yet grew weary of them; they raise so many noble designs; they offer such schemes, and carry so much of unction and life in them, that I hope an imperfect Essay this way may have some effects. For the searcher of hearts knows, I have no design in it, save this of stirring up in myself and others, The gift which was given by the imposition of hands.

D 2

OF THE

PASTORAL CARE.

CHAP. I.

Of the Dignity of Sacred Employments, and the Names and Designations given to them in Scripture.

How low soever the esteem of the Clergy may be

sunk in a profane and corrupt age, and how much soever the errors and disorders of Clergy-men may have contributed to bring this, not only upon themselves, but upon others who deserve better, but are unhappy in being mixed with so much ill company; yet certainly if we either consider the nature of things in themselves, or the value that is set on that profession, in the scriptures, it will appear that it ought to be considered at another rate than it is. As much as the Soul is better than the Body, and as much as the purifying and perfecting the Soul is preferable to all those mechanical employments which relate to the Body, and as much as Eternity is more valuable than this short and transitory life; so much does this employment excel all others.

A Clergyman by his Character and design of life, ought to be a man separated from the cares and concerns of this world, and dedicated to the study and medi̟

tation of divine matters.

Whose conversation ought

to be a pattern for others; a constant preaching to his people: Who ought to offer up the prayers of the people in their name, and as their mouth to God; Who ought to be praying and interceding for them in secret, as well as officiating among them in public: Who ought to be distributing among them the bread of life, the word of God; and to be dispensing among them the sacred rites, which are the badges, the union, and the supports of Christians. He ought to admonish, to reprove, and to comfort them, not only by his general doctrine in his sermons, but from house to house; that so he may do these things more home and effectually, than can be done from the pulpit. He is to watch over their souls, to keep them from error, and to alarm them out of their sins, by giving them warning of the judgments of God; to visit the sick, and to prepare them for the judgment and life to come.

This is the function of a Clergy-man; who, that he may perform all these duties with more advantage, and better effect, ought to behave himself so well, that his own conversation may not only be without offence, but be so exemplary that his people may have reason to conclude, that he himself does firmly believe all those things which he purposes to them; that he thinks himself bound to follow all those rules that he sets them; and that they may see such a serious spirit of devotion in him that from thence they may be induced to believe, that his chief design among them, is to do them good, and to save their souls which may prepare them so to esteem and love him, that they may not be prejudiced against any thing that he does and says in public, by any

thing that they observe in himself in secret. He must also be employing himself so well in his private studies, that from thence he may be furnished with such a variety of lively thoughts, divine meditations, and proper and noble expressions, as may enable him to discharge every part of his duty, in such a manner, as may raise not so much his own reputation, as the credit of his function, and of the great message of reconciliation that is committed to his charge: Above all studies, he ought to apply himself to understand the holy scriptures aright; to have his memory well furnished that way, that so uponall occasions, he may be able to inforce what he says out of them, and so be an able minister of the New Testament.

This is in short the character of a true Clergy-man, which is to be more fully opened and enlarged on in the following parts of this book. All this looks so great and so noble, that it does not appear necessary to raise Indeed it speaks its own

it, or to insist on it more fully. dignity so sensibly, that none will dispute it, but such as are open enemies to all religion in general; or to the christian religion in particular; and yet even few of these, are so entirely corrupted, as not to wish that external order and policy were kept up among men, for restraining the injustice and violence of unruly appetites and passions; which few, even of the tribe of the libertines seem to desire to be let loose; since the peace and safety of mankind, require that the world be kept in method, and under some yoke.

It will be more suitable to my design, to shew how well this character agrees with that which is laid down in the scriptures concerning these offices. I shall begin