Selected quad for the lemma: doctrine_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
doctrine_n	church_n	false_a	teacher_n	2,669	5	9.2889	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80847	The peoples need of a living pastor: asserted and explained in a sermon, preached Novemb. 4. 1656. At the sad and solemn funerals of that late, learned, pious and eminently hopeful minister of the gospel, Mr. John Frost, batchelor in divinity, late fellow of St. Johns Colledge in Cambridge, and pastor of St. Olaves Hart-steeet [sic], London. Together with a narrative of his life and death. By Z. C. minister of the Word at Botolph-Aldgate, London.	Crofton, Zachary, 1625 or 6-1672.	1657 (1657)	Wing C6997; Thomason E909_1; ESTC R207455	39,189	68

engaged ever on his Embassie and enjoying fellowship with the Father and the Son we may well think their Ministry must needs succeed unto that end mentioned 1 Joh. 1.3 That your fellowship may be with us and our fellowship is with the Father and Son and never can any lose by communion with Gods Ministers they are observant of all kindnesses studious of requital speaking the language of the man of God to the Shunamite Thou hast been careful for us with all this care what is now to be done unto thee 2 King 4.13 They have an affectionate spirit of prayer by which they obtain blessings of God for men they have authority and commission to blesse in the name of the Lord and that which is above all they have a tender Master that blesseth every family where Joseph dwels and every house of Obed Edom where the Arke abides that resents kindly every courtesie that is conferred on his Ministers promising a ministerial reward to a cup of cold water to them given and assuring that such as receive them receive him Mat. 10.40 You have seen that singularly good is the society of Gods Ministers now it is life only that gives liberty of this society there is no communion of persons nor communication of graces in the grave the dead know nothing saith Eccles 9.5 and when David was shut out of communion he counts himself as one among the dead death destroyeth all communicative power the living communicate not to the dead nor the dead to the living dearest relations when dead are not hence the qualifications with which friends are endowed and communion whilest living lie on surviving friends as a sad aggravation of their sorrow over their death Seeing then that death doth deprive of society so desirable and delightful so honourable and profitable when it takes from the Church a faithful Minister is it not much more needful that they abide in the flesh Reas 2 Secondly as the life of a faithful Minister is necessary for society sake so also in that it giveth liberty of service in and for the Church life is the principle of promotion and power enabling to every action and when death depriveth of it it puts a period to all proceedings in duty to God or service to his people It is the living the living that praise God and preach to his people but the dead make no mention of his name The Ministers of God are eminently serviceable and their service exceeding necessary to the Church of God whilest they do live they are qualified with parts and power for the good of the Church abilities and authority unto the administrations of Gospel ordinances for the edification of the Church of God and in generall they are of as much necessity to the Church of God as Labourers in harvest time Fishermen in a town or city Stars and glorious lights in their orbes Watchmen in a garrison of war Guides to pilgrims in a strange countrey Rulers in a Common-wealth Nurses nay Fathers in a family that if life giving liberty to these to be serviceable in their stations be needful to them then is it needful to the Church of God that Ministers abide in the flesh for the faithful Minister is qualified to all these offices given of Christ to these several ends and authorised to those intents and purposes and to many more which I cannot stand to mention but more particularly the faithful Minister is qualified for and authorised to these four especial acts of service which whilest he lives he performes to the good of the Church Curb the domineering of sin Contradict and convince of damning errors Counsel the dark and dubious soul to duty Comfort the desponding spirit in misery The first service of a living Minister is to curb the domineering af sin 1. Service of a living Minister sin is subtle and not easily detected and impudent and not easily restrained but the Minister is appointed to study the fallacies and detect the deceits thereof and is to rebuke with all authority that disorder and profaneness may be ashamed and blush nay and as they are hereunto appointed so they are qualified with wisdom gravity zeal meekness and power to this end sin is ordinarily ashamed and the sinner afraid of a faithful godly Ministers presence not only are the godly whose spirits are acted by supernatural grace awed by the observance and rebukes of their sin by a living Minister but many times those that are wicked disorderly and unruly void of the fear of God are restrained by his presence and ashamed that their sin should come to his cognizance It 's very observable to this purpose what is spoken of Joash the King 2 Chron. 24.2 He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the daies of Jehoiadah the Priest but in vers 17 18. when Jehoiadah was dead he left the house of the Lord God of his fathers and served Idols nay the losse of this good Priest was the losing of a bridle to a brutish profane spirit which now rushed into sin without any restraint untill he slew Zachariah his son The grand divisions and gross disorders and profanenesses which did arise in the Church of Corinth did generally spring from that pride and profane tumor which grew in Diotrephes and others on a sense of the Apostles absence and perswasion he would return to them no more as is evident in 1 Cor. 4.18 19. Some are puffed up as if I would not come unto you and 3 Joh. 9 10. We finde men have much need of that exhortation in Phil. 2.12 As ye have obeyed in my presence do it much more in my absence Ministerial presence doth by plain discovery piercing rebukes and powerful censures of and for sin much curb and restrain it filling the sinner with shame and many times constraining them to cry out as did the wicked conspirators against Athanasius they could not work their wickedness because of the good Bishop Ministers presence laying no less check on mens spirits and lusts then the fathers eye layeth on a wanton childe but when they are once dead then doth iniquity break out as a land floud and run with force and violence if Moses be but apprehended by the people as so gone that they look for him no more they will make Idol calves and cast off the worship of the true God Secondly As a living Minister doth curb sin so also he is serviceable to contradict and convince of damning errors in doctrine which destroy the very foundations of Christanity The constitution of Gospel Ministry gave a check to heathen oracles constraining the Devil to complain Christianity hinders his Oracles from speaking such is the skill of a faithful Minister in the discovery of the truth and dexterity to defend it to the stopping of the mouthes of the gainsayer and authority in warning the people against false doctrines and seducers that false teachers many times lie lurking in the bosome of the Church and dare

to chuse between my own happiness and your general good yet on the result of all I must confess with you that I abide in the flesh is more needful for you and I hope I shall so do The words then we finde to be an assertion of the necessity of a faithful Ministers life which is established by the peoples apprehension the Philippians plead it and the Apostles assent St. Paul he grants it and in this assertion we have two parts 1. The subject or matter that I abide in the flesh The predicate or thing asserted of it it is more needful for you For the explication of the termes we may enquire what it is to abide in the flesh And to this we must note that the flesh admits of various acceptations which I cannot now stand to mention but must desire you to note that in this place it signifieth natural life and present being in the flesh or in the land of the living and thus it is used 1 Cor. 7.28 and also of the natural life of Christ 1 Pet. 3.18 So that to abide in the flesh is to continue in the enjoyment of natural life and being to be freed from subjection unto death and annihilation it is a phrase answerable to that in 2 Cor. 5.6 At home in the body it is more needful for you the termes are comparative and relate to something before spoken the correlate to which they are to be referred are one of these two 1. The advantage that should accrue to the Gospel by the access of the Cross and then the meaning is this The Gospel will be furthered by my sufferings but much more by my life for that must be spoken of every where as the cause of my death yet when I have life and liberty to go up and down and preach in every place not only would Jesus Christ be mentioned but by my Apostolical parts and power be convincingly exhibited to your confirmation and many others conviction 2. Or the Correlate is the Apostles gain by dying under the Crosse of Christ thereby he should enjoy a personal plenary possession of Christ which is best of all and would be to him the height of happiness but they by his life would enjoy mediate communion with and much edification in Christ which would be the Churches very great advantage and to this I adhere for certainly the Churches good by a Ministers life counterballanceth his own good in his death and bringeth him into the Apostles straight what to chuse I shall not now stand to consider the words in their comparative sense but only positive as they are an assertion of the absolute necessity of a Ministers life and therefore shall gather up the meaning of the Text into this Doctrinal conclusion which I shall briefly prosecute Doct. The life of a Faithful Minister is a matter of great necessity to a Christian Church This Doctrine is an established truth from this very Text though it should no otherwise be argued for it is apprehended by the people and assented unto by the Apostle yet for the more full demonstration of it in this age wherein living Ministers are accounted needless burdens and many eminent Ministers are laid in the dust with little or no lamentation give me leave briefly to confirm it with these three arguments Gods esteem of Ministers lives The Devils envie at Ministers lives The Churches express experience of the necessity of Ministers lives Argum. 1 First of the first and it is the great esteem which God hath of his Ministers lives in reference to the Churches good certainly God best knowes the necessities of his Church and people he is the great father of the family that casts and careth for the necessities of his house and by his esteem the whole family may well be determined and as none may count that polluted and unclean which he hath called pure so may no man call that needless which he determineth needful and that the life of godly Ministers is by him esteemed in refefence to his Churches good may be many waies manifested Ministers in their discharges under the saddest events are unto God a sweet savour Patriarchas velit in tu●o esse quia sunt uncti deinde quia sunt Prophetae Mail. in loc yea though of death to wicked men 2 Cor. 2.15 in all the checks and charges he giveth to the world he provides for Ministers touch not mine anointed goeth not without and do my Prophets no harm Psal 105.15 Mollerus on this Text notes that the Ministry was the guard of the pilgrim Patriarchs And Piscator thence infers Piscator obser in Text. godly Ministers are hereby assured that God will save them from the tyranny of the men of the world nay when a Ministers life is hunted God will hide him and miraculously feed him as he did Elias by the Ravens and not wasting meal 1 King 17. And as God did express his esteem of his Ministers lives and persons under the Law he doth no less under the Gospel exceeding great is the doom that he threatens to such as disrespect his poor Ministers that deny them entertainment Mat. 10.14 15. Whosoever shall not receive you it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah then for that City abuse of Prophets highly provokes the violent shedding of their bloud and euding their lives is the very apex of impiety ripens a people for ruine 2 Chro. 36.16 they are so dear to God that if once they be abused his wrath ariseth till there be no remedy Eminent is that esteem that the Lord Jesus sets on the least courtesie that can be shewed a Minister he that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet shall have a Prophets reward Mat. 10.41 And every way remarkable are the delivering providences extended to and exercised about Ministers lives which are mentioned in sacred and Ecclesiastical story What shall we tell you of Peters delivery out of prison upon the prayers of the Church Act. 12.7 8 9 10 11 12. or of St. Paul's rescue from the cursed combination of the Jewes obliged by oath not to eat or drink untill they had killed Paul of which you read Act. 23. To which we might multiply many remarkable deliverances of Athanasius of Alexandria from the secret conspiracies and malicious open violence of the Arrians whilest Paulus Lucius and Georgius all Arrian Bishops perished who ever observed his dangers could have thought he should have continued Bishop of Alexandria 46 years Time fails to give an account of Austin of Chrysostom and many other of the Fathers whose dangers were death-threatning and to the eye of reason inevitable and yet they were delivered and what shall we say of Luther who drew on himself the enmity of all the Christian world that ever he should die in his bed and so also Calvin and almost all our reformers whose lives were followed after by Papal fury but preserved by God When I consider the heretical envie at

reformation not knowing what else to do he prayed that he might outlive him and hence Miconius was wont to say Luther's prayers preserved his life and Justus Jonas said Luther could in prayer have of God what he would and certainly none can observe the prayers put up for Gods Ministers in the day of their danger but must needs say O how do they love their Ministers and how needful did they apprehend their lives Thirdly As they provide for their safety and pray for their deliverance so also they praise God for and rejoice in it when obtained the life of a godly Minister is not more earnestly begged of God then thankfully received heaviness under want must needs fill with high joyes when obtained the past provision made and prayers put up for the life of a Minister must needs engage a very grateful receiving of them as from the dead even with an extasie of joy transporting their spirit that they know not well how to entertain them as the Damsel that found Peter at the door Act. 12. for joy left him knocking and could not open to let him in St. Paul sends Epaphroditus recovered from death-threatning sickness with speed that the sight of him the fruit of all their sighs and prayers may fill them with joy Phil. 2.28 The people of Alexandria and Constantinople did not with more complaints nor sounder cries part with their faithful Bishops Athanasius and Chrysostome when banished from them then they did with joy and acclamation receive them in their return and certainly their serious joy sensible praises solemn thanksgiving and general acclamations for the lives of godly Ministers are legible testimonies that on good experience they found that it was more needfull for them that they should abide in the flesh I have done with arguments that may prove the Doctrine and besides the Philippians apprehension and the Apostles assent it appears by Gods esteem the Devils envie and the Churches experience that the life of a faithful Minister is of great necessity to a Christian Church give me now leave to propound a reason or two of this necessity and I will close the Doctrine with a word of application The Reasons why a Ministers life is of such absosolute necessity to a Christian Church are many I may not insist upon them all I shall therefore render these two Reasons Life gives them liberty unto Society with the Church visible Service in and to the Church Reas 1 1. Life gives a Minister liberty of Society with the Church visible and the Saints of God here on earth and their society is exceeding sweet and comfortable eminently to be desired and embraced society of Saints that are common and ordinary is full of comfort and content how much more Ministers who are lights of an higher or be and stars of a greater magnitude who are elder brethren and special members in the body most supporting and useful to the body Never yet did any taste the sweetness and consider the comfort of Ministerial society but would freely entertain it and fervently desire it a faithful Shunamite will prepare a chamber 2 King 4.10 a bed a table a stool and a candlestick for the man of God to turn in that she may but have his company Act. 16. and a faithful Lydia will importune Paul to abide in her house Men naturally esteem at an high rate society with sacred persons hence the Heathen had their Orators but especially their Priests in high honour Micah thinks himself happy if he have but a Levite in his house Judg. 17.13 How much more is the society of Gospel Ministers esteemed by sincere Christians who consider the comfort of that relation in which they stand to sweeten their communion they are brethren and elder brethren and brotherly love must lead them to take pleasure in their company they are fellow servants of the same houshold and servants of more high employments then common Saints and how sociable are naturally servants in the same family But further they are fathers that beget them in Christ and care for their good and comfort well may Elisha then lament the loss of Elijah with a My father my father 2 King 2.12 and in a word they are husbands who espouse us unto themselves in Christ so that if the society of brethren the fellowship of a father to his children the company of an husband to an endeared wife be desireable the society of a faithful Minister is desirable to the Church Not only do faithful Ministers stand in a relation that should render their society desireable but are also singularly qualified with those things that may render their communion profitable and delightful for they enjoy a spirit of sense and sympathy under all the estates and conditions of their company they are ready to rejoyce when the people rejoyce and mourn when they mourn to make their condition as their own the Shunamites soul cannot be troubled in her 2 King 4. but Elisha the man of God will be affected with it and St. Paul declares in respect of his sympathy with the Churches of Christ the very care of all the Churches lay upon him Who is weak and I am not weak who is offended and I burn not 2 Cor. 11.28 Magis de ecclesiarum statu quam de suis periculis augebatur Theodosius the Emperor said of Ambrose Bishop of Millain that he cared more for the Church then for his own life and Beza in the life of Calvin saith he was no otherwise affected towards the Churches then if he bare them on his shoulders How much sweetness doth sympathy yeeld to friends and so make their society supporting each to other and as Ministers sympathize with the Church in their condition so they are stored with excellencies and endowments which they freely communicate unto such as accompany them as Christ their Master Ministers go up and down doing good Act. 10.38 they have parts above others gifts and graces beyond others experiences of humane infirmities and divine support more then others and they are free and willing to distribute wheresoever they come they well know these qualifications are not given to be kept private but to communicate unto others on this account they long for society with the Saints Rom. 1.11 I long to see you to the end I may impart unto you some spiritual gift to the end you may be established and they are ready to comfort others with the self-same consolations with which they were comforted themselves 2 Cor. 1.4 5. How ardently then should their society be desired by the Saints But further their society is honourable and profitable communion with a faithful Minister is neither base nor beggerly dishonourable nor disadvantageous they are company for Constantine no serious Christian King would be without the company of faithful Ministers God ever coupled the King the Priest together and indeed if we consider them invested with Christs authority immediately attending on his service

being and affectionate sorrow for their loss are the duties by which we witness with the Apostle that they abide in the flesh is more needful for the Church my next exhortation is to my brethren in the Ministry Exhort 2. to Ministers and to my self Let us so carry as to witness our sense that our death might be our gain but life our peoples advantage our affection towards the Church for whose good we are appointed must not only bring us into a straight what to chuse but must cast the scales of our thoughts and constrain us to say and confess that it is more needful for them that we abide in the flesh To this end we must 1. Carefully preserve our lives for the Churches good not casting our lives away it is indeed true if the cause of Christ and the Gospel call for them Act. 20.24 we must not count our lives dear but readily lay them down but yet our care must be to preserve our lives in the due use of all lawful means and prevent where we can do it without sin our sufferings and death and that we must do with the more care for the Churches good 2 Conscionably lay out your lives for the Churches good not sparing our pains in our Ministerial duties for fear of hastning our end the Ministery is the end of our life and our life is the only time of our work let us therefore work and that with diligence the night is coming when we cannot work it is good to check our fainting in Gods work through fear of approaching death with the answer of famous Dr. Rainolds nec propter vitam vivendi perdere finem and say with the Apostle 2 Cor. 12.15 we are willing to spend and be spent for you we are lamps lighted up that we may be wasted in giving light to others now that God hath taken off another painful labourer the work lieth the more heavy on our hands let us not loyter but improve lively the time and the strength we do enjoy lest our studies affections and endevou●s be anticipated by our death sed verbum sat sapienti Lastly I shall speak a word Exhort 3. to the Parish and but a word to you of this Parish and Congregation on whom in special God hath made the breach by the death of this reverend and learned Minister Mr. Fenten and Mr. John Frest within these two years God hath removed two very eminently hopeful instruments of his glory and his Churches good you cannot but see the footsteps of a furious God in these sad providences I pray God sanct●fie them to you and let me intreat you as convinced of the truth of the Doctrine and in special that it had been more needful for you that this your reverend and hopeful Pastor had abiden in the flesh carefully to discharge these duties Direct 1 1. Lament your lesse it is great to the Church it is greater to you your particular edification under his Ministry made him a blessing to the body you were objects of his especial care study and qualifications and constant subjects of his able and holy administrations of the Mysteries of God and salvation if he be layed to heart abroad and not lamented at home it will be the scandal of his name but the sin and shame of your souls But some may be ready to object and say Sir Why should we so much lament the losse of this Minister he was but a man as we are and must die and though he be gone we can soon get another Answ This objection is too full of stupidity and profaneness to deserve an answer yet let me say to it thus much 1. Though the temptation be common he was a man and mortal yet the breach is present you are a people without a Pastor your shepherd is smitten and you must needs be scattered were it not a stupidity would make nature blush to see a wife senslesly nay and sensually interre a deceased husband rendring this reason that he was mortall she may have another so God loseth the end and effect of the present smart and breach 2. Pitiful distractions and divisions may overtake you before you enjoy another Mr. Carter since dead when you were to fix one on the late resignation of a Minister you know what distractions and divisions you run into before you did agree in this your late Minister you did agree I pray God his death do not subject you to new divisions 3. You may obtain another but not easily such another Mr Frost was not ordinary as you shall hear anon you lie open to seducers Wolves in sheeps cloathing among us abound and may if not wisely prevented become your leaders unto ruine nay you may enjoy a lawful and pious Minister but he may want Mr. Frosts parts and prudence learning and piety 4. It is not with souls as with calves that change of pasture should make them fat Botolph Aldgate Sept. 15 1656. but of boyes change of School-masters make them backward in their learning it was his own note at my Church in the late morning exercise the word preached doth not profit because the hearer keeps not fixed to the preacher another must study your temper and disposition lay foundation work for Catechising and principling in Religion before he proceed to edifying dispensations this he had done intending to leave principles and carry you forward if God would but it is evident God will have you yet back again If then you are any way sensible of Gods hand and serious in reference to your own good you see cause to lament your loss Direct 2 Let your lives and conversations now he is dead witness that it had been more needful for you that he had continued in the flesh your union in him your resorting to him your acceptance of him and attendance on his Ministry did witness the necessity of his life among you there now wants the piety of your lives as an evidence of your proficiency in grace under his Ministry to witness it let me tell you Christians he did travel in birth to have Christ formed in you he studied the keeping of your affections for the good of your souls he delighted in your free and forward attentions to his Ministry it was his comfort on his death-bed So much he did declare that he had preached to you the Doctrine of the Scriptures and your duty to search them from Joh. 5.39 for he believed it seized on your hearts as he preached take heed you do not frustrate his hope and witness to the world you loved to hear him but would not do what he said when he shall meet you in the judgement of Jesus Christ how heavy will it be to you that he shall see you deceived his hopes and he laboured in vain among you your practice on what he preached will make all to say What pity was it Mr. Frost lived not longer at the Crouched Fryers 3.

to be ashamed His publique Acts at this years publique Commencement wisely dividing the word of truth and witnessing to all his prositing in his past studies In his publique Act he exhibited a very learned and judicious Thesis in defence of that Principle against the contrary errors of the Church of Rome Fides justificat sub ratione instrumenti And disputed against the Arminian fancy in defence of that Principle Cognitio naturalis non sufficit ad Salutem Both which Theologicall questions he handled very copiously and asserted with much plainnesse and strength of Argument and defended them both with much acutenesse and learning against the acurate and knotty objections of the learned opponents His sharpness in dispute the which he did not evade but fully resolve with much judgement and many times retort with much ingenuity manifesting himself to be an accurate Disputant and able Convincer of Gainsayers to the truth as well as a profound and well read Divine He was not constrained to answer with a Reverende Professor ingenue confiteor me non posse respondere huic argumento and so to crave the clemency of the Professor in the obtainment of his Degree nor yet was he with Melancthon reduced to a Cras tibi respondebo but managed the whole dispute to admiration of all Auditors and abundant satisfaction of the whole University obtained his Degree with high applause and approbation being discharged from his Act by the Reverend Professor Dr. Love that magnum Academia ingenium with a Descende onustis laudibus Thus then you have seen how this hopefull Plant grew in Academicall Air and Soil unto a very great maturity that now the Church of God could not but expect to gather fruit in great abundance by his ministeriall endeavours in the midst of them And this leads me to commend to you the third capacity in which he was admirably commendable viz. his Ministry The Ministry was his aim His entrance into the Ministry and the ultimate end of all his studies it came not to his thoughts à posteriori as a recompence of his past study and piece of preferment into which his spent time gave opportunity and advantage to leap but à priori as the Goal unto which all his time studies and endeavours must run and that employment in which all other rejected he would live and serve his generation and to which all his time and diligence must mature and ripen him hence sprang his sighing prayers in his Childhood Oh that God would make me a Minister and fit me for the Ministry And this made Divinity the byasse of all his learning and reading his Ministry was the Mistresse on which all other Arts and Sciences did attend as Hand-maids and yet herein his desires were commanded by discretion that he might not make more haste then good speed so as that he did not rashly leap from his Rustick Study and School-form into the Church Pulpit nor as many wild hasty youths in this licentious age did he esteem his Matriculation into the University his ordination unto the Ministry but wisely studyed the skill of this profound Mystery and stored himself with all learning that might mature him for this employment and took the honour of his diligence the Degrees of Batchelour and Master of Arts and wore the Livery thereof some time before he durst be ordinarily seen in a Pulpit And when he would begin to go and trie his Ministeriall strength he did not as many run giddily into Countrey Churches but leans on his Mothers arm preacheth in the University sometimes in the Colledge and sometimes in the Town and in both he approved himself well accomplished for preaching work and gained much of approbation and encouragement and finding himself fitted in some good measure for his Masters work his spirit waxed hot and provoked him hoc agere to Church work and setting himself most seriously to it he took himself to Bennet Church in Cambridge where for two years space he preached to the great satisfaction and profit of his hearers with much solidity and and affection And here he became famous as a Preacher and a Teacher of Christianity as well as a Tutor in Philosophy His fame herein extended unto London and in speciall to Crowched Friers who were desirous to enjoy him but being among themselves divided had Mr. Fenton an hopefull pious man put upon them who lived but a very short season before he was removed by the same distemper that took off Mr. Frost On his death their affections revived towards Mr. Frost they chose him to be their Minister he accepted the choise and place came among them with generall acceptance of the people and set his hand seriously and indeed to the Plow intending never to look back And as a Starre now fixed he sent out his beams of light with freedom and began to be eyed by all Ministers and people in this City But ah alasse he shinea too bright to continue long but here he did approve himself a man eminently accomplished for the work of the Ministry By the graces of his mind Gift of utterance or expression Glory of life and conversation Ministeriall qualifications First 1 Qual he was admirably accomplished for the Ministry by the graces of his mind which were all ministeriall and he enjoyed them in an ample measure Seven especiall ministeriall graces were the Pearls that put a lustre on his ministerial Crown He was 1. Sound in the faith 1 Minist Grace and well studyed in Polemicall Divinity able to assert the truth and contradict nay convince the Gainsayer holding fast the form of sound words to the establishment of the peoples faith and in speciall against Popish and Arminian fancies a testimony of which his Theologicall Disputes gave to the University and a taste thereof he gave the Church of God in his Sermon about three weeks since preached at St. Gregories by Pauls where he asserted very judiciously Gods free Grace against mans free will in the work of our sanctification to the disturbance of many of the Disciples of this grace-darkening Doctrine Some of them as he himself told me came to his house to catechise or rather to correct his Doctrine there delivered but on discourse with him acknowledged their mouths to be stopped they knew not what at present to answer Oh how sad is the losse of an Orthodox Minister in an heterodox age of the Church of God! 2. Singular in practicall Divinity pressing duties with powerfull and perswasive reasons rebuking sinne with much skill in the detection of it and severity in dehortation from it discreetly directing to all Christian corversation as became Gospell profession prudently dismissing all scruples of Conscience that might darken or obstruct our passage He was well acquainted and apted for the resolution of cases of Conscience unto the cheering and quickening of the spirits of Gods people in their holy course A testimony hereof he gave his people in his constant

preaching Octob. 12. and a tast to the City in generall in his Sermon preached at Pauls before the then Lord major and Court of Aldermen in which with singular dexterity he shewed the severall reasons of peoples not profiting by the Gospell preached the which he amplified and further prosecuted at the morning exercise in my Church Octob. 15. to the abundant conviction counsell and comfort of many of the people of God 3. Stout in fundamentalls of Doctrine or practise but sober and submisse in circumstantials Foundations of faith and the unity of the Church were very dear to his soul and high in his esteem The skepticall shakings of the one and schismaticall distractions of the other sate as sad burthens on his spirit With strength and much resolution would he contend for essentialls of salvation and things that must be beleeved he would often presse his people to hold without controversie noting it to be the shame of Christianity to lay the Creed open to common disputes And very studious he was to cement differences among brethren slow he was in censures but free in rebukes of and complaints over brethrens distance Earnestly he desired and studiously endeavoured an union between Episcopall and Presbyteriall Divines in things relating to the discipline of the Church many times he hath in my hearing lamented the want of Discipline and observed the animosity of both as no mean hinderance to its restitution 4. Solicitous to do every duty not doing the work of the Lord negligently or to halfs as too many do He could not content himself with edifying preaching but was also carefull to administer the Sacraments for the souls strength and support and was studious to discharge Catechizing work to which he had prepared his people by some Sermons on Psal 110.139 The entrance of thy words giveth light it giveth understanding to the simple nay not only did he preach catechize and administer Sacraments and do publique work but also made much conscience of private visitation of and conference with his people especially when sick he stayed not to be sent for by any other messenger then the Bill by which the prayers of the Church were desired 5. He was zealous and fervent he ever steered his checks and and counsels by sobriety but suffered not his spirit to fall into tepidity and lukewarmnesse His reproofs were ever awakening and to that end many times in particulars his exhortations ardent and affectionate as if Christ had intreated by him though his Doctrines were delivered with his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 milder expressions yet his application was enforced with his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more eager and earnest affections many times boyling over into holy passions as one sick of love and travelling in birth till Christ were formed in the soul 6. Circumspect and wise he prudently pondered all circumstances that might make admonition acceptable having respect to nature temper disposition not dealing with mild David as with profane and obdurate Saul his reproofs were ever pinching to the Conscience but not provoking the spirit plain and positive against the sinne but not personall to discredit the sinners In a word his whole preaching did run so even on the wheels of Circumstances that they were as the words of the wise Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver 7. Sensibly affected with the worth of Souls This was the spring of his motion and spurre to all ministeriall action many times he would aggravate ministeriall charge to his own spirit and to his brethren with an It is cura animarum He much rejoyced in the peoples acceptance of and attendance on his Ministry saying I hope it will do their souls good In any thing that he was to perform he would ponder its necessity and prudently cast with himself how to make it consist with his peoples affections saying often If their hearts be once set against me my Ministry will do their souls no good And indeed his zeal and sedulity in the whole course of his Ministry did witnesse that knowing the terror of the Lord he did perswade men and soul-salvation was the greatest thing he designed You see then by these seven qualifications that his spirit was well stored with graces fuitable to his office And now to the end they might be serviceable God had blessed him with the gift of utterance which is the next thing considerable in his accomplishment to the Ministry 2 Minist qual this is the Churches great advantage and therefore prescribed as the matter of the peoples prayer Eph. 6.19 Col. 4.3 And this is that by which all the parts and high endowments of a Minister are drawn out to the refreshing of the Church of God and herein he was well qualified for whatever he preached was 1. Engraven on his mind by meditation and imprinted on his memory by method he ever noted a straitned Tongue to be the proper effect of a loose and idle mind and rude indigested expressions to spring from raw notions and non-convincing apprehensions He spake much in commendation of Demosthenes care for the Athenians to consider before he spake ever noting unstudyed Sermons to be dull and obscure in the delivery dead and unprofitable in the sequell and issue 2. Expressed with ease power and plainnesse ease to himself Pulpit discourse was no toil or burden to him he had hot affections uttered high expressions without much sweating or inflaming labour his preaching passed from him so freely that the hearer might find he took pleasure in it he was plain in the expression of most profound points in Divinity even to the weakest capacity of his hearers It was a happinesse not ordinarily incident to Academicks that he that had been so long conversant in School terms should speak terms common to the meanest understanding but he ever concluded it was the best Oratory which was the easiest to be understood Power did ever accompany his plain expressions though his words were the words of a man yet the majesty of the matter was manifested in them pierceing the soul pricking the Conscience stirring the affections and provoking the hearers to crie out Of a truth God is in him 3. Enforced with pressing words and patheticall affections evidencing his end in preaching to be as well to perswade the heart as engage the ear and therefore he spake not coldly or as one asleep or indifferent of prevailing but with feeling and fervor as one whose entreaties assault with violence and would neither be refused nor evaded You see the graces of his mind and his gift of utterance give no small lustre to his Ministeriall Crown but it sparkles most in the glory of his conversation which was every way answerable to his other endowments and won much with his people and those with whom he did converse for his carriage was 1. Courteous and affable unto all men with due respect to superiors equalls or inferiors which rendred him acceptably sociable unto all emboldening many to come to him