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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
B20783 A sermon preached at the ordinatoin [sic] of an elder and deacons in a baptized congregation in London by N.C. Coxe, Nehemiah. 1681 (1681) Wing C6718 25,157 47

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enforce it but what are obvious to every one's Eye in the reading of them And he deserves not the Name of a Minister Pastor or Bishop that labours not herein It will not I suppose be expected that I should here lay down Rules for Preaching or enter into a Discourse about the Method of Theological Studies in order thereunto Only give me leave at present to recommend three things to those that are under so strict and solemn a Charge to preach the Gospel 1. Let your Care be to deal with the Souls and Consciences of Men as knowing that it is the Salvation of Souls which you are to labour after a Care of Souls that is committed to you and an account of them that you must make to God It is not your Business to gratify the itching Ears or wanton Fancies of Men Jerome complains of some in his Time That Id habent curae non quomodo Scripturarum medullas ebibant sed quomodo aures Populi declamatorum flosculis mulceant but to speak to their Hearts and by manifestation of the Truth to recommend your selves to every Man's Conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4. 2. Lay out your pains in a solid explaining of the Principles of Religion and a judicious accommodation of them to practice that sincere Piety and the power of Godliness may be promoted by your Ministry Press the particular Duties of Men in every Relation and Capacity upon them warn them of the sleights of Satan rebuke their Errors and Disorders that go astray comfort the Afflicted and broken in Heart And in these things let no Zeal Diligence Boldness Industry or Labour be wanting 2. That this may be accomplished Be sure that you speak as the Oracles of God and deliver that 1 Pet. 4. 11. Doctrine to the People which is drawn from the pure Fountain of God's Word It is no less than the Evidence of Divine Authority that will work upon the Soul and command the Conscience of a Man whether it be by way of Comfort Exhortation or Reproof it is the stamp of Heaven upon the Things delivered by you that renders them powerful Let it therefore be your principal care in Preaching clearly to open and pertinently to apply the Scriptures that your Hearers may bear away this Conviction from your Sermons That you have the Mind of Christ It is not enough that the things you speak be true but you must manifest them to be so by strong and convincing Proofs Make Conscience of giving what in you lies the very sence of the Holy Ghost in the Scriptures that you speak to and weaken not excellent Truths by wringing them out of such Texts as intend another thing The word of God is Sacred and must be handled with all religious respect and reverence Divine Things will admit of no trifling 3. Remember that the Duty of your Place is Not to preach your selves but Christ Jesus the 2 Cor. 4. 5. Lord His Glory must be the Mark aimed at by all your Labours and his Grace the principal Subject of all your Discourses It is not a Philosophick Harangue that will save the Souls of Men but the preaching of Christ Crucified His 1 Cor. 1. 23. Gospel is the Power of God unto Salvation to them Rom. 1. 16. that believe and his Holy Name is the Ointment that perfumes all Religious Exercises Therefore I will not only say Let there be Aliquid Christi something of Christ in every Sermon but let Christ be the beginning middle and end of your Discourses for in him are hid all the Treasures of Colos 2. 3. Wisdom and Knowledg in him is the Fountain and Head-spring of all true Comfort and Holiness So much for the first Thing 2dly Unto the publick Work and Charge of a Bishop or Elder belongs also the Administration of the Sacraments or Ordinances of positive Institution in the Church as Baptism and the Lord's Supper This appertains to that Dispensation of the Mysteries of God that is committed to him and to that feeding of the Sheep of Christ which is required of him And then 3dly It is his Duty to take care of the due exercise of Discipline in the Church and the right ordering of all things pertaining to the Government thereof He is the Overseer of God's House Heb. 13. 17. and is to rule therein not in a despotical or lordly Way but by the Testament of Christ as becomes a Minister and as one set over the Lord's Heritage who are a voluntary People and to be governed not with force and rigor but with their own consent All the Brethren have an Interest in the management of Church-Affairs in the admission and ejection of Members yet this denies not a peculiar Concernment of the Elder in these things and a neglect of their due Administration will especially be charged upon him if guilty thereof And in these things great Prudence Tenderness Diligence and Impartiality is required of him It is a Matter of great importance that the Gates of the Lord's House the goings out and comings in thereof be well look'd to If Members be not received with due caution our Number may be increased but not our Joy and if any be precipitantly and without just grounds ejected the scandal and inconvenience will be as great And in all these things an Elder must endeavour so to demean himself that in the whole course of his Ministry there may be kept up a very lively representation of the Love Care Wisdom Compassion Faithfulness and Patience of the Lord Jesus Christ whom he serves I shall say no more of those Duties that are incumbent on a Pastor in the publick Exercise of his Ministry But in the next place Secondly There are also Duties of great importance to the Souls of Men which an Elder is bound diligently to attend the discharge of in a more private and particular way He is obliged to a constant watchfulness for and over his People and ought diligently to enquire and search into the state of his Flock That those who are in danger to err for want of counsel may be directed the unruly warned and rebuked feeble and dejected Souls strengthened comforted and encouraged and those that are beset with Difficulties and Temptations succoured and relieved Unto an unwearied diligence in these things Paul excites the Elders of the Church at Ephesus by his own Example You know saith he how I kept Act. 20. 18 c. back nothing that was profitable for you but have shewed you and have taught you publickly and from House to House The like he doth to those of Thessalonioa 1 Thess 2. 10 11 12. Ye are Witnesses and God also how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved our selves among you that believe As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a Father doth his Children That you would walk worthy of God c. And again Col. 1. 28 29. Whom viz.