That such spiritual Guides and Pastors as are according to God's own heart , do very much conduce to the glory , and beauty , and perfection of the Church . In prosecution of which Argument , I shall endeavour I. To shew what those qualifications are which render Men Pastors according to God's own heart . II . In what respects Pastors so qualified , do conduce to the glory , and beauty , and perfection of the Church .

I. First , We will shew , What those Qualifications are which render Men Pastors after God's own heart . For God doth not approve or disapprove of Men in any state or capacity out of a fond respect or partiality to their Person ; Persons , as such , are all alike , and indifferent to him : and it is only their Qualifications that do distinguish 'em in his esteem and affection . Now there are these three Qualifications necessary to render Men Pastors after God's own heart : First , Their being sent and commissioned by God . Secondly , Their being throughly instructed in the knowledge of God's mind and will . Thirdly , Their being exemplary in their Conversation of the goodness and purity of their own Doctrine .

First , To qualify Men for being Pastors after God's own heart , it 's necessary that they be sent and commissioned by him . For such as are God's Pastors , do act in God's stead , and are his spiritual Vicegerents in the Church : and hence they are said to pray men in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God , 2 Cor . v. 20. And as Christ is stiled the supream Shepherd under God the Sovereign Pastor of the Church ; so they under Christ are stiled the Overseers and Shepherds in the flock , to feed the Church of God , Acts xx . 28. and their office is to feed the flock of God , and to take the oversight thereof , 1 Pet . v. 2. and as Christ was his Father's Embassador to the World , so they are stiled the Embassadors of Christ , 1 Cor . v. 20. and seeing by their office they act in the stead of Christ , as Christ doth in the stead of God , and are his spiritual Proxies and Substitutes in his Kingdom ; it is necessary they should be commissioned by him : otherwise instead of being his Under-Shepherds , they are Thieves that break into his Fold , and there usurp his Power and Authority . And accordingly you find , that in the very same sense that Christ was sent from the Father , that is , as his Authorised and Commissioned Minister , to act for him , and in his stead . These Under-Pastors of his Flock were sent from Christ ; as the Father sent me , saith he , so send I you ; that is , as my Commissioned Ministers , to act for me and in my stead , John xx . 21. And to shew , that this was the intention of his sending 'em , he tells 'em , be that heareth you , heareth me , because you speak from me , and I by you ; and he that despiseth you , despiseth me ; and he that despiseth me , despiseth him that sent me ; because you by vertue of this my Mission represent me , even as I by vertue of my Father's Mission represent him , Luke x . 16. And as he sent 'em to act in his stead , and by his authority , so in sending 'em he transferred upon 'em all the powers of his own Mission from the Father , in which is included the same Authority to send others , that he had to send them , that so they might derive their Mission to others , as he did his to them , through all succeeding Generations . For unless by sending them he gave 'em the same authority to propagate their Mission to others , as his Father gave him to propagate his Mission to them ; how could he truly say , that he sent them as his Father sent him , since he must have sent 'em without that very authority from his Father , by vertue of which he sent them ? And this it 's plain , the Apostles did believe was included in their Commission , seeing without any other authority , at least that we know of , they afterwards proceeded to ordain and commission others ; and thereby to impower them still to derive the same commission to others , and so on in a continued succession to the end of the World , as is evident by innumerable instances in the New Testament , and especially in those two famous ones of Timothy and Titus , the first Bishops of Ephesus and Creet . Thus Christ ordained the Apostles , the Apostles ordained the first Bishops , and these ordained their Collegues and Successors ; and so through the Episcopal hands have the Holy Orders been all along derived , in a continued Succession , from one Generation to another , as is notorious , not only from all Ecclesiastical History , but even from St. Jerom himself , who though he sometimes , out of a particular pique , indeavours to level Bishops with Presbyters , is yet fain to do it with an Excepta Ordinatione . Ep. ad Exagr . Seeing therefore our Saviour hath thus intailed his Mission from God upon all succeeding Pastors of the Church , and taken such care to consign it down to all future Ages : I think it is a plain case , that they who intrude themselves into the Pastoral Office without it , at least where it may be had , are so far from being Pastors after God's own heart , that he looks upon 'em as so many lawless Usurpers and Invaders of his Authority .

Secondly , To qualify Men for being Pastors after God's own heart , it 's necessary that they should be throughly instructed in the knowledge of God's Mind and Will ; for their Office is to be Guides of Souls , and how should they be Guides to others , who know not the way themselves ? If the blind lead the blind , saith our Saviour , both shall fall into the ditch ; and accordingly God charges the ruine of his people upon the Ignorance of the Priests , for which he threatens to reject 'em ; My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge : because thou hast rejected knowledge I will reject thee , that thou shalt be no Priest to me , Hos . iii . 6. And 't is a dreadful charge he gives against the ignorant Priests of Israel , his watchmen are blind , they are all ignorant , they are all dumb Dogs , they cannot bark , sleeping , lying down , loving to slumber , and they are shepherds that cannot understand , Isay lvi . 10 , 11. But as for the Pastors after God's own heart , a main part of their Character , according to St. Paul is , that they be apt or fit to teach , which they cannot be till they himselves be first taught and instructed , 1 Tim . iii . 2. 't is true indeed , when the Gospel lay hid in the eternal Councils of God , it was necessary that he should immediately reveal it to the minds of those who were to declare it to the World ; otherwise it is impossible it should ever have been known to Mankind . But when once he had fully revealed it to them , and declared it by 'em , and had transmitted their Declaration by a standing Scripture to all succeeding Generations ; to what end should he still proceed to make new Revelations , unless it be supposed , either that he had not sufficiently revealed his Gospel to them , or that he hath still some new Gospel to reveal ? For otherwise to continue immediate Revelation , would be only actum agere , to multiply actions to no purpose , unless it were to gratify Mens sloth and idleness , and excuse 'em from the trouble of searching and studying the Scripture , in which he hath sufficiently transmitted his mind and will to the World . But though God will never be wanting to Mankind in any necessary assistance ; yet when once he hath put things within our own power , he expects we should do 'em , and not sit still with our hands in our Pockets , expecting that he should do 'em for us . Since therefore by transmitting to us the Scripture , he hath put it within the power of the Pastors of the Church to understand and teach his mind and will ; he expects they should exercise that power in a diligent study of those things which lead to the understanding of it , and not depend upon new Revelations , for the understanding of those things which are already sufficiently revealed . For thus , till the Old Testament was finished , God continued the Spirit of Prophecy in the Jewish Church , after which he immediately withdrew it , and wholly remitted his people to the conduct of the Priests and Levites , who in their 48. Cities , which were so many Universities for their Education in divine learning , diligently read and studied the Law , and thereby accomplished themselves to preach and explain it to the people . And in like manner God continued the same Spirit of Prophecy in the Christian Church till the New Testament was revealed and written , and Copies of it dispersed through all the Churches , and from thenceforth the Spirit of Prophecy ceased , and in the room of its first inspired Ministers , there succeeded an ordinary standing Ministry , who by their learning , and industry , and diligent search of Scripture , were to supply the defect of immediate Revelation , and to qualify themselves to teach and instruct the several Flocks committed to their charge : in order whereunto , a very large Compass of Knowledge is required ; it being not sufficient for 'em , simply to know and understand the several Articles and Propositions of Religion : but they must also be able to deduce from 'em their just and natural inferences , and be furnished with proper Mediums to assert and prove 'em , and with strong and powerful perswasions , to press and inforce 'em upon the Minds and Consciences of the People . For which end it 's necessary , that they should be instructed , not only in the art of reasoning , but also in natural and revealed Theology , and in moral Philosophy , that so they may be able to explain the particular Offices of Piety and Divine Worship , and the natures of the particular Vertues and Vices they exhort to , and dehort from , and to enforce 'em with the Eternal Reasons of Good and Evil : but above all it 's necessary , that they should be well acquainted with the Holy Scripture , that great Oracle of Truth , which from God's own Mouth declares his Will to the World : and that in order to this , they should be competently Skilled in the Original Languages , in the History , and Rights and Customs of the Ages wherein they were writ . And seeing it is the Pastor's Office , not only to propound , but also to assert and maintain the holy truths of Religion , ( which through the vast multiplication of Errors and Heresies , are , and have always been , very hardly beset ) to accomplish him for this part of his office ; it 's highly requisite that he should be well acquainted with the true states of Controversies , with the History of Christian Theology , and of the rise and progress of the several Errors and Heresies with which it hath always been opposed , so as to be able to trace up those poisonous streams to their Fountain Heads . I do not say that all these things are absolutely necessary to render Men Pastors after God's own heart : for I make no doubt but a good Man that throughly understands his Religion , may with a little learning do a great deal of good , and be able at last to render a comfortable account of the charge committed to him . But certainly to render a Man a Pastor accomplisht at all points , and for all parts of his office , requires a very large and comprehensive Knowledge .

Thirdly and lastly , To qualifie Men for being Pastors after God's own heart , it 's necessary that they should be exemplary in their Conversations of the goodness and purity of their own Doctrine : and indeed this is so necessary , that without it the two former are of little significancy in the esteem of God ; 't is this alone indears the Man to God : and how well soever he may be authorised to his Office , or accomplished in his intellectuals , unless the Man be approved of God , the Pastor can never be according to God's own heart . And indeed a good Life is so necessary to qualify Men for the Pastoral Office , that without it it 's hardly conceivable how they can ever be successful in the discharge of it . For the generality of the people understand with their Eyes , and believe with their Senses ; if they see us live as if we believed our own Doctrine , they will believe it too : but if not , they will be apt to conclude , that we see no ground to believe what we teach 'em ; and from thence to infer , that there is none , seeing if there were , one would think it is impossible , but we whose business it is to study Religion , should easily see and find it . Thus when Pastors openly contradict in their Lives , what they teach with their Mouths , they thereby unteach their own Doctrine , and in effect tell their People , it is all an ungrounded imposture ; and that even Religion it self , how zealously soever they seem to contend for it , is in their opinion a meer Castle in the air , that hath no foundation , but only in the invention of Knaves , and in the faith of Fools . Thus when the vulgar behold Religion prostituted , by the Hypocritical Professors of it , to base and unworthy ends , this shocks their Faith more than a thousand Atheistical Reasons . They have seen shrewd and crafty Men use their Religion as Juglers do their Boxes , for no other end but only to play tricks with it , and delude and cosen the simple and well meaning : and hence they first suspect , and at last conclude , That it is only a politick device contrived for secular ends and purposes . Of the truth of which the Age we live in is a sorrowful instance : for to scorn and despise Religion , is now no longer the Prerogative of Wits and Gallants ; but the infection is spread and propagated into Shops and Stalls , and even among the Rabble there are Apostles of Atheism and Impiety : and whence should this proceed ? Is it to be supposed , that such as these Philosopize themselves into Infidelity ? that these found their Atheistical Principles upon the sage Hypotheses , either of Epicurus , or Aristotle ? O , no , their argument lies near home , and more open to their Capacities ; they have seen a World of base tricks plaid under Religious disguises , which tempts 'em to conclude , that Religion it self is nothing but a trick and disguise : But when they see those who are the Ministers of Religion , live in a direct opposition to those very Laws of it which they themselves prescribe and teach , the most natural inference they can make of it is , That they minister to Religion for no other end but to make their Fortunes , and gain a good subsistance by it ; and consequently , that they look upon Religion it self as nothing but a secular Trade . And while we give the people such reason to suspect that we do not believe our own Doctrine , how can we expect that they should believe it , who are far less capable to judge of the reason and evidence upon which it is founded ? Wherefore it was not without very great reason , that St. Paul exhorts his Son Timothy to be an Example to the Believers , in Word , in Conversation , is Charity , in Spirit , in Faith , in Purity , 1 Tim . iii . 12. where you have the particulars , in which more especially Pastors ought to be Examples to others . 1. In Word . 2. In Conversation . 3. In Charity . 4. In Faith . 5. In Spirit . 6. In Purity . Of each of which I shall discourse very briefly .

1. In Word , that is , as I conceive , in observing a decent gravity in discourse ; for just before the Apostle had advised him so to behave himself , as that no Man might despise his Youth : and in order to that , that first of all he should be exemplary in word , that is , that his discourse should not be as young Mens use to be , vain , or light , or scurrilous , or prophane ; but that it should be well poised between the vicious extreams , so as neither on the one hand , to be over youthful , gay and frolick ; nor on the other , to be sour and morose , starcht and formal : which latter though it may take with less discerning people , will render a Man suspected , by those who look farther than the outside , either of great emptiness , or vile Hypocrisy : whereas a decent openness and freedom of Discourse , mingled with seriousness , gives it both Charm and Authority , by which it profits and delights together , and entertains the Mind with a chearful Edification . So that by observing a decent gravity in our discourse , we stamp a graceful majesty upon what we say , which at once pleases , instructs , and aws those that hear us .

2. In Conversation , which Grotius renders in a sweet and obliging deportment , to carry our selves at an equal distance , from contempt and haughtiness on the one hand , and sneaking and glavering on the other ; both which , in the judgment of all discerning Men , render us equally mean and contemptible . For to contemn another , is to behave ones self above ones self : and to sneak to another , is to behave ones self beneath ones self : and for a Prince to cringe , or for a Peasant to insult , are equally ridiculous . But he who in his Conversation observes a just equality , ( so as neither to be too assuming , nor too prostrate ; that treats his inferiours and equals courteously and affably ; and his superiours and equals with a modest freedom and assurance ) shews himself both a wise , and an humble Man , that understands the just value both of himself and others ; and by such a just demeanour , he can hardly fail of obliging all he converses with ; but only such , as either undervalue him , or over-value themselves .

3. In Charity , that is , in an hearty good will and forward beneficence to all Men , as we have opportunity ; in being ready to supply 'em in their necessities , to counsel 'em in their difficulties , to assist 'em in their just pretensions , to put fair interpretations on their actions , to bear with their pitiable prejudices , to make just allowances for their infirmities , to pitty their follies and miscarriages , and use all gentle means to reclaim 'em ; to be long-suffering under their provocations , and gentle and easy to be intreated : these are the great acts of Charity , in which Pastors ought to be exemplary to the people ; and by being so , they will take the most effectual course , not only to propagate this excellent grace to others , which includes the one half of Religion : but also to erect themselves a sure Empire in the hearts of their People ; by which powerful interest , they will be much more effectually inabled to subdue 'em to the obedience of the Gospel , which is the great end of their profession .

4. In Spirit , that is , in an active and sprightful zeal for the glory of God , and the good of Souls ; such as renders 'em industrious in their Pastoral Office , in feeding , governing and instructing the Flocks committed to their Charge . For certainly , if for Men to be diligent in their Callings , be a part of their Religion ; for Pastors to be diligent in theirs is a main part of their Religion ; there being no Calling in the World wherein Religion is so nearly concerned , and upon which Religion lays so much stress , and charges so severe an account . For so St. Paul tells us , that the Pastor's Office is to watch for the Souls of Men ; and that his Charge is to give an account of 'em , Heb . xiii . 17. And certainly , he whose Office it is to watch over so rich a Treasure , as the Souls of Men , and whose burthen is to give an account , at his own eternal peril , for all that are lost through his negligence , had need be very active and diligent , in the discharge of so vast and dangerous a trust .

5. In Faith , that is , as I suppose , in an immoveable Constancy and Fidelity to our Religion , in holding fast the form of sound words , and contending earnestly for the Faith that was once delivered to the Saints ; not induring either to be huft or wheelded out of the profession of truth . For as Christians , we take up our Religion , with this condition , to die for it , rather than to part with it ; but as Christian Pastors , Christianity it self is more peculiarly recommended to our care , to be preserved intire and inviolable ; and as such , to be handed down , by us , to the Generations to come . So 1 Tim . vi . 20. O Timothy , keep that which was committed to thy trust ; which elsewhere he thus expresses , hold fast the form of sound words , or the true Christian Faith committed to thy charge , 2 Tim . i . 13. and in order to his so doing , he charges him not only to be careful to preserve it himself ; but also to commit it to faithful Men , that is , to faithful Pastors , who should be careful to teach it to others also , 2 Tim . ii . 2. Thus God delivered in trust his holy mind and will to the Primitive Pastors , by them to be handed down intire and pure to their Successors ; and so on through all succeeding Generations : and because he foresaw , that it would necessarily contract soil and corruption , by being delivered down through so many impure hands , therefore he hath bequeathed to us the holy Scripture for a standing rule , whereby each succeeding Generation might be able to reform the profession of it , from the errors and corruptions which it should contract in its passage down from the Generations before ' em . And thus hath Christianity been derived down to us of this Generation . viz. By the constant and couragious Profession of all the preceding Pastors of the Church , regularly reformed by the Rule of Scripture , from the Corruptions it had contracted in its descent through the Ages before us . And as we owe our Christianity to the constant Profession of preceding Pastors , many of whom have sent it down to us , Sealed with their Blood ; so we owe the delivery of it , by our constant Profession of it , down to succeeding Generations : in which if we fail , we are not only false and perfidious to the most sacred trust that ever was committed to Men , but so far as in us lies , we stop the Current of our holy Religion down to succeeding Ages , and do our best endeavours to intercept this Heavenly Light , which hath shone down to us from our Predecessors , from shining down from us upon our Successors .

6. And lastly , Another Excellency wherein Pastors are to be exemplary is , in Purity , that is , in abstaining from all fleshly Lusts , from Worldly Mindedness , Intemperance and Wantonness : for the great design of the Religion we teach is , to abstract and wean Men from sense and sensual Injoyments , that thereupon they may acquire a sincere relish of divine and spiritual goods , which are the great Entertainments upon which they must live for ever ; that so , when they leave this World of sensual things , they may carry hence with 'em such grateful presensions , and foretasts of the joys and pleasures of the spiritual World , as to be able to live contented with , and happy upon 'em to Eternal Ages . And this being the great design of the Religion we profess and teach , we are peculiarly concerned to teach it by our Example , as well as by our Doctrine ; otherwise 't will be thought by those that hear us , that we perswade them to a Spiritual Life , for no other end , but only to get the Monopoly of sensual Injoyments to our selves . Wherefore in order to the advancing this great design of our Religion , it 's necessary , that by purifying our selves from sensual Lusts , and by the Example of our heavenly mindedness , we should indeavour to convince our People , That we do not place our Happiness in the gratifications of our Sense ; but that we look upon our selves as born to higher Hopes , and that our great Expectation is beyond the Grave .

Having thus dispatched the first thing I proposed , which was to shew , What or who those Pastors are that are according to God's own heart ; I shall touch very briefly upon the second , viz.