know what a large and weighty Tafk the Concerns of the Publiek are; how many Difficulties arise; which the wifeft Councils cannot forefee, nor the greatest Diligence furmount: And hereupon they fhould be fo far from being the first in cenfuring and accufing the publick Conduct, that they ought, in Reafon and Equity, to be the Correctors of others; whofe Ignorance in these Matters fhall, at any Time, betray them into too great Freedom and Severity.

When St Paul, ftanding before the Council of the Jews, made a folemn Profeffion of his Innocence, and that he had walked in all good Confcience before God, even until that Day, the Declaration was thought an infolent Boaft, and offended the HighPrieft to that Degree, that he commanded him to be fmitten on the Mouth. Provoked at this opprobrious Ufage, the Apoftle indeed charges him with Hypocrify, in fitting there to judge him after the Law, and yet commanding him to be fmitten contrary to the Law: And, though the Groffnefs of the Affront he received might juftify the Severity of this Charge, yet, when he is put in Mind, that it was the fupreme Magiftrate of whom he had faid this, fo far was he from vindicating, that he prefently revoked it, and condemned himself for it. I wist not, Brethren, that he was the High-Prieft; for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the Ruler of thy People. Inftead of defpifing Dominion then, and Speaking evil of Dignities; instead of reviling the Gods, and curfing the Rulers of the People, what is the Advice that this fame Apostle gives us, equally conducive to our own Happiness and Intereft, as well as theirs? exhort, fays he, that, first of all, Supplications, Prayers, Interceffions, and giving of Thanks be made for all Men, and especially for Kings, and all that are in Authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life, in all Godliness and Honefty

Honefty; for this is good and acceptable in the Sight of God our Saviour.

T

2. Between Paftor and People.

HE Minifters of God were, at all Times, a diftinct Order of Men, invefted with a peculiar Character, and appointed to the Office of preaching the Word, adminiftering the Sacraments, and ordaining others to fucceed in their Function: They are the spiritual Fathers of the Flock of Chrift. That there is fuch a Relation between them and their refpective Congregations, St Paul has more than intimated, when he tells the Corinthians, that, though they might have ten Thousand Instructors in Christ, yet had they not many Fathers; none, indeed, besides himfelf; for in Chrift Jefus, fays he, I have begotten you through the Gospel.

St Paul, being about to take his Leave of the Church of Ephefus, fends for the Elders that prefided therein, and gives them this Injunction; Take Heed unto yourselves, and all the Flock, over which the Holy Ghoft has made you Overfeers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own Blood; for I know this, that, after my Departing, fhall grievous Wolves enter in among you, not Sparing the Flock; and alfo of yourselves fhall Men arife, fpeaking perverfe Things, to draw away Dif ciples after them; and therefore watch. In his canonical Epiftles to Timothy, he abounds with fuch Exhortations as thefe; Fake Heed unto thyself, and unto thy Doctrine: Continue in them; for in doing this thou shalt both fave thyself and them that hear thee: Study, therefore, to fhew thyself approved unto God; a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Preach the Word; be inftant in Seafon and out of Seafon; reprove rebuke, exhort, with all Long-fuffering and Doctrine;

and

and be thou an Example of the Believers, in Word, ini Converfation, in Charity, in Spirit, in Faith, in Purity; and, to compleat the Duty of God's Clergy, St Peter's Exhortation runs thus; Feed the Flock of God, which is among you, taking the Overfight thereof, not by Constraint, but willingly; not for filthy Lucre, but of a ready Mind; neither as being Lords over God's Heritage, but being Examples to the Flock; and, when the chief Shepherd fhall appear, ye shall receive a Crown of Glory, that fadeth not away: For they that be wife fhall fhine as the Brightness of the Firmament ; and they that turn many to Righteoufnefs, as the Stars for ever and ever.

Thefe are fome of the Lines, wherein the Spirit of God has drawn the paftoral Care and Duty, by which he reminds every one, that has undertaken the facred Function, that he ought to preach fuch found Doctrine, as may not be reproved, and in a Manner adapted to the Capacities of his Hearers; that he fhould guard them against fuch Errors in Opinion and Practice, as are contrary to the Principles and Rules of the Gofpel; that he should be very diligent and induftrious in his Calling; in inftructing the Ignorant, in reproving the Wicked, in exhorting the Negligent, in ftrengthening the Weak, in vifiting the Sick, in comforting the Afflicted, in confirming thofe that ftand, and reducing thofe that err; that he fhould execute this Office freely and willingly, not fo much for the fecular Advantage and Emoluments of it, as for the fpiritual Good and Salvation of thofe Souls, that are committed to his Truft; and, above all, that he fhould be blameless himself, and, in his own Perfon, fhew the People an Example of religious Behaviour, recommending them daily to God's Care and Protection, and always, without ceafing, making Mention of them in his Prayers.

Nor

Nor is the Scripture lefs exprefs in declaring the Rights of the Church, and what the Duties of the People are with regard to their Minifters. We beSeech you, Brethren, fays St Paul, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in Love, for their Works fake; for they are Ambaffadors for Chrift, as though God did befeech us by them, and they pray you, in Christ's ftead, to be reconciled to God. Obey them therefore that have the Rule over you, and fubmit your felves; for they watch for your Souls, as they that must give an Account that they may do it with Joy, and not with Grief and let him, that is taught in the Word, communicate to him that teacheth, in all good Things, for as they, which wait at the Altar, are Partakers with the Altar; even fo bath the Lord ordained, that they, which preach the Gospel, fhould live by the Gospel.

Thus Honour and Refpect, Submiffion and Obedience, an high Efteem, and a liberal Maintenance, are what the People owe to their Minifters, befides their daily Prayers to God for his Bleffing, and Success upon their Labours.

St Paul, writing to the Ephefians, exhorts them to pray always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit, and to watch thereunto with all Perfeverance and Supplication, as for all Saints in general, fo more particularly for himfelf; that Utterance might be given unto him, and that he might open bis Mouth boldly, to make known the Mystery of the Gofpel: And what he requests for himself in this Place, he elfewhere enjoins to be done for every one, that is employed in this facred Office: Finally, Brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free Course, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked Men; for all Men have not Faith.

And

And indeed, if spiritual Knowledge, whereby we difcern our Duty, is conveyed by the Word, which God's Ministers preach, and if fpiritual Strength to perform our Duty is communicated by thofe Sacraments, which they adminifter; if they are appointed by God, as Guides, to direct his People in the right Way to Heaven; as Paftors, to feed his Flock; as Watchmen, to prevent any Danger, that might surprise his Church; and as Stewards, to take Care of thofe of his Houshold: If fo many and fo valuable Bleffings, I fay, are imparted to the People of God by these Inftruments, then will they. deferve the Love of those, to whom their Ministry is fo ferviceable; and that Love will exprefs itself, as in other Acts, fo particularly in praying to God for those, by whom he bestows his Mercies and Loving-Kindneffes unto them.

And, if the Confideration of the Advantages, which God's People reap from the Ministry of their Paftors, engages them to pray for them out of Love and Gratitude; the Weightiness of their Charge, the great Difficulty of executing it as they ought, and the great Peril, that attends their not executing it, are no lefs powerful Motives, to engage all good Chriftians to pray for them out of Pity and Compaffion. The more eminent their Dignity is, and the more beneficial their Work is, if rightly performed, the greater Danger do thofe, that affume this Dignity, and undertake this Work, expose themselves to, if they are guilty of any Thing, which may bring a Blemish upon their facred Function, or if they do this Work of the Lord deceitfully. There is fufficient Reason therefore, that they, who are called to this Function, fhould not only themselves conftantly fly unto God, for the Pardon of their Defects, and for a plentiful Supply of his Grace; but fhould befeeeh all good Chriftians likewife to ftrive together with

them