forth sooner he has much to say in answer if he would enlarge but in short some hints he has already given which carry forcibleness of right Words in them to the impartially intelligent and spiritually discerning and he hoped that the Experiences of many in this City upon whose Hearts the LORD had sealed to the Office of his Ministry might have put some timely stop to the further spreading of such defameings Besides it is evident to him being led far into the mystery and meaning of this Providence that this is the fittest season for the making of the present Apology and if either some will charge him with Vanity and Pride with Folly and Vain-boasting in writing so much upon his own Defence or if it have another effect than many are well aware off for the putting of separate Churches upon a further search into the Scriptures of Truth about the right constituting of Churches the lawful Call to the Ministerial Office and Work and some other weighty Ordinances spoken unto in this Paper it will much concern those who make the exception duly to ponder who is chargeable Whether the Apologist who in a Cause and Case so circumstanced doth make his honest Defence and just Plea or those unfriendly ones who have compelled him hereunto which advocating for Innocence so far as it is Innocence has Scripture-Warrant †Joh. 29. and 31. Chap. and elsewhere in that Book Acts 22. and 26. chap. 1 Cor. 4. 1. 5. and 2 Cor. 11. throughout and 12. 11 both in the Old and New Testament so that if he have been a Fool in glorying they are others who have necessitated him thereunto PAVL * Acts 19. 18. and 22. 16. 1 Cor. 1. 13. 17. He was baptized upon this eminent Conversion and clear Call to the Office and Work of the Ministry He being sent more to Preach the Gospel than to Baptize though this were in his Commission too They were not very many whom he did Baptize lest any should misjudge that he had baptized in his own Name which he doth expresly deny and disown He is called upon not to tarry but to arise and baptising to be baptized and wash away his Sins calling on the Name of the Lord whereupon he doth submit to this Baptismal Ordinance SHEM ACHER He having had such Calls and such clearings up of this Call to this Ministerial Office of which so large an Account has been given especially at those solemn Seasons of Fasting and Prayer when he set himself more in serious earnest to be satisfied concerning this his Call from Heaven by the Holy Spirits leaving some sealing Testimony thereof upon his Heart according to the Word at such a needful time when he was under some perplexing Doubts and distressing Fears about this Call Being thus prepared for it as is already rehearsed the Light of amongst some others two Truths and Duties of this Age were evidently made known unto him the one of the Seventh-day weekly Sabbath the other of perfecting Believers Baptism he doth leave others here whose Case at present is or hereafter may be more concerned in this Matter if it be not already perfected upon and in them to consider whether then if there be otherways a fittedness for and a Call to the Ministerial Function it may not be proper and useful to enter upon this Office with such * Heb. 6. 1 2. Mat. 3. 13 14 15 16 17. and 4. 1. 17. Act. 9. 18 20. aâ—d 26 16. 20. Exod. 29. 4. Leâ— 8. 6. perfecting of Baptism now they are grown Believers so were the Priests under the Old Testament which is mentioned not at all to reinforce any Old Testament Shadow Figure Type or Ceremony now under the present New Testament Administration of Grace so was Christ so were his Apostles so was Paul let the Spirit of God from his Word speak with Men's Hearts about this I forbear in this place to add any further Arguments for or Advantages by this The occasion of his passing into the Scripture-Path of the weekly seventh-day-Sabbath was this A near and dear Brother and Friend of his from the Country wrote this Case of Conscience to him whether the first day of the Week as commonly observed by almost all Christians or the seventh which is the last day of every Week in the weekly returns of it were indeed the weekly Sabbath according to God's Command or in words to the sâ—me effect for it is now about sixteen years since and he earnestly desired the Opinion and Judgment of Shem Acher upon this Case Upon the Receipt of this Letter he was somewhat startled at this new Proposal though he was not so fully satisfied for some years before about any word-Institution for observing the first day as a Sister in Sabbath-Fellowship converted under his Ministry a shining Ornament to her holy Profession whilst here below but now above with the LORD informed and reminded him that when she propounded the very same Case to him about six or seven years before he gave her a very faint unsatisfactory answer as if he scarce were then a cordial Favourer of that first day for tho he preached up Sabbath-Duties and Priviledges in that Town yet his Assistant was as one part of his Work to engage in the Controversy which was the limitted day At the first receipt of that Case he was full of other work and employ about his own and other Cases and laid it aside for near a Month the Brother whose Spirit was tender in this Case as in many other new Cases sent a second Letter with renewed importunity requiring and expecting a speedy Answer Upon this Shem Acher speaks to Jehovah Aelohim to Father Son and Holy Spirit to Christ God-Man in Prayer about it and then makes Scripture-Testimonies to be †Psal 119. 24. the Men of his Counsel and being under an Obligation to take the whole Scripture along with him for the resolving and determining of this Case and to lay aside all his former Apprehensions and no longer to parle with Humane Traditions Philosophical arguings Carnal reasonings or any other unscriptural Authorities he took his Bible which he has now had about forty years and to which he was well used and so could with the more readiness turn unto apt places beginning with the first Week of the created World and there he found that * Gen. 2. â— 2 3. the weekly Seventh-day-Sabbath had Foundation both in Jehovah's Word and in Created Nature as being the only day of the whole Week on which the Creator and Redeemer rested which day he Blessed and which day he Sanctifyed for Sabbath-Purposes and Priviledges and not any other Day of the Week neither first second third fourth fifth nor sixth but only the seventh On he goes with his enquiry through the whole Book of Moses and finds the seventh day Sabbath †Exod. 16. 22. 30. reinforced and the neglect and profaneing thereof reproved before the solemn proclaiming of it
at Mount Sinai where the very next step in his Travails he hears * Exod. 19 and 20 chap. particularly chap. 20. vers 8 9 10 11. the trumpeting promulgation of this Kingly Law of the Seventh day Sabbath sounding loud in his Ear and Heart and still the further he passed on in the after Writings of Moses and of the Prophets the more he is led along in the Seventh-day-Sabbath-way till he came full home to the close of the Old Testament with this Seal put upon this Scripture-Canon or Rule by Jehovah himself †Mal 4. 4. Remember ye the Law of Moses my Servant all and every both of the Commands for keeping holy of the weekly Sabbath day and of the Promises of Blessings and Sanctifyings of weekly Sabbath day to right Observers of it and also of the Threatnings denounced against Profaners of the weekly-Sabbath-day relating only to the seventh the last day of every week and to no other day of the week He was now in a short space of time the very same day of entering upon this enquiry got so far forwards in this way of the seventh-day Sabbath from that Light and Truth which Jehovah Aelohim sent forth from his word by his Holy Spirit that he forthwith concluded there was no either going back or stepping aside for him out of this Scripture-Path For if all the Old Testament were for it the New was not against it seeing if any had preached up the first or any other day except the seventh of the whole week at the beginning of the New Testament-dispensation of Grace those who were more * Acts 17. 1â—â— noble-raced Believers on and Disciples of Christ before the Writings of the Evangelists and Apostles who searched the Scriptures they then had whether the first-day-pretended-Sabbath-Doctrine were true or not they could not find that written Word which they then enjoyed had any such Institution at all in it but the weekly Sabbath's †Exod. 25. 11 16 21 22. 1 Kings 8. 9. Jam 2. 8 9 10 11 12. crowning honour was all through visible and legible upon the head of the seventh day only However he narrowly examined and diligently compared the whole New Testament Writings by the Evangelists and Apostles and there he soon discovered that the LORD Jesus Christ whose * 1 Pet. 2. 21. 1 Cor. 11. 1. 1 Joh 2. 4 6. and 4. 17. Example he was to follow in all the Acts of Decalogical Obedience or Obedience to the Laws of the ten Words and whose exact perfect Holiness and Righteousness both of Nature Heart and Life was fully every way answering to all the demands of this Law which was to be both imputed to Believers for their Justification and conformed to by Believers in their Sanctification this Christ all his Life long in the weekly returns of the Sabbath kept the †Luk. 4. 16 31. 23 56. elsewhere seventh day Sabbath and no other day of the week as such to which the Gospels give abundant Testimony Now he begins to be more confirmed and wondereth how he could so much overlook so self-evidencing a Truth and Duty so long he converseth further with the Records of the Apostles whether their Doctrine and Practice did Harmonize and tune in the same Concord with this new * Ps 92. Title Jer. 6. 16. 17. 21 c. Song Psalm and Hymn of the true good old weekly seventh day Sabbath His only remaining work now left was to consult the Apostles Writings and therein he reads in plain legible Characters that as Christ's Custom Manner or constant practised Usage was so also was †Luke 4. 16. Acts 17. 2 3. 18. 4. Paul's the Expression is one and the same in the Greek to observe the seventh-day as the only weekly Sabbath day and that no other day in the whole week has both the Name and Nature of a weekly Sabbath-day given to it by the Holy Spirit but only the seventh day and that Obedience to these Laws of Christ is so often called for both * Mat. 5 6 7. chap. Joh. 14. 15. Luk. 10. 25 26 27 28. Rom. 4. 15. 5. 13. 13. 8 9 10. Jam. 2. 8 9 10 11 13. Heb. 5. 9. Rev. 12. 17. 14. 12. 22. 14 15 18 19. by Christ and his Apostles as an evidence of Love to Christ and of other Interest in him as a Saviour and that the new Testament Scripture was also closed up with Christ's Seal of Blessing to those who doing these his Commandments and of pronouncing a Sentence of Excommunication against any Man who should either add to or take from this written Word Will and Law of Christ The whole Scripture being thus profitable for this Doctrine and Duty of the weekly seventh day Sabbath Christ sate as one expecting an answer readily heartily whereupon Shem Acher was not disobedient to this heavenly Teaching by the Holy Spirit but resolves in the strength and supplies of the same good Spirit to set about the Practice of it and this State of the Question he sends to his enquiring Brother who also forthwith embraced the same Truth and reduced it to Practice And now lo a very formidable Sight stares him in the Face for he saw such an Army of Opposers not only profane but professing not only Foes but Friends all almost as one Man up in Arms against him as soon as it should take Air abroad for he was then the LORD's Prisoner and be known that it was his Principle †Ps 119. 165 and Practice He also foresaw that tho this was no * Stumbling-block at all to him neither any disturbance to his own great Peace yet many others would throw it as a Stone of Offence in their own and others ways to the troubling the Minds of young Ones In such Multitudes who promised so fairly and came on so towardly how many were likely to be much prejudiced against him and his former and after-Ministry And what was most terrible of all †Acts 28. 22. how evil tho injustly many were likely to speak against the Word and Ways of the LORD and to blaspheme Jehovah's fearful glorious and holy Name Christ still held him to former Terms of bringing All to an whole Christ and his whole Word and suitably the good Spirit framed his Heart to this holy Resolve Duty is mine the Issues and Successes of things are the LORD's and do belong to him He privately obsevred the Seventh-day-Sabbath for some time but with great Difficulties and sore Trials and distressing Hardships in the Prison He imparts the LORD's Teachings of him to one and then to another privately who gave place in them to this Word-Truth and Law and so unto some others as they were capable of receiving it And when four or five were hopefully gained over he could hold no longer and could not but speak the Truths and Things of Christ in a more open Declaration and publick Profession which being
Scripture-Learning and for the procuring of a more exact literal Translation of the Old-and New-Testament into our Mother-Tongue and for the more religious educating of Children in Families and in Schools and for the relieving of the Poor and for such other good Works and to enquire what may be further a Duty upon us towards the two and the ten Tribes of Judah and of Israel to help forward their Conversion as also what the Spirit has to say more particularly and especially to our Churches and to other Churches in this great Providential-day and such like publick-spirited Inquiries and all this for the promoting of the Honour of our LORD and of his Word Works and Cause the Purity and Peace of Churches and Salvation of Souls Thus through Grace and Mercy obtained from our LORD we discover and declare our readiness to joyn in with you in what is the work of our Day and Generation and so commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you and us up and to give us an Inheritance among all them who are Sanctified Shem Acher Now that Shem Acher's Ends towards the latter-day-Glory might be promoted and that Shem might prosecute so good a design in the use of all those lawful means which his Line could reach into in his place for the finishing of this part of his Testimony for Christ for the Word of Christ for the Law of his ten Words and the annexed Judicials and for the Seventh-day-Sabbath more especially whilst others were following of the King with Petition upon Petition subscribed with multitudes of Hands from Cities Towns and Counties By Shem's direction this following Address was put into the Hands of the King Honoured SIR THe Land doth tremble it is broken it shaketh the right Way and proper Method to heal its Breaches is plain and evident You have seen the Hand of the LORD stretched out against the Popish Plotters in a continued Discovery for many Months of their bloody Design If the LORD Jesus Christ who is the King of Kings would graciously give you a Heart for it and then put it into your Heart openly at the next Session of Parliament to declare that It is your full Purpose and firm Resolution in the Strength and Supplies of the Almighty God to set up the Laws of Christ in the Scriptures of Truth as the one and the only Rule of your Government for which you have their own Authority in express Words The Law of God is the Law of the Land Then will your Name be transmitted to Posterity in the English Chronicle with a Crown Royal upon it Those who honour Christ he will honour This from a mean Handmaid Elizabeth Hooker The Sabbath of my Mighty God make thou it Precious O my God of Deliverance A like Address was made by the same Advice and Hand to the King to the same Effect in answer to that loud awakening Call by that signal Blazing Star for the promoting of the same grand Design of exalting of Christ and of the Word of Christ And a third sometime after to the present Mayor of London for the like End As Paul's manner was accordingly Shem Acher in his place finding some Disciples of Christ at his first coming to live near London to do work for his LORD and for Souls they agreeing to desire him thereunto and expressing this desire to him that seeing they were a few scattered Sheep without a Shepherd not being fully then satisfied to join in Church Fellowship with any particular Church as so constituted and so walking in London they declaring their being satisfied in one another and in him that he would administer the LORD's Supper unto them which after Conference with them and divers of them having profited under his ministerial Labours and having been baptized by him accordingly he did at Bethgnal-Green in the year seventy four withal declaring both he and they that this was a providential Communion in all the Ordinances of Christ's new Spiritual House towards the latter-day-Glory so far as for the present according to our Scripture-Light they can regularly come at them and so long as the LORD should continue them somewhat near together in their Dwellings this was assented unto and agreed upon by those baptized Believers and Seventh-day-Sabbath-Observers A little after this some difference in Judgment arising amongst them which Shem Acher foresaw and told it unto some a remnant of them who were more of one Mind agreed at a meeting in seventy five to own the LORD Jesus Christ to be the one and only LORD and Lawgiver to their Souls and Consciences and the Holy Scriptures of Truth as the one and only Rule of Faith Worship and Life according to which they were to judg of all their Cases Then did they pass into a Church For at that meeting upon this Agreement without any particular Church-Covenant about controverted Matter they did firmly lay all their Churchbottoming and building upon this Rock and Foundation even upon Christ and upon his Word A little before their thus passing into this Church State and Relation the two Sabbath Churches in the City desired his Labours at sometimes with them in the use and exercise of his Gifts which he consented to upon their importunity the LORD assisting him and prospering of his Labours upon the Hearts of several whose longings still encreased to enjoy more of his Ministerial Labours after that he had gathered some Disciples of Christ and was in a Church-way with them and had a distinct Meeting-place in the same City where he met with the Church and others who gave their Attendance at that Assembly where his service was accepted of the Saints so that they were mutually refreshed whereby they had in much experience a savoury taste of the Spirits of one another divers of the Brethren and Sisters of one of those two other Churches of Sabbath-keepers imparting some of their inmost Cases unto Shem Acher who has here upon this occasion a weighty Case to propound As to the Matter of Fact which is attested to be true by the whole Church who knew what doth follow with whom he doth walk Shem Acher doth suppose a Sister of another Sabbath-Church in the same City imparted this Case of her Soul unto him reporting to him that for some years she had been muâ—h oppressed in Heart distressed in Spirit broken and distempered in her bodily Constitution for want of that Spiritual Life and Liberty Purity and Peace Sweet and Satisfaction which she enjoyed not where she sat before but since she came under the Ministry of Shem her communicated Experience is that she has met with that Presence of the Holy good Spirit and of Grace sealed upon her Heart here to her Edification Comfort and Healing whereupon she desired to be in full Communion with Shem Acher and with the Friends in Church-Fellowship with him he laying this Gase in the several Circumstances of it to Heart the particulars whereof he
chap. 49. v. 1 5. separated thereunto from his Mother 's Womb. He was eminently gifted by the Holy Spirit for this Office He was much Graced by the same Holy Spirit for this Function †See before pag. 6. He had a special Call thereunto by Christ himself ‖ 1 Cor. 9. 1. He had such a Sight of Christ and such a Voice from Christ relating to this as was extraordinary * 2 Cor. 13. 3 4 5. 1 Cor. 9. 12. He had sealing Testimonies from Heaven in the Hearts of Multitudes of his Ministerial Call †Acts 14. 1 2 3. He had a Miracle-working Power communicated to him for a further Confirmation of the Lawfulness of his Call and Truth of his Doctrine SHEM ACHER His Call to this Office and Work of the Ministry having somewhat in it which is outward common and ordinary referring unto Men and somewhat which is inward special and more than ordinary relating unto God it may therefore have some good Use and profitable Tendency to speak distinctly unto each That of it which refers unto Men is this Let any almost plead and urge what they will or can as to this he has somewhat or other to say for the stopping of their Mouths and all of it put together is at least more than he knows of any one Man who justifies his Call from Men can say for himself Tho Shem Acher doth mainly and ultimately resolve the Warrantableness and Rightfulness of his Call into somewhat else as you will hear quickly when his Case shall be compared with Paul's in several Particulars as to the Ministerial Office wherein yet he doth give the Preheminence unto Paul and this not only as to the degrees and measures which were higher and larger but also as to one or more of the kinds particularly as to Paul's God-inspiredness and Infallibility in being the Holy Spirit 's Penman of much of the Holy Scriptures and somewhat else which was then peculiar to his Apostolical Office and Miracle-working Power If those who do place the Authority and Power in the Magistrate to give a Call to the Ministerial Office should question Shem Acher's Call he has by him to shew it under the Attests the Hands and Seals of two Kings and of one Protector tho as to this last and one of the other they were other Men who voluâ—tarily of themselves procured this for him without his seeking If those who lodg this in Episcopal Jurisdiction call upon him to give them some account of his Ministerial Function urging for a Succession of lawfully called Ministers ordained Ones besides the extraordinary Prophets Such were the First-born of Families from Adam's time to Moses Exod. 19. 22 24. 24. 5. Numb 8. 5 22. In Moses's Days it passed from the First born unto Aaron and his Sons and unto the Tribe of Levi Exod. chap. 28 29. Mal. 2. 4 10. Thus it continued all the Old Testament through After the Jews return from the Babylonish Captivity the Reformers sought for the Sons of the Priests in the Register such as were reckoned by Genealogy those who were not found such as polluted were put from the Priesthood Ezra 2. 61 62 63 In the New Testament there was John the Son of a Priest honoured by the Prophecies of Isaiah and Malachy Christ ordained twelve Apostles and seventy Disciples and called Paul to the Office and Work of the Ministry and they from Christ ordained others As to this Shem Acher has to say that he has it to shew under the Hands and Seals of Bishop Hall for Deaconship and for laying on of Hands who putting him to the question Whether he was persuaded in his Heart that the Holy Spirit called him to that Office he answered That he was so persuaded and of Bishop Skinner for the Ministry If such as are for Ordination by a Classical Presbytery I meddle not here with that Controversy Whether a Bishop and a Presbyter be both but one and the same Officer object against his Commission and if they should take in Independent or Congregational Ministers to join with them in the same Charge he can return this That he has the Approbation of a Dean and of Canons of Associated Ministers both Presbyterian and Independent also of Tryers in the Protector 's Time who were appointed for the examining and the sending forth of able fit Men to preach the Gospel and to take upon them the Care and Charge of Souls tho he never was before them neither did he apply himself unto them for such an end either by himself or by others If such as do seat this in the Peoples Choice and Call do reason the Case with him about it that it must be received from them as if the Power were originally there he has much to offer unto such to be considered by them The People of that Parish where he lived before refusing to submit to Church-Discipline when his Heart being set upon Reforming according to what knowledg he then had he propounded it to them for at that time he kept up a Meeting most Evenings for sometime to speak to some practical Case of Conscience and had written diverse little Books of Diaries of his own Experiences They thus rejecting to be governed by the Laws of Christ's House hereupon Providence gave him as large full and clear a Call to one of the most populous Towns in all Dorsetshire by some Thousands of that Town and by Multitudes of other neighbouring Places thereabouts as any Minister in England that he knows of had in that Day And after about two Years waiting by them and referring the Case of Removal to them into the Arbitration and Judgment of some Presbyterian Ministers of other Counties besides the Encouragement of other Ministers of the same County both Presbyterian and Independent who exhorted to and approved of such a Removal he had as solemn an * 1 Thess 2. 1. 19 20. This Scripture was â—he Subject Matter of his first Sermon at his Entrance there Entrance into the taking charge of the People of that Town as any Pastor that he has heard of in that Age For besides what hath been already mentioned there was one solemn Day of Fasting kept publickly there carried on by Presbyterians and others in a great Assembly to prepare that People and to direct them in their Choice where he was present yet did not at that time either as a Mouth from God in Preaching or as a Mouth to God in Praying openly appear And afterwards at another solemn Fast there on the Day of his Reception when the Publick Work and Worship of that Day was performed by one Presbyterian Minister and another Independant Minister which was closed up by Shem Acher himself and all to such satisfaction and with such rejoycing of about two thousand or more present as that the Memory thereof he supposeth is still kept alive in the Hearts of some hundreds of them After this about five years and half after
as Gifted yea suppose him to have great common edifying Gifts who is thereby presently commissioned by Christ for the Ministerial Office seeing some such are notoriously scandalous Livers bitter Persecuters of the Saints open declared Enemies against the Power and Purity of right Worship and of other true good Religion against which they sharpen and set the edg of those Weapons of Knowledg which they have who whilst such are so far from being to be admitted Administrators of Church-Ordinances that they ought not to be admitted to or continued in a state of Church-Membership but should by the due regular exercise of Church Discipline be shut or thrust out from such Communion And here when he duly considers and seriously ponders ‖ 2 Tim. 3. 17. 1 Tim. 6. 11. 1 Sam. 9. 6 7. Lev. 21. throughout Ezek. 44. throughout 1 Tim. 3. throughout Tit. 1. 5 9. Rev. 1 2 3. cha 1 Pet. 5. 1 4. Tit. 2. 1. Acts 6. 2 4. what Men of God what chief Men among the People how holy how unblemished how unblameable how sober and vigilent how temperate how moderate how sound minded how wisely circumspect how modest how well behavoured how fitly attired and well adorned how hospitalish and harbourous in a courteous receiving and entertaining of Strangers how apt able fit apposite to teach well-habited and disposed for orderly-clear-convincing-teaching endued with a good Faculty of instructing and and of discipling of others how not given to Wine-bibbing or to Excess in any other Strong Drink which makes Drunk not an Ale-stake or common Tipler not one that loves tossing of Cups not a striker smiter or beater of others not one of ungoverned heat or of military Fierceness not filthily-gaining not covetously intent upon dishonest base gain how equal full of Equity in all things how courteous gentle patient how unbrawling either as to Speeches or Actions declining the offered occasions of sinful contendings no lover of Silver nor Idolizer of Money how well governing his own Family Houshold having his Children if the LORD give him any in Subjection under Discipline in good order faithful Children not refractory not obnoxious to the Sin of Luxury not one who is but newly ingraffed or implanted in Christian Profession in God's House such as ought to have a good Testimony from those that are without such a one as cannot justly be called into question or into Court for any manifest Crime what a Dispenser of God as his Steward not pertinaciously pleasing of himself not prone to anger not hasty not spirited for rage what a lover of goodness of good both Men Truths and Things how Just how Holy how Pious how Continent how firmly adhering to that faithful Word which is according to wholesom Doctrine that so he may be able also to exhort in Doctrine such as is healthful and sound and to convince such who are contradicting and gainsaying ones not attending to Jewish Fables or to Precepts of Men averse from the Truth or turning Truth away or turning from the Truth one speaking those things which do become sound Doctrine a Feeder of the Flock of God where he is a carefullywatchfully-overseeing one not forcedly but willingly freely with a prompt or ready Mind not imperiously domineering or lording it over those allotted to his Care and Charge being Exemplary to the Flock one who believeth and prepareth for the Appearing of the chief Pastor to receive and carry away an unfading Crown of Glory one who gives himself to Prayer and to the Word whose Wife must be one who is honest who proves constant no Calamniatrix not a devilish Slanderer or false Accuser no malicious Detracter one sober faithful in All what a Star what an Angel When these Qualifications and many more that might be added are brought and put together to measure as by a straight Rule many of those by who lay claim to this Office that doth put Shem Acher upon deep Sighing and makes him ask this Question in his Thoughts Where do the able faithful Ministers dwell He has had some signal Calls to this Office by Christ especially at three times one about fourteen years ago another about seventeen years since of both which an account has been given before for some other purpose and once before both these when with the former of these last two he did set himself by Fasting and Prayer to know the Mind of Christ whether he had indeed set him apart to this Office in all which times he had satisfying Answers and Signs fulfilled quickly after in some remarkable returns by eminent Conversions He has had such a sight of Christ in the North as was clear and evident to his Eye of Faith chiefly more at one Season mentioned before which was made so real to him and has more or less so continued for so many years Night and Day as doth leave it out of doubt with him in a degree as if he conversed with the Person of Christ himself so far as Shem Acher in this state of Imperfection has a Capacity of walking with an exalted Christ in his state of Glory As for the Sealings on Earth of his Commission received from Heaven in the Hearts of converted Sinners of edifyed Saints of comforted Souls he had rather others would speak and declare than himself however seeing somewhat may be expected from him as to this Parrallel he doth * 2 Cor. 2. 14. 17. give thanks unto God who especially for twenty years or more has caused him to triumph in Christ and has made manifest the favour of his Knowledg by him more or less in every place as he has travelled up and down with the blessing of the Gospel of Christ For besides some ownings of him and of his labours before whilst he lived in a little Parish when he was called to that Neighbour Town spoken of before there was as hopeful a budding and blowing of young ones there and in the Neighbourhood and he hopes much good brought forth to the praise of Grace in and by many there being yet alive several scores who can as he supposeth somewhat sensibly call to mind the Truth of this besides what the LORD hath done by him in two Counties during his Imprisonments for above nine years at which time some were begotten again in the bonds of the Gospel and also what good and gracious effects his preaching of the Gospel has brought forth by the Spirit and Blessing of God upon his Works since his Liberty in any other place particularly near and in London For †1 Thess 2. 19 20. what is his Hope or Joy or Crown of rejoycing are not even a converted edifyed comforted confirmed People in the Presence of our LORD Jesus Christ at his coming For these are his Glory and Joy As for a Miracle-working Power such as Paul had he doth not pretend to this either for all the Kinds or for those high Degrees and great Measures as Paul was honoured withal yet this he can
and others †1 Cor. 12. 28 29. Eph. 4. 11 12 13. Act. 13. 1. 1 Cor. 14. chap. Apostles and Prophets are expresly mentioned as established Officers set and appointed by Christ in his Church This was not confined only to Judea for in other parts of the inhabited Earth there was Job Eliphaz and others in the East who were eminent Leaders of Congregated Societies and there was a Balaam of Syria Mesopotamia who had a Prophetick Gift To distinguish of Prophets and of the several kinds of them and of the distinct parts of their Office is not my present work let it suffice at this time to shew that the LORD has not been wanting to his Church and People when he has been sought unto aright as to his gifting gracing calling and sending extraordinary Officers with a larger Commission than only to a small gathered handful of Disciples of Christ when the ordinary ones have been corrupted or negligent ignorant or unfaithful or upon some other special Occasions Shem in his own case tho altogether unworthy of the least and lowest place of Service ministerial in Christ's House yet for about these twenty years last past having been Christ's Servant to gather feed and rule a particular Church or particular Churches and to this day is so he has declared against his being staked or teddered down to any one Place or People he being Christ's Servant at his Masters dispose to do what publick work his LORD shall call him unto wheresoever to whomsoever it be having never as yet either singly by himself or jointly with others laid on his Hands upon any one as to an ordaining of him to the Ministerial Office This part of Shem's Narrative should put some dissenting Brethren upon more serious considering whether they have not been very short of their Duty who have cryed down and run down all gathered Churches and Church-Ministers because of some Antichristian and Unscriptural Principles and Practices corruptly crept in some for five others for ten some others for twenty othersome for thirty years together not seeing or not believing or not acknowledging or not promoting any extraordinary Ministry over gathered Curch or Churches set up by Christ in the room thereof And O! who will give that this seasonable Word might fall and abide with kindly in working Efficacy in the demonstration of the Spirit and with power upon prepared Hearts and unprejudiced Minds both as to non-Church ones and also as to the present Claimers of Ministry by Office whether National Classical Congregational pleading for a right in their Tenure whether by Succession Authority from the People or what else That one and another may yet be think themselves of a more Scriptural way for the informing setling satisfying healing and uniting of Christians As Scripture-History doth clear it up that so it hath been so Scripture-Prophecy and Scripture-Promise will fulfil and accomplish it that so it shall be in this latter-day-Glory even a Prophetick Apostolick Evangelick and otherways extraordinary Ministry as well as a Pastoral Teaching ordinary Ministry revived and advanced continued and blessed such special Administrators in Christ's House by whom resort shall be to the Mouth of Jehovah to ask Counsel at an Oracle of Aelohim who has in all Ages of his Church both before and since the Apostle's days sent some special Messenger or Messengers to witness for Himself and for the Truths of Christian Religion against the Corruptions of the Times and Age wherein they lived tho the number of such under many Providences has been but small and the true Ministry and Churches have not so shined forth with visible Pomp and outward Glory There may if Jehovah our Aelohim and Adonai do bring it forth by and in the Hand of his Providence shortly come abroad a Scripture-Directory concerning an House for the Sons of the Prophets for the training up of such whose Hearts the LORD shall make willing to study useful Arts and Sciences in the Book of Books the Holy Scriptures of Truth Inspired Gifts and Acquired Gifts where * 2 Tim. 3. 14 15 16 17. 1 Sam. 10. 5 13. 2 Kings 2. 3 5 7 16. 4. 38. both are sanctified how useful are they when employed for the Edification of the Church and People of Christ And who of us can tell but that the open declaring for both these by some Gentile-Christians and Believers and Ministers who express their Faith in Prophetick Scriptures that †Isa 32. 15. 44. 3 4. Ezek. 39 29. Joel 2. 28 32. Ezek. 47. 1 12. 1 Cor. 12 13 14. ch 2 Cor. 3. 17. 18. there are near at hand some further more immediate Inspirings from the Holy Spirit with extraordinary Charisms or edifying Gifts and those of working of Miracles and Gifts of Healings and of Tongues particularly For * 1 Cor. 1. 22 24. the Jews do to this day require a Sign and who withal do in the use of ordinary means wait upon the Holy Spirit for his inner Teachings and for his Blessings of their unwearied Endeavours and diligent Industry of their serious cryings after Scripture-Knowledg in the Original Language and giving their Voice for Understanding seeking her as Silver and searching for her as hid Treasures For the Greeks do still seek after Wisdom I say who knows but that both Jew and Gentile may fall in love with this Art of Arts and Science of Sciences if Jehovah will in either or in both these ways give Wisdom out of whose Mouth Knowledg and Understanding when Wisdom shall thus enter into Hearts Oh! how pleasant will Knowledg be to the Soul †Mar. 16. 15. Mat. 28. 18 19 20. Gal. 2. 7 8. Isa 40. 9. 52. 7 8. As the LORD here tofore honoured some of the Christianized Jews to be under him his Apostles for the converting of the Gentiles so in these later Days he may honour some of the Christianized Gentiles to be under him his Apostles for the converting of the Jews and Israelites * Zech. 2. 5. Isa 46. 13. then shall the LORD and his new created Ones be the mutual Glory of each other Oh! how glorious a Day will that Day of such Glory be PAVL †Acts 9. 15 20. 26. 16 20. 1 Cor. 15. 10. Paul being thus put by Christ into the Ministerial Office sets about the work wherein he laboured more abundantly than all the Apostles his Travels up and down with the Gospel as one Historian has computed them were ten thousand two hundred and seventy Miles from his first beginning until his being Prisoner in Rome and altho he might have required maintenance * 2 Cor. 11. 9 10 11 12. 12. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19. 1 Cor. 9. thorow yet for the Gospel's sake he did forbear the demanding of it †2 Cor. 11. 21. and so to the end 4. 6 7 8 9 10. Gal. 6. 17. Rom. 3 8. His Sufferings were many and great his being reproached was