~h6 MINISTERS coMPARED TO STEWARDS. BookiV. METAPHOR. V!II. Fathers ought to walk wifely before their Children, in all Bolinefs and Sobriety, fetting themfelves as Patterns, to all that are in the Family, of Grace and Virtue. IX. It is a great Sorrow and Grief to a good and godly Father, to fee his Children froward, and foil out one with another, vi<illat– ing the Bonds of Nature. PARALLEL. VJII. So it is the Duty of Paftors and Mini– fters of Churches, to lead an holy and godly Life, and be as Examples of true Virtue and Piety to all they conver!e with. Be thot< an Example of the Believers, in Word, in Converfation, in Charity, in Spirit, in Faith, in Pur:ty, I 'J'im. iv. r2. IX. So it is an heart-breaking Sorrow to a godly and faithful Minifter, to fee the Saints and Membe-rs of the Church walk loofely, and live in Strife and Vain-Glor_Y, wronging and abuftng eaclt other, and thereby vwlate the facrcd Bonds of bro– therly Love, Tendernefs, and Forbearance: For many walk, of whom J have told )'Oil often, and uow tell you e·ven weepiug, that they are Euemies of tbe Croft of Chrift, Phi!. iii. I 8. X. It is the Property of a godX. So Chrift's fai •hful Minifters do not ceafe ly Father to pray or his Children, to pray for thole whom they have been inftrumen– and alfofor the whole Family corntal to beget, by the Word ofTrmh, unto Chrift• mitted to his Charge. nay, not only tor them, but for all committed ro their Charge; nay, for all the Children of God, ']'hat Chrift might dwell in their Hearts by Faith, and that they may be rooted andgrounded in Love, &c. Eph. iii. I7· N F E R E N C E S. f. WE may infer from hence, that the Office of a Minilter is an honorable Em– ployment. I!. It may in many Things teach Paftors their Duties to their Members, and Mem· bers their refpeCl:ive Duties towards their Paftors. lll. It alfo ferves to inform us, who are faithful, wife, and difcreet Minifters of Chrift. IV. We may further learn, what a great.Concern it is for a Church to chufe wife and fober Perfons .to be their Paftors. M IN Is T ER 8 COMPARED TO s T E wA R D s. Who is a faithful Steward, &c. Luke xii. 42. Let Men Jo account of us as the Minifters of Chrift, and Stewards of the l\f;:fleries of God. Moreo·ver, .it is r•iuired in Stewards, that a Man be found faitl.fu.l, 1 Cor.iv. I, 2. S'I'EWARD., Stewardjhip, the Original, """!'·'"' •, rendered in I Cor. \.'<. 17. Difpen– fatiou, properly Ctgnifieth the Ad!lliniltration of Huufhold-BuCtne[s, whereof one -raketh fuch and fuch Care, and cloth lo difpofe thereof, as that he appoimeth every .one what thev are to do. Note, True Gofpel-Minifters are Stewards, fpiritual Stewards, Stewards of God. MET AP HOR. I. A Steward is an Officer that principally belongs to great Men; few, beCtdes rich and noble Perfons, have Stewards of their Houfes. IL A Steward is a P erfon that hath a great Truft and Charge re· pofed in him; many rich and ex– cellent Things are committed to his Care and Overfight, Jometimes PAR ALL EL. I. so true Gofpcl-Minifters or l:'atlors, are Of– ficers that belong to Chrilt's Houfe, who is a great Prince, nay, King of Heaven and Earth. H. So faithful Minifters have a micrhty Trufl: repofed in them; the Lord ]efus hath ~ommitted to their Care and Charge Things of very great Worth and Value, even all the Goods of his Houfe. 1, They are entru!ted with the Truth, and every "' Leigh's Crit, $acr. Branch
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