Page:Divine shepherd, or, The good minister's care over the flock of Jesus Christ.pdf/14

 the Miniſters of former ages are reckoned in Scripture to have been guilty of; that ſo he may ſpeedily and effectually repent of them in this world, and avoid that everlaſting deſtruction, that is due to him for them in the world to come.

Firſt of all, haſt thou entered upon the Miniſtry when thou wert ignorant of the miniſterial office: 'Haſt thou ran before God ſeat thee? and propheſied to others, before the Lord hath ſpoken unto thee Jer xxii.21. Haſt thou ſet upon the ſtudy of Divinity before thou haſt ſcarce read, and much leſs digeſted a ſound courſe of Philoſophy? Haſt thou ſet up for a Preacher before thou haſt ever read the Bible throughly and to the purpoſe? Or doſt thou even yet know and underſtand the language which thy Bible was originally writ in? And haſt thou taken upon thyſelf the cure of ſouls, before thou art learned enough, or perhaps at an age, to undertake it?

Secondly, If thou art learned enough; yet art thou willing enough to diſcharge ſo great a cure? Art thou not idle? Doſt thou read Prayers in the Pariſh Church every day in the week, both morning and evening Doſt thou preach every Lord's Day in the forenoon and Catechiſe in the afternoon? Doſt thou Catechiſe and read a Homily very holiday, as the Rubric commands thee? Doſt thou go from houſe to houſe in the week days, and ſee whether thy people do pray and perform all other Chriſtian duties in their families Acts xx.20. And doſt thou do all thyſelf, and is thy own perſon? Or do thou only employ a mercenary hireling, who is neither able willing to do it for thee; but only goes to thy Church on the Lord's day, and never minds thy people all the week after?

Thirdly, If thou art neither ignorant nor idle, but learned and laborious enough: yet, art thou not covetous and voluptuous? Art thou not given to filthy lucre and pleaſure! Do not whoredom, and wine and ſtrong drink, take away thy heart, and take up that time which thou oughtest to ſpend in hard ſtudy