3. Let us take heed in ourselves of any inclination to novel opi- nions, especially in, or about, or against such points of faith as those wherein they who are gone before us and are fallen asleep found life, comfort, and power. Who would have thought that we should have come to an indifferency as to the doctrine of justification, and quarrel and dispute about the interest of works in justification; about general redemption, which takes off the efficacy of the redeeming work of Christ; and about the perseverance of the saints; when these were the soul and life of them who are gone before us, who found the power and comfort of them? We shall not maintain these truths,
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unless we find the same comfort in them as they did. I have lived to see great alterations in the godly ministers of the nation, both as to zeal for and value of those important truths that were as the life of the Reformation ; and the doctrine of free-will condemned in a prayer, bound up in the end of your Bibles. But now it is grown an indif- ferent thing; and the horrible corruptions we suffer to be introduced in the doctrine of justification have weakened all the vitals of reli- gion. Let us, for the remainder of our days, " buy the truth, and sell it not;" and let us be zealous and watchful over any thing that should arise in our congregations.
Bring one man into the congregation who hath a by-opinion, and he shall make more stir about it than all the rest of the congrega- tion in building up one another in their most holy faith. Take heed lest there be men arising from ourselves speaking perverse things; which is to make way for grievous wolves to break in and tear and rend the flock.
4. There is skill and ability required hereunto, to discover and be able to oppose and confound the cunning sophistry of the adver- saries. Great prayer, watchfulness, and diligence are required, that we may be able to attend unto these things. And those who are less skilled may do well to advise with those who are more exercised in them, to give them help and assistance.
Lastly. I shall mention one duty more that is required of pastors and teachers in the church; and that is, — that we labour diligently for the conversion of souls. This work is committed to them. I should not mention this, but to rectify a mistake in some. The end of all particular churches is, the calling and edification of the catho- lic church. Christ hath not appointed his ministers to look unto themselves only; they are to be the means of calling and gathering the elect in all ages: and this they principally are to do by their mi- nistry. I confess there are other outward ways and means whereby men have been, and may be, converted. I find, by long observation, that common light, in conjunction with afflictions, do begin the con- version of many, without this or that special word : and persons may be converted to God by religious conference. There may be many occasional conversions wrought by the instrumentality of men who have real spiritual gifts for the dispensation of the word, and are occasionally called thereunto. But principally this work is committed unto the pastors of churches, for the conversion of souls. Take this observation,- — the first object of the word is the world. Our tvork is the same with the apostles'; the method directly contrary. The apostles had a work committed to them, and this was their method : — The first work committed to the apostles was the convincing and converting sinners to Christ among Jews and Gentiles,— to preach
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the gospel, to convert infidels ; — this they accounted their chief work. Paul made nothing of administering the ordinance of baptism, in comparison of it. " Christ sent me not," saith he, " to baptize, but to preach the gospel," 1 Cor. i. 1 7. In comparison, I say, preaching- was their chief work. And then, their second work was to teach those [who were] disciples to do and observe whatever Christ commanded them, and to bring them into church order. This was their method. Now the same work is committed unto the pastors of churches; but in a contrary method. The first object of our ministry is the church, ■ — to build up and edify the church. But what then? Is the other part of the work taken away, that they should not preach to convert souls. God forbid. There be several ways whereby they who are pastors of churches do preach to the conversion of souls: — 1. When other persons that are unconverted do come where they are preach- ing, to their own congregations (whereof we have experience every day), they are there converted to God by the pastoral discharge of their duty. " No," say some; " they preach to the church as minis- ters,— to others only as spiritually gifted." But no man can make this distinction in his own conscience. Suppose there be five hun- dred in this place, and a hundred of this church, can you make the distinction, that I am preaching in a double capacity, — to some as a minister, and to others not as a minister? Neither rule, nor reason, nor natural light, expresses any thing to that purpose. We preach as ministers to those to whom we preach, for the conversion of their souls 2. Ministers may preach for the conversion of souls, when they preach elsewhere occasionally. They preach as ministers wherever they preach. I know the indelible character1 is a figment; but the pastor's office is not such a thing as men may leave at home when they go abroad. It is not in a minister's own power, unless lawfully dismissed or deposed, to hinder him from preaching as a minister. And it is the duty of particular churches (one end of their institution being the calling and gathering the catholic church) to part with their officers for a season, when called to preach in other places for the