456 bIRÉOtONS FOR GETTING AND $ETYING opened all their case to their minister, they might have been de- livered, in a good measure, long ago. Ausea. 2. Ana for Popish confession, I detest it. We would not persuade men that there is a necessity of confessing every sin to a minister; before it can be pardoned. Nor do we do it in a perplexed formality only at one time of the year; nor in order to Popish pardons or satisfactions; but we would have men go forphysic to their souls, as. they do for their bodies, when they feel they havé need. And let me advise all Christian congregations to practice this excellent duty more. See that you knock oftelfer at your pastor's door, and ask his ad- vice in all your pressing necessities : do not let him sit quietly n his study for you:- make him know by experience that the tenth part o a minister's labor is not in the pulpit. If 'your sins are strong, and you have wounded conscience deep, go for his advice for a safe cure : many aman's sore festers to damnation for want of this ; and poor, ignorant and scandalous sinners have far more need to do this than troubled consciences. I am confident, if the people of my congregation did but do their duty for the. good of their own souls in private; seeking advice of their ministers; and opening their cases to them; theywould find work for ten ministers at least ; and yet those two that they have, have more work than they are able to do already. Especially ministers in small country congregations, might do abundance of good this ;way ; and their people are much to blame that they come not oftener to them fór advice ; this were themay to make Christians indeed. The devil knows this, and therefore so envies it, that he never did more against a design in the world; he bath got the maintenance alienated that should have maintained them, that so they may have but one min- ister in a congregation, and then among the greater congregations this work is impossible for want of instruments; yea, he is about getting down the very churches and settled ministry, if God will suffer him. Ile setteth his instruments to rail at priests and dis- cipline, and to call Christ's yoke tyranny ; because while the gar- den is hedged in, he is fain, with envy, to look over the hedge. What if a man (like those of our times) should come to a town that have an . epidemical pleurisy or fever, and say, ' Do not run like fools to these physicians; they do but cheat you, and rob your purses, and seek themselves, and seek to be lords of your lives.' It is possible some do so; but if, by these persuasions, the silly people should lose their lives, how well had theirnew preacher be- friended them ? Such'fiiends will those prove at last toyour souls, thatdissuade you from obeying the guidance and discipline of your overseers, and dare call the ordinances of the Lord of glory ty- rannical, and reproach those that Christ hath set over them. Eng- land will not have Christ liy his officers rule over them, and
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