A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

For the removing of which impediments, first, the Ministers are to be exhorted and persuaded to do their duty. And in the first place, that none presume to take upon them this high calling, which God hath never called unto it, being altogether unfitted and unfurnished with gifts necessarily required to this high duty; seeing they purchase their means and maintenance with the price of blood, not of the bodies, but of the precious souls of the people, the which shall be required at their hands in that terrible day, when as Christ shall come to judge both the quick and the dead. And secondly, those which God hath furnished with gifts, are to be moved and admonished in the fear of God, that with all care and good conscience they feed the flock of Christ committed to their charge, not for filthy lucre, ¹but with a willing mind, chiefly aiming at the glory of God in the salvation of the people. To which purpose, let them first remember those names and titles given them in the Scriptures, implying not only their duty, but great and high privileges whereby they should be encouraged unto it. For they are appointed of God to be the Lights of the world; and what sin and shame is it to hide their Light, ²and to let the people sit in darkness and in the shadow of death? They are the Salt of the earth, appointed not only to be savoury in themselves, but also to season others, which salt of Grace and Wisdom if they lose, they are good for nothing, but to be cast upon the dung-hill, and to be trodden under feet. They are Gods Watchmen,