joyfully for the cause of Christ, and study to do good, and walk inoffensively and harmlessly in the world, as ready to be servants of all men for their good, becoming all things to all men to win them, and yet abstaining from the appearances of evil, and seasoning all their actions with a sweet mixture of prudence, humility, zeal, and heavenly spirituality; O what an honour are such to their profession! What ornaments to the church; and how excellently serviceable to God and man! Men would sooner believe that the Gospel is indeed a word of truth and power, if they could see more such effects of it upon the hearts and lives of men. The world is better able to read the nature of Religion in a man's life than in the Bible. They that obey not the word, may be won by the conversation of such. It is therefore a necessary part of our work, to labour more in polishing and perfecting of the saints, that they may be strong in the Lord, and fitted for their Master's use.

(2.) Another sort of Converts that need our special help, are those that labour under some particular distemper, which keeps under their graces, and makes them temptations and troubles to others, and a burden to themselves. For, alas! too many such there are! Some that are especially addicted to pride, and some to worldliness, and some to this or that sensual desire; and many to frowardness and disturbing passions. It is our duty to set in for the assistance of all these, and partly by dissuasions and clear discoveries of the odiousness of the sin, and partly by suitable directions about the way of remedy, to help them to a conquest of their corruptions. We are leaders of Christ's army against the powers of darkness, and must resist all the works of darkness whereever we find them, though it be in the children of light. We must be no more tender of the sins of the godly than the ungodly, nor any more befriend them or favour them. By how much more we love the persons above others, by so much the more we must express it in the opposition of their sin. And yet must look to meet with some tender persons here, especially when iniquity hath got any head, and made a party; and many have fallen in love with it: they will be as pettish and impatient of a reproof as some who are worse, and interest piety itself into their faults, and say that a minister that preacheth against them, doth preach against the godly:-A most heinous crime this, to make God and god

liness accessory to their sins. But the ministers of Christ must do their duty, for all men's peevishness; and must not so far hate their brother, as to forbear the plain rebuke of him, or suffer sin to lie upon his soul. Though it must be done with much prudence, yet done it must be.

(3.) Another sort that our work is about, are declining Christians, that are either fallen into some scandalous sin, or else abate their zeal and diligence, and shew us that they have lost their former love! As the case of backsliders is very sad, so our diligence must be great for their recovery. It is sad to them to lose so much of their life, and peace, and serviceableness to God; and to become so serviceable to Satan and his cause! It is sad to us to see that all our labour is come to this, and that when we have taken so much pains with men, and had so much hopes of them, all should be so far frustrated. It is saddest of all to think that God should be so abused by those that he hath loved, and done so much for; and that the enemy should get such advantage upon his graces, and that Christ should be so wounded in the house of his friends, the name of God evil spoken of among the wicked through such, and all that fear God should be reproached for their sakes. Besides, partial backsliding hath a natural tendency to total apostacy, and would effect it, if special grace prevent it not. The sadder the case of such Christians is, the more lieth upon us for their effectual recovery, "to restore those that are but overtaken with a fault by the spirit of meekness," (Gal. vi. 1, 2,) and yet to see that the sore be throughly searched and healed, and the joint be well set again, what pain soever it cost; and especially to look to the honour of the Gospel, and to see that they rise by such free and full confessions and significations of true repentance, that some reparation be thereby made to the church, and their holy profession, for the wound of dishonour that they had given it by their sin. Much skill is required to the restoring of such a soul.

(4.) Another part of our Ministerial work is about those that are fallen under some great temptation. Much of our assistance is needful to our people in such a case; and therefore every minister should be a man that hath much insight into the tempter's wiles. We should know the variety of them, and the cunning craft of all Satan's instruments that lie in wait to deceive, and the methods, and devices of the

grand deceiver. Some of our people lie under temptations to error and heresy, especially the young, unsettled and most self-conceited; and those that are most conversant and familiar with seducers. Young, unsettled Christians are commonly of their mind that have most interest in their esteem, and most opportunity of familiar talk to draw them into their way. And as they are tender, so deceivers want not the sparks of zeal, to set them in a flame. A zeal for error and opinions of our own, is natural and easily kindled and kept alive but it is far otherwise with the spiritual zeal for God. O what a deal of holy prudence and industry is necessary in a Pastor to preserve the flock from being tainted with heresies, and falling into noxious conceits and practice; and especially to keep them in unity and concord, and hinder the rising or increase of divisions. If there be not a notable conjunction of all accomplishments, and a skilful improvement of parts and interests, it will hardly be done; especially in such times as ours, when the sign is in the head, and the disease is epidemical. If we do not publicly maintain the credit of our ministry, and second it by unblamable and exemplary lives, and privately meet with seducers, and shame them; if we be not able to manifest their folly, and follow not close our staggering people before they fall, how quickly may we give great advantage to the enemy, and let in such an inundation of sin and calamity, that will not easily be again cast out.

Others lie under a temptation to worldlymindedness; and others to gluttony or drunkenness; and others to uncleanness: some to one sin, and some to another. A faithful pastor therefore should have his eye upon them all, and labour to be acquainted with their natural temperament, and also with their occasions and affairs in the world, and the company that they live or converse with, that so he may know where their temptations lie; and then speedily, prudently, and diligently help them.

(5.) Another part of our Work is to comfort the disconsolate, and to settle the peace of our people's souls, and that on sure and lasting ground. To which end, the quality of the complainants, and the course of their lives had need to be known; for all people must have the like consolations that have the like complaints. But of this I have spoken already elsewhere; and there is so much said by many, especially

Mr. Bolton in his "Instructions for Right Comforting," that

I shall say no more.

(6.) The rest of our Ministerial work is upon those that are yet strong; for they also have need of our assistance; partly to prevent their temptations and declinings, and preserve the grace they have; partly to help them for a further progress and increase; and partly to direct them in the improving of their strength for the service of Christ, and the assistance of their brethren. As also to encourage them, especially the aged, the tempted and afflicted, to hold on, and to persevere that they may obtain the crown. All these are the objects of the Ministerial work, and in respect to all these, we must take heed to all the flock.

IV. Having done with our Work in respect to its objects, I am next to speak of the acts themselves. But of this I shall be very brief.

1. One part of our work, and that the most excellent, because it tendeth to work on many, is the Public preaching of the Word. A work that requireth greater skill, and especially greater life and zeal than any of us bring to it. It is no small matter to stand up in the face of a congregation, and deliver a message of salvation or damnation, as from the living God, in the name of our Redeemer. It is no easy matter to speak so plain, that the ignorant may understand us; and so seriously, that the deadest hearts may feel us; and so convincingly, that contradicting cavillers may be silenced. I know it is a great dispute whether preaching be proper to the ministers or not? The decision seems not very difficult. Preaching to a congregation as their ordinary teacher, is proper to a minister in office; and preaching to the unbelieving world, Jews, Mahometans or Pagans, as one that hath given up himself to that work, and is separated and set apart to it, is proper to a minister in office; but preaching to a church, and infidels occasionally, as an act of charity, extraordinarily, or upon special call to that act, may be common to others. The governor of a church, when he cannot preach himself, may in a case of necessity appoint a private man, 'pro tempore,' to do it, who is able, as Mr. Thorndike hath shewed. But no private man may obtrude, without his consent who by his office is the guide and pastor of that church. And a master of a family may preach to his own

family, and a schoolmaster to his scholars, and any man to those whom he is obliged to teach; so that he goes not beyond his ability, and do it in a due subordination to churchteaching, and not in the way of opposition and division. A man that is not of the trade, may do some one act of a tradesman in a corporation for his own use, or family, or friend; but he may not separate himself to it, or set it up, and make it his profession, nor live upon it, unless he had been an apprentice, and were free. For though one man of ten thousand may do it of himself, as well as he that hath served an apprenticeship, yet it is not to be presumed that it is ordinarily so : and the standing rule must not bend to rarities and extraordinaries, lest it undo all; for that which is extraordinary and rare in such cases, the law doth look upon as a ' non ens.' But the best way to silence such usurping teachers, is for those to whom it belongeth, to do it themselves so diligently, that the people may not have need to go a begging; and to do it judiciously, and affectingly, that a plain difference may appear between them and usurpers, and that other men's works may be shamed by theirs; and also by the adding of holy lives and unwearied diligence to high abilities, to keep up the reputation of their sacred office, that neither seducers, nor tempted ones may fetch matter of temptation from our blemishes or neglects.

2. Another part of our Pastoral work is to administer the holy Mysteries, or seals of God's covenant, Baptism, and the Lord's-supper. This also is claimed by private usurpers: but I will not stand to discuss their claim. A great fault it is among ourselves, that some are so careless in the manner, and others do reform that with a total neglect ; and others do lay such a stress on circumstances, and make them a matter of so much contention, even in that ordinance where union and communion is so professed.

3. Another part of our Work is to guide our people, and be as their mouth in the Public prayers of the church, and the Public praises of God: as also to bless them in the name of the Lord. This sacredotal part of the work is not the least, nor to be so much thrust into a corner as by too many of us it is. A great part of God's service in the church-assemblies, was wont in all ages of the church till of late, to consist in public praises and eucharistical acts in holy communion: and the Lord's-day was still kept as a day of thanksgiving, in the hymns, and common