9. Mark 16. 20. And they went forth and preached every where the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signes following 1 Thes 1. 5. For our Gospell came not to you in word onely but also in power and in the Holy Ghost 1 Pet. 1. 12. By them that have preached the Gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven Heb. 2. 4. God also bearing them witnesse both with signes and wonders and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost 4. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected 1 That as soon as they were thus enabled from above they presently preached to beget others to the faith beginning at Jerusalem as they were appointed Luk. 24. 47. 2 That this their preaching came not in word onely but in power and in the Holy Ghost which was by Gods bearing them witnesse or every where working with them and confirming the word both with signes and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost and therefore it was that he that despised them despised God and he that believed not made God a liar which none can be said to do in respect of any Ministry not being so vvitnessed by God Scripture Acts 2. 38 39. Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sinnes and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost For the promise thereof is unto you and to your children and to all that are a farre off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Acts 8. 15 16 17. Who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost for as yet he was faln upon none of them onely they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost Acts 9. 17. And Ananias went his way and entred into the house and putting hands on him said brother Saul the Lord hath sent me that thou mightest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost Acts 19. 1 2. And came to Ephesus and finding certain Disciples he said unto them have you received the Holy Ghost since ye believed 6 And when PAVL had laid his hands upon them the Holy Ghost came on them and they spake with Tongues and Prophesied Ephes 1. 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospell of your salvation in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise 2 Cor. 3. 6. Who also hath made us able Ministers not of the Lotter but of the Spirit Gal. 3. 2. Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of Faith 5 He therefore that ministreth to you the Spirit and worketh miracles among you doth he it by the works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith 1 Tim. 4. 14. Neglect not the gift which is in thee which was give thee by the laying on of the hands of the Presbyterie Also 2 Tim 1. 6. 5. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected That these were enabled not onely plainly and distinctly to declare the Gospell with Gods bearing witnesse so as is aforesaid but also to administer the spirit to others and did administer it to all believers who had it not immediately from heaven by the laying on their hands upon them which they could not have done before they were indued with power so to do by the comming down of the Holy Ghost upon them Therefore were they commanded to stay untill it came Scripture Mark 16. 15 16 17 18. Go ye unto all the world and preach the Gospell to every creature he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned And these signes shall follow them that believe in my Name they shall cast out Divels they shall speak with new tongues they shall take up Serpents and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover Joh. 3. 37 38. In the last day that great day of the Feast Jesus stood up and cried saying if any man thirst let him come unto me and drink he that believeth on me as the Scripture saith out of his belly shall flow Rivers of Living water but this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified Joh. 14. 16. I will pray the Father he shal give you another coforter that he may abide with you for ever Ephes 1. 13 14. Ye were sealed with the Holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance untill the redemption of the purchased possession Ephes 4. 8. He led captivitie captive and gave gifts unto men 11 He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers 12 For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ 13 Till we all come to the untiy of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God unto a perfect man 6. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected That these gifts of the Spirit were one specificall Character whereby to distinguish the true Ministry of the Gospel and Churches of Christ from false to the end of the * world * Herevvith agreeth a Marginall Note in our English Bibles printed 1576 upon Ioh. 14. 12. He that believeth in me the vvorks that I do he shall do and greater The Note hereupon is This is reserred to the vvhole body of the Church in vvhom this vertue of Christ doth shine and remain for ever Scripture 1 Cor. 12. 7. But the manifestation of the spirit is given to every one to profit withall 12. For as the body hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body Rom. 12. 4 5. As we have many members in one body and all the members have not the same Office so we being many are one body in Christ and every one members one of another Rom. 8. 9. Now if any one have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his that is none of his body or Church Ephes 2. 21 22. In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an Holy Temple in the Lord in whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit 7. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected 1 That none were capable of true membership in the visible Church or body of Christ being a spirituall state without being baptized with the baptisme of the spirit 2 That every member of the Church in generall had not onely one or more of these gifts of the spirit but had the manifestation
as Johns baptisme was by him formerly proposed and administred Mark 1. 4. Luk. 3. 3. compared with Acts 19. 4 5. 4 It is not the baptisme with water which was here meant because the Disciples were unable to perform the ministry of the baptisme which was here meant untill they were indued with power from on High by the comming down of the Holy Ghost upon them and therefore they were commanded to stay at Jerusalem untill it came and when they were baptized with the Holy Ghost themselves Acts 2. Then and not till then they were able to baptize others with the Holy Ghost also and so were made able Ministers of the Spirit to others by their laying their hands upon them But they were made able Ministers and did perform the Ministery of the Baptisme with water long before this command of Christ John 4. 2. This may further be confirmed from Mark 16. Where the same Baptisme with the Holy Ghost is implyed and meant the words with the sense thereof being as followeth Vers 15. Go ye into all the world and preach publish or declare the Gospell which I have taught to you and which doth belong to every creature under heaven 16 He that believeth this Gospell and is baptized with the Holy Ghost shall be saved He that believeth not this Gospell so declared to him by my Messengers as I have commanded shall be damned 17 And these signes shall follow them that believe and are so baptized This I take to be the true sense and meaning of the palce For 1 If it be thus taken to wit That these signes shall follow them that meerly believe in this sence it is untrue For there were many that believed who had not any signes following upon their believing 2 If it be thus taken to wit That these signes shall follow them that believe and are baptized with water in this sence it is untrue likewise for there were many that believed and were baptized with water who yet had not these signes following upon their believing and being so baptized but as soon as they were baptized with the Holy Ghost signes and gifts of the Holy Ghost did immediately follow thereupon Whence I thus conclude this Point If this place in Mark 16. 17. be to be taken in neither of the two latter sences then it is to be taken in the first sence onely there being no fourth sence in reason to be given But it is to be taken in neither of the two latter sences for the reasons before mentioned Therefore it is to be taken in the first sence onely Objection 1 Cor. 12. 3. No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost Therefore the gifts of the Holy Ghost are now given forth though not with any visible manifestation Answer Vers 7. The manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit was given to every one to profit withall as well as the gifts themselves 2 The meaning of the place cannot be that no man can barely say that Jesus is the Lord but by the gift of the Holy Ghost for many might and some did say so before the powring forth of these gifts of the Spirit whereof onely that place treateth and many thousand deboist wretches at this day can say it yea and a Parret may be taught to say the same without any such gift Wherefore I conceive the meaning of the place in other expressions more propably may be No man can so say or so testifie that Jesus is the Lord as thereby to give another sufficient ground to build his faith upon that his testimony without God also bear witnesse thereto by some signes and gifts of the Holy Ghost Like as 1 Cor. 2. 4 5. seems to import Objection St. Paul Rom. 8. 9. Writes if any one have not the spirit of Christ the same is none of his Wherefore either the spirit is now given to some or else none are Christs Answer St. Paul here writes to such who were of the true Church or body of ChrisT which being a spirituall state none were capable of true Membership therein but by being united thereto by having some gift or gifts of the spirit to profit the body withall and whereof every Member of that Body was partaker As these Texts do manifest 1 Corinth 12. 7. 12. 13. Ephes 2. 11. 22. and 4. 15 16. Wherefore none of his must be understood as I conceive no member of that his body For many were Christs in other respects before those gifts of the spirit were powred forth As in Joh. 7. 39. Acts 1. 5. 15. And many afterward also were Christs who yet had not received the spirit As Acts 8 12. 16 17. and 19. 1 2. 6. but we finde none were members of this his body without some gift or gifts of the spirit for they were all baptized in that one body not by one faith nor by one water but by one spirit 1 Cor. 12. 12 13. The Premises considered I Quere 1 Whether there are now extant amongst us any right Divines or Jurae Divino or true Ministers or Embassadours of the Gospell If yea then let them accordingly demonstrate themselves to be such and by such undoubted distinctions whereby we may evidently know them from all pretenders of all sorts whatsoever as we finde the true Ministers of the Gospell did And seeing Faith comes by such preaching as none can perform but such as are sent Rom. 10. 14 15. In the second place I Quere 2 Whether the undoubted and saving knowledge of the Gospell of Christ be attainable by any other ordinary meanes then by a true Ministry or Embassie Objection It seems you know the Gospell of your self having in the first and second collection declared it Answer 1 The first Collection declareth onely that the Gospell was that mystery which was hid but doth not declare what that mystery is which was hid 2 The second Collection declareth that the Gospell which CHRIST commanded his Disciples to publish in all the world appertained to all the world viz. to every creature in Heaven and in earth or under heaven which are the very words of the Text. But neither Collection nor these or any other Text declareth what that Gospell is in its fulnesse parts dimentions limitations and extentions Nor doth any Text or person from Text or otherwise declare any thing with any such demonstration as the true Ministers and Embassadors of the Gospel did and ought to declare the Gospell 3 Whatsoever is here declared is proposed probably onely to be considered and not infallibly to be believed upon pain of damnation as the true Ministers of the Gospell did and ought to declare and propose the Gospell 4 None therefore are at all bound in respect of any thing here said but are free and at liberty so that what they finde here probably true they may accordingly receive and what otherwise they may reject even as they see good For so and no otherwise will I receive any thing of
THE IVS DIVINVM OF PRESBYTERIE OR A TREATISE Evidently proving by Scripture All true Ministers or Embassadours of the Gospell to be rightly called Divines OR JVRE DIVINO Hebr. 5. 4. No man taketh this honour unto himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron PRINTED In the Year 1646. Certain probable Collections From Scripture proving the Divine right OF PRESBYTERIE By way of Quere proposed to the serious consideration of all ingenuous and free spirited men Scripture Ephes 3. 8 9. UNto me who am lesse then the least of all Saints is this grace given that I should preach the unsearchable riches of Christ among the Gentiles And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mistery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God Col. 1. 25 26. Whereof I am made a Minister according to the dispensation of God which is given me for you to fulfill the Word of God The mistery which hath been hid from ages and from generations but is now made manifest to his Saints 1. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected That the Gospell is that mistery which from the beginning of the world was hid in God untill the comming of CHRIST in the flesh and his declaring it to his Disciples Scripture Mark 16. 15. Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature Coloss 1. 15 16. Who is the image of the invisible GOD the first born of every creature All things were created by Him and for Him 20 And having made peace through the blood of his crosse by him to reconcile all things to himself whether they be things in earth or things in heaven 23 And be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which ye have heard which was preached to every creature which is under heaven whereof I Paul am made a Minister Rom. 8. 19 20 21 22. The earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the Sonnes of GOD for the creature was made subject to vanitie not willingly but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope for the creature it self also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of GOD for we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth together untill now Acts 3. 21. Whom the heavens must receive untill the times of restitution of all things Rev. 21. 5. And he that sate upon the Throne said behold I make all things new 2 Pet. 3. 13. We according to His promise look for new heavens and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousnesse Esa 45. 17. Ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end Psal 93. 1. The Lord reigneth the world also is established that it cannot be moved Joh. 3. 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne John 6. 5. And the bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world 1 Joh. 4. 14. We have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Sonne the SAVIOUR of the world 2. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected 1 That God by Christ hath reconciled to himself all things in heaven and in earth 2 That the Gospell which Christ after his Resurrection commanded his Disciples to publish in all the world appertained to all the world viz. to every creature in heaven and in earth or under heaven 3 That God by CHRIST will restore all things viz. make new the heavens and the earth deliver the whole creation from corruption into a glorious and incorruptible state and so to make it abide for ever a world without end 4 That Gods loving the world reconciling the world Christ giving his flesh for the life of the world his being a Saviour of the world with many the like phrases are not to be understood of the world of the Elect nor of the world of believers as some fondly imagine no nor yet of the world of Mankinde as others more reasonable do deem but of the whole universall created world the heavens and the earth and all things therein Scripture Luk. 24. 49. Behold I send the promise of the Father unto you but tarry ye in the City of Jerusalem untill ye be indued with power from on High Acts 1. 4 5. And being assembled together with them commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem but wait for the promise of the Father which ye have heard of me for John truly baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many dayes hence 8 But ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth 3. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected That notwithstanding the former command of Christ to his Disciples to go into all the world and preach the Gospell aforesaid yet they were not to attempt the doing thereof untill they were enabled thereto by the comming down of the Holy Ghost from Heaven upon them Scripture Acts 2. 2 3 4. And suddainly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty winde and it filled the house where they were sitting and there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire and it sate upon each of them and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance Vers 43. And fear came upon every soul and many signes were done by the Apostles Acts 4. 29 30 31. And now Lord behold their threatnings and grant unto thy servants that with all boldnesse they may speak thy Word by stretching forth thy hand to heal and that signes and wonders may be done by the name of the Holy childe Jesus and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spake the Word of God with boldnesse Acts 5. 12. And by the hands of the Apostles were many signes and wonders wrought among the people and they were all with one accord in Salomons Porch 15 Insomuch that they broughe forth the sick into the streets and layed them on beds and couches that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might over-shadow some of them 16 There came also a multitude out of the Cities round about unto Jerusalem bringing sick folks and them that were vexed with unclean spirits and they were healed every one Acts 8. 5 6 7. Then Philip went down to the City of Samaria and preached Christ unto them and the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which PHILIP spake hearing and seeing the Miracles which he did For unclean spirits crying with loud voyces came out of many that were possessed with them and many taken with Palsies and that were lame were healed Likewise Acts 9. 33 34 35. 41 42. Acts 11. 21. Acts 28. 8