out of the book of life and 〈◊〉 of the holy City and from the things written in this bâ—â—k yea in this is a taking away from the letter and from the sence of the Scripture which is all the taking away there meant as I conceive 2. In this all the Church Elders are reduced to one That so we may set up a government in the Church of our own by one and pull down Jesus Christs which is by a combination of Church Ministery by Evangelists Pastors Teachers 3. In particular the Pastoâ—â— the Elâ—â—â— you invest wholly and alone with this ministeriall office 〈◊〉 by the expresse words of the Scripture one Church Minister iâ— not more interessed in it then another but all joyntly and equally 4. The work cannot â—â—doâ—â— singly in a Gospel way the sick is commanded to send for more then one and more then one are commanded to pray for him The pâ—omise it annexâ—â— to a duty when done onely according to Gods wâ—y and in obedience â—o his command if we fall and that wilâ—â—ully of our part we depâ—â— oâ—â— selves wholly of the comfort of thâ— ordinance and the grace oâ— God added thereunto faith being not able to move an hair beyond the help it hath from the Word of God inabling him Oâ—ject We have but one Elder that is the Pastor Resp Where is the Church then to which the sick are sent of God for this comfort in which are to be Elders in a Church combination Teaching the people in health and praying for them in sicknes To this next is considerable that in the Propositions it is said that to the Pastors Prayer especially is promised a blessing The Scripture saith Let them pray and after the prayer of faith shall save the sick that is their prayer made in faith I think it to be beyond the power of man to make a blessing thus promised to the whole Church Ministery or many ordinarily to belong to one nor do I think that ordinance as done by one to be done in a Church way or according to the rule of the Gospel in this place Object We intend the Teacher also to be here meant though the Pastor be onely named 1. Resp If that be granted I suppose you yet come short of the truth the word in the text for Elders and the verb for let them pray being both formed in the plurall and not in the duall number compared with the generall scope of the other Scriptures proves a plurality of Elders to be in the Church and not a duality 2. If the Doctor had been understood by you to be interessed herein you would have cited this Scripture of James in his Section as well as the Pastors and applyed the duty to him as you did 1 Tit. 9. Eph. 4.11 quoted and applyed by you to both Pastor and Teacher in both Sect. 3. I suppose you would not have so particularly invested the Pastor with it as your expressions used imply you to have done saying the Elder that is the Pastor And so the Pastor as if all but he had nothing to do with the duty but were excluded The Conclusion of this second Epistle was this God is my witnesse I write these things unto you onely as moved thereunto by love and fear fear towards God and love to you and the Gospel and not of contention for who am I that I should contend with the Learning Ability and Parts of the Assembly but in obedience to Gods command Levit. 19.17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour and not suffer sin upon him and in what wiâ—e can it be more Christianly done then in private writing which I desire may be as Christianly taken that Christ Jesus in all may be glorified and the truth come to be discovered to the edifying of the Church in love and I shall gladly wait to do you all the serviâ—â— I can in Christ and rest Yours John Brayne Sept. 5. 1648. We câ—me 〈◊〉 the third Gâ—nâ—rall and the Particulars of the third Letter 1. I desire you to consider where Catechâ—â—ng as by you applyed to Hebr. 5. â—2 and placed 〈◊〉 the Paâ—â—ors Section be not the Teachers proper ministeriall work teaching the beginnings of Christ which together with Baptisme I suppose is that proper work which solely doth constitute thâ— Teacher in the Church he being the first and the beginner of the Ministery Catechâ—sing by Qâ—â—stion and Answer was exercised without the Church among the Catecumeni onely but the preaching the beginnings of Christ in the Church to the â—â—fants as in this Hebr. 5.12 was onely the Dr. ministry 1. This appears in the Scriptures holding out the whole Gospel Administrators Ephes 4.11 beginning with the Apostles he is last beginning in the Minister 〈◊〉 is first 2 Tim. 3.16 Scripture is profitable for doctrine and reproof c. So that he begins with doctrine and ends with perfection As a man is first a childe and after a man so first the doctrine for children and then for men 2. Scripture 2 Col. 7. rooted built up in him and established in these are held out the divers of the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.4 there is a diversity of gifts there is the spirits part In this again is intimated the diversity of ministrings ver 5. which the Lord Christ instituted in the Church and then the diversity of operations which God by these severall Ministers worketh v. 6. The first of which is Rooting which is done by preaching fuâ—dament 〈◊〉 children in grace and not age onely Much more may be pâ—â—secuted you concerning this But thaâ— of Rom. 2.20 clearâ— it where the Apostle cals the Teacher 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is understood onely and done in a carnall manner â—â—â—ng us and not according â—o Christ For Antiâ—uity I now onâ—ly trouble you with that of Ambrose on Ephes 1.1 who apprehâ—â—â—ing a necessity â—o have all the Gospel Ministry in 〈◊〉 Church â—â—ould have in some way though never so corrupâ— which cannot be by 〈◊〉 means done â—y us saith of the Doctor Magisâ—◠〈…〉 istâ— qiâ—â—â—â—oâ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—mposâ—â—nt verberant inquiâ—â—â— which is 〈…〉 Teachâ—â—â—â—re Exorcists because they quiet 〈…〉 â—yeâ— But after to beâ—â—â—â— purpose Sive hi qui lectionibus imbuendi infantes solebant imbuere sicut mos Judeorum est quorum traditio transitum fecit ad nos quae per negligentiam obsolevit Or those saith he who were wont to initiate children initiated by reading as the custome of the Jews is whose tradition he hath caused to be passed over to us Gentiles which by negligence is grown out of use 1. This could not be meant of the Catechist that was not out of use in his time nor after 2. If the Doctors Ministry in Ambrose time were antiquated who can shew in whose time since it was restored to the Church again 4. Passing by the other lesser things in your Propositions I shall now onely trouble you with two generall Positions
of yours contained in the Doctors Section In which you say 1. That the differing gifs may meet in and accordingly be exercised by one and the same Minister 2. That where is but one Minister in a particular congregation he is to perform as he is able the whole Ministry All which are onely to hold up Parochiall Congregations against the way of God and I dare affirm that while they stand the way of God can never be set up among us according to the Gospel of God nor to edification 1. I desire you to try if ever any Apostle singly and ordinarily in any one Church whatsoever did the whole work of the Ministry alone Which if they had done it by an extraordinary call were no warrant for us without some expresse command 2. Where the Scriptures naming fellow-labourers co-workers and the like with the Apostles joyning of others with them in their Epistles prove not the contrary 3. The Apostles as in Peter Act. 10.48 he commanded them to be baptised which shews the Apostles did not baptise when a Doctor was present that ordinarily wrought with him in the ministry of the Gospel and if at any time he should have done it in the presence of his fellow helpers it would be now that the holy Ghost fell on them and that it was to baptise the first converted Gentiles but all these move him not to do irregularly in the Church This appears in Paul also 1 Cor. 1.14.17 v. 14. I baptised none of you but Crispus and Gaius 1. The Apostle was at Corinth the time of gathering that Church 2. In the gathering of it he baptised few onely of that famous Church now without Baptisme they could not be of the Church which clearly proves Paul had some other ministring with him to the constituting of the Church there unlesse we say â—â—â—e were baptise◠〈◊〉 these 〈◊〉 or three families in that City 3. Ver. 17. â—â—ewe Paul had his ministry there but plainly tels us it was not baptâ—â—â—ng but evangelizinâ— as a work distinct from it 4. Should not we now in â—â—ing all do â—ore then ever any Apostle did do in the Câ—urch ordinarily Are we more able then they shall we exceed our pattern or â—o 〈◊〉 we walk by an other rule then the Gospel And if so it were good to câ—â—sider whose Râ—le we walk by and what warrant we have for it Compare 2 Cor. 1.19 2 Cor. 2.15 16. the Son of God Jesus Christ who was preached amongst you by us even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we 〈◊〉 to God a sweet savour ver 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. It may be applyed to a particular man what one man is fit for these things which we three do is there any dares do that alone that Paul himself dares not But I rather do conceive the Apostle means of every particular ministry no man is fit for it or else the aggravation were not so considerable Conclusion hence is that 〈◊〉 â—n since the Apostles had any call to officiate all the severall Church offices together and therefore none do or may officiate them by any warrant from the Gospel We come to the Scriptures set down in the Doctors Section brought to prove a single ministry c. Rom. 12.6 7 8. twice quoted 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6. Ephes 4.11 1 Cor. 12.28 1 Pet. 4.10 These Scriptures make clear against your single Ministry as after all I shall the Lord assisting me shew you how Others there are set down which seem to prove it but I suppose rightly understood prove nothing lesse 1. Scrip. 1 Tit. â—0 Holding fast the faithfull word as he hath been taught that he may be ablâ—â—y souâ—â— doctrine both to exhort and convince the gainsayers This text twice cited in this Section and proves little it respects not the ministry as exercised in the Church among beleevers but shews what sufficiency is required to be in a Minister having to do with adversariâ—â— of the truth â—ith◠〈◊〉 that he must hold the truth against those â—ould take iâ—â—rom him and be able maintain it against those gainsay it be sound doctrine that is by the Word or sound and â—ndeny able conclusâ—â—â—y nâ— there from by which he may be able to convince 〈◊〉 oppâ—â—◠〈◊〉 truth 2. Scripture is 1 Tim. 6. â— In this Epistle I suppose Timothy was wrote tâ— as to a â—eaâ—â—â— onely which place â—e supplyed ministring to the Thessalonians Paul Silvanus Timothy working togâ—ther 1 Thes 1.1 compared with 2 cap. 1. ye know our entrance in unto you 1 Tim. 6.2 And they that have beleeving masters lâ—â— them not despise them because they are brethren but rather do them service â—e 〈◊〉 they are faithfull and beloved partakers of the benefit These things 〈◊〉 and â—â—hort That that is brought hence to prove a single Ministry is this that it is said These things teach and exhort and that Teachâ—â—g the Doctors office and Exhorting the Pastors ministry are joyned both together and are injoyned one man Resp 1. Here is exhortation indeed added to teaching but is commanded onely in a particular case 2. It is limited to these things and proves it was not proper to the Teacher in other cases and things to usurp the Pastors office in using the publick ministeriall exhortation of the Pastor A particularibus non datur conclusio So that if in a particular case as this we conclude with the Philosopher we must conclude against the Proposition 3. It was not such as the Pastors exhortation was the Pastors was to exhort good men to be better as 2 Pet. 1.4.8 to a growth and increase of godlinesse this was to take men from evill to good and consisted in matter of morality and so rightly fitted the Doctors ministery it pertaining to work repentance from dead works Heb. 6. 4. The defect was in the Teachers society and may be God stirred him up to this who thought it the Pastors duty onely to exhort in this as in all other cases 3. Scripture brought to prove a single Ministery 2. Tim. 4.2 twice quoted Preach the Word be instant in season and out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all or in all long-suffering and doctrine 1. This Epistle I suppose to be written to him as Pastor who I suppose ministred that part of ministery with Paul at Ephesus Act. 19.22 which was another time then that 1 Tim. 1.3 speaks of there Paul bids him stay here he sends him forth and its clear was the last Epistle be wrote and immediatly going before his death 2. Timâ—thy himself had not exercised the full Ministery for ver 5. following Timothy is bid do the work of an Evangelist and bear the full ministery Now it is to be observed that the Pastor assuming the Evangelists place of ministery the Doctor was chosen Pastor and the Evangelist did no more the work of a Pastor 3. He then exercised the Pastors part of the Ministery onely the words before are but an
following heads to clear the truth which being cleared the other parts of the Propositions fall to the ground and come to nothing 1. That all extraordinary officers are contained in Apostles and Prophets 1 Cor. 12.28 2. That all extraordinary are contained in the word Teachers which are the rest of the officers mentioned Ephes 4.1 3. If all but Apostles and Prophets are Teachers then all but they are ordinary Ministers for all Teachers of the Word are to be in the Church ordinarily to the end and there is the same need of and of them as of the other Ephes 4.13 Each Teacher fulfils his ministery by teaching one as well as the other without which is no Church 4. If Antichrist be not called the abomination of desolation because he did make desolate the wall separated the Church from the world making them one pulling down the distinct societies of Saints and there differing ministery making all one and common 5. Where the Church be not in that desolate estate untill the wall be rebuilded the Saints mansions and differing ministeries erected and set up in the Church again which are not yet 6. The Apostles and Prophets in their names gifts and works made clear their extraordinarinesse 7. The other ministery of Teachers had nothing extraordinary in names gifts call or work they did in the Church or were to do Timothy â—n eminent Evangelist of an ordinary one as ever was or shall be had nothing extraordinary in him 1. He had his knowledge by the ordinary way of hearing as all have 2 Tim. 1.13 The Epistles are written to him to direct him his life and ministery as to other ordinary Ministers 2ly He had his call as the least ordinary Church Minister is to have it and yet he is to be accounted an extraordinary officer 1 Tim. 4.14 3ly Nor did he do any thing extraordinary in word or deed or did he leave a line of his to the Church which proves the Evangelist to be no more extraordinary then the Teacher is I cannot passe by Mark and Luke 1. They were not Apostles nor Prophets 2ly Nor were they in the writing their Histories any of the Church Teachers I would God would cleanse our eyes of this Popish mist this could not be an act of Teaching though it conduceth to Teaching they onely were Historians such an Act as that Timothy the Evangelist and Church Teacher never did yet as an Evangelist as teaching onely the giving denomination to all the ordinary ministery 8. The Evangelist ceaseth not unlessâ— any will presume to â—aintain that Teachers cease in the Church if not then no â—ore the Evangelist then the Pastor The Gospel Churches were by these set up and governed 1. Jerusalem by James Peter and John Galat. 2.9 Rome by Paul Aristarchus Marcus and Jesus called Justus Colos 4.10 Paul an extraordinary officer may by the Gospel pattern assume three helpers to himself Thessalonica Ep. 1. cap. 1. ver 1. compared cap. 2. ver 1. Paul Silvanus Timothy taught the Gospel together there at first Ephesus Paul Timothy and Erastus ministred Act. 19.22 compared with cap. 15.40 cap. 16.36 Colossus I suppose Paul planted not he saith onely he heard of their faith Cap. 1. ver 7. he saies Epaphroditus had taught them the Gospel Cap. 2.1 he speaks as if he had not seen their face nor doth the History of Acts mention his being there which would not have been left out had he been there Epaphroditus was Teacher cap. 1.7 Onesimus cap 4.9 Archippus cap. 4.17 Philippi was founded by Paul Silas Timothy Ast. 16.12 compared with cap. 17.1.4 compared with Philip. 2.22 cap. 4.3 they have Clement when the Epistle was written and other fellow-labourers of the Apostle with them Antioch Act. 13.1 are left to teach when Barnabas and Saul were sent forth Simeon Lucius Manaen Tit. 1.5 ministring Elders were to be ordained in every City lest this should be thought onely proper to City Churches Act. 14.23 they ordained Elders in every Church not in Cities onely I dare boldly affirm there is no precept nor pattern in all the Gospel for a single Church ministery therfore I hope Magistrates and Ministers will take heed what they do in setting it up in Gods house I beleeve we shâ—ll never see peace untill the way of God be set up and wayes of error cast down The Lord therefore stir you up to quit you like men in the work of the Lord and prosper ye So prayeth a poore unworthy Gospel Minister J. B. FINIS