Fifth Commandment, ers as much as can be without difguft:ing any; for he that fhall only difgorge and tumble out a heap of bombafrick theatrical Words, at which the People only ftare, and gape, and wondc~,. Preacher~ to them in al'!. ~nknown Tongue, although he (peak Englirh: And thtsJs but ro gtve them Stones Inftead of Bread. 4-fhly. Their Pr~aching mull: ~e grave. and. folid, not fiovenly ?nd too m_uch negleCted, for that wtll but beget a naufeaung 1n the Hearers; nor yet too nu.:ely and fprucely dreft, for that will be apt to divert the attention fro~1 the Matter. to the. Phrafc. Their Sermons ought to have a comely and Matron·like, not a gay1fh and meretricious Attire. The Truths they Preach mufl: be delivered in fuch words as may adorn, but not hide nor bury them; fuch as may rather recommend the Do.. thine to the Confciences, than the Art and Rhetorick of the Preacher to the Ears and Fancies of the Hearers. srhly. They ought to Preach powerfully and with. Authority, I Tim. 4· 1 t: The{e things command and teach. We come to the People tn the Name of God, and are his Ambalfadours, and therefore ought to deliver his Melfage boldly, beir.g fent to the People by the King of l{ings, and Lord of. Lords: And ~hofe who "!ince his Errand, as if they mere a.fratd to fpeak that whtch God hath g1ven them 10 Corn· million., fuall at their return unto him receive the Reward of treacherous and un· faithful Meffengers. There are very many other Duties, which cannot without too much length be particularly infifted on.· As Hofpitality according to the meafure of their Eftates, 1 Tim. 3· 2. They muJ'~ be givm to Hojpitality. And, Tit. I. 8. They muft be lovers of Ho{pitality. And therefore they ought to be liberally and plentifully endowed, that they may make their Table a Snare in a good fcnfe, and may get fame to follow and obfe-rve them, though it be but for the Loaves. And here it will be a good Point of their Wifdom, if they can handfomly make ufe of fuch Opportunities (as we find our Saviour did after he had miraculoufly fed the multitude) to break unto them the Bread of Life,and with their bodily Nourifument to feed their Souls. Then Gravity in their Difcourfe, and in all their Converfe: A Minifter fh.ould nei.. ther fpeak nor do any thing that is unfeemly. Intemperate Mirth, clamorous Talk, fcurrilous Je!tings, but cfpecially the lea!t fyllable of an Oath, although it be never fo much varied and difguifed, in a Minifter's Mouth, as it is wicked, fo it is iit· terly misbecoming the Dignity of his Proferoon, and renders him mean and contemptible. Again; A pious and afiiduous Care in vifiting the Sick, who are certainly mofr capable of good !Advice and Counfel then, although perhaps they have all their Life time before defpifcd and refufrd it. You may poffibly do more good by the fick-Bed, than in the Pulpit: For Death is a terrible and thundering·Preacher, and he muft needs be a moft forlorn and obdurate Wretch who will not liften to your Admonitions, wh.en the hopes of a long Life, which made him formerly rejett them, have forfaken him. · Again; Diligence in catechifing and inftruCHng the Younger in the Principles of Faith and Religion: Root them well at firft, and they will continue ftable ever after. This will fave your [elves and your Succeffours much Labour afterwards: For if once you can infinuate into their Minds Piety and Verity, they will grow up to farther degrees of PerfeCtion in the ordinary courfe of your Miniftery, and be your Comfort and Rejoicing here, and your Crown and Glory hereafter. There are many other Duties necelfary to the right difcharge of the Minifterial Funaion, bur thefe already mentioned fhall fuffi.ce; and all others may be reduced to fome of thcfe. I Jhall therefore conclude this with my Earnelt Requelt, that -you would ever feriouily meditate upon that Charge which God gives the Prophet, and him all Minifters, Ez..ek. 3· 17, 18, 19. Sono[ Man, I have made theta Watchman umo the Houfe of Ifrael; therefore h~ar the Word of my Mou~h, and give them waming from Me. When I fay untt~ the w_,cked, 'Tkou/halt furel'Y dte; and thou givefl him not warning, nor fpeakeft tD warn the Wtcked of his Evil way to fave his Life; the jitme wicked Man fl~all die in his Iniquity; but his Blood will/ rtqt!ire at thine Hand. Tet if thou warn the W,cked, and he turn not from hiJ Wicludnefs, he ]hall die in his Iniquity, but thou h4f delivered thy Soul. The Peoples Duty toward their Minilter is efpecially twofold. Firft, Obedience in being perfuaded by his good Advice and Admonitions. We have
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