the ruled in their raleableness 2 Particular i. e. in respect of healing and being healed v. 8. the shewer of mercy ss to the sick * 2 Pertinent to our persons or possessory v. 8. the distributer * 2 By and for the sake or because of *** 1 Gods spiritual †* 1 Benefits ** 1 Of Faith 1 Immediate as justification 2 Mediate 1 Infusive as sanctification 2 Impartive as blessings These three are meant v. 1. by the mercies of God taken for matter or things given of mercy and v. 6. according to the grace of God so also taken and partticularly The first v. 1. Brethren v. 3 6. portion and proportion of faith The second v. 2. in the renovation of your minde The third v. 2. good will of God together with the free love and mercy of God themselves as the onely cause of and mover to them all ** 2 With because of or for faith and its three mentioned benefits as their terminus a quo ad quem That is the means of 1 Gods gracifying us with the assurance right use of faith and its threefold benefits 2 Our gratifying God for and with them all namely in both respects these Ordinances of divine worship following Ver. 3. The portion of faith Ver. 6. according to the proportion of faith wherein is a double Hortatory Motive ss God hath given you this divine serving him as his means of 1 His increase of our faith and all its fruitâ— and benefits in us as his Sons and Wives and of his preserving us 2 Our increase of his glory by all that is in us as his servants and subjects and of our serving him spiritually according to his institutions of the second and the promises thereof †* 2 Free-grace as the cause of the matter of these many sorts of benefits mentioned 1 In his willing them unto us v. 2. good will of God and v. 6. according to the grace of God 2 In his mercifull freeing us from their contrary evils v. 1. ergo by the mercies of God ss mentioned before in the 11 chapters * ⎠* 2 Pauls brotherly exhortation v. 1. I beseech you brethren though he might have Apostolically charged them thereto as v. 3. he doth in the point of their distinct observance lineal and collateral 2 Imperantly †1 Positively * 1 From divine †1 Authority 1 Supreme X 1 Dictant or causal v. 5. in Christ i. e. by him v. â— the perfect will of God †1 Peremptory as perfect and without limit of human reason or other bound before its prescripts or exception in the matter after they are instituted and that both in respect of Christ as Lord of these estates and of the holy Ghost as inabler to and in their functions and of God as the effecter and blesser and accepter of both 1 Joyntly v. 2. that perfect will of God 2 Severally 1. In the first respect v. 7 8. or a ministry which are five 2. In the second ibid. in their five functions or works 3. In the third v. 5. one anothers members i. e. to the Churches goood which are amplified 1 Cor. 12.4 5 c. †2 Rational ss in respect of 1 God because the whole and each part thereof is acceptable unto him v. 2. acceptable will of God 2 Us because God hath sweetned his Precepts with wayes and benefits of all sorts v. 2. good will of God v. 3. portions of faith to be imployed in Gods service according to that proportion of faith v. 6. the like is to be supposed of the grace of God v. 6. with v. 5. each c. X 2 Dictate in respect of God 1 God i. e. his reason or word v. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Word or Scripture which is Gods divine Reason 2 Us i. e. our worship service or homage to God as our Lord v. 1. due to him from us as his redeemed and sanctified v. 1. brethren 3. Faith 6. Grace as in the last branch especially due as instituted in the Word for that end It is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Divine Worship Service or Homage in three respects 1 In testimony of Gods Lordship over us Vorscap and in Saxon Dutch being the same with our English Lordship as their Vorst and here are with our Lord. 2 As done for his end work and service commanded 3 In testimony of our inferiority and humility 2 Deputed 1 Dictant proper and primary .i. the Office of the Apostleship both as the free gift and deputed estate of God and Christ and also as in gracious love to Paul and the faithful adorned with fit abilities v. 3. I by the grace ss Apostleship Rom. 1. of whom we have received grace even Apostleship for obedience to the faith in his name c. that is given me for that end I charge every one among you 2 Dictate manifested and as derived from that office of Apostleship i. e. the prescripts by word or writing and practice of Paul as an Apostle as here by writing for as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies both to say and to charge so here are both intended as if he had said I speaking or writing this as an Apostle do charge and in Gods name and authority command c. †2 Estates of 1 Sons which God hath imputed to us v. 1. brethren v. 3. by Faith v. â— be you transformed in the renewing of your minde ss according to your estate transformed you from meer natural 2 Servants or worshippers whereto God hath called us by these his instituted Services ver 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worship holy sacrifice v. 2. Gods will ss which you are bound to obey eâ—pecially since he hath given these Ordinances of worship both as priviledges of sons and means of reward and also hath enabled you to the former by grace v. 2.6 and the latter by gifts v. 6 7 8. * 2 Exacting of us hereunto all that we are v. 1. present your bodies have v. 6. since then ye have gifts or can do for God v. 1. a living sacrifice or the Saints v. 5. as fellow-members †2 Oppositely by all those authorities and reasons forbidding whatsoever is not by them commanded 1 In matter v. 2. and be ye not conformed to that worship which the world will frame and form to God and labour by all it can to conform you thereto partly as good and reasonable in the generall partly as commanded by Authority Civill and Ecclesiasticall and especially as pretended to bee the divine instituted sanctified by Gods VVord 2 In the Order of that matter as the particulars thereof are distinct from each other lineally and collaterally v. 3. that none of you overween beside what he ought to mind i. e. beyond the bounds of Gods portion v. 3. and proportion of faith whereto he hath confined each of his servants v. 3. which God hath apportioned to each of you which is there called wisdome and sound mindedness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
Religion Heb. 6.2 The Doctrine of Baptismes and the former subjective in the fourth foundation and next words and of imposition of hands as also their commandedness is in both their relation to the two first Principles v. 1. of repentance from dead works and faith towards God and their commendedness in the two last v. 2. and of the Resurrection from the dead and eternall Iudgement It being the excellent course of the Holy Ghost in notifying things capitally to set the most noted adjunct of the particular intended to be set synecdochecally for the generall head of the thing notifiable it being the briefest plainest readiest and certainest course and freest from the corruptions incident to diversity of Ages Nations and Languages and cavills of the Heretical opposites For Baptism is the first necessariest and notedest seal and adjunctive solemnizing rite as imposition of hands is the subjective and rites being the most and imposition of hands meere notifying as Moses Gen. 1.3 intending to mention Gods creating fire notifieth it by Light as by its most evident and eminent quality and most obvious to the most but this place abruptly * 2 Rational or respective 1 Internally to themselves and their proper relatives viz. the respect of the Subjectives as such to their adjuncts and of the adjunctives to their subjects as so bounded and charged by God v. 3. as God hath apportioned to every one the portion of faith and v. 4. in setting a body members and works and particular Ordinances within the confines whereof we are to serve God and out selves by observing their contents otherwise it is desolation perdition abaddon 2 Externally to their colaterals and remote linealls from both which we are disbounded by the consequence of the same places especially v. 6. according to the proportion of faith that is walking servant-like in their confined stint and not disproportionally to their sonlike portion as transgressing the station and circuits thereof as the Angels did Iude 6. for which Antichristianism is called Babylon and Babel i. e. confusion as breaking the disboundings in Gods Worship as it is for adding to it stiled that abomination Mat. 24.15 with Dan. 11.31 Rev. 17.5 and Man of Sin viz. from breaking Gods band and bounds 2 Thess 2.3.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with 1 Ioh. 3.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for sinne is a band-breaker or bound-breaker and Lex and Religio are a band and rebinding or confining and stinting of Gods servants especially of his instituted or statuted Worshippers over which to step is superstition or supra station Iude. 6. and also for his destroying each of the stinted matter or order named Abaddon Apollyon that desolation son of perdition c. This I have shewn in the Text Metaphrase and Analysis of v. 3. and in the distinctness and stintedness of each state and work to be the scope of the Holy Ghost and of the Apostolick Emphatical charge v. 3. so jealous is God and ought we to be in this his marriage band bound and bed that he useth no active word much provoking or emphatical in all the five last Verses of the capital matter of his Divine Worship but onely restrictive and many wayes bounding terms and phrases for this distinctness sake Hitherto of the body or external part of Gods Worship and not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it is but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what it is natural proper and simple existence Now of its soul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scope and life thereof †2 Internal or Theorical X 1 Lineal Y 1 Previal or respective a priore Z 1 Positive 1 Causal 1 Internal 1 Material 1 Of the Church viz. visible Saints and faithful in each others judgment v. 1. Brethren v. 3. portion of faith 2 Of its estates of its Ministery Saints graced and gifted for that end v. 3. as God hath apportioned to every one the portion c. v. 6. distinct 3 Of their functions moral teaching exhorting ruling distributing tending the sick natural bread wine water and actions of breaking powring giving dipping and set words of consecration 4 Of the membral states thereof viz. hearing with understanding and tractableness submission taking eating going into water 2 Formal as 1 True Worship so all the institutions external as of the word are the form of that ens verum unum â—onum and the particulars thereof its integra 2 Ecclesiastica so a corporation its estates and their works is its form v. 4 5.6 we v. 5. so we c. for the Church is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 basis the estates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 order and their works 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vigour their administration 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 effect perfected 2 External the efficient 1 Supreme 1 Simple God the Father willing them v. 1. to God v. 2. of God v. 3. as God v. 6. of God 1 Commanding v. 1. holy v. 2. perfect will v. 3. I charge 2 Commending v. 1. by the mercies acceptable v. 3. good v. 3. Portion of faith v. 5. every one each others members So 1 Cor. 12.6 diversity of operations but the same God who worketh all in all things 2 To us 1 Ordering estating and enriching Christ v 5. in Christ as instituter and founder of its authority to 1 Be Gods Worship v. 1. to God even the Word Worship with v. 5. in Christ so in the same 1 Cor. 12.5 ministrations but the same Lord 2 Do as his Church-Ministry Ministrations Members viz. Rom. 12.7 8 with 1 Cor. 12. v. 4 5. 2 Acting gifting enabling the holy Ghost v. 1. living v. 2. be ye transformed in the renewing c. v. 6. gifts distinct according to the grace of God so in that place 1 Cor. 12.4 gifts but the same spirit 2 Mediate 1 Active viz. the Apostle v. 3. I 2 Declaring viz. the word v. 1. of the word 2 Subjective b 1 Universal As an unum with its particulars As a genus with its species Id est Gods prescribing his Divine Worship in the generall and its particulars as the subject of our active service of him in generall Devotion to him as willing it by his majestick and prerogative will v. 2. perfect will of God with particular and distinct discerning of speciall Order therein by Christ v. 5. in Christ b 2 Particular as an 1 Whole with its parts 2 Integrum with its members 1 Gods prescribing his existent worship consisting of a subjective totum with its adjunctive parts i. e. Paradise Noahs Ark Abrahams Family Moses Tabernacle Solomons Temple with their appendant things Rites and actions v. 1. sacrifice synecdochically for the whole legall or precedent worship and all its particulars 2 Gods instituting the present Evangelical Church and its Adjuncts as an integrum with its integrall members and their faculties proper and common and their actions v. 4 5. to the 8. Note These subjective respects I call internall worship as transient from God towards us and we do accordingly internally
Chapter of the Romans from Vers 1. to Vers 8. IN this Treatise of Divine Worship for avoiding Ambiguity I wil first handle the noture and then the nature thereof Worship is taken three wayes 1. Personally and that both instinctively and objectively 2. Really or subjectively 3. Actively and transiently between both In the first it is taken for the venerable personage or state of Superiority as Majesty Grace Highness Lordship and VVorship are vulgarly used for a King Duke Lord and Gentleman In the second for the respective things and works of their Inferiors imposed upon them by their Superiors as their claimed due by their Superiority In the third for the Inferiors exercising those things and works towards their Superiors but in that Doctrine we use it properly in the second sense yet for want of usual conjugates proper to each of the three and through their affinity if we had them we will still allow also an obvious respect of the third as transient to the first as its rightful commander and proper α. ω. i. e. its beginning and end Divine also we use in the same manner properly for the matter instituted by Divine authority yet also as having its relation a priore to its instituting Deity and Aposteriore to the same Deity as the sole object of that active worshipping Again thirdly the will of God hath the same three fold sense in the generall but it is here appropriated to the second by the word instituted and so giveth the distinguishing term to this definition as it doth the constituting by its making the church and its ecclesiasticalls parts of Divine worship 4. Service or serving God may be taken for the works of Gods personall service and secondly for his instituted but partly for want of fitter terms and partly for the distinction of the two latter senses of worship mentioned I will constantly use it for the third sense of worship or exercise of worship In the second sense for the peculiar publike serving God and as transient from us to God as I will also for the same reasons use the subjective worship for the matter thereof and worship in the second sense wherewith both the naturall and nationall use of the word well agreeth for the Etymology thereof is from the Saxon and High Dutch words voorst Lord or voerst first and Schapship which is their and our usuall stative abstract both making vorstschap quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ship i. e. Headship worship afrer our English Euphonie all used in the said three senses as also the Low-Dutch Hereschap Lordship or Worship is except that dieust or deu heren dicust the Lords service is ordinarily used for worship in the second sense as Gods service is amongst us but the very propriety of the word very well serveth with our frequent and onely word for the generall of Gods Ordinances instituted for his Publike Service i. e. Worship as when our Divines say there are three parts of Gods Worship the Word Sacraments and Prayer whereto Ridley and Feild adde a fourth i. e. Discipline and when they oppose the true worship of God against false worship and say that the Mass is a part of false worship c. yea there is nothing between Gods Personall Lordship Majesty Highness and VVorship in the first sense and this his reall matter of Worship in the second sense set by him for a Testimony Homage Badge or Sign thereof to make them not litterally the same but an easie and usuall metonymie of the sign for the thing signified which sheweth them of a prime relation and nearness to Gods Majesty head-ship Lordship all which in our case are the same and only not Gods case litterally for they all are in respect of God the same though Antichrist with his names of Blasphemy whereof his devout and amazed followers are full hath deposed opposed and disposed Gods titles as also their subjective estates according to his will Dan. 11.36 with 2 Thess 2. ◠Rev. 13.1.3 as in our case woorschaep as Lordship to the nobility our worship to the Gentry of his time where and while he domineered for at other times and places this titularity was and is scorned the which he hath done to all estates of his Clergy and Laity especially to his Prelacie but I will not stir in his Excrements which he accounteth Ornaments without urgent necessity neither do I deny nor want the present Historicall use of them only let our present term worship be understood for Gods Headship and its Prerogative Badges as peculiar thereto i. e. is as its quarto modo proprium all primacies and only and alwayes to them in the original proper and exact acception of things and names which I let serve for Explication of Peculiar the only remaining doubtfull term of the summary definition of Divine Worship that I may proceed to the native Doctrines thereof for as for the Body Sons and Publique they are discernable how they are there taken by all to whom I intend these lines As for the observing trying and applying the Doctrines promised the first is divine worship is especially to be known and observed this is summarily shewn in the Metaphrase and Analysis of this place of Rom. 12. and in the Genesis of this matter of worship and further to be shewn by parellelling this place with its beams shining in the Gospel and in the Evangelically transformed minds for the direction of our humane nature to divine communion with God the first proof hereof in the place is from Pauls accurate couching and artificially compacting the same therein discernable in the geneticall table distinctly disclosing the same which proveth it a matter of great moment worthy his attentive teaching and our attentive learning the same The second is from Pauls emphaticall Exhortations the Apostolike commands Analysed in the former part of the former Table proving it to oblige us upon the breach of our son-like and servant-like Union and Communion with God to know the Particulars Order and Uses thereof A third is from Pauls urging us to a metamorphosed renovation of our minds for the searching proving and approving the same v. 2. WORSHIP in the generall whether absolutely taken for his Prerogative of worshipfulness as God Creator Redeemer Preserver Increaser Perfecter of every thing or respectively to man or a Christian who have this generall notion acknowledgement of this Prerogative affectionateness thereunto and readiness therein imprinted in their hearts together with his image as a reflex of the thing sealed on the seal and printed on the form of Letters or other ingraven form of printing the parts of which are distinct in kinde which answer to the correspondent parts of Gods worship in generall or these three parts or Offices thereof in question in particular so that they which confound some correspondent parts do by clear consequence confound the like parts in the original print and all proper reflexes therefrom mediate or immediate and Adam might much better
Gospel Publique Worship OR The Translation Metaphrase Analysis and Exposition of Rom. 12. from v. 1. to 8. Describing and Prescribing the compleat Pattern of Gospel-Worship ALSO An Exposition of the 18 th Chapter of MATTHEW To which is added A Discovery of ADAM'S threefold Estate in Paradise viz. Moral Legal and Evangelical By THOMAS BREWER 1 Tim. 3.15 But if I tarry long that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the house of God which is the Church of the living God the pillar and ground of the truth See Gal. 6.1 Gen. 2.7 and v. 17. with Chap. 3.3 and v. 15. LONDON Printed by W. Godbid for Henry Eversden at the Sign of the Greyhound in Pauls Church-yard 1656. Gospel-Worship by Mr. Tho. Brewer THE EPISTLE TO THE READER READER IN the ensuing Treatises are represented to thy view a few of those many excellent Manuscripts penned by Mr. Thomas Brewer who besides many former and some long Persecutions endured under the Prelates suffered Imprisonment by the Bishops in the Kings-Bench Prison above the space of fourteen years for saying That because the Prelates did not derive their Offices from his Majesty as they ought therefore he durst not partake with them nor the Derivers of their Offices from them in the proper works of their Offices which in his Petition to the Lords of the Upper-house of Parliament 1640. he proveth Legal Loyal Reasonable and Seasonable a Copy whereof is herewith published for which cause they often deprived him of many of his Writings by which means and through transporting and transmitting c. some Papers pertaining to this Treatise are missing for the Author wrote very largly of these subjects yet is not any thing hereby deformed or obscured though abbreviated Whereby he was prevented from publishing these with divers others of his Works the which he intended who upon the presenting of the said Petition was released but about a moneth after dyed in a good old age and full of days Indeed his sufferings for the truth were very great and of long continuance but as his sufferings did abound so his graces and vertues did much more abound and like odours being crusht gave a more fragrant scent or like silver passing the fire were more refined But what need I to guild a Diamond or what needs he my commendation his Piety Learning Experience and Depth of Judgment are eminently known both in this and other Nations and are in part discovered in these ensuing Tracts which are not many broken fragments of others Writings patcht up together but profound studied matter extracted from the very nature and scope of the several Texts and Subjects whereof it treats and wherein was made good to the Author those Promises Prov 2.5 9. in a great measure most of which with many other of the like nature were the Authors own Experiences and Practises and Experimental Observations who in the time of his liberty was a frequent publisher of them himself at Leyden in Holland where he walked in communion with Mr. Robinson and also with Mr. Ainsworth also after the time of his restraint procuring liberty of his Keeper and sometimes in the Prison he taught them frequently in several Congregations in London which is well known to and testified by many of his Hearers yet living But for my own part I had onely the happiness to become acquainted with him the three last years of his life within which time although it was part of the time of his close Imprisonment I reaped much precious benefit from him by the opportunity of visites c. and like Apollos Act. 18.24 25. he was a man mighty in the Scriptures and being fervent in spirit he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord. The truth of the matter published I am humbly confident is able to defend it self against all Adversaries though subject to be scandalized from which the best things are not free First here is a more ample foundation for and a more stately Edifice as it were pourtrayed out of Gospel-Worship which both regulates and improves grace than ever yet was published this 1300. years since Antichrist reigned for as Gen. 1. and Job 38. and 39. Chapter contains the whole and also the main particulars of the Creation Exod. 20. and Deut. 5. the summe of the Law Gen. 12.2 3. the summe of the Promises Dan. 2. the summe of the Prophesies Matth. 5 6 7. Chapters the main qualifications of Christs Disciples Matth. 6.9 c. Luke 11.2 The Pattern of all Prayer 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7. The prime Signs and special Demonstrations of our Election Vocation and Salvation So these first 8. verses of the 12. Chapter to the Romanes as our Author saith well contain the whole body of Gospel Church-Worship And as Moses Exod. 25. to Chap. 40. and David 1 Chron. 28.11 gave exact patterns of the Tabernacle and Temple so here the Apostle Paul prescribes the like compleat pattern for this Spiritual Fabrick of Gospel-Worship of which the former were but Types and expressed so to be 2 Cor. 6.16 1 Tim. 3.15 Râ—v 21. compared with Lev. 26.11 Ezek. 37.26 27. This is the Central and Cardinal place of Scripture sanctifying the Divine Worship of the Word about which all other of this subject have their proper motion and use and whereon they depend as so many branches springing from this root and by which they are encorporated into one Order the want therefore of the clear understanding hereof is the cause of the seeming disjoyntedness of the Order of Worship and the long and much prevailing of Babylonisme thereby yea and errour and darkness yet so abounds that we have just cause to pray as the Psalmist doth Psal 43.3 Secondly in expounding the 18. Chapter of Matthew here is lively held forth that Meekness Love and Mercy which ought to be used for the recovery of a sin-sick-Saint Gal. 6.1 and on the contrary that pride railing and racking prosecuted both by the publike and personal Antichrist in such cases as Jam. 4.1 to 11. Thirdly and lastly here is set forth that three-fold or rather four-fold Estate of Adam in Paradise viz. Moral Legal Evangelical and Celestial his legal Estate or first Covenant of Works was saith the Author and what need be said more the first grand grandsire mystery of the Word and the Door key and Candle to all other Theologick Religious Personal publick and polemike the Epitomal Pattern of the Mosaical Law in folio and the Bridge garrison and Tutor unto the Gospel the Ladder and Key of Heaven These four Estates were founded in Paradise the first cultively the second epitomally the third personally the fourth inchoately so that this is the main hinge whereon the whole state of all mankind dependeth Now since this Work hath stuck so long in the Birth and having this opportunity now yet not till now put into my hands and withall considering the diversities of Judgments about and the many diligent enquirers after these things
of the grapes of anothers vineyard yet not residently exportingly or beyond the present necessity nor in a pretended journey or occasion these Functions as apportioning are farther to be distinctly paralelled with their Offices on the one side and their abilities on the other being qualified internally and externally also effectuated in their end but it is best first to annex the three last particulars ¶ Qualifying * Internally In common and toward God in whom they all are one viz. the grace of acknowledging God as the gracious giver of them and faith v. 6. wise holy and loving giver of them unto the faithfull as such v. 3 6. portion of faith v. 4 5. we and so by the consequences which faith is to make upon both God is again to be acknowledged and depended on as the future blesser and so maker of them effectual and also as the gracious accepter of his Saints worship therein and the glorious end of that faith the faithfull his instituted and their exercised worship and of the fruits and consequences of them all * Externally peculiarly and toward Christians and their five-fold respects viz. of their understanding and its knowledge heart and its wisdom the honesty of their actions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Thes 3.13 the competencie of their estate of the health of their body and also toward the managing of the five Functions of Teaching Exhorting Distributing Ruling and Pittying for their benefitting in those five respects Now though they be expressed only as answering to the three last respects viz. in simplicity in diligence and in cheerfulness yet the like is to be supplyed in the two first in understanding and wisdom as the three latter confining Functions were by the pattern and course of the two first that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 3.10 the divers kinded or manifold wisdom of God may be acknowledged in the penning of the Scripture and of this place in particular yea in speciall in contriving so much matter intelligibly into so few words as in any other place except the Decalogue the Lords Prayer and very few other neither is the reason to be neglected which seemeth to me much to be intended why in the appropriating part of the Functions only the two first are expressed and the rest are left to be supposed and supplyed but in their animating or ensouling part on the contrary viz. because the Teacher and Exhorter are to be men of great knowledge wisdom and dexterity in using them and so are to be supposed of speciall understanding courage affections and other personall gifts and so are rather to be bounded then spurred as on the other side the other three are to be told that their Offices are parts of Gods worship and so have not onely a body but especially require the gifts of freeness of Spirit diligence of Action and cheerfulness of Affection which is left to the other two to apply to themselves in their peculiar actuating qualities the dividing the word aright being instant therein not excluding the common respect of all to each nor their remembrance that their Offices Functions Powers and Objects have also externall parts for their moderating toward them all and themselves e Remote i. e. the effects of the whole instituted worship of God and every part thereof ordered and exercised as is said this is intimated in the whole as it is Gods worship which as it principally respecteth Gods glory so secundarily mans good yea it is his chief yea whole and only good Eccles 12.13 and the wise i. e. the religious is wise for himself i. e. chuseth the true happiness and expressed v. 2. in the good will of God v. 3. and 6. in grace and faith v. 5. in one body in Christ and v. 7.8 in all the five Offices Functions and Powers except we wil suppose them idle or fruitless so cross Gods main end in them 1 Cor. 12.7 whereby especially the five good effects properly answering to them all must be understood viz. Knowledge Wisdom Sufficiencie Honesty or Well-esteemed walking and Health these are indeed remote from the nature and body of instituted worship and the last respect thereof in order and time but not the last nor least in Gods intention for his glory and ours and therefore not in dignity like David in respect of his Fathers house the remotest last and least yet in Gods and true account the holy and happy King both of it and Gods whole Kingdom of heaven and earth It is yet requisite that I dispose the Heads of this matter more summarily thus Rom. 12.1 to 8. and as Expounded in its v. 4 5. and 1 Cor. 12.4 to 30. The absolute sender operater and object is God v. 2. that will of God it describeth the real distinct matter prescribeth the zealous and jealous practise of Gods speciall worship as existing 1. of God viz. Christ as Mediator 2. To us the Word 3. By God Christ as sent v. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. that VVord worship of God v. 5. in Christ 4. By men the Apostles v. 3. for by the grace i. e. the Apostleship that is given me I charge every one that is among you that c. 1. Instituting as orderer intitler and inabler v. 3. as God hath measured 2. Instituted as 1. One whole subjective and incorporated viz. the Congregation v. 4 5. one body 2. Divers parts adjuncts and in membered answering to the three instituting respects of God viz. as Inabler immediately or mediately viz. o 1. Powers inabling unto and in 1. The being of Faith and Grace v. 3.6 Portion of faith grace personall Functions v. 6. whether it be prophesie 2. The receiving of one of the Church-Offices the doing the common Church-works in their matter manner end Entitler to the worthiness or capableness possession and execution of all things ecclesiastical according to the Offices measured in their 1. Intent and Essential respect as means of Gods being worshipped by us v. 1. that your word worship of God acceptable and v. 2. conveying of Christ and all that is his to us v. 2. that good will of God 2 Extent toward each other viz. exactly distinct in kinde 1 In words affirmatively v. 6. divers Negatively v. 4. not one Function v. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 3. be not overwise 2 In matter 1 Root and generalls v. 1 2 3 6. 2 Branches and Particulars v. 6 7 8. viz. the Church-Ordinances as apportioned unto them into five distinct portions proper Functions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 4 6. with Ioh. 17.4 i. e. given or peculiar works or heads unto severall Members of the Church qualified with fit gifts called thereto by the Church and thereby making them the Church Officers or Ministers ordered unto a manner of exeqution best befitting them viz. Prophet The Teacher reaching understandingly the mind by knowledge Priest The Exhorter exhorting wisely the heart by wisdom Provide◠The Distributer distributing with simplicity the estate
them exclude the every other ways fit for those Offices would exclude the fayer from the most yea almost all Ministerial Communion and Christian acceptableness These three opposite Opinions are so neer each other in truth though in course and affection vehemently adverse that I cannot cut down the one but the other two wither also so that all the Arguments seem alike against all and I acknowledge a kind of confusion in them as in the Opposites and ergo in the following Arguments I will refer the sorting to the Reader whether it be from one two or all three of the Objections The first unsorted Argument is from 1 Tim. 3.8 12. which prove that the same may be said of the Deacons which they say of Bishops or Elders either as one in number or as divers in number and also in gifts or emphasis but all three acknowledge the case otherwise in the Deacons The first in that the Distributer and Pittier or Widow are as divers as I hold the three Overseers The second in that there were 7. of them Act. 6. the 3. ergo much more than either For Ro. 16.1 doth as expresly call the Widow a Deacon as any place calleth any one two or all of the other Offices Bishops And all the qualificatâ—ons 1 Tim. 3. agree in their reason or soul as well to the one as the other yea all but one literally also The second is from Ver. 12. and Cap. 5.10 where the same qualifying condâ—tion is required in the Deacon in generall and in the Wâ—dow in particular which is in the Bishop whereby he challengeth the power of Ruling and so by the same Reason they should also rule if the scope of these places were to define the Offices and design the Functions but that they all abhor to say The third is from 1 Tim. 5.17 First because the Ruler is by express denotation and place of state distinguished from the Labourer in the Word by the denotative Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. they truly that but they that for they are not here demonstratively taken neither of their subjects having been mentioned long before and if yet they be referred to Cap. 3. then they conclude the matter expresly for me nor yet much less redundantly they being set oppositely relatively or mutually respectively Secondly because the Opposition is between those Offices themselves and not onely between the well-discharging the Offices for neither of both are worthy either double or speciall honour or maintainance except they do their duties well and diligently Thirdly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 especially adding an emphatical difference between the two offices excludâ—ng both Particles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the same at least from their only emphatical use which is the only evasion pretending shift from this place in that distinctnes I plead for especâ—ally from the latter of them which is most insisted on if not only Much may be said from this place to my purpose but I hast though the length of the matter hold me long in it The third opposite Argument is from Act. 20. vers 28. in that they are all called Bishops or Overseers and Pastours or Feeders I may as well say they are all called Elders Presbyters or Ancients ver 17. then it flatly overthroweth the first and third Opinion that make a dâ—fference between the Bishop as the first will have it or the Pastour as the third will be called and the Presbyter or Priest as the Hyerarchians of Rome and England term them or Elders or Ruling-Elders as some new Hierarchians call them onely the third may say this proveth that the Pastors may rule because they are Bishops and Elders it maketh indeed for Mr. Smith but neither of the rest love to hear of that place but in hope that men will oversee that Ruler is by it made as good a Bishop and Pastour as those that engross those Titles to themselves and I wonder that the late named Bishop durst bring it as his chief Engine against us that evidently battereth down all Bishops over more Churches then one and also bringeth in more Bishops then one into one Congregation and also that Mr. Robinson will alleadge it to prove that the Pastor or Exhorter may more do the works of the Ruler then the Ruler his it so plainly proving the flat contrary I but he alleadgeth it to prove that the Pastour may rule I but that will not serve his turn except he turn of Mr. Smâ—th's side but that I doubt not but Rom. 12. will keep him from and therefore for the present rest acknowledging that this place maketh neither for nor against him The last Objection is from Reason which seemeth to cross that distinctness we stand for partly through the uncapableness of the matter and partly through the mischiefs which ensue the same The former part of this Objection seemeth colourable because Teaching without Exhortation to what is taught worketh no grace in the heart but onely the Theory thereof in the head Exhortation without Teaching worketh no true Christian grace but blind superstitious and Antichristian Devotion either and both are externally fruitless without Ruling and Ruling without both is internally barren so that the 2d end of Gods Worship i. e. our Holiness is defeated thereby For this we are first to consider this case in the right and compleat Establishment of Gods Worship and then in the growing estate thereof in the mans and adult estate thereof wherein all things are grown to a ripeness it may well be cleared for when all the Offices are constituted in their Purity and exercised in sincerity we are to suppose the Rule of 1 Cor. 14.40 to be observed which requireth that all Gods Ordinances be done comelyly and in order Now if in the exercise of each Ordinance Purity be observed both in comelyness as respecting it self not excluding the Order of combination with others and in order with the rest yet preserving decorum in it self and also Sincerity in all sanctified peculiar and sociall respects according to the Light of Nature and the Word then ought the Labourers in the Word so to associate their Conversation and Studies in the Week-days and Ministries on the Lords day that the Exhorter is to know at least the Doctrines that the Teacher will gather out of the part of the Word to be handled whether by their own disposing or publike Order and that he therefore will build upon the Foundation thereby laid for him by the Teachers Grammaticall Rhetorical and Logical Exposition and Extraction of Divine Doctrines boâ—h positive and opposite with their Proofs and Illustrations Marks and Means yea all things pre-requisite to Exhortation Then also ought the whole Company of overseeing Officers to be acquainted with the occasions of exercising the Ruling-Office that the Teacher may the better be provided with matter of Information and Confutation and the Exhorter of Exhortation and Dehortation and the Ruler may the better dispose of his manner of
it may be objected with the Jesuits and other Hierarchians that Christ there forbiddeth onely tyranny pompous and vain-glorious Titles and Master-fulness over Inferiours and not the superiority over other Ministers I answer First that I hope they will not more destroy the generals of Truth and light of natural Ingenuity than the Jesuits themselves of Rhemes who in their Annotations on Luk. 22 24 say The Apostles perceiving Christs departure from them and his Kingdome to be neer as infirm men and not yet endued with the Spirit of God begin to have emulation and cogitations of Superiority one over another which our Master represseth in them by Exhortation to Humility and by his own Example that being their Lord yet so lately served them They as Expositors of the Scriptures minding their scope and apparent truth suffered themselves with the Pythonisse Act. 16.16 17. To speak the truth though it utterly destroy their and their Holy Fathers Kingdome and they as Antichristians and men of scared Consciences presently after contradict the Truth and themselves adding Not forbâ—dding majority or superiority in them but Pride Tyranny and Contempt of their Inferâ—ours How can these Jesuits brook their name without a metathesis of s and u and b set in the first place of s then indeed they with the Jebusites are treaders of Mount-Sion the most holy place of Jerusalem under foot Rev. 11.2 i. e. professing possession of Mount Moriah yet being true Intruders thereinto and blind and lame contradicters of themselves and the true David and King thereof and contradicted and destroyed with their blind and lame gods THE scope of Rome 12.1 to 8. is exactly yet summarily to describe teach and effectually to charge the matter and manner of Gods instituted Worship as is expressed v. 1. in the general and v. 6. in the particulars Those two Verses are also expresly connected by causal and illative Conjunctions which are the absolutest Connecters of the Connection of v. 4. with 5th and 7th with 6th and 8th with 7th there can be no doubt Now the soul and sinews being of the same body the flesh and bones cannot but be granted to be of the same also neither is the encorporatedness of these 8. Verses onely literall but especially reall each without other being maimed and all joyntly yielding an excellent description and charge of Gods Worship the Root in v. 7. and 2. giving life to the body in v. 3 4 5. and to the branches v. 6 7 8. the body giving sustenance and sustentation with the Root to the Branches and the Branches shewing the Heavenly Fruit of both Let the words be observantly read and a sense worthy the Scripture be conceived and the matter being the same with the second Commandement and yet being very imperfectly delivered but in this place and here also in the common sense and I cannot but think that the Understanding and Ingenuous will find an admirable conciseness of such a large matter a clearness in this dark and s ecial point of the Word yea a pleasantness in what is most harsh to Nature as being not onely above it but mainly intended to thwart it and to proclaim and constrain God's absolute Will to be submitted unto as to the Lord and Ruler of all the Fall also of Adam and the most abominable sinnes ever since were there-against and all desolations thereout and the yet prevailing Antichristian sinne assisting in oppositeness thereto and usurpation thereover The drift therefore of the Holy Ghost being herein to preach and press preciseness in the matter and distinctness in the manner of God's speciall Worship The latter of this place and the rest of this subject must have their spirit from hence which also will not onely easily but excellently sort therewith and better than with any other and though the manner or order of any thing cannot be shewn but upon supposition of the matter known or in the shewing to be withall made known yet when the Apostle cometh v. 6. to assume and conclude his intent in the premisses v. 1. to 5. he seemeth to have supposed and intended onely the distinctness of the Church states by their peculiar Functions and the order of exercising them in the Church Assembly onely in the handling Paul after the excellent Scripture-manner interlaceth the peculiar vertues of three of the Offices which were hardest to be known leaving the other two easier to be by the like course understood as on the other side he expresseth his main drift of charging the distinctness of the Offices and their Functions onely in the two first leaving the like to be supposed in the other three so that it is expresly proved that the Offices are distinct v. 6. which after are expressed to be five In the Inference therefore of v. 6. is the drift of the Holy Ghost expressed which is the Soul and Life of the whole Context upon it therefore we are to stand as we use to do on the parting of the Branches from the Body of the Tree for the best finding and gathering the Fruit of the Tree whereby the Nature of the Tree and Intent of the Planter is best to be discerned that therefore saith We having then gifts or since then we have gifts according to the grace measure of Faith v. 3. that is given measured v. 3. different divers or distinct whether it be Prophesie the estate or ability of a Church-Prophet or both according to the proportion measure v. 3. gift v. 6. of Faith grace v. 6. 2. Of the Interest in Christs body v. 4 5. or Worship and Will of God v. 1 2. He seemeth to have left the speech very imperfect yet therein he most excellently perfecteth the drift of the Holy Ghost affirmed that is to prove a distinct observance in the offices and not to provoke unto vehemency in the execution which will undoubtedly follow this distinct discerning the speciall intent of Gods zealous and jealous distinguishing them Secondly it suiteth with the ten times greater care that is taken throughout the Scriptures that Gods Worship should be observed according to his Precepts Statutes or Institutions or Laws and Zeal that is used in the reproof of the contrary than that a zealous Worship should be given him Thirdly he therein well observeth the order of the Commandements in more regarding the second then the third And fourthly the order of Nature which first and more regardeth the truth of the matter then the measure And fiftly his own scope intimated in the five former verses and oft expressed to take care for Gods Worship of his Word v. 1. of his Will v. 2. of his apportioning v. 3. of his disposing v. 4 5. of his divers giving v. 6. and of his exact distinguishing v. 6 7 8. more than for the measure thereof Sixthly he well preferreth the maine of the matter before the exactness of words yea than competency but in this case of endangering the proper scope of the place which would have been