Book IV. MINISTERS CO/V!Pr\RI:D TO \Vl\.TCHL\1E N. W AT C H ME N. P A R A L L E L. that is evil or hurtfu l to the Souls of Men, or Church of God, and give warning of it; . and not like thofe foolifh Watchmen the Prophet fpcaks of, fiis Watchmen are blind, j1eeping, lying down, loving <o jlumber, !fa. !vi. 10 . If the Watchman feeth the Sword coming, and blow not tbe 'Trumpet, mzd the People be ilCt wanzed; zf the Sword wme and take away any Perjon from among them, he is taken aw~.y in his iniquity, but his Blood will! require at the Watchmmz's Hand, Ezek. xxxiii. 6, 7· They are to give warning to Sinners, that they repent, and be converted, for Wrath is aone out aaainft them from the Lord ; if they live in one Sin, they muft perifh : They are to :am them of the Danger of Unbelief, to warn them of the Danger of the Hardnefs of their Hearts, to warn them of the Danger of Pride, Covetoufnefs, and all other Sins; to give warning of the Danger of Idolatry, and all fa!fe Worfhip and He– refy; of the Danger of Apoltacy, the Danger of the inordinate Love of the \Vorld, or of any Thing fhort of Jefus Chrift, &c. IV. Watchmen are made and IV. So Minifiers are made or conftituted conftituted fuch by others, and . Watchmen by the Lord : Son of J,.Jan fee, I have called forth ro ftand upon the made thee a Watchman to the Houfe of Jfrael, Ezek. Watcl:. xxxiii. 7· It is Chrift's Prerogative to appoint V. Watchmen are not for them– felves, but for the Flock, for the whole Flock, Town, Parifh, or Army, where they arc fet asWatchmen. V. \"latchmen are ro give an Account of the Time of the Night. Men go to the Watchman to en~ quire; he fays, it is fuch or fuch an Hour : Watchman, what of the Night? &c. 'Ihe lvlorni11g cometh, and alfo the Night, !fa. xxi. 12. Watchmen, &c. V. So a Minilter is appointed to watch not only himfelf; but God's Flock, the whole Flock that is committed to his Charge; yea, every Membe~ of the Church: H e is tO look after the pocrdl\ as well as the richell ; and not feek theirs, but them, 2 Cor. xi. 28 . and xii. q. VI. So Chrifi's fi,irhful Minifiers are ro give an' Account of the Night; they ought to be wel!– lkilled in the Times, ro !hew what Ifrael o~ght to do. 0 that our Watchmen had more Knowledge upon this Account! That they could but tell how long ! Paul told the Romans, the Night was far fpent, and the Day was at H and, Rom. xiii. IO, I r. Our ·watchmen begin to fpeak afrer the f.,me Manner : '!he Mmting cometh, the Morning of that longed-for Day of Chrilt's King– dom ; and the Night, that eternal Night of Baby/on's Ruin. VII. Watchmen are expofed to VII. So the Mini!lers of the Gofpel are often Danger, and much Hardfhip; they fer upon whilft they are upon the Watch. See are oftentimes ftt upon, and bafely how ic befel Peter and John, ./lf/s iv. and Stephen, abufed in the Night, whilft they Chap. vii. and the great Minitler of the Gentiles, are upon their Duties, by ev,il, St. Paul himfelf, Chap. xvi. whilll: he was preach– quarrtlfome, and mifchievous Pering Chrilt: '!he Magijfrates rent off their Cloathes, fans, and endure many cold Blafts. and commanded them to be beaten ; and ·when they VIII. Watchmen many times, through their Care and Diligence, by difcovering approaching Evils, prevent much Danger and Mifery from falling upon Men. Some by this Means have been delivered from being burnt in their Beds, when a violent Fire hath broken· out fuddenly in the Night; they cry our, Fire, Fire, to awaken People when they are afleep. had laid many Stripes up01z them, they caflthem into Prifon, &c. V III. So Chrifi's Minifiers, by opening the State and miferable Condition of poor Sinners to them, and of the Neccffity of fpeedy Repentance, in turning to the Lord, and dofing with Jetus Chrift, have prevented great Danger that was near them, I mean, as Inlhuments in rhe Hand of God. By this Means many poor Souls have been deli– vered from eternal Burnings in HelL Minifters cry our, Fire, Fire, Hell is exceeding hot, to roufe fecure Sinners. I N F E R E N C E ~ I. WE may infer from hence, that God takes great Care, and !hews much Pity to the Sons of Men, in that he hath provided his faithful Minifters to watch over them. Jl. It
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