they were not true Ministers of the Gospel because ordained by a Bishop and a company of Presbyters according to the ancient practise of the Church Secondly I say the Ministers of Christ have had a twofold vocation or calling to that office Acts 20.18 18. and 13.1 2 3. 1 T t .4.14 First extraordinary by Christ Himself as the Apostle and Saint Paul had And Secondly more ordinarily by the Apostles and Elders of the Church and by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery as the Scripture held forth unto us as Paul left Titus Tit. 1.3 4. Act. 20 2â— Bishop Titus or overseer Titus as Saint Paul calleth the Bishops or Elders of Ephesus far different from our late Bishops or overseers in many respects the manner commonly by laying on of hands of Presbyters and a Bishop or overseer not as a Bishop of later stamp but as a Presbyter and overseer of old have Ministers of Christ been ordained and after ordination sent and received of particular Churches And howsoever some corruptions have crept into the manner of Ordination and although some ordained Presbyters have turned Popes and Popish Bishops and some Popish Bishops with a company of Presbyters have examined approved and ordained Ministers and given outward Ordination and Authority to preach the Gospel yet this cannot nullifie the call of a Minister of Christ if he be called and gifted inwardly and inabled by Christs spirit with gifts fit for the ministerial office as all the outward calling and approbation by a particular Congregation maketh not an illiterate cobler or other mechanick to be a true Minister of Christ when Christ hath not furnished him with gifts and graces fit for so high and honourable a calling Thirdly We who are Ministers of Christ receive not our calling from Antichrist but from Christ and our Ordination for substance is truly Christian not Antichristian Howsoever some Antichristianly affected might sometimes have had a hand in Ordination the Gospel of Christ hath been conveyed to Reformed Churches yea to separate congregations themselves to such as separate themselves from Babylon it may be by the hands and means of Romish Babylon God hath made the servants of Antichrist to be his servants in this that they have been porters and carriers to bring the holy Scriptures unto the Reformed Churches by the hands of glorious Reformers in the Churches of Christ and yet the Scriptures are the true Word of God and the true Gospel of Jesus Christ for all this And so are our Ministers true Ministers of Christ though their outward Ordination had been carried through the polluted hands of some Antichristianly affected Bishops and Presbyters who did sit in place as Scribes and Pharisees did sit in Moses chair But we say further Mat. 23.1 2 3. as God did extraordinarily call and gifted the Apostles and Ministers in the Primitive times and they ordained others in the Church whose Ministery the Lord did blesse for the propagation of the Gospel So did the Lord wonderfully stir up and in an extraordinary manner call Luther Calvin and others in the Reformed Churches And so Reverend Bishop Cranmer Ridley Latimer and other godly Martyrs Bishops and Ministers of Christ by whose hand their successors the faithful Ministers in the Churches of Christ in England received their outward ordination but their inward from Christ himself and his spirit by whose grace the Lord hath made our Ministery glorious in the conversion of many thousand souls to God and building up of as glorious Saints as any ever was in the Christian world since the Primitive times yea even the Separatists themselves 1 Cor. 4 15. who now deny us to be the true Ministers of Jesus Christ must needs confesse that we have been their spiritual Fathers in Christ and have begotten them again to God through the Gospel yea Gal. 4.19 we as tender Mothers have travelled in birth again in our painful Ministery until Christ hath been formed in them all though now in a most ingrateful manner they dishonour their parents and sin against Christ the Lord of his Church Quest 43. This I suppose is sufficient to satisfie any humbled soul not filled too much with pride self-conceit and the spirit of division and separation as too many are in these dayes But yet some object That howsoever Ministers outward approbation and ordination may be passed over and they be lawful Ministers yet what lawful call have they to particular Congregations and places Ans I answer Patrons of Churches and congregations were and have been honoured and trusted with the nomination and presentation of Ministers to particular Churches but so as none ought to have been put upon any congregation but such as ought to have been well approved of by the Bishop who had a trust reposed in him also for sufficiency and ability for the work of the Ministery and for holinesse of life and and conversation which when and where the trust was rightly performed and the Ministers have been faithful labourers in the Lords harvest and after admission approved of by the faithful and godly party in a Parochial Congregation certainly there was a call sufficient and a sufficient union and form of union between Pastor and people to make up in this respect a true Church of Christ Secondly Howsoever this trust both in Patrons and Bishops hath been most grosly abused by corrupt Simoniacal Patrons most unconscionably seeking to thrust wicked Ministers they cared not whom upon the people and carelesse Bishops neglecting that trust reposed in them yet the failings herein was not enough to un-un-church a Church where yet the Gospel hath been preached and Sacraments administred for substance according to the institution of Christ though here as in Corinth Galatia and Jerusalem many faults might be found to stand in need of Reformation And howsoever no face of a Church might for a time appear 1 Kin. i9 14 Ier. 3.15 as in Jerusalem for a time yet God in many places have given Pastors after his own heart to feed his people with knowledge and understanding and where the Candlestick hath been removed for a time or at least a Candle shut up as in a dark lanthorn God at prayers of his people hath removed a carelesse shepherd and in his due time restored comfort in a faithful Minister to his people and so still continued and preserved the Churches of Christ amongst us yea both for matter and form sufficient to constitute a Church howsoever there hath been some failings in both Quest 44. You have in some measure cleared this Objection Yet how are our Churches rightly constituted in respect of a formal union of members one with another Ans I conceive there is a twofold union First a civil union as in division of Kingdoms Provinces Cities or Parishes And as God hath in this providence united men in habitation and course Act. 17.26 and means of livelyhood God having determined the times before appointed
their sealing all this in receiving Baptism the signe and seal of this Covenant between God and them and so were formally admitted into the Church and brought into a Church union and fellowship with the Saints And this our Adversaries confesse was a true form of admission into the Church at first conversion And this I say was right for Iews and Pagans born out of the Church converted to the Faith of Christ but it doth not follow that because it was the ordinary way for them Therefore the same order and form in every circumstance must be for those who are born in the Church for children of believers have a priviledge as the children of believing Abraham had and as we have proved already above all the children of Pagans and Infidels out of the Church whatsoever And yet the substance of this Form of admission is and hath been observed in the Churches of Christ and so we may Justifie of our particular mixed Congregations as they are called that they are true Churches of Christ in respect of outward admission into the Church Quest 40. But how do you make this to appear Ans First children of believing Parents have according to their priviledge due to them an infant admission into the Church in Baptism in which whereas they themselves cannot present themselves and desire Baptism that seal of the Covenant as circumcision was of old I will be thy God and the God of thy Seed Acts 2.38 39 The Parents do present their children and desire Baptism for them as a Covenant priviledge belonging to children of believers Secondly because the children cannot professe their Faith The Parents do professe or declare their assent and consent to the Faith of Christ and truth of the Gospel Thirdly because the children cannot intimate their Covenant with Christ therefore their Parents do Covenant and promise to do their endeavour not only to catechize their children and bring them up in the knowledge of Christ but to do their endeavour that the childe when he or she shall be of years and that God hath given knowledge and Faith shall make a solemn profession of the Faith of the Gospel and of their Graces and Faith in Christ Fourthly the Parents promise that they will do their endeavour that the childe when called of God and enabled with knowledge and Faith shall not onely professe Faith and Covenant but desire to renew and solemnly to enter Covenant with the Lord and to seal it in the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper after examination profession and approbation of the Church and thus the children of believers have a true infant admission and form of admission into the Church and are true infant members of the visible Church so far as infant-membership is or can be to them now as it was to Isaac at eight dayes old and to all children of believing Abraham before the coming of Christ Quest 41. But this is but an infant-membership which though true yet it doth not Answer that admission of men of ripe years in the Primitive Times Answ I Answer again that when these children of believers baptized in infancy are come to years of discretion and God hath given them knowledge and Faith in Christ and they have made profession of their Faith and Graces of God in them and desire to enter Covenant solemnly with the Lord and to seal it in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and upon examination and approbation of the Church are formally admitted by the Minister of Christ and the Church and officers thereof there are such persons made compleat visible members called to be of Saints and to the fellowship of the Saints in the Church of Christ And of this person or persons so admitted I affirm that they have a true Form of admission into the Church and if their Faith and prfession of Faith be true and sincere they are as true members of the Church of Christ as the Eunuch was and if their Faith and profession of Faith be but false and counterfet as Simon Magus his was and too many have been in our Churches yet a Church made up of such members is as true a Church visible for our form of admission as any we reade of was since the Apostles times Let any man declare if he can when and where a Church was constituted of such as were born in the Church in a better form for the first six hundred years after Christ None to be admitted to the Sacramēt before catechized and approved See the Rubrick before at Sacrament in the old Book of Commō-Prayer And therefore I conclude that however many corruptions and failings have been in particular Congregations in the practical part of this admission yet the Lawes of our Church did require both catechizing and profession of Faith and approbation and allowance after examination before admission to compleat visible ripe year membership and admission to the Sacrament to renew covenant as aforesaid And thus our Churches are true in form in respect of outward formal admission into the Church substantially true which is sufficient Quest 42. This I think may satisfie for the form of admission into a Church fellowship When a man or woman born in the Church Mr. Calvin Iustitions l. 4. c. 19.8.4 Ierome Contra. Lucifer I would it were restored to its pure use a childe of a believing Parent baptized in infancy is thus admitted when he or she cometh to years not by Popish confirmation worthily abolished but by this ancient order of solemn profession of Faith in Christ and holinesse and approbation of the Church which learned Martyr speaks of noted before And reverend Mr. Calvin commends as most worthy to be restored in the Church to its pure use But our Adversaries deny our Ministers Ordination and affirm the form of their Ordination and admission or call to be Ministers to be Antichristian and therefore our Churches to be no true Churches of Christ Ans First I Answer that it is the opinion of these Adversaries that there is no need of Ordination of a Minister onely for a particular Congregation to chuse one of their fellow Brethren to be their Minister or to have an approbation of a company of professours to be their Minister there needs no more and then the Ordination of our Ministers as in the opinion of separatists it doth not further so it is certain it cannot hinder a man from being a Minister of Christ if at any time he be called and approved of a Church and whosoever he be who renounceth his calling to the Minister because he was ordained by a Bishop and a company of preaching Presbyters I think in this as in other things he is too superstitious and Popishly affected to an outward form of admission and worthy to be censured of the Church for such an errour in which he condemns valiant Martin Luther judicious Master Calvin worthy Latimer Cranmer Ridley Hooper those glorious Ministers and Martyrs of Christ as if
he had once a year with his Neighbours at Easter received the Sacrament for many years together Example 2 The like ignorance I found in a manner in one W. D. an ancient man also and one that had thought himself worldly wise I asked him who died for him and that in a loving familiar way as willing to instruct him He Answered me The Son of God dyed for him I was glad to hear his answer but demanding of him again if he did know what this Son of God was that dyed for him he pointed his hand towards the Sun then shining in the Firmament it being about two a clock in the Afternoon and said Look yonder in the Son of God that dyed for me blessed might he be It grieved me then to see his lamentable ignorance which by that Answer and further Questions I found to be in him I might give more Examples of the like And such I conceive sin in coming to the Sacrament though neither for scandall of life nor for this ignorance they be judged worthy to be Excommunicate from the word Preached Quest 5. Truly I am of your minde for this notorious ignorance and for all such us are not able to Examine themselves But what think you of those who are otherwise Scandalous Ans There are too many Baptized persons Baptized in Childhood now of ripe years called by some visible christians whom St. Paul calls enemies to Christ Phil. 3.18.19 1 Cor. 5.9 10 12. 2 Ioh. 10.11 1 Cor. 1.11 2 Cor. 2.9.10 who are openly and notoriously scandalous ignorant prophane impenitent and unreformed with such as these are every true Christian ought as much as is possible to avoid all familiarity or intimate acquaintance except to convert them and much more all willing Communion with them at the Lords Table And therefore certainly Catechismes and Catechizing is very necessary that both knowledge and holinesse may be held forth as to the former so to such as these and examination or tryall be made 1 Cor. 11.28 29. both by themselves and others before they presume to come to the Supper of the Lord. Quest 6. Were there any in the Primitive times of the Church who were converted to Christianity that were kept back for a time from the Sacrament Ans In the Primitive times some who were converted extraordinarily upon profession of their Faith in Christ and desire they were Baptized First Thus was the Eunuch Acts 8.37 Acts 8. Secondly Thus was Cornelius and his company after the holy Ghost had given a publike evidence of their conversion and true Faith in Christ admitted to Baptisme Acts 10.44 45. 46 c. Acts 8.18 19 20. 21 c. 1 Tim. 1.19 20. 3 Ioh. 9.10 1 Cor. 5. Phil. 3.17 18 19. Heb. 6.4 4 6 c. Heb. 10.24 25 26 c. Thirdly Some were converted only to an outward profession of the Faith amongst whom were many hypocrites Baptized at the first and these it may be were admitted to the Lords Supper untill they were discerned But so soon as they were discerned and known notice was taken of them as such who were fit to be cast out and their Communion avoided for their wickednesse and hypocrisie Thus Simon Magus Hymeneus Alexander Diotrephes Demas and such like some of which fell for a time and were restored some fell to Heresie and Apostacy and perished in their sins Quest 7. Do you read of any difference of Christians made afterwards in the Church or were all that were converted to an outward profession of the Faith admitted the Sacraments promiscuously without any difference Ans Certainly no They were not admitted to the Sacrament For in processe of time when the Church did finde that many joyned themselves to the Christians and made a profession of the Faith as true Believers which after fell away As before noted 1 Tim. 1.26 30. 2 Pet. 2.14 15 20. some to Heresies some to scandalous lives and some to Paganisme again The Saints did not presently then upon the first seeming conversion or profession of themselves to believe admit men or women so much as to Baptisme much lesse to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper but had a time of tryall and preparation for so great a work Therefore Writers relate there were severall orders of Christians in the Church of Christ Quest 8. Which were these severall Orders of Christians in the Church Ans First some were only Catechumenes Isidorus Origen lib. 14. Catechumenus dictus qui Doctrinam fidei audit nec dum tamen Baptismum percepit hearers and learners of the Doctrine of the Gospel by Catechizing as well as Preaching yea though they were men of ripe years untill they were able to make a good profession of their Faith and give evidence of their sincere conversion and resolution to persevere by Gods Grace unto their lives end Quest 9. Have you read of any particular persons who were such Catechumens in the Church Ans First such a Catechumen was Ambrose Sozomen Histor Ecclesias l. 6. c. 24. when he was chosen Bishop or Overseer of the Church of Millaine the state of the Church so requiring by reason of Schismes and Heresies then springing up Eccles Hist Gent. 4. cap. 10. Cent. 5. cap. 10. Secondly such a Catechumen was Augustine after he was converted from a Maniche to be a Christian and did write divers Books before he was Baptized by St. Ambrose Arnobius Adversus Gentes lib. 7. Thirdly such a Catechumen was Arnobius who when he saw he was deferred Baptisme because the Disciples feared least being an eloquent man if he should revolt to Paganisme he might prophanely abuse that holy Sacrament Therefore he wrote an excellent Book against the Gentiles to evidence the truth of his profession and constancy in the Faith of Christ 2. Again there was a second Order or Degree of Christians and these were such Catechumens or Catechized persons who when they were well tryed and proved or examined and approved Socrates Eccl. hist l. 7. c 17. came to desire Baptisme and were called Competitors or Fellow-Catechumens desiring Baptisme which when they received they were arrayed in white Robes In liturgi Chrisostomi as History relates And neither of these were yet received to the Lords Supper untill they were baptized and approved by the Church Quest 10. What were the third Order of Christians in those times Ans They were called the Faithfull and these were such Believers or Beleeving Christians who after they were baptized Socrates Eccl. hist l. 7. c. 17. had made profession proof of their faith were admitted to the Lords Table and had Communion with their fellow-Saints in that holy Ordinance and so were all fellow members of the mysticall Body of Christ And in the first Primitive times of the Apostles and Church after Christ 1 Cor. 12.27 Acts 5.32 these Believers were together and were of one heart and of one soul a sweet example of unity for
the Churches of Christ to the end of the world Quest 11. Was there not a fourth Order of Christians Ans Yes There is mention made of the Penitents who were such believers as after profession of their Faith and partaking of the Sacrament did fall into some open notorious scandalous sin and were put back into the number and place of the Catechumens Hospin de Templis page 88. and kept from the Sacrament untill upon true signes of Repentance D. August Hom. 49. de verbis Apostol Eph. 6.20 and satisfaction to the Church they were received again into their former order and re-admitted unto the Lords Supper And so it is evident all were not promiscuously suffered to receive the Sacrament who had been baptized or were formerly received But they were and might be kept back by the Church and such as had right Authority of Government in the Church yea and be excommunicate upon lawfull and just cause given by notorious and scandalous offences 1 Cor. 5.3 4 5. 2 Cor. 2.5 6 7 8. Iustellus in notis cod can Eccl. citat per Godwin de Excom untill God gave them Repentance and they were restored again to the communion of Saints till when in some places they might not come into the Church but stand weeping without desiring with tears those that entred to pray for them Quest 12. Thus you have shewed the practice of the Church for men of ripe yeers converted to the Faith and for such as were Communicants once received But what say you of Children of believing Parents born in the Church and received by Baptisme as outward visible members of the Church had they any such priviledge that when they came to years they might be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper without Catechizing Examination and making profession of their Faith and the graces of God in them Ans Children of believing Parents have a priviledge to be baptized as the children of Faithfull Abraham had to be circumcised Gen. 17.12 1 Cor. 7.14 and so to be distinguished from Children of Pagans steemed in the judgement of charity as members of the Church untill by wickednes scandalous lives or some other wayes they declared the contrary but yet as the children of the faithfull Israelites were by Gods speciall command to be instructed and Catechized in the knowledge of the Lord Deut. 6.6 7 8 9. Exod. 12.24 25 26 27. 2 Tim. 1.5 2 Tim. 3.15 of his will and works and in particular of the Sacrament and the reason of it So without doubt the Children of believing Parents are to be catechized and instructed in the knowledge of God and of themselves and of Christ and of the Sacrament be able to make profession of their Faith before they be admitted to the Lords Table D. Pet. Martyr locor com Class 3. c. 8. S. 14. And hence I conceive was that decree and order in the Church that Children of Believers Baptized in Infancy when they came to years of discretion Cum tincti fuerunt homines in infantia nec fidei confessionem edidorunt decretum est ut cum venissent ad maturiorem a tatem vocarentur ad Episcopum publicè fidem suam profiterentur Heb. 5.11 c. were Catechized and sufficiently instructed they should be called to make profession of their faith in publike and prayers put up unto God for their perseverance in the Faith to the end This after was called Confirmation so much abused since by the Romish Synagogue and by the Papists and Popish Bishops the good use of which according to the first institution as a policy of the Church might well have been continued and may be profitable in the Church of Christ that men so Baptized in Infancy might be approved for right knowledge and holy conversation before they be entertained at this Feast of the Lord And so Catechizing is a necessary duty in the Church of Christ Quest 13. But doth not the Sacrament hold forth Christ crucified to the eyes as well as Preaching of the Gospel doth to the eares And may not a man be converted to the faith of Christ by the Sacrament as well as by the Word Preached And if so Wherefore then may not all ignorant and scandalous and impenitent men and women be admitted to the Sacrament as well as to hear the Gospel Preached Ans First I will not deny but the Sacrament doth hold forth Christ crucified to a believing eye that by the eye of faith can look upon the Body of Christ broken with torments and blood of Christ shed to the death for sin whilest the eye of the Body doth behold the Bread broken and the Wine powred out in this Sacrament And Secondly I do acknowledge that the Lord may can if he please convert a wicked blinde ignorant prophane man or woman by seeing the Bread broken and the Wine powred out and especially by those manifestations of Christs Death and Passion and those Dehortations and Admonitions of Ignorant and prophane scandalous men and women to withdraw and not presume to come to the Lords Table untill God give them Repentance And by those invitations of believing humble hungry repenting souls to draw nigh to meet Christ and feast with him at his Table and this by the power of the Spirit of Christ bringing all home to the soul But it is the preaching of the Gospel in another manner then at the Sacrament that is the common and ordinary way of conversion in which men and women ought to wait upon Christ for Repentance and Remission of sins Acts 5.31 Rom. 10.14 15 16 17. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God and this by Preaching as the Apostle Saint Paul publisheth Secondly the Sacrament hath properly another end namely as Circumcision of old was a sign of the Covenant between God and Abraham Gen. 17.7 8 c. Rom. 4.11 and and a seal and pledge not of a corporall Covenant but of that Covenant of Grace in Christ and of that Righteousnesse of Faith or of Christ received by Faith and which Abraham enjoyed by believing and Saints by our ingrafting into Christ And as the Passeover or Paschall Lamb and sprinckling of the Blood upon the two side-posts Exod. i2 22 and upon the lintell of the door of the house was a sign and seal and pledge to confirm the Faith of Israel That God would passe over their houses when the Angel destroyed the first-born of Egypt and that God would sprinckle their souls with the Bloud of Christ Heb. 12.24 that blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then did the bloud of Abell so this Sacrament was properly instituted to confirme and strengthen the Disciples Faith Mat. 26.26 c. and so the faith of all Beleevers and to seale and assure unto them the Covenant of Grace 1 Cor. ii 23 c. Christ and his benefits promised And it was not insitituted for Pagans
7.51 Prov. 20.25 Malac. 3.8 9. or resist or revile or discontent the Ministers of Jesus Chrst in or about their Ministeriall office or any other unlawful wayes is a sin Fifthly to take away or keepe back from them any part of that honorable maintenance or countenance which is due unto them by the Ordinance of the Lord Jesus 1 Thess 5.17 Galat. 6.6 7. is sacriledge a robbing and mocking of God and an odious sinne and more particularly what is approved of by the lawfull Magistrate Iohn 15.20 21. Iohn 16.1 2 3. Acts 9.25 2 Cor. 11.32.33 Luke 11.49 50. Acts. 8.2 3 Acts 9.4 5 Luk. 19.27 2 Sam 6.7 Sixthly to persecute betray or not to defend and preserve the Ministers of Jesus Christ by all lawfull and good meanes in their lives goods good names and especially in and for the execution of their Ministeriall office is a sinne and the property and marke of wicked men whom Christ will one day take for his enemies who refuse to have him to rule over them Seventhly for any to intrude themselves into the office of Christs Ministers 2 Chron. 26.19 20. or to usurpe a Ministeriall office in the Church of Christ for which he hath no call from Christ nor ground or title from the Word of God Heb. 5.4 is certainly a sin an odious sin against Christ Jesus Quest 34. You have revealed by Scripture and light from Christ in the Scripture what are the duties required and the sinneâ— forbidden both of Christs Ministers anâ— of the people over whom the holy Ghost hatâ— made them overseers and in particulaâ— how the people ought to receive reverence and countenance their Ministers Pastors and Teachers and give them that honorable maintenance which is due to Gods Ministers by Divine right and according to the Ordinances of the Lord Christ But is there any promise of blessing or any such encouragement to those who do thus receive honour and pay freely that honorable Maintenance that is due to God for his service and to Gods Ministers for their labour and service according to the Oâ—dinance of Christ Ans Yea verily the Scripture holdeth forth diverse promises to this effect Prov. 3.9.10 as that in the Proverbs Honour the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of all thy increase so shall thy Barnes be filled with plenty and thy Presses shall burst out with new Wine thou shalt be sure if thou honour God in his service or faithfull servants 1 Sam. 2.30 God will honour thee yea the Lord biddeth his people to trie and prove him if they would bring in the maintenance of his Ministery and service as they ought Malac. 3.10 11. if he would not open the Windowes of Heaven and powre a blessing upon them and he would blesse and not curse their increase and Christ saith hee Mat. 10.40 41. that receiveth his Disciples and Ministers receiveth him and they that receive a Prophet in the Name of a Prophet shall receive a Prophets reward so that there is great encouragement for Saints and all Gods people to perform their duties herein Quest 35. Is there any thinke you that love the Lord Iesus that will not love and honour his faithfull Ministers and willingly give them all respect due to them by the Ordinance of Christ Ans Certainly all men have not faith and some are unreasonable and wicked men 2 Thess 3.2 who love not Christ nor his Ministers I have heard divers Ministers complaine Gens 47.22.26 2 Chron. 36.16 17. that in some parts they have beene used far worse then the Egyptians used their Priests they finde no favour but have been subject to divers abuses which was a fearfull sinne that once brought a forraigne enemy upon Gods owne people But now we hope better things that as the Lord hath honoured those who are in high places so he will honour them with one grace more to take care that there may be faithfull and honorable Ministers placed in every congregation in the Kingdome 1 Tim. 5.71 and that they may have an honorable maintenance duly payd them according to the Ordinance of Christ 1 Cor. 9.14 Quest 36. I have received good satisfaction for the duties of Ministers Pastors and Teachers in the church of Christ and the peoples duties unto them both in respect of reverence and maintenance But what is your judgement I pray you hath Christ appointed no government in his Church and so no governours who as Fathers are to be honoured and who are to be as Rulers in the Church for right ordâ—â—ing of Christs discipline for Gods glory and the good of his Church what light from Christ to direct in this Ans Yes certainly as the Scripture holdeth forth the Lord Christ himselfe to be the chiefe Lord and Governour Isaia 2.6 7 Mich. 5.2 Mat. 2.6 yea the King of his Church and the Governement to be upon his shoulder so when the Lord Christ ascended up into Heaven and led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men as hee gave some to be Apostles and some Prophets some Pastors and Teachers Eph. 4 11 12. c. 1 Tim. 5.17 Rom. 12.8 for the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ so hee hath given Elders 1 Cor. 12.28 Acts 6.1 2 3. Rom. 12.7 Rulers and Governments or helpes in Government as Overseers Deacons Ministers and Officers for the good of the Church of Christ Quest 37. But who are these Elders and Officers that are to have government in the Church Ans First it is evident in Scripture that the same men who are called in Scripture Presbyters Acts 20.17 28. or Elders and Rulers they are called Overseers or Bishops and Pastors 1 Tim. 5.17 such as must labour in the word and Doctrine and not only take heede to all the flocke over which the holy Ghost hath made them overseers Titus 1.5 6 7 8 9. But feede the Church of God which hee hath purchased with his own blood Acts 29.28 So that it is evident that the same men who are Pastors and Teachers have authority from Christ to be Elders 1 Pet. 5.2 3 4. and Rulers in the Church although they are not to lord it over Gods heritage but to be ensamples to the flock as St. Seter holdeth forth the light of Christ unto the Church Quest 38. Are there no other Elders or Ruling Officers in the Church but Pastors and Teachers and such as labour publikely in Preaching and so in the word and doctrin Ans Divers learned men do affirme from that place of the Apostle to Timothy Aretius Piscâ—tor Beza in 1 Tim. 5.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 12.28 Heb. 13.17 24. The Church of Gâ—neva The Chu ch of Scotland And Holland Frâ—nce Nâ—w England and nâ—w England the Elders that Rule well are worthy of double honour especially those that labour in Word and