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• Obferve thefe Things, without preferring one before another, doing nothing by Partiality; according to your Authority which the Lord hath given you for Edification, and not for Destruction.

Set in order the Things that are wanting in all Churches.

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w Likewife muft the Deacons be grave; not double-tongued, not given to much Wine, not greedy of filthy Lucre; holding the Mystery of the Faith in a pure Confcience, and ruling their Children and their own Houfes well.

* And let thefe alfo firft be proved; then let them use the Office of a Deacon, being found blameless: For they that have ufed the Office of a Deacon well, purchase to themfelves a good Degree, and great Boldnefs in the Faith which is in Chrift Jefus.

y Even so muft their Wives be grave; not Slanderers, fober, faithful in all Things.

The Scripture faith, Whofoever believeth on the Lord Jefus, fhall not be athamed; and, Who-. foever fhall call upon the Name of the Lord fhall be faved. How then fhall they call on him, in whom they have not believed? And how fhall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard? And how fhall they hear without a Preacher? And how fhall they preach, except" they be fent?

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No Man taketh this Honour of Ministering for Men, in Things pertaining to God, unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron, and the Priefts and Levites under the Old Teftament; and the Apofiles, and other Minifters of the Gospel, under the New.

No Man having put his Hand to the Plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God. We have this Treafure in earthen Veffels, that the Excellency of the Power may be of God, and not of us.

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The DUTY of CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS towards their MINISTERS.

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We befeech you, Brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in Love for their Work's Sake.

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Remember them which have the Rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God; whofe Faith follow, confidering the End of their Conversation.

f Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double Honour; especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine.

Receive them in the Lord with all Gladness, and hold fuch in Reputation.

Obey them that have the Rule over you, and fubmit yourfelves; for they watch for your Souls,

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as they that muft give Account, that they may do it with Joy, and not with Grief.

i Submit yourselves unto fuch as have addicted. themselves to the Miniftry of the Saints, and to every one that helpeth with them and laboureth.

* For thus Spake our Saviour unto his Difciples Verily, verily, I fay unto you, he that receiveth whomfoever I fend, receiveth me; and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that fent me: He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that defpifeth you, defpifeth me; and he that despiseth me, defpifeth him that fent me. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not Man, but God. 1 The Lord will not regard them who have not refpected the Perfons of the Priests, nor favoured the Elders.

Thus faith the Lord of Hofts, Afk the Priests concerning the Law.

n Hearken unto the Priest that standeth to minister before the Lord thy God; and to the Levites, that teach the good Knowledge of the Lord.

The Scribes and Pharifees fit in Mofes' Seat; all therefore, whatfoever they bid you obferve, that obferve and do; but do not ye after their Works, if they fay, and do not.

P. The Time will come when Men will not endure found Doctrine; but after their own Lufts fhall they heap to themfelves Teachers, having itching Ears; and they fhall turn away

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their Ears from the Truth, and fhall be turned unto Fables.

But, wo to the rebellious Children, faith the Lord, that will not hear the Law of the Lord; which fay to the Seers, See not; and to the Prophets, Prophefy not unto us right Things, fpeak unto us fmooth Things, prophefy Deceits: Get you out of the Way, turn afide out of the Path, caufe the Holy One of Ifrael to cease from before

Us.

Is any fick among you? let him call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray over him; and the Prayer of Faith fhall fave the Sick; and if he have committed Sins, they fhall be forgiven him.

Let him that is taught in the Word, communicate unto him that teacheth in all good Things.

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Do ye not know, that among the Jews, they which miniftered about holy Things lived of the Things of the Templé? And they which waited at the Altar, were Partakers with the Altar? Even fo hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel.

u Who goeth a Warfare at any Time at his own Charge? Who planteth a Vineyard, and eateth not of the Fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a Flock, and eateth not of the Milk of the Flock?

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The Scripture faith, Thou shalt not muzzle the Ox that treadeth out the Corn: and the Labourer is worthy of his Reward. For our Sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he that ploweth, fhould plow in Hope; and he that threfheth in Hope, fhould be Partaker of his Hope.

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If therefore the Minifters of Chrift have fown unto us fpiritual Things, is it a great Thing if they fhall reap our carnal Things?

y Take heed to thy felf, that thou forfake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the Earth; But remember to give the Portion of the Priests and the Levites, that they may be encouraged in the Law of the Lord.

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