Sacrilegious desertion of the holy ministry rebuked, and tolerated preaching of the gospel vindicated,…Sacrilegious desertion of the holy ministery rebuked, and tolerated preaching of the gospel vindicated,…

Brethren, you hear by this Author that the Conformists are greatly afraid of Popery, and that the danger by some will he said to be from you: but who ever taketh you for the Papists friends, the Papists themselves will never so esteem you. You see that some Conformists are desirous of peace and concord with you, for the common end, the Churches strength against all adversaries. God forbid that you should not be as forward to love and peace as they. I have these following counsels to give you before I go out of the World, expecting to have you ere long in a condition, which will require more wisdom, holiness, and fortitude, than I fear the most are yet possessed of.

BRethren, you hear by this Author that the Conformists are greatly afraid of Popery, and that the danger by some will he said to be from you: but who ever taketh you for the Papists friends, the Papists themselves will never so esteem you. You see that some Comformists are desirous of peace and concord with you, for the common end, the Churches strength against all adversaries. God forbid that you should not be as forward to love and peace as they. I have these following counsels to give you before I go out of the World, expecting to have you ere long in a condition, which will require more wisdom, holiness, and fortitude, than I fear the most are yet possessed of.

1. Resolve by the grace of God, against all temptations, and through all difficulties, faithfully to ply your Ministerial work You see how much Satan is against it, and how he trieth every way to hinder it: sometimes by force and fears, sometimes by flatteries, sometimes as that old Prophet seduced the other, by coming as in Christs name, as an Angel of Light, and by Ministers of Righteousness. ⟨p. 84⟩He maketh not light of your Ministry, else he would not do so much against it; O do not you make light of it. Our Ordination, Vow and Covenant is Holy! If Ananias and Sapphira dyed for alienating consecrated money by a lye, what shall we expect, if we alienate consecrated persons by a lye: Souls are precious, sin is strong, Satan is subtle, the World is deceitful, the flesh is unreasonable, deceivers have great advantage, time is short; O therefore work while it is day, for the night cometh when none can work; Our own sloth and sin is the most dangerous silence. How many souls feed or famish, live or die, as we do our duty, or neglect it? Can you spare your flesh or labour, when you think what impenitent souls must feel for ever; and what the Sanctified shall enjoy? Would you not shine your selves as Stars in the Firmament? Would you not be found by Christ so doing? Would you not convert Sinners from the error of their way, when it is the saving of a soul from death, and covering a multitude of sins? What ever Word of God deceivers may abuse to stop your mouths, be sure that holy Covenants must be kept; that Sacrilege is a sin; that nature it self tells you, no man hath power to nullify your Obligation to Charity it self in the work of mens Salvation; that the love of God dwelleth not in you, if you see your Brother have need, and shut up the