SERM.

(1.) THE Confideration of the DigVI. nity of the Minifterial Function should engage us to ufe our beft Endeavours to fupport and to adorn it, both by our Lives and Doctrine. And the Way, to do this, is to take Care, first, that we be orthodox in our Opinions, keeping firm and fteady to that Form of found Words delivered by Chrift and his Apostles, and handed down to us by the Church; not giving our Ear, much lefs a favourable Reception, to thofe novel Doctrines, which are only antient Herefies new furbifhed up, and broached by ambitious and defigning Men: It is a Rule in Divinity, Quo antiquior, eo melior; the Streams of thofe Waters of the Sanctuary being more pure, the nearer they are to the FountainHead.

Secondly, THAT we maintain Uniformity in Difcipline, keeping clofe, as poffibly we can, to the Rules and Canons of our Church.

Thirdly, THAT we add to these Probity of Manners, whereby we shall illustrate our Doctrine, and prevail, more over those who oppofe us, than we can do by the most conclufive Argument: Efficacius enim Vitæ quam Lingua Teftimonium.

Fourthly,

Fourthly, THAT, by unfhaken Loyalty SERM. to our Prince, we endeavour to fup- VI. port the Crown, and to make it fit the more eafy on his Head, by discountenancing all fuch Means and Methods as are made ufe of by defigning and ill-minded Men, to alienate the Affections of the People from his Government, and to undermine our present Peace and Security.

Fifthly, By maintaining Love and Unity amongst ourselves. It has always been the Policy of our moft avowed Enemies, first, to divide, and then to destroy us; and I could heartily wish that all Names of Diftinction, which are Names of Reproach, were banished from amongst us, all Diftinctions naturally tending to Divifion; that there were no fuch Characters and Denominations fubfifting, as those which have been hammered out at the Forge of thofe Philiftines, who are the avowed Enemies to our Sion. Methinks we should learn of our Enemies the Papifts, who, though they abound in Sects and Parties, and differ as much from one another, as we Proteftants do, yet they take all poffible Care to avoid all Marks of Distinction, and that they do not break out into an open Rupture; and, by keeping up an Appearance

SERM. pearance of external Unity, they mainVI. tain their Reputation in the World.

Lastly, By living in Charity with those who differ from us, efteeming no Man fo common or unclean, as to hinder us from performing the Offices of Humanity towards him. It were to be wished that all Proteftants could be united against the common Enemy; but, fince fuch are the evil Difpofitions of fome, the unhappy Circumftances of others, and the Ignorance and Wilfulness of too many, that all Schemes of Accommodation have hitherto proved (and probably will always prove) impracticable, it is the Duty of every good Christian to treat those who differ from him, with courteous Behaviour and Civility of Expreffion; fhewing his Readiness to do Good to every one, and to receive with open Arms fuch as come to a Sight of their Errors, and are defirous to betake themselves into the Bofom of their indulgent Mother, the Church of England. But,

(2.) If we confider the Difficulty of executing the Minifterial Office, we may hence learn how neceffary it is, that there fhould be a standing Order of Men, fet a-part for this Employment. For if those who have qualified themselves with all

human

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human Learning, who are Men of ex-SE RM. cellent Parts and untainted Morals, and VI. have made it the Bufinefs of their Lives to fit themselves for this Holy Office, find themselves fo unequal to their Duty; what hall we think of thofe ̓Ανθήμεροι ὅι ἅγιοι, Saints of a Day's Growth (as St. Bafil calls them) who intrude into God's Vineyard without any legal Call, or due Preparation?

Lastly, WE may learn not to be difheartened, though we fhould not find Succefs and Encouragement answerable to our Expectations in this World. For the Succefs of our Miniftry doth not depend wholly upon our Endeavours, but upon the Grace and Affiftance of God, giving his Bleffing to them; for Paul may plant, and Apollos may water, but it is God that gives the Increase: There is required not only a fkilful Difpenfer of the Seed of the Word, but a fruitful Soil, and temperate Seafons, to produce a plentiful Crop. Even our Bleffed Saviour himself could do no mighty Works amongst his faithlefs Hearers, because of their Unbelief; and, if we expect the Reward of our Labours in this World, it is probable we fhall fall fhort of it; for the Minifter's Dues are feldom paid according to the

Shekle

SERM. Shekle of the Sanctuary; Sacrilege is VI. hardly looked upon as a Crime, and

Tythes, which were formerly thought, when duly paid, to be the Hedges of Men's Eftates, lie most exposed to every pilfering Hand. But, Thanks be to God, we have a good Mafter, who, one Time or other will make us Amends, for what we fuffer in this World: He will affift us, whilst we are about his Work, and reward us, when it is done; and the pooreft, the meaneft of God's Ministers, has this to comfort him, that, though he is not poffeffed of Riches and Preferments, though he has not so much as to enable him to extend his charitable Help to the Wants of others, or hardly to fupply his own; yet he has many precious Opportunities put into his Hands of doing Good to the Souls of Men; and, though he may undergo Contempt and Poverty in this World, yet, at the Laft-day, he will fhine like a Star in the Firmament, and great will be his Reward in Heaven. This is our Comfort; this is our Hope: But, that our Comfort may be real, and our Hope well-grounded,

we must behave ourselves as it becomes us in the Discharge of the Duties of our Calling. We must live unblameably, preach the Word conftantly, and adminifter the Sa

craments