THE holy Apostle having in the foregoing Chapter sharply re­prov'd the Corinthians for their factious Adhering to, and Applauding of one Minister, or some Ministers, with [Page 2]the Contempt and Rejection of others, and declaring them to be carnal, igno­rant, and silly in so doing, backs his Re­proof, and proves his Charge by seve­ral Arguments:

1. As that all Ministers have the same Function and Calling, are all La­bourers with God.

2. That they are all imploy'd in the same Work, and carry on the same Design, the Manuring of God's Hus­bandry, the Advancing of God's Build­ing.

3. That whatever any Minister does of good, whatever success he has in his Labours, 'tis not from himself, nor from his Labours, nor from his Parts, (his Learning & Eloquence) no nor from yet his Graces; but 'tis alone from God's Blessing, and by the Operation of his Spirit. Wherefore the Apostle con­cludes with an express Prohibition of this carnal and sinful Practice.

4. Let no Man glory in Man, for all are yours: Whether Paul, or Apol­los, [Page 3]or Cephas, all Ministers; whether Apostles, or Evangelists, or others, are the Churches for her Edification and Salvation, with all their Abilities, Parts, Graces, and Labours, which are for the Spiritual Good of the People of God; of what Parts or Opinion soe­ver, all those that are found in the Fun­damentals of Faith and Practice, that teach what we ought to believe and do that we may please God here, and be saved by him hereafter; tho' they have different Apprehensions of things at greatest distance from the Foundati­on, and about the Fringes of Religi­on

And having thus reproved them for and dehorted them from this Over-va­luing of, and Doting upon some Mini­sters, lest as 'tis usual with imprudent and unconsidering Persons, they should run into the other extream; and be­cause they must Idolize no Ministers, they should Conculeat them all; and because they must not Over-value any [Page 4]one, they should Undervalue every one of them; he begins this Fourth Cha­pter with the Text, Let a man so ac­count of us, &c.

A Man indifferently,Explication [...]. every Man, the highest and greatest, as well as the the lowest and meanest, the most learn­ed and unlearned, account, judge, and esteem; be rationally convinc'd and satisfied in his own Mind that we are. [...].

Which primarily and immediately signifies Rowers in, [...]. about, under a M­ster or Patron; and is from thence drawn and used to signifie other sorts of inferiour ones in Service, as here Mi­nisters or Domestick Servants; yet not of the meanest or common sort of Mi­nisters and Servants: But,

Stewards, Dispensators, Distributers of Goods from [...] & [...], [...]. tibua, pasco, rego, to distribute, to feed, to go­vern; all proper Acts of Stewards: And so of the Minister's Stewardship there is a twofold Stewardship, A Ru­ral and Domestical, the former being [Page 5]the Inspection and Management of the Estate without Doors, Setting and Let­ting, (as we use to say) Receiving and Disposing of the Revenues, &c. Such a Steward was he of whom we read in the beginning of the Sixteenth Cha­pter of Luke, who behaved himself knavishly and dishonestly in his Place and Trust, and left and resign'd it as knavishly as he had kept and manag'd it; for when upon intelligence of his Unfaithfulness, his Lord discarded him, and required an Account of his Ste­wardship, and told him he should be no longer Steward; he goes to his Lord's Debtors, and bids one to abate fifty Measures of Oil, another twenty Mea­sures of Wheat, which upon their Ac­count was due to his Lord; that so he might have them for his Friends and Harbourers when he was turn'd out; for he was too proud to beg, and too delicate to dig and work: and they that are so haughty and nice, when they come to Poverty, are in the Road to Dishonesty and Knavery, to get their Livelihood.

1. Our Lord commends the Unjust Steward,Verse 8. not for his Injustice, but for his Wit, for the Abilities that God gave him, not for the Abuse that he and the Devil made of them. The other, the Domestical Stewardship is the Trust and Charge of the Store and good Things of the Family within Doors, to bring them forth, and to distribute them in due time and due manner to the Houshold, and such an one is spo­ken of.

2. A Servant whom his Lord made Ruler of his Houshold,Luke 12. [...]. to give them Meat in due season. A Periphrasis and Description of this Steward, as he is expresly call'd elsewhere.

3. A Steward whom his Lord shall make Ruler over his Houshold, [...]. to give them their portion of Meat in due sea­son. And this is the Steward here spoken of, intrusted with

The Mysteries of God; the secret, sacred, hidden Things of God, Spiritu­al, Heavenly, Evangelical Things, My­steries, and hidden from the greatest [Page 7]Schollars, the most learned Philoso­phers in the World, and from the very natural Man, who cannot discern them as they are in themselves, and according to their own spiritual Nature.

Division. 1. We have here the Fun­ction and Office of Ministers, Ser­vice and Stewardship; or what they are, Servants and Stewards.

2. The subject Matter of their Ste­wardship, or the Things whereof they are Stewards, The Mysteries of God.

3. The Duty of the People, They must account them so, carry it towards them as such.

Their Office shall be the Doctrine, and the People's Duty part of the Use.

Doct. 1. That Ministers are Christ's Stewards: Tit. 1.7. A Bishop (a Minister) must be blameless, as the Steward of God. 1 Cor. 9.17. [...]. 1. A dispensati­on (a Stewardship, the same word [Page 8]as in the Text,) of the gospel is committed unto me. Col. 1.25. So, 2. Ac­cording to the Dispensation or Stewardship which is given to me for you; the Scripture ex­presly tells us that Ministers are Stewards, and that their Functi­on and Office is a Stewardship.

Which Stewardship is no ordinary and common Stewardship, but the most excellent and glorious, the most neces­sary and useful, and the most profita­ble and advantageous of all other: Which will appear if we consider,

1. Whose Stewards they are, the Lord Christ's and God's, so expresly said to be in the Text. And St. Paul tells us, that his Stewardship was com­mitted to him,Cor. 9.7. viz. by the Lord Jesus. And they are usually called in Scri­pture, the Servants of Christ, Embas­sadors of God, and of Christ, &c. now according to the Excellency and De­gree of the Lord and Master, so is the Excellency and Worth of the Steward­ship. [Page 9]Thus a Steward of the King's Houshold is a far more honourable Person, and his Office of greater Dig­nity, then any others; wherefore the Ministerial Stewardship must be in­comparable more Noble in this sence then any others.

2. Over whom, or toward whom they are Stewards, God's House, his Church, the whole Houshold; autho­ritatively over the whole Church, I mean so in a safe and well expounded sence; that is, being once duely or­dain'd and authoriz'd Stewards, they may exercise it toward, or over any Society of Men, either without or with­in the Pale of the Church; without in any place of the World, among Hea­thens or Mahometans, where Provi­dence may have cast them; they have Authority to gather a Church from a­mong them; and if they have Abili­ty and Opportunity, they must endea­vour it; and being gather'd, they ought to exert the Office of God's Steward over them. Within the Pale of the [Page 10]Church, among what Society of Chri­stians soever God may bring or place them, or by what Communion of Chri­stians soever they may be called, they have there the Authority of Stewards, and if due Conveniency present, they ought to exert it also: For when a Minister for the greater Glory of God, and Profit of the Church, may be cal­led from one Society of Christians to another, that Call collates no new Au­thority on him, but gives him an Oc­casion and Opportunity to exert it o­ver themselves. Where-ever a Mini­ster comes among Christians (all o­ther things duely concurring,) he hath Authority to exert his Ministerial Ste­wardship over them; so 'tis said,

1. A Servant whom his Lord hath made Ruler over his Houshold: Matth. 24.45. Indefi­nitely over his Houshold, that is, uni­versally, not over some one particular part hereof, or some sorts of Servants therein, but over all. And so,

2. The Steward whom his Lord hath made Ruler over his Houshold; Luke 12.42. with­out Exception or Limitation. So,

3. St. Paul having spoken of Christ's Body, which is the Church, immedi­ately adds,Col. 1.24 25. Whereof I am made a Mini­ster according to the dispensation of God; Of the Church, of the Body, not of a particular part of the Church, nor a singular Member of the Body, but of the whole in this sence; not that they can ever simultaneously exert it over the Church; which is the Anti-chri­stian Usurpation of Rome, who pre­tends to be Lord of all the Stewards of God's House, as well as of the infe­riour Family: Neither can another e­ver successively exert it among all the Congregations of Christians, seeing the Universal CHURCH is so far disperst throughout the Face of the whole Earth. So that by their Calling they have such an Universal Stewardship, though they are in their Imployment limited to particular Parts of the Fa­mily and Houshold of God: Now ac­cording [Page 14]to the Greatness and Excellen­cy of the Family over which Stewards are placed, is the Worth and Dignity of the Stewardship; wherefore seeing Ministers are Stewards over the whole Church of God, so vastly numerous, and the Family being the most glori­ous and excellent for Qualifications and Priviledges, this Stewardship must in Worth and Excellency surposs others.

3. If we consider the Duration there­of, this Stewardship is for ever, during Life, being once taken into this Ser­vice and Office of God and the Church; they are always in it, and are bound while they have Abilities, Opportuni­ties, and any of the Family to officiate over, to dispense to them those Things whereof they are Stewards: For tho' Defects in Nature, and Corporal Inabi­lities, and Persecutions, and Civil Im­pediments may hinder the Imploy­ments of the Ministry, they cannot de­prive of the Office and Function, but these being removed. they must be sure [Page 13]to act as Stewards. Every consecra­ted Minister has nailed his Ear to the Posts of the Sanctuary for a perpetual Service;1 Cor. 9.16. so saith St. Paul, Though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glo­ry of, for necessity is laid upon me: Tea, wo is unto me if I preach not the gospel, having the stewardship of the gospel once committed to him. A moral Necessity was layen upon him to preach it ever after; and if he should wilfully refuse it, woe would be unto him as a wilful Neglecter of the Duties of his Calling. As consecrated Priests and Levites un­der the Law never became profane Per­sons, but were still accounted Holy to the Lord, and fed and maintained by the holy Things; so neither can they, who under the Gospel are devoted to, and by God taken into this Ministry and Stewardship, ever alienate them­selves from it; and if they do, they incur the Guilt of horrid Sacriledge: Indeed there may be some extraordi­nary Case, wherein it may be lawful for a Man to lay aside his Ministerial [Page 14]Function, and assume another: As sup­pose two Brothers, the one a King, the other a Bishop, (as has been usual, be­cause of the great Riches and Autho­rity of the Clergy,) the King dies with­out Issue, and unless the Bishop, that next Heir to the Crown, succeeds, there is a Moral Necessity of the O­verthrow of Church and State, of the Introduction of Popery and Slave­ry; and the Law of the Land makes the Regal and Episcopal Dignities to be utterly inconsistent in one Person: I doubt not, but 'twould be the Duty of the Bishop to degrade himself, and to lay aside his Crosier, Miter, and Lawn-sleeves, and to invest the Roy­al Robes, and take to himself the Crown, the Sword, and the Scepter. But such an extraordinary Case falls not out in many Ages. Wherefore seeing this Stewardship is for Term of Life, it is a more excellent one then those that are but for a few Months and Years, and at the Bene placitum of an inconstant Lord and Master.

4. If we consider the Subject Mat­ter of their Stewardship, or the Things they are intrusted with to keep and dispense. In the Text they are called the Mysteries of God; and these are.

1. The Word of God, whereof they are the Preservers and Dispensers, the Preachers, the Expounders, and the Appliers: So St. Paul in that foremen­tioned place tells us,2 Cor. 9.16, 17. that a Dispensati­on was committed to him, which he calls the Preaching of the Gospel; and so again he tells us,Col. 1.25 That the Dispen­sation which was given him, or his Stewardship, was to fulfil the Word of God; not to fulfil it in itself, for 'tis compleat and perfect in itself, and so its own end and design even the Glo­ry of God in our Salvation: for who­ever truly believes the Doctrines, and conscienciously obeys the Commands of our Bible, shall certainly be blessed of God on Earth, and saved by him in Heaven: But the meaning is, to fulfil it as a Minister of Christ toward them, in a due, full, plain manner revealing, [Page 16]preaching, or writing it to them, and pressing it upon them; and their Com­mission runs thus:Matth. 28.19, 20. Go and disciple all nations; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And so Christ said unto them,Mark 16.15. Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. The Dispensation of the whole Word is committed to them: Of the Promises, to declare their Rich­es, their Certainty, and their Conditi­on, and suitably to apply them. Of the Threats, to shew their Dreadful­ness, their Infallibility, and their Terms, and suitably to apply them. Of the Doctrines, to shew their Truth, their Harmony, their Natures, their Ten­dency to God's Glory and Man's Sal­vation, to expound them, and prove and confute all Errors by them. Of the Commands, to teach their Spi­rituality, their Latitude, their Perfe­ction, and to press them upon the People for their Obedience and Obser­vance.

2. The Ordinances and Sacred Rites of Christ's Institutions; I mean the Sa­craments, which are only two, Bap­tism and the LORD's Supper, both which are intrusted to Ministers, and as Stewards they only have the Admi­nistration of them. So is Baptism, Go and disciple all nations, Matth. 28.19. baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Those same Persons that are authorized to Teach, are authorized to Baptize, and none other, and therefore we say, that if the Form and Matter of Baptism be used by any prophane Person, that is not a Minister that is Null, and 'tis no Baptism. So is the LORD's Supper; and therefore St. Paul saith,1 Cor. 11.23 I have re­ceived of the Lord, that which I also de­livered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. Af­ter the same manner also he took the [Page 18]cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in re­membrance of me. Where he tells us, that he deliver'd to them the Eucha­rist after the same manner that Christ instituted, as he had received Authori­ty from him. And whoever has a Right as a Steward of God's Myste­ries to Administer one Sacrament, has as great a Right and Authority to Ad­minister both.

3. The Discipline and Censures of the Church are committed to their Dispensation, Suspension, Excommuni­cation, Re-admission:Matth. 16.19. So, I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. Which is not singularly and personally appropriated to Peter, as the Pope would have it, and so to him­self his pretended Successors; but was committed to all the Apostles, and in them to all Ministers their Successors [Page 19]in the Ministry and Stewardship of the Gospel:John 10.23. Whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them, and whosoever sins ye retain they are retained. From which Passages we may gather that Ministers only have Authority to ex­clude from, and reduce unto, discrimi­nating Ordinancers; though in parti­cular and well-govern'd Churches the People ought to be consulted with, and the Reasonableness of the Minister's Proceedings herein toward any parti­cular Member, ought to be evinced, (and this is according to Scripture) and so their Approbation required: which seems to be taught us in that Passage of our Saviour's, in which our Saviour enjoyns, upon the stuborn Im­penitency of a Delinquent,Matth. 1 15, 18. upon a se­cret Address of the wronged Party to him, and upon his taking one or two more with him, that then he should tell it to the Church, and if he refused to hear the Church, and for his Obsti­nacy be sentenced by the Church, that then he should count him as a Hea­then [Page 20]and a Publican: Which Sentence of the Church seems to be implyed in (as antecedent) the words follow­ing, Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye (the Church) shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. And that there should be this Harmony between the Ministers and the People, and that their Consent be had in the Censures, seems to be very expedient, yea, necessary to the Ends of Censures of Suspension or Ex­communication; which are the Hum­bling and Spiritual Profit of the De­linquent, the Warning and the Securi­ty of the Congregation, the Reputati­on of Religion, and the Glory of God by all. Now except there be a Con­currence between Pastor and People, these will not be produced for if a Minister should deny the Ordinances to a Person, and excommunicate him, and yet the People own him as a Brother, he'll little regard his Minister's Exclu­sion of him, and be apt to be more [Page 21]proud and headstrong against him; the People will be no way secured but be in greater Danger to be infected; and by such Divisions and Animosi­ties, Religion will be disgraced, God dishonour'd, and the Devil's Interest exalted. The like will be if the Peo­ple should separate from a Member, and the Minister own him, the same if not worse Consequences will issue therefrom; wherefore St. Paul expre­sly enjoyns the Concurrence of the whole Church in Excommunication: Having greatly blamed, and sharply reproved them for owning the Ince­stuous Person as a Member of their Society; he commands them, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ,1 Cor. 1. begin. When ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such a one unto Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. So he also enjoyns them joynt­ly to concur in the Re-admission of that excommunicated Person;2 Cor. 2, 8. when [Page 22]he had given sufficient Evidence of his unfeign'd Repentance, sufficient to such a Man is this Punishment which was inflicted of many, (many, not the Mi­nister alone, but with his People,) so that contrariwise ye (the same many) ought to forgive him, and comfort him; lest perhaps such a one should be swallow'd up with overmuch Sor­row; Wherefore I beseech you that you would confirm your love towards him. Wherefore supposing that a Minister should know a Person to be most un­worthy of Fellowship, and most wor­thy of Excommunication; yet if his Crime be such, as he ought not to re­veal, and his People being ignorant of it, and contending for his continuance with them; he may probably suspend his own Act, but 'twould be no way adviseable to proceed to a formal Cen­sure and authoritative Excommunica­tion, because so more hurt would re­dound to the Church, then good: and Ministers ought not only not to do those things which are unlawful; but [Page 23]also they ought not to do those things which are imprudent and inexpedient: Wherefore seeing the things that are committed to Ministers, are these spi­ritual, heavenly, evangelical Things in­finitely more excellent rich and glori­ous then all the Riches, and Mines, and Concerns of this Life, which are no­thing in comparison of them, therefore their Stewardship is more noble and excellent, more useful and profitable then any other.

5. It will also appear if we consider the Ratification of all the Acts of this Stewardship by God and Christ in Hea­ven; all that they duely perform in their Stewardship, according to God's Word, Clare non erante, either in Word or Deed is confirmed by God in Hea­ven, and shall be made good for ever and ever. The Threats that they pronounce against Sinners and Hypo­crites in their Preaching, how presum­ptuous or secure soever they be, shall certainly be inflicted by God, (if they persevere to be so;) and all the Pro­mises [Page 24]and Blessings that they proclaim to the Godly and Sincere, what sad, hard, dismal, next door to dispairing Thoughts, they may have of them­selves, shall certainly be made good by God: and so whoever they exclude from the Priviledges of the Militant Church here on Earth, shall be exclu­ded from those of the Triumphant Church in Heaven; according to those Scriptures already quoted, Whatsoever you shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven: Whoso­ever sins ye remit, they are remitted; and whosoever sins ye retain they are re­tained. And thus we have proved that Ministers are Stewards, and have shewn the Excellency of their Steward­ship, and proceed to the Applicati­on:

1. Ʋse of Information. It serves to inform us,

1. In the great Usefulness and Pro­fitableness of the Ministry in and to [Page 25]the Church of God; I had almost said the Necessity thereof thereunto, if it be not absolutely necessary to the Be­ne-esse, the well-being of the Church: What Confusion! what Waste, what Want and Ruine, must the Absence of a Steward cause to a great and nume­rous Family, wherein are too many unwise and headstrong Persons, too many proud and self-conceited ones, too many slavish and prodigal ones, &c. his Absence would soon dissolve the Houshold. In the Church of God are too many weak and peevish ones, too many proud and self-conceited ones, too many unruly and extrava­gant ones, &c. who without the Rule and Guidance of a Minister, would soon dissolve and ruine Churches. This Metaphor therefore shews the Utility and Benefit of Ministers in the Church of God; as do also those others of Fa­thers, Nurses, Pastors, Shepherds, Guides, Watchmen, and Embassadors, &c. To shew that as these are useful and ne­cessary to Children, to Flocks, to blind [Page 26]Ones, to Cities, and Armies in time of War, and between dissenting Nations, so useful and necessary are Ministers to the Church of Christ.

Ʋse 2. It informs us in the Error of those who judge Ministers to be the most useless, contemptible, and bur­densome Persons of the Humane Soci­ety, and especially if they be plain, powerful Heart-searching and Consci­ence-startling Ministers. These pro­fane and ungodly Wretches are grosly mistaken, and under dangerous Delu­sions.

Exhor. 1. This Stewardship of the Ministers is serviceable for Exhortation; and the Object hereof is threefold:

1. To the Stewards themselves. 2. To those who intend to be so. And, 3. To the Houshold over whom they are so.

1. To the Ministers and Stewards themselves: And here I will only brief­ly premise, that though I am very un­fit and unworthy to advise or excite you to those things which you know [Page 27]better, and are more forward to do than myself; yet God's Providence, and your Call, bringing me hither, I must be your Monitor and Remem­brancer: wherefore I crave your Pati­ence and Condescention toward me, but require your Reverence and Sub­jection to our supream Lord, while I exhort to some few particulars: As,

1. That you would still consider, and walk constantly under the due Ap­prehension of the Greatness, the Ho­nour, the Weight, the Consequence of this your Function and Stewardship; a profound and clear Perswasion here­of would be a good, and is a necessary Preparatory to what follows.

2. To be in Abilities, and Qualities, and Practice, and Behaviour what their Function and Stewardship require, and exacts from them: To be such, and to act and do as their Office does call for, in all (as much as possible) excelling all other Servants to the Family and Houshold. And here I shall take leave to mind you of some particulars: As,

1. Such must be learned (not to mention those Scholastical Sciences, which all hold useful and necessary for understanding, analifing, and handling the Word of God, and all others are educated in before they pretend to be Candidates for this Function:) I would here recommend the Ecclesiastical Hi­story, and the knowledge of the Ori­ginal Languagues, at least some com­petent skill in them, if we can't arrive to a critical & exact one. Every Steward should have the Key of his Store-house at his own Girdle; if not when his Duty requires his Distribution of the Family's Provision, he may be to seek, or else may have a Key with false Wards put into his hand: You are wise to adapt the Simile. To be able to go immediately to the Fountain­head ourselves, must be more content­ing, satisfactory, and delightful, then to receive the streams through Pipes, by which we know not what may have been contracted to allay its Purity: And withal, by such a Knowledge we [Page 29]shall be qualified the more easily to vindicate the Scripture from false Glos­ses and Interpretations which the Un­learned and Heretical are apt to im­pose upon it, and more clearly prove the Mind of the Holy Ghost there­in.

2. Such must be seen, very well seen, in the things themselves, in the matter of their Stewardship, even in all the Mysteries and Oracles of God; they must have a clear, distinct, set­led, satisfactory Knowledge of all Do­ctrinal and Practical Truths; they must have a spiritual Apprehension of them according to their own spiritual Nature: How can a Steward ever be a good Steward, and duely dispense those things whereof he has no know­ledge? His Ignorance will make him to mistake one thing for another, to the disgrace of his Charge, and to the detriment of the Family:Mal. 2.7. The Priests lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the Messenger of the Lord of hosts. [Page 30]His Lips, and to be sure his Head first, must keep Knowledge, before he can distribute it to the enquiring People. So our Saviour saith, Every Scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, Matth. 13. [...]2. is like unto a man that is an housholder, which bringeth forth out of his treasures things new and old. He must be stored with all due know­ledge of the things of God, and have Treasures of all sorts of them: which that we may attain, there is required a serious, a diligent, a humble, an assi­duous and constant studying of the Holy Scriptures, with servent, fre­quent, and constant Prayer to God for his Blessing our Study in them, and enlightning our Minds, and en­riching our Souls with them. Which St. Paul exhorts Timothy to,Tim. 4. [...]3, 15. Till I come, give attendance to reading; me­ditate upon those things, give thy self wholly to them, that they profiting may appear to all. If such an eminent and enlightned Minister as Timothy must read and meditate to profit himself [Page 31]more and more in Divine Knowledge, then much more have we need; and must it be our Duty to read and me­ditate daily and constantly, that we may increase therein: I mean reading in, and meditating on the Word of God, which doubtless St. Paul chiefly, if not only meant in this his Exhorta­tion to Timothy, for he tells him in a­nother place,2 Tim. 3.15, 17. That the scriptures were able to make him wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Instru­ction in Righteousness, that the Man of God may be perfect, throughly fur­nished unto all good Works. So that the Scripture fully and infallibly fur­nishes us with all Truths, with the Confutation of all Errors, with all Du­ties to be pressed upon all our Peo­ple; and with a Discovery of all Sins to be forbidden: And hereby the Ste­ward of God's Mysteries may be com­pleatly furnished for the Discharge of [Page 32]his Function. And here for the more clear satisfactory Discovery of the Truths of Scripture, and a more rea­dy Use and Improvement of them for the Benefit of the Houshold of God; I would exhort to the framing in our Minds of a Methodical Body of Divi­nity, of all the Articles of Faith, and of all the Duties of Life. A Steward should keep all his Store and Treasure in a distinct Order, or else he may be confounded, when having occasion on some unexpected Emergency, he shall be to seek and not be able to find what is required he should produce: Such a Method of Theology is called,Rom. 12. [...], the Analogy of Faith; which we translate Proportion of Faith, wherein every thing is fitly and pro­portionably placed, has its proper de­pendence one upon another, refers each to other, is proved, illustrated, strengthened and confirmed each by o­ther, and 'tis called [...];Tim. 1. The Form or the Scheme of the Plat-form of sound Words, for­mally [Page 33]so in themselves, efficiently so in others; being the grand Instrument in the hand of the Spirit to make Souls sound and healthy in the Faith. Such a Plat-form the Apostle would have Timothy to hold fast, to have it always with him; and without question 'tis more noble and useful in the Head, then 'tis in a Book: He that hath clear­ly and distinctly such a Body of Divini­ty in his Head, and has experienced the Grace of God in his Heart, and keeps alive the Graces of the Spirit, will be prepared upon any warning, within a little time, with his Bible (when he can have no other Helps,) only, to preach distinctly, orthodoxly, and pro­fitably upon any Polemical or Practi­cal Point that may be proposed: by the usual assistance of the Spirit of God. Whereas such as decry and jeer at this as Systematical Divinity, if they should be engaged to discourse upon such a Subject, and have no opportunity to recur to their own common Places and Collections, nor the help of other [Page 34]Books, would make but sorrowful, je­june, consus'd and blundring work on't.

3. Such must be wise and prudent: The former of these three you may call Learning or Knowledge; the second you may call Sapience or Wisdom; and this you may call Prudence and Discretion: By which I mean a dili­gent and sagacious Inquisition into, and Discovery of the Condition and State of the Family, and of each Person in it, over which we are stated Stewards; that so we may know what to distri­bute of the Mysteries of God unto them, which requires a very careful Inspection into them and their ways and doings, and a diligent Converse with them, and Examination of them as far as conveniently we may. A Steward should know the Temper and Constitution of the Family, lest he should give Food where Physick is more necessary, and so hurt instead of benefiting those that are committed to his Charge: he ought to observe whe­ther they work and deserve their Main­tenance, [Page 35]or whether they be idle and merit nothing; lest he should waste his Master's Goods, by giving them to those who ought to have none of them; Ministers must so endeavour to know the People of their Charge, as to know to whom they ought to apply the Promises; and whom they ought to chear with the Cordials of the Go­spel, and to encourage with all the Priviledges thereof; and to whom they ought to apply the Threats of the Law; and to make them to smart with the Corrosives of the Word, and cast them down by a due Exclusion from Evangelical Communion: who are Babes, and want Instruction and gentle Carriage toward them; and who ought to be reproved and severe­ly dealt with: In a word, they ought so wisely and prudently to know their Personal Charge, as to know what is every ones due; and so to give to e­very one suitably his Proportion and proper Part of the Word, Sacrament, and Censures. Which requires great [Page 36]measures of Discretion and Prudence: and this is that which is chiefly decla­red by our Lord Christ in those places where he saith, that 'tis the part of a wise Servant and Steward over God's House,Matth. 24. [...]5. to give them their Meat in due season; when 'twill be most useful for them, and not when 'twould be hurt­ful to them.Luke 12. [...]2. And as his Wisdom is shewn in the Seasonableness, so also in the Quality and Quantity of the Meat which he gives them, which ought al­so to be such as is due to them. Three great Books which a Minister ought chiefly to study, to make him wise and prudent, are the Holy Word, his own Heart, and his own People.

4. Such must be sincere and faith­ful; they must be Loyal to their Trust, and according to their due knowledge they must dispense what they are entrusted withal. An un­faithful Steward may greatly wrong his Master, and injure the Family, ei­ther by an extravagant Wasting, or a clandestine Embezelling of the Goods [Page 37]committed to him: 'tis therefore an e­special Qualification in a Steward, and especially in a Spiritual and Ecclesiasti­cal Steward, that he be true and trusty: This is the Property our Ssaviour gives of his Servant and Steward,Matth. 24.45. that he be faithful as well as wise,Luke 12.42. have an honest Heart as well as an able Head, to give his Houshold their Meat in due season. And this the Apostle speaks of in the Verse immediately following the Text.

Moreover, 'tis required in Stewards,1 Cor. 4. that a Man be found faithful, as tho' 'twere the only necessary Qualification of such an one. And when he directs Timothy to the Properties of those that should be intrusted with the Mysteries of God, he tells him,2 Tim. 2. The things that thou hast heard of me among many wit­nesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. NOw this Faithfulness and Loy­alty to God, excludes all base and si­nister ends of the Stewardship, as, Ho­nours, Riches, Applause from Men, Par­tiality, Men pleasing, sowing Pillows [Page 38]under Elbows, dawbing with untem­per'd Mortar.

5. Such must be diligent and labo­rious; Stewards must have their heads, their eyes, their hands, their feet busi­ed, or they will never discharge their Office; Ministers must redeem all the time they can from their Recreations of the Body, from Sleep, from Visits; they must imploy and exhaust all their strength in this their Stewardship; they must wear out their Lungs in Praying and Preaching, and blunt their Brains in studying, grudge no Pain nor Labor, devoting their all to, and imploying it in, and laying it out about this their Function:Matth. 24. So our Ssaviour saith, that his Servant must be found so doing when he cometh; that is, he must be always busie and imployed, very in­dustrious and laborious, and that with­out ceasing; because our Lord's com­ing is always uncertain. So St. Paul commands Timothy, Tim. 4.2. I charge thee be­fore God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead, [Page 39]at his appearing, and his kingdom, Preach the word instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and doctrine. Day and night, at all times he must labor, when any Conveniency presented: And he was a most excellent Practiser of his own Precepts; for he tells the Corinthians, 2 Cor. 1 15. That he would very gladly spend and be spent for them: Exhaust his Spirits, Blood, and all for their Souls good. And when he had at Miletus called the Bishops, the Presbyters of Ephesus, he tells them in that excellent Speech to them,Acts 20 21, 231. I kept back nothing that was pro­fitable unto you: but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house: All day preaching and praying in publick assemblies; and at night instructing private families. And again, watch and remember that by the space of three years, I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. An excellent Example proposed for our Imitation.

6. Such must be courageous and [Page 40]magnanimous; Of an undaunted and fearless Spirit in the Discharge of their Office. Stewards must be so, or else every sawcy and unruly Fellow will daunt them, and tread them down, and so either make them cease to Discharge their Duty, or else out of fear to act quite contrary thereto. So must mi­nisters, because they will meet with Af­fronts, Accusations, Contradictions, E­vil Intreaties from some other of the Family; besides Persecutions of all sorts from abroad, (if the Devil can raise them) even all Persecutions of Tongue, Hands, Sword, Prisons, Gibbets, and Flames; and the more able, wise, faith­ful, and laborious they are, the greater Oppositions, and more stout and dar­ing Encounters they are likely to meet with, even in the Church are Tares as well as Wheat, Chaff as well as good Grain, bad as well as good Fish, Vessels of Wood and Earth, and to Dishonour, as well as Vessels of Gold and Silver, and tho Honour; and from these, if for­reign Persecutions come not, they must [Page 41]expect, and will experience, very great Oppositions and Discouragements, and therefore they must have a courage­ous Spirit, and a Countenance like a Wall of Iron, and a Gate of Brass; or they will never be able to bear up a­gainst, and wade thro' all these: God therefore forbids his Prophets this car­nal Fear of Men, as,Jer. 1.17. Gird up thy loins and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: Be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. So also, Son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, Ezek. 2.6. tho' briars and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

7. Such must be zealous for God's Glory, and devoted to his Honour: Stewards must be heartily affected with, and swayed by their Master's In­terest, and must look upon their Lord's Reputation as their own grand Con­cern; and this will engage them to be [Page 42]prudent, faithful, diligent, &c. in their Place. So must Ministers be toward God, toward his Name, Kingdom, and Glo­ry. So was St. Paul that glorious Ste­ward, that incomparable Example of all Stewards; who did and suffered more for the Glory of his Lord, and for the Good of his Houshold, then a­ny other;Phil. 1.20. he tells us, That 'twas his earnest expectation, and his hope, that in nothing he should be ashamed; but that with all boldness, as always, so then also, Christ should be magnified in his body, whether 'twere by life or by death. He would labor, he would suffer, he would live industriously, and wear out him­self; he would dieshamefully, and give up himself for the Magnification of the Lord Jesus. And so in other places he professes,Acts 20. [...] Bonds and afflictions abide me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so I might finish my course with joy; and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testifie the gospel of the grace of God. So that he might testi­fie the Gospel, and introduce Jews and [Page 43] Gentiles to believe in Christ, and to worship God, he would willingly un­dergo all Persecutions home to a cruel and disgraceful Death. And so again, I am ready not to be bound only, Acts 21.13. but al­so to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. For his Praise and Glory; so also ought we to be zealous toward it, if ever we hope to fulfil our Ministry.

8. Such ought to be loving and af­fected toward the Church, and People of God, to st a due Value upon their Souls, and to have an ardent good will toward them: Stewards should have Love toward the Family, rejoyce in its welfare, delight in its Prosperity, &c. without which they will either care­lesly neglect, or heedlesly and heart­lestly perform their Duty toward them. So must Ministers be toward their Peo­ple; and herein also follow that glorious Pattern St. Paul, who says concerning the Jews, I say the truth in Christ, Rom. 9.1, 3. I lie not, my conscience also bearing me wit­ness in the Holy Ghost, That I have [Page 44]great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart: For I could wish myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh. And a­gain, Brethren, Rom. 10.1. my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. The same ardent Love and earning Bowels had he toward the Gentile Churches; so he tells the Corin­thians, Behold, 1 Cor. 12.14, 15. the third time I am rea­dy to come to you; and I will not be bur­densom to you; for I seek not yours, but you: for children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the chil­dren. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you, though the more abun­dantly I love you, the less I be loved. And so also he declares his Love to the Thessalonians, 1 Thess. 2. [...], 8, 11. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her chil­dren: So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted to you, not the gospel of God only, but also your own souls, because ye were dear unto us. Ye know how we exhorted and com­forted, and charged every one of you (as [Page 45]a father doth his children.) So should our hearts be affected toward our Peo­ple, and so we should follow that Pre­cept, Feed the flock of God, and take the oversight thereof, not by constraint, 1 Pet. 5.2. but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.

9. Such must be humble and pati­ent: Stewards must be of a composed and even Spirit, and not be in a pas­sion and storm for every little Miscar­riage; else they'll be unfit to manage the Affairs of a great Houshold. So Ministers must be of a setled and undi­sturbed Spirit, not soon angry, over­looking, passing by, and dis-regar­ding of, and not troubled at the ill Humors, and unhandsom and provo­king Carriage, which they must expect to meet with from some or other of the Family; yea, from them from whom they least expect it, and least deserve it: This is expresly command­ed them; a Bishop must be patient:1 Tim. 3.3 4. and so the Servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle to all Men, [Page 46]apt to teach,Tim. 2. [...], 26. patient, in meekness in­structing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them re­pentance to the acknowledging of the Truth, and that they may recover themselves out of the Snare of the De­vil's who are taken captive at his will They must imitate Moses, and be zea­lous in God's Cause; but meek and as unconcerned in their own, &c.

10. Lastly, Such must be blame­less, and free from all Vice, com­mendable, praise worthy, and shining in all Graces and Vertues, in all Gra­vity and venerable Deportment: Ste­wards must be so, or they will never keep up their Authority in the Fami­ly; if they be vain or vicious every one will despise them. So Ministers must excel in all excellent and eminent Manners and Practice, and give all good Examples to their People; so they are enjoyn'd, Not as Lords over God's heritage, Pet. 5.3. Tim. 4. but as examples to the flock. So is Timothy charged, To be an example of the believers in word, in com­versation, [Page 47]in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. And St. Paul tells us that he was so, Brethren, Phil. 3.1 [...] 20. be ye followers to­gether of me; and marke them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample: For our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ. Which they must do to confirm their Doctrine; they must preach out of the Pulpit by their Lives, as well as in the Pulpit by their Sermons: this they must do to main­tain their Authority over, and their Respect from the Houshold of God. So St. Paul directs Timothy to do, ha­ving commanded him,1 Tim. 4 12. Let no man de­spise thy youth. He knew that some Persons would be apt to disdain to be taught, to be reproved by a young Lad, a beardless Boy, (as we use to say) & so to contemn him; which he warns him against, and directs how he may avoid it, even by being an Ensample to the Believers in Word, in Conversati­on, &c. by shining in all Graces, Du­ties and Vertues toward God and Man. [Page 48]And this was that which procured to John the Baptist so great Reverence and Respect from Herod, Luke 6. He feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him, and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. So that his eminent Life and shining Conversation won him, from such a cruel Tyrant, awe to his Person, attendance to his Doctrine, and obedience in many things to his Injun­ctions; tho' in the case of his Herodi­as, rather than be parted from her, he would part John's Head from his Body. The Title that the Holy Ghost gives Ministers do all engage them hereun­to; as they are called Embassadors, Fa­thers, Lights, Stars, Angels: How grave then, how shining, how exemplary, how heavenly should they be? The chief Graces and Duries which they ought to have and perform, and the great Vices and Sins which they ought to subdue and avoid, we have specified in 1 Tim. 3.1, 7. Tit. 1.5, 6, 8. to which I re­fer you. In a word, let us but well [Page 49]study and follow the three Epistles of Paul to Timothy and Titus; and we shall need no other Cannons or Dire­ctory; for he tells Timothy that 'twas for this end that he wrote those E­pistles to him, If I tarry long, 1 Tim. 15. that thou maist know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth.

Now because I know that thro' the Corruptions of our own Nature, and our base inward Discouragements, and the manifold and great Oppositions and Contradictions that we do or may meet with. Motives are useful to ex­cite us to all these Particulars, I shall take leave to hint some few very brief­ly, because a word to the wise is suf­ficient.

Motives. 1. Because of our Lord, whose Stewards we are, there is no­thing in him, (as there may be in Hu­mane Lords and Masters,) that can give us the least Incouragement to o­mit, to be remiss in, or to contradict [Page 50]our Duty; but all to the contrary: God is not ignorant, but knows us, and all we do; he is not careless or heedless, but strictly and exactly ob­serves us, and all our Behaviours; he is not unconcerned about his Family, or no way touched with our Misde­meanors, and its Wrongs, but very jea­lous of his own Glory, and his Fami­ly's Good; he is not impotent or un­able to Avenge himself, or execute his Displeasure, but Almighty, &c.

2. Because of the Houshold over which we are, 'tis the Church of God, his Flock and Heritage, his peculiar Treasure, the Apple of his Eye, and the Darling of his Soul, &c.

3. Because of the great and glori­ous things that are intrusted with us; Word, Ordinances, Discipline, Spiritu­al, Heavenly and Divine Things, sub­serviated to God's greatest Glory, and to Man's supream and eternal Good.

4. Because of the great and glorious Reward, they shall receive that duely discharge their Stewardship: 'Tis said [Page 51]concerning the good, wife, faithful and perseveringly diligent Servant and Ste­ward,Maith. 24 46, 47. i Luke 12. 43, 44. 1 Pet. 5. 1 4. that he is blessed; and his Lord will make him Ruler over all that he hath. And that the Elders who feed the Flock, and take the Oversight of it willingly, and of a ready Mind, and are Ensamples thereto: when the chief Shepherd shall appear,Dan. 12.3 they shall re­ceive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away. Ministers, good ones, shall shine like Stars, while others shall be but as the Firmament: We shall be re­warded not according to our Success, but according to our Labour and Faith­fulness in our Ministry; for Success is God's, but Labour and Industry is ours by God's assistance, and therefore if there be a Minister more faithful, la­borious, zealous, &c. in his Function, tho' he convert no Souls, yet he shall receive a greater Reward then another, who is less so, and converts many Souls.

5. Because of the dreadful Punish­ment which those Stewards must en­dure,Matth. 21 48, 51. which are nor, which do not, so [Page 52]as we have been exhorted to:Luke 12.45, 46. In those so frequently quoted Passages 'tis threat­ned against the Lazy, the Secure, the Rude, and the Fighting Servant and Steward, That his Lord will come in a day that he looketh not for him, 1 Cor. 9.16. and at an hour that he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder; and will appoint him his portion with the hypocrites and the unbe­lievers. and Sr. Paul denounceth a Woe against himself if he preached not the Gospel; and so to us, if we do not preach it and practice it as we ought. As good Ministers are ordinarily the best Men, and do God most service, and the Church most benefit on Earth; and so receive the greatest degrees of Glory in Heaven: so bad and profane Ministers are usually the very worst of Men, bring to God greatest Dishonour, to the Church greatest Detriment, and shall lie down deepest in the bottom­less Pit.

6. I would add one more to Mini­sters of our Perswasions, and that is, Because in these days God hath given [Page 53]us so wonderfully our Liberty, hath o­pened our Mouths, given us Freedom to preach, boldly and publickly to Congregations without fear of Fines or Bonds, and has hitherto to this day so graciously prolonged it to us, and gi­ven us a Meeting of so many in Peace, Ingenuity and Gratitude should con­strain us to do all that possibly we can for God and his Glory, for Christ and his Church.

We proceed to the second Object of Exhortation:

2. This serves to exhort those who intend for the Ministry, to consider well and wisely what they are about, what the greatness, the weight, the charge of this Stewardship are, and what they ought to be and do that are of this Function, and so not to dare to enter rashly thereon, without the due Qualifications (at least in some good measure,) of Head, Heart, and Life, of Learning and Orthodoxy, of Grace and Experience, of Manners and Praise­worthiness, of Conversation. St. Paul [Page 54]enjoyns that a Minister must not be [...],1 Tim. 3.6. a Novice, or a Novel Graft just now grafted in; he must not be a Novice in the Faith, nor a Novice in Grace, nor a Novice in Manners. Per­sons must not take the Charge of the Mysteries of God to themselves, when they are but little better qualified then the meanest Servants, not so well as most, yea, perhaps really not of the Family of God themselves, of the In­visible Church by Grace. I would not here be thought to discourage all young Men from entring upon the Ministry, (especially now that the Church of God is in so great need of Pastors,) for I well know that a young Timothy may be as well qualified for it, and demean himself as well in it, as a more aged A­pollos: But then I am sure such quali­fied young Men will be the least for­ward, and the most backward to under­take it, because they know the Naugh­tiness of their own Hearts, the strength and working of their own Corrupti­ons; they know they have a hard task [Page 55]to look after, and to keep their own Souls, and therefore they tremble to take upon them the Charge of others Souls; to be put upon keeping others Vine-yards, when they cannot keep their own; and so must be thrust out (as it were) with Violence into the Lord's Harvest. Whereas they who are least prepared and most unfit, are the most forward to undertake the Ministry, and will not be restrained by any Cautions from rushing upon that Function, for which they have no Fit­ness nor Preparation.

I proceed to the third Object of this Use:

3. This serves to exhort the Family and Houshold over which Ministers are Stewards; that in the words of the Text, They would so account of them, duly carry it toward them in Mind, Heart, and Practice; I shall mention a few Particulars very briefly:

1. Do you Honour and Reverence your Ministers as in such a Function; for tho' they be your Fellow-servants [Page 56]toward God, yet they are your Superiors in the Family, having the highest Office therein, and none above them as they are Stewards of God's Mysteries, (for tho' we acknowledge the Magistrate to have an Authority about sacred Things and Persons, yet he has nothing to do in them,) and so are said in Scripture,1 Thess. 5.12. to be over you, to have the Rule over you; and in those fore­mentioned Texts, the Lord Christ is said to make his Servants and his Stewards Ru­lers over all his Houshold:Heb. 13.27. and that which the Apostle calls Dispensation or Steward­ship in one Verse,1 Cor. 9.17, 18. in the very next he calls Power or Authority. Wherefore you owe them Respect and Reverence, which you must have in your Hearts and Carriage toward their Persons.

2. Obey your Ministers, and submit­ting yourselves unto them, to their Autho­rity in Christ you must submit, and to their Commands from Christ you must o­bey: (If what we enjoyn be not accord­ing to the Word, do not obey us; as if what we teach be not according to it, do not believe us; and if what we threaten be not according to it, do not fear it, &c.) Whatever we enjoyn or forbid, if it be proved from the Word of Christ, you must do the one and forbear the other: You [Page 57]are commanded,Heb. 13.17. To obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must, give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you.

3. Love your Ministers dearly, and af­fect them highly, (in all these particulars we suppose them to be such as deserve the name of Ministers, and do their Duty) for their great Labours, and the great and ine­stimable Profit they bring (if the Fault be not your own,) to your own Souls: So they loved St. Paul, Acts 20.36, 38. who when he took his Leave of them, and told them he should see them no more; wept sore, and fell on his neck and kissed him. And yet more the Galatians loved him at their first Con­version, and before they were alienated from him by Underminers and false Tea­chers, for he bears them Record,1 Thess. 5.12, 13. That if it had been possible they would have plucked out their eyes, and have given them to him; (that is) if thereby they could have done him a­ny service) And the Apostle commands you all to esteem them very highly in love for their Works sake, Who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admo­nish you.

4. Content yourselves with the Portion of God's Mysteries which they distribute [Page 58]to you: You must conclude that such are wiser then you, and better know what is best for your Souls than yourselves; if they reprove you, if they caution you, look up­on it as more proper and useful then Com­mendation and Encouragement: If they advise you to abstain a short time longer from the Sacrament, till you have gotten more Knowledge and better Preparation; not to exclude you from it, but that you may come more profitably and comfort­ably to it, be well content, and do not fling off in a Pet, as the foolish and inexcusable manner of some is, and never come near and hear him more.

5. Help your Ministers in their Charge and Labour, and make it as easie as you can for them: The Stewardship and Charge of God's Mysteries, and of Souls, is a most weighty and tremendous Burden, which you should endeavour to alleviate, which you should do, by being thriving Christi­ans in Knowledge and Godliness, for this would be their Delight, and where the Heart is joyful, there the Labour will be easie. By edubating your Families (Pa­rents and Masters) in the Faith of Christ, and the Fear of God; by watching loving­ly and prudently one over another, and mutually reproving, advising, exhorting, [Page 59]warning, as just cause is given. Were these things duly performed by the People, much of the Minister's Care and Pain would be di­minish'd.

6. Pray to God fervently for such Ste­wards when you are destitute of them; and bless God enlargedly for them when you are furnish'd with them, as one of the greatest Bles­sings under Heaven. Thus we have finish'd the Use of Exhortation, and proceed to a third.

3. This Doctrin serves by way of Reproof, 1. To Stewards. 2. To the Houshold.

Repreh. 1. Of all Ministers that either are unable or unwilling to do the Duty of the Stewards of God's House, that either neglect or contradict their Duty either in Language or Carriage, who by speaking or living do poi­son or disorder the Houshold, or by silence and laziness starve it, the condition of such Wretches is miserable and dreadful.

2. Of those of the Houshold who either o­mit or contradict these Duties they owe to their Ministers, do not so account of them as of god's Stewards, but demeans themselves quite contrary; these little consider that the Dis-respects and Injuries they offer the Ste­wards (the Ministers) are offered to the Lord (even God himself) of the Houshold; yet he tells them they are so, He that despiseth you de­spiseth me, and he that despiseth me despiseth him [Page 60]that sent me, Luke 10.16. And Christ's and God's Dishonour will redound to your De­struction, if Repentance and Reformaton prevent not. I proceed to the fourth and last Use.

This Doctrine also serves for Comfort to laborious Ministers and People.

Consol. 1. To all good, able, faithful, shi­ning Ministers, who faithfully discharge, and duly demean themselves in their Stewardship; 2uch are most excellent and most blessed ones, whatever a proud, foolish and profane World judges of them.

2. To all those of the Family that duely demean themselves toward their Ministers, and in all things do dutifully account of them as Ministers of Christ, and Stewards of the Mysteries of God, for the Honour and Re­spect, the Obedience and Duty that are given to these are given to the Lord Christ himself, as he himself assures us, He that heareth you, heareth me, and the honours that is given to Christ shall return an hundred fold into the bosom of him, that gives it, Luke 10.16. Would to God that all Congregations had such Stewards and Pa­stors, and that all Stewards had such a Fami­ly and Congregation, each discharging these Duties here discoursed of; for so 'twould fare very well with the Church of God.