to exhort and convince the gain-sayers Tit. 1.9 These cast not off but continue in the thingâ— which they have learned and been assured of 2 Tim. 3.14 A good Minister of Christ is one nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine whereunto hee hath attained 1 Tim. 4.6 True it is that wee are fallen among men and times that discourage dissuade and disgrace learning but let not that deter us who are not through mercy â—ut such that on the other hand quicâ—n cherish countenance it and speak â—mfortably unto all the Levites that teach â—he good knowledg of the Lord. c Chro. 30. 22. It 's true some would have us Preachers like Jeâ—boams Priests only of the lowest of the â—eople 1 King 12.31 at least for liteâ—ature not to mention livelyhood And well may such indeed passe for the Priests of Jeroboam for with me 't is â—eyond doubt they are not the Preaâ—hers of Jesus i.e. by his allowance and â—ppointment No Christians his are â—pproved workmen that need not be ashaâ—ed rightly dividing the word of truth 〈◊〉 Tim 2.15 The Pastors after his heart â—â—e such as shall and therefore can feed â—is People with knowledg and understanding Jer. 3.15 not blind seers ignoâ—ant watch-men or Shepherds that can â—ot understand Isai Chap. 56. verse 10 11. I do not say but you may be good men and have but little or no learning but I dare not say you will make good Ministers without learning for how should you I pray consider N. 1. Will not your relations to God caâ—â— upon you for learning He imploys none but the wise and faithfull to be his Stewards Mat. 13.52 How can you bee his mouth d Jer. 15.19 his messengers e Isa 42.19 or the men of God f 1 Tim. 6.11 else who are to make known the mysteries of his Gospell If you are the mouth of God let us hear you speak as the Oracles of God 1 Pet. Chapter 4. verse 11. Who do expect a proof of Christ speaking in and by you g 2 Cor. 13.3 if you are the Messengers of the Lord of Hosts Let us see that your lips do preserve knowledg that men may find the law at your mouth Malac. Chapter 2. verse 7. And if you are men of God make us at least some way sensible that you are furnished with instructions to every good work 2 Tim. Chap. 3 verse 17. N. 2. h Mat. 5.14 Will not your relations to the people call upon you for learning These you ought to warn and teach in all wisedom i Isa 9.16 Col. 1.28 k Mat 13.52 How shall you be their lights their leaders and instructors else unto the Kingdom of God If you are blind leaders of the blind both shall fall into the ditch Mat. 15.14 And a dreadfull thing it will bâ— for you if God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge in you Hos 4.6 Your lips should preserve knowledge for the people as a publick store-house and they must seek the law at your mouth Mal. 2.7 If there arise matters too hard for them they must arise and ask you Deut. 17.8 ad 12. Ezek. 44.24 And how shall you teach them if ye are yet to learn the Oracles of God your selves Heb. 5.12 Thou that teachest another teachest thou not thy self saith the Apostle Rom. 2.12 N. 3. Will not the requisites and duties of your office call upon you for learning Surely the Law should not perish from the Priest nor counsel from the wise nor the Word from the Prophet Jer. 18.18 Men may declaim humane or School-learning very confidently but whereunto will a Minister's duty arise unless he be furnished with some competency thereof How shall hee convince gain sayers without it * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shutting them up in their argumâ—nts and answers or stop the mouths of the learned adversaries who fly either to the originall texts or to those orderly contextures of truth which have received the allowance and consent both of teachers and Christians to stand as maximes of unquestionable truths Besides how shall he rightly divide the word of truth else 2 Tim. 2.15 or reconcile the Scriptures which seemingly differ if he hath no acquaintance with Logick Rhetorick or Grammar Again how shall he reveal the sense of Scriptures entirely and cause the people to understand the reading Nehemi 8. ver 7 8. Especially since there are so many riddles l) Ezek. 17 2. and dark sayings m) Ps 78.2 in them and all expositions of and observations from them are to bear such exact accord to and to be examined by the originall which the Holy Ghost inspired Nay or how shall he so much as read the Scriptures intelligently without some humane teachings and learning Deliver this Bible to one that is not at all learned saying read this I pray you and must he not say I cannot for I am not learned Isa 29.12 Had wee to do with no more then Paul's Epistles how many things must be acknowledged in them both hard to be understood and hard to be utterred n) Heb. 5.11 But what do the unlearned and unstable Let Peter tell you They wrest them as they do also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction 2 Pet. 3.16 'T is in vain to tell me that Jesus Christ was not learned For doth not he himself assure me otherwise The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned and opened mine ear to hear as the learned Isa 50.4 And do not his auditors assure me the same too Mat. 13.54 55. Joh. 7.15 Say you the Apostles were not learned and as for the Prophets how illitterate were they But sirs do the Scriptures say the same likewise Indeed was Moses such an one who was learned in all the wisedom of the Egyptians Act. 7.22 or was Daniel to whom God had given skill in all learnning and wisedom Dan. 1.17 or was Paul that was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel Act. 23.5 and was so eminently versed both in humane learning o) Tit. 1.22 Act. 17.28 and divine that Festus thinks much learning had made him even mad Act. 26.24 Again were Samuel Elijah or Elisha so unlearned who had so many pupills and bred up so many scholars which were called sons of the Prophets at Naioth Bethel Jericho and Gilgall which were in this respect little other than Universities and Schools of learning 2 Sam. 19.19 20. 2 Kings 2.2 3 5 12. and 4.38 as we read of a Colledge at Jerusalem likewise 2 Chron. 34.22 and 2 Kings 22.14 True it is that grace called many such to be Prophets and Apostles who were unlearned but then the same grace which called did by and by qualify theÌ„ with learning that they were as Micah saith of himself full of power by the Spirit of the Lord and of judgment and of might Micah 3.8 If they had not learning by outward education they had learning by inward inspiration
and spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 If they had not acquired learning i. e. by their own studâ—es they had which is better infused learning by the Spirit of grace The Spirit did still make an extraordinary supply of learning from himself unto such as were allowed of him in the Ministâ—y that were without an ordinary supply thereof by Schools of learning To one was given saith Paul by the Spirit the word of wisedom to another the word of knowledg by the same Spirit to another prophesie to another discerning of spirits to another diverse kinds of tongues to another the interpretation of tongues all which were wrought by the self-same Spirit 1 Cor. 128 10.11 2. Sect. Do not adventure upon publick authoritative teaching in the Church without a commission If you expect the assistance acceptance allowance and approbation of Christ Oh! do not adventure upon it without authority first given you of Christ If affectation if avarice if ambition or whatever else it be shall be putting you on let the aw of this truth of God your accountableness to the God of truth prepoÌ„derate stay you back as ever you would answer it to Christ to his Church or to your own Consciences another day Sirs the time is coming when aâ—l Vâ—zards shall bee pluck'd off and what were your aims by what your abilities for and why you declined authorâ—zing to the Ministry shall bee produced in open Court and conscience shall bee put to it will you nill you to answer such interrogatories as these are Who made you a teacher in Israel who required this at your hands who gave you this authority c. And sirs will not this bee a sad indictment from the Lord in that day I did not send these Prophets these preachers yet they ran I have not spoken to them yet they prophesied Well is it so that such teachers must have a commission as well as qualifications from our Lord Jesus Christ Oh! that such among us who exercise the Ministry enjoy the maintenance and expect the reverence of Ministers yet never entred by the door of Ordination upon the discharge of this Office but have climbed up some other way would seriously lay it to heart What is the Ministry an Office and the external committing of the Ministry unto men God's Ordinance how is it then that such do that I say not that such daâ—e ordinarily exercise the Ministry as to the preaching part who never were and perhaps never will be who never did design nor do now desire to be solemnly set apart to the Ministry Consider I pray you these two things 1. That to do the proper work of a Minister or Officer of God cannot bee safe 2. To do the preaching work of a Minister cannot but be sinfull N. 1. To do the proper work of a Minister or Officer of God cannot bee safe without his ordination or appointment thereunto Men may passe it by it is true but God will not put it up unpunished The holiest pretexts of Korah and his complices will not help them if they seek the Priesthood Numb 16.3.10 31.32 33. God is so far from bearing withit in common men that he would at no hand take it from the chiefest magistrate witnesse Sauls losse of the Kingdome for it though burdened then with so great straits 1 Sam. 13 8 to 15 Vzziahs leaprosie to the day of his death for it though before this hee had been blessed with so great successe 2 Chron. 26.16 to 22. And now beloved is not ordinary authoritative teaching in the Church the proper work of a Minister of Christ Yea what is if this benot Wherefore or whereunto is a Minister ordained else if not to be a Preacher and Teacher of the Church in faith and verity 1 Tim. 2.7 wherefore worthy of double honour else if not for labouring in the word doctrine which eminently bespeaketh preaching 1 Tim. 5.17 Wherefore is the Gospell and this Office committed to him else if not for manifesting the word through preaching Tit. 1.3 yea indeed not so much to baptize as to preach 1 Cor. 1.17 Beloved therefore 't is we are allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel 1 Thes 2 4. therfore are we appointed of God to this trust in the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.11 therefore and thereunto it is that we are so adjured and called upon God in the Gospell I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judg the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom preach the word be instant inseasoÌ„ out of seasoÌ„ c 2 Tim. 4.1 2. ' Sirs is there any proper act of a Gospel-Minister If there be not why do you not plainly tell us there is no such Officer left us If there be may not preaching put in as fair and full yea a fairer and fuller claim than any Say you the administration of the Sacraments is al proper act of this Officer Be it so but consider I beseech you whether preaching may not put in for the precedence thereunto Are Gospell-Ministers more eminently or more expresly said either to be commissioned to be Ministers for that act then for this 1 Cor. 1.17 1 Tim. 2.7 or more commended in their ministry by that act than by this 2 Tim. 2.15 or more to bee counted of with respect to their ministry for that act than for this 1 Tim. 5.17 1 Thes 5.12 13. or are we more often or more openly circum-scribed or described as the Ministers of the Lord by that than by this ibid Heb. 13.7 Or are wee more concerned and commanded and charged to attend upon that act of our Ministery than this Rom. 12.7 8. 1 Tim. 4.13 14 15 16. Sure I am though I exclude not the administration of the Sacraments from being a proper act of an Office-Minister and one of those purposes and ayms why God will have men put into the Ministry yet preaching the Gospell is with more abundant frequency expressed among the acts of Ministers and with more abundant fulness evinced to be the aym of God by the Ministry If you have but overly read the Scriptures yet you cannot but observe this With what consonancy therefore to sound reason or Scripture-revelation the administration of Sacraments shall be received to bee the Proper act of a Minister of Christ and authoritative teaching rerejected mean-while judge ye And if it be as it is proved to be the proper act of a Minister thus to preach authoritatively what an adventure you run what an attempt you rush upon Oh that you may attend in time who Ordinarily discharg this part of our Office without Ordination thereunto N. 2. Todo the preaching work of a Minister ordinarily without Ordination cannot but be sinfull What though we yeeld that there may be an essay without it for tryal of qualifications wil it therefore be an excuse for such who make it a trade or course or because the
naturall If all may be Teachers where are the others to be taught of whom this Text tells us Need I mention the practice under the Law the Prophecies then touching the Gospel or the precedents left us in the times of the Gospel He that runs may read a constant discretion between the Priests and people then between Pastor and people now between the members of the Church and the Ministers of the Church in both To the Law and to the Testimony And here how eminent a difference hath the Holy Ghost made Ministers of the Church are to be overseers members of the Church to be overseen Acts 20.28 These are set under those said to be over them in the Lord 1 Thes 5.12 These are to submit those to preside and rule Heb. 13.7 17. Briefly these to bee taught the other to teach Galat. 6. ver 6. Yea teach we must not only with assiduity but with authority With authority I say not magisterial indeed as if we were Lords over the Church 1 Pet. 5.3 That is interdicted Mar. 10.42 but Ministertall as over the Church in the Lord 1 Thes 5.12 this is incouraged Heb. 13.17 Far far be it that we should preach up such an authority as if we had dominion over your faith 2 Cor. 1.24 No all the authority which we plead for is the dispensation not domination committed to us for the good of the faithfull 1 Cor. 9.17 The authority which the Lord hath given us is for your edification and not for your destruction 2 Cor. 10.8 And with this restriction and under this respect let me tell you that we are to teach and exhort and rebuke not only with authority but with all authority Tit. 2.15 and there is not that holy Minister but may speak wiâ—h holy Micah according to his measure Truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord of judgment and of might to declare unto Jacob his transgression unto Israel his sin Mic. 3.8 True it is that all Church-members ought to be teachers of others Heb. 5.12 But this private and charitative Christ hath therefore over and above appointed in his Church such teaing likewise as may be publick and authoritative i.e. that there be such teachers who are by power and authority derived from him to them publickly to open and apply the Scriptures for the conversion and edification of souls as in his stead and not only in private ' Where yet such in teaching are properly enough said to preach though it be in a private house Act. 5.42 or but to one particular person Act. 8.35 it being not simply an act of ' charity in them but an act of authority which it cannot be said to be in others Charitative teaching which should be every mans work too soon becometh no mans work And therefore Christ hath ordained that there be peculiar officers for authoritative teaching who are to give themselvs wholly to it 1 Tim. 4.15 and must not only be able to teach as the Text speaks but must be apt to teach 2 Tim. 2.24 and abide in teaching 1 Tim. 4.16 And unto these teachers all people are bound to attend as those that teach not only by ability but by authority derived from Jesus Christ Luke 12.16 Indeed how shall they hear without a preacher sent RoÌ„ 10.14 15 Think you that such teachers are now ceased and that this office was of no longer continuance than the first age or century of the Church Oh! Where are your considerations of the everlasting Kingdome of Christ a) Is 9.6.7 Lu. 1.33 of the Churches perpetual existencies b) Mat. 16.18 Heb. 12.27 28. and of her continued pressing exigencies c) Rom. 10.14 Eph. 4.12.13 14. or of our dearest Christs ends by and engagements to the Ministry d) Mat. 28.19 20. Lu. 24.46 47. Did a Kingdom ever stand without Officers Did the Church ever subsist without a Ministry and Ordinances Or hath Christ said that she ever should on this side glory Nay hath he not rather told us that the word of the Lord endureth for ever and that this is the word which by the Gospell is preached to you 1 Pet. 1.24.25 Beloved did not Christ assure his Christian Churches by prophecy under the Old Testament of giving them teachers by office without limiting it to this or that Century or age Jer. 3.15 Nay rather letting us understand that he will have such continued even after the Jews are called if you compare that vers with the 14 16 17. ver Or Jer. 23.3.4 c. or Isa 66.20 21. Besides When Christ had actually sent forth first the Twelve Mat. 10.1 and after that the Seventy Luk. 10.1 and again enlarged their Commission Mat. 28.19 doth not he ascertain his presence with them e're he parted from the earth alway to the end of the world ver 20. which could not intend themselves onely but must include their successors * Quamvis quoad modum gradum extraordinarii Ministri nullos habent successores quoad ipsam tamen essentiam administrationis eodem officio funguntur Ministri Ordinarii versus Ecclesiam quo extraordinarii olim fungebantur Ames Medu Theol. lib. 1. ca. 35. n. 4. who-ever are according to his ordinance bid go teach and baptize For the Disciples where are they and the Apostles do they live for ever Again being ascended up on high did not our Lord Christ give gifts unto men and thus not only some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists but som Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ ends of continued and constant observation need and use But till when shall these Pastors and teachers endure and how long shal the Church enjoy them Till wee are all come in or into * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod scitè exposuit Syrus interpres quasi Scriptum sit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bâ—zâ— Annot maj ad Loc. the unity of the faith and of the knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4 8 11 12 13. Shall I add to all this how Christ hath particularly directed for the investiture of fit and faithfull men with this Office in his severall Churches in these two Epistles to Timothy and in the next to Titus and how hee will have these Commandments inviolably and impartially kept until his appearing 1 Tim. 5.21 22. chap 6.14 Readers if you can believe that there is no more need of labourers for husbandry 1 Cor. 3.9 or of seedsmen or reapers for harvest 2 Cor. 9.11 Luk. 10.2 or of builders for houses 1 Cor. 3.9 10. or of some to plant and water for gardens and orchards 1 Cor. 3.6 then and not till then may you believe that the Church shall have no more need of Ministers by office for thus the Scriptures mentioned express our necessities of them to us Sure
is not said how shall they preach except they be gifted but except they be sent and that as watchmen and messengers as the next words import out of the Prophet Isaiah 52.7.8 So the Scripture never saith that gifting is sending but supposeth that ordinarily before this distinctly speaks of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. of the abilities to preach or prophecy and authority to preach or prophecy of mens suitable qualifications for it and sending forth with commissions for it Witness Ezek. 2.2 3. Isai 6.7.8 9. Jer. 1.7 9. Joh. 20.21 22. And what though it be true that sending imports many times Gods commmanding men to go forth to the work of the Ministry yet as no gifted brother can shew us any such command from God so it 's observable that the Scripture never mentions any as sent forth to preach or prophesie but the same persons were always either mediately or immediately appointed of God unto the Office Witnesse Isai 1 8 9. Jer. 1.5 7. Ezek. 2.4 Mat. 10 1 5 16. Mar. 3 14. Joh. 1.6 Mat. 11.10 c. An immediate missioÌ„ appointment to this Office there are no pious men will boast they have or if they did there are no prudent men will believe they have till they see it attested with a power of miracles Nor is there any promise whereupon any should hope for it So that I cannot but conclude upon the whole That no man can now preach Ordinarily and orderly without Ordination or being sent forth of God mediately He sins in preaching that is not thus sent forth with power But to draw the proof of this proposition out into more paâ—ticulars Bee pleased to observe the expresse precepts eminent precedents and evident prescriptions wherewith God hath countenanced it and the elegant properties titles wherewith Ministers are clothed which bespeak it Sect. 1. See the expresse precepts of God for it to wave the implicit only * 1 Tim. 5.22 Rom. 10.15 Heb. 5.4 Behold as they ministred to the Lord and fasted Act. 13.2 the holy Ghost said Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them And accordingly the Prophets and teachers mentioned ver 1. When they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands onthem they sent them away ver 3. Observe Christians God had suited them to the work God had supplied them with fitnesse yet these must separate them to the work and send them forth And why this separating think we of such extraordinary officers if not to sanctifie as it were and seall an Imprimatur upon the ordinary rule It is granted that Pauls Apostleship was not of men neither by man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead Gal. 1.1 That he was first immediately designed hereunto by Jesus Christ as it was declared to Ananias Act. 9.15 Bâ—â— if the holy Ghost will have one so miraculously immediately called to pass thiâ— common road before the ordinary execution of his office among the Gentiles who of us then may plead immunity from it or proudly take another by-path Though God had every way qualified Paul and Barnabas for the ministery though God had eminently called them to the ministry yet that these Prophets and Teachers do externally commission or separate them to the Ministry likewise iâ— evidently the command of the Holy Ghost Let me present you next with that precept of God by Paul to Titus Ch. 1.5 And ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed thee What Elders meaneth he By age No time as one saith * Collins vindic Minist Evang. qu. 2. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. not Titus must make these What Elders then Flders by Office as the words ensuing clear it and those not in the state but among and over the Saints Bishops or overseeers who are to hold fast the faithfull word verse 7 9. Now thus there is somewhat supposed in these words that there should be Elders in every City where the Churches were established and somwhat proposed how the Churches must be supplyed with Elders How so Titus must ordain them Ordain Elders in every City They are not Elders by Office then till Ordination But what is this must Titus qualifie them for this Office and is this all which is intended by it No this was God's part and is to be presupposed on their part e're Titus may put forth any such act towards them as Ordination is if you consult the following verses 6. ad 10. Titus may discuss and ventilate their gifts and qualifications but God onely can derive and furnish d) Is 1.17 1 Cor. 12.6 That which Titus hath in charge is to Ordain to confer the Office of Elders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in that notion is the word used not only by profane Authors frequently b) Sic apud DemostheneÌ„ Xenoph. HerodiaÌ„ occurrunt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 similiter but by the Apostles Act. 6.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. whom we may appoint over this business as our translators render it This how did they but by prayer and laying their hands on them ver 6. and so putting them into the Office of Deacons besides if gifts if qualifications could have made them Elders of what need or use was there of such an order from Paul or of Ordination by Tituâ— for thus they had been Elders already before and without either if but 〈◊〉 charactered as the next verses do describe And if so how is Titus requireâ— to Ordain such and why restrained to Ordain such onely So obvious is iâ— that beside a competency of ability of their part there must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an appointment or Ordination on Titus's parâ— likewise or they are not to be acknowledged Elders So express are the precepts of God for it Sect. 4. And what eminent precedents find we among the godly for it Surely no man taketh this honour to himself but he that is called of God Heb 5.4 True many a man doth de facto but not any man doth i. e. ought de jure Not Aaron under the Law nor any of the Priests after his order ' They were separated from among the children of Israel to their Office * NuÌ„ 8.14 2.6 1 50. Exo. 28.1 2 Chro. 29.11 which was not only to offer sacrifice unto God but to open the statutes of God teach in Israel b) Deut. 33 10 Levit. 10.11 2 Chr. 17.18.9 the work now of every Gospel Minister So nor did the Apostle and high-Priest of our profession Christ Jesus He also glorified not himself to be made an high-Priest but he that said unto him Thou art my son to day have I begotten thee Heb. 5.5 What did he glorifie himself to be made a Prophet then Neither The Spirit of the Lord God saith he is upon mee and hath anointed mee to preach good tidings c. Isa 61.1 i.e. anointed
of them and the Lord is among them wherefore then lift you up your selves above the Congregation of the Lord Numb 163 Nor could I ever yet hear of any thing more eminent among them than is error and confusion who have taken qualifications to give Commission Alas this must needs break the unity and blast the purity of the Churches quickly N 1. It must needs break the unity of the Chuâ—ches a blessing how desirable in it self and how dear to our Saviour if nothing but fitness and forwardness bee requisite to make an Officer or Minister Wo to the Common-wealth of this Israel If every one that had ability had therefore authority too If every one that probably is or presumeth himself to be fit for such or such an Office were thereby put into it and must be so obeyed or if every one who is qualified for must bee therefore counted a Judge Justice yea or but a Constable Hath God provided against such intrusions upon civill Offices and will he permit it in sacred Taken such care in order to the accord and quiet of the Common wealth and hath he thrown it by with respect to his Church which is so much dearer to him than are all the Societies in the world beside Who would be ruled if but to presume our selvs qualified would make us rulers either in Church or State Surely this would make the militant Church like that military body where qualifications to command were a commission for a Company The Church should have all Officers and no Souldiers quickly and if it did not run with such an army into blood and confusion yet would soon and surely run with it into bitternesse and contentions ' He that can secure me the peace and unity of that Kingdome where every one that is fit may be thereby supreme or of that County wheâ—â— every one that is fit may be thereby Sheriffe or but of that Corporation where every one that is fit may be thereby Major shall be with me a none-such among men and may perswade if any that the beauty and harmony of the Churches of Jesus may be preserved too wherein every one that judgeth himself fit is thereby made a Minister and Officer Let me add â—his if Ministers are not Officers * the Church hath none For who else can shew me so clear evidences And if men may bee bold with this Office in the Church to invest themselves with it and to execute at pleasure why they should be backward to or baulk any other Office I know not For this of all others is most sacred and most circumscribed And if all Offices lye in common where shall we look for the Churches Concord Ah Sirs have wee read the 12 to the Romans from the the 3 to the 9 or the 1 Cor. 12 And can we think our blessed head and Master in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdome and kindnesse so remisse about conferring Offices and so regardlesse of the Churches concord as this amounts to What! are there so many unities and all with respect had to the Church One body and one spirit even as they are called in one hope of their calling one Lord one faith one baptism one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in them all Eph. 4.5 6. Lo therefore Christ hath given Pastours and Teachers names of Office verse 8 11. that they may keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace verse 3. and that till we all come in the unity of the faith c. ver 13. N. 2. This will blast the purity of the Churches too and let in what not that is destructive to verity and the power of Godlinesse If our stiâ—ring times have not given sufficient testimonie to this sad truth I know not what times ever did or shall What through uncalled Preachers and uncatechised hearers Oh! the havock and convulsions that are made in the Churches of Jesus And indâ—ed who can expect but that those who will vainly or violently enter upon the Ministery without Ordination shall likewise venturously employ themselves in it without observation Witnesse those false teachers whereof Peter tells vs. 2 Peter Chapter 2. and Jude from the fourth to the twentieth verse Who may or how can wee expect other than unsetlednesse in the love of the Gospell and unsoundnesse in the life of godlinesse from that man or men who shake off the order of the Gospell Surely they that heap to themselvs teachers walk but after their own lusts therein and have it ching ears turned from the truth and unto fables 2 Tim. 4.3 4. And therefore whether they that make themselvs teachers are like to walk in the law of God and to lead you in the ways of that truth which is according to godlinesse judg ye What lesse can be said than this That measuring themselvs by themselves and comparing themselvs among themselvs they are not wise and if the premisses be considered how wicked Sect. 3. It 's for the beartning and comfort of such teachers that beside qualifications they shall have the Office committed to them their comfortable incouragement much conducing to the credit and interesse of that King Jesus whose Embassadours they are Sirs the duties difficulties and discouragements of Ministers how various are they how involved And alas what sorry things are our best qualifications to support us without the strong aid of that grace which sets before us the benefit of our Commission to stay and cheer our hearts Who of us my brethren but must confess with Paul that wee are not sufficient of our selvs so much as to think any thing as of our selvs Where then is our sufficiencie and what is our support Our sufficiency is of God who also hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament 2 Cor 3.5 6. That God who hath made us Ministors is the spring head of our sufficiencies in the discharge and exercise of our Ministry and that God hath made us Ministers is the stay and basis of our hopes in all the difficult emergencies of our Ministry * See 2 Tim. 1.11 12. That our God hath sent us is the stablishing consideration against all despondencies and discouragements that he will supply strengthen secure and work all our works in us and for us And Lo by this it is that God would have us to chide down our fears and to keep up our faith I sanctified thee saith he to Jeremie and I ordained thee a Prophet unto the Nations Doth Jeremie say Aâ— Lord God! I am a child behold I cannot speak Ay but hear what the Lord saith unto Jeremy say not 〈◊〉 am a child for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak Be not affraid of their faces for I am with thee to deliver thee saith the Lord Behold I have made thee a defenced City c. Jer. 1.5 6 7 8 18 19. An beloved God doth
cannot be concealed that wee have in these times a great many half-Christians * Act. 26.18 halfe professors and it must be confessed that we have but too many half-ministers or half-pastours as to the execution of their Office And surely to me it seems not much an inferiour solecism according to Scripture to hear of an half-Minister as to hear of an half-Christian in grace or an half-man in nature 2. This calleth upon you so to demean your selves in the work of the Ministry as those that have the Office committed unto you of God ' The man of God especially in the matters of God must not be or behave himself only after the rate of other men 2 Tim. 2.24 1 Tim. 6 11. The ordinary works we perform should leave a relish savour of that sacred word we preach of this spiritual Office we are put into An Sirs what examples should wee Pastours be to our people in well-nigh every particular in word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity 1 Iim 4.12 Tit. 2 7. 1 Pet. 5 3. He that hath my word lâ—t him speak my word faithfully what is the chaffe to the wheat saith the Lord Jer. 23.28 And oh that we may shew our selves approved unto God and workmen that need not to bee ashamed before men 2 Tim. 2.15 Say you how should we 1 Let us do our work convincingly convincingly both in regard of others consciences a Joh. 8.9 and of our own Commission b 2 Cor. 6.1 Let us do it with authority like our Saviour and not as the Scribes Mat. 7.29 as those that are ful of power and of judgment and of might by the Spirit of the Lord Mic. 3.8 That when we preach or pray or censure or comfort c. there cometh in one that believeth not he may be so convinced of us and judged of us and the secrets of his heart made manifest As that falling down on his face he may worship God and report that God is in us of a truth 1 Cor. 14.24 25. 2. Let us do our work conscientiously and sincerely without partiality as to man and with purposes for God ' For why else is our Commission 1 Tim. 1.11 12 what else is God's Command 2 Tim. 2.15 or what lesse will be our comfort 2 Cor. 1.12 and must be our character 2 Cor. 2.17 1 Be not partial towards men how shall we then prove our selves the Ministers and Stewards of Christ 2 Cor. 4 1 2. who must give every one their portion of meat in due season Luk. 12.42 Let us remember God's Covenant with Levi Deut. 33 8 9. and the command he hath left with us 1 Tim. 5.21 And truly it is worth our most serious reflections upon our selvs whether what the Lord somtime in way of reproof told the Priests doth not now as particularly reach us in the midd'st of so many reproches viz. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people according as ye have not kept my ways but have been partiâ—l in my law Mal. 2.9 Again 2. Let all our purposes center in God Wee are unworthy to bee called his Officers who are carelesse of his honour and unworthy that hee should have a care of ours 1 Sam. 2.30 Sirs let us not preach our selves but Jesus the Lord 2 Cor. 4.5 As of sincerity as of God in the sight of God so let us speak in Christ 2 Cor. 2.17 What I would we please men how are we then the servants of Christ Col 1.10 As we are allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel even so let us speak not as pleasing men but God who trieth our hearts 1 Thes 2.4 3. Let us do our work couragiously strenuously without despondency or shrinking without dejection or sinking If God's Commission and concurrence will not bear up our hearts and bear us up thorow hardships I know not what will A prisoner with these at the bar is able to face and fright a Judge upon the bench Act. 24.25 ' Were we Embassadours in bonds yet we ought to speak boldly Ephe. 6. vers 20. Such is the person we sustain and the place we stand in What should baulk or brow-beat us who have such an authority to warrant us and such almightinesse with us to work all our works in us and for us 2 Tim. 1.11 12. Were wee private men or went wee but upon a private message well might our hearts mâ—ditate terrors But being Officers of Christ and such as hee will own to the worlds end nor bonds nor blood or death should move us Act 20.23 24 and 21.13 A few bâ—g looks or bitter words or biting scoffs are sorry bug-bears to daunt a Commission-officer of Jesus to whom is given all power both in heaven and earth aâ— he â—â—lls us for our encouragement Mat 28.18 19 20. How would we have born to have stood at the bar c Act. 25.6 7 or have sate in the stocks d c. 16.23 24 25. or have been scourged at the Whipping-poast e 2 Cor. 11.24 with our predecessors yet were they bold in our God to speak the Gospell of God wiâ—h much contention 1 Ihes 2.4 and waxed the bolder by their own and others bounds Phil. 1.14 Act. 4.29 4 Let us do our Ministeriall work carefully and diligently neither listning to our own idlenesse nor led away of other intanglements Oh the weight of that one Scripture worthy to be ingraven in letters of gold upon all our Study-doors and to be continually recorded in our hearts Give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine Neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by prophesie with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery Meditate on these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profitting may appear 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to all men in all things by all means Take heed unto thy self unto your doctrine continue in them for in doing this thou shalt both save thy self them that hear thee 1 Tim. 4.13 14 15 16. ' Are we Officers we must wait on our Office he that teacheth on teaching and he that exhorteth on exhortation Rom. 12.7.8 Whosoever have time to spare for the toys and vanities of the world we have none whose time is Christs and his Churches and who are to give our selvs wholly to the word 1 Tim. 4.15 Oh how puzâ—â—ng and perplexing would such questions as these be if Christ should put them unto us Why stand ye here perhaps all the day idle We cannot say No man hath hired us Mat. 20.6 7. Or what dost thou here Elijah 1 King 19.9 13. be we either in the Cave or in the croud either weary of our callings or wasting our time to and fro about lower concernments Sirs are not we the souldiers of Christ No man that warreth intangleth himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who hath
chosen him to be a souldier 2 Tim. 2.4 Wee have Sanctuary work to attend 'T was death for the Priests if they did not abide in the Sanctuary according to their severall charges because the anointing oyl of the Lord was upon hem because they were solemnly appointed to this work and office Levit. 10.7 and 21.11 12. and 8.35 It is not reason that we shal leave the Word of the Lord say the Apostle and serve tables Act. 6.2 this was in ministring to the bodily necessities of the poor And shall we leave the Word of the Lord and serve the times or be securing trifles in comparison of eternity with the miscarriage of our peoples souls Oh! let us stir up the gift of God that is in us Had wee nothing to reflect upon but the laying on of others hands upon us this might bee enough to cause us to return upon our own hearts often and to revive and blow up whatsoever is of love or zeal in us to a vigorous execution of our office 2 Tim. 1.6 Are wee Officers of Christ and in his Church Surely wee had need ply our businesse hard Nor can we likely be too busie in our office who have I am sure the highest charge f 2 Tim. 4.1 2. the heaviest account g Heb. 13.17 the hardest work h 2 Tim. 4.2 5. Jer. 1.18 19 and the hottest warfare i 2 Tim. 2.3 4. Sect. 2. This truth calleth upon you over whom God hath set or committed or shall this day commit such officers This counselleth you how to esteem of and entertain them in exercise of their trust and execution of their Ministry Say you how As those that are officers of the Lord and as over you in the Lord 1 Thes 5.12 As those that are appointed of God to watch for your souls and must give an account Heb. 13.17 And therefore how should you submit your selves and obey them so far as they rule over you in the Lord that they may give up their account with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you as the Apostle adds What though such have been or now shall be outwardly appointed by men yet are they allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel 1 Thes 2.4 with Act. 13.2 3. Beloved those who are ordained of men according to God's Ordinance are yet God's Officers God's Ministers What else doth Paul assure us of the Elders or ordinary Pastors and Teachers of the Church of Ephesus which because ordinary could not be immediately put into office The Holy Ghost made them overseers Act. 20.28 Or what else doth he affirm of those of the Church at Colosse In his mention of Epaphras 't is our dear fellow-servant who is for you a faithful Minister of Christ Col. 1.7 When hee minds them their duty touching Archippus who was it seems none of the most circumspect or constant Minister 't is thus Say to Archippus take heed to the Ministry which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfill it Col. 4.17 And what other language hear we concerning Tychicus Col. 4.7 Tychicus a beloved brother and a faithful Minister and a fellow-servant in the Lord. So far was it from truth in the purest primitive times that they were onely to bee accounted the officers and Ministers of the Lord who were immediately put into the office by the Lord. Well then let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4.1 I say as Ministers of Christ not of the Common-wealth not of Antichrist I know there is a common reproach rolled upon the Ministry in England as if we were no other than Priests of Baal limbs of Antichrist Antichristian Priests c. So much unbridled are the spirits and speech of many that would seem to bee religious and thereby speak their religion vain * Isa 1.26 But beloved call you those or can they be Antichristian who have been so evidently opposed by Antichrist and so eminently owned by Christ as have been the zealous and strict Ministery in England and still are to this day Oh! how can you more honour more help up Antichrist or hurl more dirt and disgrace in the face of Jesus Christ than by calling those Ministers Antichristian who have been and are so powerfully able and so prosperously useful to break the league of so many thousands of souls with sin and death and to bring them over to the reall and ready imbracements of the service of God and life eternall ' Christians have not your eyes seen and ears eard of multitudes both of men and women that have been and still are begotten by them unto Christ through the Gospel and that are built up in communion with him through their Ministry in the Gospel Built up not in aëry speculations and dotage about questions and strifes of words whereof cometh envy strife railings c. This is easily done indeed and among us how eminently by the subtilty and zeal of seducers and such as consent not to wholesome words 1 Tim. 6.3 4 5. But lo multitudes built up through the good hand of God upon the gracious Ministry in England in the reall abhorrency of sin the rich anointings of the Spirit in the life of faith the labour of love in the power of sanctification poverty of spirit in heavenliness of their minds within and holiness of manners without In a word to be doers of righteousness in the doctrine which is according to godliness Need I cal for Testimony to a truth so established in the mouth of more then two or three thousand witnesses k 2 Cor. 13.1 Need we as some others may the pious preachers to the pious people of England from it's first reformation say Need we as some others Epistles of commendation to you or letters of cōmendation from you Yee are our Epistle writen in our hearts known and read of all men Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with ink but with the spirit of the living God not in tables of stone but in fleshly tables of the heart 2 Cor. 3.1 2.3 What is our hope or joy or crown of rejoycing are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his comming 1 Thes 2.19 And will you also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your own steadfastnesse 2 Pet. 3.17 you of whom we have been so affectionately desirous as we were willing to have imparted to you not the Gospel of God only but also our own souls because ye were dear to us 1 Thes 2.8 And will you also listen to their scurrulous imputations who compasse us about with words of hatred and say Come and let us smite them with the tongue who cannot now smite them with the sword and let us not give heed to any of their words Jer. 18.18 Why Sirs ye are our work in the