1. As to our brethren and fellow- workers in the Lord, prudence will dictate and enjoin it upon us, that by the firmest union with them, we make their gifts and graces as useful as is po^ible, for the fur- therance and advancement of our great and difiicult work. We cannot be ignorant how much Satan hath gained, and Christ's inter- est hath sensibly lost, by those unhappy divisions and alienations a- mongst brethren, and fellow-labourers in the work of the Lord, Christ hath shed down variety of glorious ascension-gifts upon them, which are not capable of a full improvement, but in union and con- junction with each other. Gifts are improved in us by prayer and study, but the benefits of those gifts are shared among us by love and unity. Love and union bring every man's gifts and graces into the common bank, and instead of monopohes, they drive a free and open trade, to the great enriching of the church.
There is not a greater, or more pleasant variety of qualities, smells, and colours, among the herbs and flowers with which the earth is va- riegated and decked, for the delight and service of men, than there is in the gifts and abilities of ministers, for the use and service of the church. One hath quickness of parts, but not so deep and solid a judgment: Another is grave and solid, but not so ready and presential. One is wary and reserved, another open and plain : One is melan- choly and timorous, another cheerful and courageous. When these different gifts and qualities shine together in the church, heavens, what a glorious constellation do they make ! and what sweet benign influences do they shed down upon the Lord's heritage I All these ministerial gifts and graces are improveahle for Christ,
9.. More publicly, by brotherly union.
1. More privately. When God casts the lot of two, or more, fel- low-labourers in the gospel, upon the same city, town, or neighbour-
THE CHAEACTER OF A frvUE EVANGELICAL PASTOR. 575
liood ; what a blessed advantage have they beyond solitary minis- ters, to carry on the work of the Lord cheerfully, vigorously, and successfully ! Whilst love causes their hearts to clasp and close, how must their work be facilitated, sweetened, and prospered in their hands ? But if once jars and jealousies get in amongst them ; if pride, envy, or carnal interest dissolve the bond of brotherly love ; if instead of planting for Christ, they once begin to supplant one another ; no words are able to shew what a train of mischief and sins will now break in amongst them, to the great dishonour of Christ, and obstruction of the gospel.
I do therefore in the name of Christ, as upon my bended knees, earnestly entreat and beseech my brethren, by all the regard they have to the honour of Christ, the souls of their people, their own comfort, or the success of their labours ; that no envyings, or strifes, no supplantings, or detractions, be once admitted, or named among them. Methinks it is scarce imaginable, that those who have so late- ly and severely smarted, should fall again into the same follies, for which God hath chastised them.
1. And as pi'udence directs us into the way of our profit and -com- fort, by this more private improvement of our gifts and graces, so in- to a more excellent way, by sl general union and coalition with all our brethren, farther distant in place from us. It calls upon us to bury, and forget henceforth the factious names of distinction, growing out of our different apprehensions about smaller disciplinary points. How many fervent prayers have been poured out ! how many excellent irenicums have been written by those excellent ministers, that are now at perfect unity in heaven ! Though they did not, yet I hope ice and our children, shall reap the blessed fruits of those pious endeavours. God hath spoken with a strong hand to our pious and prudent bre- thren, in and about the great city of this kingdom : They have most wisely and seasonably projected this great and glorious design : They have followed it close with unwearied diligence, admirable patience. Christian humiUty and condescension ; and, by the good hand of the Lord with them, have brought it at last to a comfortable issue.
The happy result of their fervent prayers, and frequent brotherly consults, (all praise to the God of love and peace for it !) are now in our hands, in those blessed sheets, called Heads of agreement: Wherein God hath signally helped them to evidence their wisdom in the choice of words, and their humility and charity, in mutual and necessary concessions. They have, by the mouth of an eminent brother^ (whose praise is in the gospel, and whose hand hath emin- ently assisted in this service,) cheerfully offered up their praises to Jehovah-Shalom, for making the two sticks of Judah and Ephraira to become one stick in his own hand.
And now, brethren, they wait, yea, give me leave to say, Christ waits as well as they, for our explicit consent, and cheerful suffrages. We have heard the joyful sound of our brethren's praises : Shall we
oTG TitE CHARACTER OF A TRUE EVANCiELICAL PA'STOB*;
not echo to it, and say, Hallelujah, and again Hallelujah ? Ephraim shall no more envy Judah, nor Judah vex Ephraim : Our swords are turned into plow-shares, and our spears into pruning hooks :; The Lord hath this day rolled away our reproach. Thus prudence will direct us to carry it with love and unity towai*ds our brethren, that labour in the work with us.
2. Let us next see, what direction it gives us, with respect to om' enemies^ who endeavour to ohstruct and hinder theworlc of the Lord in our hands. If we be heartily engaged in the service of Christ, we must expect many adversaries, and strong oppositions ; men that will raise clouds of reproaches, to darken our reputation among the people ; men that will represent us to them as ignorant and unlearn- ed, factious and seditious, erroneous and enthusiastical. Prudence, in this case, will restrain us from rendering reproach for reproach ; and propound to us the best project in the world, for the vindication of our names, and success of our labours ; and that is, that we so preach the gospel^ that the people may feel the power of Christ ill our doctrine ; and so live^ that they may see the beauty of Christ in our conversation ; and so preaching and living, we shall bear down all the prejudices of the world before us. Such doctrine, seconded with such a conversation, like the sun in the heavens, will not only break up and scatter all clouds of reproach, but shed down their enlighten- ing and enlivening influences upon the hearts of the people.