!i2o MINISTERS coniPARED TO TRUMPET E RS. Book IV. II. It alfo !hews, that all true Minifters are Minifl:ers of God's making : Son' of Man 1 have made thee a Watchman, &c. Ezek. xxxiii. 7. There arc many that God never mad~ Minill:ers, nor cloth he approve of them. Ill. lt !hews what the Work and Office of a Mioifl:er is; alfo tha£ their Work is hard: A Watchman's Work is an hard and difficult Work. Many endeavor to avoid coming upon the Watch, !hifring it off to orhers, and rather ehufe to pay their Money, than ferv~ in their own Perfons; Watchmen are upon Duty, when others are a!leep in their Beds. 'Thou foa!t give them Warning from me, Ezek. iii. 17. Minifters muft not come in their own Names, but in Chrift's Name. As they come with God's Word, they come in his Name, in his Authority, to reprove, admonifh, comfort, &c. Minifters muft learn as well as teach: What I received from Cbrifl, I delivered to you &c. 'Thou foalt hear the Word at my Mouth"· They muft not come with l\·Ian's Word' or warn People to be fubjeCl: to the Traditions, Inventions, and Doctrines of Men: j wil/ftand upon my Watch, and Jet me upon the 'Tower, and will w atch tofee what be <J;i/} "Y unto me, Hab. ii. 1. MINISTERS COMPARED TO TRUMPETERS. Cry aloud, fpare not, lift up thy Voice like a 'I'rumpet, !fa. lviii. r. Blow ye the 'Trumpet in Zion, Joel ii. 1. If the 'Trumpet give an uncertain Sound, whofoal/ prepare himfelffor the Battle ? 1 Cor. iv. !J. MINISTERS may fitly be compared to Trumpeters, as divers worthy Men hal'e obferved, from thefe and fome other Texts of Scripture: They were the Priefts of the Lord in the Time of the Law, that blew the Trumpets, &c. MET A PH 0 R. I. A Trumpeter ought to have Skill, and be well inftruCl:ed to blow a Trumpet, before he take upon him that Employ. II. A Trumpeter ought to be one that is ftrong to blow, for that weak and defeCtive Men cannot found a Trumpet. Ill. A Trumpeter is called to that Place and Office by the Cap· rain, or chief Commander of the Troop. A Man is not to force himfelf upon a Troop, and fay, I will be your Trumpeter; but muft be tried, lifted, and orderly en· tcred into that Troop. PARALLEL. I. so a Man ought to have much vVifdom, and be well-inftruCl:ed in the Myfteries of the Gofpel, and alfo with the Work, Care, and Office of a Minifter, before he take upon him that great Employ. Minifters ought to be experienced Men. II. So Minifters ought to be ltrong in the Lord, and in the Power of his Might, endued with much of the Spirit, that they may lift up their Voices like a Trumpet. Ill. So every true Minifter muft have a Call t<> that Place and FunCl:ion, by J efus Chrift; that is to fay, ought to be a Perfon well-gifted and qua– lified for the Work, and that in the Judgment of the Church, and there to be chofen and called forth by them: How foal/ they preach, except they be fent? R om. x. A Man, or Member of a Con– gregation, muft not force himft!fupon a Church ot .People, and fay, I will be your Preacher, I have a Gift, and can .ferve you; but muft be tried by the Churd1, who is .the competent Judge of his Fitnefs for that Work, and fo be orderly admitted. IV. One or two Trumpeters IV. Every particular Church hath one or ufually belong to every Troop of more Minilrers, or Gofpel-Preachers belonging te> Soldiers. it. V. A Trumpeter is to found to V. So the Gofpel is to be preached, to prcpore prepare Men to Battle. and fit Souls to fight the lpirirual Battle, againft VI. A Trumpeter ought to know all the dill:inCl: N ores or Sounds he is to found ; fometimes to found a Call, fometime• an Alarm, fomeSin, Satan, the Fle!h, and the World. VI. So a Minifter is fo'merimes commanded to fonnd an Alarm: Blow the Trumpet in Zion,found an Alarm in my holy Mountain, Jge/ ii. r. They are to pronounce 'Wrath and J udgmcnr, to thunde< • Grttnhi/1 on Ez.ri. iii, 17.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=