Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BX5151 .B3 1659

part ír of a Church bath not opportunity to (peak to them; Or ifthey live in the fame Country, they feldom meet in greaten numbers in the fame Affemblies : And therefore when the Pa- llor is uponhis own work, it is requifite that there be tome to fpcak to the refl. §. z e. And yet I doubt not but as thereare hypocrites inmolt Churches, andamong us many that by their ignorance,or impi- ety we have caufe to judge tobe yet no.Chriffians , areour Or dinary hearers, fo the PaForsofthe Churches may and muff en- deavour their converfion and much fuit their preaching to the conditionof fuck fouls. But yet thofe millions that in other parts ofthe world ( and perhaps in Ireland, walet and the Highlands of Scotland, toomany fuch may be found) that neither know what Chrifiianity is, nor are the Ordinary hearers ofa fixed Mi- niftry , and live not within the reach of fuch fhould have a Converting Itinerant Miniftry for themfelves. §. i a. Moreover, 4. The Paftoral work is it fellfogreat,and the charge thatwe take ofparticular Churches, andcur obliga- tion to them fo firí& , that it will ufually it felt take up the whole man, andwill not allow a Pallor time for the other, work on chofe at a alliance yet uncalled, without neglecting the fouls that he hathundertaken tooverfee. §. 13 And $, For want of tuch general Minitiera, the ftate of perlons is in forme places confounded, and theworld and the Churchare thruft together , as ifthere were nodifference to be made. Becaufe there are no Minifiersknown but Pattors, there- fore there are no People known but as Chriftians, where yet the very knowledge of Chriftianity is too rare. Whereas if(where numbers anddifiance make it neceffary) , the preparing Miniftty had firft done their part, it would haveprevented much dange- rous confufion, and fell deceit that followethhereupon in many. places. §, 14. And6. By the miftaken fuppofition, that fuch gene. rall or unfixed Minitiers are ceafed, menhave been drawn to let Lay -menupon the greaten and nobletl work of the Miniftry and a conceit is hence rifen among fame, that becaufe this is not proper to the Patlors of a Church,cherefore ie is not a Mi- nifierialwork, but the work of gifted Brethren: And here- uponuncalled men are tempted to exercife it, t and by laying afide

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