and fay unto them, when I bring the fword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coafts, and fet him for their watchman:

If when he feeth the fword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;

Then whofoever heareth the found of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the fword come and take him away, his bloud fhall be upon his own head.i

:

He heard the found of the trumpet, and took not warning, his bloud fhall be upon him; but he that taketh warning, fhall deliver his foul.

But if the watchman fee the fword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned: if the fword come and take any perfon from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity, but his bloud will I require at the watchman's hand.

So thou, O fon of man, I have fet thee a watchman unto the house of Ifrael: therefore thou fhalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from

me.

When I fay unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt furely die; if thou doft not speak to warn the wicked man from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his bloud will I require at thine hand.

Nevertheless if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it: if he do not turn from his way, he fhall die in his iniquity, but thou haft deliver'd thy foul.

Ezek. 34. I------ 10.

And the word of the Lord came unto me, faying,

Son of man, prophefie against the fhepherds of Ifrael, prophefie, and fay unto them, Thus faith the

C 4

Lord

Lord God unto the fhepherds, Wo be to the fhepherds of Ifrael, that do feed themselves: fhould not the fhepherds feed the flocks?

Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.

The difeafed have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was fick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye fought that which was loft; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.

And they were fcattered, because there is no fhepherd and they became meat to all the beafts of the field, when they were fcattered.

My fheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was feat tered upon all the face of the earth, and none did fearch or feek after them.

Therefore, ye fhepherds, hear the word of the Lord..

As I live, faith the Lord God, furely becaufe my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beaft of the field, becaufe there was no fhepherd, neither did my fhepherds fearch for my flock, but the fhepherds fed themfelves, and fed not my flock;

Therefore, O ye fhepherds, hear ye the word of the Lord;

Thus faith the Lord God, Behold, I am against the fhepherds, and I will require my flock at their hands, and cause them to ceafe from feeding the flock, neither fhall the fhepherds feed themfelves any more for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.

Micah 3. II.

The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priefts thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and fay, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us.

Zephaniah 3. 4,

Her prophets are light and treacherous perfons: her priests have polluted the fanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

Zechariah II. 17.

Wo to the idol fhepherd that leaveth the flock: the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm fhall be clean dried up, and his right eye fhall be utterly darkened.

Malachi 1. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

A fon honoureth his father, and a fervant, his mafter if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a mafter, where is my fear? faith the Lord of hofts unto you, O priefts, that despise my name and ye fay, Wherein have we defpifed thy name?

Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar: and ye fay, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye fay, The table of the Lord is contemptible.

And if ye offer the blind for facrifice, is it not evil and if ye offer the lame and fick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governour, will he be pleafed with thee, or accept thy perfon? faith the Lord of hofts.

And now I pray you, befeech God that he will be gracious unto us; this hath been by your means; will he regard your perfons? faith the Lord of hofts.

Who is there even among you that would fhut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire

On

on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, faith the Lord of hofts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand,

Mal. 2.7, 8, 9.

For the priests lips fhould keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the meflenger of the Lord of hofts.

But ye are departed out of the way ye have caufed many to ftumble at the law ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, faith the Lord of hofts.

Therefore have I alfo made you contemptible and bafe before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

Matthew 1o. 16.

Behold, I fend you forth as fheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore wife as ferpents, and harmless as doves.

1 Acts 20. 18, 19, 20, 21. We know, from the first day that I came into Afia, after what manner I have been with you at all feafons,

Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have fhewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from houfe to houfe

;

Teftifying, both to the Jews, and alfo to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jefus Christ.

V. 24.

None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto my felf, fo that I might finish my courfe with joy, and the miniftery which I

have receiv'd of the Lord Jefus, to teftify the gofpel of the grace of God.

V. 26------31.

I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

For I have not fhunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God...

Take heed therefore unto your felves, and unto all the flock over the which the Holy Ghoft hath made you overfeers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchafed with his own bloud.

For I know this, that after my departing fhall grievous wolves enter in among you, not fparing the flock.

Alfo of your own felves fhall men arife,fpeaking perverfe things, to draw away difciples after them. Therefore watch; and remember, that by the space of three years, I ceafed not to warn every one night and day with tears..

I Cor. 4. 1, 2.

Let a man fo account of us, as of the ministers of Chrift, and ftewards of the myfteries of God.. Moreover it is required in ftewards, that a man be found faithful...

I Cor. 9. 22.

To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means fave fome.

I Cor. 10. 33.

Even as I please all men in all things, not feeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be faved.

2 Cor. 2. 17.

For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of fincerity, but as of God, in the fight of God fpeak we in Christ.

2 Cor.