The gospel minister's maintenance vindicated Wherein, a regular ministry in the churches, is first…

What would you have poor men to do, that have (may be) no time to spare to give themselves up to the Study of the Scriptures, nor no useful Books and proper helps to improve and assist them in their Study: or if they have, yet their circumstances in the World will not afford them so much leisure from their worldly Business, to read and meditate upon the Word, so as well to digest what they have to deliver to the People. Come, think and say what you please; 'tis not without diligent and continued Study, that the deep things of God can be searched out, and so proposed, as to enrich the minds of people with clear and solid Knowledge: He that is not endowed with the clear Light and Understanding of Divine Truths, or the mystery of the Gospel himself, How can he Feed others as they ought to be Fed with the Knowledge of those Sublime and Soul enriching Mysteries? A little Knowledge and Study 'tis true (as one observes) may furnish a man ⟨p. 60⟩with such a Discourse, as may please some weak Christians that Judg of a Sermon by the loudness of the Voice and affectionate Sentences, or can fancy themselves to be Fed with good Doctrine, when perhaps 'tis but with the Ashes of Jingling Words and cadency of Terms. But alas! (saith he) the seeming warmth of Affection that is stirred up by such means, is as short Lived as a Land Flood that hath no Spring to Feed it. He that will do the Souls of his people good, and approve himself a Pastor after God's own Heart, must endeavour to Feed them with Knowledge and Understanding, that the people may learn and come to understand those things which were hid, and not opened or known to them before; and so strive to maintain a constant Zeal and Affection in them, by well informing their Judgments, and such an opening of the mind of God from the Scriptures, as may command their Consciences. And this is not to be expected,⟨p. 61⟩but from him that Labours in his Study, as well as in the Pulpit: But saith he) mistake me not; we know •he success and fruit of all Studies and Labours of men that preach the Gospel, is from the Grace and Power of the Holy Ghost, but the assistance of the Spirit is to be expected by the use of means, and in the way of our Duty.

What would you have poor men to do, that have (may be) no time to spare to give themselves up to the Study of the Scriptures, nor no useful Books and proper helps to improve and assist them in their Study: or if they have, yet their circumstances in the World will not afford them so much leisure from their worldly Business, to read and meditate upon the Word, so as well to digest what they have to deliver to the People. Come, think and say what you please; 'tis not without diligent and continued Study, that the deep things of God can be searched out, and so proposed, as to inrich the minds of people with clear and solid Knowledge: He that is not indowed with the clear Light and Understanding of Divine Truths, or the mystery of the Gospel himself, How can he Feed others as they ought to be Fed with the Knowledg of those Sublime and Soul inriching Mysteries? A little Knowledg and Study 'tis true (as one observes) may furnish a man with