A discourse concerning liturgies, and their imposition

And as in this Case the condition of the People who are deprived of the means of their edification, is sad, so that of the Ministers of the Gospel miserable and deplorable. The Lord Jesus Christ bestows gifts upon them, requiring the use and exercise of them in the Work of the Ministry at their utmost peril; Men on the other side, forbid them that use and exercise, and that with such forcible Prohibitions as threaten to bear down the whole public exercise of the Ministry before the•. But the Lord knows how to deliver those that are his out of temptation. It will be no relief against the force of this Consideration, that there are some things left wherein Ministers may exercise their gifts and trade with their Talents; for as this is but pretended, so it is not in this or that part of their Work, but in the whole of the Ministry committed unto them, that Christ indispensably requires of the guides of his Church, that they should trade with their Talents and exercise their Gifts; and accordingly are they to provide for their account at the last day: By this one engine then at the same time are the people deprived of the means of Edification provided for them in the Care, Wisdom, and Love of the Lord Christ, and Ministers brought into a necessity of sinning, or fore-going the public exercise of their Ministry.

And as in this Case the condition of the People who are deprived of the means of their edification, is sad, so that of the Ministers of the Gospel miserable and deplorable. The Lord Jesus Christ bestows gifts upon them, requiring the use and exercise of them in the Work of the Ministry at their utmost peril; Men on the other side, forbid them that use and exercise, and that with such forcible Prohibitions as threaten to bear down the whole publick exercise of the Ministry before the•. But the Lord knows how to deliver those that are his out of temptation. It will be no relief against the force of this Consideration, that there are some things left wherein Ministers may exercise their gifts and trade with their Talents; for as this is but pretended, so it is not in this or that part of their Work, but in the whole of the Ministry committed unto them, that Christ indispensably requires of the guides of his Church, that they should trade with their Talents and exercise their Gifts; and accordingly are they to provide for their account at the last day: By this one engine then at the same time are the people deprived of the means of Edification provided for them in the Care, Wisdome, and Love of the Lord Christ, and Ministers brought into a necessity of sinning, or fore-going the publick exercise of their Ministry.