A Funeral SERMON On that Learned and Excellent DIVINE The Reverend Mr. SAMUEL WILLARD▪

IN the Conclusion of the former Chapter, our Lord-Redeemer entertains his Dis­ciples with a Praediction of those Deso­lations, that were coming upon the Jew­ish Nation; In the final Destruction of their City and Temple, their Polity and Worship; in which He would appear in the visible ter­rors of his Wrath, and the Triumphs of his Pow­er [Page 2] and Justice: and is therefore stiled his Com­ing. Upon this Praediction his Disciples came to Him as He sat on the Mount of Olives, and put two Queries to Him, viz. When shall these things be? i. e When will the final Ruin of Je­rusalem Commence? The other Enquiry was, What shall be the sign of thy Coming, and of the End of the World? This I understand to be distinct from the former; and to refer to the Final Judg­ment. The reason why the Disciples joyn these two Queries together, may be this, viz. They had haply Entertained that Mistake, which prevailed in that day, that the End of the World, or Final Judgment, would either Syn­chronise with, or immediately follow upon, Je­rusalems Destruction. Our Saviour returns an Answer to both these Questions; which tho' not fitted to gratify their Curiosity, yet was wisely adapted to promote their praeparation for these his Awful Appearances. He particu­larly acquaints them with some of the infalli­ble Prognosticks and Fore-runners of his Ap­pearance in the Clouds of Heaven, to Judge the Quick and Dead. For I can by no means perswade my self to subscribe the Opinion of some Grotius, Dr. Hammond. Criticks of no common figure in the Learned World, who look upon the whole of our Saviours Discourse in this Chapter, to look no further than the Destruction of Jerusa­lem: But must think that a great part of this [Page 3] Discourse has a principal aspect upon the Fi­nal Judgment. Now Christ applies the Doct­rine of this his Personal Appearance to Judge the World, to Engage them to greater diligence and watchfulness, in their preparation to meet Him, when He shall be revealed from Heaven in flaming fire, and with the Retinue of Migh­ty Angels. This their preparation He further Excites them to, from two Considerations, the Suddenness of his Appearance, and the certain Blessedness of such as shall be found diligent and faithful in their Masters Work at his Coming▪ The latter of which Arguments is contained in our Text. The words read, tho' in their ge­neral scope are applicable to all Believers; yet nextly and peculiarly they belong to Christ's Faithful Ministers; who are in an ap­propriate sense the Servants of his House, the Stewards of his Family, and the Shepherds of his Flock. In them we may observe two prin­cipal parts.

1. We have the Character of a true Gospel Minister; which is drawn.

(1.) From his Relation to Christ. He is Christ's Servant, and Christ is his Lord. And every Gospel Minister is his Servant, not only by the common profession of Christianity, but special designation; by their particular as well as general Calling.

(2.) From his Work, i. e. to Rule and Feed Christ's Houshold▪ this is Essential to the Of­fice [Page 4] of a Steward in a Family, to assign to eve­ry Servant his Work and Provision. He has the Care and Order of the other Servants com­mitted to him. The Church is Christ's own House, the Houshold of Faith; and this must be cared for: fed with the Word and Bread of Life; govern'd & order'd according to Christ's Institutions, who is the Great LORD of the Houshold.

(3.) From those Vertues and Endowments which qualifie him for his Post, and which are to be Exercised in the discharge of the Duties thereof, viz. Fidelity and Wisdom. He must be a Faithful and Wise Servant; faithful to keep the charge and trust committed to him; and wise to discharge it in the best manner, so as best to serve the end of it; the Good of Christ's Family, and the Honour of the Great Master of it.

2. We have the reward of that Servant, who is wise and faithful in the Service assigned him. He shall be Blessed when his Lord comes; which undoubtedly intends not barely that he shall obtain true blessedness, but an Eminent degree thereof, in proportion to his wisdom and fi­delity.

I shall not Endeavour to grasp all these things into one Doctrine; But shall consider them di­stinctly in that order in which they have been observed to lie in our Text. So that there are these four things to be considered.

[Page 5]1. The Relation that a Gospel Minister bears to Christ, He is his Servant.

2. The Work incumbent on him, to Feed and Rule Christ's Flock.

3. The Virtues and Endowments that are ne­cessary to the true discharge of this Work. Fi­delity and Wisdom.

4. The Distinguishing Reward, that shall be given unto him, by his Lord at his Coming.

I. We are to Consider the Relation that an Evangelical Pastor stands in to Christ: He is the Servant of Christ. The Great Doctor of the Gentiles glories in this Relation, and challenges the acknowledgment of it from others, 1 Cor. 4.1. Let a man account of us as the Ministers of Christ, & the Stewards of the Mysteries of God. The Honour of this Relation belongs not only to the Exalted Station of an Apostle; but to the meanest in the Sacred Function in the Successive Ages of the Church.

It must be acknowledged that there are seve­ral Wayes in which Men, and other Creatures, may truely come under this Denomination. By Creation, all Creatures are his Servants: For He is Lord of Heaven and Earth: He has an unalienable Propriety in, and an absolute Su­preamacy over all Creatures therein, as they are the Works of his hands. Subjection to his Go­vernment well becomes the State of the highest Order of Created Beings. The bright Angels. [Page 6] of Light, who Excel in Strength, are at his Command, and obey his Will. He stands at the Head of the Lower Creation, and leads forth Creatures Animate, & Inanimate to Serve him, at his Pleasure. The Sun, Moon, and Stars in their Courses; Stormy Wind, Hail, Snow and Vapour, in their places are under his Command, and fulfill his Will. Thus all men as they are the Creatures of God, are his Servants. He spake the Word, and we Started into Being at his Cre­ating Call: He made us, and not we our selves; Let us come before the Lord our Maker, and give him the Glory due to his Name.

All professed Christians are his Servants by External Vocation; visible Dedication, and solemn Stipulation. In Baptism we are openly conse­crated to the Service of the Living JEHOVAH: And did solemnly renounce all other Service, unless in Subordination to Christ: And so we stand obliged to Christ as our Master by our own free Consent and Compact; to which Heaven and Earth are Witnesses.

All Believers are the Servants of Christ by Redemption, and the UNCTION of the HOLY ONE. They are not their Own, for they are bought with a price, their Spirits and Bodies are his Propriety. He has formed them for himself; and their Ears are bored to the Posts of his Door. And these are of his Family.

But in a more Appropriate Sence, Evangelical Pastors are the Servants of Christ's Family, by a peculiar Separation to Special Service; [Page 7] by which they are distinguished not only from the World, but from the rest of Christs own Houshold. By a special Deputation He has Set them over his house; He has given them a Commission to represent his Person, and Prae­side under him in the great Affairs of his Visible Kingdom, Worship and Service. To be sepa­rated to the Work of the Gospel is not the pe­culiar priviledge of an Apostle, but common to every ordinary Gospel Minister. Christ has not left the Work of his House in Common, but has drawn a Sacred Inclosure about it, to keep out vain pretenders, that would take this Honour to themselves. A Liberty of Prophesying, as asserted by some, is indeed but a liberty to overturn the Order of the Gospel. All are intruders, and guilty of an Invasion upon the Sacred Office of the Ministry, that have not their Mission from Christ. For how shall they Preach unless they be sent? And who shall send them but Christ whose Ambassadors they are? No man taketh this Honour to himself, but he that is Called as was Aaron. This authority the Apostles, who were the first Heralds of the Everlasting Gospel, were immediately by Christ invested with: But this is mediately communicated to Christs ordi­nary Ministers, as their Successors. And these are not of men, tho' they are by men, by whom they are authorised to dispense the Unsearchable riches of Christ. Their Message they receive from Christ, whose Messengers they are. Their [Page 8] solemn Charge is given in his Name, and by his Authority they act. Agreeable hereto the El­ders of Ephesus, tho' appointed by an ordinary Call, are said to be made Overseers of the Flock by the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Christ, Act. 20.28. And none but such can Administer the Word and Sacraments with Authority, or a rea­sonable prospect of Success. The Service that every Gospel Minister is Engaged in has an im­mediate respect to Christ: He assigns them their Work: Of his Revenue they are Maintained; and to him they must finally give up an account. Thus in a peculiar sence they are the Ministers of Christ; and only the Servants of their People for Christs sake. They are the Stewards of his Houshold; Labourers in his Vineyard & Harvest; Whose Province is to Sow, Plant, Cultivate and Manure the Soil of the Church, that Garden of Christ. And this their Relation to Christ tells us that their Station is high and honourable; their Charge most important; and their Account awful: That to contemn, insult, and outrage their Character, will be interpreted as an insuf­ferable Indignity offer'd to Christ himself; and that their Master will highly resent it as such.

II. In the Second place we are to Consider the Work of Gospel Ministers. The relation of Servants necessarily infers Work, and Service for their Lord. And the special Service, which they are called to, is to Feed, Rule and Order Christs Fa­mily. [Page 9] They are Rulers over his Houshold to give them their Meat in due Season. How honoura­ble is their Work! How difficult their Post, and the Service thereof! The dignity of their Sta­tion and Employment would well become the Excellency, and its difficulty requires the power, purity, and activity of the Highest Angels, that incircle the Throne of God. Their Work con­sists of two parts, and we may Consider them distinctly.

1. The Work of an Evangelical Minister is to Feed Christ's Family. Christ's Flock must be fed, and his Houshold must have suitable Pro­vision made for them. And this by Office be­longs to Christ's Servants, to whom he has com­mitted the Word of Reconciliation. These are under the most Solemn Obligations, and awful charge to take care of this; as they would not be found Idle Shepherds, Slothful Servants, and Unfaithful Stewards, by their Lord at His Coming; and be Animadverted on as such. What Christ pathetically inculcates upon Peter, has a respect to all the Messengers of Peace, John 21.15, 16, 17. Simon Son of Jonas lovest thou me more than these? — Feed my Lambs— Feed my Sheep— Feed my Sheep. The same address He makes to every Pastor with the like Expressions of En­dearment. This therefore is a principal, and essential part of their Office Work, to give the other Servants of God's Family their Food.

This Food must be Spiritual: Such a Provi­sion [Page 10] as may be a proper Entertainment for the Soul: as may be suited to the Nature, Necessi­ties, Spiritual Appetite, and Cravings of an Im­mortal Spirit, As bodily Food does answer the wants of the Body. Proper Food is Pabulum Vitae. It is necessary to the preservation, growth and nourishment of the outward man: It is suita­ble in its nature and design, to confirm and en­crease the strength and health of the Body: To repair the decayes of Nature, and maintain it in a due Temperature and disposition to dis­charge the proper functions of life. Now in Analogy to this: Spiritual Food is whatever tends to beget, maintain and improve the true spiritual life of man. To nourish the Soul with Divine Knowledge, which is the proper food of the Understanding; to beget and strength­en, to encrease and nourish the Divine Princi­ples of Grace and Vertue in the heart; to ad­vance the Soul from one degree of Vertue to another; from it's Infant to a more virile State; To restore it from it's decayes and spi­ritual languishments to an athletick and healthy Condition; This is to afford it suitable food. And this is the business of the Stewards of Gospel Mysteries. Christ sends his Servants on this very Errand to open blind eyes, to soften hard Hearts, to awaken secure Consciences, and Edify the Body of Christ. And to feed Christ's Flock is to instruct their ignorance, in­lighten their darkness, to nourish them with [Page 11] spiritual wisdom and vertue; to use proper methods to render their knowledge productive of an Heavenly Conversation, and to turn the principles of Truth into living principles of Action: It is to heal the wounded spirit, to com­fort the Disconsolate, to raise up the Dejected, to encourage the Fearful, confirm the Waver­ing, reduce the Straying, to spur up the Loyte­ring, and strengthen the Weak, that they may advance to higher degrees of the Divine Na­ture and Life. The Servants of Christ cannot indeed by any vertue of their own, or by the proper force of their Dispensations convey life and strength to the Soul: Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but God gives the increase: He bles­ses Zion's Provision, and cloaths her Priests with Salvation. They therefore are said to feed Christ's Family, when they use the Means Or­dained for their Spiritual Nourishment. Now there are several Duties, in the discharge where­of, this food and nourishment is to be afforded to a People.

To this end the Word of Truth must be dis­pensed, and applyed. In which the mysterious methods of Divine Wisdom and Grace must be display'd, and unfolded: By this the knowledge of God and Christ is to be propagated, whom to know is Life Eternal. The Preaching of the Gospel is a wise and condescending method in which Christ is pleased to carry on a Treaty of Peace with Rebel Sinners. It is a proper [Page 12] Remedy for the spiritual ignorance and blind­ness, the forgetfulness and inconsiderateness of men. It is admirably adapted to rouze the se­cure and stupid out of their Spiritual Lethargy; to convince them of their sin and misery; to turn them from the Error of their wayes, and transform them into the Image of Divine Purity. It is fitted to build up Saints in Faith, Holiness and Comfort. Agreeably we have this Enco­mium given of this Word of Grace, the Dis­pensation whereof is committed to the Gospel Ministry: 2 Tim. 3.15, 16. It is able to make Wise to Salvation: It is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Instruction in Righteousness. This is the ^(a) good Seed by which Sinners are begotten, and translated into the Kingdom of Light and Grace. By this Saints are ^(b) nou­rished, and made to thrive in all the dispositions of Holiness. In this the Wells of Salvation are open'd, whence the disconsolate may draw Wa­ter with Joy. And in the right dispensation of this the Servants of Christ are helpers of the Believers Joy ^(c). This Word they are oblig'd to dispense as they have Opportunity in their Private Applications to their People; and in the Publick Service of Gods house.

Again, they are to Feed the Houshold of Christ by a due Administration of the Seals of [Page 13] the Covenant, the Sacraments of BAPTISM and the LORD's SUPPER.

They are Authorized to Baptize: Mat. 28.19. By Baptism they Enroll Souls in the Number of Christs Servants, and acknowledge them as the visible Subjects of his Kingdom. Hereby they bring them under the Wings and Bonds of the Covenant; under the Care and Government of Gods Family; and intitule them to the provisi­on of his Domesticks.

By a due Administration also of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper these Shepherds are to Feed the Flock of Christ. Herein Christ himself is set forth as the proper Food of Souls. His Flesh is Meat indeed, & his Blood is Drink indeed; & these are here under the sensible and lively Symbols of Bread & Wine, Exhibited for the nourishment of Grace. Christ's Ministers are to prepare their People for this Spiritual Banquet; lead them to it, that there they may be Royally Entertained with the Hea­venly Manna, the Bread of Angels; which tho' not suited to the Gust of a Carnal Appetite; yet affords Superiour Satisfaction to the Spiritu­al Senses of the Divine Nature in the renew'd; and it is Wisely designed by it's Author to Main­tain, Strengthen, and Perfect the Divine Life. And hereby we are to be sustained in our pas­sage thro' this Wilderness, till we shall arrive safe at the good Land of Promise.

Again, Ministers must feed their People by [Page 14] their Prayers, both Publick and Private. ^* By their private and secret addresses to God for their Charge, and the success of their work. For this they must daily bend their Knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in an holy agony, wrestle with God to obtain the best of Blessings for themselves, and for their Flock.

Jacob's Ladder on which Angels were seen to ascend and descend, is thought to be a lively Emblem of a Gospel Minister; who is first to ascend to Heaven in holy Meditation & Pray­er; and then to descend in holy Dispensations to his people. In this way they are to storm Heaven, and with holy violence wrest down the Blessing; give God no Rest till he comes and breathes his Holy Spirit upon them.

Ministers are also to nourish their People by their Publick Prayers. But then they must see that they be proper for nourishment: Not dark, mysterious, and unintelligible discourses; but proper addresses to Heaven, suitable to the Ma­jesty, and Purity of the Presence they approach; and the state, wants and circumstances of Im­mortal Souls, whose Case they are to carry be­fore the Throne of Grace. Their Prayers must not be Doctrinal, but Devotional: Thus there must be a care that they do not give their people [Page 15] Stones instead of Bread. And by these well or­der'd Prayers, they will afford true food to Souls. And not only as these Prayers are Means Sanctify'd, and approved to procure the Dews of Divine Grace: But also as they have a natural tendency to refresh and cherish the Souls of Gods People. These have a proper aptitude to inkindle Divine Breathings in their hearts; to inspire them with the true spirit of Devotion, to refine and purifie their carnal af­fections, to help them to some spiritual views of the beauty and excellency of Christ, and thereby to cherish the vital flame of Grace, and make it burn with greater heat and light. The experience of the Faithful will set a seal to this; that their hearts have been many times by the Prayers of their Pastors, rapt up to Heaven in Holy ardours, dissolved in love; their Souls pleased, and profited to no common degree.

In fine, they are to feed them by their Good Example. ^† They are under the awe of a strict Command from their Lord, to be Examples to the Flock; In Word, in Conversation, in Charity, in Spi­rit, in Faith, in Purity, 1 Tim. 4.12. The want of this in Ministers has a fatal tendency to destroy Souls; to harden the prophane and dissolute, to make them think all Religion to be no bet­ter then a cheat and fiction; and it tends to [Page 16] make the more serious to stumble, and despise the Altar of the Lord. The wicked Lives of such will read loud Lectures of Atheism and Irreligion; while in their Discourses they talk like Angels of Light. And many will give more credit to the Life they live, than to the Doctrine they Preach. Their good Example will be many ways beneficial: This will inform others in their duty, in their spiritual danger, and proper remedy: and Examples are the most easie and compendious way of Instruction: This will afford motive and incentive to en­courage and inflame persons to press forward in the Service of God, and pursuit of the Heaven­ly Prize. Hence it is given as the property of the good Shepherd, that He goes before the Sheep. Joh. 10.4. They must labour to go before them in all parts of the Christian Life, and thereby recommend it to their choice and practice, they must be, as far as may be, instances of the comforts and joyes of Religion. Thus they are in all things to imitate the Great Shepherd of the Sheep; and this will be a Noble and Di­vine way of feeding the Flock of Christ. These are the several ways in which the Servants of Christ are to feed his Houshold; and if they neglect it, they must do it at their Utmost Peril, and know they must answer for it at the Grand Visitation of the Great Shepherd and Bishop of Souls, which is expected.

[Page 17]2. We must consider the other part of their work: Which is to Rule, Inspect and Order the Houshold. As the Church is a Society distinct from the World, so it must be under a distinct Polity. A Government suitable to it's Nature, Constitution, & End, was undoubtedly appoint­ed for it. A Society without Government will be but an Ephesian Rout. There can be no Unity or Harmony between the parts of a Body Politick, if all its Members are in a State of E­quality, and of the same Use & Service; But Con­fusion & Disorder will devour all that is good & beautiful without a Miraculous Interposition of Heaven. And this can on no terms be allow'd to be the State of the Church; that House and Temple of the Living God; who is a God not of Confusion but of Order. Now this Government lyes prima­rily upon the Shoulders of the Lord Jesus Christ; who is King of Zion, and Head of his Church. By his governing Providence he preserves and defends it against all the assaults of the combined force and malice of Earth & Hell. He has fixed it on a Rock, and the Gates of Hell shall never move it. By the Secret Power of his Word, and the unconquerable influence of his Spirit He rules in the Hearts of his People. And as the Great Law-giver of his Church. He has or­dained Laws, Orders, Ordinances, Sacraments and Censures. All which are appointed for the due regulation of this Special Society. He does not Administer these in his own Person, for He is long [Page 18] since with drawn as to Bodily Presence from his Militant Flock; and appears at the head of his Triumphant People in Glory: And has ap­pointed Officers, who, during his absence, are to act in his Name, and to see that his Laws, and Orders, made for the Government of his Visible Kingdom, be observed and executed; and the charge of these is committed to the Evangelical Pastors. I shall not here dispute who are the First Recipients of the Keyes of Christ's Kingdom. Thus much seems evident beyond contradiction, that it belongs to the Ministers by Office to Exert this Power; that by their hands the Keyes are to be turned both in Opening and Shutting the Kingdom of Heaven; that they act herein under Christ, by a power derived from him, what subordinate Helps to them, or what concurrence soever of others with them, in the Exercise of this power, may be thought requisite. The Pastor is therefore in our Text styled a Ruler over Christ's Houshold: And submission to Spi­ritual Guides as such, is an indispensible duty. Heb. 13.17. Obey them that Rule over you in the Lord; who watch for Souls, as those that must give an account. Their Power is not Secular but Spi­ritual. The Rods, Axes and Swords of Civil Government, are not the Instruments of their Government. Their ^(a) Weapons are not Carnal, [Page 19] but Spiritual; yet mighty thro' God to dismantle the Strong holds of the Kingdom of Darkness. Their Authority is not Legislative, but only Ex­ecutive. They are not ^(a) Lords of God's Heritage, nor have they ^(b) Dominion over the Faith of his People: They are to govern, not by their own will and humour, but by the Laws of Christ; according to the Orders appointed by his Sove­reign Authority, and Governing Wisdom, who alone is Lord of Conscience. In the Exercise of this Power they inspect the Houshold of Faith; give e­very one their meat in due season. By this Au­thority they Preach, Pray, & bless their Charge; by this they administer Sacraments, Censures: And in the regular discharge of this their Trust they can't be impeded, without a Breach upon the Authority of their Great Lord and Master.

III. We must consider those Vertues and Endowments which qualifie Ministers for their Station and Work, and are to be exercised in the discharge of the duties of it. And these are Fidelity and Prudence: They must be Faith­ful and Wise Stewards. We must consider these distinctly, as they are exercised in the discharge of the Trust committed to them. And,

(1.) The Gospel Minister must be Faithful. He is a Steward, & it is required of a Steward to be ^(c) faithful. Hence we have that charge, [Page 20] 2 Tim. 2.2. That these things be committed to faithful men. The Charge committed to them is great, of the highest importance: On the faithful management whereof, the Honour of God, the good of Immortal Souls, and their own peace and Salvation, does not a little de­pend Fidelity supposes a Trust committed or reposed; and intends a conscientious regard to all the parts of it, as it respects Christ, their Flock, and their own Souls. Now this Fide­lity obliges, and disposes to the observation of such Rules as these, viz.

1. Fidelity obliges the Gospel Minister to make the Honour of Christ, and the good of Souls, the governing design of his Ministry: The End is the Rule to direct our judgment and choice of means: A corrupt design in Spiritual Guides will corrupt their whole Ministry; For that will be correspondent to that which is their primary intention, and last design in their work. If a Minister be under the governing influence of a worldly or ambitious spirit, all his admi­nistrations will, in probability, be suited to the depraved inclinations of that evil spirit: This will prophane his most solemn and sacred performances. There will be infinite hazard that his Doctrine, his Conversation, and Dis­cipline be all prostituted to base selfish designs; and that the whole of his Ministerial Dispen­sations be calculated to the Meridian of Ho­nour or Gain; which he makes his ruling In­terests. [Page 21] If it will serve this worldly design, he will appear like an Angel of Light, all flame and zeal in the Cause of God; he will speak like an Apostle with Fiery Tongues, as if he had been filled with the Holy Ghost: But if a­nother scene be open'd; and he perceive that zeal for the purity of Gospel Truth, for the chastity of Divine Worship, and beauty of Holiness, will not advance, but contradict his carnal designs; no wonder if we should see his zeal chill'd, and a time-serving indifferency take its place, and his courage wholly Exstin­guished by a pretended Discretion. There will be great danger that such will disguise Truth, varnish over Error, and rebate the edge of the Word, that Sword of the Spirit, lest presumptu­ous haughty Sinners be too deeply wounded. There is nothing tends more to corrupt the Fidelity of Ministers, than false ends; for this will be a false byass to disorder them in their whole Walk: Hence they are solemnly charged to take the oversight of Christ's Flock, not for Filthy lucre: 1 Pet. 5.3. Such Buyers and Sellers Christ will ere long come and Whip out of his Temple. Neither must their own Applause and Repute govern them. It was part of Lu­thers Litany, for the Church, A Doctore Glorio­so, Good Lord deliver us. It was the Apo­stles profession, that of men they sought not Glo­ry, 1 Thes. 2.6. And it was the high Commen­dation given by Paul of Timothy, Phil. 2.20, 21. [Page 22] I have no man like-minded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, and not the things that are Jesus Christs. Christ's Servants if faithful, must be inspired with purity of in­tention in their Dispensation of the Means of Grace: They must imitate the good example of the ancient Stewards of the Mysteries of God; who could say, as 2 Cor. 4.5. We preach not our selves, but Jesus Christ the Lord, and our selves your Servants for Christs sake. Thus Fi­delity requires that they have the Honour of God, and the Eternal Salvation of Souls, al­ways in their Last View; and then all their En­deavours will be levelled to promote these bles­sed designs: and this will not permit them to debase their Heavenly Calling to mean, earthly de­signs. If they be faithful, they will be jealous for the Glory of Christ; & thirst after Souls, ^(a) travail in birth with them till Christ be formed in them: They will Preach, Pray, Reprove, Exhort, and Perswade, as those that have a just sence of the value of Souls, and of that weight of sin and misery that lies upon them; and as resolved to do all that they can to rescue them from Everlasting Burnings, and lead them to the Kingdom of Unperishing Glory. Thus with the Flames of Zeal and Love, and with the strength of unbroken resolution, they must prosecute their Masters Work; that they may [Page 23] save Sinners from Death, enlarge the Kingdom, and extend the Empire of Christ over the lost Rebel Sons of Adam.

2. Fidelity requires the Servants of Christ to furnish their own minds with a suitable mea­sure of Divine Knowledge. ^(a) The Priests lips are to preserve knowledge, and we must ask the law at his mouth. Ministers are appointed Guides to direct lost Souls to Glory: but if the blind lead the blind, the issue will be unsafe; they may both expect to fall into the pit of Everlasting Dark­ness. An Ignorant Minister cannot be faith­ful: A Sun without Light, is not a greater So­laecism, than such an one: He must know every part of his duty, otherwise He can­not do it faithfully. Evangelical Pastors are to be Ready Scribes, well instructed for the King­dom of Heaven; they are to be like the good Housholder that brings out of his treasure things new and old. Mat. 13.52. It is not a small de­gree of knowledge that will be sufficient to quality a person for the faithful discharge of the Ministerial Office. There must be a consi­derable acquaintance with the Learned Tongues, and Liberal Arts, which are subservient to Di­vinity: And a good Divine will make it his great care to transfer the spoils of other Arts, to the Service of the Temple. It was a Bar­barous Age when there was reason of that com­plaint, [Page 24] viz. Graece nosse suspectum Erat, Hebrai [...]e prope Haereticum; and such ignorance will make it a dark Day with the Church of God: It will be cover'd with Clouds of Error & Ignorance. It was a Comprehensive Petition which was once made by a Grave Divine, when taking his farewell, for his bereav'd Flock, viz. That God would not leave them under the influence of a Dark Lanthorn, nor yet under the false light of an Erratick Fire; which would bewilder them in the by-paths of simplicity. Ministerial Fi­delity will engage persons to use utmost care to be neither of these; that the light they give may not be faint thro' want of due knowledge, nor false thro' Error.

This Knowledge must be attained in an ordinary way, by much Study, Meditation and Prayer: For we are not born with it: Nor in this Age can we expect to be qualify'd for this Work by a Miraculous Descent of the HOLY GHOST in Tongues of fire, which was the priviledge of the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost. We may not without daring presumption depend on Extraordinary Visions, nor Immediate Inspiration; but on the blessing of God on our Endeavours. This Faithfulness must govern us in our Study, as well as in the Pulpit. And the care any take to accomplish themselves with knowledge to an uncommon degree, is to be esteemed true fidelity to those under their Pastoral Care; [Page 25] whose Service they are thus preparing them­selves for. All Ministers should labour to de­serve the Character of Apollos, a man Eloquent, and mighty in the Scriptures: They should fear to run like Ahimaaz, on a Message, without suitable tidings to carry to a people. They that are faithful will dread that Charge, 1 Tim. 1.7. who are desirous to be teachers of others, un­derstanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

3. Fidelity requires that they keep not back any part of the Counsel of God from their Flock. A Steward cannot be faithful, if he with-hold any part of that portion, which belongs to the Servants of the Family: What Christ has ap­pointed for them, they must give them in due season. The Holy Scriptures are a Sacred Re­pository of Divine Truths; they are compre­hensive of all Articles of Faith, and Rules of Duty; and these must be open'd. The Truth as it is in JESUS, is perfective of the Understand­ing in Divine Knowledge, and Directive of the Christians practice: And no essential part of this can be concealed, without the guilt of Sa­criledge to God, and Injustice to the Souls of men; and both will infer unfaithfulness. The great design of Divine Revelation, is to retrieve Sinners from their state of sin and misery, and advance them to a state of Holiness, and compleat Blessedness: The whole Counsel of God is of Service to carry on this design of Grace.

[Page 26]It is to this end requisite that men be informed what was that state of Honour, Ho­liness and Perfection, in which Man was at first Created; How he was placed at the Head of the Visible Creation as Lord of the Lower World; How bright with the Beauty of Holi­ness, and Glory of the Divine Image, and what happiness he stood a Candidate for. They must be acquainted how this glorious Son of the Morning is fallen, his pomp and glory laid in the dust: How he revolted from God as his Sovereign Lord, and Supream Good; and put himself under a foreign Jurisdiction: What per­manent Depravation and disorder in all his po­wers is contracted; What impotency has inva­ded his Nature, and what Treasures of Divine Wrath he is become Heir of; How the Infect­ion and Pollution, together with the guilt of the first transgression is intailed as a cursed In­heritance upon all the Progeny of Apostate man.

They must be instructed in the blessed design of God to raise up, out of the corrupt mass, & rubbish of the Apostacy, some Glorious Monu­ments to illustrate the Honour of Sovereign Grace: The method in which this great affair was carried on to success, according to the In­fallible Counsel of God: The Scheme of A­postate mans Recovery, which was projected, and methodized by Unerring Wisdom; How all the Divine Attributes herein meet in an adorable Harmony, and have a favourable aspect upon [Page 27] guilty man; must be, as far as is clearly revea­led, explained and set in a proper light. There must be a discovery how the Three Persons in the GODHEAD do concur in this Design; and what part of mans Salvation is in the Word of God assigned to the distinct Agency of each Person. Ministerial Fidelity requires a Decla­ration of the nature of man's Redemption, the method in which it was impe [...]rated, and must be apply'd. To this end Sinners must be infor­med in the Doctrine of Christ's Person, who was true God, and real man; In the Doctrine of his Offices; in the truth, necessity and per­fection of his Satisfaction, and the prevalency of his Intercession; In the extent and power of his Government; in the light and wisdom of his Instructions. To this end they must be in­structed in the Doctrine of the Person and Of­fice of the Blessed Spirit: In the nature and necessity of Regeneration, without which there can be no application of Redemption to Cap­tive man.

The tenour of the Covenant of Reconcilia­tion must be laid open; the duties it enjoins, the demands it makes of Sinners, the Blessings it offers; and the inseparable connexion be­tween the duties and promises of this Covenant must be declared: And the nature, design and import of the Seals of the Covenant, Baptism, and the Lords-Supper, must be unfolded.

In fine, The Servants of Christ must labour [Page 28] to give Sinners a true view of the UNSEEN WORLD: They must set before them Future Misery in its Reality, Extremity, and Intermi­nable Duration: And Future Blessedness in its Fullness and Certainty, Excellency and Eter­nity. Thus Fidelity requires that Articles of Faith, and Rules of Life, Promises and Threat­nings, be dispensed according to Divine Reve­lation: And this gave the Apostle Paul bold­ness in making his Appeal to those that had been under his Tuition, and to take his Leave of them with this solemn address. Ye know—How I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you; wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am PURE from the BLOOD of all men; for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the COUNSEL of God, Acts 20.20. and 26, 27.

4. Fidelity requires that Ministers deliver no­thing as the Counsel of God, but what they are fully perswaded is so. Ministers are Christ's ^(a) Ambassadors, and the Fidelity of such re­quires, that they deliver no Message in their▪ Masters Name, but what their Commission di­rects to▪ and will bear them out in. And their Commission runs thus. Mat. 28.20. Go teach all Nations—to observe all things that I have comman­ded you. They are ^(b) Stewards, and as such, must bring forth and dispense nothing but what their LORD has committed to them. They are [Page 29] ^(a) Watchmen, and are bound to receive the Word at CHRIST's mouth, and to warn Sinners from Him. Hence they cannot be faithful in delivering any thing in the Name of their Great Master, but what they have received from him. The contrary would be to abuse his NAME and AUTHORITY; to fix his Royal Stamp up­on their own Wares. They must not therefore be wise in their Administrations above what is written: but must have all their Doctrines ap­proved by the Law and by the Testimony. It is a Divine and Apostolick Canon, 1 Pet 4.11. If any man speak, let him speak, as becomes the Ora­cles of God; i. e. what is agreeable to the Form of sound words there laid down; and the Ana­logy of Faith there delivered to the Saints. Their Doctrine must contain nothing as Divine, but what can be proved, either by Express Scrip­ture, or by just and necessary Consequence there-from. They must not make more Arti­cles of Faith, nor Rules of Duty, than the Gospel has made: And what they deliver must be on­ly with the same degree of Certainty, that they stand in the Oracles of Heaven: Doubtful things must be delivered only as Doubtful; Certain, as Undoubted: What are doubtfully true, or undoubtedly false, will but ill become the Mouth of an Ambassador of the God of Truth. They must not think to refine Gospel [Page 30] Truths; or blend them with their own mista­ken vain Conjectures; which will make a med­ley no way wholesome to the Souls of men. And indeed nothing has been more injurious to the Church of Christ, than for persons of the Sacred Character to publish their own Whims, the freaks of wild Enthusiasm, and the Rants of an over-heated Imagination for the Unerring Counsels of Heaven. First to form a Module of Notions in their own heads, and then to strain Scripture to approve their preconceiv'd Schemes, to torture it to confess truths it is a stranger to; this is every way unworthy the Character of a Gospel Minister, and is most prejudicial to the Sacred Interest of the Gospel: Fidelity commands here a Caution; how else can they come with a, THUS SAITH THE LORD.

5. It requires that they Employ all their Ta­lents in this Work. Our great Lord has distribu­ted his Talents among his Servants with an admi­rable variety according to his Sovereign pleasure: and none has reason of just Complaint; for he is Lord of his own, and is a debtor to no man. ^(a) There are Diversities of Gifts, tho' the same Spirit. Some enjoy Gifts more Excellent as to Nature & Kind, more as to Number, and greater as to Degree, than others. ^(b) One Servant has but One Talent, and another two, and a third five. There is a great difference as to the Natural [Page 31] and Acquired Abilities of Christs Servants; and as to Grace as well as Gifts. All the Stars that appear in the Firmament of the Church, are not of equal Magnitude, nor do they shine with equal brightness. There is a vast difference as to the Opportunities of Exercising these different En­dowments, which arises from their several Sta­tions, or parts of the Vineyard they are Set to labour in. There is a great difference also as to their Name, and repute in the World, and con­sequently, as to their Interest, Influence, and Authority over others. Now all these are im­proveable in their Masters Service, which they are to Occupy for his Honour, till He come▪ And they cannot be Faithful if they do not im­prove all these, in their just proportion, to the advancement of the great Work they are En­gaged in. For to whom God has given much, He requires the more. ^(a) God expects a proportion between mens Receipts and Returns. Hence it is not sufficient for one Servant to say, he does as much as some others, who are undoubtedly faithful, whereas he ought to do more Service than they, who have not equal Ability and Op­portunity. He that has but two Talents will be faithful, if there-with he gaineth but two; but he that hath five will be unfaithful if he gain­eth not five more. Their Work is so Excellent, and difficult, that it deserves and needs the great­est [Page 32] Abilities. The most Exalted Capacities will here find Employ, more than they will be able to goe thro'; tho' their Knowledge was as quick and extensive as the Intuitions of Angels. None of their Talents are to lye by without improve­ment; none must be imbezled, or misplaced upon other things, neither upon affairs of State, nor Trade. For tho' men may not be able to charge them with neglect of their duty, yet they will fall under the charge of Christ, who has given them their Abilities.

All the Talents committed to the Ministers of Christ are consecrated to the Service of Christ in his Church: and what is it less than Sacriledge to alienate them? They must Employ them in proportion to what they have received, if they expect the EUGE at last from the Mouth of Blessing: Well done good and faithful Servants.

6. It requires the greatest Impartiality in all their Administrations. Partiality is a Crime of unpardonable Guilt in Civil Rulers, but of a much heavier Imputation in Ecclesiastical. To have respect of Persons argues Injustice, and in­fers Unfaithfulness. Ministers should imitate their Lord and Judge, who is ^(a) no Respecter of Persons; before whom the Poor and Rich, the Base and Honourable stand upon the same Level. Indeed as to the Manner of Application [Page 33] to Persons of differing Characters, there may, & many times ought to be a Difference, but not as to the Matter. The High & Low, the Master and Servant have one and the same Rule of Life: They must enter the same Strait Gate, and walk in the same Narrow Way, if ever they arrive safe at the Port of Blessedness. The Gospel has not made that Sin in the Poor, which is not ( Caeteris Paribus) in the Rich. All Souls are of equal price in the Sight of Christ, and ought to be so in ours. Hence with what Awfulness and Majesty is that charge given; 1 Tim. 5.21. I charge thee before God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Elect Angels, that thou observe these things, without preferring One before another; doing nothing by Par­tiality. They must not be byast by favour and affection, in their Masters cause; They must search every Wound to the bottom, and bear witness against the Sins of all in their Admini­stration of Censures and Reproofs. It will be their honour and duty to approve themselves the true Sons of Levi; ^(a) who said to his Fa­ther and to his Mother, I have not seen him; nei­ther did he acknowledge his Brethren, nor knew his own Children; that he might observe God's Word, and keep his Covenant. The practice of the Apostles must be their Rule. ^(b) They must Warn every man of his danger, and Teach [Page 34] every man his Duty; that every man may be presented at last Perfect in Christ.

7. It requires Unwearied Application, and Un­stinting Resolution in the Discharge of the duties of their Post. The Honour of their Lord, the Excellency of Immortal Souls, that are in the last hazard of Eternal Perdition, the solemn Charge they are under, and the strict account they must live in expectation of, do demand, and are pressing arguments to move them to the greatest watchfulness, diligence and con­stancy in their work. The necessities of their Flock do importune and challenge this of them. Without this application they can have no good prospect that their work will be crowned with success; but have reason to fear lest their la­bour should be under the blast of Heaven. Sloth and negligence is inconsistent with Fidelity. To do the work of the Lord Negligently, is to do it Deceitfully; and such as are thus guilty, will never fullfil their Ministry. It has been faith­fully observed by Dr. Bates. a Great Di­vine, what a vast difference there is between the work of an Artificer and a Mi­nister: ‘The Statuary with long labour cuts the Marble to form it into a noble Image, but he leaves his work at his pleasure; and when he resumes it, the Matter being durable, it is in the same state towards finishing, as when he left it.’ But it is not so with the hearts of men, which Ministers are at work upon. Flesh, [Page 35] World and Devil are joyned in a cursed Con­cert to ruine their work, and to deface all good impressions that at any time are made upon the hearts of their People: And their diligence is equal to their policy and malignity in counter-working Christ's Labourers. Worldly cares and carnal pleasures easily divert the thoughts of the awakened Soul, and so damp and stifle the Convictions, with great difficulty and labour wrought within them: Satan like a Bird of Prey watches the seed of the Word as soon as sown, and picks it up, that it may not take root; and is ready to sow tares in the room of good Seed. The greatest diligence and watchful­ness is necessary to prevent his ill designs. By sloth and negligence there is advantage given to the Evil One: while the Labourer slept, the Enemy soweth Tares, Mat. 13.25. When a Holy Spark is struck into the Soul, either by publick or private addresses; and seems to have taken hold, how soon is it quenched? Good resolu­tions are easily dampt; devout desires and af­fections chill'd; and the Heart that seem'd to melt and flow at the Presence of God in an Or­dinance, is often by the next Ordinance grown as hard as the adamant: And thus the work of Christ's Ministers is often undone, nay, goes backward, rather than forward. And what re­solution and pains are enough to withstand and vanquish this opposition, and carry on the de­sired work to success? Sure we may be, that [Page 36] the work is like to be left undone, unless God's Servants are patient, unwearied, & faint not in their labours. Hence the Apostle with the greatest solemnity, and authority lays this charge upon them, 2 Tim. 4.1, 2. I charge thee before the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the Quick and Dead at his Appearance and Kingdom, Preach the Word, be instant in season, and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. This diligence and application must be exerci­sed in their preparations for their publick Dis­pensations; without which they can't well expect to prosper. It was an awful word spoken Mr. She­pard Camb. by an Excellent Per­son, whose praise has been thro' out these Churches: viz. ‘;God will curse that mans Labours, who lumbers up and down in the World all the week; and then on Satur­day afternoon goes to his Study.’

There must be also the Exercise of an inde­fatigable Spirit in all their applications to their Flock, if they would maintain their Fidelity. They must give way to no discouragements. Want of success and reproach, hopes and fears must not move them from their duty. No pre­sent Evil, or Advantage must prevail upon them to stand still, and see the Truths of the Gospel undermined, or adulterated; but must coura­giously make head against the most popular Errors, and common Immoralities, in the face of the greatest outward danger. Truths must [Page 37] not be concealed, nor the strictness of Gospel precept relaxed to gain the favour of men, of what figure soever; for thus their trust would be betrayed. The Temper and Resolution of the Apostle will well become every Servant in Christ's Family. Acts 20. [...]4. None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear to my self, so that I may finish my Course with joy, and the Mini­stry that I have received of the Lord Jesus. This Resolution and Application to their work is necessary, that they may stand before Christ's Tribunal Pure from the Blood of Souls.

(2.) Prudence is another Vertue that is a ne­cessary qualification of the Stewards over Christ's Houshold, which must be exercised in the dis­charge of every part of their Function. They must be Wise, as well as Faithful: This is a per­fection, by which we not only consider and judge aright of things in their general nature, and understand Truth and Error, Vertue and Vice; but also it enables to take a view of things in their various circumstances, and to form a right judgment of particular cases, and well to determine what is most fit, proper, and expe­dient to be done in that variety of Cases, which are to be expected when we come to practice. When the right end is fixed, Wisdom directs in the choice of those means that are best adapted to attain the design: And agreeably, ²¹ the [Page 38] Chief among the School-men define Wisdom to be Recta Ratio Agibilium. A due knowledge how to conduct our selves in the performance of those things which are incumbent on us; so that our work may succeed. The Wise­man has more intelligibly described this Ver­tue to the same purpose: ^(a) The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, and ^(b) Wisdom is profitable to direct. Carnal Policy, or Serpen­tine Subtilty, if not temper'd with a Dove-like innocency, [...] not an Ornament, but a re­proach to an Ambassador of the King of Hea­ven. There are vile arts of insinuation, which suit well enough the Character of the Emissaries of Hell, who are cunning to deceive; which must not be accounted any part of the Character of the Ministers of Truth, who must be wise to win Souls. They must not only consider what is duty, but also in what method this may be done to the greatest success. Prudence includes great Praecaution to obviate difficulties, and evils that may threaten their work with unsuccess­fulness; and Sagacity to espy and improve all advantages to carry on their laudable designs. It is impossible for me fully to set forth this vertue in its nature, excellency and power; or in that influence it ought to have upon this Sacred Order of men, in their faithful discharge of the duties of their Place. I shall only hint [Page 39] at a few Cardinal points, to which Ministerial Prudence must always have respect, viz.

1. Ministerial Wisdom must be Exercised in a suitable Care and Caution not to Expose their Character to Contempt. There is a just Reverence due to the Character of God's Ambassadors, which cannot be lost without Evident dammage to their Masters Service. Few People are so Metaphysical as to abstract the Calling from the Person: to contemn the Person of a Minister & yet reverence his Office. It must be allowed therefore as a standing Maxim of Wisdom, that Ministers must be careful to Maintain that Re­verence, which is due to them for their Work sake. Indeed many times Vile and Profligate men will load them with contempt tho they are never so circumspect: Their very Character is enough to Expose them to the scorn and banter of some, whose Vices have sunk them below the vilest parts of the Creation, who are lost to all sense of what is virtuous, good and sacred▪ But they must be careful not to deserve such rude treatment. That by their foolish anguard­ed Conversation, they do not invite the Profane to ridicule and insult them. And it must be ac­knowledged that they are the Criminal Occa­sions too often of that Contempt and Indignity which is cast on them. Hence we have that ad­vice given to Titus, and to every Minister in him, Tit. 2.15. Let no man despise thee. Which Pre­cept must be observed by avoiding every thing [Page 40] that will make them appear Vile, Mean & Little in the eye of the World. And this Prudence is to be seen in.

To this End Prudence directs and requires Ministers to avoid Vice and Immorality. For this will wound the best Reputation, and Expose to Contempt. And renders these Servants of God in a peculiar manner Vile. Thus Eli's Sons ren­dred themselves Vile. This will darken the LIGHTS of the World; and render the SALT of the Earth insipid; and no Wonder then they are of no Account.

To this End they must take heed of Ignorance. Knowledge is a good Medium to preseve their Character; but Ignorance will render them con­temptible in the Eyes of Good and Bad. This may sometimes be from want of Natural Abili­ties; and the defects of Nature are not to be Exposed, but Pitied. But this defect should keep them from invading that Office, where Know­ledge is necessary; and Ignorance challenges Contempt, being Exposed to open view. There is good instruction in that Admonition that dropt from a Witty Pen, ‘If Owls would not be hooted at, let them keep close within the Tree, and not Perch upon the upper bows.’

Again, To this End Wisdom directs to avoid every thing that will argue a Servility of Temper: All Sordid Complyances with men of Corrupt Affections. They must take heed not to use any mean Acts of flattery to insinuate themselves into [Page 41] the favour of Men. They must not stoop to any thing below the Dignity of their Station, to gain the Esteem of the World. All Methods of Dissimulation and Flattery argue a mean and lit­tle Spirit, which is the proper object of Contempt. Thus they must Watch against every thing that is contrary to true Generosity, or Greatness of Soul▪ which should appear in their whole Deport­ment; and which will make them Venerable in the Eyes of the World. They must avoid all Actions that will argue them to be under the influence of Narrow and Stingy Principles. Fear and Cowardise, an immoderate Opinion of, and Fondness for the Pomp and Grandeur of the World; Too nice a regard to circumstances, & Shadows, and a disregard of Substantial Realities, will Tarnish the Glory of the brightest Cha­racter, and invite the Contempt due to a Little and Mean Soul.

To this End they must be careful not to go to the Utmost Limits of what is Lawful. What others may do without Scandal and Reproach, Mini­sters many times may not without Exposing their Character. Thus also all affectation, affected [...] Modes of Speech, Gesture, &c. And a Spirit of Popularity are to be shun'd, if they would ob­serve the Rules of true Prudence: For all these debase the High Calling of the Ministry, and de­stroy that Respect and Reverence, which is requisite to a succesful discharge of their Office.

[Page 42]2. Prudence must be Exercised in forming a Right Judgment of Things, Persons, and Seasons, for the more Succesful discharge of the several parts of their Trust. There is a great variety of Cir­cumstances which may have an aspect upon each of these, which must be understood in order to our carrying on our Work to the best advantage.

There must be a right Judgment of Actions and Things. The Apostle layes it down as a ne­cessary point of true Knowledge and Judgment to Approve the things that are Excellent, or which differ, Phil. 1.10. There is a vast difference be­tween things, and without the knowledge here­of we can never make a Wise choice, which should be made according to the value, and rate that things bear. Some things are Essential and Fundamental, without which neither Grace here, nor Glory hereafter can be Expected; other things are Circumstantial: Some things are Du­ties by Divine Institution, other things are so on­ly from Principles of meer Prudence: Some things are the Weightier Matters of the Law, other things are but as the Tithings of Mint & Cummin: Some are Gnaws, others Camels ▪ Some are Moats, and others Beams, as our Saviour calls them: Some are indispensibly Necessary, other things are Ex­pedient Pro hic ad nunc. And most frequently the Moral denomination of Actions, and especi­ally as to their degree, does depend upon cir­cumstances, which are Variable. Now Wisdom must discern between these, and the judgment [Page 43] must conclude and determine accordingly. For things must be pressed, insisted on in pro­portion to their necessity and excellency. The want of Prudence to make this judgment, is many times highly prejudicial to the Work of the Ministry.

Again, there must be a right judgment of Persons. Without this they can never divide e­very one his Portion aright. All respect to Persons is not a Criminal Partiality; but there is a consi­deration of Persons, and a distinguishing regard to them, which will argue no common Wisdom in the discharge of their Pastoral Care. There is a great difference in the Tempers of Persons to be treated with; nay a great variety is observa­ble in the Frames and Dispositions of the same Person at different Seasons. That address that may be suitable to Melt one, may Exasperate another; that, which may be fit to Gain a man at one time, may have a tendency to Alienate him at another, and to fill him with prejudice against the Truth. Every man has some Qua­lity, that renders him Accessable, and capable of perswasion, which if understood and wisely ad­dressed would afford an happy prospect of Suc­cess. And tho' Religion will not allow Mini­sters to gratify the Vitious humours of men, yet Wisdom requires that care be taken to improve their tempers to the best advantage, to recover them from the Error of their Wayes. Wisdom requires a Distinction to be made between these [Page 44] that are of a different Growth and Improvement in the School of Christ. ^(a) Some are Children and they must be fed with Milk; Some are Strong Men, and they can bear Strong Meat. ^(b) Some are Lambs in Christs Flock, and these must be gather'd with our Arms, and carryed in our Bo­somes; Some are with Young, and these must be led with great tenderness, gentleness and com­passion▪ There is a great difference in the diseases that Christs Flock may be infected with; which requires a different application▪ What is Obstinacy in one, is a Pitiable Infirmity in another; and the obstinate are to be sharply re­proved; and the Weak to be pityed, and by de­grees strengthen'd.

There is a difference to be observed between the Civil Characters of men, which Ministerial Wisdom directs to a due care not to make a breach upon in treating with them. They are not to be soothed up in any Evil wayes; Sin must not be suffer'd to ly upon these; the Rich and High are to be charged in the Name of Christ to perform the Duties, and shun the Sins, of their Station; their Sins are to be reproved▪ but Prudence directs that all this be done in a way consistent with that distinction that Provi­dence has made. Nathan in reproving David has Set Ministers a Pattern to Write after. Su­periors must not be insulted, nor exposed to the [Page 45] Contempt of those that are under them: The reproofs given them must not be Satyr which will Sting, but such Wise Remonstrance of their reproveable Actions, as shall at once convince of their own Error, and the respect and love of him that makes it.

Again, Wisdom requires a right Discerning of Times, and to act according to a true judgment of them. It is the Character of the Wise man, That his heart discerneth time and judgment, Eccles. 8.5. One season may afford an happy Conjun­ction of favourable Circumstances, which may promise Christ's Ministers greater success in one part of their work, than another season may. Now a Word spoken in season has its peculiar beau­ty and advantage. Ministers are not to be Time-servers to promote their own secular designs; but they must be Time-servers in suiting their Dispensations to the advantages that every sea­son may peculiarly afford them to do good to Souls. A word seasonable at one time may not be so at another. Providences which are vari­ous, call for that at one time, which they do not at another. And Wisdom obliges to a right Consideration, and Application proper to a day of Adversity, and to what is proper for a day of Prosperity. There are Truths of the day to be open'd and defended; Errors of the day to be de­tected and confuted; Sins of the day to be Wit­nessed against. And Prudence directs the Ser­vants of God to a regard to these. There are [Page 46] some Seasons more proper than others to treat with the same Persons; and these must be watch'd for, and improved. This point of Wis­dom Abigail critically observed in her treatment with the Churl Nabal. And [...] the want of this many times Pearls are Exposed before Swine, and Holy things are thrown to Dogs. In these things therefore Ministers are to Exercise a dis­cerning judgment: and so approve themselves Wise as well as Faithful.

3. Prudence must temper, regulate and proportion the expressions of their Zeal. Zeal is a Grace ne­cessary to every Christian; and is required to an Eminent degree of those that watch for Souls. These are stiled Angels, who are Flames of Fire: They are to be like them in a warm Indignati­on against Sin, in a burning love to Christ and Immortal Souls, and in holy ardours in the Ser­vice of God. Lukewarmness and indifferency of spirit in the Cause of Christ, and of perish­ing Souls, will be a reproach to their Work, and Master; and tends to make Sinners indif­ferent and careless about the great interest of Eternity: whereas a well regulated zeal in the Advocates for God and Souls, will be a proper medium to make Sinners in earnest in working out their own Salvation. But all is not true zeal that men call so; what many times assumes the name is but a degenerate passion, a fury raised in their own cause, and not in Gods: It [Page 47] is a fire indeed, but an unhallowed one, not kindled at Gods Altar, that neither came from Heaven, nor ascends thither. It is therefore requisite that this affection be under an holy Goverment; which must be managed by that true wisdom that comes from Above. Prudence must direct it to a Right Object; for without that it will be a zeal not according to knowledge: the matter of it must be good; it must be pla­ced upon true Catholick Christianity; and not on the Religion of a Party. It must be founded up­on right and durable Principles, which right Rea­son, and the Holy Word of God will justifie; and not built upon unaccountable Impulses, nor designed to serve the Interests of any particular party; Prudence here is profitable to direct.

Again, Wisdom will see that it be exercised in ways consistent with Charity and Christi­an Compassion; and not with the corrupt fer­ment of wrath and bitterness to the persons of any. It must also Regulate the Measure and de­gree of this affection. It must take care that it be only in proportion to the value and impor­tance of the thing, about which zeal is exerci­sed. It must not with the same heat be exer­cised about Modes and disputable Rites, as about the Essentials of our Christian Faith, and Practice. The same degree of zeal is not due to Tithing Annise, Mint and Cummin, as to Righteous­ness, Mercy and Peace, which are the weigh­tier matters of the Law; and the very vitals of [Page 48] and undefiled Religion. Herein therefore Wis­dom teaches them to make a difference in the expressions of their zeal; and not to pursue e­very thing with equal heat, earnestness and pas­sion. And this zeal, thus attemper'd and pro­portioned to the weight of objects, and accord­ing to these rules directed by Prudence, will help Christ's Ambassadors to carry on the Trea­ty of Peace with Sinners to advantage.

4. Prudence is to direct them in the right ma­nagement of their addresses to men. And there is a great degree of Prudence necessary to the right ordering of the Publick Discourses of Christ's Messengers: That they may know what to say, and what not; to determine in what Order, Method and Manner to treat of Divine Truths, that they may have the best influence upon their Audience. The Understanding is the Leading Faculty in the Soul, under the in­fluence of its Light and Conduct the Will, Af­fections, and all the executive powers are to be exercised. Hence Religion must first in order of nature have possession of this power; and consequently this Faculty must be first informed, and Wisdom will direct the Servants of God, like wise Master Builders to lay here the Foundation of true Divine Knowledge.

It will also instruct what things are to be taught in the First Place, and what Principally to be insisted on, with greatest frequency and inculcation. It must direct in the Choice of [Page 49] Subjects suitable to the state and necessities of a Peo­ple.

Wisdom must teach also in what Manner the Truths and Laws of Heaven are to be promulga­ted. That they be dispensed with Gravity, without Affectation; with Zeal and Courage without Temerity; with Authority without Usur­pation; with Tenderness and Affection without the Weakness of humane Passion. It must direct in the Dress and Language of their Discourses. This must be Intelligible, Pertinent, neither too La­boured nor too Negligent, most expressive of the notions to be communicated, and free from that Pomp of Words that will obscure the Matter discoursed of: this latter must be avoided, left there be reason to say of a Discourse, as the Philosopher did of a Tragedy: It was a good One, if a man could have seen it for words. And as to the Language of Discourses, a difference must be allow'd, and is proper on several accounts: One Subject will allow greater Ornament of Language without any ostentation, than ano­ther; an Address to the Affections will admit that Language which may not be so proper when the Understanding for its information is immediately apply'd to; there is a difference here also to be allowed between one Auditory and another; between common Discourses, and such as are made on some special Occasi­on; and there is a difference between the Na­tural and Acquired Gifts of Preachers, some [Page 50] being able to speak with greater Strength, others with more of Ornament and Politeness. Now Wisdom is to consider these different circum­stances, to suit the Language to the Subject, Occasion, and End.

Again, This must direct to the best method of discoursing: This can't be always the same, a variety of Subjects to be treated on, will not allow it. But Prudence will teach that Discour­ses be made always in the most easy, natural, and intelligible method, that the matter will allow. This will be not only helpful to the Memory in retaining, but to the Understanding in taking a just view of things.

In all these things the Wisdom of the Heralds of the Everlasting Gospel is to be displayed, to promote the good Entertainment of their Mes­sage.

And thus we have finished the Consideration of their Qualifications. We proceed to the last thing.

IV. Lastly, We are to Consider that Distin­guishing Reward that will be given them when their work is done. They shall be Blessed. Here two things.

1. They shall obtain the Reward of Blessedness.

2. This their Reward shall be distinguishingly great.

1. The Wise and Faithful Servant shall obtain the Reward of Blessedness. This reward com­prehends [Page 51] in it a perfect freedom from all dis­quieting Evils, and the full possession of all Sa­tisfying Good. The Nature and Excellency, of this reward, we are not able in our present Embodied State, to take a comprehensive view of. We have not Faculties enlarged to that Ca­pacity, nor refined to that Purity, and Clearness, nor Exalted to that Strength and Vigour, which are necessary to Entertain, and bear an Open View of Future Glory. The Object is too Vast and Bright, and our Understanding too weak, narrow, and earthy. A Sight of it in its true beauty, brightness and fullness, would dazle, confound and overpower the mind; & Mor­tality must sink under the very sight of that weight of Glory. God has seen meet in con­descention to our Infirmity, to represent this under the shadow of such Earthly Things which have most of Profit, Pleasure and Honour in them: But after all, the Reward is Great and Excellent, beyond thought and expression.

This however we may be sure of is contain­ed in it, viz. That these Blessed Ones, during their State of Separation from the Body, shall be safely lodged by their Lord, who has the KEYS of the INVISIBLE WORLD, in the Paradise of God, a place of inconceivable Re­freshment; a Place so bright and serene, as not to need either Sun or Moon to Enlighten it. Where they shall Enjoy the happy Society of An­gels and Perfected Spirits; nay, of CHRIST [Page 52] himself; with whom they shall live in the Ex­ercise of the wisest acts of Endearment, and in the highest Expressions of mutual Love and Friendship. There their Employ will be that of Angels, every way suited to the Perfection of Glorify'd Saints. There they shall be fully freed from all that Sin that here infested them; from all those sufferings that here griev'd them; from all those Labours that here wasted their Spirits; from all those Enemies that were here shooting their envenom'd arrows to wound their peace. There the Divine Image which was here begun, will receive its finishing strokes: Their knowledge will be without Error, or faulty Ignorance; their Holiness without De­fect; their Love in its Perfection; and their Joy in its Fullness: and all their Enjoyments will be agreeable, not to a State of Tryal, which is now over, but to a Life of Rewards.

In the Day of the Final Judgment they shall appear as true CHILDREN OF THE RESUR­RECTION: Their Bodies shall be Transfigured according to the Glory, Purity & Perfection of the Resurrection Body of the Son of God. They shall appear in all circumstances of Honour before the General Assembly of Hell, Earth and Heaven▪ And when the affairs of this Day are finished, they shall ascend with their Glorify'd Master, above the visible Heavens; and with Him En­ter in Triumph into the City of God; and shall Sit down with him upon his Throne, & shall [Page 53] be FOR EVER WITH HIM to behold and Par­take in his Glory. But after all, How small a Por­tion is Known of it! tho' more than enough to pronounce them Blessed.

2. The Reward of Wise and Faithful Mini­sters shall be Distinguishingly Great. I am not ig­norant that the Doctrine of Degrees of Glory has been holy disputed in the Schools. The Affirmative seems so agreeable to the Principles of Right Reason, and so clearly revealed in the infallible Oracles of Truth; that to me it appears more than Problematical. The Schoolmen indeed and Doctors in the Church of Rome build this upon a rotten Foundation, viz. The different degrees of Merit in Good Works. But their Error ought not to shake the true foundation of this Doctrine; which appears with a clear Light in the Sure Word of Prophesy. Here we are taught to distin­guish between the Reward of a Prophet, and the Reward of a Righteous Man, Mat. 10.41, 42. The Parable of the Talents appears to assert & justi­fy different degrees of Glory: Luke 19.16, 17, 18, 19. Where we find every Servant received from his Lord in proportion to his Improvement of what had been committed to him. And the Truth flows not from a bare Circumstance of the Parable; but from the Main Scope of it, which was to Excite Christians to an Improvement of their Talents in proportion to what they had re­ceived; and the Argument to engage to it is that their Reward shall be Proportionable. He that [Page 54] gains ten Pounds shall be Ruler over ten Cities; and he that gains five shall Rule over five Cities. This Doctrine also is asserted by the Apostle as an Argument to engage the Corinthians to abound in Works of Charity & Liberality, 2 Cor. 9.6. He that Soweth Sparingly shall reap Sparingly; But he that Soweth Bountifully, shall reap Bountifully. In which there would be no force or motive if there be not a Distinction between the Rewards of the blessed. And this point seems still to be set in a fuller Light, in the 1 Cor. 15.41, 42. There is one Glory of the Sun, another of the Moon; a­nother Glory of the Stars; for one Star differeth from another Star in Glory: So also is the Resur­rection of the Dead. Many other places might have been brought to have given in their Testi­mony to confirm the Doctrine asserted; but it seems needless, Scripture appears for it, and has nothing, that I know of, against it: Nor do any of the pretended Arguments against it seem to be of any force. This will not infer a real Im­perfection in the blessedness of such Saints as En­joy a Less Degree of Glory. A Star is as perfect in its order as the Sun, yet they shine with a dif­ferent Lustre. And I do not at present see any Absurdity in allowing a different Strength and Capacity in the blessed. Every Soul shall be full of Glory, but One may be capable to con­tain more than another. Saints are not Imper­fect when they first Enter upon their Inheri­tance; yet a growth and improvement seems [Page 55] reasonable to be allow'd them. Knowledge is an Essential part of their happiness; and in this undoubtedly they will be always making Ad­vances. The knowledge of Angels to be sure was improved by the Coming of Christ, and the Gospel Revelation made to the Church, Eph. 3.10. And yet before that, they were perfectly blessed; tho' this their increase of knowledge must add to their Glory.

Again, This will not conclude any Imperfecti­on in the Interest that the Least Saint has in the Merits of Christ, which purchased this Glory, and the highest Degrees of it. The Graces of Sancti­fication in this Life are the purchase of Christs Righteousness; yet there is not an Equality of these conferred upon believers here. And Dif­ferent Degrees of Grace in this Life seem as incon­sistent with an Equal Interest in the Merits of Christ, as Different Degrees of Glory in the Next. But the Truth appears to me to lye thus. The Meritorious Obedience and Sufferings of Christ were a Refusable Price in themselves, which God was at Liberty to accept or refuse, antecedently to his own Promise: And so was at liberty to accept it for Whom, and to what Degree He saw meet. By free Compact between the Father and Son it was agreed to be accepted for the full Pardon, Justification and Happiness of all God's Chosen and Sanctifyed, and for the pur­chase of a greater degree of Glory for some, that should distinguish themselves in higher degrees of [Page 56] Holiness. And all this may be and yet an Equa­lity be asserted in their Election, Adoption, and Justification.

Now, if there be such a gradual difference in the Glory that shall be revealed in the Saints; Doubtless, those that have been Wise and Faith­ful Stewards in Gods House here, will obtain a proportionable Exaltation in the Kingdom of Glory. Their Lord will distinguish them by Particular Marks of Honour there, as they have distinguished themselves here in Zeal and Fidelity in his Service. The Service they are now called to is Honourable, Great, and Diffi­cult; the Discouragements they meet with, the Temptations they conflict with, the Self-denyal they must Exercise, are all Peculiarly great; if therefore under all they maintain their Post, are Wise and Faithful, their Reward will be as Pecu­liar. They are now placed in a Station of Ho­nour and Dignity, if they are Faithful to their Trust, Christ will not Degrade them in the other World. And this distinguishing Glory the Pro­phet Daniel refers to, Dan. 12.3. And they that are Wise shall shine as the Bightness of the Firmament; and they that turn many to Righteousness as the Stars for Ever and Ever.

AMEN.