.AT'reatifio(Callings. got letters from the high Priells to perfecme A the Church,it isfaid by S.Luk.,AE1.9·'4· thar he recciaed authoritie tobind a/J that caD vpon then..meofGod.'J'aulwritingtothe Churcnof Corinth, calleththe members thereofS4inu: andjisch .ucall•nthenameof the Lordlt[t~s, r. Cor. I ·•· By both which places the holy Ghoft would giue vs to vnder£\and, that inuocation whereby this dutie may bee done. Theyare efpecially three. The firll is prayer,notonely for onr felues, but torthe goodcllateof the whole Church ofGod on earth. To this effe<t fpake Chrill to his difciples, when he faw the !ewes like {cattered fheepe without a 01cp· heard; Pr4ytothe LordofthehMuej/, that het wo•ldthr~JIfmh labourers intotheh•rnefi,Mat, 9• 38. Andintbatpraytr, commonly called the Lords prayer,we are taught to fay,Let thy kJ.ngd.mt come: where by kjngdome is not onely meant the kingdome of glory in heauen, but t~c kingdome of grace , which is the happy , and blelfed condition of Gods Church on · earth. And therefore Pa~~l bidderh toeThcfis a maine duty which euery Chri£\ian man is to perforrnecontinually;anditcoaroines both prayer and thankfgiuing in the name and me– diation of Iefus Chrill. And indeed bythisa· c'tiona <O:hri£\ian is di!linguifhed and feuercd from all other forrsof men in the world, that pretend deuotion or rebgion.Bythisitappea· reth,howfoeotral men do defireto beare this name,& take vnto them this generall calling, yetvery few are indeed true and found Chri– £\ians; for nor oae of an sundred can rightly inuocare the oameofGod, thoughtheycao indeede repeare the words of prayor!yet they want the fpiritofgrace,& fitpphcauos,wher.- by they fhouldaskegrace in Ciuifls name,and gine thanks for benefits receiued. Thus many uearing in !bew thename of Chri£\, want the power thcreof.Nay which is more,not tocall on the name of God is made by the Prophet Dauid, the note and marke of an Atheill, that a#h in hu heart there umGod,'J'fol.I4·9· B falonians pray,that Gods word mayhaucfree paffage and be glorified, ,.ThefT.3· I. The fecond duty is,as much as pofsibly we can, to further the good ellate of the true C Church ofGod. It is indeede principally the dutieofthe Minifter, and yet generally it ap– pertaines to all; for as in mans body, theeye The fecond meanes is, theworkeof edifi– cation , whichPaul enioynes the Thelfaloni– ans:Edijieone another;J.ThefT.5·l J, AndSaint IHd•v. 20. Edifieyourfelnes vpo»your mejl holy faith, The Church ofGod is aTemple made withouthands, rhe foundationis Chrifl; and euery member of Chrill with all that apper– raine ro Gods elec'tion,are liuing!!ones : t~e builders ofthis temple principally, are Pa– floursand teachers, and not onely they,but all Cluillian perfons generally. The cafe !lands hereasitdid in the building oftl)emateriall temple, the principall builders.whereof were fuchascutand laid !lanes, and wrought cori– oua workes ;befides whom,there \V ere many orhers, which though they couldneirher cut nor frame,. yet did they further the building, either by carrying of burthens, or making of mortar: euen fo in the buildingof<Sods fpiti– tuall Church, thoughall cannot (quare !!ones likeMafous, nor build as the Minifler doth , yet all without exception pertaining to the Church ofGod, mu{\ put their helping hands to timber this building. And this may bee dpne two waies:firll,by vfing all good means, whereby we may drawour kindred,friends,& neigbbours to theloue andobedienceoferue religion. This duty'l'a•/ propoundeth to tht Corinthians in his owne example,faying: He by fceing , rhe eare by hearing, the tongue by fpeaking, andeuery part by his properoffice dorh further the good ofthe whole body: E– uen fo, all that are called tobee members of Chrift,mufl as much as in themlyeth, procure the good ofthe whole millical bodyofChrill. Dauidin rhcname ofthewhole Church faith, Pfa!.r>2. 69. !willprocurerhy we.lth,andpray fonhe peaceof Ierufalem, they}hallpr.f}er that wue thee.Andafter hee had humbled htmfelfe for thetwogdeuous fins ofadultery aod mur– ther, in the end he praies to God to build the wallesofIerufalem.For the buildingoftheta· bernacle,the lcws brought frce-I;Vill off<rings according to their ability. Some broughtgold and precious llones,others!iluer andfilke, & fuch as had no betterthing, brought rammes •kins, and badgersskins: euen fo,in thebuil– ding ofGods Church his fpiritual tabernacle., euery Chri£\ianmull bringafree-wiloffering, he mufl doe fomerhing euen to the vtmofl of his pewer, to the building ofGods Church, though his feruice be but meane. Though men (as I haue faid)fondly imagine,thatthis dutie is proper to the niinillers ofthe wore!; yet the truth is, it belongs notonely vnto them, but to euery one that profeffeth himfelfe to bee a member ofthe body of Chri£\: in wbicllre– fpeft oe mu£\,fo much as he can, procure aud fprther the good ofri)e whole. . Here then wee are to confiderthe meanes \ D ple.jid•~menin althings,norJiekjnghisownpro. .fit,buttheprofit of mAny,thattheymightbefautd, I ·(or.ro•33• Secondly, this thing is done by confinning thofe which are called, by often admonitions,exhortations, confolations, and all other like duriesthat ferueto this end.Aqd by thefe duties may the m<aneft perfon in the Church ofGod,build or edifie. Heere I may iuflly complaine of the neg~ lec't efthis duty:for the cafe !landsthli'sin rhe barren and fruirle!fe age ofthe world:mcn are fo farrc from theduties ofedificatio, thatthey vfe all meanes, rather to poll downe then to lluild. Forhe that giues himfelfe bot to learnc the duties ofreligion, and tn fame fortto liue aFcordingly, is made a figne anol a by-word amo11l\ the comll)on people, & alfoawonder. Andthisfhewcs, thattheprallife of thisdu~ 'Y, ofedific~ionlicsdead, whereto ncuerrheS ff 3 lelfe
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