Moreover, it is required of stewards, that a mar be found faithful.

(1) Having then the ministry given to them, let them wait on their ministring. He that teacheth, on teaching; he that exhorteth, on exhortation; he that ruleth, let him do it with diligence; For they are labourers together with God, and we to whom they minister are God's husbandry; we are God's building: not that they have dominion. over our faith, but are helpers of our joy. For by faith we stand.

(m) They are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech us by them. They pray us, in Christ's stead, to be reconciled to God. And as workers together with him they beseech us, that we receive not the grace of God in vain.

(n) Let them therefore take heed to the ministry which they have received in the Lord, that they fulfil it; not abusing their power in the gospel; giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed. Suffering all things, lest they should hinder the gospel of Christ; and in all things approving themselves as the ministers of God.

(o) Let them minister, as of the ability which God giveth; behaving themselves holily, and justly, and unblameably, among them that believe; and walking in wisdom toward them that are without; that God in all things may be glorificd, through Jesus Christ."

(p) He that hath my word, saith the Lord, let him speak my word faithfully.

(9) Let him speak as the oracles of God; preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus, with all confidence and boldness.

(r) We are not, (saith St Paul) as many, which corrupt the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ. Not handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. Our exhortation is not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile; but as we are allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. Neither at any time used we flattering words, nor a cloke of covetousness, nor of men sought we glory. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord.

(s) I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel, (saith the Lord) therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die, and thou givest him no warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked man from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thy hand: Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

(p) Jer. 23. 28. (g) 1 Pet. 4. 11. (r) 2 Cor. 2. 17. 2 Cor. 4. 2. 2 Cor. 4. 5. () Ezek. 3. 17, 18, 19.

29.

Acts 28. 31. Acts 4.
I Thess. 2. 3, 4, 5, 6,

Cry

(t) Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

(u) Thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. Precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little.

(w) Preach the word: Be instant, in season,

out of season.

(x) Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. Watch thou in all things; do the work of an evangelist; make full proof of thy ministry; confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith.

(y) Be not negligent to stir the brethren up, by putting them always in remembrance of those things that pertain unto life and godliness, though they know them, and be established in the present truth. And exhort, comfort, and charge every, one of them, (as a father doth his children) that they would walk worthy of God, who hath called them unto his kingdom and glory. So shalt . thou be a good minister of Jesus Christ; for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

(x) Study therefore to shew thyself approved unto God, a workinan that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. And:

take heed unto thyself and unto thy doctrine; lest that by any means, when thou hast preached to others, thou thyself shouldest be a cast-away.

(a) Thou which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Be not thou of the number of those who say, and do not: who bind heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

(b) Ge having in due times manifested his word thirulgh preaching; and this being written for our learning in the scriptures; let those to whom the word is committed, according to the commandment of God our Saviour, open the book in the sight of all the people, and read in the book, in the law of God distinctly, and give the sense, and cause them to understand the reading.

(c) The priests shall teach the people the difference between the holy and the profane; and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

(d) They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God; for the bread of their God, they do offer. And the Lord hath chosen them to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the Lord.

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(e) Let the elders of the church feed the flock of God which is among them, taking the oversight 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 shall appear, they shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

(f) Take heed unto yourselves and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made your overseers. For grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after ther. Therefore watch, and remember this warned.

(g) Thus saith the Lord God: Wo be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture.

(b) Wo be to the shepherds that feed themselves, but feed not the flock; that have not strengthened the diseased; neither have healed that which was sick; neither have bound up that which was broken; neither have brought again that which was driven away; neither have sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ruled them.

(i) Wo be to the priests that have violated my law, and have profaned my holy things; that are departed out of the way, and have caused many to stumble at the law, and have corrupted

(e) I Pet. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4. (g) Jer. 23. 2, I. Mal. 2. 8.

(f) Acts 20. 28, 29, 30, 31. (i) Ezek. 22. 26,

(b) Ezek. 34. 2, 3, 4.

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