ledge the ministry a particular office in the church of Christ, — and this I think the word will compel us to do, — then we must also confess it is not any one's work, though never so able, except called to the office. There are many in a kingdom to be found, that could do the prince's errand, it is like, as well as his ambassador, but none takes the place but he that is sent, and can shew his let- ters credential. Those that are not sent and commissionated by God's call for ministerial work, they may speak truths as well as they that are ; yet of him that acts b}^ virtue of his calling, we may say that he prcacheth with authority, and not like those that can shew no commission but what the opinion themselves have of their own abilities gives them. Dost thou like the minister's work? Whyshouldst thou not desire the office, that thou mayest do the work acceptably ? Thou dost find thyself gifted, as thou thinkest, for the work, but were not the church more fit to judge so than thyself? And if thou shouldst be found so by them appointed for the trial, who would not give thee the riglit hand of fellowship ? There are not so many labourers in Christ's field, but thy help, if able, would be accepted ; but as now thou actest, thou bringest thyself into suspicion in the thoughts of sober Christians, as he would justly do, who comes into the field, where his prince hath an army, and gives out he comes to do his sovereign service against the common enemy, yet stands by himself at the head of a troop he hath got together, and refuseth to take any commission from his prince's officers, or join himself with them : I question whether the service such a one can perform, should he mean as he says, which is to be feared, would do so much good, as the distraction which this his carriage might cause in the army would do hurt.
CHAPTER III.
WHEREIN IS CONTAINED THE THIRD AND LAST IMPORTANCE OF THE WORD ' STAND,' AND THE CHRISTIAN'S DUTY OF STANDING ON HIS WATCH SPOKEN to; why HE IS TO WATCH, AND HOW HE SHOULD.
Thirdly, 'To stand,' here is opposed to sleep and sloth; standing is a waking, watching posture ; when the captain sees his soldiers lying secure upon the ground asleep, he bids ' Stand to your arms,' that is, stand and watch. In some cases it is death for a soldier to be found asleep, as when he is appointed" to stand sentinel, or the like ; now to sleep, deserves death, because he is to wake, that the whole army may sleep; and his sleep may cost them their lives; there- fore a great captain thought he gave that soldier but his due, whom he run through with his sword, because he found him asleep when he should have stood sentinel, excusing his severity with this, that he left him but as he found him ; Mortuum invent, et mortumn reliqid : ' I found him dead in sleep, and left him but asleep in death.' Watchfulness is more needful for the Christian soldier than any other, because other soldiers fight with men that need sleep as well as themselves; but the Christian's grand enemy, Satan, is ever awake, and walking his rounds, seeking whom he may surprise. And if Satan be always awake, it is dangerous for the Christain at any time to be spiritually asleep, that is, secure and careless. The Christian is seldom worsted, by this his enemy, but there is either treachery or negligence in the business ; either the unregenerate part betrays him, or his grace is not wakefid to make a timely discovery of him, so as to prepare for the encounter; the enemy is upon him before he is thoroughly awake to draw his sword. The saint's sleeping time is Satan's tempting time ; every fly dares venture to creep on a sleeping lion. No temptation so weak, but is strong enough to foil a Christian that is napping in security. Samson asleep, and Delilah cut his locks. Saul asleep, and the spear is taken away from his very side, and he never the wiser. Noah asleep, and his graceless son has a fit time to discover his father's nakedness. Eutychus asleep, nods, and falls from the third loft, and is taken up for dead. Thus the Christian asleep in security may soon be surprised so as to lose much of his spiritual strength, ('the joy of the Lord,' which is ' his strength,') be robbed of his spear, his ai*- mour, graces I mean, at least in the present use of them, and his nakedness dis- covered by graceless men, to the shame of his ])rof('ssion; as, when bloodv Joab coiUd take notice of David's vain-glory in numbering the people, was not David's grace aslee^^ ? Yea, he may fall from a high loft of profession, so low, into
gOJ, STAND THEREFORE.