Ministers Compared to Fathers

    MINISTERS COMPARED TO FATHERS

    "For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many Fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel" 1Co 4:15.

    Ministers are Fathers, spiritual Fathers to believers.

    METAPHOR

    I. Father is a name of dignity, headship, and authority; hence the rulers of Israel were called Fathers.

    PARALLEL

    I. Ministers are men of name, power, and dignity; they are Christ's substitutes; hence called rulers.

    METAPHOR

    II. Some are called Fathers, because they beget children; this is the common appellation and notion of the word.

    PARALLEL

    II. Ministers, by the preaching of the Gospel, in a spiritual way, beget Christians to Jesus Christ. "I have begotten you through the Gospel," 1Co 4:15.

    METAPHOR

    III. Fathers train up and nourish their children, showing much tenderness and compassion towards them; they are said to pity their children.

    PARALLEL

    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, and charged every one of you, as a Father doth his children," 1Th 2:11.

    METAPHOR

    IV. Fathers have power to command their children. "I know him, that is, Abraham, that he will command his children," &c.

    PARALLEL

    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," 1Ti 4:11. "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother that walketh disorderly," &c., 2Th 3:6.

    METAPHOR

    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.

    PARALLEL

    V. So faithful and worthy Ministers ought to be highly esteemed and honoured by the Saints. "Let the elders that rule well, be accounted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine," 1Ti 5:17.

    METAPHOR

    VI. A Father ought not to be rebuked by his children, it becomes them not so to do, though he may be in a fault, and blameworthy, but entreated.

    PARALLEL

    VI. So the Minister of Christ ought not to be rebuked by any particular members of the Church to whom he belongs, though in some things he may be blameworthy. "Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a Father," 1Ti 5:1. Though 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.

    METAPHOR

    VII. It is the honour of a Father to rule and govern his children, and whole family, with wisdom and discretion.

    PARALLEL

    VII. So it is a great honour to a Minister, or pastor of a Church, to rule and govern the congregation where he is placed, wisely behaving himself in all things; not to be soon angry, peevish, nor self-conceited, but to study the rule, and impartially to carry it with an equal severity and mildness to all, studying the nature and disposition of every member.

    METAPHOR

    VII. Fathers ought to walk wisely before their children, in all holiness and sobriety, setting themselves as patterns, to all that are in the family, of grace and virtue.

    PARALLEL

    VIII. So it is the duty of pastors and Ministers of Churches, to lead an holy and godly life, and be as examples of true virtue and piety to all they converse with. "Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity," 1Ti 4:12.

    METAPHOR

    IX. It is a great sorrow and grief to a good and godly Father, to see his children froward, and fall out one with another, violating the bonds of nature.

    PARALLEL

    IX. So it is a heart-breaking sorrow to a godly and faithful Minister, to see the saints and members of the Church walk loosely, and live in strife and vain-glory, wronging and abusing each other, and thereby violate the sacred bonds of brotherly love, tenderness, and forbearance. "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ," Php 3:18.

    METAPHOR

    X. It is the property of a godly Father to pray for his children, and also for the whole family committed to his charge.

    PARALLEL

    X. So Christ's faithful Ministers do not cease to pray for those whom they have been instrumental to beget, by the Word of truth, unto Christ; nay, not only for them, but for all committed to their charge; nay, for all the children of God, "That Christ might dwell in their hearts by faith, and that they may be rooted and grounded in love," &c., Eph 3:17.

    INFERENCES.

    I. We may infer from hence, that the office of a Minister is an honourable employment.

    II. It may in many things teach pastors their duties to their members, and members their respective duties towards their pastors.

    III. It also serves to inform us, who are faithful, wise, and discreet Ministers of Christ.

    IV. We may further learn, what a great concern it is for a Church to choose wise and sober persons to be their pastors.