76 SERMONS upon Serm,3i. in the view and confideration of Confcience; and that the Heart be always kept lively, and fort, and tender, by the frequent droppings of the Word, and that we may receive new Influences of Grace in God's Vfay. Yea, for Nations, how Coon would they degenerate without a Monitor and {landing Miniftry, and all Things would be wraptt up in Error and Darknefs ? This was the firft occafion of Idolatry among the Natiíìns, when their Monitors ceafed, and Religion began to be confined to a few Families. Ex- perience will belt (hew the neceffity of fuch a handing Office in the Church. Vjee 2. Reproof of thofe that invade the Minifter's Office, and of thofe that coun- tenance them. Jude Pays of them, They perifhed in the gaïnfaying of Corah, Jude s r: God's Judgments will overtake them. Corah's Sin was, levelling of Offices in the Church: g0 the Lord's People are holy; why Ihould any take a fpecial Office upon them ? It is an horrible abufe. Remember the Breach of Vzzah, God Is jealous even of a Circuni -' fiance in his Inftitution. Chrift himfelf had his Call to authorize him, Thou haft feat me into the World ; therefore much more fhould you have a Call to authorize you. If the Work doth not lie within the compafs of your Office, you do not glorify God, and cannot pleafe him ; and it will be ill for your account3 you cannot, when you die, fay as Chrift, John 14. 7. I have glorified thee upon the Earth, I have finifhed the Work which thou haft given me to do. You do not glorify God with any thing, but that which he hath given you to do. It is notable that Chrift would not intermeddle out of his Calling. When one came to intreat him, to fpeak to his Brother to divide the In- herit an c e with him ; he raid to him, Luke s2.4. Man, who made me a Judg or Divider over you ? Who was fitter to judg than Chrift ? yet this was not the Work he came about. If Troubles arife, you cannot fuffer them comfortably. All the Diforders a- broad, will lie in a great meafure upon your Score. Invading of Callings hash been the fource of thofe Mifchiefs that abound among us. 4agnfline faith, Pax eft tranquil - litaf Ordinis, when all things keep their Place. In natural Things : Elements, when out of their place, breed Confufion 5 the Sea out of its place, makes an Inundation ; and the Air out of its place, imprifoned in the Bowels of the Earth, caufeth an Earth- quake. It is true in this Cafe alfo ; when Men are out of their place, it begets Con- fufion and Diforder. Never do I look for the Peace of the Church, and Power of the Gofpel, till Men have learned to keep within the compafs of their Callings. You pretend Gifts and Abilities ; if you have a delire to the Work for the Work's fake, why do you not fubmit to the regular way of fending ? The Angel that appeared to Cornelius, biddeth him fend for Peter, AEs so. 5. Why did not the Angel teach him himfelf? His Commiffion was only to bring a Meffage from God, not to preach the Gofpel, that was Peter's Work, therefore he fent him to Peter. Nay, Chrift himfelf fendeth Paul to Ananias, Alb 9. 6. If any Ihould ufurp the place of an Ambaffador, without the Prince's Leave and Command, it would be accounted horrible Pride. No Prince can endure a Servant whom he hath not chofen : and how then can Chrift take it well 'at your hands ? It is but an Itch of Pride, if we fearch it to the bottom. There are regular ways of exercifing your Gifts in private Meditation, and Family- Inftruûion, and gracions Conferences, by way of interchangeable Difcourfe, with lefs Pride and Ufurpation, and more fpiritual Profit and Comfort, than in publick Sermons. Vfe 3. Advice to Minifters and People. s. To Minifters. Strive to make out your Calling to your People, to evidence it to the Confciences of your Auditory, by your Sincerity.and Succefs. (t.) By your Sincerity. 2 Cor. 4. 2. We have renounced the hidden things of difbo- nefty, not walking in craftinefs,nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by mamfe a tion of the Truth, commending our 'elves to every Man's Confcience in the fight of God. Succefs is not in our power, but yet our Aim Ihould be fincere. Delight not in vain Applaufe ; let not this fatisfy thee, but that others may feel the Power of Truth. Let it not fatisfy thee, when thy Hearers go away and fay, O how learnedly, how elo- quently, with what fubtilty and fublimity of Reafon doth he preach ! what excellent Gifts of Memory, Wit, Elocution ! This did not fatisfy Chrift. Chrift had made an excellentSermon ; a Woman in the Company cries out, Luke s r. 22, 28. Bled is the Womb that bare thee, and the Paps that thou haft fucked ! But he faid, Tea rather, bled are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it ! It is far better, when they go away from hearing, to be more mindful of themfelves than of us; of what is fpoken to their Confciences, rather than what are our Gifts; condemning themfelves, rather that} commending
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