Pastoral Claims Stated 2

In the performance of his duty, it belongs to your pastor to preside at all the meetings of the church, in the meekness of wisdom and the mildness of love it is true—but still in the chair of office, and in the exercise of authority. He is to bring forward all the business that is to be attended to, or is to appoint those by whom it shall be laid before the brethren; for what scenes of disorder and confusion may be expected, if any and everyone "who has a dream, should be allowed to tell his dream." He is to explain every case, to show in what way the Scripture bears upon the point, and to what decision the church should come. Not that his opinion should be received by the members without deliberation, and adopted as law contrary to the convictions of the body over which he presides; but still, it should be listened to with great deference, and never be opposed out of mere capricious resistance to his authority—for all such opposition is a direct disturbance of the peace of the society, and a rebellion against the appointment of Christ, who has commanded the members of churches "to submit themselves to those who have the rule over them."

And when at any time it becomes necessary for the members to dissent from the opinion of their pastor, and to express their dissent, as it some times may, this should be done in the same respectful manner as the barristers in our legal courts express their difference of view from the official expounders of the law upon the bench.

No minister who has a right idea either of himself as a fallible man, or of his authority as a mere executive and responsible officer, will, in the management of church affairs, wish or strive to have every matter decided according to his own inclination, for this would be ecclesiastical despotism; so neither will any member who has a right view of the pastoral office ever oppose his minister's views, except it can be made manifest that they are unscriptural; and even then, he will do it in a manner which shall neither undermine his authority, nor lessen the confidence which the church reposes in his general wisdom.

A pastor is personally responsible to Christ for the peace and good order of the church under his care; but who would undertake so fearful a charge, if a system of suspicious, obtrusive, impertinent intermeddling were allowed to be carried on by those who can only make themselves known by making mischief. It is a radical error, a fundamental mistake, in reference to the principles of Independency, to suppose that the pastor is a mere chairman, sitting amidst the brethren, rather to hear the opinions of others, than to deliver instructions in the name of the Lord.

Church meetings are not intended for debate and discussion, except so far as is actually necessary; and in a well-conducted church such necessity rarely occurs. In all popular assemblies, whether civil or sacred, there will usually be found some praters and busy-bodies, whose officious interference should be resisted and suppressed by the good sense of the body.

It will be often found that those are most fond of talking who are least worthy of being listened to, and that those who are most prone to interfere are least deserving of confidence. Church meetings are or should be devotional meetings, and everything should be conducted in a spirit of devotion, under the direction of the pastor. Therefore, my brethren, be not many masters, for one is your master, even Christ, whose servant is in the midst of you, to rule and guide, in his name. And, depend upon it, you not only best consult the comfort of your minister—but your own peace and prosperity as a church, and your own edification as individual believers, by respecting the office, and acknowledging the scriptural authority of your pastor.

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