Bo-ok IV. MINISTERS COMPAREfi TO BUILDERS. METAPHOR. V. A wife Builder takes care to prepare and make all his Materi– als ready, before he raifes the StruCture, or builds ·his Houfc. PARALLEL. V. So lhould a Miniller of the Gofoel fee that all the fpiritual Stones and Timber be _.:ell fquared, fitted, and prepared by a thorough ~rork of Re– pentance and Faith, before they are placed dr laid into the Buildi-ng or Church of God. Prepare thy Work without, and make it fit for thyfelfin the Field, mzd then build thy Houfe, Prov. xxiv. 27. They mull: not lay Stones into the Building, as they come out of the Q.uarry from whence they arc digged, fl1d1 Perfons as were never converted, nor capable Sub– jdls of it; and then afterwards, when they are put into God's Houfe, go about to hew them by rhe \iVord, i.e. e~deavor to convert them. Mini!l:ers are Hewers, and the Axe is the Word of God; I ha-:;e hewed tbe;n by the Prophets; b"t they mull: pro– ceed orderly, i.e. not baptize, and then t~ach ; but fir!l: teach, or make Difciples, and then baptize them, Matt. :xxviii. .19, 20. VI. A Builder can tell how VI. So Minifrers can tell how many fundamenmany principal Pillars or Po!l:s betal Principles there are of the Chrifl:ian Religion, long unto the Houfe or Bllilding, I mtan, Principles neceffary ro Sahration; and alfo and fees to fit all the Materials the Number of the Foundations of Church-Con– thereof in their proper place, and flitution and.Fellowfl1ip .; and will fee _that every will be furc to lee that he wants Thing they do be done orderly, every Thing never a principal Pillar. fitted according to the.Diretlions of God's Word; and that they want not any one of the Foundation– Principles of the Chri!l:ian Religion. It is dangerous, you know, if a Houfe be to be b.t11lt upon fix main Pillars, if it want one. Read Heb. i1•. I, 2. V!I. A Builder has his Ruie, by VII. So a wife Minifler bath his Rule, viz. the which he cloth all his Work: He Word of God; he cloth not do what he thinks is does not work by Guefs, nor by right in his own Eyes, until he bath tried it by the the Sight of his own Eye only, but Rule; nor will he follow the Humor and Fancy by a certain and unerring Rule. of others, who may fay, this is right, and that is right: But according as he finds Things to agree or difagree with the holy Scriptures, and Spirit of God, that unerring Rule, by which he receives. or rejeCl:s, takes, or kaves: J1e, with Mofes, . will do all Things accord– ing to the Pattern fl1ewed in the Mount : /is many as walk according to this Rule, Peace be on tbem, and MerC)', md upon tbe whole lfrael of God, Gal. vi. The Word of God: lhould be our Guide in all Things. Vlll. A wife Builder takes care that all the Building be fitly framed together, and well fa!rened to the b'oundation. Vlll. So a wi-:e Mini!l:er, or fpiritual Builder. endeavors to fee that all the Saints be united, fitly framed, or joined together in Lpve, and well fal~ tcned by Faith, and Love to Jefus Chri!l:. See what the Apo!l:le faith, Eph. ii. 20, 21, 22. /lnd are built upon ihe Foundation of tbe Apojlles and Prophels, Jefus Chr~l himfelf being the chief Conzer-Stone ; in whom a!! tbe Building being fitly jl-amed together, growelh lo an holy Temple in tbe Lord, in wbom .w are bv.ilded together for an Elab;tation of God, through the Spirit. IX. A Builder takes great Care to give DireCtions about'the Door, Ot·Way into the Houfe he is Build– ing, and make$ it plain, (hat all People who have a mind, or ought to enter in, may readily find the ¥.'ay, and not !\umble at the Threfhold. JX. So a wife and faithful Miniiler takes fpe– cial care to give DireCtions about the Door into God's Houfe, that all whom Chrifl: would have enter in, may not be at a loiS about it, nor ftumble as it were at the Thre01old. lt is ahfolutely neceffary, that they are acquainted with, and able to fhew to others, what are thofe initiatinCY Ordioances into the HoufcorChurch of God. And fad ic is to ICe fo many worthy Minifiers among us at fa great a Lofs in this refpeEI:. !t is demonllrated in a fmall Treatife, written by Mr. W. K. entitled, /1 fobtr Difcourfe of Right to Church Comnzu11ion. lt bath always been aiferted by Chriftians of all Perfuafions, till of late, that Baptifm in Water that holy Sacrame•zt Chrift ordained and left in his Church, is abfolurely neceffary to Church Fellowlhip and Communion; though touching the Subj&l: and Manner of the Admmifl:ration of that Ordinance, there hath been much Controverfy : But fure I am, the Word of God is very full.and plain in this Cafe. •· The
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