Compassionate counsel to all young men especially I. London apprentices, II. students of divinity,…

§. 4. 1. Of how great importance the Quality of the Clergy is to the Church and mens Salvation, many thousands have found to their Joy and Happiness, and I fear many more thousands to their sorrow and destruction. And then of what importance the Quality of Scholars and Young Candidates, is to the soundness of the Clergy, I need not many words to make men of reason and experience know.

§. 5. 2. God who hath instituted the sacred office, and by his Spirit qualifieth men for the work, doth usually work according to the fitness of their work, and qualifications. As he doth the works of Nature according to the fitness of Natural second causes, (giving more light by the Sun, than by a Star or Candle, &c. so he doth the works of Morality, according to the fitness of Moral Causes. Holiness is the true Morality, and usually wrought by holy means. And though it be so supernatural in several respects (as it is wrought by the supernatural revelation, or doctrine, or a supernatural Teacher Christ, by the operation of the holy Ghost, a supernatural Agent, commonly called infusion, and raising the soul to God a supernatural object; and to a better state than ⟨p. 111⟩that of corrupted nature) yet we are natural recipients, and agents, and it is our natural faculties which Grace reneweth, and being renewed exercise the acts of holiness; and God worketh on us according to our nature, and by causes suited to our capacities and to the work. As he useth not to give men the knowledge of Languages, Philosophy or any Art, by the Teaching of the ignorant and unskilful, so much as by Learned skilful Teachers, we must say the same of our Teachers of sacred Truth: and though Grace be the gift of the holy Ghost, experience constraineth all sorts of Christians almost to acknowledge what I here assert. Why else do they so earnestly contend, that they may live under the Teachers which they count the best? Will Heretics teach men the Truth as well as the Orthodox; why then is there such a stir made against Heretics in the World? and why are the Clergy so eager to silence such as Preach down that, which they approve. Will Papists choose Protestant Teachers, or Protestants choose Papists.