and Confidence The Power of the Apostles extended to all the Churches and was equal in them all when they were planted and therefore Paul saith The care 2 Cor. 11. 28. of all the Churches came upon him daily And as a Fruit of this Care in the discharge of his Office he gives forth this Commission to Titus and herein we must consider him as acting by virtue of that Authority which himself had received from Christ who is the first Subject and Head of all Ecclesiastical Power and Jurisdiction There is no such thing as Authority in or over the Church but what is derived from Christ who hath all Mat. 28. 19. Power in Heaven and Earth committed to him 2. The Person imployed viz. Titus had the Character and Office of an Evangelist The Evangelists were also extraordinary Ministers tho' inferior to the Apostles and did usually attend the motion and direction of the Apostles as assistant to them in preaching the Gospel and setling the Churches in due order when first planted And tho' Titus be not expresly called an Evangelist yet if we consider his Imployment and compare this Epistle to him with those written to Timothy who is particularly charged to do the Work of an Evangelist we shall have no reason 2 Tim. 4. 5. to doubt their being both in the same capacity And they acted not as Diocesan Bishops in their particular Charge but were sometimes imployed in one part of the World and sometimes in another as the Service of the Gospel required their attendance And since the ceasing of these extraordinary Officers and the compleating of the Canon of the New Testament all Church-Offices and Affairs are to be regulated and guided by the ordinary and standing Rule of the Scriptures And every particular Congregation hath not only right but is in duty bound to dispose her self in that Order and under that Rule and Government which Christ hath appointed in his Testament We shall now proceed to those things which our Text and the present Occasion calls for some further discourse of The first Instance that we have of setling Order in a Christian Church by the ordaining of ordinary Officers therein is that of the appointment of Deacons in the Church of Jerusalem Acts 6. And this also I take to be included in the general Commission here given to Titus That he should set in order the things that are wanting for it appears that the Primitive Churches had both Bishops or Elders and Deacons ordained in them when brought to that Settlement and Order which they were to continue in Phil. 1. 1. And the necessity of such an Office and Officers in the Church when the number of her Members is increased will quickly appear as it did in the Church at Jerusalem for When the number of the Disciples Act. 6. v. 1. was multiplyed there arose a murmuring of the Grecians or Hellenists against the Hebrews because their Widows were neglected in the daily Ministration * Judaei sie distinguebantur Judaei Palestini qui hîc Hebraei 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui hîc Hellenistae sive Graecienses qui peculiarâ— utebantur dialecto quam Heilenisticam vocant Drus vid. etiam Grot. Lights in locum The Grecians here mentioned were not Gentiles or Greeks by Nation but such of the scattered Jews who having their Education among the Greeks and speaking their Language were called Hellenists in distinction from those born and bred up in Judea that spake the common Jewish Language which was then a kind of Chaldaeo-Syriack and is called the Hebrew Tongue Acts 22. 2. because of its then common use among the Hebrews or Seed of Abraham in Judaea and with respect to this Paul affirms of himself that he was an Hebrew of the Hebrews Phil. 3. 5. Now upon this murmuring of the Hellenists for the prevention of all disorder or neglect of this kind for the future The twelve called the V. 2 3 4. multitude of the Disciples unto them and told them That it was unreasonable for them to be taken off from the more weighty imploiment of preaching the Gospel to give their attendance upon an Affair of this nature and therefore that they might be at liberty to give themselves continually to Prayer and the Ministry of the Word and yet the necessities of the poor and orderly dispensing of the Churches Almes be provided for also They commanded them to look out from among themselves seven Men of honest Report full of the Holy Ghost and Wisdom whom they might appoint over this Business which was accordingly done This is in V. 5 6. short the History of the first Ordination of Deacons and because in this case what was first in this kind was to be the Rule and Standard of what should afterwards be done we shall take a review of some Passages for our present Instruction And First A Deacon being an ordinary Officer in the Church appointed to minister therein for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Non ipsi eligunt sed multitudini electionem permittunt qui etiam commodum erant ex illorum curatione functione percepturi atque ipsi eligunt producunt manibus imposiâ—is ordinant creant atque declarant Theoph. in locum Relief of the Poor The Election of these Officers of right belongs to that Congregation where they are to serve in this Capacity And the Holy Apostles tho' vested with an extraordinary Power and peculiarly intrusted by Christ with the appointment of such an Office and Officers after they had informed the Church thereabout and given them a Rule to proceed by left them to their own voluntary and free choice Secondly The Number here appointed viz. Seven was suited to the present Necessity or Convenience of that numerous Congregation in which they were to minister and is not intended as a Rule that neither more nor fewer may be appointed in any Congregation after but that is to be determined by a due comparing of the End of the Office with the Circumstances of each particular Congregation who are to govern their Choice in point of Number as may best answer the end in a sufficient Provision for their present necessity and comfort of their Poor Thirdly The Rule of the Churches proceeding in her Election is laid before her in an account of those Qualifications which are requisite in Persons to be imployed in such a Trust They must be Men of honest Report Men whose Innocent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Holy Life is well attested Persons of known and approved Integrity full of the Holy Ghost and Wisdom And these general Terms are comprehensive of the Particulars mentioned by our Apostle in that Rule which he hath given about the same Matter in 1 Tim. 3. 8 9. Likewise must the Deacons be grave not double-tongued not given to much Wine not greedy of filthy Lucre holding the Mystery of the Faith in a pure Conscience And
A SERMON PREACHED AT THE ORDINATOIN OF AN Elder and Deacons IN A Baptized Congregation In LONDON By N. C. Who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2. 16. LONDON Printed for Tho. Fabian at the Bible in Saint Paul's Church-Yard a corner Shop next Cheap-side 1681. TITUS 1. 5. For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed thee THe general Design and Scope of these Words is obvious to the observation of every one that reads them The great Apostle of the Gentiles had with good success laboured in preaching the Gospel to the Cretians and being himself removed from them after he had as a wise Master-builder laid the Foundation of many Churches of Christians in Crete he left Titus among them to build thereupon And while he was resident there Paul sends this Epistle to him to remind him of that Service for Christ in his Churches that he had left upon his Hands whereby he doth not only quicken him to his Work but also furnishes him with full and clear Directions for the right management thereof In the Account that our Text gives of the Reason for which Paul left Titus in Grete the Service which he was there to be imployed in is set down 1. In more general and comprehensive terms That thou shouldest set in order the things which are wanting 2. In a more particular Account of one special Charge left upon him And ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed thee That which we have do in the first Place is briefly to open to you what needs explication in the words The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is rendred set in order is no where else used in the New Testament nor in the Version of the Old by the Septuagint that I can find divers learned Interpreters do here render it by Corrigas that thou shouldest correct And Erasmus in his Notes frames a word more expressive of its Emphasis supercorrigas which imports to correct with accuracy and exactness as one that goes over a Work again that he may be sure to leave no blemish upon it or defect in it Some understand this part of Titus his Charge to respect the correction of the manners of the Cretians by reproof and sound Doctrine and with this sense the Arabick Version fully concurs Vt res vitiosas corrigas That thou shouldst correct the things that are faulty And it is evident in the sequel of the Epistle That this was one part of his Work But I conceive this is not so immediately 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 q. d. Supercorrigo quod plus est quam Corrigo ea quae aliquâ ex parte correcta sunt ad limam summam lineam perduco Heins in loc intended by this term but rather The settlement and disposing of things relating to the Offices and Government in the House of God and the Order of their Communion in the Church who were Members of it in a full and exact agreement with the Rule of Christ's Appointment which the Apostle had not time to bring to perfection during his stay with them And this sense very well agrees with the use of a term of near affinity with this in our Text viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Heb. 9. 10. where the Days of the Gospel are called the Times of Reformation because in them the State of the Church is brought to its utmost perfection here on Earth and all that was wanting in the Law is fully supplied in the New Testament The Edification and Beauty of the Church is much concerned in her Order not such an Order as Superstition will dictate or litigious Nicety contend for but such as we have already described which sets her in a conformity with Christ's Will and particularly the filling up of the Offices which he hath appointed with Persons duly qualified for the administration of them and the regular acting both of Officers and Members in their respective places The particular Charge given to Titus is To ordain Elders in every City This is to be explained by conference with Act. 14. 23. where the practice of the Apostles themselves is recorded And having ordained them Elders in every Church c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the same in these Texts The Converts in every City were not then so numerous but they might conveniently 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Et cum suftragiis creassent Erasm Vox orta ex more Graecorum qui porrectis manibus suffragia ferebant Bez. come together in one place for the Worship of God and so to ordain them Elders in every City was to do it in every Church And tho' these first Ordinations were by extraordinary Men yet the People were not excluded from the just right of chusing their own Ministers for they were appointed to their Charge with the concurrent Vote and Suffrage of the People Howbeit Titus was to preside in the management of this Affair for their Guidance and Direction both with respect to the Office it self and their choice of Persons duly qualified for it In the next place for the more full opening of the Text it will be necessary briefly to touch upon the Quality and Character of those Persons which we here find concerned in the setting of things in order in the Churches And 1. The Person that imployed Titus in this Service viz. Paul bears the Character and had the Office and Authority of an Apostle of Jesus Christ The Apostles had an immediate and extraordinary Call to their Office by God and our Lord Jesus Christ Hence our Apostle when he would represent to the Galatians the Dignity of his Office that he might recover them to a stability in that Doctrine which he had preached to them tells them Gal. 1. 1. that he was an Apostle not of Men neither by Man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father Ordinary Ministers as Pastors or Elders tho they were not of Men that is receive not their Authority from Men nor are of humane right and appointment yet are they by Men so as to be brought to their Office by the Call of the Church But it was not so with the Apostles of Christ they were neither of Men nor by Men but had their Call and Power immediately from Christ their Ministry being antecedent to the Church as that by which it was to be planted And as they had an extraordinary Call so were they also qualified with extraordinary Gifts and Abilities for the Work they were called to and had the infallible guidance of the Spirit in their Doctrine which was but necessary seeing the Churches were to be founded and built thereupon Ephes 2. 20. The Apostles and Prophets of the New Testament are the Foundation in respect of their Doctrine tho' Jesus Christ whom they preached is the only Foundation of the Church in respect of Trust
it do not appear that he rules his own House well how shall he be esteemed fit to take care of the Church of God He must also be vigilant careful and diligent in his Work and Duty in the station wherein he hath been otherwise he will be very unmeet for a Pastoral Charge which requires perpetual watching sober and of a temperate Life adorned with Modesty and Moderation and of a good behaviour full of gravity and humanity in all his Deportment not self-willed proud and heady no striker nor soon angry but a Man that hath good Government of his Passions and whose meekness disposeth him to instruct and exhort Men with all Long-suffering and Doctrine He must not 2 Tim. 2. 24 25. 4. 2. be given to much Wine but set in himself an Example of Mortification to sensual Delights and utterly detest all unjust and sordid ways of heaping up or keeping Riches for himself as not given to filthy Lucre nor lyable to just suspition that he undertakes his Charge from a base covetousness of any outward Emoluments belonging thereto but of a ready Mind and sincere Love to Christ and the Souls of Men and he must be given to Hospitality that so he may go before others in all Offices of Kindness and Charity towards the Saints no brawler litigious or contentious Man but furnished both with Abilities and a ready Mind to teach and instruct others and therefore he must be well furnished with the Knowledg of the Mysteries of God himself and one that holdeth fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and to convince the Gain-sayers In a word He must be a Man Holy and Just himself and a lover of all that are so yea one whose vertues Time hath proved and made conspicuous a steady and well-setled Man Not a Novice or new Convert lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the Devil This is the Rule of Trial that all Churches are bound to have in their Eye and diligently to attend to in their Election of Elders and when they do so Christ approves their choice and the Holy Ghost Act. 20. 28 makes their Overseers for both the Gifts Grace and Authority of a Gospel-Minister are from him and no Man or Society of Men under Heaven can de jure make him a Minister that Christ hath not qualified for such a Service for the validity of all Church Acts depends upon and is determined by their conformity to the Rule of Christ's Holy Will and Testament And as these Gifts Graces and Vertues ought to be in some good degree visible in him that is ordained to Eldership before that Charge be committed to him so after his Ordination it behoves him perpetually to endeavour the giving of a more abundant proof of them in himself by a daily increase in their Exercise But to proceed Secondly The Relative Duties of an Elder and the People are to be considered The due handling of this would require a just Treatise but it cannot be expected that I should enlarge upon Particulars nor indeed so much as touch upon many things that do properly belong thereto But all that I can do is briefly to speak to some things of a general and comprehensive nature with some inforcement of what may be especially seasonable at this time And First We shall speak to the Duty of an Elder in his place which is either more publick or more private for in both these respects he is under a bond of Duty to Christ and the Souls of the Members of that Church which he ministers in We shall begin with those Duties which are more publickly to be discharged by him And they are 1st To stand in some respects and to act in some things as a middle Person betwixt God and the People Mistake me not He is not to be a Mediator between God and the Church or in his own Interest to interpose himself betwixt God and the People for the procuring of their acceptance with him such an Office and Service for the Church no Man on Earth nor Saint or Angel in Heaven is capable of The Glory of it is Christ's peculiar As there is but one God so 1 Tim. 2. 5. in this regard there is but one Mediator betwixt God and Men the Man Christ Jesus But in two respects a Minister stands between God and the People 1. As he is to be the Mouth of the People unto God and to go before them in the Exercise of those Gifts and Graces which Christ hath furnished him with in conceiving and pouring out the publick Prayers of the Church to the most High And by some this is taken to be the special import of that saying of the Apostle's in Act. 6. 4. But we will give our selves continually Assidui erimus tum in praecundo plebi in precibus ad Deum â—um in Plebe instituenda Grot. in locum to Prayer and to the Ministry of the Word They seem equally to respect in both viz. Prayer and the Ministry of the Word the publick discharge of their Office in the Church and there is no doubt but what is here mentioned continues to be the Duty of ordinary Ministers in their Station as much as it was theirs And the Scripture knows no other Provision for the orderly and profitable performance of this Service in the Church than what Christ hath made by enduing Persons with those Gifts and such an anointing of his Holy Spirit as may enable them to go before their Brethren therein It would be very sad to have the Souls of Men committed to the care of such as are so unacquainted with or insensible of their Spiritual Concerns as not to be in some good degree prepared for this part of their Work to be the Mouth of the People in pouring out their solemn publick Prayers unto God 2. As he is to be the Mouth of God to the People to deliver his Message from God and speak to them in his Name It is eminently the Work and Business of a Pastor To preach the 2 Tim. 4. 2. Word to be instant in season and out of season to reprove rebuke and exhort with all Long-suffering and Doctrine They are Ministers of the New Testament and God's Ambassadors unto Men who are to dispense the Mysteries of God to his Church and they ought to exercise all diligence herein Studying to approve themselves VVorkmen 2 Tim. 2. 14 15 that need not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of Truth And woe will be to him that undertakes this Charge and preacheth not the Gospel which is the sincere Milk and Spiritual Food that the Souls of his Flock ought continually to be fed with This Duty is so earnestly pressed upon all Occasions Oportet Episcopum praedicantem mori where these Things are treated of in the Scriptures that there is no need of any other Arguments to