Mini fkers emtrat ncy ingips xs needful 327 contempt of the Office , and .fo the.whole Mini- fiery tendeth to Infidelity or Atheifm : And the contempt of particrdar Iviinifters , tendeth to Schifm , and to the ignorance and corruption of their flocks. And though the contempt of the per¡on is bad enough of it felf, yet if it fall on ma- ny, and there remain not a confiderable nutn- >ber who preferve their neceffary reputation, it turneth to the contempt of the Office it fclf, and confequently of the.Gofpel. And it muff be apparent zworth, that muff pre- ferve the perfont honour. The flyer lace did make the Apprentices in Apelles fhop to reve- rence a fooliíh gallant a while ; but when he be- gan to talk, they all fell on laughing at hirra. Our crave attire will go but a little way , to keep up our reputation, without forte better teflimony of our worth. An empty head , a (fumbling and ìef tans tongue , dry and dull and diforderly preaching ; and fenilefs, cold or confufed pray- ing , a vain and frothy kindof talk ; a common and carnal converfation ; all thefe or any one of thefe, will more abate the reverence of our per- fons, than the title of Do&ors, or the length of our clothing, or the enlarging of the philaceries, will advance it. Math. 23. 5. Mark. 12. 40, Lek, 20, 47. It is their double meafure of the fpirit, of wifdotne, and Goodnfs, which moil procure a double meafure ofhonour to the Mini' ftery. And if we excel them never fo much in Learn- ing, it will not fufìce unnlefs we excel them in our proper Minifterial gifts of preaching exhor- tation and prayer , which are the works of our A a 4 Occ,
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