We have been surveying "the evils that have provoked the Lord to bring His judgments on New England," according to the collective judgment of The Synod of 1679. This council, which consisted of church elders and messengers, convened at the request of the General Court of the Massachusetts Colony.
The Synod set out to answer two questions: (1) What are the evils that have provoked the Lord to bring His judgments on New England? (2) What is to be done so that these evils may be reformed? We’ve already looked at the answer to the first question (see my last two blog postings). Now here is a summary of the Synod’s answer in respect to the second question. The original document gave twelve answers. I have condensed them down to ten:
1. It would tend much to promote the interest of reformation, if all that are in places above others become, as to themselves and their families, exemplary in every way possible. Moses, purposing to reform others, began with what concerned himself and his own household. People are apt to follow the example of those that are above them (2 Chron. 12:1; Gal. 2:14).
2. Declare our adherence to the faith and order of the Gospel, according to what is from the Scripture. . . .
3. It is essential to reformation that the discipline of Christ, in the power of it, should be upheld in the churches. It is evident from Christ’s Epistles to the Churches in Asia Minor, that the evils and degeneracy then prevailing among Christians, proceeded chiefly from the neglect of discipline.
4. It is requisite that utmost endeavors should be made to assure a full supply of officers in the churches, according to Christ’s institution. The defect of many churches on this account is very lamentable. In many of our churches there is only one teaching officer to bear the burden of the whole congregation. The Lord Christ would not have instituted pastors, teachers and ruling elders, nor would the apostles have ordained elders in every church (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5), if He had not seen the need of them for the good of His people.
5. It is incumbent upon responsible persons to take care that officers of the church had adequate encouragement and maintenance. It is high injustice and oppression, yes, even a sin that cries in the Lord’s ears for judgment, when wages are withheld from faithful and diligent laborers (James 5:4). If this is true of those that labor about carnal things, how much more true is it of those that labor night and day over the spiritual and eternal welfare of souls (1 Cor. 9:11-14).
6. Due care and faithfulness with respect to the establishment and execution of wholesome laws would very much promote the interest of reformation.
7. It is needful that the sins of the times should be engaged against and reformation thereof, in the name and by the help of Christ. . . .
8. It seems to be most conducive to edification and reformation ... [that] all the churches ... promote the interest of holiness and close walking with God.
9. As an expedient for reformation, it is good that effectual care should be taken respecting schools of learning. The interest of religion and good literature have been accustomed to rise and fall together.
10. Inasmuch as a thorough and a heart-felt reformation is necessary in order to obtain peace with God (Jer. 3:10), and that all outward means will be ineffectual unto that end unless the Lord pour down His Spirit from on high, it therefore concerns us to cry mightily unto God, both in ordinary and extraordinary ways, that He will be pleased to rain down righteousness upon us (Isa. 32:5; Ezek. 39:29; Hosea 10:12; Luke 11:13). Amen!
In closing, I would press home the importance of answers 2, 7, and 10 in particular. As I said in my last posting, there can be no true reformation without regeneration. It all begins with the gospel. We must rest in Christ's work, not our work. Then, having been saved by grace through faith, and sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, we are empowered by God Himself "both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13).
The Synod set out to answer two questions: (1) What are the evils that have provoked the Lord to bring His judgments on New England? (2) What is to be done so that these evils may be reformed? We’ve already looked at the answer to the first question (see my last two blog postings). Now here is a summary of the Synod’s answer in respect to the second question. The original document gave twelve answers. I have condensed them down to ten:
1. It would tend much to promote the interest of reformation, if all that are in places above others become, as to themselves and their families, exemplary in every way possible. Moses, purposing to reform others, began with what concerned himself and his own household. People are apt to follow the example of those that are above them (2 Chron. 12:1; Gal. 2:14).
2. Declare our adherence to the faith and order of the Gospel, according to what is from the Scripture. . . .
3. It is essential to reformation that the discipline of Christ, in the power of it, should be upheld in the churches. It is evident from Christ’s Epistles to the Churches in Asia Minor, that the evils and degeneracy then prevailing among Christians, proceeded chiefly from the neglect of discipline.
4. It is requisite that utmost endeavors should be made to assure a full supply of officers in the churches, according to Christ’s institution. The defect of many churches on this account is very lamentable. In many of our churches there is only one teaching officer to bear the burden of the whole congregation. The Lord Christ would not have instituted pastors, teachers and ruling elders, nor would the apostles have ordained elders in every church (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5), if He had not seen the need of them for the good of His people.
5. It is incumbent upon responsible persons to take care that officers of the church had adequate encouragement and maintenance. It is high injustice and oppression, yes, even a sin that cries in the Lord’s ears for judgment, when wages are withheld from faithful and diligent laborers (James 5:4). If this is true of those that labor about carnal things, how much more true is it of those that labor night and day over the spiritual and eternal welfare of souls (1 Cor. 9:11-14).
6. Due care and faithfulness with respect to the establishment and execution of wholesome laws would very much promote the interest of reformation.
7. It is needful that the sins of the times should be engaged against and reformation thereof, in the name and by the help of Christ. . . .
8. It seems to be most conducive to edification and reformation ... [that] all the churches ... promote the interest of holiness and close walking with God.
9. As an expedient for reformation, it is good that effectual care should be taken respecting schools of learning. The interest of religion and good literature have been accustomed to rise and fall together.
10. Inasmuch as a thorough and a heart-felt reformation is necessary in order to obtain peace with God (Jer. 3:10), and that all outward means will be ineffectual unto that end unless the Lord pour down His Spirit from on high, it therefore concerns us to cry mightily unto God, both in ordinary and extraordinary ways, that He will be pleased to rain down righteousness upon us (Isa. 32:5; Ezek. 39:29; Hosea 10:12; Luke 11:13). Amen!
In closing, I would press home the importance of answers 2, 7, and 10 in particular. As I said in my last posting, there can be no true reformation without regeneration. It all begins with the gospel. We must rest in Christ's work, not our work. Then, having been saved by grace through faith, and sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, we are empowered by God Himself "both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13).