N17286:568
The saints everlasting rest
The saints everlasting rest: or, A treatise of the blessed state of the saints in their enjoyment of God in glory: extracted from the works of Mr. Richard Baxter, by John Wesley, M.A. late fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford.
Philadelphia: printed by Prichard & Hall, 1790
Part 2 › Chapter 12: An Advice to some more particularly to help others to this Rest.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. But as the case now stands with ministers, they are disabled from doing that which belongs to their office, and therefore you cannot now cast your work on them. I will instance but in two things.
First, It belongs to their office to govern the church, and to teach with authority; and great and small are commanded to obey them, Heb. xiii. 7.17. But this is unknown, and hearers look on themselves as free-men, that may obey or not, at their own pleasure. People think we have authority to speak to them when they please to hear, and no more. Nay, few of the godly themselves understand the authority that their teachers have over them from Christ: they know how to value a minister's gifts, but not how they are bound to obey him because of his office: not that they should obey him in evil, nor that he should be a final decider of all controversies, nor should exercise his authority in things of no moment; but as a schoolmaster may command his scholars when to come to school, and what book to read, and what form to be of, and as they ought to obey him, and learn of him, and not to set their wits against his, but to take his word, and believe him as their teacher, till they understand as well as he, and are ready to leave his school; just so are the people bound to obey and learn of their teachers. Now this ministerial authority is unknown, and so ministers are the less capable of doing their work, which comes to pass, 1. From the pride of man's nature, ⟨p. 251⟩especially novices, which makes men impatient of the reins of guidance and command: 2. From the Popish error of implicit faith; to avoid which we are driven as far into the contrary extreme: and 3. From the modesty of ministers, that are loth to show their commission, and make known their authority, lest they should be thought proud: as if a pilot should let the seamen run the ship whither they will, for fear of being thought proud in exercising his authority.
First, It belongs to their office to govern the church, and to teach with authority; and great and small are commanded to obey them,