The moderator

Of all which and such like duties, whereof the Scriptures are full, and which tend to perfect the Saints in their holy communion, and to direct brethren in the common profession of Christianity to advance truth and holiness in themselves, and others, we must say this, that they oblige Ministers in a threefold respect above others. For they are not only bound to observe these rules in all their ways as they are Christians, but they are moreover bound to observe them, First, towards all more eminently then other common professors, because they are appointed to be the Salt of the earth, and the light of the world, and as a City built upon a hill that cannot be hid, Matth. 5. 13, 14. Secondly, towards their fellow Ministers more especially and distinctly then towards others, because they are bound to them by a double tie of fellowship, viz. by that of Christianity, and that of the Ministry. And thirdly, they are bound to observe these rules towards the works and in the performances of their Ministerial administrations more exactly then in and towards other common duties; because those works and performances are of a more important nature, then other works, as being more universal and more leading in their kind, and such as more nearly concern the glory of God, and reflect upon the souls of men in order to him, so that a small failing in any of these is more hurtful to the profession then a greater fault in any other kind. So that we must forcibly conclude, that because all the common rules of Christianity, are more obligatory unto Ministers towards one another in the duties of their calling then unto common professors; that therefore the chief and most fundamental rules of the holy profession which concern love and unity, communion and correspondency, are more binding towards them, chiefly in the works of their Ministerial administration, then towards any others: and consequently that the neglect of the least of these duties, in any of them, is a greater guilt and less excusable, then in any others, the commission of a gross misdemeanour. A little moat in the eye will trouble the whole body more, then a great handful of dirt and ⟨p. 98⟩dust cast upon any other part of the face, and the least prick that may be in the heart or in the pia matter of the brain (as Physicians say) will kill a man infallibly;

Of all which and such like duties, whereof the Scriptures are full, and which tend to perfect the Saints in their holy communion, and to direct brethren in the common profession of Christianitie to advance truth and holinesse in themselves, and others, wee must say this, that they oblige Ministers in a threefold respect above others. For they are not onely bound to observe these rules in all their wayes as they are Christians, but they are moreover bound to observe them, First, towards all more eminently then other common professors, because they are appointed to bee the Salt of the earth, and the light of the world, and as a City built upon a hill that cannot bee hid,