TRACTS FOR THE TIMES.
If God be satisfied with a pastor, it is of little importance whether he please or displease men.
Tit. ii. 15. "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all our authority. Let no man despise thee;" that is, for want of exercising ecclesiastical discipline.
The following are truths which cannot be preached too often: viz., the bondage of man by sin, the necessity of a Deliverer, the manner of our redemption, the danger of not closing with it, the power of grace to deliver us, &c. A pastor should do all this, and act with the dignity of a man who acts by the authority of God.
The Authority of Bishops.
We are willing enough to desire to imitate Jesus Christ and his Apostles in their authority, without thinking of following them in their humility, their labours, self-denial, &c.
A Bishop is a Pastor set over other Pastors. They were to ordain Elders. They might receive an accusation against an Elder. They were to charge them to preach such and such doctrines, to stop the mouths of deceivers, to set in order the things that were wanting. And, lastly, this was the form of Church government in all ages, so that, to reject this, is to reject an ordinance of God.
Matt. v. 19. "Whosoever shall do and teach the commandments, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of God." It is in this the true greatness of a Bishop does consist, not in the eminence of his see, multitude of attendants, favour of princes, &c.
Bishops were called to sit in Parliament, to give their counsel according to God's Law; as the civil judges were to give their advice according to the temporal laws in matters of difficulty.
Mark x. 44. "Whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all." The greatest Prelate in the Church is he who is most conformable to the example of Christ, by humility, charity, and care of his flock, and who, for Christ's sake, will be a servant to the servants of God.
O Sovereign Pastor of souls! renew in Thy Church, and especially in me, this spirit of humility; that I may serve Thee in the meanest of Thy servants. If I lie under the necessity of
