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to_o help_v to_o make_v the_o world_n better_o i_o rejoice_v in_o the_o gift_n and_o grace_n and_o success_n of_o all_o the_o servant_n of_o christ_n of_o whatever_o name_n or_o denomination_n yea_o i_o will_v esteem_v and_o love_v they_o whether_o they_o will_v own_o and_o love_v i_o or_o no._n this_o charitable_a spirit_n let_v who_o will_v call_v such_o moderation_n lukewarmness_n with_o serious_a diligence_n to_o please_v god_n and_o do_v what_o service_n we_o can_v in_o our_o several_a place_n will_v be_v accept_v with_o god_n and_o yield_v we_o comfort_n live_v and_o die_v and_o will_v i_o doubt_v not_o be_v better_o think_v of_o hereafter_o when_o the_o little_a name_n of_o distinction_n and_o matter_n of_o dispute_n that_o now_o divide_v christian_n and_o protestant_n shall_v be_v forget_v as_o to_o all_o the_o opinion_n and_o censure_n of_o man_n while_o we_o endeavour_v to_o do_v our_o duty_n we_o ought_v to_o be_v firm_o persuade_v that_o every_o man_n reputation_n and_o 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there_o will_v be_v speedy_o publish_a a_o funeral_n sermon_n on_o the_o death_n of_o mr._n t._n heasy_a a_o hopeful_a student_n aged_a 19_o with_o serious_a counsel_n to_o young_a student_n and_o candidate_n for_o the_o ministry_n etc._n etc._n and_o some_o meditation_n on_o several_a subject_n collect_v out_o of_o the_o paper_n he_o leave_v by_o j._n s._n book_n write_v by_o the_o same_o author_n and_o sell_v by_o john_n laurence_n at_o the_o angel_n in_o the_o poultry_n winter_n meditation_n or_o a_o sermon_n concern_v frost_n and_o snow_n and_o wind_n etc._n etc._n and_o the_o wonder_n of_o god_n therein_o 4_o to_z a_o thanksgiving_n sermon_n april_n the_o 16_o 1696._o 4_o to_o a_o account_n of_o the_o life_n of_o mr._n henry_n gearing_n 12o._o a_o discourse_n of_o tempt_v christ_n 12o._o a_o discourse_n of_o family_n religion_n in_o three_o letter_n 12o._o a_o funeral_n sermon_n heb._n 13.7_o remember_v they_o who_o have_v the_o rule_n over_o you_o who_o have_v speak_v unto_o you_o the_o word_n of_o god_n who_o faith_n follow_v consider_v the_o end_n of_o their_o conversation_n the_o suitableness_n of_o this_o passage_n to_o the_o present_a solemnity_n and_o to_o the_o mournful_a occasion_n of_o it_o be_v sufficient_o apparent_a the_o direction_n here_o give_v concern_v the_o people_n duty_n with_o respect_n to_o their_o minister_n be_v entire_a and_o may_v be_v understand_v without_o examine_v the_o context_n one_o will_v think_v it_o very_o easy_a to_o determine_v of_o what_o minister_n the_o apostle_n speak_v whether_o such_o as_o be_v yet_o alive_a or_o such_o as_o be_v dead_a do_v not_o our_o translation_n favour_v their_o opinion_n who_o will_v make_v the_o original_a word_n a_o participle_n rather_o than_o a_o substantive_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d contrary_a to_o the_o more_o general_a sense_n of_o most_o learned_a interpreter_n and_o critic_n who_o read_v the_o word_n thus_o be_v mindful_a of_o your_o guide_n or_o ruler_n and_o remember_v 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another_o but_o the_o apostle_n speak_v here_o of_o their_o pastor_n and_o teacher_n the_o minister_n of_o the_o gospel_n and_o such_o of_o their_o spiritual_a guide_n as_o be_v depart_v this_o life_n with_o respect_n to_o these_o we_o have_v two_o thing_n to_o consider_v first_o the_o account_n that_o he_o give_v of_o they_o as_o to_o their_o person_n second_o the_o duty_n of_o survive_a christian_n towards_o they_o after_o their_o death_n 1._o first_o as_o to_o their_o person_n the_o apostle_n give_v we_o a_o account_n of_o they_o in_o four_o thing_n 1._o as_o to_o their_o name_n they_o be_v guide_n and_o ruler_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 2._o they_o have_v speak_v to_o you_o the_o word_n of_o god_n have_v be_v preacher_n of_o the_o everlasting_a gospel_n 3._o he_o testify_v their_o exemplary_a faith_n propose_v they_o as_o pattern_n 4._o their_o constancy_n and_o perseverance_n in_o faith_n and_o holiness_n to_o the_o last_o consider_v the_o end_n of_o their_o conversation_n 2._o have_v thus_o describe_v their_o person_n he_o mention_n three_o duty_n towards_o they_o 1._o to_o remember_v they_o 2._o to_o follow_v their_o faith_n 3._o as_o a_o motive_n and_o a_o mean_n thereto_o to_o consider_v their_o conversation_n and_o the_o happy_a end_n of_o it_o remember_v they_o who_o have_v have_v etc._n etc._n i_o shall_v first_o explain_v these_o several_a particular_n in_o the_o text_n in_o the_o order_n mention_v and_o then_o apply_v my_o discourse_n to_o the_o solemn_a occasion_n of_o this_o assembly_n viz._n the_o breach_n which_o god_n have_v make_v among_o you_o by_o the_o death_n of_o my_o reverend_n and_o worthy_a brother_n 1._o first_o as_o to_o the_o person_n here_o describe_v they_o be_v call_v ruler_n and_o guide_n for_o so_o the_o original_a word_n import_v such_o as_o have_v the_o guidance_n and_o instruction_n of_o other_o by_o authority_n or_o office_n it_o be_v sometime_o use_v for_o civil_a ruler_n sometime_o for_o ecclesiastical_a and_o for_o the_o general_n of_o a_o army_n for_o the_o captain_n of_o a_o regiment_n for_o the_o governor_n of_o a_o town_n and_o sometime_o for_o a_o principal_a person_n among_o other_o act_v 15.22_o the_o sacred_a writer_n make_v use_v of_o this_o word_n for_o such_o as_o be_v establish_v to_o feed_v the_o flock_n of_o christ_n and_o have_v the_o over_o sight_n of_o particular_a church_n so_o ver._n 17._o obey_v they_o that_o have_v the_o rule_n over_o you_o and_o submit_v yourselves_o for_o they_o watch_v for_o your_o soul_n as_o they_o that_o must_v give_v a_o account_n the_o like_o 24._o ver_fw-la salute_v all_o they_o that_o have_v the_o rule_n over_o you_o and_o all_o the_o saint_n it_o be_v doubt_v whether_o st._n james_n who_o be_v bishop_n of_o jerusalem_n be_v then_o alive_a and_o more_o whether_o the_o apostle_n direct_v this_o epistle_n to_o all_o the_o church_n in_o judea_n or_o only_o to_o the_o convert_v jew_n in_o jerusalem_n i_o shall_v not_o go_v about_o to_o decide_v it_o it_o be_v plain_a that_o these_o ruler_n these_o warchman_n be_v the_o same_o who_o in_o the_o text_n have_v speak_v the_o word_n of_o god_n or_o preach_v the_o gospel_n to_o this_o purpose_n we_o find_v that_o clemens_n romanus_n who_o be_v the_o most_o ancient_a writer_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n next_o the_o apostle_n the_o same_o clemens_n who_o be_v mention_v by_o the_o apostle_n himself_o phil._n 4.3_o in_o his_o epistle_n to_o the_o corinthian_n use_v this_o very_a word_n very_o frequent_o for_o 1633._o *_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d p._n 2._o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d p._n 30._o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d ib._n p._n 73._o st._n clemens_n rom._n epist_n 1._o ad_fw-la corinth_n 4to_fw-la edit_fw-la patr._n junij_fw-la oxon._n 1633._o gospel_n minister_n bishop_n such_o as_o preach_v the_o word_n of_o god_n and_o be_v over_o they_o in_o
business_n of_o a_o gospel-minister_n simon_n peter_n love_v thou_o i_o feed_v my_o sheep_n feed_v my_o lamb_n as_o steward_n of_o the_o household_n they_o be_v to_o provide_v for_o the_o family_n as_o shepherd_n to_o feed_v by_o teach_v and_o it_o be_v in_o great_a wisdom_n and_o mercy_n to_o the_o soul_n of_o man_n that_o our_o bless_a lord_n have_v appoint_v some_o person_n on_o purpose_n to_o devote_v themselves_o to_o this_o work_n that_o they_o may_v be_v able_a to_o instruct_v the_o ignorant_a and_o establish_v the_o waver_a and_o comsort_v the_o sad_a and_o recover_v the_o backslider_n to_o awaken_v warn_v convince_v and_o encourage_v other_o in_o the_o christian_a warfare_n and_o whatever_o some_o pretend_v that_o there_o be_v no_o such_o need_n of_o preach_v now_o as_o there_o be_v in_o the_o infancy_n of_o the_o church_n yet_o in_o all_o age_n this_o be_v the_o ordinary_a mean_n which_o god_n have_v appoint_v and_o be_v wont_a to_o bless_v for_o the_o conversion_n and_o salvation_n of_o soul_n 1_o cor._n 1.21_o it_o please_v god_n now_o as_o well_o as_o former_o by_o the_o foolishness_n of_o preach_v to_o save_v they_o that_o believe_v and_o it_o be_v the_o commission_n of_o our_o saviour_n for_o the_o ministerial_a office_n that_o they_o preach_v the_o gospel_n to_o every_o creature_n and_o this_o not_o only_o to_o plant_v a_o church_n but_o to_o carry_v on_o its_o growth_n it_o be_v for_o the_o perfect_a of_o the_o saint_n and_o for_o the_o edify_n of_o the_o body_n of_o christ_n the_o ministry_n of_o the_o gospel_n may_v be_v needful_a to_o convert_v and_o believer_n and_o real_a saint_n and_o be_v so_o there_o be_v something_o still_o lack_v to_o their_o faith_n and_o comfort_n and_o they_o have_v need_v to_o be_v put_v always_o in_o remembrance_n of_o the_o thing_n they_o do_v know_v that_o they_o may_v be_v root_v and_o establish_v in_o the_o truth_n 1_o pet._n 2.12_o it_o be_v wonderful_a to_o observe_v how_o our_o saviour_n rather_o choose_v to_o convert_v man_n by_o the_o preach_a and_o miracle_n of_o his_o apostle_n than_o by_o his_o own_o how_o he_o will_v not_o full_o convert_v paul_n without_o the_o ministry_n of_o annanias_n though_o he_o speak_v to_o he_o from_o heaven_n himself_o and_o reason_v with_o he_o against_o his_o persecution_n how_o he_o will_v not_o full_o convert_v cornelius_n and_o his_o household_n without_o the_o ministry_n of_o peter_n though_o he_o send_v a_o angel_n to_o direct_v he_o to_o a_o teacher_n nor_o will_v he_o convert_v the_o ethiopian_a eunuch_n without_o the_o ministry_n of_o philip_n nor_o the_o gaoler_n without_o the_o ministry_n of_o paul_n and_o silas_n though_o he_o wrought_v a_o miracle_n to_o prepare_v for_o his_o conversion_n our_o lord_n know_v the_o necessity_n that_o the_o infant_n of_o his_o family_n have_v of_o such_o nurse_n and_o he_o will_v keep_v up_o the_o honour_n of_o his_o own_o officer_n who_o he_o have_v appoint_v for_o such_o a_o end_n and_o use_v how_o much_o the_o welfare_n of_o the_o church_n depend_v upon_o the_o minister_n and_o teacher_n of_o the_o word_n and_o how_o little_a the_o beauty_n and_o glory_n of_o religion_n can_v ever_o be_v keep_v up_o in_o the_o world_n if_o minister_n do_v not_o labour_v in_o the_o word_n and_o doctrine_n will_v very_o easy_o appear_v to_o such_o as_o consider_v how_o religion_n have_v decline_v and_o be_v lose_v by_o the_o ignorance_n and_o unfaithfulness_n and_o negligence_n of_o those_o that_o aught_o to_o have_v preach_v the_o gospel_n of_o christ_n and_o how_o the_o denial_n or_o contempt_n of_o the_o ministry_n have_v always_o be_v accompany_v with_o the_o growth_n of_o atheism_n infidelity_n and_o profaneness_n how_o solemn_o do_v the_o apostle_n charge_v the_o elder_n of_o the_o church_n of_o ephesus_n act_v 20.28_o 30._o take_v heed_n unto_o yourselves_o and_o to_o all_o the_o flock_n over_o which_o the_o holy_a ghost_n have_v make_v you_o overseer_n to_o feed_v the_o church_n of_o god_n which_o he_o have_v purchase_v with_o his_o own_o blood_n and_o to_o warn_v every_o man_n lest_o they_o be_v pervert_v by_o false_a teacher_n etc._n etc._n and_o how_o express_o to_o the_o like_a purpose_n be_v they_o require_v to_o labour_n with_o their_o utmost_a strength_n in_o this_o work_n 1_o tim._n 1.17_o 1_o cor._n 16.16_o 1_o thes_n 5.12_o they_o be_v to_o give_v themselves_o continual_o to_o prayer_n and_o the_o ministry_n of_o the_o word_n act_v 6.4_o and_o how_o needful_a be_v it_o that_o they_o shall_v do_v so_o who_o be_v to_o unfold_v the_o mind_n of_o god_n to_o other_o to_o teach_v they_o what_o they_o must_v know_v believe_v and_o do_v avoid_z and_o hope_v for_o who_o have_v so_o many_o difficulty_n to_o explain_v and_o so_o often_o need_v the_o tongue_n of_o the_o learned_a and_o a_o good_a share_n of_o prudence_n to_o speak_v a_o word_n in_o season_n to_o acquaint_v their_o hearer_n with_o their_o several_a malady_n and_o remedy_n danger_n and_o duty_n to_o hold_v forth_o the_o excellency_n of_o christ_n so_o as_o to_o make_v he_o receive_v and_o obey_v admire_v and_o love_v and_o to_o be_v diligent_a in_o such_o work_n in_o season_n and_o out_o of_o season_n manage_v all_o as_o under_o a_o awe_n of_o god_n and_o with_o sincere_a compassion_n and_o love_n to_o soul_n suppose_v the_o word_n of_o god_n here_o to_o be_v the_o write_a word_n i_o need_v not_o inquire_v curious_o how_o much_o of_o divine_a revelation_n or_o the_o write_a word_n be_v then_o extant_a when_o the_o apostle_n write_v this_o epistle_n which_o be_v think_v to_o be_v about_o the_o fifty_o seven_o or_o fifty_o eight_o year_n of_o our_o bless_a lord_n while_o he_o be_v a_o prisoner_n at_o rome_n and_o towards_o the_o end_n of_o his_o first_o imprisonment_n there_o all_o the_o new_a testament_n seem_v to_o be_v then_o write_v save_o the_o epistle_n of_o st._n john_n and_o his_o revelation_n and_o the_o second_o epistle_n of_o st._n peter_n it_o be_v certain_a that_o the_o whole_a word_n of_o god_n in_o the_o holy_a scripture_n be_v to_o be_v explain_v and_o apply_v by_o preach_v and_o that_o this_o be_v a_o principal_a part_n of_o a_o minister_n work_n they_o therefore_o who_o pretend_v to_o the_o ministerial_a office_n according_a to_o the_o order_n of_o christ_n and_o yet_o either_o despise_v or_o neglect_v the_o preach_a of_o the_o word_n one_o will_v think_v either_o do_v not_o understand_v their_o office_n or_o be_v not_o faithful_a to_o it_o 3._o another_z thing_n concern_v these_o decease_a minister_n the_o apostle_n mention_n be_v their_o exemplary_a faith_n they_o will_v not_o have_v be_v propose_v as_o pattern_n with_o respect_n to_o faith_n if_o they_o have_v not_o be_v famous_a and_o exemplary_a as_o to_o the_o clearness_n of_o their_o mind_n and_o the_o soundness_n of_o their_o doctrine_n follow_v their_o faith_n doubtless_o he_o mean_v it_o of_o such_o who_o as_o to_o knowledge_n and_o firmness_n of_o persuasion_n concern_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o gospel_n and_o fruitfulness_n in_o suitable_a effect_n do_v in_o spirit_n and_o practice_n show_v themselves_o believer_n they_o will_v not_o otherwise_o have_v be_v name_v as_o fit_a example_n for_o the_o people_n to_o follow_v as_o to_o their_o faith_n you_o find_v minister_n be_v exhort_v to_o take_v heed_n to_o their_o doctrine_n 1_o tim._n iu_o 16._o and_o to_o continue_v therein_o that_o they_o may_v save_v themselves_o and_o they_o that_o hear_v they_o and_o to_o speak_v the_o thing_n that_o become_v sound_a doctrine_n 1_o tim._n vi_o 3._o they_o be_v to_o keep_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o gospel_n pure_a and_o uncorrupt_a and_o to_o feed_v the_o people_n with_o the_o sincere_a milk_n of_o the_o word_n for_o if_o the_o doctrine_n which_o shall_v promote_v faith_n and_o holiness_n shall_v be_v deprave_v by_o the_o minister_n of_o the_o word_n how_o be_v it_o possible_a that_o true_a christianity_n shall_v spread_v and_o flourish_v or_o be_v preserve_v and_o continue_v what_o need_n have_v we_o to_o beg_v that_o god_n will_v give_v and_o continue_v such_o pastor_n after_o his_o own_o heart_n as_o may_v feed_v his_o people_n with_o good_a knowledge_n and_o sound_a understanding_n they_o must_v hold_v fast_o the_o faithful_a word_n that_o they_o have_v be_v teach_v that_o they_o may_v be_v able_a by_o sound_a doctrine_n to_o exhort_v and_o convince_v gainsayers_a tit._n 1.6_o 9_o chap._n 2.1_o such_o speech_n that_o can_v be_v condemn_v that_o he_o who_o be_v of_o the_o contrary_a party_n may_v be_v ashamed_a and_o how_o comfortable_o and_o useful_o may_v they_o preach_v to_o other_o who_o be_v firm_o persuade_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o what_o they_o say_v who_o believe_v and_o live_v the_o truth_n they_o deliver_v this_o be_v a_o great_a help_n to_o minister_n in_o their_o work_n and_o a_o great_a