unnecessary. God also giveth men the qualifications which he requireth: so that, all that the church hath to do, whether pastors or people, ordainers or electors, is but to discern and determine which are the men that God hath thus qualified, and to accept of them that are so provided, and, upon consent, to install them solemnly in this office.

What an obligation, then, is laid upon us, by our call to the work? If our commission be sent from heaven, it is not to be disobeyed. When the apostles were called by Christ from their secular employments, they presently left friends, and house, and trade, and all, and followed him. When Paul was called by the voice of Christ, he "was not disobedient to the heavenly vision." Though our call is not so immediate or extraordinary, yet it is from the same Spirit. It is no safe course to imitate Jonah, in turning our back upon the commands of God. If we neglect our work, he hath a spur to quicken us; if we run away from it, he hath messengers enough to overtake us, and bring us back, and make us do it; and it is better to do it at first than at last.

III. The third motive in the text is drawn from the dignity of the object. It is the Church of GOD which we must oversee, that church for which the world is chiefly upheld—which is sanctified by the Holy Ghost-which is the mystical body of Christ, that church with which angels are present, and on which they attend as ministering spirits, whose little ones have their angels beholding the face of God in heaven! O what a charge is it that we have undertaken! And shall we be unfaithful stewardship of God's own

to it?

Have we the

family, and shall we neglect it?

Have we the conduct of those saints that shall live for ever with God in glory, and shall we overlook them? God forbid ! I beseech you, brethren, let this thought awaken the negligent. You that draw back from painful, displeasing, suffering duties, and put off men's souls with ineffectual formalities, do you think this is honourable treatment of Christ's spouse? Are the souls of men thought meet by God to see his face, and live for ever in heaven, and are they not worthy of your utmost cost and labour on earth? Do you think so basely of the church of God, as if it deserved not the best of your care and help? Were you the keepers of sheep or swine, you would scarcely let them go, and say, They are not worth my looking after; especially if they were your own. And dare you say so of the souls of men-of the church of God? Christ walketh among them; remember his presence, and see that you are diligent in your work. They are "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, to show forth the praises of Him that hath called them." And will you neglect them? What a high honour is it to be one of them, yea, but a door-keeper in the house of God! But to be the priest of these priests, and the ruler of these kings,

this is such an honour as multiplieth your obligations to diligence and fidelity in so noble an employment.

The last motive that is mentioned in my text, is drawn from the price that was paid for the church which we oversee: "Which God," says the Apostle, "hath purchased with his own blood." O what an

argument is this to quicken the negligent, and to condemn those who will not be quickened to their duty by it! "O," saith one of the ancient doctors, "if Christ had but committed to my keeping one spoonful of his blood in a fragile glass, how curiously would I preserve it, and how tender would I be of that glass! If then he have committed to me the purchase of his blood, should I not as carefully look to my charge?" What! brethren, shall we despise the blood of Christ? Shall we think it was shed for them who are not worthy of our utmost care? You may see here, it is not a little crime that negligent pastors are guilty of. As much as in them lieth, the blood of Christ would be shed in vain. They would lose him those souls which he hath so dearly purchased.

O then, let us hear those arguments of Christ, whenever we feel ourselves grow dull and careless'Did I die for these souls, and wilt not thou look after them? Were they worth my blood, and are they not worth thy labour? Did I come down from heaven to earth, "to seek and to save that which was lost:" and wilt thou not go to the next door, or street, or village, to seek them? How small is thy labour and condescension compared to mine? I debased myself to this, but it is thy honour to be so employed. Have I done and suffered so much for their salvation, and was I willing to make thee a fellow-worker with me, and wilt thou refuse to do that little that lieth upon thy hands?' Every time we look on our congregations, let us believingly remember, that they are the purchase of Christ's blood, and therefore should be regarded by us with

the most tender affection. O think what a confusion it will be to a negligent minister, at the last day, to have this blood of the Son of God pleaded against him and for Christ to say, It was the purchase of my blood of which thou didst make so light, and dost thou think to be saved by it thyself?" O brethren, seeing Christ will bring his blood to plead with us, let it plead us to our duty, lest it plead us to damna

tion.

CHAPTER III.

APPLICATION.

SECTION I.

The Use of Humiliation.

If

REVEREND and dear brethren, our business here this day is to humble our souls before the Lord for our past negligence, and to implore God's assistance in our work for the time to come. Indeed, we can scarcely expect the latter without the former. God will help us in our future duty, he will first humble us for our past sin. He that hath not so much sense of his faults as unfeignedly to lament them, will hardly have so much as to move him to reform them. The sorrow of repentance may exist without a change of heart and life; because a passion may be more easily wrought, than a true conversion. But the change cannot take place without some good measure of the sorrow. Indeed, we may here justly begin our confessions; it is too common with us to expect that from our people, which we do little or nothing in ourselves. What pains do we take to humble them, while we ourselves are unhumbled! How hard do we expostulate with them, to wring out of them a few penitential tears, (and all too little,) while yet our own eyes are dry! Alas! how we set

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