11. THAT wherewith I shall close these few instances of the Pastoral Charge and Duty, is, that without which all the rest will neither be useful unto Men, nor be accepted with the great Shepherd Christ Jesus. And that is an humble, holy, exemplary conversation in all Godliness and Honesty. The Rules and Precepts of the Scripture, the Examples of Christ and his Apostles, with that of the Bishops or Pastors of the Primitive Churches, and the nature of the thing it self, with the Religion which we do profess, do undeniably prove this Duty to be necessary and indispensable in a Gospel Ministry. It were an easy thing to fill up a Volume with ancient Examples unto this purpose; with Testimonies of the Scripture and first Writers among Christians, with Examples of public and private miscarriages herein, with evident demonstration, that the ruin of Christian Religion in most Nations where it hath been professed, and so of the Nations themselves, hath proceeded from the Ambition, Pride, Luxury, Uncleanness, Profaneness, and otherways vicious Conversations of those who have been called the Clergy. And in daily observation, it is a thing written with the Beams of the Sun, that whatever else be done in Churches, if the Pastors of them or those who are so esteemed, are not Exemplary in Gospel Obedience and Holiness, Religion will not be carried on and improved among the people, If Persons, light or profane in their Habits, Garbs and Converse, corrupt in their Communication, Unsavoury and Barren as unto Spiritual Discourse; if such as are Covetous, Oppressive and Contentious; such as are negligent in holy Duties in their own Families, and so cannot stir up others unto diligence therein; much more, if such as are openly sensual, vicious and debauched; are admitted into this Office, we may take our leave of all the Glory and Power of Religion, among the people committed unto their charge.
11. THAT wherewith I shall close these few instances of the Pastoral Charge and Duty, is, that without which all the rest will neither be useful unto Men, nor be accepted with the great Shepherd Christ Jesus. And that is an humble, holy, exemplary conversation in all Godliness and Honesty. The Rules and Precepts of the Scripture, the Examples of Christ and his Apostles, with that of the Bishops or Pastors of the Primitive Churches, and the nature of the thing it self, with the Religion which we do profess, do undeniably prove this Duty to be necessary and indispensable in a Gospel Ministry. It were an easie thing to fill up a Volume with ancient Examples unto this purpose; with Testimonies of the Scripture and first Writers among Christians, with Examples of publick and private miscarriages herein, with evident demonstration, that the ruine of Christian Religion in most Nations where it hath been professed, and so of the Nations themselves, hath proceeded from the Ambition, Pride, Luxury, Vncleanness, Profaneness, and otherways vitious Conversations of those who have been called the Clergy. And in daily observation, it is a thing written with the Beams of the Sun, that whatever else be done in Churches, if the Pastors of them or those who are so esteemed, are not Exemplary in Gospel Obedience and Holiness, Religion will not be carried on and improved among the people, If Persons, light or prophane in their Habits, Garbs and Converse, corrupt in their Communication, Unsavoury and Barren as unto Spiritual Discourse; if such as are Covetous, Oppressive and Contentious; such as are negligent in holy Duties in their own Families, and so cannot stir up others unto diligence therein; much more, if such as are openly sensual, vitious and debauched; are admitted into this Office, we may take our leave of all the Glory and Power of Religion, among the people committed unto their charge.
