| The Faithful Pas TONY Duty and Reward : 


a 


s E R M 0 N 


preached in 


Lambeth "Chapel, 


8 U N DAT 5 23. 006 4 | 
N | AT THE 4 
| CONSECRATION 


Of the Right Reverend Fathers in Gop 


Thomas Lord Biſhop of St. Aſaph, . 
AND i 
Nicholas Lord Biſhop of St. David.. 


| - SAMUEL KNIGHT, D. P. r 
Prebendary of EI V, 7 N 
And Chaplain in Ordinary to His 


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The Lord Archbiſhop of CanTERBURY. 


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LUKE xvi. 10. 


He that is faithful in that which is heaff, 
is faithful alſo in much. 


HESE Words are an Inference 
drawn by our Saviour from his 
Parable of the unjuſt He- 
Ward, which, without conſider- 

ae ing farther than as it relates 

to what I deſign on this Occaſion, will afford 

a large Field for our Meditation; eſpecially 


ſince thoſe, who are ſet apart for any holy 
Office or Miniſtration in the Church of Chriſt, 


are peculiarly in Scripture ſtiled Sfezwargds ; 
Stewards of the Myſteries of God: And f 
a Steward it is required that a Man be 
found faithful. 'That this is a Qualification 
abſolutely neceſſary towards filling up the 


great Truſt incumbent upon ſuch, and a 
5 matter 


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2 A Conſecration SERMON. 


matter of the greateſt Importance, both 
to themſelves as well as thoſe committed to 
their Charge, the Service appointed at this 
ſolemn Time doth ſufficiently evince. Now al- 
though every Part, or every Expreſſion of any 


Parable, is not always capable of a moral 


Senſe, and although it be fo in this Parable 
before us; yet, as to the Words I have read, 
no Man will doubt but that they are to be 
morally interpreted. For ſeeing what we have 
is in the quality of Stewards, not as Lords and 
Proprietors, and ſeeing there will come a 
Time, when we muſt give an Account to our 
Maſter, how we have uſed or employed the 


Talents, which he was pleaſed to entruſt us 


with; we may, and ought to look upon the 
whole Parable, as what will, ſooner or later, 
be ſurely applicable to every one of our ſelves, 


when we muſt give an Account of our Ste- 


wardſhip, and be no longer Stewards. 
The Rich Man is repreſented as calling his 
Steward to an Account, and this Steward ſo 
adjuſting his accounts as to make to himſelf a 
conſider able Advantage, by ſparing and for- 
giving his Maſter's Debtors ſome part of the 
Debts due unto him, engaging them thereby to 
be kind to himſelf, now he was to be removed 
out of his $eward/hip. Upon this he is com- 
ended for his Wiſdom in providing ſo comfort- 
| ably 


A Conſecratiom SERMON. 3 


ably for himſelf, and every Man exhorted to 


follow the Wiſdom, though not the Iniquity 


of this Example. T be Lord commended the 
unjuſt Steward, becauſe he had done wiſely ; 
for the Children of this World are in their 
Generation wiſer than the Children of Light : 
I ſay unto you, make to your ſelves Friends 
of the unrighteous Mammon. That is, uſe 
the things of this World to your Spiritual 
and Eternal Advantage; which if you do, he 
true Riches will be committed to your Truſt ; 
which are infinitely of greater Value, as be- 
ing more excellent in their Nature, and having 
a more immediate Influence upon our own, as 
well as the Happineſs of others, in this, as well 
as another World. Ze then that is faith- 
ful in that which is leaſt, is faithful alſo 
in much: He that can find in his heart, an In- 
clination to make a proper uſe of his Wealth 
and other ſecular Advantages for the good 
of his Fellow Creatures, as well as rhe more 


laſting Benefit of himſelf; ſuch a Perſon 


will not be wanting to make a like good uſe 
of thoſe other more excellent Gifts and Gra- 
ces, which God liberally diſpenſes to his Ser- 
vants, for he edifying of the body of Chriſt, 
the perfeiting of the Saints, and for the 
work of the Miniſtry. My Buſineſs then is, 


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4 A Conſecratim SERMON. 


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all who are called to any holy Office 
in the Church of God, ſhould above all 
others labour to diſcharge their 'Truſt 
with all Faithfulneſs. 


1 I. To ſhew how reaſonable it is, that 

4 thoſe who have been faithful to their 

1 Truſt, though of a lower kind, ſhould 

4 be thought worthy of a higher Station, 

b and a ** Sphere to move in. 

. 

I II. I ſhall briefly ſuggeſt ſome proper Mo- 
tives, which ſhould engage Men to be 
faithful in performing thoſe reſpective 
Duties, which naturally ariſe from their 

Station and Circumſtances in the World. 

I III. From the Importance of the miniſte- 

3d rial Function I ſhall ſhew, that it is a 

A 

4 matter of the utmoſt Conſequence, that 


. Firſt then, I am to ſhew how reaſonable 
it is, that thoſe who have been faithful to 
their Truſt, though of a lower kind, ſhould 
be thought worthy of a higher Station, and a 
larger Sphere to move in. 

There cannot be a more certain way to 
judge of any Perfon's Worth or Merit, than 
by viewing his Carriage and Deportment in 
that Poſt or Station of Life Providence firſt 

places 


A Conſecratim SERMON. 5 
places him. If he doth not early ſhew ſome 


: manifeſt Proofs of his Sagacity and Diligence, 


and lay out himſelf vigorouſly to fulfil the 
Duty of his Place and Station, it is in vain to 
hope that he will acquit himſelf to more Ad- 
vantage when he arrives at any other Station, 
which enlarges his Duty, or demands more 
intenſe Application from him: He that is not 
Faithful in the leaſt, will not be Faithful 
in much. It is the Temper and Diſpoſition of 
a Man that engages him in Action, and in- 
clines him to Diligence and Sedulity. For as 
we are endued with Powers and Faculties 


proper for the carrying on of ſuch good and 


laudable Deſigns, as may iſſue in the glory 
of God, and the good of the World; it is 


a plain Indication that we degenerate from 


our Native Excellence, when we ſuffer our 
ſelves to ſink into a baſe inactivity, or unna- 
tural Indolence: There is an end then of 
every thing that is /ove/y and of good report ; 


the Brute ſoon gets the better of the Man, 


the Fleſh of the Spirit; there being nothing 


more eaſy to obſerve, than that the more in- 


dulging Men are to their ſenſual Appetites 
and Paſſions, the leſs intenſe and vigorous are 
they as to Spiritual Things. The more the 
Body is regarded, by ſo much the Soul is 
diſtegarded and neglected: The natural 

| Man 


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6 A Conſecration SERMON. 
Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit 
of God, they being fooliſhneſs unto Bim; nei- 
ther can he know them, becanſe they are 
ſpiritually diſcerned. The Apoſtle therefore 
ſtiles ſuch, who give up themſelves to fulfil the 
Luſts of the Fleſh, Servants of Corruption; 
for of whom a Man is overcome, of the 
ſame he is brought in Bondage. 

If then, to deſcend lower, we find Perſons (ct 
out well in any Station of Life, and by their 
attendance to, and aſſiduity in it, give us 
reaſon to think that they are animated by a 
Spirit of Induſtry and Zeal to be uſeful , 
we cannot but look upon them as common 
Bleſſings, fince they grace their Buſineſs and 


Profeſſion, whatever it is, and conſequently 


cannot fail of that Reſpe& and Honour which 
is juſtly due to them: For a diligent Man, 
ſays Solomon, f ſhall land before Princes, 
be ſhall not ſtand before mean Men. This is 
a ſure way of being taken notice of, the Pub- 
lick always wants thoſe who are ſo diſpo- 
ſed, and will rather ſeek them out, than be 
deprived of their Service; fo that what they 
accounted their Duty becomes their Intereſt, 
and their inclination to ſerve others has a 
natural Tendency towards benefiting them- 


N. if 29: | Prov, xxii. 19, 


felves. 


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A Conſecration SERMON. 7 


ſelves. However, though they ſhould not al- 
ways reap the Advantages they may deſerve, 
yet ſuch is the inward Pleaſure that ariſes 
from a Conſciouſneſs of being uſeful, that they 
cannot be weary of well doing, knowing that 
they are not born for themſelves, but for the 


Service of others; and can therefore contented- 


ly bear being neglected or paſſed by, even by 
thoſe who ſhould highly eſteem them for their 
Labour of Love, and their being ſo diſinte- 
reſted, while ſo uſeful to the World. But 
generally ſpeaking, he muſt be a careleſs ob- 
ſerver of the World, who doth not fee it very 
frequently happen, that Perſons endued with 
thoſe valuable Qualifications before menrion'd, 
have arrived to great Honours and Dignities ; 
while others, who perhaps ſet out much 
better than themſelves, have been far diſtan- 
ced and outſtripped by them. But ſuch Perſons 
may thank themſelves, it being only reaping 
the Fruit of their own doing, or rather, their 
not doing any thing to Purpoſe, but aban- 
doning themſelves to an uſeleſs, unprofitable, 
and careleſs Life, which leaves them ſo much 
behind thoſe who have been diligent and 
active. They cannot therefore be pitied, as 
the other ought not to be envied ; ſince both 
the one and the other are rewarded accord- 
ing to their Works. : 
The 


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MR 54.4 


A Confecration SERMON. 


The Romans, when at their height of 
Wiſdom and Glory, thought it a matter of 
no {mall Conſequence to prefer thoſe to the 
high Office of a Conſul, who had behaved 
themſelves laudably in the lower Offices of 

their Republick, and had paſſed the Adlile- 
ſhip and Pretorſhip as became thoſe who ex- 
pected to be regarded, when they ſhould 
ſtand Candidates for this higheſt and moſt 
honourable Office of the State. In our 
general Calling as Chriſtians St. Paul leaves 
this as a Rule, that we be not /{otbful, 3 
but followers of them, who through Faith | 
and Patience inherit the Promiſes. And in 
our particular Calling, whatever it is, we 
ought to know, that Induſtry doth befit the 
Conſtitution and Frame of our Nature; all 
the Faculties of our Soul, and Organs of our 
Body, being adapted in a congruity and ten- 
dency thereto. Hence that other Apoſtolical 
Precept, Be not ſlothful in Buſmeſs ; or what 
to the ſame effect the wiſe Man urges as ve- 
ry proper, ſince our Lives are ſo ſhort and 
precarious, that whatſoever our Hand find- 


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eth to do, we ſhould do it with all our might, 
eſpecially ſince the Encouragement is not 


| fmall, that we have both from Scripture and 
Experience; for though 7he race is not al- 


ways to the Swift, nor the Battle to the 
| Strong, 


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Strong, yet generally ſpeaking thoſe ſucceed 
beſt, who attend moſt to the Bulineſs of Life, 
and find that their Labour is not in vain, by 
the Bleſſings that crown their ſincere Endea- 
vours of being uſeful. 

What better aſſurance can we have, than 
what our Lord gives us in his Parable of 
the Talents: * To him that hath, faith 
he, ſhall be given, that is, who improves 
what he has; but from him that hath not, 
ſhall be taken even that which he hath. 'To 
the one the Lord will ſay, Vell done good 
and faithful Servant, thou haſt been faith- 
ful over a few things, I will make thee ru- 
ler over many things, enter thou into the 
Foy of thy Lord; to the other wicked and 
ſlothful Servant, Take the Talent from him, 
and give it unto him that hath ten Talents, 
nad caſt the unprofitable Servant into outer 
Darkneſs, there ſhall be weeping and Rnaſh- 
ing of Teeth. Who then is that faithful 
and wiſe Steward, whom his Lord fhall 
make ruler over his Houſbold to give them 
their Meat in due ſeaſon? Of a truth IT ſay 
unto you, that he will make him ruler over 
all that he hath. What this Rule ſignifies 
in the other World, is a Myſtery to us ; but 


Matt. xxiv. 


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18 2 Conſecfatin S E R M GN. 


we find no other Perſons have in ſo peculiar a 


manner the honourable Character of Servants 


of Chriſt throughout the Goſpel, as the Mi- 
niſters of God's Church ; and there is no rea- 
ſon to think, that Heaven is a State of mere 
Reſt and Contemplation, eſpecially fince Hap- 
pineſs conſiſts in Action. This however we 
may ground upon, that there are no empty 
Titles in Heaven, but every degree of Digni- 
ty alludes to no leſs a degree of Happineſs; 
which when conſidered, ſhould encourage us 
to rum with patience the race that is ſet bo- 
forens. Nothing can divert us from, or ſtop 
us in the purſuit of the great End of Life, 
in being uſeful and ferviceable to the World, 
if we are animated with a lively Senſe of our 
preſent Duty, and our future Reward. For 
though ſomerimes there may be pain or unea- 
ſineſs, and ſome root of bitterneſs ſpringing 
up may trouble us, while engaged in the 
zealous proſecution of our Duty yet this 
will not make us weary, or faint in our 
Minds; ſince the pain or uneaſineſs ſoon vani- 
ſhes, but the pleaſant reflection on our Per- 
ſeverance and Steadineſs in our Duty, muſt 
needs remain, and fill us with Foy un 
ſpeakable, and relieve us under all the 
Difficulties and Diſcouragements that may 


attend us in it. But it is in vain to expect, 
that 


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A Conſecration 8 E R { MON. I1 
that thoſe, who have hid or ſquandered away 


their Talent, ſhould all on a ſudden be- 


come better Husbands, when their Duty and 
Obligations increaſe upon them. Nay rather, 
muſt they not be expected to indulge the 
ſame Indolence, or that a greater degree of 
it will naturally follow, upon a more diſ- 
couraging Proſpect of what they are to do 
or ſuffer under any new Circumſtances of 
Life, which ſerve rather to frighten them 
from their Duty, than encourage them to 
be active and diligent in it. Which brings 
me in the 


Second Place, to conſider ſome proper Mo- 
tives, which ſhould engage us to be Faithful 
in the diſcharge of thoſe Duties, which na- 


turally reſult from our reſpective Stations and 


Circumſtances in the World. 


And theſe are as many, as the Obligations 
that ariſe from them. We ſhould therefore 
hate the Sin of unfaithfulneſs, that no ſuch 
thing may cleave to us. God would not ſut- 
fer our firſt Parents to be Idle even in Paradiſe 
it ſelf, To live unprofitably, to fill up a 
Place in the World to little or no Purpoſe, 
is to make a wretched Figure in it ; the re- 
flection on which, to an ingenuous Mind, 
would be Puniſhwekt enough. Al] things, 

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12 A Conſecratiom SE RM ON. 


faith the Wiſeman, are full of labour, or 
require Application and Care, in the rendring 
them ſerviceable to us; and if we do not an- 
ſwer their Demands, and ſet heartily about 
them, we can never ſucceed to our own or 
others Satisfaction. An idle Perſon or Slug- 
gard is qualified for no Office, no Calling, no 
Employment in the World; and while he is 
a Cumber to the Earth, and lives upon the 
Sweat of other Mens Brows, he is a burthen 
to himſelf, and falls under worſe inconveni- 
ences and uneaſineſſes, than thoſe which he 
would ſeem ſo much to guard againſt and 
avoid. A Life ſpent in doing nothing, or that 
which is worſe than nothing, in Sin and 
Wickedneſs, muſt be bitterneſs in the End; 
but a conſciouſneſs of being uſeful, and liv- 
ing up to the Purpoſes of Reaſon and Religion, 
muſt be a continual feaſt to the Mind, and 
a Pleaſure better felt than expreſſed. To be 
faithful to our Truſt, and willing to diſcharge 
our ſeveral Obligations to God and the 
World with Decency and Credit, not to 
reproach our ſelves, or be reproached by others, 
for any neglects of this ſort, is richly worth 
all the Pains and Care we may be at in 
doing it; this being the very end of our 
living, $a what we muſt ſeverely account 
to God for, if we have not performed as 

we 


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A Comſecratim SERMON. 13 
we ought. Goodneſs, that is being good 
and doing good, faith the Wiſeman, 1akes 


a Man's face to ſhine, and renders him 


truly amiable, becauſeuſeful to the World; 
but ſhame ts the promotion of ſuch Fools, 
who ſpend their Lives in a liſtleſs Indo- 
lence, and have nothing to look back upon, 
but the Years they have run off rather than 
lived, without the Advantage of ſo much 
as one uſeful Action in all the void Spaces 
of their Life, to plead on their behalf, or 
apologize for them. But as the miniſterial 
Function is in itſelf, as well as more parti- 
cularly to us, of the higheſt Importance and 
greateſt Conſequence, give me leave in the 
| Laf? Place to ſhew, that our Faithfulneſs 
is eſpecially neceffary towards making a full 
Proof of our Miniftry, and giving up our 
Accounts with Foy. 

No one can look upon this ſacred Depoſe- 
tum with indifference, as a matter of ſmall 
Conſequence, when St. Paul, under a deep 
Senſe of its Weight, cries out, ho is ſufficient 
for theſe things? and had a godly Jealoufy 
over himfelf, leſt after he had preached to 
others he himſelf ſhould be a Caſt-away. It 
was his being in Labours more abundant, his 
being ſteady and diligent in his Maſter's Service, 
that enabled him to make that pious Boaſt to 

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14 A Conſecration SERMON. 


the Elders of the Church of Epheſus, that 
he was pure from the Blood of all men, and 


that he had not ſhunned to declare unto them 
the zwwhole Connſel of God. 


The ſame awful Senſe of our high Calling 


cannot but have a mighty Influence upon all 
our Actions, and muſt cauſe us to eſteem no- 
thing ſo much as the Succeſs which, through 


the Bleſſing of God, may at any time attend 
the faithful Diſcharge of our Duty; in 
compariſon of which all the Emoluments 


and Advantages, which are appendant on it, 


will be accounted as Dung and Dreſs. 
The Anſwer of a good Conſcience towards 
God, giving up our Accounts with Joy, the 
Favour of him, whoſe loving Kindneſs is bet- 
ter than Life, is enough to make us triumph 
over all the Difficulties and Diſcouragements, 
we may meet with from wicked and unreaſon- 
able Men, in the whole Courſe of our Mini- 
ſtry. For if we commit our ſelves to God in 
well doing, we have no reaſon to be diſcou- 


raged by the ſecret Deſigns, or more open At- 


tacks of the Enemies of God's Church; tho 
hand join in hand, yet we have our Lord's 
Promiſe, that the gates of Hell ſhall not pre- 
vail againſt it. The Strength and Number of 
our Enemies are of no avail; for if God be for 
us, who can be againſt us? We ſhould then 

- 


_— 


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A Conſecration SERMON. 15 
be in nothing terrified by our Adverſuries, 
 ewhich to them is an evident token of Perdi- 
tion, but to us of Salvation, and that of God. 


It is very memorable what Zoſephus tells 


us of the Ferzwi/h Prieſts, that when Pompey's 


Army ruſhed violently into the Temple of 
Jeruſalem, and filled all with Terror and Tu- 


mult, the Prieſts who were then employed 


about the Sacrifice, went on with the Service 
of God without Confuſion or Concern ; they 
knew they were doing their Duty, that they 
were engaged in an Employment of God's own 


Appointment, ſo doubted not of his Protecti- 


on. How maliciouſly ſoever thoſe who are 
equally. the Enemies of God and Religion, 
as well as of its Miniſters, are ſet againſt 
them, and ſhoot out their Arrows, even bitter 
Words; yet God, who is very high exalted, 
will defend them as with a Shield, and if 
not abate their Pride, or aſſuage their Malice, 
yet ſure we are, he will confound their De- 
vices. Whatever ſhare of Sufferings he ſhall 
appoint to us, if they are for his Name fake, 
we ſhould rejoice that we are counted worthy 
of them, knowing that the great High Prieſt 
of our Profeſſion was made perfert through 


* Antiq. Jud, lib. xiv, cap. 4: 


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16 < Conſecration SERMON. 
Suffering ; and if we do not ſuffer with him, 
neither ſhall we reign with him. 

But bleſſed be God, this is at preſent not 
our Caſe. We are obliged however, the more 


wicked the Age is, 70 adorn the Doctrine of 


our Lord God and Saviour in all things, 
aud ſo put to falence the ignorance of fooliſh 
and gainſaying Men; and remember that we 
are called to be watchful and diligent, to de- 
ny our ſelves, to guide others,/to labour hard, 
to bear much, and to apply our whole Thoughts 
towards acquitting our ſelves well to our great 
Maſter. Under ſuch Circumſtances as theſe 

the greateſt Courage and Prudence is litcle 
enough to render Men, who are called to the 
Honour of being Governours in the Chriſtian 


Church, equal to the Burden of it. There 


is little Reverence for things ſacred, but 
an unbridled Licentiouſneſs of Manners, and 
an open Contempt of all Religion, a fal- 
ling away from the Faith once delivered to 
the Saints, and pretended 'Triumphs daily 
made over Chriſt and his Religion, as if he 
himſelf was an Impoſtor, and his Followers 
ſo weak and credulous, as to be led away in 
the Simplicity of their Hearts, What muſt 
the Miniſters of Chriſt do, when beſet with 


- ſuch Difficulties ? Sure not lefs, than what 


St. Paul requires of his Son Timothy, that 
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A OConiſecration SEEMON. 17 
| he ſhould be an Example to Believers, in 
Werds, in Converſation, in Charity, in Spi- 
rit, in Faith, in Purity, Not only a decent 
Gravity, a ſweet and obliging Deportment, 
but an immoveable Conſtancy and Fidelity to 
our Religion, and Abſtractedneſs from the 
World, as far as is conſiſtent with the preſent 
State of things, muſt all conſpire together to 


advance the Intereſt of Piety and Virtue in 


the World. 
But do we all we can, ſo very difficult is 


it to approve our ſelves to Men, that the 
moſt exact and cautious, the moſt uniform and 
conſtant, in the Practice of all Chriſtian Vir- 
tues and Graces, can't hope to meet with any 
fair Quarter from thoſe, who are reſolved to 
call Evil Good, and Good Evil; and only 
demand the beſt Examples from the Miniſters 
of God's Church, not to imitate them when 
they have them, but to clamour when they 
have them not; not out of a real Love to Pie- 
ty, but that they may have a Pretence againſt 
it. There needs no greater Proof of this, 
than that they more pleaſe themſelves with 
one evil Example than with an hundred 
good ones; and rejoice more in the Follies 
and Vices, than in the Virtues and good 
Works of Chriſtian Paſtors and Teachers, 
But this is not to be wonder at, if we turn our 


Thoughts 


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18 A Confecration SBRMON. 


Thoughts to what we find recorded of the 


ſame perverſe Temper in former Ages, more 
eſpecially the two flagrant Inſtances that the 
holy Scriptures furniſh us with, relating to 
our Bleſſed Lord, and Fohn the Baptiſt. * 
The former, as he was continually goiug about 


Aoing good, and in purfuance of this great 


End, was willing to converſe freely with the 
very worſt of Men, in order to reduce 
them to the Wiſdom of the Fuft, yet could 
not eſcape the friſe of Tongues, but paſſed 
through evil, as well as good Report; for 
though ſome faid, be was a good Man, 
yet more called him a gluttonous Man, a 
Wine-bibber, aud a Friend of Publicans and 
Sinners. John's auſtere way of Life, and his 
ſeemingly wanting the more ſocial Virtues, 
fo reſplendent in the great Author and F- 


niſher of our Faith, made him to be looked 


upon as having a Deo. Thus our Lord was 
condemned for not being like St. John, and 
St. John for not being like our Lord. So 
impoſſible is it to ward off the worſt of Cen- 
ſures from the very beſt of Men ! Though 
they may keep themſelves aſpotted from the 
IWorld in one Senſe, they cannot do it in an- 
other. But as 20 his own Maſter, every 


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A Conſecration SERMON. 19 


Man ſtandleth or falle h, this ſhould be our 
Rejoycing, that in Simplicity and godly Sin- 
cerity, not with fileſhly Wiſdom, we hace 
had our Converſation in the World ; that God 
ſeeth not as Man ſeeth, but that he will ſurely 
reward his Servants, if they are found faithful 
to him, If we give no juſt Offence in any thing, 


that the Miniſtry be not blamed, and approve 


our ſelves in all things as the Miniſters of 
God, we ſhall in winning of Souls be wiſe, 
and by turning many to Righteouſneſs ball, 
like the Stars, fhine for ever and ever. This, 
if any, is the way to make our Enemies to be 
to be at Peace with us, having no evil thing 
to ſay of us; giving none, whatever occaſion 
they may find againſt us. One would think 
ſuch Men imagined Duty was all on our ſide, 
and other Perſons might live as they pleaſed ; 
that Angelick Lives were expected from us, 
when at the ſame time they might give a 
Looſe to their finful Inclinations; that Meck- 
neſs, Temperance, and other Virtues, were on- 
ly fit for us, and not equally binding upon all 
Men. But are we not told, that zvirhout Ho- 
lineſs uv Man ſhall fee the Lord? and that 
whoſoever nameth the Name of Chrift muſt de- 
part from all Iniquity? Without doubt, Ho- 
lineſs to the Lord ought to be writ upon the 
Lives and Actions of thoſe, who are ſeparated 


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20 A Conſecration SER MON. 


to the Work of the Miniſtry, and called of 
God to be Ambaſſadors of Peace to the 
World; and it ſhould be the chief Buſineſs 
of their Lives to promote the Glory of God, 
and ſet forward the Salvation of Mankind. 
That they may be accounted faithful by him, 
who ' hath put them into the Miniſtry, they 
muſt walk circumſpetily, becauſe the days 
are evil; not do the Work of the Lord negli- 
gently, but carefully perform every Duty re- 
quired of them. Without this, that God 
who hath ſometimes poured Contempt even 
upon Princes, can and will have a Contro- 
verſy with the Lot of his own Inheritance; 
for thoſe that hononr him he will honour, 
but they that deſpiſe him ſhall be lightly re- 
garded. | 

When the beſt Arguments are alledged 
not only to prove the Expediency, but alſo 
the divine Right of Epiſcopacy, be they never 
ſo concluſive, yet if thePerſons who are cal- 
led up to this holy Office are deficient in any 
part of their Character, the Arguments for 
the Office will never be able to conquer the 
Prejudices that may ariſe from their Perſons 
with the generality of Mankind. We need 
not run ſo far back as the Primitive Times, 
and mention ſuch venerable Fathers, as Cle- 
mens, Ignatius, Polycarp, and Cyprian, of 
the 


A Conſecratim SERMON. 21 
the firſt and beſt Ages, nor Athanaſius, Baſal, 


Chbryſoſtom, and others, of the ſucceeding and 


ſomewhat declining Ages; but we could, were 
it proper, chooſe a Scene more in view, and 
ſhew that even in theſe later Ages, almoſt 
the dregs of Time, there have been thoſe, 


who have not fell beneath the brighteſt of 


thoſe primitive Patterns. Our Church has 


hitherto been the Envy of its Siſter- Churches 


for a happy Succeſſion of Biſhops, renowned 
for their Learning, as well as Piety and Vir- 
tue; and by the Earneſt God has this day 
given us of his kind Intentions for the fu- 
ture, we have encouragement to hope, that 


he will not only continue, but multiply 


more 'and more faithfu] Paſtors, that our 


Church under their Guidance may increaſe 


in Strength, Beauty, and Perfection, and 


be he Foy of the whole Earth. 


It is no ſmall Advantage, as well as Hap- 


pineſs to the Church, when thoſe, who are 


{ſingled out for the Government of it, have 
paſſed well through the intermediate Offices 
of their Profeſſion; ſuch moſt probably 
will rule prudently with all their Power, 
and not fail of anſwering the juſt Expecta- 
tions they have raiſed, by having been faith- 
ful in that which is leaſt, that they will be 
equally faithful in that which is much. 

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22 A Cunſerration 8 SERMON. 


On the contrary, it is a dangerous Experi- 
ment, and has been attended with no ſmall 


N ee o 
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—— _ — — — 


9 


Inconveniences, when on a ſudden ſome have 
been raiſed to the higheſt and moſt difficult 
Stations, without paſſing through the lower 
and preparatory Offices of the Church. Some 
of our Hiſtorians * have been very ſevere 


in their Remarks upon ſuch, and have not 


been ſparing to point out ſome of the 
unhappy Miſtakes, which they fall into for 
want of more Experience; ſuch haſty Births 
having been too ſubject to produce weak- 
neſs, inability, and many other Miſchiefs. 
But thoſe who have faithfully diſcharged 
their Duty in the lower Offices of the Church, 
give as it were hoſtages to the Publick of 
anſwering the Truſt repoſed in them, when 
they ſhall aſcend to the higheſt Stations. 


There is no doubt but Men ſhould firſt learn 


to Obey, before they are fit to Govern ; nor 
can they ever have a tender Senſe of the bur- 
thens and hardſhips of their poor Brethren, 
unleſs they have had themſelves ſome ſort of 
Experience of them. 'Thus the great and 
merciful High- Prieſt of our Profeſſion is ſaid 
to have taken upon him our Infirmities, 
that as he himſelf had ſuffered, be might 


See Fuller, Helin. c. 


fuccour 


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A CURFEcTanmroy I's KY ive . 
— ſuccour us, being before touched with the 
feeling of our Infirmities. 

There may be fome with Diatrephes; 
who love. ta have the Prehbemiuvence, and 
bave more regard to the Emoluments and 
Advantages, than the Duty and Labour, which 
cannot be ſeparated from a faithful diſcharge 
of that Office they are called to, He that 
deſires the Office of a Biſhop, the Apaſtle 
ſays, deferes q good Mar-; and if he be am- 
bitious of it upon any other Terms, ſhould 
be deemed undeſerving of it. What God hath 
joined together, let not Man put aſunder; 

the Honour and the Burthen ought not to 
be ſeparated. The Apoſtle ſays, they ave 
worthy of double Honour, who labour in the 
Word and Dofirins ; they are to be efleemed 
bigbiy for their Works ſake ; this only ma- 
king it manifeſt, that they have nothing mare 
at Heart, than the Advancement of Chriſt's 
Kingdom, and to ſee his Will done in Earth, 
as it is done in Heaven. * To feed then the 
Hock of Chriſt, which he hath purchaſed 
with his own Blood; to make a full proof 
of their Miniſiry, by letting iu order the things 
that are wanting, as far as in them lies, and 
doing every part of their Duty heartily to 
the Lord, and not unto Men, knowing that 


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4 FRMON, 
43 from bim they ſhall receive their reward 
43 whatever returns they may meet with from 
4 thoſe, who reje& the counſel of God againſt 
F themſelyes: Such a Conduct only can deno- 
s minate Men faithful and able Miniſters of the 
| 1 new Teſtament ; and as ſuch, hen the great 
E Shepherd fhall appear, they ſhall receive a 


crown of Glory, that fadeth not away. 
Tpheſe are only general Hints ſuggeſted to us 
by the great Apoſtle St. Paul; to enlarge up- 
on, or to do more than name them, would be 
as abſurd and indecent in me, before ſo ve- 
nerable an Audience, as the undertaking of 
that indiſcreet Orator mentioned by Tully *, 
who in a ſpeech before Hannibal, one of the 
greateſt and moſt conſummate Generals, would 
pretend to teach him the Art of War. Suffer 
me then only to tir up your pure minds by 
way of remembrance, fince though ye know 
theſe things, and be eſtabliſhed in the preſent 


Truths, yet can they never be more ſeaſona- 


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A ble; when a double Portion of God's Spirit, 
4 as well as an unwearied Zeal for his Honour, 
3 and an unfeigned love to the Souls of Men, are 
I now more eſpecially neceſſary towards revi- 
5 ving the Decays of true Religion, and ſtreng- 
. thening the things that remain, which are 


* De Orat. lib. 11. c. 18. 


Y ready 


ready to dye. For as we are to be the Lights 

of the World, it is not enough to eſcape the 
Pollutions that are in it, not enough to be 
blameleſs, and harmleſs without rebuke, in the 
midſt of a crooked and perverſe Generation; 
but we muſt riſe higher, to greater degrees 
of Duty, and be ready to every good Work ; 
that having Gifts differing according to the 
grace of God given to us, whether prophecy, 
let us prophecy, according to the proportion 
of Faith, or miniſtry let us wait on our 
miniſtry, he that teacheth on teaching, be 
that ruleth let him do it with diligence. 
Some even of the moſt eminent in the Church 
of Rome * have owned their Deficiencies in 
theſe great Duties ; let us avoid, what they 
have ſo frankly confeſſed themſelves obliged 
to perform, with greater regard and ſtrict- 
neſs, ſince We have ſo much greater Advan- 
tages and Opportunities than they have. 

To conclude, let us remember, that happy 
only is that Paſtor, that Miniſter, who is pre- 
pared to give up his Accounts with Joy, and 
as a Seward hath faithfully diſcharged bis 
Truſt, to the beſt of his Power and Ability. 
Such an one muſt always live under the com- 
fortable Aſſurance of attaining to #he end of 
his Hope, even the Salvation of his Soul, and 
thoſe committed to his Charge, when he ſhall 

* Cajetan in Marth, c. v. 


* Ts 8 
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A Conſecratim SERMON. 25 


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be Tran/lated to a better World. When all 
the enſigns of his Dignity ſhall be buried with 
him in the Duſt, he ſhall appear before God 
with as much Alacrity and Triumph, as a 


faithful Commander returns to his Prince, after 


a proſperous Expedition, 


It is ſaid of Auguſtus Ceſar *, that after 


one of his Generals was unfortunately killed 
with the Legions he commanded in Germany, 
he was often heard to cry out, Quiuctili Fare 
{egiones redde, Reſtore the Legions you have 
loſt. But the Caſe of the negligent Paſtor 
will be much worſe, when he ſhall not be 
able to prevent that ſhocking Enquiry of his 
great Lord and Maſter, Where are the Souls 
committed to your Charge? Where is the 
Flock thou haſt fed? Be we then /tedfaſt 
and immozable in that holy, Vocation to 
which we are called; for tho' we muſt expect 
to contend with the Luſts and Vices of Men, 
and be forced to bear their Follies, their 
Frowardneſs, their Reproaches and Cenſures; 
yet theſe are eaſy Burdens, if compared to that 
Load of Guilt, which muſt needs fall to our 
Share, if we be found careleſs, negligent, or 
unfaithful in the great Day of Account. 


Noz the God of Peace. who brought from 
the dead the Lord Feſus Chriſt, the 
great Shepherd of the Sheep, thro' the 
Blocd of the everlaſting Covenant, make 
1s all perfect in every good Mord and 
Mork. N 

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