Of the calling of the ministry two treatises, describing the duties and dignities of…Of the calling of the ministerie two treatises, discribing the duties and dignities of…

But as for those to whom God hath been so good, as to bestow upon them, competent livings, and a willing and well disposed people, let them think themselves double blessed of God, and treble bound to honour God, and to do good in his Church: and if such men go not before their brethren in all Ministerial care and duty, their fault is above all mens, and they make themselves unworthy of so great mercies. Again, if that a polluted people, pollutes their Minister, here is a good warning for all ministers to be wary and ⟨p. 36⟩choice of their company, with whom they will most privately converse: for, as on the one side they may not retire themselves into solitariness, nor sequester themselves from all society with their people, (which is rather a Cynical and fantastical, then any way a religious practise: so of all men are they to be most careful, that they do not loosely and lavishly bestow themselves on all companies, as too many do in our Church, to the great scandal thereof, who care not with whom they converse, but all companies, all places, all times, all sports and recreations, all meetings, all occasions, are one with them: but alas what marvel, though such men keep not themselves unspotted of the world, but prove too offensive to their calling: for seeing the best men cannot live with the best people, but they shall receive some contagion from them, how carefully ought ordinary Ministers to make difference of men and meetings, times and places, and not diffusedly and carelessly ⟨p. 37⟩to thrust themselves into all: So doing shall they keep their calling from much reproach, and preserve themselves from much pollution, which otherwise from their polluted people, they shall be sure to receive.

But as for those to whom God hath bene so good, as to bestowe vppon them, competent liuings, and a willing and well disposed people, let them thinke themselues double blessed of God, and treble bound to honour God, and to doe good in his Church: and if such men goe not before their brethren in all Ministeriall care and dutie, their fault is aboue all mens, and they make themselues vnworthy of so great mercies. Againe, if that a polluted people, pollutes their Minister, here is a good warning for all ministers to be wary and ⟨p. 36⟩choyse of their company, with whom they will most priuately conuerse: for, as on the one side they may not retire themselues into solitarinesse, nor sequester themselues from all societie with their people, (which is rather a Cimical and fantastical, then any way a religious practise: so of all men are they to be most carefull, that they doe not loosely and lauishly bestow themselues on al companies, as too many do in our Church, to the great scandell thereof, who care not with whom they cōuerse, but all companies, all places, all times, al sports and recreations, all meetings, all occasions, are one with them: but alas what maruel, though such men keepe not themselues vnspotted of the world, but proue too offensiue to their calling: for seeing the best men cānot liue with the best people, but they shal receiue some contagion from them, how carefully ought ordinary Ministers to make difference of men and meetings, times and places, and not diffusedly and carelesly