588 AN HUMBLE ATTEMPT, &C. What I have to say on this subject shall be contained under fout general beards : I. Take heed to your own personal religion, ás absolutely necessary to the right discharge of the ministerial office. Il. Take heed to your private studies and preparations ffir public service. III. Take heed to your public labours, and actual ministrations in the church.IV. Take heed to your conversa- tion in the world, and especially among the Clock of Christ over which you preside. Bear with me whileI enlarge a little upon each of these. SECT. I.-Of a Minister's personal Religion. 1. Take heed- to your own personal religion, especially to the work of God in your own heart, as absolutely necessary to the right discharge of the ministerial work. Surely there is the highest obligation on a preacher of the gospel to believe and practise what he preaches. He is-under the most powerful and sacred engagements to be a christian himself, who goes forth to persuade the world to become christians. A minister of Christ who is not a hearty believer in Christ, and a sincere follower of- him, is a most shameful and inconsistent character, and forbids in practice what he recommends in words and sentences. But it is not enough fora minister to have a common degree of piety and virtue, equal to the rest of christians ;' he should transcend and surpass others. The»leaders and officers of the army under the blessed Jesus should be more expert in the christian exercises, and more advanced in the holy warfare, than his fellow - soldiers are supposed to be ; 2 Cor. vi. 4. In all ,things approving our- selves (saith the apostle) as the ministers of god in much pa- tience, 3c. and I may add, inmuch of every christian grace. A little and low degree of it is not sufficient for a minister ; see therefore not only that you practise every part and in- stance of piety and virtue which you preach to others, but abound therein, andbe eminent beyond and above the rest, as your station in the church is more exalted, and as your character . demands. The world expects more from you, your own conscience re- quires more of you, and Christ your Lord both requires and ex- pects much more religion to be found in you, who are the leader, than in the rest of the flock, since your advantages are much superior to most of theirs. Your time and life are in a special manner devoted to the things of God and religion, and the hea- venly world : Your particular calling as a minister is much _nearera-kin to your general calling as a christian, than that of the rest of mankind ; and you ought to improve it for the ad- vancement of your christianity. You are more disengaged from the busy cares and embarrassments of this life, tl axother
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