[ 1329] Ministers to be Men of gravity and experience.
IN the art of Navigation,* 1.1 it was a Law, wont to be seriously observed, that none should be Master of a Ship, or Masters Mate, that had not first been a sculler, and rowed with oars, and from thence been promoted to the stern: And in Military discipline, a Man is first listed a Souldier, then riseth by degrees, before he come to be a Commander;* 1.2 The Levites under the Law, were first Pro∣bationers, before they were allowed to be Practitioners. Such ought all Mini∣sters to be,* 1.3 Men of gravity and experience, not such as run before they are sent, and thrust themselves into the vineyard before they be hired, that come from Iericho before their beards be grown, that are young in years, and as young in qualities and qualifications relating to the Ministery, young Timothy's, and pos∣sibly old Demasses, that have not shed their Colts teeth, nor scarce sowed their wild oats, so that it may very well be said of them, The Prophet is a fool, the spiritual Man is mad, Hos. 9. 7.