The saints everlasting rest

5. Another sort that have special opportunity to help others to heaven, are the ministers of the gospel: as they have, or should have more ability than others, so it is the very work of their calling; and every one expecteth it at their hands, and will better submit to their teachers, than to others. I intend not these instructions so much to teachers, as to others, and therefore I shall say but little to them; and if all, or most ministers among us were as faithful and diligent as some, I would say nothing. But because it is otherwise, let me give these two or three words of advice to my brethren in this office.

1. Be sure that the recovering and saving souls, be the main end of your studies and preaching. O do not propound any low and base ends to yourselves. This is the end of your calling, let it be also the end of your endeavours. GOD forbid that you should spend a week's study to please the people, or to seek the advancing your own reputations. Dare you appear in the pulpit on such a business, and speak for yourselves, when you are sent and pretend to speak for Christ? Set out the work of GOD as skilfully as you can; but still let the winning of souls be your end, and always judge that the best means, that most conduceth to the end. Do not think that GOD is best served by a neat, starched oration: but that he is the able, skilful minister, that is best skilled in the art of instructing, ⟨p. 237⟩convincing, persuading, and that is the best sermon that is best in these. Let the vigour also of your persuasions show, that you are sensible on how weighty a business you are sent. Preach with that seriousness and fervour as men that believe their own doctrine, and know their hearers must either be prevailed with, or be damned. What you would do to save them from everlasting burning, that do while you have the opportunity and price in your hand, that people may discern you mean as you speak; and that you are not stage-players, but preachers of the doctrine of salvation. Remember what Cicero faith, That if the matter be never so combustible, yet if you put not fire to it, it will not burn. And what Erasmus saith. That an hot iron will pierce, when a cold one will not. And if the wise men of the world account you mad, say as Paul, If we are beside ourselves, it is to God: and remember that Christ was so busy in doing of good, that his friends themselves begun to lay hands on him, thinking he had been beside himself,