suits after worldly things;
for as these are offensive to God, and hurtful to the soul, so they are
offensive to saints. 8. Strife and contention among brethren, and
grudging or envying one another's prosperity; as these produce many evil
and wicked fruits, and cast blame upon the providence of God, who
bestows his mercies as he will. 9. Defrauding and breaking promises.
Contracting debts and unduly delaying or refusing to pay them, and
disappointing men of their just expectations in virtue of promises made
to them. Those also are scandalous, and cause the name of God to be evil
spoken of. 10. Entering into a marriage relation with such as are
apparently in an unbelieving, carnal, and unconverted state and
condition; for this also is very offensive to holy serious men, although
many make very light of it. 11. Idleness and slothfulness in your
external calling, neglecting to provide for your own house, as that will
prove a scandalous sin to others and to yourselves too. 12. Taking up a
report rashly against one another of a scandalous nature, giving ear
unto tattlers, and busybodies; or being busybodies in other men's
matters yourselves, as this will give great offence.

NO. II.[122]

_Quest_. Who have a right to preach the gospel and dispense the public
ordinances of religion?

_Ans_. Without some proper furniture, it is absurd to imagine any should
be sent of God to the ministerial work. When the ascended Jesus gave to
the church apostles, evangelists; pastors and teachers, he gave gifts to
men. _Who_, saith he, _goeth at, any time a warfare on his own charges?_
What is the furniture, the qualifications prerequisite, according to the
Holy Scriptures? A blameless conversation, a good report; experience of
the self-debasing work of the Spirit of God; compassion to the souls of
men; a fixedness in the Christian doctrines; a disposition faithfully to
perform his vows; an aptness to teach the ignorant, and convince
gainsayers. Knowledge of languages, knowledge of the history and
sciences of this world, are useful handmaids to assist us in the study
of divine things. To preach from the oracles of God, without capacity to
peruse the original, especially if versant in romances and plays, we
abhor and detest. This aptness to teach, however, consists not chiefly
in any of these, but in a capacity to conceive spiritual things, and
with some distinctness to express their conceptions to the edification
of others, in that