The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

IN the discharge of the whole Pastoral Office, there is not any Thing or Duty that is of more importance, nor wherein the Lord Jesus Christ is more concerned, nor more eminently suited unto the nature of the Office it self, than this is. But, whereas it is a Work or Duty, which because of the Reasons mentioned, must be accompanied with the exercise of Humility, Patience, Self-denial and Spiritual Wisdom, with Experience, with wearisome Diversions from other occasions; those who had got of old the conduct of the Souls of Men into their management, turned this whole part of their Office and Duty into an Engine they called Articular Confession, whereby they wrested the Consciences of Christians to the promotion of their own Ease, Wealth, Authority, and oft-times to worse ends.

7. A compassionate suffering, with all the Members of the Church in all their trials and troubles, whether internal, ⟨p. 104⟩or external, belongs unto them in the discharge of their Office. Nor is there any thing that renders them more like unto Jesus Christ, whom to represent unto the Church, is their principal Duty. The view and consideration by Faith of the Glory of Christ in his compassion with his suffering Members, is the principal spring of Consolation unto the Church in all its Distresses. And the same Spirit, the same Mind herein, ought, according to their measure, to be in all that have the Pastoral Office committed unto them. So the Apostle expresseth it in himself: Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not? 2 Cor. 11.29. And unless this compassion and goodness do run through the discharge of their whole Office, Men cannot be said to be Evangelical Shepherds, nor the Sheep said in any sense to be their own. For those who pretend unto the Pastoral Office, to live, it may be, in wealth and pleasure, regardless of the Sufferings and Temptations of their Flock, or of the poor of it; or related unto such Churches, as wherein it is impossible that they should so much as be acquainted with the state of the greatest part of them, is not answerable unto the institution of their Office, nor to the design of Christ therein.