the scattered Disciples upon the Persecution of Stephen in Acts 8. and in Act. 11.19 20 Now they that were scattered abroad upon the persecution which arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch preaching the Word to none but to the Iews onely Doth not this give sufficient ground for gifted men if able to Preach that they may Baptize also I shall answer to the last branch of this Objection first Gifted men Answ as they are generally understood to be of parts and abilities these without a true Power and Authority may not by vertue of their gifts Baptize For it is not to be doubted but there were many gifted men among the followers of Christ when he gave to his eleven Disciples Commission to Teach and Baptize the Nations For we read of the seventy Disciples Luk. 10.16 how that Christ sent them forth to Preach and what success they returned with Vers 17 18 19 20. Yet to none of these but to the eleven onely was the Command of Teaching and Baptizing the Nations given so far as appears to us in the Scripture Matth. 28.19 Mark 16.15 Therefore neither believers onely nor gifted men though able to preach to the casting down Sathan like Lightning from Heaven Luk. 10.18 19. without a true and lawful Authority Appointing and Designing to this Work may warrantably do it To the other branch That Disciples able to Preach the Gospel may Baptize from Act. 8.1 12. Chap. 11.19 20. First I distinguish between Preaching and Publishing or Declaring Forasmuch as though he that doth Preach doth Publish the thing he Preacheth yet one may publish a thing which he may not be said to Preach as will appear by this familiar example An Herauld or Crier who is invested with Authority to declare or publish some business at some publike place he must be understood to express himself by words to utter and speak the thing he publishes or proclaimes there may be at the same time many a person present who hearing and understanding the matter so proclaimed may divulge and repeat what they have both heard and seen and so may be said truely to declare but not to proclaim the thing though the former in proclaiming the matter used utterance and expression yet the later by uttering and expressing the matter are not Proclaimers of it authoritatè but observers and relaters onely of what they have seen and heard Let this circumlocution be taken in good part for it means well and may give some help to the understanding of what follows When our Lord Jesus was to leave the world and to send his Ambassadours forth into the world in his Name and stead he commanded them to preach the Gospel to every creature Mark 16.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Predicate Evangelium The word which our Lord Jesus useth in this Commission is a word of Power and Authority it comes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 praeco signifying an Herauld or Cryer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to publish as an Herauld to deliver in open place in the hearing of a multitude that many may take notice of it Matth. 10.27 Preach ye upon the house tops Luke 12.3 That which ye have spoken in the ear and in closets shall be proclaimed upon the house tops 1 Tim. 2.7 Whereunto I am ordained a Preacher and an Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Cryer an Herauld or Proclaimer 2 Tim. 1.11 Maximâ cum majestate summâ constantiâ animi libertate clarissimè ac apertissimè denunciare 2 Tim. 4.2 Preach the Word Rom. 16.25 According to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 1.21 23 Gal. 2.2 I communicated to them that Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod praedico in Gentibus Rom. 10.8 That is the word of faith which we preach Rom. 10.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quomodo verò praedicabunt nisi mittantur How shall they preach except they be sent Many might be the Scriptures which might be brought to prove that the first Messengers were as so many Ambassadours Heraulds Proclaimers Cryers who with Majestie and Authority were sent out to preach the Gospel as being designed of God and set apart and commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ thereunto and these are said eminentèr to preach When they published the Gospel they did it cum authoritate by vertue of their Office Calling or Deputation thereunto Besides these so abundantly overflowing was the grace of God that the beholders of it were so filled with joy and admiration that where-ever they came they could not chuse but be telling what things they had heard and seen and what had been done of them Which notification of theirs had many times this blessed effect that it made the persons to whom this strangue though good news came either to believe it or to be enquirers after it or desirers of it like that of old O thou fairest among women whither is thy Beloved gone that we may seek him with thee Cant. 5.9 and 6.1 or that of the woman of Samaria Joh. 4.29 Come see a man that told me all things whatever I did Is not this the Christ Joh. 4.39 40 41 42 And many of the Samaritans believed on him for the saying of the woman which testified He told me all that ever I did And many more believed because of his own word And such was that of Mary Magdalene who being so filled with the good news of her Lord's Resurrection that she ran and told the Disciples In Luke 1.19 and 2.10 when the word Evangello is applied to the Angel it is rendered to shew or declare good news But in Luke 4.18 when it 's applied to Christ it 's rendered to preach the Gospel In Acts 21.26 Paul is said to enter into the Temple to signifie or declare the accomplishment of the days of Purification the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. annuntio Which word is rendered Luke 9.60 But go thou and preach the kingdom of God Annuntia regnum Dei of Diangéllo In Luke 8.1 it 's said of Christ He went preaching and evangelizing or shewing the glad tidings of the Kingdom And in 1 Thess 3.6 But when Timotheus came from you unto us and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 10.7 As he hath declared to his servants the Prophets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To apply what hath been said to the Scriptures propounded touching the preaching of the scattered Disciples Acts 8. and Acts 11. First they are not said to preach viz. to Proclaim to Cry according to the signification of that word which was used by Christ when first he gave the Commission Mark 16.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is not said as here Christ commanded that they Preached the Gospel but that they Evangelized Evangelizantes verbum Which word though it be frequently translated preached which it may well bear when it
voyce with one accord and said Lord thou art the God c. The Company lift up their voyce as well as Peter and John for it was done by them all with one accord And in Vers 30 31 when they had prayed the place was shaken where they were assembled together and they were all filled with the holy Spirit and spake the word of God with boldness Thirdly That they go forth with a power and presence of Jesus Christ to the World as Christ had promised to afford to those first Messengers Matth. 28.20 Lo I am with you and accordingly did accompany their Message for it's confirmation Mar. 16.20 The Lord working with them confirming the Word with Signes following Which he also did manifest to Philip Act. 8.5 6 7 who confirmed his word by the miracles which he did which is not said of the rest of the Dispersion who Evangelized or as we read it Preached the Word To all which this may againe be remembred That no person did ever go forth and Preach to the World the Gospel of Christ sincerely in the Term that here is used viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but was enabled to confirm that Word by the visible presence of the Lord Jesus viz. by Signes and Miracles according to Matth. 28.20 Mark 16. to the end And on the contrary I read not that any which did Evangelize the Lord Jesus to the World either upon occasion of their dispersion or otherwise were so enabled to confirm their Doctrine the Apostles onely excepted who did Preach as well as Evangelize or rather did indeed preach the Evangel according to that which is spoken of Christ himself Luk. 8.1 And these as they did preach by Command and Authority so they were enabled to confirm that Authority by a visible presence of Christ with them Vt supra The Brethren therefore who urge these Scriptures for their Warrant for Preaching and Baptizing one another being measured by this pattern I conceive their disparity will be apparent if it be but friendly and candidly considered and may somewhat abate the displeasure which seems to be taken against those who cannot practise as they do for the Reasons before alleadged Object Object Paul saith of himself that Christ sent him not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel Intimating that to Baptize is inferiour to preaching Therefore they which may do the greater may do the less Answ Answ That the Apostle Paul did Baptize as well as Preach is evident from the same Scripture 1 Cor. 1. where he saith he baptized Crispus and Gaius and the houshold of Stephanus and this he did not without Authority the speech therefore of the Apostle in saying Christ sent me not to Baptize but to Preach is rather to be taken Comparatively then Positively not so much to Baptize as to Preach according to that saying in Joh. 6.27 Labour not for the me at that perisheth but for the meat which endureth unto everlasting life Which expression if it were Positive that men were not to labour for the meat which perisheth how should that be understood of the Apostle which exhorts to labour Ephes 1.4 28. 2 Thes 3.10 This we commanded you that if any man would not work he should not eat Besides the example of himself Act. 20.34 35. Nor may it be therefore urged that because the Apostle useth this speech comparatively that therefore Baptisme must be an Ordinance or Appointment of the Lord Jesus inferiour to Preaching for it would be inquired Where this distinction of Superiority and inferiority hath it's rise and foundation among the Institutions of Christ and particularly between these two viz. Preaching and Baptizing the rather considering that to whom and at what time he gave the command touching Preaching to them and at that time he gave the other touching Baptizing Matth. 28.18 19 20. From whence this Conclusion hath been drawn formerly and as I conceive according to truth That they which have power and authority to Preach have likewise power and authority to Baptize Not from this Reason because that having power to do the greater viz. Preaching therefore they have power to do the less viz. Baptizing for this is a distinction made by some men but not countenanced by the holy Scripture But rather in asmuch as the Lord Jesus did at one and the same time to one and the self-same persons give command that they should both preach and baptize and that by vertue of the power given to him thence it follows most evidently that to them to whom power was given to Preach to them also was authority given to Baptize else the Apostle Paul had wanted authority for the baptizing of them he did baptize or that he had no other then this viz. that because he might do the greater which was to preach therefore he might do the less which was to Baptize Which Conclusion as it is not clear so it is not safe because it is not found in Scripture To which may be added these few words which offer themselves rather for a friendly trial then for a positive assertion The Apostle Paul witnesseth of himself that he was one of the least of the Apostles and was as one born out of due time 1 Cor. 15.8 9. Now it is to be observed that to the Eleven was the command given to baptize the Nations in express termes Matth. 28. We do not read that the same command was in so many words laid upon him when he was called and sent forth by the Lord Jesus In that he did baprize any one it was not of his own head for he had the minde of Christ 1 Cor. 2.16 who gave to his Ambassadours or Messengers not onely power to preach but authority to baptize also Matth. 28.19 And in that he was not more frequent in baptizing or baptized no more he was not thereunto so especially sent as the former who had the command in express words He had it onely in Authority and therefore upon occasion did exercise and perform it They had it not onely in Authority but also in Command therefore they must perform it and might not omit it they being sent in an especial manner thereunto This kinde of reasoning the Apostle gives occasion for in another case touching the exercise of his Ministery whereas he testifieth of himself in a especial manner that he was an Apostle of the Gentiles and therein did magnifie his office Rom. 11.13 and that unto Peter was committed the Apostleship of the Circumcision Gal. 2. 7 8 9 as unto him the Gospel of Vncircumcision And this distribution was very eminent yet not so but that Peter might preach to the Gentiles as Paul also did to the Jews as appeareth by his frequent preaching in the Synagogues Act. 13. ult c. Whence may be concluded Though the Apostle Paul had a particular Mission to the Gentiles whose Ambassadour or Apostle he particularly was yet he also might preach to the Jews where-ever they were and that without
its pristine and primitive Constitution as well to respect the Nations which are without viz. the out-casts of Israel together with those worshippers of the Sun and Moon the Moors and Indians and the people that know not God nor have ever heard the sound of him nor of the salvation which through Christ Jesus he holds forth to Mankinde as well as that sort of Ministery which it 's supposed is found among good people who judge they are in Church-estate already though indeed they are both but the fruit of the same ascension and both respect the same end Ministery and duration or continuance For as the Saints already such are not come to a perfect man in Christ and therefore have need of an edifying feeding Ministery so the number of them which are to be gathered are likewise not compleated and therefore need a gathering and breeding Ministery the one without the other being not perfect especially the later not without the former Forasmuch as the Ministery for the World as it was first given namely to the Apostles in these words Go ye into all the world or Teach all nations so it was comprehensive and took in the later and stood sometimes without it they holding out the brest of consolation and confirmation to those to whom they had been as a womb parental or instrumental in conversion Therefore in a return of mercy as in point of Ministery it would be considered Whether the first Apostolical and National Ministery be not again to be looked for hoped for and longed for and prayed for and that by way of eminency not onely for Sion's sake and for Jerusalem's sake but also for the Nations sakes the Kindreds Tongues Peoples those who know not God considering that there is a time wherein John having eaten the book was to prophesie again before many people and nations and tongues and kings Rev. 10. ult And the Angel which he saw flying in the midst of heaven was to preach the ancient Gospel to every nation kindred tongue and people And this was to follow Antichrist's universal over-spreading of the earth for after he had prevailed so far as to cause all both small and great rich and poor bond and free to receive his mark and that no man might buy or sell but he that had received the mark and that all the world wondered after the Beast Rev. 13.3 16 17. after this great power and prevalencie of Antichrist then should the ancient Gospel be preached to every nation kinred tongue and people that dwell upon the earth Rev. 14.6 and then should follow the fall of Babylon v 8 there followed another Angel saying Babylon is fallen is fallen and this should be that Angel Rev. 18.1 2 which should come down from heaven with great power and enlighten the earth with his glory and should cry mightily with a strong voice saying Babylon the great is fallen according to that of the Apostle 2 Thess 2.8 Then shall that wicked be revealed whom God shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming And whether this be not that Ministery which the Lord will send forth to gather his chosen ones from the four corners of the windes Mar. 13. forasmuch as after that the false Christs and false Prophets shall arise and shall shew their seducing signes and wonders to deceive if it were possible the very elect vers 22. and that great tribulation shall happen the sun darkned and the moon not give her light Then shall the Son of man come in the clouds with great power and glory and shall send his Angels or Messengers and shall gather together his elect from the utmost parts of the earth From all which it were to be desired that the Lord would stir up the hearts of his people to cry mightily to him and give him no rest till he accomplish the work of gathering together his number out of all Nations Kindreds Tongues and Peoples the utmost parts of the Heathen being given to Christ as his peculiar inheritance Psal 2.8 and because from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same God's name shall be great among the Gentiles Mal. 1.11 Object Object If this be true which hath been spoken then we must expect more Apostles but it is said in 1 Cor. 4.9 that those were the last Apostles Therefore there can be no ground to expect any more Answ Answ 1. That Scripture concludes not against what hath been spoken as will appear when it is examined The word which is rendered there last 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is in Luke 14.9 taken for the lowest or meanest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding go sit down in the lowest room And this signification of the word may very well agree with that which is the Argument of this Chapter 1 Cor. 4.9 and so it seems to be carried I think God hath set forth us the Apostles last i. e. lowest or vilest as it were men appointed to death For we are made a spectacle unto the world to Angels and men We are fooles for Christs sake but ye are wise We are made the filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things to this day Let it be considered whether all these several expressions do not more properly agree to the word as it is rendered the lowest or basest then to the word last Apostles Secondly If the word he to be taken for the last yet it doth not necessarily inforce it self to be understood of the last of what shall be but the last of what hath been therefore it is rendred novissimus the newest as our English Dialect will infer the last garment or newest garment are Synonimaes In 2 Pet. 2.20 it 's rendered not last but later And 1 Pet. 1.20 speaking of Christ it 's said He was made manifest in the last dayes Heb. 1.2 it 's said In these last dayes God hath spoken unto us by his Sonne Which last dayes may not be so understood as if they were so the last that there were no more dayes to succeed them for there hath been sixteen hundred years of dayes since that time past and gone neither may I conceive those Apostles were the last or so the last Apostles that there should no more come after them understanding them to be Messengers sent forth as the term Apostle imports for then I would inquire By whom should the out casts of Israel be gathered or the Nations converted to the faith of Christ Jer. 32.37 38. Jer. 23.3 Mar. 13.10 Matth. 24.14 If there be any Nations of the World Kindreds Tongues and People to whom the Gospel hath not been sent it must be done to fulfill the Word of the Lord. And by whom shall it be done but by such Messengers which shall be endued with like power of Evidence and Demonstration both of Tongues and Gifts as the first Messengers or Apostles had to preach
These two were the Grand and Capital and Comprehensive Institutions and appointments of the Lord Jesus unto which He gave gifts for the perfecting of the Saints But whether the present Ministery and the present Churches be those Ordinances of His which He then instituted and appointed and not rather something like them or instead of them is the matter in Question The persons called by the name of Seekers having compared them with the Word of God and not finding them to conform thereunto dare not joyne issue in the present practice of them which of it self is ground sufficient yet that it may appear that this ground and reason is not without Reason somewhat is to be added by way of Demonstration and Evidence There have not been wanting those which have taken paines to prove the Affirmative and to reprove the Negative sharply It 's necessary to consider of those proofes seriously and endeavour to apply those reproofes as profitably as may be to state the matter in question as fairely and truely as the present Capacity is abilitated and can extend to First I finde it 's most generally taken for granted that Disciples quâ Disciples or as others say Disciples able to preach the Gospel have power and are commanded to Baptize Matth. 28.19 and upon this ground it 's practised and this is all the Ministery that I can finde is acknowledged by some Secondly that Believers may incorporate themselves and become a Church is by others affirmed from Joh. 1.12 That being made sons by believing they have power to become the sons of God in state which I suppose is meant that Believers have power to estate themselves into visible Sonship or else I know not what to make of the distinction Others express the same thing with other words much different proving a Church and Ministery upon other Principles and Grounds From all which as I differ in the Matter so I shall in the Method desiring to lay down something Positively from these Scriptures submitting to the judgement and censure thereof judging it most profitable rather then to take notice of the several Objections I have seen with the Answers to them Knowing well that Truth is truely evidencing and convincing and if this shall approve it self so it will save labour of answering those Objections though something will be spoken to them also in their place Our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who himself was the Great Apostle of his Father as well as the High-priest of our profession Heb. 3.1 whilst he was to perform his Father's work Rom. 15.8 whose Messenger or Apostle he was as being set apart and sent forth for that purpose Joh. 6.38 39 40. Joh. 12.49 and spake and acted according to the commandment he had received from the Father In the performance of which Ministration or Service he was pleased to single out some certain persons from amongst others whom he appointed and authorized to wait upon him in that Ministration or Service Those he termed Disciples or Apostles Matth. 10.1 When he had called to him his Disciples he gave them power c. Now the names of the twelve Apostles were these c. These twelve Jesus sent forth and commanded them saying Go not into the way of the Gentiles but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and as ye go preach 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vers 16. Behold I send you forth c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These twelve were such as he ordained from amongst others Mar. 3.13 He went up into a mountain and called to him whom he would and they came unto him And he ordained twelve that they should be with him and that he might send them forth to preach Luke 6.13 And when it was day he called to him his Disciples and of them he chose twelve whom he also named Apostles These Disciples were not meerly such as were followers of Christ and had learnt of him as Scholars but such as himself out of others had Chosen Called and Ordained that they should be with him and that he might send them forth to preach which accordingly he did and named them Apostles as Matth. 10. and Luke 6. doth evidence And what Commission he had the same he gave to them As he saith of himself I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel so he commanded them not to go to the Gentiles nor into the way of Samaria but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel Matth. 10.5 Besides these he likewise sent forth the Seventy with like Power and Commission to preach the Gospel and to confirm it by Miracles as Himself and the Apostles also did But in a more especial manner did the Twelve converse with him upon all occasions as his assidual attendants or houshold-servants During the time of his Administration upon earth and when he was about to finish the work which the Father sent him to do so far as concerned his personal presence he delegated that power the Father had committed to him into the hands of them those very persons whom before he had ordained to be with him Matth. 28.18 19 20. Now the time approaching wherein the Mosaical Dispensation was to expire and the Christian Church and its Worships to be introduced in the stead thereof our Lord Jesus having fulfilled all righteousness as touching the Law gives commandment that the Gospel be preached to all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Spirit Touching the persons to whom Christ did delegate the power and authority of Preaching and Baptizing much is written as hath been hinted before Some say To Believers as Believers Some say To Disciples as Disciples Some say To Preaching Disciples Some say To Disciples able to preach the Gospel so as to bring over souls to believe and be baptized Others speak in other expressions It is too much to follow them in all There be four things I shall desire may be enquired into the discussion whereof will take in most of the Scripture which any way give light to the understanding of this Subject and which may occasionally answer many Objections which otherwise require particular discussion I shall propound them by way of Question First Whether Christ did not commit the Preaching of the Word and administration of Baptisme to a Ministery Secondly What the nature and end of that Ministery was which the Lord Jesus appointed to succeed him Thirdly Whether there be any pattern of any visible Congregated Church under the Gospel without or before a Ministery or Baptisme Fourthly Whether the present Ministery and present Churches may be acknowledged the Ministers and Churches of Christ according to the first Pattern To the first of these That Power and Authority to Preach and Baptize was committed to the Apostels or to the Eleven Disciples as to a Ministery might be demonstrated First From the Equity of it which appears in the Respect or Care which
is applied to such as had power that is authority to preach the Evangel yet it is distinguished as a thing differing from preaching when Evangelizing and Preaching come together Luk. 8.1 it 's said of Christ He went thorow every city and village Praedicans Evangelizans regnum Dei They do not say in the English Preaching and preaching the kingdom of God but Preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God Which later expression shews the true proper meaning of Evangelizing shewing or declaring glad tidings whether by Preaching or otherwise Of Philip it 's said not onely that he evangelized but it 's also said of him that he preached Christ to them of Samaria 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 8.5 and he baptized them also vers 12 which is not said of any of the other Disciples which were of this dispersion either in the eighth or eleventh Chapter And not without some reason may this distinction be between Philip and the rest of the dispersion forasmuch as he was one of those who was admitted into the service of the Church by laying on of hands Acts 6.5 6. and was also an Evangelist Act. 12.8 and consequently one of those the Apostle numbers up in Ephes 4.11 which Christ gave for the work of the Ministery Wherefore not without reason may it be observed that of him onely it is said He preached and baptized of the rest onely They evangelized Secondly The Disciples in Acts 11.19 20 't is said They spake the word to none but to the Jews onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nemini loquentes verbum So vers 20 Loquebantur ad Graecos They spake unto the Graecians The same word is used in Ephes 4.25 Loquimini quisque veritatem proximo suo Speak every man truth with his neighbour Thirdly Where they are said in the next words to evangelize the Lord Jesus which is translated preach both here and frequently elsewhere it is a word which signifieth to publish or declare good being compounded of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bene and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Annuntiatio It is said of Mary Magdalene Joh. 20.18 she did declare or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Disciples So it is recorded of her Mark 16.10 Illa profecto annunciavit iis qui cum ipso fuerant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 She did shew or declare or tell them that had been with him c. Matth. 28.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Annuntiate fratribus meis Shew my brethren or declare to my brethren that they go into Galilee Who would not conclude from these Scriptures that Mary Magdalene was a true Preacher of the Resurrection of Christ and did truely evangelize the tidings thereof Yet the Translations render it that she told the discisples and Go tell my disciples whenas if it be well considered it might as truely have been said of Mary that she preached the Lord Jesus and the Resurrection as it is said of those Disciples in Acts 11.19 of whom it may be thus said That having by the providence of God been scattered by means of Stephen's persecution they could not but speak the things which they had heard and seen Acts 4.20 And in 1 Joh. 1.2 3 the two words are expressed which the Apostles use in Acts 4.19 20 touching these Disciples We cannot but speak 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and shew unto you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And vers 3 it 's rendered in English We declare unto you So it might fall out with these Disciples in their dispersion that the glory which they had seen they could not but tell it and declare it and speak it everywhere as they went and wheresoever the tidings of it came it was news and in respect of the Subject of it it was good news it was Gospel or glad tidings But as the tidings hereof was strange and rare to the Gentiles to whom it thus unexpectedly came so the tidings of their receiving it by this means and upon this occasion was as strange to the Church at Jerusalem who upon the hearing of it sent Peter and John to Samaria and Barnabas to Antioch Which seems to me a thing needless if in the Church's account the Disciples Ministery had been esteemed sufficient for this work But lest it should be thought this distinction may not be sufficiently grounded upon the Word of Truth but may savour of a Critical Curiosity I shall submit what hath been spoken to the examination and censure of an Impartial Judgement In the mean time while that which hath been spoken lies under Examination that which remains to be spoken may serve to answer the Objection Therefore I propose in the second place 2. If it might be supposed or admitted that the scattered Disciples mentioned in the eighth and eleventh of the Acts did as truely preach as they were truely scattered yet it 's not said that they did Baptize as the Brethren do who urge this Scripture for their practice Philip onely excepted who is also called an Evangelist Acts 21. which is a part of the gift given by Christ for the work of the Ministery Eph. 4.11 12. Admit they did both Preach and Baptize yet it must be remembred that they were Disciples who themselves were Baptized For they were members of the true Church at Hierusalem and scattered from thence Act. 8.1 2. Act. 11.19 If the Brethren urging these for a pattern of Imitation for Preaching and Baptizing will be measured by this pattern It must be then supposed First That they be members of a truly-constituted visible Church as these of the Dispersion were Act. 8.1 2. Secondly That they are gifted with the knowledge of Fundamentals of worship and with those gifts of the Holy Spirit now called extraordinary gifts with which that Church was endued and these scattered members amongst others might not want their share considering that in Act. 2.3 4 it 's said that there appeared cloven tongues like as of fire and sate upon each of them And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance But lest it should be said This was onely the pouring out of the holy Spirit upon the Apostles according to the promise of the Father Act. 1.4 8 or if it do extend it self to all present it could be but to the hundred and twenty who continued together with one accord waiting for the promise of the Father And whereas there was a great and plentiful increase and addition of Believers and Disciples to this first number as appears Act. 2.41.47 therefore it 's said after this great increase and plentiful addition of Disciples in the fourth Chapter of the Acts that when the Apostles Peter and John had been examined and threatned by the high-Priest and his accomplices Act. 4.6 it 's said in Vers 23 They returned to their owne company and reported all that the chiefe Priests and Elders had said of them And when they heard that they lift up their
sin which accordingly he did as many places testifie So although the same Apostle when he was at first called had not an express Command touching Baptism as the Eleven had in so many words yet nevertheless he wanted not sufficient Authority for to baptize those whom he did baptize without degrading this Ordinance and making of it inferiour to Preaching as this Objection would infer from the Apostle's speech when he saith Christ sent me not to baptize but to evangelize Which inference being inforced as a consequence needs a proof from Scripture before it can impose belief upon any person Object Object When Christ gave power and authority to the eleven Disciples to teach all nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father Son and holy Spirit he added Matth. 28.20 Lo I am with you all the days even unto the end of the world How is this Scripture fulfilled if there be not a Ministery continued to the end of the world Answ Answ This command of Christ to his Apostles and this promise of his presence with them to the end of the world must be considered as being made to those eleven individual persons or else with such others as were to succeed them in that work of Ministery teaching the Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father Son and holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things whatsoever Christ had commanded them First If it respecteth the Eleven onely then there must be another understanding of those words The end of the world then is most commonly received for according to the common acceptation of the end of the world taking it for the utmost and extremest part of time so it could not be applied to the Apostles personally who lived not to see the end of the world in that sence according to that Scripture Zech. 1.5 Your fathers where are they the Prophets do they live forever Secondly If it respect a Succession of Ministery it must be either an Apostolical National Ministery for breeding the Church or a Pastoral Congregational Ministery for feeding the Church or both Now that this Succession of Ministery in both or either of these kindes is not so visible as it 's commonly judged hath been already proved and needs not again be repeated Nor doth it hence follow that any imputation of unfaithfulness should be fixed upon the most righteous God as if he must needs be rendered unrighteous unless there be a continuation of Ministery either Apostolical or Pastoral because that he hath said that they teaching the Nations to observe whatsoever he had commanded c. lo he was with them all the days to the end of the world And that this may the more clearly appear consider what is spoken touching Eli and his house in 2 Sam. 2.30 to the end I said that thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me for ever i. e. in the Priesthood Exod. 28.1 41 43. Exod. 40.13 14 15. But now the Lord saith Be it far from me for them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed God had promised Aaron and his seed after him and that by a Statute for ever the execution of the Priests office Exod. 40.15 yet there was implied in this promise this condition that they should continue to honour God in that Administration And though this was not exprest it was ever understood as is evident de facto in the case of Nadab and Abihu Levit. 10. who for offering with strange fire which the Lord commanded them not were devoured by fire from the Lord. Levit. 10.3 And Moses said This is that the Lord said I will be sanctified in all them that come nigh me and before all the people will I be glorified And Aaron held his peace The like manner of God's proceedings doth appear in express terms in the case of Eli and his sons in the place before alleadged though God had said touching him and his father's house that they should walk before him for ever 1 Sam. 2.30 and yet doth there say Behold I will cut off thine arm and the arm of thy fathers house And the man of thine which I shall not cut off from my altar shall be to consume thine eyes and to grieve thy heart And he that is left in thy house shall say Put me I pray thee into one of the Priests offices that I may eat a piece of bread Which was accordingly fulfilled in the next Chapter and in 1 Kings 2.27 The Lord gives the reason of this seeming-contradiction why he should say of Eli and of his father's house that they should walk before him in the Priesthood for ever and yet doth also declare and accordingly accomplish that the Continuation or Succession shall be cut off as it was from the posterity of Eli and likewise from the line of Aaron before the time of the expiration of the Mosaical dispensation The reason of this the Lord expresseth in these words But now be it far from me for them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed Though with respect to the Eternal condition of believers the foundation of God stands sure having this seal The Lord knows who are his 2 Tim. 2.19 and that there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 and though neither life nor death nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor any other creature shall be able to separate a believer from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus Rom. 8. ult forasmuch as the Father which gave them to Christ is greater then all and none shall be able to pluck them out of the Fathers hands Joh. 10.28 29. nay sin it self shall not be able to have dominion over them Rom. 6.14 Rom. 7.25 26. Yet with respect to any External condition which may befal them how eminently-glorious soever it may be and what promise soever may be made unto it yet the Equity of this condition is implied if not expressed that the person to whom such promise of External blessing or presence is made are engaged to walk with God to be found honouring of God c. Upon this is the Entail to be reckoned and God no longer can in faith be expected to perform his part then such a person or people are found faithful with God on their part He that honours me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 2.30 31 c. 1 Chron. 28.7 9 If thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever Which forsaking and casting off are expounded in Psal 89.30 31 32 33 34 If his children forsake my law and walk not in my judgements I will visit their transgressions with the rod and their iniquity with stripes nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail And in 2
Chron. 7.16 17 18 19 20 21 22 may be seen at large the Covenant God made with Solomon touching the Temple and its continuance For now have I chosen and sanctified this house that my Name may be there for ever and my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually And as for thee if thou wilt walk before me as David thy father walked and do according to all I command thee then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom according as I have covenanted with David thy father But if ye turn away and forsake my statutes and my commandments which I have set before you and go and serve other gods and worship them then I will pluck them up by the roots and this house will I cast out of my sight and make it to be a Proverb and a by-word among all nations The same thing is declared by the Lord to Asa in 2 Chron. 15.2 Hear ye me Asa and all Judah and Benjamin the Lord is with you while ye be with him if ye seek him he will be found of you but if you for sake him he will forsake you Which thing the Lord did accomplish to a tittle as to their external enjoyments both as concerning their Land their Temple and all their outward glory Now from the preceding passages of the Scripture it doth appear that the Lord when he made any promise of an external concernment or consideration it did alwayes import that man was bound as well on his part to a holy and faithful and obedient walking with God as he was to expect a faithful performance on Gods part of the thing promised and that a neglect on mans part did necessarily infer a disobligement on Gods part The Lord is with you while you are with him but if you forsake him he will forsake you 2 Chron. 15.2 Or as to Eli He that honoureth me I will honour but he that dispiseth me shall be lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 2.30 Nor doth it seem to have been his minde of Old onely as under that dispensation but in the very place mentioned Matth. 28. vers the last besides the equity of the thing that very Scripture holds forth no less then what hath been already propounded For there as he promiseth to be with them all the dayes to the end of the world so he commanded that they should continue teaching the nations to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them For he saith not Teach the nations to observe all things but teaching which being a Participle of the present tense signifieth the doing and continuance in doing the thing which is commanded and whereunto the promise of his presence is annexed So that if Christ did promise his presence with a Ministery to the end of the world it was with them teaching the nations to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them or with such a Ministery as did teach and baptize the nations and continue teaching them to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them But if that Ministery in stead of teaching the nations whatsoever Christ commanded should either cease to teach the nations at all or teach them that which Christ commanded them not or should teach them to observe the precepts of men in stead of the commandments of Christ the continuance of the presence of Christ with such a Ministery is not to be concluded upon as if it were entailed upon it by this Scripture But rather that equity of God held forth in the former Scriptures is to take place here Him that honoureth me I will honour but he that dispiseth me shall be lightly esteeemed And this is not onely true with respect to the Nations Ministery or the Ministery appointed by Christ to teach and baptize the nations but also touching the Ministery in the Churches That if they also continue not in the Doctrine of Christ or shall not continue teaching to observe all things what Christ hath commanded them His presence is not obliged to to be with them neither Rev. 2. vers 1 compared with the fifth the truth of this to be extended both to Church and Ministery as of old to the Priesthood and the Temple and no unrighteousness to be fixed upon God neither then nor now for suffering them to be eclipsed or discontinued Forasmuch as they ceased to honour God no wonder if God cease to honour them with his presence and when they began to dispise him he also lightly esteemed of them And this hath been the condition of the Christian Churches and Ministery and so it 's like to be until the day of the Restauration It 's also to be remembred that a people by their misusing of a mercy or blessing may draw upon themselves a discontinuance of that blessiing or mercy for a season which may not extend so far as to an annihilation or extirpation thereof but that it may have its possibility of restauration and in due time its real accomplishment It 's said touching the Land of Canaan Gen. 17.8 I will give to thee and thy seed after thee the land of thy sojourning all the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession Gen. 48.4 Yet it is not unknown how this promise which seemes to be made to them absolutely hath by their sinnings and transgressions against God at all times not been performed but that people have been spewed out even by their own Land according as it was intimated to them by Moses Levit. 18.28 That the land spew not you out also when you defile it as it spewed out the nations that were before you Levit. 20.22 Which thing he also accomplished according to his word by Ieremiah Chap. 7.15 16 19 and many other places which had its particular fulfilling in their several Captivities under Hoshea Salmaneser and Zedekiah But though they were deprived of their possessions for a time yet not of their right of inheritance that was theirs still and accordingly after their land had fulfilled her Sabbaths and they had continued in their banished condition according to their time appointed seventy years they were returned into their own land as it is called according to the Word of the Lord. So was it touching their Temple-state God had said 2 King 9.3 I have hallowed this house which thou hast built to put my Name there for ever and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually 2 Chron. 7.16 Now as the extent or duration of this Temple and its worship was to expire in the fulness of time as all other legal Ministrations were in the appearing of the Lord Jesus and the substituting of the Christian Church and Ministery yet before this time was fully come wherein the Veil of the Temple was to be rent and Moses to be buried as to his Administration I say Before this time was accomplished this Temple and its Worship fell under a Discontinuance and Disuse by reason of the sins of the Priests and People according as the Lord had said in 2 Chron.
7.19 20 21 22 and had accordingly effected in process of time as appears in the Captivity by Zedekiah and in the Lamentations Chap. 2.6 7. He hath violently taken away his tabernacle as a garden he hath destroyed his palaces of the assembly the Lord hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Sion and despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priests the Lord hath cast off his altar he hath abhorred his sanctuary he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces they have made a noise in the house of the Lord as in the day of a solemn feast Notwithstanding which dealing of his towards them he caused them to return at the time appointed to build their walls and to restore their Worship according to the Word which he had spoken by his holy Prophets because as yet the full time was not come wherein the Entail was to be cut off from this people That which I would have observed in this Circumlocution is this Viz. First That although God had promised that his eyes and his heart should be upon that house which Solomon had built perpetually yet that time was a prefixt and limited time Secondly That before the time limited wherein there was to be a cessation of the Temple and Temple-Worship there was a Discontinuance as to the enjoyment and exercise of it which befel that people through their transgressions and sin insomuch that it may be said They sinned themselves into a difuse of their Mercy which befel them for a time during their Captivity till their restoration Thirdly That whereas it was by divine intendment that at the time appointed the daily sacrifice should cease the Temple-work and Worship should be at an end of which expiration God himself would be the author and procurer yet these people beforehand by their sins procured themselves a Separation Banishment and Captivity for the space of seventy yeers though then at the end thereof God graciously returned their Captivity So would I that it were considered touching the promise of our Lord Jesus to the Apostles or to the Christian Ministery Lo I am with you all the days unto the end of the world First That there is a time limited for the continuation of his presence with them as a Ministery at which time there is to be a cessation thereof as to a Ministery when the work for which the Ministery was given is fulfilled according to Eph. 4.11 12.13 14. and this according to divine purpose and fore-appointment of God Till we all come to the unity of the faith c. Secondly That it 's possible for the Successors of the Apostles in the work of their Ministery to make shipwrack of faith and a good conscience to prove false Teachers and privily to bring in damnable doctrines and through covetousness to make merchandice of men proving spots and blemishes sporting themselves with their own deceivings having eyes full of adultery that cannot cease from sin beguiling unstable souls exercised with covetous practices cursed children which have forsaken the right way and gone astray following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor who loved the wages of unrighteousness Nay all this the holy Apostles of our Lord did foretel should be as may particularly be instanced in the Epistles of Paul Peter Jude and this iniquity began to work in a Mystery before the Apostles left the earth and afterwards mightily prevailed as the History of time will evidence and most eminently that learned Discourse of Master Mede called The Apostacie of the last times and Clappam's Brief upon the Bible and became as that Scripture saith Isa 28.8 The priests and the prophets erred through strong drink they are swallowed up of wine they are out of the way through strong drink They erre in vision they stumble in judgement for all tables are full of vomit and filthiness there is no place clean And this will be found to have been the condition of the Ministery soon after the Apostles time and so forward ever since that pretended Vicar of Christ that false Vice-Christ hath as God set himself in the temple of God and hath sent forth his Angels Messengers or Apostles viz. Nuntio's Cardinals Legats and what not whereby he hath darkened the counsel of God by feigned and devised words and Ministeries From which we may expect to be delivered when the most High shall send his great Angel to enlighten the earth with his glory The fields being now grown almost white to the harvest the Lord of the harvest will in mercy to the ignorance of his poor people thrust forth labourers into the harvest Oh turn again our Captivity also as the rivers of the south who are fallen under a disuse of our mercy our first Ministery which our Lord ascending on high gave as gifts to men for the perfecting the number of the Saints and edifying the body of Christ which though discontinued because of our and our forefathers sins yet may be restored to us again when we are brought to see a want of them and can cry unto God for them Isai 30.18 19 20 The Lord is a God of judgement blessed are all they that wait for him And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more but thine eyes shall see thy teachers But whom shall he teach knowledge and whom shall he cause to understand doctrine Them that are weaned from the milk and drawn from the brests Isa 28.9 Therefore as in the former times there hath been a discontinuance of the true Ministery for a long season by reason of transgression yet may there be a glorious restoration thereof also in God's due time For as the Apostacie began at the Ministery both in the former and later times as is witnessed by the Apostle 2 Pet. 2 There were false prophets among the people even as there shall be false teachers among you who shall privily bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift damnation And yet from the former the Lord in his good pleasure set his people of old free For these reasons why may it not also be hoped that in due time he will again return in mercy and visit the dark corners of the earth causing the people that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death to hear the joyful sound that they may walk in the light of his countenance The rather considering that the Ministery was given to continue till the number of the Saints were perfected Eph. 4.12 or as the former Translation renders it For the gathering together of the Saints Now if the number of the Saints be not perfected nor their gathering together compleated How is the end for which Christ ascended and for which he gave gifts to men accomplished if the work of the Ministery be not again restored unto
to the Nations in their proper Language Therefore this Scripture rightly understood is not of force against what hath been said Object The Scriptures of the Apostles Object they may in a sence be called the Apostles And as the Apostle spake to the Corinthians If I be not an Apostle to others yet I am one to you so of their Writings If they be not Apostles to others to whom they are not come yet they are so to them to whom they are come Answ Ans Their Writings may be called Apostles in a figure as Isaiah was a Prophet to the Eunuch into whose hands his Prophecie came Act. 8.30 but as he needed one to guide him to understand that Prophet so do we stand in need of a guide to understand the Apostles in their writings And that God who was pleased to send his Messenger to the Eunuch to instruct him and to cause him to understand what he read may in his due time send out his Messengers againe in the Power and Spirit of the former to open to us not onely Moses but Christ and his Apostles whose writings we have but seen them as he who saw men walking like trees or as the Eunuch did the Prophecie of Isaiah before it was expounded If it were but in the heart of Gods People to mistrust their own understanding and but to see need to cry out to the Lord to restore the ancient Gospel and to send out those Messengers which are to Preach to the World his fear and worship according to Rev. 14.6 7 to discover Babylon and mightily to call out his People from thence and to lead to Sion it would not be long before some great thing might be accomplished But while we are apt to think we can do these things of our selves without any farther help no marvel that as yet deliverance comes not Oh if the Lord of the harvest must be sought to finde labourers and to thrust them forth and if he will be enquired of for this to do it why do the Lords remembrancers keep silence and give him any rest till he make Hierusalem a praise in the earth till he build up Sion and gather her stones out of the rubbish of Babylons confusions Object Object But whatever may be pretended for a necessity of a Ministery to the World yet Paul took care for the Ordinances and Ministery of the Churches when he gave Timothy instructions how to behave himself in the Church of the living God and gave him a command to commit that which he had taught him to faithful men who might be able to teach others also 2 Tim. 1.2 Answ Answ It is most certaine he did so and by this place and many others appeares the plentiful provision the Lord made for the Churches in point of Ordinances so far as concerned the rules and laws of Worship Act. 20. from Vers 17 to the 32. 1 Cor. 11.2 23. 1 Cor. 7.17 1 Cor. 14.37 2 Tim. 2.1 2 and almost thorowout those Epistles But though he were faithful in appointing the rules for Worship and giving Laws thereof and committing the same to Timothy and by him to faithful men that they should teach others also yet how treacherous they would in after-times prove to those Rules and Laws of Worship is likewise Prophesied of and foretold which should befal the Christian Churches Act. 20.29 30. 2 Tim. 4.3 4. 2 Pet. 2. Jud. 17.18 and this Apostacy was actually begun in the Apostles dayes 2 Thess 2.7 1 Joh. 2.18 1 Joh. 4.1 and in the dayes of the first Churches Rev. Chap. 2. and 3. which Apostacy was grown to be universal in Chap. 13. ult And how universal it was they that will take pains to compare the History of times may finde to their astonishment Object Object But suppose the Apostacy were every way such as hath been spoken May not the People of the Lord who are the Saints of the most High the Kings and Priests of God Rev. 1.6 Rev. 5.10 may not Believers now being Kings by Jesus Christ restore the Worship and set up the Ordinances of Christ as well as Josiah the King did who set up and repaired what the former evill Kings had broken down and destroyed 2 King 22. Answ The building the House Answ and appointing the Laws and Order of the House of God was by him committed First to Moses Exod. 39.32 42 43 who was Prince of the People the first Kingly Magistrate and he who received from the Lord the pattern of his House and the Laws thereof and he was a Type of Christ Next to him Joshuah renewed the Covenant of the Lord with the People at the Commandment of the Lord Josh 5. from the second verse to the ninth Josh 24.25 26 27. This Joshuah was a Type of Jesus and called by that name Act. 7.45 Heb. 4.8 When the Tabernacle ceased and the Temple came in the roome of it the Lord gave King David the pattern thereof and he to Solomon 1 Chron. 28. from verse 11 to 21 and they were both Types of Christ as Kings Now as to the King it was given to build at first and to appoint the Laws of the House at first so to the Kings was it appointed to repaire the breaches when any were The People of Israel were a Royal Priesthood Exod. 19.6 yet they might not meddle with the Priests Office Numb 16.9 10. They were a Kingly People an anointed Nation 1 Chron. 16.22 Psal 105.15 yet they did not all raign as Kings nor did the People set about the restoring or repairing what was amisse till such to whom it was by order appointed to be their head did set upon the work Neither in the Tabernacle without Moses nor in the Circumcision of those who were born in the wilderness without Joshua nor in the Temple without David or Solomon nor in the repairing the Temple without their Kings as Josiah Hezekiah c. nor in the coming out of Babylon without Zerubbabel Declaring plainly that to them to whom at first was given the power of building the House and appointing the Laws thereof to them did appertain the right of repairing the breach and restoring the Laws which were such persons as did type out the Lord Jesus who as at first he became the corner-stone of the building and did by his Messengers his Apostles and Ministers with whom he manifested his visible presence Matth. 28 19 20. Mark 16. ult Joh. 15. the last words of vers 5. lay the foundation and build the superstructure according to Eph. 2.20 Eph. 4.12 so to the same Lord Jesus Christ by his Ministery accompanied with his Power and Presence doth it of right belong to be the Repairer of the breaches which Antichrist hath made in the Christian Church and the Restorer of paths to walk in as of old was typed out in the Temple-state in the examples before alleadged Once the Lord Jesus taught the people by himself from the days of his
entering upon the work of the Ministery Luke 4.18 till the time of finishing of that Ministration Afterward he performed it by his Apostles whom he had chosen ordained and sent out for that purpose together with those other gifts of Ministery which as the fruit of his ascension to his Father he gave for that end to perfect i. e. to gather and edifie his Body the Church until they should all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man c. He did not leave it upon his people promiscuously to be equally and alike gifted for that work Compare Ephes 4.11 12 with 1 Cor. 12.29 Therefore there doth remain an Order to be observed in the exercise of the Ministery and the Disorder thereof is to be bewailed and Jesus Christ to whom all power is given of the Father and by whom at first it was derived and delegated to chosen men Acts 10.40 41 42 to be waited upon for restoration thereof in whose hand the power is and without whom we can do nothing Joh. 15.5 That he should do it by such instruments as he pleaseth furnished with such power and authority and with such a presence of Christ as may demonstrate them to be sent of God for that work or service by the Divine light and heat of the fire of the Spirit of God Act. 2. furnishing them with the true knowledge of the mind of God concerning the Fundamentals of Doctrine Worship together with true power to evince the truth thereof against all gainsayers of whom the world was never more full whether we respect Jews or Infidels or False Christians To be furnished with ability to shew to all Kindreds Nations Tongues and Peoples the glory of the Mystery of the ancient Gospel which once was declared and received but from which there hath been so deep a falling away according as was foretold 2 Thess 2.7 1 Tim. 3.16 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3 and accordingly effected through the power of the Beast Rev. 13. ult Quest Is not the Ministery of the Apostles as efficacious to possess the Saints of the enjoyment of their Liberties purchased by Christ Quest and to put them upon the doing their duties required of them in our Times as it was in theirs seeing that they by their Ministery were commanded to teach all nations to observe whatsoever Christ had commanded them Matth. 28.19 20. Rom. 10.6 7 8. 2 Tim. 2.2 Answ The Ministery of the Apostles may be considered Answ either in the word or in the power of it 1 Thess 1.5 The word of their Ministery without the power is not efficacious to put persons upon their duty Act. 2.11 13. Act. 17.18 The Power accompanying the Word is either Outward or Inward or both Outward and Inward The Outward power was the external demonstration of the Spirit expressed Acts 19.6 Rom. 15.18 19. Heb. 2.4 The Inward power was that internal operation of the Spirit expressed Acts 2.37 Acts 16.14 Now if the word of the Apostles Ministery be accompanied with a power and demonstration of the Spirit sutable to that demonstration and power will be the manifestation of the obedience that follows it according to Rom. 15.18 19. 1 Cor. 2.4 5. If the demonstration of the Spirit be visible and outward it directs to the Outward obedience according to the Rules of that demonstration If it be accompanied with power it not onely directs but enables to obedience in that particular according to Matth. 7.22 23. Luke 10.17 18 19 20. If the demonstration and power of the Spirit be onely Inward and Invisible it directs and enables to the more Inward and Invisible part of obedience Gal. 5.22 23 to believe hope joy love and to express the fruits thereof Gal. 5.26 If the demonstration and power of the Spirit which accompanieth the Word be both Outward and Inward then doth it direct and enable the soul both Inwardly and Outwardly to be obedient according to the Rules thereof Rom. 15.18 19. 1 Cor. 2.4 5. 1 Thes 1.5 Now it may so come to pass that the Word of the Lord or the Ministery of the Apostles may come in demonstration and power upon the outward man onely and extend no further it may convince that Acts 4.14 16 and may bring that under obedience Act. 8.12 13. but it seldome or never befals the Lord's people to be convinced in the outward man onely I say onely But it may and certainly doth many times befal them to finde and feel the inward power and demonstration of the Spirit invisibly and inwardly whenas they are deprived of the external Manifestations of it Matth. 16.15 16 17 when the soul cannot and what it cannot see it may by the inward power of the Spirit believe Heb. 11.1 when it cannot possess and enjoy it may by the power of the same Spirit be helped to wait for Rom. 8.24 25. and when it knows not what to pray for as it ought it may by the inward power of the same Spirit be enabled to sigh and groan to God Rom. 8.26 27. This did seeme to be the condition of those believers in the nineteenth of the Acts who though they believed through the inward power of the Spirit upon their hearts yet they were ignorant of the external power and demonstration of the Spirit and consequently what they were further to know and do Act. 19.2 6. Cornelius who though the power of the Spirit had been great upon his heart Act. 10.24 yet he was ignorant of that external demonstration and power which afterwards he received Act. 10.44 So Paul though it pleased God to reveale himself to him or in him in the way Gal. 1.16 and caused him to pray in or by the Spirit Act. 9.11 compared with Rom. 8.26 27 yet he remained ignorant of that external power and demonstration of the Spirit which afterward he received when Ananias came unto him and laid his hands upon him and opened his eyes and told him what he should do Act. 9.6 17. Sometimes the Word or the Apostles Ministery came both in word and power both in the outward demonstration and inward operation and then it made men obedient in word and deed Rom. 15.16 19. 1 Thess 1.5 1 Cor. 2.4 5. These things being premised I conceive I may say in answer to your Question That the word of the Gospel or Ministery of the Apostles as you call it is so far forth efficacious to put the Saints upon doing their duties as it comes furnished with the demonstration and power of the Spirit 1 Cor. 1.1.5 2 Cor. 4.5 2 Cor. 3.6 If the Spirit do demonstrate and make evident to the Soule that part of the Word which concerns the Soul's hope faith joy love c. according as that Word is evidenced with demonstration and power of the Spirit to the Soule so far is that Soule not onely taught but enabled to hope believe joy love and no farther So likewise for that part of
promised Quest That from the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same his Name shall be great among the Gentiles Mal. 1.11 How shall this Name of Christ be proclaimed and made great among the Gentiles in this desolate and lost condition according to Rom. 10. Answ This Question seems to be like Isaac's Question to his Answ Father My Father where is the Lamb for the Sacrifice and the Answer may be the same that his was to his Son God will provide himself a Lamb. I would intreate you to read these Scriptures Mich. 2.7 10. Mich. 3.5 6 7. Mich. 4. the whole Chapter and that passage mentioned in Rom. 10.15 being compared with Isa 52.7 doth evidently declare that there is yet a further sending forth of the Messengers of Peace when the Sion of God shall awake and put on strength and Jerusalem the holy City shall put on beautiful garments Read Isa 52.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 and judge whether this be not a Gospel-Prophecie part whereof is yet unfulfilled And whether this be not the Apostles scope in the tenth of the Romans vers 14 15 and the whole eleventh Chapter to the Romans Onely while you say How shall this be The wisdome of Jehovah can bring this about Zeph. 3.8 9 10 12 13 14. When the time of the Lord is come wherein that great Angel shall lighten the earth with his glory Rev 18.1 and wherein the Angel shall flie in the midst of Heaven having the ancient Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth to every nation kindred and tongue and People Rev. 14.6 When the Lord of the Harvest seeing the fields white to the Harvest shall thrust forth labourers into his Harvest when his Angels or Messengers shall be sent forth to gather his elect from the four winds from one end of Heaven to the other The zeal of the Lord of Hosts shall perform this though we know not how Object Object If there be not a Ministery in the World What will become of the Faith of all such as believe in the Lord Jesus differenced and dishinguished under those several professions and known by those several appellations whereby men have named them Answ seeing the Scripture witnesseth that men cannot believe without a Preacher Rom. 10.41 Answ This Objection grounds it self upon an absurdity that will seem to follow upon the premises viz. If what hath been alleadged be true touching the Ministery How can this Scripture be true also which saith How can they believe on him of whom they have not heard And how shall they hear without a Preacher To solve which seeming-contradiction I desire the Reader to consider who that relative word they must be applied to And consequently what is the scope of the Apostles argument in this place For the understanding of which I conceive it will be necessary to read the ninth tenth and eleventh Chapters together and they will appear to be one continued Discourse or Argument whereby the Apostle Paul doth hold forth the state of the Jewes whom he calls his brethren his kinsmen according to the flesh Rom. 9.3 Now concerning these he begins all the three Chapters and shewes both their priviledges which they had by the Law Chap. 9.4 5. Their rejection through their non-submission to the righteousness of God Chap. 10.3 Their restitution when the fulness of the Gentiles is come in Chap. 11.25 to fulfil the Mystery of this dispensation of God by the appearing of the deliverer who shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob according to his Covenant Vers 25 26 27. Isa 59.20 21. These are that they which are mentioned in the 1 2 3 and 14 Verses of the tenth Chapter to the Romans touching whom the Apostle thus reasons Brethren my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved For I hear them record c. Object But blessed Apostle Object what ground of Faith is there in this prayer considering how they are rejected Answ The Scripture hath said Whosoever believeth in him Answ shall not be ashamed for there is no difference between the Iew and the Greek for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved Therefore they viz. the Jews if they call upon the Name of the Lord they shall be saved Onely the Question is How they shall call upon him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without out a Preacher and how shall they Preach except they be sent Therefore till there be a sending forth of Messengers even to the Jews quatenus Jews as well as there hath been to the Gentiles quâ such no wonder if they believe not For how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how can they hear without a Preacher and how can they Preach except they be sent Object Object But they have heard though they have not obeyed as appears Answ Rom. 10.16 18 21. Answ This may not be denied for Christ was sent first to the lost sheep of the house of Israel And he accordingly came unto his own and his own received him not But the consideration hereof makes the Mystery the greater Once God chose the family of Abraham before all the families of the earth and in Judah was God known and his Name famous in Israel He dealt not so with any other nation neither had they the knowledge of his Law Though afterwards when the fulness of time was come and the wall of partition broken down by the appearing of our Lord Jesus then the Mystery of Christ which in other ages was not made manifest was revealed to his holy Apostles and Prophets Eph. 3.5 6 by the Spirit which Mystery was That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel And the Jewes to whom the Gospel first was preached having put it from them Act. 13. ult and reckoned themselves unworthy of that salvation became the onely nation of all the world who were by the just hand of God concluded under blindness and hardness in part and so are to continue such a proportion of time as was fore-appointed and decreed Rom. 10.8 9 10 25. At the expiration and determination of which time there is to be a revelation of the Mystery of their breaking off and ingrafting in again Rom. 11 2◠and that to be done when the deliverer shall come out of Sion and shall turn away ungodliness from Iacob For as in times past the Gentiles believed not having not that opportunity of the knowledge of God as the Jews had yet at length obtained mercy through their unbelief Even so have these also now not believed that through their mercy they might obtain mercy Object But how is
this to be effected Object Answ By means of the preaching of those whom God in his holy and blessed time will send out for this work For Answ how shall they call on him of whom they have not heard as the natural Jews have not though their forefathers some of them did and for their disobedience were rejected And how shall they hear without a preacher and how shall they preach except they be sent As it is written How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of them which preach the Gospel Which passage of Scripture however it hath been applied to that publication of the Gospel which hath had its course among the Gentiles yet the Apostle here makes a special application thereof to the sending forth of that Ministery which is to accomplish this work forasmuch as that which is to accompany its administration is something which hath not as yet been performed and which hath a peculiar fulfilling in the Calling of the Jews as almost the whole Chapter from whence the Apostle fetcheth this passage will evince if the Scripture it self be examined Isai 52.7 Read vers 1 2 5 6 7 8 9 10. Well might the Apostle therefore say Isa 25.7 How can they hear without a preacher forasmuch as the time neither then was nor appears yet to be come wherein those Messengers that are appointed to bring them that glad tidings after their long Captivity in blindness and hardness under which they for a time were to continue to fulfil the Word of the Lord Rom. â—â— 2â— But when the full time is accomplished and that the Deliverer is come to Sion or out of Sion Oh then how beautiful upon the mountains will be the feet of the Apostles or Messengers to whom shall be revealed this Mystery which hath been so long hid but shall then be made manifest and by whom the glad tidings thereof shall be published among those who till this time have not heard thereof and consequently could not believe Not as if no man Jew or Gentile could hear of God and Christ and things of heaven so as to believe to salvation without a special sending of some person or persons to preach unto them as a Minister viz. an Apostle Prophet or Pastor but that it could not be expected that the Nation of the Jews who through their unbelief had been broken off that they should be restored again and become one sheepfold with the Gentiles through believing and the Mystery hereof be accomplished and revealed without a Preacher i. e. those Messengers whose feet were to be beautiful in publishing the glad tidings thereof and which should have its accomplishment in its season Secondly And that this may the more manifestly appear to relate to a special sending of such as hath been spoken of the phrase of speech used in the fifteenth Verse of the tenth Chapter to the Romanes may somewhat help to evince Where it may be observed that the two especial phrases of speech which import Authoritative Sending 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Preaching 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are used both for the sending and preaching of those Messengers which are there mentioned by the Apostle whereas it will be found in the Scripture that in the days of the first Ministery when it was on foot in the world that Faith was not so tied to a Ministery or to one so especially sent as this Scripture holds forth sending in the terms of it as that the Faith could not be true where the Preaching and Sending was not such i. e. Authoritative To say nothing of Cornelius that devout Souldier and Captaine of the Italian band of whom the blessed Witness of Truth testifies That he feared God with all his house and gave alms to the people and prayed to God alwayes whose prayers and alms the Angel testifieth were come up for a memorial before God Now God heareth not sinners Joh. 9.31 And in the ninth of the Acts it 's noted of Paul after he had seen the Lord in the way in the eleventh vers Behold he prayeth which was an evidence of his conversion Yet this Cornelius did before any Ministery that we read of had made known the minde of the Lord unto him as afterward it did in the conclusion of that Chapter But I refer this to the exercise of a free minde to consider of Friendly and Christian communication There be other cases besides this of Cornelius which may give light to this thing The Faith of the Samaritans who believed upon the report of the woman communicating to them her experiences touching the Messiah owns it self to no such Ministery as the Objection imports and holds forth as the story will easily make appear when it is read Ioh. 4. the Lord Jesus having spoken to her heart and shewed her the corruption thereof in telling her she had had five husbands and he whom she now had was not her husband a thing which she knew very well already this extorts from her an acknowledgment that he was a Prophet Vers 18. but more begot more in conclusion she left the water-pot and went into the City and communicated her experience to the people thereof men and women Come see a man that told me all that ever I did Is not this the Christ The effect of which declaration of hers was such as it not onely if at all prevailed with the people of that City to come to him that by seeing him they might believe but to believe and so come to see as themselves testifie Verse 39 40 41 42. The Apostle mentions as another meanes of conversion A gratious Conversation 1 Cor. 7.16 A holy and chaste conversation compared with the first of Peter 3.1 For what knowest thou O Wife whether thou shalt save thy husband 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Convertes ad fidem Christianam It is the same word which is used in Matth. 1.21 Salvabit populum suum à peccatis eorum He shall save his people from their sinnes Which saving of the husband by the wife the Apostle Peter in 1 Pet. 3.1 2 appropriates instrumentally to her chaste conversation Likewise ye wives be in subjection to your own husbands that if any obey not the Word they also may without the Word be won by the conversation of the wives while they behold your chast conversation with feare I have observed touching the conversion of Paul Immediate Revelation that it was effected by immediate revelation Act. 9.6 11 compared with Gal. 1.12 16. Ephes 3.3 And though the Lord Jesus preacht unto him in the way yet he did it by himself without such instruments as at that time he had appointed and placed in the world for the working Faith and Conversion By all which it appeares that however it is our duty to attend to such means as God hath appointed when and where they way be injoyed yet himself is not bound so to work by them as that he cannot work besides them and without
them when he pleaseth or that the Faith or Conversion which ownes not such a Ministery to have a share in it's working must therefore not be true because not so wrought or effected as the Objection holds it forth Diligent searching the Scripture To what hath been spoken might be added the consideration of the Faith of those men of Berea Act. 17.11 12 which attributes very much to their daily searching the Scriptures whether the things they heard of Paul and Silas were so and it 's said Therefore many of them believed No doubt Paul and Silas preached to these as they had before to those of Thessalonica Vers 3 But these were more noble then the former in that they searched the Scriptures which Paul and Silas urged to see whether the thing alleadged were so therefore many of them believed As also the evangelizing of the scattered brethren and the blessed successe that ensued thereupon who though they were so far from being Ministerially sent out that they were sent after by the Churches at Jerusalem when tidings had come to their eares how the hand of the Lord was with them Act. 1.19 20 21 22 yet their labour of Love and work in that particular was accepted and many were turned to the Lord thereby By all which it doth appear that although Faith came by hearing and hearing by the Word of God yet it doth not appear that Faith cannot be true or that none can be said to believe who have not so heard viz. By such a preaching and sending as that Scripture in Rom. 10.14 15 holds forth and as this Objection would enforce But on the contrary rather that although the Lord Jesus did institute and appoint some certaine persons chosen and deputed to the work of the Ministery for the ends and during the time mentioned in the fourth of the Ephesians to which men were to give attendance as to the meanes appointed of God for those ends yet he was not bound so to work by those instruments and by none other as if that whatsoever he wrought otherwise or by other meanes must be invalidated because it was not so effected as the instances before alleadged will with clearness and no less comfort evince Therefore this consideration now presented will be so far from weakning that it will adde much comfort and strength to the Faith of the mourners of Sion and the waiters for the hope of Israel while they behold that the most High hath placed such footsteps amongst his blessed Oracles of Truth the Scriptures that may stay from wandering and preserve from fainting their wearied Spirits as in other things so also in this that their Faith and Hope may be found in God and they no way enforced to build upon the wisdome of men that would be esteemed the Ministers and Messengers of Christ in stead of those that once were so And may serve as a good help till better do appear to free the minde and spirit of some that are sincere from that Bull or Comination which hath taken hold of them enforcing it self upon the Conscience not to dare to question the present Ministery lest they be necessitated to question their own Faith also though this questioning extends it self no farther then to try it by the rules of the Word a thing so frequently commanded by God himself And the impartial exercise whereof though it might prevaile with some to see their present loss and that they are not what they have taken themselves to be and abate much of the present confidence which most men have yet would it not at all take off the ground of their consolation nor the exercise of their gratious abilities in searching the Scriptures as touching the present Truth as the men of Berea did nor of communicating their gratious experiences as that good woman of Samaria did or those honest-hearted brethren of the dispersion nor of holding forth a holy harmless and chaste Conversation winning and instrumentally saving those who possibly may not be won by the Word themselves mean while being found faithful witnesses to Truth so far as they have attained and waiters for that grace which is to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ 2 Thess 4.5 Now the Lord direct our hearts into the love of God and into a patient waiting for Christ forasmuch as unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto Salvation therefore in patience let us possess our souls knowing that the time is coming yea hastning wherein the blinde shall see the lame shall leap and the stammering tongue be unloosed In the mean time Let Brotherly love continue FINIS