( 143 ) I. The Teaching of the Flock is, r. PublickTeaching them in their Sacred Affemblies, by expounding and applying the word of God. 1 Pet. 5. 2, 3. Feed the flack, ofGod which is among you, talking the overfight thereof, &c. faith Dr. Hammond, [The Bithops of your feveral Churches, I exhort -- take care of your feveral Churches and govern them, &c.] Heb. 13. Remember them which have the rule overyou, who have fpoken to you the wordofGod. Dr. H. [Set before your eyes the Bithops and Govemours that have been in your Church andpreached theGofpei to you - ] A17i 20.7. Vpon thefief dayof the weekwhen the Difciples came together to breakbread, Paul preached to them ] Matth. 24. 45, 46. Who then is a faithful and wife fer vant whom his Lord bath made ruler over his houfhold togive themmeat indue, feafon.] 1 Thef. 5. 12..Webefeechyooe brethren to know them that Labour amongyou and are overyou in the Lord and admonfhyou, and to efteem them very highly in love for their worksfake. ] D. H. [ Pay ( your Bitho s) asgreat a refped as is pofii- ble for the pains they have taken amongyou. 1 Tim. 5. 17. The Elders that rule well are worthyof double honour, efpecially they that labour in the word and doelrine. ]. D. IL [ Let the Bithops that have difcharged that func`.tion well, receive for their Reward twice as much as others have, efpecially thofe that preach the Gofpel to whom it was news, and alto continue to inftru6 congregations of Chriftians in felled Churches.] I Tim. 3. 2. A Bifhop mull be -- apt to teach.] D. I3 [One that is able and ready tocommunicate to others the knowledge that himfelfhath. ] 2 Tim. 4. 1, 2. I charge thee before God and the Lord Jefue Chrift who Jball judge the 9,ulf{ and the dead at his appearing, and his kingdom, preach theword, be inftant in Jeafan, out of feafon, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long- fufferiig and dollrine.] See Dr. H. Annot. And can one Bifhop be the publick Teacher of a thoufand, a hundred, ör many Churches: Can he feed them, and give them their meat in due feafon? where one of a thoufand never heard his voice nor taw his face ? Is the flock with them or among them ? Can you fay to his Diocefe, I befeechyou know the Bifhop that laboureth amongyou and admonifhethyou, and efteesn him highlyin loveforhis worksfake ? Will they not fay you mock them, and that they cannot know him whom they never taw ; nor love him for his work and admonition amongthem, that never was among them, that never workt with them, that never admonilht them but only that one of many hundred taw him, and . heard a Vifitation Sermon in one City or market Town once in three years,or a year at moll. Muffmany hundred`Congregations that never heard him, give him double honour that preacheth fometime to oneCongregation a hundred or twentymiles from them, and this as their InfirutingElder ? Judge of the poflibilityofthis. 2. The Bithops are allo bound to private helps, inftrudìion, counfel, and to watch over all the flock, and every particular member of them as a Father muff.
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