A Body of Practical Divinity

2. Honour the Ministers, these Spiritual Fathers, by becoming Advocates for them, and wiping off those Slanders and Calumnies which are unjustly cast upon them, 1 Tim. 5.19. Constantine was a great Honourer of the Ministry, he vindicated them, he would not read the envious Accusations brought in against them, but did burn them. Do the Ministers open their Mouths to God for you in Prayer, and will not you open your Mouths in their Behalf? Surely, if they labour to preserve you from Hell, you should preserve them from Slander. If they labour to save your Souls, you ought to save their Credit.

3. Honour them, by conforming to their Doctrine. This is the greatest Honour you can put upon your Spiritual Fathers, by believing and obeying their Doctrine. He is an Honourer of the Ministry, who is not only an Hearer, but a Follower of the Word. As Disobedience reproacheth the Ministry, so Obedience honoureth it. The Apostle calls his Thessalonians, his Crown, 1 Thess. 2.19. What is our Crown of rejoicing, are not ye? A thriving People are a Ministers Crown. When there is a Metamorphosis, a Change wrought; People came to the Word proud, but they go away humble; they came Earthly, but go away Heavenly: They came as Naaman to Jordan, Lepers, but they go away healed. This is an Honour to the Ministry. 2 Cor. 3.1. Need we as some others, Epistles of Commendation? Tho other Ministers might need Letters of Commendation, yet Paul needed none: For when Men should hear of the Obedience of these Corinthians, which was wrought in them by Paul's Preaching; this was a sufficient Certificate for him, that God had blessed his Labours. The Corinthians were a sufficient Honour to him, they were his Letters Testimonial. You cannot honour your Spiritual Fathers more, than by thriving under their Ministry, and living those Sermons which they preach.