unto all ages as being set on their thrones in Gods word to judge the twelve tribes of Israel so that their Apostleship although in respect of their personall condition it was temporary yet in respect of their charge and message from God to his Church it is perpetuall and yet still extant in the Church The ordinary discharge of their ministeriall duty was to beare witnesse of Christ unto the world to declare by preaching the counsell of God unto mankind to attend the worke of prayer and to governe the Church according to the rules by which they did at first constitute the same For no doubt the Rules which they gave to others for the worke of the ordinary Ministery and Government they themselves first observe so that not onely by precepts but by practice they left their examples to bee followed as rules see Phil. 3. 17. 2 Tim. 3. 10 11. From whence I gather that what priority superiority soever in the ordinary government of the constituted Church of God they used over other Ministers to whom the particular spirituall charge of a Church did belong that the same priority and superiority may upon the like occasions be used in the same ordinary government item I gather further that they did transmit their priority and superiority unto those whom they appointed to be their successors in the ordinary charge I say they did transmit it either by expresse precepts or by actuall practice proposed to be an example unto them to be followed in like cases for thus 2. Tim. 3. 10 11. the Apostle recomendeth his own practice to be observed And lastly from both these inferences I gather a third conclusion that if we will truly know what the priority and superiority of one spirituall governour is above another in the ordinary course of government wee must take notice of all the passages of Apostolicall practice in this case And this will suffice at this time for an entry towards the determination of that which we seek for The next ground going before this was the precept of obedience and submission due by the members of the Church unto their Rulers that watched over them the precept is cleer Heb. 11. 17. the rule inferred from thence was that according to the difference of Rulers in the degrees of place the submission and obedience was to be differenced Now if I would know what the different degrees of Rulers are I thinke I ought to observe the property which the Apostle addeth unto the office of a Ruler as a characteristicall note of his charge when he calleth him a watching Ruler over the flock From which property I gather this inference towards a further determination of the point in hand namely that what priority and superiority soever may bee found in the ordinary course of watching practised by the Apostles and so consequently transmitted unto their followers that same priority and superiority in watching may bee lawfully used now a daies and therefore if in the ordinary course of watching they did extend their care unto more particular congregations then one then I thinke it may be safely concluded that such an extent of care in a priority and superiority of watching and consequently of ruling may also bee used And let this also suffice for a further entry at this time towards the determination of that which we seek for Againe the ground precedent to this had foure branches whereof the last concerned the peculiar duty of perpetuall Rulers where we observed their charge to consist in watching over the soules of their flocks by calling them by leading them defending them visiting them and keeping the keies of the heavenly sheepfold to shut out the sheep or let them in as they should see occasion From whence I gather this inference that what priority and superiority soever any ordinary Rulers had in the Apostles time above others in their watching over the flocke by calling leading defending visiting and keeping the keyes of the fold that now also the same priority superiority may be lawfully exercised and if it can be made apparent that any ordinary rulers had a priority and superiority of watching above others which extended it selfe unto more congregations then one then I suppose it may safely bee concluded that such a superior priority of watching may bee lawfully exrcised The other concerned the peculiar charge of Timothy and Titus as they were either Evangelists or ordinary overseers I take them either way and looke upon that which they had to doe and say thus If all the things which they had recommended to them be of perpetuall use in the Church of God then what priority and superiority soever they had over others in their course of government for the administration of those charges that same may now also be made use of and is requisite to be in the Churches of all ages But all things recommended to them as I conceive are of perpetuall use Therefore the priority and superiority which they had for the administration of the same may also be made of for although it be said that Timothy and Titus were no ordinary overseers but Evangelists that is extraordinary yet I cannot conceive them no more then I doe the Apostles themselves to be extraordinary governours of the Church in these duties which are perpetually to be discharged in time to come for what reason is there to thinke a man an extraordinary Officer for discharging an ordinary duty as for the rest who are called Prophets Teachers Exhorters Deacons Distributers Speakers of tongues and Interpreters of tongues all these though something there might be extraordinary in them yet so farre as the substance of the office is in some kinde or altogether remaining untill this day in the Church so farre also that relation of priority or posteriority of superiority or inferiority wherein they stood one towards another or all towards the chiefe ruling watchmen of the Churches ought to remaine But it may bee thought that they stood under Timothy and Titus as under chiefe watchmen that they should be ordered and regulated by them in their publicke actions according to Apostolicall rules therefore it may be thought also that all Officers having the same charge now a dayes ought to stand in the same relation under the like chiefe watchmen And lastly concerning the duties laid upon the Apostles and Deacons heretofore mentioned if there bee nothing extraordinary therein for substance but only in respect of certaine circumstances of that time of their persons and of the outward manner of that society wherein they lived at Jerusalem then it may be thought that the authority whereby they ordered all things for the good of the Church is not abolished but regularly transmitted unto their successors that in like cases it may be made use of by the cheefe watchmen over the Churches From whence I gather that what priority and superiority was deferred by the Church in temporall things first unto the Apostles and afterward by them resigned
Evangelists 4. Pastors and Teachers Ephes. 4. 11. elsewhere wee finde other names of Gifts and Offices as workers of Miracles Gifts of Healing Helpes Governours Diversities of tongues Interpreters of tongues 1 Cor. 12. 28 29 30. Item Deacons Exhorters Rulers Rom. 12. 7 8. and Bishops Presbyters and Deacons 1 Tim. 3. 1 8. and 5. 17 18 19. From whence I make these inferences 1. If these Officers appointed for the first building of Christs Church were by degrees set in a priority and superiority one above another then I may conceive that a priority and superiority of spirituall Officers is not repugnant to the government of Christs Church But these Officers were so set in relation of degrees one above another therefore I may conceive that such a gradation of spirituall Officers is not repugnant to the government of Christs Church 2. If there was no independent parity in the first Officers instituted in Christs Church then I have reason to conceive that an independent paritie is not answerable to Christs intention in instituting Officers in his Church But there was no independent parity in these first Officers instituted in the Church Therefore I have reason to conceive that an independent parity is not answerable to Christs intention Here two things may be objected or excepted against this Rule of Decision First that the Apostles who were Christs first Officers were equal one to another and independent one from another But to this I answer That I speake not of the Officers appointed before the constitution of the Church but of those that are named expresly to beare office in the Church already constituted Secondly if then it bee said that the inequality of these first Office-bearers doth proceed from the difference of extraordinary and ordinary Officers then requisit at the first constitution of the Church which is not now requisite after it is once constituted then I answer that here I neither intend nor have need to consider which Officers were extraordinary and which ordinary because I take notice of them onely at this time as they were Officers extant at first to build up the Church and my inference goeth no further as yet nor must I come to admit of that distinction in my thought till the matter it selfe carry me to it Fourthly I finde the severall charges and duties of these Officers to be these 1. Christ sending forth his Apostles appointeth them to be his witnesses unto the utmost parts of the earth of that which he hath done for our salvation Acts 1. 8. Also hee giveth them charge to teach all men to observe whatsoever hee had commanded them and to baptise those that received their doctrine Matth. 28. 19. 20. This they did and so gathered a Church together wherein at first the faithfull having all things common brought their goods to the Apostles feet making them distributers thereof unto such as had need But the Apostles found this charge imposed upon them to be too troublesome and not proper unto their spirituall calling therefore they betooke themselves unto their owne peculiar charge which was to attend unto prayer and the Ministery of the word Acts 6. 4. and gave advice that Deacons should be chosen whose peculiar charge at their first institution was to serve the tables Ibid. verse 2 3. yet it is evident that they also preached the word and bore witnesse of Christ Ib. verse 9. 10. and Cap. 8. verse 5. and baptised the beleevers Ib. Chap. 8. vers. 12. 38. Besides these Deacons we finde that the Church being constituted other Officers in it are named and said to bee different in charges As the charge of Prophets was to prophesie according to the Analogie of faith of Deacons to attend their Deaconship of Teachers to attend teaching of Exhorters to attend exhorting of Distributers to distribute of Rulers to rule with diligence Rom. 12. 6. 7. 8. of speakers with tongues to speake and of Interpreters to interpret 1 Cor. 14. 27. Besides these duties thus generally mentioned we finde more particular charges mentioned As first concerning the duties of Prophets how they ought to prophesie of speakers with tongues how they ought to speak unto edification in the Church 1 Cor. 14. 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33. Secondly concerning Rulers where we finde the charge given to Timothy and Titus either as Evangelists or as ordinary Bishops and Overseers of the Churches next unto the Apostles their charge was to set in order things which the Apostles left undone for the constituting of the Churches amongst which the ordaining of Elders and Deacons in every Church was a chiefe duty belonging to them 1 Tim. 1. 3. Tit. 1. 5. item To represse and inhibit false doctrines 1. Tim. 1. 3. Tit. 1. 10. 11. item To settle a course of prayers in the Church 1 Tim. 2. 1. item To appoint due maintenance for widowes and Elders 1 Tim. 5. 9. 17. 18. item To be Judges in matters of accusation against Elders ibid. verse 19. and to give imposition of hands to those that were approved and fit for the Ministery ibid verse 22. item To maintaine their authority not to suffer themselves to be despised therein 1 Tim. 4. 12. Tit. 2. 15. And lastly to commit the things which they had heard of the Apostles unto faithfull men able to teach others who should be successors in that place 2 Tim. 2. 2. As for other Rulers in the Pastorall charge their duty is specified to be a watching over the soules of their flock as those which must give an account Heb. 13. 17. and in doing this they are bound to call their sheep by name to lead them out and to goe before them Ioh. 10. 3. 4. item To defend them against the wolves though they hazard their life in so doing ib. verse 11. item To visit the sick pray for them Iam. 5. 14. item To keepe the keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven to shut it and open it as occasion shall require Matth. 16. 19 and 18. 17 18. and 1 Cor. 5. 4. 5. And then the generall duty of all Officers is that as every one hath received the gift so he should minister the same to others as a good steward of the manifold graces of God 1 Pet. 4. 10. From all this I make these inferences 1. If all these charges and duties are different and yet should be administred jointly as by severall members of one body then it seems such a priority and superiority in some and subordination in others is to be observed as is in the members of a naturall body one in respect of another But all these charges are different and yet so to be administred as is mentioned 1 Cor. 12. 4 5. and till the end of the Chapter Therefore it seems such a priority and superiority in some and subordination in others is to be observed 2. If these charges in their naturall property as they stand in relation one to another be repugnant to an independent parity then
there is no independent parity allowed of amongst the Officers who are to discharge the same But it may perhaps be made good that these charges are in their naturall property as they stand in relation one to another repugnant to an independent parity therefore perhaps there is no independent parity allowed of amongst the Officers who are to discharge the same Fifthly the duty of the flock is in a word to be obedient unto their Rulers and to submit themselves unto them Heb. 13. 7. 17. and to provide necessary maintenance for them Gal. 6. 6. 8. 1 Cor. 9. 7 8 9 10 11 13 14. From hence I inferre that if submission and obedience is to be yeelded and if Rulers be different in charge then according to every ones degree and different place in his charge the submission ought to be differenced But the Antecedent is true and therefore also the Consequent Therefore I conceive that more respect was due unto Apostles even as they were ordinary Ministers then to their ordinary Rulers and more to the Bishops and Overseers that were made Iudges of other Elders then to the Elders that were subject to be judged and more reverence due to the Elders then to the Deacons Lastly the practice of the Apostles as chiefe Masterbuilders was this they laid the foundation which is Christ 1 Cor. 3. 10 11. they built by preaching upon the foundation gold silver and precious stones they baptised the beleevers and gathered them together in one body and ordained Elders and Officers over them to rule them and doe the work of the Ministery See Acts 13. and 14. Chapters and particulerly in Chap. 14. the verses 21 22 23. They gave orders to their followers concerning all things needfull for edification in the Churches as may be seene in 1 Cor. Chapters 5 and 6 and 7 and 8 and 9 and and 10 and 11 and 12 and 14 and 16. verse 1. and in the 2 Cor. Chap. 8 and 9. in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus throughout and elswhere as in the Acts in Chap. 6. and 15. and 20. From whence I infer that if neither in the Apostles owne practice nor in the practice of those whom they set over the Churches in their owne time there be any example of independent parity intimated or used in the way of ordinary government then such a parity may seem to be inconvenient to be admitted into the Church of God But perhaps no such example is to bee found in their practice or in the practice of those whom they appointed to bee ordinary Rulers of the Churches in their owne time Therefore an independent parity may seem inconvenient to bee admitted Thus I have briefly run over the fundamentall matters of the first question in hand not intending to determine any thing precisely but to gather some rules of determination whereby the matter of priority and superiority in government may be tried more at large in due time Only thus much I must now intimate that my doubt concerning priority and superiority of spirituall Officers in the Church is so farre resolved that it seemeth not at all repugnant to me but rather more consonant and answerable to Christs intention in the first institution of his Church then an independent parity And this is the first position wherein I receive some satisfaction to my doubts If therefore any will contradict this position to make me againe doubtfull of it I thinke he is obliged to shew that an independent parity of Rulers is not onely no lesse but as much and rather much more answerable to Christs intention and this he must shew from the same grounds which I have laid except hee can shew these to be insufficient and lay some others that are more satisfactory which if he doth then it will be also requisite that he define cleerly what that prime and independent authority is which every Ruler hath by himselfe in his particular charge As for me because I take this position as granted that Christ did institute in the first constitution of his Church a priority and superiority of spirituall Officers therefore I thinke I may safely gather that for the building up and perpetuall propagating of the same his intention was not altered which second position if any will deny I suppose he will finde himselfe obliged to shew unto me sufficient and evident causes why his intention should be altered and therefore that frame of government which was either necessary or most convenient for the first constitution and building up of his Church is inconsistent with the perpetuall propagation thereof But seeing I conceive it not likely that this can be shewne therefore I ought to proceed and come to the second question to finde out what the priority and superiority is which Christ doth allow of in the spirituall Rulers of the Church and to finde out this it will bee requisite to review againe the grounds heretofore laid from whence the position hath beene gathered that a priority and superiority of Rulers in spirituall government is answerable to Christs intention which that we may doe let us begin at the last and goe upward towards the first The last of our grounds was the practice of the Apostles which yeeldeth no example to us of any independent paâ—â—ty but rather of a superior priority which in the way of their ordinary government they used over others For I suppose no man doubteth of this but the Apostles were in the ordinary couâ—se of their mystery above all other spirituall Officers which ordinarily ruled the Churches If then it be granted that in the ordinary course of their Ministery they were above others the next thing to be sought after will be this wherein their superiority did consist and how far it was derived or not derived unto their successors And to finde out this I conceive that in the Apostles discharge of their duty some thing was extraordinary as being usefull and requisite onely for that time wherein they lived and something ordinary and of perpetuall use which was to bee transmitted unto their successors The extraordinary discharge of their Apostolicall duty was first to lay the foundation and then to raise and settle that frame of Christs Church upon the same which was most answerable to his Kingdome And to doe this God â—â—dued them with extraordinary gifts of tongues of knowledge of wisdome of prudence and of infallibility in truth and publicke government and confirmed their authority with his owne testimony bearing them witnesse as the Apostle saith Heb. 2. 4. both with signes and wonders and with divers miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost which by the imposition of their hands he conferred upon the beleevers as is evident by Acts 8. 17. and 19. 6. This I conceive was their extraordinary authority and discharge of their duty which should not be transmitted to any after them but should rest in their persons be for after times recorded in Scripture that thereby they should become perpetuall Apostles