The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

Thirdly, This watering containeth direction about the beauty and order of Churches in the government thereof, when once planted. As Rome, so neither Jerusalem is not built on a day: The Church at her Infancy is not a prepared subject for those many duties that are required of her, especially the Church being a society of men orderly knit together, there is need of government, without which men instead of being Saints and Christians, would be wild beasts, and this must come in by degrees; it's an essential Church, before it can be a political one. Thus the Apostle Paul after he had planted this Church, yet had not settled all things concerning the order of it, especially he bewailed that irreverent and profane receiving of the Sacrament which was amongst them; therefore he concludes, The rest will I set in order when I come, 1 Cor. 11. ult. So that herein also is a great work, the labouring to instruct, and bring people to a full conformity to all that heavenly order, and godly course of life, which Christ hath commanded: We see men have quickly submitted to the doctrine of Christ, who yet do not in their lives to the Laws of Christ; men may have a sound faith, but a rotten and unsound conversation. Oh this is the blemish and reproach of Christianity to this very day; Herein is great work still for the Ministerial employment: Though we are planted gardens, yet they are so full of noisome weeds, and poisonous herbs, that there must be daily inspection. Hath God planted thee, and watered thee for this only, to become a weed or a bramble? The work of the Ministry is necessary, as long as there is one bitter root growing up amongst us: Esau a profane man is called a bitter root, Heb. 12.15. And so indeed every wicked man is a bitter root, bitter in himself, he is in the state of gall and wormwood, he is not a Naomi, but a Marah; though he doth not feel it, yet his soul is full of all misery, and then he is bitter to others both actively and passively; actively in grieving, and troubling the souls of those that are godly; and passively in being grieved at the godly; their doings, their actions, make heavy the hearts of the godly, as it was in Lot by the Sodomites. Now then what care is here required, that there may be nothing in our Assemblies that may offend the pure eyes of Gods glory.

Thirdly, This watering containeth direction about the beauty and order of Churches in the government thereof, when once planted. As Rome, so neither Jerusalem is not built on a day: The Church at her Infancy is not a prepared subject for those many duties that are required of her, especially the Church being a society of men orderly knit together, there is need of governement, without which men instead of being Saints and Christians, would be wild beasts, and this must come in by degrees; it's an essential Church, before it can be a political one. Thus the Apostle Paul after he had planted this Church, yet had not setled all things concerning the order of it, especially he bewailed that irreverent and prophane receiving of the Sacrament which was amongst them; therefore he concludes, The rest will I set in order when I come,