to help to make the World better I Rejoice in the Gifts and Graces and Success of All the Servants of Christ of whatever Name or Denomination Yea I will Esteem and Love Them whether they will Own and Love me or no. THIS Charitable Spirit let who will call such Moderation Lukewarmness with serious Diligence to please God and do what Service we can in our Several Places will be accepted with God and yield us Comfort living and dying And will I doubt not be better thought of hereafter when the little Names of Distinction and Matters of Dispute that now divide Christians and Protestants shall be forgotten As to all the Opinions and Censures of Men while we endeavour to do our Duty we ought to be firmly perswaded that every Man's Reputation and Credit is as much at the Disposal of God and under the Conduct of his Providence as his Estate or Health or Life and accordingly we ought to trust him SIR By what I already know of you I do not question your Agreement with me in these things I hope I shall know you better by a nearer and more intimate Acquaintance if it shall please God to Direct and Guide you to comply with the Invitation you have by a unanimous and speedy Choice to succeeed your Brother However that may be I beg of God to sanctifie this Providence to you to the Congregation and to all his surviving Friends and Acquaintance May I have Wisdom duely to improve it I am SIR London Febr. 3d. 1696 7. Your Affectionate Brother and Servant John Shower Advertisement THere will be speedily Publish'd a Funeral Sermon on the Death of Mr. T. Heasy an Hopeful Student Aged 19. With Serious Counsel to Young Students and Candidates for the Ministry c. And some Meditations on Several Subjects Collected out of the Papers he left By J. S. BOOKS Written by the same Author and Sold by John Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultrey WInter Meditations Or a Sermon concerning Frost and Snow and Winds c. and the Wonders of God therein 4 to A Thanksgiving Sermon April the 16th 1696. 4 to An Account of the Life of Mr. Henry Gearing 12o. A Discourse of Tempting Christ 12o. A Discourse of Family Religion in three Letters 12o. A Funeral Sermon HEB. 13.7 Remember them who have the Rule over you who have spoken unto you the Word of God whose Faith follow considering the End of their Conversation THE Suitableness of this Passage to the present Solemnity and to the Mournful Occasion of it is sufficiently apparent The Direction here given concerning the Peoples Duty with respect to their Ministers is entire and may be understood without examining the Context One would think it very easie to determine of what Ministers the Apostle speaks whether such as were yet alive or such as were dead did not our Translation favour their Opinion who would make the Original Word a Participle rather than a Substantive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 contrary to the more general Sense of most Learned Interpreters and Criticks who read the Words thus Be mindful of your Guides or Rulers and remember them who have had the Rule over you i. e. who have been and were your Spiritual Guides That 't is of these he speaks is manifest by what follows Who have spoken to you the Word of God or have been your Instructors in the Faith and who have kept the Faith and finished their Course For he advises them to follow their Faith and to consider the happy End and Exit of their Conversation AS to the Duties unto Deceased Ministers here mention'd it cannot be denyed but they are applicable in part to other Good Men departed this Life For when private Christians dye in the Lord we are not to forget them and are obliged to imitate their Faith and Patience and to that end to consider their Conversation in this World and how they got safe into another But the Apostle speaks here of their Pastors and Teachers the Ministers of the Gospel and such of their Spiritual Guides as were departed this Life With respect to these we have two things to consider First The Account that he gives of them as to their Persons Secondly The Duty of surviving Christians towards them after their Death 1. FIRST As to their Persons the Apostle gives us an account of them in four Things 1. As to their Name They are Guides and Rulers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. They have spoken to you the Word of God have been Preachers of the Everlasting Gospel 3. He testifies their Exemplary Faith proposing them as Patterns 4. Their Constancy and Perseverance in Faith and Holiness to the last Considering the End of their Conversation 2. HAVING thus described their Persons he mentions three Duties towards them 1. To Remember them 2. To Follow their Faith 3. As a Motive and a Means thereto to Consider their Conversation and the happy End of it Remember them who have had c. I shall first explain these several Particulars in the Text in the order mentioned and then Apply my Discourse to the Solemn Occasion of this Assembly viz. the Breach which God hath made amongst you by the Death of my Reverend and worthy Brother 1. FIRST As to the Persons here described They are called Rulers and Guides for so the Original Word imports such as have the Guidance and Instruction of others by Authority or Office It is sometimes used for Civil Rulers sometimes for Ecclesiastical and for the General of an Army for the Captain of a Regiment for the Governour of a Town and sometimes for a Principal Person amongst others Acts 15.22 THE Sacred Writers make use of this Word for such as were established to feed the Flock of Christ and had the Over sight of Particular Churches so Ver. 17. Obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your Souls as they that must give an account the like 24. ver Salute all them that have the Rule over you and all the Saints 't is doubted whether St. James who was Bishop of Jerusalem was then alive and more whether the Apostle directs this Epistle to all the Churches in Judea or only to the Converted Jews in Jerusalem I shall not go about to decide it 'T is plain that these Rulers these Warchmen are the same who in the Text had spoken the Word of God or preach'd the Gospel TO this purpose we find that Clemens Romanus who is the most Antient Writer of the Christian Church next the Apostles the same Clemens who is mentioned by the Apostle himself Phil. 4.3 in his Epistle to the Corinthians useth this very word very frequently for * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 30. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ib. p. 73. St. Clemens Rom. Epist 1. ad Corinth 4to Edit Patr. Junij Oxon. 1633. Gospel Ministers Bishops such as preach'd the Word of God and were over 'em in
Advantage in order to Success THESE here whose Faith is mentioned were also Exemplary in all the Fruits of Faith They lived up to the Doctrine they preached and therein others are exhorted to follow them They represented in a Holy Life the Doctrine they taught and so glorified him in whose Name they dispensed it By Humility and Meekness Moderation and Self-denial Zeal for the Glory of God Mortification of Corrupt Affections Contempt of the World Readiness for the Cross Condescension and Patience towards All Heavenly-mindedness c. In all things Ministers should show themselves Patterns of good works and be Examples unto Believers in Word in Conversation in Charity in Spirit in Faith in Purity Tit. II. 2 7. 1 Tim. IV. 12. THIS is the most likely Method to have Success For tho' it may now and then possibly fall out that the Seed of Divine Truth * Dr. Spurstow's Medit. on a Debauched Minister Medit. XX. 8vo like Corn sown by a Leprous Hand may grow up into some fruit yet how small is the Good that is wrought by his Doctrine in comparison of the great Hurt that is done by the dissolute Life of such a Minister Is it likely that he that in the Pulpit pleads for Honour unto the Person of Christ for Obedience to his Commands and Faith to be exercised in his Promises and when he is out of it contradicts all that he hath said by a sensual practice is it likely he should ever win many Disciples to Christ Will Men ever hearken to such who decry Drunkenness and Wantonness and Covetousness c. as the way to Destruction and yet turn not their own feet from walking therein will they not say Physician heal thy self or thou Hypocrite First cast the Beam out of thine own Eye and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the Mote that is in thy Brothers Eye HOW can He be a Pattern to Believers in those Graces he is a Stranger to How can he kindle Heavenly Affections in the Souls of others when he feels nothing himself How can he speak of Divine Truth according to the Excellency and Necessity and Importance of it if he doth not believe and live and obey it himself We may as well think that a Heretick may teach you the Truth as well as the Orthodox and a Schismatick teach you Unity and Peace as well as a Catholick Peaceable Pastor or a Man ignorant of Regeneration and the Grace of God may teach you that which he knoweth not himself or an Enemy to Piety and Charity teach you to be Pious and Charitable as well as any other The voice of Jacob will do little good if the Hands be the Hands of Esau They that are unholy and unexperienced as to real Godliness they have a secret Enmity in their Hearts against that Holiness which they should daily preach which is a Clog at their Feet and a Gag in their Mouths as to some Truths and Duties They will some way or other harden and embolden others in their Sins as well as make themselves and the Offering of the Lord contemptable by shewing that they do not believe what they say How can you think they should lead you in the way of Holiness who never walked i◠〈◊〉 themselves or guide you to 〈◊〉 and conduct you in the Chriâ—â—â—â—â—Warfare who are Servants of the World the Devil and the Flesh against whom they must Exhort you to Fight HOW dreadful will be the Account and Portion of such Evil Stewards and Unfaithful Guides who preach to others and yet perish As the Men that were employed to build the Ark of Noah yet were not saved in it He that winneth Souls is wise but it is he only that shall do as well as teach the Commandments who shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven or ever come there The Judge himself hath told us that many in his Name may have prophesied and preached and cast out Devils and yet shall be disclaimed as Workers of Iniquity And it is certainly more easie to make ten good Sermons than to practice one and to expose and declaim against all Sins than to relinquish any HOW terrible is that known passage of Chrysostom with relation to this Saying That he is perswaded that very few of those who are entrusted with the Gospel and Care of Souls are likely to be Saved and that he apprehends the far greater part will be damned For this Work saith he requires a Soul more than ordinary He had need have a thousand Eyes in his Head and have them all awake c. How severe are the Psalmists Words and how upbraiding of Ungodly Ministers Psal 50.16 17. What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldst take my Covenant into thy Mouth seeing thou hatest Instruction and castest my Words behind thee How must such a Man be confounded in Preaching against his own Sins and pronouncing Damnation against himself And with how little Success can he pray for the People of his Charge when he himself is not reconciled to God Sâ—â— for the Elders of the Church when sick saith the Apostle and the Prayer of Faith shall save the Sick but 't is the servent Prayer of a Righteous Man James V. 14 15. 4. HE mentions their Constancy and Perseverance in Faith and Holiness 'till the happy End and Exit of their Conversation And this he exhorts them to Consider to review to reflect upon and that not transiently but with deep Attention not once only but again and again To consider what their Carriage and Deportment hath been in publick and in private what was their Behaviour in every Relation and Condition as keeping a good Conscience both towards God and Man and this not for a start for a little while for a few Years only and then drew back or turned afide But consider The End of their Conversation How they finished their Course with Joy Their Beginning and Progress was commendable and their latter End was answerably good and safe desirable and happy either by a natural death in the Peace of God or with the Crown of Martyrdom by a violent one I SHALL not need to enquire how far the Apostle may here refer to the Death of the first Martyr Stephen and of James the Son of Zebbedee who both exercised their Ministty at Jerusalem and suffered Martyrdom there as 't is thought did the other James the Brother of our Lord several years before the date of this Epistle to the Hebrews II. LET us consider what is the Peoples Duty to such their Deceased Ministers and Pastors It is threefold 1. To Remember them 2. To Imitate them in Faith and Holiness 3. In order to this to Consider seriously and often their Conversation and the happy End of it 1. REMEMBER your Spiritual Guides who have had the Instruction and Conduct of your Souls and faithfully discharged their Office Remember them so as to be thankful to God for their Gifts and
the Lord and several of them in one Church making use sometimes of the one Name sometimes of the other OUR Blessed Saviour is called the Head the Husband the Shepherd the Lord of his Church which imports Authority and the Church is his Body his Spouse his Flock his Family and Houshold and his Ministers are called Rulers of his Houshold Mat. 24.45 When he was about to leave the World he declared that all Power in Heaven and Earth was committed to him and commissioned his Apostles to make Disciples by baptizing and teaching promising his presence with them therein to the end of the World And when he ascended up on high he gave Gifts to Men as part of his Dowry not only Prophets and Apostles and Evangelists who were empowered by Miracles as a Divine Attestation to prove their Authority to reveal and publish the Rule of Faith and Life but Pastors and Teachers to open and apply the Rule they sealed and delivered HE hath determined in his Word that every Church should have a Pastor one or more he hath stated the Nature of the Ministerial Office and Power to proclaim Repentance and Remission of Sins to turn Men from the power of Satan to God to edifie the Body of Christ and to gather feed and govern the Churches of Christ to rule as well as teach the Flock to judge who should be publickly taken into the Church by Baptism or cast out to rebuke those that are disorderly and see that all things be done to the Edification of the Church to bind over the impenitent who are contumacious to the Bar of Christ and reject 'em from the Communion of the Church and to absolve the penitent and comfort 'em and by themselves or others to look after the Poor and visit the Sick c. He hath described the Persons that he would have to be such Officers by their requisite Qualifications he did not appoint a necessary Work to be done and leave it to the wide World who should do it And that will help to determine who are the individual Persons that are fittest according to Christ's Description I DISPUTE not whether there hath not been and ought not to be a distinction of Powers and Persons in Ecclesiastical Government or whether an absolute Equality must not necessarily be attended with very ill consequences or whether Ministers do not need Order and Rule and Government among themselves as well as every other Company and Society of Men in the World But that which I argue from this Text is this That they who preach the Gospel are to Guide Oversee and Rule their own Flock according to the Holy Scripture THEY are the Servants of Christ in his Work and your Servants for Jesus sake They pretend not to Dominion over your Faith or to be Lords or Owners of the Flock but to be Helpers of your Joy by their care the Sheep are to be sed guided preserved healed and brought home They are Rulers over Christ's Houshold but not by secular Force and Rigour not to compel Men to the Faith and Obedience of the Gospel otherwise than by Truth and Love by Instruction and Perswasion and declaring the Mind of Christ in his Word You are not to obey Ministers as Civil Magistrates that rule by the Sword but thankfully receive the Truths they teach and the Mercies they offer Our Weapons in the Christian Warfare are not Carnal but Spiritual to Edification not destruction not coercive but ministerial We are to instruct and warn to reprove and exhort with Faithfulness and Seriousness in the Name of Christ and with his Authority which as it is another thing from the Power of a * See Dr. Hammond's Paraphrase and Annotations on 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3. Acts 11.30 Acts 20.28 Heb. 12.7 17. 1 Tim. 1.17 1 Thes 5.12 Tit. 3.10 1 Cor. 12.28 c. Magistrate so by vertue of the Order and Institution of Christ it is very different from the private Counsel and Admonitions of one Friend to another The same works are not done with the same Authority Efficacy Certainty or Order by a private hand as by publick Officers For in this case you are obliged to Submit your selves in the Lord to whatever is made known to you to be according to the Will of God revealed in his Word 'T is true if we exceed our Commission you are not to receive us but if we keep to the Words of Christ he that despiseth our Message Despiseth not Man but God You know how earnestly the Apostle admonishes to this purpose 1 Thes 5.12 13. We beseech you Brethren to mind them who labour amongst you and preside over you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Lord i. e. in the things of the Lord and according to his Order and that admonish you and to esteem them more than exceedingly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in love for their Work or Office sake And let the Elders who rule well 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be counted worthy of double Honour or Recompence as the Original Word often signifies 1 Tim. 5.17 18. I MAY be blamed by some for saying thus much but there are certain Seasons when it is expedient at least not unfit for a Man to praise the Country or the Family to which he belongs or the Society to which he is related And therefore I here take the Liberty to Magnifie mine Office tho' I should become a Fool in glorying 2 Cor. 12.11 As to the Institution Commission and Authority of the Ministry it is not of Men or by Man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead Gal. 1.1 they received their Ministry from the Lord Col. 4.17 he makes 'em Oversers Acts 20.28 Timothy is called the Servant of the Lord 2 Tim. 2.24 Ministers by their Office are as it were his Menial Servants that approach nearer to his Person than others and are employed in his particular Business They are Stewards over the House and Family of God Tit. 1.7 Luke 12.42 which is no mean station They are called Presidents Guides Rulers Shepherds Planters Husbandmen Pastors Ambassadors for Christ and the Glory of Christ and the Ministers of his Spiritual Kingdom Angels of the Churches Builders of his Church c. By Baptism to initiate Disciples unto Christ and by the other Sacrament to confirm them to feed 'em with the sincere Milk of the Word to intercede for them in Prayer to bless them in the Name of Christ to convey his Messages Instructions Counsels and Comforts to 'em which without his Institution and Appointment they could no more do than a Messenger can carry a Pardon to a condemned Person which his Prince never sent No man taketh the Honour to himself but he that is called of God 2. THEY are described to be such as have spoken unto you the Word of God To feed the Flock by sound Doctrine Serious Study of the Holy Scriptures and diligent Preaching of the Word is no little part of the
called to do it MANY of our Fellow Soldiers have fought the Good Fight gained the Victory and received the Crown Their Example tells us that the Difficulties and Conflicts that we fear are no other than they have experienced They complained as much we can of inward Corruption and outward Temptation of an unfaithful World and a busie Devil and a desperately wicked Heart and yet by the Grace of God they have Overcome We have a Cloud of Witnesses among our particular Friends and Acquaintance whom we have known and loved whom we have seen and heard with whom we have convers'd and discours'd And it is a great Encouragement to consider we are to follow Them For why should we be disheartned as if that were Impobssile to us which the Grace of God hath enabled them to do and suffer T IS one great Design of God's Gifts and Graces to Some that they may instruct and edifie Others The path of the just in this sense is a shining Light We are to Shew forth the Word of Life in our Conversation that we may direct others in the way And by our Zeal we are to provoke many AND when the Precept is exemplified into Pattern and the Commands of Christ made legible in the Lives of Christians we are the more encouraged to obey This hath more Influence than meer Law and naked Authority We find that Examples strangely affect us and the Lives of Holy Persons writ with Truth and Judgment and Caution have a singular Advantage to attract our Imitation When Charity and Humility Self-denial and Patience Piety and Devotion are characterized in the Practice and Actions of the Saints they are written as it were with Light notwithstanding some mixture of Darkness from Humane Passions and Failings for which in all Men there must be Allowance That Holy Examples are apt to affect the Mind more deeply than Holy Laws alone is evident by the Malice of the Devil and his Instruments against the Holy Scriptures exemplified in the Godly more than against the Scriptures themselves they can better bear the Precepts of a perfect Rule than the imperfect practice of them in a Holy Life They have burnt Martyrs that could endure good Books SUCH Examples may be of Use both to Quicken and Enoourage us 1. TO quicken and excite our Diligence to this purpose the Apostle makes mention of them Chap. VI. 12. Be not sloathful but be ye followers of them who by Faith and Patience inherit the Promises To cure the Sloath and Laziness of Christians he saith this and to stir them up to Holy Diligence with this Encouragement in the following Words that if they follow their Guides in their Faith in Christ they will find him an Unchangeable never failing Saviour For it is added Jesus Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever i.e. He will certainly receive forgive assist preserve and save them as he did their Deceased Guides If we follow them we shall find the same Comfort and meet with the same Reward HOW may the Temper and Spirit and Carriage of such Exemplary Christians shame our Negligence Their Humility and Zeal their Gravity and Seriousness their continual Awe of God and Apprehension of his Eve their constant Watchfulness over Hearts Words and Actions may be considered to humble and shame us When I think how diligently they improved their Talents how faithfully and fervently they attended their Work how their Hearts were in it and how much they did in a little time and how God was with 'em in abundant Success it should shame and quicken me Do I pray or preach or live at that rate of Seriousness Integrity Self-denial and Devotedness to God as they Durst they have indulged themselves and pleased themselves and allowed themselves the Liberty which I take Were they guilty of such Omissions and Neglects as I am Am not I more slight and formal seldom and heartless in Prayer than they were wont to be c. IF we have the same Spirit of Faith with the Holy Persons whose Examples we read or hear of these things will quicken and assist us for so the Apostle argues 2 Cor. IV. 13. We having the same spirit of Faith according as it is written I believed and therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore speak And if they do not move us and excite us to follow them in their Faith and Obedience it is a sign that we are not partakers of the same Spirit 2. NOT only as to Duty but let us consider 'em for our Encouragement and Comfort Whatever Difficulties we may meet with in the Christian Race the Consideration of these Examples may encourage our Faith and Patience and Perseverance They found the Sweetness of Dependance upon God and the Success of a Life of Faith and had gracious Answers to Prayer and suitable Help in every time of need They could set to their Seal that God is true and the Scripture true and never any Word of his in which they regularly trusted did ever fail them And is it no Encouragement for us to be able to say Lord our Fathers trusted in thee and were delivered they trusted in thee and were not ashamed they cryed to thee and thou didst answer them They have told us what thou didst for them How Good was God and Faithful how Wise and Gracious The Word of the Lord is tried in six and in seven Troubles they found it true AND we that live in the latter Ages of the World have a greater Cloud of Witnesses than others we have the Benefit of the Experience of all the Saints that have gone before us They can tell us what they have found of the false Cavils Slanders and Objections of Unbelief of the Folly and Disingenuity of our Carnal Fears of the Fraud of the Devil's Suggestions of the certain Accomplishment of God's Promises and a good Issue of all Events if we wait on the Lord and keep his Way AND as to many of them we may observe with what admirable Patience they endured greater Trials sharper Pains and longer Exercises without Murmuring and without Fainting than ever yet we have known How Diligent Heavenly and Fruitful were some of them under less Advantages and Help than we The Examples of the Poor may shame many of the Rich The Examples of some young Converts may shame Old Disciples Religious Children may shame many Parents There are younger Brethren by whom the Elder are out-gone Such who were new-born but lately who exceed them that were in Christ many years before HAD not they whose Faith you are exhorted to follow the like Temptations as you meet with Have not you the same Rule to walk by the same Promises Assistances and Encouragements in the way to Heaven Are your Wants to be supplied Diseases to be cured Difficulties to be conquered Burdens to be endured more or greater or other than what they met with And was not Death the Passage to Glory as to all of them and
a Guard did he keep upon the Door of his Lips how watchful was he over his Words how shie of ordinary and common Conversation upon this Account because he could meet with so little serious and profitable Discourse even amongst Those of whom it might have been expected With what Prudence and Faithfulness would he often begin such Discourse as became a Minister and a Chtistian suitable to the Circumstances and Conditions of those he conversed with And where there was Occasion for it with like Wisdom and Fidelity would he admonish and reprove to the hazard sometimes of losing their Friendship whom otherwise he had reason to value But he knew how to be severe against the Sin and not discredit and expose the Sinner he knew how to search the Conscience and yet so far spare the person as not to exasperate and provoke the Spirit WHEN some time since I visited and prayed with him which I lament I did no oftner enquiring concerning the State of his Soul with Relation to God and the other World Whether all were well and calm within he told me that through the Grace of God he could appeal to Him concerning his Integrity that he hoped He had found mercy to be Faithful Thro' the whole of his long Sickness he had no Discouraging Fears but a serious steady Trust and a well-grounded Hope in God through the Merits of his Saviour without high and full Assurance which he said was not ordinarily to be expected here where Grace is so Imperfect And yet sometimes he hath experienc'd Extraordinary Consolations He hath been sound alone all in Tears when upon Inquiry what it was that troubled him and made him sad he answered he was very far from Grief It was not Sorrow that made him weep it was from Abundance of Inward Joy HE often prayed for more Faith and Patience desiring that Patience might continue and have its perfect Work And God granted it For he had a calm composed Spirit under very long languishing and some painful Operations He submitted to the hand of God in all without murmuring And when every Body about him seemed greatly concerned he himself was not Consider his Patience you that were Eye-witnesses of it and Take my Brethren the Prophets who have spoken to you in the Name of the Lord for an Example of suffering Affliction and of Patience HIS serious Piety was crowned with an Extensive Charity Besides his Charity in Relieving the Poor in order to which he made Conscience to lay aside a fit Proportion of whatever the Providence of God allowed him and that as soon as he received it which he never after looked upon as his own Besides that sort of Charity he was in Principle and Practice very Charitable to those from whom he differed in Opinion He loved All Men in whom he could discern any thing of real Goodness He did not confine the Church of Christ to a Party or endeavour to make Proselytes to Any For he was of none but that with all Christians for Christ against the Devil HE did not think it the Excellency of Zeal to go further than needs from those he did not fully agree with He used the Lord's Prayer in Publick and once a day in his Family and thought he did his Duty therein He had a Zeal for Truth but likewise for Piety and Peace for Love and Good Works He remember'd that his Master was the Prince of Peace and his Message the Gospel of Peace that his Office was to be a Messenger of Peace and that we are to follow after Peace as well as Holiness and that Blessed are the Peace-makers He was sensible how much the Interest of Real Religion is weakened when the Bond of Peace is broken and that when we bite and devour one another we are in danger to be consumed one of another He was therefore an Enemy to Censorious Heats and Bitterness and all such Narrow Principles as destroy Love He was of a truly Healing and Catholick Spirit I wish he may be Imitated in these things by all who knew him I MENTION these Particulars the rather concerning his Personal Piety to confute the Cavils of those who would run down all the younger Ministers in gross as more loose than their Predecessors This is an Artifice of the Devil to hinder their Usefulness but the Foundation of it I am perswaded is either Mistake or Calumny For what if one or two Candidates for the Ministry be now and then heard of who are taken in the Snare of the Devil and fall from Hopeful Beginnings so as to dishonour their Profession or quit it shall the rest who are Humble Sober Diligent and Serious be less esteemed Was there ever in any Age any sort of Calling or Profession of Men in the World whereof there may not be Some found who are a Reproach and Blemish to the rest Would it not be very unjust that Elder Ministers who are Wise and Learned Upright and Exemplary should lose the Reverence and Honour that is due to them if there should happen to be some Few of their Age and Standing who come short of such Qualifications I do here most heartily thank God and Rejoice in Hope as to the rising Generation that I know many and hear of more of the younger Ministers who are well qualified for their Work by improving growing Parts and Learning and resolved Industry after more with deep Seriousness and Integrity towards God And therefore will deserve the Esteem and Encouragement of all that know them 2. LET me now Consider him as a Minister of Christ He was apt and ready to Teach fit for Publick Service and Successful in it How much did he answer the Apostle's Character To be Blameless as a Steward of God not self-will'd not soon angry not given to Wine not Contentious not given to filthy Luce a lover of Hospitality a lover of good men sober just holy temperate holding fast the faithful Word as he had been taught able by sound Doctrine to exhort and to convince Gain sayers making it his business to save himself and them that heard him 1 Tit. VII 8 9. His Heart was in his Work and he wholly gave himself to it He did not seek great things to himself The Honour of Christ and the Salvation of Souls was what he aimed at and longed for and laboured for AND such was his unwearied Diligence in the well Improvement of his Time that he quickly grew Rich in all Spiritual Gists by the Blessing of God on the diligent hand And from time to time he increased considerably He found it true That to him that hath and useth well what he hath to him shall be given and he shall have more abundantly He knew the Weight of the Ministerial Work to watch for the Flock to strengthen the Weak to confirm the Strong to satisfie the Doubtful to resolve the Scrupulous to answer Cases of Conscience c. And who is sufficient for these things without a