The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

THERE is indeed no more required of any Man than God giveth him Ability for. Weakness, Sickness, Bodily Infirmities, may disenable Men from the actual discharge of this Duty, in that assiduity and frequency which are required in ordinary cases. And some may through Age or other incapacitating Distempers, be utterly disabled for it, in which case it is their Duty to lay down and take a dismission from their Office; or, if their disability be but partial, provide a suitable supply, that the Edification of the Church be not prejudiced. But for Men to pretend themselves Pastors of the Church, and to be unable for, or negligent of this Work and Duty, is to live in open defiance of the Commands of Christ.

WE have lived to see, or hear of reproachful scorn and contempt cast upon, laborious Preaching, that is labouring in the Word and Doctrine; and all manner of discouragements given unto it, with endeavours for its suppression in sundry instances. Yea, some have proceeded so far, as to declare that the work of Preaching is unnecessary in the Church, so to reduce all Religion to the Reading and Rule of the Liturgy. The next ⟨p. 88⟩attempt, so far as I know, may be to exclude Christ himself out of their Religion, which the denial of a necessity of Preaching the Gospel makes an entrance into, yea, a good Progress towards.

SUNDRY things are required unto this Work and Duty of Pastoral Preaching: As, (1.) Spiritual Wisdom and Understanding in the Mysteries of the Gospel; that they may declare unto the Church the whole counsel of God, and the unsearchable Riches of Christ; see Act. 20.27. 1 Cor. 2.4, 5, 6, 7