preached to others, thou thy felf fhouldft be a caft-away. Thou which teachest another, teacheft thou not thy felf? Thou that preachett, a Man fhould not steal, dost thou fteal? Thou that fay'ft, a Man fhould not commit Adultery, doft thou commit Adultery? Thou that abhorreft Idols, doft thou commit Sacrilege? Be not thou of the number of those who fay, and do not; who bind heavy Burthens, and grievous to be born, and lay them on Mens Shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with one of their Fingers. b God having, in due times, manifefted his Word through Preaching; and this being written for our Learning in the Scriptures; let those to whom the Word is committed, according to the Commandment of God, our Saviour, open the Book in the Sight of all the People, and read in the Book, in the Law of God, diftinctly, and give the Senfe, and cause them to understand the reading. The Priests shall teach the People the difference between the holy, and the prophane; and cause them to discern between the unclean, and the clean. d They shall be holy unto their God, and not prophane the Name of their God; for the Bread of their God they do offer. And the Lord hath chosen them to minifter unto him, and to bless in the Name of the Lord. a I Cor. 9. 27. Rom. 2, 21. 22. Mat. 23. 3, 4. b Tit. I. 2, 3. Rom. 15. 4. Tit. 1. 3. Neh. 8. 5, 8. • Ezek. 44. 15, 23. d Lev. 21. 6. Deut. 21. 5. a Let These things command and teach. Let no Man defpife thee. b Be gentle unto all Men, apt to teach, patient; in Meekness inftructing thofe that oppofe themfelves: In all things, fhewing thy felf a Pattern of good Works; in Doctrine fhewing Uncorruptness, Gravity, Sincerity, found Speech, that cannot be condemned; that he, which is of the contrary part, may be ashamed, having no evil thing to fay of you. c Ordain Elders in every City: And the things that thou hast heard of the Apostles of Chrift, the fame commit thou to faithful Men, who fhall be able to teach others alfo: But lay Hands fuddenly on no Man, neither be partaker of other Men's Sins. d Them that fin rebuke before all, that others alfo may fear. Against an Elder receive not an Accufation, but before two or three Witneffes. e Charge fome, that they teach no other DoArine; neither give heed to Fables, and endless Genealogies, which minifter Questions, rather than godly edifying, which is in Faith: For fome have turned afide unto vain Jangling, defiring to be Teachers of the Law, and underftanding neither what they fay, nor whereof they affirm. f A Man that is an Heretick, after the first and fecond Admonition, reject; knowing that he that is fuch, is fubverted, and finneth, being condemned of himself. a 1 Tim. 4. II. Tit. 2. 15. Tit. I. 5. Tit. 2. 7, 8. d 1 Tim. 5 20, 19... f Tit. 3. 10, II. b 2 Tim. 2. 24, 25. 2 Tim. 2. 2. 1 Tim. 5. 22. Tim. 1. 2, 3, 6, 7. * Obferve a Obferve these things, without preferring one before another, doing nothing by Partiality; according to your Authority, which the Lord hath given you for Edification, and not for DeAtruction. b Set in order the things that are wanting in all Churches. Likewife muft the Deacons be grave; not double-tongued, not given to much Wine, not greedy of filthy Lucre; holding the Mystery of the Faith in a pure Confcience; and ruling their Children and their own Houfes well. d And let these alfo first be proved; then let them ufe the Office of a Deacon, being found blameless: For they that have 'ufed the Office of a Deacon well, purchafe to themfelves a good Degree, and great Boldness in the Faith, which is in Chrift Jefus. e Even fo muft their Wives be grave; not Slanderers, fober, faithful in all things. The Scripture faith, Whofoever believeth on the Lord Jefus, fhall not be afhamed; and, whofoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord fhall be faved. How then fhall they call on him, in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard? And how fhall they hear without a Preacher? And, how fhail they preach, except they be fent? a No Man taketh this Honour of miniftring for Men, in things pertaining to God, unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron, and the Priests and Levites under the Old Teftament ; and the Apostles, and other Minifters of the Gospel, under the New. b No Man having put his Hand to the Plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God. c We have this Treasure in earthen Veffels, that the Excellency of the Power may be of God, and not of us. The DUTY of CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS towards their MINISTERS. a We beseech you, Brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly, in Love, for their Works fake. e Remember them which have the Rule over you; who have spoken unto you the Word of God; whofe Faith follow, confidering the end of their Conversation. f Let the Elders, that rule well, be counted worthy of double Honour; efpecially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine. & Receive them, in the Lord, with all Gladnefs; and hold fuch in Reputation. h Obey them that have the Rule over you, and fubmit your felves; for they watch for your Souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with Joy, and not with Grief. Heb. 5. 4, 1, 4. 21 Theff. s. 12, 13. 8 Phil. 2. 29. Luke 9.762, Heb. 13.7. 2 Cor. 4. 7. ¡f 1 Tim. 3. 17. a Submit a Submit your felves unto fuch as have addicted themselves to the Miniftry of the Saints, and to every one that helpeth with them, and laboureth. b For, thus fpake our Saviour unto his Difci-, ples; Verily, verily, I fay unto you, he that, receiveth whomfoever I fend, receiveth me; and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that fentme: He that heareth you, heareth me: And he that defpifeth you, defpifeth me: And he that defpifeth me, defpifeth him that fent me. He therefore that defpifeth, defpifeth not Man, but, God. The Lord will not regard them who have not refpected the Perfons of the Priefts, nor favoured the Elders. Thus faith the Lord of Hofls, Afk the Priefts concerning the Law. e Hearken unto the Priest that flandeth to minifter before the Lord thy God; and to the Levites, that teach the good Knowledge of the, Lord. f The Scribes and Pharifees fit in Mofes Seat; all, therefore, whatsoever they bid you. obferve, that obferve, and do; but do not ye after their Works, if they fay, and do not. The time will come, when Men will not endure found Doctrine; but, after their own Lufts, fhall they heap to themselves Teachers, having itching Ears; and they fhall turn away 1 Cor. 16. 16, 15, 16. 1 Theff. 4, 8, John 13. 20. Luke 10. 16. Lam. 4. 16. 2 Tim. 4. 3, 4. |