A survey of the summe of church-discipline. Wherein the vvay of the churches of New-England is warranted out of the vvord, and all exceptions of weight, which are made against it, answered : whereby also it will appear to the judicious reader, that something more must be said, then yet hath been, before their principles can be shaken, or they should be unsetled in their practice. / By Tho. Hooker, late pastor of the church at Hartford upon Connecticott in N.E.

Assertion.

There is not the like care, onerousnesse and labour required in duties of Christian watchfulnesse in a brotherly way, as to doe the duties to others, to whom we are bound in way of office-relation.

And this imparity appears, partly, in the preparations required to the services; partly, in the execution of them.

1. For preparation to the work of teaching, which the Pastor and Teacher are to attend, by their places, labouring in word and doctrine, (that as good stewards they may lay in provision old and new, and be able to divide the word of truth aright) they are to bestow their whole time and strength, and that constantly to this end. Therefore they are enjoyned to attend to exhortation and teaching, the main bent of their daily studies must goe that way. They must search to know the state of their flock, Search the Scriptures, and study pleasant words, which may with most plainnesse, and profit, and power convey the truth to the under∣standing of the meanest under their charge. And therefore they must not be intangled in the affairs of this life. They must lay aside the attending of tables, and give themselves to the word and praier. The Apostles professed to take this course (though extraordina∣rily gifted and assisted) as occasion did require.

If the Apostles laid aside the care of the poor in dispensing the treasury, because that would hinder the work of the Ministery; if there had been any work of like care and onerousnesse, Why should they not have laid aside that also? I cannot see it: and there∣fore they judged not the exercising the acts of Christian helpfulnes of this nature.

In a word, to make preparation for the work of the Sabbath, and the publike dispensation and administration of Christs holy things, if the improvement of time and strength be constantly required, if brotherly consociation required the like care, and laid the like onerousnesse upon a Pastor in Christian duties of love, they were no more able to discharge both, then to be Pastors to two or three Congregations, which all men confesse to be crosse to Gods command. But blessed be God it is far otherwise. His waies are full of mercy, wisdome, pity and goodnes, and he exacts no more of his people, then in an evangelical way they are able to performe.

And therefore in our Christian watch, I am bound only to ad∣minister occasionally, rebukes, counsels, comforts and exhorta∣tions, as I meet with brethren of other Congregations, and I see their occasions require it, so far as God puts present ability or opportunity into my hand, all which labour and burthen is light∣er then the nail of the little finger, compared with the body of that care and burthen, which concerns a Teacher in office to∣wards those, to whom he is bound by that relation.

2. Look we again into the dispensation and execution of these services, the imparity also will appear plainly.

If an officer hear of a scandalous course of such, who be his sheep, he is bound to make diligent search touching the truth thereof, and upon proof made, he is bound to convince and admonish: If he shall not hear, to take one or two; if not hear them, then to complain to the Church, of such a de∣linquent.

But thus I am not bound to bestow my time, and imploy my care with all Christians, with whom I shall meet, in the compasse of the same Classis, or the same Province: for it is impossible, I should so doe. If I hear of many scandals, that many have given in severall Congregations, Countreys, nay, as the occasion of travelling and merchandizing may require; a man shall be forced to see many in many places: Must now the traveller or merchant lay aside all his businesse, and deal with all these? Or in case he return home, the pressures of his imploiments calling him thither, Must he needs go into France, Germany, Holland, to proceed a∣gainst such Delinquents? I suppose each man sees the absurdity without spectacles. Its impossible any man should attend such a proceeding. And therefore, blessed be our Saviour, who never

required it, never laid such a burthen upon any to practise in this manner; but hath provided in his infinite wisdome a nearer course, which may be followed, with comfort and conveniency: He hath appointed guides in every Church, i. e. Ruling Elders, who are eyed wings to the people, over whom they are placed; they are at hand, they are by office appointed to deal in such cases, and they live and converse one with another, have charge over them, and authority put upon them to that purpose, and are set a∣part from other entanglements to attend the improvement of all ordinances, for the good of those under their charge, that their evils may be seen, searched and reformed.

Nor let any man think to ease this inconvenience, by saying, that a person is a proper Pastor to the one, and a Pastor 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to the other removed: for this device, like a warm hand, strokes the sore, but will not cure it. For by this it is granted, that pastoral care is far more onerous and laborious, then Christian and brotherly care in some sense, which is now our question.

2. Its affirmed in the place, and often expressed by M. R. That there is but one, and the same office, whence all this watchfulnesse issues towards all. And therefore as it hath the same bond, so it requires the same service: And therefore all such conceits are meerly coined, to cousen mens consciences, and so to keep them quiet, but they will never goe at the great day of ac∣count.

For the question will be, Hadst thou the same pastoral relati∣on to the one as to the other, as thy sheep? If thou stoodest bound to them as thy sheep, by the same Office and Call, the needs of both thou wert bound to supply, and the good of both thou wert in like manner bound to promote, Ephes. 4.13, 14.

3. But lastly, M.R. his own expression will not admit any such consideration, as this: for he intends the comparison betwixt brotherly care and pastoral care to a mans proper stock. For his words are these,

I clear it in this, namely, That there is as great care and onerous∣nesse, in foro Dei, lies upon a brother, as upon a Pastor, in the watching for the good of a brother. A man is a gifted preacher in a Congregation, in an Island, there is no other gifted of God to preach the Gospel, but he only: I would thinke, as a brother, he were under as great an obligation of care and laborious onerousnes

of conscience, to bestow his talent for the gaining of souls by preach∣ing, though he were not called to be their Pastor, as if he were called to be their Pastor.

The case is here evident, that M^r R. his intendment is to com∣pare the care of a Pastor over his proper flock, and brotherly care over Christians together.

And here also I must crave leave to differ wholly from M^r R. his opinion. For it is granted, that this gifted person is not cal∣led to preach, nor will the people in the Island so acknowledge him: Therefore they are not bound to maintain him: Hence I should rather think thus,

He that useth his generall calling so, as that he destroies his particu∣lar, he useth it disorderly: For these are in subordination, not in opposition.

But so to preach (being gifted, as in the example given) is to use his generall calling (for he doth what is done out of Christian charity) so as that he destroies his particular: For he must of necessi∣ty lay aside the attending tables, i. e. his worldly occasions: that would and did take his time and strength, if he come to bestow himself in his preparations and dispensations in a Pastor-like man∣ner, i. e. as Pastors use to do.

Besides, To doe as much in a generall way of charity, as that which amounts to the work of a particular calling, is to confound generall and particular callings, which God, and rule have distinguished.

When M.R. saith,

I desire to know what the naked relation of authority or jurisdicti∣on addeth to this care and onerousnesse in point of labour by preaching the Gospel.

Its easie to return, That Jurisdiction implies an office: an office doth not only add a speciall bond, but requires more service with the greater improvement of time, and strength, and constancy therein, as it hath appeared before.

2. The two Reasons, which M.R. propounds for proof of the conclusion, have not solidity enough to settle the understanding of a man seriously judicious.

The frame of the first Reason of M.R. is this,

If we have a divine command to be our brethrens keepers, then

our watch in that regard carries and requires as much care and one∣rousnesse as office-watch.

Notes

• 1 Tim 4.13, 16.
• Eccles. 12.10.
• 2 Tim. 2.4.
• Acts 6.4.
• Acts 6.2, 3, 4.