you earnest not in by the door, but have broken over the wall, and are
7. The devil shames such preachers. He goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; and they, set to keep souls, creep about like a snail. He is in earnest when he tempts; but such are unconcerned whether people hear, or forbear to hear their invitations, reproofs, etc. Yea, how concerned are the devil's ministers that agent his business for him? They will compass sea and land to gain one proselyte. And shall the preachers of the gospel be unconcerned?
8. If it be so that you are unconcerned for the good of souls, it seems you earnest not in by the door, but have broken over the wall, and are but a thief and a robber, John 10:1, compared with verse 12, " He who is a hireling, sees the wolf coming, flees, and leaves the sheep, and the wolf catches them." Ver. 15, "The hireling flees, because he is a hireling, and cares not for the sheep." O my soul, if at any time you find your heart unconcerned then, not having the good of souls before you, remember this.
9. Lastly, you can not expect God's help, if you forget your errand. Have you not known and experienced, that these two, God's help in preaching, and a concernedness for the good of souls, have gone with you hand in hand? O my soul, then endeavour to be much in following of Christ this way, setting the good of souls before your eyes; and if you do so, you may be a fisher of men, though you know it not.
Fourthly, Christ had not only the good of souls before his eyes, but he was much affected with their case; it lay heavy on his spirit. There are these four things wherein this appeared, that occur to me, with which he was much affected.
1. He had compassion on the multitude, because they were as sheep without a shepherd, Matt. 9: 36. That the people lacked true pastors, was affecting to him; he had compassion on them. Follow Christ in this, O my soul; pity them that wander as sheep without a shepherd. And let this consideration move you, when you go to preach in planted congregations, where you will even see many that are wandering,