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§. 148. Of Obedience and Subjection to spiritual Guides.
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit your selves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
THE Apostle here returneth to the duty of people towards their spirituall Guides. Somewhat he spake thereof be•…•…ore, v. 7th, but that was in reference to such Guides as were departed. The Guides which here he speaketh of, were such as were then living among them.
Fitly he puts the duties to these Guides in the last place, because they might fur∣ther instruct them in other points, which were not set down in this Epistle. This Epistle is a very large one, and the duties which we owe to God and man are very many: Therefore the Apostle, having set down such as he thought most meet to be set down in an Epistle, for others refers them to their living Guides, to be further instructed by them, as occasion should serve: and thereupon adviseth them to obey such.
The word translated, a 1.1 Them that have the rule over you, is the very same that was used, vers. 7. §. 96. The points there noted thereabouts may here be applied.
b 1.2 The Verb translated, Obey, properly signifieth to be perswaded of a thing, Rom. 8. 38. This may have reference, either to the Minde, or to* 1.3 the Will of man. He that is perswaded in his minde, believes the truth of it, Act. 17. 4.
He that is perswaded in his Will, obeys it, Act. 5. 36.
It implieth such obedience as ariseth from a mans being perswaded of the truth, equity and goodnesse of the thing: for a man in his will yieldeth to that which to him seemeth good.
The other word translated, c 1.4 Submit your selves, is a Compound. The simple* 1.5 Verb signifieth to yield, or give place, as Gal. 2. 5. e 1.6 The Preposition with which it is compounded signifieth under. This Compound implieth such a subjection as an inferiour, who counts himself under another, yields to him who is over him. This word is here only used in the New Testament. It being added to the other, may im∣ply the manner of obedience, which is, a reverend and due respect towards him whom we obey.
Under these phrases all the duties of honour, love, maintenance, or any other respect may be comprized.
Just and weighty grounds there are for people to yield the foresaid obedience, and that in the manner aforesaid to their Ecclesiastical Governours. For, 1. They are appointed of God, and stand in his room: They are his Embassadours: so as the Obedience which is yielded unto them, is yielded unto God, Iohn 13. 20.
True it is, that civil Magistrates are ordained of God, and bear his Image: but* 1.7 there is a great difference betwixt a civil Magistrate, and a Minister of the Word. God gives the civil Magistrate authority to command obedience in his own name, and to be performed to himself. But the authority of a Minister so resteth in Christ, as in Christs name only he may require obedience to be performed to Christ himself.
2. The matter whereunto a Minister requireth obedience, is Gods Word. Mi∣nisters may not, as Magistrates do, make Laws of their own head, or by the coun∣cel and advice of other men, but they must deliver the Word of God. Hereof see The whole Armour of God, on Eph. 6. 19. Treat. 1. Part. 7. §. 181.
3. The end of a Ministers function is the salvation of their peoples souls. Good reason therefore that obedience be yeelded to them by those who de∣sire to have their own soul saved. Of that respect which people ought to shew to their Ministers, See The whole Armour of God, on Ephesian•…•… 6. 20.* 1.8 §. 176.
The foresaid respective obedience required of people to their Minister by just