Have a watchful eye upon each particular sheep in your flock: Do not do as the lazy separatists, that gather a few of the best together, and take then only for their charge, leaving the rest to sink or swim, and giving them over to the Devil and their lusts, and except it be by a Sermon in the Pulpit, scarce ever endeavouring their salvation, nor once looking what becomes of them. O let it not be so with you! If any be weak in the faith, receive him, but not to doubtful disputations. If any be too careless of their duties, and too little savour the things of the Spirit, let them be pitied, and not neglected;1 If any walk scandalously, and disorderly, deal with them for their recovery with all diligence, and patience; and set before them the heinousness and danger of their sin: If they prove obstinate after all, then avoid them and cast them off; But do not so cruelly as to unchurch them by hundreds & by thousands and separate from them as so many Pagans, and that before any such means hath been used for their recovery. If they are ignorant, it may be your fault as much as theirs; and however, they are fitter to be instructed then rejected; except they absolutely refuse to be taught. Christ will give you no thanks for keeping, or putting out such from his School, that are unlearned, when their desire or will is to be taught. I confess it is easier to shut out the ignorant, then to bestow our pains night and day in teaching them; but woe to such slothful, unfaithful servants! Who then is a faithful and a wise servant,2 whom his Lord hath made Ruler over his household, to give them their meat in due season, according to every ones age and capacity? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. O, be not asleep while the wolf is waking! Let your eye be quick in observing the dangers and strayings of your people. If jealousies, heart burnings, or contentions arise among them, quench them before they break out into raging, unresistible flames: As soon as you discern any turn worldly, or proud, or factious, or self-conceited, or disobedient, or cold, and slothful in his duty; delay not, but presently make out for his recovery: Remember how many are losers in the loss of a soul.
Have a watchful eye upon each particular sheep in your flock: Do not do as the lazy separatists, that gather a few of the best together, and take then only for their charge, leaving the rest to sink or swim, and giving them over to the Divel and their lusts, and except it be by a Sermon in the Pulpit, scarce ever endeavoring their salvation, nor once looking what becomes of them. O let it not be so with you! If any be weak in the faith, receive him, but not to doubtful disputations. If any be too careless of their duties, and too little savor the things of the Spirit, let them be pittied, and not neglected;1 If any walk scandalously, and disorderly, deal with them for their recovery with all diligence, and patience; and set before them the hainousness and danger of their sin: If they prove obstinate after all, then avoid them and cast them off; But do not so cruelly as to unchurch them by hundreds & by thousands and separate from them as so many Pagans, and that before any such means hath been used for their recovery. If they are ignorant, it may be your fault as much as theirs; and however, they are fitter to be instructed then rejected; except they absolutely refuse to be taught. Christ will give you no thanks for keeping, or putting out such from his School, that are unlearned, when their desire or will is to be taught. I confesse it is easier to shut out the ignorant, then to bestow our pains night and day in teaching them; but wo to such slothful, unfaithful servants! Who then is a faithful and a wise servant,2 whom his Lord hath made Ruler over his houshold, to give them their meat in due season, according to every ones age and capacity? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall finde so doing. O, be not asleep while the woolfe is waking! Let your eye be quick in observing the dangers and strayings of your people. If jealousies, heart burnings, or contentions arise among them, quench them before they break out into raging, unresistible flames: As soon as you discern any turn worldly, or proud, or factious, or self-conceited, or disobedient, or cold, and slothful in his duty; delay not, but presently make out for his recovery: Remember how many are loosers in the loss of a soul.
- 1Rom. 14.1.
- 2Mat. 24 45.46
