PROP. I. THAT Your Spiritual Rulers have the Care of Your Souls committed to Them.

THIS is plainly implied in the Text before Us▪ [For They—] i. e. Those who rule over You, in the preceeding Part of the Verse, & We have al­ready proved to be Spiritual Rulers. And They [watch for Your Souls—] which implies that Your Souls are committed to Them, & are Their peculiar Charge. Their Spiritual Care & Rule appear to be inseparable & of equal Dimension: For Those who rule over You, says the Apostle, watch for Your Souls. Your Souls are commit­ted to Their Care & Watch, as well as to Their Government & Authority. They can be none of Your Rulers, if They do not watch for Your Souls: & if this be not Their Care & Business, You by this Precept owe Them neither Obedience nor Submission ^*.

[Page 10]BUT They cannot watch for nor give Account of all the Souls throwout the World; & there­fore They cannot be Universal Rulers. Their Charge must be confin'd to such a Number, & not exceed it, as They can duely watch for, as well as lead & govern. The most evident Light of Nature does direct to this. They must have a particular Society committed to Them which They can duely rule & look after: And this is Their peculiar Charge & Government ^†.

BUT here We must briefly consider these Three Things.

• 1. WHO are the Spiritual Rulers here intend­ed, & what in General is Their Ruling Au­thority, Power & Office.
• 2. WHAT is this Committing Your Souls to Their peculiar Care, & By Whom is it done.
• 3. BY what Ways & Means is it perform'd & effected.

I. WHO are the Spiritual Rulers here intended, & what in General is Their Ruling Power & Office.

THE Greek [...] is more comprehensive than the English-RULERS, or any other Word now in use; & therefore variously render'd by Learned Men. It may be translated Guide [...], as You may find it in the Margin of Your English Bibles. Juni­us & Tremellius render it Governours & Captains ^‖: Beza & Piscator, Leaders & Directors; & Stepha­nus ^†, Those that take the Care of You, or go [Page 11] before You, or oversee You. These are Bishops says Theophilact ^*; Or the Pastors of the Church, says Deodate, Who are to govern & lead the People by the Word of God. They are Pastors & Teach­ers says Bishop Fell: And other Rulers, says Pis­cator, And who in other Places are called Presby­ters & Elders.

IN Short, It is a General Term including all of whatever Denomination, that have any Autho­ritative Office in any particular Society of Pro­fessing Christians. They are any Officers in any Church of CHRIST whatever that have a Power either of Ruling or Instructing: Call Them Bishops, Pastors, Teachers, Presbyters, Elders, Ministers, or any other Name the Scriptures give Them. They are all included in this Ge­neral Term.

THE Word indeed is of so extensive a Sig­nification as to comprehend the Charge & Office both of Civil Rulers, of Military Leaders, & of Tutors or Trainers up of Youth. But applied to the Heads of Christian Churches, it includes these Three Things.

1. THAT They are to Govern & overule the Society committed to Them in Wisdom, Justice & Authority, & keep it in Peace & Order.

2. THAT They are to order, Defend & guide it in the midst of all it's Spiritual Enemies; with attentive & unwearied Sagacity, Vigilance & Resolution.

3. THAT They are to Teach, reprove & lead the Members of it both by Censure, Life & [Page 12] Doctrine: And train Them up with Integrity & Care to the Knowledge & Performance of Their various Duties.

BUT Their Rule is entirely restrain'd to Spi­ritual Things ^†, & to be exercis'd & directed by the Laws of CHRIST.

THEY must keep & move & shine in the proper & peculiar Sphaere assign'd Them, & not vary from it, or extend Their Reigning Power, tho' They may Their Generous Influence of Light & Warmth without it. They may be concern'd with Temporal Affairs in Moderation, Advice & Council, as becomes every Private Member of the Civil Body. But They must neither assume Authority in them, nor bring them into Their Pulpits, nor allow them to engage Their Hearts or Time, or interfere, or hinder Them in Their Spiritual Watch & Duty ^‖. They have infinitely greater Projects to form, infinitely nobler Pursuits in View.

NOR are They even in Spiritual Things to act with an Arbitrary Will & Power. Not as Those that [lord it over Inheritances ^†;] But as Those that are [made ^*] Ensamples of the Flock, 1 Pet. 5.3. Not that They have Dominion over Your Faith, but are Helpers of Your Joy, 2 Cor. 1.24. They Themselves are subject to the Laws of CHRIST; which are evident either by Revela­tion or the Light of Reason, and must direct & rule according to them, Mat. 28.18,—20.

IN Fine, They must keep to the Limits of Their Divine Commission, & teach & govern by it: And [Page 13] when They do so, They may speak & act with great Assurance, Resolution & Authority. The Authority wherewith They teach & rule is not meerly Theirs: But as They do what CHRIST directs Them; it is the awful Authority of CHRIST Himself Our Glorious Sovereign exerted by Them, & which He will not suffer to be tram­pled on or disregarded, Mat. 18.15—18. Joh. 20.19—23.

THESE are the Spiritual Rulers here intend­ed, & this in General is Their Ruling Authori­ty, Power & Office. Let us now consider

II. WHAT is this Committing Your Souls to Their peculiar Care, & By Whom is it done.

IT does Not imply as if the Care of Your Souls were so devolved on Your Ministers, as to relieve or excuse You from the Care of them. Your Care of them is never a whit diminished by Your Ministers taking the Charge of them. You are rather obliged to take the greater Care of Your­selves; or the Care of Your Ministers may be vain & fruitless to You, & only serve to enhance Your present Sin, & Your future Doom & Mi­sery.

BUT it implies that Your Spiritual Welfare is of great Importance, & Your Souls have the greatest need to be cared for & looked after. They have not only need of Your own utmost Care; But also of a peculiar Order of Men ap­pointed to this only Business, to mind them, & do their utmost to secure the Welfare & Sal­vation of them. This is the peculiar Work of [Page 14] Your Spiritual Guides & Rulers, & the great & continual Concern of Their Lives. They have the Care of Your Souls Salvation & Spiritual & Eternal Welfare committed to Them. But By Whom is it done?

THE Holy Scriptures ascribe the Creation of the Ministerial Office to GOD, in 1 Cor. 12.28. & 2 Cor. 3.5, 6. By GOD we are to understand the DEITY, comprehending the FATHER, SON, & HOLY GHOST; Who are all concern'd in this Sacred & Important Action. It is therefore al­so distinctly ascrib'd to Every Person of the Bles­sed TRINITY. To the FATHER, in Mat. 9.31. To CHRIST the SON, in Acts 20.24. & Eph. 4.8—13. And to the HOLY GHOST, in Acts 20.28.

THEY do not only all concur in this great Affair by Their Will, Appointment & Approbati­on; But They have every One a peculiar Work & Influence in providing Ministers & committing the Care of Your Souls unto Them. The FATHER has willed & given Them to the SON ^‖ to purchase & bestow on the needy Souls of Sin­ners. The SON has purchas'd Them & the Power of bestowing Them ^† on the Souls of Men. The HOLY GHOST does accomplish & introduce ^* Them into Their Sacred Office.

BUT We are directed in the Holy Scriptures to have a peculiar View to GOD the SON in or­dering Ministers to take the Care of You. He is represented upon His Ascent on High, as the Sovereign Lord & Ruler of the whole Creation, & as giving Them this Divine Commission^†. The Care [Page 15] of Your Souls is committed to Your Ministers in such a peculiar manner by CHRIST Himself the Saviour of them, & Lord of all Things. But

III. BY what Ways & Means is it perform'd & effected.

HE may constitute such Rulers over You ei­ther by His Appearance in Humane Nature, as He did Our Apostles & the First Disciples; Or by the miraculous Descent of His HOLY SPIRIT, as He often did in the early Ages of Christianity. But such Extraordinary Ways as Those are long since ceas'd, & now He does it by such Ordinary & common Ways & Means as These.

• 1. BY Your lawful Choice or Consent.
• 2. BY Their Acceptance.
• 3. BY Their Solemn Ordination.
• 4. BY the Scriptures, His revealed Word.
• 5. BY the Operation of His HOLY SPIRIT.

1. Your Ministers have the Care of Your Souls committed to Them by Means of Your lawful Choice or Consent.

YOUR Choice or Consent is Lawful when it is freely & fairly made by the Greater Part of the Society, & the Other have no Objection to Their Unsuitableness or Insufficiency to take Care of Your Souls. And that every Community has a Right to such a Choice, is most plainly founded on the Laws of Nature, which are the Laws of CHRIST ⁴². The Apostles discerned it, & acted [Page 16] according to it in an inferior Office, in Acts 6.3—6. They directed the People to choose Their Deacons, in Their Presence; & then the Apostles ordain'd Them. If We have a Right to choose Our Officers to take Care of Our Earthly Trea­sures and Bodily Wants; We have infinitely a greater Right to the Choice of Those who are to take Care of Our Immortal Souls, which are in­finitely more precious & dear unto Us, & the Salvation of them of infinitely greater Moment! Mat. 16.26 ^†.

THIS is therefore a plain Institution of CHRIST, Both by the Laws of Nature, & Apostolical Ex­ample & Precept. And thus by means of Your lawful Choice, He commits the Care of Your Souls to Your Spiritual Guides & Rulers.

2. HE does it also by Their Acceptance of Your lawful Choice.

YOUR Election does not give Them a Power to rule or take Care of Your Souls: For They must Accept the Choice, or They have neither the Power over You nor the Care of You. Your choosing & determining on Them to be Your Spi­ritual Rulers does no more than give Them a Right of determining on You for Their peculiar Charge. It does not impose a Necessity on Them to be Your Ministers. They have the Liberty left Them to judge, Whether it may be more servicea­ble to the Interest of CHRIST to accept or deny. When They accept; They are then Your Spiri­tual Guides & Rulers by Right, & by Right & [Page 17] Title You are Their Charge. They have not yet the Power of Rule & Care, till They are set apart, ordained & devoted to this Sacred Office. By Your lawful Choice & Their Acceptance They are intituled to the Investiture of the Care & Government of You: But They have not the Pow­er till They are ordained, Acts 13.1—3. Numb. 8.10, 22.

BY Accepting Your lawful Choice, They con­sent to receive & take the Charge of Your Souls, & so CHRIST commits it to Them.

3. THIS is therefore confer'd on Them by Their Solemn Ordination.

YOUR choosing Them & Their accepting is such a Call of CHRIST, & intitles Them in such a manner to Their Ordination; that if They be duely qualify'd, None may refuse it. By ordaining Them, the Power of taking Care of Your Souls is actually committed to Them: And They do actually receive it, & lay Themselves under the most Solemn Vows & Obligations to take Care of Them. They are to make it Their great & prin­cipal Concern & Busi [...]ess, in Submission to the Glory, Will & Providence of CHRIST Their Sovereign.

BUT Their Power & Office are derived from CHRIST: And it is He that really commits the Charge of Your Souls to Your ordained Ministers. He has appointed Other Spiritual Rulers to repre­sent him in this Authoritative Work of Ordina­tion: And it is by such as These, & not by any Others unless in Cases of Necessity, that He fixes Spiritual Guides & Rulers over You, & commits [Page 18] the Care of Your Souls unto Them, Acts. 6.3. & 14.23 ^†.

4. HE does it also by the Commands & Precepts of His Revealed WORD.

THE Holy Scriptures are the Fruits of His Pur­chase & Prophetical & Kingly Office. He has inspir'd them by his infallible Spirit, & confirm'd them by incontestible Miracles, & made them the Source of Spiritual Power & the Rule of Our Proceedings. He has given them for our Direction in the choo­sing & ordaining His Ministers & the Discharge of Their Office. He therein shows Their Endow­ments & Work, & gives Them their Divine Com­mission ^*. He therein impowers Them to rule & take Care of the Souls of Those They are set over, & lays on Them the heaviest Charges & Obli­gations to attend to this most important Business.

IF We therefore look in the Holy Scriptures, we shall see that He therein commits the Care of Your Souls to Your Ministers in a particular & awful Man­ner. At the Instant of Their Ordination, He commits the Care of Your Souls to Them by His Revealed Word, & puts Them under all the So­lemn Charges & Obligations that are delivered in it.

HE does it by such External & visible Means as These. But,

5. AND Lastly, He does it likewise by a real tho' invisible Operation of His HOLY SPIRIT.

CHRIST is exalted to the Head of all Rule & Authority, & all Affairs & Things in Heaven & [Page 19] in Earth are really & continually subject to His Care & Government ^†. But He rules on Earth by His Omnipresent, Alwise & Almighty SPIRIT^*. By This He inclines & qualifies particu­lar Persons for Divine Imployments, & gives Them Opportunities of Labouring in them. By This He makes Them successful, approved, esteemed, & disposes the Hearts of His People to Them. By This He influences & directs in Their Choice & Acceptance & Solemn Consecration to Their Sacred Office. By This He therefore secretly tho' effectively calls & ordains Them, & thereby in­vesteth Them with Spiritual Care & Government. This is His ever & all-over-ruling Agent in the lower World: And by This He constitutes Spiri­tual Rulers & gives Them Authority, & commits the Care & Oversight of Souls unto Them, Acts 20.28.

AT the Instant of Their Ordination according to the Directions of CHRIST, His HOLY SIPRIT▪ does actually then commit the Care of Your Souls to Them: And this is one of those Things imply'd in the Imposition of Hands.

THIS is the Committing Your Souls to Their peculiar Care, & by such Persons, Ways & Means as these is it perform'd & effected. Our

PROP. II. THEN is—That it is therefore Their special Business to Watch for Them.

BY special Business I mean both Their peculiar Imployment, & Their most important Concern & Duty. Having received the Charge of Your Souls, [Page 20] They are under the greatest Obligations to Watch for them: And this is to be Their most zealous Desire, Endeavour & Labour. It is to be Their Principal Design & Imployment: And Their other Cares are to be conformed & subordinate to it. The Work is of such great Importance, Difficul­ty & Variety; that They had need apply Them­selves intirely to it, & allow no other to divert or hinder Them. Your Souls are immortal & so exceeding precious, that nothing may be omitted that can be done for the Security of Your Eter­nal Welfare & Salvation.

BUT I shall endeavour to clear this Point by considering these Two Things as fully as the Time will allow.

• 1. WHAT does this Watching for Your Souls imply.
• 2. WHEREIN is it to be e [...]ercised or expressed.

I. LET Us consider what does this Watching for Your Souls imply.

§ 1. THE Greek [...] is translated by Ju­nius & Tremellius into a Word ^* that signifies to keep awake, to sit up in the Night, & to be very vigilant & careful. A Word of the same Deri­vation ^† is us'd by Our Apostle in 2 Cor. 6.5. Where He tells us of Himself & Timothy, That They ap­prov'd Themselves in all Things as the Ministers of GOD,—In Labours, in Watchings, &c. And in Chap. 11.27. Are They Ministers? — I am more, —In Weariness, in Painfulness, in Watchings oft­en, [Page 21] &c. As Instances of this, Estius cites to Acts 16.25. & Chap. 20.7. Where We read of the Apostles Praying & Preaching till Midnight for the Souls of Men.

IN a Literal Sense, Your Ministers are many times to keep awake & watch & study for your Souls Salvation, & deny Themselves the Rest & Ease that You enjoy. They must keep awake & watch, says Pareus, while others are sleeping in Quiet. They are often watching & praying for Your Souls in the Night, while You are neg­lecting them, & even allowing Yourselves in Sin.

HOWEVER, the Word is here of a Metapho­rical Sense: And may be taken from Physitians & Nurses, who sit up & watch for the Sick, & deny Themselves Sleep & Rest for Their Relief & Com­fort. They stir up Themselves & shake off Their natural Drowsiness, & watch for every good or evil Symptom that appears in their Patients: They carefully observe every Circumstance & Motion; They are attentive to all Their Complaints & Wants, & are ready to administer Medicines & Cor­dials to Them.

THE Ministers of CHRIST are not then to in­dulge Themselves in Negligence or Ease: But attend on Their Charge with a wakeful & lively Spirit. They have the Care of many Souls that are dying & perishing, or drooping & helpless, & need Their Assistance. They must watch for all the dangerous or hopeful Signs that appear in Them. They must hearken to Their Com­plaints, & observe Their Wants, & be continual­ly ready to relieve & comfort Them.

THUS Our Saviour calls Himself a Physitian, [Page 22] Mat. 9.12^*. And Our Apostle with Sylvanus & Timothy, liken Themselves to tender & careful Nurses, 1 Thes. 2.7.

§ 2. BUT Beza renders the Word in Our Text by Another ^† that signifies to lie out, to stand Sentry, to keep Watch & Ward, or stand upon the Guard in a Time of Danger. In this Sense it alludes to Soldiers, who are appointed to watch both for the Preservation of Themselves & the rest of the City or Army. Those especially that are Leaders or Captains, are to be continually apprehensive of Evils & Enemies from every Quarter, & to be looking out sharply for every first Appearance of Them. They must watch over Their Soldiers to see that They observe exact Order & Discipline. And They must also be very attentive to Their State & Wants, & observe every Beginning of Mutiny, Complaint or Disturbance.

Agreeable to this the Word is used in Three other Places in the New Testament, & in them all is join'd to the Exercise of Prayer in a Time of Danger. Thus Our Apostle prescribes it as a most important Duty to the Christian War­riour, in Eph 6.18. And thus Our BLESSED SAVIOUR exhorts His Disciples to Take heed, Watch & Pray; For They know not the Time when the Son of Man will come, Whether at Even, Mid­night, or at the Cock-crowing, or early in the Morn­ing, Mark. 13.33—e Luk. 21.36.

THUS the Church is called a City ^‖, the Mem­bers Fellow-Citizens ^‡, & the Ministers Watchmen in several Places of Holy Scripture ^*. It seems to [Page 23] be likened also to an Army with Banners, Cant. 6.4, 10. The Ministers of CHRIST are styled Sol­diers by Our Apostle in Phil. 2.25^†. And in the preceeding Part of our Text, & the Seventh & Twenty-fourth Verses, He calls Them, [...], i. e. Governours, Captains or Leaders, as We have ob­serv'd the Word may be render'd.

THE Ministers of CHRIST are therefore dili­gently to watch for the Societies & Companies that are committed to their Care & Government. They are to look & see that You keep exactly to Order & Discipline. They must observe Your Wants & Temptations, & every Beginning of Dissention & Discord. They must expect & nar­rowly watch for Enemies on all sides, & careful­ly warn You of Them & provide against Them; that They may not successfully assault or under­mine You.

§ 3. BUT after all, I am apt to think, that the Word rather alludes to Shepherds, & that Our Apostle had a particular Regard to Them in this excellent Allusion. Especially considering the following Word [...] more commonly signifies over than for, & the Clause may rather therefore be render'd,—They watch over Your Souls, which is a Pastoral Phrase, or a Phrase that seems to be peculiar to Shepherds; as denoting that Simplicity, Care & Tenderness which They usually manifest in watching over Their exposed & innocent Flocks. They continually & carefully survey them; to defend them from Destroyers, to keep them from wandering into Mischief, & that not One of them may be missing or lost for want of looking after.

[Page 24]THUS Our Blessed Saviour tells Us that He is the Good Shepherd, & His Disciples the Sheep, Joh. 10.12, 14^*. Our Apostle calls Him the Great Shepherd, in the Twentieth Verse succeeding Our Text. The Apostle Peter calls Him the Shep­herd & Bishop [or Overseer] of Your Souls ^†; as the Word [...] imports, & is therefore render'd in Acts 20.28: And the Chief Shepherd, [...] i. e. The Prince of Shepherds, implying that there are Others under Him, 1 Pet. 5.4. We find Our Sa­viour accordingly committing the Care of some of His Sheep & Lambs to this very Apostle, in Joh. 21, 15, 16, 17. And afterwards We have the same Apostle exhorting the [...]ders of the Church of the Lesser Asia to Feed the Flock of GOD among Them: [Taking the Oversight thereof ^‖:] Not by Constraint, but willingly: Not for filthy Lucre, but of a ready Mind, 1 Pet. 1.1. & 5.1, 2.

THIS Watching for your Souls does therefore in­timate That singular Care & Sollicitude which is requir'd of the Pastors of the Flocks of CHRIST ^†.

IT implies that Your Souls are exceeding Preci­ous, & in dreadful Hazard: That They are in Danger of devouring Enemies & of going astray, & have need to be carefully looked after: That Your Faithful Ministers are aware of this, & ex­treamly mov'd with the Sight & Prospect: That They are full of Tender Compassion, Con­cern & Sollicitude about Your Eternal Welfare & Salvation: That They intirely devote Themselves to take Care of Your Souls, & mind nothing in the World if They can but save them: That They watch for You, as for Those They highly value, & [Page 25] dearly love, & are exceeding loth shou'd be lost & perish for ever: In Fine. It implies as Pareus observes, the extraordinary Dangers & Difficulties of the Ministerial Office; and those innumera­ble Labours, Cares & Troubles which it is filled withal.

THIS & a great deal more is imply'd in Our Watching for Your Souls. But We must now pro­ceed to consider,

II. WHEREIN is this Watching for Them to be exercis'd or expressed.

A LEARNED Man ⁶⁰ observes, That the Word imports a Watchfulness, not only with the great­est Design & Care; but also with the greatest Diligence and Endeavour against Troubles, Dan­gers & Oppositions, i. e. The Design & Work of Your Ministers is intirely to take Care of Your precious Souls, & by all Means to preserve & save Them. To keep Them from Backsliding, Sin & Evil: To instruct & feed Them: To promote Your Obedience, Grace & Comfort, & lead You safely to Eternal Happiness▪ For this End has CHRIST ordain'd Their Office, & fixt Them in it, & here­in do They continually Labour. Tho' the Phrase of Watching for Your Souls does principally then intend the peculiar Manner of Our discharging the Ministerial Work; Yet the Whole Imployment is likewise here comprised.

IT will be impossible for Me to mention, & much less insist on the various Duties included in this most extensive Office. My Endeavour [Page 26] therefore under this Enquiry must only be a sum­mary Enumeration of them. And that We may see them in a clear & easy Light, I shall lay down this comprehensive PROPOSITION as a General Answer.

THAT Our Ministerial Watching is to be exercis'd & expressed By a careful Observance of the Spiritual Circumstances of Every Soul committed to Us, & by Doing all we know is needful for Their Welfare & Salvation.

THERE are Three Particulars contain'd in this General Proposition.

• 1. THAT Every Soul committed to Us is the Object of our Care & Watch.
• 2. THAT We must carefully Observe the Cir­cumstances & Cases of them.
• 3. THAT Hereupon We must Do all We know is needful for Their Welfare & Salvation.

1.) EVERY Soul Committed to Us is the Object of Our Care & Watch.

IF We watch for Any, We must watch for All: For They are equally committed to Our Spiri­tual Care, They are all Immortal, & in the King­dom of CHRIST there is no Distinction^*. The Great & Small, the High the Low: The Honou­rable & Mean, & Those in Superior & Publick, or Inferiour & Private Stations. The Rich the [Page 27] Poor, the Prosperous & Afflicted, the Respected & Despised, the Good the Bad, the Old the Young, the Wise the Foolish. In Fine, of every Sex & Age & Temper: Of every Ability, Character, Order, Circumstance & Imployment.

THE Great & High & Honourable, & Those in Publick Stations are not above Our Watch: They are equally subject to the Dominion & Laws of CHRIST, & They need it as well as Any. The Common People are also the Objects of it. The Small & Low & Mean are not beneath it: Their Souls are equally precious and dear to CHRIST, & He dy'd for Them as well as Others. The Respected, Rich & Prosperous are to be observed by Us: And the Despised, Poor, Afflicted are as much as They in Spiritual Things to be remembred & regarded. The Parents & their Children: The Master & the Servant: The Mistress & her Handmaid ^*: The Jew, the Greek, Barbarian, Scythian, Bond or Free, Male or Female: For Ye are all one in CHRIST JESUS, Col. 3.11. Gal. 3.28.

WE must Therefore Watch, & as Our Apostle ex­horted the Ephesian Elders, We must remember His great Example, Who ceased not to warn Every One Night & Day with Tears, Acts 20.31. We must Preach CHRIST, as He tells Us of Himself & Ti­mothy: Admonishing ^† Every Man & Teaching Every Man in all Wisdom; That We may present Every Man Perfect in CHRIST JESUS: Whereunto We must also Labour; striving according to His Working, which worketh in Us mightily, Col. 1.28, 29.

[Page 28]2.) WE must carefully observe Your Spiritual Cir­cumstances & Conditions.

AND here We may briefly consider these Two Things.

• 1. WHAT those Spiritual Circumstances & Con­ditions are which We must observe.
• 2. THE Ways & Methods We must take for the Observance of them.

(1.) LET us consider briefly what those Spiritual Circumstances & Conditions are which We must Observe.

THEY are innumerable & exceeding various, & no Humane Mind can imagine them all. But They may be reduc'd to these Four Heads.

• 1. THE Spiritual State Your Souls are in.
• 2. THE Dangers They are exposed to.
• 3. YOUR Lives & Actions.
• 4. YOUR incumbent Duties.

1. WE must carefully Observe the Spiritual State Your Souls are in.

WE must Observe Your Knowledge, Ignorance & Mistakes of the Things of GOD. The Ap­pearances of the Life, Declensions & Increase of Grace: And the Power & Prevalence of Sin & Lust. The Signs of Covetousness, Voluptuous­ness & Ambition: The Rise & Growth of Vani­ties, Follies, Errors, Enmities & Contentions. [Page 29] We must observe Your Spiritual Deficiencies, Decays & Wants: Your Weakness, Imperfecti­ons & Infirmities: And the Discouragements, Darknesses, Griefs & Troubles Your Souls are in­volved in & labouring under.

2. WE must carefully Observe the Dangers They are exposed to.

THE Temptations that lye before You, from the World & Satan & Your own Corruptions. The Temporal & Spiritual Judgments that may be impending over You. The pernicious Errors & Delusions You may be in Danger of: And that Spiritual Indifference & Apostacy We are all so exceeding prone & subject to. We are to observe Your Danger of losing Your lively Sense & Concern of the Things of GOD: And that Presumption & Despondency that are so threat­ning & destructive to the Souls of Men.

WE must watch for Your Souls, says Pareus, That they may not be infused or seduc'd & perish by Mistakes & Erroneous Doctrines; But by a true & upright Faith & Life may obtain Eternal Happiness. Agreeable to this Our Apostle ob­serves to the forementioned Elders of the Church at Ephesus; — That grevious▪ Wolves wou'd enter in among Them, not sparing the Flock, & of Their Own­selves wou'd Men arise speaking perverse Things, to draw Disciples after Them: And Therefore He exhorts Them to Watch, &c. Acts 20.29—31.

3. We must also carefully Observe Your Lives & Actions.

WE must watch over Your Behaviours & Car­riages to One another: To Your Families, Rela­tives [Page 30] & Neighbours: Your Fellow-Members & Fellow-Christians, & Others of every Condition, Rank & Order. We must see whether You fill up the Duties & exercise the Virtues of Your several Pla­ces, Stations & Imployments. Whether Your Words, Discourses & Conversations be as become the Gospel of CHRIST, which You seem to make a Profession of^†. Whether Your Managements, Enterprizes & mutu­al Dealings be conformable to the Rules of Cha­rity, Justice & Integrity. More especially, Whe­ther Your Religious Actions & Behaviours are according to the Precepts, Examples & Directi­ons of the Holy Scriptures.

IN short, We must observe when You walk aright, & whenever You go astray: i. e. Whether You vi­sibly deny all Ungodliness & worldly Lusts, & live Soberly, Righteously, & Piously in this present World, as the Grace of God has taught You, in Tit. 2.11.12.

4. AND Lastly, We must therefore carefully Ob­serve Your incumbent Duties.

WE must not only take a careful Notice of what you really do; but even likewise of what You ought to do. We must consider the various Priviledges which You are favour'd with, & the various Duties arising from them. Your diverse Gifts, Endowments & Abilities of Doing Good: And Your Providential Powers & Opportunities of imploying & improving them. In Fine, We must observe Your several Duties both to GOD & Others & Yourselves: And see that You do not knowingly neglect them, or slightly perform them.

[Page 31]WE must make Our careful observance of such Things as These; or We shant know how to deal with You, & are not & cant be faithful Watch­men for Your Souls. But We must now consider,

(2.) THE Ways & Methods which We needs must take for Our Observance of Them.

THEY are briefly such as These —

WE must endeavour to know & be familiarly acquainted with You. We must be with You at all Seasons, & go from House to House, as Our Apostle did among the Ephesian Christians, Act. 20.18, 20. We must frequently Visit You^*, & in Wis­dom ask & inform Ourselves of Your Affairs. We must endeavour to convince You by Our Looks, Behaviour, Words & Conduct, That We are sincere & hearty Lovers & compassionate & faithful Friends of Your Precious Souls, That You may be free & open in revealing Your Ca­ses to Us. We must upon all Occasions observe Your Carriages, Actions & Discourses. And Fi­nally, We must with Decency inquire of Others that are likely to give us a true, unprejudic'd & certain Information of You.

BY such Means as These are We to watch over You, & carefully observe Your Spiritual Circum­stances & Conditions.

FROM hence we may by the way observe, That the Ministerial Office is attended with a World of Difficulty, Danger & Uneasiness: And it always was, & is, & ever will be a most ungrate­ful [Page 32] & hateful Office to loose & wicked People, who can't abide to be faithfully watched over, or looked after.

BUT we must ever remember the Wise Man's Words, as tho' they were continually sounding from the Mouth of CHRIST in Our Ears, as be­ing applied to His Under-Shepherds with exceed­ing great Propriety. Prov. 27.23. Be thou dili­gent to know the State of thy Flocks, & look well to thy Herds. For if this be the Husbandman's Du­ty with respect to perishing & brutish Creatures, that are slain at last for Humane Use; Of what infinitely greater Concern is it, That We shou'd be diligent to know & look well to the Flock of CHRIST, the most Precious & Immortal Souls of Men, which He has shed His Blood & laid down His Life to purchase & redeem, & has commit­ted to our Care?

3.) HEREUPON, We must do all we know is needful for Your Welfare & Salvation. And,

1. IN General.

WE must in Private often think of You, & consider, meditate, pray, contrive & study for You. We must always have an Eye to Some or Other, & All as much as possible, in the Compo­sition of Our Sermons.

WE must Watch by Dispensing the Word of GOD, By Praying in Publick with & for You, By Exercising Discipline among You, & Dispu­ting ^* & Defending the Truths of the Gospel ^†. [Page 33] We must constantly preach, instruct, interpret, expound, exhort & warn in Publick. We must administer the Sacraments ^†, & also plain & open Admonitions, Rebukes ^‖ & Censures ^‡, as the Case requires. We must take Care of You by Ruling well & labouring in the Word & Doctrine, 1 Tim. 3.5. & 5.7.

WE must not only Teach You Publickly, but also from House to House, Testifying — Repentance to­wards GOD & Faith towards Our LORD JESUS CHRIST: As our Apostle has set us a lively Co­py, Acts 20.20, 21. We must exercise our Watch over You by familiar Converse & Acquaintance. We must manifest Our Concern, Respect & Love, by the Wise & Gracious Words of Our Lips, & by kind & friendly Offices, Actions & Deport­ments.

WE must also lead You, & illustrate & confirm Our Doctrine, By the fair & exemplary Patterns of Our Lives & Tempers. We must in all Things shew Ourselves Patterns of Good Works, as well as in Doctrine: Uncorruptness, Gravity, Sincerity, sound Speech which cannot be condemned; that He who is of the contrary Part may be ashamed, Having no Evil Thing to say of Us, Tit. 2.7, 8.^* But,

2. MORE Particularly.

WE must inform & let You know Your Dan­gers, Faults, Mistakes & Duties; and freely tell Our Minds, & labour by the Holy Scriptures to convince You of them. We must speak, exhort, [Page 34] rebuke with all Authority, & let none despise Us ^*. And yet the Servant of the LORD must not strive; But be gentle to all Men; apt to teach, Patient, in Meekness instructing Those that oppose Themselves; If peradventure GOD will give Them Repentance to the Acknowledgment of the Truth, and that Those may recover out of the Snare of the Devil Who are taken Captive by Him at His Will, 2 Tim. 2.24—e.

WE must warn You of Temptations, Errors, Sins & Sufferings: We must endeavour to in­lighten the Ignorant, awaken the Secure, & affect & move the Stupid. We must argue, reason ^‖ & expostulate with You in Wisdom, Meekness, Ear­nestness & serious Temper. We must sometimes correct You with severe Reproofs ^†: not for the venting Our malignant, exorbitant or selfish Passi­ons; But as wise & careful Parents do their Chil­dren, for Your Advantage. We must sometimes blame You, & lay open all the Aggravations of Your Sins: And sometimes commend in Wisdom, or at least approve.

WE must sometimes grieve & terrify, & some­times encourage & consolate Your Souls. We must rejoyce with Them that rejoyce aright, & Praise GOD with Them. We must sympathize & pity & weep & mourn with Those that weep & mourn: And carry Them in Our Supplications to the Throne of Grace. We must especially Visit the Sick & Afflicted, & Pray over Them in the Name of the LORD, Jam. 5.14, [...]5.

IN Short, We must confirm ^‡ & strengthen ^* the Wavering & Uncertain, resolve the Doubtful, cau­tion [Page 35] the Unwary, quicken the Negligent & Sloath­ful ^‖, perswade ^† & urge the Unwilling & Backward, chear up & animate the Diffident & Disheartned, advise, direct & guide in difficult Cases, & charge ^‖, beseech & pray ^‡ You for Your own Advantage. And to conclude this Head: We must Admonish ^* the Unruly, comfort the Feeble-minded, support the Weak, bear long with ^† All: And see that none ren­der Evil for Evil to Any, but ever follow that which is Good, both among Yourselves & all Others: As Our Apostle seems to exhort the Thessalonian Mi­nisters ^‖ in 1 Thes. 5.14, 15. Our

PROP. III. THEN is This, That Your Spiritual Rulers must give Account of Their Charge.

AS They have solemnly received it at the Hands of CHRIST, They must also give an Ac­count.

IT is an Allusion to Stewards, says Estius, from whom Accounts are required of Their Administra­tion, & who are blam'd if any Thing be lost which was committed to Them. They must give an Account; i. e. Of Their Dispensation & Stew­wardship, says Junius ^*: No doubt alluding to 1 Cor. 9.17. Where Our Apostle tells Us, That A Dispensation was committed to Him ^†. The Word is [...]; i. e. Stewardship, As [...] is Twice translated Stewards, & expresly applyed to the Ministers of CHRIST in the Fourth Chapter of the same Epistle, in the First & Second Verses; in Tit. 1.7. & 1 Pet. 4.10.

[Page 36]IN all those Places the Ministers of CHRIST are sty [...]ed the Stewards of GOD. In that 1 Cor. 4.2. Our Apostle observes, That of such it is requi­red that They be found faithful: And in the Third, Fourth & Fifth Verses, that They will be judged of the LORD when He comes, Who will bring to Light the hidden Things of Darkness, & will make mani­fest the Councils of the Hearts.

WE must give Account, as They are oblig'd to do that are intrusted with the Management & Dispensation of what belongs to Others; Which is the certain Case of every Minister of CHRIST ^†. It is taken here for granted that We Must give up our Account, & are under such a Necessity to it, as it will be absolutely unavoidable. Agreeable to this Our Apostle tells Us in the preceeding Verse of that 1 Cor. 9.17. That as A Dispensation or Stewardship was committed to Him; So says He in the Sixteenth Verse, I have nothing to Glory of: For Necessity is laid upon Me: Yea, Woe is Me if I Preach not the Gospel.

BUT I shall endeavour to clear the Propositi­on before Us, by considering these Three Par­ticulars.

• 1. TO Whom are They to give Account.
• 2. WHAT is Implied in this. And
• 3. WHEN are They to give it.

I. LET Us briefly consider, To Whom are Your Ministers to give an Account.

IT is to GOD, as a Learned Man ^‖ expounds it: i. e. To GOD in the Person of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST; Answerable to what Our Apostle asserts [Page 37] in Rom. 14.10—12. We shall all stand before the Judgment Seat of CHRIST: For it is written, As [...]ve, saith the LORD; Every Knee shall bow to M [...] ▪ & every Tongue shall confess to GOD; So then Every One of Us shall give an Account of Himself to GOD.

AGREEABLE to this, Our Apostle speaks of Himself as a Minister of CHRIST, & a Steward of the Mysteries of GOD; That it is the LORD who was to judge Him, 1 Cor. 4.1 —5. By the LORD is here plainly intended the LORD JESUS CHRIST, as Our Apostle gives Him this distin­guishing Character in Phil. 2.9—11. Wherefore GOD also hath highly exalted Him, & given Him a Name which is above every Name: That at the Name of JESUS every Knee should bow, of Things in Heaven, & Things in Earth, & Things under the Earth; And that every Tongue should confess, that JESUS CHRIST is LORD, to the Glory of GOD the FATHER.

HE is placed at the Head of all Rule & Em­pire, & all Things both in Heaven & Earth are put under His Feet, Eph. 1.20—23. He tell Us Himself, That The FATHER judgeth no Man, but hath committed all Judgment to the SON, Joh. 5.22—27. And He commanded Us to preach unto the People, & to testifie that it is He which was ordain­ed of GOD to be the Judge of Quick & Dead, Acts 1 [...].42. Wherefore, We labour, that whether present or absent We may be accepted of Him. For We must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of CHRIST, that every One may reeceive the Things done in His B [...] ­dy, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad, 2 Cor. 5.9▪ 10.

WE receive Our Charge & Commission from Him: And to Him We must Therefore resign it, [Page 38] & give up Our Account. And as He sends & im­ploys Us; so He continually views & observes Us in the Discharge of Our Office. He bids Us ob­serve & remember That He is always with Us to the End of the World, Mat. 28.20. If He is always with Us; He always sees Us, & is able to judge uprightly. While We are watching Others, He is also watching us all with infinitely greater In­tenseness & Care. His Eyes are therefore repre­sented as A Flame of Fire: Dreadfully piercing & jealous, to behold Our Hypocrisy, Negligence & Infidelity, & Your Unfruitfulness, Rev. 1.14 ^†.

BUT We proceed to consider,

II. WHAT is Imply'd in Our Giving Account.

AND these Four Things are included in it.

• 1. THAT We give an Account of Ourselves.
• 2. THAT We give Account of You.
• 3. THAT Our Account must be Impartial & Intire.
• 4. THAT We must give it up in order to be Tryed & Judged.

1. WE must give an Account of Ourselves.

THIS Every Man indeed must do ^‡. But the Account of Your Ministers will be abundantly greater; As Their Charge is infinitely more pre­cious & important.

WE must give an Account of Our Accomplish­ments, [Page 39] Abilities & Opportunities: Of Our Mis­pence of Precious Time, Our letting pass Our Seasons of doing Good, & Our Abuse & not Im­provement of Our various Talents. We must give an Account of what We have spoken, done & stu­died for Your Souls Salvation & Eternal Welfare: And of Our Neglect & Carelessness in securing & promoting them. We must give an Account of Our careful & tedious Expenses, Pains & Labours: And of Our Sloth & Negligence in watching over You.

WE must give an Account whether We have Prophesyed, or Expounded according to the Ana­logy of Faith: And have attended to Our Ministry, Teaching, Exhortation, Distribution & Rule with Simplicity & Diligence ^‖. Whether We have given Ourselves to Prayer & the Ministry of the Word ^†. Whether We have Taken heed to the Min [...]stry We have received of the LORD, that We might fulfil it ^‡. In Fine, Whether We have Preach'd the Word, & have been Instant in Season, Out of Season; & have reprov [...]d, rebuk'd & exhort­ed with all Long-suffering & [needful] Doctrine: As Our Apostle most solemnly charged Timothy before GOD & the LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who shall [...]udge the Quick & Dead at His Appearance & King­dom; in 2 Tim. 4.1, 2,

2. WE must also give an Account of You.

THUS several Copies add [...] to [...] ^*: And accordingly Junius & Tremellius insert the Translation into their Version, & read [Page 40] it —Those that must give an Account [of You.] The Alexandrian Copy ^† has left the Words Transpo­sed, & writ them thus, —For they watch as Those that must give Account of Your Souls.

WE must watch over You, & give an Account of You to CHRIST that imploys Us, & commits the Care of You to Us. He will requite an Ac­count of Your Souls from Us, if but One of them perishes thro' Our Neglect or Fault [...].

WE must give an Account of the Suc [...]ess & Consequence of Our painful Ministry O [...] Your Profiting under it, & of Your Unfruitfulnes [...]. Of Your Affection, Reverence, Obedience [...] to it: And of Your Neglect, [...] & Slight & Rejection of it. We must [...] an Ac­count of Your various Treatment of Us & [...] Behaviour to Us. Of Your receiving, [...], valuing & loving Us in the Name of CHRIST: And of Your despising, hating, abusing, [...] & disgracing Us.

3. OUR Account must be Impartial & Int [...]re.

CHRIST that imploys Us is exact & imparti­al, & All Things are [continually] naked & open unto the Eyes of Him with whom we have to do ^*. He will therefore require an impartial & strict Ac­count: And in order to this, It must be Int [...]re & Full, & Nothing that has been done or omitted can escape the Reckoning.

WE must give an Account whether We have kept back Nothing that was profitable to You, but have shewed You, & have not shunned to declare unto ^‖[Page 41] You All the Council of GOD; Without which We are not Pure from the Blood of all Men. And Whether Therefore We have taken he [...]d to Ourselves, & to All the Flock over which the HOLY GHOST has mad [...] Us Overseers, to feed the Church of GOD which he has purchased with His Own Blood, Acts 20.20, 26—28.

WE must give an Account of all Our Talents Gifts & Graces, & Opportunities of improving them for the Good of Your Souls. We must give an Account of every Power We have abused & neglected, & of every Season we have carelesly passed away. [...]e must give an Ac­count of all Our Pains & Labours & Fatigues & Burthens; & of all the Discouragements, Un­kindnesses, Abuses & Sorrows we have under­gone in Our Work. In Fine▪ Whether We have Watched in all Things, indured Evil ^‡, done the Work of a Preacher of the Gospel ^‖, & fulfilled ^† Our Ministry: As Our Apostle charges Timothy, in 2 Epist. 4.5.

4. AND Lastly, We must also g [...]ve up Our Account in order to be Tryed & Judged.

IF the mere giving up Our Account to CHRIST were all, it would not be so excceeding solemn & dreadful. But We must give it up that We may be Tryed & Judged, & receive a Recompence. We have the very same Phrase, as Grotius ob­serves^*, in 1 Pet. 4.4. Apply'd to Thos [...] who speak Evil of the Followers of CHRIST: Who shall give [Page 42] Account to Him that is ready to judge the Quick, i. e. the Li [...]ing, & the Dead. [...]: It Signifys, says that Learned Man ^†, Our Giving Account in order to receive Our Reward of Good or Evil, as We have behaved Ourselves. If We are faithful to CHRIST & You, We shall deliver Our Souls: But if You perish thro' Our Neglect, Your Blood will be required of Us.

THIS is asserted & expressed in the most plain & awful Terms in Ezek. 3.17— [...] ^‖ ▪ Son of Man I have made Thee a Watchman unto the House of Is­rael: Therefore hear the Word at My Mouth, & give Them Warning from Me. When I say unto the Wicked, Thou shalt surely die, & Thou givest Him not Warning, nor speakest to warn the Wicked from his wicked Way, to save his Life; the same wicked Man shall die in his Iniquity: But his Blood will I re­quire at Thine Hand. Yet if thou warn the Wick­ed, and He turn not from His Wickedness, nor from His wicked Way, he shall die in his Iniquity: But Thou hast delivered Thy Soul. Again, When a Righteous Man doth turn from his Righteousness, & commit Ini­quity, & I lay a stumbling Block before Him, He shall die: Because Thou hast not given Him Warning, He shall die in His Sin, & His Righteousness which He hath done shall not be remembered: But His Blood will I require at Thine Hand. Nevertheless, if Thou warn the Righteous Man, that the Righteous sin not, & He doth not sin; He shall surely live, because He is warn­ed: Also Thou hast delivered Thy Soul.

[Page 43]BUT We must now Consider,

III. WHEN are We to give Our Account.

AND there are these Three remarkable Seasons for it.

• 1. AT the General Judgment.
• 2. AT the Time of Death.
• 3. EVEN Every Day.

1. WE must give up Our Account at the General Judgment.

THUS says Estius on the Place before Us. We are Then to do it in a Publick Manner: And every Suffering, Action, Word^*, Design & Thought ^† will be exposed & revealed to all the World ^‖. We must openly declare the Pains & Labours We have faithfully taken for Your Sal­vation; & the Hardships, Griefs & Troubles We have met with from You in the Prosecution of it. We must likewise give Account of Our Unfaith­fulness & Neglect; That every Thing in Judg­ment may be laid in the Ballance, & Those who are Disobedient to the Gospel may be fairly Try­ed & Judged & Condemned in Equity.

2. WE must also give up Our Account at the Time of Death.

OUR Ministerial Work is finish'd when this Momentany Life is ended: And there is Nothing for us to do in the Grave or State of the Dead for [Page 44] Our Own Salvation, & much less for Yours^*. The Fruit of Our Labours indeed may follow Us, & by Angelick Messengers may bring Us every Day a surprizing & fresh Revenue & Increase of Joy & Happiness in the Separate State: Which seems to Me to be the Meaning of that Expressi­on in Rev. 14.13. Blessed are the Dead which die in the LORD; From henceforth, Yea, saith the Spirit, that They may rest from Their Labours, & Their Works do follow [with ^‖] Them. But Our Watching for Your Souls is at an End when We leave the present Life, & We then resign Our Commission & Charge to CHRIST, from Whom We deriv'd it.

OUR Dusty Bodies indeed dissolve & return to the Earth from whence they sprang: But Our Immortal Spirits still remain & return to GOD Who gave them ^‡. They then appear in the Pre­sence of CHRIST the Judge; To give Account & stand their Tryal & receive their Eternal & Just Decision.

THAT there is such a Judgment at the Time of Death, appears from Luk. 12.35—46. Luk. 16.19—e. And from Phil. 1.21—23. 2 Tim. 4.6—8. 1 Tim. 6.12—16; Compar'd with 1 Pet. 3.19, 20. 1 Pet. 4.5—7. 2 Pet. 2.1—9. Jude 6, 7.

3. WE must even give Our Account Every Day We Live.

THIS, says a Learned Expositor ^*, seems Here to be chiefly meant, By giving up Our Account: And thereupon He observes, that there are no [Page 45] Conscientious Ministers but Continually represent to CHRIST the State of their Flocks, & the Suc­cess of their Ministry. If They thrive, if They flourish, if They go on to Perfection; They give Him an Account of it with Praise & Thankful­ness, & bless Him for the Works of His Grace & Spirit. If They are diseased & unthrifty, if They fall into Decays, or any way miscarry; They likewise give an Account to CHRIST: They spread it before Him with Mourning & Sorrow.

THOSE who attend, says He, with Conscience & Diligence to their Ministerial Employment, have no greater Joy or Sorrow in this World than what accompanys the Daily Report They present to CHRIST of the Discharge & Success of Their Work. Much of the Life & Benefit of the Mi­nistry depends on the giving Account to CHRIST by Prayer & Thanks of the State of the Church, & Success of Ordinances in it: And Those who live in such a Continual Practice, will find their Minds ingaged thereby to constant Diligence & earnest Labour in the Discharge of their Duty ^†.

Your Ministers are Every Day to give up their Account both of Themselves & You. They must Every Day give an Account of what They have ob­served in You, & done & studied for You. They must Continually give an Account to CHRIST Who sends Them, of Their Pains & Labours for Your Salvation, & how They are entertained & improved by You.

[Page 46]BUT We must now proceed to the

PROP. IV. WHICH is the Consequence of This; viz. That They must therefore Watch & give up their Account either with Joy or Grief.

I PUT them Both together; Because the Words are — For They watch—as Those that must give Ac­count; [...]; That They may do [This] or [That] as [...] is translated in the following Part of the Verse, For [That] is unpro­fitable for You.

IT is a Relative Clause, & refers to something express'd before. Something is to be done by Your Ministers with Joy or Grief: But it is not precisely said, Whether their Giving their Ac­count, or their Watching for You. It may be equally apply'd to Either, & is accordingly con­stru'd among Expositors. It is equally true & natural to apply to Both: And therefore likely, that Our Apostle had an equal Regard to them. q. d. That They may Perform their Office, & Give Account thereof with Joy, & not with Grief^*.

IT may be refer'd says Estius, Either (1.) To their Watching for You. q. d. That They may chearfully take Care of You, & not groan under their heavy Burthen. Or (2.) To their Giving up their Account. Being Secure of their Reward, & not lamenting either for Your Destruction, & the Loss & Disappointment of the joyful Fruit of their Pains & Labours; Or for Their Own exceed­ing Danger, by Your Perishing thro' their De­fault.

[Page 47]1. YOUR Ministers will Watch with Joy or Grief.

THEY Watch for Your Souls, &c. That They may do it; i. e. says Junius ^*, may do or discharge the Work commited to Them: That They may go on to watch with Joy; i. e. says Grotius ^*, with that Alacrity which rises out of Joy & Gladness. You must intermingle, says He, Your Labour with all manner of Respects & Good Offices; That with a cheerful Spirit rather than with Regret & Sorrow They may perform their Work, which is heavy & grievous enough of itself, tho' You give them no Occasion to grieve.

THEIR Work is of such a Nature, & of such vast Importance both to themselves & others; That They must needs perform it with Cheerfulness, or else with Sorrow. They cannot live in a Me­dium between them both; Unless They are Ignorant of their Sacred Office, or are Unbelievers & Hypo­crites, or of a stupid, indifferent & careless Spi­rit. If They do not watch with Joy & Alacrity, They must do it with Grief & Mourning.

THE Word is [...] ^‡, & is translated Sighing in Mark 7.34. And so Beza renders it ^†. It is Here render'd Grieving by a Learned Man ^‖: And is so translated in the Margin of Jam. 5.9, i. e. Heavily complaining of Those that abuse or injure Us. It is also translated Groaning in Rom. 8.23. And so it is here rendred by Piscator ^† & Junius ^*.

[Page 48]A GREAT & Learned Critick ^‖ represents the Word to signify Bewailing, Sighing, Sobbing ^‡. And Another ^* says, It signifies That heavy Grief which is express'd by Groaning; & whereof We have Our Apostle speaking in 2 Cor. 2.1—3. & 5.2—4. & 12.21. It intimates also that Concern, Anxi­ety & Grief of Soul, wherewith Your compassio­nate & tender-hearted Ministers do lament & mourn when They watch over a disobedient & un­fruitful People. But,

2. THEY must also Give up Their Account either with Joy or Grief.

THERE will be a great deal of Difference in this Respect between the Giving up Their Ac­count to CHRIST in the Present & in the Future World.

IN this Present World They will ever have sufficient Cause both to rejoyce & mourn either for Themselves or Others. Their Joys & Sor­rows will be interchangeable & temporary, & there will be a various & continual Success [...]on of them. For the greater Part by far of their Pilgrimage here on Earth, They will have Occasion both to rejoyce & grieve together. Their Joys & Sor­rows will be intermix'd & mingled: And while They give up a good Account of Themselves with Comfort, They must many Times give a Sorrow­ful Account of Those committed to Th [...]m. Of Some They will speak to CHRIST with an Holy Transport of Joy & Gratitude, when for Ot [...]ers They must lament & mourn. While They tell of a Believers [Page 49] Grace & Good Works with Pleasure; They must often remember His Failings, Infirmities & Sins with Sorrow.

BUT this Intermixture & various Succession of Joys & Sorrows shall terminate with the present Life: And at the Hour of Death, there shall be an Eternal Separation made between them. The Ministers of CHRIST must then as well as Others enter into a State of pure & endless Joy, or of unmingled & endless Sorrow. They must awake & arise from the Dust as the rest of Men, with perfect & everlasting Rejoycing & Ho­nour; or with compleat & endless Contempt & Mourning. They that are Wise, shall shine as [...]he Brightness of the Firmament: And They that have turned many to Righteousness, as the Stars for ever & ever, Dan. 12.2.3.

IF We save Ourselves, Our Joy will be compleat & full: And if You be saved with Us, & by Our Indeavour; Your Salvation will be a vast Increase of Our Joy & Honour ^†. If We Ourselves be final Castaways; Our Grief & Mourning will be com­pleat & endless: And if Your Immortal Souls be lost with Ours, & by Our Neglect & Sloth; It will be an inconceivable Addition to Our Shame & Anguish.

BUT We must consider briefly these Two In­quiries.

• 1. WHEN do We Watch & Give Account with Joy.
• 2. WHEN do We Watch & give Account with Grief.

[Page 50]I. WHEN do We Watch & Give Our Account with Joy.

I MUST answer this Enquiry by these Two com­prehensive Heads, which are express'd & intima­ted in the same Verse.

• 1. WHEN We duely & conscientiously Lead You & Watch for You.
• 2. WHEN You are likewise Obedient & Sub­missive to Our Spiritual Rule & Doctrine.

1. WE do it with Joy, when We duly & conscien­tiously Lead You & Watch for You.

WHEN We duly Preserve & Exercise the Authority & Discipline of the Church of CHRIST. When We keep within the Limits of the Com­mission We have received from Him, & act ac­cording to the Rules & Directions of it.

WHEN Ye are Witnesses & GOD also, How Holy & Justly & Unblamably We behave Ourselves among You — & exhort & comfort & charge Every One of You, as a Father does his Children; That Ye would walk wor [...]hy [...]f GOD who has called You to His King­dom & Gl [...]ry, 1 Thes. 2.10, 11.

WHEN We carefuly & continually watch over You, & perform Our Duty to You. When We take Care of You all, & observe as much as may be Your various Circumstances & Conditions, & do what We judge is needful for Your Welfare & Salvation. When Herein, with Our Apostle, We do exercise Ourselves to have always a Conscience void of Offence toward GOD & toward Men, Acts 24.16.

[Page 51]IN Fine, When We are Examples of the Belie­vers in Word, in Conversation, in Charity, in Spirit, in Faith, in Purity: When We give Attendance to Reading, to Exhortation, to Doctrine: When We neglect n [...]t the [Ministerial] Gift that is in Us: When We meditate on these Things, When We give Ourselves wholly to them: And Lastly, When We take heed to Ourselves & to the Doctrine, & continue in them; For in Doing This We shall both save Ourselves & Those that hear Us. Thus Our Apostle directs, incourages & assures His Beloved Timothy in 1 Tim. 4.11 —e.

IF We are continually careful & conscientious in These Things; We shall have a perpetual Source of Consolation & Pleasure rising in Us, that will diffuse itself thro' all the Discourage­ments & Sorrows We are acquainted with. We may cheerfully proce [...]d in Our painful & labori­ous Work, until We finish Our Course & Mini­stry; And then We shall give up Our Account with Perfect Joy. Tho' We have laboured in vain, and have spent Our Strength for Nought & in vain; Yet surely Our Judgment is with the LORD, & Our Work with Our GOD: And tho' Israel be not gathered; Yet shall We be Glorious in the Eyes of the LORD, & Our GOD shall be Our Strength, Isai. 49, 4, 5.

2. WE may Watch & Give up Our Account with Joy, when You are likewise Obedient & Sub­missive to Our Spiritual Rule & Doctrine.

I HAVE before observ'd, That by Our Spiritual Rule & Doctrine, I do not mean Our Arbitrary Dictates & Dominion; Which CHRIST Our So­veraign Lord & Master has expresly forbidden Us [Page 52] to exercise ^‡. But I mean the Rule & Discipline ordained by Him & exercis'd by the Ministers He places over You; And the Truth or Doctrines which He has evidently revealed, & They deli­ver.

THEY watch for Your Souls, & give Account with Joy or Cheerfulness; When You live in due Obedience & Submission to their Rule & Doctrine. When You carefully observe the Ordinances, Or­ders, Laws & Government, which He has appoint­ed in His Church; And when You live in a peace­able & harmonious Subjection to them. You Fulfil Our Joy; When Ye be like-minded, having the same Love [to One Another^*,] Being of One Accord, & of One Mind, Phil. 2.2.

WHEN You duely come & hear, receive & love the Truths We teach; & yield an exemplary Obe­dience to them. When Your Actions, Lives & Tempers are the fair & lovely Transcript of Our Heavenly Doctrines. When In all Things You adorn the Doctrine of GOD Our Saviour ^‖: And when You Grow in Grace & in the Knowledge of Him ^‡. In Fine, When You respect & value Us, because We are the Ministers of CHRIST, & faithfully watch for Your Souls.

WHEN You do such Things as These; We shall then exceedingly rejoyce in Our Watching over You: Our Work will be Our greatest Delight & Pleasure, & We shall have a joyful & triumphant Account to give to CHRIST. We may call You as Our Apostle did His Dear Philippians — Our Brethren, Dearly Beloved & longed for, Our Joy & [Page 53] Crown ^*. We can say as the loving Elder, — We have no greater Joy than to hear & find & see Our Children walking in the Truth, in this Present World. And We may cry out with some sort of Elevation & Rapture, as Our Apostle did to his Exemplary Thessalonians — For what is Our Hope, or Joy, or Crown of Rejoycing? Are not even Ye in the Pre­sence of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST, at His coming? For Ye are Our Glory & Joy, 1 Thes. 2.19, 20. But,

II. WHEN do We Watch & Give Account with Grief.

AS this is the intire Reverse of the other Head; So the Contrary Reasons of Our Grief & Mourn­ing are to be here assigned.

• 1. WHEN You are Disorderly, Contentious & Dis­obedient.
• 2. WHEN We are Negligent & Unfaithful in Our Sacred Office.

1. WHEN You are Disorderly, Contentious & Disobedient.

WE watch over You, & give Account to CHRIST with Grief of Soul; When We see You lose Your Reverence of His Holy Laws & Orders, & Your Brotherly Love of One Another. When a Spi­rit of Vanity, Pride & Earthliness appears & pre­vails among You^*. When You abound in Conten­tion, Opposition, Envy; And break the Peace & Unity of the Members of the Body of CHRIST.

[Page 54]WHEN the Life & Power of Religion seem to decay & dye, & We can see but little more than the Superficial Form of Godliness. When You dont appear to profit by Our Preaching to You. When You are guilty of shameful Defects & Of­fences to GOD & Man: And those Passions, Acti­ons, Speeches & Behaviours that become not the Professed Followers of JESUS CHRIST.

WHEN You Regard not the faithful Admoni­tions & Reproofs We give You. When You [...]an­not bear that We should deal plainly with You: And tell You of Your Errors, Sins & Duties; & ex­hort, advise & warn You of approaching Danger. In Fine, When You will not be watched over, ob­serv'd, rebuk'd, inform'd & counselled by Your compassionate & faithful Ministers: But asperse & blame Them for taking Care of Your Salva­tion & Eternal Welfare.

WHEN You do, & persist in such Things as These; You make Us watch over You with Grief & Hea­viness. We mourn & lament Your Unteachable­ness & Contempt of CHRIST^*: We sigh with Sorrow for Your Disobedience to Him ^†: You discourage & dishearten Us▪ That We cannot do Our Work with Joy or Comfort ^‖: We must give Our Account with Regret & Mourning, & bitter­ly complain [...] CHRIST of Your Rebellion & Im­penitence.

IN Short, If You obey Your Pastors, says Pare­us; You will rejoyce & elevate Their Souls, & They will more cheerfully do their Work for Your Advantage. But if They must grieve & complain to GOD against You; They must yet go on, [Page 55] but with Heaviness & Mourning: And so You that shou'd be their Comforters & Supporters will prove their Torturers & Tormenters — Most cruel & ungrateful Men!

2. WHEN We are Negligent or Unfaithful in Our Sacred Office; We must needs watch over You, or at least We must give Our Account with Grief.

IF We are conscious to Ourselves, That We Are Negligent or Unfaithful in this Divine Employment; It is not possible that We shou'd enjoy any Peace or Comfort, unless Our Minds are extreamly stupid or drowned in dreadful Infi­delity. The Reflection in Our serious Intervals must needs awaken & smite Us with anxious Con­cern & Dread: And with Trembling Aw & Hor­ror We must needs give up Our Account to GOD.

IF We Have been negligent or unfaithful in Our Business; How grievous must it be to think, That many Souls may be now in an irrecoverable State of Torment thro' Our wicked Carlesness & Neglect of them. If We have herein been already Guilty, & do believe & realize such Things as These; Our Hearts must needs be wounded & affected with Grief throughout Our remaining Work. And if this has been Our unhappy Case; We must give up Our wretched Account to CHRIST with the most afflicting Regret & Shame & Sorrow.

BUT If We Prove at Last to have been unfaith­ful; Oh! The Confusion that will cover Us, & the insuff [...]rable Agony that will fill Our Souls at the Appearance of CHRIST to Judge Us!

HOW tormenting will be the Reflectio [...] of Our Contempt of Him, & Our Perfidiousness in His [Page 56] Service! What a miserable Account shall We have to offer to Him, both of Ourselves & Those that have perish'd through Our Neglect! How dreadful will His Face appear with Resentment & Displeasure! And what fearful Looking for of Judgment, & fiery Indignation to devour Us ^*! When We Lift up Our Eyes & behold Them that come from the North, And CHRIST shall say as in Jer. 13.20. Where is the Flock that was given Thee, Thy Beautiful Flock! What wilt Thou say when He shall punish Th [...]e? — Shall not Sorrows take Thee as a Woman in Travail! And if thou sayest in Thy Heart, Wherefore come these Things unto Me? For the Greatness of Thy Sin are thy Skirts discovered, & thy Heels made bare.

OH! How will it also strike Us, as a Spear through the Liver, & add to Our Extremity of Pain & Anguish, To meet with Others that have perish'd thro' Our Unfaithfulness to CHRIST & Them! When we shall see & hear One & Ano­ther Wretched Creature wringing their Hands in Torment, & crying out about Us, — Oh You Unfaithful, Wicked Minister! My Soul, & My Soul was committed to Your Care: But You watch'd not for it: You neglected it: And now 'tis Lost! Oh 'tis lost! 'Tis lost for Ever! Our

PROP. V. THEREFORE is, That your Spiritual Rulers are to Watch As Those Who must give Ac­count, That They may do it with Joy, and not with Grief:

THE Particle [As] is Here of a great Importance & Significance. It Implies In General, That They [Page 57] must watch in such a manner as it behoveth Those who must give Account to GOD, That They may do it with Joy, & not with Grief. It is This which renders their Charge so exceeding dange­rous & fearful: And they had need to take the utmost Care how They attend unto it & perform it. The Consideration & Rem [...]mbrance of it is of the last Importance to Them: And shou'd ever influence & make Them extreamly careful in their Watching for You.

BUT the Time is so far pass'd away; That I mayn't inlarge on this important Proposition, nor insist on those Particulars that are needful to ex­plain it. I may therefore only mention the Ge­neral Heads, & hasten on to a Close.

This Watching — as Those that must give Account: That We may do it with Joy, & not with Grief, Im­plies These following Things.

THAT We do continually remember, The Care of Your precious & immortal Souls is committed to Us, & shall be required of Us. That We ever keep in Mind a lively Apprehension of that im­partial & exact Account We are to give of Them & of Our Indeavours for Them, & the Tryal & Eternal Decision that will follow on it. That We therefore watch for Every Soul committed to Us, without Exception, Omission, or Partial­lity ^‡. That We watch over Them with the ut­most Caution, Circumspection, Concern & Care; That not One may perish thro' Our Neglect^*.

THAT We do Every Thing We are able & can devise for their Eternal Welfare & Salvation. [Page 58] That We make the utmost Improvement of Our Powers & Opportunities for the Security & Ad­vancement of them. That herein We continually labour with Zeal & Resolution, & without Discou­ragement, Interruption or Remissness. That We persevere & Be faithful unto Death, Rev. 2.10. And Ke [...]p this Commandment without Spot, Unrebuk [...]able, until the Appearing of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST; Which in His Times He shall shew, Who is the Blessed & Only Potentate, the King of Kings, & Lord of Lords, 1 Tim. 6.14, 15.

FINALLY, That We watch as Those that are always ready to give up Our intire & impartial Account to CHRIST: And as He has expresly warn'd Us in Luk. 12.35. That Our Loyns be gird­ed about & Our Lights burning, & We Ourselves like to Men who wait for their Lord when He will return from the Wedding; That when He comes & knocketh, We may open immediately: Blessed are those Servants whom the LORD when He comes shall find Watching.

THUS have I indeavoured as comprehensive & concise an Explication as I cou'd well contrive of Our Text & Doctrine. I have said no more than I thought was needful to give You a full & clear Interpretation of this most important Scripture. I have had no Time to insist on a great many Heads to Illustrate or Confirm them. The greater Part of my Discourse has therefore rather been an Enumeration of various Particulars which are included in the Ministerial Office. It wou'd take up a copious Volumn to clear a Twentieth Part of the Things deliver'd. I must indeavour to fill up my Life in the more evident Proof & Explanati­on of them.

I SHALL now Improve the Subject in a Special