Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers; to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. REVEREND AND DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN, F the people of our charge must teach, ad I monish and exhort one another,'* no doubt TEACHERS THEMSELVES may do it, as Brethren in office, as well as in faith, without pretending to any fupereminence in power or degree. We have the fame fins to mortify, and the fame graces to be quickened and corroborated, as they have. We have greater works than they have to do, greater difficulties to overcome, and, no lefs neceffity is laid upon us. We have therefore need to be warned, and awakened, (if not inftruéted) as well as they. they. So that I confefs, I think we fhould meet together more frequently, if we had اقدار Col. iii. 16. Heb. iii. 13. B nothing nothing else to do but this. And we fhould deal as plainly and closely with one another, as the moft ferious among us do with our Flocks; left, if they only have the fharp admonitions and reproofs, they only should be found and lively in the faith." This was PAUL's judgment. I need no other proof of it, than this roufing, heart-melting exhortation to the Ephefian, elders. A short fermon, but not foon learn'd. Had the Bifhops and teachers of the church but throughly learned it, (tho' to the neglect of many a volume, which has taken up their time and helped them to greater applause in the world) how happy had it been for the church and for themselves! I fhall now touch upon no part of it but my Text. The perfons here addreffed under the characters of OVERSEERS OF BISHOPS,* were officers appointed to teach and guide the Ephefian church in the way to falvation; and are the fame perfons, that in the 17th verfe are called ELDERS. So that all persons who statedly officiate in the fame work and capacity, as the Paftors of a particular church, may confider themselves as included. † The exhortation here addreffed to fuch, confifteth of two parts. The Επισκοποι. If the reader would fee this point defended, he may meet with fatisfaction by turning to the original work. FIRST FIRST is, That they fhould take heed to SECOND, That they should take heed to the FLOCK over which the Holy Ghost hath made them overfeers; to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchafed with his own blood. Both these articles will, in the following work, be diftinctly handled. PART THE FIRST. Of the Duty of Christian Minister's with regard to THEMSELVES. THE HE firft part of the Apofile's exhortation refpects the care that minifters ought to exercife with regard to their own difposition and behaviour. It is thus expreffed: Take heed 'therefore to YOURSELVES.' Let us then in the FIRST place, confider what this PERSONAL care is, and wherein it confifteth. For the fake of brevity, I will join the explication and the application together. And I befeech you, brethren, let your HEARTS attend, as well as your understandings. I. Above all, fee to it that a work of faving grace be throughly wrought on your own fouls. Take heed to yourselves left you be ftrangers to the effectual working of that gofpel which you preach; and left, while you proclaim to the world the neceflity of a Saviour, your own hearts fhould neglect him, and you fhould mifs of an intereft in him and his faving benefits. Be that first, your felves, which you perfuade your hearers to be; believe that, which you daily perfuade them to believe; and heartily entertain that Chrift and Spirit, which you offer to them. You have an heaven, to win or lose yourselves, and fouls that must be happy or miserable for ever; it therefore concerns you to begin at home, and take heed to yourfelves. It is poffible (tho' an unufual thing) that preaching well may fucceed to the falvation of others without the holiness of your own hearts and lives; but it is impoffible it fhould fave your own fouls. Tho' it be promifed to them that turn many to righteoufnefs' that they fhall 'fhine as ftars,' it is on fuppofition that they be first turned to it themselves. Believe it, Sirs, God is no refpector of perfons.' An holy calling will not fave an unholy man. God never did fave any man for being a preacher, nor because he was an able preacher; but because he was a juflified fanc |