which they are not fo well prepared. But if the fick man does not fend for his Minifter, the Minifter (having other notice of his fickness) ought to go to him without being fent for. How to perform this duty towards fick men aright, our Church fully directs him, in her excellent Office of the Vifitation of the Sick, which is fo full and perfect, that there needs nothing to be added to it. But obferve farther, that it is the Paftor's duty to visit his parishioners, not only when they are fick, but also when they are well and in good health; not only with common neighbourly vifits, but vifiting them to the purpofes of falvation. He fhould fometimes go home to their houfes, and minifter to their fouls in private, mildly reproving them for what faults he obferves in them, admonishing them of fuch duties as he knows them to be ignorant of; as not coming confiantly to church, not frequenting the Communion, and the like. He is there feriously to call upon them, to mind them of the great concern of their immortal fouls, in time to prepare for fickness and death, and the tremendous judgment that follows. Such particular private applications of the Minifter to his parishioners are highly ufeful, and will render the publie ordinances more beneficial to them. To you, my brethren of the Clergy, I fhall conclude all I have to fay, in a fhort but serious and affectionate exhortation. 1. In the first place, and above all things, follow after holinefs, without which no man fball fee the Lord. Holiness is a qualification, indifpenfably required in every Chriftian, and that fub periculo anima, as he hopes to be faved, and to fee the face of God in heaven. And can it be imagined, that a Minifter of God fhould be faved without it? Nay, he is obliged to holiness in a double capacity, both as a Christian, and as a Minifter. As a Minifter, his calling obliges him to be almoft perpetually converfant about holy things; which he profanes if he be not himself a holy perfon. He profanes God's holy worthip, his holy word, and his holy Sacraments; and God will moft certainly and feverely punish fuch profaners of his facred things. Nay, a Minifter of God is obliged to an exemplary holinefs. Epiphanius tells us, That the duty of the Laity is τὸ σύμμετρον καὶ τὸ συγγνωςόν, a more moderate meafure of piety, fuited to their capacity, and tempered with a greater indulgence and mercy. But from the Clergy is expected ἡ περὶ πάντων ἀκριβολογία, a more exalt and accurate courle of of life in all things. And St. Paul speaks to the fame purpofe, when he charges Titus to fhew himself in all things an example or pattern of good works. For every pattern must be excellent and extraordinary, and fuch as is worthy of imitation. This the people will expect from us, that we fhould go before them, and lead them on to virtue and piety by our example. And however they fail in other civilities, they will be fure generally to obferve this piece of good manners, they will readily give us the precedence in the way to heaven, and be content to follow us at a very humble diftance. So that our conversation must be fomewhat extraordinary, if we expect by our example to bring them up to the ordinary and neceffary measures of piety; and we shall hardly be able to do well, unless we ourfelves do fomewhat excellently. 2. Be diligent, very diligent in the bufinefs of your calling; for it is a laborious calling, that will not admit of. eafe and idlenefs. I fpeak efpecially to the younger Clergy; ply your ftudies, give yourselves to reading, chiefly the holy Scriptures, and the writings of learned men that have explained them to you. The exhortations of St. Paul to Timothy are full to this purpose; Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exbortation, to doctrine, meditate upon these things, give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear unto allă. Confider, I beseech you, what kind of perfon he was, whom St. Paul thus exhorts: he was one, who from a child knew the holy Scriptures; one that had the gift of prophecy, and was endued with extraordinary and even miraculous gifts. This man St. Paul earneftly calls upon to be diligent in reading and study; what need then have we, even the best of us, of this diligence, who are fo very far fhort of his accomplishments! In a word, an idle perfon in any calling whatfoever is very contemptible; but an idle and lazy parochial Prieft is of all mortals the most contemptible and inexcufable. What! so much business, and that of fo great importance as the falvation of men's fouls, and yet idle? For the Lord's fake thake off floth, rouse up and beftir yourfelves in the bufinefs of your calling, remembering that the fouls of your people and your own fouls are at stake. 3. And laftly, be much and often in prayer to God, especially in private prayer. Content not yourselves with reading prayers at church, but take care allo, that there © Titus ii. 7. 1 Tim. iv. 13, 15. be be daily prayers in your families, at leaft morning and evening; and fome time every day retire to your studies, and there, upon your bended knees, earneftly befeech Almighty God to have mercy on you, to direct and affift you in your ftudies, and to give you good fuccefs in your labours. Pray for the fouls of the people committed to your charge; pray for your own fouls, that while you preach to others, you yourselves may not be caftaways. If you do these things; if you adorn your holy profeffion with a holy converfation; if you be diligent in the business of your calling; if you pray daily to God for his help and affiftance; he will not fail to be with you, and to carry you through all difficulties with honour and fuccefs; and in the end your reward will be great and glorious, and an abundant compensation of all your labours. So St. Peter tells you in that excellent text, with which I fhall conclude; Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the overfight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being enfamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd fhall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory, that fadeth not away. e 1 Pet. v. 2, 3, 4. |