A Second Sheet for the MINISTRY Iustifying our CALLING Against Quakers Seekers and Papists and all that deny us to be the Ministers of Christ By Richard Baxter LONDON Printed by R. White for Nevil Simmons Bookseller in Kederminster 1657. A second Sheet for the MINISTRY Justifying our Calling against Quakers Seekers and Papists and all that deny us to be the Ministers of Christ THe corruption of the Romish Church being most in the errors and vices of the Priests which made men abhor the offering of the Lord 1 Sam. 2.17 the Reproach which they brought upon themselves did much prepare men to hearken to the Reformers The observing of this and of the necessary dependance of the people on their Pastors hath caused the Papists to bend their force against the Ministers of the Reformed Churches and to use all their wit to defame their persons and callings and make them seem ignorant unworthy or no Ministers to the people On this errand they send abroad their agents This is the saving Gospel that the Seekers Quakers and their brethren preach that the Scripture is not the Gospel or word of God and that we are no true Ministers Whatever Doctrine we are preaching the Opposers work is to call us deceivers and ask How we prove our selves true Ministers My work therefore at this time for the sake of the ignorant in our Assemblies shall be to acquaint them with our answer to this demand And I shall give it you in order in certain Propositions Prop. 1. Both in the Old and New Testament there is mention of two distinct sort of Ministers of Gods appointment First such as received some new Revelation either a Law or a particular Message immediately from God so that the people could not be sure that their Doctrine was true till they were sure that the men were sent of God These were called Prophets in the Old Testament and Apostles Prophets c. in the New So Moses received the Law from God and the following Prophets their particular Messages So the Apostles received the Gospel from Christ and so did the seventy and other Disciples that conversed with him and other Prophets and Evangelists had it by immediate inspiration All these were Necessarily by Miracles or some infallible Evidence to prove their own call before the hearers could receive their Doctrine for this was their Message The Lord hath commanded me to say thus or thus to you or The word which the Lord spake to me is thus or thus This sort of Ministers the Papists and Seekers do confess But besides these there is a second sort of true Ministers whose Office is not to receive from God any new Doctrine Law or Message but to proclaim the Laws already delivered and teach men the doctrine already revealed and to Oversee and govern the Churches of Christ according to his Laws and to go before the people in the worship of God The Prophets and Apostles did both these both Reveal the doctrine which they received from Christ and teach and guide the Church by it when they had done but the latter sort of Ministers do but the later sort of the work The Papists and Seekers cheat men by jumbling all together as if there were no Ministers of Gods appointment but those of the former sort and therefore they call for miracles to prove our Ministry Here therefore I shall first prove that the second sort of Ministers are of Gods institution 2. That such need not prove their calling by miracles though yet God may work Miracles by them if he please 3. That we are true Ministers of Christ of this sort 1. Christ found such Ministers under the Law that were to teach and Rule by the Law before received and not to receive new Laws or Messages I mean the ordinary Priests and Levites as distinguished from Prophets These Priests were to keep the Law and teach it the people and the people were to seek it at their mouth and by it they were to judge mens causes and also they were to stand between the people and God in publique worship as is exprest Deut. 31.26 Josh. 23.6 Neh. 8.1 2 3 8 18. 9.3 Levit. 1. 2. 4. 5. 7. 13. 14. throughout Num. 5. 6. Deut. 17.12 Mal. 2.7 Ier. 18.18 The Prophet had visions but the Priest had the Law Ezek. 7.26 Isa 8.16 20. Hag. 2.11 12. Num. 1.50 1 Chron. 9.26 16.4 2 Chron. 19.11 20.19 30.17 22. He was called A Teaching Priest 2 Chron. 15.13 Lev. 10 10 11. Deut. 24.8 2 Chron. 17.7.9 Ezek. 44.23 2 Chron. 35.3 And Christ himself sends the cleansed to the Priest and commandeth them to hear the Pharises that sat in Moses Chair though they were no Prophets so that besides the Prophets that had their message immediately from God there were Priests that were called the Ministers of the Lord Joel 1.9.2.17 and Levites that were not to bring new Revelations but to Teach and Rule and worship according to the old For Moses of old time hath in every City them that preach him being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day Acts 15.21 The Jews rejected Christ because they knew him not nor the voyce of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath day Acts 13.27 And even unto this day when Moses is read the Vail is on their heart 2 Cor. 3.15 And they that would not believe Moses and the Prophets thus read and preached neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead Luke 16.29 31. 2. And as Priests and Levites were distinct from Prophets before Christ so Christ appointed besides the Apostles and Prophetical revealers of his Gospel a standing sort of Ministers to 1. Teach 2. Rule 3. And worship according to the Gospel which the former had Revealed and attested and proved to the world These were called Overseers or Bishops Presbyters or Elders Pastors and Tâ—achers and also the Deacons were joyned to assist them Acts 14.23 They ordained them Elders not Prophets or Apostles in every Church Tit. 1.5 Titus was to ordain Elders in every City Timothy hath full direction for the Ordaining of Bishops or Elders and Deacons 1 Tim. 3. That their work was not to bring new Doctrine but to Teach Rule and worship according to that Received I now prove 2 Tim. 2.2 The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses the same commit thou to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also Mark that its the same and not a new Doctrine and that as heard from Paul among many witnesses and not as received immediately from God and others were thus to receive it down from Timothy And v. 15. Study to shew thy self approved unto God a workman that needeth not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth It is not to bring new Truths but rightly to divide the old And 2 Tim. 1.13 Hold fast the form of words which thou hast heard of me not which thou
the place 3. Either the Election Ordination or both is it that giveth them the Essence of their Papacy If Election then there hath been a long interruption For somewhile the People chose and in other ages the Emperors chose and in these times the Cardinals and therefore some of them had no lawful choyce And for Ordination or Consecration 1. There have been three or four Popes at once and all were consecrated that yet are now confessed to have been no true Popes 2. Inferiours only consecrated 3. And such as had no power themselves Besides that the Sea hath been very many years vacant and some score years the Pope hath been at Avignion and had but the name of P. of Rome And when three or four have been Pope at once Bellarmine confesseth learned men knew not which was the Right yea General Councils knew not The Council at Basil thought Faelix the fifth was the right Pope but it proved otherwise so that many palpable intercisions have been made at Rome 2. Our Ordination hath been less interrupted then theirs Object But you are not ordained by Bishops Answ 1. Almost all in England are till of late if that will serve 2. Presbyters may orâ—â—â—â— in case of Necessity as the generality of the old Episcopal men grant and their Ordination is not Null 3. Presbyters have power to Ordain and were restrained only from the exercise by humane Laws as many of the Schoolmen confess 4. Presbyters have still ordained with the Bishop therefore they had authority to it and the work is not alien to their Function 5. Our Parish Presbyters are Bishops having some of them Assistants and Deacons under them Or as Grotius notes at least they are so as being the chief Guides of that Church Their own Rule is that every City should have a Bishop and every corporation is truly a City {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and therefore must have a Bishop 6. The Jus Divinum of Prelacy is lis sub judice 7. Bishop Vsher maintaining to me the validity of the Ordination of the Presbyters without a Bishop told me how he answered King C. who askt him for an instance in Church-History viz. That Hierom ad Evag. tels us of more that the Presbyters of Alexandria till the dayes of Heroclas and Dionysius took one from among themselves and made him Bishop therefore they may make a Presbyter which is less 8. It s at last confessed that in Scripture-times there were no Presbyters under Bishops but the single Churches had single Pastors 9. No man can prove Ordination by fixed Bishops over many Churches now called Diocesan in the first age The fixed Bishops had no more at first but single Churches Object But you never received power from the Bishop to ordain and therefore cannot have that which was never given you Answ If they put men into that Office to which God hath affixed the power of Ordination then they do their part to convey the power As if you marry a couple and express not the mans authority over the woman yet he hath it nevertheless by being made her husband So he that is made a Pastor in City or Country may do the work of a Pastor though each particular was not named Proposition 7. Ordination is ordinarily necessary as a means of our right entrance but not absolutely necessary to the Being of our Office or Power For 1. God having already settled the Office Duty and Power and what Qualifications shall be necessary and giving these Qualifications to men he hath left nothing to man but mutual consent and to judge of the person qualified and solemnly introduce him 2. God hath not tyed himself or us absolutely to the â—udgement of Ordainers If a Bishop ordain a Heathen or any man void of essential Qualifications its Null as being against a flat command of God And if Bishops refuse to ordain us Pastors the people must take them without because the command of Preaching Hearing Sacraments c. is greater then that of Ordination and before it Positives yield to natural morals and matters of Order to the substance and end of the Duty ordered See my Christian Concord pag. 82 83 84. 3. Ordination is no more necessary to the Ministry then Baptism to Christianity As those that are first Princes by Title must be crowned and those that are Souldiers by contract must be listed and take colours and those that are husband and wife by contract must be solemnly married which are celebrating perfecting actions so they that are first heart-Christians by Believing or by parents Dedicating them to God must be solemnly entred under the hand of the Minister And those that are by approbation and consent initially Ministers must by solemnization have the Office publikely delivered them by the Ministers of Christ So that as a man is a Christian indeed before Baptism initially and is justified initially before and in case of Necessity may be saved without it the Papists confessing that the vow will serve so is it in the case of Ordination to the Ministry Proposition 8. It is only Christ and not the Ordainers People or Magistrates that give us our Office and Power Only the people and approvers design the person which shall receive it from Christ and our own consent and the peoples is of necessity thereto and our own much as theirs and the Ordainers do Instrumentally invest us in it But the Power and Duty arise directly from Gods Institution when the person is designed Now I proceed to prove our calling Argument 4. We have a far clearer Call then the Priests before Christ had to the Priesthood For they were not of the true Line they bought the Priesthood they corrupted the Doctrine and worship and were of wicked lives And yet Christ commanded submission to their Ministry Ergo Argument 5. If we have as clear a call to our Office as any Magistrates on earth have to theirs then we are true Ministers of Christ For they are true Magistrates and God is the Fountain of their power too and its impossible they should have any but from him Or from him but by his means Officers have no power but from the Soveraign The Prince was at first chosen by God immediately as well as the Apostles were by Christ yet no Prince can plead an uninterrupted succession thence And if they may Reign without it we may be Pastors without it and yet I cannot say that we are without it though Princes be Kings were formerly anointed by inspired Prophets and were Prophets themselves And as the continuance of this is not necessary to them so neither to us The differences between their power and ours makes nothing against this Argument If conquest or the peoples consent or Birth or directing Providences can prove their Title then Consent Ordination Providence with due Qualifications will sure prove ours were it not for fear they should soon hear the Arguments more set home against themselves that are now
hadst immediately from God in Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus that Good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us The Holy Ghost is to help us in keeping that which is committed to us and not to reveal more 2 Tim. 6.13 14. I give thee charge in the sight of God that thou keep this Commandment without spot unrebukable till the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ There was a form of Doctrine delivered to the Church of Rome Rom. 6.17 And 1 Tim. 5.17 The Elders that Rule well are worthy of double honour especially they that labour in the word and Doctrine You see their work was to Rule and labour in the word and Doctrine 1 Tim. 4.13 14 15 16. Till I come give attendance to Reading to Exhortation to Doctrine meditate upon these things give thy self wholly to them that thy prof 〈…〉 ing may appear to all Take heed unto thy self and unto thy Doctrine continue in them for in doing this thou shalt both save thy self and them that hear thee 1. Tim. 4.6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things thou shall be a good Minister of Jesus Christ nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine whereunto thou hast attained Mark here the description of a good Minister of Christ One that 's nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine which is the use of Schools and Universities and having attained it makes it his work to teach it and put others in remembrance of it Tit. 1.7 9 10 11. For a Bishop must be blameless as the steward of God holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught mark that that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convince the gainsayers For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers whose mouths must be stopped who subvert whole houses teaching things which they ought not c. So 1 Tim. 3.1 5. The office of a Bishop is to Rule and take care of the Church of God To take heed to themselves and to all the flock and feed the Church of God and to watch hereunto according to the word of Gods grace which is fully and wholly delivered by his Apostles and is able to build us up and give us an inheritance among the sanctified as Act. 20.28 20 27 35 32. 1 Thess. 5.12 13. We beseech you brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you this is their Office and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake and not revile them as the servants of Satan do and be at peace among your selves Heb. 13.7 17 24. Remember them which have the Rule over you which have spoken to you the word of God Obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give account that they may do it with Joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you Salute all them that have the Rule over you The Elders of the Church are to pray with and for the sick Jam. ◠14 They must feed the flock of God among them taking the oversight of it 1 Pet. 5.1 2. Thus you see their Office and work 2. And that they were not to bring any new Doctrine further appears in that they have a charge to Preach no other doctrine 1 Tim. 1.3 Nor to be tossed as children with every wind of doctrine Eph. 4.14 Nor carried about with divers and strange doctrines Heb. 13.9 3. Yea if any man bring not the doctrine of Christ we must not receive him into our houses or bid him God speed lest we be partakers of his evil deeds for be that abideth not in this doctrine hath not God 2 John 9.10 11. Gal. 1.8 9. Though we or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel to you then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed As we said before so say I now again If any man preach any other Gospel to you then that ye have received let him be accursed And Rom. 16.17 18. Now I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them 1 Tim. 6.3 If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholsome words the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Doctrine which is according to Godliness he is proud knowing nothing but do 〈…〉 ing 4. And if all Ministers must be receivers of new Doctrines the Church would never know when it hath all but would be still obeying an imperfect Law 5. And it would be an oppression to the Church instead of a Direction to be so overwhelmed with new Doctrines and Precepts 6. And it would accuse Christ the Lawgiver of such mutability as wise Princes are not guilty of to be still changing or adding to his Laws 7. There was great occasion for the New Testament or Gospel upon the great work of our Redemption but there is no such cause for alterations since 8. The Priests before Christ were not to receive new Laws as is said 9. The companions of the Apostles that wrought Miracles had not all new Revelations but did it to seal up this Gospel 10. What need we more then actual experience that God doth not give New Revelations to the world and none since the Scripture-times have sealed any other by Miracles And thus I have proved to you the two sorts of Ministers as Paul plain 〈…〉 distinguisheth them 1 Cor. 3.10 11 12. Eph. 2.20 There are Planters and Waterers Master builders that lay the foundation and others that build thereon 〈…〉 ther foundation can no man lay then that which is laid but every man that 〈…〉 ildeth hay or stubble and loseth his work doth not nullifie the Ministry We are built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ being the head corner-stone but we are not built on the foundation of every Pastor Teacher Elder Bishop or Deacon Though both in their places Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers are given for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the Edifying of the body of Christ Eph. 4.11 12. That we might be one united Body having one fixed standing doctrine ver. 14 15 16. And how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him mark whence the Church receiveth it God also bearing them witness but not every Elder or Teacher both with signs and wonders and with divers Miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his own will Heb. 2.3 4. Prop. 2. And now that these later Ministers need not prove their calling by Miracles I prove thus 1. God never imposed such a task upon them nor commanded the people to require such a proof not