Whereas we should not seek so much the Fleece as the Flock, we should not take oversight of a ⟨image 88⟩Congregation for love of their pay, but of their souls; not, 'tis an excellent good living, as one said I have heard of, let me have their Tithes, and let their souls go to the Devil; but as the Apostle, I seek not yours, but you, 2 Cor. 12.14. And I hope there be many hundreds can say, it hath been the peoples souls they have more loved and affected, than any thing that the people had.
4. Once more: We must love them, and love them tenderly; why, and yet leave them? Yes my Beloved, we are so to love our People, as to venture any thing for them, but our own damnation. I come not here to throw fire-brands, I bless God I have a most tender affection for all my Brethren in the Ministry; and though I am not satisfied my self, yet I condemn no man; I believe there be many of them do as conscientiously subscribe, as deny to subscribe. I protest in the fear of God, I cannot subscribe, perhaps it is because I have not that light as others have; for he that doubts, saith the Apostle, is Damned. My Beloved, I hope you would not have us sin against God and our own consciences: it is not my Living that I desire, but my Office to serve my Lord and Master; but if we should, to keep communion with you, lose our communion with God, this is the ready way to have all our labour and pains lost; but as David said, (and Oh that I could speak it with as good hopes as David!) Zadock, carry back the Ark of God, If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it and his Habitation, &c. 2 Sam. 15.25. Brethren, I could do very much for the love I bear to you, but I dare not sin; I know they will tell you, this is Pride and Peevishness in us, and are tender of our Reputation, and we would fain all be Bishops, and forty things more: but the Lord be witness between them and us in this. Beloved, I prefer my Wife and Children before a blast of air of peoples talk; I am very sensible what it is to be reduced to a morsel of bread: let the God of Heaven and Earth do what he will with me, if I could have subscribed with a good conscience, I would; I would do any thing to keep my self in the work of God, but to sin against my God, I dare not do it.
Whereas we should not seek so much the Fleece as the Flock, we should not take oversight of a ⟨image 88⟩Congregation for love of their pay, but of their souls; not, 'tis an excellent good living, as one said I have heard of, let me have their Tythes, and let their souls go to the Devil; but as the Apostle, I seek not yours, but you, 2 Cor. 12.14. And I hope there be many hundreds can say, it hath been the peoples souls they have more loved and affected, than any thing that the people had.
4. Once more: We must love them, and love them tenderly; why, and yet leave them? Yes my Beloved, we are so to love our People, as to venture any thing for them, but our own damnation. I come not here to throw fire-brands, I bless God I have a most tender affection for all my Brethren in the Ministry; and though I am not satisfied my self, yet I condemn no man; I believe there be many of them do as conscientiously subscribe, as deny to subscribe. I protest in the fear of God, I cannot subscribe, perhaps it is because I have not that light as others have; for he that doubts, saith the Apostle, is Damned. My Beloved, I hope you would not have us sin against God and our own consciences: it is not my Living that I desire, but my Office to serve my Lord and Master; but if we should, to keep communion with you, lose our communion with God, this is the ready way to have all our labour and pains lost; but as David said, (and Oh that I could speak it with as good hopes as David!) Zadock, carry back the Ark of God, If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew me both it and his Habitation, &c. 2 Sam. 15.25. Brethren, I could do very much for the love I bear to you, but I dare not sin; I know they will tell you, this is Pride and Peevishness in us, and are tender of our Reputation, and we would fain all be Bishops, and forty things more: but the Lord be witness between them and us in this. Beloved, I prefer my Wife and Children before a blast of air of peoples talk; I am very sensible what it is to be reduced to a morsel of bread: let the God of Heaven and Earth do what he will with me, if I could have subscribed with a good conscience, I would; I would do any thing to keep my self in the work of God, but to sin against my God, I dare not do it.
