Thirty-One Select Sermons, Sermon collection · Sermon 4
Goſpel Order, A CHURCHES Beauty.
Preached when Mr. Strong was choſen Paſtor, Dec. 9. 1650.
Col. 2.5.
For though I be abſent in the fleſh, yet am I with you in the ſpirit, joying and beholding your order, &c.
CAlvin upon this place ſaith, that the Churches perfection doth ſtand in theſe two things, in their faith, and in their order: and indeed all things that are neceſſary to its glory, that it may be preſented without ſpot to God, are to be reduced to theſe heads: It is your perfection that I earneſtly deſire, 2 Cor. 13.9. Therefore I ſhall endeavour to inſtruct you in both theſe: that you may be led on to perfection by it. As for matters of faith, it hath been the conſtant courſe of my miniſterie amongſt you; Now I ſhall ſpeak ſomething to matters of order; that ſo there may be no part of the councel of God that concerns your duty hid from you.
Now the order of a Church doth conſiſt in three things: and ſo I find the word foreign uſed in the Scripture. Firſt it is put for the holy and orderly walking of every particular member, when they do all walk by rule, 1 Theſ. 5.14. Warn them that are unruly, diſorderly, 2 Theſ. 3.6. Withdraw from every brother that walks diſorderly: (that is) that doth not walk with a right foot towards the Goſpel: whoſe converſation is not holy as becomes the Goſpel of Chriſt: and ſo order belongs unto mens converſion.
Secondly, it is put for the right adminiſtration of all the Ordinances of God, according to the rules and Inſtitutions of God, Heb. 1.5,6. The order of Melchizedeck, is nothing elſe but the Inſtitutions, or preſcribed rules given unto Melchizedeck; and the order of Aaron, are the rules preſcribed by God for the Prieſthood of Aaron: and ſo Bezaon Hebrews, cap. 7.15. makes the word foreign and foreign, to be all one: and ſo we uſe it, 1 Chron. 15.13. We ſought him not after the due order: that is, according to the rule, and to the inſtitutions of God: ſo that when all ordinances are adminiſtred according to the Lords Inſtitution, that is the order of the Church; for then the order of God is obſerved.
Thirdly, it notes the due ſubordination that is appointed by Chriſt to be obſerved in the Church: for that alſo is order, 1 Cor. 15.23. All ſhall ariſe, but every man in his own order: Firſt Chriſt, and then they that are Chriſts at his coming: and ſo order is oppoſed to confuſion, when no man knows nor keeps his own place and ſtation in the body: When they that rule, keep their place, and they that are to be ruled keep their place: and they do it with ſubjection to Chriſt, as being concluded under the Power of an Inſtitution, that is properly order: for the word foreign, is military, and taken from the order of an Armie: Now there are three things that make an orderly army.
Firſt, that every ſouldier walks honeſtly, and doth not oppreſs and run out of their rank.
Secondly, that the Governors and Commanders do keep their places and do their duty in them.
Thirdly, that all that is to be done, be done according unto the rule of the Commanders; and by their the Souldiers do nothing of themſelves, and by their own appointments; and this is properly the order of an Armie: when every one doth keep his own rank, doth his own duty, &c.
I ſhould ſpeak of the orderly adminiſtring of ordinances. Secondly, the orderly walking of members: Thirdly, the orderly carriage that ſhould be between officers, and members: each of them keeping their place, and unto each other performing the duty of their relation: and it is this laſt on which I ſhall ſpeak of at this time.
You are met here at this time for the election of a Paſtor; for no man is to take upon himſelf an office in the Church, but one that is ſet apart by God thereunto: and the way by which God doth ſet men apart for this office, is, by the election of the people: whoſe power or whoſe priviledge it is to chooſe their own officers that ſhall be over them: as appears in that inſtance of the Deacons the loweſt officers, Acts 6.5. they chuſe them, and the Apoſtles ordain them unto the office; and when the people chuſe thoſe perſons that are qualified according unto the rules preſcribed in the word, then they may conclude theſe are the officers that God hath ſo… over us: and the Holy-Ghoſt hath made us over ſeers, and the officers are to take it as a call from God, unto the employment: and being choſen, it is not to be looked upon as a humane, but as a divine inſtitution, and he that is choſen is to be looked upon as an officer unto Chriſt: and to have his power from Chriſt, according to the rules of the word, over that people: It is neceſſary therefore in ſo weighty a buſineſs, that you ſhould know the grounds upon which you go: and what the office is unto which you are now to elect a perſon: and what the Order is which the Lord hath ſet down to be obſerved between the Paſtor and the people: that ſo you may know what to expect from him in way of duty: and what he in a way of duty is to expect from you; that ſo the order of God between both may be obſerved.
Firſt, what is the office of a Paſtor? The office of a Paſtor is an Inſtitution of Chriſt: all that rule in the Church do rule under Chriſt, and therefore they muſt have their office from him; it is not for men to make a new officer in the Church any more then it is for them to make new ordinances in the Church; as all offices in a State are appointed by the ſupreme power, and there is no man is to take an office upon him that they do not authorize: ſo alſo it is with the Church, 1 Cor. 12.28. he hath ſet over them in the Church. Eph. 4.11. he gave gifts to men: that is, the office, and the gifts that did qualifie for the office: officers that are ſet in the Church are of two ſorts: ſome temporary, as Apoſiles, Prophets and Evangeliſts: and their gifts were but for a time: the gifts did ceaſe with the office: but there are ſome officers that are ſtanding, and are to continue in the Church until the end of the world: for there is a work of the miniſtery that muſt continue till we all come to the unity of the faith, for the gathering and the perfecting of the Saints; till we all come to the unity of the faith: that is, till all the Saints of God that are ſcattered abroad all the world over, be gathered together to the unity of the faith: that is, if they be converted, and do all believe: For there is but one faith which all the Elect of God muſt have, and till that be begun and their ſanctification be perfected, till they all do become a perfect man, and attain to the fulneſs of the ſtature of Chriſt, that he hath himſelf appointed them in this life to attain to before they be tranſlated to glory; therefore ſuch officers in the Church Chriſt hath inſtituted, and and he will continue them till the end of the world: ſo long as there are any Saints to be gathered, or graces in them to be perfected.
Secondly, the election of a Paſtor is the priviledge of the people; and in that the will of Chriſt is made manifeſt, and the call of Chriſt is to both the perſon choſen, and the people: its given them by Chriſt, and they are thankfully to accept it, and carefully to improve it, and preſerve it, and not ſuffer them to be taken from them; the Saints of God are to look upon priviledges to be ſaved as well as promiſes, and they muſt not part with any of them.
Firſt, the Apoſtles, Acts 6.5. that had the higheſt authority under Chriſt, yet they did not take upon them to impoſe any officers upon the Churches, but they muſt look them out, and they muſt chooſe them, then the Apoſtles will ordain them; and ſurely they that would not impoſe a Deacon, which is the meaneſt officer, they will not impoſe any higher officer: and it is the rule that the Apoſtle gives, 1 Tim 3.10. foreign, they muſt be proved firſt: and alſo approved by the people: for the word ſignifies both to try a thing, and upon tryal to approve it.
Secondly, the ordering all things in a Church ſtate doth plainly argue it: for every thing there is done by mutual conſent; and there can be no union in the body, but by their own conſent; for as conſent doth unite us unto Chriſt, ſo it doth alſo amongſt our ſelves: for in all things, as it is in the Church inviſible, faith and holineſs in Truth makes a man a member of the Church inviſible; ſo the profeſſion of that faith and holineſs makes a man a member of the viſible Church: conſent of the heart makes a man a member of the Church inviſible; and this conſent profeſſed makes a man a member of the Church viſible: and as it is between the members, ſo alſo it is between members and officers: for all power is of three ſorts: either it is natural, or voluntary, or tyrannical: now all Church power cannot be natural; and it muſt not be tyrannical; therefore it muſt be voluntary, and by the conſent of parties; 1 Cor. 5.12. Do not ye Judge thoſe that are within, ſays the Apoſtle? therefore they that were within came under this power of judgement, becauſe they had given conſent unto that power to live under it, and to be ruled by it: whereas they that were without, and did not conſent to it, they were not ſubject to it, or bound by it.
Thirdly, from this election of the people, there doth ariſe a voluntary relation between the Paſtor and the people, Acts 20.28. The Elders of Epheſus came to Paul, and he commands them to take heed unto themſelves, and to all the flock over which the holy Ghoſt hath made you overſeers: and Col. 4.12. it is ſaid of Epaphras, that he is one of you: for he was Paſtor of the Church of Coloſſ. and ſo, the Angels of the ſeven Churches: there were ſome general officers over all the Churches as the Apoſtles were, and ſo were Evangeliſts, and thoſe that planted Churches: but there are particular Church-officers that have a relation to ſuch a people by vertue of their election, and their own acceptation: and they ſtand in the relation of an officer unto that people only, and unto none other; ſo that though by vertue of their commiſſion from Chriſt they preach as the miniſters of the Goſpel unto any people; yet by vertue of the election of the people they have the relation of Paſtors to none but thoſe that choſe them ſo to be.
Fourthly, the office of a Paſtor is to be reduced to two heads: Firſt the duties that he doth owe to the people. Secondly, the diſpoſitions with which thoſe duties are to be performed.
Firſt the duties that he doth owe to the people, and which he is by vertue of his calling bound to perform; and theſe duties are,
Firſt he is bound to inſtruct them: Chriſt is the great Shephard of the Sheep; they are but Shepherds under him: Chriſt feeds the flock, and ſo they muſt do: Jer. 3.15. the promiſe is, I will give them Paſtors after my own heart, that ſhall feed them with knowledge and underſtanding: therefore, 1 Tim. 3.2. He that is a Paſtor, he muſt be able and apt to teach: he that is not able to feed a people with knowledge and underſtanding, he is not qualified for this office; feeding you know is a conſtant and a daily thing; he muſt ſupply them with new food from day to day, bring out of his Treaſury things new and old, Mat. 13.52.
Firſt he muſt be one that hath a Treaſurie, a ſtock to ſpend upon, that will not be ſpent or drawn dry. Secondly he muſt have all ſorts of knowledge, things new and old: what ever may be either profitable, or taking to the people, he muſt be furniſhed with: it is an alluſion, Par. obſerves of new and old wine: ſome are taken with old wine, and ſome deſire new; and ſome ſay, Give us both new and old: that is the knowledge of the Law, and of the Goſpel; or elſe it may be their meaning in new notions, and old experiences, and he muſt bring them forth alſo for the people (ſilk wormlike) weave it out of themſelves continually.
And the Paſtors duty in point of teaching is reduced to three heads.
Firſt, it is the duty of the Paſtor to catechize them, and inſtruct them in principles, in the foundations of the Doctrine of Chriſt; they that are unskilful in the word of righteouſneſs muſt have milk, Heb. 5.13. and ſo the Paſtors office is ſet forth, Gal. 6.6. foreign and foreign, he that is catechized in the word: and ſo he is to take care of the weak ones in the Church, and of the children of the Church-members, that they be inſtructed alſo.
Secondly, he is to lead them to perfection: Heb. 6.1. for their care muſt be to build them up further, Acts 20.32. not that they ſhould ſtand at a ſtay in knowledge, but grow in knowledge, that the whole connſel of God may be known to them, and the word of God may dwell richly in them; their knowledge praiſed, and thereby their graces improved; for the Paſtors are debters unto men for meat, as well as unto babes for milk.
Thirdly, they are to convince the gain-ſayers, Tit. 1.9. that if there be corrupt tenents, and wicked Doctrines vented, the Paſtor ſhould take care to ſtrengthen, and ſtabliſh the people againſt them, that they may not be as children carried away with every wind of Doctrine, Eph. 4.14. For it is whileſt men ſlept, through the careleſneſs and negligence of the Paſtors it is, that the enemies have ſuch power and opportunity of ſowing tares, as they have, Acts 20.30. he bids them watch againſt the Wolves.
Secondly, he is to pray for the people, Rom. 1.9. God is my witneſs, that I make mention of you alwaies in my prayers: Col. 1.3. praying alwaies for you: and in this, though Paul was an extraordinary officer; yet he is a ſtandard and an example for our duty; we are to pray for the people; and to do all that doth belong to them to do for the Church; and here conſider three things.
Firſt, they are to acquaint themſelves with the ſtate of the flocks, that ſo they may know their particular neceſsities and wants, that they may go to God for them for ſutable ſupplies: he that is a Shepherd, muſt know the ſtate of his flock.
Secondly, they are to pray for them not only ex charitate ut fratres, but, ex officio: the brethren are to pray for one another as brethren, it is their duty; but the Paſtors they are to do it as men in office, and as thoſe that God hath appointed, and hath inſtituted unto that work: and therefore they may expect to be anſwered for them, in what ever petition they put up to God: they may look for a gracious return of their prayers; as we ſee under the Law it was enjoyned, Joel 2.17. Let the Prieſts, the Miniſters of the Lord weep between the Porch and the Altar, and let them ſay, Spare thy people O Lord, &c.
Thirdly, they muſt pray for particular perſons according to their neceſſities, and engage their intereſt unto God for them: James 5. Is any ſick amongſt you? let them call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray, &c. Labouring to keep the Judgement off from the body of any particular member of it; if any man be ſick, the Elders of the Church may pray over him, and they ſhall ſave the ſick, and labour to attain the pardon of the ſins that occaſioned the ſickneſs, &c.
Thirdly, he muſt watch over them, Act. 20.28. Take heed of all the flock; not in a careleſs and a formal manner; for the Lord ſays, Son of man, I have made thee a VVatch-man, and thou ſhalt watch over this people, Ezech. For I will require their blood at thy hands; But how muſt he watch over them? Firſt he muſt obſerve diligently that they be not corrupted in Doctrine, and he muſt contend carneſtly for the faith, that they be not turned away from the Truths of the Goſpel. Secondly, he muſt watch over them that they be not defiled in their converſations, that there do no root of bitterneſs ſpring up amongſt them, that he neither ſuffer the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans, or the woman Jezebel: one by Doctrine, and the other by practiſe, to corrupt the Church.
Thirdly, he is to obſerve and watch that their graces do not decay: and that they do not fall from their firſt …ve; but he is to quicken them in duty, and ſtir them … from day to day, Eccl. 12.11. He is to faſten the goads and nails given by one Shepherd. Fourthly, if any be ſick he is to viſit them; the Elders of the Church are to be ſent to them. Fifthly, if any of them be offended, or miſ-led he is to labour to reduce them; the wandering ſheep he is to bring home upon his ſhoulders; if any be going aſtray, he ſhall ſeek that ſheep and bring him back again to the fold. Sixthly, if any be weak he is to comfort them; he is to bear the Lambs in his boſom, to mourn with them, and have compaſſion over them: and this he is to do not only for ſome of the great ones, but he is to do it impartially over all the flock: For God makes no difference in reſpect of any mans title, or place, but he that hath the beſt heart, is the beſt man in Gods account, and in Church members thoſe ſhould be eſteemed by us, that have the greateſt graces, not the greateſt places.
Fourthly, it is the Paſtors duty, if any man in the Church walk diſorderly or inordinately, he is to mourn for them, Jer. 13.17. My ſoul ſhall weep in ſecret for your pride: and Phil. 3.18. Now I tell you weeping, &c. Their miſcarriage ſhould be to him as the errors of a child unto a tender Father; he ſhould bewail them with bitterneſs; to conſider how they thereby go about to deſtroy themſelves, ſhould exceedingly affect the Paſtor; as Chriſt when he beheld Ieruſalems ſins he wept over it; and many times there is nothing left for a miniſter to do for a perſon but to ſhed tears.
Secondly, he is to admoniſh them, and that authoritatively, … Theſ. 5.12. Know them which labour amongſt you, and are over you, and admoniſh you in the Lord (that is) by vertue of the authority that is commited unto me by Chriſt, I do admoniſh you in the Lord: and this is to do a thing in the name of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, 1 Cor. 5.4. Yea reprove them ſharply: and ſo Paul doth propoſe it unto the Corinthians, Whither he ſhould come to them with the rod or in the ſpirit of meckneſs.
Thirdly, if nothing elſe will do, they muſt together with the Church, in which they are, have the main hand, they are to ſtir them up to caſt out ſuch a perſon, and to repreſent it to the Church according to the power that is committed unto them by Chriſt for the Churches edification, Rev. 2.3. they muſt not bear them that be evil, they muſt be caſt out; they ſhould look upon it as their Burthen, that any amongſt them ſhould deſerve to be caſt out from the Church, yet they muſt do their duty: this is the rule that they have over you in the Lord, Heb. 13.17.
Fifthly, they muſt walk as examples to the flock, 1 Pet. 5.3. Go before them in a holy life; 2 John 10. it is ſaid, Chriſt is the Shepherd, and he goes before the ſheep, and his ſheep do follow him; the meaning is, he went before them in a holy converſation; for he hath in all things given us an example: a Copy to write after, that we ſhould walk as he hath walked; Paſtors ſhould be a living Scripture, and walking Bibles, more then any other men; and yet ye are to take this as a rule, be you followers of us, as we are of Chriſt: and mark them who ſo walketh as they have us for an example, Philip. 3.17.
Secondly, for the diſpoſitions with which all theſe duties are to be done, which I will lay down in ſix particulars.
Firſt, from a tender love and care; God doth put this care of the flock unto thoſe whom he calls to be their Over-ſeers in mercy, and he doth give them graces ſutable, Paſtors graces, 2 Cor. 8.16. God did put the ſame care into the heart of Titus, Phil. 2.26. Epaphroditus, that was their Paſtor, he doth long for them exceedingly, and his love was ſo great, that he would not have them ſo much as grieved, and therefore he was ſorry that they had heard that he had been ſick: there was in the heart of our Lord Chriſt a Law of love written; thy Law is in the middle of my bowels; as there ſhould be a love amongſt the members, ſo in a ſpecial manner in thoſe that are Paſtors and Fathers to a people, their bowels ſhould yern over them.
Secondly, all this is to be done with the ſpirit of meekneſs; in a way of Miniſtry, and not in a way of Majeſty: For we are but your ſervants for Chriſts ſake: and we are not to rule as Lords over Gods heritage, 1 Pet. 5.3. and therefore pride, and imperiouſneſs, muſt be avoided; for all that we have to do is by the word, and we can rule no other way.
Thirdly, all things muſt be done without ſelf-reſpects, and to make a gain of the people; we muſt feed the flock not for filthy lucres ſake; that though the Paſtor is to eat of the milk of the flocks and though it be the peoples duty: 1 Cor. 9.14. God hath ordained that they ſhould: yet this is not to be the end propounded by the Miniſter or Paſtor unto themſelves: for them to have ſuch a low end as this, put me into the Prieſts office, that I may eat a piece of bread; no we are to ſeek you, and not yours: and to expect our crown of glory, at the appearing of the great Shepherd of the ſheep, 1 Pet. 5.9.
Fourthly, it muſt be with faith: and an expectation that God will in a ſpecial manner bleſs their endeavours and labours unto that people over which God hath put them: over which the holy Ghoſt hath made them overſeers: for with the call of God there doth go the bleſſing of God: and if God do put a man into any office, he may expect a bleſſing upon him in that imployment: he doth call Chriſt, and he doth promiſe him, the pleaſure of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hand: and Chriſt ſends forth the Apoſtles, and he promiſes to be with them to the end of the world Math. 28.19. the people are to expect a greater bleſſing by them becauſe God hath put them over them, Heb. 13.17. they watch for your ſouls: So the Miniſters alſo that go forth with faith to preach the Goſpel, the Lord will make them a bleſſing to the people where he ſends them.
Fifthly, it muſt be done as thoſe that give an account for your ſouls, that are the people committed to his care, Heb. 13.17. there are great accounts that men have to give for talents, and opportunities of doing good; and of Riches that God hath entruſted them with, and Honours, and the day of grace: but the greateſt account is that of ſouls, which are precious unto all thoſe to whom their own ſouls are precious: and as the Lord Jeſus himſelf comes in at the laſt day before the Father, Here am I and the children that thou haſt given me, Heb. 2.13. So alſo this will be the work of the Miniſtry at the laſt day, they will give an account of your ſouls: O what a great thing is it for a Miniſter to be able to ſay, I prayed for ſuch a ſoul: I inſtructed ſuch a ſoul; he was blind before, and God uſed me as an Inſtrument to convey light to him: I watched over ſuch a ſoul; for it is your ſouls only that we have to do with all: and its only with reference to your ſouls that we watch over you.
Sixthly, the Paſtors of a people do their duty, as thoſe whoſe crown of glory it will be at the laſt day, for us to deliver our flock well into the hands of the great Shepherd at the laſt day that he hath betruſted them with, 1 Theſ. 2.19.20. This is our glory and Crown of rejoycing: yea in the preſence of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt at his coming, &c. to ſee their graces thrive, their ſouls proſper, Chriſt gloried in it, he ſees the Travel of his ſoul and is ſatisfied: and it is a great ſatisfaction unto poor Miniſters in this particular alſo; and having given their charge ſafe into the hands of Chriſt, they ſhall then lay down the burden of their office, and they and their flock ſhall be made happy together; and though the particular relation ſhall ceaſe between them, yet ſhall they take more ſpecial comfort and communion one with another as Saints in glory for ever: their relation that they had to each other here, will ſweeten their glory hereafter.
Secondly, Now to make up this Order of the Goſpel, alſo there is a duty that the Members do owe unto their Paſtors that are in this manner choſen by them: and they are theſe.
Firſt, it is the peoples duty to pray for them, as thoſe that God ſets in authority over them: if your Paſtor prays for you as being over you, you ſhould alſo pray for him as being over you.
Firſt, pray for their gifts and abilities, to go through their duty the whole compaſs of it. Eph. 6.10. and for me, ſaies the Apoſtle, that utterance may be given unto me.
Secondly, for their preſervation. Rom. 15.30. That you ſtrive together in prayers, that I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea.
Thirdly, pray that they may have a ſanctified uſe of all their afflictions, and of all Gods diſpenſations, Phil. 1.19. I know that this alſo ſhall turn to my ſalvation through your prayers: when the prayers of Paſtor and people meet together at the Throne of grace each for other, it is exceeding acceptable to God.
Secondly, honour them in your hearts; let it be anſwerable to the honour Chriſt hath given them in the Congregation, 1 Theſ. 5.13. Know them and eſteem them highly in love for their works ſake: they are to look upon themſelves as your ſervants; and to look upon you as the Lords heritage, and that they are not Lords of the flock: they are not to know in that reſpect their own honour, as Moſes his face did ſhine; it was ſeen of others, but not of himſelf: but yet there is an honour that is due from you unto them alſo.
Thirdly, ſubmit unto them, or be perſwaded by them, Heb. 13.17. Attend upon their miniſtrie, as thoſe from whom you may expect a ſpecial bleſsing; though it may be they may not have ſuch great parts and gifts as others, yet they are thoſe that God hath ſet over you; and do you ſubmit to them: though they be in outward reſpects far inferiour unto you, yet as they are Paſtors, ſo they ſtand in Chriſts ſtead; for remember they are ſo by an Inſtitution; and ſo diſobedience unto them ſpeaking in the name of Chriſt, is a diſobedience unto Chriſt; he that hears you, hears me; and he that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth me; it is a very dangerous thing for a people to have their Miniſter go to God againſt them, and bewail the contempt that is put upon them, and ſay, Lord, thou haſt ſent me to a rebellious and gain ſaying people: Chriſt ſays to ſuch a one, Thou ſhalt kick the duſt of thy feet againſt them; it will be eaſier for Sodom, then it will be for that man in the day of Judgement.
Fourthly, encourage his labours: ſtrengthen his hands: ſtand by him, look upon your ſelves as concerned in all things that befall him, Phil. 2.26. Epaphroditus was ſick, and they were very ſenſible of it, though he were abſent from them; and he was willing to venture his life for the Churches ſervice; and indeed the labour is burdenſom, and continual; do what you may to make it eaſie to him, that he may undergo it with cheerfulneſs; For if he give up his account with grief, it will be unprofitable for you, Heb. 13.17. So if he do his work with grief alſo, it will be as unprofitable to you, as uncomfortable to him.
Fifthly, admoniſh him of what evil ſo ever you ſee in him; if he do not walk with a right foot towards the Goſpel: or be negligent in the performing of his office: ſay to him, Take heed to thy Miniſtry, Col. 4.17. It were a miſery for the greateſt officer to be exempted from that ordinance of admonition, which is a mercy to the meaneſt member: and yet be careful, do not take up every flying report againſt him: for there are no men ſo ſubject to the ſcourge of the Tongue as they are: but God as he will wipe all tears from their eyes, will alſo wipe off all blots from their name.
Sixthly, there is a ſupply which you are to make to their wants, and it is your duty to adminiſter unto them of your ſubſtance, according to your ability, Gal. 6.6. You muſt make him partaker of all good things: Firſt you muſt do it in obedience as an Ordinance of God. Secondly, it muſt be given proportionably to a mans ability, for it muſt be in all good things. Thirdly, not to think much of what you give them: if the miniſters of the Goſpel ſow ſpiritual things, why ſhould we count it a great matter if we let them reap of our carnal things? theſe things which are the truths that the Goſpel holds forth, as the Lord hath enabled me, I have endeavoured to give every one their portion, both Paſtor and people: what remains further in relation to both, as God gives opportunity I ſhall by his aſſiſtance ſet before you: I ſhall now beg your prayers that the Lord would teach me how to go in and out before you, that ſo I may be given you in mercy and not in Judgement.