And not only not to preach at all, but to preach negligently, is utterly condemned. Jer. 48.10. Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord negligently. Revel. 3.16. Because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold: it will come to pass that I shall spew thee out of my mouth. This reproveth nonresidency of ministers, which is an ordinary absence of the minister from his charge: namely, from that particular congregation committed unto him. Isaiah 62.6. I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which all the day and all the night continually shall not cease: ye that are mindful of the Lord keep not silence, and give him no rest, till he repair, and till he set up Jerusalem the praise of the world. Act. 20.28,29,30,31. Take heed therefore unto your selves, and to all the flock whereof the holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing, shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Moreover, of your selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw disciples after them. Therefore watch and remember, that by the space of three years, I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 1. Pet. 5.2,3. Feed the flock of God, which dependeth upon you, caring for it, not by constraint but willingly: not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind: not as though ye were Lords over Gods heritage, but that ye may be ensamples to the flock. Ezech. 34.4. and 33. The Council of Antioch, the 17. Can. If any Bishop by imposition of hands inducted into a charge, and appointed to govern a people, and he neglect to take upon him that office, but delayeth to go unto the congregation allotted unto him: such an one shall be prohibited from the Lords table, till he be enforced to attend upon that charge, or at the least somewhat be determined by a complete assembly of the Ministers of that Province. The Council of Sardice, the 14. Canon. We remember that our brethren in a former assembly decreed, that if any lay-man remaining three Sabbaths or Lords days, that is, three weeks in a city, did not in the same city frequent the Church assemblies, he should be excommunicated:
And not onely not to preach at all, but to preach negligently, is vtterly condemned. Ier. 48.10. Cursed be he that doth the worke of the Lord negligently. Revel. 3.16. Because thou art lukewarme, and neither hote nor cold: it will come to passe that I shall spew thee out of my mouth. This reprooueth nonresidencie of ministers, which is an ordinarie absence of the minister from his charge: namely, from that particular congregation committed vnto him. Esai 62.6. I haue set watchmen vpon thy walls, O Hierusalem, which all the day and all the night continually shall not cease: yee that are mindfull of the Lord keepe not silence, and giue him no rest, till he repaire, and till he set vp Ierusalem the praise of the world. Act. 20.28,29,30,31. Take heede therefore vnto your selues, and to all the flocke whereof the holy Ghost hath made you ouerseers, to feede the Church of God, which he hath purchasedwith his owne blood. For I know this, that after my departing, shall grieuous wolues enter in among you, not sparing the flocke. Moreouer, of your selues shall men arise, speaking peruerse things to draw disciples after them. Therefore watch and remember, that by the space of three yeares, I ceased not to warne euery one night and day with teares. 1. Pet. 5.2,3. Feede the flocke of God, which dependeth vpon you, caring for it, not by constraint but willingly: not for filthie lucre, but of a readie minde: not as though ye were Lords ouer Gods heritage, but that ye may be ensamples to the flocke. Ezech. 34.4. and 33. The Councel of Antioch, the 17. Can. If any Bishop by imposition of hands inducted into a charge, and appointed to gouerne a people, and he neglect to take vpon him that office, but delaieth to goe vnto the congregation allotted vnto him: such an one shall be prohibited from the Lords table, till he be enforced to attend vpon that charge, or at the least somewhat be determined by a complete assembly of the Ministers of that Prouince. The Councel of Sardice, the 14. Canon. We remember that our brethren in a former assemblie decreed, that if any lay-man remaining three Sabboths or Lords daies, that is, three weekes in a citie, did not in the same citie frequent the Church assemblies, he should be excommunicated:
