suggest to us that it is but base hypocrisy, to blame that which we ourselves practise. With what face canst thou press others to repent and reform? what arguments canst thou use to prevail with them, who, by continuing in the same sin, dost thyself judge those arguments to be of no force?

Indeed, it were a temper to be wished and prayed for, that we could only respect how righteous the reproof is, and not how righteous the person who gives it; and be content to have our motes plucked out, though it be by such as have beams in their own eyes: that we could learn that hard lesson, which our Saviour gives his disciples, to do as they say, but not to do after their works; for, indeed, there is no more reason to reject sound admonition, because it comes from an unsound heart, than there is to stop our ears against good counsel, because it is delivered perhaps by a stinking breath.

But yet, so it usually fares, that, when ministers of defiled and loose lives shall yet preach up holiness and strictness to their people, and, as they ought, reprove them sharply for their sins; they will be apt to think, "What! is he in earnest ? And doth he not see that he himself is as bad or worse? With what face can he thunder out woe, and wrath, and hell against my sins, which yet are no more mine than his own? Doth he think to fright me with denouncing threats and curses, when he himself, who stands as fair a mark for them as I, slights and contemns them? Or doth he envy me my sins, and would engross them all unto himself?" And thus, with such carnal reasonings drawn from the evil examples and wicked lives of ministers, they sit hardened under their preaching; and account all they say, but as a lesson they must repeat, and a tale they must tell to get their living by. Certainly, such shall perish in their iniquities; but the blood of their souls God will require at your hands.

But, when a minister walks conscientiously and exemplarily before his flock, his doctrine gains a mighty advantage to work upon them, by his life. This is building up the Church of Christ with both hands; shewing them both the equity and the easiness of that holiness, which he persuades them to, by his own practice. When he reproves, his reproofs break in upon the consciences of his hearers with conviction and authority; and, if they do not reform, yet at least they daunt and terrify them, and make them self-accused and self-condemned. "Here is one, that reproves me for sin, who believes it to be as evil as he

repre

sents it, by his own eschewing it. Here is one, that denounces wrath if I repent not, who doubtless believes it to be as terrible as he declares it, by his own carefulness to escape it." Certainly, preaching never comes with such power and energy into the conscience, as when the minister preacheth as well by his works as by his word: and, to induce the people to it, is first obedient himself to the truths which he teacheth them. Men are easier led by examples, than by precepts; for, though precepts are the more exact, yet examples are the more easy way of teaching: and he is a perfect workman, who joineth both together; neither teaching what he will not do, nor doing what he dares not teach; and therefore it is observed of our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Teacher of his Church, that he began both to do and teach: Acts i, 1. Now ministers must be exemplary, both in themselves, and in their families.

In Themselves, they must be blameless, as the stewards of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no strikers, not given to filthy lucre: lovers of hospitality, lovers of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; as the Apostle sums up their duties, Tit. i. 7, 8. These are the things, which will give them a good report among those, which are without; and will recommend the doctrines and truths which they teach, to the acceptation and love of their very enemies, and the enemies of their holy profession.

They must likewise be exemplary in their Families: a Minister must rule well his own house; having his children in subjection, with all gravity: 1 Tim. iii. 4.

And, because there are so many who are ready maliciously to asperse us, we must, by a serious and circumspect conversation, cut off all occasions from slanderous tongues; that they, who watch for our halting, may be ashamed when they can find nothing to reproach us with, save in the matter of our God.

But if any such there be, who speak like angels, but live like devils; who, when they are in the pulpit, it is pity they should ever come out, and when they are out, it is a great pity they should ever come into it again; who are heavenly lights in it, but hellish fire-brands out of it: would to God they would consider how they destroy the very end of their calling; and, instead of converting souls, do but harden them in their sins; making men abhor the offerings and ordinances of the Lord; putting arguments in their mouths to justify their continuance in their wickedness, or else prejudices in their hearts; causing them to depart

and separate from holy institutions, because dispensed by profane and scandalous ministers. Let them pretend never so highly to uniformity and obedience; yet, certainly, these are the men, who have made all our Separatists, that now sadly rend our Church in pieces: for, when the sheep see a wolf set over them instead of a shepherd, no wonder if they run from him and scatter into other pastures. It is in vain for them to tell people, that they ought to be obedient to the laws of the Church, their Mother, when those, that tell them so, are not obedient to the laws of God, their Father.

And oh, that they would but consider, not only the damage which they do to the Church, of which too many of them seem zealous propugners; but the heavy woe and wrath, which they bring upon their own souls. Every sermon they study, they do but draw up a bill of indictment against themselves; and, every time they preach, they do but pronounce the sentence of their own damnation: and woe unto such pastors, when they, whom Christ hath set over his sheep, shall themselves be found at the Last Day standing among the goats!

[2] Another great duty of Ministers is, a diligent and conscientious Employing of their Gifts and Talents.

They must be both able and willing to teach. They themselves must be well-grounded in the knowledge and doctrine of Christ The priest's lips should preserve knowledge, and men should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts: Mal. ii. 7. And, therefore, the Apostle rejects a novice; a raw, ignorant, and unexperienced person: for, if the blind lead the blind, both will be in danger of falling together into the ditch. And God himself tells such ignorant and foolish teachers, Hosea iv. 6. Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I also will reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy

children.

And, as they must be able to teach, so they must be diligent in teaching. A necessity is laid upon them: and woe unto them, if they preach not the Gospel; as the Apostle speaks, 1 Cor. ix. 16. They ought to be instant in season, and out of season: 2 Tim. iv. 2. Preach the word: be instant, in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine. Not as if the Minister must be continually in the exercise of preaching, but he ought to preach in season, i. e. in the ordinary and stated times for it; and out of season, i. e. on ex

traordinary occasions, when the necessity or utility of the Church shall require it.

His doctrine ought to be,

1st. Sound: such, as cannot be condemned: Tit. ii. 1. Speak thou the things, which become sound doctrine. It must have its authority, either from the express words of Scripture, or the analogy of faith rationally deduced from Scripture; for he, that preacheth false doctrine inconsistent with these, doth but mingle poison with his people's meat.

2dly. It must be profitable: not setting before them alien and unintelligible notions; or such thin airy speculations, as can scarce consist with sense, much less with divinity: for this is to give them wind instead of food. 2 Tim. ii. 14. Charge them before the Lord, that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. And, Tit. iii. 8. These things I will that thou affirm constantly; that they, which have believed in God, might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

3dly. Their preaching must be plain, and suited to the capacity of their hearers, as much as can be without disgusting any: for he, that shall only disgorge and tumble out a heap of bombastic theatrical words, at which the people only stare, and gape, and wonder, preacheth to them in an unknown tongue, although he speak English: and this is but to give them stones instead of bread.

4thly. Their preaching must be grave and solid, not slovenly and too much neglected; for that will but beget a nauseating in the hearers: nor yet too nicely and sprucely drest; for that will be apt to divert the attention from the matter to the phrase. Their Sermons ought to have a comely and matron-like, not a gayish and meretricious attire. The truths they preach must be delivered in such words, as may adorn, but not hide nor bury them: such, as may rather recommend the doctrine to the consciences, than the art and rhetoric of the preacher to the ears and fancies of the hearers.

5thly. They ought to preach powerfully and with authority : 1 Tim. iv. 11. These things command and teach. We come to the people in the name of God, and are his ambassadors; and therefore ought to deliver his message boldly, being sent to the people by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords: and those, who mince his errand, as if they were afraid to speak that, which God hath given them in commission, shall, at their return unto

him, receive the reward of treacherous and unfaithful mes

sengers.

There are very many other duties, which cannot, without too much length, be particularly insisted on.

As Hospitality, according to the measure of their estates: 1 Tim. iii. 2. They must be given to hospitality. And, Tit. i. 8. They must be lovers of hospitality. And, therefore, they ought to be liberally and plentifully endowed, that they may make their table a snare in a good sense; and may get some to follow and observe them, though it be but for the loaves. And here it will be a good point of their wisdom, if they can handsomely make use of such opportunities, as we find our Saviour did after he had miraculously fed the multitude, to break unto them the Bread of Life, and with their bodily nourishment to feed their souls.

Then, Gravity, in their discourse, and in all their converse. A minister should neither speak nor do anything, that is unseemly. Intemperate mirth, clamorous talk, scurrilous jestings, but especially the least syllable of an oath although it be never so much varied and disguised, in a minister's mouth, as it is wicked, so it is utterly misbecoming the dignity of his profession, and renders him mean and contemptible.

Again. A pious and assiduous care in Visiting the Sick; who are certainly most capable of good advice and counsel then, although perhaps they have all their life-time before despised and refused it. You may possibly do more good by the sick bed, than in the pulpit: for death is a terrible and thundering preacher; and he must needs be a most forlorn and obdurate wretch, who will not listen to your admonitions, when the hopes of a long life, which made him formerly reject them, have forsaken him.

Again. Diligence in Catechising and Instructing the Younger in the principles of faith and religion. Root them well at first, and they will continue stable ever after. This will save yourselves and your successors much labour afterwards: for, if once you can insinuate into their minds piety and verity, they will grow up to farther degrees of perfection in the ordinary course of your ministry; and be your comfort and rejoicing here, and your crown and glory hereafter.

There are many other duties necessary to the right discharge of the ministerial function: but these already mentioned shall suffice; and all others may be reduced to some of these,