Christ Church He was not long Provost but he was promoted to be Bishop of Kilmore where I being then the Dean it gave me the occasion to be more known to him In relation to the Liturgie of the Church of England he gave this direction viz. to observe whatsoever was enjoyned in the Rubrick without addition or diminution not to be led by custome but by rule And in speciall he ordered that the whole Doxology to the blessed Trinity Glory be to the Father c. should be alwayes read by the Minister alone without the respond of the people and the like for the Psalms Te Deum c. with the rest appointed to be read between and after the Lessons though the custome had prevailed otherwise in most Churches The Communion Table was placed by him not at the East end but within the body of the Chancell and for other Innovations elsewhere introduced he observed them not His judgement being that those were as well Non-conformists who added of their own as those who came short of what was enjoyned as he that addes an inch to the measure disownes it for a rule as well as he that cuts an inch off He was a careful observer of the Lords Day both in the publick and private at one of the clock in the after-noon he had then the Book of Common-Prayer read in the Irish tongue in the Church for the benefit of the Irish at which he was constantly present himself who in that little space had obtained the knowledge of the language And as the New Testament had been long before translated into Irish so had he caused the Old Testam to be accordingly was almost ready for the press And Whereas Doctor Heylene hath censured the late Primate very liberally for his approbation of the Articles of Ireland he must take Bishop Bedell into the number also who was so much for them that I was present when at the examination of an able Minister then to be ordained he did in the Church examin him in each or most of the Articles in a solemn meeting of the Clergy of that Diocesse for that end at least 2 full hours whereby our votes might be also given for his approbation At his Courts of Iurisdiction he frequently sate himself where he caused alwayes some of the Clergy if any were there to sit covered on each side of him with liberty to give their opinion in each case and at a sentence he asked their votes man by man In some degree reducing then his Episcopall to a Synodicall Government according to the Primates proposall by way of accommodation an 1641. It was his custome usually on the Lord's dayes to preach upon those select portions of Scripture commonly called the Epistles and Gospels of the day At the Visitations he usually preached himselfe The Procurations were bestowed in defraying the charges of the Ministers and the rest given to some pious uses After dinner and supper a Chapter was constantly read at his Table and some time spent by him in opening some difficulties in it The publick Catechisme he had branched out into 52 parts whereof he appointed one to be constantly explain'd in the Afternoons in each Church within his Diocess He was very indulgent to the Irish Natives in the preferring and encouraging of them for the Ministery and yet such was their Ingratitude i. e. the Popish party that in that horrid rebellion 1641. they exempted him not from their rapine but seized upon his cattle pillaged his house ransack't and spoyled his Library put him into a Castle standing in a Lough called Lough-outre about a mile and a halfe from his house where he was imprisoned that winter And at length being permitted to come out died in a poor house of one who was an Irish-man and a Protestant and continued faithfull to him by whose means an Hebrew manuscript Bible of his which he brought from Venice was preserved and is now in Emmanuel Colledge Library in Cambridge He was buried acccording to his own appointment in the Church-yard of the Cathedral of Kilmore where he had caused his wife and son some years before to be buried His judgement being against burials in Churches as an abuse introduced by pride superstition I conclude only with this if the Moderation of this Bishop had been observed elsewhere I believe Episcopacy might have been kept upon its wheeles A Letter of Sir Henry Wotton's to the late King in the behalf of Bishop Bedel when he was desired by the Archbishop of Armagh to accept of the Provostship of Dublin Colledge in Ireland which hath been lately published in the Life of Sir Henry Wotton May it please your most Gracious Majesty HAving been informed that certain persons have by the good wishes of the Arch-Bishop of Armagh been directed hither with a most humble Petition unto your Majesty that you will be pleased to make Mr. William Bedell now resident upon a small Benefice in Suffolk Governour of your Colledg at Dublin for the good of that society and my self being required to render unto your Majesty some testimony of the said William Bedell who was long my Chaplain at Venice in the time of my employment there I am bound in all conscience and truth so far as your Majesty will vouchsafe to accept my poore judgement to affirm of him that I think hardly a fitter man for that charge could have been propounded unto your Majesty in your whole Kingdom for singular erudition and piety Conformitie to the rites of the Church and Zeal to advance the Cause of God wherein his Travels abroad were not obscure in the time of the Excommunication of the Venetians For may it please your Majesty to know that this is the man whom Padro Paule took I may say into his very soule with whom he did communicate the inwardest thoughts of his heart from whom he professed to have received more knowledge in all Dâ—vinity both Scholastical and positive then from any that he had ever practiced in his dayes of which all the passages were well known to the King your Father of most blessed memory And so with your Majestie 's good favour I will end this needlesse office for the generall fame of his Learning his Life and Christian temper and those religious labours which himself hath dedicated to your Majesty do better describe him then I am able Your Majestie 's most humble and faithfull Servant H. WOTTON A Postscript Mr. Thomas Pierce hath in an Appendage to a late book of his printed five Letters wrot unto me by him in each of which I cannot but much acknowledge his respects to me To the four first I gave little else but brief returnes of the like to him which consisting chiefly either in the asserting of the nearnesse of his judgement to the Primate's or the remotenesse of Mr. Barlee's I did not conceive it fitting for me to interpose and where there was a professed full agreement it was no good office in
is observable the argument which he useth he produceth as a Maxime then in his time taken for granted not to be proved but supposed no man then so much as questioning the necessity of it for though there were then divers disputes about discipline and ceremonies in which this learned Authour then appeared yet both parties esteemed alike of Ordination to be a sacred institution none presuming to take upon them the office of the Ministery without it Well this I conceive to be the sence here of laying on of hands viz. That it was a Principle of the Catechisme taught to Christians at their first reception that there was to be a successive ordination or setting apart of persons for the Ministery for an authorative preaching of faith and repentance and administration of Sacraments called laying on of hands from the outward rite as the Lords Supper by breaking of bread And this was the judgement of the most Reverend and learned Father of our Church the late Arch-Bishop of Armagh which hath the rather emboldned me to employ my thoughts in the confirmation of it and surely if it be a fundamentall the knowledge of the sense of it is of a greater consequence then to be slighted First it is considerable how well this doth sute with Saint Pauls expression elsewhere speaking of Ordination 2 Tim. 1. 6. Stirre up the gift of God that is in thee by the putting on of my hands 1 Tim. 4. 14. neglect not the gift that is in thee given thee with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery both thus sufficiently reconciled Saint Paul was the principal the Presbyters were his assistants according to the constitutions and custome of our Church in Ordination The Bishop is not to do it alone but with the assistance of at least three or four of the Ministers which was after the pattern of the Primitive times The injunction of Saint Paul for it is accordingly 2 Tim. 5. 22. Lay hands suddenly on no man i. e. ordain And it is the more observable that all are from one and the same Apostle it being one argument to prove Saint Paul was the Authour of this Epistle to the Hebrews by the use of this expression here which is not in the Epistles of any other Apostle 'T is true we read of extraordinary gifts of tongues c. given by laying on of hands in the Acts but they cannot be understood here for they were but temporary and ceased like Scaffolds which after the building of an house are taken down but what is meant here must be as the foundation which remains to the last and all falls with it that agrees to an Ordained Ministery which must continue for the preaching of faith and repentance and administration of Sacraments to the end of the world In which sence is that last speech of our Saviour Matth. 28. Lo I am with you unto the end of the world it cannot be limited to the persons of the Apostles with whose deaths those Administrations did not expire but must be understood collectively of the whole body of the Ministery then as it were in their loines who should succeed in preaching and Baptisme and through whom a successive powerful assistance of the spirit is to be transferred in and through those unto the worlds end This power of officiating was powred on the head of the Apostles and descendeth to the skirts of their garments in these dayes And how like a fundamental Ordination is may easily appear it began at the foundation of the Church and was one of the first stones laid in this Edifice and it must continue to the last for as the Lords Supper is to continue till the second coming of Christ so the Ministers of it have the same term also Ephes. 4. 13. He gave some Pastors Teachers c. Till we all come unto a perfect man unto the measure of the Stature of the fullnesse of Christ c. Rom. 10. 15. Ye have a building of four or five stories high of severall Acts and Ministrations but Ordination of a Ministery is the Foundation Salvation is at the top of this Iacobs Ladder but Ordination at the bottome Whosoever will call on the name of the Lord shall be saved but how shall they call on him on mhom they have not believed how shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Preacher and how shall they preach except they be sent c. See praying believing hearing preaching and then as the foundation of all a Mission of Preachers for that end what is said of the Commandements of the Law Iames 2. he that offends in one is guilty of all such is the concatenation of the principles of the Gospel break one link and all are endangered He that renounceth his Baptisme renounceth his Faith into which he was baptized even the death and resurrection of our Saviour signified by it Colos. 2. Consider what ye do in renouncing the Ministery by whom ye were baptized and have believed 1 Cor. 3. 5. if any efficacy be in the Sacrament according to the qualification authoritative faculty of the person officiating see what hazard you run in rejecting of such so ordained Ye know the speech of our Saviour Matth. 23. 17. He that swears by the Altar sweareth by it and all things thereon and is not the contrary true he that despiseth the Altar despiseth not only that but all that depend on it If the Ordination or Mission of the person through Gods institution be of any efficay to what is officiated I may leave the application to your selves Consider what ye do in a totall renouncing of an ordained Ministery as to Baptisme and believing through whom as instrumentals ye did partake of them If the foundation fall how can the building stand As ye see here Saint Paul makes an ordained Ministery a fundamental principle of Christian Religion So much for the sence of the Text what is meant by laying on of hands Now if Ordination be a fundamental principle hence then these 2 things may be inferred 1. A necessity of continuing an ordained Ministery in the Church and the neglect of it to be the underming of the foundation of it 2. That Ordination is not only an internal call from God but an externall from Man for 't is denominated here from laying on of hands First a necessity of continuing such a distinct Order and profession for preaching and other sacred Administratihns This subject would heretofore have been accounted needlesse to be handled but it is necessary and seasonable now there being many set against the very function as if any man might of himself assume it To such I shall represent these considerations following viz. 1. That in all ages there have been some persons set apart for such divine Offices even before the Law or constitution of Aaron and the Levites as since see some appointed Exod. 19. 22. Let the Priests which come near to
manifold grace or gift of God by the divers sorts of them to be administred food clothing relieving of the sick c. according as they are distinctly remembred at the last day Matth. 25. And are not all bountiful charitable persons the Lords Stewards in dispensing these things to those of his houshold of Faith so that upon these considerations the place appears to to be farre off from any application of it to Preaching Indeed the next verse may be so meant If any man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God c. but yet to be understood with this limitation viz. of a man ordained and constituted as we have said for that end In a word to allow all sorts of men to be preachers is to make the whole body an eye a tongue c. and if so as the Apostle saith where is the hearing are all teachers are all interpreters 't is an argument from the absurdity as if ye would expect the foot to see the hand to speak In Saint Pauls dayes it was said Who is sufficient for these things and shall all persons think themselves so now Saint Paul bids Timothy give himself wholly to it i. e. to meditation study reading and not to intangle himself with the things of this world which might take him off and may they now meet in tradesmen and manufactures and the office be performed without either Is there not a distinction made between the Church of Ephesus and the elders of it Acts 20. between the Church and the Angel of it Revel 2. which if it be not meant of one person the Bishop as Ignatius stiles him so about twelve years after which was the judgement of the Primate yet must at least be collectively meant of the Bishop the Ministery of it Is there not a distinction between the Saints of Philippi the Bishops Deacons are there not some said to be over the Thessalonians in the Lord and preaching admonishing called in special their work as appropriated to them for which he chargeth them to know them to esteem highly of them as the like in his last charge to the Church of the Hebrews cap. ult 7. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you in the Lord and that watch for your soules as they that must give an accompt and if that were the speciall office of the ministery then to have curam animarum why not now or where doth it appear the term is expired I conclude this point with an observation of the several steps of our declinings or defections of later yeares First we were offended at some titles of the Ministery then at the office it selfe First at such a Ministery so ordained then at the ordaining of any Ministery at all First the solemn Assemblies in publick were forsaken and a retreat made into corners then the Preachers themselves slighted called by Solomon the Masters of Assemblies First a ceremony in baptizing of Infants scrupled at then the Baptisme of Infants themselves nay the Sacrament of Baptisme by water called into question also First the Communion forborne out of offence to some gesture now the Sacrament it selfe neglected and contemned as if we may now live above and without Ordinances without any ordained Ministry to administer each as indeed the one must follow the other This is the train laid to blow us up what Iacob said after Ioseph was lost and Benjamin must go too All these things are against me may be our application for the Church If any thirty years agone should have foretold that this Garden of God should have brought forth these weeds that such Tenents should have so prevailed among us he would have been by the most religious persons of that age taken for one that dreamed and they ready to have answered for their Mother-Church as Hazael did for himself when the Prophet told him what evill he should be the Authour of Let us be of moderate spirits and not run beyond the bounds of any president in the Primitive times walk not in wayes not cast up Jerem. 6. 16. enquire for the old paths where is the good way and walk therein be not like those in the next words that said we will not walk in them but in new ones according to your own fancies Let the Tribe of Levi be purged but let not the physick be so strong as to destroy them Saint Paul magnified his own office this is but to support it from being trodden under feet and the end is your good that in these distracted times ye might not be without leaders so ordained and fitted to guide your feet in the way of peace and so much for the first A necessity of an ordained Ministery Now the second observation is that Ordination is not onely an internal Call of God but an external of man for so 't is denominated by that very act laying on of hands i. e. implying the hand of God is not all in the holy frame of the heart of the person by his spirit requisite in every true believer but there must be the hands of men in the designation of him in his name also The first was wont to be asked the person ordained viz. Whether in his heart or conscience he found himself truly called to the Ministry according to the will of our Lord Iesus Christ. This perswasion of his gave a capacity but the authority actually conferred on him was by the imposition of hands Ability and faithfulnesse were the qualifications but the commission to officiate was transferred to Timothy 2 Eph. 2. 2. by that means Ye know those two memento's of Saint Paul to him Neglect not the gift 1 Tim. 4. 14. Stirre up the gift of God which is in thee 2 Tim. 1. 16. by the laying on of my hands and of the hands of the Presbytery if it should be asked What is here meant by the gift I conceive there is no necessity of understanding it either of gifts of ability or saving gifts of the Spirit for as the former doubtlesse were found in Timothy before his ordination and the latter from his childhood education 2 Epist. cap. 3. 15. cap. 1. 5. so 't is a doubt if it were in the power of Timothy to transferre either of those by this means they being to be left to Christ himself who enlightens every man that cometh into the world and to that holy Spirit who blowes when and where it listeth but the surest sence is to take it for the authority given him for the officiating and exercising these abilities and transferring of it unto others And in this sence I grant gifted men may preach and perform other ministerial acts i. e. who with the internall have received this externall power and authority also according to Christs ordinance through imposition of hands Indeed the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is often taken for internall abilities and 't is not improbable but at the solemn meeting of the Church
went away the third time and prayed saying the same words it was at three severall times and with some distance between each and which is more observable it was at his Passion In afflictions we are most apt for various expressions yet even then he that was the Wisdome of the Father and excelled in language the tongues of men and Angels and could have abounded in the variety of Elegancy yet varied not the phrase but kept the same words surely it was for our example and to teach us that prayer consists not in words but in the earnestnesse of affection let no man except against the use of the same prayer twice Our Saviour used it thrice and as the Apostle saith he was heard in what he prayed and 't is the observation of the above-named that our Saviour observed a set form of prayer upon the Crosse used before by David Psal. 22. 1. as in the Type My God my God why hast thou forsaken me as those words Into thy hands I commend my Spirit are out of Psal. 31. 5. 3. He doth not only prescribe a form of words in prayer but in the Sacraments 1. Baptisme Mat. 28. Go and Baptise them in the name of the Father of the Son and of the holy Ghost Which Form of words the ancient Church ever observed without any variation as containing with the Element of water the matter and form of Baptisme and in the Lords Supper the three Evangelists give us his very words used by him in the Consecration of it and is commended to the Church of Corinth by Saint Paul who received it from the Lord also and surely are to be accordingly used by us 4. 'T is observable how he himself observed the set Formes used by the Jews at the Passover both in prayer and praises see Beza on Matth. 26. 20. and Ainsworth on Exodus 12. granting it and that the wod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iohn 16. ult should be rendred having sung the Hymnes or Psalms which they â—ay were a set portion of Psalmes of praises which the Jewes call their great Hallelujah from the 113. Psalm to the 118. as also divers others of our learned Writers conceive Paulus Burgensis Scaliger Dâ—usius c. And can that of the Apostle Col. 3. 16. exhorting to praise the Lord with Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs imply any other then a set form of words according to our custome yet retained in singing of Psalms in the congregation And may not that of our Saviour Mat. 18. Where two or three of you shall agree together touching any thing they shall aske c. imply that a prayer composed by the consent and unanimous agreement of the Church to be the more prevalent put all these together and are they not a Cloud of Witnesses at least to confirm and support the weaker sort in knowledge and utterance who though of sincere hearts yet cannot suddenly poure forth their desires in fitting expressions worthy as they conceive the eares of Almighty God but must make use of the pennes and formes of others or of what they have premeditated and framed to themselves surely in these if their hearts be as they may be raised to a due height of holy affection God accepts of them The necessary requisites to a prayer are such as these That the person be acceptable that the matter be good that it be done in the right manner i. e. with understanding with affection and that rightly ordered and qualified and the end rightly terminated with a submission to Gods will for the time and measure with the like which I cannot now insist upon But I never heard of any Divine that hath wrot of it to have put in this for one viz. That it must be suddenly poured out without premeditation of matter form or method The common Objection is this that a set form is a limiting or a stinting of the spirit in prayer which ought not to be First this is but an unwritten Tradition for if the spirit of a single Prophet in extraordinary gifts must be limited in a subjection to the greater number of the Prophets 1 Cor. 14. why may not the spirit of a private Minister in these ordinary gifts be limited by the vote and consent of the whole Ministery Secondly see the ill consequences of it It must be appliable against singing of Psalmes in the spirit which Saint Paul puts together with prayer I will pray with the spirit and I will sing with the spirit 1 Cor. 14. 5. divers of the Psalmes are prayers now if the set form of words in them be not an obstruction to the making a spiritual melody in your hearts to the Lord why shall it be a stop to the overflowings and enlargements of the heart and spirit in prayer Again it must be of the like force against preaching in â—he spirit that if it be premeditated or the Sermon be before composed it cannot be in the demonstration of the spirit and power nor have any efficacious operation in the hearers which is both against our daily experience and Solomons Commendation of the Preacher meaning it may be himself Eccles 12. because he was wise he gave good heed and sought out fit words and set them in order even words of truth If the spirit was not obstructed in the pens of the Evangelists writing their Gospels or with the Apostles in their several Epistles then notwithstanding both were done with labour and studdy why should our labour accordingly in the word and doctrine by the pen or premeditation exclude it now and if a set form doth not stint the spirit either in â—inging preaching or writing of holy things why must it be so injurious onely to the spirit of prayer 3. But thirdly if a set form be the stinting of the spirit it must be either in the speaker or hearer 1. Not in the speaker for his spirit may be the more at liberty to spirituall fervent enlargements when there is no obstruction or diversion by the work of the Invention in inditing of matter and words the unaptnesse and unreadinesse unto which in many hath so disturbed them and caused them to wander into such immethodicall impertinet wayes that they have been far from the spirit of prayer 2. Not in the hearers for then it must ever be so stinted for whether the speaker useth sudden or premeditated expressious which they cannot judge of the hearers are alike bound to mind what proceeds from his lips so that if the spirit be stinted with them in the latter it is as much in the former For as the judgment is the freer to say Amen by the fore-knowledge and approbation of the prayer so the spirit and affections are at an equall freedom also so that this objection is of no value I shall onely put this to consideration whether that mans heart may be accounted most spiritual which can be daily enlarged and his affections lifted up in the use of the same
on seven hills the Conclusion is That she is the great Citie which raigneth over the Kings of the Earth In this Chapter Saint Iohn proceeds in the same ter and tells how he saw first a mighty Angel descending from Heaven and proclaiming the fall of this Babylon Verse 2. 3. and towards the end of the Chapter to confirm the matter wih a sign another mighty Angel takes up a Milstone and throwes it into the Sea with this word with like violence Babylon shall be thrown and no more be found In the middest between the Voyces of these two Angels is inserted a long Speech uttered also by a Voyce from Heaven begining at this fourth Verse which I have now read and extending to the twenty ninth partly admonishing Gods People to come out of this Babylon in time partly describing her pride and security going before her destruction partly bringing in as it were the Funeral Song that is sung for her by her followers and Lovers partly exhorting Heaven with those that dwell therein to rejoyce at her ruine This is the Order now for the meaning of the words that shall appeare best by resolving three Questions 1. Whos 's this Voyce is 2. To whom it speaks And 3. What We need not be long to seek Who it is that speaks For both those that speak before and after are expresly called Angels and he that now speaks lacks that Addition and the interest that he challengeth in those that are spoken to calling them My People sheweth plainly to use the words of our blessed Authour in his speech to Peter at the Sea of Tiberias It is the Lord. And albeit those relations between the Lord and his People are often mentioned in Scripture without any restraint to any one person in the blessed Trinity yet because he that here speaks telleth of the Lord Gods judgeing the great Citie Verse the 8. As of another and third person Strong is the Lord God that judgeth her And again Verse 20. Speaking to the Prophets and Apostles saith God hath avenged you on her It is evident that he who hear speakes is the Mediatour Our Lord Jesus Christ who carries his people not in his minde onely but in the Explication of his name Matthew 1. 21. He shall save his People from their sinnes Whereto it fitly agrees that this Voyce is uttered From Heaven where our Lord Jesus is at the right hand of God We see the speaker now who are spoken unto Christs People There is no doubt but in some Sense all the World are Christs People His Inberitance his Possession And so much is often expresâ—y expressed But yet the Scripture in many places intimateth that this phrase restraineth from the World to some particular and choice people namely Israel The Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a speciall people unto himselfe above all People that are upon the face of the Earth So Chapter 10. The Lords portion is his People Jacob the lot of his Inheritance Ye shall be my peculiar Treasure above all People though all the Earth be mine Hence it is that these two My people and Israel are used indifferently in the same Sentence as Psalm 57 Heare O my people O Israel and so in many other places yet even amongst these there is some time a difference put for all that are of Israel are not counted Gods People to some of them it is said Hear the Word of the Lord ye Rulers of Sodome give ear ye People of Gomorah And for an upbraiding of their continual rebellions against the Lord the Prophet Hosea is bidden to name one of his sons Lo-mmi ye are not my people and when to all other their Rebellions they rejected yea crucified the Lord of Glory the Lord also rejected them and as he threatned by his Prophet called his servants by another name Christians Even these also are in a different manner socalled sometimes all that are within the Covenant of Grace and the Sacraments thereof are called Christs People sometimes those that he hath foreknown and that are within the grace of the Covenant God hath not cast away his People whom he foreknew according to that I will put my Law into their inward parts and write it in their hearts I will be their God and they shall be my People And these are those here most properly spoken unto as appears because the Motives here used the fear of partaking in sinne and punishment most properly work upon these besides these being oppressed holden in Captivity by the mystical Babylon here spoken of are in the 6. Verse Exhorted to cry her quittance in the same words almost which the ancient Church of Israel useth concerning the old Babel O Daughter of Babylon which art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us The third and last Point to be cleared remains what the people of God are commanded to doe goe out of her saith our Lord Iesus Christ That is doubtlesse out of Babylon before proclaimed to be fallen that is after the Prophetical phrase certainly to fall Babel is fallen is fallen whence this form is borrowed That Babel was a City in Chaldea standing by the River Euphrates where by the occasion of the presumptious Tower the Languages of Mankinde were confounded Genesis 11. 10. The first seate of Nymrods Tyranny Chapter 10. 10. Nebuchadnezer the King thereof carried thither Captive Iehoiakim and with him Daniel and his companions together with the vessels of the House of God about some twelve years after Zedekiah also was carried away Captive to the same place Ierusalem burnt the Temple desolated and the whole people in a manner carried out of their own land to the same place of Babel where they continued seventy years unto the overthrow of the Babylonian Monarchy by Cyrus The Prophets Isay and Jeremiah foretel the ruine of this Babel and delivering of Gods People from her Tyranny whom they exhort upon her fall to returne into their own land Hence is this forme taken and this whole Chapter is compiled of little else but the phrases of the Prophets touching Babel and Tyrus as the diligent reader by comparing the concording places may easily perceive This Exhortation to leave Babylon is Depart ye Depart ye goe out from thence remove out of the middest of Babylon and goe forth out of the land of the Chaldeans flee out of the middest of Babylon and deliver every man his Soul be not cut off in her iniquitie for sake her and let us goe every one into his own Countrey Vers. 45. My people goe ye out of the middest of her and deliver ye every man his Soul from the fierce anger of the Lord which as you see are almost the very words of this Text so that which followes here in the seaventh Verse I sit as a Queen and am no VVidow and shall see no
for his pleasure sake And because they would not submit to her Obedience I think it will very evidently appeare that they are imcomparably more then all those that suffered Martyrdome for the Christian Religion under Heathen Romes persecution To omit those whom as an Imperious Harlot she hath caused to be killed for calling her name in question Thus you see the Description of Babylon doth no lesse agree to the present then the old Heathen Rome the great City her command over the Kings of the Earth Her inchanting Cup Her wantonness and delicacy Her arrogancy and pride Lastly that bloudy and bloud thirsty Cruelty against the worshippers of Christ exercised by her and which I desire you to observe by her alone for in no other part of the Christian world you shall find it To conclude then since neither Heathen Rome onely as she was heathen as Bellarmine would have it can be Babylon nor partly Heathen and partly Antichristan as revolted from the Pope with a gap of a thousand years between as Viegas divineth And the Character that the Holy Ghost sets upon Babylon doth no lesse but rather more agree to the present Pontifical Rome then to the old Imperial It is the falsely termed Christian indeed the Antichristian Rome which is the Babylon out of which Gods People are called And how they are to go out of her it rests to be considered Bellarmine cites Saint Augustine to prove that it is Corde non Corpore not in place but affection But the Temple of Gods people departing from Babel would seemto imply both And the rather because this great City is spiritually called Sodoâ— and Egypt now such was the departure of Lott out of Sodome and Israel out of Egypt It is true that by Cyrus his Edict Gods people were permitted to return into their own Countrey to the place where the Lords worship was then fixed Now there is no such place specially appointed as our Lord Iesus Christ shews in his speech with the woman of Sâ—maria But certainly if any of Gods people cannot by separation in judgement and affection so live as not to be partakers of the sins of Babylon they are to go out bodily also and in no wise to touch any unclean thing Gods people are warned to do even by the consideration of the Holy vessels of the Lord which they carried with them out of Babylon The reason which confirms this charge of going out of Babylon is drawn from the danger of participation in her sins and in her Plagues that is blowes stripes punishments which are not onely those mentioned in the 8 Verse Death Mourning Famine Fire but as in the 14. Chapter where the same Proclamation is made of her fall which is here the drinking of the hot and unalaid wine of Gods vengeance and to be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the Holy Angels and the Lamb and the smoak of their torments shall ascend for ever and ever We have thus descussed the meaning of this Scripture which being all laid together is this Saint Iohn hears our Lord Iesus Christ admonishing from Heaven his faithful people to come out of the obedience of Romish Popish Babylon least partaking with her in her sins they receive also of her stripes and punishments both Temporall and Eternal Here concerning the person of the speaker mentioned in this first place and that circumstance that he speaks from Heaven I will for the present say no more but desire onely that it may renew the religious attention of all that each would say with himselfe I will hearken what the Lord God will say for he will speak Peace unto his People and to his Saints that they turn not to folly That every one would remember the words of the Apostle see that ye despise not him that speaketh for if you escaped not when ye refused him that speaketh one Earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven But these points shall be more profitably pressed when we shall have considered the speech it self Wherein observe first he call â—is people to come out of Babylon a plain Argument that there are many not onely good Moral and Civil honest men there but good Câ—ristians not redeemed onely but in the possession of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ which may be confirmed by these reasons First there is amongst these that are under the tyranny of the Romish Babylon the Sacrament of entrance into the Covenant of Grace Baptisme by which those that are partakers thereof are made Members of Christ â—he children of God and heirs of Eternal lifâ— of these that have but this Seal of Gods Covenant viz. infants are no small and contemptible part of Gods People though as yet they cannot hear this Voyce of Christ calling out of Babylon besides this there is publication of the tenure of the Covenant of Grace to such as are of years though not so openly and purely as it might and ought yet so as the grounds of the Catechisme are preached sin is shewed Christs redemption or the story of it is known Faith in him is called for and this Faith is by the Grace of God wrought in some For the Word of God and his Calling is not fruitless but like the rain returneth not in vain and where true Faith is Men are translated from death to life he that believeth in the Son hath everlasting life Some men perhaps may object the Faith which they describe and call by this name of Catholick Faith Is none other but such as the Divels may have I answer Religion is not Logick He that cannot give a true definition of the soul is not for that without a soul so he that defines not Faith truely yet may have true Faith learned Divines are not all of accord touching the definition of it But if as by the whole stream of the Scripture it should seem to be a trust and cleaving unto God this Faith many there have the Love of our Lord Iesus Christ is wrought in many there now he that loveth Christ is loved of him and of the Father also and because the proof of true love to Christ is the keeping of his sayings their are good works and according to the measure of knowledge great conscience of obedience Yea will some man say But that which marreth all is the Opinion of merit and satisfaction Indeed that is the School Doctrine but the Conscience enlightned to know it self will easily act that part of the Publican who smote his breast and said God be merciful to me a sinner I remember a good advice of one of that side let others saith he that have commiâ—ted few siâ—nes and done maâ—y good workes satisfie for their sins But whatsoever thou dâ—st refer it to the Honour of God so as whatsoever good come from thee thou resolve to doe it to please God accounting thy works too
the Lord sanctify themselves Chap. 24. 5. called young men of the Children of Israel sent of Moses who offered the burnt offerings and sacrifice unto the Lord and this is usually interpreted to be the First-borne and that of the principall of the families instead of which the Levites were afterward taken see Numb 3. 12. And what a setled Priesthood there was in Moses and Solomons time to the Captivity and after it upon their return who knows not see Mal. 2. A speech to the Priests and for that five hundred-yeer gap betwixt the Old Testament and the New when the Prophets ceased yet a Priesthood continued that the service of God then was not to put to the charity of Passengers as beggars are by the high way but some were appropriated to it Ieroboam that forsook the Temple yet retained a Priesthood though of his own corrupt appointment Obâ—ect That of the Law was a Priesthood but we speak of a Ministery Resp. 1. We stand not upon words or Titles neither doth the Apostle for as 2 Cor. 3. 7 8 9. he calls the Priests of the Law Ministers and their office a Ministration so he implies that the Ministers of the Gospel might have that Title of Priests 1 Cor. 9. 13. by taking his Argument for their maintenance from the Priests Altar and Temple as they that serve at the Altar partake of the Altar even so hath God ordained that those that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel and the name hath only grown ignominious by the Church of Rome's retaining it whom if by way of distinction they had been called by us sacrificers as Bishop Downham observes there had been no offence in it All that read the Fathers know it is the term used by them whose Tractates of the Ministery are intituled De Sacerdotio And the Apostle makes it only a change of the Priesthood Hebr. 7. 12. not a nulling of it upon which change of a ministration none presumed of themselves to officiate without an Ordination Iohn Baptist who was the preparative voice of the Gospel was ordained to it and his disciples were set apart by him our Saviour did the like in ordaining first Twelve for preaching and baptizing and then 72 after them when one of the twelve was lost no other stepped into his place without a solemne choice of him Paul and Barnabas Acts 14. 23. wheresoever they came and converted any nation were carefull of ordaining Successors Saint Paul as his last gives that charge to Timothy and Titus after him and in all Ages of the Church from the Primitive times both in the Greek and Latine Church it hath been observed to this day successively So that for such as would have no such office of a Ministery by ordination but all men left to themselves to officiate at their pleasure we may say with the Apostle 1 Cor. 11. 16. We have had no such custome neither the Churches of God or as Eliphaz to Iob cap. 5. 1. call now if there be any will answer thee and to which of the Saints wilt thou turn where is there any such President in all the reformed Churches The Israelites would have a King as all other nations These are upon the contrary singularity 'T is true the New Ierusalem Revel 21. 22. meant heaven is found without a Temple and a Priest because Christ shall then give up his kingdome to his Father 1 Cor. 15. i. e. the manner of this present government by the Scepter of his word and Seale of Sacraments and then God shall be all in all but till then a setled Ministery must be continued Secondly if no successive ordained Ministery why doth Saint Paul spend so much time in exhorting to a future provision for them 1 Cor. 9. Gal. 6. 6. 1 Tim. 5. 17. can we think it was only for himself and such then living who expected Martyrdome weekly why such large directions for the qualification of such as were to be ordained by his Successors in his Epistles to Timothy and Titus surely it was written for our instruction now Thirdly consider what conclusion must be the issue of the contrary our Saviour pitied the people when they were like Sheep without a Shepherd That which is every mans work is no bodies As in reason the office of the Ministery must be weakly and negligently done when no persons are appointed to make it their study and sabour fo when gaps are thus opened for any person may not Iesuits and such lik Agents creep in under other forms and privily bring in damnable heresies to the seducing of the hearers I am loth to imagine that this should be at the bottome of this assertion that so with the more specious pretext they might take away the maintenance as indeed one must follow the other for if there be no need of a setled ordained Ministery what use of a setled meanes alotted for it If any shall stumble at that speech often in the mouthes of some Isa. 54. 13. All thy children shall be taught of the Lord he may be satisfied by this double Answer 1. It was fulfilled in that time of our Lord and Saviour teaching them immediately by himself which he expounds accordingly Iohn 6. 45. It is written in the Prophets they shall be all taught of God every man therefore that hath learned of the Father cometh unto me c. 2. The Lord is said to teach when he doth it by a Ministery sent by him according to that of Ierem. 3. 15. I will give you Pastors after my own heart that shall feed you with knowledge and understanding c. fulfilled under the Gospel And we grant that though the proposal of the doctrine is by the Minister yet the illumination of the mind and the rectifying of the heart through it is from God Object If that of Saint Peter 1 Eph. 4. 10. he objected As every man hath received the gift so let him minister the same as good Stewards of the manifold grace of God Answ. I conceive it is not meant the gift of preaching but of Almes The words immediately before are these Vse hospitality one to another without grudging there is the manner and then in these words As every one hath received the gift so let him minister is implyed the measure of it agreeing with that of Saint Pauls injunction 1 Cor. 16. 2. Let every one lay by him to that end as God had prospered him c. That these temporal things are the gift of God the fourth Petition of the Lords Prayer shewes sufficiently And that collections of these and giving them to the poor is called a ministring to the Saints See 2 Cor. 8. 4. cap. 9. 1. and stiled grace cap. 8. 19. and what other sense can there be of that cap. 9. 8. God is able to make all grace abound but of temporall blessings as the next words shew to multiply your seed sowen and minister bread for your food V. 10. and they may be called the
of God both Ministery and people in Fasting and Prayer which was the injunction of our Church should have been the practice to invocate God for the assisting grace of his spirit to be given to the person ordained might be prevalent for that end and that the receiving accordingly of ordination might be so far operative as to be a confirmation of the party the more against errors and heresies in the execution of it The falling into which may possibly be the judgement of God upon some who of late dayes have run without it which agrees with the observation Chemnitius makes of Origen who neglected Orders and fell into the like and at last made himselfe incapable of them But I say again that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the forenamed place is most safely to be understood of the gift of authority to be exercised and transferred unto others by laying on of hands And 't is further confirmed by the many examples that do abound our Saviour gave his Apostles not only an inward call by his Spirit but an open verball call before the people Saint Stephen a man full of Faith and the Holy Ghost yet presumed not to officiate till he had imposition of hands from them Beware of making your selves Ministers our Saviour did not make himself a Priest Heb. 5. 5. 't is the blot layed on Iezabell that she made her selfe a Prophetesse Revelat 2. 20. 'T is frequent to hear an ordained Minister called Antichristian but consider who deserves that Title whether those that observe the rule of Christ and tread in the paths of the Apostles or such who without any president in Scripture or in primitive times are in this a law unto themselves And do but think what ill issue may in the future be of this promiscuous presumption upon the offices of the Ministery what doubts it may raise in our posterity in receiving of Baptisme by such as cannot answer to that question By what authority dost thou these things and who gave thee this authority One objection common in the mouthes of men is Why do you stand so much upon a ceremony as laying on of hands is First that which the Apostle callsâ— a Principle and a Fundamentall do not you call a ceremony according to that which was said to S. Peter That which God hath cleansed call not thou common for which we have both Precept and Example to three successions Paul and Timothy and those that succeeded him 2. 'T is a most honourable ceremony used upon other occasions Iacob in blessing of Ephraim and Manasses Moses in constitution of Ioshua Naâ—mans expectation of Elias healing him our Saviours in blessing of the children in the Gospel Saint Pauls at the Holy Ghosts coming upon the disciples of Ephesus in the gift of tongues The Prophets of Antioch upon the separating of Paul and Barnabas for a speciall work designed unto as others by way of benediction and confirmation 3. If it be an institution though how mean soever it is to the eye yet it must be observed or else water in Baptisme bread and wine in the Lords Supper may fall under the like contempt Circnmcision was a carnall ordinance yet Rom. 3. the Apostle checks those who questioned the profit or vertue of it The waxe of the Seale hath little worth in it self but by the impression affixed to the pattent is of great consequence to the party the like application may be made to imposition of hands the Seal of Ordination But suppose laying on of hands be granted as we have said the question yet remains By whose hands Answ. Doubtlesse not by the peoples for it doth not stand with reason that any can transferre that authority which they have not The people may be said after a manner to give their votes in the election as it was the former and ancient custome that they were asked if they knew of any impediment or crime for which the party ought not be received into this holy Ministry and desired to declare it and upon the objecting of any the Bishop was to surcease till the party accused should clear himself The people had liberty of allegation for or against the person to be ordained but it doth not follow that therefore they had power in constituteing and ordaining They are the persons to whom the Ministers are sent can they be the Senders they have their mission to them can they have their Commission from them we are Gods Embassadours not theirs neither do ye â—ind any power this way derived or committed from Christ to them As my Father sent me so send I you saith our Saviour to his Apostles Lo I am with you and so with your successors unto the end of the world Saint Paul saith to Timothy Lay thou hands c. to Titus I left thee behind that thou shouldest ordain be it meant collectively of the rest of the Ministers as assistants with him also but no mention of the people in that act That of Numb 8. 10. the people laid their hands on the Levits is not meant in their consecration but dedication or the donation of them to be consecrated to the Lord instead of the first born by Moses and Aaron It was but as Hanna's giving up her son Samuel to Eli to be consecrated to the service of the Temple or like the presentation of a person formally under the hand and seal of the Patron to the Bishop to be instituted or inducted such was this of the Levites only a signification of their act and deed under their hands in giving up their whole title and interest in them to be set apart for that end For that of Matthias his election before the people to be an Apostle Acts 1. 16. alleadged by some for the power of people in Ordination 1. Saint Peter only signifieth to them what they were about to do and doing it in their presence as in Saint Cyprians time it was the custome to have the Minister ordained praesente plebe sub omnium oculis c. in the presence of the people before the eyes of all c. like Eleazar invested by Moses with the Priests garments on the top of the Mount in the sight of the Israelites but the actions in â—etting two apart in casting the lots prayer c. were the Apostles Secondly This election here to the Apostleship was neither the peoples nor Apostles but Gods by a divine suffrage expressed by lot according to the prayer of the Apostles to God for it and so it makes nothing for the peoples act in ordination and so much for the first Question Whose hands must be imposed 2. What if the ordainers being of the Ministry be found not to have â—een of clean hands themselves i. e. of evill lives is their ordination good I answer Yes For 't is not a personal act but an act of office as 't is not the learning of the Judge makes any decree valid
humane nature not that which is accidentall A maimed Father begets a Son like himself as he was before he lost his arme as the circumcised did and doth an uncircumcised child the like application may be made to the transferring of ordination in such a wounded diseased Apostatized Church as the Roman now is and by such corrupted persons in life and doctrine continuing in it so they do observe the essentials in ordination other superstructures or corruption in the ordainers doth not null it either to the persons themselves or successors which might be further manifested by the pâ—actice of the Church in all ages 1. That Ministration under the Law the Priests of which the Jewish Writers say were consecrated by laying on of hands had as much cause to stand upon succession as any yet ye find often that the Priests the sons of Aaron and the Levites had corrupted their wayes were defiled with Idolatry in Ahaz and Manasses time and others as bad or worse then the See of Rome yet after a reformation the succession which was by their hands was not questioned Though the Priesthood ran through much filth yet retaining the essentialls of the Jewish Religion as circumcision c. they were owned of God again in a successive ministration See in the height of their Idolatry when they were offering their children by fire unto their Idols yet by retaining the Sacrament covenant of circumcision their children are called the Lords children Ezek. 16. 20. Thou hast taken thy sons which thou hast borne unto me c. thou hast slayn my children in causing them to pass through the fire etc. 2. In our Saviour Christs time there was as bad a succession as ever in the Priests Pharises Scribes Sadduces c. yet as he permitted their administring of some rites for himselfe whether of circumcision or the offering made for him in the Temple at the purification after the custome of the Law in his infancy so at his manifestation about 30 yeares after he sends those that were healed by him to the Priests to offer what Moses commanded ye see he did not determine against the office for the personal defilements of their Predecessors or themselves 3. Nay under the Gospel about four hundred years after our Saviour Christ was not the world so over-run with Arrians that it groaned under it as St. Ierom saith when they had the commands of the Pulpits ordaining of Preachers children were baptized by them men put to receive the communion of them as Hilary and Basil say the Orthodox were hatched under the wings of the Arrian Priests yet upon a reformation and the renouncing of that heresie we read not of any rejecting of the succeeding Ministers because they were derived through such hands which I conceive to have been as bad as the Bishop of Rome and his followers The Church then was so wise as to consider a jewel looseth not his vertue by being delivered by a foul hand so neither is the treasure of the Ministry to be despised because it hath passed through some polluluted vessels to us which is appliable for the saving harmlesse our ordination though transmitted through the Popish defilements of some persons so much in vindicating the ordination of the Church of England from the scandall of being Popish Antichristian with which by some ignorant and rash people it is frequently aspersed Let me conclude with this short admonition Be not hereafter so unworthy as to blurre that Ministery with being Antichristian by whom ye have received the knowledge of Christ both by their translating of the Scriptures out of the Originalls into your Mother-tongue for your reading and their labour in the exposition of them for your understanding by whom you and your fathers have been baptized and instructed Be not such ill birds as thus to defile your own nests do not side with the agents of the Bishop of Rome in thus detracting and lessening the reputation and esteem of them Let them not say in their hearts so would we have it nor you with your tongues unlesse in your hearts you are Romish your selves Is it not strange that those who have been so great opposers of the errors of Popery wrot so learnedly and fully against them who have applyed that in the 2 Epist of the Thessalonians concerning the man of sin and that of Babylon in 17. Revel to the Papacy as Bishop Downham Abbot Iewell and the late eminent Primate with divers others that now they should with their very calling and profession be styled Popish can we think otherwise but that the hand of Ioab I mean the Jesuit is privily in it Is it not a wonder it should so come about that such as have been the greatest enemies to the See of Rome should be reckoned as members and friends of it and thus perpetually yoked together as twins nay trod under foot as unsavory salt upon that very account as being Episcopall Is this a just reward of their labour in the defence of your profession thus to be aspersed by you as Absolon to Hushay Is this thy kindnesse to thy friend Certainly those of the See of Rome cannot but smile within themselves that they have thus covertly deluded us and so closely taken a revenge of those their adversaries How true is that speech of our Saviour A Prophet is not without honour save in his own country other nations French and German magnifie the Clergy of the Church of England by what is transmitted over Sea in many of their works onely despised at home as the off-scouring of the world what a preparative this is to the expectation of the Papists an able learned ordained Ministery having been hitherto the stop to the introduction of ignorance and superstition which if removed might flow in the more easily which God in his mercy prevent And thus I have endeavoured to confirm the Primates judgement upon this place viz. that by laying on of hands is meant an ordained Ministery The Primates judgement of the Sense and Vse of the Form of words in the former Constitution at the Ordination of Priests or Presbyters defended and enlarged viz. Receive the Holy Ghost whose sins thou forgivest they are forgiven and whose sins thou doest retain they are retained Which as an Appendix to the former subject could not well be omitted THey are the words of our Saviour Iohn 20. 22. to the Apostles and why they may not be continued to their Successors who are to succeed in that office of the Ministery to the end of the world doth not yet appear and 't is possible that the late offence taken against them to the disuse of them may arise from a misapprehension of the sense of them The Primates judgement of which I think fit to manifest who in all his Ordinations constantly observed them They consist of two clauses 1. Receive the Holy Ghost 2. Whose sins thou forgivest they are forgiven and whose sins thou dost retain they are
retained 1. For the first Receive the Holy Ghost We do not here understand the sanctifying graces of the spirit For the Apostles had received them before in that they were bid by our Saviour to rejoyce that their names were written in heaven the evidence of which is heaven wrot in the heart here and had his witnesse that they had believed and had kept his word for whom he had also also prayed in that sense Sanctifie them through thy truth John 17. And if this had been the gift there had been no particular thing given to them for all that will be saved must in some measure partake of it Rom. 8. 9. If any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his And though it be the testimony of a good Christian yet 't is not a sufficient warrant for him to take upon him the Ministery 2. Again it cannot be meant of the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost viz. Gifts of tongues c. For in that sense the Holy Ghost was not yet given till fifty dayes after viz. the Feast of Pentecost but this was given upon the day of his Resurrection So that a third sense must be had which was the Primates as followeth 3. Receive the Holy Ghost i. e. receive Ministeriall power of officiating and dispensing those sacred Ministrations unto which the promise of the holy Spirit is annexed and through which as the Conduit-Pipes this holy water is conveyed not so much meant for their own benefit as the good of others In this he gave them power as the Stewards of God to be dispensers of holy and spiritual things to the benefit of such over whom the Holy Ghost had made them overseers which is accordingly attributed to the Elders of Ephesus whom S. Paul had ordained Mr. Hooker's glosse in his Eccles Polit. is accordingly Receive the Holy Ghost i. e. Accipite potestatem spiritualem receive ghostly or spiritual Authority in order to the soules of men now to be committed to your charge And if you mark the context their Commission is here from the blessed Trinity the Father and Sonne in the verse before As my Father hath sent me so send I you And in this verse a reception of Authority from the third person the Father sends Matth. 9. 38. Chap. 10. 20. the Sonne Ephes. 4. here the Holy Ghost as Acts 20. And so more fully thus Receive the Holy Ghost i. e. receive Authority from the Father Son and Holy Ghost for the efficacious preaching of the Word and Administration of Sacraments by and through which the graces of the holy spirit in repentance faith forgivenesse of sins and the like are ordinarily wrought and confirmed to the hearers and partakers of them yet not excluding it from being a Prayer also viz. that the person thus authorized might receive such a spiritual assistance in it Receive first by way of donation in the name of Christ as to the office and secondly by way of impetration as to the efficacious spiritual assistance of him in it which the accustomed succeeding prayer did confirm which as it was in both senses frequently effectual by the mouth and hands of the Apostles so hath it been accordingly from age to age in and by the Ministery succeeding and therefore why may not the same form of words be used at their Ordination also Can we think this solemn reception of the Holy Ghost in that sense as hath been explained was onely for the benefit of that age and withdrawn totally again in the next That his being with them thus by his spiritual assistance to the end of the world was to determine with the death of the Apostles some of which as Saint Iames Acts 12. were not long after No surely this oyle poured upon their heads descended further then so even to the skirts of their garments in these dayes The third Chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians hath much in confirmation of this In the third verse Saint Paul styles the Minister ordained by Christ his Amanuensis ye are the Epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God Christ the inditer the Minister is as the hand of a ready writer or the Spirit is as the ink the Minister as the pen through which 't is diffused upon the fleshly Tables of your hearts and by saying us he doth not appropriate it to himselfe but gives the like to Timothy ordained by him which he continues in the sixth verse God hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament not of the letter but of the spirit as he calls the Word the sword of the spirit Ephes. 6. committed into the hands of the Ministery so the whole office is called the Ministration of the Spirit v. 8. the Ministration of righteousnesse v. 9. i. e. instrumentally be it that of Iustification or Sanctification by which he saith it did exceed in glory that under the law The shining of Moses face the glory of the Temple and vestments of the Priests were glorious but yet had no glory in this respect by reason of the glory which excelleth for if that which is done away were glorious how much more that which remaineth is glorious Now wherein lieth this glory but in being by this Ministration the Conduits through which the Spirit is conveyed and received or being cap. 6. 1. co-workers together with him of it even as the glory of the latter Temple by the presence of Christ himselfe is said to be greater then the former though it had types of him in a more outward glorious lustre 't is therefore called v. 18. the glass of the glory of the Lord by which we are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Which as it rebukes the Contemners of the office of the Ministery so it answers that frequent objection made against the use of these words at the Ordination to it viz. That the Sanctifying graces of the spirit were sometimes lacking both in the Ordainers transmitting and ordained the recipients It is answered the Transmission or reception of the Holy Ghost here is not meant in that sense as to the resting of it in the persons themselves but as the conveyers of it for the use and benefit of others viz. through these Administrations which they are now by this authorized to performe And that it may be so ye see it in Iudas who by our Saviours Commission to him through preaching and baptizing was the instrument accordingly of the transferring of it i. e. remission of sins c. unto others without partaking of it himself our Saviour calls him a Devill and a son of perdition but yet in this Office the Devils were subject to him and he the means of dispossessing of others like Noahs Carpenters who were instruments to save others but were drowned themselves 'T is probable Saint Paul or some of the Apostles ordained Hymenaeus and Phyletus