a different degree in the same Order a dignity conferred upon some one of the Presbyters and that for orders sake to prevent division and confusion So then leaving these forced senses take wee the word as it sounds understanding by it a Combination or company of Presbyters properly so called ordinary Ministers of the word Pastors and Teachers such as labored in the word and doctrin whether the Ministers of one Church or more a Congregational or Classical Presbytery as they are now distinguished is uncertain M. Beza is for the former nominating the place where Timothy was elected and as hee supposeth ordained Lystris ascitum fuisse constat ex Act. 16.2 c. Beza Gr. Anno. ad Loc. viz. at Lystra and that hee conceives by the Presbyters the Ministers of that Church taking the conjecture from that forecited Text Act. 16.2 whether so or no as it is but conjectural so is it not materiall A company of Presbyters there were which made up this Presbytery And from or rather through their hands did Timothy receive this Gift Sorunnes the Text The Gift which was given thee by Prophesy with the laying on of the Hands of the Presbytery Quest 2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Imposition of hands a Rite or Ceremony of very ancient use and that in diverse cases Four or five of which wee meet with in the Old Testament 1 In Benediction and blessing Thus the story tells us Gen. 48.14 how the Patriarch Jacob laid his hands upon the heads of Ephraim and Manasse which hee did for the blessing of them as the 20 verse explains the mystery of it 2 In Oblation in offering sacrifices to God So you finde it Exod. 29. where Aaron and his Sonnes are ordered to lay their hands upon the head of the Bullock which was to bee sacrificed vers 10. and so in like manner upon the two Rams vers 15.19 thereby dedicating and consecrating of them unto God 3 In Attestation in giving evidence against a Capital offender of this you read Lev. 24.14 where the Law for punishing the Blasphemer requires that his accusers should lay their hands upon his head for the confirmation of their Testimony 4. In Resignation Thus wee finde the Children of Israel some chief among them in the name of the rest laying their hands upon the Levites which they did not to ordain them to their office no that was done by Aaron by whom they were offered up unto the Lord as the next verse hath it but that thereby they might declare and testify both their Resignation and Approbation of them how that they did for their parts give up all the carnal and worldly interests which they had in them and did approve of that office which was then to bee conferred upon them 5 In Designation in designing and appointing one to an office Thus Moses designing Joshua to bee his successour hee doth it with this Ceremony by laying on his hands upon him Numb 27.18 Of such use was this Rite under the old Testament from whence it was transferred unto the New where we shall also finde it used in an equal number of Cases First In Benediction Thus our Saviour is said to have blessed those children which were brought unto him by putting his hands on them Mark 10.16 Secondly In Miraculous operations in healing of bodily diseases Thus our Saviour is said to have wrought that cure upon that infirm woman Luk. 13.13 by laying his hands upon her and the like power he gave to his Apostles after his departure as also to some others in those primitive times They shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover Mark 16.18 An experiment whereof Ananias made upon Saul who recovered his sight by his laying on his hands upon him Act. 9.17 Thirdly In Extraordinary Collations in conveying of miraculous gifts Thus did Saul also receive the Holy Ghost as it there followeth And the like did many others by laying on of the hands of the Apostles as you finde it in the Chapter foregoing Act. 8. vers 17.18 Fourthly In that Apostolical institution of Confirmation an Ordinance which the Church of God after some foul depravations of it hath now unhappily lost the restoring whereof according to the * Talem maâ— nuum impositionem quae simpliciter loco benedictionis fiâ—t laudo restitutam hodie in purum usum velim Calv. Instit lib. 4. Cap. 19 Primitive pattern is much to be desired as being very useful to the Church and that as at all times so especially in these times whereinto wee are fallen whereof I have * Doctrin and Practice of Paedobatisme p. 76 77 78 79 Printed Anno. 1645. elsewhere given a publick account to the world of which after many of the Ancients Mr. Calvin and Beza Hic unus locus abunde testatur hujus Ceremoniae originem fluxisse ab Apostolis Calv. Com. ad Loc. Piscator Chemnitius Hemingius Ursinus ' D. Fulk D. Willer c. Vide 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I. H. B. N. Manuum impositionem cum Baptismo conjungit quia ut duo erant Catechumenorum ordines ita duplex erat Ceremonia c. Vide Calvin Com. ad loc with diverse others of our modern divines eminent both for learning and pietie do understand the Apostle to speak Heb. 6.2 where among his six Principles of Christian Religion he reckons this for one the laying on of hands which being joyned unto Baptism and coupled with it it seemeth to import some reference and relation that the one should have to the other as Calvin also observes upon it and so cannot so fitly bee understood of any other thing as of Confirmation wherein the Children of Beleevers having been baptized in their Infancy after that they had been competently instructed in the doctrin of that faith whereinto they had been baptized were confirmed by the Imposition of hands and so received for compleat members of the Church Fifthly and most usually in Ordination of Church-officers Thus did Timothy receive this Gift his Ministerial office by or with the Imposition of the hands of the Presbytery Imposition of hands a Mystical Ceremony and that very significative Being used in ordination of Ministers diverse things may bee conceived to bee represented and signified by it Letting passe what the Church of Rome will tell us Hac impositione manuum sistitur Ecclesiae ut haec quoque admoneatur Deum per hanc personam ejus ministerium velle ipsos docere c. Chemnit loc de Ecclesia p. 159. that hereby an indelible Character is imprinted upon the person ordeined and that Grace yea Gratia gratum faciens is conferred by it Certe utile est ejusmodi symbolo cum ministerii dignitatom populo commensari tum eum qui ordinatur admoneri ipsum jam non esse sui juris sed Deo Ecclesiae in servitutem addictum Calvin Instir lib. 4. cap. 3. Sect. 16. and that ex opere operato so as the person is
65. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 officium scil cum gratia buic officio muncri necessaria C. A. Lapide ad Text. and some others have done before mee put them both together hereby understanding to use his tearms both Munus and Habilitas the Ministerial office and ability Both these wee finde sometimes set forth by this word called gifts So the word is used Rom. 12.6 Having then gifts what gifts why whether prophesy let us prophesy or ministery let us wait on our ministring so it there followeth by the one as some conceive denoting the gift of teaching by the other the office both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gifts So again Ephes 4.8 It is said of Christ that when he ascended up on high he gave gifts unto men I confesse the word there is not the same yet of the same import 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dona gifts meaning thereby not onely ministerial gifts and abilities but offices also So the eleventh verse explains it He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers And not unsitly may both these being put together bee thus called a gift To the making of a thing to bee a gift there are two things requisite It must be gratuitum commodum freely given and somewhat that is worth the giving And such is the ministerial office being accompanied with suitable qualifications It is a gift freely given 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 freely given to the Church and freely given to the Person on whom they are conferred and that to the great benefit and advantage of the Church the end thereof being for the perfecting of the Saints and the edifying of the body of Christ as the Apostle there setteth it out Eph. 4.12 which if duly weighed and serioussy considered might serve to conciliate and gain more respect to this office than at this day it meeteth with at many hands in the world But I may not turn aside Wee have found out what gift this was Come wee in the next place to take notice of the way and means whereby this gift was conferred upon or rather conveyed to Timothy Where wee shall first begin with that which was occasionall which was given thee by prophesy Quest Where we must again make the like enquiry what is hereby meant Answ To this I finde divers Answers returned divers senses being put upon the word Prophesy Some whereof I confess are scarce worth the taking notice of Prophetia est forma Sacramenti Ordinis Lapid ad Text. As that of Lapide for which yet hee alledgeth some of the learned with whom himself chooseth to concurre who hereby understandeth the mystical words used in Ordination which he interpreteth to be the form in this Sacrament of order as hee calleth it as Imposition of hands is the matter Hec coactum videtur Lapid ad Ibid. And no better is that of Vatablus taken notice of and censured by him who here turns the particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per into ad The Gift which thou hast received by Prophesy that is saith hee ad Prophetiam to the end that thou maiest prophesy teach and instruct the people Leaving these more genuinely Consult wee the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prophetia Prophesy it properly signifieth a prediction a foretelling of a thing to come now this is twofold Ordinary and Extraordinary Ordinary humane and conjectural extraordinary divine and infallible Now of which of these shall wee understand the word in the Text why take it which way wee will wee cannot take it amisse Both these had passed upon this our Candidate Timothy before his ordination to the ministery 1 There was an ordinary Prophesy and prediction concerning him which was humane and conjectural His younger years had put forth many early buds and blossomes such as gave all that knew him comfortable hopes of a plentiful aftercrop They saw him to bee so qualified both with gifes and graces Graces of sanctification and Gifts of edification that they voted him fit for the ministerial office looking upon him as a very hopefull instrument likely to do much service in the Church of God Thus was hee both thought and reported of by those that knew him so you finde it Act. 16.2 where you have this testimouy given of him Hee was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium Prophetiam bi accipio pro piorum omine faelici conjectura Aretius ad Loc. Here was a conjectural prophesy which went of him of which Aretius understandeth the Apostle at least in part here to speak 2 But this was not all Besides this there was a prophesy of a higher nature that had given Testimony concerning him a divine prophesy Of this speaks this our Apostle himself Chap. 1. vers 18. of this Epistle This charge I commit unto thee son Timothy according to the Prophesies which went before of thee meaning divine revelations inspiring some of the Prophets of those times directing them to point out some choice and singular persons for the work of the ministery Thus was Paul himself with Barnabaas singled forth Act. 13.2 As they ministred unto the Lord and fasted the holy Ghost said viz. by a prophetical inspiration to some one or more there present Separate me Barnabas and Saul to the work of the Ministery And in such a way was Timothy here called forth to the undertaking of this his ministerial office not onely by the common vote and approbation of those to whom hee was known but by a special direction from God intimating and making known his mind and will concerning him And this our Apostle here taketh notice of Meminit hujus Prophetiae Pauius tùm ad commendationem Timothei tùm ad sui ex cusationem Esti ad loc Hoc disertè hic commemorare videtur Apostolus ne remere juvenis ad Evangelistae munus ascirus vidererur Beza Annot. ad loc mentioning it as being both the occasion of and warrant for Timothies ordination and calling to that office which hee doth the rather as Beza and Estius note upon it as for Timothies commendation so for his own vindication that none might censure him for what he had done judging that he had done rashly and unwarrantably in imposing hands upon a person so young as Timothy was Applic. Wherein let Paul be propounded as a Pattern to all those who shal at any time have any hand in this great and weighty businesse of Ordination Let them learn from him to bee cautious and wary on whom they lay on hands Lay hands suddenly on no man it is Pauls charge to Timothy 1 Tim. 5.22 especially if they bee young Let them see that they have good warrant for what they do To which end let them have an eye to these two things to this double Testimonial 1 The first Humane that they be such persons as are well reported of by those amongst whom they live and to whom
THE Sacred Ordinance OF ORDINATION By Imposition of the Hands of the PRESBYTERY As it was lately held forth in a Sermon Preached at the solemn Ordination of Ministers in the City of Norwich June 11. 1656. By John Brinsley Minister of the Gospel at Great Yarmouth VVhereunto is also affixed the Word of Exhortation given to the Persons then and there Ordained being usefull to all others of the same Tribe By Nic. Ganning B. D. Minister of the Gospel at Barnham-Broom LONDON Printed by Rob. Ibbitson for Tho. Newberry at the Sign of the three Lyons in Cornhill 1656. To the deservedly honoured the faithful Dispensers of the Mysteries of Christ in the County of Norfolk Especially such as were Assistant or present at the late solemn Ordination of Ministers in the City of Norwich June 11. 1656. Much esteemed in the Lord WHat was lately at the request of some of you Preached is now with some small Additaments upon the like score Published Wherein you have a breif account of a Gospel-Ordinance a leading and take it in a qualified sense a Fundamental Ordinance upon which all other publick Ordinances as to the right manner of dispensing them have a dependance Touching which we may say that it is no small comfort to us and wee presume the like to you that so many so fitted and qualified for the work of the Ministery have in these dissolute and discouraging times appeared willing to put themselves 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 that in Gods way A hopeful intimation that God hath yet a gracious purpose towards this poor Church of his that hee hath a Harvest yet to bee gathered in this field whereunto hee is pleased to send forth such a succession of Labourers Hereunto you have also at the same intreatie affixed the latter service of that day the word of Exhortation which giveth the like account of what is required at the hands of such servants of the Lord as are thus dedicated unto him and so fitly serving as an Applicatory supplement to the aforesaid Doctrin May both these conduce to the furthering of that good work for which they were and now are intended wee have what wee aimed at and shall 〈◊〉 that God who maketh us in the least degree Instrumental in any service to him and his Church In the desires and hopes whereof we sit down and rest Your unworthy Brethren and Fellow Labourers in the Lord. J.B. N.G. THE Sacred Ordinance OF ORDINATION BY Imposition of the Hands of the Presbytery As it was lately held forth in a Sermon Preached at the solemn Ordination of Ministers in the City of Norwich June 11. Anno. 1656. By John Brinsley Minister of the Gospel at Great Yarmouth LONDON Printed by Robert Ibbitson for Thomas Newberry at the Sign of the three Lyons in Cornhill over against the Great-Conduit 1656. THE SACRED ORDINANCE OF ORDINATION BY Imposition of the hands of the PRESBYTERY 1 TIM 4.14 Neglect not the Gift that is in thee which was given thee by Prophesy with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery IN this Text which I have now singled forth as being very suitable to the present Occasion wee have an Apostolical charge directed by Saint Paul to his Son Timothy therein to break in upon the words abruptly we may take notice of two things The Object and the matter The object or thing whereabout this charge is given which in the general is here said to be a Gift the gift that is in thee then more particularly described and set forth by the manner or means of collating and conferring it which is partly Extraordinary partly Ordinary Extraordinary and occasional which was given thee by prophesy Ordinary and Instrumental with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery The Matter what it is that he here giveth him in charge concerning this gift viz. that hee should not neglect it neglect not the Gift which is in thee which was given thee by Prophesy with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery These are the particulars which here offer themselves to our consideration which through divine assistance I shall touch upon severally but very briefly rather glancing at each of them than insisting upon any of them I begin with the first the object of this Charge The Gift which is in thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the gift or grace or gift of grace for so the word properly signifieth Quest But what gift what grace Answ For Answer wee may take notice of two sorts of gifts or graces spoken of in Scripture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non tantum gratiam gratis datam sed etiam gratiam gratum facientem significat C. A. Lapide ad Text. In the Schools commonly known and differenced by those obvious tearms of gratiae gratum facientes gratiae gratis datae which tearms though being exactly scanned they are not so proper but liable to just exception yet in as much as they have been long received and being warily understood they may be safely and profitably retained graces rendring acceptable and graces rendring serviceable The former the graces of sanctification wherewith a man being indued being first justified by the blood of Christ commeth to do that which is acceptable to God the latter graces of edification wherby a man is inabled to do service unto others Now of this latter kind is the gift or grace which here we meet with a gift given unto Timothy for the benefit of others That is agreed upon at all hands Quest But yet the question goeth on what gift was this Answ Here I finde Expositors not agreeed Some understanding it of an extraordinary gift as of Tongues or Miracles which kinde of gifts were in those Primitive times conferred upon divers and that sometimes by Imposition of hands Puto agi de dono linguarum Grotius ad Text as I shall shew you anon And so Grotius as some others before him taken notice of by Aquinas here looketh upon this gift But that Timothy was the owner of any such gift Scripture hath not acquainted us And if hee were yet this cannot so properly bee said to have been conferred upon him by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery which being but ordinary hands were not so fit for the conveying of extraordinary grace Others and that the generality understand it rather of an ordinary gift yet with some difference Some expounding it of a ministerial gift whereby he was fitted for the work of the ministery to teach and exhort and rebuke c. This say they was the gift which was in him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Others of the Ministerial Office and Function with the Power and Authority belonging thereunto so divers both antient and modern Now to whether of these two to incline my self I am somewhat dubious And therefore that I may be sure not to misse the sense I shall do what I suppose I safely and fitly may and what Aretius Aretius Loc. Com. de manuum impositione Loc.
they are known This is one of the characters that the Apostle giveth of a Bishop a Gospel Minister 1 Tim. 3.7 Hee must bee one that hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a good Testimonial a good report yea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of those that are without without the Church no members of it much more of them that are within such must the conversation of a meet Candidate bee not onely unblameable but laudable And withall hee ought to be such a one as upon whom a humane and conjectural prophesy hath passed one whom others look upon for his parts and gifts as a hopeful instrument of doing service in the Church of God 2 And besides this humane let them look for somewhat of a divine Testimony though not in an extraordinary way as Timothy had that is not now to bee expected yet in an ordinary that they be such persons as in whom in the judgement of a well regulated charity they themselves may see somewhat of God of his grace and spirit sanctifying of them and so fitting them for this so weighty a service And now these two concurring they may comfortably go on in ordaining and setting apart such a one thereunto which how it is to bee done the next clause will inform you With the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery Where again wee must make further enquiry what is here meant by the Presbytery what by Laying on of the hands of the Presbytery Quest 1. For the former 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hereby some would understand the office of a Presbyter So Erasmus here transsates it Authoritate sacerdotis To which sense I finde what I wonder at Mr. Calvin here not wholly averse yea Omuibus expensis diversum sensum non male quadrare fateor ut sit nomen officii Calvin ad Text. Quod de Impositione manuum Presbyterii dicitur non it a accipio quasi Paulus de seniorum collegi◠loquatur sed hoc nomine Ordinationem ipsam intelligo Calvin Instit lib. 4. Cap. 3. Sect. 16. Cameron Praelect in Mat. 18.15 elsewhere wholly for it but by the favour of so judicious an Expositor then whom I know none more we may take notice first that the word here used is never taken in scripture in this sense Neither can it well bear it True indeed as the learned Cameron notes upon it were it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it might be so construed Presbyteratus the office or dignity of a Presbyter but not so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And secondly If the word would bear it yet the scope of the place will not For should we so read it with the laying on of the hands of the office or dignity of a Presbyter I must professe with the same Authour I should not know what sense to make of it And therefore letting that passe enquire we how this word is elsewhere used That wee may soon see there being but two other Texts where it is to bee found The one Luke 22.66 where wee read of the Elders of the people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The other Act. 22.5 where wee meet with the estate of the Elders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In both places thereby meaning the great Councel of the Sanhedrim a Colledge or company of officers to whom the Government of the Church was committed Here is the Original both of the name and thing from whence it was derived as most other things concerning Ecclesiastical Government were unto the Christian Church which in like manner had its Presbyteries Societies and Companies of Church officers to whom the Government of the Church was in like manner committed And in this sense without question are wee to look upon the word here in the text as denoting Caetum seu Collegium Presbyterorum a Company of Presbyters Herein the generality of Expositors both Ancient and Modern Presbyterium qui hic collectivum nomen esse putant pro Collegio Presbyterorum positum recte sentiunt meo judicio Calvin ad Text. both Protestant and Romish do fully accord Mr. Calvin also among the rest upon second thoughts yeilding his free assent thereunto Quest Only the question remains what kinde of Presbyters were these Answ To this shall wee give the Doctors of the Church of Rome leave to return the Answer most of them will roundly tell us that they were Bishops Bishops as distinct from Presbyters wherein they plead the consent of some of the Ancients Such was the office say they to which Timothy was ordained not of a Presbyter but of a Bishop Now it was never the custome for Presbyters to ordain Bishops No The lesse is blessed of the better the greater faith the Apostle speaking of the Priestly office Heb. 7.7 Not the greater of the lesse Presbyters are ordained by Bishops not Bishops by Presbyters And herein we finde them seconded by some of our own of late times who contend that the office to which Timothy was ordained was the office of a Bishop an Arch-Bishop a Metropolitane And consequently the Presbytery here spoken of must bee a company of Bishops at least not of ordinary Presbyters In pursuit whereof some there are who spare not to affirm that in Pauls time there was no such order in the Church No Presbyters properly so called True indeed in a large sense say they the Apostles some of them sometimes stile themselves so as Peter and John who write themselves Presbyters 1 Pet. 5.1 2 Epist Joh. 1. and 3. Epist 1. But strictly and properly there was then none of this order None at least till St. Johns time the last of the Apostles Then indeed say they was this order introduced as a middle office betwixt Bishops and Deacons But before that there were no other ordinary offices in the Church but these two taking the word Bishops in a strict acception and consequently the Presbytery here spoken of could bee no other So high are some flowne in these distracted times being as they say of some Meteors set on fire by an Antiperistasis But as for this opinion as it is but novel newly hatched and singular so I suppose it is not like to be long lived it being such as the best friends to Episcopacy which the moderate party are I presume will not bee willing to own Neither indeed is there any reason they should in as much as it runnes so directly crosse as to clear evidence of Scripture so to the general if not universal consent of all divines both Ancient and Modern who look upon the office of a Presbyter as in Order and Time precedent to that of a Bishop Yea so necessarily preceding it that who ever shall be ordained a Bishop per saltum not having first a Presbyter they pronounce his Ordination invalid a meer nullity So it is agreed both by Protestants Papists Yea by the moderate on both these parts it is also yeilded that Presbyiery is the highest order of ordinary Gospel ministery Episcopacy not being a different Order from it but onely
are not reduced to such extremities as Paul was who tells us of his hunger and thirst and cold and nakednesse 2 Cor. 11.27 yet they are dieted with a mean and scanted competency far inferiour to what others injoy But what of this Let it bee enough to them the right hand of their God is upon them assuring their interest in the best of blessings which right hand blessings are 3. Against opposition affronts troubles persecutions which they are subject to meet withall in and from the World These in some kinde or other they must make account of But let them not bee disanimated therby let them in nothing fear their adversaries So long as the good hand the right hand of their God is upon them they are safe enough that is a strong hand Thou hast a mighty arme strong is thy hand and high is thy right hand Psal 89.13 This hand being upon their heads they shall need no other helmet this will bee to them a helmet of salvation Only let it bee their care to do the work of the Lord faithfully and then let them quietly repose themselves under the covert of his hand being assured of a gracious protection from that God whom they serve in the Gospel of his Son 4. I might yet go on Let this bee to them a Catholicon a comfort and incouragement in all their straits all their doubts and difficulties when they know not what to do which way to look now let their eyes bee unto their God whose hand is still with them If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost part of the Sea even there shall thy hand lead mee and thy right hand shall hold mee saith the Psalmist Psal 139.8 9. Such a gracious providence doth God exercise as towards all his servants in general so towards his Ministers in special In all places in all conditions hee will bee with them to support them to conduct them But I am straitned 2. A word for the people and but a word Let them own this Ordinance of God and that by owning them that are put under it Wee beseech you Brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord saith the Apostle 1 Thes 5.12 The Officers of Jesus Christ such as are set apart unto his service and come in his name with his authority Know them and that so as to yeeld unto them such respects as are due unto them upon that account Esteeming them very highly for their works sake as it there followeth vers 13. not grudging them that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that double honour of Reverence and maintenance which our Apostle in this Epistle avoucheth the faithful Ministers of Christ to bee worthy of 1 Tim. 5.17 with all obeying them Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves saith the Apostle to the Hebrews speaking there not of Magistrates but of Ministers such as watch for the souls of men as it there followeth Heb. 13.17 obey their Doctrin and submit to their Government so far as they teach from God and command for God So doing you shall not feel of that hand which being laid upon them is ready to go forth against those who will not hearken unto them But I may not give way to further inlargements being also prevented in what I should have done in speaking somewhat of the latter part of the Text wherein wee have the matter of this charge which wee meet with in the first word Neglect not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In which word wee have a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more intended than said Neglect not that is with care and conscience attend thy ministerial office laying out that Talent which God hath committed unto thee stirring up the Gift which thou hast received So hee elsewhere explains and inforceth this charge 2 Tim. 1.6 whereof I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Metaphor taken from fire which is ready to go out unless it bee stirred up Even so are Ministerial gifts unless they bee exercised And therefore as the Priests under the Law had a care of that holy and heavenly fire upon the Altar to preserve and cherish it by adding fewel to it and stirring of it up so ought Gospel Ministers to have of their gifts which they have received from God maintain cherish them seeking to increase them by the constant exercise of them laying them out for the glory of God good of his Church Appli 1 A seasonable charge for you my Brethren who are this day to enter upon this Ministerial office you are here to receive the like Gift that Timothy did and that in the like way Now to every of you bee this word spoken and I wish it may bee ingraven upon each of your hearts so as you may have it in a continual remembrance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Neglect not this gift You know how it fared with the servant in the Gospel who hid his Talent in a Napkin It turned to a bad account to him in the end And so will Gifts to their owners where they are not improved And therefore what you have received or shall receive see that you lay it out for your masters advantage therein seeking the glory of God and good of his Church So doing be you comfortably assured of what you have heard that the good hand of your God shall be with you and upon you to protect direct assist and bless you Whereof take the Imposition of hands this day as a pledge But I shall not here anticipate what you shall anon receive more fully from another hand To which referring you beg wee a blessing from God upon what hath been spoken FINIS AN Exhortation given to the late ordained Ministers after the Ordination in the close of the day thereof Norwich June 11. 1656. IT is no part of my task to intermeddle at all with any controversies about the Ordination of Ministers either to enter into the question of what necessity it is to bee an ordained Minister or into that other in whose power it is to ordain and to whom properly it belongeth This was the task of that Reverend Divine who preached the Sermon to you who very dexterously and judiciously hath acquitted himself therein mine is only to speak to you who are now ordained to put you in mind of your duty as ye are Ministers And all which I shall speak in this matter both for the help of your memories and mine own too I will reduce to these three summary heads First To shew you the great burthen of your Office and what a weighty calling ye have taken upon you to discharge Secondly To shew you the great peril and hazzard ye run in the not discharging of it aright And Lastly On the contrary the great reward which remains for every faithful Minister for every one that conscientiously and in some good