that power and authority given to these that Christ hath given to his Church for the Saints to have exercised in the Church among them 1 For removing scandalous things and persons 2 For advice and counsel 3 For exhortation reproof 2 It is for the work of the ministry 1 These all only can do but the work of the ministry that is to be done in the Church I speak not here of that part of ministry exercised to those without the Church 2 Without all these as I have formerly shewed they are and ought to be in the Church the work of the ministry cannot be done according to Gospel rules 3 There is no other worke to be done by the ministry either in teaching or ruling then what is to be done by these only 4 The Church is not nor cannot be sufficiently provided for without all these but it must be imperfect and must be straightned in the worke of the ministry which is the onely worke we ought to strive to have wrought amongst us 5 Ordination being a Presbyterial or ministerial act is in every right constituted Church virtually as other ordinances of the Church are 6 Hence the Church hath all power in it selfe that is or can be for its good communicated of Christ unto it and needs not to go out of it self to any other for help 1 Conclusion Hence is this that there is no other way to be found out more mighty to convince gainesayers to order Assem Ites to build up the Saints maintain unity and peace to restore the humbled to cast out the profane or to doe whatsoever else is to be done ministerially in or for the Church then what these and none but these are to doe 2 Nor hath God left to his Church any other way or means to doe it and especiall care is to be had what authority is exercised what way is erected in the Church of Christ over his people that it prove not Antichristian and turn not unto tyranny over the Saints God complains those that ruled over his people made them to cry and shews Gods people can bear no yoake as Christs that is gentle nor no yoake but Christs the other yoake is an unequall yoake they can never draw easie in it 3 The third thing this ministry is to doe is to edifie the body more then these three things remaines not to be done by the ministry for the church on earth 1 The Apostles and Prophets gave the Scriptures as that by which it may be edifyed 2 The Prophets forwarned her of her sad times and told her again of her glad times to come 3 The Doctor he drew the milke out of the word for the children 4 The Pastor brought forth thence the young mans meat 5 The Evangelist he furnish from thence the strong mans table with strong meat fit to feed him Now judge and tell me without which of these the church can be and how sufficiently God hath provided for his church and people in these 1 Who can preach without the Apostles 2 Who can comfort without the Prophets 3 How can the child live without milke 4 How shall the other christians live without meat Obj. This were not provision sufficient against Heresies Resp Let us take heed of questioning the Lords wisdome in the order taken for the subsistence of the church as if the Lord knew not there would be heresies because he provided not sufficiently against them or that he knew not best how or by whom or by what means to preserve the church against it 2 God doubtlesse will not be wanting to his own Way and whenever his way shall be erected amongst us there will be other manner of gifts communicated by him to the church to doe this and all other things for its good 3. See how little good Counsels have done in this kind since that the frame of Gospel government hath been subverted 4. The Apostle shews ver 14. that this is the only means to preserve men from being carryed away by every wind of doctrine or by the cunning craft of men that lye in wait to deceive 1. More then this what is to be done 2. Shall we now Idolize our own wisdom or submit to Gods way in this matter If we oppose here against God shall we not kick against the pricks 1 Tim. 3.15 The Church is called the pillar and ground of truth as rightly constituted until the Church was driven away the enemy could never set up their heresies so as after Conclusion 1. Let us set up Gods way and that will pul down heresie dissentions will fall quickly and quietly Gods weapons hereunto are full of all might ours full of weakness 2. No Authority is to be made use of in a right constituted Church but that God hath errected only Illustration 1. Gal. 1. The Apostle writes to the Churches of Galatia 1. In Galatia were more Churches then one and so no national Church 2. These Churches are written all unto to amend their corruptions they had within them each one distinctly without any command of acting one with or over another as perfect bodies furnisht with compleat Authority thereunto without any extrinsecal power joyned unto it for assistance The main ground in Scripture brought to prove the Combination of a Ministry in Classes and in provincial and national Assembly I suppose is taken from Acts 15.2 where it is said the Church of Antioch did send to the Apostles and Elders of the Church of Jerusalem about the question Resp 1. This in sending to the Apostles was not to send to Members of another Church but of their own Church the Apostles being Members of all the Churches in the world 2. In the Apostles times the word was not written nor the mind of God fully known therefore no doubtful thing was to be resolved but by their advice as the Epistles of Corinth shew in which it appears the Corinthians had sought to advice of the Apostles in very many cases Object They had Apostolical Authority before they need not to send to Jerusalem for that Paul himself being with them Resp The Church was not builded on one Apostle but the Apostles Ephes 2.20 2. God required that every truth should be confirmed by the Testimony of two or three so that to Apostolical Testimony it was necessary there should be two or three for to confirm it yea God saith there are three that do bear witness in Heaven it self so that it was in this case for confirmation of the Church in the truth that there should be the Testimony of two or three Apostles to witness to it Object They write to the Apostles that indeed was no extrinsecal Authority but here they write to the Elders also that were at Jerusalem and this was extrinsecal Resp. The Apostles and Elders were but one and the same men they were not several persons and here as I suppose is the great mistake in the controversie 1. I have shewed before how James Peter
mentioned in the Ephesians where it is said Christ ascended and gave gifts unto men Thirdly This clearly proves the Apostles had a call to officiate this three-fold office in the Church from Christ immediatly and not only Peter but all the other Apostles Fourthly That first the Saints are to be sed as lambs then as younger sheep then as elder sheep a clearer proof I think there needs none to shew the diversity of gifts and administrations in the Church ought thus to these to be diversly administred Thus the Apostle from 2 Cor. 6.1 where it is written we then as workers together with God Ministers these conclusions to be deduced thence First That the Ministry of the Gospel is not one single work or the work of one only man as now amongst us it is done Secondly That in the primitive times there were in every Church that was constituting two at the least and in every Church that was constituted three These Ministers do not teach distinctively but are co ordinate in the work one to the other and are one for the other and cannot be one without the other in a constituted Church Tourthly This Ministry in the Church is but one Ministry 1 Cor. 3.8 He that plants and he that waters are one that is they are one Ministry not one man which was spoken of the Doctors and the Pastors work in the Ministry Fifthly In no constituted Church we read of more then three in fellowship for the ordinary work of the Ministry 2 Cor. 1.15 Paul Sylvanus and Timothy are these before spoken of and said to work together Sixthly Hence it was I suppose the Apostle condemns the practise of the Corinthians 1 Cor. 1.12 for saying one was of Paul anothers of Apollo another of Cephas These did or others by these intended did work together in the Ministry Now it seems the infants boasted themselves against those that were not in Church-Society the young men boasted themselves against the children c. Now compare the 4 Chap. ver 6.7 the Scriptures clear it they were puffed up one against another and after saith to them who made thee to differ which sheweth that there was not only a difference in the Teacher but also there was a difference made amongst those that were taught in themselves within in their condition without We of the Ministry now that bear the whole burden of the work alone without question do that that never Apostle did or ought not to be done in the Church It may be said to us we take too much upon us what wisdom were it if we did submit to the Gospel rule and think of a means how in Cities to joyn together to the Work of the Lord as it is commanded Object The 1 Cor. 4.15 Though you have ten thousand instructors yet have ye not many fathers Hence it should seem the Church of Corinth had many more Teachers then three in it Secondly Compare 1 Cor. 3.12 with it there are several builders brought in by the Apostles as some building gold silver and precious stones others are said to build of hay wood and stubble Resp 1. That the true Church then must have successively more true Teachers then three because the Apostle could not stay long with them but having planted the Church here goeth to some other place but before his departure he ordained others to supply his place in his absence and of those that went with him to the work elsewhere and in this kind they must have many Teachers Acts 14.23 When they had oadained Elders in every City they departed which shews they departed not until they had ordained Elders Secondly The words are a Hyperbolical expression and prove nothing in particular only they had many and that if they had never so many more he was he that begat them in Christ Now for the second part of the objection taken out of 1 Cor 3.12 1 Note here are two sorts of teachers distingished the one true the other false the faithfull teachers are three the corrupt are the same number The true are distingisht in the difference of the materials set down all are precious but not all alike precious it clearly shews there was to be a difference in the ministry a difference in gifts and difference in doctrine the one inricheth men with silver of the Gospell the other with the gold of the Gospell the other with the precious stones of it 2 Now the false ministry counterfeits the true 1 They will have three in their worke of their ministry as the Apostle had in his 2 They differ in the doctrine also among themselves as hay wood and stubble doe 3 Becaue the Apostle was he which laid the foundation of the Church of Corinth and was the glory of the ministry they will also themselves take on themselves to be Apostles also 4 The Apostles build immediatly on Christ we on the Apostles they build on Christ immediately not on the Apostles they of say Paul his speach is contemtible 1 Cor. 3.10 And here I suppose was the first corruption or counterfeiting of the Church and Church despensations which was not like that mad of Rome in which not onely things were counterfeied to pull down and other set up in their steed that for twelve hundred yeeers it hath not been known what the Church was governed by nor how 1 This confirmes there were many teachers in Corinth indeed 2 But no more but three only in Church fellowship together 3 In that there were but three in the corrupt society no more nor lesse then in the true Church it much consirmes the truth of the doctrine that in the true Church which these did counterfeit there were onley threefold administrations in the Church then in use at Coriuth 4 It shews that the corrupt teachers did retaine the same form of government in their Ghurch as the Apostles had set up in the true for otherwise they hed not been able to draw men away so easily from the truth 5 Paul saith that he transferred the things he spake of the false teachers to the true who were only three Paul Apollo Cephas it is like if they differed in the outward form the Apostle would have reproved it in them 1 Cor. 1.12 compared with 1 Cor. 4.6 2 Cor. 11.13 he calls them false Apostles Secondly he calls them deceitfull workers now in that what they did against the truth was done by deceit it sheweth that they did as much as possibly they could to counterfeit the truth and the true way practised by the Apostles in the Churches A shadow of these things are also set out on the Mosaicall service Aaron and his sons signifie Christ and his two disciples or rather in the Priests and the Levites which were added to them as helpers in the same work First the one was to help kill the other to help wash and then then the Priest offered up the sacrifice so the Apostle desired to offer up the a chaste Virgine to Jesus
against him so will Truth be in power when it s clearly revealed men will not be able so to dispute against it as now they do there will not be that ground for Reason to object against it the Word agrees with it it will condemn every tongue shall speak against it For Independency I agree with it that Corinth Jerusalem and Ephesus is said to be but one Church though it consisted of three several congregations 2. That this Church was ruled by Officers of its own and not by any other Officers of another Church but that all Officers and Offices ought to be compleat in her by which all things ought to be done by her alone 3. I agree with it that people ought to be congregated in a Church-fellowship from the world Applic. is That I verily suppose that Independency comes neerest the minde of Christ of any Yet lest I should be thought to be engaged to them more then others I shall next shew in what I disagree 1 She hath not her full ministry 2 Not the right use of her ministry 3 Not the right way of making her members 4 Not the right way to increase the gifts of God in her members as ordained of the Lord in the word 5 Not the consultations ought to be had and held with the other Ministers to be had in and to be of its own consociation of whom it may be said as Solomon said of others that a three-fold is not easily broken In the government of the Church clearly appears according to the wisdom of God that all Government is comprehended in it Monarchy in that there was one chief Pastor Aristocracy in the consociation of Ministers and Elders Democracy in that many things which concerned the whole Church were to be done by and with consent of the Church 1 Bishops they with the help of Elders they together oppresse the people depriving them of all power 2 The Bishops they grew too great for the Elders and oppressed them 3 The Pope he grew too great for the Bishops now it was all their worke to adulterate the way of Christ in the Churches onely to feed their own greatnesse and further their own vile ends But the grand corruption of all was in that resemblance of Monarchy set up in the Church against Christ against his Law to the casting down of Christ and his worship Now in the revolution of the Churches estate it comes again by degrees to its restauration 1 The Bishops they cast off the Popes yoake 2 By the same argument Bishops cast off the Popes yoake the Presbytery cast off the Bishops 3 The people with a ministry joyn together against Presbytery for Independency 4 In the end when God shall restore the Church to its former estate all these severall wayes of government shall be reestated in the Church again without clashing one with another which now as divided are in some kinde used as it were to the destruction one of another yea of all we are willing to have one alone without the other and so strive to destroy the way God hath constituted in his Church making one form to serve all when all are to be exercised joyntly in the house of God for the more excellent perfect and exact government of it which by no means can be done by any of those powers alone dividedly which what wee doe in seeking one or setting up one above another or against another to the destruction one of other is not easily apprehended especially if wee consider 1. That the priority of the Evangelist was but in one Church-ministry not such as to have it to be as the Papacy or Episcopacy over whole countreys and counties 2. That the consociation or combination of the Presbytery was not over a Nation to exalt it over all but of the ministry joyned in fellowship for the edification of one onely Church consisting of onely an Evangelist Pastor and Teacher ordinarily 3. The Independency was not such as was of one onely minister and members joyned to him with helping governours in whom onely all Church-power should reside but was to be joyned in a combination with other ministers of the same church who were to have their helpers added to them for as Solomon saith In the multitude of Counsellors there is safety 1. The priority of the Evangelist is kept in its limits by the joyning of the Pastor and Teacher with him 2. The power of the Presbytery is moderated by the Elders exceeding them in number 3. The whole Presbytery if they are wanting to the church in things wherein peace and purity do consist are to be subject to the church to give an accompt thereof unto it Acts 11.2 3. Peter having been with Cornelius a Gentile was questioned by some of those that were of the Church at Jerusalem for going in to the uncircumcised and eating with them to which charge of the members Peter gives an accompt rehearsing the matter from the beginning and expounding it unto them 1 Cor. 5.7 the Apostle writes to the whole church to purge out the old leaven Now this was the work of all not of some as appears by the means ordained hereunto which was excommunication not practised then as done by Episcopacy in which the whole power of the Church was clean taken from them 4. Without all question the saying of Christ Go and tell the Church who had no respect to the then Jewish Church but the constitution of Christian Church to be doth imply that in the Church did reside authority and power to punish offenders with ecclesiasticall censures and without them it cannot be done which was the gracious provision God was pleased to make for the Church and the members thereof That this was not meant the Jewish Church appears because there was but little good to be done by telling them of any thing who had cast out all of their congregations that did confesse the name of Jesus Christ 2 He begins in the beginning of the chapter with the Kingdome of heaven which was the Gospel-government Matth. 19.1 and was the cause of what sayings ensued concerning dealing with an offending brother 3. Christ to clear up his meaning in these words to his disciples understandings fetcheth another parable taken from the likenesse of the Kingdome of heaven which was the estate of the Church to be under Gospel-government ver 23. Object Christ meant here the Church of the Jewes there was no other nor could the Disciples understand of what he spake if not of the Jews Church Respon They then understood nothing whatever he taught for he onely taught the mystery of the Kingdom Obj. How should they understand it Reso The holy Spirit tels us that it was given to them to know the mysteryes of the kingdome so that the mysteries and hidden things of the Gospel and Government were in some measure revealed to them though not as after the descending of the holy Spirit on them And here it will not be amisse to