the Unity of Faith c. § 3. Those Pastors and Teachers are called Elders 1 Pet. 5.1 Elder is a name of Office in the Church of God Elders are indeed fixed Officers for Rule and Government who are to be counted worthy of double Honour 1 Tim. 5.17 They are also called Bishops Phil. 1.1 And the Elders of the Church of Ephesus Act. 20.17 were called Bishops Act. 20.28 (f) Act. 20.17 28. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 28. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 over which the holy Spirit hath made you Overseers or Bishops The Office of a Pastor Bishop and Presbyter or Elder in the Church of God is to take the Charge Oversight and Care of those Souls which the Lord Jesus Christ hath committed to them to feed the Flock of God to watch for their Souls (g) Act. 20.28 Heb. 13.17 1 Tim. 5.17 1 Tim. 3.15 Isa 33.22 to Rule Guide and Govern them by virtue of their Commission and Authority received from Christ Mat. 28.18 19 20. Titus 2.15 according to the Laws Constitutions and Ordinances of the Gospel § 4. The Office of Episcopacy and Presbytery or Eldership in the Church of God is Divine and Sacred but not Lordly 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3. (h) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prospicientes neque ut dominantes Cleris c. neither over-ruling the Clergy No Bishop Pastor or Presbyter is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Master of the House of God which is the Church of the Living God but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Steward or Dispensor of the Mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4.1 2. The Apostles Bishops Pastors and Teachers were Fellow-Elders 1 Pet. 5.1 The Elders which are among you I exhort who am a Fellow-Elder (i) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. But they were not all of equal Dignity and Authority § 5 It doth appear at least I think so and indeed it is my Opinion that there was even from the Beginning of the Gospel of the Grace of God a Priority and Pre-eminence among the Ministers of Christ approved of God yea and appointed by himself in the Church (k) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 1 Cor. 12.28 29. And God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers after that miracles then gifts of healings helps governments diversities of Tongues Are all Apostles are all Prophets are all Teachers are all workers of miracles Christ gave Priority and Pre-eminence unto his Apostles above the Ordinary Prophets and Evangelists Pastors and Teachers and all other Ministers Eph. 4.11 (l) 2 Cor. 2.9 11.28 2 Thes 3.6 The Evangelists Timothy and Titus called Bishops in the subscriptions of St. Paul's Epistles to them both in our English Bibles and in the Greek Testament had Authority and Pre-eminence above other Pastors Teachers and Elders in the Ephesian Church and in Crete 1 Tim. 1.3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other Doctrine Titus 1.5 10 11 13. and 2.15 and 3.10 11. 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 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers especially they of the Circumcision whose mouths must be stopped who subvert whole houses teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucres sake This witness is true wherefore rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the Faith These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all Authority Let no man despise thee A man that is an Heretick after the first and second Admonition reject Knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself § 6. And the consonant Testimonies of the Antients with the general consent of Modern Divines and Protestaâ—â— Writers of good esteem and approbation do assent and acknowledge That Timothy and Titus were not only Evangelists but Bishops set and fixed by some of the Apostles to Oversee Order and Govern Churches Ordain Bishops and Presbyters and to exercise Authority over them according to the Laws Canons and Constitutions of Christ and his Apostles given unto them Walo (m) Walo alias Salmas lib. de Episc pag 229. Titum Cretae Insulae praefecit Paulus qui non singulari in aliqua Civitate Episcopus fuit sed totam illam Provinciam ad tempus procuraret c. called Salmasius who professedly pleaded for the Identity of Bishops and Presbyters confessed concerning the Antients that Chrysostome Epiphanius Theophylact Theodoret and other Greek Commentators have collected out of the words of St. Paul That Titus was verily the Bishop of Crete (n) Hierom. de Eccles script Ephesiorum Episcop à Paulo ordinatus c. Hierom hath recorded both Timothy and Titus Bishops the one of Ephesus and the other of Crete to whom (o) Ambros in Praefat. ad Timoth. c. 3. hunc creatum Episcopum c. Ambrose Primasius and (*) Gregor Pap. de Curat Past part 2. c. 11. Primaâ— in Trin. Gregory the Great do consent so do Reverend Beza (p) Beza de Minist gra cap. 22. Habuit jam tum Presbyterium suum aliquem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Presbyterum etiam Presbyterorum manente communi appellatione Learned Scultetus Luther Master Moulin Tossanus Zuinglius Calvin Dr. Gerard Dr. Reynolds and several others assert and acknowledge That the Presbytery had their Presbyter or President over them in the Apostolical Age when the community of Names of Presbyters and Bishops remained among them Such were Timothy and Titus whom the Apostles ordained Bishops 1 Tim. 4.14 2 Tim. 1.6 Titus 1.5 Scultetus in Titum cap. 8. p. 10. At Paulus Ephesi in Creta aliquandiu docuerat ideo Titum Timotheum in Creta jubet manere non utique ut Evangelistas sed Ecclesiae Gubernatores c. Luther tom 1. fol. 309. conclus 13. Probo quamlibet civitatem habere debere Episcopum proprium jure divino quod ex Paulo ad Titum ostendo dicente v. 5 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As I have ordained thee Calvinus in Titum 1.5 Discimus saith he ex hoc loco non eam fuisse aequalitatem inter Ministros quia unus aliquis Authoritate praeesset § 7. Jesus Christ commanded his Servant John the Apostle to write a Book and send it to the seven Churches in Asia Rev. 1.11 He directed his seven several Epistles to the seven several Angels of the seven Churches beginning thus Unto the Angel of the Church of Ephesus and so the rest Chap. 2.1.8.12.18 and Chap. 3 1 7 14. And those seven Epistles were by those seven Angels to be communicated to all the Asian Churches and every one was called upon in that Epiphonema at the End of every several Epistle He that hath an Ear let him hear c. Rev. 2.7 11 17 29. chap. 3.6 13
22. that is to hearken attend and observe what the Lord Jesus Christ by his Spirit saith utno the Churches not to this or that particular Church only Rev. 2.1 7. nor to these seven Churches exclusively but unto all the Churches of Saints in all other Countries Cities and Places in all the future Ages of the World Dr. Scultetus saith (a) Scult observat in Titum Doctissimi quique interpretes per septem Ecclesiarum Angelos interpretantur septem Ecclesiarum Episcopos neque enim aliter possunt vim nisi facere Textui velint All the most Learned Interpreters by Angels expound the Bishops of the Churches nor can it be otherwise interpreted without Violence to the Text. As punctually and pertinently speaks Marlorat (b) Marlorat in Apoc 1.12 Quamvis quaedam tam in Clero quà m in Populo corrigenda essent non tamen Populum sed Clerum aggreditur nec quemlibet de Clero nominatim Principem Cleri utique Episcopum Some things saith he were to be corrected as well in the People as in the Clergy yet doth not Saint John write unto the People nor yet to the Clergy but to the Chief of them which is the Bishop Dr. Reynolds in his Conference with Hart. cap. 2. divisio 3. saith Although in the Church of Ephesus there were sundry Elders and Pastors to guide it yet among these sundry Pastors was there one Chief whom our Saviour calleth the Angel of that Church Apoc. 2.1 And the said Doctor telling us of that very Time when St. Paul assembled the Elders of Ephesus at Miletum Act. 20. 17 28. chap. 8. distinct 3. saith One was chosen as Chief called Bishop § 9. Smectym c. assert that the word Angel Rev. 2.1 c. doth signifie only the Presbytery or the Colledge of Elders Pastors and not the Church (a) Smectym Vindication pag. 146 148. And they draw argument from the Epistle of Christ to the Church in Thyatira Rev. 2.18.20 24. Upon which place Beza thus paraphrased Unto you that is saith he unto the Angel as President and unto the rest of the Elders viz. the Colledge of Presbyters in Thyatira And as many as have not this Doctrine that is have not received this Doctrine of Jezebel But why would Christ have the Angel or Chief Bishop of the Church of Thyatira blamed for suffering false Teachers in that Church to Teach and Seduce his Servants if he was not their President or Superintendent who had Priority Preeminency and Authority above other Pastors Teachers Presbyters or Elders called Bishops in that Church (b) Beza in Apoc. 2.1 Angelus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quem oportet admoneri per eum Collegas totamque adeo Ecclesiam Gualther Hom. 9. in Apoc. 2.8 Angelo id est Episcopo Smyrnensi atque toti Ecclesiae constat ex Historiis Polycarpum fuisse hunc Angelum Consult Beza Gualter especially Ignatius that holy Martyr who is said to live in the daies of the Apostles who writ an Epistle to the Ephesians wherein he hath plainly and fully distinguished between Bishops and Presbyters and towards the end of that Epistle he doth exhort them to obey both the Bishop and the Presbytery with an undivided mind (b) IgnaEpist ad Ephes p. 17-29 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 § 10. Polycarpus was Bishop of Smyrna when St. John wrote that Epistle Revel 2.8 Unto the Angel of the Church of the Smyrnians saith Irenaeus And who can better inform us than they that lived in the daies of the Apostles Polycarpus saith Irenaeus (c) Iren. advers Haeres l. 3. c. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. was not only taught by the Apostles and conversed with many that had seen Christ but also was by the Apostles Constituted in Asia Bishop of the Church which is in Smyrna Whom we our selves also did see in our younger Age for he continued long And being very aged he most gloriously and nobly suffering Martyrdom departed this Life To this let me add the Testimony which those Brethren of the Church of Smyrna who were present at the Martyrdom of their Bishop Polycarpus gave him (d) Smyrnens Eccles epist de Martyrio Policarpi Euseb lib. 4. hist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vide Euseb l. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Eusebius l. 4. Hist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 15. He was said his Brethren the most admirable Man in our Times an Apostolical and Prophetical Doctor and Bishop of the whole Church in Smyrna Famous and certain is the Testimony of Hegesippus in his History of the Church as Eusebius noteth to the same purpose The next and last I shall cite is the Testimony of Clement whom St. Paul mentioneth among other his fellow Labourours Phil. 4.3 § 11. Clement is said by the Antients to have written an Epistle to the Church and Saints at Corinth which Epistle hath the Attestation of Irenaeus who calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a most substantial Epistle to the Corinthians and of Photius that stiles it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an eloquent or a worthy spoken Epistle It is also highly commended by Origin Cyril Justin Martyr St. Jerom and other godly and learned men Which Epistle Mr. Patrick Young saith is extant in the King's Library at Oxford His words in that his Epistle are these (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Clem. Epist ad Corinth pag. 57. D. Patrieii Junii Our Apostles knew saith he by our Lord Jesus Christ that there will be Contention about the Name of Episcopacy And therefore for this very same cause having received perfect knowledge thy appointed the foresaid Degrees and gave thereupon a Designed Order and List of Offices c. And it would be no small sin in us saith he if we should refuse or reject them who have sacredly and without Reproof undergone the Offices of Episcopacy c. The Magd. Cent. 1 2 3. do make mention of such Bishops in the Churches of God And all Ecclesiastical Historians that I have Read do testify the Priority and Pre-eminence of Bishops § 12. I would not be misunderstood therefore I will take liberty to tell the Reader That this Priority Presidence and Pre-eminence of any one Bishop above other Bishops Pastors Teachers Presbyters or Elders and Ministers of Christ is not any Lordly Prelacy with coercive Power over the Conscience or Dominion over the Faith of God's Clergy For the holy Apostles did approve themselves to every Mans Conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4.1 2. not having Dominion over their Faith 2 Cor. 1.24 Neither as being Lords over God's Clergy or Heritage 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3. But I mean and intend any one of the Bishops Pastors Teachers Presbyters or Elders who are or shall by the Consent Approbation and Choice of the rest be appointed ordained and set over them as Chief Bishop or Presbyter
Hail for the Plague thereof was exceeding great And immediately after the Tribulation of these daies they shall see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with power and great glory Matth. 24. v. 29 30. Then will Christ take unto him his great Power and Reign he will create New Heavens and a New Earth wherein dwells Righteousness Isa 65.17 66.22 2 Pet. 3.13 Rev. 21 2-5 And he that sate upon the Throne said Behold I make all things New Now this New Creation is the WORLD to come CHAP. V. Of Separation § 1. GOD did separate his Antient People the Jews from all other People in the World to be his peculiar People to worship him according to his Institutions and Commandments Levit. 20.24 26. And God hath commanded the Believing Gentiles to be separated from Idolaters and Unbelievers or Infidels and to have no Communion or Fellowship with them in any false Worship 2 Cor. 6 14-18 § 2. But though Believers may be and ought to abide separated from the Worship and Worshippers of Idols in their Temples (a) 2 Cor. 6.16 17. and from the Worship of the Unbelieving Jews in their Synagogues (b) Act. 19.8 9. And also from the Worship and Worshippers of the Beast or his Image (c) Rev. 14.9 10. 20.4 and from the Assemblies of all false Worshippers and from all false Worship yet sanctified Believers ought not to separate themselves from the true Churches of God and of his Saints that Worship him in Spirit and in Truth and walk in the Faith and Order of the Gospel according to the Rule of the written Word of God so far as they have attained § 3. The most pure Churches of Saints on Earth are subject to mixture some false Brethren may creep into a Church of Christ unawares (d) Gal. 2.4 and some false Teachers too (e) 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5 8. Men of corrupt minds and corrupt manners also (f) 2 Cor. 2.17 And there may be some Errours in Doctrine and some Evils in Conversation among them as there was among some of the Churches of Christ in Asia in the Apostles time (g) Rev. 2.14 15 20 24. But yet Believers ought not to separate themselves from those Churches of Saints whereof they are Members for those Errours in Doctrine or Evils in Conversation until they have first faithfully and orderly born their testimony against them secondly until they have humbly entreated the Church and the Ministers thereof to Reform those things that are amiss among them and thirdly until the Church and the Ministers thereof do utterly Refuse to Reform those Errours in Doctrine and those Evils in Conversation among them § 4. The Ministers and Members of the Churches of God ought to imitate Christ in this matter and to follow his steps Our LORD Jesus Christ did see many things amiss in some of the Churches in Asia viz. unsound Doctrines and corrupt Manners to wit the Doctrine and Deeds of the Nicolaitans which Christ hated c. But notwithstanding Christ did not presently forsake those Churches nor did he command any of the Ministers or Members thereof to separate themselves from them neither did Christ blame any Believers that were sound in their Judgments and holy in their Conversations for holding Communion with those Churches But Jesus Christ did first bear his Testimony against those Errours in Doctrine and Corruptions in Conversation Secondly Christ called upon the Church and Angel to Repent and Reform what was amiss And Thirdly Christ gave them space to Repent and waited for their Amendment before he did forsake them Read the second and third chapters of the Revelation And therefore I conclude That none of the Ministers nor Members of any true Church of God ought to separate themselves from the Church nor ought they to forsake the Assembling of themselves with the Church nor absent themselves from any part of the true Worship of God nor turn their back of any Gospel-Ordinance of Christ in the Church because of Offence against any Member or Minister in the Church But they ought to bear and have patience and to wait upon Christ and his Church until such Offenders be orderly proceeded against and those offences be reformed or removed by the Laws of God's House Or else until the Candlestick be removed out of its place for suffering those Errours in Doctrine or Corruptions in Manners and Conversation and for adding impenitency unto such impiety iniquity suffered and indulged in the Church by the Ministers therein and by the Members thereof to the dishonour of God the scandal of the Gospel and the great offence and grief of the godly who have walked orderly and have not defiled their Garments but have watched and kept themselves unspotted of the world and uncorrupted with those Evils in the Church which would not be healed and therefore ought to be forsaken and separated from by the faithful Ministers of Christ and all the holy People of God Seeing then that the Ending Time of this evil world will be so perillous and a Day of so great Tribulation I do intreat both unconverted Sinners and sanctified Believers to suffer a word of Exhortation I do therefore exhort unconverted Sinners upon whom the End of this WORLD is coming by Death or Dissolution That you would come to Christ Believe in Jesus Christ and Repent of your sins First I exhort you to come to Christ for there is not salvation in any other Acts 4.12 If you will not come to Christ whilst you live you will certainly go to Hell when you dye Psal 9.17 Some poor sinner haply will say Alas I am a vile sinful sinner I am unworthy may I presume to come unto Christ Yes Jesus Christ who came into the world to save the chiefest of sinners doth invite all that will to come unto him Isa 55.1 2 3. Rev. 22. v. 17. But if I do come unto Christ will he not refuse me and reject me and cast me off No! Joh. 6.37 Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out Some poor lost sinner may haply say Indeed I see a great need of Christ to justifie me and to sanctifie me and to save me but I know not how to come to Christ I cannot come to Christ what shall I do I answer It is true no man can come to Christ except the Father draw him John 6.44 but God the Father doth draw sinners unto Christ with his Cords of Love Jer. 31.3 Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting Love therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee Though thou canst not come to Christ yet know that the Lord Jesus Christ can and will come to thee and teach thee to go to him as he did Ephraim Hos 11.3 4. The danger is not in thy own Inability that thou canst not come to Christ accept of Christ and take Christ upon Gospel-terms of Free Grace but thy souls danger lyeth in thy