3.16 Hereby we perceive the love of God because he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naz. Or. 16. Isai 32.2 Beatitudinum omnium beatissima beatitudo charitas Nienburg to lay down their malice factions and arms against each other for whom Charity and Christ bids them lay down their lives O let it move all excellent Christians and me who am less than the least that truly love thee and long for thee to mourn to see the generality of Christians so little moved by thee or to thee Let our heads and eyes be as Fountains and Rivers of Waters running with tears night and day for those thousands whom justice and those ten thousands whom uncharitableness schism and superstition have slain among Christians even in these Nations and Churches O let our humble hearts be thy retirement our sighs and prayers and tears thy refreshment in the heat and fury of these times and be thou to us as the shadow of that great Rock in a weary Land O blessed Blessing of all other blessings Charity what words what tears what prayers what sighs what Sermons what Writings can recover thee or recal thee or perswade thee to look back and return to these and others pitifully broken wasted forlorn and divided Churches But alas our words are sharp swords daily wheting and clashing against each other our tears are as the drops of revengeful and impatient spirits which cannot have their wills our prayers are the bitter effusions of hearts troubled and disquieted not with sin but with choler and unkindness so far from praying for our enemies that we pray nothing but enmity and are impatient that any should pray for their friends if we esteem them our enemies our sighs are but bellows to excite the languishing flames of declining factions against their opposers our Sermons oftimes are as firebrands tossed up and down by incendiaries and the breath of our Pulpits are like the Eructations of Aetna Vesuvius or Hecla scattering coals of fire and blasting all things neer them with sulphureous exhalations So that many Preachers are indeed as voices crying in the wilderness sounding alarms to Religious War and preparing a way for zealous desolations both in Church and State And for our Writings they are in great part but Pamphlets which serve as Paper to wrap up squibs or to kindle to quicker flames those smoaking jealousies and secret discontents which are smothered in our brests That even we Christians and reformed too speak and act and pray and Preach and Print in great part so as if we had not one God and one Lord Jesus one Spirit one Faith and one Baptism c. Ephes 4.4 5. But as if we had no God no Faith no Word no Sacrament no common relation to one Saviour no common salvation in One and by One as if we were Christians onely to be crosses and to crucifie one another As if we were all turned Canaanites scourges in the sides and thorns in the eyes of one another Charitas deus est substantivs dat nobis deitatem accidentâ—lem Bern. de dil Deo O thou flower and fragrancy of all graces and virtues which hast little of a Man nothing of a Devil and most of God of Christ and of the Holy Spirit in thee which carriest all sweetness serenity and tranquillity with thee If thou abhorrest the crowds of Christians and such as glory so much in their being gathered into Churches after new and uncouth ways If thou darest not trust their smiles and kisses their fervors and reformings who have so oft under the specious pretences of Religion sheathed their swords in thy bowels If thou art afraid not onely of religious rabbles and zealous multitudes but even of sacred Synods and Armies listed for holy Wars whose faith hath often failed thee and them too who while they thought to contend earnestly for the truth have crushed thee O Charity almost to nothing by their violences and divisions each novel faction seeming to strive for thee pull and tear thee in pieces ready by violent halings of thee to their sides Sects utterly to destroy thee O yet prepare a place for thy self among some humble and honest hearts some meek and quiet spirits here in England that so thou maist retire and hide thy self from thy friendly enemies from their cruel courtesies their dangerous importunities their deep agitations and designs O disdain not the broken hearts and contrite spirits of â—hat remnant of truly Reformed Catholike and charitable Christians which yet have escaped in this Church These value thee these long foâ— thee these are sick of love to thee and weary of life without thee To thy honor and restauration to their comfort and establishment these lines are chiefly consecrated O do thou cover them James 3.6 Psal 120.7 I am for peace but when I speak they are for war and this thy suppliant Orator under the shadow of thy wings till this calamity be overpast hide us from the strife of tongues which are set on fire with the fire of hell which burn most wheâ— cool drops and calm pleas for charity are sprinkled on them In the great and sad ruines of Churches and dissentions of Christians O be thou our refuge and protection teach us to live by divine love and so to love thee that we may live a divine 〈◊〉 with thee Learn us that highest lesson of a Christian to love our enemies and persecutors while others learn to hate their friends and their Fathers 1 Cor. 13.8 Charity never be faileth O Sempiternal Grace which are fitted for immortal souls let us be as Ruth to Naomi unseparable from thee while we are on Earth as thou art the onely remaining grace in Heaven being the crown and consummation of all other gifts and graces which like stars then disappear and are willingly swallowed up when thy lustre like the Suns is risen to its full strength and shines in an eternal Noon making the soul at once infinitely happy while it sees an object infinitely lovely and loves it with an infinite love Rather than we should fail of thee in this life O thou beloved of our souls carry us with thee from Cities to solitudes from company to deserts from the unsociable societies and uncharitable Churches to creeping cottages to weeping solitudes and howling wildernesses where we may enjoy thee in our own oft sighing and smitten brests rather than dwell in Palaces and Cities and Temples and where we see thee daily despised profaned and mangled tormented torn and trampled under the feet of Christians in Villages in Towns in Cities in Senates in Armies in Seats of Justice and in Pulpits Give us the wings of a Dove even thy wings O holy Charity by which thou ascendest at once to God in love and descendest for Gods sake in love to man that we may make haste and flie away and be at rest for ever that we may
merited of him by suffering on the Cross and enduring the shame for his Churches salvation yet he left not his Disciples comfortless but as he promised sent his Spirit publickly and eminently upon the Twelve principal Apostles Acts 2. John 20.21 whom he had formerly chosen and appointed in his and his Fathers Name to Preach the Gospel to whom he gave the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven as to the Stewards and chief Deputies or Ministers of his houshold in his absence instructing them what to do on what foundation of faith in him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All Authority i. e. Legitima potentia Matth. 28.18 19 20. Mark 16.15 to build his Church by what Sacramental seals to confirm believers giving them full power and commission to go into all the world by Teaching and Baptising to make Disciples confirming this power to them by breathing on them and conferring farther Ministerial gifts of the Spirit upon them promising also to be with them to the end of the world which could not be meant of their persons who soon died but of their successors in that Office and Ministry that the same power authority and assistance should be with them in that holy way to which he thus ordeined and sent them by a divine charter and durable commission After all this for further publication of this great Authority and Ministerial power given to the Apostles and their Successors and for the confirmation of it both to their own consciences John 14.17 Acts 2. and to all the world the holy Spirit as was promised came upon them in the shape of fiery cloven tongues filling them with miraculous gifts and all Ministerial power both extraordinary in their persons and ordinary derivable to their Successors such as the wisdom of Christ thought most fit both for the first planting of the Church with miraculous gifts attending the Ministry of the Gospel and the after propagating of it by the same Ministry confirmed by the constancy of the Martyrs and Confessors which were in stead of daily miracles This whole frame polity and divine constitution of the order power and Ministry that should succeed Christ Jesus in his Church was no other than the proper effects of Christs prophetick power and wisdom for the instructing his Church an act or ordinance of his Kingly power for the governing of it and a fruit of his Priestly power and care for a right Liturgy or officiating to be continued in his Church thus furnishing it with an holy Succession of Evangelical Priests and Ministers in his name and authority who might always teach guide and govern also supplicate for consecrate and offer holy things with the faithful and for them namely the sacrifices of prayers thanksgiving and praises especially Heb. 9.14 10.12 that Eucharistical memorial of that one great oblation of himself once made on the Altar of the Cross for the Redemption of the World which is the great accomplishment of the Jewish Prophecies the abolishing of their Types and Ceremonies the main foundation of the Christians Religion and the chief subject of that Evangelical Ministry which Jesus Christ himself hath thus evidently instituted and sealed in his Church For whose sake he hath given those Ministerial gifts with a distinct power and authority making some not all either Apostles or Prophets or Evangelists or Pastors and Teachers Eph. 4.11 12. 1 Cor. 12.4 5 21 28. For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ c. And this by as manifest a distinction both for gifts and place and use as is in the parts of the body between the eyes and the hands the head and the feet Vers 29. So that all are not Apostles nor Prophets nor Teachers that are Believers and Members of the Body of Christ his Church no more than every part is an eye in the natural body however it partake of the same Soul as Believers do of the same Spirit 1 Cor. 12.6 7. yet in different manifestations of which difference of gifts and office those onely are to judge whom the Spirit of Christ hath enabled with gifts and indued successively in the Church with power from Christ to judge of them and accordingly to invest them 1 Cor. 14.32 The spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Propheâ—â— V. 33. For God is not the Author of confusion c. by solemn and holy ordination into the orderly power of exercising those gifts which they are judged to have received from the Spirit of Christ for the good of the Church both for Instruction and for Government of it Without which divinely-constituted Order and Office of Ministry began in Christ by him derived to the Apostles and by them and their successors constantly and duly observed to these days the Church of Christ had long ere this been a monster made up of confused excrescencies a very heap and huddle of Ignorance Heresies Schisms all maner of erroneous blindness and extravagant madness like those mishapen prodigies which we may often see among those who having cast off the lawful succession the sacred and antient order of the Ministry do in their varieties exceed even the mixtures and productions of Africa After Christs Ascension 5. The Apostles ordain and command other to ordain Ministers we have no less evidence of Scripture for the undoubted practise of the blessed Apostles when they had by a divine lot first filled up that place and part of the Ministry from which Judas had faln Acts 1.25 For having received power Ministerial immediately from Christ they did duly conscientiously orderly and effectually fulfil their own Ministry and also took care to ordain others that might do so too both in their times and after them distributing their own labors into several Countreys and to several sorts of people Gal. 2.7 some to the Circumcision of the Jews others to those of the uncircumcised Gentiles Among whom they exercised their Office and Ministry 1 Coâ— 5.20 As Aâ—â—â—â—sadors â—oâ— Christ as though God did be eech you by us we pray y u in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God 1 Cor. 3.9 2 Cor. 11.2 Esth 7.8 Eph. 4.11 Acts 14.23 And when they had ordained them Presbyters in every Church in Lystra Iconium Antioch c. Acts 20.28 Take heed to your selves and to all the flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you Bishops or overseers to feed the Church of God c. Pauls speech to the Presbyters of the Church of Ephesus V. 17. 1 Tim. 3. 5.22 Lay hands i. e. by way of ordination to the Ministry 2 Tim. 2.2 The things thou hast heard of me commit thou the same to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also Tit. 1.5 I left thee in Creet that thou shouldst ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed thee Non tam solicitus de cura Timothei sed propter successores ejus ut
should rather have done than in the least kinde have kindled or fomented such unnatural flames and unchristian fewds rudely intruding themselves into all Councels full of restless sticklings State agitatings politick plottings cunning insinuatings putâ—d flatterings secret whisperings evil surmisings uncomly clamors and rude exasperatings of fears to fewds of jealousies to enmities of misapprehensions to irreconcilable distances especially in matters wherein their proper interests as in those of Church-Government and Discipline might seem any stop or difficulty to peace or any occasion to war Who concludes not that in such violent deeds and demands Ministers forgat and forsook the greatest honor and duty of their Function which is Matth. 5.9 2 Cor. 5.20 to be blessed peace-makers to beseech men to be reconciled to God and for Christs sake to one another by whose pretious blood they above all men should shew they are redeemed from those fierce wraths and cruel angers which cannot but be cursed and merit to be seriously and deeply repented lest for them Ministers be divided in Jacob Gen. 49.7 and scattered in Israel And however many hotter spirited Ministers might have honest hearts to God and man yet it appears they had but weak heads and were not aware That secular policies and worldly interests though they begin never so plausibly and ascend like vapors from fair grounds yet they presently thicken like mists into black clouds drawing on jealousies and fears like strong winds These drive men to new counsels after they plead necessities and from necessity obtain what indulgences and dispensations soever either prosperity or adversity require in order to that great Idol Self-preservation which even in the Church of Christ exalts it self above all that is called God far different from primitive practises which were in ways of self-denial Christian patience and civil subjection losing their lives to save them following of Christ in taking up his cross * Tert. Apol. de Christianis cap. 37. Omnia vestra implevimus urbes insulas castella municipia castra palatium senatum forum c. Et tamen libenter trucidamur Et Cap. 30. Precâ—ntes sumus semper pro omnibus Imperatoribus c. when they wanted not numbers All which holy Christian arts by the unnecessary designs precipitant counsels and rash adventures of some passionate weak or self-seeking men are oft forced to vale and give place to that which is falsly called Reason of State which loves not to be too straight-laced with any ties of true and self-denying Religion whose passiveness is the best preservative both of the Church and of any true Minister whatsoever 11. Ministers much â—ow to themselves their shame All true and wise Ministers teach and so they should practise That it is better patiently to suffer * Mûlta tollerâ—â—us quae non probamus Aug. some deformities in Church and pressures in State than to be violent actors of any new ones as a means to reform the old And since the mindes of men are generally prone to measure counsels and purposes by the events they do easily conclude That God never leaves a good cause wherein his glory and Churches good were said to be so highly interessed so in the loss and lapse as now the Presbyterian cause seems to be unless it were carried on by impure hearts or unwashen hands either hypocrisie levening the end or iniquity defiling the means Truly it is seldom that God waters good plants with so last streams as he hath done that which some Ministers sought so resolutely to plant in the Garden of this Church what pains or perils soever it cost them or the publick So that the present dangers distresses and complaints of many Ministers seem to most people to be but as the just retributions of vengeance upon the rude frowardness and factious forwardness of many of them in civil troubles which was far different from the tender and wise charity of the good Samaritan Luke 10.30 For these men finding this Church and State much wounded as it was going from the Jericho of some grievances to the Jerusalem of a through Reformation as was pretended were too liberal of their vinegar and too nigardly of their oyl by rash infusions by undiscreet and unskilful searching the wounds they made them deeper wider more festred and incurable Clergy-mens hands usually poysoning those light hurts in State which they touch or undertake to cure with neglect of their Spiritual cures and callings Thus justly and usually there follows the black shadow of shame and confusion when Ministers of the Church had rather appear cuning active Statesmen than honest quiet Churchmen studying matchiavel more than the Gospel as if they were ashamed of the still * Mat. 12.19 He shall not strive nor cry neither shall any men hear his voice in the streets Acts 2.2 voice and quiet spirit of Jesus Christ which descended upon his Apostles not in the shape of flaming and dividing swords but off * Linguâ— Evangelica propitiis ignibus mollissimo servore potenter at suaviter illuminare perpurgare debent mentes ac mores hominum Greg. fiery cloven tongues And this not to set the world on fire or to scorch and burn men but softly to enlighten them and by variety of gifts and graces sweetly to warm them to a love of God and mutual charity Which is far from bringing in either Christian Religion or any Reformations with wilde-fires whirl-winds and earth-quakes wherein Christians had rather quite cast off the cross of Christ from their shoulders than bear it with any thing which they count a civil burthen and wherein the meanest Ministers are more ambitious to wear a peece of the Popes Triple Crown on their heads in an imaginary parity of power than either that of thorns or that of olive branches the one an embleme of their patience the other of their peaceableness When the very Novices and Beardless striplings in the Ministry which have but lately been manumitted from the rod and ferula are more eager to rule and govern all in an absolute community and Country parity than either able to rule themselves or patient to be ruled even by those that are worthy to be their Fathers as every way their Elders and Betters whom Age and Nature Custom Law Reason Religion all order and polity among men would have set as over-seers over them howsoever to some uses and ends those the yonger Preachers may be fit to be set over others as Vshers of lower Forms When the passions and exorbitancies of some Ministers shall punish other mens failings and sins with greater of their own and exceed what was most blamable in others by such defects of charity or excesses of cruelty as are most condemnable in such as hold forth the love of God and mercies of Christ to the World What stability can be hoped in mens esteem and love to such as are of so variable tempers that they are not double Jam. 1.8 but
degree true That many of these Mushroom Ministers the most forward Teachers of this new race and mechanick extraction are such persons in disguises of vulgar plainness Nunquam periculosi es fallit tâ—nebâ—arum mendaciorum pater quà m cùm sub lucis veritatis specit delitescit Jeron and simplicity who have had both their learning and their errand from the vigilant Seminaries beyond Sea Out of which Galliles can come little good to our Reformed Church and Nation Satan is not less a Devil when he will seem a Doctor nor more a dangerous tempter than when he would appear a zealous teacher Whence soever they are sure we are That many of these who are so suddenly started up into Pulpits are not ashamed to vent by word and writings such transcendent blasphemies That they teach whatever they think or say of the Majesty of God of Christ of the holy Spirit of the Divine Nature though never so irreverent profane and ridiculous yet it is no blasphemy but sublimity So Irenaeus l. 1. Tertul. de prae ad Hae. Austin de haer de unitate Eccles c. 16. Tells us of the Partantilâ—quia Haeraticorum Vid. p. 204. no profaneness but getting above and out of all fornis Whatever they contradict of the clear literal sense and rational scope of the Scriptures though it seem and be never so gross a lie and error in the common significancy of the words yet it is a truth in the spirit Whatever they act never so disorderly brutish horrid obscene and abominable yet it is no sin but a liberty which God and Christ and the Spirit exercise in them who cannot sin Nor is this the least cause we have to suspect beware of and abhor these new Modellers and Levellers of the Ministry That how different soever their faces and factions are one from another though they go one East and the other West whether they separate or rank or seek or shake yet still they meet in this one point No Ordination no Function or peculiar Calling of the Ministry The Serpents tail meets with his head that he may surround truth with a circle of malice In hoc uniformes esse solent errantium deformitates quod rectè sentientes odiâ— habent August As Herod and Pilate they agree to crucifie Christ as Samsons Foxes though their wily-heads look several ways yet their filthy tails carry common fire-brands not onely to set on fire the sometime well-fill'd and fruitful Field of this Church but also to consume the very laborers and husbandmen Their eyes and hands are generally bent against the best and ablest Ministers and their spirits most bitterly inconsistent with that holy Ministry which Christ once delivered by the Apostles to the Church and which by the fidelity of his Church hath been derived to us of which we and all the true Churches of Christ have in all ages had so great and good experience which no malice of devils or personal infirmities of men have been hitherto able so to hinder as wholly to interrupt much less so to corrupt it that it should be either just or any way necessary to abolish it according to those tragical clamors and tyrannick purposes of some unworthy men whose malice and cruelty Esther 5.9 as our modern Hamans doth hope and daily with eagerness expect when the whole Function and Calling which is from God though by man of the ordained and authoritative Ministry which hath succeeded the Apostles to our days shall be trussed up that fifty footed Gallows which malicious and ungrateful envy or sacrilegious covetousness or vulgar ambition or Jesuitick policies hath erected for the whole Nation of the antient and true Ministers And all this because like Mordecai they will not nor in any Reason Law and Religion can bow down or pay any respect such as the pride and vanity of some men expect to those high and self-exalting gifts whereto their Antiministerial adversaries pretend and which they seek to cry up in their meetings and scriblings with which they say and onely say They are divinely called and more immediately inspired not onely above their fellows and brethren who are still modestly exercised in their first mechanick occupations but even above those that are much their betters every way and who merit to have been and possibly have been to many of them as Fathers in Religion by whose pains and care with Gods blessing the true Christian Religion in all ages hath been planted propagated and preserved or where need was reformed and restored to its essential lustre and primitive dignity So that the cruel contrivances and desperate agitations 25. Sober mans greatest sense Revel 12.4 carried on by some men against the true Ministers and Ministry in this Church like the looks of the great red Dragon upon the Woman of the Revelation have a most dire and dreadful aspect not onely upon all good learning and civility but also upon all true Religion both as Christian and as Reformed Threatning at once to devour the very life soul beauty honor â—oy and blessing of this Nation on which we may well write Ickabob 1 Sam. 4.21 the glory is departed from our Israel so soon as the fury of these men hath broke the hearts and necks of our Elies the Evangelical Priests of the Lord the true Ministers of Christ who are as the chariots and horsmen of our Israel Civil changes and secular oppressions have their limits confined within the bounds of things mortal and momentary with which awise and well setled Christian is neither much pleased nor displeased Quadratus cùm sit vir bonus ad omnem fortuna jactum aquabilis est sibi constans Sen. Tanto satius est esse Christianum quà m hominem quanto praestat non omnino esse hominem quà m non esse Christianum Bern. because not much concerned nor long For no wind from the four corners of the Earth can blow so cross to a good mans sails but he knows how to steer a steddy course to Heaven according to the compass of a good Conscience But what relates to our souls eternal welfare to the inestimable blessing of present times and posterity What more concerns us in point of being true Christians that is rightly instructed duly baptized and confirmed in an holy way than any thing of riches peace honor liberty or the very being men can do for without being true Christians it had been good for us we had never been men what evidently portends and loudly proclaims Darkness Error Atheism Barbarity Profaneness or all kinde of Antichristian tyrannies and superstitions to come upon us and our children instead of that saving truth sweet order and blessed peace instead of those unspeakable comforts and holy privileges which we formerly enjoyed from the excellency of the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ declared to us by the labors of our true and faithful Ministers We hope it can offend no good Christians to
tenderness and indulgence of a Mother the caution and courage of a Commander the vigilancy of a Watchman the patience of a Shepheard the zeal of a lover the diligence of a woer the gallantry and honour of an Embassador who as he gives no cause so knows not how with patience to see his Master or Message affronted or neglected The wisdom and discretion of a Counsellor The constancy and resolution of a Pilot whom no storm must drive from the Steerage whom it becomes to be drowned with his hand on the helm For a true Minister who is enabled by God approved by man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vocat Socrat in Pl. Apol. Patâ—rnum est docendi munus Heb. 2.12 I will declare thy name among my brethren c. 2 Cor. 6.1 We therefore as workers together with God and Christ c. 2 Cor. 5.10 All things are of God i. e. ordered by him who hath reconciled us to himself by Christ Jesus and hath given to us the Ministry of reconciliation V. 20. As though God did beseech you by us and so duly sent and ordeined by both to the service of Christ in the Church hath upon him not only something of the honour and authority but of the duty and care of Parents and that right of primogeniture which from Christ is derived to them as from the elder among many brethren which is to teach instruct provide for direct and govern in the things of God the younger succession of the family of Christ Yea more every true Minister hath part of the work of God assigned to him having a Deputation or Lieutenancy from Christ to fulfill what he hath graciously undertaken not as to meritorious satisfaction which Christ alone hath perfected but as to Ministeriall instruction and pastorall government teaching mankind to know the will of God how he is to be served and how they may be saved yea and ruling them that are Christs with his Scepter Furnished as the Ark with the Law with Manna and with Aarons rod to convince men of sin to comfort them with promises and to keep them in holy bounds by just authority and Christian Discipline So that true Ministers stand as in Parents so in Gods and Christs stead as to the visible means and outward work of divine institution 1 Cor. 4.7 which the Lord hath chosen to dispense by such earthen vessels that as they have some reflexions and marks of divine authority and honour more than humane upon them in their work and Commission so they may have as they had need more than ordinary divine assistance to carry them through the discharge of this work as it ought to be done In reference to which great and sacred imployment the Lord Christ fasted Luke 6.12 and prayed a whole night in a mountain the day before he chose ordeined and sent his twelve Apostles to the work of publike Ministry among the Jews yea and after they had enjoyed his holy society and instruction for some years yet before they were to go forth to the Gentiles conversion knowing what difficulties they should encounter what beasts and men and devils they were to contend withall besides how strange and incredible a message they went withall to convert a proud vain luxuriant covetous and crueâ— word he would not have them go from Jerusalem Acts 1.8 till they were endued with power from on high by the holy Spirit their teacher and comforter 〈…〉 the â—ntients had of the Ministry of the Gospel and with what spirit they undertook it 8. And according to this so emn both institution and preparation of the first Ministers of the Goâ—pell which Christ sent in whose power and after whose patern as neer as may be all others ought to succeed in â—he Church all holy wise able and humble Christians have alwaies looked not without horror trembling and amazement upon the Office and work of the Ministry untill the pride and presumption of these times Antiently the worthy Bishops and Ministers were both before and after their Ordination to this Office still asking this question in their souls who is sufficient for these things and what shall I do being a Minister to be saved still jealous lest while they Preach to others themselves prove castaways 2 Cor. 2.16 1 Cor. 9.27 De propriâ anima negligens in alienâ esse non potest solicitus Jeron However now youthfull confidences or rusticall boldness or vain-glorious wantonness or ambitious ostentations or covetous projects or secular interests or friends importunities or fortunes necessities and stimulating despairs to live any other way these God knows are too often the main motives which put many men upon the work of the Ministry Yet Those grand and eminent men of old whose gifts and graces far exceeded our modern tenuities came not to this holy Ordination nor undertook this service of God to the Church either as Bishops or Presbyters without infinite reluctâ—nce Naz. Or. 29. Reproves that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Importune aking tâ—ngues that know neither hâ—w to speak nor to be silent Such Preachers he calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aâ—ter he shews how much caâ—e is to be used before and after the undertaking that holy Office P. 48. 7. c. Eph. 6.12 1 Cor. 9.22 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Is Pel. grief dread and astonishment They had a constant horror of the worth and danger of mens souls which only Christ could redeem with a valuable price the losse of which a whole world cannot countervail also of the terrors of the Lord to slothfull and unfaithfull servants in that work also of the strictness of accounts to be given at Christs tribunall They had before their eyes that boundless Ocean of business into which a Minister once ordeined lancheth forth and is engaged to study to preach to pray to fast to weep to compassionate to watch-over to visit to rep oove to exhort to comfort to contend with evill and unreasonable men deviâ—s and powers of darkness to take care of young and old to temper himself to novices cathecumens to confirmed to lapsed to obstinate to penitent to ignorant and erronious to hereticall surlyness to schismaticall peevishness to become all things to all men to gain some The work indeed requires saith St. Chrysostom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Crysost in Act. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Synes ep 105. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—d 2 Cor. 11.29 Who is weak and I am not weak who is offended and I burn not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a most ample and enâ—â—rged soul lest any under our charge be ignorant by our neglâ—ct be misled by our errors justly scandaâ—ized by us and hardned against us lest any saving truth be wasted or concealed any soul woundâ—d any conscience or faith shipwracked lest any weaker faith faint any stronger fall lest any be tempted and seduced by Satan or his Factors In fine lest any poor soul should be damâ—ed by our default which is
Heb. 2.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who is the Generalissimo chief Captain and Prince of our Salvation who having in former times delivered his Servants the true and faithful Ministers from the paws of the Lions and the Bears Heathenish force and Heretical furies will also deliver them out of the hands of these uncircumcised Philistims who having received from their Ministry what ever honor and privilege they can pretend to as Christians yet now carry themselves as if they were aliens from the Israel of God and had never had relation to or blessing from this or any other true Church where hath been a constant Ministry not more famous for Learning and Industry than blessed with all Evangelical excellencies and happy successes To which now the Lord is pleased to adde this crown of patience under great tribulations and of perseverance in suffering much evil discâ—uragement wheâ—e it hath deserved so well CAVIL III. Or Objection about Christian gifts and exercising in common as Preachers or Prophets ALl impartiall spectators may hitherto behold the salvation of God how the insolent opposers of the Ministeriall function the men of Gath are in their first encounter so deeply smitten and woun ed that they ly groveling on the ground The remayning motions which they may seem to have Inconditi morientium motus invalidi expirantium conatus Sym. are but the inordinate strokes of hands and heels the last batteries and weak struglings which attend impotent revenge and exspiring malice It will be no hard matter to set my foot upon their prostâ—ate power and to sever their Heads from their Shoulders that they rise up no more by the means of that two edged and unparalleld Sword of the Scriptures rightly applyed which hath both sharpness weight and brightness the clearest reason potentest conviction and divinest Authority with which they thought to arm themselves against the peculiar Office of the Ministry Yet there are some seconds and recruits who seem to have less fury and malice against the Ministry who seeing the chief Champion of the Antiministeriall faction thus Levelled come in either as to the spoyl or rescue as Ajax to Ulysses holding before them the shield of manifold Scriptures Alleging That notwithstanding there may be granted some peculiar Office and Institution of the publike Ministry yet as to the power of preaching or liberty of prophecying the promise is common to all believers Joâ—l 2.28 cited Acts 2.17 for the powring out of the spirit upon all flesh in the later dayes for the Annointing from above which shall lead every believer into all Truth so that they shall not need any man should teach them 1 Joh. 2.27 Rom. 12.6 1 Cor. 14.1 1 Thes 5.19.20 1 Cor. 12.7.39 Acts 18.26 being all taught of God That the manifestation and gifts of the spirit are given to every one for the good of the Church in teaching exhorting prophecying c. Which every one is to covet and may communicate to others for their conversion or confirmation as Aquila and Priscilla did to Apollos and other Christians in Primitive dispersions exercising and employing their talents received if not as Ministers in Office and ordeined yet as Prophets and gifted Brethren if not as Pastors yet as Teachers 1 Per. 4.11 In like sort Christians now find their gifts of knowledge and utterance to great and good that they cannot smother them nor suffer them to be restrained and oppressed by the Ministers encroachment and Monopoly Thus they who would seem to be somewhat more civill and equanimous to the calling and Office of the Ministry Answ 1. Gifts in others no prejudice to the Office of the Ministry nor warrant to any man publike arrogancy My Answer first in generall is That all these and the like small shot which Infaustus * Socinno lib. de Eccl. Socinus * Osterâ—d Inst c. 42. Osterodius * Smaltzius de Ord. Ecc. Smaltzius * Radeccius de Eccl. Radeccius * Theoph. Nicolaides defens Socin c. 1. Acts 14 23. When they had ordained them elders in every Church Acts 13.2 Separate to me Paul and Barnabas 1 Tim. 4.14 5.22 Acts 18.28 Heb. 14.17 2 Tim. 2 4. 1 Thes 5.12 13. 1 Tim. 5.17 1 Cor. 12.18 c. 1 Cor. 14.32 V. 33. 40. Rom 16 17. 2 Thes 3.6 2 Tim. 4.3 Primitive prophecying what 1 Pet. 1.19 Prophetae Scâ—pturacum interpretes erant maximè propheticarum obscurarum Ambr. Theoph. Chrysost Prophetarum munus erat mysticum Scripturarum sensum ad salutem auditorum explanare Erasm in 1 Cor. 14. 1 Cor. 4.30 1 Cor. 14.29 c. Nicolaides and others of the revived Arians have afforded these Semiant iministeriall adversaries have been oft discharged and received without any hurt as to the divinely established Office of the Ministry Having been either satisfied with all ingenuous concessions as far as order modesty and charity will carry them or refuted with just replyes against all vanity arrogancy and confusion by those learned men who formerly or lately have given very sober solid and liberall satisfaction to any pleas urged or scruples alleged out of Scripture which will in no sort maintain idleness vanity pride and confusion in the Church under the specious names of liberty gifts and prophecying There are indeed many places exciting Christians to labour to abound in every good gift and work but yet as many to keep them within due order and holy bounds becomming the honour of Religion All those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gifts were never more eminent and common in the Church of Christ than in those times when the Ministeriall power was by peculiar marks ceremonies and duties distinctly and undoubtedly conferred on some peculiar persons as the Apostles and 70. Disciples on Timothy Titus and others who were separated and ordeined by fasting praying examination and imposition of hands to be Bishops or Presbyters in the respective Churches as they came to be capable of setled order and Ministry And notwithstanding the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit which were then conferred upon many not yet ordeined Ministers we see the Office and honour of the Ministry was never more clearly asserted as divine being set over the flocks by the Lord so to be owned and esteemed as distinct from secular intanglements as an retire and compleat imployment even for the best and ablest men to which they should once ordeined wholy give themselves and attend on it Never was order and peace and proportion in the Church more enjoyned and duly observed never were disorderly and unruly walkers false Apostles self-obtruders house-creepers heaps of teachers who caused divisions more severely repressed than in those Primitive times when believers enjoyed most eminent gifts and graces for some ends either in miracles or toungs or prophecying which was not that eminentest sense of prophecying that is foretelling things to come but the opening and applying the places of the Prophets in the old Testament which was then
Tert. Nulla vox divina adeo dissoluta est diffusa ut verba tantum defendaâ—tur ratio verborum non constituatur Tertâ—l de prâ—â—l ad Haer. Rom. 12.6 2 Tim. 3.17 which are the oracles of God and hold forth his mind to the world in matters of Religion are to be understood and interpreted not by minds leavened with hereticall pride or Schismaticall peevishness or captious and criticall moroseness or Scepticall cavilings and janglings which commonly drive some other secular and sinister end rather than any thing of true faith good manners and an holy life but with all pious and cautious consideration all humble diligence and ingenuous candor Which first regards the joynt Analogy the concurrent tenor and that clear proportion or rule of faith and holy life in doctrine both â—â—r mysteries and moralities which are evidently shining from many places that are Indisputable either for the clear Instructions in morals or Institution in mysteries or Imitation in Illustrious and commended examples for order and policy All which are enough â—â— make a man of God and any Church of Christ perfect to salvation And such light from the clear propotion and concurrent harmony or constant tenour of Scriptures old and new hath this point of the peculiar function of the Ministry Evangelicall both from the practise and precept of Christ and his Apostles and others after them to which the use and judgement of all Churches do fully attest In that tryall approbation benediction imposition of hands Ordination and solemn mission of some men in the Church to the Offâ—ce and work of the Ministry which is set forth in the New Testament Against all which so full clear proofs and so constant a light what ever can be urged by single texts or solitary and occasionall examples out of Scripture Nolunt agnoscere ea loca S. S. per qua revincuntur hic nituntur quae ex falso composuerunt quae de ambiguitate ceperunt Tertul de praes 2 Pet. 2.16 Tantum veritati obstruit adulter sensus quantum corruptor Stilus Tert. de prae ad Haer. c. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eplph. l. 75. Acts 8.4 They that were scattered abroad went every where Preaching the word must needs be by these objecters either weakly or wilfully mistaken in the phrase and manner of speaking or else is wrested as St Peter tels us by ignorant and unstable minds from the scope and design of the Spirit of God in that place which is the measure of all right Interpretation Or else it only relates to something done by the rule of occasionall prudence or speaks of some practise which was only temporary not binding or miraculous and extraordinary which cease when the gift and occasion ceaseth or it may be in some cases of urgent necessity which might befall an Infant planting incompleat inorganicall Church either not fully formed and setled in the due order or suddainly pressed and scattered with vehement persecution and so forced from that order and exactness in outward Ministrations of the Church which regard a sociall ut cresceret plâ—bs multiplicaretur omnibus inter initia concessum est Evangelizare Baptizare Scripturas in Ecclesia explanare Vbi autem omnia loca circumplexa est Ecclesia conventicula constituta sunt rectores caetera officia c. Vt nullus de clero auderet qui non ordinatus esset praesumere officium quod sciret non sibi creditum c. Coepit alio ordine providentia gubernari Ecclesia Com. in Eph. 4. Amb. asscripta Tit. 1.11 Gal. 5.12 1 Tim. 1.20 publike and common more than a solitary and private profession of Religion and which in the Churches setled condition they otherwaies duly and conscientiously observed as the will of God All which extraordinary cases are in all wise mens judgement very far different and distant from that of this Church of England unless it may seem under some persecution by slanderous toungs by false Brethren and deceitfull workers and disorderly walkers the troublers of our Israel whom the Apostle Pauls charity to this reformed Church would no doubt have wished that either their mouths might be stopped or they might be cut off and delivered with Hymenaeus Philetus and Alexander the Copper-Smith to Satan that they might learn not to blaspheme the Scriptures and the true Ministry and this true Church and in all these the Gospeâ—l and name with the Spirit and grace of Christ all which have been manifested among us by the Ministers of this Church 3. Those and the like places answered in generall The no validity of such captious disputings by Scripture against Scripture Truly I do not think that the so oft repeaters of their Socinian Crambes The objectors of those and the like single places or those temporary and occasionall practises in Scripture by which men or women unordeined to be Ministers did privately teach or publikely prophesy can be so weak and silly many of them for some of them are men only in malice against the Ministers but children in understanding as to believe That there is any such weight or force in any of those objections which their own reason and conscience if not blinded with passion and prejudice against the Office of the Ministry will not tell them have very easy fair and full solutions Either first from the extraordinariness of the gifts which were but temporary and to which these men can with no face pretend by any thing yet discovered by them Adulteria Scripturarum â—â—positionum mendacia Tertul Their zeal to disgrace and destroy the Ministry by perverting and wresting the Scriptures is no sign of their Apostolicall gifts but of their Satanicall or Schismaticall malice Or secondly they are answered fâ—om the case of the Church in some places newly planted or persecuted and scattered Or thirdly by the common exercises of private Charity among believers one to another which all good Christians and Ministers allow still and rejoyce in the order usâ—fulness and modâ—sty of those charitable gifts and Brotherly exercises which may â—n their proper place being duly regulated as well consist with the divine authority and peculiar eminency of the Ministeriall function as the Moon and Stars may be in the same firmament with the Sun Although shining in a different time and orb with different lustre and to far less degrees of influence yet to the same common end the good of this inferior world So that no wise and gracious Christian in reason can or in conscience ought to sheath those or other Scriptures in Ministers bowels which are rather for their defence and assistance Shewing indeed the great use of a constant peculiar Ministry to prevent the Churches desolations and such neccessities of meaner supplyes So far are they from affording any ground either wholy to give a bill of divorce to the setled Ministry which by so many clear and pregnant texts is plain to be dâ—vinely
policy and worldly interests are really separated from those of Christ his Church and mens souls Nothing were more happy than to see this sincerely done so that Christians would rather deny themselves in profit and worldly advantages than any way benefit or gain by Church Reformations than which nothing is more sordid and more to be abhorred contrary to the holy liberality of all good Christians in all times If Ananias and Saphira were smitten for dissembling how much more accursed are they who act all with a sacrilegious Spirit and hand stripping and robbing the Church instead of Reforming I shall ever pray for just and liberall Reformations while I live mean time I rest satisfied in my conscience That the ordination of Ministers as it was in England by a Bishop and Presbyters as it hath the greatest regularity so it hath the greatest validity and admits the least dispute as to the right order and succession of Ministeriall power As for the Presbytery and Presbyters I think their Ministry very valid and their authority very venerable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ign. ad Ep. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Id. ad Smyr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ign. ad Ep. to all true Christians especially in conjunction with their Bishop Like Tortesses they were safest while they keep under that shell which some Presbyters having scornfully cast off as a burthen striped themselves of their shield and defence so that they are become very naked feeble and contemned creatures whom the foot of pride and rusticity is prone to crush and trample upon on every side That they have now no refuge or protection left but God and a good conscience which are enough if they do indeed enjoy them though with poverty and contempt from men Thus I have as well as I had leasure vindicated the Ordination of Ministers and that power which they have to administer holy things in Christs name to this Church to be no way blameable but right and commendable as derived by and with the hands of Bishops and Presbyters which is the holy and Catholick way wherein only it is ordinarily to be obteined 1 Cor. 11.16 Aust cont Don. l. 4. if any men list to be contentious for other ways my answer with St. Paul is again and again neither we nor the Churches of Christ ever had any other custom and with St. Austin so Catholick a custom 11. Of the peoples power in Ordination of Ministers so agreeable to reason and Scripture could have no beginning but Christ and his holy Apostles There is yet one Calumny more against the Ordination of our Ministers in the Church of England which pretends the neglect among us of what is by some thought most essentiall in making a Minister that is of the peoples right both in choosing and ordeining men to that office the want of which they say makes our Ministry invalid Answ For this pretended right of the people no argument is alleged so strong as that of liberty which some have taken in these times to separate themselves from the ordinary Ministry of this Church and by a mutuall call of one an other to jugg themselves like Partridges into small coveys which they call bodies or Churches even before they have any Minister which they resolve not to have but of their own choosing and ordeining that they may be sure being a creature of their own to have him after their own humour flattering themselves that they have a plenary Church power to all Offices and ends whatsoever Although I have formerly given some generall account of the folly of this imagination in the vulgar yet because it is a Gangrene not easily cured without oft lancing and opening and hath far prevailed upon some peoples minds who feed this opinion with the venemous and vulgar humours of pride self-loving self-seeking self-pleasing self-flattering and self-admiring It is not a miss to give another stroak at this high imagination which exalts itself against Christ and the holy order of his Church that the obstinacy of its arrogance and folly being pulld down it may be levelled to that obedience which becomes all Christian people People have no power Ministerial First then I must profess that I never saw or heard any thing by any man with any shew of Scripture or reason urged to proove this power of conferring the holy order and authority of a Minister of Christ to be in the people Either eminently as an executioners power is in the supreme Judge or virtually as life is in the Suns beams or formally and causally as heat is in the fire or ordinatively preceptively and derivatively as the supreme Magistrates power is to some ends Numb 16. The Preface to Korahs rebellion and confusion is the peoples sanctity v. 3. and actions in the meanest Constable or publike Officer So that it can be in them no other way than as power may be in rebels hands or as Korah and his complices if they had not been by God repressed would have had liberty and authory from their own usurpation to make Priests and Rulers instead of Moses and Aaron whom the Lord had appointed Not by Scripture For Scripture First it is evident in that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 divine patern of polity and extern order of Religion in the Church of the Jews we find that the wisdom of God leaves nothing of holy concernments for Priests or Ministry no nor the least sacrifice offering or ceremony to the peoples either ordering or choosing Nor is it likely or any where appears that the unchangeable wisdom of God in Christ altering only the manner externall and not the order beauty holyness Phil. 4.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cl. Al. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 5. A multitudine abhorret maximè vera Philosophia Lact. Inst l. 3. c. 25. è Ciceron Vulgar heads like many circles have so many circumferences that its impossible to draw them to meet in one center Charron Vbi major hominum turba major plerumque est divinitatis injuria Salv. or the main end of the service and Ministry Christian which his glory and his Churches good should so much vary from the former exactness and wariness as to venture the order beauty and honour of Religion upon the rock of vulgar rudeness ignorance rashness headyness stiff-neckednes which formerly he so much avoyded and which not only the tenderness of Christian Religion which having many enemies admits least blemishes and studies most what things are comely as well as holy but even common reason and experience teacheth all wise men to avoyd as much as possible Namely those inconveniences and mischiefs attending the weak heads and strong hands of the vulgar as in all things so chiefly in those which concern Religion Who that is wise can be ignorant that the common people even among believers and professors are seldom or never qualified with those gifts of knowledge wisdom temper and discretion which are necessary for all publike
the Lord to the Church and set apart or Consecrated by the Church to the Lords speciall service 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 13. to serve the Lord and the Church in holy publick ministrations as the Apostles first did into whose order Mathias was by Lot chosen to supply the place of Judas Iscariot Acts 1. To which end Ministers in an holy Succession have ever been placed over the people in the name of Christ by the power of his Holy Spirit yet Good Ministers disdain not to be reckoned among Gods People as children of the same Spirituall Father and brethren in the same Family or houshold of Faith nor will any humble Christians being not in holy orders affect to be called Clergy men by a confusion of language or disdain to be called Gods commons or Lay-men which hath a sober Christian and charitable sense in the dialect of those Christians who know how to call and account their true Bishops and Ministers as Fathers Instructers Overseers and Guides of the Church c. These names then or distinctive titles do but fairly follow according to the use and nature of words and decently express those things which the mind of Christ in the Scripture and all Custom or use of the Church have distinguished for order sake De verbis contendere non est curare quomodo error veritate vincatur sed quomodo tua dictio alterius dictioni praeferatur Aust de doct Christ l. 4. c. 28. Quid est conteâ—tiosius quam ubi constâ—t dâ—re certare de nomine â—ust cp 1. 74. De verbis syllabis intemperantius litigare solent qui res ipsas Ecclesia pâ—cem negligunt Sub 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 umbra 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suam occultâ—re dissimulare student quod et Arrianorum pertinaâ— astutiâ— olim fecit Amb. lib. de fide Jeron de Arrian Hyp. Insignis est indolis in verbis verum amare non verba Aust Sic vigeat humilitas ut non minuatur Autoritas Aust 1 Cor. 12.23 Error est bonestuâ— magnos in loquendo duces sequi Quintil. Orat. Inst l. 1. c. 6. The same supercriticall men will boggle at the words Trinity Three Persons and Sacraments which are not in the letter but in the sense and truth of the Scripture And certainly no religion forbids us to adopt convenient and compendious words to the Churches use since we do safely translate the whole originall Scriptures to any ordinary languages in which most Christians may best use them not in the literall words but in the Intellectuall sense or mind of God A strife about words and syllabicall scruples fits only women or children or peevish passionate men As the Arrians of old who caviled much at the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whose syllables were new but their sense old orthodox and sound expressing the same divine Nature in Christ the Son with the Father and that our Emanuel who was born of the virgin Mary was both God and Man But this quarrel about names and words is a very tedious impertinency to those Christians whose serious piety studies only this by apt and usuall words to comprehend and express the truths and orders of Religion who are ready alwayes so to give to each other the right hand of Charity and Unity as members of the same body whose head is Christ as yet to preserve that order and authority in the Church which is divinely Instituted and is as necessary for the Church as it is for the body to have head eyes and mouth distinct from other parts of less honour yet not less usefull in their place As for this pretended grievance then of these words Clergy and Laity We desire not to quarrell farther with our Adversaries and we shall not need to dispute with others that are wise and humble only we pitty the simplicity of people who are thus easily cheated and scared by some sophistry when they are told by their great scrupulosity and censorian gravity that words are as bad as Spels that what ever tearms or Names are not in the Scriptures as they have them translated are not the speech of Canaan but the language of the beast Thus these severe Momusses Thus the Antiministeriall factors for error ignorance and confusion These are among the other small artifices used by those miserable Rabbyes who to ingratiate with the vulgar and lead dâ—sciples after them are content to take away the antient marks of bounds and known distinction of names between Minister and People that so people may take the greater confidence to cast quite away both the name and thing the holy Ordination with all distinction of Office and Function Ministeriall in the Church which if I can solidly maintain against these underminers of Religion despisers of Ordination and vastators of all true ministry I doubt not but I and others may still use these Names of Clergy and Laity without sin or scandall to any sober and good Christians To the main therefore of the Objection which is made against the vertue and efficacy of Ordination 16 Prophane minds prone to cavil at all holy mysteries aswel as the Ordination of Ministers 2 Pet. 3.4 by the Catholick and Antient way of Bishops and Presbyters which they so slight I answer That at the same rate of prophane and Atheisticall reasonings they may as well dispute as Julian would have done and those Scoffers daily do which are foretold should be in the later dayes What vertue is there in the water of Baptism more than any other by which to regenerate a sinner to wash away sins to seal comforts to confer grace to represent the blood of Christ of which a man may meditate every time he sees any water or washeth his hands Hence the mean esteem and contempt indeed with proud and presumptuous Catabaptists have against that holy Mysterie of Baptism which all Churches in all ages have used with reverence and comfort according to Christs Institution and the Apostolicall custome So also the spirituall pride of those prophane Cavillers will argue what efficacy can there be in the Bread and Wine at the Lords Supper more than in other of the same Elements at our ordinary Tables and in every Tavern What doth the form of Consecration by the words of Christ and prayers add to them or alter them Nay since the blasphemous boldness of proud and wicked men will count nothing of outward form sacred no wonder if by the same contradictive spirit they quarrel at not only the Humanity or flesh but also the Majesty and divinity of our Saviour Jesus Christ and seeing the outward meanness poverty and ingloriousness of his life and death many of them scarce own him for a Saviour or for the true Messias And no further than is agreeable to their Seraphick fancies Against whom Irenaus d sputes by which they labour after the like fondness of some in antient times to
be faithfull to their Masters profit and credit to do their duty and to maintain that place and authority in which the Lord hath set them nor is it any thing of a pious easiness but an impious baseness in them as Bishops and Ministers voluntarily to desert their station and to suffer every one to usurp upon them and to do what they list Nor is any thing more intolerable than the rudeness riot and impudence of those inferior servants who pretending Christian liberty and not induring those officers and Ministers whom the Master hath orderly placed over them neither will they long indure the Lord or Master himself to rule over them we read Mat. 21.38 They kill the Son who first beat and shamefully intreated the servants which were sent But thirdly as to the persons duly ordeined This holy Ordination gâ—ves a reall divine power which is necessarily to be delegated and derived from Christ since no man hath it in and of himself or of any will of men by which he is enabled to perform those duties which Christ only hath injoyned in his word to be done and to be thus done by such men and in such a manner and no other 1 Tim. 5.22 Lay hands suddainly on no man i. e. by way of Ordination Ergo no man is of that office or hath that authority and power till ordeined be his parts and gifts never so great and good So 2 Tim. 2.2 These things commit to faithfull men who may be able to teach others ergo some peculiar Commission must be given to these and to no other to perform Ministeriall duties with authority Such are those of making Disciples by Preaching the Gospell by distinguishing from others and also confirming and uniting together among themselves in holy Communion those Disciples with the holy seals of Baptism and the Lords Supper To edify confirm and preserve them by teaching reprooving praying for them comforting guiding governing binding and loosing by the use of that power of the Keys which is committed only to them both in doctrine and discipline doing all things toward penitents and impenitents believers and unbelievers Tit. 2.15 not magisterially but ministerially as from Christ and for the Churches good yet not precariously and arbitrarily oâ— depending on mans pleasure Iren. l. 4. c. 43. Episcopalus sucâ—essionâ—m ab Apostolis habentes Charisma veritatis certuÌ„ acceperunt Ubi charisâ—ata domini posita sunt ibi discere oportet veritatem apud quos est successio ab Apostoliâ— sanum ac irreprobabile sermonis Cap. 45. 1 Tâ—m 4.14 but autoritatively and conscientiously as doing the work of the Lord knowing the power they have received of the Lord the duties enjoyned them the care required in them the account to be exacted of them as to the Stewardship of the souls solemnly committed to their care which is done by that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or ministeriall gift of the holy Ghost which Christ gave to the Apostles John 20.22 and by their hands as by St. Pauls to Timothy 2 Tim. 1.6.14 to others and so to a perpetuall succession For without this gift or power of the holy Spirit of Truth 18. The holy Spirit given in right Ordination how whose property it is to lead the faithfull into all truth no man is truly a Minister of holy things in the Church So that it is a pittifull piece of ignorance or putid scurrility and profaness for any that profess Christianity much more for those that pretend to be Ministers in the Church to slight and expose to vulgar scorn that passage used as of antient times in all Churches so in the Church of Englands manner of ordeining Ministers Receive ye the holy Spirit As if this were a meer mockery and insignificancy in point of any sanctity conferred When it is expressed to be meant as it ever was in the Church understood not of sanctifying graces infused qualities or habits of inward holiness which are immediatly from God and not by man to be conferred nor from man to be communicated to another nor do they invest any one that hath them in any Church office or publick power over others for then every holy man and woman should have this power but it is only meant of those peculiar gifts or powers of the holy Spirit Eph. 4.8 which are properly ministeriall and officiative as from Christ and in his name not by internall infusion but by externall separation or sanction not endâ—ing with grace but investing in a new relation and authority distinct from the common Christians duty place and officers of charity c. which are as parchment wax and writing usefull in their kind but not valid as to any conveyance till sealed subscribed delivered and witnessed as the act and deeâ— of the conveyer who lawfully hereby confers to an other his right and power of acting possessing or enjoying c. So by a form of such Commission or delegation as Christ instituted that power and ministeriall gift of the holy Spirit is continued which was first committed to the Apostles by Christ who only would do it Nor can this power be understood so much for extraordinary miracles which were to cease as for that ordinary Ministry which was to continue as necessary for the Church in all ages This power or gift of the Holy Ghost as ministeriall and officiating in Christs name as that of miracles may be where there is no sanctifying grace as was in Judas and probably in Demas and others who might be sheep as to their profession Acts 1.17 and shepheards as to their office or Episcopacy of which Judas had a part and fell from it and yet wolves as to the inward habits and graces 1 Cor. 5.4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ when ye are gathered together and my Spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ c. When the Spirit of Paul was joyned with the Corinthian Ministers and believers in excommunicating the incestuous persons it was not the sanctifying Spirit or grace of the Apostle but that ministeriall power which he had eminently in and joyntly with the Church The power and Spirit of Christ as it is given so received in right Ordination by every true Minister that is worthily promoted not as to grace and inward vertue of which man judgeth not but as to office and relative power from Christ in the publike service or Ministry to his Church As every officer civill or military that hath commission acts in the Spirit name and power of those by whom authority is primarily derived to them In this sense and to this use the Spirit of Moses was put on the 70. Elders Num. 11.25 and Elias on Elisha 2 Kings 11.9 3. Yea further I doubt not but the solemn and right manner of Ordination by fasting Deus largitur gratiam homo imponit manus Sacerdos imponit supplicem dextram Deus benediâ— potents dentre Episcopus initiat ordinem Deus tribuit
Religion and of the true Ministry of this Church which is almost overborn and oppressed by the cunning and clownish clamours and not by any true valour worth or virtue of their enemies As the Bohemian Nobility and Gentry did with great earnestnesse intercede for Jerom of Prague to the Councell of Constance by their petion subscribed with their names An. 1415. Nothing would be more worthy of that ancient honour which the Nobility and Gentry of this Nation hath gained and enjoyed in all the world than to see now the Christian zeal and gallantry of their spirits therefore the more forward to bear up the dignity of Christs holy Ministry by how much they see so many set to oppose it seeking by contempt to debase it and by poverty to oppresse it presuming that the present Ministers though never so learned godly and faithfull once over burthened with secular necessities will not long be able to assert the honour of their calling nor will any after generation succeed to inherit their poverty and paines but onely such as shall further debase the dignity of the function How glorious were it for honourable and worthy gentlemen Math. 27.57 Joh. 19 38. Mark 15.43 Luk. 23.50 Joseph of Arimathea A rich man an honorable counsellourâ— a good man a just also a Disciple of Christ c. owned Christ dead and begged his body of Pilate c. like Joseph of Arimathea whom good education and experience of true Religion have matured to pious wisdome and sober zeal now to own Jesus Christ when the world is stripping scourging mocking and crucifying of him when he is so much forsaken of those men whose feares dare not own him or whose lusts aim to make a prey of him Now to give the more honour and respect to the true Ministery of this Church by which they have beene baptized and educated in Christian Religion when they see so many vile and illiterate spirits studying to debase the persons striving to destroy the very function This were worthy of a true gentleman whom vertue and grace more then birth and relations make such to stand by the forsaken to countenance the dejected to pity the oppressed and at least to Petition and intercede for the preservation of the true Ministry and worthy Ministers of whom they and the whole Nation have had so great and good experience I doe not think it seasonable now to invite Gentlemen where their estates and expenses may bear it to follow those patterns of extraordinary munificence which some of their rank have heretofore given them by restoring the Impropriate Tithes and alienated glebes to the Church either freely or at an easie price This were now to give sacrilegious rapine a greater temptation which dayly gapes to devour all the remains of the Churches Patrimony and Dowry To adde any bloud now to the Churches veins were but more to provoke the thirst of greedy and unsatisfied horseleeches of this age Prov. 30.15 who cry Give give till they have quite exhausted the very life and spirits of all true Religion This motion and bounty will be more seasonable in better times Rom. 2.22 when Sacriledge shall be accounted as it is a most damnable sin and not a trade or a fruit of zeal or a flower of reformation which by the Apostles arguing is a more heynous sin than that of Idolatry in as much as this owns a god though false this robs God though true 1 Cor. 12 31. But behold I shew your noblenesse a more excellent way my ambition is to propound an higher degree of Christian glory to you the learned and religious Gentry which is to follow the steps of that noble Prince Phil. Melanct. Camerarius highly commend him for his piety and zeal he died 1553. George Duke of Anhalt who disdained not having Ministeriall gifts to serve Christ and the Church at Marburg in the work of the Ministry taking upon him holy orders in times of the greatest contradiction against the reformed Religion and esteeming it greater honour to tread in Christs more immediate and narrowest steps than to enjoy the more spacious pathes of secular pleasures and State imployments If you know the excellency of Christ the vanity of this worlds glory Mat 19 28 29. the worth of mens soules the weight of that Crown which is prepared for those that forsake all and follow Christ you cannot think your selves disparaged by this my humble motion to you Your estates will set a greater lustre now on you in the eyes of good people than ever the great state pomp plenty and dignities of former times set upon your predecessours who of many of your families were Church men and many of them very worthy ones Where God hath given you gifts fit for so sacred a service of him and his Church no man can propound to you a more goodly province wherein gratefully to use them or a more eminent way of preferment wherewith to entertain your pious and commendable ambition which is most worth the pregnancy of your parts and g nerousnesse of your spirits No Cedar is too tall or goodly for the building of Gods Temple Nor may it disdaine to descend from Lebanon to the holy hill of Zion and no Jewell is too rich and glorious for Aarons breastplate nor for the foundations and wals of the New Jerusalem The more splendor God hath set upon you the more shall you reflect to his glory and the honor of that Religion you professe by devoting your selves to serve him and his distressed Church in times when labourers are few and those much overburthened If any religious way of life might be meritorious this would be beyond the strictest votaries in as much as it carries more paines and more benefit with it I have seen by the experience of Gods bounty The advantages of an estate with the Minâ—stry how great advantages an estate gives to any Minister if God gives him grace and wisedome with it How it addes to his just confidence and courage in serving God and guiding his people how it redeemes him not onely from vulgar depreciatings mean thoughts and worldly solicitousnesse but also from the temptation of flattery popularity and that most sordid shamefull dependance on othâ—rs frownes and favours their givings and withdrawings I know how much it addes boldnesse credit and authority to a Ministers words to his reproofs comforts monitions and examples As the expressions of those men whom not necessity of subsisting but the conscience of doing good the unfeigned love they have to Christ the firm beleif they have of the Gospell and the value they have of mens soules put upon the work of preaching Then will the country people think such Ministers of the Gospell to be in good earnest when they see hospitable relief of the poor Saepius emolliunt cleemosynarum dona quos non commovent concionum verba Adeo facta dictis sunt sonantiora 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
many to live well which is the work of true Ministers whose labours are great their burdens many their incouragement small and those greatly envyed * 2 Tim. 4.16 Verè magnum est habere fragilitatem hominis securitatem Dei Seneca their enemies encreased on every side their comforters few their defense little or none unlesse God be on their side Which he will not fail to be though all men forsake them as they did St. Paul And he alone is able to bear them up amidst the rough encounters of these times with that Christian patience courage and constancy that becomes learned and religious men who know whom they have served in whom they have beleived and may conclude there are more with them then can be against them whose upright soules and generous consciences are like Elishas mountain 2 King 6.17 full of fiery charets and horsemen that is devout flames of judicious zeal which have upon them the harnesse of wisedome and are managed with the reins of Christian meeknesse and discretion farre from those politick presumptions and enormous confidences of some Phaetons who never think they enlighten the Church enough unlesse they set Kingdomes and States on fire with wild and extravagant furies who are far from being the charets and horsemen of Israel for these though they are fiery yet they are orderly and are patient of government though they excell in gifts 12. Pathetick to true Ministers To such Ministers I here crave leave as Elihu did to make my addresse with all humility and charity as to my reverend Fathers and beloved Brethren You who have upon you the marks and characters of right Ordination and true Ministeriall power accompanyed with competent gifts * Iob 32. sanctified learning devout industry holy zeal unblameable lives and good consciences toward God and toward all men whose grand designe is to give full proof of those Ministeriall gifts and endowments which you were upon due triall found to have and to exercise that divine authority which you solemnly and rightly received to discharge that holy duty which in the Name of Christ and by the power of his Spirit was enjoyned you in the day of your Ordination by those through whose hand the succession of that Ministeriall authority is derived from the Apostles By all which you were qualified and disposed not to get a good living or two but to cast into the Sea of the world the net of the Gospell at Christs word to gain soules to God and Disciples to Jesus Christ to teach and guide by sound doctrine and holy discipline the flocks committed to you in your severall places and proportions Your earthly entertainment is from the munificence and devotion of men but your heavenly calling and authority to be Ministers is from Christ in whose Name you doe all as Ministers and not in the peoples whom some have taught to grow tumultuous against you and imperious upon you Neither your work nor your chiefe reward depends upon men Minimum sit mercedis quod a seculo expectamus Chrysol 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys It is the least of your comfort or incouragement that can from thence be expected as nothing of your authority is from thence derived Levell not your selves by popular crowchings and base compliances in this high point of your Ministeriall power It matters not much how you be levelled as to your maintenance for which you chiefly do depend not upon envious men but upon a bounteous God who will either give you liberally to enjoy all things or contentedly to want them 1 King 13. The withered hands of these Jeroboams which are stretched out against you may at your prayers be restored to the ancient fulnesse and favour used toward the Prophets of the Lord in this land If bonds and imprisonment poverty and contempt attend you in this world yet be of good comfort Christ your great Master hath gone before you and both by word and example by his life and death hath called you out of the world armed you against it and set you above it while insolent dust flies in your faces and proud wormes fight against God in you remember the battail is the Lords Ephes 6.12 The weapons of your warfare are spirituall and of greatest proofe in sharpest affliction If you are to contend with principalities and powers it must be not by ill language by railing and Satyrick invectives by secret plottings and practise but by the primitive Ammunition of Patience and Prayers by holy perseverance in your Ministry such as becomes the spirit of the Gospell in wisdom learning gravity between the extreams of fear and flattery with humble love and charity to all men Sueton. Vespas Vit. Imperatorem stantem moâ—i oportere moriens dixit inter manus sublevantium extinctus It becomes you as Vespasian said of Emperours to dye upright in your spirituall armes and harnesse intent to your duty fighting the good fight of faith till you have finished your course with joy In the midst of crosses comforts grow best as Lilies among thornes The clouds of your enemies darts poysonous opinions corrupt doctrines fraudulent dealings sharp arrows of bitter speeches fiery trials of persecuting menaces your adversaries cruell mockings and insultings your friends prevaricatings with you withdrawings from you and forsakings of you all these must onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stir up the more to quicker flames of study prayer meditation devotion and holy resolution those many gifts and graces that learning eloquence and sufficiency which are in you as Christians and as Ministers wherein to the praise of God you are not behind even the chiefest Ministers in the Christian world You are not now to expect Prebendaries and Deaneries and Bishopricks as the honorary rewards and incouragements of your studies pains and piety This age could not bear your enjoying of them though you used them never so well It is your part to know as well to want them as to have them Honoribus divitiis carere posse magni est animi at recte uti posse est maximi and in stead of those to prepare for poverty contempt and imprisonment you may be then at your best when the evill world thinks you deserve no better Never study by any mean ways to merit better of sacrilegious spirits Be sure your treasure be out of these mens reach It is your part to doe well and worthy of your high calling Leave it to God how well you shall be rewarded here and hereafter Paul never preached with greater authority than in his chaines Act 26 29. Phil. 1. nor wrote with greater eloquence and majesty then when he styled himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ well doing will be reward enough and a good conscience will be good chear at all times You cannot but observe that your great enemy the divell hath commanded as the King of Syria did his Legions of Hereticks Schismaticks Fanaticks erroneous superstitious idle
profane licentious and Atheisticall spirits who jointly combate against the truth of Christian and reformed Religion that they should fight neither against small nor great but chiefly against the reformed Ministers and the very Ministry it selfe of this Church Take heed that these smite you not 1 King 22 34 as those did the King of Israel between the joints of your harnesse between your conscience of duty to God and your civill complyance for safety with men between your love of Christ and the love of your relations between your fear to offend God and your lothnesse to displease men between your holding your livings and keeping good consciences between your looking to eternall necessities and your squinting on temporall conveniencies Navigare necesse est non item vivere Appian As Pompey said when he set to Sea in a storm against the advise of the timerous Pilot and Mariners so I to you It is not necessary to live but it is necessary to preach that Gospell which hath been committed to your care 1 Cor. 9.16 It is not necessary to be rich and at ease and in liberty and in favour with men but it is necessary to witnesse to the Truth of God and to that office authority and divine power of the Ministry of Christ in this Church against a crooked and perverse generation against the errours pride falsity ignorance and hypocrisies which are in the world What if Christ cals us in this age to forsake all Matth. 19.22 Age vero qui relinquere omnia pro Christo disponis te quoque inter relinquenda arnumerare memento Ber. de dil and follow him Shall we goe away sorrowfull Truly the world will not treat you much better when you have forsaken Christ to follow it For having once drawne you from your consciencious constancy and judicious integrity and pious reserves it will the more despise you and with the greater glory destroy you as Ministers Our * Ioh. 4.34 meat and drink must be to do the will of our heavenly Father as it was the Lord Christs our great sender and first ordainer Better we live upon almes and beggery than thousands of soules be starved or poysoned by those hard fathers and terrible step-mothers who intend to nurse Religion with bloud in stead of milk and feed the Church of Christ after a new Italian fashion commanding stones to be for bread and giving it Scorpions in stead of fishes mixtures of hemlock and Soulesbane with some shews of hearbs of grace of wholesome truths and of spirituall gifts Let the envyous penurious sacrilegious and ungratefull world see that you followed not Christ for the loaves Nor as Judas therefore liked to be his Disciples because you might bear the bag Let no Scribes or Pharisees Priests or Rulers outbid your value of Christ or tempt you to betray him and his holy Ministry on you by any offers unworthy of him and you Piorum afflictio non est tam poena criminis quam examen virtutis Aust de S. Iobo Act. 27.14 Shew your skill and courage in the storm wherein you are like for a time to be engaged Serener times made you carry slacker sayles and a looser hand now your eye must be more fixed and your hand more strong and steddy in steering according to cart and compasse the Euroclydons or violent windes of these tempestuous times will bring you sooner to your Haven Hitherto you have for the most part appeared but as other men busie as other ants on your molehils conversing with the beasts of the people in the valley of secular aimes and affaires now God cals you with Moses up to the Mount 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysâ—st in Act. ap hom 3. Matth. 17.3 and with Christ to a transfiguration where you shall see the meeknesse and charity of Moses with the zeal and constancy of Elias appearing with Christ in which great Emblemes your duty your honour and your comfort will be evident when you come to be stoned with St. Stephen the form of your countenance will be changed and you will then most fully see Christ and most clearly be seen of men as the Angels of God Act. 6 17. C. 7. 56. Nothing hath lost and undone many of us Ministers so much as our too great fear of losses and of being undone our too great desires to save our selves by complying with all variations even in Religion nothing will save us so certainly as our willingnesse to lose our lives and livelihoods for Christs sake and this not now for one great truth which is worth 1000 lives but for the pillar and ground of all truths the office and very Institution of the true Ministry whose work is to hold forth and publish the Truth of the Gospell to the world in all ages by a right and perpetuall succession Despair not of Gods love to you For Comfort Viro fideli magis inter ipsa flagella sidendum Ber. Ep. 356. Euseb hist l. 2. cap. 5. as Philo said to his countrymen the Jews at Alexandria when he returned from the Emperour highly incensed against them Be of good courage it is a good Omen that God will doe us good since the Emperour is so much against us Possibly you may as St. Paul be stoned cast out and left for dead yet revive again as is foretold of the witnesses It may be your latter end shall be better as Jobs than your beginning The experience of the sad effects * Act. 14. 19. which attend sacrilegious cruelties against the true Ministers and the want of such in every place * Rev. 11.11 may in time provoke this Nation by a sense of its own and of Gods honour to more noble and constant munificence which is not so much a liberality as an equity to able and faithfull Ministers It may be this Church Gal. 4.15 which hath so much forgot the blessednesse shee spake of in having learned able and rightly ordained and well governed Ministers Revel 2.4 which seems to have forsaken her first love and honour to the Clergy when Religion was as in all times preserved so in these last reformed and vindicated by the labours writings lives and sufferings of those excellent Bishops and Presbyters who were heretofore justly dear and honoured to this Nation so as no worthy minde envyed or repined at the honors and estates they enjoyed Possibly it may remember from whence it is faln and repent and doe its first works which were with piety order charity true zeal and liberality without grudging or murmuring against the honour or maintenance much lesse the office and function of the Evangelicall Ministers whose pious wisdome casting off onely the additaments and superstitious rags of mans invention yet retained with all reverence and authority the essentiall institutions of Jesus Christ The disguised dress and attire had no way destroyed the being and right succession of holy things but only deformed it to a fashion