An account of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persuasions appointedAn accompt of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persvvasions appointed

so it's the way to have an ignorant, profane and scandalous Ministry, (and consequently Enemies to serious Godliness in others) to impose upon them but such a work, as in ignorance and idleness they may perform as well as the judicious and the diligent. If it be said, [That their parts may be tried and exercised some other way:] We answer, Where should a Ministers parts be exercised, if not in the Pulpit or the Church, and in Catechising, in private Baptism and Communion, and in the visitation of the sick? their work also is such as a School-boy may do as well as they, their ignorance having the same Cloak, as in public. If it be said, [That a Ministers work is not to show his parts:] We answer, But his Ministerial work is to show men their sins, and to preach the wonderful mysteries of the Gospel, to help men to search, and understand the Scriptures, and to search, and to know their hearts, and to know God in Christ, and to hope for the glory that is to be revealed; and fervently to pray for the success of his endeavours, and the blessings of the Gospel on the people, and cheerfully to praise God for his various benefits; which cannot be done without Abilities. A physicians work is not to show his parts ultimately, but it is to do that for the cure of diseases which without parts he cannot do; and in the exercise of his parts, (on which the issue much depends) to save mens lives. The ostentation of his good works, is not the work of ⟨p. 23⟩a good Christian; and yet he must so let his light shine before men, that they may see his good works, and glorify God. And undeniable experience tells us, That God ordinarily proportioneth the success and blessing to the skill, and holiness, and diligence of the Instruments; and blesseth not the labours of ignorant, ungodly Drones, as he doth the labours of able faithful Ministers. And also that the readiest way to bring the Gospel into contempt with the world, and c•use all Religion to dwindle away into Formality first, and then to Barbarism and Brutishness, is to let in an ignorant, idle, vicious Ministry, that will become the peoples scorn: Yea, this is the way to extirpate Christianity out of any Country in the world, which is decaying apace, when men grow ignorant of the nature and reasons of it, and unexperienced in its power and delightful fruits, and when the Teachers themselves grow unable to defend it.

so it's the way to have an ignorant, prophane and scandalous Ministry, (and consequently Enemies to serious Godliness in others) to impose upon them but such a work, as in ignorance and idleness they may perform as well as the judicious and the diligent. If it be said, [That their parts may be tryed and exercised some other way:] We answer, Where should a Ministers parts be exercised, if not in the Pulpit or the Church, and in Catechising, in private Baptism and Communion, and in the visitation of the sick? their work also is such as a School-boy may do as well as they, their ignorance having the same Cloak, as in publick. If it be said, [That a Ministers work is not to shew his parts:] We answer, But his Ministerial work is to shew men their sins, and to preach the wonderful mysteries of the Gospel, to help men to search, and understand the Scriptures, and to search, and to know their hearts, and to know God in Christ, and to hope for the glory that is to be revealed; and fervently to pray for the success of his endeavours, and the blessings of the Gospel on the people, and chearfully to praise God for his arious benefits; which cannot be done without Abilities. A hysitians work is not to shew his parts ultimately, but it is to do that for the cure of diseases which without parts he cannot do; and in the exercise of his parts, (on which the issue much depends) to save mens lives. The ostentation of his good works, is not the work of