3. And I must tell you, that there is abundance of difference betwixt the case of the Civil Magistrates, and the Pastors of the Church in this. Magistracy must have more fear and pomp: But Pastors must govern by Light and Love: When his Apostles strove for superiority, Christ left a decision of the controversy for the use of all following ages. It is the contempt of the world, and the mortifying of the flesh, and self-denial, that Pastors have to teach the people, and withal to seek a heavenly treasure: And will not their own example further the success of their Doctrine? The reverence that a Pastor must expect, is not to be feared as one that can do hurt (For all coercion or corporal force is proper to the Magistrate:) but it is to ⟨p. 451⟩be thought one that is above all the riches and pleasures of the world, and hath set his heart on higher things: Such a one therefore he must both be and seem. A Pastor will be but the sooner despised, if he look after that riches and worldly pomp, which is seemly for a Magistrate: If he have a sword in his hand, it's the way to be hated: If he have teeth that are bloody, or claws that can tear, he will be accounted a wolf, though he have the clothing of a sheep.1 When our Divines give the reason of Christs humiliation, they say, that if he had preached up heavenly-mindedness, self-denial, and mortification, and had himself lived in pomp and fullness, the people would not have regarded his words: And surely the same reason holdeth in some measure as to all his Ministers. Again, I say, that if ever the Church be universally reformed, the Pastoral office must be only encouraged with necessary support, to keep the Pastors from despondency, and distracting cares; but it must not be made a bait of ambition, covetousness or sloth; but must be stripped of that which makes it thus desirable to a carnal mind. Otherwise we must expect, that except when Princes are very holy, the Churches be ordinarily guided by carnal and ungodly men; who will do it according to their minds and interest. All the world cannot answer the reason of this: which is, Honours and wealth will be certainly sought with greatest industry by the worldly, that is, the worst of men: and not by the heavenly mortified persons: And they that seek shall usually find:
3. And I must tell you, that there is abundance of difference betwixt the case of the Civil Magistrates, and the Pastors of the Church in this. Magistracy must have more fear and pomp: But Pastors must govern by Light and Love: When his Apostles strove for superiority, Christ left a decision of the controversie for the use of all following ages. It is the contempt of the world, and the mortifying of the flesh, and self-denyal, that Pastors have to teach the people, and withall to seek a heavenly treasure: And will not their own example further the success of their Doctrine? The reverence that a Pastor must expect, is not to be feared as one that can do hurt (For all coertion or corporal force is proper to the Magistrate:) but it is to ⟨p. 451⟩be thought one that is above all the riches and pleasures of the world, and hath set his heart on higher things: Such a one therefore he must both be and seem. A Pastor will be but the sooner despised, if he look after that riches and worldly pomp, which is seemly for a Magistrate: If he have a sword in his hand, it's the way to be hated: If he have teeth that are bloody, or claws that can tear, he will be accounted a wolf, though he have the cloathing of a sheep.1 When our Divines give the reason of Christs humiliation, they say, that if he had preached up heavenly-mindedness, self-denyal, and mortification, and had himself lived in pomp and fulness, the people would not have regarded his words: And surely the same reason holdeth in some measure as to all his Ministers. Again, I say, that if ever the Church be universally reformed, the Pastoral office must be only encouraged with necessary support, to keep the Pastors from despondency, and distracting cares; but it must not be made a bait of ambition, covetousness or sloth; but must be stript of that which makes it thus desirable to a carnal mind. Otherwise we must expect, that except when Princes are very holy, the Churches be ordinarily guided by carnal and ungodly men; who will do it according to their minds and interest. All the world cannot answer the reason of this: which is, Honours and wealth will be certainly sought with greatest industry by the worldly, that is, the worst of men: and not by the heavenly mortified persons: And they that seek shall usually find:
- 1See Dr. • Stillingfleet of Satisfaction on this point.
