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Study therefore to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. And take heed unto thyself and unto thy doctrine; lest that by any means, when thou hast preached to others, thou thyself shouldest be a cast-away.

* Thou which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege ? Be thou not of the number of those who say, and do not: who bind heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

* God having in due times manifested his word through preaching; and this being written for our learning in the Scriptures; let those to whom the word is committed, according to the commandment of God our Saviour, open the book in the sight of all the people, and read in the book, in the law of God distinctly, and give the sense, and cause them to under stand the reading.

• The priests shall teach the people the difference between the holy and the profane; and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God; for the bread of their God they do offer. And the Lord hath chosen them to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the Lord.

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'Let the elders of the Church feed the flock of God which is among them, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly: not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, they shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

seers.

2 Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overFor grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; also of your ownselves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remem

ber this warning.

3 Thus saith the Lord God: woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture.

"Woe be to the shepherds that feed themselves, but feed not the flock; that have not strengthened the diseased; neither have healed that which was sick; neither have bound up that which was broken; neither have brought again that which was driven away; neither have sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ruled them.

5 Woe be to the priests that have violated my law, and have profaned my holy things; that are departed out of the way, and have caused many to stumble at the law, and have corrupted my covenant. I also will make them contemptible and base before all the people, according as they have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

1 If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, as the steward of God; vigilant, and of good behaviour, sober, just, holy, temperate; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not a brawler, but patient; not covetous, not greedy of filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God?) not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without, lest he fall into reproach, and the snare of the devil: and he must hold fast the faithful word, as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

2 Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine. These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, whose mouths must be stopped: wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.

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These things command and teach. Let no man despise thee.

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* Be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient; in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; in all things showing thyself a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned; that he

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which is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

1 Ordain elders in every city. And the things that thou hast heard of the Apostles of Christ, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. But lay hands suddenly on no man: neither be partaker of other men's sins.

* Them that sin, rebuke before all, that others also may fear. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

Charge some, that they teach no other doctrine; neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies which minister questions rather than godly edifying, which is in faith. For some have turned aside unto vain jangling, desiring to be teachers of the law, and understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

* A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

* Observe these 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.

6 Set in order the things that are wanting in all Churches. ? Likewise must the deacons be

not double. tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure con

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science, and ruling their children and their own houses well.

* And let these also be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless: for they that have used the office of a deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Even so must their wives be grave; not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

s The Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on the Lord Jesus, shall not be ashamed; and, whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed ? And how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard ? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent ?

* 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 Priests and Levites under the Old Testament; and the Apostles, and other ministers 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 treasure in earthen vessels, 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.

We beseech you, brethren, to know them which