What is the office of pastors?
l 1.1To speake in the name of God, or to feede the flock of Christ, with the pure (that is) the onely word of God, and that learnedly, faithfully, sincerely, constantly, freely, without respect of per∣sons, or any euill affection of the mindea 1.2, teaching modestlyb 1.3, defending the trueth, reprouingc 1.4 errors, not with scoffes, but with argumentes, rebuking offences, admonishing all and singuler, of the calamities and tribulations to come, which accompany or follow the preaching of the Gospell. By the example of Christd 1.5, and of Paulee 1.6, comforting the heauie hearted, confirming those that are readie to fall, prouoking those that are sloathfull, often to beate vpon righteousnesse, faith, hope, charity, and good workes, both in publick, and in priuate.
2. To administer the Sacraments according to Christs institution.
3. To gouerne his flock with spirituall discipline.
4. To pray for the flock.
5. To haue a care of the poore.
6. To be themselues the patterne of the flock, in Doctrine, in life, and in the crosse; and to beware, that they do not pull downe that with their euill maners, whith they build vp with sincere and wholsom Doctrine, or as the prouerbe is, that they build not hea∣uen with their words, and hell with their workes; and that they be not like the Carpenters, which built the Arke of Noe; for they pre∣paring an Arke for others, whereby they should be freed from the Deluge, perished themselues in the midst of the flouda 1.7.