CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

2. Thou mayest be sanctified extensively, by the Relations that thou doest take upon thee, when made an Husband, a Wife, a Minister, a Magistrate, here thy holiness is to extend further, God requireth more of thee, and that godliness which would have served thee before, will not now. While the Apostles were private men, they needed not that Sanctification which they were to have as Apostles. Hence we see the Apostle diligently in his Epistles, informing Husbands, Wives, Children and Servants of what they have to do: And certainly, the grace of our Relations is an excellent evidence of our holiness in the main: If the Heathen could say, He was not Bonus vir, that was not Bonus civis, not a good man, that was not a good Citizen: So may we say, He is not a good Christian, that is not a good Minister, a good Magistrate, a good Husband, a good Servant. The Apostle bids Archippus fulfil his Ministry: And thus Ministers are exhorted to look to the flock over which God hath set them. Oh then see, if thou mayest not be greatly sanctified in thy Relations, if they may not be filled with more Wisdom, Patience and exemplarity of Conversation! Alexander wept, because there was no more Worlds, he wanted work. But to be sure, thou hast more then ever thou canst turn unto: Every Relation requires a new grace, or a new exercise of grace: So that here is no time for thee to sit down, or to be still, as if all thy enemies were conquered.

2. Thou mayest be sanctified extensively, by the Relations that thou doest take upon thee, when made an Husband, a Wife, a Minister, a Magistrate, here thy holinesse is to extend further, God requireth more of thee, and that godlinesse which would have served thee before, will not now. While the Apostles were private men, they needed not that Sanctification which they were to have as Apostles. Hence we see the Apostle diligently in his Epistles, informing Husbands, Wives, Children and Servants of what they have to doe: And certainly, the grace of our Relations is an excellent evidence of our holinesse in the main: If the Heathen could say, He was not Bonus vir, that was not Bonus civis, not a good man, that was not a good Citizen: So may we say, He is not a good Christian, that is not a good Minister, a good Magistrate, a good Husband, a good Servant. The Apostle bids Archippus fulfill his Ministry: And thus Ministers are exhorted to look to the flock over which God hath set them. Oh then see, if thou mayest not be greatly sanctified in thy Relations, if they may not be filled with more Wisdome, Patience and exemplarity of Conversation! Alexander wept, because there was no more Worlds, he wanted work. But to be sure, thou hast more then ever thou canst turn unto: Every Relation requires a new grace, or a new exercise of grace: So that here is no time for thee to sit down, or to be still, as if all thy enemies were conquered.