:83'1Nll.l\ lSfERS -coMPARED To AMBASSADORS. Bool IV. MET A PH 0 R. Danger, by Dogs, ,;volves, or Foxes fhould bet.al them. And .there were in the fame Country Shep– herds abiding in the Field, keeping .Watch over their Flocks by Night, .&c. Luke ii. 8. V. Shepherds ace very tender .of their Flocks, and drive them as they can go, fl1ewing much Com– paffion to the vVeak and .FeeWe, .and endeavoring to heal and ftrengthen the Difeafed. PARALLEL. fhould befal them from the Enemy, there being many Dogs, \Volves, and cunning Foxes abroad, feeking to deftr.oy and fpoil the Sheep and Lambs of Jefus Chriil:, I mean, fubtil Deceivers .and Ptr– fecutors. V. So Miniil:ers fl1ould be very tender of the Saints, or fpiritual Flock, and not impofe upon them fuch Things as they are not <:onvinced of w be their Duty; they mu!t nor drive them out of their Pace; and the Weak and Feeble among them they ought to take Compaffion upon, and !hive to heal the Difeafed. The Shepherds of Ifrael .failing herein, greatly provoked the Owner of the Sheep againil: them : '.The Difeafed, faith he, ye .have not j/rengthened, neither have )'e healed that which was )ick, &c. Strengthen )'e the weak Hands, and confirm the feeble Knus, Ezek. xxxiv. 4· VI. Shepherds fometimes keep VI. So Minifters keep Chrift's Sheep : Feedmy Sheep that are none of their own. Sheep. They are Chriil:'s by Choice, by Gift, by VII. Shepherds ought to feed .of the Milk of that Flock they feed. VIII. It is aShame to aShepherd -to regard the Fleece more than the Flock ; it may be faid of fome Shepherds, if they are fed, and ·have the Fleece, let what will befal rthe Sheep, they matter not. Purchafe, by Conqueil:, &c. V!l. So Miniil:ers ought to be fed by the Flock or Church they feed: Who feedeth a Flock, and eatelh not of the Milk of the Flock, &c. 1 Cor. ix. 7V Ill. lr is a Shame and great Reproach to aMi– nifter, and a Sign he is none of Chriil:'s Servant, who chiefly regards his own, bale, and carnal Ends; if he has but the Fleece, and be ·well fed, let what will become of the Church, or Souls of thofe under his Charge; he feeks not them, but theirs. I N F E R E N C E S. 'I. HENCE Miniil:ers may be greatly encouraged to a faithful and careful Difcharge of their Tru(\; for that they ferve the Lord Jefus, whofe the Sheep are, and .who will reward them in due Time. II. lJ: may alfo caution them to be very careful, that they feed Chrift's Flock with no other F<>od than what is of Chrift's providing. Ill. It may inform all the Flocks and Sheep of Chrifr, over whom the Holy Ghoft bath appointed Shepherds or Overfeers, (1.) To prize their faithful Minilrers, obferve ·their Doftrine, and ere their holy and heavenly Converfation. (2.) To walk as Sheep. ~3·) To keep clofe to their Fold. MINISTERS COMPARED TO AMBASSADORS. .We are Amba.!Jadors for Chrij/, &c. 2 Cor. v. 20. For which I am an Amba.!Jador in Bo11ds, &c. Eph. vi. zo. THE Words, Amba.!Jador, Legate, or Me.!Jenger, are fynonimous Terms, properly, fuch as are commi!Jioned or deputed betwixt diflant Parties, to tranfaEt Affairs of Moment. The Term is applied to the Miniil:ers of the Gofpel; and it fets forth, ,z. The Dignity, 2. The Duty of Minifters. Note. Faithful Minifters are Chrift's Ambatr•dors,. :3c. MET AP HO R. :I. AMBASSADORS are autho– rized and fent abroad by Princes, about the great Affairs of xheir Kingdoms.. I!. Ambaffadors ufually are Per– [ons of Eminency ; it is an Office PARALLEL. !.MINISTERS are authorized, empowered, and fent by the Lord Jefus, the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, on the great Affairs of his Glory, and Man's Good. ll. Faithful Minifters of Chrift, fuch as are Miniil:ers indeed, are eminent Perfons, fuch as are great ..
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