148 fe 2. CHRISTS fllarm God have to live under filch a mans Miniftery, unleffe they can fay, this is my Minder, fet over me in the Lord ! This is fo needful!, that without it, he were as good have no Minifler at all. As the Apoflle tells the good people of Cofofe , Epaphras is fora faithfull Miniher of Chrifb , C ol.t .7. This is their comfort indeed, when they can truely affirme that this man is for us a faithfull Minder of Chrift. This Mintfler is our Minifler in Chrift. This is the ground of their Confciences, fubmttting to his Miniftery, and oftheir receiving of him, as an Ernbaffador from Chrill unto them. Now when a man is not placed by Chrift in a Parifh as their Minder, what joy can they have to heare him ? What hope that God will Ian &ifie his labours among them ? The ufe of this is, firfl ; For us that are Minders, that we looke we be of Chrifls placing, that we may be able co con- clude to our people as Paul to the Corinth:, 'Though I be not an Apoflle unto others, yet doubtleffe, (am an Apeffle unto you. So that we may be able to conclude to our people, deubtleife J am Chrifls,Minifler unto you. As our Saviour .Chrift fàyes. Who is the faithfull wifeShephearfl,Whom his Lord fhallmake Ruler over bis houfhold ? Luk.t 2.42.Hath the Lord made us Rulers.over his boufhold ? We are all fhepheards in inch and fuch Parifhes. But did the Lord put us there ? We are Spirituali Rulers over fuch and fuch boufholds of God, but did the Lord make us Rulers over them ? otherwifé we are not Starres in his hands ; No, We arc blazing Co- mets out ofhis Orb : if we be Starres in his hands, wee can prove our placing from him. Secondly, This iérves to condemne them that are theeves and intruders into Gods Heritage,that never came in by the doore, but by Lome other way, that are hirelings and will leave the fheep,for their own advantage Gain makes them take livings, gain makes them chop and change, that never went t6 Chrift for his approbation, it is fàid of the Apoflles, that the Rulers and Elders perceived that they had been with Jefus, A &. q.t 3. Tiaofé are Minihers of Parifhes indeed, that
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