A26939:107
How to do good to many, or, The public good is the Christians life…How to do good to many, or, The publick good is the Christians life…
How to do good to many, or, The public good is the Christians life directions and motives to it, intended for an auditory of London citizens, and published for them, for want of leave to preach them / by Richard Baxter.How to do good to many, or, The publick good is the Christians life directions and motives to it, intended for an auditory of London citizens, and published for them, for want of leave to preach them / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Rob. Gibs, 1682
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
IV. If you would be public blessings, and do good to many, do your best to procure a skilful, faithful Ministry in the Church. 1. Send no Son to the University, who doth not first show these three qualifications, a capable natural wit and utterance, a love to serious practical Religion, a great desire to serve God in the Ministry, tho it should be in suffering from men. If they want any one of these, design them to some other Calling; devote not an undisposed Lad to the Ministry, in hope that God will make him better, but stay till he is better.
IV. If you would be publick blessings, and do good to many, do your best to procure a skilful, faithful Ministry in the Church. 1. Send no Son to the University, who doth not first shew these three qualifications, a capable natural wit and utterance, a love to serious practical Religion, a great desire to serve God in the Ministry, tho it should be in suffering from men. If they want any one of these, design them to some other Calling; devote not an undisposed Lad to the Ministry, in hope that God will make him better, but stay till he is better.
2. Seeing Pastors are here obtruded on the flock, it is a work of great importance for Religious Gentlemen to buy as many Advowsons or Presentations, as they can, that they may introduce the best that they can get.
God hath hitherto made use of the qualifications of the Ministers, as the special means for the welfare of his Church. The bare ⟨p. 19⟩title and office is so far from sufficing without the skill and fidelity of the persons, that such have been the great corrupters and disturbers of the Church: When pious men have heaped up riches and honours on the Clergy, these have been baits for the worst men to become seekers, and make the sacred Ministry but a trade for wealth. And if carnal worldly men be Ministers, alas! what plagues may they be to the people and themselves? They will hate the Spiritual practice of doctrine which they Preach; when they have told men of a Heaven and Hell, and the necessity of a holy heart and life, as if they had been in jest; they will take those for hypocrites that believe them, and live accordingly: They will take the best of the flock for their Enemies, because they are Enemies to their hypocrisy and vice: Instead of imitating Saint Paul