§. 208. Of a Ministers carrying of himself according to his present estate.§. 208. Of a Ministers carrying of himselfe according to his present estate.

§. 208. Of a Ministers carrying of himself according to his present estate.

§. 208. Of a Ministers carrying of himselfe according to his present estate.

Again,¹ the Apostle implieth that,

AGaine,¹ the Apostle implieth that,

1. 1Obser. 29. Ministers must carry themselves according to their present condition.Obser. 29. Ministers must carry themselues according to their present condition.

A Minister in bonds must have respect to his present condition, accordingly to carry himself: as he may not by his timorousness betray Gods truth: so neither by his indiscreet and over-great boldness endanger the same. This doth Christ imply under that general precept,^d Be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves. Dove-like innocency will keep us from all fraudulent dealing, so as we shall not deceive our Master, and abuse that trust which he putteth in us. Serpent-like wisdom will make us prevent many mischiefs, which otherwise through rashness we might fall into. Such wisdom used the Council at Jerusalem, when they did forbear to be too violent against all the rites of Moses Law, because of the multitude of Jews which believed, and permitted^e Abstinence from blood, and from that which was strangled: yea it may be probably collected that Saint Paul