baptize 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but to evangelize The disjunctive seems to divide the work to proper persons according to their call This seems to be the way of God in the Churches because the most perfect way and most like God 1. It hath unity answering in some kinde to Episcopacy 2. Joynt fellowship in Government by Eldership with Presbytery 3. Community in Priviledges with Independency Without all question these all have somewhat of the way of God in it Gods way takes up all 1. Episcopacy could not have deceived the world else in its first institution succeeding the primitive times and the hiding of the Church 2. Presbytery could not plead so strongly for a combination in Government from the word else 3. Independency could not else refuse an external power of command to reside in any out of the Church 1 For Episcopacy How it is likely it arose out of the Churches first institution 1. The ministry of the Gospel being one and ending in the evangelist the other two ministers ministring to him whether hence Episcopacy took not an occasion to visit over mascores of divided congregations 2. Whether the Lord writing to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus wrote not to the Evangelist as first in order and hence that Bishops pleaded their ground for Government 3. Whether that corrupt and exorbitant way of lording it over many congregations may not be a light to us that succeeding the Primitive times to shew us that in the true Church there was a conjunction of ministers in the Church-ministry more then one served together therein 4. This appears in that Episcopacy did counterfeit the way of the true churches but in a corrupted way grosly 1. Setting up their Bishopricks in Cities as Paul the churches which I suppose is necessary to be done now 2. In these places are a combination of ministers but far more then they finde in the text and for a quite contrary end 3. Whether in union of churches the mother church represent not the Evangelists meeting the chappels the meeting places of the Pastor and Teacher and then that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper was to be administred onely in the mother-church Whether this hath not in it a discovery of the evangelicall practice I leave to all the Saints to judge I shall grant to Bishops 1. That there are by the Gospel government more then one assembly or congregation do belong unto one compleat church 2. One was to be the mother-church or chief assembly in which some things were to be done that were not to be done in the other meeting-places 3. That the members of the other two congregations were to come there and do them 4. That the Evangelist had a priority in the church before all other officers as Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons 5. That cities were the usuall places in which the church-ministry and ordinances usually were erected For the ground of Prebytery's rise and growth 1. It is cleer the ministry is in the Gospel one onely ministry 2. All had their institution from Jesus Christ 3. Government is common to the whole ministry and elders in the Scriptures 4. All are comprehended under the same names in the Scriptures 5. All are to teach the same Gospel 6. God hath in Scripture condemned lordlike authority in any and that the greatest was to be minister to the rest by which and many other things whether or no that the ministers came not to see the unjust domineering power of Episcopacy and how that the Scriptures held out no such authority to be left of Christ in the church 1. Whether this occasioned not the ministers to break off the yoak of that bondage and every one dividedly in his own place without reference to other as condemning episcopall Jurisdiction for tyrannical and therefore saw a necessity of breaking off from that union that should not be And now I suppose they break also from that union which should be 2. They finding the many inconveniences by standing singly without advice and mutual help together with the Scriptures which speak of the Presbyters as of many persons they were necessitated to joyn in a way of Community for Government again 3. Now from the joyning together of Ministers and Elders in the Primitive Church of one Church onely I suppose arose the Classical or National combination of Ministers in the Presbytery 4. All these have somewhat of truth in them which when God shall reveal it fully will help to set up the Church which until then will but keep it down I agree with Presbytery 1. That in things which generally concern the Church nothing ought to be done without consultation first had with the Ministery and the Presbytery of the Church 2. That there were Meetings of the Presbytery for the debate of doubtful things 3. That several Ministers are joyned together for this work 4. That one Minister ought not to Lord it over another in the Church they being co-ordinate in the Ministery 5. That every Minister in the Church is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Bishop over his flock and nothing to be done therein without his being first acquainted with it by the other Ministers of the same consociation 6. That helps in Government are to be used in the Church as that of ruling Elders Deacons Widows 7. That the ruling Elders are to be chosen by the Church and to be joyned to the ministring Elders for the removing of scandals and scandalous persons out of the Church the Church being not possibly all on every occasion of meeting to be present nor in many things are they able to determine and therefore appoint chosen men hereunto to do for them so as if done by themselves And here I cannot but observe how all Ways deduce the strength of their way from the Way of God and in what it fails of that it lieth naked to be wounded by the adversaries Episcopacie pleaded unity of Ministery but taking the whole Authority to it self from those who were to be joyned with it proved its subversion It pleaded community of Churches but when from three to three hundred and from these to those which he was to have no relation to did shew it to be an Antichristian power 2. Presbytery pleads a community or combination in the Church of Ministery and so shakes Independency which hath not any combination in Government of Ministery 3. Independency again shakes Presbytery in its combination it being a combination of men that are not set over the flock nor feed it and yet exercise authority over them 4. Hence see the Way of God is that which holds up and casts down the ways of Worship or Government in the Church Applic. 1. Of what strength will the Way of God be when it is in perfection revealed unto us without mixture of humane inventions to cast down all other Ways of Worship Illustrat As Christ coming into the Temple whipt out of the Temple the buyers and sellers and none durst to stand
THE SMOAK OF THE Temple Cleared through the LIGHT OF THE SCRIPTURE By the unworthiest of al the Ministers of Christ Jo. Brayne JAMES 4.5 Do ye think the Scripture saith in vain the Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth enviously CHAP. 1.21 Wherefore lay aside all filthiness and superfluitie of naughtiness and receive with meekness the ingraffed word which is able to save your souls LONDON Printed for Thomas Vere at the upper end of the Old Bayley MDCXLVIII The Epistle Dedicatory TO the Saints of God in all the world especially the Godly Magistrates and Ministers of this Land and the Kingdom of Scotland To you do I earnestly desire of God grace and Peace may be dayly multiplyed beseeching each of you in your severall places to have especially care of preserving the peace of the people of God knowing how easie a matter it is to occasion a War Religion being made the ground thereof How were the Heathens stirred up to fight for their Idol-gods how did Papists fight for Popery And it s not long since we had a War for Episcopacie the Lord grant our War end not in a War for Presbyterie or Independencie I have written this ensuing Tract without leaning to any partee desiring a friendly acceptation of al desiring if possibly to have here by the truth discovered which is onely able to unite us in Iudgement and make us one which War can never do but rather bring us all to nothing and remember Christ dyed to prevent the death and destruction of Saints and God is stiled the preserver of men whom we ought in this to imitate let us lay aside all affectedness to any way of our own and diligently search after truth though never so much contrary to our selves our way and practise submitting to the way of God in the Scriptures as that onely is to be walked in though never so difficult to be erected in which onely is peace and Righteousness to be found and if there be any thing contained in the ensuing Tract that may farther the ends proposed in the Church of God I shall greatly rejoyce for which I shal earnestly seek the Lord night and day as in duty I am bound to do and rest A most unworthy servant yet glad to do any service in the Church for Jesus sake and the Gospel J. Brayne To the Reader BEloved Friend the desire of the Saints Peace and Love to the truth especially moved me to write of that Subject that follows which as Johns Doctrine seems to be new to the world which I suppose on tryall thou wilt finde to be that truth which was from the beginning which though not so cleer at present yet by this God may be pleased to raise up some more learned godly and Judicious man to write more fully and cleerly of the Comfort and consolation of all Saints I desire thee not to carp at the imperfectness of the Coppie it is very rude and indigested having other affaires I could not attend the reading of the Copy after written being written in much haste nor was there any at the presse able to correct the faults committed in the writing most of which shall be in some kind amended in the Errata thus desiring thy favour thy increase of grace and knowledge with thy prayer for me and the whole Church of God I rest Thy Friend and Servant in the Gospel of Christ to do thee all service alwayes J. Brayne The Principall things Contained in the ensuing Treatise are 1 THat there is a Church Ministry pertaining thereunto onely 2. This Ministry consists of Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers 3. Three of these onely are to be a continuing standing Ministry in the Church to the end of the World 4. There is a Ministry which is to be officiated out of the Church and prepares for the Church Ministry 5. This is proved by the practise of the Church of Corinth by the Epistles written to Rome Galatia Ephesus Colosse 6. By the Church at Jerusalem which was the mother Church and pattern of Churches the rest for the most part being imperfect and as the Apostle saith wanting things to be put in Order 7. Of the compleat Government left by Christ to be exercised in the Church representing Monarchy which Bishops took up Aristocracie which Presbyterians took up Democracie which Independents took up 8. The opening of severall Scriptures as the Parables of the Tares and of the Fish usually applyed to maintain mixt Congregations which rightly applyed make much against them and that of Acts 15. usually brought to prove and maintain the Dependency of Churches 9. That there is to be a combination of teaching and Ruling Elders but these to consist onely of the Evangelist Pastor and Teacher with their other helps in Government 10. That these onely are sufficient for the whole work of the Church-Ministry the edifying of the body and the perfecting of the Saints is proved 11. This is illustrated by the Vision of Ezechiel concerning the Temple which is not yet fulfilled but now neer to be erected in a spirituall way 12. Something is spoken concerning the places of administrating the publick administrations in the distinct societies of the Saints as spoken of in the Gospel ERRATA PAge 2. line 2. subjecting one P. 3. l. 21. officiated P. 5. l. 3. for these r. their ministry P. 6. l. 2. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 8. l. 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 22 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 9. l. 10. I shal leave l. 30. immediate P. 10. l. 6. private P. 12. l. 1. as Evangelist P. 19. l. 24. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 6. the manner P. 22. l. 14. how they ought to be diversly P. 23. l. 24. and in P. 25. l. 13. the work l 27. but pulled l. 37. three admininistrations P. 28 l 6. baptism l. 14. Apostle l 29 though he P 32 l 2 if he l 14 thy ministry P 33 l 7 publike is to be left out l 33 are not exercised P 35 l 8 by all means P 36 l 36 priority P 37 l 15 many scores P 41 l 9 a threefold cord P 43 l 35 confirm as some say P 44 l 8 rent l 37 on Christ as on P 46 l 16 things which may be done successively may easily be granted P 47 l 3 of and in are not to be read THE Smoak of the Temple EXPEL'D By the Light of the Scriptures GOD above all blessings blessed the World in the Gospel to which was added the Ministry of it the exercise whereof the chief Founder of the Gentile Churches hath written unto us Eph. 3.9 saying That to him grace was given to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which hath been hid in God from the beginning of the world In which are intimated 1. That the fellowship of the mystery was a hidden thing and not the mystery only which is the Salvation it self but the means of
as Christ said to the Church before the Gospel-Ministry concerning Moses and the Prophets so the Apostle saith of Apostles and Prophets Ephesians 2.20 We are saith the Apostle builded on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets so that these are in and to the Church as a foundation to a house 2. If the Apostles and Prophets were not in the Church what means of Ministry were there left unto the Church to edifie it in the world by 3. Is there not their work in our Ministry working with us now still as heretofore 4. Are not these the ground of all other publick Church-Administrations so that this being pul'd down all the rest comes down after Hence I may say of these as the Spirit of God on another occasion said They being dead yet speak they are not silent now they are dead The third Administration is an Evangelist 1. Some think this office ceased in those that wrote the Gospels but that is clearly evinced by the Scriptures before mentioned Eph. 2.20 We are builded on the Apostles and Prophets but not on the Evangelists Now were those to be builded on would the Apostle not have set them out unto us to be so or should those be left out in the building 2. Mark and Luke are no where called Evangelists in Scripture which did write the Gospels and those which wrote them not are called Evangelists as Philip Acts 21.8 Titus and Timothy 3. The work of an Evangelist is a preaching work 2 Tim. 4.5 Do the work of an Evangelist make full proof of thy Ministry and differs from that which Mark and Luke did as is thought concerning the Gospels who only wrote them as dictated by the Apostles Now this work being not extraordinarily in the Church as can be made to appear by any work remaining in the Church for its publick edification it remains that it ought to be in the Church ordinarily for the Churches edification 2. That it is an ordinary work pertaining to an ordinary standing office in the Church to remain to the worlds end appears 1. From Rom. 10.5 How beautiful are the feet of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those that Evangelize peace that Evangelize good things which without question is no other but the ordinary office of that part of Ministry in the Church thus in 1 Pet. 1.12 those things are now reported to you by them which have Evangelized which Evangelizing was no other then what is proper to the ordinary Ministry for it was no other then the applying of the grace prophesied of to be under the Gospel-Ministry to the then times in which it was administred Object Were not Timothy and Titus Evangelists and have we not their Epistles Resp The Epistles written to them were the Apostle Pauls Epistles not theirs so that they left nothing thereby to the Church as theirs 2. They left in their name of Evangelist this unto the Church that there was such on office pertaining to the Church-Ministry in the primitive times and that that office ought to be still in the Church for edification Chrysostom on the words aforesaid Ephes 4.11 tels us of walking Evangelists and after of others Qui occupabantur circa unum duntaxat locum ut Timoth. Titus alias ex hoc loco subiectio praelatura colligi non potest which is that other Evangelists were imployed about one only place as Timothy and Titus or hence subjection and prelature cannot be gathered For the walking Evangelist I suppose there were none in the Church Authoritatively but as Acts 14.7 some men Evangelized being by persecution dispersed did where ever they came out of the gracious apprehensions they had in their hearts of the excellency of Christ exalt him to others by which they may be said to Evangelize Mat. 11.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the poor are Evangelized So that I suppose there is much difference between one speaking as Evangelized or taught by an Evangelist and an Evangelist teaching one to be Evangelized The Conclusion hence concerning the Evangelists Ministry may be this 1. That that Church which is without the ordinary administration of an Evangelist is an imperfect Church and imperfect Church-Ministry 2. That if Moses were careful to do all things according to the pattern in the Mount concerning the shadows of the Gospel-grace then there ought to be much more respect had by us now concering the dispensation of the word contained in the Gospel Moses left not out a ring or an ouch but made all according to the pattern for which faithfulness of his God left him commendations in the word to be preacht in the Church to the end of the world and why but that his fidelity may make us faithful and shew how God accepts it in whomsoever he finds it now of what concernment this is to Magistrate and Minister may appear to all in these times especially 3. I cannot but conceive that when the way of God comes clearly to be revealed God will gather up the Spirits of his Saints into a gracious union again though now divided When the controversie about a right Ministry about making Members and seperation and combination in the Ministry will be taken all up and ended The fourth Officer in the Church is the Pastor 1. That this Office ought to be in the Church is confessed but what it is and how to be imployed in the Church that is not agreed on 2. If this be not known to us no wonder then if not the Evangelists which was an office tending more fully to perfection Some say the Pastors Office is to expound Scriptures others to exhort this is no distinct Office in our meetings every one doing the same in his dayly Ministry so that this part of Ministry we have not in the Church or at least not distinctly as in the Ministry in the Apostles times used in the Church 3. I suppose that both Evangelists and Pastors lost their place with the Churches losing her visibility ever since have been in that lost estate Cant. 5.7 it is said the watchmen beat her and wounded her and those that kept the walls took away her vayl which signified as some conceive that persecution the Church should undergo under the Gospel by persecutors and then how Antichrist should take away her vail depriving her of her Ornaments which Christ had left her to be adorned with in the world then the restoring of which there cannot be a work more admirable to be done by Angels or men by the godly Magistrate or Minister The fifth Officer is the Doctor or Teacher which office is not now so executed amongst us as under the first Institution it being not done in a Church way Object Then it may seem hence we have no Ministry Resp I say not we have no Ministry but no Church-Ministry for besides these there was a Ministry which prepared for the Church but was not of the Church-Ministry 1. It went before the Collection of Churches as John the Baptist who