2.64. mene and fupport, and create vexation toyour ownConfcien- ces. There are fo many difficulties to be conquered in this work, and fo many fufferings to be endured, that if a man be not clear that his Call was good, he is like tobe left to great .difcomforts. We have exceeding great labours to undergo : we have abun- dance of enemies and impediments to flrive with : we have many a fcorn and unthankful return, and perhaps imprìfoíiment or death toundergo:we are our felves, alas,too weak and infufti- cient, and mull depend on God for daily helps. And with what confidence canyouexpett his help, if you Call your felves, and enter not by his Approbation ? And how will you ever go through all this, and Puffer fo much with Chriftian comfort,whca you cannot fay that you are fent of God, and have nothing but your own overweening conceits of it ? Could you but fay, [ I entered by the way that God appointed, andwas not my own Judge ] you might have fotne more boldnefs and confidence of Gods afíìftance. Se& 34. Real. 18. The molt that plead againft Ordination, that are worthy the name of lober Chriflians , do plead but againft the Necefityof it, and cannot deny it tobe lawful: and Mould not all the reafons befo:a mentioned prevail with you to fubmit toa lawfulthing? Se&. 3 5. Real. to. And if it be thus undenyable, that men mull not be their own Judges, it will loon appear that Mjnifiers are the ftanding judges of mens fitnefs for this work, becaufe no other judges are appointed to it, orcapable of it. It mull be an ordinaryRated way of Approbation, that can give us fatif- fa&ion : for if God had left the cafe at large, for men to go to whom they will, it wouldbe all one as to go to none at all, but to be Judges themfelves. And if a ftanding way of Approba- tion muttbe àckaowledged,let us enquire where it is to be found : and look which way you will, and you fhall find no other, but this which is bymen ofthe fameCalling with them that are to be Ordained. Se& 3.6. For t. Magiffrates it cannotbe : nonethat I know pretend to that. Magifirates inmolt of the world are Infieels : and therefore cannot there be Ordainers : and none of them bath the work committed to them byChrift, nor do any that I uu,ow,;affum.eit to themfelves, Selo
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