Cor. 16.10 1 Tim. 4.6 Titus 2 Cor. 8.23 and chap. 12.18 Epaphras Col. 1.7 Tychicus Col. 4.7 and their like 2 Cor. 8.23 but others though they might have continued in the meere purity of that word yet either through the neglect of their gifts or through the losse of a good conscience or by the abuse of their affections or of set purpose did depart from it such as they may be accounted who built wood hay and stubble upon the foundation 1 Cor. 3.10 11 12. who taught strange doctrine 1 Tim. 1.3 4. and were deceitfull workers 2 Cor. 11.13 and grievous wolves not sparing the flock and speaking perverse things to draw away the Disciples after them Acts 20.29 30. as ambitious and prating Diotrephes 3 John ver 9 10. Hymenaeus Alexander and Philetus 1 Tim. 1.19 20. 2 Tim. 2.16 17 18. and other false teachers of that age 1 John 2.18 19 26. Finally others though they continued in the meere purity of that word yet being indulgent to some particular affection did not procure the unanimous edification of the Church together with other Ministers such as they may be accounted of whom the Apostle speaketh Philip. 1.12 13. c. Philip. 1. v. 12. But I would ye should understand brethren that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel v. 13. So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace and in all other places v. 14. And many of the brethren in the Lord waxing confident by my bonds are much more bold to speake the word without fear v. 15. Some indeed preach Christ even of envie and strife and some also of good will v. 16. The one preach Christ of contention not sincerely supposing to adde affliction to my bonds v. 17. But the other of love knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel v. 18. What then notwithstanding every way whether in pretence or in truth Christ is preached and I therein do rejoyce yea and will rejoyce v. 19. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ 13. But since the people of that age had an infallible oyntment and knew the truth 1 John 2.20 27. were confirmed therein 1 Pet. 5.12 2 Pet. 1.12 were replenished and enriched with all necessary knowledge Rom. 15.14 1 Cor. 1.5 6 7 8. had mutuall faith with the Apostles alike precious and most holy Rom. 1.8 12. 2 Pet. 1.1 Jude ver 20. had learnt the doctrine of the Apostles and had beleeved it as it was preached by them and had received it Rom. 16.17 2 Thes 2.15 1 Cor. 15.11 Heb. 10.26 Acts 8.14 could retaine that doctrine as it had been delivered to them 1 Cor. 11. 2. Acts 2.42 did altogether abound in faith and utterance and knowledge and all diligence 2 Cor. 8.7 had the truth of the Gospell abiding with them Gal 2.5 had beene sealed with the holy Spirit upon the word of truth or Gospell of their Salvation Ephes 1.13 had the sanctification of the Spirit and beliefe of the truth 2 Thes 2.13 had the form of the Apostles doctrine Rom. 6.17 Jude v. 3. could try the Spirits whether they were of God 1 John 4.1 2 3. 2 John v. 9 10. Heb. 9.10 might be and was sound in the faith Titus 1.13 Apoc. 2 25. might continue in the faith grounded and setled and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which they had heard Col. 1.23 knew how they ought to walke and please God 1 Thes 4.1 2. and consequently knew that one only faith Heb. 11.6 Ephes 4.5 c. since I say the people of that age were endued with the aforesaid faculties they could easily observe what particular Ministers did depart from the purity of that Word and therefore though the Ministers of particular Churches by the neglect of their gifts or otherwise might depart from the truth yet were not the people using their gifts to the end aforesaid endangered thereby since they could easily detect it a 1 John 2 20 21 24 26 27 28. and 2 Ioh. v. 9 10. 1 Joh. 2. v. 20. But ye have an unction from the holy One and ye know all things v. 21. I have not written unto you because yee know not the truth but because ye know it and that no lie is of the truth v. 24 Let that therefore abide in you which ye have heard from the beginning if that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you ye also shall continue in the Son and in the Father v. 26. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you v. 27. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you But as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him v. 28. And now little children abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming 2 Iohn v. 9. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son v. 10. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed 14. Neverthelesse though some Ministers did revolt yet the integrity of the gift it selfe wherewith they were instituted and endued remained safe and sound with all other particular Ministers who kept the mysterie of the faith in a good conscience inasmuch as they both might and did duely performe that Embassage to which they were called and furnished by Christ for though the particular Ministers of that age might revolt and there were some amongst thē that did indeed revolt yet that doth no more derogate from the integrity of their institution which was with the word of the Gospell wholly intrisincally undoubtedly and meerly true then the fall of our first parents derogateth from the truth of their originall integrity wherein they were created by God for as their fall hindreth not but that they were created in a spotlesse condition and were able to have persisted in it so likewise though those particular Ministers might revolt and did revolt yet it cannot be denied that they were instituted with the word of the Gospell wholly intrinsically undoubtedly and meerly true and might accordingly have persisted in it 15. Besides as there were some amongst those particular Ministers that did indeed revolt so also were there others that did not revolt to wit those who by patient continuance in well doing proved themselves to be good trees by their good fruits such as many then were and in the first beginning of the Gospell all though afterwards some by degrees revolted so as the faithfull of that age were not wont to try the
mutuall forbearance And I make no doubt if this course were once taken but God would meete us going on in his way and confirme his truth by some cleare and infallible demonstration that so all contentions about Religion might at length receive a quiet and happy Catastrophe TO THE LAW AND TO The TESTIMONIE Article 1. IN the first place we are to hold that God hath built the Christian Church on no other foundation but Iesus Christ who by the price of his bloud hath purchased her to himself for a peculiar possession as being her Lord Husband and Lawgiver and therefore that all right and authority of lawfull and due Ecclesiastick Administration ought to be derived from Him alone and consequently that the meanes and manner of that Administration neither can nor ought to be any other then such as argue Christ to be their Author so that if in the right authority meanes or manner of the Administration both heretofore and at this day used there occurre any thing of which it is certain that it was never instituted commanded or well-pleasingly permitted by Christ or at least whereof it may justly be doubted that very thing neither can nor ought to be made use of to the lawfull and due administration of the Church 2. Wherefore since the promise of Christ whereby he hath engaged himself to the Church behaving her self faithfully in the Covenant of God that he will be present with her to the end of the world graciously and effectually to conferre and continue the things aforesaid consisteth herein that his Spirit and Word never depart from that Church It is to be considered by all and singular Assemblies of Christians who acknowledge the Scripture of the Old and New Testament for the only Rule of faith and manners especially such as are under persecution whether that promised Spirit and Word of Christ be present with their Churches lest by the absence of both they appear to have broken the Covenant and to be without due and lawfull Ecclesiastick Administration and consequently so far forth without Christ 3. As Christ is sole and singular in that he admitteth no other person or persons to share with himself in the speciall worke for which he was given to the Church by the Father so is the Word of Christ sole and single because it admitteth no other word or words to share with it self in the aforesaid speciall work for which it was given to the Church by God 4. It is agreed upon amongst all Assemblies that acknowledge none but the Scripture of the Old and New Testament for the only Rule of faith and manners that that promised VVord of Christ was therefore amongst other things pertaining to that work given to the Church by God that it might be a wholly intrinsically undoubtedly and meerly true outward meanes whereby in an ordinary way she might attain to salvation 5. For if that VVord were not such a meanes the belief of all things built upon it must needs stagger neither could any man thence challenge to himself that undoubted certainty of faith and consequently no true certainty of faith but only opinion should possesse the minds of all Christians which God forbid 6. Since therefore the ordinary outward means given to the Church by God for the attainment of faith and salvation is that sole and single promised Word of Christ wholly intrinsically undoubtedly and meerly true whose native character it is to be free from all even the least error and to be meer truth It is to be considered whether God and Christ to this end would have the cheife worship of the New Testament to wit the due and lawfull preaching of the Gospel which is to be performed in the Name of God by Ministers specially and duly called thereunto as the chief part of Ecclesiastick Administration begun and set on foot by that promised Word only or not 7. Certainly if you consider the first preaching of the Gospell performed by John the Baptist by our Lord himselfe and his Apostles you cannot deny that God would have it at the first begun with that promised Word only being as it hath been said wholly intrinsically undoubtedly and meerly true 8. VVherefore the first lawfull preaching of the Gospell was performed by word of mouth and that such as was sincere sound unblamable abiding for ever and of which it might be truly and undoubtedly said Thy Word is Truth 9. In like manner you cannot deny that the aforesaid Beginners and Preachers of the Gospel being specially and duly called thereunto preached that Word in the name of God or in the stead and by the authority of God so that being Embassadors for God they sustained his person and consequently to hear them was as much as to hear God himself speaking by them so that their word was wholly intrinsically undoubtedly and meerly true and both they that preached it and they that received them for Ministers preaching in the name of God were infallibly assured of the truth of that word as of the very VVord of God 10. Now as there is but one Gospel a Gal. 1. ver 6 7. so there is but one true and genuine word of the Gospel b ver 8 9. which is and is called the truth c Ioh. 17. v. 14.17 the word of truth d Eph. 1. ver 13. the sincere rationall milke e 1 Pet. 2. v. 2. not the word of men but as it is indeed the word of God f 1 Thes 2. v. 13. which was not yea and nay but yea g 2 Cor. 1. v. 18 19 20. with chap. 7.14 also the word of God that abideth for ever i 1 Pet. 1. v. 25. that is the promised word of Christ wholly intrinsically undoubtedly and meerly true to declare which they that were sent as Embassadors for Christ had an expresse Commission and were furnisht with sufficient gifts for the due performance of their Embassie as cannot be denied vid. l 2 Cor. 5. v. 20. 1 Thes 2. v. 13. m Eph. 4. v. 11. n 1 Cor. 2. v. 12 13 16. Acts 5.20 Rom. 6.17 and chap. 16. v. 17. 1 Cor. 4. v. 17. 2 Ioh. v. 9 10. Iude v. 3. o 2 Cor. 3. v. 5 6. and chap. 4. v. 1 2. and chap. 6. v. 4 7. and chap. 7. v. 14. Gal. 1. v. 6. I marvell that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel v. 7. Which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ v. 8. But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed v. 9. As we said before so say I now again If any man preach any other gospel unto you then that ye have received let him be accursed Ioh. 17. v. 14. I have given them thy word and the world hath hated them because they are not of the world even as I am not of the world v.
17. Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth Eph. 1. v. 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise 1 Pet. 2. v. 2. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby 1 Thes 2. v. 13. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us ye received is not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe 2 Cor. 1. v. 18. But as God is true our word toward you was not yea and nay v. 19. For the Sonne of God Jesus Christ who was preached among you by us even by me and Sylvanus and Timotheus was not yea and nay but in him was yea v. 20. For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him amen unto the glory of God by us chap. 7. v. 14. For if I have boasted any thing to him of you I am not ashamed but as we spake all things to you in truth even so our boasting which I made before Titus is found a truth 1 Pet. 1. v. 25. But the word of the Lord endureth for ever And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you 2 Cor. 5. v. 20. Now then we are ambassadours for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs steed be ye reconciled to God 1 Thes 2. v. 13. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that beleeve Ephes 4. v. 11. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers 1 Cor. 2. v. 12. Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God v. 13. Which things also we speak not in the words which mans wisdome teacheth but which the holy Ghost teacheth comparing spirituall things with spirituall v. 16. For who hath known the minde of the Lord that he may instruct him But we have the minde of Christ Acts 5. v. 20. Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life Rom. 6. v. 17. But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sinne but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrin which was delivered you chap. 16. v. 17. Now I beseech you brethren marke them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them 1 Cor. 4. v. 17. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus who is my beloved sonne and faithfull in the Lord who shall bring you into remembrance of my wayes which be in Christ as I teach every where in every Church 2 Ioh. v. 9. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrin of Christ hath not God he that abideth in the doctrin of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son v. 10. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrin receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed Iude v. 3. Beloved when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation it was needfull for me to write unto you and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints 2 Cor. 3. v. 5. Not that we are sufficient of our selves to thinke any thing as of our selves but our sufficiencie is of God v. 6. Who also hath made us able ministers of the new Testament not of the letter but of the spirit for the letter killeth but the spirit giveth life chap. 4. v. 1. Therefore seeing we have this ministery as we have received mercy we faint not v. 2. But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftinesse nor handling the word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the truth commending our selves to every mans conscience in the sight of God chap. 6. v. 4. But in all things approving our selves as the ministers of God in much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses v. 7. By the word of truth by the power of God by the armour of righteousnesse on the right hand and on the left chap. 7. v. 14. For if I have boasted any thing to him of you I am not ashamed but as we spake all things to you in truth even so our boasting which I made before Titus is found a truth 11. Now for as much as the Ministers of particular Churches were in the Apostles times given by Christ a Ephes 4.11 Tit. 1.5 6 7. 1 Cor. 14.37 to preach the true and genuine VVord of the Gospell b Tit. 1.5.6 7 9. and cap. 2.7 8. 2 Tim. 2. v. 2. Ephes 4.12 13 14 15. by way of Embassage for Christ c 2 Cor. 1.19 and chap. 5.20 Tit. 1.5 6 7. and 1 Cor. 4. v. 1 2. 1 Thes 1.1 and chap. 2. v. 13. d 2 Tim. 4. v. 2. and cha 2. v. 2. Tit. 1. v. 9. It is evident that they also had an expresse Commission e 1 Cor. 1. v. 1. with chap. 2. v. 12 13 14 15 16. also 2 Tim. 1.13 14. and chap. 2. v. 2. Tit. 1.9 10 11. Acts 15.24 Rom. 6.17 and chap. 16. v. 17. 2 Ioh. v. 9 10. and were furnisht with gifts sufficient for the discharge thereof f 2 Cor. 1.1.19 with chap. 3. v. 5 6. Acts 14.22 23. and chap. 20. v. 17 18 20 21. c. 2 Tim. 2.2 Tit. 1.9 10 11. and consequently were able to performe it in a due manner g Acts 20.28 31 32. 2 Tim. 2.2 and did accordingly performe it as it shall by and by be related h 2 Cor. 1.19 with chap. 4. v. 1 2. and 1 Cor. 16.10 Acts 15.35 Apoc. 2.8 9 10 12 13.18 19. and chap. 3.7 8 9 10 11. Ephe. 4. v. 11. And he gave some Apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastours and teachers Tit. 1. v. 5. For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain elders in every city as I had appointed thee v. 6. If any be blamelesse the husband of one wife having faithfull children not accused of riot or unruly v. 7. For a bishop must be blamelesse as the steward of God not self-willed not soon angry not given to wine no striker not given to filthy lucre 1 Cor. 14. v. 37. If any man think himselfe to be a prophet or spirituall let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandements of the Lord. Tit. 1. v.
TO THE LAW AND TO The TESTIMONIE OR A Proposall of certain Cases of Conscience by way of quaere chiefly touching the publick worship of the New Testament and other things either necessary or profitable for Christianity presented to those Churches and Societies of Christians which professe the Scripture of the Old and New Testament for the only Rule of Faith Manners Wherein the true and genuine way to reconcile Christians is laid open Translated out of Latine into English by a lover of Truth and Peace LONDON Printed for George Whittington at the Blew Anchor in Cornhill neer the Royall Exchange 1648. TO THE READER COurteous Reader That the Authors name and other circumstances of the Work are not here expressed know it was done for thy sake to prevent sinister prejudice which is wont commonly to arise from such undertakings especially when men write pro and con Otherwise there is no reason why they should not be published to all men In the meane time if thou knowest any thing belonging to this designe conceale it till the Author when he shall judge it expedient manifest himself Farewell Reade Iudge Answer but on this condition that thou remember it spoken to thy self and others Iohn 7.24 Judge not according to the appearance but judge righteous judgement A PREFACE WHosoever shall diligently enquire into the stirres and tumults that are every where to be seen amongst Christians will finde them chiefely to arise from hence that the Leaders of almost every Party claime to themselves a divine authority as if they were true Preachers and men of God Upon which ground they are so busie in stirring up not only private Christians but also Magistrates to engage themselves in the quarrell of the Church that is of the Priests esteeming the determinations of the Church as the Oracles of God Constantine the Great though otherwise a sage and excellent Prince was yet brought into this fooles paradise and so exceedingly doated on the Priests as that he stuck not to say that the voice of three hundred Bishops met together was no other then the voice of God himselfe and accordingly imployed his power in persecuting those whom the Bishops had voted Heretiques In whose steps Christian Princes have ever since for the most part trodden to the great disturbance of their Subjects and many times to the hazard of their own Crownes Wherefore it much conduceth to the Peace and Welfare of Christian States that the vanity of the claime which the Priests lay to divine Authority should be detected made known to the world that Christians may cease for shame to prosecute any longer their interests perceiving their office to be but an ordinance of man For if they as they pretend had received a Commission from God they would not only know when they received it and what the particulars of it are but would also be able to make it appeare to others For it would be unsuitable to the wisedome of God to send messengers on other termes since he would thereby expose not only them but his own Majesty to scorne and contempt For who would not laugh at such a Prince as should send Embassadours to treat of some waighty affayres in his Name without a Commission or Letters of Credence to give assurance of their Embassie But the Preachers of our times can neither tell us when the Word of God came to them as being instituted of man without any divine Revelation nor do they know what the particulars of their message are as learning all their skill out of books like other men and therefore being uncertaine of the truth of the Gospell they preach contrary to one another yea the same person oftentimes preacheth contrary to himselfe crying up that one while for truth which another while he cryeth down againe for errour nor can they make their calling apparant to others in that their speech and preaching standeth only in the plausible words of mans wisdome but not in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power and yet they presently take on if we receive them not as speaking in the Name of God not waighing that whosoever speaketh in the Name of God intituleth God to whatsoever he publisheth and consequently if his doctrine be false as that of our Preachers must needs be in regard of the contrarieties found therein intituleth God himselfe to false doctrine which is a grievous impiety Upon these grounds therefore let us compare the Preachers of our times with Christ and his Apostles which heretofore spake in the Name of God and we shall the better perceive how unlike our Preachers are to them and therefore cannot be their successours as they pretend nor true Messengers of God but rather false Prophets against whom God himselfe denounceth a woe for running when he hath not sent them and prophesying when he hath not spoken to them For Christ and his Apostles were certaine of the doctrin that they preached and therefore constantly taught in one and the same straine but our Preachers are altogether uncertaine of theirs and thereupon bewray so much sicklenesse in their teaching They required not that men should beleeve them as coming from God unlesse they did the works of God but our Preachers though destitute of divine power doe yet fall foule upon all those who do but make a question of their calling They though they were both themselves infallibly assured of their doctrine and could by miracles make their hearers also infallibly assured of it yet never desired that Refractories should be compelled to embrace it though thereby they should have been compelled to nothing but the truth but our Preachers though they be at a loss as to the exact and entire truth of the Gospell and not able to beget a certainty in their hearers yet never cease to importune the assistance of the Magistrate to force the people to submit to their doctrine though most commonly it be contrary both to Scripture and to common sense But let us leave prosecuting these false teachers in the Name of God any further lest we too much forestall the reasons that are held forth in this ensuing excellent discourse which doth so canvase the pretended divine authority that the Preachers of our times challenge to themselves and so drive them from post to pillar that they know not where to set their foot so that if they would but seriously waigh what is here offered to their view they would soone pull down their crests and cease to exalt themselves above their brethren acknowledging their owne institution to be as it is indeed meerly humane and that their doctrine ought not to be any further received then the hearers perceive it to be agreeable to Scripture and reason Which if they did the Christian world would soone be at peace and truth be daily more and more discovered since God is not to be found either in the whirlewinde of passion or in the earthquake of persecution but in the still voyce of love and
spirits of those Ministers of the Gospell whom they had found by experience to be true and faithfull servants of God as it is evident from 1 John 4. 1. for it is not said there that they should not beleeve any but not every spirit and that not because of the true and faithfull Ministers of the Gospell who were already known and received but by reason of false Ministers and Prophets who had either revolted or intruded themselves into the Church for it was a different case when those lawfull Ministers were not as yet received for such by the people and known by experience as it is manifest both by our Saviours speech to the Jews John 7.14 15 16 17 18. and the example of the Beroeans Acts 17.10 11 12. for in that case the word of the lawfull Ministers of the Gospell was left to be examined by the people that doubted of it not as if any errour either were or were to be found by the people therein but that the doubting examiner after a due search might be infallibly assured that no errour either was or was to be found there which is so true that whether the examiner of that word said or beleeved that he had found an errour therein or affirmed that he had found no errour therein yet their word remaineth as before wholly intrinsically undoubtedly and meerly true 1 Cor. 14.37 38. but after they had found those Ministers to be true and lawfull that of the Apostle taketh place 1 Thes 2.13 For this cause also we Paul Sylvanus and Timotheus give thanks to God incessantly in that when ye received the word of God preached by us ye received it not as the word of men but as it is indeed the word of God which also effectually worketh in you that beleeve Wherefore as at this day none suspecteth godly Ministers who are known and received for such that they in their preaching wilfully depart from the known truth but is rather perswaded that their whole endeavour is to keepe close to it so likewise it is to be granted that the people of that age were fully perswaded of their Ministers who were known to be godly that they rightly imployed their gifts which Ministers since they might continue in the meer purity of that word and not depart from it must needs performe that which they desired and were able to do and consequently there was no reason that the faithfull of that age should have any sinister suspition of such Ministers untill by contrary proofs of evil life and doctrine they had rendred themselves unworthy to be accounted lawfull Ministers of God which if they did it could easily be discovered by the faithfull of that age as we have already shewn in the thirteenth Article 16. But though some particular Ministers in the time of the Apostles did indeed revolt from the word of the Gospell yet did they not presently forfeit their Ministery because as they might revolt so they might repent and returne againe into the right way a Apoc. 3.1 2 3 14 15 16 17 18 19 Col. 4.17 1 Tim. 1.3 4. and therefore there was hope that they would revert to the integrity of their first institution wherein Christ had given them a faculty to preach the Gospell by way of embassage for God which faculty they had both reduced into act in the beginning of their preaching and though they had afterwards revolted yet if they were not wanting to themselves might again renew it and therefore because according to the institution and will of Christ they had been furnished with a word that was wholly intrinsically undoubtedly and meerly true and had been specially and duly called by Apostles or Apostolick men to officiate for God likewise because they might persist in the originall truth of their institution or if they revolted return unto it again for this reason I say they did not presently forfeit the title and function of Ministers of the Gospel because there was hope that they would again return to those divine beginnings which would have had no place if either their doctrine had not at first been instituted by Christ that they by it might officiate for God or they had not gotten a faculty to preach a word wholly intrinsically undoubtedly and meerly true or they could not have persisted in that truth though they endeavoured it never so much or there had been no hope that they could attain to the truth of the first institution of the Ministers of Christ or in a word if they had never before really performed or were not as yet able to perform the things that were requisit to the first institution of Christ Ephes 4.11 c. for in these cases it necessarily followeth that they who had never stood in such or such a condition cannot be said to fall from it much lesse that they are able still to persist in it Apoc. 3. v. 1. And unto the Angel of the Church in Sardis Write These things saith he that hath the seven spirits of God and the seven stars I know thy works that thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead v. 2. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die for I have not found thy works perfect before God v. 3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent If therefore thou shalt not watch I will come on thee as a thief and thou shalt no know what hour I will come upon thee v. 14. And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write These things saith the Amen the faithfull and true witness the beginning of the creation of God v. 15. I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot I would thou wert cold or hot v. 16. So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot I will spue thee out of my mouth v. 17. Because thou sayest I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked v. 18. I counsell thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire that thou mayest be rich and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear and anoint thine eyes with eye salve that thou mayest see v. 19. As many as I love I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and repent Col. 4. v. 17. And say to Archippus Take heed to the ministery which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfill it 1 Tim. 1. v. 3. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine v. 4. Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies which minister questions rather then edifying which is in faith so do 17. Wherefore since in the institution of Christ regard is to be had to the gifts wherewith particular Ministers were instituted by him and not to