5. IT belongs unto their Charge and Office, diligently to labour for the Conversion of Souls unto God. The ordinary means of Conversion is left unto the Church, and its Duty it is to attend unto it. Yea, one of the principal ends of the Institution ⟨p. 98⟩and Preservation of Churches, is the Conversion of Souls; and where there are no more to be Converted, there shall be no more Church on the Earth. To enlarge the Kingdom of Christ, to diffuse the Light and Savour of the Gospel, to be subservient unto the Calling of the Elect, or gathering all the Sheep of Christ into his Fold, are things that God designs by his Churches in this World. Now the principal instrumental cause of all these, is the Preaching of the Word; and this is committed unto the Pastors of the Churches. It is true, Men may be, and often are Converted unto God by their occasional dispensation of the Word who are not called unto Office; for it is the Gospel it self that is the Power of God unto Salvation, by whomsoever it is Administered, and it hath been effectual unto that end, even in the necessary occasional teaching of Women. But it is so frequently in the exercise of Spiritual Gifts, by them who are not stated Officers of the Church, 1 Cor. 14.24, 25. Phil. 1.14, 15, 18. 1 Pet. 4.10, 11. But yet this hinders not, but that the Administration of the Glorious Gospel of the blessed God, as unto all the ends of it, is committed unto the Pastors of the Church. And the First Object of the Preaching of the Gospel, is the World, or the Men of it for their Conversion. And it is so in the Preaching of all them unto whom that Work is committed by Christ. The Work of the Apostles and Evangelists had this Order in it. First, they were to make Disciples of Men, by the Preaching of the Gospel unto Conversion, and this was their principal Work, as Paul testifieth, 1 Cor. 1.17. And herein were they gloriously instrumental, in laying the foundation of the Kingdom of Christ all the World over. The Second part of their Work, was, to teach them that were Converted, or made Disciples, to do, and observe, all that he did command them. In the pursuit of this part of their Commission, they gathered the Disciples of Christ into Churches, under ordinary Officers of their own. And although the Work of these Ordinary Officers, Pastors, and Teachers, be of the same nature with theirs, yet the Method of it is changed in them.
5. IT belongs unto their Charge and Office, diligently to labour for the Conversion of Souls unto God. The ordinary means of Conversion is left unto the Church, and its Duty it is to attend unto it. Yea, one of the principal ends of the Institution ⟨p. 98⟩and Preservation of Churches, is the Conversion of Souls; and where there are no more to be Converted, there shall be no more Church on the Earth. To enlarge the Kingdom of Christ, to diffuse the Light and Savour of the Gospel, to be subservient unto the Calling of the Elect, or gathering all the Sheep of Christ into his Fold, are things that God designs by his Churches in this World. Now the principal instrumental cause of all these, is the Preaching of the Word; and this is committed unto the Pastors of the Churches. It is true, Men may be, and often are Converted unto God by their occasional dispensation of the Word who are not called unto Office; for it is the Gospel it self that is the Power of God unto Salvation, by whomsoever it is Administred, and it hath been effectual unto that end, even in the necessary occasional teaching of Women. But it is so frequently in the exercise of Spiritual Gifts, by them who are not stated Officers of the Church, 1 Cor. 14.24, 25. Phil. 1.14, 15, 18. 1 Pet. 4.10, 11. But yet this hinders not, but that the Administration of the Glorious Gospel of the blessed God, as unto all the ends of it, is committed unto the Pastors of the Church. And the First Object of the Preaching of the Gospel, is the World, or the Men of it for their Conversion. And it is so in the Preaching of all them unto whom that Work is committed by Christ. The Work of the Apostles and Evangelists had this Order in it. First, they were to make Disciples of Men, by the Preaching of the Gospel unto Conversion, and this was their principal Work, as Paul testifieth, 1 Cor. 1.17. And herein were they gloriously instrumental, in laying the foundation of the Kingdom of Christ all the World over. The Second part of their Work, was, to teach them that were Converted, or made Disciples, to do, and observe, all that he did command them. In the pursuit of this part of their Commission, they gathered the Disciples of Christ into Churches, under ordinary Officers of their own. And although the Work of these Ordinary Officers, Pastors, and Teachers, be of the same nature with theirs, yet the Method of it is changed in them.
