The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…

•t is needful to the peoples edification and concord, that their Pastors much excel them in knowledge and utterance, and also in prudence, holiness and heavenliness of mind and life: that so both the reverence of their calling and persons may be preserved, and the people instructed by their examples.

I Doubt not but the ministrations of a weak and of an ungodly Minister, are valid and may be effectual to the flock; And that the innocent people forfeit not their privileges in acceptable worship and effectual Sacraments, though a wicked Pastor may forfeit his own acceptance and reward with God. But yet because there are none of us so innocent, whose consciences may not justly tell us that we have deserved to be afflicted in that kind, and because God useth to work by means, and vary the success according to the quality of the means and instruments, we may well conclude ⟨p. 324⟩that the Gifts and Holiness of the Pastors is a very excellent and needful help, to the peoples settled Piety and Pence: And that where this help is wanting, that ordinary means is wanting, by which God useth to convey this blessing.

I Doubt not but the ministrations of a weak and of an ungodly Minister, are valid and may be effectual to the flock; And that the innocent people forfeit not their priviledges in acceptable worship and effectual Sacraments, though a wicked Pastor may forfeit his own acceptance and reward with God. But yet because there are none of us so innocent, whose consciences may not justly tell us that we have deserved to be afflicted in that kind, and because God useth to work by means, and vary the success according to the quality of the means and instruments, we may well conclude ⟨p. 324⟩that the Gifts and Holiness of the Pastors is a very excellent and needful help, to the peoples setled Piety and Pence: And that where this help is wanting, that ordinary means is wanting, by which God useth to convey this blessing.