to the Deacon which he makes his godly life and faithfull Ministry in his Deaconship 3. The one Talent he understands to be the Peoples knowledge 1. The Ministry of the Gospel was fallen in Chysostomes times in most places of the world hence it is no wonder if it be applyed to the Ministry the application holdeth not correspondency with the Text. 2. If one be to be applyed to the Ministry then all are there is no difference in call in appointment to the Ministry in the Stewardship in the nature of the goods that the one had or the other but in the quantity only 3. If this be said of the people and Ministers then all Ministeriall differences are destroyed betwixt People and Ministers hereby Many have given their judgement what these Talents are severall wayes as Salmeron in Parabolis but I passe that and come to the mysticall sence or prophetick 1. God predicts by the unprofitablenesse of the man only which had but one Talent which indeed is the first Ministry called the Doctor the misery of the Church under a single Ministry in the time of Antichrist whose work it was to destroy the true Gospel-Ministry of three and set up his Bable Ministry of one singly in the World instead thereof 2. God predicts he should have but one Talent that should bee truly gold which is the Word the rest under that Ministry should be corrupt spurious false and fained things indeed scroffe and drosse to be burned 3. Vnder this one unfaithfull Ministry should be a hiding of that Talent it had which signifieth a hiding or shutting up of the Scriptures in an unkwon tongue 4. The converting the Gospel-Government contained in the Word which was from heaven and heavenly into an earthly constitution tending only to wordly glory and greatnesse the one being of God the other of man the one the pattern of heavenly things the other of earthly things The doome of God written of him vers 29. cleares the truth of the intended mystery from him that hath not shall be taken that which he hath 1. This cannot be understood of any but of a Minister nor be verified in a particular person but must be done in a publick spirituall generall sence of Scripture you may apply it to Judas in some kinde who was the lively representative of Antichrist But 1. he without all question had more then one Talent 2. This here doth mainly intend the ordinary Church-Ministry and not extraordinary 2. The Scripture saith he hath the goods of his Lord and againe he is said not to have them 1. Signifying that he should have nominally formally and in shew those things the true Church of God hath 2. That he hath them not really and indeed according to the Lords Institution the Word indeed it hath and the people may be said not to have it while they have it having it in an unknown tongue 3. God will take away that which he seemeth to have 1. This we see partly done in the discovery the World hath in part already made of her Idolatrous Worship 2. In the Saints condemning her Church Church-Ministry and Ordinances to be Anti-christian Superstitious Heathenish and ungodly 3. The full taking away will be when God shall erect a true faithfull Ministry and pure Ordinances among his Saints in the place of that Idol worship as in vers 28. Appl. 1. These all meet in Antichrist as lines of a circumference in its Center and so in him as in none but him 2. Antichrist is he the Gospel Prophesies aime at that should disturb counterfeit and oppose the truth of the Lord under whom the Church changes should be 3. Antichrist is he from whom the Talent shall be taken who is indeed tho unprofitable servant to his Lord in the Ministry hee being to be destroyed 4. How in a generall Scripture-sence these can be understood of any but Anti-christ I know not but should gladly be enformed he is to be a called Minister and intrusted with the Gospel which the first Bishops were by the Lords Institution he proves unfaithfull hides the Word turnes the Discipline of it to earthly advancements that hiding the Gospel ends must have a fall and be ruin'd his Ministry taken from him after which the Church is to be restored 3. Mystery in the vers 28. where the Talent is taken from him and given to him that hath tenne Talents 1. In which is shewed Antichrists Ministry shall be destroyed 2. In that it is given to the first it shewes the restauration of the Gospel-Ministry and Government in the Church againe to bee as in the beginning 3. That God will blesse by degrees in the use of meanes that Ministry to whom the one Talent shall be given abundantly from five to tenne which shewes it will be extraordinary but not by an extraordinary way as vers 16. 4. It is given to the first Ministry which is the Evangelist the act of Ordination being Primarily in him by whom with others the Church should come to be re-estated and to him had two which was the Pastors 5. The taking away of the one and the giving of the one Talent signifies that Authoritatively by some one that has power to doe it this act shall be done in the Church before the burnings of Anti-christ Object 1. Here he that had five hath tenne which is more then all the Ministry had which were but eight in all and therefore one man may exercise all 1. Shewes the abundance of knowledge the Ministers of the Gospel that shall be shall be blessed with and how happy the world shall be in them or in particular him that is designed for the Churches restauration 2. What is signified by the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 other five Talents first they are other indeed but not in kinde as the three other Talents are which doe differ in kinde from his five but the same five Talents or gifts are encreased in him in the use of them more then they were double 3. Though he had tenne the other that had two had foure and the unprofitable servant had his one so that he that had the tenne did not like Pharohs cattell one eat up the other 4. The one's being given to him that had the ten was but that he that had the ten as the Apostles by their extraordinary Call did before come to set up by Gods approbation the Ordinances in the Church of Christ as they were first instituted in the Word which when once done he was to leave it to them to exercise as the Apostles had done before him and only exercise his owne part ordinarily in the Church 17. Having spoken of the Church-Ministry we now come to speak of the Church-Elder or helping Ruler MEn to please the Magistrate have demolished this Officer out of the Church and set up a counterfeit in his place for whom I dare boldly affirm there is no one word of Institution in the Gospel to be found to doe that he is
appointed to doe The true helping Governour 1. Is indeed a Lay-Elder 2. His Institution is without laying on of hands Bilson cap. 11. perp Church-Government if they had laying on of hands they had not been Lay-Elder 3. The gospel hath instituted no Church-lay Officer but that of 1 Cor 6.1.6 who was only set up to compose differences in the Church in civill affaires 4. There is no institution for any such Officer in the Church as the Lay-Elders under Presbytery are assigned unto so they cannot but be an Anti-Christian Office acting by a Anti-Christian power unlesse we say there are to be Officers and Offices in the Church that are not of gospel institution As for that brought to prove them out of 2 Chron. 19.9.10 it is of no validity Christ saith No man putteth an old piece no not a piece to a new Garment therefore that is not Christs mind that they whatever their Office was should be to rule under the gospel though I think their Office was far differing from Lay-Elders now 5. The Office of the Elder was not about Ecclesiasticall things but 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an ordinary businesse ver 1. and then ver 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the lesser things ver 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things of this life or livelihood and to this Chron. 2.19.11 Amariah is for the matters of the Lord and Zebadiah in the matters of the King ver 10. proves it clearely The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth the Churches instituting some and in an autoritative way among themselves for determining differences amongst them occasioned about things abovesaid as in ver 4. Question will be whether the governour set up by the Corinthians were Iure divino The Governours Rom 12.8 1 Cor. 12.28 are said to be set up of God in the Church the same is meant doubtlesse 1 Tim. chap. 5. ver 17. Institution for an other Governour then this in this 6 to the Corinthians I prove all those hold the contrary to shew 1. The grounds to be observed by the Church in ordaining Lay-Elders are laid downe by the Apostle in this Chapter as fully as for the ordaining any other Officer in the Church First hee must be qualified with wisedome a wise man Secondly a Church-member Thirdly a member of their owne Church a wise man amongst them which proves it to be a proper office pertaining to the well governing of every Church Fourthly they are to bee set up to judge by the Churches authority Fifthly the Apostle doth approve the practise by arguments drawn à majore ad minùs they are just therefore fit to judge and more fit then those are unjust before whom they brought their Causes to tryall they shall judge the World and Angels how much more the things of this life Q. If these are Iure divino then whether are they to continue in the Church or not they being set down in Scripture to be set up in the Primitive Church Respons Master Bilson Chap. 10. Perpet Church Government saith they had no authority necessity nor perpetuity and after in Christian Common-Wealths these Iudges must cease because there is no cause of declinining the Tribunall of Christian Magistrates Yet he himselfe confesseth these to be Governours and Moderatours of their brethrens quarrels and contentions others he finds not in the Apostolick writings but such as withall were watchmen and seeders Chap. ibid. pag. 142. who then if not these were the helping Governours 1. He cals them Governours and yet saith rhey had no authority and 1 Tim. 5.17 God requires obedience to those that rule well 2 They were set up or appointed by the whole Church which must be a publick intrustment of the Church bestowed upon some particular persons for this end in the Church which is the common ground of authority that is set up over a free people as the Church in this case 3. Master Bilsons Title of his Book is the Perpetuall Government of Christs Church which shewes that the Government in the beginning instituted by the Apostles in the Church and consequently the Governours are to bee perpetuall of which this 1 Cor. 6.1 was one Object These were set up only to prevent scandals among the Heathen under the Christian Magistrate it needs not to be 1. Christ never intended the being of a Nationall Church in the World 2. If once Churches come to bee collected there is the same reason for them now that ever there was in the World 3. It was instituted to prevent scandals as well within the Church from offending one another as without from the offending the world Object This were to ecclipse Magistracy 1. He ruleth for the Magistrate and under him Rom. 13. and is to bee accomptable to the Magistrate for his acts if required 2. He ruleth not as the Magistrate by the sword to compell or force or lay any pecuniary mulcts on those that disobey or corporall punishment that indeed were to take the sword out of the Magistrates hand but by the word and by love shewing what is the command of Christ in their severall cases one to perform to another 3. To me it seemes the Apostle alludes to this power in the Church only he writing to the Church Rom. 13.1 Let every soule be subject to the higher Power and so cals the Church Elder the inferiour power so that this establishes the Magistrate Object You say the Church should set him up and so he stands not by the Magistrate Respons Indeed he stands jure divino now the priviledge God hath given the Saints is no more then the Magistrate gives to every petty Incorporation which is that they shall choose their own Magistrate Object The City Magistrate rules by the Law of the publick Magistrate Respons True the Elder rules in the Church by the gospel which if the world could beare it were far better if all were ruled by it onely Illust God ruled by the Magistracy of Rome by the Law of nature by Moses government in a way that made men more holy and mercifull one to another then others were why so God rules one way in the world another way in the Church more evangelically mercifully the members have a spirit of love by which they are taught to seek not their own but the good of one another 2. As in proceeding in the Church first tell one or two then the Church so remedy should be sought by this way of the Church first before any other 3. In case the member submit not to wholesome counsell according to the nature of the fact the ecclesiasticall Officers being first acquainted with it they may suspend from Sacraments excommunicate and deny society to them untill satisfaction in some way be given to the Church 3. This is authority enough for Christ to rule by which cannot be any way offensive to Magistrates it is a small boon to be granted Christ every free subject is granted as much in his house and shall not Christ have it
in his Church what hath Christ among the people where he hath not this 4. As the Church is divided from the world so is its government they themselves though being subject to the Magistrate as Gods Vicegerent 5. The Magistrate Rom. 13.3 is said to be ordained for the praise of them that do well now the Elder in the Church preventing scandals in the world composing differences preserving peace in the Church in a Gospel way according to Christ doth well therefore the Magistrate is to encourage him uphold him against those that oppose him 6. The Elders of the Church Nationall 2 Chron. 19. are reduced to the government of the Church particular 1 Cor. 5.13 these Elders have not to do to judge any without the Church their authority is bounded Object This is the way to exempt the Church from the publick Magistrates command 1. They are commanded obedience to them as to the higher Power and as ordained of God 2. Are to pay Custome and Tribute to them 3. To defend honour and maintaine them 4. To pray for them 1. Magistracy is exalted by it in that they rule over those which rule in a more excellenr way then other Under-rulers in the Common-wealth 2. The Churches obedience is better then theirs of the world they obey of conscience the other of necessity and feare 3. In the world a naturall man may be a fit helper in the Church he must be a wise beleever and a Saint 4. The Magistrates office is to see the Church under his Iurisdiction hath all that liberty authority and power left free to it to exercise within it selfe Christ left it without impaire 5. It is necessary the Magistrate have a help in Church as well as in the world hee being no more able to do all the one then all the other of himselfe That the Church ought to choose this Officetr 1. They have the choyce of all other as Ministers and Deacons and of this also therefore it were wrong to deprive the Church of the choyce of these as of the other 2 The Elders Constitution depends on his Election by the Church 3 By this the people more gladly assent to his determination because chosen of themselves 4. To prevent all meanes of rise of offence in the Church 5. To shew hee must be approvedly known for integrity and ability that is to be intrusted herewith 6. They being enlightned men know how and whom to choose better then others and therefore God trusted them with these priviledges themselves and left it not to Ministers within or Magistrates of or without the Church Appl. Gods people will make no ill use of this that the Magistrate should have cause to feare them for they will choose the most godly wise man among them which is the best choyce for the Magistrate and themselves also In the Exercise of this Authority 1. The Elders of one Church have no Authoritative power over any other Church then their own 2. Nor have they to doe with men of the world without the Church 3. I suppose if differences arise between members of severall Churches then some of the Elders of each Church may be nominated to compose them 4. If injury be done to a member by one not belonging to any Church if satisfaction cannot be had any other way he may appeale the Offender before the Iudge without scandall 5. If injury bee done by a member to one without the party offended may seek restitution and complaine to the Elders against him 6. This Goverment is the golden scepter the compulsory power by corporall punishments is as the Iron rod. 7. By this cost is spared poverty prevented unity and peace continued scandals prevented to the world without and members within and edification exceedingly furthered hereby among the Saints I now adde a word more to prove this generall practice of this government held out in Scriptures to bee exercised in the Church Deut. 32.1 1. Heare O Heavens that is the Church or Saints of God 2. Heare O Earth that is the World of unbelievers two sorts of persona being intended herein 3. It is emplyed that what he had to say concerned both these two sorts of people 4. Note in the Metaphor raine comes down from heaven and not goes up to heaven as the words here signified must if heaven be meant literally 1. The Earths ministry is meant in this heare the words of my mouth 2. The Church-Ministry 1. It distils as the deaw 2. It drops as the raine on the tender herb 3. As the showers upon the grasse 1. How fitly these hold out the differing Ministry the Doctor Ministry distilling the principles of grace as deaw 2. The Pastor dropping 3. The Evangelist showring it down in abundance 4. Here are two sorts expressed the tender herb the grown grasse but 3 emplyed the tender herb being to set out the children of the Church and the youth by distilling and dropping being both set before and applyed to the◠tender herb Cant. 6.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My Dove is one my perfect one is one shee is deare to her mother the choice one of her that bare her 1. I chose this place above other because Mr Brightman and others understood it to signifie the Gospel estates 2. It is without question wholy spoken of the Church 1. Here is her birth as born under the Doctor Ministry 2. Her Doveship or reservednesse to Christ under the Pastor 3. Her perfection under the Evangelist 4. Her unity expressed though under divers Administrations and estates shee is one she is one Math. 13.33 The three measures of meale signifie the three societies of Saints the Leaven and hiding of it the Gospel and the threefold Ministry thereof Math. 13.23 The good ground is said to bring out in some a hundred in other sixty in other thirtyfold 1. The seed is one 2. The ground is said to be good 3. It is differenced not in it selfe but in its fruit 4. This difference is only threefold to shew amongst the Saints in the Church there was a threefold division and no more the least is thirty the second doubles it the third is more then both Rev. 11.1 There was a Reed given me like a rod and the Angel stood and said Arise ond measure the Temple of God and the Altar and the Worshipers therein 1. This was done under the sixth Trump and respects that time in which we live 2. In this time the Gospel Primitive pattern is revealed by which at first the way and Church of God was set up in the world and governed 3. All are reduced to these three heads that are to be measured first the Temple secondly the Altar thirdly the worshippers 1. A materiall Temple is not meant God intending not the building of any 2. Nor can the mysticall Temple be meant here that is set out in that word worshippers 3. Though not the Temple yet something of the Temple is alluded unto of God in this place which