A pleasant walk to heaven, through the new and living way, which the Lord Jesus consecrated for us, and his sacred Word reveals unto us. Published by Claudius Gilbert, B.D. minister of the Gospel at Limrick.

Thus are Christs followers in their sacred Relations obliged to be mutually helpfull as private Christians to each other for their effectual quickning, that all may walk worthy of their calling on a more generall account.

Secondly. THey have a more a particular Relation to∣wards their spiritual Rulers, obliging them to respect and esteem them in a double manner to encourage and help them to imitate and observe, to attend and obey them in the Lord, on a peculiar accompt, according to the nature and extent of their function and office, whereunto they were regularly designed, called and commissioned by Gods word and Providence. This is often pressed in Scripture. Let a man so account of us saith the Apostle, as of the Ministers of Christ, and Stewards of the misteries of God. And we be∣seech you Brethren to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you, and to esteem them ve∣ry highly in love for their works sake. Obey them that have the Rule over you, and submit your selves. He would have the well ruling Elders counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labor in the Word and Doctrine. Submit your selves to the Elders saith another Apostle. Encouragement and assistance by Prayer, Advise, Support and all due help is eminently due to them for their Works sake, wherein Gods honor and mans good are so eminently concernd. The Apostle is still solicit∣ing the Prayers of Christians, and commending them in a high degree, who afforded him help spiritually and temporally, and giving many urging arguments to press the necessity and excellency, the equity and utility thereof. Should not he have most help, that carries most of the burthen, meeting still with the rage and malicious opposings of earth and hell Their mis∣carriages do often attend the Peoples neglect, and bring with them the sad Attendants of publique Judgements as of pub∣lique sins. The more care is taken by the people of the Mi∣nisters temporal Comforts, the better able are they to give up themselves wholly to their spiritual good, which hath the

Promises of this life also. Christ and his Apostle argue this case by Divine reasonings again and again, because of that worldly mindedness and niggardly spirit which rules in the most, and remains in the best. They plead the Laws of nature and na∣tions, besides the Statutes of God, both old and new for rati∣fication and illustration hereof. The due observance of their Doctrine, and imitation of their godly life are often urged upon Christians also. Remember them saith the great Apo∣stle who have spoken to you the Word of God, whose Faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. He be∣seeches them to be followers of him, as he is of Christ, and mark them who walk so, as they have us for an example. He presses Timothy to be an example of the Believers in Word, in Conversation, in Charity, in Spirit, in Faith, in Puri∣ty. Peter exhorts all Elders to be examples to the flock. Christ would have them to be effectually what they are by de∣putation, burning and shining lights in the Doctrine of their lips and life, adorned still with his Vrim and Thummim, Lights and Perfections, as was prefigured by the holy Garments de∣signed by the Lord for the vesture of his Church-officers. It concerns all Gods people to look carefully to the trimming and feeding of those Lamps, and to walk in their Light as becomes the Children of the Light, and as God himself is in the Light, that their mutual communion may be truly owned, a fellowship with God by the Spirit of his Son, else he threatens hard the removal of his Candle-stick, when people grow wan∣ton, playing by their Light, blowing at it, abusing of it, throwing water thereon, and following false Lights, in stead thereof. The Lord would have them attended and obeyed in every Ordinance according to his Word, as his Messen∣gers and Heraulds, his Stewards and Embassadors, his Offi∣cers and Ministers, authorized by special power, qualifying them and Authority, comissioning them to every part of his service, He that hears them, and receives them, hears and receives him. He that slights and rejects them, slights and rejects him, and the Father that sent him, as he sends them in his name. The slight and abuse of his spiritual Officers he hath in all ages dreadfully punished after many

warnings He would not have them indeed lord it over the faith of Believers, nor act as Lords of his Heritage, but perform their office with Love and tenderness, humility and self-denial, yet with all Authority in his name and strength. This Trea∣sure they have in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of man, and are to be received as an Angel of God, even as Jesus Christ, as the Galathians did, for which Paul commends them. They should be quickned to their work as need requires, and diligently attended therein in all orderly meetings. whether fixed or occasional, every Christian should carefully prepare for, and seasonably repair to the place at the time appointed, as they did still in Primitive days, though then in much danger, that all may be ready as be∣fore God to perform their duty with affectionate attention and submissive application, with fervent zeal and holy self-de∣nial for future Improvement. To be first at a feast and last at Church, early with the world, and late with God, ardent in fleshly things, and cold in Spirituals, active in worldly trifles and trifling in Divine affiairs; vigilant about earth, and dor∣mant about heaven, shews a great measure of carnality, too prevailing in our days, even among Gods people. The Lord quicken all your hearts that we may more effectually stir up our selves and others by the diligent improvement of all due means through his blessing to this eminent duty of Walking Worthy of our Vocation, for his Glory, and our eternal Wel∣fare. To every one that walks according to this Rule, Peace shall be, and Mercy upon the Israel of God.

FINIS

Notes

• 1 Cor. 4. 1. 1 Thess. 5. 12, 13.
• Heb. 13. 7, 17. 1 Tim. 5. 17. 1 Pet. 5 5. Eph. 6. 18, 19. 2 Thess. 3. 1, 2. 1 Thess. 5. 25. Heb. 13. 18. Act. 12. 5. 2 Tim. 3. 8. Phil. 2. 17. Col. 1. 24.
• 1 Tim. 4. 15, 9.
• Mat. 10. 10. 1 Cor. 9. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.
• 1 Tim. 5. 18.
• Heb. 13. 7. 1 Cor. 4. 16. 1 Cor. 11. 1. 2 Thess. 3. 7. Phil 3. 17. 1 Tim. 4. 12. 1 Pet. 5. 3. Mat. 5. 16. Deut. 33. 8, 9, 10, 11.
• 1 Ioh. 12. 35. 1 Ioh. 1. 6, 7. Eph. 5. 8.
• 2 Cor. 15. 18. 20.
• Mat. 10. 40. Luke. 10. 16.
• 2 Chro. 36. 16.
• 2 Cor. 4. 24. 1 Pet. 5. 3. Tit. 2. 15. 2 Cor. 4. 7. 2 Cor. 6. 1. Gal. 4. 14. Col. 4. 17. Act. 14. 27. Act. 10. 33. Act. 13. 44.