But the worst supposition is, Thy Teacher may be untaught himself; his life may give the lye to his lips. As to this prejudice, 1. Remember, That an accusation must not be received against an Elder, except under two or three witnesses; thy charity, O Christian, and the Dignity of his Calling, must both move thee to be slow to believe. As it is sinful to raise up an evil report (Constantine the Emperor said, That if he saw a Bishop committing uncleanness, he would rather cover that foul fact with his Imperial robe, then suffer it to be divulged to the dishonour of the Gospel) so it is sinful to take up an evil report, whoever laid it down ready for thee. But secondly, if thy Pastor, like a wooden Vessel, giveth that wine to thee which he never tasteth, nor savoureth himself, be not therefore wholly discouraged: If it be true, that thy Minister is false to God and his own soul, that he only wears Christs livery, that he might the more unsuspected do the Devils work: I confess it is matter of great lamentation (the good Lord take care either for their conversion or ejection) for certainly they being listed under Christs colours, and false to their Captain, do his adversary the Devil double service. The sins of Teachers are, the Teachers of sins; they who forget their Sermons, will remember their sins, to patronize their own: But if the providence of God should bind thee to such a Pastor, which is no small unhappiness; consider, that God fed Elijah by a Raven, and surely he can feed thee by ⟨p. 211⟩an unclean creature. He increaseth sometimes his Enemies gifts that they might be instrumental to increase his peoples graces. It is unquestionable in my judgement (though some I know doubt it) that a sinner may convert a soul; and my reason is this, because the operation of the word doth not depend upon the piety of the Preacher, but upon the free grace and power of the Lord. Yet I must also confess that I believe that God doth not so often vouchsafe to his enemies as to his friends, that honour and happiness. But as bad as he is, God may use him to do thee good. As the best Ministers Sermons are not to be received for their good lives sake, so the worst Ministers Preaching is not to be rejected because of their evil practices. A blind man may hold a Candle to give light to others, whilst he himself remains in the dark;
But the worst supposition is, Thy Teacher may be untaught himself; his life may give the lye to his lips. As to this prejudice, 1. Remember, That an accusation must not be received against an Elder, except under two or three witnesses; thy charity, O Christian, and the Dignity of his Calling, must both move thee to be slow to believe. As it is sinful to raise up an evil report (Constantine the Emperor said, That if he saw a Bishop committing uncleanness, he would rather cover that foul fact with his Imperial robe, then suffer it to be divulged to the dishonor of the Gospel) so it is sinful to take up an evil report, whoever laid it down ready for thee. But secondly, if thy Pastor, like a wooden Vessel, giveth that wine to thee which he never tasteth, nor savoureth himself, be not therefore wholly discouraged: If it be true, that thy Minister is false to God and his own soul, that he onely wears Christs livery, that he might the more unsuspected do the Devils work: I confess it is matter of great lamentation (the good Lord take care either for their conversion or ejection) for certainly they being listed under Christs colours, and false to their Captain, do his adversary the Devil double service. The sins of Teachers are, the Teachers of sins; they who forget their Sermons, will remember their sins, to patronize their own: But if the providence of God should binde thee to such a Pastor, which is no small unhappiness; consider, that God fed Elijah by a Raven, and surely he can feed thee by ⟨p. 211⟩an unclean creature. He increaseth sometimes his Enemies gifts that they might be instrumental to increase his peoples graces. It is unquestionable in my judgement (though some I know doubt it) that a sinner may convert a soul; and my reason is this, because the operation of the word doth not depend upon the piety of the Preacher, but upon the free grace and power of the Lord. Yet I must also confess that I beleive that God doth not so often vouchsafe to his enemies as to his friends, that honour and happiness. But as bad as he is, God may use him to do thee good. As the best Ministers Sermons are not to be received for their good lives sake, so the worst Ministers Preaching is not to be rejected because of their evil practices. A blind man may hold a Candle to give light to others, whilst he himself remains in the dark;
