may account us fit materialstobuildhis house.
Let us now redeem our many silent Sabbaths, by double and triple improvements of those we enjoy: Let none of us dare to bring our old fins into our new pulpits.
Then will the Prince of pastors delight in us here, and crown our prudent faithfulness with a full reward hereafter. In orderwhereunto, givemeleavetohint (for I can do no more than hint) these threethingsbywayofmotive, which are worth thinking on :
We have a solemn charge given us by Christ.
We have a solemn accounttopassshortlywith Christ.
We have now agreatopportunity to improve for Christ.
The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor.
1,2.
1. We haveafolemn charge given us by Christ, 2Tim. iv.
" I charge thee therefore before God, and the LordJe- " sus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his
" appearing, and his kingdom; preach the word, be instant " in season, and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with " all long-suffering and doctrine."
It must be a powerful opiate indeed, that canfobenumb and stupify the conscience of a minister, as that he shall not feel the awful authority of such a charge.
The precious and immortal foulsofmen are committed to us, fouls, aboutwhichGodhath concerned his thoughts from eternity; for the purchase of which Christ hath shed his own blood; for the winning andespoufing of which to himself, he hath put you into this office ; at whose hands he will also require an account of them in the great day.
2. We have afolemn account at that day to pass with Christ.
Heb. xiii. 17. " We watch for their souls, as those that must " give account." And what can more powerfully excite to faithful diligence in the discharge of duty, than the confiderationofthatday ! Which the apostle had mentioned, in 2Cor. v. 10. this awful appearance before the judgment-feat of Christ; he immediately infers, ver. 11. " Knowing therefore
" the terror of the Lord, we persuade men."
Obrethren! let us beware of committing, or of neglecting anything, thatmaybring us withinthecompass of the terrors of that day. Let our painfulness and faithfulness,our constancy and seriousness, compel a testimony from ourcongregations, as the apostle did from his, Acts xxviii. 26. " That we are
" pure from the blood of allmen."
3. We have a great opportunity to improve for Christ ; which if we do, we shall fulfil his charge, and escape the terrors of his judgment in that great day.
We have now (ifI mistake not) the fairestseasonwe ever enjoyed, since we first preached Christ; if this be lost, I queftionwhether we may ever expect the like. There is great odds betwixtourpresent circumstances at our return to our flocks, andourpaft circumstances when we left them, and that both upon our own account, and upon theirs .
1. Upon our own account : We were then.young,and (comparatively)unexperienced ministers to what we are now. Tho' we have too many defects and weaknesses still to lament, yet Iamperfuadedwehavenot spent so many years among trials, fears, and sufferings in vain.
These things, I am persuaded, have greatly improved our acquaintance with God, and our
The Character of a true Evangelical Pastor.
Own hearts It will be as fad as strange, if they have not. God hath been training us up in faith,humility, patience, and self denial in this school of affliction. Whenwecould not preach the doctrine of faith, we were reduced, by a blessed necessity, to live the life of faith.
The rules of patience, humility, and satisfaction in the will of God, we were wont to prescribe from our pulpits to the people, we were neceffitated to practise and apply to ourselves in our fad folitudes, and various distresses, through which the Lord hath led us .
So that now we come better furnished to the work, than ever before. And I hope I have ground for you, brethren, to say, as the apostle, of his coming to the Romans, that you come among them " in the
" fulness of the blessing of the gospel. of Christ."
2. There is great odds upon the peoples account : Many of them were full-fed, and wanton, when we left them ; they are hungry, and sharp set, at our returntothem. An hungry appetite appears in the people in many places, not without great cause and reason. They are willing to take any pains : your words now drop upon them as the clouds upon the clefted earth. O what an opportunity doth this give to accomplish the great ends of our ministry among them !
Lift up your eyes, and behold the fields, are they not even white unto the harvest ? Let husbandmen rather lose their feed time and harvest, than we lose so precious a season, so great, so rich an opportunity as this.
I have finished what concerneth you, my reverend and dear brethren, and fellow labourers in the Lord's harvest : A word or two remains to be spoken to the people, and I have done.
You have heard what a variety of duty lies upon us, and what difficulty in every part thereof; yet all our labours would be light, and our pains pleasant, might we fee more fruits, and success of them amongst you.
Yourbarrenness and unperfuadableness, your divisions and instability cost us more, than all our other pains in our studies and pulpits. How easily and sweetly would the plough go, would you butfet both your hands of prayer and obedience to assist us in that work .
You have now as blessed an opportunity as your souls can desire, yea, that very season of mercy some of you have along
timeanxiouslydefired. You have confessed to God, that you once finnedus out of our pulpits; God forbid you should next fin us into our graves .
If you be wanton children at a full table, our enemies are