The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…

The Lord Jesus Christ as he was faithful as a Son in his own house, took special care to provide and prepare such public servants, as might give every one their meat in due season. The Ministers of the word are his public Officers appointed by himself to have the oversight of his Saints. They are both Fathers to beget, and Tutors to bring up his Sons and Daughters. They are his Stewards to dispense publicly the mysteries of the Gospel of peace. But little ⟨p. 363⟩do they think, who set light by public Ordinances, what a price Christ paid, that he might enable and qualify them for his Churches profit. The gifts he bestoweth on Pastors are not the least sign of his good will to his people. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he gave gifts to men. And he gave some Apostles; and some Profits; and some Evangelists; and some Pastors; and some Teachers. For the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature, of the fullness of Christ, Ephes. 4.8, 11.12, 13. As Kings on the day of their Coronation, usually appear in all their Majesty and magnificence, and do some famous act (as of a general pardon or the like) which may speak their love and respect to their Subjects. So Jesus Christ when he rode Triumphantly in the Chariot of his ascension into Heavens glorious City, to sit and reign there at the right hand of the Majesty on High, gave abilities to Ministers, endowed them with answerable gifts and graces, that they might dispense the Ordinances of God powerfully, and profitably, as a special fruit of his passion for, and a singular testimony of his affection to his Church.

The Lord Jesus Christ as he was faithful as a Son in his own house, took special care to provide and prepare such publique servants, as might give every one their meat in due season. The Ministers of the word are his publique Officers appointed by himself to have the oversight of his Saints. They are both Fathers to beget, and Tutours to bring up his Sons and Daughters. They are his Stewarts to dispense publiquely the mysteries of the Gospel of peace. But little ⟨p. 363⟩do they think, who set light by publique Ordinances, what a price Christ paid, that he might enable and qualifie them for his Churches profit. The gifts he bestoweth on Pastors are not the least sign of his good will to his people. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he gave gifts to men. And he gave some Apostles; and some Profits; and some Evangelists; and some Pastours; and some Teachers. For the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature, of the fulness of Christ,