Sect. 25. A man that is in general thus obliged by his office to do all the forementioned works of the Ministry, (that is, when he hath a particular call to each) may yet in particular never be obliged to some of these works, but may be called to spend his ⟨p. 140⟩life in some other part of the Ministry, and yet be a complete Minister, and have the obligation and Power to all, upon supposition of a particular Call; and not be guilty of negligence in omitting those other parts. One man man may live only among Infidels, and uncalled ones, and so be obliged only to Preach the Gospel to them in order to Conversion, and may die before he sees any ready to be baptized: Another may be taken up in Preaching and Baptizing, and Congregating the Converted, and never be called to Pastoral Rule of a particular Church. Another may live in a Congregated Church where there is no use for the Discipling-Converting-Preaching of the Gospel, and so may have nothing to do but to Oversee that particular Church and Guide them in holy Worship. And in the same Church if one Ministers parts are more for Public preaching, and another's more for Private instruction, and acts of Guidance and Worship; if one be best in expounding, and another in lively application; they may lawfully and fitly divide the work between them: and it shall not be imputed to them for unfaithfulness and negligence that one forbeareth what the other doth. For we have our gifts to the Churches edification▪ Thus Paul saith he was not sent to Baptize, but to Preach the Gospel: Not that it was not in his Commission, and a work of his office: but quoad exercitium he had seldom a second particular Call to exercise it, being taken up with that Preaching of the Gospel, and settling and confirming Churches which to him was a greater work.
Sect. 25. A man that is in general thus obliged by his office to do all the formentioned works of the Ministry, (that is, when he hath a particular call to each) may yet in particular never be obliged to some of these works, but may be called to spend his ⟨p. 140⟩life in some other part of the Ministry, and yet be a compleat Minister, and have the obligation and Power to all, upon supposition of a particular Call; and not be guilty of negligence in omitting those other parts. One man man may live only among Infidels, and uncalled ones, and so be obliged only to Preach the Gospell to them in order to Conversion, and may die before he sees any ready to be baptized: Ano•her may be taken up in Preaching and Baptizing, and Congregating the Converted, and never be called to Pastoral Rule of a particular Church. Another may live in a Congregated Church where there is no use for the Discipling-Converting-Preaching of the Gospel, and so may have nothing to do but to Oversee that particular Church and Guide them in holy Worship. And in the same Church if one Ministers parts are more for Publick preaching, and anothers more for Private instruction, and acts of Guidance and Worship; if one be best in expounding, and another in lively application; t•ey may lawfully and •itly divide the work between them: and it shall not be imputed to them for unfaithfulnss and negligence that one forbeare•h what the other doth. For we have our guifts to the Churches edification▪ Thus Paul saith he was not sent to Baptize, but to Preach the Go•pel: Not that it was not in his Commission, and a work of his office: but quoad exercitium he had seldome a second particular Call to exercise it, being taken up with that Preaching of the Gospel, and settling and confirming Churches which to him was a greater work.
