the Church lay the foundation of the Church in which he served to the rest of the ministry preparing for them in this as they prepared for him after the greatest office is for service in the Church in which to place any is the worke of the Lord Jesus Christ who tryeth the spirits and knoweth the gifts of all better then they that have them and from whom they have them The last office we are to speake of is the Pastors distinguisht in the Gospell 1 His ministry is contained in those parts of Scripture in which the Saints are stirred up to duty 2 In those that invite to perfection 3 In those that exercise the Saints Iudgment in the knowledge of the word and the work of righteousnesse hence is he called the exhorter and doctrine exhortation Noting unto us what Judgement wisdome experience and Understanding is required to be in the man that officiats this part of ministry in the Church Heb. 5.12 All their Doctrine is spoken of together distinctly 1 milke for babes 2. Ver. 13. the skilfulnesse in the word of Righteousnesse was for the young man in which he differs from the babe and the Apostle shews it that he that useth milk is unskilfull in the word of Righteousnesse this is for the Pastor 3. Ver. 14. the Apostle saith concerning the growne Christians he should have strong meat Now I come to shew how all these Ministers are but one compleat ministry in the Church of God 1 They preach the same Gospell doing the same work 2 It s the same faith in the beleever as a child and a strong-man onely it is to be perfected in him by degrees according to that way God hath ordained in his word therefore 3 They are all for the same end which is for edification of the whole body 4 They respect the same persons only consisting in government Liberty peace and purity Heb. 13.17 submit your selves to your leaders that is meant of the ministring officers mentioned before and not governing Elders as appears from verse 7. which words will hardly be applyed rightly to the Episcopall Presbyterian or Independent way they having but one Minister in a Church as they call it here are many and in their relation so they are said to be joyned to the flock as no Pastor can be more neerly joyned 1 They watch for their souls 2 They must give an account for them Now I suppose under these two words are comprehended the whole of the ministerial duty together with that in ver 7. where it is said that they have spoken to them the word of God here is both ministry and government but no government is here allowed to any other but those that ministed nor subjection required of the Church to any other which proves that the Church ministery was not a single ministry nor were they governed by an externall power Now where any of these are wanting in a Church 1 There is a deficiency in officers 2 Thence a deficiency in the office 3 Thence a deficiency in the end for which this office was ordained in the Church which is the edifying of the Church and constituting of it 4 A deficiency in the Church it self 1 Where the Church ministry and ordinances are exercised there cannot properly be said to be a Church visible nor can I conceive but that as yet the Church remaines hid in respect of outward government and order to the world and hath not put on its ornaments as yet 2 I commend it to all my brethren the Ministers to judge whether our ministry as now exercised be any other then that which is without the Church and prepares onely for a Church ministry 3 I doe not say but a Church constitution may be without any other ministry then the teachers until that men are become capable of the other parts of ministry when that is come to passe the Church ought not to continue in its deficiency but by all men to have Gods ordinances exalted among them Again not only people Ministers and ordinary ministry in some kinde resembling the Trinity and are three and yet but one but we shall see the whole Scripture is divided among five two for the giving the other ordinary three for the exercise of the word 2 Tim 3.16 17. 1 All Scripture is given by divine inspiration here the Apostles and Prophets worke is set forth 2 The use of it is for the Doctrine which is the Doctors part for a babe in Christ 3 For instruction to righteousnesse this is proper to the ministry of the Pastor in the Congregation of the young-men 4 That the man of God may be perfect this is proper to the Evangelists office 1 That the whole Scriptures are imployed by this ministry 2 That by these they are rightly exercised for Edification 3 That there is nothing wanting in the Scripture to exercise them is a most strong and undenyable ground that this is the Scripture ministry and that ministry that hath more officers or lesse then this is not the true Scripture or Church ministry and this will more clearly appear if you consider 1 That this ministry is bounded and directed in the Gospell which other ministry is not by and in the word which proves it Evangelicall 1 The Doctrine for the teacher which is the ground worke 2 Exhortation to the Pastor which succeeds rightly Dotrine 3. Evangelicall peace to the evangelized christian man 2. Their ministry is bounded in respect of the people to whom it is to be ministred 1. Doctrine is not for all but babes onely 2. Exhortation for young men onely And 3. Evangelicall ministry for the perfect men onely 3. Their ministry is bounded for the place of it which is the Church of God these offices are not to be at all exercised but in the Church The Apostle in 1 Cor. 4.1 saith Let a man account of us as of the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteryes of God Note here the combination implyed in the word us us ministers us stewards 1. Shewing in the ministry is to be more then one 2. That as they are ministers so they are stewards also 3. Of what they are ministers they are also stewards the doctor is minister and steward of the doctrinall part of Scriture the Evangelist of the evangelicall part From hence I desire it may be conscienciously considered of 1. Whether any Sacraments be to be administred untill we are in a Church-way 2. To whose ministry and stewardship they do belong 3. Whether the doctrine of baptisme belonging to the doctor baptism belong not to him alone of which he is both minister and steward 4. The ministry of the sacrament of the Lords Supper to whose stewardship that pertains in the Church 5. Whether any of these may be exercised ordinarily in the Church by any but those to whom they are of God recommended in particular 6. Whether the Apostle did not aim at this in saying the Lord hath not sent me to
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
themselves 2. Not in their Ministerie 3. Not in their societie the strong being commanded to bear with the weak 5. The Apostle proves 6. Hebr. 1. both that the Euangelists Office is the highest and a distinct Office from the Doctours where he sheweth that under that administration the Doctrine of Repentance fromidead Workes is to be left and of the beginnings of Christ under this administration and in saying Let us go to perfection he sheweth that under the former administration these Doctrines which he was now about to teach them had not been taught 1. If their Congregations were according to the Papal congregational wayes and not divided there were no leaving the first Principles because daily some being to be added to the Church and in infancie would then be left to perish for the lacke of meanes of meanes of grace And here fitly may I speak a word of this lack of this dividing the Ministerie to the worke How it is savoured by godly men in the Land 1. A man preaching that Doctrine is preparatory to fit for the Church is not so acceptable to men called and sanctified and this is cried out as a Legal Ministerie others they preach the Gospel grace to men in a natural estate and do apply it in a general way they are hardened by it and these are called Antinomists though not approving the error but how to remedy this that is not apprehended nor indeed can it be but by dividing People and then dividing the Ministerie before which it is nothing but confusion in all that we do Object It is very strange that men in the Euangelical Ministerie must not preach the Doctrine of repentance but leave that Must not repentance be preached to the higher and the lower congregations Resp. The Apostles Answer is not sutable for any estate but that of euangelized Christians which live under the highest dispensations of Gospel mercie as appeares verse 4. chap. 6. where he sheweth what these are that are thus to be lead to perfection they must be men illightened men that have tasted the heavenly gift and are made partakers of the holy Ghost and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the World to come if these fall away there is no preaching repentance to them it is impossible to renew them again thereby and on this ground the Doctrine preached in the first congregation is left in the last 1. Hence see what degrees of common gifts is required of men before they be admitted to be of this fellowship 2. See to what perfection the Saints were brought who lived under this government it is not the governments that are erected by men can have that in it nor that from God which he communicates to his own Church 3. It sheweth that there may be hypocrites men that fall away in the chiefest Societies 4. See the ground of this Gospel dispensation 1. It is to carry men onwards to perfection What a lack do all the Saints of God lack of this helpe from the Ministerie here and in all the World 2. How are the Saints gifts left to wither in them by reason that meanes which should stir up their affections and enlarge their hearts is wanting to them they are onely shut up to lesser and lower things below that measure of manifestation the Spirit hath given to them to apprehend God in and by as the Jewes were under Pedagogues so these are straitned in the present Ministerie 3. Those that fail under this dispensation cannot be restored and therefore no need of the Doctrine of Repentance they being as the Salt which hath lost its savour and cannot be seasoned I know this Doctrine will be mightily distasted of us Ministers we having desires naturally in us as we have heard to be in the Apostles every one desiring to be chief and few content to deny himselfe so as to serve with others in the Gospel 1. Brethren let us consider Do we Christs worke or do we our own if Christs let us take a care and do it as he will have it done 2. As it is said of Christ when he washt his Disciples feet he said he did this for example so Christs Ministerie being at first but preparatory sheweth us that he was content to do any thing for his Church and shews how we should follow his example herein and he presseth Peter yet he loved him he should feed his lambs as well as his sheep 3 Consider our parts they are not sufficient for the dispencing of the lowest administration for saith the Apostle we are the savour of life to life in those that are saved and of death to death in those that perish and who is sufficient for these things here he saith we joyning as fellow workers in their other part of work with himself and for all or any he implyeth none is worthy no not man nor Angel the lowest place will take up all thy gifts knowledge wisdom love mercy heavenly mindednesse and finde thy heart much wanting to God in the execution of it both to thy self this ministry God and his flock 4 We had rather teach in a confused way to the multitude in an unprofitable way then in Gods way to doe good among them our very naturall opposition to this worke and way proves the divinenesse and excellency of it 5 God saith 1 Tim. 3.14 if a man have obtained the office of a Deacon he hath obtained a good degree in the house of God and David he esteems highly of a door keepers place in the house of God 6 If God hath gifted us for the more eminent places he will in his time call us thereunto before which it is not good for us to seek any or exercise any 1 By this means men in the ministry that is without the Church ministry will come to have their gifts known and parts exercised 2 The Church ministry to be sound and incorrupt that the Chuch come not to be corrup by false teachers 3 Mens gifts for teaching highly improved 4 Mens abilities to the uttermost manifested Apl. Let us take heed of that of James 4.5 the spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy marke your own spirit how it is with God when God requires thee to part with any thing for the Gospell how apt it is to swell against it and argue against it denie it condemn it and also speake hardly of it as you know the Scribes and Pharises did to Paul concerning the way of God I can the more freely speake of this because mine own heart abundanly abounds with these dayly in me being indeed a fruit more bitter then death 2 Cor. 1.5 We have made our selves your servants for Christs sake remember this and we cannot refuse any place we shall be imployed in the Church at all unlesse publik we say so Complementally onely to God and the Church Again hath not Christ said he that will be greatest let him be your servant yea and did not the Evangelist in
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
against him so will Truth be in power when it s clearly revealed men will not be able so to dispute against it as now they do there will not be that ground for Reason to object against it the Word agrees with it it will condemn every tongue shall speak against it For Independency I agree with it that Corinth Jerusalem and Ephesus is said to be but one Church though it consisted of three several congregations 2. That this Church was ruled by Officers of its own and not by any other Officers of another Church but that all Officers and Offices ought to be compleat in her by which all things ought to be done by her alone 3. I agree with it that people ought to be congregated in a Church-fellowship from the world Applic. is That I verily suppose that Independency comes neerest the minde of Christ of any Yet lest I should be thought to be engaged to them more then others I shall next shew in what I disagree 1 She hath not her full ministry 2 Not the right use of her ministry 3 Not the right way of making her members 4 Not the right way to increase the gifts of God in her members as ordained of the Lord in the word 5 Not the consultations ought to be had and held with the other Ministers to be had in and to be of its own consociation of whom it may be said as Solomon said of others that a three-fold is not easily broken In the government of the Church clearly appears according to the wisdom of God that all Government is comprehended in it Monarchy in that there was one chief Pastor Aristocracy in the consociation of Ministers and Elders Democracy in that many things which concerned the whole Church were to be done by and with consent of the Church 1 Bishops they with the help of Elders they together oppresse the people depriving them of all power 2 The Bishops they grew too great for the Elders and oppressed them 3 The Pope he grew too great for the Bishops now it was all their worke to adulterate the way of Christ in the Churches onely to feed their own greatnesse and further their own vile ends But the grand corruption of all was in that resemblance of Monarchy set up in the Church against Christ against his Law to the casting down of Christ and his worship Now in the revolution of the Churches estate it comes again by degrees to its restauration 1 The Bishops they cast off the Popes yoake 2 By the same argument Bishops cast off the Popes yoake the Presbytery cast off the Bishops 3 The people with a ministry joyn together against Presbytery for Independency 4 In the end when God shall restore the Church to its former estate all these severall wayes of government shall be reestated in the Church again without clashing one with another which now as divided are in some kinde used as it were to the destruction one of another yea of all we are willing to have one alone without the other and so strive to destroy the way God hath constituted in his Church making one form to serve all when all are to be exercised joyntly in the house of God for the more excellent perfect and exact government of it which by no means can be done by any of those powers alone dividedly which what wee doe in seeking one or setting up one above another or against another to the destruction one of other is not easily apprehended especially if wee consider 1. That the priority of the Evangelist was but in one Church-ministry not such as to have it to be as the Papacy or Episcopacy over whole countreys and counties 2. That the consociation or combination of the Presbytery was not over a Nation to exalt it over all but of the ministry joyned in fellowship for the edification of one onely Church consisting of onely an Evangelist Pastor and Teacher ordinarily 3. The Independency was not such as was of one onely minister and members joyned to him with helping governours in whom onely all Church-power should reside but was to be joyned in a combination with other ministers of the same church who were to have their helpers added to them for as Solomon saith In the multitude of Counsellors there is safety 1. The priority of the Evangelist is kept in its limits by the joyning of the Pastor and Teacher with him 2. The power of the Presbytery is moderated by the Elders exceeding them in number 3. The whole Presbytery if they are wanting to the church in things wherein peace and purity do consist are to be subject to the church to give an accompt thereof unto it Acts 11.2 3. Peter having been with Cornelius a Gentile was questioned by some of those that were of the Church at Jerusalem for going in to the uncircumcised and eating with them to which charge of the members Peter gives an accompt rehearsing the matter from the beginning and expounding it unto them 1 Cor. 5.7 the Apostle writes to the whole church to purge out the old leaven Now this was the work of all not of some as appears by the means ordained hereunto which was excommunication not practised then as done by Episcopacy in which the whole power of the Church was clean taken from them 4. Without all question the saying of Christ Go and tell the Church who had no respect to the then Jewish Church but the constitution of Christian Church to be doth imply that in the Church did reside authority and power to punish offenders with ecclesiasticall censures and without them it cannot be done which was the gracious provision God was pleased to make for the Church and the members thereof That this was not meant the Jewish Church appears because there was but little good to be done by telling them of any thing who had cast out all of their congregations that did confesse the name of Jesus Christ 2 He begins in the beginning of the chapter with the Kingdome of heaven which was the Gospel-government Matth. 19.1 and was the cause of what sayings ensued concerning dealing with an offending brother 3. Christ to clear up his meaning in these words to his disciples understandings fetcheth another parable taken from the likenesse of the Kingdome of heaven which was the estate of the Church to be under Gospel-government ver 23. Object Christ meant here the Church of the Jewes there was no other nor could the Disciples understand of what he spake if not of the Jews Church Respon They then understood nothing whatever he taught for he onely taught the mystery of the Kingdom Obj. How should they understand it Reso The holy Spirit tels us that it was given to them to know the mysteryes of the kingdome so that the mysteries and hidden things of the Gospel and Government were in some measure revealed to them though not as after the descending of the holy Spirit on them And here it will not be amisse to
that power and authority given to these that Christ hath given to his Church for the Saints to have exercised in the Church among them 1 For removing scandalous things and persons 2 For advice and counsel 3 For exhortation reproof 2 It is for the work of the ministry 1 These all only can do but the work of the ministry that is to be done in the Church I speak not here of that part of ministry exercised to those without the Church 2 Without all these as I have formerly shewed they are and ought to be in the Church the work of the ministry cannot be done according to Gospel rules 3 There is no other worke to be done by the ministry either in teaching or ruling then what is to be done by these only 4 The Church is not nor cannot be sufficiently provided for without all these but it must be imperfect and must be straightned in the worke of the ministry which is the onely worke we ought to strive to have wrought amongst us 5 Ordination being a Presbyterial or ministerial act is in every right constituted Church virtually as other ordinances of the Church are 6 Hence the Church hath all power in it selfe that is or can be for its good communicated of Christ unto it and needs not to go out of it self to any other for help 1 Conclusion Hence is this that there is no other way to be found out more mighty to convince gainesayers to order Assem Ites to build up the Saints maintain unity and peace to restore the humbled to cast out the profane or to doe whatsoever else is to be done ministerially in or for the Church then what these and none but these are to doe 2 Nor hath God left to his Church any other way or means to doe it and especiall care is to be had what authority is exercised what way is erected in the Church of Christ over his people that it prove not Antichristian and turn not unto tyranny over the Saints God complains those that ruled over his people made them to cry and shews Gods people can bear no yoake as Christs that is gentle nor no yoake but Christs the other yoake is an unequall yoake they can never draw easie in it 3 The third thing this ministry is to doe is to edifie the body more then these three things remaines not to be done by the ministry for the church on earth 1 The Apostles and Prophets gave the Scriptures as that by which it may be edifyed 2 The Prophets forwarned her of her sad times and told her again of her glad times to come 3 The Doctor he drew the milke out of the word for the children 4 The Pastor brought forth thence the young mans meat 5 The Evangelist he furnish from thence the strong mans table with strong meat fit to feed him Now judge and tell me without which of these the church can be and how sufficiently God hath provided for his church and people in these 1 Who can preach without the Apostles 2 Who can comfort without the Prophets 3 How can the child live without milke 4 How shall the other christians live without meat Obj. This were not provision sufficient against Heresies Resp Let us take heed of questioning the Lords wisdome in the order taken for the subsistence of the church as if the Lord knew not there would be heresies because he provided not sufficiently against them or that he knew not best how or by whom or by what means to preserve the church against it 2 God doubtlesse will not be wanting to his own Way and whenever his way shall be erected amongst us there will be other manner of gifts communicated by him to the church to doe this and all other things for its good 3. See how little good Counsels have done in this kind since that the frame of Gospel government hath been subverted 4. The Apostle shews ver 14. that this is the only means to preserve men from being carryed away by every wind of doctrine or by the cunning craft of men that lye in wait to deceive 1. More then this what is to be done 2. Shall we now Idolize our own wisdom or submit to Gods way in this matter If we oppose here against God shall we not kick against the pricks 1 Tim. 3.15 The Church is called the pillar and ground of truth as rightly constituted until the Church was driven away the enemy could never set up their heresies so as after Conclusion 1. Let us set up Gods way and that will pul down heresie dissentions will fall quickly and quietly Gods weapons hereunto are full of all might ours full of weakness 2. No Authority is to be made use of in a right constituted Church but that God hath errected only Illustration 1. Gal. 1. The Apostle writes to the Churches of Galatia 1. In Galatia were more Churches then one and so no national Church 2. These Churches are written all unto to amend their corruptions they had within them each one distinctly without any command of acting one with or over another as perfect bodies furnisht with compleat Authority thereunto without any extrinsecal power joyned unto it for assistance The main ground in Scripture brought to prove the Combination of a Ministry in Classes and in provincial and national Assembly I suppose is taken from Acts 15.2 where it is said the Church of Antioch did send to the Apostles and Elders of the Church of Jerusalem about the question Resp 1. This in sending to the Apostles was not to send to Members of another Church but of their own Church the Apostles being Members of all the Churches in the world 2. In the Apostles times the word was not written nor the mind of God fully known therefore no doubtful thing was to be resolved but by their advice as the Epistles of Corinth shew in which it appears the Corinthians had sought to advice of the Apostles in very many cases Object They had Apostolical Authority before they need not to send to Jerusalem for that Paul himself being with them Resp The Church was not builded on one Apostle but the Apostles Ephes 2.20 2. God required that every truth should be confirmed by the Testimony of two or three so that to Apostolical Testimony it was necessary there should be two or three for to confirm it yea God saith there are three that do bear witness in Heaven it self so that it was in this case for confirmation of the Church in the truth that there should be the Testimony of two or three Apostles to witness to it Object They write to the Apostles that indeed was no extrinsecal Authority but here they write to the Elders also that were at Jerusalem and this was extrinsecal Resp. The Apostles and Elders were but one and the same men they were not several persons and here as I suppose is the great mistake in the controversie 1. I have shewed before how James Peter