presbyters in Office whose part it was in the Ordination of Timothy 1 Tim. 4.14 Their common care and charge it was and not Pauls only 2 Tim. 1.6 We never read Paul to have practiced in or to have pretended to a sole power of Ordination or to so much as a negative voice in that particular though no doubt he had a greater latitude of authority than any can now lay claim to as being an Apostle not of or by man but by Jesus Christ Yet Paul was neither ordained nor did Ordain without the concurrence of some other Act. 13.1 2 3. ch 14.23 ' If any will yet implead ordination by a presbytery because without a Prelate 1 he ought to produce the divine institution of a Prelate distinct from a dignified beyond a Presbyter or Minister Certain we are the Apostles have left no such one upon their list of Church Officers Eph. 4 11. Rom. 12.6 7 8. 1 Cor. 12.28 and clear it is that a Bishop and Presbyter are all one in the language of the Scripture a) See sect 2. Tit. 1.10 b) vid. Hieronym ad Loc. Idem est ergo Presbyter qui Episcopus c. 1 Tim. 3.1 2. c) Post Episcopum Diaconi ordinationem subjicit Quare i st quia Episcopi Presbyteri una ordinatio est uterque exim saeerdos est Ambros ad Loc. c. having the same office the same ordination the same characters given to and qualitier ' required in them and the same work being committed to them And as clear 't is that a Presbyter or ordinary Minister is vested with a power of government or rule 1 Tim. 5.17 Heb. 13.7 17. 1 Thes 5.12 Act. 20.17 28. 2. Hee ought to prove the divine investiture of prelates with Ordination ard imposition of hands different from presbyters whereof ' we read not one word in all the Scriptures but of the laying on of the hands of the presbytery in fair and open characters 1 Tim. 4.14 True 't is that we read of Ordination by Timothy and Titus ' Evangelists by Paul and Barnabas Apostles but this neither directly serveth the cause of the Prelates they being neither Apostles nor Evangelists nor indirectly unlesse they can prove themselves to be a distinct order or dignity of Ministers by the divine appointment of Jesus Christ in that sence can put in a plea of being their successors which a Presbyter in a fair construction may 1 Pet. 5.1 2. Though a Prelate without a forced construction cannot Where doth ' the Scripture prescribe that there should be any ordination of Prelates different from or over and above their former ordination as Presbyters Or that there should be any Ordination by prelates as distinct from Presbyters When it is a ruled case that a Bishop or Prelate ordained per saltum i. e. who never had the Ordination of a Presbyter himself but only of a Bishop can neither consecrate and administer the Sacrament of the Lords body nor ordain a Presbyter d) of the Church l. 3. ch 39. by which it appeareth that a Bishop doth not excell a Presbyter by a distinct and higher order or power of order ' for which Doctor Field hath produced the acknowledgment of the most learned among the Papists d) Aquin. Bonavent Dominic à Soto Armacanus Camerar Contarenus e The instance of Timothy and Titus as if Bishops of Ephesus and Crete will be a covering too narrow For as we never read the Spirit of God calling them Bishops in Scripture the Post-script to those Epistles being disowned from being any part of the Canon by many Papists even by Baronius and the Rhemists and are so disproved by severall Protestants f vide Beza Anot. maj ad 1 Tim. 6.22 ad 2 Tim. 4.23 ad Tit. 3.14 So Timothy is expresly enough called an Evangelist 2 Tim. 4.5 ' Nor could their frequent removes g see them described Jus Divin Min. Evan. par 2. p. 69. Smectimnuus sect 13. after the mention of their being at Ephesus and Crete have any consistence ' with the charge or Office of a Bishop which obligeth to a fixed residence among his flock to passe other reasons h see Jus Di vin Minist Evang. par 2. c. 5. throughout against their diocesan Episcopacy ' Their frequent diversions and journeys and various dispatches to and fro at the desire of the Apostles and as might best subserve the design and welfare of the generall visible Church do loudly enough proclaim them to be Evangelists I know there are on the other hand that vest the people with this power and priviledge of Ordination beyond what was ever possessed by the Prelates But with no countenance that I know from Christ yea or conveniency to Christians while it is little other than a seed-plot of dissentions among them and of divisions into parties and while beside their distance from the power of ruling whose place it is to be ruled such are their disabilities disproportion to make proof of mens ready instruction to the kingdom of God either in cleering the difficulties of the Gospel or in eâ—viâ—cing gainsayers 'T is true We read whatsome ingeniously observe before us k) London Ministâ—e in their Jns div min. evan par 3. c. 13. of Ordaining Elders in every Church but we never read of Ordaining Elders by any Church They Ordained them Elders in every Church Act. 14.23 Who Ordained them Paul and Barnabas for the people not the people for themselves That every Church should Ordain them Elders in every Church grates too much upon common sense and truth Nor will the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 help it out for what ever bee the import of l) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. To stretch out the hand which is still done in Ordination with imposition of hands Nor can there much more be evinced by the usage of this word in this place if there be any worth in that observation of learned Stephanus that it signifieth not to give suffrage but to create ordain c. when it governs an accusarive case as here it doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Steph. Thesaur Ling. graec ad verbum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 manifest enough it is both from what is antecedent to this expression and what is after it that Paul and Barnabas were the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to whom they must necessarily bee understood to relate nine times besides in the narrative or relation which is herewith made ver 21. ad finem Far be it from mee to divest the Churches of Jesus from any part of those priviledges which are given them by his charter Let it be granted them for me that the people may choose and look out men and set them before the Presbytery as they did for Deacons before the Apostles still observing their limies Act. 6.3 5 6. But the Presbytery 't is that commit the Ministry appoint and send forth the men as then did the Apostles ver 3.6
I am if Church-members may be still called the Sons and Daughters of God 2 Cor. 6.16 Such Ministers may be likewise called the Spirituall Fathers that beget them 1 Cor. 4.15 the spirituall nurses that feed and nourish them 1 Thes 2.7 1 Cor. 3.2 and are the stewards that when grown up are to give them their portion of meat in due season Luk. 12.42 In a word if men had need still to be believers they have still need of Ministers by whom ye believed 1 Cor. 3 6. and if ye are still Pilgrims and strangers 1 Pet 2.11 how ye can want such Officers as are called guides Heb. 13.7 and the light of the Word Mat 5.14 I must profess I see not farewell the Office-Ministers of Christ in England and farewell the chariots and horsmen of England 2 Kings 2.12 Sect. 2 Secondly those that are by Office authoritatively from Christ to teach others must be qualified for this Office before they have it committed to them This is a true saying indeed if a man desire the Office of a Bishop which term in Scripture phrase bespeaketh no more then a Presbyter or Minister a) Tit. 1.5 with 7. Phil. 1.1 Act. 20.17 with 28. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word every where else rēdered Bishop by our translators many of our English Bishops i. e. Prelates themselves being judges b) A.B. Whitgift against Cartwright p. 383. Anselm in 1 Tim. 3. B. Bridges of the Princes Supremacy p. 255. B. Bilson against Seminaries lib. 1. p. 318. see B. Jewel against Harding Def of the Apolog par 2. ch 3. divis chap 9. divis 1. B. Morton Cathol Apol par 1. ch 33. he desireth a good work 1 Tim. 3. ver 1. But must not this bee acknowledged a true saying likewise that who and what the man is that desireth it how able how apt c should be first considered before he be Commissioned or set apart unto it Else what mean those numerous characters which Timothy hath given him in charge that are continued to the eight verse and whereof Titus is re-minded likewise by the same Apostle when he appoints him to ordain Elders in every City at least of Creet Tit. 1.5 ad 13. Or what means else that notable and no less dreadfull charge 1 Tim. 5. ver 21.22 I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the Elect Angels that thou observe these things without preferring one before another doing nothing by partiality Lay hands suddenly on no man neither be partaker of other mens sins keep thy self pure Ah my brethren Church-work is chary work Lay we on hands suddenly and we lay them on sinfully And to be sure we shall partake of other mens sins if we shall so little prize their our own other mens souls which any thing below the blood of him that was God Act. 20.28 1 Pet. 1.18.19 is too smal to purchase Come sirs who is the faithful and wise steward him shall the Lord make ruler over his houshold Luk. 12.42 And shall we who are the Lords by Office and must account to the Lord for our Office shall we make them rulers who will manifestly ruine more than rule the houshold of Faith Can wee keep our selves pure and yet be careless of conferring such a power such an honour as the Ministry is it hath a power to bind to loos from hell A power to open and shut heaven Mat. 16.19 and an honour abstractly so called Heb. 5.4 that doth not onely speak us to be Embassadours for Christ 2 Cor. 5.20 but Angels rather than men Rev. 1. C. 2. O beloved who is sufficient for these things Surely none are in regard of adequation and alas how few in regard of acceptation But what though we cannot find men equall to the Office shal we forget that men should bee able for the Office * See more use 2 sect 1 Surely the bold precipitancies of men uncalled upon this Office and the bloody preceleratings of men unqualified into this Office are abominations never enough to be bewailed before the Lord. Thirdly Those that are authoritatively from Christ to teach others in his Church must not only be quallified for this Office but must have the Office committed to them Hear the Apostle How shall they preach except they be sent Rom. 10.15 How shall they saith he Nay they do and this how often how open and God sent them not say the godly Yea I have not sent these Prophets yet they ran I have not spoken to them yet they prophesied saith God himself Jer. 23.21 True they do it wickedly but how shall they do it warrantably How shal they preach except they be sent i.e. with the approbation of God's Law they may easily adventure upon it from their own lust How shall they preach either with success and countenance from him or without sinfull and sawcy presumption in them How dareth he perform the Heralds Office to proclaim war and peace in the conscience who was never put into the Office nor can produce an Herald's patent This is the Metaphor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How shall they preach as God's Herald's Lo Christians beside meetness for the Office an Herald of God a Minister must have mission suitableness to the Office is not enough without sending Nay are you not told in the same strains of reason and Rhetorick that there is as great a necessity of sending that we bee preachers as was and is of preachers that you be hearers or of hearing that you bee believers or of believing if you expect an answer to and the acceptation of your prayers So high our Apostle carrieth it if you look back upon the 13 and 14. verses Such an holy concatenation maketh he of all these ' So that you cannot bear us in hand with the blasphemous Socinian that there remains no more a necessity of such sending since the Apostles ceased for that say they * Ostorod in Instit c. 42. Th. Nicholaid in desens Tract so cui de Eccl. c. 1. Schmaltz in resert Thes D Frantz per. 2. disput 4. these were to preach a new doctrine which we now are not For with what faithfulness can this be said in regard either of hearers the interrogations all running in so clear and constant a stream 'T is as much said How shall they hear without a Preacher and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard c as how shal they preach except they be sent Or in regard of the holy Apostles who assure us that they preached no other things thā those which Moses and the Prophets did say should come Act. 26.22 Chap. 24.14 Chap. 28.23 And not only as they passed to and fro did they ordain Elders in every Church Act. 14.23 but prescribed a constant course for Ordination likewise as the Epistles to Timothy and Titus witnesse Nor can you say that they are sent of God who are only gifted For as it
Reader had'st thou seen the publick tears that were bled forth at the eyes or heard the passionate throws that were breathed â—orth from the hearâ—s by one of those â—â—â—vâ—nts of Christ that were now solemnly set apart That ever he should preach so many sermons without a solemn sending forth and to which he could see no promise of successe c. It could not but have made some impression upon thy heart as it did upon mine and many others I shall detain thee no longer but to deliver my own soul in the words of Zealous and Studious Baxter * First sheet for the Ministry p. 14. Christian Reader as ever thou wouldst be sanctified confirmed and saved hold fast to Christ Scripture Ministry and Spirit and that in the Church Communion of Saints and abhor the thoughts of separating each from other And to declare my sense of the same truth in the same terms with holy and humble Dr. Sibbs * Epistle to the Reader before P. Bayns on â—he Ephefianst now in heaven I speak not as if way were to be given to Voâ—stian lawless licentious liberty 〈◊〉 prophesying that every one as soon 〈◊〉 he is big of some new conceit shonâ— bring forth his abortive monster Fâ—â— thus the pillars of Christian faiâ—â— would soon be shaken the Church 〈◊〉 God which is an house of order wouâ—â— become a Babel an house of confusioâ— The doleful issues of which pretendeâ— liberty we see in Polonia Transylvaâ—nia and in Countries neerer hand Reader the doleful issues which we seâ— in England let us sigh over spreaâ— before the Lord in whom Irest Thy soul-friend JOHN NORMAN CHRIST'S Commission-Officer OR AN Ordination-Sermon 2 Timothie 2.2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses the same commit thou to faithfull men who shall be able to teach others also THese two Epistles of Timothy and the next to Titus what are they but Paul's Directory for the regular continuance and reverend carriage of the Gospel-Ministry Two things he infisleâ—h upon principally The investituâ—e of some with the Office of Ministers the imployment of such in this Office How and on whom Timothy and Titus shall confer it and how themselves and those should carry themselves in it what was their part for delegating men to the Ministry and what must be their own and others part and demeanour in the Ministry These things are very accurately and abundantly interspersed Lo it is not enough without further preface that Timothy in these and Titus in the next Epistle look how they do comport themselvs but they must commit this sacred trust to others the necessity of the Ministry is so eminent and this with the best-sighted caution and most studious circumspection the nature of the Ministry is likewise so excellent This this beloved much reverenced which is the end of your present convention is Paul's charge and must be Timothie's care in this verse The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses the same commit thou c. Four things wust be here briefly enquired into 1. The matters or things which are to bee committed 2. The manner how 3. The man by whom 4. The men to whom these things are to bee committed First what are the things which Timothy must commit Paul tells him The things that thou hast heard of me the same commit thou But whether those which hee had heard from Paul publickly and openly in his preaching or more particularly those at his own ordination when hee was put into the Ministry by Paul a) 2 Tim. 1.6 together with the Presbytery b) 1 Tim. 4.14 be the chief or only things in our Apostles eye it is not expressed The ensuing words bespeak the last at least partly if not principally intended Timothy it is plain is not only charged in these Epistles with teaching others but with ordaining teachers And no doubt but with committing unto others the Office to teach he is to commit such Gospel-truths by teaching as shall be of best and most inserviency to their holy and happy conduct throughout the difficulties and discharge of their office of Teachers A point of easie observation and eminent use which could not probably be omitted at the Apostles Ordination of Timothy that hath obtained well-nigh an universall concurrence at every Ordination since Secondly but how must Timothy commit these things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It would be little other than a wast of precious time and of your patience to produce the severall Scriptures in which or purposes to which this word is used There are but two senses I humbly conceive that can with any probability bee tendered here viz. Either that Timothy commit these things to others in way of doctrine only by teaching and opening these things to them or in way of delegation also and speciall trust as the word is often used c) 1 Tim. 1 18. cum 2 Tim. 1.14 Lu. 12 48. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The ophylactus hoc discrimen constituit in verbis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Illud accipit de miraculoruÌ„ doni boc verò de Minillerio vi deâ—plura apud Bezam ad loc Leigh Crit. sac ad verbum trusting these things with them as Officers who are to teach others and must therefore be a depository and treasure-house of divine truths for others This latter sense which eminently taketh in the committing of the Office to teach is that which to me seems most especially in our Apostles design and purpose for these two reasons Because 1. This most openly corresponds not only to the subject in hand but to the scope of the whole both Epistles being to direct Timothy especially about publick Ordinances and Officers how he shall Ordain Officers and how these and himself shall order the affairs of their Office 2. This hath the most obvious if not the only countenance from the Characters given us of the men to whom Timothy is to commit these things which are immediately subjoined For if Timothy were to commit these things to them only in way of doctrinal teaching what need or use was there of so severe a restriction or of such speciall qualifications as we read added faithfull men able to teach others also which Gillespy in his Miscellany Questions Collins in his Vindiciae and the London Ministers in their Jus Divinum Ministerii Evangelici do very well observe No doubt but as to the doctrinall teaching of these things Timothy was no less a debtor than was Paul to the Barbarian as well as Greek to the unlearned as well as learned both to the wise and to the unwise Rom. 1.14 So that Timothy is to coÌ„mit these things more than in way of doctrine only He is to commit them in way of delegation also unto such faithfull men as shall be able to teach others which cannot rationally be understood of other than publick and authoritative teaching if either 1. the quality of the men or 2.
Beloved why are these things written and for whom think we Are they not for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come Doubtlesse whatsoever things were written aforetime were writteÌ„ for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15.4 Ah Sirs may we dare to reject this word of Christ or remove to another way of our own or others contriving either frame new ways of committing the Ministry I mean or else frowardly deny the continuance of the Ministry as too many do Nay can you so forget the Commandment of Christ and his Covenant with his Ministers which hee calls upon us so affectionately to remember as a thing of most happy remarke Mat. 28.19.20 Go teach c. Lo I am with you alway 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all days 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the end of the world Which cannot bee restrained to the end of that age as the pregnancy and propriety of this phrase * See it learnedly Vindicated opened Jus divin Mini. EvaÌ„ par 1. c. 2. p. 27. ad 31 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the parallel usage of it by this same Evangelist Mat. 13.40 m Chap. 24.3 n besides the precedent passage which is not all your days but all days do plentifully evince Or have you so forgotten that command by Paul to Timothy I give thee charge in the sight of God who quickneth all things and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession That thou keep this commandment without spot unrebukeable untill the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ What commandment intends he I humbly conceive with Beza and others * Chrysost Homil 18. Ambr. Lyra GorraÌ„ Cornel à Lavide Diodat Engl. Annotat. ad ver 1â— this complex commandment contained in and carried along thorow the whole Epistle unto which the Apostle quickens him with six arguments (p Dickson ad loc And thus it eminently taketh in that well-nigh paralell charge Chap. 5. ver 21.22 which includeth the conferring of the Ministeriall Office as doth the third Chapter And what though this Commandment could not bee fulfilled till the coming of Christ by Timothy himself yet might it bee by Timothie's successors ' Who are clearly concerned to attend this charge of the Apostle as addressed to them in Timothy the import and intent of the Scriptures being not only for the present men and times but for all that succeed or follow q) RoÌ„ 15. â— Psa 119.152 Lu. 16.16 17. Rev. 22.19 And verily 1. if there shall still be till his coming both sinners to be begotten unto Christ and to be brought into his Church and if there be Saints to bee brought forward and to bee built up in communion with Christ and his Church and if there be souls to bee sanctified and saved until the time of his appearance which who doubts that believes any thing And 2. if our Lord Christ hath onely ordinarily annexed and appointed to bestow these great blessings by a Ministery sent as it is cleer he hath Rom. Chap. 10. verse 14 15. Ephesians Chapt. 4. verse 11 12 13. Having by this onely usually brought about the addition of sinners to his Church and to himself Acts the second Chapter and the 41. and 47. verses and Chap. 11. vers 24. the conversion of souls to and their confirmation in and with himself Acts Chap. 26.18.15.32 The remission of sins and regeneration of sinners Acts 26. Chapter 18. ver and 1 Corin. Chap. 4. vers 15. The new birth of souls and to believe in himself James Chap. 1. verse 18. and 1 Corinth Chap. 3 vers 5. The subduing of sin and Satan and the salvation of Saints 2 Corinth Chap. 10. verse 4.5 and 1 Corinth Chap. 1. verse 21. And 3. If our Lord Christ doth not now extraordinarily send forth any as it 's plain hee doth not neither immediately designing out any persons nor delivering to any a power of miracles I say if so then of necessity the ordinary way of committing this Office and of sending out such Officers which was given in charge to Timothy and Titus are of a continuing obligation and of consant observation in the Churches of Jesus Christ Sect. 4. Let me put you in mind but of one thing more and this is the Elegant titles that are given to Ministers which do all bespeak a necessity not onely of being quaâ—ified for this Office but of having the Office committed to them Are not Ministers câ—lled the Angels of the Churches Revelations Chap. 1. verse 20. the overseers of the Church Acts Chap. 20. ver 28. the rulers of the Church Hebrews Chap. 13. ver 7. Yea and such rulers they are in and so over the Church as are to be counted worthy of double honour 1 Timothy Chap. 5. ver 17. and 1 Thes Chap. 5. vers 12.13 Are they not the Stewards of Christ 1 Corinht 4.1 The Heralds of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Romans 10. vers 14. Yea and the â—mbâ—ssadours of Christ 2 Cor. 5. ver 20. Are they not termed watchmen Heb. 13.17 builders 1 Cor. 3.10 and souldiers 2 Tim. 2.3 c. Now what lesse do any of these apart or can all these together intimate than that Ministers should be furnished with authority as well as fitted with ability and must bee able to shew a commission as well as speak of qualifications In a word that they must have a deligation from our Saviour to this employment as wel as a disposition in their spirits to this employment Sect. 4. Fourthly how is this Office of being Teachers in the Church to bee committed unto such as are duly qualified You will easily observe that we are not enquiring about committing the Office to extraordinary teachers such as are by immediate deligation from Christ immediate I mean not only ratione virtutis sed suppositi in regard of power but of person This case falls not within our compasse when such immediate furnitures as were herewith given for the Ministry and therefore such immediate vestitures with the Ministery have no place But our enquiry is about the committing of this office to Ordinary teachers by mediate deligation from Christ i. e. by his Officers who in his name and according to his Ordinance are to separate them to this service of his in his Church * Hujus Ministerij jus per homines Communicare solâ—t atque iâ—â ratione vocatio ordinarii Ministri est mediata Hoc autem sic est intellgendum ut authoritas administrandi res divinas à Deo immediatè communicetur ministris omnibus legitimis designatio personarum in quas confertur fiat per Ecclesiam Ames Medul Theol l. 1. c. 35. n. 5. 6. And thus briefly this Office is to bee committed to men duly qualified 1 by the Presbytery 2 after proof 3 with prayer and fasting 4. and with putting on of their hands Sect. 1. By the Prebytery i. e. by
to exhort and convince the gain-sayers Tit. 1.9 These cast not off but continue in the thingâ— which they have learned and been assured of 2 Tim. 3.14 A good Minister of Christ is one nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine whereunto hee hath attained 1 Tim. 4.6 True it is that wee are fallen among men and times that discourage dissuade and disgrace learning but let not that deter us who are not through mercy â—ut such that on the other hand quicâ—n cherish countenance it and speak â—mfortably unto all the Levites that teach â—he good knowledg of the Lord. c Chro. 30. 22. It 's true some would have us Preachers like Jeâ—boams Priests only of the lowest of the â—eople 1 King 12.31 at least for liteâ—ature not to mention livelyhood And well may such indeed passe for the Priests of Jeroboam for with me 't is â—eyond doubt they are not the Preaâ—hers of Jesus i.e. by his allowance and â—ppointment No Christians his are â—pproved workmen that need not be ashaâ—ed rightly dividing the word of truth 〈◊〉 Tim 2.15 The Pastors after his heart â—â—e such as shall and therefore can feed â—is People with knowledg and understanding Jer. 3.15 not blind seers ignoâ—ant watch-men or Shepherds that can â—ot understand Isai Chap. 56. verse 10 11. I do not say but you may be good men and have but little or no learning but I dare not say you will make good Ministers without learning for how should you I pray consider N. 1. Will not your relations to God caâ—â— upon you for learning He imploys none but the wise and faithfull to be his Stewards Mat. 13.52 How can you bee his mouth d Jer. 15.19 his messengers e Isa 42.19 or the men of God f 1 Tim. 6.11 else who are to make known the mysteries of his Gospell If you are the mouth of God let us hear you speak as the Oracles of God 1 Pet. Chapter 4. verse 11. Who do expect a proof of Christ speaking in and by you g 2 Cor. 13.3 if you are the Messengers of the Lord of Hosts Let us see that your lips do preserve knowledg that men may find the law at your mouth Malac. Chapter 2. verse 7. And if you are men of God make us at least some way sensible that you are furnished with instructions to every good work 2 Tim. Chap. 3 verse 17. N. 2. h Mat. 5.14 Will not your relations to the people call upon you for learning These you ought to warn and teach in all wisedom i Isa 9.16 Col. 1.28 k Mat 13.52 How shall you be their lights their leaders and instructors else unto the Kingdom of God If you are blind leaders of the blind both shall fall into the ditch Mat. 15.14 And a dreadfull thing it will bâ— for you if God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge in you Hos 4.6 Your lips should preserve knowledge for the people as a publick store-house and they must seek the law at your mouth Mal. 2.7 If there arise matters too hard for them they must arise and ask you Deut. 17.8 ad 12. Ezek. 44.24 And how shall you teach them if ye are yet to learn the Oracles of God your selves Heb. 5.12 Thou that teachest another teachest thou not thy self saith the Apostle Rom. 2.12 N. 3. Will not the requisites and duties of your office call upon you for learning Surely the Law should not perish from the Priest nor counsel from the wise nor the Word from the Prophet Jer. 18.18 Men may declaim humane or School-learning very confidently but whereunto will a Minister's duty arise unless he be furnished with some competency thereof How shall hee convince gain sayers without it * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shutting them up in their argumâ—nts and answers or stop the mouths of the learned adversaries who fly either to the originall texts or to those orderly contextures of truth which have received the allowance and consent both of teachers and Christians to stand as maximes of unquestionable truths Besides how shall he rightly divide the word of truth else 2 Tim. 2.15 or reconcile the Scriptures which seemingly differ if he hath no acquaintance with Logick Rhetorick or Grammar Again how shall he reveal the sense of Scriptures entirely and cause the people to understand the reading Nehemi 8. ver 7 8. Especially since there are so many riddles l) Ezek. 17 2. and dark sayings m) Ps 78.2 in them and all expositions of and observations from them are to bear such exact accord to and to be examined by the originall which the Holy Ghost inspired Nay or how shall he so much as read the Scriptures intelligently without some humane teachings and learning Deliver this Bible to one that is not at all learned saying read this I pray you and must he not say I cannot for I am not learned Isa 29.12 Had wee to do with no more then Paul's Epistles how many things must be acknowledged in them both hard to be understood and hard to be utterred n) Heb. 5.11 But what do the unlearned and unstable Let Peter tell you They wrest them as they do also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction 2 Pet. 3.16 'T is in vain to tell me that Jesus Christ was not learned For doth not he himself assure me otherwise The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned and opened mine ear to hear as the learned Isa 50.4 And do not his auditors assure me the same too Mat. 13.54 55. Joh. 7.15 Say you the Apostles were not learned and as for the Prophets how illitterate were they But sirs do the Scriptures say the same likewise Indeed was Moses such an one who was learned in all the wisedom of the Egyptians Act. 7.22 or was Daniel to whom God had given skill in all learnning and wisedom Dan. 1.17 or was Paul that was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel Act. 23.5 and was so eminently versed both in humane learning o) Tit. 1.22 Act. 17.28 and divine that Festus thinks much learning had made him even mad Act. 26.24 Again were Samuel Elijah or Elisha so unlearned who had so many pupills and bred up so many scholars which were called sons of the Prophets at Naioth Bethel Jericho and Gilgall which were in this respect little other than Universities and Schools of learning 2 Sam. 19.19 20. 2 Kings 2.2 3 5 12. and 4.38 as we read of a Colledge at Jerusalem likewise 2 Chron. 34.22 and 2 Kings 22.14 True it is that grace called many such to be Prophets and Apostles who were unlearned but then the same grace which called did by and by qualify theÌ„ with learning that they were as Micah saith of himself full of power by the Spirit of the Lord and of judgment and of might Micah 3.8 If they had not learning by outward education they had learning by inward inspiration
Eldad and Medad say you do prophesie in the Camp Numb 11.27 Answ True and who would not have wished with Moses in the same case would God all the Lord's people were Prophets But Lo when was it not til the Lord took off the Spirit that was upon Moses and it rested upon them ver 26. ' And who were they Of them that were written but went not out unto the Tabernacle ver 26. i. e. of the Seventy Elders officers of Israel whom God commands Moses to bring thither and covenants to put upon them of his Spirit ver 16 17 18 Object But we are all Priests unto God Rev. 1.6 Answ True but not all Prophets 1 Cor. 12.29 The same Christ who hath made us Priests hath made us Kings too a royall Priest-hood 1 Pet. 2.9 We are neither properly but in a figurative sense onely ' Will not this vest us with a civill authority to mulct and punish how will that then to Minister publickly or preach Object But we all ought to be teachers of others Heb. 5.12 Answ True even women are not exempted but enjoyn'd Titus 2.3 4. Yet not in the Churches how eminently soever gifted 1 Cor. 14.34 35. Privately and charitatively all may all must as I have said Oh let your families friends and with whom ye walk in fellowship witnesse it and let the Word of God dwell richly in you to this purpose Col. 3.16 But ought therefore all to teach publickly and authoritatively likewise Nay here our Apostle Are all teachers 1 Cor. 12. ver 29. i. e. all are not all ought not 1 Cor. 12.29 ' Shew us I pray you where any gifted brother may assume authority to himself or where he is allowed of our Saviour as in his name and stead to teach publickly in the assemblies of his servants and where attention is due to him in so doing by commandment from the Lord Hath Christ ever said to such as he hath to his office-Ministers He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me c. Luk. 10.16 Object But we must speak often one to another rebuke consider comfort edifie and exhort one another not only our families but especially those with whom wee walk in fellowship Answ True do it and spare not No good man or Minister durst disswade or discourage it Nay this wee do command and charge you by the Lord. * Mal. 3.16 Levit. 19.17 Heb. 10.24 25. 1 Thes 5.11 Heb. 3.13 But what is this to warrant your publick preaching in the Churches of Christ Is there no difference between that and private Christian-converse conferences which grow out of charity and the communion of Saints ' Do you will you say but that women among you as wel as men are intended by the Apostle in those Scriptures whereto you allude yet who seeth not that women must keep silence in the Churches 1 Cor. 14.34 Pray shew us from Scripture where men out of office are enjoined to such publick teaching or so to teach from which women are precluded Object Say you as every man hath received the gift even so should wee minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God Answ True ' But your selves wil not say I think that women are excluded from what this text enjoyneth Accept this command then in it's greatest latitude it can import no more than this if you allow what I am sure you must and believe you do in it's full accord with other Scriptures that wee minister the gift we have received one to an other every one in his own orb in his order Publick Ministers of the Church in which he instanceth ver 11. in a publick and authoriâ—ative way private members of the Church in a private and charitative way as did Aquila and Priscilla Act. 18.26 ' And beyond doubt those women that laboured with Paul in the Gospel Phil. 4.3 for he suffered not a woman to teach in the Church 1 Tim. 2.12 And truly otherwise upon the same ground that you infer from this text that every one who hath gifts for publick preaching must minister the same publickly upon the same ground with equalâ— right and reason may another inter that this gifted person must preach publickly whether the Church approves him gifted and indulgeth him this liberty or not and indeed where that call and comprâ—bation of the Church hath any foot-steps in Scripture which some speak of e're such shall exercise his gifts I see not and again that every man who hath received gifts or abilities to administer the Sacraments or to absolv from censures may and must minister the same to others which you do not dare not grant nor indeed may without destroying the order of the Churches despising the Ordinances of Christ and denying the necessity of Ministers by office And I pray consider whether more eminent abilities be needfull for the ordinary ministration of Sacraments than for preaching and whether you are more evidently excluded by this text or by any other from ordinary ministration of Sacraments than of sermons But if you limit this command according to the liberty which the words afford you it speaks for us and against you For what are stewards but men in office and in what other notion is it ever used in Scripture or where And thus it wil be no more than this in the sense of it That as every man hath received the office which is by gift frequently understood in Scripture Rom. 12.6 7. Eph. 4.8 cum 11. so he minister viz. according to his trust and office which is illustrated particularly v. 11. wherein he distinguisheth these officers or stewards into two species or ranks viz. such as are to speak from Christ and such as are to serve in his Church such as are to be the mouth of God authoritatively to guide them and such as are to minister as of the ability which God hath given i. e. Bishops or Presbyters and Deacons as he frequently elsewhere maketh the distribution Phil. 1. 1 Tim. 1.3 c. These he describeth by the most eminent acts of their office and directeth how they shall discharge them Object Why they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the Word Acts 8.4 True but who were they If you say men out of office let us hear your proof the onely particular man therewith mentioned is Philip ver 5. who was e're this ordained Chap. 6.5 6. and was an Evangelist Chap. 21.8 Again when did they it when the Church was all scattered abroad which was at Jerusalem verse 1. And is there no difference between preaching under the scattering of the Churches and during their settlement ' Though I think that the universal term all ver 1. doth rather intend all the Ministers of that Church except the Apostles than all the members For why or where should the Apostles have stayed if all these had been scattered abroad Or how could Saul have been stil making havock of the