or at a playhouse, and these are all the qualifications he expects; and it is too often seen that such are admitted into churches by the most wealthy and most graceless of the people. Some of the poor may complain of the want of experience and power, but their attempts are often too feeble; the main supporters approve, and that is enough; and the preacher has nothing to do to endear himself to his friends but to accommodate himself to their humour, rub off the edge of God's sword with a little candour; connive at the sins of his patrons, pay his frequent visits and partake of their innocent amusements, and by these means he picks up a tolerable livelihood; then it is like people like priest; and if any complain for the want of power, they are enthusiasts; if they run away and get their food elsewhere, they are of a party spirit, and want to make divisions; if they mourn after the old deceased pastor who formerly fed them, they are bigots; and if they complain of too many hypocrites being taken into the church, their narrow spirit is condemned and candour enforced; and if God takes such a preacher off and sends one that is faithful, he lives as it were in a hornet's nest, unless he can burn these venomous insects out of the hole, or thrash off this chaff. This man is called a servant in scripture, but not the Lord's servant; he is said to serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but his own belly. Such are like the papist fisherman, who took to study, and made some progress in the languages, on the ac count of which he was made a Monk, and after that a Priest of an higher order, and after that a Bishop; but through all these scenes of prosperity he would have a net spread upon his tablecloth, to remind him of his mean origin; this mark of his unparalleled humility carried him higher; he commenced Cardinal, but still used the net; at last he got into the scorner's chair, and then the net disappeared; and being asked the reason, he replied, There is no call for the net now, for the fish is caught;' he fished for the popedom, and he knew it was vain to cast the net again. If Demas cannot get a present portion in the church, it is ten to one but he goes into this present evil world again. There is another sort of servants, who may properly be called time-servers; their service being according to the times in which they live. If they are likely to get into a church, that is tolerably sound in the faith, they will act accordingly, preach against their own sentiments, condemn the very doctrines of their own heart, and advance the truths their souls abhor. The first step such a man takes is, to insinuate himself into the affections of his people; and when he has gained ground there, then to bring forth a little of the old store of Arminianism; but if the brat is too bare, then. he covers the nakedness of it by the word, grace, or some plain truth; and if this goes down, then he increases the baneful ingredients according as he perceives the mixture to operate, and by degrees the minds of the people get blinded, the keenness of their appetite abated, their judgment confused, and the great things of God are obscured and hid from their eyes; then he leads them any where; and if any smell him out, and begin to complain, his zeal will be fired, and sharpness must be used this makes him the object of their fear; and being awed by his sacerdotal countenance, and confounded by his sophistry, they are obliged to throw open both heart and conscience to him, while he enshrines himself in the holy place where he ought not; and thus the free and self-will of lordly man becomes the rule of a poor oppressed people, instead of the revealed will of God; the confused judgment of such people is like a weathercock, and is turned with every wind of doctrine. This man is fit for any company, society, or pulpit. He is a Calvinist by turns; an Arminian in heart; a Baxterian by fits; and a Churchman if occasion requires. His gift is a precious jewel in his own eyes, and whichsoever way it turns, it prospers, or he prospers by it. He becomes all things to all men indeed, that he may gain the more, not for God, but for himself. This man is called a servant in scripture, but not the servant that is mentioned in my text, for he is said to be a servant of the Lord. But they that preach to please men cannot be the servants of Christ: Which leads me to consider the second branch of this general head, which is to describe this servant of the Lord, in contradistinction from all others. First, He is one that is represented as standing idle in the market place; perhaps it may mean, that law and conscience were at work within him, and therefore he could not engage in the devil's service as usual; for it is a rare thing to find a sinner idle in this sense. His standing idle, may serve to shew, that the Lord's elect do not set themselves to work or attempt to go into the vineyard, until the master hires them; and they are in general such as no carnal man cares to hire. Why stand ye here all the day idle?" they reply, "Because no man hath hired us. Go ye into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive." Here is their command, and the promise both; Go ye, and that which is right shall ye receive. These do not run before they are sent; they take not this office upon themselves until they are called of God as was Aaron; nor are they sent of men; it is the Lord that hires and sends his own servants. 46 It is true, Satan sends a great many preachers into the world and church both, but it is done to oppose the truth, and the advocates for it, and that in behalf of Satan's interest, on which account they bear their master's name, and are called, ministers of Satan, whose end is to be according to their works. There are men that make preachers and send them, whom God never sent, nor will |