is properly applyed to places of office and trust 4. In Vers 7. the Apostle saith The Spirits manifestation is given to every man to profit withall shewing that the Church by the help of the Spirit had the benefit of all these gifts in the several Administrations of the Gospel 4. To these several Churches add the course of our Saviour who gave us an example herein Mark 6.7 When he did send forth his Disciples he sends them forth two by two to preach the Gospel which proves the work of the Ministry not to be a single work Object Christ sends forth two only you say there should be three Resp. 1. None was fit to officiate the Evangelists while that Christ was alive and this he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I remember not that ever the Apostles during Christs being on earth were ever said to Evangelize Christ was that to them they are now to us they teaching what they received from him as we teach what we received from them 2. The time of gathering Churches was not yet come they during Christs being on earth said only as John The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand 3. They were but to prepare for the Kingdom until upon the Lords Ascension they should have sent down on them the Spirit of grace to inable them thereunto 4. The compleat Church was not to be until the world or time to come so called among the Jews which was that time which was to succeed Moses Ministry and therefore as the Church was not to be compleat so was not the Ministry And here I cannot pass by the common acceptation of the word Church it was gross when only taken for the places of Assembly and indeed it is but little better as taken for our mixt assemblies Again others they prove their Church to be a true Church from the right Administration of Sacraments and true preaching of the Word but where or in what society this is done as yet I am altogether ignorant of But that the Scripture holds out is clear 1. Three distinct persons to be teachers in the Church 2. Distinguished by distinct Appellations as Evangelist Pastors and Teacher 3. Qualified with differing gifts 4. Have several Administrations committed to them to exercise their gifts in 5. That all these are but one compleat Ministry belonging to one Church only Question is How all these can be exercised in one Church Resol The Church of the Jews being the Mother Church and above all most excellently constituted I shall propose that for a further example to clear up this mystery to help us whereunto it is necessary we make use of those words in Galat. 2.9 where it is agreed amongst the Apostles that James Cephas and John be Ministers to the Jews set out by the Circumcision and Paul and Baritabas for the Gentiles James is here placed for Evangelist Peter for Pastor John for the Teacher of the Jews Church James who was the Evangelist whose work it was to lay the foundation of the Church among the Jews as Paul among the Gentiles writes his Epistles to such as were without the Church to prepare for it in the first place 1. As appears by the word Synagogue where the Gospel was not preached but as to a mixt multitude as appears in all the teachings of the Apostles mentioned in the Acts and is spoken of in Scripture in opposition to Church-society Acts 13.43 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Congregation be dismissed 2. As by the nature of the doctrine appears he calls upon some to wash their hands and cleanse their hearts to put away outward and inward corruptions with which they were defiled In the 5. Chap. he threats wo against them for oppressing the laborers James 5.19 20. he writes to unconverted persons 3. As appears by the dedicating his Epistie he writes it not to any by the name of a Church as men called out of the world in communion with Christ not to such as were Saints nor to such as were called of God nor to those that were apprehended to pertain to Gods Election only he adds the word Brother to it a word of common relation when used singly and without other expression thereto Que. Why James had not rather written as an Evangelist to his own Charge 1. This was part of his own Ministry he being to begin the work among the Jews as well as to perfect and to this I conceive our Saviour may allude when he saith That he that would be greatest should be their servant which in this work he did as it were serve in his Ministry to the Doctor and Pastor though after they did again as it were serve to him in the other part of his Ministry The second part of Ministry that attended next the preparatory Ministry was that of the Doctor for though the Apostle in descending begins with the Apostles the most eminent in the Church and ends with the lowest so if we ascend we must begin at the lowest and end in the chiefest and this was Johns work 1. How clearly this appears in the Epistle from the difference of the matter and maner of teaching of that that is written in the Epistle of James That the one was of the Church Ministry the other to mixt Societies this of Johns is full of sweetness the other of terror to one he tells them You are beloved you are sanctified you are called the sons of God you have passed from death to life James cals those he writes unto Adulterers and Adulteresses and tells them their tongues are set on fire of hell 2. How clearly it appears that John was Doctor or Teacher of the babes in the Church of Jerusalem is evident 1. In that he directs it to the little children 1 John 2.1 and these he names before either fathers or young men 2. He calls them My little children he doth not appropriate any such interest to himself either in the young men when he speaks of them or the fathers 3. 1 Iohn 2.18 19. He comforts the whole Congregation of children against the apostacy of some saying They went out from us mark the emphasis of the expression in the Apostles stile joyning him to the society of the Infants 4. The whole doctrine is doctrine for babes speaking of the new birth of passing from death to life of being anointed and being called the sons of God and many other signs only to set forth and to discover the state of regeneracy from unregeneracy The third part of Ministry or second of the Church-Ministry and that is the Pastors office and this was done by Peter Now that his Ministry was to the young men which Iohn had before mentioned in his Epistle appears from his second Epistle which it is like was written to his particular charge in Ierusalem he being as it should seem by the postscript absent from thence 2. In the Introduction he calls them Elect and looks on them as such as had received like precious faith which in
Christ Ezek. 47.3 the Prophet prophetically shewes what was to be after the Gospell-institution took place signified in the waters run out of the temple 1 The Lord measures the waters and brings him through thrice which signified as he was a Prophet and did signifie publick ministery to be under the Gospell that there was to be a three-fold administration of the Gospell the first is but to his Anckles the beginnings of Christ the next higher the next higher then that and these are not in the same place but one thousand reeds from the other which shews that this ministery is not to be executed by one nor preached at once to the same people 2 This directs us in ordaining ministers they are to proceed by degrees first preaching without for tryall then admitted within to the Doctors ministry then the Pastors and lastly the Evangelists this way Timotheus proceeded in the ministry Now that we may more clearly see that it was the Teachers Office to teach Babes Rom. 2.20 and art saith the Apostle there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Teacher of Babes which shewes who are Teachers Congregation and what is to be taught in that Congregation they being to be taught according to their capacitie 1. The Scriptures clearly shew what the Babe is and who and when to be admitted to Church-societie 2. The Scriptures shew abundantly concerning that estate and God hath therein provided abundantly for it 1. The Scriptures shew who the Babe is John 3.3 2. Of what he is to be borne and where verse 5. 3. The necessitie of this new Birth without which a man cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven 4. What is required of Babes 1 Peter 2.1 to lay aside malice hypocrisie evil-speaking and to desire the sincere milke of the Word that we may grow thereby 5. The Doctrine is set down Hebr. 6.1 to be laying the foundation of repentance from dead Workes faith towards God the Resurrection of the dead Shall God have Angels heavenly Spirits to attend the least of Saints and shall he not allow many a Church-minister by whom her portion in the Word may be divided rightly to them 2. The Euangelists Office is distinguisht from the Teachers by the Apostle in the 1 Cor. 1.17 where the Apostle tels us that he was not sent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to baptize which was the worke and the Doctrine of the Doctour as must clearly appeares Hebr. 6.1 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which was to do the worke of an Euangelist as cocerning a man called to a distinct worke from that of Baptizing which if so spoken of in the person of the Apostle who had an extraordinary calling to all How then of those that have but an ordinary call to one And the words of Christ in Matthew to his Apostles shew that Baptizing is joyned to the first worke of the Ministerie following the making of Disciples now if those God hath joyned together are not to be separated by man How shall we dare to feparate them and as it were bestow them on others 2. The Apostle implieth in saying he was not sent to baptize that some are sent to baptize and that men not sent are not to baptize it being a part of the publique ministerial Dutie 3. He shewes that they differ in the call to what they are to do and that they have not baptized in commission equally and so consequently for other of the Gospel Administrations that that is proper to one is not to be done by another 4. He was sent to euangelize which shewes that the Apostle did prove his calling to do what he did do Object What is that to us the Apostle was an extraordinary person Resp. We are to consider him as in his ordinary and extra-ordinary capacitie in his extraordinary as a Prophet and then he saith that on him lieth the care of all the Churches but if in his ordinary capacitie then we consider him as one using the Euangelists Office to performe the which he took helpers with him for the worke of the Ministerie joyning himselfe to them It is granted indeed that he did take on him the whole worke of the Ministerie 1. Being extraordinarily called 2. Extraordinarily gifted 3. Others being at that time not to be had to supply it for him but in this case he is no president for us to do the like especially seeing he was sent to do the Euangelists Office though in the absence of other or in the first laying the foundation of the Church he may begin the workes as in Corinth he is sent to euangelize 1. It being next in place to his extraordinary Offices 2. As being more fully instructed to that Dutie than any other 3. The Euangelists place requiring greatest abilities in him that doth administer the same both in regard of the Ministerie it selfe and those to whom it is to be ministered unto 3. The Euangelists Office is of the most sublime administration it dispencing the highest things of God in its Ministerie that are communicated to the Saints by ordinary means in this World 1. Christ teaching Nicodemus the Doctrine of Repentance and New Birth cals these things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 earthly things things taught to men of the World 2. He cals the more spiritual part of Doctrine to be ministred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 heavenly things which sheweth that there is a wide difference between the subject matter or way of dispensing the Doctrines pertaining to these two Administrations 3. To this agreeth that of the Apostle Rom. 10.15 How beautifull are the feet of those that euangelize good things and that euangelize peace which shews that the subject matter of the Euangelists Ministerie to those under his charge is generally contained under those two Heads of peace and good things holding out the glorie followes the revelation of Jesus Christ to the Soul and the good that belongs unto him yea this requires the greatest experience the most heavenly sense and nearest enjoyment of communion with God for he must come first to know these things in himselfe before he can teach them to others 4. The Euangelists Office is the chief in the worke of the Ministerie as appeares in that after Timothie had made use of the publique Ministerie Paul in his 2 Tim 4 5 bids Timothie do the worke of an Euangelist and make full proof in the Ministerie 1. Signifying that in other administrations there is not a perfect worke of the Ministerie 2. That the Euangelists Office is that that perfects the Ministerie both in respect of the Minister and People Not that the Euangelists Office is a full Ministerie without the other or the other without that but that the Ministerie ends in this and tends thereunto Again a Congregation under the Ministerie of a Doctour called out from the World and united to Christ having the administration of Gods Ordinance among them are a Church though in its infacie and childhood lying under imperfections 1. As not perfected in
and John were in the ordinary way of Ministry designed to officiate as other Ministers in the Church of Jerusalem 2 Those that held Episcopacy held James to be Bishop of Jerusalem those for Presbytery that he was President of the Counsel which was fulfilled in his Evangelical office by which he had a kind of priority in the Church 3. In 2 Pet. 5.1 Peter who was an Apostle as James was also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only an Elder but an Elder with others in the Church of Jerusalem which were James and John 4. None do speak to the question but Peter and Iames in the Counsel Iohn it is like was not present and if others had been required to answer to the question it is like they would have been put on to speak to it if they had spoken to it it had been doubtless written of 5. It being a question of doctrine it is likely here the Church did not send to these Elders who were ordained for helps in government only 6. I suppose none could joyn with the Apostles that were ordinary men to say as the Apostles did ver 28. saying it seemed good to us and the Holy Ghost 7. If I should grant that there were other Elders and not the Apostles I suppose we should not have sufficient ground from hence to practise it 1. These had extraordinary gifts the Holy Ghost having visibly before descended on them 2. That there was some more then ordinary cause in it appears because they pass by other Churches and send to that though they were neerer to them and that not only because she was the Mother Church Quest Why did they send to the Apostles under both Titles and not use one of them only if there be meant the same persons in this place only 1 As Elders they wrote concerning their Members and their sending forth to the Churches in which they had relation to them as Pastors 2. As Apostles so they wrote concerning the doctrine for the Answer is made from them distinctly and divided into these two heads Acts 15.24 It pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church to write For as much as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls saying ye must be circumcised and keep the Law to whom we gave no such Commandment 1. This was done of them as Elders joyntly with the Church where they officiated their ministerial calling Verse 28. It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to lay no greater burden on you Now this the Apostles did as Apostles not as Elders for it was not in the power of any Church to impose a burden on another Church which Christ had not imposed I may in this kind speak much more in Answer to this Objection but I am diversly at present straightned One of the most usual Scriptures brought to confirm mixt Congregations is that of the Tares Mat. 13. then which I think none more fully condemns it I shall shew you the wrong application of the words and the right using together for brevity sake the Parable and Exposition made by Christ in the Chapter together 1. The man is Christ which sowed the word in his field that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the world 2. The tares who are the children of the wicked and ungodly men they appear among the good seed which is the godly 3. The Ministers ver 28. would gather forth the wicked from the good but Christ saith let them alone lest they root up good men with the bad 4. They must both grow together vers 30. untill the harvest which is the end of the world being the day of judgment and then God sends forth the Angels the reapers to gather them and burn them Others hence say this was not to continue mixt societies with ungodlymen that were openly prophane but that the tares were so like the wheat as that the Apostles may be deceived in the likeness of them and pull up one for another But briefly to speak to the point the falacie lyeth in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these being rightly understood shew the truth and it is thus Christ he preaching the word to the people of Church-Commuon calls it the world his Ministry works on some that they were born again by the immortal seed of the word others they hearing shew their hate against it the Apostles see a necessity for the good of the wheat that the tares be pulled away which they desire but are forbid until the accomplishment of this time which is the time of continuance of Moses Ministry in which Christ then was and endured until Christs Resurrection when the harvest was to begin ver 39. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as we understand it generally when the Angels the Ministers of the Gospel were to be sent out and when the tares were to be gathered out as Mat. 28. the Apostles were sent out by Christ heretofore Mat. 9.37 38. The harvest is great the labourers are few Pray the Lord of the harvest that he send forth labourers into his harvest Now whether the harvest in this acceptation be not to succeed the end of Moses Ministry in which Believers were only added to the Church or such as did outwardly profess the Gospel and others excluded I leave to be judged and then what is to be gathered out all that doth offend Ceremonies and all things offensive and then the persons offending both persons and things are to be taken thence to which if we add the place to which the corn in harvest is brought It will yet more plainly appear ver 30. it is to be carryed into Christs barn which is the Church and the estate of grace here ver 41. after all things offences and offenders are gathered out which is not to be untill the end of the world and the wicked are cast into hell then the righteous shine in the Kingdom of their Father Now this hath respect to the state of glory in the Heavens the Fathers Kingdom being now under administration then before they were this Parable I suppose was chiefly directed to the Jews the Parable of the fish to the Gentiles which is used in the same nature to prove the same thing as this that is mentioned before 1. Mat. 13.47 The net is the Gospel the Sea the Heathen world in opposittion to the Jew set out by the field and in respect of the troublesomness of the people under the Gospel-Ministry as it was prophesied by the Psalmist Psal 2.1 Why do the Gentiles rage 2. In that it is said they took of every kind signified the many Nations tongues and people should be brought in and converted by the Gospel to God 3. The Gospel under this Metaphorical expression a net is said to gatherthem to bring men to hear it to gain on mens affections and then to draw them signifying the power of the Gospel in the heart
went before to prepare for Christs Ministry and to this it is Christ alludes saying that the least in the Kingdom of Heaven that is the least ministerial Officer in the Kingdom of Heaven was greater then he which implies Johns Ministry was not of the Kingdoms Ministry 2. Christ himself before the calling of his Disciples and the constituting of his Church did officiate this Ministry Mat. 4.17 He is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to preach or to commend the Kingdom of God to men which was to prepare for a Church and after that was gathered then he Teacheth and Evangelizeth Acts ult 31. Paul was said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 preaching sc to prepare the people and then being prepared he is said also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to teach them these two are distinct things and are to be performed by divers administrations 3. Christ did as I may so say this part of Ministry in reference to his Disciples Ministry which was to succeed him who were indeed to erect the Kingdom State to the world which before Christs death was not to be set up his death putting an end to the other administration hence our Saviour speaks as unto a people out of church-Church-Society Mat 12. the whole Chapter 4. In the Scripture the order observed by the Holy Ghost in the expression is to be observed the Lord placing preaching before teaching the one being a Ministry to be communicated to all the other only to those that are in Church-fellowship and of the communion of Saints and always followeth the other Now for this Ministry as well as the other ought to be contained in the world still for though the Apostle tells us that the other of Evangelists Pastors and Teachers belong only to the Church for the edifying of the Church yet he saith not this ought not to be exercised for the preparing men for that other Ministry of the Saints as the Temple stones squared before brought to the Temple to be layd on the building Quest If our Ministry established amongst us at present be a Church-Ministry Resp I shall speak this to all that are godly and wise to judg of by what hath been said I do not deny God hath a Church by this Ministry that now is in this Kingdom but is an invisible one only Quest. What our Ministry hath done then amongst us Resp It hath only prepared for a Church Object It may be some will say the Ministers now do all these in their places Resp But by what warrant we do these things were very good for us all to consider of 2. How or to whom to apply the words of James I know not unless in this kind that some men then as we now did undertake the dispensations of divers administrations among the Jews James 3.1 be ye not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many teachers consider the Reason rendred that seems to clear it knowing we shall receive the greater condemnation and ye know Timothy a man highly commended for gifts and grace yet undertakes it not until he be called thereto by Paul he bidding him do the work of an Evangelist 2 Tim. 4. Object But it may be said Paul executeth all these Resp 1. That which the Apostle did by Inardiat call and warrant from Christ is one thing we of the contrary are forbidden it 2. The Apostles were to do all to teach others to do it when others were fit to do it then they put them to do it also That Evangelists Pastors and Teachers are three distinct publike offices and are executed in every Church is proved by the Epistles written to the Churches 1. Rome a Church constituted according to the Gospel frame Chap. 12. ver 6 7 8. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us where prophesie let us prophesie or Ministry let us wait on Ministry or exhortation let us wait on exortation or he that teacheth on teaching It is without all question the Apostle speaks here of publike Ministry and of private Christian duty and only of Church-Ministry 1. They are joyned subordinately to prophesie a publike duty 2. They are commanded to wait on them 3. Each man is injoyned a waiting on his own work only and not others 4. The Apostle saith they are differing gifts 5. Ruling a publike office follows them and then private duties after that again and whereas the Apostle saith they are diverse gifts I cannot but think that if ever there were a Church rightly constituted in this Kingdom greater gifts would be bestowed on men then any have been since the Apostles time whence once they came to be imployed to that end which the Lord ordained them I grant indeed that in the Scripture all the Church-Ministry is set out oft times by one word in Scripture as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the like but the Scriptures are not then wanting to prove the truth of this doctrine for these are in the plural number signifying God had respect to more then one Teacher in a Church 2. That the three are but one compleat Ministry 3. That they all belong but to one Church 4. That what the one doth the other doth but in a different kind 5. That superiority was not to be sought for of them nor to be amongst them Object This is a way never to be errected in these times we have not one Minister for a Church you say we should have three Resp What may the world have said when there were but twelve Apostles only yet they set up many Churches in a little time against many enemies and in the time of Heathenish darkness 1. God will not be wanting to his own Ordinance 2. Five men in this way may do more in a City then fifteen now do 3. Though this was scarce done in the Country villages in the Apostles time yet now in many places the Ministry having prevailed so with the people they are far more meet hereto now then otherwise they could have been or the villagers were in Pauls time for the Apostles at first erected the Churches in the chief Cities of the world as appears by their Epistles being places in which the greatest confluence of people were and hence the villagers were called Pagani quasi ex pagis the villages of many Continents being a long time ignorant of the Gospel after it had been preached in the Cities thereof The third Church I shall now speak of is that of Corinth 1 Cor. 12.4 The Apostle tells us that there are diversities of gifts and after tells what these gifts are in these words To one is given the word of knowledg to another the word of wisdom 2. Lest any should appropriate these to one individual person ordinarily he distinguished them and saith to one and to another and therefore not to the same man 3. Lest any should think these were meant of gifts given to private men only he saith That these divers gifts have also divers administrations added to them which
themselves 2. Not in their Ministerie 3. Not in their societie the strong being commanded to bear with the weak 5. The Apostle proves 6. Hebr. 1. both that the Euangelists Office is the highest and a distinct Office from the Doctours where he sheweth that under that administration the Doctrine of Repentance fromidead Workes is to be left and of the beginnings of Christ under this administration and in saying Let us go to perfection he sheweth that under the former administration these Doctrines which he was now about to teach them had not been taught 1. If their Congregations were according to the Papal congregational wayes and not divided there were no leaving the first Principles because daily some being to be added to the Church and in infancie would then be left to perish for the lacke of meanes of meanes of grace And here fitly may I speak a word of this lack of this dividing the Ministerie to the worke How it is savoured by godly men in the Land 1. A man preaching that Doctrine is preparatory to fit for the Church is not so acceptable to men called and sanctified and this is cried out as a Legal Ministerie others they preach the Gospel grace to men in a natural estate and do apply it in a general way they are hardened by it and these are called Antinomists though not approving the error but how to remedy this that is not apprehended nor indeed can it be but by dividing People and then dividing the Ministerie before which it is nothing but confusion in all that we do Object It is very strange that men in the Euangelical Ministerie must not preach the Doctrine of repentance but leave that Must not repentance be preached to the higher and the lower congregations Resp. The Apostles Answer is not sutable for any estate but that of euangelized Christians which live under the highest dispensations of Gospel mercie as appeares verse 4. chap. 6. where he sheweth what these are that are thus to be lead to perfection they must be men illightened men that have tasted the heavenly gift and are made partakers of the holy Ghost and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the World to come if these fall away there is no preaching repentance to them it is impossible to renew them again thereby and on this ground the Doctrine preached in the first congregation is left in the last 1. Hence see what degrees of common gifts is required of men before they be admitted to be of this fellowship 2. See to what perfection the Saints were brought who lived under this government it is not the governments that are erected by men can have that in it nor that from God which he communicates to his own Church 3. It sheweth that there may be hypocrites men that fall away in the chiefest Societies 4. See the ground of this Gospel dispensation 1. It is to carry men onwards to perfection What a lack do all the Saints of God lack of this helpe from the Ministerie here and in all the World 2. How are the Saints gifts left to wither in them by reason that meanes which should stir up their affections and enlarge their hearts is wanting to them they are onely shut up to lesser and lower things below that measure of manifestation the Spirit hath given to them to apprehend God in and by as the Jewes were under Pedagogues so these are straitned in the present Ministerie 3. Those that fail under this dispensation cannot be restored and therefore no need of the Doctrine of Repentance they being as the Salt which hath lost its savour and cannot be seasoned I know this Doctrine will be mightily distasted of us Ministers we having desires naturally in us as we have heard to be in the Apostles every one desiring to be chief and few content to deny himselfe so as to serve with others in the Gospel 1. Brethren let us consider Do we Christs worke or do we our own if Christs let us take a care and do it as he will have it done 2. As it is said of Christ when he washt his Disciples feet he said he did this for example so Christs Ministerie being at first but preparatory sheweth us that he was content to do any thing for his Church and shews how we should follow his example herein and he presseth Peter yet he loved him he should feed his lambs as well as his sheep 3 Consider our parts they are not sufficient for the dispencing of the lowest administration for saith the Apostle we are the savour of life to life in those that are saved and of death to death in those that perish and who is sufficient for these things here he saith we joyning as fellow workers in their other part of work with himself and for all or any he implyeth none is worthy no not man nor Angel the lowest place will take up all thy gifts knowledge wisdom love mercy heavenly mindednesse and finde thy heart much wanting to God in the execution of it both to thy self this ministry God and his flock 4 We had rather teach in a confused way to the multitude in an unprofitable way then in Gods way to doe good among them our very naturall opposition to this worke and way proves the divinenesse and excellency of it 5 God saith 1 Tim. 3.14 if a man have obtained the office of a Deacon he hath obtained a good degree in the house of God and David he esteems highly of a door keepers place in the house of God 6 If God hath gifted us for the more eminent places he will in his time call us thereunto before which it is not good for us to seek any or exercise any 1 By this means men in the ministry that is without the Church ministry will come to have their gifts known and parts exercised 2 The Church ministry to be sound and incorrupt that the Chuch come not to be corrup by false teachers 3 Mens gifts for teaching highly improved 4 Mens abilities to the uttermost manifested Apl. Let us take heed of that of James 4.5 the spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy marke your own spirit how it is with God when God requires thee to part with any thing for the Gospell how apt it is to swell against it and argue against it denie it condemn it and also speake hardly of it as you know the Scribes and Pharises did to Paul concerning the way of God I can the more freely speake of this because mine own heart abundanly abounds with these dayly in me being indeed a fruit more bitter then death 2 Cor. 1.5 We have made our selves your servants for Christs sake remember this and we cannot refuse any place we shall be imployed in the Church at all unlesse publik we say so Complementally onely to God and the Church Again hath not Christ said he that will be greatest let him be your servant yea and did not the Evangelist in