A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…

The Highest Privilege exempts not any from the Obligation unto and Performance of the meanest Duty. Notwithstanding all these Advantages and Privileges which Abraham was possessed of, on the account whereof he was Mighty in his own Days & almost Adored by his Posterity, yet when the meanest Duty was presented unto him, he readily complied with it. Nor ought it to be otherwise with any. For, (1.) Privilege is less than Duty. A Man may have the Greatest Privileges and yet be rejected, but the least sincere Duty shall not be unrewarded. For Duty indeed is our chiefest Honour and Advantage. And for Men to pretend to such Advancements in the Church of God, as that they should be exempted thereby from ⟨p. 125⟩the Ordinary Labour of the Ministry, is horrid Pride and Ingratitude. But when Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Privileges are pretended to countenance Men in a Life or Course of Idleness, Sloth, Pleasure, Sensuality, or Worldliness in any kind, it is a Crime that it may be we as yet want a Name to express. Wherefore, (2.) Whatever is pretended, that is no Privilege, which either exempts a Man, or hinders him in and unto the performance of any Duty whatever. It is such a Privilege as being well improved will send Men to Hell. It will prove no otherwise let the pretence be what it will. For, (3.) There are indeed but two Ends of any Privileges whereof in this World we may be made Partakers; whereof the first is to enable us unto Duty, and the other is to encourage us thereunto. Hereunto we may add, that when any are highly exalted in Privileges, that they have an Advantage thereby to give an eminent Example unto others in the Performance of their Duties, when these Ends are not pursued, all Privileges, Promotions, Dignities, Exaltations, are snares and tend unto the Ruin of Mens Souls. There are things still of this Nature both as unto whole Churches and as unto particular Persons. Some Churches are like Capernaum as to the outward means of Grace, as it were lifted up to Heaven; Let them take heed of Capernaum's Judgment in being brought down as low as Hell for their Abuse of them, or Negligence in their Improvement. Some Persons have Eminent Endowments, and if they are not Eminent in Service, they will prove their disadvantage. Yea, the Highest Privileges should make Men ready to condescend unto the meanest Duties.

The Highest Priviledge exempts not any from the Obligation unto and Performance of the meanest Duty. Notwithstanding all these Advantages and Priviledges which Abraham was possessed of, on the account whereof he was Mighty in his own Days & almost Adored by his Posterity, yet when the meanest Duty was presented unto him, he readily complyed with it. Nor ought it to be otherwise with any. For, (1.) Priviledge is less than Duty. A Man may have the Greatest Priviledges and yet be rejected, but the least sincere Duty shall not be unrewarded. For Duty indeed is our chiefest Honour and Advantage. And for Men to pretend to such Advancements in the Church of God, as that they should be exempted thereby from