The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

THE Ministers who have been most celebrated, and that deservedly in the last Ages, in this and the neighbour Nations, have been such as whose Ministry God made eminently successful unto the Conversion of Souls. To affirm that they did not do their work as Ministers and by virtue of their Ministerial ⟨p. 101⟩Office, is to cast away the Crown, and destroy the principal glory of the Ministry. For my own part, if I did not think my self bound to Preach as a Minister, and as a Minister Authorized in all places, and on all occasions when I am called thereunto, I think I should never Preach much more in this World. Nor do I know at all what Rule they walk by, who continue public constant Preaching for many years, and yet neither desire nor design to be called unto any Pastoral Office, in the Church. But I must not here insist on the debate of these things.

THE Ministers who have been most celebrated, and that deservedly in the last Ages, in this and the neighbour Nations, have been such as whose Ministry God made eminently successful unto the Conversion of Souls. To affirm that they did not do their work as Ministers and by virtue of their Minsterial ⟨p. 101⟩Office, is to cast away the Crown, and destroy the principal glory of the Ministry. For my own part, if I did not think my self bound to Preach as a Minister, and as a Minister Authorized in all places, and on all occasions when I am called thereunto, I think I should never Preach much more in this World. Nor do I know at all what Rule they walk by, who continue publick constant Preaching for many years, and yet neither desire nor design to be called unto any Pastoral Office, in the Church. But I must not here insist on the debate of these things.

6. IT belongs unto Men on the account of their Pastoral Office, to be ready, willing, and able, to comfort, relieve and refresh those that are tempted, tossed, wearied with fears and grounds of disconsolation in times of trial and desertion. The Tongue of the Learned is required in them, that they should know how to speak a word in Season unto him that is weary. One excellent qualification of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the Discharge of his Priestly Office now in Heaven, is, That he is touched with a sense of our Infirmities, and knows how to succour them that are tempted. His whole Flock in this World, are a company of tempted ones. His own Life on the Earth, he calls the time of his Temptation. And those who have the charge of his Flock under him, ought to have a sense of their Infirmities, and endeavour in an especial manner to succour them that are tempted. But amongst them, there are some always that are cast under darkness and disconsolations in a peculiar manner; some at the entrance of their Conversion unto God, whilst they have a deep sense of the terror of the Lord, the sharpness of Conviction, and the uncertainty of their Condition. Some are relapsed into Sin or omissions of Duties; some under great, sore and lasting Afflictions; some upon pressing, urgent, particular Occasions; some on Sovereign, Divine Desertions; some through the buffetings of Satan, and the injections of blasphemous Thoughts into their Minds, with many other occasions of an alike nature. Now the Troubles, Disconsolations, Dejections and Fears that arise in the Minds of Persons in these Exercises and Temptations, are various, oftentimes urged and