fel of God. He fhunned not to declare to the Ephefians in that forecited fcripture, Acts xx. 21. He teftified to all perfons, Jews and Greeks, repentance towards God (i. e. that they were guilty of fuch offences against God, as called for deep humiliation) and faith toward our Lord Jefus Chrift, that is, that there was no way of escaping the wrath of God, but that of clofing with Chrift by faith. This is the matter of the gofpel: and Chrift's fervants are to make it their bufinefs faithfully to unfold the mind of God in reference to these two, man's ftate by nature, and what he may by grace be advanced to. This is called, I Tim. v. 17. a labouring in the word and doctrine.

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This preaching of the gofpel takes in three things. 1. A full propofal of the doctrine just now mentioned. Minifters muft, without minching the matter, plainly difcover to men their loft ftate, and the impoffibility of recovery any other way than by the gofpel method, through Jefus Christ, Acts xx. 21. 2. They must discover these things, not as their private fentiments built fome rational conclufions of their own draw. ing and framing, but as the word of God. It is the word of God they are to propofe, and not their own private opinions; and it is the word of 'God hearers are to receive from them, I Theff. ii. 13. For this caufe alfo thank we God, faith the apostle, without ceafing, because when ye received. the word of God, which ye heard of us, ye receiv ed it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh. alfo in you that believe. 3. This preaching of the word takes in not only a propofal of the word of God, but an authoritative declaration of it by virtue of a commiffion derived from God. Thefe things

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things fpeak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority, Tit. ii. 15. The word in the firft language may be rendered command with alt command. Minifters are clothed with authority from God, and in his name, by virtue of a commiffion received from him, they are to preach the gofpel, and to fpeak the counsel of God, as being his mouth to the people, 1 Pet. iv. 11. This is the principal part of the minifters work, and therefore to hear the word of God from them in this manner should be the great design of these who call a gofpel minifter, that they may hear from them as the mouth of God, what by nature they are, and what through the grace of God in Chrift Jefus they may be. But now,

2. When a people call a gofpel minifter, they fhould defign the regular and orderly performance of the worship of God. This worship of God, as it is contradiftinguished from the doctrine of the gofpel, of which under the former head, confifts principally in the administration of the facraments and prayer, public prayer, I mean, under which praises are comprehended, as belonging to, and always to be joined with it, according to our bleffed Lord's appointment in that form, commonly called the LORD'S PRAYER, which concludes with thanksgiving. In that iid of the Acts 42. we have an account of the public worfhip of the church, which confifts in preaching, there expreffed by doctrine, and breaking of bread, that is, adminiftering the facrament of the Lord's fupper, and prayers and praifes. And they, faith the fpirit of God fpeaking of the church, continued in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And ver. 47. Praising God. The celebration of the

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facraments, public prayers and praises, are divine institutions for the falvation and edification of the church, which cannot be gone about or orderly performed without a gospel ministry, who only have commiffion to celebrate the facraments, and to be the mouth of the people to God, in their public affemblies, being furnished with fpiritual gifts for the work, Matth. xxviii. 19. 1 Cor. xi. 23. and xiv. 16. And therefore, when a people call a gofpel minifter, they fhould have this in view, as one great defign, that thereby they may have the gofpel worship celebrated among them in all its parts, according to Christ's inftitution, to their fpiritual advantage, and his glory.

3. They fhould call a gofpel minifter to rule over them. This is one part of the minister's work, to rule over his flock, 1. Tim. v. 17. Let the elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honour, efpecially they who labour in the word and doctrine. This fuperiority which gospel minifters have, is not a lordly dominion either over the perfons or faith of their flock. No, any thing of this fort that ever crept into the church, had its rife from the fubtilty of Satan, who envied its peace, and is directly oppofite to the gofpel, which forbids lordly dominion, the gofpel minifters authority being given only for edification and not for deftruction, as the apoftle has it, 2 Cor. x. 8. And it confifts, 1. in an authoritative publication of the laws of Chrift's houfe. 2. In an authoritative enforcement of them by a minifterial offer of the gospel privileges as the rewards of obedience. And, 3. in a power to inflict, according to Chrift's appointment, the gofpel punishments upon the difobedient, the higheft whereof is excommunication, whereby the

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difobedient are delivered over to Satan, for the deftruction of the flesh, that the Spirit may be faved in the day of the Lord Jefus, as the apoftle has it, 1 Cor. v. 5. And to one of these three ends might all be reduced, according to the common diftinction of gospel ordinances in doctrine, worfhip and government: but that you may the better understand this matter, we fhall name fome more particular defigns: and therefore, we fay,

4. A people, in calling a gofpel minifter, should defign the clofing of a bargain, and making a match with Chrift upon his own terms. It is the work and business they are fent out for, to efpoufe finners to Chrift, 2 Cor. ii. 2. to woo a bride for the lamb. They have a commiffion as Abraham's fervant had, to go and feek a wife for their mafter's fon; and these who call them, fhould do it in order to the conclufion of this happy match, that from them they may hear the terms whereon they are to be admitted into this near relation, the advantages that shall accrue to them by it, the inconveniencies they will run themfelves into by a refufal, and the warrant they have to enter into fo high and honourable a relation.

5. They should design their own furtherance in' acquaintance with Chrift. They should as new born babes defire the fincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby, 1 Pet. ii. 2. that they may be furthered in their joy and faith, growing in grace, and in the knowlege of the Lord Jefus Christ.

6. They should defign their own establishment in the ways of God, that they may not be toffed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, but that being rooted and grounded in the faith, they may grow up in all things to him who is the head and

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Saviour of the body. This is exprefly declared to be the defign of the miniftry, Ephef. iv. 11. The apoftle having fpoken of Chrift's exaltation, and his having received gifts for men, tells us of him in this verfe and the following, That he gave fome apoftles, fome prophets, and fome evangelifts, and fome paftors, and teachers, for the perfecting of the faints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Chrift; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowlege of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the ftature of the fulness of Chrift: that we henceforth be no more children toffed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the flight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lye in wait to deceive, etc. And to the fame purpofe fpeaks the fpirit of God frequently elfewhere of the defign of the miniftry. Paul, Rom. i. 11. expreffeth his earnest defire to fee them, and to impart fome spiritual gift unto them, to the end they may be established. These who are already engaged in God's ways fhould defign their own eftablishment in them in their calling a gofpel minifter.

7. They should defign their own direction through all the difficulties of religion. The Lord's people have many dark steps in their way: fometimes they are under temptation, and know not how to carry; fometimes they are engaged in a clofs fight with their adverfaries, and know not how to wield their spiritual armour to advantage; fometimes they are out of the way, and know not how to get into it again: and therefore, they need fome to guide them into the meaning of God's word; for how can they understand unless they be taught, Acts viii. 31. How can I underStand