Bo:>kiV. MINISTERS coMPARED TO SHEPHERDS. 833 Ill. It may caution them to take heed they build according to the Rule. Let them not miftake the Rule, the Pope or Church of Rome is not the Rule; General Councils are not the Rule ; the Light within is not the Rule ; the Word of God is the only Rule, by which thefe Builders of God's Houfe muft do all their Work. IV. It may caution them to take heed they do not make any other Door·s into the Church, than what Jefus Chrift hath made. The Door that let into the natural Church of the Jews, is lhut up by him that hath the Keys of David; Birth-Privi. kges will not give a Right to Church-Memberlhip under the Golj,e1. 'Ihink not to fay within you•felves, We have Abraham to our Father, &c. V. It may caution them to rake heed they do not leave out of the Building any prin– cipal Pillar, left their Building prove defective, and ftand not long. It is a fearful Thing to alter, add to, or diminilh from the Word of God, Rev. ii. z. MINIs T E R s COMP ARE D TO pILL A R s. And when James, Cephas, andJohn, who feemed Pillars, &c. Gal. ii. 9MINISTERS are like Pillars in the Houfe of·God. SIMILE. I. A Pillar helps to fupport and 'bear up rhe Building. II. Pillars are a great Ornament '!0 a Building; they ferve not on'ly for Ufe, bm for Beauty. The two Brazen Pillars in Solomon's Temp·le wen:: curioufly a8orned with Nets of Cheguer- Work, Lily-vVork, .and Rows of Pomegranates, &c. III. Thefe Pillars ftood in rhe Porch of the Temple.. PARALLEL. I. so Minifters help to fupporr and bear up the Church and Houfe of God. 1[. So godly ·Miniflers are a great Ornament to the Church, being glorioufly adorned, many of them, with the Gift; and Graces of the blelfed Spirit, which fame think was figured forth by the Pillars of the Temple, in refpeCl: of the Chequer and Lily-Work: And by the Pomegranates, the Fruirfulnefs of their Converfation, &c. Ill. So the Apoflles, rhofe chief pjJlars of the Gofpel-Church, lived in the Beginning of the Church, faith Mr. Lee*, or Entrance of the Gof– ,pel-Miniftration. MINISTER-s COMPARED TO SHEPHERDS. 0 ;•e Shepherds, hear tbe Word of the Lord, Ezek. xxxiv. 9· MINISTERS, in divers Places of the holy Scriptures of the New Teftament, are compared to Shepherd.\. METAPHOR. L A Shepherd is chofen and ap– pointed to rake care of the Flock, being a Man fkilful in that Work. I!. AShepherd feeds his Flock, leading them into good green Paf– tures. HI. A Shepherd endeavors to keep the Flock together, left any lhould ftray from the Fold. IV. A Shepherd watches over his Flock in the Night, left any PARALLEL. I. SO a Minifter is chofen and appointed to take care of the Flock and Church of God, andof the Souls of Men committed to his Charge. I[. So Miniflers feed the Flock of Chrift: Si– men, Son of Jonas, love.ft tbou me? Feed my Sheep, Feed my Lambs, &c. John xxi. 16. Feed them witn good Doctrine, feed them with a good Example. Ill. So a faithful Minifler ftrives to keep all the Members of the Church, under his Care, to– gether, and .will not, if he can help ir, fulfer any of them to go a(lray. IV. So Miniflers mull: abide with their Flock; they muft not be at a diftance from them, le!\ Evil • JVlr. Som. Ltc, Folio zzS. ID C fhould
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