The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

First, Is the Ministry thus one? Then when any doth set upon this main work, they meddle not with other things, they preach not about other thins: How inexcusable will you be, if you answer not God thus calling of you? You cannot plead, Lord, we heard nothing but disputes, nothing but controversies; we were puzzled with one side, and with another side! Oh no! The plain and necessary things, without which thou couldst not be saved, have every day sounded in thy ears; Preaching hath not distracted, hath not filled you with troublesome Disputations, but wholesome Exhortations. It will therefore be thy greater wickedness, if thou refuse. Oh then, as all the Ministry are to be one in this way, so that all that hear were one also, that their thoughts, affections, study and utmost endeavours were for the main necessary things! Oh consider, you frustrate the Ministry of the proper end it hath, your edifying, your conversion! For this God hath appointed us to labour in preaching to you, and if you fail here, all is lost.

First, Is the Ministry thus one? Then when any doth set upon this maine worke, they meddle not with other things, they preach not about other thins: How inexcusable will you be, if you answer not God thus calling of you? You cannot plead, Lord, we heard nothing but disputes, nothing but controversies; we were puzzled with one side, and with another side! Oh no! The plain and necessary things, without which thou couldst not be saved, have every day sounded in thy eares; Preaching hath not distracted, hath not filled you with troublesome Disputations, but wholesome Exhortations. It will therefore be thy greater wickednesse, if thou refuse. Oh then, as all the Ministry are to be one in this way, so that all that hear were one also, that their thoughts, affections, study and utmost endeavours were for the main necessary things! Oh consider, you frustrate the Ministry of the proper end it hath, your edifying, your conversion! For this God hath appointed us to labour in preaching to you, and if you fail here, all is lost.

Use 2. Ought all ministerial abilities to be employed in one way? Then no wonder, if the Devil, when he cannot destroy preaching, yet makes it useless and unprofitable, and that is, by raising divisions and enmity. And thus he takes the old Rule, Divide & impera, while he divides others, he himself reigneth alone, and his Kingdom is advanced.