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A49813
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A treatise relating to the call, work & wages of the ministers of Christ as also to the call, work & wages of the ministers of antichrist : wherein a testimony is born ... / Thomas Lawson.
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Lawson, Thomas, 1630-1691.
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1680
(1680)
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Wing L728; ESTC R34510
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85,782
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120
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tempora Mutantur Times are changed and in reference to the Identity that is oneness and sameness of Elders and Bishops in Primitive times Scripture record is not altogether silent Though in Scripture 't is not in terminis that is express words that an Elder and a Bishop were one and the same Order and Office yet the circumstantial Expressions are so strong and pregnant that they are Equivalent to a clear Expression in terminis that is Express Words saith the Author of the Book called The naked Truth Paul being at Miletus sent to Ephesus and called the Elders of the Church and said unto them Take heed to your selves and to all the Flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers that is Bishops Acts 20.17 28. Paul with the same Breath as I may say first calls them Elders then Bishops this evidently proves them one both in respect of Name and in respect of Office saith Durham Paul writing to Titus said For this cause I left thee in Crete that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders in every City c. For a Bishop must be blameless c. Titus 1.5 6 7. So the very same that he calls Elders he presently calls Bishops Further Peter said The Elders which are among you I exhort who am also an Elder feed the Flock of God taking the oversight thereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which may thus be rendred Overseeing the same as Bishops saith Darham 1 Pet. 5.1 2. So the very same Individuals whom he first calls Elders he presently calls Bishops proving the Identity Oneness Sameness of Elders and Bishops in the Primitive Church these Titles were Synonyma Synonymous both attributed to one and the self-same Person if they were not distinguished then who can justly distinguish them since The Jesuit Lorinus on this Scripture acknowledges this Identity You see that Peter and Paul who were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taught of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inspired of God were clear and pregnant for the confirmation of this Truth Further Jerom in his Epistle to Evagrius as in other places and upon other accounts Theoderet Occumenus Clarius Valla Hammond Bilson the Author of the Book called The naked Truth men eminent in the Church since the Apostles dayes with many others such like have born Testimony that an Elder and a Bishop in the Apostles Language were one and the same and that they were Names indifferent and used to the same Persons Michael de Medina cited by Bellarmine Lib. 1. Cap. 15. de Clericis doth affirm that not only Jerom and Aerius but also Ambrosius Augustinus Sedulius Primasius Chrysostomus Theoderetus Oecumenus and Theophilactus held out this Identity the Waldenses and Wickliffians were of this Judgment Hence it follows that there was no difference betwixt the Names and Offices of Bishops and Elders in the Apostles dayes the difference was not begun by any Apostolick Constitution but upon Church-Custom Decrees of Councils and such other Grounds These things we have spoken saith Jerom to shew that Elders and Bishops were the same in the Primitive times and that Bishops may know that they are greater then Presbyters that is Elders rather through Custom than by the Lords appointment This I own As the Smoke of the Pit arose the Apostatical Leprosie overspred Discord and Contention arose about Religion Men drew into Parties one crying up this man another that man as in the Apostles dayes one cryed he was for Paul another for Apollo another for Cephas and every one accounted those his own not Christ's whom he Baptized Then for the Eradicating the Seeds of Divisions and for the Restraining of Disorderly Pastors it was decreed That one should be chosen out of the Presbyters that is Elders and have Authority over them and by way of Emineney be called Bishop Thus the Bishop shoulder'd out the Elders got Superiority over them Polydor de Invent. rer Nations being converted Bishops increased Differences arose For the restraining or preventing of which one was set over the Bishops so called Arch-Bishop Arch-Bishops increasing to restrain or prevent Heresies and Differences among them one was set over them called a Patriarch Patriarchs increasing to restrain or prevent Differences and Disorders among them one was set up above them called Catexochen by way of Eminency Papa that is Pope though Papa that is Pope before was a Name attributed to other Bishops Jerom on Titus Naked Truth Thus Elders and Bishops which were one Office in the pure Primitive Times through the Ground of Apostacy became divided Thus Bishop got Superiority over Elders Arch-Bishops over Bishops Patriarchs over Arch-Bishops Pope over the Patriarchs For the maintaining of Uniformity in the Church of Rome every Province was to be governed by one Priest or more who for Reverence sake should be called Bishops Then by permission of Christian Princes Kingdoms were divided into Diocesses Diocesses into Shires or Counties Shires into Parishes It was decreed That every Parish should yield Obedience to their Parish Priest the Parish Priest to the Dean the Dean to the Bishop the Bishop to the Arch-Bishop the Arch-Bishop to the Primate or Patriarch the Patriarch to the Legate the Legate to the Pope the Pope to General Councils and General Councils only unto God as they said The Title of Bishop is of divine Institution the other of Arch-Bishop Primate Patriarch Metropolitan Sub-Deacon Arch-Deacon Pope are not mention'd by the Apostles so of latter Institution by Man These things being consider'd 't is my Judgment with the abovesaid and others that might be mentioned that the same Individuals who were in the Primitive Dayes called Elders they were also called Bishops that they were one and the same Leigh also in his Critica Sacra saith the same That the same Persons who were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Elders ab at ate from their Age were also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bishops Over seers ab Officio from their Office CAP. IV. Of the Work of the Ministry of Christ and of Antichrist CHrist Jesus the Branch of Righteousness having called Disciples he influenced them with Salutiferous heavenly Wisdom and armed them with heavenly Armour that they might War under his Banner against Abaddon Apolyon the old Serpent and his Kingdom and be concerned as Instruments in the hand of she Lord for the rescuing of many out of his Captivity and Tyranny As the Disciples the Worthies and Warriers of the Lord were called of Christ so he appointed them their Work they were to do his Work grow up in like-mindedness with him heavenly-mindedness So he said to his Disciples Go therefore and teach all Nations c. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you Mat. 28. Consider this here was a divine Limit they were to minister that and nothing but that which they received from Christ the Well-spring of Life and Living Mercies Here the Smoke of the Bottomless Pit Anti-christians Doctrines
Believers may not be thought to be gotten by the Power of man but by the Teaching of God Christ sent his Apostles saith Chrysostom as the Sun sends out his Rayes as the Rose sends out its sweet Odour as the Fire disperses its Sparks If you do not firmly believe saith Zuinglius that you may be taught of God without the teachings of men you are without true Faith De veritate verbi Christ said unto his Disciples Pray the Lord of the Harvest that he will send forth Labourers into his Harvest Mat. 9.38 He bad them not have recourse unto Schools and Colledges to natural Languages Arts and Sciences but to the Lord of the Harvest no other Fountain nor Well-spring he commended them to but to the Lord of the Harvest So the qualifying and sending of Gospel Ministers is the Lords Prerogative Royal. Fulke Augustin Marlorat Poole Bishop Jewel and many more which might be mentioned say on this Scripture That Ministers of the Gospel are sent of the Lord and are furnished and qualified by him for that Work and that all others are Intruders as Christ sent the Twelve so he sent the Seventy Luke 10. He said to his Disciples As my Father hath sent me even so send I you John 20.21 Bishop Vsher in Vindication of the Waldenses by way of Apology said God did chuse Fishermen that so he might not give his Glory to another the little Ones that asked Bread received the same but the Learned being busied about vain Contentions and Disputations were sent empty away Further Christ after his Resurrection bad his Disciples Wait for the Promise of the Father saying Ye shall receive Power after that the holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be Witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the outermost part of the Earth Acts 1.4 8. So that their Witness-bearing was an Effect of the Lords heavenly Appearance in them and among them And who run without this relying on their stock of Natural Tongues Heathen Arts and Sciences they will be found false Witnesses Without the concurrence of Spiritual Aid saith Spark the King 's Chapline the rarest Orators are but as sounding Brass and tinkling Cimbals Christ's Disciples were unlearned men but he gifted them and made them learned in Spiritual Learning before he sent them abroad insomuch that the Rulers Elders Scribes High Priest c. marvelled at the boldness of Peter and John perceiving that they were unlearned and ignorant men and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus Acts 4.13 As Bishop Jewel said of Councils God is able not only without Councils but also against Councils both to defend and to enlarge his Kingdom in Apol. So I say Christ the same yesterday to day and forever is able to qualifie and accomplish and doth qualifie and accomplish for the Ministry such as are his Ministers without sending them to the bitter Waters of Heathen Wisdom Heathen Learning 'T is Heathen not Christian Education I speak against Further the Apostles chusing seven Deacons we read not that they enquired for men profound in Heathen Arts and Sciences but for men of Honest Report full of the holy Ghost and Wisdom Acts 6.3 So that the holy Spirit only qualified for that Work Paul was called of the Lord for the Gospel Ministry While untouched with the Finger of Heaven his Recourse was unto the High Priest to receive Commission from him but after the heavenly Touch his Cry was Lord what wilt thou have me to do Acts 9. While he had nothing but what he received at the Feet of Gamaliel he ran a fierce Carreer saith one to the zenith of Persecution at length a heavenly Siste gradum Saule caused him to run Retrograde and in his Apology before King Agrippa he ascribes his Call not to Gamaliel but to the Lord Acts 26. Acts 20. Gal. 1. 2 Cor. 3.5 6. A Call saith Aug. Marl. cannot be lawfull except it be of God As for Bishops Gospel-Bishops they are called of the Lord therefore Paul said Take heed to your selves and to all the Flock over the which the holy Spirit hath made you Over-seers that is Bishops Acts 20.28 They are made such truly such by the holy Spirit Aug. Marl. testifies the very same Now if any bear that Name or pretend that Office without the Spirit such are Aposcopi saith Espeusaus rather than Episcopi By-seers rather than Over-seers Further Paul called of the Lord bare this Testimony saying How shall they preach except they be sent Rom. 10.15 Aug. Marl. said on this place This is spoken against them who go to the Ministry without a Call who run not being sent hereupon they do no good what they do 't is for their Belleys sake not for the Glory of God Poole on the same place speaks to the same purpose Further Paul in his Epistle to the Ephesians said When he ascended up on High he led Captivity Captive and gave Gifts unto men and he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the Perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry Ephes 4. So that Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers Bishops Elders Deacons as truly such are qualified by the Gift of the Lord not by Natural Tongues Heathen Arts Sciences Endowments Accomplishments though Tongues may be and are useful in their place Gave Gifts to men saith the Apostle the Hebrew Psalmist hath it Psal 68.18 Thou received Gifts for men Christ received them that he might give them Gave Gifts to men the Psalmist adds Even to the Rebellious The Rebellious have a Gift to lead them out of the state of Rebellion or to leave them inexcusable if they continue therein Paul to Timothy and Titus setting down the required Qualifications of Bishops and Deacons mentions no Mathematicks Logicks Spoiling Philosophy but Gravity Blamelesness Sobriety Justice Holiness Temperance c. 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. Were such men taken into holy Orders saith the Author of the Book called The Naked Truth and constituted Pastors the Church of Christ would be better edified though Plato Aristotle Euclid Scotus Aquinas were never known to them the holy Sciptures are able to make wise unto Salvation through Faith in Christ Jesus If so why are Heathen Philosophers so much doted upon And all Scripture is given by the Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the man of God may be Perfect throughly furnished unto every good Work 2 Tim. 3. Mark throughly furnished without Logick Spoiling Philosophy Pagan Ethicks Physicks Metaphysicks School-Divinity If throughly furnished without these what need of these The Ministerial Office may be better performed saith the Author by Grave and Conscientious men though they never saw University nor know any Language but their Mother-Tongue than by any Aristotelist Scotist Aquinatist with their knacks of Quiddities Qualities Syllogisms Enthimems Distinctions