Furthermore, this must he not seldom, now & then once in a month, or every quarter ••• ▪ he cannot so discharge his conscience before the Lord, who hath appointed him to feed his flock continually: but this cannot live and continue without food, no more1 can the soul live, unless it be continually fed and nourished with the milk of Gods word. He must therefore feed them continually, as we read that careful shepherd S. Paul did, when he took his leave to depart from Ephesus, after he had committed the keeping of Gods flock unto the Elders of the Church, and given them warning of false teachers which would be busy with them after his departure, and therefore exhorted them to watch. Remember (saith he) that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one, 2both night and day with tears. This diligence must be in Ministers to be evermore teaching, that if the Lord do not bless at one time, yet he may at another, they know not the time wherein the Lord will call any of his flock, he must therefore use the means diligently at all times, both in season and out of season, as S. Paul writeth to Timothy: I charge thee therefore before God, and before the Lord Jesus Christ, which shall judge the quick and the dead at that his appearing, and in his kingdom. Preach the word: be instant, in season and out of season, &c. It is no small matter to have such a charge laid upon him, as is here set down, and is given to all Ministers as well as to Timotheus, that even as they will answer before the judgement seat of God, when the secrets of all hearts shall be opened, so they will preach the word instantly, purely and continually, both in season and out of season, omitting no occasion that may be profitable. It is the manner of men to count it out of season, if it be not3 the Lords day, and therefore they will not let a little business of other days to hear the word of God preached, which tendeth to their welfare. The Ministers must labour for their sakes both out of season and in season: but if they be more mindful of their worldly pleasures or business, than of the salvation of their souls, their blood shall be upon their own head.
Furthermore, this must he not seldome, now & then once in a moneth, or euery quarter ••• ▪ he cannot so discharge his conscience before the Lord, who hath appointed him to feede his flocke continually: but this cannot liue and continue without foode, no more1 can the soule liue, vnlesse it be cōtinually fed and nourished with the milke of Gods word. He must therefore feede them continually, as we reade that carefull shepheard S. Paul did, when he tooke his leaue to depart from Ephesus, after he had committed the keeping of Gods flocke vnto the Elders of the Church, and giuen them warning of false teachers which would be busie with them after his departure, and therefore exhorted them to watch. Remember (saith he) that by the space of three yeeres I ceased not to warne euery one, 2both night and day with teares. This diligence must be in Ministers to be euermore teaching, that if the Lord doe not blesse at one time, yet he may at another, they know not the time wherein the Lord will call any of his flocke, he must therefore vse the meanes diligently at all times, both in season and out of season, as S. Paul writeth to Timothy: I charge thee therefore before God, and before the Lord Iesus Christ, which shall iudge the quicke and the dead at that his appearing, and in his kingdome. Preach the word: be instant, in season and out of season, &c. It is no small matter to haue such a charge laid vpon him, as is here set downe, and is giuen to all Ministers as well as to Timotheus, that euen as they will answere before the iudgement seate of God, when the secrets of all hearts shall be opened, so they will preach the word instantly, purely and continually, both in season and out of season, omitting no occasion that may be profitable. It is the manner of men to count it out of season, if it be not3 the Lords day, and therefore they will not let a little businesse of other daies to heare the word of God preached, which tendeth to their welfare. The Ministers must labour for their sakes both out of season and in season: but if they be more mindfull of their worldly pleasures or businesse, than of the saluation of their soules, their blood shall be vpon their owne head.
- 1He must teach continually both in season, and out of season.
- 2Acts. 20. 31. Paul warned them with tears both night & day. 2. Timoth▪ 4. 1. 2.Acts. 20. 31. Paul warned them with teares both night & day. 2. Timoth▪ 4. 1. 2.
- 3Note.
