The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

5. ALL Churches may do well to consider the weight and burden that lies upon their Pastors and Teachers, in the discharge of their Office, that they may be constant in fervent Prayers and Supplications for them; as also to provide, what lies in them, that they may be without trouble and cares about the things of this Life.

6. THERE being so many Duties necessary unto the discharge of their Office, and those of such various sorts and kinds, as to require various Gifts and Abilities unto their due performance, it seems very difficult to find a concurrence of them in any own person, in any considerable degree, so as that it is hard to conceive how the Office it self should be duly discharged. I answer, (1.) The end both of the Office, and of the discharge of it, is the due Edification of the Church: This therefore gives them their measure. Where that is attained, the Office is duly discharged, though the Gifts whereby Men are enabled thereunto, be not eminent. (2.) Where a Man is called unto this Office, and applieth himself sincerely unto the due discharge of it, if he be evidently defective with respect to any especial Duty or Duties of it, that defect is to be supplied by calling any other unto his Assistance in Office, who is qualified to make that supply unto the Edification of the Church. And the like must be said concerning such Pastors, as through Age or Bodily weakness are disabled from attendance unto any part of their Duty; for still the Edification of the Church is that, which in all these things, is in the first place to be provided for.

7. IT may be enquired, what is the State of those Churches, and what Relation, with respect unto Communion, we ought to have unto them whose Pastors are evidently defective in, or neglective of these things, so as that they are not in any competent measure attended unto. And we may in particular instance in the first and the last of the Pastoral Duties before insisted on. Suppose a Man be no way able to Preach the Word unto the Edification of them that are pleaded to be his Flock; or having any ability, yet doth not, will not give himself unto the Word and Prayer, or not labour in the Word and Doctrine, unto the