Man ashiv le-Yahoweh, or, A serious enquiry for a suitable return for continued life, in and after a time of great mortality, by a wasting plague (anno 1665) answered in XIII directions / by Tho. Doolitel.

SECT. III.

[ II] SUch as are spared from death by the Plague may be considered in their relation as Pastors and People; and the Protection of God over such, should engage them to discharge their mu∣tual duties, as those that would testifie their thankfulness to God for continuing them in that Relation. God hath removed by the Plague some ••inisters that the People shall never hear Preach more, and God hath taken some from every Congregation, of the People, to whom the surviving Ministers shall never offer Christ and Peace unto any more, who are now out of the reach of their reproofs, and exhortations: there∣fore such Ministers as yet have time to preach unto the People, should improve that little time that God hath given them in so doing; and the People that yet have time to hear their Ministers, should diligently do it, and improve their Mini∣stry for the saving of their souls. But more par∣ticularly.

First, Ministers that have escaped the Plague should be eminently exemplary in a diligent per∣formance of every work that God expecteth at their hands.

I. * 1.1As in improving time, in giving themselves more unto serious, closer studying, that they may be more and more able for their Masters work, and more and more eminent in converting and building up the Elect of God; to be more in their Studies, than in the Streets; more at their Books, than at their pleasures; at this they should be early and l••te, according to Saint Pauls charge to Timothy, 1 Tim. 4.13. Till I come give atten∣dance to reading. Ver. 14. Meditate upon these things, give thy self wholly to them, that thy profi∣ting may appear to all. Such as are to work for God and the saving of souls should be given to Study and Medi••ation, that they may be more skilful and successful in their work; they should be as much in their Studies, as any Worldling in his Shop; Especially now such should study more (1.) the Word of God, which is to be the matter of their Preaching. Such are more apt to study the Writings of Men, more than the Word of God. (2.) Their own hearts, and the dealings of God with their own souls, that they may first experience the sweetness, and power, and efficacy of those truths they are to commend unto the People. (3.) The stare of their Flock, and the condition of their People, who of them need to be reproved, who of them need to be comfortes, and who of them be in doubts, and how they may by their Preaching be resolved.

They should study their People more, that they may preach on such subjects, not that are easiest unto themselves to speak un••o, but that are most sutable to their people, and so most likely to be most profitable to them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ministers should be more in Studying.