The Duty of Pastors and People Distinguished, Preface
THE PREFACE TO the enſuing Diſcourſe.
THE glaſſe of our lives, ſeemes to runne and keep pace with the extremity of time: the end of thoſe ends of the world a1 Cor. 10. 11 foreign. Revel. 10. 6. 1 Epiſt. Joh. 2. 18.which began with the Goſpell, is doubtleſſe comming upon us, hee that was inſtructed what ſhould bee, till time ſhould be no more, ſaid, it was foreign the laſt houre in his time: much ſand cannot be behind, and Chriſt ſhakes the glaſſe:Matth. 24. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 52. Zanch. de fine ſec. Mol. acc. proph. many minutes of that houre cannot remaine; the next meaſure we are to evpect, is but a moment, the twinkling of an eye, wherein we ſhall all be changed; now as if the Horoſcope of the decaying age, had ſome ſecret influence into the wils of men, to comply with the decrepit world, they generally delight to run into extreames: not that I would have the fate of the times to beare the faults of men, like him who cried,Rom. 9. 19. foreign to free himſelf, intitling God and fate to his ſins; but only to ſhew how the All-diſpoſing providence of the moſt Hign, works ſuch a complyance of times and perſons, as may joyntly drive at his glorious aymes, cauſing men to ſet out in ſuch ſeaſons as are fittest for their travell. This Epidemicall diſeaſe of the aged world, is the cauſe, why in that great diverſity of contrary opinions, wherewith mens heads and hearts are now repleniſhed: the truth pretended to be ſought with ſo much earneſtneſſe, may be often gathered up, quite neglected, between the parties litigant; medio tuliſſimus, is a ſure rule, but that fiery ſpirits, pyrout Eocus & Aethon quartuſque Phlegon, will be mounting. In the matter concerning which, I propoſe my weake Eſſay, ſome would have all Christians to be almoſt Ministers, others none but Ministers, to be Gods Clergie: thoſe would give the people the keys, theſe uſe them, to lock them out of the Church, the one aſcribing to them primarily al Eccleſiaſticall power for the ruling of the Congregation; the other abridging them of the performance of ſpirituall duties, for the building of their own ſoules: as though there were no habitable earth betweene the valley (I had almoſt ſaid the pit) of Democraticall confuſion, and the precipitious rock of Hierarchicall tyranny: when unskilfull Archers ſhoot, the ſafeſt place to avoid the arrow, is the white: going, as neare as God ſhall direct me, to the truth of this matter, I hope to avoid the ſtrokes of the combatants on every ſide. And therefore wil not handle it foreign with oppoſition to any man, or opinion, but foreign briefly propoſing mine owne required judgement: the ſummary reſult whereof, is, that the ſacred calling may retaine its ancint dignity, though the people of God be not deprived of their Chriſtian liberty; to cleare which propoſall, ſomethings I ſhall briefly premiſe,