The truly blessed man, or, The way to be happy here, and forever being…

5. Hence Christians are bound to teach others, either by the obligation of their General Calling, or by a Special Calling. The general calling of a Christian, obligeth him to glorify God with all that he hath, still reserving the station that God hath set him in; thus Christians are bidden to teach one another, Col. 3. 16. But there is a special calling that God hath given to some, who, besides that, have gifts and abilities for it; are called by God to the Ministry of the Gospel, these are of his giving, Jer. 3. 15. And notwithstanding gifts, men must wait for this till called to it according to the Gospel Rule, Rom. 10. 14. How shall be preach, except •e be sent? Now in both these respects the Doctrine is a great truth: for though there be more than experience requisite to fit a man for official teachings, yet this added to those qualifications is abundantly helpful; for,

1. Experience mightily prompts, or puts men forward to be teaching of others: It puts life into men, and quickens them to their work; and that in two respects.

1. It fills the heart with an ardent desire to glorify God. All the literal Light that men get by study, hath no heat in it; it doth not engage the heart at all in love to God; but when once the Soul hath tasted that God is gracious, hath felt the bitterness of sin, and been distressed by reason of the wrath of God, and known the Grace of God in giving him Repentance and pardon; he is now filled with love to God, and thinks he can never do enough for him, never lay himself low enough,