8q. MINISTERS COMPARED TO LABORERS. Book IV. S T A R S. ·ilL The Stars.are a great Orna• ment, and ihine glorioufly in the Heavens. IV. Stars differ one from ano– ther in Glory. V. Stars fometimes are obfcured by Clouds, and thine not. VI. Stars are a Guide unto Ma– riners. VII. A Star led the wife Men to Chri£1:. VIII. Stars give light to Men, only in the Night. IX. The Stars fend down fweet Influences on the Earth: Canft thou lJind the fweet Influences of Pleiades, or, thefevenStars? Jobxxxviii.3'· PARALLEL. Ill. So faithful Minifters are a great Ornament to the Church, in which they thine for-th gloriouOy in DoCl:rine and Converfation. IV. So there are Diverflties of Gifts of the Spirit in the Mini!ters of the Gofpel; fame fhine more than others in Parrs and Piety. V. So Mini!ters fometimes, through Tempta– tions, are beclouded, and fhine not as at other Times. VI. So the Mini!tero of the Gofpel are Guides to fpiritual Mariners. VII. A true Minifter's Defign in Preaching, is to lead Men to Chrift. VIII. So Chrift's Minifters fhine forth, and give light to Sinners, and others, whilft the Night of this World cloth latt. IX. So the faithful Minifters of the Gofpel, in a bleffed Manner influence, by their heavenly Doc– trine and Life, the Souls of Men to whom they preach, and daily converfe with. I N F E R E N C E , Q What a Bleffing are faithful Teachers to a People or Nation where they live! Is it not a lovely Thing to fee the Gofpel Stars? Pray that the H eavens may be clear, and that thefe Stars may not difappear, nor withdraw their fhining. MINISTERS · COMPARED TO LABORERS. '!'he Laborer is worthy of his M eat, Luke x. 7. THELord Chrift compares his faithful Servants, that preach hi• Word, to Labor– ers, to fuch as externally work and labor with their Hands. LAB 0 RE R S. I. LABORERS ufually are hired, and then fet to work. We read of one that went to hire Laborers, &c. lvfatt. xx. I1 Some Men labor in the Field, they are Harve£1: Men. Ill. Some labor fo hard, that they wear om their frail Bodies, and bring themfelves quickly to the Grave. IV. Laborers are often hindered and obftruCl:ed in their Work, like as the Jews were in building the Temple. V. Laborcrs obferve the fitteft Time to do Bufinefs in; they work hard by Day, and whilft they have good Weather. 2 PARAI:.LEL. I. so Chritl fpiritually is faid to hire Laborers, and fend the~ into his Vineyard; he affures them of a glorious reward, when they have done their Work. II. Such Laborers are the Preachers of theGof– pel : 'l'he Harve.ft is great, and the Laborers are few , &c. Matt. ix. 37· They labor to make ready, and gather in Chrift's Wheat. Ill. So fame of Chrift's faithful and laborious Servants labor fo hard in their Studies, in Watch– ing, Praying, and Preaching, that they fpend them– ielves, or bring utter V\Teaknels upon their frail Tabernacles, I am willing, faith Pat~l. to JPend and bejpent, &c. 2 Cor. xii. 15. IV. So Chrift's fpiritual Laborers are often hindered in their Work: Satan ftrives to hinder them, and falfe Teachers !1:rive to hinder them, and wicked Perfecutors endeavor to hinder them, and many Times forbid them to preach any more in the Name of Chrift. . V. So Chrift's Laborers obf<rve the fitteft Time to do ~heir Work; like as Cluiit fairh, I muft do the Work of him that fent me whi!ft it is Day; the Night r;omeswbm no Man can work,Johll ix. ·4· Vl.So
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