L 458 DIRECTIONS FOR LETTING AND KEEPING gence óf more laborers, which they think to cure by removing the few that do remain. 3. Also, some ministers, seeing that they have more work than they can do already, think themselves incapable oT more, and therefore that it is vain to put their people on it to seek more. 4. Some ministers are over-modest, and think it to be unfit to desirepeople to open their secrets to them, in confessing their sins and corrupt inclinations, and opening their . wants ; and indeed any ingenuous man will be backward to pry intothe secrets ofothers. But when God bath made it our office, under Christ, to be physi- cians to the souls df our people, it is but bloody crúelty to connive at their pride and carnal bashfulness, or hypocritical covering of their sins, and to let them die of their disease, rather than we will urge them to disclose it. 5. Some ministers are loath to tell people of their duty in this, lest it should confirmthe world in their malicious conceit; that we should be masters of men's consciences, and would lord it over them. This is as much folly and cruelty as if the master and pilot of the ship should let the mariners govern the ship by the major vote, and run all on shelves, and drown themselves and him, and all for fear of being thought lordly and tyrannical, in taking the government of the ship upon himself, and telling the mariners that it is their dut3. to obey him. 6. Most godly ministers do tell people in general of the neces- sity of such a dependence on their teachers, as learners in the school of Christ should have on them that are ushers under him the chief master ; and they do gladly give advice to those that do seek to them : but they do not so particularly and plainly acquaint people with their duty, in opening to them the particular sores of their souls. It is also the policy of the devil 'to make people believe that their ministers are too stout, and will not stoop to a compassionate hearing of their case ; especiall3 if ministers carry themselves strangely at too great a distance from their people. I would ear- nestly entreat all ministers., therefore, to be ás familiar, and as much with their people, as they can. Papists, and other seducers, will insinuate themselves into their familiarity, if webe strange. Ifyou teach them not in their houses, these will creep into their houses, and lead them captive.' I persuade others df my brethren to that which myself am disabled from performing; being by constant weakness (besides unavoidable business). confined to my chamber. But those that can perform it, will find this a most necessary and profitable work. And let not poor people believe the devil, who tells them that ministers are so proud, only to discourage them from seeking their advice. Go try them once, before you behave it.
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