Metaphor. | Parallel.
Father is a Name of Dignity, Headship, and Authority; hence the Rulers of Israel were called Fathers. | Ministers are Men of Name, Power, and Dignity; they are Christ's Substitutes; hence called Rulers.
II. Some are called Fathers, because they beget Children; this is the common Appellation and Notion of the Word. | II. Ministers, by the preaching of the Gospel, in a spiritual way, beget Christians to Jesus Christ:1 I have begotten you through the Gospel.
III. Fathers train up and nourish their Children, showing much Tenderness and Compassion towards them; they are said to pity their Children. | III. Faithful Ministers also train up those Christians they have begotten to Christ, in the further Knowledge of the Truth, being very tender of them. As you know how we exhorted, and comforted, 2and charged every one of you, as a Father doth his Children.
IV. Fathers have Power to command their Children: I know him, (that is, Abraham) that he will command his Children, &c. | IV. So Ministers of Christ have Power in his Name, to command those Christians, who are under their special Care and Charge, to do their respective Duties: These things teach and command. 3Now we command you, Brethren, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every Brother that walketh disorderly, &c.
V. Fathers ought to be reverenced and honoured by their Children, (Honour thy Father and thy Mother, &c.) and their just Commands to be observed and obeyed. | V. So faithful and worthy Ministers ought to be highly esteemed and honoured by the Saints.4 Let the Elders that rule well, be accounted worthy of double Honour, especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine.
VI. A Father ought not to be rebuked by his Children, (it becomes them not so to do, tho he may be in a Fault, and blame-worthy) but entreated. | VI. So the Minister of Christ ought not to be rebuked by any particular Members of the Church to whom he belongs, tho in some things he may be blame-worthy: Rebuke not an Elder, 5but entreat him as a Father. Tho I doubt not, but that the Church, after a due and orderly Proceeding with an Elder, if he be under Evil, and obstinate, may be rebuked, nay, not only so, but further proceeded against also.
VII. 'Tis the Honour of a Father to rule and govern his Children, and whole Family, with Wisdom and Discretion. | VII.
Metaphor. | Parallel.
FAther is a Name of Dignity, Headship, and Authority; hence the Rulers of Israel were called Fathers. | MInisters are Men of Name, Power, and Dignity; they are Christ's Substitutes; hence called Rulers.
II. Some are called Fathers, because they beget Children; this is the common Appellation and Notion of the Word. | II. Ministers, by the preaching of the Gospel, in a spiritual way, beget Christians to Jesus Christ:1 I have begotten you through the Gospel.
III. Fathers train up and nourish their Children, shewing much Tenderness and Compassion towards them; they are said to pity their Children. | III. Faithful Ministers also train up those Christians they have begotten to Christ, in the further Knowledg of the Truth, being very tender of them. As you know how we exhorted, and comforted, 2and charged every one of you, as a Father doth his Children.
IV. Fathers have Power to command their Children: I know him, (that is, Abraham) that he will command his Children, &c. | IV. So Ministers of Christ have Power in his Name, to command those Christians, who are under their special Care and Charge, to do their respective Duties: These things teach and command. 3Now we command you, Brethren, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every Brother that walketh disorderly, &c.
V. Fathers ought to be reverenced and honoured by their Children, (Honour thy Father and thy Mother, &c.) and their just Commands to be observed and obeyed. | V. So faithful and worthy Ministers ought to be highly esteemed and honoured by the Saints.4 Let the Elders that rule well, be accounted worthy of double Honour, especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine.
VI. A Father ought not to be rebuked by his Children, (it becomes them not so to do, tho he may be in a Fault, and blame-worthy) but entreated. | VI. So the Minister of Christ ought not to be rebuked by any particular Members of the Church to whom he belongs, tho in some things he may be blame-worthy: Rebuke not an Elder, 5but entreat him as a Father. Tho I doubt not, but that the Church, after a due and orderly Proceeding with an Elder, if he be under Evil, and obstinate, may be rebuked, nay, not only so, but further proceeded against also.
VII. 'Tis the Honour of a Father to rule and govern his Children, and whole Family, with Wisdom and Discretion. | VII.
- 11 Cor. 4.15.
- 21 Thess. 2.11.
- 31 Tim. 4.11. 2 Thess. 4.6.
- 4Mal. 1.16. 1 Tim. 5.17.
- 51 Tim. 5.
