§. Sect. 3 Of the means whereby the former impe∣diments may be remoued, first, in respect of the Mini∣sters.
For the remouing of which impediments, first, the Ministers are to be exhorted and perswaded to doe their dutie. And in the first place, that none presume to take vpon them this high calling, which God hath neuer called vnto it, being altogether vnfitted and vnfurnished with gifts necessarily required to this high dutie; seeing they pur∣chase their meanes and maintenance with the price of blood, not of the bodies, but of the precious soules of the people, the which shall be required at their hands in that terrible day, when as Christ shall come to iudge both the quicke and the dead. And secondly, those which God hath furnished with gifts, are to be mooued and admoni∣shed in the feare of God, that with all care and good conscience they feed the flocke of Christ committed to their charge, not for filthy lucre, but with a willing minde, chiefely ayming at the glorie of God in the saluation of the people. To which purpose, let them first remember those names and titles giuen them in the Scriptures, implying not on∣ly their dutie, but great and high priuiledges whereby they should be incouraged vnto it. For they are appointed of God to be the Lights of the world; and what sinne and shame is it to hide their Light, and to let the people sit in darkenesse and in the shadow of death? They are the Salt of the earth, appointed not onely to be sauorie in themselues, but also to season others, which salt of Grace and Wis∣dome if they lose, they are good for nothing, but to be cast vpon the dung-hill, and to be troden vnder feete. They are Gods Watchmen, who haue the care of his armies committed vnto them, to giue them warning of the approch of their enemies, which if they neglect, the blood of those which perish through their sloth, shall be required at their hands. They are appointed to be Captaines ouer the people, to goe out and in before them, and to traine and teach them how to fight against the enemies of their saluation. They are Gods Husband∣men, Gardeners and Vintagers, to plant and sow, purge, weede and prune his fields, gardens and vineyards, that they may bring forth fruit in due season. They are Stewards of his family, who must haue in store both new and old, that they may giue a fit portion to all their fellow seruants. They are Gods Ambassadours vnto the people, who represent his owne person, and deliuer vnto them the glad ty∣dings of the Gospell, wherein God offereth vnto them peace and re∣conciliation; and therefore being so highly honoured, they must not be slacke in doing their message. Finally, they are their spirituall Fa∣thers, ordained of God as his instruments, to beget them vnto him∣selfe by the immortall seed of the Word; which if they neglect, the people through their default remaine the children of wrath, and dead