office be instant in season and out of season that is the time In season to them that will out of season to them that will not How reproove exhort correct with al long-suffring and doctrine that is the manner And this duty Christ enjoyned Peter vnto Ioh. 21.1 he sayth not be thou a Pastour or a Bishop or a Prelate but feede thou because many Pastours in name are but idoles in deede which either devoure them or fleece them Mat. 9.3 but feede them not Therefore sayth Christ the harvest is greate and there are what few few Prelates few ministers or few learned men no but there are few labourers few workemen Wherevnto serveth that of the Apostle If any man desireth the office of a Bishop or a minister he desireth a good worke a good dutie not a good dignitie not a good delight not good riches not good revenews but a good worke And to this end were Aaron and his sonnes anointed not onely to be Preists to the Lord and to stand as many do like Cyphres in Augrum but to execute the Preist-hood and as the phrase is often repeated to serve in the Preists office before the Lord. So that a minister must not onely be skilfull in his ministerie but faithfull and diligent and painefull in his ministerie and consider the faithfulnes of Iacob in keeping Labans sheepe I was saith he consumed with heate and the frost by night and my sleepe departed from mine eyes If he be so carefull for Labans sheepe how much more carefull watchfull should we be for the sheepe of Gods fold and feare neither the pinching cold of adversitie nor the parching heate of persequuting Tyrants to procure their good 1. Chr 18 14.15.16 We may reade in the booke of Chronicles that in Davids howse there were Officers appointed to everie charge particular Officers for his treasures for his sheepe for his vines c. that no man should be oppressed with too great charge but that everie man should be carefull and faithfull in his place So in Gods howse hath he appointed particular officers And what are Davids treasures to the Lords Gods treasure is Davids heart and Davids treasure but dust David himselfe one of Gods sheepe and Davids sheepe simple beasts David is a branch of Gods vine and Davids vines but vanitie â—se 2. Then this is just reproofe to all such to whome the Lord hath given gifts fit to teach yet are negligent and idle and slothfull and will not teach being like faithles Capteines who receive continuallie the Lords pay and yet never fight the Lords battailes whose knowledge is wrapt vp in an idle braine without practise as Goâ—â—ahs sword in cloth without use 2. sam 12.5 Prov. 11.26 If the people curse him that with-drawes his Corne from the market how much more shall they be cursed who by keepeing the corne of Gods word from the congregation of his people bring vpon themselves so fearefull a sinne Who when as they should by preaching the word distill on the people as the dew vpon the grasse and as the raine vpon the hearbes like clowdes which sweate themselves to death vanish away in vanitie like brests without milke and clowdes without water who when they should in the wombe of the church begett many children of glory to God deserved to be fined of our Gouvernours as the old and single men of Rome were by their Censors cast out because they brought no children to the common-wealth And now hearken what the Lord saith to the idle of idole shephearde Thus saith the Lord God vnto the shepheards of Israel that doe feed themselves Ezek. 34.2 should not the shepheards feed the flockes therefore saith the Lord I wil come against the shepheard and will require my sheepe at their hands and his blood that dieth without warning will I require at the watch-mans hands For what should the Porter sleepe when the theefe seekes to enter Or the Pilot be careles when the ship is in danger Or the Capteine secure when the enimie is at hand Or the minister be negligent when his people be ignorant and like to perish for want of vision and the devill readie to destroye at all advantages Far be it for what were this but even to betraye Gods people into the hands of Pirats theeves and robbers But what shall we say to them that have a cure of soules in one place and live in another like fugitive Capteines forsake their Ensigne and Company at Barwicke flee to Dover who being with Ionah commanded for Niniveh sâ—â—e to Tarâ—hish who being placed in the countrie run to the universitie Who leave their charge as the Ostrrich doeth her Eggs in the earth Job 39.17 and sands forgetting that either the soote might scatter theÌ„ or the wild beast breake them shewing her selfe cruel to her yong ones as if they were not hers is with feare as if shee travailled in vaine Or at the least leaved her eggs as the Cueâ—ow doeth to be hatched of a sparron or some other bird Do they not every howre feare lest God should meete theÌ„ where they are hast vnto theÌ„ as Eliab did to David 1. sam 17.28 why camest thou downe hither with whome hast thou left those few sheepe in the wildernes Or feare they not lest that befall them which befell David who when he fought Gods battailes as the sworne Capteine of God was secured from the ambushes of Satan and fortified against the corruption of his owne nature but when he gave vp the administration to others without just cause and sate himselfe downe to rest in Ierusalem and was not resident in his Campe then was the H. Ghost not resident in his heart but he fell into those grosse sinns of adulterie and murder Or lastly feare theise not lost in their absence their unlearned and for the most part ungodly Vi-Curates should bring a great sinne consequently a great punishment as Aaron the first Vicar of the Synagogue as Parisiensis calleth him tho a Vicar of Gods owne chusing brought on Israel who when Moses had ben absent from them but onely fourtie dayes and not as he doeth add in the Court with a Prince nor in the Pallace with a Bishop but in the mount with God at his returne he found the fooles of Israel dauncing a Morice-dance about a Caife Consider then how ignorance irreligious poperie and prophanenes creepeth into the charges of those men who are absent not fourtie dayes onely as Moses was but fourty weekes together not with God in any calling of his as the same Moses in the mount but like enough either in the Court or in the Pallace as was spoken before out of Parisiensis or els where regarding little their duty Gods glory or the peoples gooe And to theise may be added those who seeking their owne and not that which is Iesus Christs are content to live and waxe rich with the spoyle of the church and
a-sleepe because the Colossians did not awake him Thus the ministers have neglected their dutyes because you have not said to them as heere the Colossians must say to Archippus take heed to the ministerie c. Say to Archippus The Colossians must admonish Archippus and Archippus must be content to be admonished of the Colossians Therefore The minister must not refuse to be admonished Doct. 1. put in mind of his dutye by the people whome he should teach but as it is his dutie to teach others so he must shew himselfe teachable and willing to be instructed of others still remembring though honourable his calling be excellent his authoritie great his power yet he is not exempted from lawes nor priviledged from the admonition of his people but both may and when occasion is offered must be admonished even of them that are as inferiour to him as the Colossians were to Archippus 2. Kings 5 As when Elisha commanded Naaman to wash himselfe seven times in Iordan he turned about in a snuffe went away in displeasure but his servant came vnto him and said Father if the Prophet had commanded thee a greater matter wouldst thou not have done it how much more when he saith vnto thee wash and be cleane Then went he downe washed himselfe 2. Kings 5.13.14 and was clensed Surely if this noble man had disdeined the admonition of his servant he would have continued a leaper still and had never been cleensed so if the ministers in the pride of hearte should scorne the admonition of their poore Parishioners surely they should continue negligent still and would never be reformed Therefore as he with a good hearte endured the voyce of his servants and did as they counselled him So shall it be good for you men and brethren as many as are negligent in your duties to heare the admonition of your people and to obey them Moses that man of God though indued with the H. Ghost though magnified with the guift of workeing wonders though acquainted with policie and managing matters of state as may seeme by his bringing vp in Pharaohs courte yet disdeined he not to be better instructed in the manner of good government by Iethro Exod. 18.17 inferiour to himselfe The eye cannot saye to the foote I have no neede of thee nor the head to the hand I have no neede of thee nor the Pastour to the people in matter of admonition I have no neede of you Away then with that proud haughtie and disdeinfull mind that is not ashamed to be negligent in his ministerie and yet scorneth to be admonished of his people and to be put in mind of his ministerie awaye then with theise scornefull speeches the very signes tokens of a proud hearte shall I be reprooved by him or shall a taylour or shooe-maker come and tell me my dutie a hatter or mercer or such like admonish me of my ministerie why I doubt not but among theise Colossians there were both taylours and shooe-makers and of most occupations and yet doeth Paul will them to tell Archippus of his dutie without doubt he would faine have Archippus contented there withall Therefore let vs of the ministerie send home this pride to the Eldest sonne of pride the beast of Rome Vse that man of sinne that child of perdition whoe sitteth in his chaire of mischeife mooveth like an oracle and both thinketh in his heart and speaketh with his mouth that no man may say to him Domine quid it à facis Sir why doe you thus let vs rather remember that Apollos though an eloquent man mightie in the scriptures though fervent in spirit and a diligent Preacher yet he refused not to be taught more perfectly the waye of the Lord by Aquila and Priscilla Act. 18 25.26 an handy craft man a poore tent-maker nay of Priscilla a woeman and wife of Aquila And if he was contented to be taught instructed of them in his dutye let none of vs disdeine to be admonished or stirred vp in his dutye by those that are committed to our charge Thus much of the persons admonishing and such as are to be admonished now of the admonition it selfe Take heede to the ministerie which thou hast received in ye Lord. This ministerie which he must take heede vnto conteineth all the dutyes of the ministers of God which may be referred to theise generall heads Mat. 28.19.20 First to the preaching of the word Goe pteach the Gospell have a care and regard that all the commandements be kept teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commande you Secondly to the administration of the Sacraments Baptizing them in the name of the Father the Sonne and the H. Ghost Thirdly to private inspection by reprooveing Sinners by admonishing exhorting by comforting the afflicted those which are cast downe all to this end that the elect whome sinne hath loosened disjoynted from Christ their head may be restored to their place againe joyned both to Christ their head by the Spirit and one to another by love which is it Paul speakes of Ephes 4.12 That also saith he the bodie of Christ may be edified and built vp and come vnto a perfect man in Christ Which shall then be when all the elect shal be gathered together by the ministerie of the word which the Apostle there calleth the worke of the ministerie not an idlenes but a worke not a lordlines but a ministerie This dutye may further be seene by the titles which are given to the ministers in the Scriptures Ephes 4. â—â— They are Pastours and therefore their dutye is to feede the people of God that dependeth vpon them 1. Cor. 3.9 They are Husband-men and therefore in duty must till Gods ground and sowe his seede 〈◊〉 1.17 They are VVatchmen and therefore must give the people warning of ensuing danger â— Cor 4.1 They are dispencers of the mysteries of God to deliver that to the people which they have received of him Called stewards of Gods howse 〈◊〉 12. â— and therefore must give everie man his portion of meate in due season They are the light of the world Mat. 5.14 and therefore their duty is to shine forth by heavenly doctrine to enlighten Gods people They are the Salt of the earth Mat. 5.13 and therefore their dutie is to season with wholesome doctrine the weake soules that bend to corruption They are builders 1. Cor. 3.10 and therefore must edifie the body of Christ the howse of God They are Captaines Heb. 13.17 and therefore it is their part to fight Gods battailes and as good leaders and cheifeteines to instruct Gods people well in this spirituall warfare They are called Embassadours Eph. 6 2â— and therefore their dutye is to declare Gods message to the people And all this is but their ministerie now for the fullfilling and dis-charge of this ministerie two things are required First Knowledge Secondly
faithfullnes First that he be able and secondly that he be carefull and diligent to teach Gods people Concerning the first the minister of God must not be onely as a Spence or store-howse wherein God hath layd vp knowledge as a good howse-holder doeth Corne in a garner signified by that in the Prophecie of Malachie Mal. 2.7 that the Preists lips must preserve knowledge and for want thereof God hath divorced him from the honour of the ministerie and hath pronounced him to be no Preist for him because thou hast refused knowledge Hos 4.6 I will also refuse thee thou shalt be no Preist to me But he must have the wisdome of a wise steward Luc. 12.24 that knowes how to give Gods children or howsehold their portion of meate in due season as Christ speakes ministring milke to those that are but babes and yonglings in Christ and strong meate to those of riper age 2. Tim. 2.15 He must be one that can divide the word of truth aright being as skilfull in divideing the word of God as the Levites were in cutting a broad the beast for sacrifice whence that phrase of divideing the word seemes to be borrowed He must not onely be learned himselfe 1. Ti. 3.2 but which is more apt and fit to teach others as Paul speakes This skilfulnes of the minister in teaching others was signified in the old Testament not onely by that urim Thummim on the brest-plate to signifie his knowledge and holines Ex. 28.30 but also by the bells which did hang on the skirts of the Preists garments Ver. 33. meaning as by the Pomegranates he should smell sweetely with the odours of a good life so by the bells that he should sound vnto others by preaching of true doctrine by the sound of which bells he was to be heard when he went into the holy place when he came out vpon paine of death And what els in the N. Testament did the H. Ghost in the likenes of tongues signifie he descended vpon the Apostles not in the likenes of hands Act. 2.3 whereby to overcome the world by wordly feare nor of feete whereby to flee from the rage of persequuting ennimies nor of eyes and eares fitt instruments to learne but in the likenes of tongues to teach the people their dutye in being the tongues of God to them And what els doe all their names declare being so many arguments to enforce this pointe For how can they be called light if being darke themselves they cannot send out the blaze of true th to enlighten others Or salt of the earth if being vnsavourie themselves they cannot season preserve Gods people from sinne and corruption Or Pastours if they cannot feede the flocke of Christ with the foode of life Or Husband-men and cannot plowe Gods ground and sowe his feede Or Stewards if they cannot or doe not rule his howsehold Or Messengers and Ambassadours if they cannot speake in his name and declare his message and ambassage vnto his people Or builders if they cannot build vp Gods spirituall howse Or Capteines if they knowe not how to fight Gods battailes Neither let any man thinke that if a minister be able to reade he hath sufficient knowledge Mat. 9.36 and that bare readers are sufficient ministers Christ greived to see the multitude dispersed as sheepe without Shepheards and yet had they Moses read in their Synagogues even every Sabaoth day and the Prophets as may be gathered by Luke in the Acts. Act. 13. Implying that readers were no sufficient Pastours for els the Iewes in their Synagogues as we have in our churches had not ben without Pastours and so not so miserable as he greived they were when he considered what was requisite in a minister namely to bring back that which is gone a straye and to preserve from daunger to heale the broken to bind vp the wounded and the like For which cause he sends his Apostles by their preaching to performe that which they by their reading could not doe And if to have the law and the Prophets read had been enough then had the Iewes knowne Christ for Moses wrote of him Ioh. 5.39.46 Ioh. 5.39 46. And among the Prophets Esay so plainely that Ierome sticks not to call him an Evangelicke and yet the noble-man when he read Esay could not vnderstand Act. 8.30.31 but he was in neede of Philip to come preach vnto him and to instruct him And if this instruction did not neede but that the ignorant by bare reading might vnderstand the meaning of the word which yet is impossible yet theise of greatest knowledge may and often be so overtaken and surprized with passions infirmities that they have neede of others by applying of the word to heale their diseases Whither Moses were read in Davids time we cannot certainely affirme yet certaine it is that David whose whole delight and study was in the law of God as appeares Psal 119. was well skilled therein so that his knowledg would serve him to conclude that he hath committed murder and adulterie and as sure as God lived was the child of God and yet he had need of Nathan to applye this word vnto him and to tell him he was the man 2. sam 12. So that we see how necessarie it is that a minister should have not knowledge to read onely for that children and woemen have but to preach and also to apply the word to the soules and consciences of the hearer Vse The more lamentable is the state of the church in whome-soever the fault lieth whither in them that should provide sufficient living and will not as it is in some Parishes or in them that should make sufficient ministers and doe not as in some Bishops or in them that should present able Pastours and care not as in some Patrones But in whomesoever the faulte is lamentable is their state that are yet as sheepe without a shepheard as an army of simple Souldiours without a conducteur If the estate of Israel was in danger when through the tyrannie of the Philistines even in the dayes of battaile there was neither speare nor sword found in the hand of any of the people but onely in the hand of Saul and Ionathan how not dangerous 2. sam 13.22 but almost desperate is the estate of any thousands of our people who not onely themselves are vn-armed of the knowledge of God but even Saul Ionathan toe even the leaders and Commanders want the armour of God and skill how to vse it even the ministers themselves want the knowledge of Gods word and skill how to preach it Numb 4.2 What marvell then though the people perish The Lord commanded that the Arke should be carried by none but Levites for so he speaketh and David repeates it none saith he ought to carry the Arke of the Lord but the Levites 1. chro 15 2. For the Lord had chosen
AARONS BELLS A-SOVNDING In A SERMON tending cheiftly to admonish the ministerie of their charge duty Preached by M. SAMVEL HIERON at a generall visitation neere Bristow And now published by them to whom his coppy was entrusted after his death Mal. 2.1 And now ô Preists this Commandment is for you PRINTED 1623. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER IT was said of old Ier. 23.15 that from the Prophets of Ierusalem was wickednes gone forth into the whole land And it may be said as truly this day that the Sinns of the ministers have infected the whole Estate Now indeed by the rule of the Gospel it must needs be so If the light saith our Saviour which is in thee mat 6.23 be darknes how great is that darknes If the calling which should give direction to others be it selfe corrupted how great must that corruption be If the founteine be poysoned all that drinke thereof must needs be in danger I am by the mercie of him that hath called me a Christian therefore cannot but even honour the feete of Gods messengers I am a minister Rom. 10.15 and also am bound to mainteine the credit of the calling but let my tongue cleave to the roofe of my mouth rather then I shoule use it to the licking over those sores which except they be launced to the quicke and searched to the bottome can never be cured And wretched is that kindnes which goeth about to heale the hurt of the church with sweete words saying all is as it should be when the garden of the Lord lyeth like the feild of the Sluggard and his vineyard like the vineyard of him that is idle and Sion even now Jer. 4.31 as in time past sigheth and stretcheth out her hands and cryeth woe is me my soule fainteth because of the murtherers What man can see the desolation of the Lords howse by dumbe Idoles incroaching Simoniacks drowsy Demasses iob 32.18 ubiq uitarie Non-residents but his spirit with in him if he have but a dramme of zeale will even compel him to lift vp his voyce and cry a lowd against those Esay 58 1 who have no remorse over their soules for whome Christ died The earnest desire to further by all good meanes the speedy reformation of theise grosse corruptions stirred vp the worthy Authour of this fruitfull Sermon being called to preach at a generall visitation to imploy part of that precious gift where with the Lord in a large measure had endowed him to that most necessarie important purpose As the text was excellent for the thing intended so hath he handled it I speake my opinion and doubt not but thou wilt joyne with me when thou shalt peruse it except thou art forestalled either against the man or against the matter his handling of it as may be seene was such as neither wrung in ought that might be thought impertinent nor omitted any observation which the words kindly and voluntarily might not afford The sence is delivered soundly the division made artificially the doctrines raysed naturally prooved substantially 2. tim 2.15 and applyed powerfully heere is art the words cut a-right heere is learning the declaration of the trueth heere is eloquence in the plaine evidence of the spirit 1. Cor. 2 4 heere is zeale allayed with mildnes of the spirit and sharpnes of reproofe tempered with sweetnes of exhortation Such as thou seest his Sermon to be were his weekely exercises such was his doctrine such was his life for gravitie admired for amiablenes for readines either to admonish or exhort according to occasion for bowells of compassion to the poore even a continuall Sermon Few such Elthues so full of matter such Timothes so nourished vp in the words of faith iob 32.18 1. tim 4.6 Esay 57.2 and of good doctrine which he continually followed And as he walked before God in his life time so now he resteth from his labours in him and is joyned to the company of innumerable Angels Rev. 14. Heb. 12.22.23 mat 9.28 phil ◠23.24 Esay 57.1 to the spirits of just and perfect men It was to the churches great losse that in this scarsity of faithfull labourers he abode no longer in the flesh but as for him it was a benefit to be so soone dissolved being thereby taken from the evill to come and gone to Christ which is best of all But I will hold thee no longer from perusing this his after-worke which by Gods providence comeing to my hands I thought my selfe bound in conscience to impart vnto thee I pray God the reading it may so worke with thee that if thou be a minister it may either reforme thee or incourage thee according as thou art either lyable to the reproofe or capable of the comfort herein conteined or if thou be a private Christian it may both beget increase in thee a reverence to the ministers of God such a deepe detestation of theise enormous corruptions heere taxed that thou mayst become a daylie suttour at the throne of grace that the Lord for his owne name sake and for his poore churches sake would vouchsafe speedity to reforme them Amen! * ⎠* A post-script to the Reader CVrteous Reader we must renew the common and ordinarie request at thy hands namely to conceive the better of such as had the perusing and printing this Sermon when thou shalt meete with some few places therein for they are not many more difficult then can be wel vnderstood other petty small faults of the presse For the one know the Coppy came to vs miserably written which therefore craved a necessitie of retranscribing wherein were some places hard to be read yet being loth to leave out any sentence or peice of a sentence which we could make English of we put some words downe at a venture For the other know that it was printed where our language is a stranger and by such as could neither vnderstand nor speake the same and therefore it could not be but that more then ordinarie slips and solaecismes in our tongue must be committed but sticke not thou at theise triffling errours make vse of the solid and substantiall matter thou shalt find in the worke and give God the glory of his owne trueth tho in the light thereof a little obscured with the motes of humore frailety from shining altogether so cleerely to thee Fare well A Fruitfull Sermon preached by a faithfull servant of God minister of the gospell at a generall visitation The text Col. 4. 17. And say to Archippus take heede to the ministerie which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfill it AFter the Apostle Paul in the first part of the Epistle had sett downe the summe of the Christian doctrine therein shewed what Christ was both concerning his person his office how we are made partakers of the benefits of both in the second part thereof had disputed with the false Apostles confuted their
false doctrine corruptions in the third place had sett downe precepts concerning manners exhortations to a Christian adding in the end of all freindly brotherly salutations he comes to admonish them of a duty which they were to performes to Archippus their minister in theise words Say to Archippus take heede to the ministerie c. It appeareth by theise words that Archippus was a minister of the church at Colossia because he was negligent in his dutye or at least not so diligent faithfull as both he should might have beene he therefore willeth the Colossians to admonish him of his fault to stirre him vp to a carefull dis-scharge of his ministerie Say to Archippus take heede to the ministerie c. As if he should have saide be vigilant circumspect be carefull watchfull diligently consider marke earnestly what thy calling is of what great accounte it is it is the ministerie the preaching of the word the instructing of the people which thou hast received not of man but of the Lord both of the Lord who is the authour of the ministerie for the Lord who is the end of the ministerie Thou hast received it by his grace thou hast received it for his glory let not this grace be in vaine in thee let not this glory be neglected by thee but so walke in thy ministerie that thou fulfill it absolve perfect finish discharge that charge which is layde vpon thee The summe then of theise words is a rousing of negligent ministers wherein we may note two things first the persons commanded to doe this duty Secondly the manner how namely by exhortation wherein observe two things further First wherevnto they must exhort him to a fulfilling of his ministerie Secondly the reason whereby they stirre him vp to the same drawne from the authoritie of God who is the authour of the ministerie Thou hast received it in the Lord. Say to Archippus who must say to Archippus thus namely the Colossians to whome Paul writeth Therefore it is the dutye of the people to admonish the minister of his ministerie Doct. 1. to put him in mind of the discharge of his dutye if he be negligent therein For otherwise Paul might have admonished Archippus himselfe by writing vnto him some particular letter but in that he biddeth the Colossians to doe it he sheweth it a dutye belonging to the people to iogg their minister in the ellbowe as it were to put him in mind of his charge bid him remember his office ministerie by exhortation to excite stirre him vp to a faithfull dis-charge of his dutye A strange vnreasonable doctrine may some men saye for what should the stones come tumbling out of the quarrie and saye to the builder come cutt me and square me and hew me thus or should the tree come dauncing out of the wood and say to the Carpenter cutt me and plaine me or frame me thus or thus that I may be fit for the building what shall the sheepe come to the shepheard and put him in mind of his dutye So should the people come and admonish the minister and tell him of his ministerie right even soe 1. Pet. 2.5 for they are no dead stones that lie in the quarrie but as Peter calleth them they are living stones which can turne themselves to the hammer and trees of righteousnes as the Prophet calleth them which offer themselves to the Carpenter Esa 61.3 they are reasonable sheepe Rom. 12. â— which can bring their cause to the Shepheard Their soules are committed to the care of the minister to be taught and instructed and comforted and therefore as they regard their owne soules and salvations they must regard the ministers dutye As was the case of that ship which was covered with waves when Christ was a sleepe such is the case of a congregation when the minister is idle and negligent as lulled a sleepe in the cradle of securitie The disciples feared lest through Christs sleepeing they should have been drownea and that congregation may feare lest through their Pastours negligence it be damned Therefore as then the disciples in love of their lives went to Christ and a woke him so it behooveth the people for love of their soules to goe to their Pastour and awake him and stirre him vp that he looke about him In other matters we are carefull to put him in mind with whome we deale to deale faithfullie with vs and shall we be lesse carefull in this which is the maine pointe In the hand of the Miller we loose but our meale of the Farrier but our horse of the Taylour but our garment of the Lawyer but our money of the Physition but our bodyes but in the hands of an vnfaithfull minister a man looseth his soule and his everlasting portion in heaven If then we say to the Miller looke to my meale to the Farrier have a care of my horse to the Taylour spoyle not my garment to the Lawyer tender my case to the Physition regard my health how much more should we say vnto the minister if he be vnfaithfull looke to oursoules take heede to the ministerie which thou hast received in the Lord. 2. Kings 4 3â— When the Shunamites sonne was dead shee went to the Prophet to tell him of it that he might come and restore her dead sonne to life againe the Prophet sent his servant Gehazi with a staffe but shee would not be content with that but tooke holde of him and would not leave him but he himselfe must come As carefull as the Shunamite was for her dead child so carefull ought the people to be for their dead soules as shee went to the Prophet to have her dead sonne raysed so must they to their minister to have their dead soules quickened As shee did not content her selfe with the Prophets servant but tooke hold of the Prophet hinselfe so must the people not content themselves with ignorant substitutes of others but take hold of the Pastour himselfe and he shall have enough to recover their dead soules to life though he goeth himselfe and putteth mouth to mouth This being the dutie of the people toward their minister to bid him take heede to his ministerie what if I should expostulate with you that are to your minister as theise Colossians to Archippus Vse Tell me you that complaine of your minister that he is ignorant or negligent or vnfaithfull did you ever say vnto him take heed to thy ministerie did you ever stirre him vp and incite him therevnto alas no! your owne consciences tell you that you have failed heerein there hath been both in the minister toward you in you toward the minister a carelesnes by consent each with other he not regarding whither he did dis-charg his ministerie or no and you not careing whither you did admonish him or no and thus Archippus hath been long