19. 16.

very different ends from what Civil Government doth.

For the Church is a Society in its Nature, Design, Duties, Offices, Cenfures, really distinct from any mere Humane Inftitution. And no Chriftian, who believes that the Kingdom of the Meffias was to be an external, visible Kingdom, can be of another Opinion. And although Chrift be Revel. 17.14. the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and therefore as Kings they are fubject to him; yet that Authority which Chriftian Kings do exercise over their Subjects, doth not overthrow the Rules and Orders which himself hath establish'd in his Church. For no Power derived from him can void or destroy his own Laws and Inftitutions. Since then the Church doth fubfift by virtue of Chrift's own Appointment, and that Church is to have peculiar Officers to inftruct and govern it, it must follow, that even in a Chriftian Kingdom, the Church is a Society distinct from the Common-wealth.

(2.) Labouring in the Word and Doctrine. Not to diftinguish them from another fort of Elders, whom St. Paul never thought of: For he knew of none but fuch as were fet apart by laying on of hands, and therefore dedicated to the Work of the Ministery; and

if

if St. Paul's Bishop and Elder were the fame, they must have the fame qualifications; and one of the chief of them is, that he be apt to teach; so that they may as well plead for a Lay Bishop, as for a Lay Elder; or elfe the Elder must be one apt to teach, if the fame with 1 Tim. 3. 2. the Bishop.

But fome may fay, "There was then "indeed great need of labouring in the "Word and Doctrine, when the Christian Doctrine was not well known, or understood in the World; But what neceffity is there of it now, when all People own the Profeffi“ on of Christianity among us? And this continual Preaching doth but fill the Peoples heads with too much Knowledge, and makes them more opinionative, and lefs capable of being governed.

66

To which I Anfwer,

If Chrift appointed Preachers onely for the Converfion of Infidels, this Argument would have great force: But the Apostle tells us, That Christ hath appointed in his Church, not onely Apofiles and Evangelifts, but Pa- Ephef. 4. 11, fours and Teachers; for the perfecting of the Saints, and for the edifying of the Body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect

Man,

12.

13.

Man, unto the measure of the ftature of the fullnefs of Chrift. Therefore as long as the Church is in its imperfect State, as long as it may want Unity or Knowledge, or Improvement, this Office of Teachers is to continue. And

thofe Elders will ftill deferve double honour, who do not perfunctorily and rarely dif charge this Duty, but who do labour in the Word and Doctrine.

There are indeed many forts of Preaching, which the Church ftands in no need of, because they tend fo little to Edification: Such are all fine Harangues in the Pulpit, i.e. Words well put together without fuitable Matter; All dry, flat, infipid Difcourfes, about things of no great confequence to Mens Salvation; All affectations of Jingling Sentences, Farfetched Allusions, Elaborate Trifles; All impertinent Difputes about needlefs, vain, intricate Controverfies; All Enthufiaftick unintelligible Talk, which tends to confound Mens Notions of Religion, and to evaporate the true Spirit of it into Fancies and Eaftern Modes of fpeaking: Laftly, All Corrupt and Seditious Doctrine, which Poifons the Minds of People, with dangerous Errours, or Factious Principl.s..

But

But fetting all thefe afide, there remains a Grave, Serious, Pious, Affectionate, Convincing way of Preaching; which is profitable, in its degree, for the fame ends for which the holy Scripture is ufefull, viz. for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Inftruction in 2 Tim. 3.15. Righteoufnefs, i. e. for the best purposes in the World. And can any think fuch a Work to be now unneceffary, as long as Men have Confciences to be awaken'd, Errours to be confuted, Vices to be reform'd, and stand so much in need of good direction in the way to Heaven?

Can we be employ'd about a better or more ufefull Work than this? While the Souls of thofe under our Care, are in fuch perpetual danger, either of being overspread with Errours, or overcome with Temptations, or overfet with Difficulties, or overwhelmed with Fears? When should the Pilots fhew their Skill and Courage, and Diligence, but when the Sea is rough, and the Weather Tempeftuous, and Banks of Sand appear of one fide, and Rocks on the other, and fo many Wrecks before them; and the common Mariners are bold and unskilfull, unable to govern, and impatient of being govern'd? Is it time then to fay, There is no need of Pilots now, but they may lie in their D Cabins

1

Cabins and fleep, for the Ship will steer it felf well enough, and the Mariners cannot fail of their Duty, as long as the Coasts are known, and the Rocks have been difcover'd to them?

It is very true, that the way to Heaven is not now hard to find; but it is no easie matter to bring Men to look in earnest after it, or to keep them in it. And here lies the main of our Work of Preaching; We are not to teach Men new Doctrines, but to Clear, Defend, and Apply the old, to the Confciences of Men. It is very cafie to fhoot over the Peoples heads, and to fpend an hour to little or no purpofe; but it requires all our skill to Preach plainly without flatnefs; and to fet the Matters of Religion in the best light, and to recommend them to the Minds of People, with the greateft force of Perfuafion. It is no hard matter to trifle away the time, but it is fo to fpeak Suitably, Warmly and Effectually to the Hearts of our Hearers; to make them find the fame effect of our Preaching, which the two Difciples did, when Chriit unknown was difcourfing with them; When they said to one Luk. 24. 32. another, Did not our hearts, burn within us while he talked with us, and while he open d to us the Scriptures? That is then the best way of Preaching