Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

10.

[ocr errors]

fcenfions of the apostle Paul, who used the most tender, foft and condefcending methods to advance the gofpel among men, and was willing to "become all things to all men for their spiritual good?" and, when he faw it needful for the winning of their fouls, he laid aside his authority, and fell to entreaties and befeechings with them, Rom. xii. 1. 2 Cor v. 20.-x. 1. Philemon 9. And obferve what he fays, 1 Theff. ii. 7. 11. "We were gentle among you, as a nurse cherisheth her children:" And (faith he) "we exhorted you as a father doth his children." Now, as a tender nurfe or father will not impose any upon weak children to feed them, at whom they have the greatest averfion, nor tell them that they fhall have no food unless they take it from fuch hands; fo neither ought judicatories to intrude paftors upon diffenting or reclaiming parishes. They pray for the spreading of Chrift's glory and kingdom, and therefore fhould not counteract their prayers, as they manifeftly do by violent fettlements; for thus they lay the foundations of flrong prejudices in peoples breafts against minifters and the fuccefs of the glorious gofpel, and frequently drive people quite away from the gofpel net, to the great increase of ignorance and immorality. This courfe is directly against the Bible, that forbids us to give any occafion of ftumbling or prejudice unto others, whereby their edification may be hindered, Rom. xiv. 13. 19. YI. Alas! people have naturally strong enough prejudices against the gofpel itfelf, be the paftor never fo acceptable; and what a pity is it that occafion fhould be given them to conceive prejudice alfo against the preacher of it? feeing thereby the ftrong holds of Satan are rendered more impregnable. For how can it be expected that a parish will be free of ftumbling or prejudice against a man that makes it his bufinefs to obtain a right to their ftipend, and will not part with it when they how the utmoft averfion to him, but gets himself, viis & modis, thruft in upon them? Will they not be ready to look upon him as "an earthly minded man, greedy of filthy lucre," that thrufts himfelf into the " prieft's office for a piece of bread," that feeks the fleece more than the VOL. IV.

3 F

flock,

flock," and minds his own things more than the things of Jefus Chrift?" Is not this the way to bring both the perfon and miniftry of fuch a man into contempt among the people, to fhut their ears against his admonitions, and render his labours among them unfuccessful? Whereas, fhould a minifter come among a people by their call, he has a fair door opened to him to promote their falvation they think themselves bound to attend his miniftry, receive him into their houfes, hearken to his counfels, and fubmit to his reproofs; and fo the gofpel hath free courfe among that people.

5. Seeing the right of Chriftians to judge for themfelves in matters of religion is undeniably fecured to them both by the light of nature and of revelation; they must confequently have an intereft in the choice of their teachers. For if a man may judge for himself concerning the schemes of doctrine and ways of falvation laid before him, and may prefer one to another: it muft follow, that he hath alfo a right to judge who is fittest to instruct him according to it; otherwise he might fall into the hands of those who would lead him into fchemes quite oppofite to what he hath chofen. It is evident that both Scripture and reafon allow men a judgment of difcretion about the paftors to whom they are to commit the inftructing, guiding, and edifying of their precious fouls. That text is plain for it, in I John iv. I. "Beloved, believe not every fpirit, but try the fpirits whether they be of God: because many falfe prophets are gone out into the world." Likewife that text, Mat. vii. 15. 16. "Beware of falfe prophets, which come to you in fheeps clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. Ye fhall know them by their fruits." And that in 2 John, ver. 10. "If there come any to you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not." From all which texts it is evident, that Christians have right to judge concerning those who bring them true gofpel doctrine, and whom they are to receive, and whom not. The Bereans are highly commended for their ufing this right, Acts xvii. 11. And Chrift declares it to be the privilege of his people to distinguish the voice of a stranger or hireling from the voice of å

true

true fhepherd, and to flee from the one, and follow the other," John x, 4 5

6. The confent of parishes to the fettlement of a minifter is requifite to conftitute the paftoral relation betwixt him and his flock, and the obligation of mutual offices and duties one to another. It was anciently a received maxim among Prefbyterians, That the confent of the flock is as neceflary to fix the paftoral relation, as the confent of the minifter; feeing the tye is mutual and reciprocal.

7. The apoftles example, in ordaining paftors by the choice and confent of the people, was followed by the primitive church for many centuries after them, as Eufebius and others teftify. And the learned Turretine,` vol. 3. queft. 24 De jure vocationis, quotes many of the ancient fathers and councils as maintaining the peoples right. And Mr Petrie, in his church history, p. 63, 65. obferves, That the church of Rome in the 7th century had not given up with this principle of Chriftianity. It hath been the fixed principle of this church, and of our reformers from the very dawning of the reformation, That congregations ought to have minifters fettled among them with their own confent. This can be made evident from our books of difcipline, and many acts of affemblies; and this is confirmed by affembly 1736, act 14 wherein they declare, "That it is, and hath been fince the Reformation, the principle of this church, that no minifter fhall be intruded into any parish contrary to the will of the congregation; and therefore they feriously recommend to all the judicatories of this church, to have a due regard to the faid principle in planting vacant congregations, as they regard the glory of God, and the edification of the body of Chrift." But it is to be regretted, that neither the ancient principles of this church, nor the recommendation of Affembly 1736, are much regarded in the fettlement of churches at this day, more than the Scriptural arguments aforementioned for the peoples right. O how great ground hath this backfliding church to imitate that famous General Affembly 1596, who made the thrufting of men into congregations one fpecial caufe

3 F 2

of

of their keeping a day for folemn fafting and humiliation before the Lord! Likewife it is to be noticed, what they obferve of these intruders, "That they manifeft thereafter, that they were not called of God." O that judicatories would keep in mind the apostle's warning againft being "partakers of other mens fins, by laying hands fuddenly upon them ;" and would confider how far they may be accountable for these precious fouls, who may perish in an ignorant and Chriftlefs condition, during the scatterings and prejudices of congregations intruded upon! Surely that text hath an alarming found to all concerned in intrufions, Jer. xxiii. 1.2. "Wo be unto the pastors that deftroy and scatter the sheep of my paftures, faith the Lord. Therefore, thus faith the Lord God of Ifrael, against the pastors that feed my people, Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them; behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, faith the Lord." Likewife the 34th chapter of Ezekiel hath fome very awful things relative to this cafe. O that the Spirit of God would carry them home to the hearts of men, with fuch power and efficacy, that their eyes may be opened in time; fo that intrufions, fcatterings, and contempt of Christ's flock, may not iffue in the deftruction of vital religion, and of this once famous national church!

This woful contempt and difregarding of the flock of Chrift, by intruding paftors upon them, neglecting their petitions, and otherwife, could not but be very provoking to a holy God; wherefore he was pleafed to vifit this church with fevere awful rebukes, and particularly with violent attacks upon her beautiful conftitution, running it down, and promoting Independent fchemes of government, and fetting up new models of congregational churches, with new improvements. This was firft attempted by Mr John Glafs, minister at Tealing, and Mr Francis Archibald, minifter of Guthrie. After a while's more fecret management, they came at length to vent their principles openly, and to go about preaching them in the streets, fields, &c. and printed feveral pamphlets in favour of their new opinions.

They

[ocr errors]

They found fault with our Confeffion of Faith and Formula, and refufed to fubfcribe them: They maintained, that there is no warrant for national churches under the New Teftament, but only for congregational: That fingle congregations are not fubject to any fuperior judicatory, nor cenfurable by them: That they may ordain their own paftors, and that all the members have right to govern: That the church of Ifrael was but a typical church, and their kings were ecclefiaftical officers: That their national covenanting with God was typical, and not to be imitated by Christian nations: That our national covenanting was unwarrantable, and is not obligatory on us: That our martyrs, who suffered for adhering to our covenants, were fo far unenlightened That Chriftian magiftrates have no more power in religious matters than others, and ought not to employ their power to advance religion, to make laws with penalties in favours of it, nor to reftrain or punish heretics or false teachers, nor to give encouragement to good Chriftians more than other good fubjects: That the Chriftian religion ought not to be defended by arms: That the example of the reforming kings of Judah in punishing idolatry and false worship, or encouraging true religion, is not to be imitated. These, and a great many other new and ftrange doctrines, they spread; and would by no means be reclaimed, nor forbear venting them. At length the church did procefs them both for their fingular doctrines and practices. It was the opinion of many, that feeing they were both very pious men, acting according to their light, and had been and might be further useful in the church, they fhould not be feverely dealt with, but only brought under prohibitions and reftraints; and if they could be engaged to ftay with their own congregations, and no more to fpread their new opinions, they might be connived at. Likewife, many had greater fympathy with Mr Archbald than with the other, in regard he was led off by him in his fimplicity to these new things, neither did he vent himself fo against our covenants as he did: but, feeing none of them would promife to forbear, they were both fufpended; and, upon their contemning the

church's

« AnteriorContinuar »