and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you ; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake1." We speak not here of that partiality, which renders men unwilling to receive the Gospel from any one besides their own favourite minister; — that is a reprehensible attachment, leading to an idolatrous regard to some, and a contemptuous disregard of others : but a grateful sense of the obligations conferred by those who labour in the word and doctrine, ought to be culti- vated and expressed by all"1. Indeed it can scarcely be carried to too great an extent : it should not stop short of any sacri- fice, not even of the surrender of life itself, if by such means their labours may be preserved for the Church of Christ".]
2. Attention to his instructions —
[No one can doubt whether this be the duty of a child towards his parent0 : and it is equally the duty of a people towards their spiritual parent. A minister is sent especially from God himself to impart unto them the knowledge of the Gospel. Though he is only an earthen vessel, he has the treasures of salvation committed to him for the benefit of others ; and, as a faithful steward, he is to dispense them to all according to their several necessities. He is to them in the place of God himself. He is to them in God's stead, when he is proclaiming to them, in his name, the word of reconciliation. His word, as far as it agrees with the inspired volume, is the word, not of man, but of God : and they who despise it, despise not man, but Godp.]
3. Submission to his authority —
[This in the Church of Rome is carried to an absurd and impious extent : but in the reformed Churches, and especially in our own, it is almost entirely set aside ; and a minister who claims the measure of authority which God has given him for the edification of his Church, is considered as an usurper. But what would be the consequence, if the parent had no authority in his own family? What but confusion must ensue, if all his children thought themselves at liberty to follow their own inclinations, without any direction or restraint from him ? True, a minister is " not a lord over God's heritage :" his authority relates only to things pertaining to the welfare of his Church ; but in these his judgment should be a rule of conduct to those committed to him. This is the command of God himself respecting it : " Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves : for they watch for your souls,
1 1 Thess. v. 12, 13. m 1 Tim. v. 17. " Rom. xvi. 3, 4.
0 See Deut. xxvii. 16. p ver. 13. and 1 Thess. iv. 8.