Page:Divine shepherd, or, The good minister's care over the flock of Jesus Christ.pdf/6

 gainſt all other, becauſe they were more againſt him and his Goſpel, than all others were, Matt xxiii quite through the Chapter. And yet, notwithſtanding there were ſo many miniſters, and Doctors, and Preachers of the Lay at that time, the text tells us, The Labourers are few. Few of them would labour in the Harveſt, and feed the Flock of the Lord; and therefore the multitude fainted; or as the margin of the Bible has it, they were tired, by going ſo far to hear an wakening preacher, and they law down for wearineſſ. And they were ſcattered abroad, as Sheep having, no Shepherd. And what was their Caſe then, may, for any- thing we know, be the caſe of ſeveral thouſands an millions at this preſent time. For the thing that has been, it is that which ſhall be; and that which is done is that which ſhall be done: And there is no new thing under the ſun. Eccl. i. 9.

Secondly, The Scripture tells us of ſome, who ought to be teachers, but in truth, have need to be taught themſelves the very firſt principles of the Oracles of God. Heb. v, 12. They ſet up for Preachers, before the well underſtood their Catechiſm: That form of Doctrine, that form of found words, and that form knowledge and truth, which they ought to be firſt inſtructed in. For, ſays the Prophet, Iſa. lvi 10. 1. 'His Watchmen and his Shepherds are blind; they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs; they cannot bark they cannot underſtand. And if poor ignorant people have ſuch an ignorant man for their Miniſter, muſt they not, without a miracle, neceſſarily periſh for want. Knowledge? For how can the blind lead the blind. Or how can the dumb ſpeak to the deaf? Or how can the ignorant guide teach the people knowledge?

Thirdly, The Scripture tells us of others, who, think they are learned enough; and able enough to preach to their people, yet they are not willing enough to do it. They are idle and lazy; 'they put their candle under a buſhel; they hide their talent in a napkin; and they keep their learning to themſelves, as a ſtingy miſer does his gold, and no man is ever the better