Unto Titus Paul give 's commandment to ordain Elders Tit. 1.5 and prescribe's certain Rules and Canons for the trial and qualification of them that are to bee ordained vers 7. a Bishop must bee blameless holding fast the faithful word that hee may bee able to convince the gainsaiers vers 9. So unto Timothie hee gave directions and rules touching Ordination 1 Tim. 5. 22. Lay hands suddenly on no man neither bee thou partaker of other mens sins i.e. Admit not any into the ministerie without sufficient examination and good proof of their abilitie for learning and godly conversation els the blame will light upon thee becaus by the laying on of thy hands they were admitted Conclus 2 into that sacred function What need Titus bee left in Crete to ordain Elders in every Citie if Saints of themselvs might do all without Ordination And to what purpose are those Cautions and Directions about Ordination if there were no such thing to bee don if Ordination it self bee needless then much more is the manner of doing it needless Answ Som think that the cerimonie of laying on of hands may bee omitted Ans Somtimes wee must bee tied to example in the least gesture though not prescribed and yet men presume to dispens in a circumstance expresly prescribed Why should wee bee wiser then Paul Why should wee bee ashamed of Gods express will Timothie was ordained by laying on of hands and enjoined to lay on hands on others in their Ordination thus were the Deacons ordained Act. 6.6 and thus were Saul and Barnabas set apart for the execution of their Calling Act. 13.3 And seeing the Scripture is so punctual about the Manner of Ordination and the Qualitie of Persons to bee ordained the Dutie it self is much more established even as when God give 's us rules for praying fasting alms Magistrates Matth. 6.1 3 c. it doth necessarily implie that there must be Magistrates praying c. And herein is fulfilled that prophecie of Es 66.21 concerning the Ministerie of the N. T. I will take of them for Priests and for Levites saith the Lord. i.e. Though the distinction of Tribes bee taken away and that old Priesthood ceased yet God promised it as a blessing to the Church of the Gentiles that hee would rais up of themselvs som that should bee in stead of the old Priests and Levites in things perteining to God Upon these undeniable proofs I frame these 3 Arguments as to the main caus Argument 1 1. Look how the Apostles did ordain and call Ministers of the Word and as they appointed others after them to bee ordained and sent so and in like manner ought men now to bee sent and ordained But the Apostles did ordain men for the ministration of the word and sacraments by laying on of hands and also appointed and enjoined the same to bee don in the Churches of Christ therefore it is Christ's Ordinance that so it ought still to bee don and they that do otherwise do go against the example and appointment of the Scripture and so overthrow an Ordinance of Christ in the N. Testament Argument 2 2. That which is contrarie to the examples rules and directions of Scripture cannot bee don without sin But to administer the Conclus 2 word or sacraments without Ordination is contrarie to the examples and rules of Scripture therefore it is unlawful and cannot bee don without sin Argument 3 3. If Sending bee more then Gifting by God's word then there is somthing more by God's word required unto preaching then sole Gifting But Sending is according to God's word more then Gifting therefore somthing more then Gifting is required to make a preacher of the Gospel That Sending is more then Gifting is evident becaus Gifted men must bee ordained Timothie was a man rarely Gifted yet hee was ordained and sent by the outward calling of the Church 1 Tim. 4.14 and so were the rest of whom wee read 1 Tim. 2.7 Act. 13.2 3. There bee two things required to make a Minister 1. Gifts which must bee tried and approved 2. Ordination and solemn Inauguration into their Office Gifts give not Autoritie to any man for any thing the Lawyer at the Bar may have as great gifts as the Judg upon the Bench yet becaus-hee hath not the like Commission hee may not intrude upon the Judges office A private man may bee as well Gifted as a Justice of Peace yet without a Commission hee may not do his office so is it in this present case There is but one branch of the second Conclusion unproved which saith that Ordination must bee by the laying of hands of other Ministers and this is added to put a difference between true and fals Ordination In som congregational Churches they have their Pastors ordained i.e. chosen and appointed by the people Truely then they may preach and exercise Ministeriall Acts in the name of the People but not in the name of Christ unless they did derive their Autoritie by Ordination from Christ It is a gross mistake to think or teach that Church-power is Originally in the People as the proper seat and subject thereof from them to bee derived and placed upon whom they choos Christ gave all power to the Bodie of the Church finaliter objectivè i e. for their use and benefit according to that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 3.22 All things are yours whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas all are yours i.e. for your service and salvation but they are not yours i.e. they are not of your making and autorizing Church-power is first seated in Christ the Head and Apostle of our possession and from him committed to his Apostles and from them to Bishops and other Ministers Conclus 2 sters by succession they commit the same to others which themselvs had first received but according to that known rule no man can give to another that which himself hath not first received therefore the people which never received Orders nor Power to administer the word sacraments and keies how they can can bestow it on others is besides all Scripture and reason Church-power is in the Ministers of the Church by Derivation from the Apostles and they alone can commit and Transmit it unto others The Text is express which saith that Ordination is by the hands of the presbyterie Object But how can you can justifie your calling to the Ministerie seeing you were ordained by Bishops and Bishops from the Pope and the Pope is from the devil You lost your true succession in the Papacie and the calling which yee now have is Antichristian Sol. The Papists say wee have no true Ministerie becaus at the Reformation wee received it not from Rome The Brownists say our Ministers are not rightly called into their Offices becaus wee râ—â—eived it from Rome Thus wee are condemned of all hands one of these accusers must needs charge us falsly but admit both their allegations to have som truth yet neither of them do conclude what
Priest is in danger to die as Korah did vers 13. But what is this to us In the Old Testament God had precisely limited the Priests Office to one Tribe how doe's this reason hold in the New Testament Answ The application hereof is made by S. Jude vers 11. To the times of the New Testament Wo unto them for they have ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward and are perished in the gain-saying of Korah Hence I thus argue If the sin of Korah is and may bee committed in the New Testament then it follows undeniably that in the New Testament it is a sin to level Church-Offices or intrude into the actions of sacred Ministerie whereto one is not Called least hee perish in Korah's sin The Apostle S. Jude fore-telling what Sectaries then were and should bee in Christ's Church and setting them out by certain characters by which they might bee known among others hath this vers 11. That they are guiltie of Korah's gain-saying In which words I note three things First that the sin of Korah is and may bee committed in the New Testament Secondly That none can commit the sin of Korah under the New Testament if there were not a Distinction and reservation of ministerial Offices and Autorities to men set apart for that work as in Korah's time Thirdly That those of whom Jude speaks are therefore guiltie of Korah's sin becaus they invaded the Office of the Gospel-Ministerie for now wee have no proper Priests nor sacrifices as Korah did the Office of the Priesthood under the Law That old Priesthood is changed Christ hath erected another Ministerie in their stead which must bee preserved inviolable from all invaders as that of Aarons was for els the sin of Korah could not bee committed in the times of the New Testament But seeing the sin of Korah is committed under the New Testament our conclusion stand's good that it is a sin for men uncalled to exercise Concl. 3 the Office of the Gospel Ministrie or of a Prophet being bred up to feed Cattel c. Add hereunto for close of all that of the Apostle Heb. 5.4 5. No man taketh this honor to himself but hee that is Called of God as Aaron was 1 Kin. 12.35 with c. 13.33 It was a sin in Jeroboam to make Priests of the lowest of the people which were not of the Tribe of Levi When Jeroboam revolted from the Hous of David hee changed the worship and the Ministerie 1 Chron. 11.13 the honest Ministerie were not for his turn least the people should return to their dutie but God cursed this devillish policie for this thing became sin to the Hous of Jeroboam to cut it off and destroy it from the face of the earth As then so now it is a sin for any man to take that honor to himself The Apostles words are general and Argumentative to this sens becaus no man ought to intrude into this holy Office without a Calling therefore neither might Christ if a man take an Office not appointed of God thereunto it is no honor to him Res No man can make himself a Steward or Embassador no man can do any thing in God's Hous as his Steward or Embassador to preach his Covenant and set thereto God's seal but they that have Commission from God Now a Commission is the imparting of a power to us which before wee had not By virtue of God's Commission wee are Stewards of God and Embassadors for Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 5.20 Christ hath committed to us the word of reconciliation and wee in his Name and with his Autoritie do tender and seal God's Covenant Without God's Commission all sacred actions are meer nullities and mockeries like a Judgment without a Jurisdiction of no more Autoritie then if a private person should give sentence upon the Bench or Mid-wife Baptize your Children The Pharises questioned John for baptizing Job 1.25 And Christ for Preaching Mat. 21.23 The Priests and Elders of the people came to him as hee was Teaching and said by what Autoritie dost thou these things and who gave thee this Autoritie Christ doe's yield the challenge to bee just if hee could not have shewed his Autoritie and therefore in his Answer Christ doth avouch both Johns and his own Ministerie to bee from Heaven vers 2.25 The Apostle is clear that God is the Autor who sel's the ordinarie Pastors and Teachers in the Church 1 Cor. 12.28 as well as the Apostles and Prophets and without his setting wee can no more do the Office of Pastors and Teachers then of Apostles Wee must attend God's Calling to God's imploiment Concl. 3 For the premises I conclude in the words of Mr Hooker Hooker Pol. 5. § 77. The Ministerie of Divine things is a function which as God did himself Institute so neither may man undertake the same but by Autoritie and Power given them in lawful manner They are therefore Ministers of God not onely by way of Subordination as Princes and Civil Magistrates are whose execution of Judgment and Justice the supreme hand of divine providence doth uphold but Ministers of God as from whom their Autoritie is derived and not from men For in that they are Christ's Embassadors and his laborers who can give them their Commission but hee whose most inward affairs they manage Is not God alone the Father of spirits Are not souls the purchase of Jesus Christ What Angel in Heaven could have said to Peter Feed my sheep preach baptize do this in remembrance of mee whose sins yee retain they are retained and whose yee remit they are remitted What think yee are these terrestrial souls the power of the Ministerie of God translateth out of darkness into glorie it doth dispose of that flesh which was given for the life of the World and it poureth malediction upon the heads of the wicked The things wee do shew that wee are and can bee Commissioned by none but Jesus Christ All the Princes of the world cannot give us this Autoritie and Commission wee cannot bee Deputies in these Divine things becaus themselvs have not the chief power to dispence the things in person nor to bestow the blessings and curses at their will and command whereof wee are made the Instruments What impudence then is it for Mechanicks who have received Commission neither from God nor man to intrude into this Office Object Som have said What evil is it for gifted men to preach though uncalled mee thinks they do well better then your drie dunces of the Clergie they hold forth Jesus Christ c. Answ Wee envie no mans gifts wee diminish them not onely wee plead for Christ's Ordinance Let them submit to Christ's Ordinance to bee tried and Ordained and then Preach and spare not els there 's evil enough in such under-takings judg with equitie 1. What evil is it for a private man to execute the office of a Constable to pull a Judg from the Bench
is an Office appointed of God and that Ordination for executing that Office is an Ordinance of Christ in the New Testament our third Conclusion will naturally follow viz. That no man uncalled and unordained can with good conscience intrude upon that work and Office This position or Conclusion is proved by two places especially remarkable for this purpose the first is that of Zach. 83.3 4 5. And it shall com to pass that the Prophets shall bee ashamed every one of his Vision when hee hath prophesied neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceiv but hee shall say I am no Prophet I am an husbandman for man taught mee to keep Cattel from my youth 1. This place is a plain Prophecie of the times of the Gospel wherein many blessings are promised when the Messiah is com vers 1.2 Concl. 3 2. The words vers 4.5 are words of Recantation and repentance of som that pretended the Spirit and took upon them the Office of Prophesying when as they were not Prophets but husbandmen or bred up to som other Trades 3. The means by which this kind of Teachers were brought to shame and repentance is the zeal of the Christian Magistrate upon complaint made to him of their doings by their dearest friends vers 3. And it shall com to pass that when any shall yet Prophecie i.e. notwithstanding all spiritual means used to cleans the Land of seducing spirits and Teachers of fals Doctrines vers 2. if for all this they shall prophecie then his Father and his Mother which begat him shall say unto him Thou shalt not live c. the meaning is this that as in the Law of Moses Deut. 13.5 8. Hee that pretended himself a Prophet and was none was to bee punished by the Magistrate such a like zeal should bee used against fals Prophets in the New Testament their best friends endued with knowledg and discerning shall oppose them preferring their zeal and pietie towards God before the natural affection they bear towards their own children And there is reason as Mr Borough's thinks why their best friends should withstand them in this way 1. Becaus it is a thing abhorring to Nature Heart-divisions p. 19.23.24 that men should suffer God whom they honor to bee blasphemed 2. To see their wives and children and dearest friends to bee seduced into waies which wee think will undo their souls to eternitie and not bee able to help them nor our selvs unless wee can perswade the Seducer to desist and ask them why they do so and entreat them to forbear Therefore these must com under the Magistrates restraining power 4. Then follow 's the fruit of the Magistrates dealing with them viz. Their shame and repentance they shall disclaim their usurped profession and confess that they were never brought up nor fitted for it and so return to their former cours and Trade of living This Scripture is fulfilled in one part by the rising of fals Teachers in our daies and if it bee not fulfilled in the other part viz. in their repentance one principal caus thereof is becaus our Magistrates are so far from putting them to shame that they rather uphold them having enfranchized every Sect to hold Assemblies to preach who will yea to the disadvantage of Christ's Gospel have suffered his Ministers to bee vilified reproched even in Almanacks and to bee made the scorn and derision of the raging waves of the Sea and mocking spirits of which S. Jude complains v. 13.18 I pray God this bee not laid to their charge Conclus 3 Our second place is Num. 16.1 2 3 5. Dathan and Abiram were Gentlemen of the Tribe of Reuben the eldest son of Jacob Num. 26. 5 9. This is that Dathan and Abiram which were famous in the Congregation they thought they had as much right to the Government as Moses who came of a yonger Tribe and therefore like Levellers they say to Moses and Aaron wherefore lift you up your selvs above the Congregation of the Lord ver 3. And when they were summoned to appear before Moses they refused saying wee will not com vers 12.13 Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us out of a Land flowing with milk and honie except thou make they self altogether a Prince over us their quarrel was especially against Moses against the Civil Power Korah for his part was a Levite and hee would have none above him in the Church hee would needs do the office of a Priest as well as Aaron seek yee the Priesthood also saies Moses to him v. 10. His quarrel was Ecclesiastical against Aaron vers 11. What is Aaron that yee murmur against him Thus yee see how Korah did endevor to make common the Offices of the Priesthood and why becaus said hee all the Congregation of the Lord is holy vers 3. All have the gifts of the Spirit as if God's Ordinarie gifts of Sanctification did take away distinction of Callings and Offices But what saies Moses to all this geer vers 5. To morrow the Lord will shew who are his and who is holy and will caus him to com near unto him i.e. God will by miracle shew whom hee accepteth for his servant in the Government you or mee And who is holy i.e. whom hee hath consecrated to com near unto him by special Calling to do the Office of a Priest Aaron or you All the Congregation is holy by the Gift of common vocation unto Grace but not by special Gift of consecration to the Office of a Priest As Paul 1 Cor. 11.7 saith that the Husband is the image of God in respect of domestick Autoritie the wife is the image of God in respect of the gifts of grace as well as her Husband but the Husband and so every good Magistrate hath on him a twofold image of God 1. One by gifts of Grace common with other Saints 2. The other by special Calling and Autoritie to his Office in Church or State Well you see Korah's sin what it is but how doe's the Lord take this at his hands see v. 35. Those 250 men which offered incens and invaded the holy Office were burnt to death with fire from Heaven And for a Monument to all Posteritie that None who is not Called and Consecrated should presume to take upon him the Office of ministring holy things to make himself near to God in these peculiar Conclus 3 Services God commanded the Censers wherewith they had offered the Incens to bee kept for a memorial unto the children of Israël that no stranger which is not of the seed of Aaron com near to offer Incens before the Lord that hee bee not as Korah and his Companie vers 40. Also God commanded Aarons rod that budded to bee kept for a token against the Rebels and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings Num. 17.10 And they shall know that whosoëver cometh near to the Tabernacle of the Lord without a Calling to do the Office of a