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CHAP. XV.

of the Duties of people towards their Paftours and

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Minifters.

Aving fpoken of the Duties of Children to their Natural Parents, and of Inferiours co Magiftrates, their civil Parents, I come now to those of people to their Minifters, their Spiritual Parents. Thus St Paul tels the Corinthians, 1 Cor.4.15. That in Christ Fefus he had begotten them through the Gospel. And the Gallatians, Chap.4.19. That he travels in birth of them, til Christ be formed in them.

Their Duties to them are these four.

First, To eftcem them very highly in love for their work fake, as the Apoftle commands, 1 Thef.5.13. And furely this will feem very reafonable, if either,

1. The Nature of their work be confidered, or 2. Who it is that employes them.

I. Their work is of all others most excellent. No Calling or employment more honourable than the rescuing of precious Souls out of the bands of Satan, and from endleffe perdition.

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II. 'Tis a great and an hard work. They

1. To inftruct the people, to feed them with

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knowledge and understanding, Jer. 3. 15. And teach them the right way to Salvation,

2. To pray for them: To be the Lords remembrancers, and their Sollicitors in the Court of Hea

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3. To be an Example to the Flock in a holy and unblameable life and converfation. 4. To vifit the fick.

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5. To labour the feeling the diftreffed Confci

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6. To watch over the Flock to preferve them,

51. From corrupt Doctrine.....

2. From a corrupt Converfation.

And to this end to endeavour the reclaiming the diforderly by admonitions, and fuch other Cen fures as Christ hath left in the Church.

Their work therefore is fuch as ought in all reason to procure them love and esteem, it being of fo great advantage to the world. Fofephs office in delivering out corn in a time of Famine, made him justly honoured by the Egyptians. How worthy an employment is it then to deliver out the Manna of Gods Word, the food of life to the fouls of men, who without it, are in danger to perifh everlastingly.

2. Confider who it is that employes them. They are Ambasadors for Christ, 2 Cor. 5. 20, Ambaffadors by the Law of Nations are to be treated with a respect answerable to the quality of

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thofe that fend them. Therefore Chrite Prie Difciples, when he fends them out to preach agai that defpiferb you, despiseth me; he tha me, defpifeth him that fent me, Luke for It feems, 'tis a worse bufineffe than people wisat hur rily confider, to defpife the Ministers of C Let thofe think of this, who make it their and fport to put affronts upon the perfon to deride the Calling of the Minifters.Ce there will be a ftrict account requir'd of derifion, flanders, reproaches, and hard af 16. faithful Ministers of Chrift do meet with difcharge of their places and calling. Ax?, ther, it it be Christ that employes thes let thofe confider feriously of it, who days to exercife the Offices of this facred f without being lawfully Call'd thereto, Wr this, but as if a man on his own head, the as an Ambassador from his Prince. The A faies of the Priests of the Law (which inferiour to thofe of the Gospel) Tha takes this honour to himself, but he wh call'd of God, Heb.5.4. Certainly they tho furp facred Offices, for which they are not date ted, and to which they were never lawfully will be able to give but a very fad account to when he reckons with them for this their fumption. Let me advife fuch to read the fr Corah, in Numb. 16. Who being arrogant ambitious, would needs take upon him Priestho

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Priesthood, and he, and his accomplices rife up against Mofes and Aaron, and their plea is, all the Congregation are holy, ye take too much upon you; Wherefore lift you up your felves above the Congre gation of the Lord? So that we fee this levelling humour is no new thing in the world. To make head against Mofes and Aaron, to oppose MagiStracy and Miniftry you fee was Corahs fin; Take heed of imitating him, left you perish likewife in the gainsaying of Corah, Jude v.11. You may read the fad end of him and his Company Num. 16.32. And so much of the first Duty people ought to pay to their Minifters. They ought to love and efteem them.

Secondly, They ought to pray for them, that they may be furnished with all thofe Graces and Gifts, and bleffed with fuch aßistances of Gods Spirit, as may enable them to difcharge that holy Calling faithfully and fucceffefally: Of this I have fpoken more, P. 323.

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Thirdly, They ought confcientiously to attend upon their Ministry, and fubmit to their Spiritual guidance and direction, really endeavouring to grone in knowledge and Grace thereby. obey them faith the Apostle, Heb.13.17. that have the rule over you, and fubmit your felves, for they watch 1 for your fouls, &c. Whatfoever they out of Gods Word fhall make manifeft to be his Will and Command, is to be obeyed, feeing 'tis not they, but God requires it, according to that of Christ, He

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that heareth you, heareth me, Lake 10. 16. & this whether it be delivered by way of Preaching, or private exhortation; for indus long as they keep them to the Rule, wb: Gods Word, they are the mesengers Lord of Hofts, Mal.2.7. People thercares Labour to grow in Spiritual knowledge and answerably to the means of Grace afforded and thereby ftrengthen the hands, and c the heart of their Minifter in his work. Th ciency of the people in knowledge and by the Crown and rejoycing of every Faith fter, and though God will not reward bis ing to his fucceffe, but his fincerity an yet nothing more troubles him tho multiplied pains not answered with th ceffe. Let people therefore look to it, bring forth the fruits of the Gospel that is ed to them. The Husbandman laies his fallow, when he fces it will not bring for fo as to quit charges, The Kingdom of faies our Saviour, fhall be taken away focu and given to others which will bring for. fruits thereof, Mat.21.43. 'Tis just with Pr to take away the means of Grace from ape when he fees they live unprofitably under the Ho Fourthly, Seeing Minifters low Spiritu people should not begrudge them, if they fome of their temporals, 1 Cor. 9. 14. G ordained that they that preach the Gopel,

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