Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A27034
|
A second sheet for the ministry iustifying our calling against Quakers, seekers, and papists and all that deny us to be the ministers of Christ by Richard Baxter.
|
Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.
|
1657
(1657)
|
Wing B1404; ESTC R17263
|
18,288
|
16
|
A Second Sheet for the MINISTRY Iustifying our CALLING Against Quakers Seekers and Papists and all that deny us to be the Ministers of Christ By Richard Baxter LONDON Printed by R. White for Nevil Simmons Bookseller in Kederminster 1657. A second Sheet for the MINISTRY Justifying our Calling against Quakers Seekers and Papists and all that deny us to be the Ministers of Christ THe corruption of the Romish Church being most in the errors and vices of the Priests which made men abhor the offering of the Lord 1 Sam. 2.17 the Reproach which they brought upon themselves did much prepare men to hearken to the Reformers The observing of this and of the necessary dependance of the people on their Pastors hath caused the Papists to bend their force against the Ministers of the Reformed Churches and to use all their wit to defame their persons and callings and make them seem ignorant unworthy or no Ministers to the people On this errand they send abroad their agents This is the saving Gospel that the Seekers Quakers and their brethren preach that the Scripture is not the Gospel or word of God and that we are no true Ministers Whatever Doctrine we are preaching the Opposers work is to call us deceivers and ask How we prove our selves true Ministers My work therefore at this time for the sake of the ignorant in our Assemblies shall be to acquaint them with our answer to this demand And I shall give it you in order in certain Propositions Prop. 1. Both in the Old and New Testament there is mention of two distinct sort of Ministers of Gods appointment First such as received some new Revelation either a Law or a particular Message immediately from God so that the people could not be sure that their Doctrine was true till they were sure that the men were sent of God These were called Prophets in the Old Testament and Apostles Prophets c. in the New So Moses received the Law from God and the following Prophets their particular Messages So the Apostles received the Gospel from Christ and so did the seventy and other Disciples that conversed with him and other Prophets and Evangelists had it by immediate inspiration All these were Necessarily by Miracles or some infallible Evidence to prove their own call before the hearers could receive their Doctrine for this was their Message The Lord hath commanded me to say thus or thus to you or The word which the Lord spake to me is thus or thus This sort of Ministers the Papists and Seekers do confess But besides these there is a second sort of true Ministers whose Office is not to receive from God any new Doctrine Law or Message but to proclaim the Laws already delivered and teach men the doctrine already revealed and to Oversee and govern the Churches of Christ according to his Laws and to go before the people in the worship of God The Prophets and Apostles did both these both Reveal the doctrine which they received from Christ and teach and guide the Church by it when they had done but the latter sort of Ministers do but the later sort of the work The Papists and Seekers cheat men by jumbling all together as if there were no Ministers of Gods appointment but those of the former sort and therefore they call for miracles to prove our Ministry Here therefore I shall first prove that the second sort of Ministers are of Gods institution 2. That such need not prove their calling by miracles though yet God may work Miracles by them if he please 3. That we are true Ministers of Christ of this sort 1. Christ found such Ministers under the Law that were to teach and Rule by the Law before received and not to receive new Laws or Messages I mean the ordinary Priests and Levites as distinguished from Prophets These Priests were to keep the Law and teach it the people and the people were to seek it at their mouth and by it they were to judge mens causes and also they were to stand between the people and God in publique worship as is exprest Deut. 31.26 Josh. 23.6 Neh. 8.1 2 3 8 18. 9.3 Levit. 1. 2. 4. 5. 7. 13. 14. throughout Num. 5. 6. Deut. 17.12 Mal. 2.7 Ier. 18.18 The Prophet had visions but the Priest had the Law Ezek. 7.26 Isa 8.16 20. Hag. 2.11 12. Num. 1.50 1 Chron. 9.26 16.4 2 Chron. 19.11 20.19 30.17 22. He was called A Teaching Priest 2 Chron. 15.13 Lev. 10 10 11. Deut. 24.8 2 Chron. 17.7.9 Ezek. 44.23 2 Chron. 35.3 And Christ himself sends the cleansed to the Priest and commandeth them to hear the Pharises that sat in Moses Chair though they were no Prophets so that besides the Prophets that had their message immediately from God there were Priests that were called the Ministers of the Lord Joel 1.9.2.17 and Levites that were not to bring new Revelations but to Teach and Rule and worship according to the old For Moses of old time hath in every City them that preach him being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day Acts 15.21 The Jews rejected Christ because they knew him not nor the voyce of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath day Acts 13.27 And even unto this day when Moses is read the Vail is on their heart 2 Cor. 3.15 And they that would not believe Moses and the Prophets thus read and preached neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead Luke 16.29 31. 2. And as Priests and Levites were distinct from Prophets before Christ so Christ appointed besides the Apostles and Prophetical revealers of his Gospel a standing sort of Ministers to 1. Teach 2. Rule 3. And worship according to the Gospel which the former had Revealed and attested and proved to the world These were called Overseers or Bishops Presbyters or Elders Pastors and Tâ—achers and also the Deacons were joyned to assist them Acts 14.23 They ordained them Elders not Prophets or Apostles in every Church Tit. 1.5 Titus was to ordain Elders in every City Timothy hath full direction for the Ordaining of Bishops or Elders and Deacons 1 Tim. 3. That their work was not to bring new Doctrine but to Teach Rule and worship according to that Received I now prove 2 Tim. 2.2 The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses the same commit thou to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also Mark that its the same and not a new Doctrine and that as heard from Paul among many witnesses and not as received immediately from God and others were thus to receive it down from Timothy And v. 15. Study to shew thy self approved unto God a workman that needeth not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth It is not to bring new Truths but rightly to divide the old And 2 Tim. 1.13 Hold fast the form of words which thou hast heard of me not which thou
to the next Proposition 3. This ordinary Ministry for Teaching Ruling and Publike worship was ordained by Christ to continue till his coming and doth yet continue and did not cease when the extraordinary Ministry ceased I prove it Matth. 16.18 Vpon this Rock will I build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it The Church never did nor can subsist without its Officers who are an Essential part of it as it is a Political Body and the first and most eminent part as it is a Community And therefore if the Ministry be extinct the gates of hell have prevailed against the Church And then Christ is overcome or hath broke his Promise And then he were not Christ so that if Christ be Christ the Church and Ministry continue So Luke 1.33 He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdom there shall be no end Isa. 9.6 7. Of the encrease of his government and Peace there shall be no end Psalm 145.13 Thy Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations Christ ruleth by his Officers in his Church If Church or Ministry had an end his Kingdom had an end and he raigned nor for ever Matth. 28.20 Lo I am with you alway even to the end of the world To this express promise Clem. Writer hath no wiser an answer but that It is conditional If they teach men to observe all things that Christ hath commanded then he will be with them else not Repl. This is your forgery here is no such words but an absolute promise His being with them is to support and help them in his work And will you feign Christ to promise them help on condition they do it without The further cavils against this Text and others the London Ministers in their Vindication have answered at large Eph. 4.11 12 13. The Pastors and Teachers are given to the Church for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the saith and of the knowledge of the son of God to a perfect man c. Extraordinary and ordinary Officers are here conjoyned who between them are to perfect the building the first laying the foundation and the others building thereon 1 Tim. 6.13 14. I give thee charge in the sight of God that thou keep this commandment without spot unrebukable unto the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ which must needs extend to his successors The faithful and wise stewards that give the children their meat in due season will be found so doing by the Lord at his coming Luke 12.42 43. And it is not till the last day that Christ will give up the Kingdom to the Father 1 Cor. 15.25 2. The Apostles actually setled an ordinary Ministry in their time as is proved 3. There are commands for setling successors of these as 2 Tim. 2.2 Tit. 1.5 as is proved 4. These Ministers are described and the way of their ordination setled by Canons 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. 5. We find the several Angels of the Churches in their places Revel. 2. 3. and promises to some of them for the future with a command Hold fast till I come 2.23 and 3.10 I will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come on all the world Behold I come quickly 6. Christ hath commanded the Ministerial work to continue to the end As the Preaching of the word must be to all Nations and every creature Matth. 28.19 Mark 16.15 And these most cruel men would have all the Preachers give over their work and leave the world to perish in Infidelity So for the Assembling of our selves together and exhorting one another we are commanded not to forsake it as is the manner of some and so much the more as we see the day approaching Heb. 10.23 24 25. So that the nearer we are to Christs coming the closer must we stick to Church-communion and holy Assemblies considering that it s but a little while and he that comes will come and shall not tarry ver. 37. God doth on purpose forbear his coming because he is long suffering and will continue the means to call men to repentance and then the day of the Lord will come suddenly 2 Pet. 3.9 10. The word of the Lord endureth for ever and this is the word which by the Gospel is preached to you 1 Pet. 1.25 The Lords Supper is Instituted to be used to shew the Lords death till he come 1 Cor. 11.26 Church-government or Discipline is a fixed Ordinance Mat. 18.15 16 17. And if the work continue the workmen must continue 7. The mercy of God and the Efficacy of Christs blood and the necessities of the Church continue we still need a Teaching Ministry Heb. 5.11 and for our need it is Instituted till the Church be perfect that we be not as children toss'd up and down Eph. 4.13 14. What enemies to us and to the love and mercy of God are they that would perswade men that he so quickly withdrew so great a mercy when the gifts and calling of God are without Repentance 8. The Law and its Priesthood was not removed but by the Glory of a better Law and Ministry And Christ is the Mediator of a better Covenant and Promises Heb. 7.22 8.7 8. Therefore he will not deal so much worse 9. Christ telleth us that a wise man will consider whether he can go through with it before he build or make war Therefore he would not himself begin to build his Church and enter himself the Captain of our Salvation and presently let his enterprize fall 10. If the Ministry continue not then the Church continueth not for as the Head Liver and Stomack or Lungs are to the body so is the ministry to the Church 1 Cor. 12.13 19 20 28 29. They Plant and water it 1 Cor. 3.6 and build it ver. 10. For how shall we believe on him of whom we have not heard and how shall we hear without a Preacher and how shall they preach unless they be sent Rom. 10.14 But the Church doth continue for first else Christ were no longer the Head of it the King Prophet or Priest and so not Christ But he is a Priest for ever abiding continually he continueth ever and hath an unchangeable Priesthood he ever liveth to make intercession for those that come to God by him Heb. 7.3 22 24 25. 2. Those that deny the Church must needs deny themselves Christians and members of that Church 3. There is no Salvation promised but to the Church Eph. 5.23 25 26 27. Mark 16.16 4. Blindness is on the Jews but till the fulness of the Gentiles be come in and so all Israel shall be saved Therefore it is most evident that the Gentile Church shall not cease till the fulness have prepared for the re-ingrassing of the Jews Rom. 11.25 26. 5. It is an everlasting Kingdom which