A treatise of the nature of a minister in all its offices to which is annexed an answer to Doctor Forbes concerning the necessity of bishops to ordain, which is an answer to a question, proposed in these late unhappy times, to the author, What is a minister?

SECT. XVII. What peculiar Interest a Presbyter hath in this kind of Preaching.

HAving thus Considered Preaching in its latitude, it will now be worth our Thoughts to reflect upon this Officer called a Presbyter, and see what peculiar Interest he hath in it, distinct from other men. First then, without Question, such a preach∣ing as is Occasional, by private Conference, or in publike As∣semblies, when in publick Opportunity is offered to manifest the Glory of God, or Convert or Confirm by Conference any soul to or in the Christian Religion, or Godlinesse of living, which indeed is a great part of Christianity, when upon occasions of Discourse or otherwise, Opportunities shall be granted to any man, he may, if he have abilities, so Conferre, as to perswade men to a newnesse of life; and this is preaching in its latitude, it is preaching the Gospel of Christ, and each man that hath abi∣lities ought to do it, but each man is not bound to have abilities; a private mans strength is chiefly discerned in holding fast the Word of Truth, that so he be not carryed away with the wind of Doctrine: he hath other Offices which are his Duties, and in which he ought to expend his Studies and Endeavours; but to have abilities, or to endeavour to have some Abilities for this purpose, is the Duty and Office of a Presbyter. It is the Duty of the Shepherd to take care of his Masters sheep, but it is a

comely Charity in every Servant, though he be not the Shep∣herd, when he finds his Masters sheep run astray, or ready to starve, to throw them a lock of Hay, or call them back to the fold; Nay it is his Duty out of Charity, though not out of Of∣fice; but to take upon him the Office when he is not Authori∣zed to it, would be Intrusion, and it would bring a great Con∣fusion into the Church, as it would into a great Family, where every man, or every man that would, might take upon him the Manage of any Office he would. St. Paul therefore saith of such, How shall he preach, unlesse he be sent? that is, how shall he take upon him the Office of doing it, unlesse he be authorized for it; let us then Consider who is authorized.