Word and Doctrine, to preach Repentance and Remiffion of Sins in the Name of Christ, and to befeech Sinners to be reconciled unto God. That they are to publish the glad Tidings of Salvation, to display the great and precious Promises of the new Covenant, and its most reasonable and gracious Terms, to set their Duty before them in its just Extent, and to enforce the Laws of the Gospel, by its powerful and engaging Motives, and important Sanctions: that they should take St. Paul for their Model, who in the Account he gives of his own Ministry, in his admirable Speech to the Elders of the Church of Ephefus, folemnly declares, and appeals to them for the Truth of it, that he had kept back nothing that was profitable unto them, but had hewed them, and taught them publicly, and from Houfe to Houfe, teftifying both to the Jews, and alfo to the Greeks, Repentance towards God, and Faith toward our Lord Jefus Christ. Acts xx. 20, 21. He tells the Corinthians, that he and the other Apostles, preached Christ crucified, and that he determined not to know any thing among them, fave Jefus Chrift, and him crucified. And elfewhere he declares, that he preached not himSelf, but Chrift Jefus the Lord. He obferved, that from thefe and other Paffages to the fame Purpofe, we may fee, what ought to be the main Topics that Gofpel Ministers

1

fhould

hould infift upon in their preaching. They are to preach Chrift crucified, to teach whatfoever he hath commanded them, his Doctrines and his Laws; to explain facred Truth, and urge all religious and moral Duties in the Reference they bear to him, as the great Foundation and Center of our Religion as Chriftians.

He obferves, that as to the Manner of their preaching, they "muft not corrupt the "Word of God, nor handle it deceitfully, "but as of Sincerity, but as of God, in "the Sight of God, muft fpeak in Christ.

They muft fpeak as becometh the Ora"cles of God. In their Doctrine they "muft fhew Incorruptnefs and Gravity, "and found Speech that cannot be con"demned. They must be Workmen that "need not be afhamed, rightly dividing "the Word of Truth. They must not "ufe flattering Words, nor feek Glory of "Men; nor Excellency of Speech, entic"ing Words of Man's Wifdom". They must faithfully warn the wicked of the Evil of his Way, and muft fpeak the Truth boldly, and rebuke with Authority. But they ought to manage their Rebukes with great Prudence and Meeknefs. They are not to rebuke an Elder, but intreat "him as a Father, and the younger Men "as Brethren". They muft endeavour to adapt their Difcourfes to the various Cafes

of

of their Hearers, giving Milk to Babes, and Meat to stronger Men; ufing the most indulgent Care, and being gentle among them, as a Nurse cherisheth her Children. And in all this they fhould be diligent, ceafing not to warn every one Night and Day, in the most affectionate Manner. And the Motives they are acted by should be fimple and pure. Knowing the Terrors of the Lord, they fhould perfuade Man. And the Love of Chrift should constrain them. They should not seek to please Men, but ftudy to approve themselves in the Sight of God: And they should have the most tender Regard to the Good of Souls. This fhould animate their Preaching, and their whole Conduct. St. Paul frequently expreffeth himself on this Subject in the most affectionate Strains, as particularly in the first Epistle to the Theffalonians, the second and third Chapters throughout. How doth he exult and triumph in the Success of the Gofpel, when when the Chriftian Converts abounded in Faith and Love and the Fruits of Righteoufnefs! And, on the contrary, how is he concerned and grieved when they did not anfwer his Defires and Expectations! He was ready to spend, and to be fpent; nay he rejoiced to offer himfelf a Sacrifice for the Service of their Faith. Phil. ii, 17.

That in order to fit them for the right

Discharge of their Duty, they ought to give heed to Reading, to Exhortation, to Doctrine, to meditate on these Things, and give themselves wholly to them. 1 Tim. iv. 13, 15. To study the holy Scriptures, which are able to make us wife unto Salvation, and are profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Instruction in Righteoufnefs, to make the Man of God perfect, and thoroughly furnished unto all good Works. 2Tim. iii. 15, 16, 17. To mind the weightier Matters of Religion, avoiding foolish and unlearned Questions" which " gender Strifes." 2 Tim. ii. 23.

66

As to their perfonal Qualifications. They must be endued with a holy Fortitude to bear up under all the Difficulties they may be called to encounter with. They "must be meek and humble, patient and forbearing; no Strikers nor Brawlers ; not felf-willed, nor foon angry; not covetous, nor given to much Wine; not proud, left they fall into the Condem"nation of the Devil: They must be condescending towards all, ready to become all Things to all Men, as far as they lawfully can, that they may gain "fome. They should be hofpitable, fo"ber, modeft, grave; they should be holy, blameless, and without Offence; giving no Offence, that the Ministry "be not blamed." Finally, they must

66

66

be

be Examples to the Flock, in every amiable Grace and Virtue, being "Examples "of the Believers in Word, in Converfation, in Charity, in Spirit, in Faith, in Purity."

Upon this View of the minifterial Office, he obferves what a various and extenfive, and what a difficult Work doth it appear to be; and that the Service is rendered more arduous, if we confider the Oppofition and Obftacles that faithful Ministers may expect to meet with in the Discharge of their Work. And these are of various Kinds, arifing from the Hatred and Obloquy, the Derifions and Reproaches of the unbelieving and profane; from the Pride, the Peevifhnefs, the Envy and Uncharitableness of many that profefs themfelves Friends to Religion; from the manifold Temptations and Affaults of their fpiritual Enemies, and from their own Weaknefses and Infirmities, Appetites and Paffions.

Having thus deliberately and ferioufly confidered what the Work and Office was to which he was called; he, in the next Place, fet himself to inquire, what Reafon he had to think himfelf directed by Divine Providence to engage in it.

And with regard, to this, the following Confiderations, he faid, had great Weight with him.

"First, It is the Will of our Lord Je

"fus