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

3. The Ministry is for edification, as Eph. 4.14. For the perfecting of the Saints, and till we come to a full stature in Christ: So that the Ministry and Ordinances shall not be abolished, till we come into heaven, the Sacrament is till he come, and he will be with the Ministers till the end of the world; and certainly the godly man finds much need of a Ministry to quicken, comfort, and direct his soul, craveth and calleth for this, as much as his body doth for food and raiment: So that those who argue against a Ministry demonstrate, they find no experimental benefit of it upon their own souls.

3. The Ministry is for edification, as Eph. 4.14. For the perfecting of the Saints, and till we come to a full stature in Christ: So that the Ministry and Ordinances shall not be abolished, till we come into heaven, the Sacrament is till he come, and he will be with the Ministers till the end of the world; and certainly the godly man findes much need of a Ministry to quicken, comfort, and direct his soul, craveth and calleth for this, as much as his body doth for food and raiment: So that those who argue against a Ministry demonstrate, they finde no experimental benefit of it upon their own souls.

4. God hath appointed it to propagate and defend the truth, to confute and put all errors and heresies to silence. Therefore it's a qualification required in the Minister, That he be able to convince gain-sayers, Tit. 1.9. You see the Apostle in some of his Epistles is not only practical, but didactical, and therein confuting those errors that molested the truth, even in her Infancy; for this end they are called Guides and Salt; yea they are Shepherds to keep off the wolves that would subtly devour the sheep; We are to watch against profaneness, and also against errors. The Apostle useth that phrase of a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump, both in matter of corrupt manners, as also corrupt Doctrine,