or other 3 Union of way for promoting this design working and walking together in the same work and way of the Lord speaking or doing nothing through strife or vain glory but truthing it in love so as seeking and striving to walk together in setting forth commending cleaving to and leading others unto the same one Lord and so the one faith and the one baptism that is of and by him and the glory of God as shined forth in his face unto and for all things and in teaching all things therewith Seeking I say to walk together in this way of understanding in their several gifts administrations operations c. studying and striving each of them and together in the light and strength of the Lord to speak the same thing and to be perfectly joyned together in one mind and one judgment that there be no divisions c. 1 Cor. 1. 10. and chap. 12. 6 12. with Ephes 4. 1. 15. And so 4 Union of accord and agreement such as in which all things by each one are sought to be done in charity and with the advice consent prayers and helpfulness of their brethren in the faith and patience of Jesus that they may be blessed out of the house of the Lord and grow by that which every joynt supplyeth and to that purpose the younger submitting to the elder and all of them one to another in the fear of God And so there is in it 5 An union of fellowship one wiâ—h another and that in personal society and companionship for fellowship in the Gospel and ordinances thereof for acquainting our selves with the joys and griefs of one another for stirring up and exhorting to love and good works not forsaking the assembling of themselvs together as the manner of some is who are sensual not retaining the spirit This of personal society with them that call on him out of a pure heart is to be prized and embraced as one of the choicest outward mercies and blessings of this life and of greatest advantage to the one thing needfull and to be striven for in all our seekings namely the faith of the Gospel and therefore the opportunities God gives for it with diligence to be apprehended and improved See Psalm 84. and 122. Acts 2. 42. 46. Hebrews 10. 23 24 25. with chapter 3. 12 13. And in communicating on with another by and diligent improving the helpfulness that we may enjoy from such persons as afore-said by that meanes when personal converse or society with them cannot be enjoyed Till I come saith the Apostle to Timothy give attention to reading c. Signisying That when the Apostle should be personally present with him it might be of more use and advantage to Timothy to apply himself to personal converse with him and to attend to what he might personally hear and receive from him But when opportunity for that is denyed the reading searching and studdy of the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles and so the reading and considering the writings of such as have that lap of knowledge fore-mentioned the Word of God and testimony of Jesus and searching the Scriptures of truth whether those things be so and in such wise attending to those helps to our understanding and usefulness of the Scriptures and great things of Gods love conâ—ained in them that we may injoy from such persons is in the next place of great advantage and usefulness to the promoting these our main affairs Onely here be we admonished by the words of the wise given forth from one Shepheard That as no man can gather Grapes of Thorns nor Figgs of Thistles so neither can we expect to reap any good fruit or advantage but loss and pollution to the corruping our minds and manners from evil communication or the communication about the things of God from evil persons or such as love not the Lord Jesus Christ nor have that lip of knowledge that word of reconciliation in their hearts or mouths or in some measure having it yet are not so subdued by it to let fall their imaginations and high thoughts of comprehending and making out those things of the testimony of God by the wisdome of man or of this World and by the words which mans wisdome teacheâ—h not willing to become Fooles in themselves that they may have all their wisdome and strength in that evidence and demonstration of the Spirit that is in the testimony of Jesus The discourses or writings of such even of such as the last though they the best and most to be respected of the several sorts mentioned because they have in some measure the testimony of God though not subdued by it they seek to comprehend and declare it by mans wisdome or words as 1 Corinthians 1. 17. and 2. 1. 4. and 3. 18 19 20. 1 Timothy 6. 21. which makes that even such helps of either sort are little helpfull to those that through Grace have believed or to the convincing the ignorant and gain-sayers because they make it not their business nor doth their excellency lye there plainly to shew and demonstrate by the Scriptures Jesus the Christ and so other things in that demonstration of him by the Scriptures and so leave it on mens Consciences as his word and in his name But rather to shew and demonstrate those things by strength of reason or excellency of wisdome and of words which mans wisdome teacheth Compare the fore-mentioned Scriptures with Acts 18. 27 28. Those seeming helps may occasion to us much bodily exercise and such kinde of study as is a wearisomness to the flesh but the profit gained by them is but little and for a little while And if time were spared from such discourses and readings as in which chiefly the excellency of wisdome and of words is shewed in declaring and for demonstrating and making out the testimony of God we might have more to spend better and in more free and diligent attention to those helps that might be indeed helps and profitable to us But how much more are we to go from the presence of such soolish men as have not the lip of knowledge so soon as we perceive it to cease to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge because not onely they are in themselves polluting but also that with more diligence and earnestness we may continue together in the Apostles Doctrine and sellowship striving together for the faith of the Gospel that in nothing we may be terrified by our adversaries When the wicked did gather together in bands and were therein more powerful to do mischief to rob and rend from David he then resolves to be a companion of all those that fear the Lord and of those that in their fear or worship keep his way his precepts as of great advantage to strengthen him against the bands of the wicked Psal 119. 61 63. So in the latter dayes when there are of those many sorts of walkers who are enemies to the Cross
the Apostles that they are therein mighty through God to the opening the eyes of the blind convincing the ignorant and gainsayers of the vanity and falsenesse of other foundations in the plaine demonstration of this in the evidence and demonstration of the spirit with power and to the helping them much who through grace believe Acts 18. 24 25 27 28. 1 Cor. 14. 1 3 4 20 24 25. There is also an inferiour degree of this gift of prophecy called in Eph. 4. 11. Evangelizing included in Prephets 1 Cor. 12. 28. In which though there may be wanting some of that abillity and skill forementioned yet there is so much of that nature as may render their feete beautifull to the alluting and drawing to Christ especially on the barren Mountaines where men are not so setled on other objects or where they are in any measure taken off from finding content rest and feeding in them Yea they that have not this gift that are much wanting and short in such understanding and acquaintance with the Scriptures and such skill in the word of righteousnesse the great things of his Law contained in them as might apt them so to open the foundation and shâ—w the great things of Christ by the Scriptures and therewith open the Scriptures of the Prophets by the Apostles shew things to come and thence and therewith to instruct c. as before Yet they may have some word of knowledge or of faith some feeding or teaching gift in which they may be fellow helpers to the truth by confessing his name as they have proved the goodnesse and truth of it and may be helped to expresse it by the Scriptures though not so to open interpret and give the sence of the Scriptures and shew the scope of them and instructions contained in them as others that have a more excellent gift that way Each might be profitable to themselves and others to their brethren and the world and comely and usefull in their generation were they content to keep their place and so to minister as they have received the gift and as God hath distributed to every one Every one might have joy and praise from God in a right exercise of his owne gift that God hath given him if he were not seeking to have the rejoycing use and praise of anothers gift which yet is not his owne which indeed springs from a desire of vaine glory whence those admonitions Rom. 12. 3. 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. with such vehemency urged 2. There are some appointed of God to goe before others as guides rulers elders or leaders in the Word of the Lord to whom is especially committed the peculiar service of Preaching the Crosse of Christ of witnessing repentance and remission of sins in his name and so of shewing Jesus Christ and the things of him out of the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles compared And therewith interpreting and opening the Scriptures giving the sence of the manifold instructions judgements encouragements reproofes exhortations c. Contained therein and contending with opposers to them also is more peculiarly committed the whole charge of ordering and managing the affaires of the Gospell in the Church and to the world-ward according to their capacity and opportunity in the severall places where they are set And these according to the instructions of the Apostles given by the one Shephard with the advice prayers and help of their brethren in the faith as they may enjoy it are to commit to others their severall charges according to their fitnesse in first and second degrees They are to commit the chiefe worke of preaching and giving the sence of the Scriptures and shewing the things of Christ out of them and contending with adversaryes for the faith unto faithfull men who shall be able to teach others also Seeing to them as they have opportunity that they teach no other doctrine instructing helping and going before them in their Ministry and seeking in a Gospell way to stop the mouths of unruly and vain talkers And to others that are faithfull though not so able nor gifted for the forementioned services as there is occasion and need they may commit the administration of the outward ordinance of Baptizeing in his Name which is mentioned by the Apostle as a lighter matter of the Law and not so peculiarly appropriated to choice instruments as also we have shewed before in 1 Cor. 1. 14-17 which likewise is signified in our Saviours committing that to his disciples before so sit to be sent forth to preach John 4. 2. And in Peters appointing that to be done by others when yet none of them but himselfe that we read of had preached the Gospell to that people Act. 10. 48. And so the testimoniall receiving in that ordinance the little children brought and presented to the Church As also some care and charge of them and of their parents that they may be kept and brought up in the Schoole of Christ and so in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Likewise according to their capacity some care and charge of other persons adheering to the Gospell with them and so also of one another Care of their souls in faithfull admonishing warning the unruly comforting and strengthening the weake exhorting one another bearing one anothers burtherns c. as 1 Thess 5. 14 15. c. Heb. 3. Gall. 6. 1-5 6. And so care of their bodyes also in visiting the sick having inspection into the wants of the needy and some more particularly as they have capacity and opportunity to see to what is needfull to the mannagement of the affaires of the Gospell as to the entertainment of strangers and otherwise helping forward the fellow-helpers to the truth and to these purposes to be ready themselves and to provoke and stir up others to love and good workes And some to receive and distribute as necessity and opportunity calls for it the liberallity of others to the reliefe of the needy as to other the forementioned purposes And those that are appointed or in any wise set apart as by way of office to such service for all that have believed in God ought to be carefull to maintaine good workes each acording to their capacity and are so to be charged by those over them in any sence in the Word of the Lord yea to stir up and provoke one another thereto Tit. 3. 8 14 1 Thess 5. 14 15. Heb. 10. 24 and 13. 1 2. 3 John 4. 5 6. But those that are in any wise set apart by way of office to such service as the takeing any oversight of their brethren in these things and mannaging these affaires in the Church and for the good of the world They especially are to be such as are knowne to be men sound in the faith honest and of good report and in some measure full of the holy Ghost and of wisedome that the name of God be not evill spoken of but gloryfied among the Gentiles and the designe of the
and worship him or come to God by him nor seek the lifting him up but turn the grace of God in that unspeakable gift into wantonness turn his glory into shame loving vanity and seeking after lyes I say the removing or cutting off such from the earth cannot come under this consideration as a woe affliction or judgement to the Survivers their being so cut off is a heavy judgement to themselves because they are therein cut off for ever and driven away in their wickedness into utter darkness From the time of their death their is a great Gulf fixed that they can never return to any mercy or door of hope but perish for ever without any regarding it which should teach us not to desire such a wofull day because so woful to them nor to hasten from following him in seeking their good Jer. 17. 16. But the perishing of such is so far from being a judgement of this nature to others That on the other hand as when they rise increase or bear rule a man is hidden Prov. 28. 12. Even the man Christ is hidden his visage more marred then any mans and the man that is godly and so such as are valiant for the truth and have quit themselves thereto like men from those divers entanglements and lusts that weaken They are sought for to be suppressed kept under and hidden yea men not onely such but even all that in any sense quit themselves like men and will not subject themselves to their principles and traditions are faine to hide themselves And therefore thereby the people generally have cause of mourning so when they perish the righteous increase and it goeth well with them and thereby the people rejoyce and there is shouting See Prov. 28. 12 28. and 29. 2. and 11. 10. But they are the righteous even such as have righteousness and strength in the Lord seeking it there by faith in him that ceasing from their own works in the light and power of his testimony believe on him that justifieth the ungodly having raised up Jesus our Lord from the Dead who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification They are such as having tasted that the Lord is gracious do cleave to him with full purpose of heart and are by his goodness retained in the midst of their hearts fitted and apted with earnestness to stir up others so to do Such they are whose being taken away out of this life in the flesh is to themselves great gain whose removal from us is to the Survivers generally great loss a heavy woe and affliction whether they be sensible of it or no. Because such men are through the grace in Christ received and retained by them in its own light and power qualified to mind and seek the promoting of the things of Christ in the World and so the good of others therein and are therefore set and preserved in the World to that purpose To them to live is Christ it tends to the setting forth and magnifying him and so to the carrying on his design and business in the World To die is to themselves gain and advantage but that reaches but to themselves and so the affliction and judgement in the removal of such is greater as they were more one with him in his design not seeking their own things but the things which be Jesus Christs 2 The manner of removing or taking away of such persons that is especially to be looked upon by us as such a woe and affliction in which evil Breaches are made upon us It is not simply or onely their being taken away by death for it s appointed to men the whole kind once to die and that first death is so abolished the sting and wrath so taken out of it that no man shall perish or be holden for ever in that nor is it in himself simply a judgement in wrath or anger to themselves or others for any man once to die But when death seizes them or they are snacht away by it unseasonably or before the time or when it is in some signal testimony of displeasure then it is a correction or judgement either to themselves or to others or to both Now that men may die before their time that they may shorten their dayes though they cannot lengthen them or that the shortning or cutting them off in the midst or before the appointed time may by some means be procured to them is evident in the Scripture There is saith Job an appointed time to man upon earth the number of his Moneths or Dayes are with God beyond which he cannot pass Also his dayes are like the dayes of an hireling Of which a forfeiture may be made to the shortning them Therefore he saith All the Dayes of of his appointed time he would wait till his change came not hasting his end as he was councelled by his wife Chap. 2. 9. And begs of God to turn from him namely his wrath or not to set his iniquities before him his secret sins in the light of his countenance as Psalm 90. 7 8 9. That he might rest or be spared a little to recover strength and not consumed or cut off by the blow of his hand as Psalm 39. 10 13. till he should accomplish as an hireling his day Job 7. 1. and 14. 5 6. 14. See also that caution Eccles 7. 17. Why shouldst thou die before thy time Of like import to this purpose is that saying of Hezekiah That in the cutting off his Dayes threatned he was deprived of the residue of his years his age was departed from him he had cut off like a Weaver his life Isaiah 38. 10. 12. Yea we find that both good and righteous men and also wicked and ungodly men may be cut off and die before their appointed time But this difference is alwayes to be observed The cutting off wicked and ungodly men is alwayes mentioned as a judgement upon themselves such as in which they are utterly â—ut off from all hope driven away in their wickedness but not as a judgment or evil breach or wo to the survivers Yea rather such providences are mentioned as having favor and mercy in them towards others from amongst whom such are cut off As Sauls being cuting off was in wrath to himself but in mercy to Israel So Ahitophel and Judas cut off in judgement to themselves but there being cut off was no evil breach upon others but on the other hand a signal manifestation of Gods taking part with the righteous and pleading their cause for the good of others so that doom generally threatned on such men as put forth their hands against those that be at peace with them break the covenant are bloody and deceitful men as Judas Ahitophel and others that they shall not live out half their dayes Psalm 55. 20 23. â—â—â— mentioned as Gods faithfulness and mercy to the righteous for their sustaining and that they may not be moved by their afflictions afflictions
that life in him and so through the taste of his graciousness are as lively stones built up in him a spiritual house for him to dwell and walk in and so manifest himself in and through them Hebrews 3. 6. 2 Corinthians 6. 16. 1 Corinthians 3. 16 17. John 14. 21. 23. An holy Priest-hood to offer up by him Spiritual sacrifices of praise to God continually even the fruit of their lips confessing to his name as well as in doing good and communicating for with such sacrifices also God is well pleased Heb. 13. 15 16. A Chosen Generation a Holy Nation a Peculiar People that they should shew forth the praises of him that called them out of darkness into his marvellous light 1 Peter 2. 4 5. 9 10. They are the Salt of the earth the light of the World let and preserved in it to shine as lights by holding forth the word of life in it in word and conversation so working out to others their own salvation Mat. 5. 13. 16. Phil. 2. 12. 16. Whence Timothy is instructed to be an example of believers in word and conversation c. 1 Timothy 4. 12. That they might all each in their place and according to their capacity be followers of him as he was of Christ and so together with him of Christ and his Apostles Hence also our Saâ—iour in John 17. Praying for such peculiar blessings as in which the persons prayed for might be sanctified through the truth to the ministration of it and holding it forth to the world which blessings he prayes not for for the world that they should be conferred on any man that is yet abiding in the state condition and way of the World such being not appointed of him to this service Yet he saith he prayes for those peculiar blessings not onely for those first messengers whom he sent immediately to that work of the Ministry as the Father sent him and to whom he gave the grace of Apostleship for obedience to the faith among all Nations nor onely to the more eminently gifted believers But in those prayers he also prayed for all those that in after Ages should believe through their word That they also might be one in this service in a secondary sence so as receiving it and their fitness to it in believing through the Apostles doctrine That they all might be one in will and design with the Father and Son and with his Apostle for carrying on this business that through him by meanes of them instrumentally the World might know and believe that the Father had sent Christ the Saviour of the World and loveth those that through his grace believe as he hath loved him or with such manner of love in a subordinate sense John 17. 9. 24. 2 The Priesthood being changed there is therein made of necessity a change also of the law for service There is verily a disanulling of the commandement going before for the weakness and unpâ—ofiâ—ableness of it For the law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better hope by the which we draw nigh to God If perfection were by the Levitical Priesthood under which the people received the law what farther need was there that another Priest should arise after the order of Melchizedeck c. There is therefore a change of the law for service 1. In respect of the persons unto whom their ministration of and about holy things is to be extended and amongst whom to be exercised 2. In respect â—â— the manner of their work or service in the charge committed to them yet in both it 's such as answers to those patterns and tipical reâ—â—mbâ—ances that was in theirs 1. As to the persons unto whom their ministry is to be extended and among whom to be exercised As their charge was to bear and keep the vessels of the Lord and to minister about holy things for and in the behalf of the whole Congregation of Israel after the flesh To whom was committed the Oracles of God the knowledge of which as given by the Prophets was by the Priests lips to be preserved amongst and unto them To whom also pertained the Adoption the Glory the Covenants the giving of the law the service of God and the promises Rom. 3. 2. and 9. 4. Even so now The charge of the holy Priesthood whom the Father hath given unto Christ to minister unto him and keep his charge who is the great Apostle and High-Priest of our profession is to bear the vessels of the Lord and to minister about holy things for and in the behalfe of unto and amongst all Nations Unto the Apostles eminently this charge was committed to go into all the World to disciple the Nations to Christ baptizing them in his name preaching the Gospel to every creature of all the Nations small and great Jew and Gentile bond and free witnessing repentance and remission of sins to them and amongst them as in his name for them and that in baptizing them with their word or doctrine and also as an outward seal to that with water in his name and therein teaching them to observe as instructed moved and capacitated by his preventing Grace through their word all things that Christ had commanded them To them was committed the grace of Apostleship for obedience to the faith among all Nations for his name And unto all them that believe through their word in a secondary sense is this charge committed That they should shine as lights in the World as they have capacity and opportunity in their several places where they are set to keep that commandement without spot until the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ They ought not to account any man common or unclean or as left under that outward state of uncleanness which sometime remained on the Gentiles who are now made nigh by the blood of Christ Act. 1â— 28. Ephes 2. 13. 17. and 3. 1. 10. The Servants therefore as Servants not as Lords or Worldly Princes by a worldly power nor by the wrath of man are to indeavour the gathering them together as many as they finde both good and bad and the bringing them into his house to rejoyce with his People to eat of his Bread and drink of the Wine that he hath mingled Proverbs 9. 3 4 5. Matthew 22. 9 10. Romans 15. 6. 9. c. 2. As to the manner of their service in the charge commited to them whereas the service of the Levitical Priesthood was exercised in the tipes and patters of Heavenly things and so in offering such gifts and sacrifices as could never make themselves and therefore not the comers perfect as pertaining to the Conscience but stood onely in meats and drinks and divers washings and tipical rights and ceremonies imposed on them till the time of reformation they had a Worldly or Earthly Sanctuary and Vessels of the Ministry committed to their charge They had an earthly and tipical Ark and mercy seat all patterns and figures of the true and
received in and through him and in the receiving of him even in the believing on his name unto which also his Gospel is his arm or power sent forth 1 John 5. 11 12. Col 1. 14 15 19. and 2. 2 9. with John 17. 4 5. 1 Peter 1. â—1 Hebrews 1. 3. and 9. 24. 1 Joh. 1. 1 2. Hebr. 7. 23. 25. c. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Joh. 14. 3. Rom. 8. 17 18. Phil 3. 3. 9 10. 21. In him is manifested the righteousness of God in that promise and Oath unto David That of the fruit of his Loynes according to the Flesh God would raise up Christ to sit on his Thrrne In that God hath made that Jesus of the seed of David after the Flesh both Lord and Christ and set him on his Holy Hill on his Right Hand in that Glory of his Father in which also he shall gloriously appear in due time to take to him his great power and reign till all enemies be subdued and then deliver up the Kingdome to God his Father He is already raised and entered into his glooy and shall no more return to corruption And as so raised and exalted with the Right Hand of Power is called the sure mercies of David in whom God hath manifested his truth to David and that he will not lye unto David or fail him of a man to sit on his Throne for ever Acts 2. 25 36. and 13. 32. 37. compared with 2 Sam. 7. 12. 16. 1 Kings 2. 4. and 8. 25. with 2 Sam. 23. 5. Psal 89. 19. 37. and 132. 11. Isa 55. 3 4. 6. In him likewise is the body and truth of those manifold figures tipes and shadowes under the law as to instance in some few He in that body raised from the Dead is the true Temple and Sanctuary which the Lord hath pitched and not Man John 2. 19. 22. Hebrews 9. 11. 2 Cor. 5. 1. In whom the fulness of the God-head dwells bodily that so of his fulness we may receive Col. 2. 9. John 1. 16. As also the Great Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession and so the Minister of the holy things of that true Tabernacle of his own body Heb. 1. 2. And in comming into him others are made of the Spiritual House and holy Priesthood as before is shewed He is the body and truth of all signified in those tipical offerings of the Lord made by fire yea of all those Sacrifices Atonements and Offerings for sin in that offering of his own body once for all in which the Father hath smelt a savour of rest for ever and which he ever lives to present and now to appear in in the presence of God for us He is the true Ark and treasury of all Grace and Truth for the Law came by Moses discovering sin witnessing and leading to the better hope in Christ and this whole Testament was kept in the Ark with divers other things But gâ—â—câ— and truth in the forgiveness of sins charged by the Law and the fulfilling all the Tipes and shadowes of it came by Jesus Christ and is now manifested as kept and treasured up in him in whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdome and Knowledge that with him they may be given and opened to us and so he is the true mercy seat answering to the tipical one which covered the Ark of the Testament that charged with sin and concluded under curse and whence also the oracle came forth He is the propitiation or covering the atonement and reconciliation for our sins and not for our sins onely but also for the sins of the whole World He is our peace and being so is also the way by and through which God is gracious and speaks graciously to men yea the Oracle by whom he hath spoken and through which he speaketh to us in these last dayes Yea in him the Oyl for anointing to service and light for directing in all our worship even in the man Christ Jesus and so brought to us in the revelation of him in the Doctrine of God our Saviour in which dispensation of the fulness of times God hath gathered together all things in one even in Christ and so given us the manifestation of the truth of all those former Oracles Prophesies Tipes and Shadowes in the testimony of Jesus of the seed of David after the flesh delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification Of this truth of all former witnesses and shadowes and so of the righteousness of God in them as now come forth in Christ the Church may be said to be the Pillar and ground not so as to uphold or support the truth in a proper sense To be put to that charge and hard service is proper to the makers and worshippers Idols the imagined Deities and Rocks of mens chusing which indeed are no Gods but vanity and lyes and therefore cannot bear up support or save them that look to the nor can they stand by themselves but must be born up and maintained by them that make and worship them And prove so heavy a burthen to the weary beast that they are not able to support maintain defend and save them Isa 46. 1 2. 5. 7. Jer. 10. 5. c. But the portion of Israel is not like them for he is the former of all things The truth of God in Christ as now raised from the dead iâ— the begetter maintainer and upholder of his Chruch Isa 46. 3 4. Jeremiah 10. 10. c. with James 1. 18. 1 Timothy 4. 10. In the Lord they have righteousness and strength Isaiah 45. 20. 25. But their work to which also they are begotten and strengthned of him is so to keep retain and bear upon them the writing of this manifestation of the truth of God in the tidings and patterns of it so fair and without spot that others may see and read it in their word and conversation and so instrumentally also through him that worketh in them mightily to maintain and defend it in the World To watch in all things to keep the commandement delivered to them without spot unrebukable c. That the truth of the Gospel may continue with others So Paul was a chosen Vessel to Christ to bear his name before the Gentiles and Kings and the children of Israel to keep the Faith and that the truth of the Gospel might continue with others Acts 9. 15. 2 Timothy 4 7. Gal. 2. 5. And so he instructs Timothy to watch in all things to the keeping this charge 1 Tim. 6. 12 13 14. and 2 Tim 4. 5. And all believers so to shine as lights in the World as a City set on a Hill as a Candle on a Candle-stick holding forth the word of life in word and conversation That it may be seen and read of all men Matthew 5. 14 15 16. Philippians 2. 15 16. And as in old time a pillar was used for a witness remembrance of Gods gracious appearances Gen. 28. 11. 18. 22. and 35.
Gospell not hindered but farthered and promoted by each in their place Act. 6. 1-6 1 Tim. 3. 7-13 And therefore also the rich to be more vehemently charged not to be high-minded nor trust in uncertaine riches to doe good yea to be rich in good workes ready to distribute willing to communicate 1 Tim. 6. 17 18. Now those appointed of God in especiall manner to goe before others in the word of the Lord and in the ordering and mannagement of these affaires and more especially to commit to others their severall charges and burthens Who are also so to be knowne approved allowed and submitted to in the Lord by their brethren and to be prayed for and blessed out of the house of the Lord they are such as are furnished to such peculiar service and oversight of others and so also approved and appointed thereto by Jesus Christ the great Apostle and high Priest of our profession and so in and by the Apostles doctrin instructions and commandements given us by the Lord Jesus And they are such as are faithfull men upright fixed to seeke righteousnesse and strength in Christ holding fast the faithfull word wherein they have beene taught and not novices therin but elders in the faith in Christ the elders that are among them such as are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ yea such as are and have beene some time preserved blamelesse as 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. For though some mens sins rendring them unfit for such service are open going before-hand so as manifesting themselves to the judgement of others yet all doe not so but some follow after likewise also the good works or quallifications rendering meet for such service in some are manifest before-hand and may seem more then they are and they that are otherwise that is in any measure truly fitted and quallified to it and yet not so much or forward in appearance they cannot be hid but will in due time for their thrusting forth be manifested at least to the judgement of such as Timothy that should have a more speciall hand in knowing and thrusting forth such therefore Timothy was to lay hands suddenly on no man that so he might commit these things to faithfull men who should be able and fitly quallified to teach others also 1 Tim. 5. 21 22 24 25. 2 Tim. 2. 2. Such are the called to such peculiar service to such is the speciall charge of watching for others soules or keeping this whole commandement without spot unrebukeable untill the appearing of Jesus Christ Such others are admonished to know and esteeme very highly for their works sake especially such as labour most abundantly in the word and doctrine yea to obey them in the Lord and to be followers together of them as they are of Christ and so with them followers of him considering the end of their conversation which is Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever 1 Thess 5. 12 13. 1 Tim. 5. 17. Phil. 3. 17 20 21. Heb. 13. 7 8 17. 3. They all the whole body of unfeigned believerâ— with their chiefe ones Pillars or guides of one degree or another are given as a gift to Christ to be to him a company of spirituall Priests an holy Nation and peculiar people Heb. 3. 1-6 1 Pet. 2. 4 5 9. All his Saints in thy hand they sat downe at thy fcete every one shall receive of thy words Deut. 33. 3. And so therein in some sence given to the Apostles the wise Master builders that they may stand before him and Minister unto him according to the commandments and instructions delivered from that one Shephard by them It is his peculiar work and reserved in his owne hand as the great Apostle and high Priest of our profession not as Aaron and his Sons in their vailed ministry to cover the things committed to the charge of others as the vessells committed to the Kâ—hathites and so commit them covered But to open the things committed in charge to his peculiar people and to commit them unto them as so opened yea the vaile or covering is already taken away in Christ and so in his Ministration Therefore also the Apostles have used all playnness of speech 2 Cor. 3. And given us to see within the vail into the truth of things as found in Christ and brought forth by him For the Law came by Moses but grace and truth by Jesus Christ as is shewed before Yea to him pertaineth the offerings of the Lord made by fire c. He hath fulfilled and brought forth the truth of all in that one offering of his own body once for all and appears now presenting himself that one perfect sacrifice in the presence of God for us yea the great Mediator Apostle and high Priest of our profession and therefore to him pertaineth the oyle for the lights and the anointing oyle he hath prepared and made it in himselfe for us and be gives it forth to him it pertaines to give us wisedome strength and fitnesse to all service and suffering and to make manifest the savour of his knowledge by us to give the encrease and he doth so doe and give by and through the knowledge of himselfe Yea his office it is not onely to Baptize with the holy Ghost but also with fire nor hath he or will he depute any in his place for this or either of these but he will doe it himselfe faithfully and seasonably unto his holy Priesthood and to others also that they may be brought in to them and with them to himselfe he will faithfully poure out his spirituall Baptizing the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost and so give his encrease even by and through them in their observance of his charge loe I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world Math. 28. 19 20. 1 Cor. 3. 5 9. 2 Cor. 3. 1 Thess 4. 8. Yea this promise is to us in and through the Apostles doctrine to whom pertained the revelation of the Mistery formerly hid or not so manifested that for obedience to the faith among all Nations for his â—ame among whom we are also the called of Jesus Christ by their Gospell as Rom. 1. 5 6 7. 2 Thess 2. 13 14. He is the great Master of them and us who hath already given the word by them All we are brethen and to receive the Law from his mouth yet the Apostles as wise Master-builders in his name have laid the foundation we are to build on that good foundation as laid by them and as also they have instructed us to build on it 1 Cor. 3. 10 c. And so to be followers together of Christ and thereto and therein shall enjoy those great and precious promises sorementioned as 2 Pet. 1. 3 4. c. with Job 14. 21 23. He will dwell in them and walk in them as 2 Cor. 6. 16 18 c. Yea he will seasonblic follow with his fiery Baptisme more immediately