Page:Divine shepherd, or, The good minister's care over the flock of Jesus Christ.pdf/22

 Now, my Brethren, tho' you have no regard to your own Soul, nor to the ſouls of your people, nor to the precious blood of Chriſt, which was ſhed for the Redemption, both of your and their Souls; yet, however, have ſome little regard to the ſouls and bodies of your poor children. Remember what a dreadful legacy Joab left to his, 2 Sam.iii.29. One of them was to have an iſſue, another a leproſy, another to lean on his ſtaff for lameneſs, another to fall on the ſword, and another to lack bread. And canſt thou find in thy heart to leave thy children no better; yea, far worſe legacies than theſe are? Canſt thou find in thy heart to leave thy ignorance and idleneſs to one, thy covetouſneſs and voluptuouſneſs to another, thy pride and malice to a third, and thy neglect of duty to the fourth? Canſt thou find in thy heart to leave thy children no better legacies than theſe, thy vices and curſes, the tears of the living, and the blood of the dead? And canſt thou ſtill expect that they ſhould thrive and proſper in the world, when this is all the portion, and all the ſtock, thou giveſt them to begin the world with.

When we thus lay the ax to the root of the tree, and begin where God's judgements uſually do, with God's own houſe firſt, and deal impartially with ourſelves; then, our hearers will think we are in good earneſt, when we do not ſpare ourſelves: they will think we have the ſame bleſſed ſpirit that Moſes had, who did not ſpare either himſelf or his brother Aaron, or his ſiſter Miriam; but plainly and publicly recorded the faults in Scripture, as well as others: and they will never be able to be angry with us, for telling them of their ſin roundly and ſmartly to their face. And indeed to tell you my mind freely, it is not our priviledge, only to tell other men of their ſins, and never be told of our own. It is not our prerogative only to declaim againſt other men's vices, and to live and reign in our own without controul. No, no, if ever the Church be reformed we Clergymen muſt firſt reform ourſelves, For we are the ſalt of the earth; and therefore we are to ſpend ourſelves, as ſalt is ſpent, to ſeaſon others; and to keep