Page:Divine shepherd, or, The good minister's care over the flock of Jesus Christ.pdf/5

 granted for the Ordination of prieſts and deacons, is of ſo great concern to the nation, that it ought to be kept with ſo much ſtrictneſs and ſolemnity: Let graceleſs perſon think ſo ſcornfully of Ember-week.

Ordination day: for the Apoſtles thought them, was bound to ordain no elders in any church, without the ſolemnity of a faſt, Acts xi 23. And Chriſt himſelf, before he entered upon his miniſterial office, faſted forty days and forty nights, Matt. iv. 2. 17. and if faſting, and ſo long faſting, was neceſſary to fit and prepare Chriſt for the miniſtry, how much more deſſary is it to fit and prepare us for it, who are unitely ſort of his divine perfections.

And thus I have ſhewn you what is meant by Ordination day, and what is meant by Ember week; and that you may keep them as they ought to be kept, I have purpoſely pitched upon theſe words, which are the Gospel for the ordination of prieſts, as being moſt proper on this great occaſion and our moſt ſerious meditation on it. 'When Jeſus ſaw the multitudes, he was moved with compaſſion on them, becauſe they fainted were feattered abroad, as ſheep having no ſhepherd. Then ſaith he unto his diſciple, the harveſt truly is bounteous, but the labourers are few: pray ye there-fore the Lord of the harveſt, that he will ſend forth labourers into his harveſt.

In which words there are ſeveral doctrines: but I that preſent only inſiſt upon this one:

Though there be a great many miniſters in a city or country, yet the common people may be ready to faint, and to periſh for want of knowledge; for want of plain affectionate, practical and ſcripture preaching, yea, and their caſe may be ſo deſperately bad, that nothing but a company of poor ſilly ſheep, ſcattered abroad without a ſhepherd, can poſſibly repreſent their deplorable condition.

And the reaſons which prove this doctrine, are ſafe:

Firſt, There were a great many ſcribes, phariſees, and lawyers in our Saviour's time; for he denounced those woes, and great curſes again them, than a-