The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

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. Ephes. 3.8, 9, 10, 11. The generality of the Church, especially those who are grown in knowledge and experience have a spiritual insight into these things. And the Apostle prays that all Believers may have so, Ephes. 1.17, 18, 19. And if those that instruct them, or should so do, have not some degree of Eminency herein, they cannot be useful to lead them on to perfection. And the little care hereof or concernment herein, is that which in our days hath rendered the Ministry of many fruitless and useless. (2.) Experience of the power of the Truth which they Preach in and upon their own Souls. Without this, they will themselves be lifeless and heartless in their own work, and their labour for the most part unprofitable towards others. It is to such Men, attended unto, as a task for their advantage; or as that which carries some satisfaction in it from ostentation, and supposed Reputation wherewith it is accompanied. But a Man Preacheth that Sermon only well unto others, which Preacheth it self in his own Soul. And he that doth not feed on, and thrive in the Digestion of the Food which he provides for others, will scarce make it savoury unto them. Yea, he knows not but the food he hath provided may be poison, unless he have really tasted of it himself. If the Word doth not dwell with power in us, it will not pass with power from us. And no Man lives in a more woeful condition than those who really believe not themselves what they persuade others to believe continually. The want of this Experience of the power of Gospel-Truth on their own Souls, is that which gives us so many lifeless, sapless Orations, quaint in Words, and dead as to Power, instead of Preaching the Gospel in