'MM /? C'^, n^t '->/7 ^ ' c’ j t, , ‘' c^f v 5-9 / ^/ " i / '•: ^ w ' »lliS TREATISE O F Milcellany Queftion s; sil« ■« 4 ' WHEREIN Many uftfull Queftions and Cafes of«f|^‘ !rSJj%4l! ConJcience are ailcuiledancirelolved; ’^' For the fatisfadioti of tho/c, who dcfire nothi|^ more, then to learch for and finde ' precious Truths, in theControverhescf thefe Times* mkk Publiflied by M^.P A T R IK G I L I E s p l E^ L A S G O VV. EDINBURGH, ||| Printed byGEDEON Lithgo vv. Printer to the Univerfity of E d i n b u r g -h, For George Svvintoun, and are to be fold at his Shop at the Kirk Ityie, at the figne of the Angel. 1649. H By M'.George Gillesp iate LMimfier 4 ^ Edinburgh. The Publiflier to the Reader. Thath been a grand dejzgne of the De-^ vilandlnfrumentsaBed by him^rvith much controverfe to darken the light in the very breahfnguv ofthu-^rejent Keformoti- on,and to hide the precious Truth that the fim^le fhould mtfinde it, fkch^ure malice doth he carry againji the high way of the Lord,andfo afraid he k, that theWay faring menJhall not erre therej/tt but they bnm not the Counfelof the Lordl ' nor^''^'*- the thoughts of his heart, whois ahoutto ^arthe Truth,by the manifold Err ours rvhich hav^ri- fen in thefe late Times, to ivorl\^His feofles ,,, hearts to a deep detejiation of Errour, as well as ungodlines, and to declare his Truth, to beproofe of all the controverfie that can be moved againji it, when every Worbfhall be tried by the fire. There mufi be Herefies,formal^ng manifefiwho , are approved, and what is precious andpraife-zid^n worthy Truth,but at the Evening time it pall be Cor. i By % heligk,andtheLordJhallmaJ\eTrutB (bine the more brightly,that it hath been for a time darJ^y- ned and born domn,this cloudie Morning fnalend in a clear day ,This title treatife doth bel^ to blow away anddiff ellthe mijlsfof Errour, and clear many quejlioned TrHthsJbefide fome joints which arefra&ically handled therein. If God had been, f leafed to lengthen the Author his life for longer fervinghisGeneration, 1 am confident it would have come abroad better q>oli(hed, if he had com- ■^eated it and there furvayed the whole Work, whet^t together. But although this feece beun- teffe&lyet havingthe Authors leave,! have ad- .veni^red to maJ^itPublicl^ypithoHt any addition gr alteration,the chriftianKeader will correU the Errata,and loo\u^on it as it is his opus poft- humu, whom God made very ferviceable in his wor\,ina veryfljorttime: !jhallonly wifhthatit may frove as ufefula nd accent able to the Judici¬ ous and godly,as other'jyeeces which came fromhis > Pen. 1 am Thy Servant^ Pat; Gillespie The ContenU. T c A p. I; Hat the Minifiery is a perpetuall Ordinance in the Qhnrch, and that Jldinifters are to he received as the Amhaj^adours of Chrijif noro as re ell as in the Primi¬ tive times, pag, I.' 'AnErallian lately publiflied the Negative, which alfo the Scflr of the Seekers hold.^ . , ' J* The Affirmative is proven from Scripture by eight Arguments. Three Objedions anfwered. How believers are an holy Prieffihoodt . ihid Its proved againft that Eraltian, that the ordinary Miailtry have an Emba 0 y. fromChriffias well as the ApolUes had. ^ - psg, ^ Cap, !!♦ ' ; Of the PUUion of Paftors reith the Congregations conpntl pag. 8.V Thefjueftion isftated. ihid* The Affirmative is proven from Scripture by three Arguments pg.5?/o,ii,i2,i3,i4,i5. XiifottvtA Ads i4.23as exponed* Its proven alfo from Antiquity. fag. i 6 , 17. Its alfo the judgement of found Proteftant Churches and writ- ters. fag. 18,19,20,21, Its confirmed by five reafons, pag, 21.22, The confeflion of Adverfaries proves it* f'^g. 23, Seven Gbjeftions anfwered, />^^.24.2'5.2(5.27.28.29.30.31, How vye differ from the Independents in this point. ^(2^.24.25. Vhat is due to the People,and what to the Magiltrat, and what to the Elderlhip in this point. ibiJ, Th€ Elderlhips votes, and the Peoples confent or diflent are free, and (3; there _26.27 la T'he Contentsl " there needs not be given a reafon for them# , _ A kchifmaticall Church hath not jull right to the Liberty of a founi Church. , 28, How the Congregation is to judge if a man be qaalified and he for the Miniltry ^ Incommodities may be on both hands,but fewer on this* p^g 28,30, Cap. HL iVhether Ordination he BffentUU to the Calling of a Afinifierl pag. 32. Four Di(Un( 5 lions are premifed for the right hating of the Quehion. A^.§- 33 » 34 - 35 * The Affirmative is afferted and confirmed by ten Arguments from Na- • tureand Scripture to the end. There fliould be as much order in theChurch.as in any politick Repub- lick. ■ ^ P'^ 3 S- 36 , Tlut place Rom: 10. iS • exponed and the Socinian exceptions difcufled, P4g.37j38.3p.4o:4'*42.43. ,^Iow the Office of Kiffwsp belongs to ordinary Paftors. ,604^ the tor an office and the differ* P^^g* Wharai^iilion Expedants,and Probationers have. P gA^\ The of Church officers cleared. * pag. 43 44.4 Ordination of MinUters was a Catechetical! head in the Primitive times.^ ^ pag, The diverfe names the Miniffers of the Gofpell gets in ScriptureAi^. 5 f. The place 2 riot: 2.2. opened up. pag. ^2. 5:3. '^ac la wfull ordination contributes for the Peoples good. p ^g. 54, Cap. IV. ObjsElions againji the necejjitj of Ordination anfwerediip^^. j j j How the Peoples -/ii^oToviety is confittent with the Elders and both neceffary. , pag. 57, How Eledion and,Ordination differ, fig, The Prophets mentioned * 4 * were extraordinarly infpyred and fo,no ordinary rule. • P^z-^p* How the Ordination ot our R.eformers by the Church of Rome is law- tull, and how not. pzg. 2.^3 Thefe who rejed their Ordination,mult all unchurch themfelves and turn Seekers. pjg. 52* What may be done in extraordinary cafes, and what mult be done in ordinary in a conhitiiredChurch p g. 62, When the Church of Rome was molt corrupt, there wasalwayes a true Church in It. . Cap. 7 he Cmtmul Cap. V. fVhethtr ihefe Prophets and prophefjings the ^Primitive (^hurch 1 Cor\ 14. and i Cor, i 2.18. 4.11. tvere extras ardinaty^and jo not to continue'. Or whether they are Prejhdents 1 for the preaching andprophefying of fuch as are neither ordained Minijiers ^ nor Probationers for the MiniJirj, ^ pag; 64. Jhcre are three opinions concerning thefe Prophets, the laft whereof is that they were extraordinary Prophets,which is holden for true, jnd proven by 13. Reafons. p’^g^S.ady^. Prophets in the Apoftles enumcration> are preferred to Paltors and - Teachers,yea to evangelifts P^g 66, The difference between Prophetc andPaitors andTeachers is fet down. . pog,6S, 6p, Three fenfes only of the wordPrc^hej^i^g in the newTen:amenr,f>7^.70.7t Prophefic is diftind both from the w'ord of knowledge and the word orwifedomej ^ p^g- 7 i* In the Prophet there is//fisjiov/ae, as well as ivifyiia, and g- ?>• How the word Tpajpurs/a/ts often ufed for the newTeftament. tjg. fT* prophefie is a fpeciall gift of an Apolf le. » Prophefie and the gift of tongues of the fame kindc. ibid^ Even Propheteffes were not allowed to fpcak in the Churcht!^.75,7d. That place i cor,i4.26. exponed and vindicated* P^gd^jl^i 19* How Prophefie might be defired. "^peg 8 r. How Prophets were fubjedl to tryall. - How the word Brethren is fometimes taken, p‘^g> 8^ Cap, VI. whether any but d Mnifier^ lawfully called and ordainedy may adminijler the Sacra meats yBaptiJmCyand the Lords Supper,^,S 6 , .The Negative is jufily held by reformed Churches againfl: Eraftiansand Socinians,andisprovenby eight arguments. Much of the feeding of the flock confifts in the difpenfation of the Sacraments. pfg. 87 What Ezekiels vifion concerning the new Temple rneans. pag.^S, None without a calling fliould make bold with Cnrilts broad Seals. pag 89. Whom thecommiflion to Teach and Baptize is given to. ibid, Chrillhath diftinguifhcd between Magillracy and Miniftery, between Sacred and Civile vocations. Whac- rU Contents'^ What comfort it is for Mintfter and People if the Minifterbe lawfiillf ,That‘!21ie'textffi.4.”.i»'i3. ia enough to pat toGIenceth£U Cap* VIL Of Prophets and Evangeliflsh what/eft/e their wor^and voca^ non might h called extraordinary,and m whatfenfe ordtHary,^,^ y Their work sind Vocation is mixed* , r r l i The higher degrees £f&: 4 * “-are comprehenGveof the lower, #S&perTn?dimng^^^^^^^^^ work of an Evangelilb TSvo 7 ks hot?afdfn wh^^nfe extraordinary, |»|; 94 - VVhat kinde of Vocation and^tmon they had, p<^g 9:>\9p* had a vocation partly Ordinary,partly extraordinarjv tbtd, ^ Cap, VIII. ^ . f- •rUat the Primitive ApoflolkallPattern holds foorth unto us for our imiMon, a Preshy teriey.e . Afemh/j of Elders having power of OrdinatidriiWith laying on of hands, tiff^changeofthePhrafe in that place is obferveable.- fag. loi. How might be ordaiLed both Presbyter and Evangel ih at one might’be ordained Evangelilt by the Presbyterie. mi. whaTfenfe P«r calls himfelf vv(rrrprr^vn.«, . Per: 5.,, 2. In wnac iciiit 104, iOyTO< 5 >io 7 . How impof.tion of hands is necellary for Ordination, and w^at^ kinde ofriteitis. PS- • Whatis meant in Scripture by the word Hereftes^andhow we are ■ underfiand, shat there mull be Hereftes for making manifefi the Godly partie, or thofe that are approved,! Cor,! p, 11 o Herefieis more nor DjviGons and Schifmes pag.ws, ivhat tie Contenu. VVhatHerefie is not,anfwercd in two things Six things do concur re to make a Hcrefie, A defcripcion ot Herefie. VVhy Herefie ’mufi ^e^jand now« VVho are the approved, I e’oMM^.and who not, How we fliould look upon Gods Iliff'eringHercfies in the dnirch.j). 119 How a Child ot God may be drawn over to Herefie* 12O. 12 How Herefies makes manifeli: them,who are approvcd> (og, 122, ibid, ^>^^.117. 118, Chap, X, OfN’erv LightSj and ho)v to off from fplitting either upon the Charjhdh ofpertinacy and tenacionfnejfe, Qr upon the ^cjUa of Levitjy Waverings and Scepticifme, pag. 123, I 28 t -ibid. Five ConcelTions tor clearing the Q(iefh‘^>n. 1.24, 123. The greacelt deceits ot Satan have come under the name of new Light, f 12 5 Many things cried up as new Lights, which are neither Lights nor Ne^ Its a falfe new Light that expelleth much good old Light, Balaam feeks a new Light and gets it in wrath* Many otour New lights bring in Egyptian darknefle. Its not good Light that makes certain truths uncertain. Scepticifme is no good New light. Beware ofNew Lights which come not from the Sun of righteoTilitee^ p ' The VVeigelians wilde fancy. ibt^ Take heed ot proud and felt-conceited New lights, i id. Beware of feparatiug new Lights Beware ofNew lights that dare notbefecn, ibid, Refiife fuch Lights as havefellowfhip with the works ofdarknes./»/33« They are no new Lights which bring no edification, p^g>^^ 4 . Take good heed of New Lights which follow new interelts ibid^ Cap, XI, Of Stability and firmtie^e in the Truth, pag. 13^ Scepticifmeis afin,andtlabiiity inthe truth a dutie proved frorn Na¬ tures light and Sci;ipture. _ ^ 5 4* f?*) ^ven reafons confirmed with Scripture proved, *37» Some Errours in their own nature damnable. pag,, 158, wine Prefervatives againll waveringiand Helps to liability in the truth. ±\P^i}}S^^ 9 Mo. * Pertina- theCdniem^ Pertinacyandkvitk both tobeOiunned. The Se(flanes word Seekers fliould be called Atheilts,becaiife NulIifidiatiS Cap, XU* \ ptg.i^u ibid, ibidp. fvhether a found heart and an unfound head can conffi together, & vice oryt^hether Trnth and Holmes be not infeparable * Companions* P 3 g•^ 2 • Every Error, is not inconfiftcnC with holynefle, yetfr® maw it retards and hinders it. . ibid* Dangerous errours can no other wayes confift with true Grace, nor dangerous fins, ib ds .What are the roots of Herefies and Errors in the hearts ofcorrupt men, «.r - ’^ 3 * ^ 44 *: 'AH opinions and practifes in the worm arc reduced co three heads, 1 John 2.16, ibid, --J^ere is a Reciprocal! influence of the will and underftan ding,and how. 145 As thclal^ction of fin is univerfall, fo is the work of Gods fpiric in the foule. \ ' pog* 145; Soule and^irit, Reafons and afFeffions compared together, ibid„ Both DoCTrinals and Prafticalls makeup a perfeft ChrifUand>^g.i47, To be led'in all Truth, is a work of the Spirit of Truths ibid^ Truth'lnd Grace compared^ ^ ibid,. Erroneous men are diflinguiftied from the Eledf, pngi 148; t noly Heretick is a chy7nxra,2r\d a prophane believer is another,1^5^,145?, n ungodly mans knowledge,is but a forme of knowledge. ihid. No fin in the will without fome Error in the underllanding. peg 150*. All profeffed and mantained Errors are but manifeftos iht corrupt principles fecretly lurking in the judgements of all unrenewed men; pag, 150, 151^ Many hold fafl: jthe Truth,becaufe not yet tempted,; . Eleven prafticall conclufions drawn from the former Principles, ^ • ,...u .,r '"’f'52 .i53,iS4,J55.»J<5.i57.'S8. Every Religion and Faith will not fave men. p ‘g> 152, How Herefies are damnable.. ^ ^ .^<’'^.153.154-' Church cenfures ihouldflrikeboth againfl: H^reticks and profane men* There is caufe to fall and pray when Herefies abbund;r^ *bU\ We rauft notconverfe withfalfe Teachers. * pffg, 15^3 Ppinioas arc not free more then pra^es^ _ ff,g» H' T'h Confey^t Hee who would keep his head, let ‘him keep his hearth r^/d; The approved in triall are thefe only who have both true piety and a ' ibund judgement, ^ P ♦ A X 11, VFhether Confctonahle Chripjans and fneh as hve (he power and pra^iice of piety,can without defUing their own confeience^or with¬ out a deftruyiive wounding of the power ofgodlinejj efmhrace and hold the principles of theje who call themfelvet the godly partief Or whether thij ought not rather to avoid thefe who do now T^ha- rifaically and Donatijiically ap^ropriat to themfelves the name of the Gooly partie, as being indeedfuch^ who under the pretence of oueallfor the power of godlints^ hold diverfe ungodly principles^ pag- jDiverfe Who now pretend to be the godly party hold many ungodly' ITha*fn^oneought to be punilhed for preaching or publifhing an' error in faith,except it be contrary to the light of nature, ibid,, There is need of fome Oedipus to loofe this, how thefe who decl jpg natures light in lefler things, ftiould appeal to it in fublimer things; / — 1 That in queftions of Religion we muft only argue from me new te- (lament. ) This is thortly refuted, pag,161,162^ 3That Se( 5 f aries and Hereticks peaceable in the Rate ought tbi^he tole¬ rated and foreborn.. " P^i62, Toleration is the Seftaries boly of holier, Uhid^ Its (hortly refuted, p^g, 4 That none fliould believe more nor by reafoo he can comprehend^ this is not good Divinity, ^ ^ pag, 164, idy; 5 Tneonly GofpellReformation, isthe deftroying of fin out of the Ele(R:,and that this work belongs to Chrill alone. Hid, This is a deltriiftive and injurious Doctrine. t itSl 6 Diverfe Arminian and Antinomian Tenents are maintained by them, which flrcngthen the hands of the vvirked. ' 7 Other Tenents are current among them whicb arc apt to weaken the hearts and hands of the Godly. pjg, 1 d8. Cap. XIV. 'Another mof ufefttU Cafe of Confeience difcujfed and refolvedyCon^ cerningaffociations and confederacies with Idolater Sy Infidels^ Hed reticks ) 0 r any other l^own enemies of truth and godlineffe pag. i 6 p yhree kindx)f Covenants diftinguifiied, Civil, facied, and mixed? the Th Contenff lafl two are unfawfiill to be made with wicked men, and thefc wh^ differ in Religion. ihid*^ Civil Covenants called arovJ[ct\y for peace or commerce are lawful, ibid. Civil Covenants called to joyne in Military expeditions to¬ gether,is unlawfull ^ ib'd^ This is proved from Scripture. 171 Three objedions from Abraams, and the Maccabees Covenants, and Davids affociating with broken men, anfwered. '72,173, Five particulars which God hath forbidden his people in reference to Heathen or wicked Perfons. ^ '7$ 176, Religious Covenants and familiar converfation is forbidden 174. Conjugall Covenants is forbidden, /’‘*5.'75 FaJus aedithnis^oXypaliumLiheTatorium forbidden, I 7 < 5 . David did not right in fparing loab and Shimei, Civil Covenants of War was forbidden> ihid^ This is pnfirmed more. ^ f^^.i77>i78 TheObjedion taken from Jehofaphats joyning with Ahab, proves nothing. Two other Objedions anfwered by Scripture, fag, igi. Five Diltindions to take off all other Objedions, pag, 182. ufes of this point 183, ^rives and reafons to drive home this naill tothehcad.;>< 5 g.i 84 .i 8 $ Anotl^mi|£dion from Davids confederacy with Abner and Amafa anfwefediyiy* /’''^•i86,i 87.188* What can b^rawn from the example of Chriftian States and Com¬ mon-weaj^s. i8p. An Obje< 93 fen ofMalignants anfwered. pagx ipo, Flowjtfcfh may be forced into the Covenant, pag, 191, HbjjiNegled and contempt of a Dutie may be cenfured, and wihall ^i^^ickedneffe in .the perfon who hath taken up the pradifeofthe dutie. pag. 192 Another Objedion removed. ibid Wee may no more affociat with the wicked of the fame Kingdome, Ihen of another Kingdome* - P<*S> ^ 91 ^ Cap. XV. OfVniformhy inKeligion, Wot [hip of God, and Church Governm merit, jp^ Why Lather declined a gencralfSynod for unity in ceremonies, i^td. There is great difference betwen the Prclatical conformity and the Presbyterian uniformitie ibid. This is branched out in feven particulars. 19<5.197 Both nature and Scriptures gives presidents for uniformity p, i9$>tP9* The TheCpntentsl The Church io the old tcftament was very uniforme both in the fub- Itantials and ritualsof their worlhip, It was alfo prophecied to be under cheNew tefl:atnent,and commended and commanded in it« pag.ibid.ioo The Church in the ancient times had a great uniformity pg>ioo^ C A p. X.VL fVhetherit beUr^fHUy )uji and expedient that the taJ^ng of the lemne League and Covenant be iin)ojned by the Parliament ufon all Perfons in the Kingdome under a confiderable -penalty» pag. 201 ^inc particularsto be remembred for the right deducing and Itating the matter of fad. p5^.20f,202. The grounds and reafons of fuch an ordinance and appointment may be eleven. .203,204.205.20^. Four Objedions anfwered. How this ordinance would not bee tyrranny over mens confciences. ibid The coven ant is no temporary obligation. pag, 20S, Iffuch an ordinance to the Army be feandatum acceptum^then the not making of it is/tfa«dii/tfi» datum, p Cap. XVII. Of Infant’baptifme, f Baptifme hath fucceeded in the roomc of Circumcifiolt againllMi^ Tombs opinion ^ **■* t^td. Baptizing with water is a divine inftitution proved from ScriptlT%.p.2i i Both Hebrews and Heathens, had a curtome of walhing infants foone after their birth ^ Unto what the inftitution of Baptifme by water related. pag, 21 2:^, TheManna and water ont ofthe Rock,was the fame in fubtlance with the Lords Cupper; and the cloud in the red fca, was the fame with our baptifme in eight refpeds f ♦ ibid ct* 213. This infant-baptifme of theirs is a good warrant for us. ^*214, 215. The ori^nall of Baptifme is not derived from the baptifme ufed in the admimon of Profelyts. . P* Another text,Ephef:S*2^.proves that baptifme belongs to infants.p. 217 pag, 2 to Cap. XVIir. Of theufeofaTableinthe Lords fftpper, and of the eommunkanti there comming tOy and receiving at the Table,: pag. a 18, Uhe heft guefts our Saviour intertained, received at the Table* * 2 fhiF the Cmmsl This fitting was not occalionall only,but had a Handing reafon For ft J P* Succeflive tables and repeating the words is no deviation from the rule: />,22I,222. Another argument taken from the generall notion and natureofthc Lords Supper,as it is a banquet and feaft 223.224, A third reafon taken from the name Takle which the Apoftle ufes,^. 22$, 22^.227, The fitting at table together,fetsfoorth the communion of faints with Chrih and amongthemfelves. A* 2*8 22^, The words of dittribution proves there muft be a table# all mult fit at, f.ib[d: (g* ,23©. Antiquitic proves it* ‘ Hid, Cap; XIX. That there rvas am9ng the lewta yurif^lBlon and government Ec*. clefiafltcaUdifiinB from the civill pag .23 rj The Jews hadEccIefialticall Elders or Church govern ours which proves ^ the point. iven under the Roman Emperour they had theirPre/zj/ftn and Arcbijj/Mn^ Its p^e^l out of Mr. Selden, that their Elders received a jndiciall de¬ gree, and ^ere not civil Magift rats. ihid. 2 ^ 2 , The Jewifh o^ination of Elders with impofition of hands proves it alfo. ') pjg. 233.234# A third argument is taken Ftom the fag, 23 5. The Hebjtrws triple Crown proves ir. Hid, The Jews exercifed Ecclefiaftical difcipline,fince their difperfion which is afifth reafon. pag,2o6,27j, Z/ Cap: XX. ^ That necejfar^ confe^jHenees from the written word of God do fnffi-i ciently andjlrongly prove the confeqnent or conclnfton, if Heretic call, to he a certain divine Truth which ought to he believed', and If praElicallyto.he a neccjfaty dntie which we are obliged unto jure dfi vino* pag.23g The alTertion is cleared by fomc premifles. ibid Humane reafon drawing the confequence,is not the ground ofourbe- liefe. . , 235?. There is a difference between corrupt and renewed Reafon, ibid, Twoforts.ofxonfoqueneesdiltinguirhcd. ^ pag. 240 The Afiertion is proved, Firlt by the example of Chrift and his Apoftles. ibid, ^ntheoldTeftamentas welias in ihenew,fome neceffary things were left ' ^he ContinrP, kftto be drawn by neceflary confequcnce from the LawoFMofes; Two forts ofneceflaryconfeqiiences from the Law, 26 o, 26 r. How the fmrit and word epneurre to this afsuranc^ iiid„ The word is more fure nor any voice within or with^out. 262. t’rifpehiswayofafsuranceby the teltiraony of the fpmt received by faich refuted. . ^^ 3 * 25 -^ He arofly millakes faith. . Mr.£fon brou ghc againft hini. 265^ A fad lamentation ofa poor foulholdingtoorth what miferable com¬ forters thefe antinomians are. 266,267 >268. The love of the Brethren is a fure and clear mark ot one being patt from death to life. Four thingsobferved touchingthe Brethren ^ pig, 269. Its not nccefsar to have a infallible knowledgeof their regeneration270 How far particular faints may be known by their fruits. pag, 271. Antinomians expone I 6or: 13. legally> ^ 272 fi. Marks Jind {ok^'n5of trueand lincerejlove of the brethren .p.273,274 No marks hceravvay without fome mixture of contrary corruption;;>.i7^ There is alwaves tellum, though not alwayes between the fieth and the fpiiit. wtt Cap.XXII.^ the trpfe real and fafe grounds of incouragement to believe in ■ V ^ f Chrifl Vpr^hat warrands a firmer may adventure to refi, and relj upon ' for Salvatiom - ^ P 3 g 277; hriff d‘ed for all men conditionally, is not the waytoeafe Jub’ed confeiences. . .. . . tr ciw und fate grounds of mcouragement to believe m Chriff, are, K^nlfChrift his alfufticiency, A>u-a' ui » r .. ^ 79 * Its a great part of true faith,to believe Chrift is able to lave to the uttcr- molt - Chrifls intention to die for all menji. all forts of fins or tinners of any “kinde." Alt fHtn exponed . . . . • o of* To pray for all mem and to pray in e-eerypUa exponed. I. Every >mnMcb. 9 >^ hath the fame fHif^ > Pf^ Au'enQ2.n only be.all mep vyho are m Chrifl. 2U j The Wf'o/i.’"epor/d 2 loll.2 j 2.exponed. * • » 2 o 5 » j The world no larger nor ibid. J 2 Icfiis Chrilfc hath died for expiation of alllortsjand all manner of lins, a ^ ‘ . ... . . ■ M-2S^. ‘The fin againff the holy Ghofl: only excepted>what it is. ibidi Mow a blafphemcr againll: the holy Ghoft may repent. p^p 287. 4 Chrifl receives all who come unto him and exdiids noneybiic Hch ^ by their unbelief excludes themfelves 2881 CHARI. that the Mimflery is a f erf email Ordinance ofChrifi in the Church] and that CMinifiers areto ke received as the JBmhaJfadmrs of^ Chrifiy now afwell as in the Frmttivc timesm Hat which hath long lurked In the hearts of many Arheifts, is now profefled and argued for , by that fierce furious Eraifiane^vihoic book was publhhed the laft year at Fra* neker. He cryes out that the world isabufedwith that notioti of a pre¬ tended facred minifteriatcalling^’ at though the Apoftics andOihers who firft preached the Gofpel, were indeed fent and fct apart for that holy calling, which was alfo confirmed by figncsand miracles, and they were therefore to bee received and fubmit- ted unto, as the Embaffadours ofChrifi, yet Minifters and Paftoursnoware not to be acknowledged , as the Embafla- dours of Chrift, neither is there any fuch thing now to be ac¬ knowledged, as a fpeciall diftincfi facred calling, or folemnc fctting apart ofmen to the minifierie of the Word and Sacra¬ ments, but any who is fit and gifted, though not called or or¬ dained, may both preach and minifier the Sacraments,Bap- tifme and the Lords Supper. The Se(fi Seekers 2 l\^q hold that therearenot at this time, neither have been for many ages paft any true Minifters or Embafladouis of Chrift. Now for coiiftitation of thefe Errors, and for the confirmation and 1 • " ' " " A . ~ ~ ^ ~ ..fctki % That the Mmflny Is afcrfetuall 0 tdinaftce of Chrifi^ ieclement of fuch as are any way fliakcfi ortroublcd therewith^ I have thought good here in the firft place, to makefure: this principle that the Miniftery as itis diftind both from Magi- ftracy, and from private Chriftians, is a perpetuall {landing Ordinance of Chrift in his Church to the end of the world. This I prove firft from 5 Mat, 28. ip, 20.. That Commif- fion^Goe je and teach all nations, haptifng them^^c: could not bemeantofthe Apoftles onely or other Minifters of Chrift at that time, refpedively and perfonally, but mu ft needs be ex¬ tended to true Preachers and baptifers in all ages to the end of the world 5 .as is manifefted by the promife added: andloe lam- withy ou alway Qvcnmto the end of the world , . 2« From Eph. 4^ 11,12, Wherethe Ordinance of and Teachers, for the work of the Miniftery reachethas ferre as the perfedling of the whole body of Chrift, and the gathe- ringin of all the Ele that if ''fhAt the Minifiery is A^erpetmll Orhimnce ofchrl i?, thatthereisnp temple therein, Revel. 21. 22, no Miniftciy, no Preaching, no Sacraments in heaven, but God ihall be all in all. An Immediate enjoyment of God in this world without ordinances is but a delufion. In the Church triumphant pro¬ phecies fhall faile> i Cor. 15.8. but in the Church militant^ defpyfemt^rofhefjings, i I'hef, ^.20. If any object (as fomc fanatick perfons have done J Jer: gi. 54. and they fhall teiich no more every man his neigh-’ hour, I Joh. 2.27. ai^dye med mtthat my man teachyoj^. I anfwer fir/I, Thefe Scriptures are to be underftood compa¬ ratively, in the fame fence as Godfaid , he would have mercy and not facrifice, Hof. 6 . 6 , The Spirit ofillumination and knowledge fhall be fo aboundantly powred forth under the Golpell, and God diall fo writ his lawes in the hearts of his people, that there fliall be almoft as much difference between thjole under the old Covenant, and thofe under the new Co- vehcTntvT^^there is between thofe that need a Teacher , and thofe that need not a Teacher*- 2. the Law is not made for a righteous want iTim, ! . ^, viT^ to compell him as with abjtte and bridle, for hee needeth no fuch compuhion, but ;pljeyeth filially and willingly, yet the Law is made fora righteous man to bee a rule of obedience to him. So beleevers underthc Gofpell need not to bee taught by men as Ignorants are taught, they are not without underfianding as the horfe or the mule; for they (J)all all know me, faith the Lord, "jer. 31.32,' mdyeknow all things, ijoh, 2.20, yet they need a teaching Miniftery for growing in knowledge.;: for their edification building.up, for ftrengthning and confirming them, and for putting them hi remembrance andfiirringthemup, Ephef. 4.’ 12. 2 Pet. I..12. and 3, 18. Phil. \.g. There fhall ever bee nc ed of the Miniftery, both to convert fuch as are not yet con¬ verted, and to confirme fuch as are converted. The Apofile % thef. 3. 2. thought it necefiary to fend Timthy to the Church , hfidthat Mlnifisys are to he ycceivedf g ohhz*TkJfdlomans toeftablifh them, and to comfort them.' 5. As long as we are in this world, that promife that wee Ihall not need any man to teach us, is not perfcdly fulfilled, for wc know but in parr, i Cor, 13.9* i2.wefhall ever need a Teacher til we be in heaven and fee Chrifi: face to face. 4, And thus we mull needs underftand thefe Scriptures objedled, unlefle we will make them tocontradi Author of the Hiftorie of Epifcopacy, part, 2*pag, 35p. To cut off our Argument from o^faifh. That the feven were to be the ftewards of the people in difpofing of their goods, good reafon that the ile^ion Ihould be made by them^ who^e goods and fortunes were to bee diffofed of^ this anfwer was made by Bellarmine before him: But WaUm tom. 2. fag, 52. reafoneth other wayes:' the feeders of the peoples foules, muff bee no leffe ( ifnot more) beloved and acceptable then the feeders oftheipbodies^ therefore thefe muft be chofen with their own confent,as wc^ as thcle. Secondly, Elders ( both ruling and preaching) were chofen by moft voices of the Church; thcfuffbgcs being iignifed, per that is, by lifting up, or ftretching out oftbehand, 14.25, Where xh^Syriak verfiondothin- finuate, that the word is not to be underftoodof the A poftles ordination of Elders, but of the Churches Eleciiort of Elders j thus, Moreover they made to themfehes , that is, the Difciples mentioned in the former verfe, made to them- felves, for they who were made, were not Elders or Mini- fterstoP<:»/and^4‘-;;4^^, (but to the multitude of the Difciples) in every Church'Elders, while the) were failing with them and praying y and commending them^ dre. Now how could this Eledionbe, but after the Cracian forme by the Churches lifting up, or ftretching out of hands. But becaufe fome doe hill ftick at this place, it may bee further cleared, thus of tk Blc^tioi* ef Pdfiori 1. If mav be undcrftood three waves, and all theft way’e^h ftvcth the peoples right. It may be cither the aflion of the Church onely, as the Syriak maketh it, or a jo^C aaionbothofthe Churches, andofPa«/and£W-*.-, as >. tiiiis maketh it; or an aaion of Pad and Sarnub^, in this fenfe thattheydidconftituteElderstotheChurches,bytheChurches own voyces. However, the word relateth to Eleaion by ftretchine out, or lifting up of hands, not to ordination by laS on of hands, which isthefenfe followed by the/tato verfion, andi>«t/a/iauthorifing and ordaining fuch a one on¬ ly tobee an Elderas was which I prove, i.From thenativefignificationoftheword, vrhere Julfut PoKux hath Lib. a. Caf. ^.CuMeraad mlf Seberm tendet it wanuum extenfip^ and Xm^oToniv lev Are , and pjambus refragAri , interprcteth, ^5/foToyict to be ‘plebif^^ dtumjuffrmun,, H. Stefhanus y«^„m.mMiimfrotenda-, d-, 4ttolh mlmmtowio: and becaufe, faith he in giving votes, they dil* ve,;cTo«,K, thence came the word to be ufed, for/«/«, but properly ** (faith he I as it were, 0rtkd. Peff. ad quaB. 14* doah exprcflcly diftinguilh and As wordsofamoftdifterentfignificati- on, where Cedrenfn Anno. 516. laitn EufhramusXufOTovuTAt: rHander, the interpreter rendereth, Pfifeofatd, emmumbus fufradisdeli^itHr, Scaptda,2Xid Arias Mentanus alfo in his Lexi* con tells us, that Hpsanusprrigere.oxelevare/elige^, oterearemagifiratumfer fuffragia, for -^n/niKn is moft diffe¬ rent from laying on of hands, which isnotaftretching out or lifting up, but a leaning or laying down of the hands on fome thingt Wherefore the Hebrews note laying on of hands by Sa/rsak, indtiebryfofome fitith the RensasrScust, did ^UfOTOVUp which i>: Fetter himfelfe turneth, did make gods by moft voices; Charitie rniitakeii; {ag 14J. 2. The ufe of the - -- - -. - word. with tht Ccf^y^ 4 tioKs confentl i x word in this fcnfe, and in no ocher fenfc, either ii Scripture^ 2 Cor. 8. 15?. or Greek authors that wrote before the new Te/ratncnt. So that Luke couldnot be underftood, if he had ii/ed it in another fenie, but he wrote fb that he might be un- derftood .* If he had meant ordination, he would have ufed the word as 1,5. or as A6is 6.6. 2. The manner of the Elections among the Grirciansteftifiedby CJcero^znd others, cleareth the meaning of the word. So they had a phrafe ^S/p 5 T 01 '/fi 4 KfitTSt. CfKifiujfiJu^rA^its ohttHet^ and etyjiyiifOTovwiVi ^i*veth A cmrarie 'vote* When the Grecians choifed their Magiferates at their Comitiaheld folemnely for that end: he that was no¬ minated, was brought into the threater before the people, fo many as aproved of him, held forth, or fcretched forth, or lif¬ ted up their hands ♦ If the major part did thus "X-i^oTOVitVi hee J^artly was then faid tobee a Magiftrate created by Suffrages. ’So LlUs Cretenfis in Greg. Nazian\* orat. 3* I findcalfo in but the nKlei^Mi or judges, did KA.j:9ctycij etfym, oi'dalne, or appoint a Magiftrate, See ihid Jfifjurandum BelUfiarum, A s for the obje^rtion from Ads 10. 41. is not the rtime with but as it were the - ^ ~ ~ .. 'breven-. v?\th the Congngdthns confenf^ preventing of x^f^roviA by apriorde/ignation. i. It is there attribute to God (/.STA^OplKCiffi that in the coimccJJ of God the Apoiiles were in a manner Eleded by voices of the Trinide, itsfacimushomimm^ Cen^\* and hindereth no more the pro¬ per fignification of the word applyedtomen, then (AiTAUihilA afcri&dto God, can prove, that there is no change in men when they repent, becaufe there is none in God. As for that objedion made by a learned man, that even the Septuigwts If ay 58, p. have ;)^3/poTor»« not for extenfw or elevatio wami* um^ but for that which is in the Hebrew immipo or inmxus dlgitioxmmus^ Anfwer, i • It is not put for innixus di~ giti^ but for extenfo digitiy for fo is the text. ^2. following Cyrilly tells us that the ienfc of the 70. turning the text fo 5 was this, Nemfe hie intelligi fuff'ragia quibus magifirn-^ tus creantuTy a quibus raro folet abejfe munerum largitio dj* corrupt tiojtiris, 5 p that hisargument may be retorted 5 Idonotfay that this is the Prophets meaning, but that it is the 70. their fenfe ofthe text in uhng that word, for the moft Interpreters underftand by putting forth the finger there, derifion, and dif- dain.^.Theyo. certainly did notintend theputting on,but the putting out ofthe finger, fo the Chaldee hath annuere digito^ Beirome^ extendere digitum^ which Well agrecth with the He¬ brew Shekach digitum extendere, i. e, malum opm perlongare , faith Hugo Cardwalis, It is faith Emanuel Sa^ minando, out convitiando^ (which feemeth the true fenfe ) The Jefuits of Dervay read, and ceafe to ftretch out the finger. Gudther read- eth emifionem digiti , and expondeth thus medq digitiy oflenlio erat contemptus indicium^ digitis item minitamur^ fuppofe none of allthefefignifiethe laying on ofthe hands> or finger, but fuppofe that it is not laid on, and fo much fhall fuffice con¬ cerning thefe Scriptures, AHs 6* 2, 5, 5. 6 . and 14. 25: A third argument from Scripture fhall be this. If the extra- JS of the lEleBion df Paflors ordinary office bearers in thcfe Primitive times were not chofen, nor putintotheir fun( 5 tions without the Churches confent, far lefTe ought there now to bee any intrufion of or¬ dinary Minifters without the confent of the Church Judas and Silas were chofen with confent of the whole Church untoanexrraordinarieembaflfage, 15. 22. Sov/crePauls company chofcn by the Church, 2 Cor, The Com- miflioners of the Church of Corinth^ were approved by the Church, I Cor, 16, 5. Yea Mathias^ though an Apofrie cvyKAT^^ndicr^n, that is, was together chofen by fujf rage ^ Iyofthei2o Difciples, Simulfujfragiisele^Ui eJlj as torsos Montanus lightly turncth the word. A£i^ 1.23.25. Bell, dt Cler. 7. acknowledgcth, efi darefijfragiumy df* tflipfumfuffragium^Paul‘mdBarnabas wereextraordi* narily, and immediatly called of God, yet when they Were to be fcnt to the Gentiles, God would have the confent and ap¬ probation ofthe C hurch declared, 13.3. I conclude this argument from Scripture, vfixhthQcMagdeburgians cent. I. Lib. 2. Cap. 5 . T^ejueK^poHolos y neque alios ccclejiami- niflroslibi foils^ fumpfifeprotefatem eligendi ^ ordinandi Presby- teros df* Diacoms^ fedecclefia totius fuffragia df* confenfum adhU huijfe; turn exy 1 Cor. 5 21.22. Patety tumexemplisprobatur^ A<^. I. 23. A(^. 5 i 5 . A( 5 i:. 14. 23. The next argument is taken from antiquity, Cyprian Lihi I . Epifr. 4. is very full and plain, for the Churches right and liberty in eledions. D. P'eild Lib. 5. Cap. 54. citeth and Englifheth the words at large^Zeo, Epift.Sy. Cap.i. requi- reth in the Eledion of Bifliops: vota civiumy tefimeniapo* pulorunty Epiftola fynodalis concilii. Car: bar, Sufitani apud Auguflini^my Enar in Pfal: 3 5 . faith, "K^cejf ? nosfuera t Prtmiani caufam , quern plebs f tnZla ecclefia Carthaginenfts , Epifeepum fuerat in ovile deifortitafeniorum Uteris ejufdem ecclcfia pofulantim bus audireatque difcutere. The fourth councell of Carthage^ _ - ■■■ . . ^Gh AP.2.' I^ith the CongregAiUns consent. \ff -Can. 22. requireth to the admiifionof every Clergie-man, civiumajfenfum ^ ^ teflmonium ^ con'vementiam. Socrates lib. 4. cap. 25. recordeththat Ambrofe was chofen Biihop of (jPft//affewiihtheunifortncvoiceofthe Church; and iib; 5. cap. 2. he recordeth the Jike concerning the Elcdion of Chryfojhome^ robeBiihopof Confiantinople, Moreover,Ifindc in the pretended Apoftolical J, but really ancient conflitutions, collected by one under the name of lib. 8 . cap. 44 ’t s appointed to ordain a Biihop, thus qualified h •yrA(Ttv ttfii/y V’X9 cTisyrof th hoiS ‘KKiMyfxivov^ in all things unblamable ^ one of the beft and chofen by all the people, unto whom let the people, being aflembled together on the Lords day^ with the Preshytt rie, and the Bijlwps then prefect give their confent, T hen immcdiatly one of the Bifliops askes the Eldcr/hip and people, crf£ir/?t/r^/ov rcy if they dehrc that man to be let over them, which ifthey confent unto, he next asketh them (as a diftin^f qucltionj whether they all give him agood teftimonie for his life, dre^ Greg: Nazian^ orat, 31. comraendeth Athana^ -fins his calling, as being after, the apoftolicall example, becaufe he was chofen T» Kan T Itis plainly mainrained by Luther^ Yio, dePotesfiPapa Calv. in Ads 6,3. Beza confeji,cap. 35. cMufcuius in \oC: com: Zanchm in/^. pracept i Junius animad: in Bell: Contro, 5: lib. i.eap'y, Cartwright on. Ads 14 23, Ofiander, kfi: Ecclef: cent. 4 lib. 3, cap. 38. GuaU th'eren Ads 6^ SiutortmEazim in \ Tim. 5,.22f C^iorney dt^ r. -. ■ Chap,j« whh theC^figfegdtkHs ccnfen^^ Ecclef:C2i'p*ll*BaUuin:demfiit: LMiniJirorum Cap. (^. 'Bruch- rnand, SyHhem: tom: 2^ pag 885,.885, WaImis de vocatione ^aflorum^ dr loc.-'com .* pag 474. BuUinger dec Ad; 5. Ser. pag. ^00, SmeBymnus^ ^^^* 33 * 54 . Whittaker ia his mamf- crip: de Clericts^ which was never printed; afcribeth elcdion to the people- So Fefim Hemius Sfeginen controv: Bclgick^ Art. 51. And many others whofe tcftimonies wee can pro¬ duce if need be, let five onely fpeak for the reft; Calvin in one of his Epiftles 5 though writing againft the itching cares, and groundlefle conceits of fome people, yet aftertech this fora certaine truth. Sane oprc^et Mtnifirum a fopulo ap^ftbatum eff'e, antequam i» '(JHimJlerii poffejs’ienem mittatur ^ quodfiquis felpfum intrudit alia via, uhi in Ecclefia erdo jam conflitutus ejl, legittimav&ca- tione dejlituitur^ fee the book oiSpiles, pag 482. Edit; Genev: j6ir/» Gerhardiom: VtEcclepdconfentiente Pafiores ■vocentur , neve quis invita Eccleji^e obtrudatur 5 habet exprejfa in Scripturtstelfimonia^ dr perpetud Ecclefide primitive praxi^com- probat urn eli ^ Zanchtwin /\,pracept: col. 81. faith, efiigitur manifefium nmquam ApoBolos quem^iam ad Minifteriumelegijfe dr ordinajfe fra tantum authoritate, fed femper id folit os facere confentiente dr approbante Eeclefd, and col: 782. fervatur hac eadem confutudo etiamnum in mult is Ecclefis reformatis^ and Col: 785. E Itgere Paf ores fine plebis confenfi , primum non eft Apofto- I'tcum , neque legittimum, eoq ue tails Mint ft er, legittimus nonfue-- ritCMinifter, deindepugnat cum libertate Ecclefia, eoque adimitur eiquodchriftusdonavit, quantum autem eft hoc crimen? Tertio non conducit Paftori, quia nunquam bond confeientid poteritfro fun¬ gi officio , neque etiam conducit Ecclefia, quia lib enter non audiet', neque etiamamabit eum, quifibinon confentientiobtrufus eft. Da- naus in i Tim. 5. 22. quemadmodum tetius Ecclefia Pa ft or eft futurus, it a ab omnibus debet approbari, rk quifquamgregi invi¬ to Paftor obtrudatur. And after he hath cleared the w hole mac^! I Cz ter Ofthe'EltBionofP^fioy$ Chap,!.’ ter at length, hee concludetb, Bx his autem omnibus apparet^ amm mU fit 'velnon legittima eomm deiMinifircrum velEcckfm^ Fafiomm'vocam, quifohusngis velregma,velpatroni y velE- pfcopi^ ArchiBpifcopimthontateJiplormie^bullis,]uffu^&jH- diciofilm •vel eliguntur^ id quod dolendum efi adhucfieri in iis Ec- clefits^ qua tamenpurum Deiverbumhabem^dr fequuntur, njeluti inmedid angUL The ptofeflors of Leyden in Synopf: pur. theoh difp ; 42. 7 'hef, 32. "juspafioreseligendi^ efipenes Eccleftam^ ac proindeplebicommune^ cumpresbyteru:]useosordinandifoliPrefix byterio efi proprium^ I mull: not forget to mention the order of the Church of the firft book of Difciplinc in the fourth head faith,. This liberty with all care mufi be ref ^rved ta every fever all Kirk , to have their votes andfujfrages in eMion if their Minifiers, The fecond book of Difcipline, cap, 5. faith, intheorderofBle^iionitistobtsefchewed that any perfon be intrudedinany offices of the Kirk , contrarie to the will of the Con^ gre'ratioH to which they are appointed^ or without the voice of the EU derlhip: TheGenerall /tfiembliemBecembii^Sii, Sefi: 3. Made this Afl, that inhibition [hall bemade to all andftn. dryperfonsy now fervingin the LMinifiery that have mt beenpre* fentedbethe people , or a part thereof tothefuperintendent: The Generali Afiemblie at Edinburgh, May Seff . 5. requireth the confent of the whole Parifi) to aMintfiers Elebdion t the words arc thc/e 5 Anent the doubt moved if it be law full to any townCy or city, whenthereisanVmverfitieyand apartof theparijh of the fametownelyingtolandward, without their confent and votes to EleU a yJHiniller to the whde pm[b and Kniverfitie, pretend- din^ the priviledge of an old ufeandcufieme. The Kirk hathvo* ted thereto negative, that it is not law full fo to do : The G^^n^j rail Affembhe at Perthy in March 15p5. Seif 6 , Doth forbid the choofing ofMiniftcrs without the confent of their owne £ocks: The Generali Allembly at Glafgowy Self 23. Doth revive the ancient oxdQV thus y , anent theprefenting either .. . „ , - . --—► —— • - Chap *2: with the Congregations confcmi H of PaJlorSy or Elders and SchooLmafters^tof articular Congregations^ that there he a reffe6l had to the Congregation^ and that no f erf c» he intruded in any office of the Kirk contrarie to the will of the Congre^ gation to which they are apfointed. In the Treatile called order and government of the Church g 25 _ of the Election of Vafipr 5 Chap'2* him5 but from the Jawfull ordaining him .• And that Eledlion doth but defigne fuch a perfon to the Miniftery of fuch a Church. For as Gamachdim fayethin tertiam pArtem Thcm^ do Sacn ordin: capij* the people cannotgivefpirituali authori¬ ty which themfelves have not; Eti\tu%mvUfAteamur^ faith heCj Lauos ftzpifime vocatosad ele^iomm Mmiflrorum Ecclefidi^ tamen longe eft aliud loqui de ordinatiom, qmm de ele^iione^ &c. obje^x 2: This liberty granted to Congregations prejudge eth the right of Patrons < Jnf r i .* Ifit were fo, yet the argu¬ ment is not pungentin divinity, for why fhould not humane right give place to divine right ? Nec EpifcopAle nee patromtus Ecclefiajiicis Camnibiis introducinm prajudkare potefl ^otefati jure dlvino toti EccleftA in Miniflrorum Ektiione competently faith CerhardTom: 6»Sell: ii4. Theftates oizeeland didaboliih patronages, and give to each Congregation the free Eledfon of their own Minifter, which I take to be one caufewhy Re* ligioQ flouriilieth better there then in any other of the united provinces* obje^. The Churches liberty of confenting or not con- fenting, aiferced by the arguments above mentioned, muft c- ver be underflood to be rationall, fo that the Church may not difaflent without objcdling fomewhatagainfl the dodlrine or life of the perfon prefented,. Znfw: i. The author o^the hifto- rie of Epifcopacy part: 6,pag: 352. 554* tells us out of the book of Ordination, that the people are free to except againfl thefe that are to be ordained, and are required if they know any crime, for which they ought not to be receaved unto the Mi* niflery, to declare the famei He faith further, that Presby¬ ters are elcdled by the Patrons, forand in the name ofthe refl of the people. pag.‘3^5. SoEerefius detraditi part: ^,pag: 200, confelTcth that people fliould be required to objedl what they can againft the htnefle ofthe man to be ordained. Now then if this be all, that people may objedl, it is no more then “ PrelatSj. Chap.2!^ with the Congregations confentl 'tty Prclats, yea Papifts have yeeldcd. v. 2. T his objection cannot flrikc againd: the eledion of a Paftor, by the jiidgemeni* CanonofthecounfeIlof/.W/c^^3 as it is ck- fioundedby of ander, Gerhard, ‘jmius and others, 5. When a Congregation is rentafunder, and cannot agree among them- lelves. '•/ Ch ap ^2.' with the Congrega,t}ons confenf^ ^ f felveSjthis evill may bee helped in Subordinate^ though notin Independent Churches, for the higherconfiftories^ the Presbyteries and Affemblies of-the Church, can end the controveifie and determine the cafe, after hearing of both fiJes. 8. As forthatwhich may refledf onMiniflcrs, that have not the peoples confent. It is ordination that maketh men Minifters*And the want of the Churches fuffrage cannot hinder their being Minifters, it concludeth onely that they did not rite and ordimte enter into their Miniflery hie- ^ »«»cinfuchaChurch. 2* Thisalfo ishelpedby apofterioc approbation of the Church, as a woman marrying a man un¬ willingly, yet after loving him as her husband, removeth that impediment* I conclude with apaflageout of thcEcclefiafticall difeipline ofth? reformed Churches m France^ qzY' T^hefilenceofthe feo^le^ Hone contradicting^ pjall be taken for an ex^rejf e confent^ but in cafe there aryfe any Contention , and hee that is named fwuld he lyked by the confHory^ an^ difiked by the feople^ or by moB part of them ^ his reception is thento be delayed ^ and report of all to bet made unto the conference or provicniall Synod^ to confider afveil the j uB if cation of him that is named ^ as ofhis re] cCiion^ n d alt ho he that is named, jlmld there be \uBfed^ yet is he not to bee made or given as a Paflorto the people againfl their w'tlf nortothedfike^ difpleafure ^ and df^55.25c'. and God hath committed unto them the. word of reconcilia*- tion, 2, Cor: 5. ip. 5. Neitheris thequeftion, what may.be done in extraordi- inary cafes when Ordination cannot be had, or where there are none who have power to ordaine. Wee read that defur and Erumentim being but privat men, became Preachers of thc- ^ - - Gofpel Ch a p, U tkecalUng of a tJMmisHr ', f Gofpell, and converted a great nation of the IndUnsx Like- wiie that when the Iberians were converted by a captive wo¬ man, their King and Queen became Teachers of the Gofpell to the people. There may be an extraordinary calling from God where Religion is not yet planted, nor Churches yet conftitured. It is altogether another cafeinaconftituted re¬ formed or reforming Church: I adde with feter Martyr^ thac -even thofe perfons who let about the work of theMiniftery extraordinarly or among Infidels, if they can come at any who may ordain them in the ufuall and right way, they ought nottonegIe< 51 :thefeeking of Ordination. 4. Nor is the queftion of teaching, cxhorting,adm.onifhing, reproving, comforting one another,or prayingfor,or with one another, in the way of a private Chriftian Tellowfliip, and and brotherly love * For this belongs to the general! calling ofChriftians as they areChrifl:ians,obfcrving therein the rules of the word, and there is no need nor ufe of Ordination in all this, Butthequeflionisof the particular, fpeciall, facred calling oftheMinifters of the Gofpell to preach and admini- Rer the Sacraments, whether Ordination be not effcntiall and neceflary to this calling. The privat Chriftian duetics of teaching one another, reproving, ex horting, Are to be confcionably and carefully performed by privat Chiiftians, 4.18,294 Acts\%*i 6 , Heb:^,i^, But this the Apoltle plainly diftinguiflicth from the fpeciall MinifleriaJlfundion, i Thejf: 5. ii, 14, with 12, The affirmation of this queftion in hand^vi:!(j that Ordinaiion is ncceffary and eftentiall to the calling of a minifter, may bee confirmed by thefe arguments, i. Doeth not nature it felfe teach you: as the Apoftle fayeth in another cafe. Shall the vifiblepoliticall ChurchofChrift 3 which is the pureflr and moft perfy t Republick in the world!, have leffe order and more confufipninit nor a civill Republick. Embaffadours, Com- V. . ' ' ' Ea .. miffioners. '^S whether Ordimtkn^eeffcnthll Chap’J. miffioners3 .Officers of State, Judges, Generals, Admirals^ with thefubordinate Commanders in Armies and Navies, do not runne unfent, nor a< 5 l without power authority.and com. niiffion given them. How much more unbefeeming, and dif- orderly were it in the Church, (which TikoUides himfelf, even where he difputeth againft the neceffity of Ordination, Refutx tTA^i demifsionemin^Ur^ cap: i o^pag: 113.) acknowledgeth to * be moreperhte then any politick Republickin the world ) for anymantoafrumetohirafelfe power and authority which is notgivenhim, or which he hath a mnhabente poteflatem^ or to intrude himfelf into any publick admimftrarion unto w'hich he iyiot appointed. It was juftly complained of, as a great dif- order under the Prelates, that Midwives were permitted to baptize upon pretence of a cafe of nccelfity, yea that Deacons were permitted to baptize, becaufe the adminiftration of bap- tifme,doeth neither belong to Deacons,nor to private peifons»' - But that vdilin^Rabjhaketb^xht anonymous£r which in a fpirituall andeccledadicall fence is notcompetent and incumbent to ordinary Padors and Teach¬ ers arweil as to the Apodles; And if wee will have the J^oJy Ghod to expound himfelf as ordinary Preachers do or Kiifv'aauv in all ages and all the world over, afvvell as thofe who fird preached the Gofpell, LMat: 24.14. 2^* 13. \JMark 14, 16.15. 24, 4y, Thil\ I115. iTim: 3 16, Rom. 2. 21 • thou that f reached a man fhould not Heal^ doJl thou feal 4.1 hope here doth not fignifie one that preacheth a new thing,. iCor: 1,23. It f leafed God hy the fcoli^.neffe of preach-- ing (raMpvy(AciTOfto fave them that beleeve^ Will any who hopes to be faved, deny that this extends to preaching in all ages.? Except,' 3. That before cited, in the fecondpart ol it fag: 3. 4. fayeth that the fending which the Apoftles means of, is notaMinidcriall or ecclefiafticall fending, for then none could be an inftrument to convert another but a Mi- nider or preacher lent, Meirher could a man be fiire whether he have faith or no, till he be fu re his faith was wrought in him by a Minifter lawfully called. It remaines therefore ( faith he ) that the AfojUe fpeaks of a frovidentiallfending ^ gluing mengiftSy and working with them in their uf r andexercif ?♦ Anfwi i; The giving of gifts and powringoutthefpiritofa calling, is plainly didinguilhed from the million or fending j yea, in Chridhimfelf who had receaved the fpirit, notby meafure, but above meafure, yet his having the Spirit of the Lord upon him, was not his M i(lion, but is plainly diftin- guilliedftom hisMifiionand Ordination to his office which __ ^ 40 Whether OrdinatioH he tjfentiall Chapj^ he had from God, Luke 4.18. TheSprlt of the Lord is upon mCy hecaufe he hath amintedme to preach the Gofpelltothe poor^ he hathfent me^ &c. The J'vvciu/f or ability of gifts to the office is one thing .* the or authority to it, is another thing*' 2; His firftreafon to prove that the Apoftle fpeaks not of a! Minifteriall fending, becaufe thence it would follow that none could convert another but aMinifter, hee groundeth thus ; for 'its fud, none can beleeve but by hearing a preacher fent. Now this fafs als hcavie upon his own Interpretation,for ftill this will follow, that no man can be converted buta Preacher fent providentially with gifts andaffiftance, when hee fhall loofethcknot forhimfelf, he fhall loofc it for us too. 3. So likfcwifc for his other reafbn, if the Apoftles fcope be (as he gloffcth ) to take away doubting from men, he doeth by his Interpretation fplic upon the fame rocke which he thinks wee have run upon, for a man muft ftill doubt whether hee hath faith or no, and fo whether he fliall befaved orno, till he be fure his faith was wrought inhim by a Preacher fent provi¬ dentially with working gifts: now the defeription which hee makes of the providentiall fending, involveth a man in grea¬ ter doubting then before, for either it agreeth to falfc and hc- reticall Teachers the Minifters of Sathan, or not.- Ifhcfayeth it doth agree to them, and that falfe feducing Preachers (pre¬ tending to be true, found, and orthodoxcj are providentially fent with gifts effecftuall, 'viz. to deceive in the fecret judge¬ ment of God, according to 14. p, iKtng^ 22. 25. then how he will reconcile his interpretation with let him fee to it. And withall he leads a man upon this opinion, that hee may have faith wrought in him, and fo bee faved’ under any Miniftery, true or f die, orthodoxe or hereticali.He muft alfo juftifie the finne fo often condemned in the falfe pro¬ phets, that they run unfentr'for (by his principles^ theyafe fent, as well as the true Prophets. If he will fay that his def- Ghap:j. Me^thtCAllmgdf atMmHir, .criptionpfthc provldemiall fending agreeth not to falfc or Chiifl:, and nota Minifter of Sathan transformed into a Mi- niftcr of righteoufnefre. 2 Cor. 11. ij. or a wclfe m jheeps doAthing, But4. if this providentiall fending be enough, it takes away thencceffity, not onely of Ordina¬ tion, but ofthe peoples choofing or confenting. It fhall bee cnoughthatGodgiveamanagifr, and work by them, whe- -ther the Church confent or not: yet as I take ir, he that makes this objection, holds it neceiTary, not onely that Partors bee chofen by the C hurch, but that gifted brethren bee allowed by the Church to prophefie, elfe that they muft not prophe- fie# 5, His objetflions doth ftrikeagainft that connexion and con- catenation ofthemeans offalvation, which the Apoftlehold-^ €th forth,and there is no moreftrength in tliat which hcobjed- €th,thcn asdf one fhould argue, the deaf may bcleeve, therefore faith may be without hearing. Look how hearing is ncceflary, in the fame fence, is Preaching,snd the fending of the Preacher nceefTary, Neither doeth it make any thing againff our fence of the Text, that fome may be converted, by thofe who are not Minifters, for tho Preaching of the word by thofe that are ient to the Miniftery of preaching, is the (landing Ordinance and ordinary mean of converfion and faith by this Text; and -even thofe who perhaps have been f?rf wroght upon by pray¬ er or conference with other Chrif ians ^ are hearers of thofe who arc Minifter ially fent: it will bee hard to prove that any hciecvc,whocan hear the w’ord preached by Minifters !awfully. called end fent, and docnothcar ir* Mxoeff. That £raJI/a^hcfoxc cited j the Compofer of ~ I ill t*l Whith& Oydimtlonhe cjfinti'M Chap’^.’ '^he GrdU^ eicpound^th (as I remember)' this tekt of an extra* 'ordinary miilion or calling from God5notanordinary miflion -from men.* denying the Paftors of Churches and Minifters of 'the Gofpel in our dayes to befent of God and that although the Apoftles might fliew their Million and Commiflion from Chrifl-^yet ordinary Minifters cannot doit.* Therefore this iendirig belongeth not to the ordinary MifiifterSt Anfw, i This text doth certainly hold forth the nece/Iity of an ordina¬ ry and mediat Million, when the extraordinary andimmediac Million is cealed, which I prove this: Ifa preaching Minifte- ry beapcrpetuall and {landing ordinance, then Million is a perpetuall and {landing ordinance? But a preaching Minifte- ry is a perpetuall and Handing ordinance, therefore fols Mif- fion. T he prepofition is raanifefl:, both from the knifing together of the parts of this Textjin which the Apollle {crew- cth up the necelfity of Million as high as the necedlty of preaching .' As likewife from"C^4r^^o 28. ip^2o. Which doeth nor onely prove a perpetuall Minillery in the Church alway even unto the end of the world, but alfothat this per¬ petuall Miniftery is authorized byMillion orCommillion from Chrill. For reference to this perpetuall Miniftery, Chrill: faith, Goe, teach and baptize, and loe I am withyou alway,e- ven unto the end of the world: So that who ever doeth law¬ fully exercife the office of teachingand baptiling, is certainly fent: he cannot beimmediatly and extraordin irly in the re¬ formed Churches, therefore it muft be in a mediat and ordina¬ ry way. The Alfumption is before proved. . 2. As the preaching fo the fending is common to ordinary Minifters with the Apoftles. If ordinary Minifters be Preach¬ ers ex officio , as well as the A po(] les,which ha^h been before ))rovec{, then ordinary Minifters arefentas well as th.* Apo¬ ftles, for how ftall they preach except they be lent, and how ffiall they befent inour dayes, except in amediac and ordinary C H A p, y, - thecAiling of a Kmp;er, way, by thofe unto whom the power of Ordination belong- cthf Except, 5; But if this Text, Rom, 10,1$. be expounded of Ordinationjthen expedants or probationades may not preach, bccaule not yet ordained, Anfw, i, They neither preach ordinarlyjOor officio. They Preach occafionally, and'without aPaftorall orMinifteriall office. • 2. Neither may thefe Tonnes of the Prophets runne to fuch occafional! work, without approbation and licence, for which caufe the Diredory ofworfldp eftabliftied in both Kingdoms, puts in this caution, that fuch as intend the LMwiBery, waj occafionally bothreadthe Scriptures^ andexercifegifts in Preaching in the Congregations^ being allowed thereunto by the Prefbyterie\ And To the Text will hold true in all cafes, extraordinary Preachers, Apoftles, Evangeiifts, Prophets, miift have an ex traordinary Miffion. Ordinary Pallors and Teachers,muft have a Million with power and authority to that effed. Proba¬ tioners, and occafional I Preachers mull have a proportio¬ nable kinde of Million, that is, not to the Paftorall office, but to preach upon occafion. ^ The third argument fhall bee taken from that thaf. conftituting, appointing or making of Church officers which is plainly held forth in Scripture. The feven DeaCons being cledcd by the multitude of the Difciples, were appointed,fee and conllitured over that bufinelTe by the Apoftles, ^^s 6, f, Paftofs and Teachers have much more need to be appointedta their office, and for them let us note two Scriptures, one is‘ Litke'i 2, 42.* Whothen is that faithfull and wifefteward, whom his Lord fjyall make ruler over his houjhold^ to give third' fheir pdrthn of meat in dew feaf m f Grotius upon the place not-'' cth, that the former parable concerning watching is intended' fot 2fll Chrihians, lb Mark, j^ ^37*. but .thisof Hdwards bc-^ V.,» i, ' F2 lon£$ • _ i . .-I . • „ 44 whether Ordinntm he efemia/H [ Ch ap j, longs fo thc Paftors of Churches,for'its upon occafion ofp^* f^r/queftion concerning the former ^^tah\c^(LordfpeakeJi thvu this f^rahle unto or even unto alk) Chrtft anfweres by this parable of ftevvards, appointed or ordained over thehouflioJd, whom he diftinguiftethfrom other fervants by their ruleing power, verfes^i^ by their greater knowledgejandconfequent- Jy greater guiltineflc, if wicked, verf, 47. and by the greater truft committed to them, verf^ 48. Now leaft it fhouid bee thought, that this making or appointing of ftewards overdic houihold of Chrift, is onely meant of the Apoftles, as it were of purpole todifeoverthe vanity of that error j 'tis faid, verf, 4^* Bk^ed is that fervant whom his Lord when he com* rrieth fhaUfndefo doing. Till Chrift come again, and at his comming, there (hall be ftewards appointed and fet over his houfe: Which cannot be without the mediate and ordinary wayofmaking, appointing, and ordaining. TheBilhopsor Elders, as well-as/Apoftles ate the ftewards of God, 2.7.. And fo l cometothc other Scripture concerning thole teaching and ruleing officers. The Apoftle left 'Titus at Crete that he might ordain Elders in every city, verf, 5..The mentioned in the beginning,replyeth to this Text,that fgniftihtofxt yfetti€,efiablip} onewho was in office before as af* fears by pfah 2,5 . Sec now with how little rcafon this man op- pugfieth the receaved principles. The Septaagint (fayeth he) readeth Pfahi, d.thus i yd S'i iTi atavj but D avid wasaKingmanyyearsbeforehetook in thc hill and fort of Zion.* Illwllnotftandhereupon this erroneous tranferibing of the vvordsof the Scftuagints.l might tell him again that Sym* machm readeth yLAyd\x^t!i0.yTov^i\A4wV/If they mcanc in thofe places conjlituting andappoynting ( as it is moft manifeft they doc) why not alfo PJaI, 2. 6? God appointed I>avid tobe a King upon the holy liill of Zion y. which is all that can be made out of the Septux*,^ giftu Well,^ but I will goe yet further with himy to dilcover the futility of his exception: ’Tis true or is fdmetime ufedfor reftoring and ferling that which is out of ’its courfe, but how did heimagine that thisfence of the word could agree to Tit, 1.5/' Thought hee tliat 7 V>«r was left in CretCy for rcfloring, fctling, and fixing thofe Elders who had left their ftation, or had beencaftouV or perfecuted, or the like f Doeth not the Apoftle plainly /peak of ftippJying and making upfueh thingsas wereyet wantingto thofe Churches, and of ordaining Elders toGhurches which wanted Elder^ Wherefore the ordinary reading and interpretation is rcfp-*^^ •5rp£tf/3v7ip»« is to beunderftood of making, or daining Elders, even as or and the like, mptttire,pr^efetre , to make or appoint 4 $ whether 0 rdmtkn he ejfmHdl C h a p judges y by giving them power and authority to rule or judge* So Alls, 7. I.o, K«T 4 S-»iy«rur, ’ '^i Suppofe it beemeint//rar^)'/]petour aVgii- ihcncisvaiid.a. : “ . : V , ... c ^ Although GHAP V 3)' -to the calling of A CMtnifer} 47 ‘ Although the Apoftlegiveinftance onlyinthehigh Pridft- hood, yec by analogic of reaHjOj the Axiome will hold'in re- ftrenccrorheMiniftcryofthenew Teftament, upon which God hr:th par fo much honour,that it is called a worthie work,' I-and worthie of double honour. iT/wj. 17. and to be cfteemed very highly, 1 Thef. 5,17. The Minifters of the GorpellaretheEmbaflTadours ofGhrift, 2 Cor. 5.2o» and the Angels of the Churches, the ftarres in Chrifts right hand. Revel: i. 20. &2,i.d“c, yea, the glory of Chrift, 2 Cor: S, 25. And if (comparing ftate with ftate) the leaft in the king- dome of God, be greater then Joh^ Baptijl:\nd>Joh^ greater then any either Prieftor Prophet in the old Tcftamcnc. Then ’its not onely as great, but a greater iifurpation, for a man to take this honour of the Evangelicall Miniftery to him- lelf, then it had been of old, for a man to take that honour of the legall high Prieft-hood to himfelf. The fifth argument I draw from Hek 6. r. 2. Where wee have an enumeration ofthe generallGatechcticall heads,which was neccffarly required in Carechumens, before they were baptized and receaved as Church Members, and wh ere there was yet no Church plamed, thefe heads were taught, learned, and profefled, before there could be a vifible politicall Mini- ftcriall Churchere< 5 fed,thatthe Apoftles fpeaks loihcHebrervs as vifible Minifteriall Churches is manifeft, both from the particulars here enumeiac, and from Chap. 5.12.15. & 13-.' 7.17. Nowhcexhorteththemtogoeonuntoperfedion,ani not to be ever about the laying of foundations, or about the learning of thefe Catecheticall principles, the knowledge and profcflion, whereof did firft give them anenterance, ftate, nd ftanding i the vifible Church of Chrift, viz, ' I. The foundation of repentancf*, i. e. Convi< 5 i:ion and knowledge of finnehy th • law , humiliation and forrow font, withadefircoffreedomefurit. 2. The foundation of faith ^8 WhetherOYdinution heejfemiaX Cfiap.^.’ in Chrift forourwifdome, rigliteoaine/Ic, fatKfHficationand redemption. 5. The foundations of Baptifme, i, e. The aboliihingofthcfe diverfe legall wadiings, Heli 9, 10. and the ordinance of the Chriftian baptifme for fealing the Cove- n:mtofgrace, and for initiation in Church memberfhip; O- thers fay he fpeaks in thepUirall, becaufe inthofe times many were baptized at once ufiially^ 4. The foundation oflaying on of hands, that is (faithJ?«/fe/^^er on the place ) ofthe Mini- flery, and of their Vocation, Million, and authority given them.Soalfo Gmlther in his Archetypes upon the ^hcQ^^Toffamts poimeth atthe fame thing, as principally intended inthe Text, Which agreeth well with that which diverfe Divines make one of the marks of a true vilible Church, namely, a Miniftery lawfully called and ordained, and profeffedfubjedion there¬ unto. 5. The foundation of the refurrc/dion from the .dead. 6, The foundation of the lafl: judgement, in which. ChriH fliall adjudge ti e righteous to life everlafling, and the wicked toeverlaftingpLiniihment, (uMatth 2$,ult. That which hath obfeured and caft amifl upon this Text, Was the Popilh and prelaticall confirmiuion, or Bilhopping of children,which they grounded upon thisTame Scripture. And this way goe the Popidi interpreters, expounding ft of their Sacrament of confirmation; Others under ftand the gifts of the holy Ghoft, which in thofedayes weregiven by laying on of hands. But it hath never been, nor can never bee proved, cither that hands werclayd upon all baptized Chrifoans who were growen up to yeares of knowledge in thefe Apoftolkall rimes, orthatthegifes oftheholy Ghoft were given withc- ( very laying on of hands in thofetimes. For the laying on of , Jiands/ 7/w.4.i4.and 5.22.) wasnotforgivingthe holy Ghofl, but for Ordination, Wherefone I conceavc that the laying on of hands* 5 . 2. Pointeth.atcheMiniftcry,and their Ordination , which was accompanied with that rite. . , Many CHApIji U the calling of 4 4^ Many interpreters who extend the Text further, doe hot yet acknowledge that the Ordination of Minifters is a thing intended by the Apoftle. Which is the more probable, if you readdiv dedly with a comma betwixt, which Erafmas inclineth moft unto , following the Greek Schoiiajis» bothcTigurinVCthon^ baptifmatum ^ do 5 irina^ ac im^oftdonis man m. So you (hal I findeieven of thefe cateche-> ticall principals, and after baptifme, adde Do( 5 trine, that is, a preaching or teaching Miniftery, and then the next head con - taines the neceflity of a fpccsall calling and Ordination to this Miniftery. However read it conjundly or dividedly jit makes a true and good fence to ex pound,laying on of hands (here) of the ordinance of a preaching Miniftery lawfully called and or-j^ dained, forth s ordinance and a profefted fubjedion thereun¬ to,may iuftly be reckoned among the catechericall points^and among the m irks of a true vifible Mini fteriallChurch. Where¬ as it were a dangerous and unfafe interpretation, and I belecvq that which cannot be made out, to fay, that any of the cate- cheticall heads enumerate by the Apoftle, was proper to that primitive age, and doeth not concerne after ages.* or yet to affirme that the giving oftheholy Ghoft by the laying on of hands, was extended to all Catechumens baptized in thofe times, or that the knowledge or profeftion of the Dodrinc concerning the giving of the igifts of the holy Ghoft, by fuch laying on of hands was fuch a principle, as that none ignorant thereof, though infttuded in all the other Articles of Chri- ton faith, could be receaved as a Church-member groundei in catecheticall points. I fliall adde a fixth argument from the example and pradife of the Apoftlcs and others who did ordaine Church officers in their dayes, the example is binding in fuch things as were not onely lawiullandgood, but have aftauding and perpetuall reafon. The feven Deacons were ordained with prayer and G 'laving.^ WhetheitOydinAtlonheefcnthH' Ch a? j laying on of hands^/^^T/:^. 3. 6. Elders were ordained in every city, r/>; 1.5. although thofc Elders were not to preach any new Golpe', Gd: i. warneth Ttmothj^ i 7 im. 5. 22. /4^ [uddenly on no mm, i, e, be not ralh in ordaining any to the work ofthe Miniftcry, let them be well examined and ap¬ proved. This is the receaved fence of Interpreters following chryfoffeme^ Amhrofe^ Hkrome, and others of the Fathers, yet Nicolaides Refute tra^, de mifione LMinijir' will have the Text iinderftood, net of ordaining Minifters, but of admitting pe¬ nitents, which was done with impofition of hands. But is this to ex pound Scripture by Scripture or is it not rather to foiTake an Interpretation confirmed by Scripture, and to follow one which is grounded upon no Scripture/* Forwee read nothing in Scripture of laying on of hands in the recea- ving or reftoring ofpenitents. Ofthe laying on of hands inOr- dination, wee doe read in Scripture, andleaftit fiiould bee thought the ad of one man onely, it is mentioned as the ad of the Presby terie, i 14. with the laying on of the hands of the Presbyterie. A place which Gmlther^ Bullinger^ToJfanus and diverfe other good Interpreters thinkc to hold forth the way w hich rW.wouId have obferved in the calling and ap¬ pointing of men to the Miniftery: Some underftand by 5!-pso-^u7spw> the office it felf, dignity or degree of an Elder wh.'ch > was given to by the laying on of hands; Others under- flandacompany ofBilhops vvhowere Elders and more too; I confeffe it doth not^ others an AfTembly of Elders, without any prclaticall difparity* Now neither oi thefe Interpre¬ tations can ftrikeagainft that point which now I plead for, vi^ The point of Ordination, but rather make much for it, yei even they who underftand the office of a Presbyter, doc thereby confirme thatw hich t aftert in as much as Timothy vtzs notmade an Elder, , but by impofitiono hands,as thele hold. Iffo, thincercaialy Ordinationis cftemull to the calling of o:L . ^ __ _ —^ _ - - -— ■ __ ChaP.^* 0^d % T^j a Presbyter. So that what ever come of the word Tnfh^terj^ xhe laying on of hands which made the Presbyrerj will con¬ clude agaiaft them who deny the neceffity of Ordination. The feventh argument fl^all bee drawn from the denomina¬ tions of the Minihers of the Gofpellin Scripture, r. They are called Paftors or Shepheards, "jcr: 3.15, E^h: 4,11.. Hee that is not calledand appointed by the Lord of the flocke, he that entereth not by the doore, but breaks in furreptitioufly, and makes himfelfe ilieepherd at his own hand, is not a iheep- herd but a thief, 310.9* 10* Nextthey are Angels or mef^ fengeis, 2?. 24. i.ao;and 2 23. witha.i# andthe EmbiJiTadoursof Chrift, z Car: 5. 20. Ep/j^ 6. zc. Therefore they arc fent and appointed, and do not run unfen% 3. They are called Tfo^s-ayAyo/, I 5r, T 2 . //e^: 13. 7.17. do men make themfelves '^Kullers, Magiftrates, Captains at their owne hand, or arc they not thereunto appointed by others f 4i They are called/ifhops, oroverfeers, Ac7, 20.28. i 3, T. The K^thenidns^we the name sTria-Aicrof to one whom they appointed, ordained, and lent forth to be Magiifratcor Pra:torin any of the Townts, fubjedf to their jurifdi^tion. See f/. Steph,thf: ling' Gr: in the word iTtio'KdTrof f ' ' . 5. Theyared'iot'o/^fi' ftewards, Zul^e 12,^2, iCdn^. iTitl I. 7. Who dare makehimfclfa ftewardina Kings houfe-, yea, or in a more private houfe, not being thereunto appo.nced ’ and ordained ? ' 6,1 hey are fervants ho invi*^e and call in guefts to thewed- ing, to the marriage flipper, Mdt: 22. 3. Luke 14. 17. Will any (except a fool ,ora knave,j go and invite guelts to a mans Table, w hen he is not fent nor appointed : 7. They are Preachers, Heraulds, i Tim: 2. 7. and a Timij^i r*Willa Herauldgoandproclairoethe Kings Echdts, or the ordinances of Parliament, if bee be not thereunto ap- . . . Ga "" “ " 'ft whether Ordmuon he ejf Gh a p, pointed * In both thefe Texts lafl: cited, the Apoftle /peak¬ ing of the Go/pell, fayeth, Wheremto I am ordained a Preacherl aman ApoBle^ and aTeacher of the Gentiles^ Mark, hee is or¬ dained not an Apoftle, but a Preacher, . as hee could not bee an Apoftle without Ordination, fohecouldnotbeefomuch as a Preacher without ' Ordination. Now ordinary Pa¬ llors are aswcllas the Apoftles which hath been before /hewed. An eight argument I colled from ^Tim: 2. 2. \^nd th6 things that thon hafi heard of me among manj rntnefes^ the fame commit thou to faith full men^ who jhall he able to teach others alfom Which is a mo/l con/iderable place againft the Socmans^ Ana^ haptiflsy e^c. For it Teacheth us thefe five particulars, i: That thcApo/iles would not have a teaching or preaching Mini/lery ro end with that time, but was careful! to have Paftors or Teachers provided for the fucceeding generationalfo. 2. 'thefi Teachers of others who were to labour in the word and do- drine, were to teach no new dodrine,buc the very famethings whichthey receaved from Timothy^ and Timothy from Paul^ and which receaved from the.L O R D.. It was in fence no new dodrine, when it is taught by? Paul^ much le/Te when taught by Timothy^ and leaft of all when taught by thefe who • receaved it from Timothie. So that the Socinian diftindion of theneceffty of afpeciall calling to theMiniftery when the ‘ dodrinc is new, notTo when the dodrine is not new,cannot here help them. 3. Thef: Teachers are diftingiiidied from tho/e w ho are taught .• Every man may not be a Teacher. It is a peculiar and particular calling, and it is no part of the ge¬ neral! calling of Chriftians; Therefore both here, and Gah 6*^,rhercisfucha diftindionintheChurch, fomeareTeach- ers, fomearetaughtin the Word, 4. Fit ie/Te and abilities^ yea, both grace and gifts together, cannot warrant am nto adume to himfelf the fundion of Teaching ^or Preaching to -- - - others;^- Chap* 3 * tothecAllingofaMimfief, 53 others, ex:cept he be thereunto allowed, and appointed, and entruhed. The Apoftle fay eth not, the things that thou heard vfme^ the fame I mil thatfaithfull and able men^ who ever fall he wtiling to the mrk^ teach others ^^jfaithfulnefte, and ntneffe, or ability cannot make a fufficient calling, but qualifie a man for that which he fliall be called unto. Aptitude is one thing : to be cloathed with a calling, power and authority is another thing* 5, There is more thajt belongs to the calling of Paftors andTeachcrs,than the Churches cle( 5 iing,or choofing ofthem: forthofeunto v/hom the power of Ordination belongeth,do alfo commit unto them that which they are entrufted with, the fame commit thoUj ’’■apci-ja. ’Tisfrom which (as H'. Sti^hanus in Thef: ling: ( 7 r:tom, 3. pag, ijoj, notethj not feldomein the new TleliamentdoQthiigniRe^Jepofrumalicu^ jttsfidei committere , fduciarium tradere alicui , where he citeth this very Text, and 1 fliall clear it yet fu rther from Luke: 12 48. and unto whom men have commited much w 'T^pe^s^To ^o\u, of him they will ask the more, which is the conclufion ofthe parable concerning a faithfull and wife flievvardjappointedby his Lord to be ruler over his houfliold 3 to give them their portion of meat in due fcafon, and that Parable is meant of Paftors or Minifters lawfully called and lent, as hath been before cleared* Ninthly, as we are oblcidged by our Covenant to endea¬ vour fuch a Reformation, as is moll: agreeable to the word of God, and the Example ofthe befl: reformed Churches, foin this particular of Ordination, and a fpec all call and fettinga- part of men to theMiniftery, we have not onely the example of the ancient and reformed Churches, bi^t the word of God it lelfediredeth us this w^ay. i. Before the law when the frft borne in families (not aU promifenoufly) a( 51 :ed the part ofPr'efis or publick Minifters* VVlKreof thercarelbmeex- pre/Te examples in a Prophet,, Gen, 5:* 24. ‘ju^^e Bfijlley t>y whom God preached to the' . ^ ^ Whetht^ Ordinutlon he ejf ^nthll^ C h a p . old world, 2 Vet: 2 . !> • fo are we to underhand Gen\ 6, 3: ylh^ahamti Prophet, 20.7, iMelchifedeck the Prkft of the moft high GOD, is thought by many learned men (follow¬ ing Targum, and that of Jerufalem) to have hQ(:ViShem, thefirft born of ofjaeohalfo fwhogotthe birth-right from £/^u) we read that he built Altars, and cal- IcdjUpon the name of the Lord,and he was a Prophet, Gem 4^. And it is often mentioned by that the fons Aaron were taken in dead of thefirft borne. 2. Under the Law, when not onely the Prp^Jiets, but the Priefts alfo who were orJinary Minifteis, had a fpeciall Ordination totheir office. 3. Under the Gofpell in the primitive times, for the SocinUm thcmfclvesdo not deny that Ordination or fpeciall Million was ufed in the Apoftles times. Tentif y, and laftly without a clear calling, and lawful! Or¬ dination, how Hiall people receave the word from the mouths ofMinifters, as Gods word, or as from thof. who arc fenc of God ^ Or how fhall people reverence and highly edeem their Mi nideis who labour among them, obey them, and fub- mit unto them, asthey arecomrr.anded, 1 7 be([: 5. 12,13. Heb: 13. ?7 ? And fincehethat is taught ought tocominu- nicat unto him that teachetli him, in all good things, Gd\ 6,6* and God will have thofe who labour in the Word and Doct¬ rine to be maintained, and that they who fow fpirictiah things, reap tcmporall things, i Or-p.7, p, ii, 13. \Tim: iS. Yea, the Apodlc puts the damp of a Jm divhuf» upon it, I Cor: p, 13,14. having ir.cntioned the Pr'efts maintainance in the old tedaincnt, he addeth: Even f ? hath the Lord ordmned that they which preach the Gofpell^flwuld live of the GofpelLSo that SocinUm and ^nabaptfs will linde themfclves piulcd mighti¬ ly with this dilemma, either it isthe will of God, that none pi'ea ch the Gofpcil, but fuch as ate called, appointed, and or- dained thereunto, orotherv/ife it^s liiswiil, that thofe who “ ~~ ^ . preach Chap, 4 ^ ^ of Ordimtlon 'mfrvtred,' 5^ preach the Gofpcll,not being thereunto c hofenj called and or¬ dained 5. muft be maintained as well as Minifters lawfully ori- dained and called, and it fo, its like enough People fliall have good (lore of Preachers, and their purles Ihail pay well fork, ‘ > CHAP. IIII. oh]eBions Againft thenecefity of Ordination anfrvered. Come now to anfwere the flrongcfl: objedionsof thofe who hold Ordination not neccffaiy, norelTcn- tiall to the calling of a Miniftcr. oye] 6 i^ I • From AEts They that were f '■attered nhroa^^ went every where ^reachingthe JVord^ So AUs ii. ip.' A folios alfo taught boldly in the Synagogues, aBs i 8.2 5^,2^. yet no word oftheirMiilionorOrdination/fheJewsefteem- cd Chiift himfelfbutaprivateman, not ordained nor autho¬ rized to any office in the Church, yet they permitted him t« preach in their Synagogues. Anfw: 1 . Thofe that after Ste- f hens deaths were fcattcred abroad, and preached the Word^' muft needs have beencalled, fent, and ordained (by the prin¬ ciples of the Socmans themfelves,) for the Do< 5 frine which they preached,wasanew Dodrinc,both to Samaria^ aBs 8,5. and to thofe difperfed jews, ABs 11. ip. I hcmfelves con- feffe, that they who preach a new Dodrine, muft have a fpe- ,ciall Million and Ordination. 2. Fhilif was one of thole who went abroad preaching the Word, i^Bs 8.45. Now hee is expreftely called an Evangelift, ABs 8. 8. therefore noprefi- dent for private Ghriftians to preach. 5. It is a bad argument: Z//X'^mentioneth, not their Ordination 5 therefore they were not ordained. Theymay afwell argucthus. Lukemcniiontth ohjiclicjiAgdlnjltheKSce^itU ^ Chap*4^ not that they prayed when they preached, therefore they did not pray when they preached. Orthus:{,TheScripriircmentio- neth not butonely his mother Zervinh, therefore he had not a father. 4. And fuppofe they preached the Word without MilTion or Ordination , this is but like that which Chryf iflome^ lib.* adeos qui fcandalifati funt^ cap: 1 9 ♦ recordeth as a marvelous extraordinary benehr, which did accrew from the bloody perfecutions of thofe ancient times, That in fuch timcSjthe flieep acTted the parts of fhepheards^bcing driven away to deferts andmoumains, where C by the Spirit of G od fpeaking in them) they converted unbeleever*:^ and gathered Churches: Which concludeth nothing againft the ncccflity of Ordination, inconftifutedand reformed Churches, for they who were fcattered abroad, being driven away in the heat of perfecution, might not have the opportunity of Ordination, and they went forth to gather Chriftians to plant Churches, to lay foundations where Chrift was not known. Such cafes were in the beginning excepted from thefta eofour prefent queftion. 5. If Apllos preached without Ordination, when he knew onely the baptifme ofjohn^ and withall when he had to do with thofe Jews, who were yet to be convinced that Jo- fus was the Chrift, Abls i 2 , *5,25,28. It is no good argu» ment againft theneceffity of Ordination . where the doeftrine ofChrift is known and rcccaved, and Churches conftituted* And withailhow willitbe proved, that Apollos having been one of Johm Difciples, had nor forae commiflion from John to preach the Word ? Or if Apollos was but a gifted brother without any publick calling or authority in the Church, how < came he to be fo much eftcemed, as to be compared with Peter and Paul^ I Cor-. 1^12, Laftly as touching Chrifts preaching in the Synagogues, hee was lookt upon as a Prophet extraor- dinarly r ifed up in IfineL Luke 4 15*. 15, 24. and the Jews fay of him phiinly , a great Prophet is rifen up among us ^ . Luke Chap'J* OrdtridtloHltnfwiYi^l Luke 7.1 6. Jofephs his teftitnony given to Chrlft, asa great Prophet, is known. • ob]e^: 2. The Church doeth ’/iiforoyuv, by their voices iri EIe( 5 lion, makc^crcat, conftitute or ordain Elders, A^s 14.2 therefore Elders need no other O rdination, but are fufficiently ordained or made by the Church, if eleded^and receave their power from the people See this Objedion profecuted in the Sia,Tfi0n pag: g, i o.i i. And in the Queries touching Ordinati- * on,pag:^tom:Anfiv: liThere is no cogent reafon brought by thefe men, why %s//ioTowcramf, if rendered thus as they would haveit, when they hadby voices ordained^ muft bee therefore underliiood of Ordination by the people, and not by f^w/rand BArnabas^iot as I have before noted out of Calvim inHit, Iib:4a' cap:^.§. The fence may bee this, Paul and Barnabas did make and ordain Elders according to the voices oftheChurch-. es themfelves, that is, they ordained fuch as the Church deli* red* Iffo, theyare double loofers by this their Objedion.’ 2. If ^iiporoynemcfthenesorat, adverf: Timocr: telsus that they did M^t^dveu for the took an oath to be fiithfull in their c ohfti- • rating or ordaining of Mag frrates* 5. In Scripture we finds Election and Ordination frequently diftinguiflied, not only as difeindi; a( 5 is, but oft times in diftindhands, Mofes faid unto all Ifrael, 7 'ake yee wife men and underflanding , and known among your Tribes , and I will make them Rulers over you^ The people choofc themwho fliall be Rulers, bni Mofes maks . - H them :f8 ob]eBionAgdnHtheneceJfiue Chap, 47 them Rulers, A6fs 6. g. Wherefore brethren look'fee out among fofi feven men ofhonejl report^ full of the holyJJhoft and wifdome^ whom we may appoint over this bufneff ?. The people choofe, the Apoftics appoint the Deacons. 4 The choofing ofa perfon * to an office, is not the authorizing of the perfon ele(ficd, but the defignation of the perfon to be authorized. ’Tis here with a perfon chofen, as with a thing chofen: Ezra was to chooie, and to defigne, when, and how much fllver,wheat, winc,oyle, fhouldbc taken for the Houfe of the Lord,. not exceeding the proportion of a hundreth, but the power and authority by which thefe things were given forth by the Thefaurers^ to be applyed to fuch ufeSjWas from the decree o£ Artaxerxes^ Ezra 7,21,22* So Ejler chooled what to make requeft for, but the thing was to be performed by authority of the King, 33 So a man may be chofen to an office by fome,and > authorized toad in that office by others. How manyfubor- dinat offices,(civilland milkaryjare thcre,in which men ad by- the power and authority, derived'from the ordinances of Parliament, although not nominated and chofen by the Par- liamentj but by othcrs,intruftcd by the Parliament to choofe. 5. Even where Eledion and Miffion, are in the fame hands, yet they are nor confounded, but are lookt upon as two dif- tindads: Chriftfirftchoofed the twelve, and pitched upon filch as he would, and then ordained them, and fent them - foith; iMark: 5;. 14. The Synod of the Apoftles and' Elders firft choofed, th^ fent ^udas and Silas y 1 5 . 2 2 , 2 Where you djay oblerve alfo by the way, that the Mif- fion' ofa man to the Miniflcry, or Pa^orall charge of a Gon- ^ gregation, doeth not belong to the people who choofe him, theycannot fend him to themlelves.WhenEledion andMiffion are in the fame hands, *ris in fuch cafes as thefe two lafl cited, when men are fent abroad to otheis, then indeed they who choofe them,. may. alfo fend them: but when theyj^fent to .. : . ' - ' . "C«ap»4* of Ordimtkn dnfwerod^ tbofc who choofe them, then they are fcntby others, a Mini- fter is feet to the Congregation, therefore he is not fent by the Congregation , and fo that place, Romi lo. 15. How fhallthey •preach except they be fent i cannot be 11 nderftood of the peoples -Eledlion, but of Ordination, or Miflion from the Presbytery appointed to ordain. 5 . The fame Apoftolicall Parterne which holds forth unto us thcchoofing of Elders in every Church, A£fs 14. 23. doethalfo hold forth unto us the ordaining of >Eldcrs in every City, Tit: 1.5, and thefe ads in different bands, therefore notthei^me; yea, as many conceave in that fame Text, aBs befide the Eledion by voyces, there is a diftind Ordination expreffed under the adjunds thereof, prayer, and fafting. ObjeH: 3, TheApoftlef^th, f Cor: 14,26.- Whenyeecome together every one of yott hath a Pfalme , hath a D 0Hrine, hath a Tongue^ hath a Revelation, hath an Interpretation, 1^. yee - may allprophefteoneby one. Therefore all that preach or pro- phefie, need not to be ordained, i^nfw: What thofc Pro¬ phets were, and what is meant by prophefying.there, all arc not of one opinion. I hold that thefe Prophets w^ere immedi* atly and extraordinary infpyred, and I reckon them among thefe other adminiffrations, which were not ordinary, or ever to continue in the Church, Apoftles, Evangeliffs, Workers of miracles. But of this I am to fpeak diftindly, and by it fdfe afterwards. Mean while, they that make the Objedion, mufl •prove two things, elfe they conclude nothing againfl the nc- ceffitie of Ordination. 1. That thefe Prophets were not fent and ordained, but that their gifts and parts, gave them a fuf- f cient calling to interpretin the Church. 2. That although they had no Minifteriall fending, or vocation, yet they were not extraordinary Prophets, but that fuch Prophets are to continue ordinarly in the Church, I beleevc it will trouble them to prove cither, H2 objeHi^^ 66 OhjeUkf^dgamHthemeptk object, 4* *Tisraidofthehoufeof^^ condemned for if, 25# 25. 50. Therefore hethathath gifts for preaching, and adminifiering the Sacraments, cannot ’ anfvvcreic to God, except heimproveand ufe thofegifts, yinf, t. If that Parable be apply ed to Miniftcriall talents, then it will prove, notonely a perpetuall Minifteryjbccaufethe Lord faith to his fervants, Occupie tillIcome, Luke: i p, 1 5. But iike- wife, that none ought to intrude themfelves into that holy fundion, exceptthey have a calling as well as gifts, Los Mat: 25. 14,15. ih^thotd called his ownefervants ( L«I'Cfaith, hee called his ten fervants^ and delivered unto them his goods: and un^ to one he gave five talents^ to another two, to another one ^ to everie one according to his fever all abilitie : Where wee have a diftindion of the calling and ability, fuppofe another man had been able enough, yet if he bee none of the called ones. Chap,4 » Ordimm mfwered', that Parable cannot be applyed to him. 2. This Objedion may be made in the behalfe of women alfo 5 many of whom receaveexcellent gifts from God, yea, it was foretold by Jedy and apply ed by Peky ; that women as well as rnen fliould Prophefic, Acts 2. Whichbeing mifunderftood, gave fome colour to the old Pepuzia^ HcixfiC. object: 6» If we hold Ordination necelTary, and elTentiall to the calling ola Minifter,. wee bring our felves into thisfnare, that either the Minifters in the reformed Churches, are not true Minifters, but falfely pretended to be fo, or otherwife wemuft hcldthatthofeinthe Church of from whom the Proteftant Minifters, in the beginning of the Reformation, had their Ordination, were true Minifters of Chrift. For if thofe in the Church ofPo^ewho did ordaine, were not true Minifters of Chrift, then they had no commiftion from Chrift to make Minifters for him. And who can bring a clean thing out of that which is unclean: Iffo, then the Proteftant Mi- niftets, who firft ordained other Proteftant Minifters ('from whom Ordination hath come to us downwards ) having no Ordination, but what they receaved in the Church ot PomCy they had not power to ordain others with fuch an Ordination, as hath a divine ftamp and charader upon it* This argumentis much infifted upon by the Author of the Queries touching Ordination: If it can do any thing, yet it is no new light, .but the very fame which hath been formerlie obje(fted by Papifts, and anfwercd by Proteftant writers. W hereof fee one inftancein^Ger^W, loc: com: tom.- 6 , de Mimfi: Bccleftf^ i57» ^ And now that thofe who drive fo f uriouflic after this Po- pifti argument, may forever beafliamed of it; I rccurne thefe anfweres. i. By retortion, the argument will concludeas much againft the Baptifme, and Churcheftate of Independents, Anabaptifis , and v/ho ever they bee that make any ufe of this . - ' way; '62 oh]ectioi^ Agamjlthe ntieJfitU Chap^4 way of arguing againftiis. For by this argument, thofewho firft gathered their Churches, baptized, and incorporated them into the body of Chrift,were not only no true Minifters, but no true Church-members, having no other baptifmc,buc what was reccaved, either in the Church of Rome ^ or from thofe who were baptized in the Church of Rome : But who can bring a clean thing, out of that which is unclean. Where note by the way, that this argument of theirs^ will alfo make the Scripture it felf unclean now, becaufe we have it out of an unclean thing, ( the Charchof Rome Js So that all that will ff and to this argument, muft unchurch, unbaptize, unchriften themfelves; If they will have their recour^ to that promife, Tj’^eye two or three are met together, there am I in the midfi ofthem, and think to Jay the foundation oftheir Churches there, with- : out any derivation from the Church of Rome,'they muft allow us to do fo too, but then they muft palfefrom their argument. W hat will they fay then f Either, there can bee in our dayes a true Church with all the ordinances of Chrift in it, indepen¬ dent upon the Church of Rome, and without building or lean¬ ing upon a lineall fucceflion, or derivation from the Church of Rome, or there cannot. If they hold the affirmative, their argument is not worth a fl raw, for Ordination being one of the ordinances of Chrift (which is here to be fuppofed, and hath been in the precedent Chapter proved) the reformed ^ Chu rches had power to fet it up, and reftore it by vertue of Chrifts owninftitution. If the Negative, oiirQppofits,muft '2II turne Seehers:^ their Churches are no Churches, their Baptifme no Baptifnie, d'e. 2, Suppofe thofe proteftant Minifiers, who firfl ordained otIierMinifters,wercthemfelvcs ordained by fuchas had no power to ordain them. Nay fup- pofethe firfl reforming Minifters, to have been at the begin¬ ning of the Reformation, no Minifters, hut private Perfons,?, nor pretending to be ord.iined. What Will they conefed from'. Ckap« 4 ^ _ tf OrdinMkn dHftvered, this < It proves nothing againfl that which wee hold concer¬ ning the neceifity of Ordination For wc plainly fay, that in extraordinary cafes when Ordination cannot be had, and when there are. none who have commiition and authority from Chrift to ordain, theUjand there, an inward call from God en¬ larging the heart, ftirringupaandaflifting with the good will and confent of a people whom God makes willing, can make a Minifter authorized to Minifterialla( 5 ls. Suppofe this to have been the cafe at the firft comming out from Popery, yet here was a feed for more Churches, and more Minifters. At the firft plantation of Churches, Ordination may bee wanting without making void theMiniftery,. becaufe Ordination can¬ not be had, but in conftituted Churches , the want of Ordi- iiatiomdothmakeaMiniftcr no Minifter. 5* Touching the Church T anfwer as a learned country man of mine anfwered ncre 70. yeares agoe. Although it was a Church miferably corrupted and defaced,yet it was even then a Church, wherein beprofefleth to follow Luther^ oecolampa^ diu4^ Zuinglius^ Bucerus-^ Calmin^ LMufculus , Bullinger , and the generall fence of the Proteftant writers. See the Smetonii ? ad Hamilton', pag. 6* If there was not a true Church, when Popery and Antichrifiianifme had moft uni- verfally fpred it felf, why is itfaid that Antichrift fitteth. in theTmfleofCod^ iMef: 2.4.^ And if God had hot a peo¬ ple in Babylon, why is it faid. Come out of her, rnyfeo^le^ Rev, I S'. 4-^' And if there were not all that time, even before the Reformation, true Minifters of Chrift, why are the two wit- /icffesfaid to Prophefie la^o.dayes ( compting dayes for / years) in fackcloath* Rev: 11.3, 5. Sure the time of the wimeffes, their Prophefying in fackcloath, where ever we fix the be ginning and ending of it (which is cpntravertcd) it doth certainly comprehend thofe ages before the Reformation, as‘ apart of this time. 1 herefore Chrift had his Witneftes and . “ Mini- Whejher thef ^ Prophets or Prophefyin^s Chap] Minifters all that while^ Proteftantsas wellasPapifts , hold the perpetuity of the true Church and Mirdftery, though not ever vifible or alike pure. And other wife, how ihall we under¬ hand Chriftsowne word, 28# 20. Loe^IammthyoaaL ivajy even mto the end of the world, 4. Wherefore I conclude that thofe who were ordained in the Church of Hon^ebeforc the Reformation, in fo far as they were ordained in the name of Chrih, by thefe who had been themielves ordained Pref- b} ters as well as Bifhops, and authorized to preach the Gof. pel, and adminifter the Sacraments 5 this far they Were true and lawfull Minifters, rruely and lawfully ordained. But in fo farre as they were ordained according to the Popifh ftatutes and Canons, for teaching and maintaining the traditions of the Church of Rome^ and for offering up the body of Chrift intheMaffe, inthisconfiderations their calling and Ordina¬ tion was impure and unlawfull,Iike pure water flowing out of a clean fountain,which contra^^ts impurity from a filthicchan¬ nel it runs through.See Sympf: Pur: Theoh Dtfp, 4 2. Thef 48.^ and diverfe others who might be cited to this purpofe* C H A P* V. Wlether thefe Prophets dnd Prophefyings in the primitive Churchy I Cor. i/^,and i^Cor. 12.28. Ephef* 4. ii. wereextraor- dinnrie y and fo not to continue: Or whether they are pr eft dent 5 for the Preaching or Proplefying offueh^ as are neither ordained Minijlers-f nor probationers for the sJMiniJlery, Here are three opinions concerning thefe Prophets mentioned by the Apoflle, i*. That they had nei¬ ther extraordinary and immediate infpirations ofthc Spirit, nor yet were ordinary Miniflers called to the cffice of Teaching, but Church-members out of office, ha- Ch A p ,5* ^ Trirnhwe Chmh^ ^ ing good gifts of opening and interpreting the Scriptures ^ for the edification, inftru( 5 lioun, and comfortof the Church,and henceis the warrant taken, for the preaching or prophefying of fuch Church-members as arc well gifted, being neither Mi-, nifters, nor intending the Miniftery: NeitherdoctheWd- pffileftts ondy y hut Socimans^ and Arminians alfo cry up that libertas fre^hetandK 2* That thefe Prophets were Church officers, and no more but ordinary Teachers or Interpreters of Scripture in the Church.* withoutexcludingthefons of the Prophets, or Probationers from their Aflembly, and from exercifing their gifts in preaching upon occafion, and fortryali oftheir gifts,or of the grouth and encreaf thereofjyetlremem*- ber no place in the new Teftamenr,where ordinary Pafiorsare faid to prophefie, except Revel.’ ii* where notwithfiand** ing, prophefie is aferibed unto them in no other fence, than the working of miracles, verf: 6. Thfe have fomr to (hut heaven^ that it rain notin the dajes of their frophefie ^ and have ^orver over waters to turm them into bloody arid to fmite the earth With all plagues as often as they will, A1 which ( prophefying and miracles) is fpoken by way of allufion to Mofes and Elias^ 5, That they were extraordinary Prophets, immediatly and extraordinarlyinfpyred by the holyGhoftjand that they are to be reckoned among thefe other adminiftrations which were notto continue,orbe ordinary in the Church* Synop-.pur? theoh difpi 42. thef: 22, LMartyr/loc:com:claJf:/^,cap. i# K^retlm^ probl: theol, loc: 62. Calvin. Jnfiit.lib: 4. cap,y. § 4, Diodati on I Cor, 14.1, the lateEngliihAnotations on i Cor^ 12. 2SJ Raine on Ephef: 4.11. together with two learned coun¬ try men of mine, yh.Bavid Dikfon., on i Cor: 14. 31. and M^* Rutkeyfurd on his peaceable plea: 16, Apoftlcs, E- vange-ifts. Workers of miracles .* I know many Protefrant writers of very good notCjare oftbe ftcond opinion. But with all due refpeiSl unto them; 1 hold the third opinion, with cer-^ .C'' ^ " I hard:^ Whetheri!^pProfl}et$4HdPr${hefyings Chap^, hardy loci com: Tom: 6. fag: ji, and di verfc others 5 thereafons which move me are thefe* i. The Apoftlediftinguifheththc Prophets from the Paftors and Teacherss i Con 12.2 8 , . Sfhef: 4,11. The Prophets are enumerate among the publike Minifters which Chrift hath given to theChurch; Yet diftin( 5 t from the ordinary Paftors and Teachers, a. Th y are not onely diftinguifhed from Paftors and Te chers, but feem alfb to be fet before them 5 yea, before the Evangelifts, E^hefi II* And hegavefome ApoftleSjandfomeProphetSjandfome Evangelifts, and fome Paftors and Teachers, or as the readeth, and feme Pajlors and forne Teachers y fb diftinguiftieth Paftors from Teachers, as Bajne alfo doth.- underftanding here five,degrees ofthofe who labour in the Word and Do- - ivhethtr tht [? Prophets 6 y Prophefykg Ch a p . J •’ deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles* There Were other Pro¬ phets of the fame kinde with x^gabus, for fo runnes the Text, Ads I!• 27, 28. Andinthofedayescame Prophets from Jerttfa- Um to Antioch , and therefood up one of them named Agabus, and fgnifed by the Spirit^ that there jJjould bee great dearth in all the world, y. That thefe Prophets fpake in the Church from ex¬ traordinary revelation and infpiration, appeareth by i Con 14* 2 < 5 # when the) came together y they had a Pfalme, a D oEtrine^ fc Tongue , a Revelation , an Interpretation , notonely a Doctrine^ and an Interpretation^ but a Revelation , and verf* 3 o. after hce hath Paid, let the Prophets fpeak, two or three; Headdeth^ if any thingbe revealed to another thatfitteth by, let the firft hold his peace: Upoa which Text GualtherySalmeron^ and others who underftand by prophefying in that Chap: the ordinary Mi-’ nifteriall Teaching, are yet made to acknowledge, that this revealing of fo me what to another, was extemporary and extra-i' toe. com. daff. 4. Cap. i. Sed in Ordinary, and that it is no prefident for our primitiva Ecclefia cum Prophetia vi- times. P* . Martyr , pUtS this diflferenCC iufque mu- Tcachets Were cducatcct and mltru 6 ted by = Prophets, without all humane fine Omni ope humana, repente afHa- help; fpakeasthey wereonafuddainmo- tHSpintus fanai concitatiio^cban- yed by the inlpiration of the holy Ghofti tur, rrobl; theol; loc; 61. Prophe- __ ’'ii fi i t rc ^ ir »ae ampliora habebant efona^ideo Yea, although he takCS the OftlCCUnd fUtt- Scriptur« obftiufiora loca iiiuftra- ftions of Prophcts and Teachers, to have bant eodem Spititu, quoferiptafue- i r 4. l * - j'/i* »unt__ideo de Scripturis \eftius been oHc and the lame ; yet he thus diftin- So Calvin, inftit: loc: guilheth between them.. So Aretiuffpcakr Epkr.'I/i ^^S^hndsX^p“o- ins ofthofe that bareoflSce in the primitive phets, fuch as had Extraorinarie Cliurch, diftinguilheh the Prophcts from Kpeiations. Paftors and Teachers in this that the Prophets had not onely greater gifts for opening hard Scrip¬ tures, but that they did interpret Scripture with the fame pro- pheticall fpirit, by which it was di<^at and written , and likc- Chap^^* iniheTrmitivechurcJt^ wife foretell things to come. 5 , It hath been obferved by on Ephxf: 4. ii. andpthers that thefe degrees are capacious and comprehenfive one of another downwards, not upwards, that is 5 An Apoftle might prophefie, and doe the work of an Evangelift,. Paftor^and Teacher: a Prophet might dothe workofan Evangelift, Paftor, and Teacher: the E- vangelift might do the work of a Paftor and Teacher. But e- very Paftor and Teacher could not do the work of an Evange-' lift, or of a Prophet, Ifthisobfervation hold ^ which hath plcafed many, then we cannot underftandthofe Prophets to have been no more but Paftors and Teachers, much lefte to have been any thing lefte than Paftors and Teachers, viz^- Church-members, well gifted forexponding Scripture edify- ingly, chryfoJlofTtede diverf: 7 • lodsferm: 5 o . Ieaneth ve ry much toward that fame notion, for he calls Apoftlcs the root, which was comprehenfive of all the reft ^ a Prophet (faith he) mightnot bean Apoftle, but an Apoftle was a Prophet, vangelift, To prove that an Apoftle did prophefic, hee cites thefe propheticall priEdidionSj.iT/w?; 3.1. i 4.15. Whereby ’tis manifeft that he]undcrftands the prophefie men vvp TpoffH- tioned by Paul to be extraordinary. 7. Unlefte we underftand thofe prophets which Chiift gave to the Church, i C<7r.i2. 28. and cap, 14. Ephef: 4.11. to have been extraordinarly in- fpired by the Spirit, then w^eftiall not be able to prove from; fait air-er Scripture, that Chrift hath given to the Church of the new there arc Teftament, any exttaordinaric Prophets to foretell things to come. But ’ris certain that Chrift hath given fuchextraordi- ifo that we nary Prophets to the Churcli of the new Teftament, fuch as °nd / Agahtif, and the daughters of Philip: Eufehim tells us theic that the r were fuch Prophets in the Church,till the dayes o^jujlin Mar* tyri which we have alfo from himfelfe. And now iiryour^ having the occafion, Imuftfiyitto the glory of God, there were in the Church of Scotland^ both in the time of our firft , ^ - - j ^ - - •. Reformati-- ^ 7 o whether thefe Prof he ts or Profhefyings Ch a p. y. Reformation, and after the Reformation fuch extraordinary men, as were more then ordinary Paftors and Teachers, even holy Prophets receaving extraordinary Revelations from God, and foretellingdiverfe ftrange and remarkable things, which did accordingly come to pafle pun(ftually, to the great admiration of all who knew the particulars, fuch jhart the Martyre,M^i^;^^?A^ the Reformerjalfo M*”. John Welfb^ M**. ‘^ohn Davidf nne^ M^ Robert Brace, M*". Alexander Simfon^ M*". FergHjfen, ’and othersIt were too long to make a narra¬ tion here ofall fuch particulars, and there are fo many of them ftupendiousjthattogiveinftancein fome fcw,mighi leem to de- rogatfrom the reft. But ifGod give me opportunity,! fhal think it worth the while to make a colletftion of thefe things: Mean while although fuch Prophets be extraordinary, and butfel- dome raifed up in the Churchjyet fuch there have been .* Idare fay, not onely in the primitive times,but amongft our ftrft Re- formcrs,and others. And upon what Scripture can we pitch for fuch extraordinary Prophets. If not upon thofe .Scriptures which areapplyed by fome to the prophefying Brethren, or gifted Church-members; 8. There are but threefenfes of ih^v^oxd Profhefyings which I can finde any where elfe in the newTeftament* I. For fuch prophefying as is competent to all converted and gifted perfons, when they are filled witha fpirit of illumi¬ nation, and fpeak with other tongues as the fpirit gives them utterance: In which fenfe foretold, that daughters as well as Tonnes, hand maids as well as mcn-ftrvanrs, young and old fhould prophefie, A^s z. i 7,18. Which was accordingly ful¬ filled upon the day of Penticoft, for ASis I. 14. and 2,1^ This Spirit of Prophefie was powred out upon, all the Difci- ples, men and women. 2.For fuchprophefyingj^s is the preaching of ordinaryMini- fters, although 1 know no Text where without any contro- verfie. in the Primitive churchy yt verfie, the word is uied for the ordinary Minifteriall preach¬ ing; Yet I underhand the word to bee ufed, in this fence, (though lyr allufion onely where of beforej. Pevel, 11.3. And I will give pwermto mjtw^ witnefes^ and they ^all pro^hefie A thott^and twe hundreth and threefcore day es cloathed in fackcloath • 3. For extraordinary prophefying from immediate and miraculousinfpiration, in which fence it is often ufedin the newTeftament^ as I lhall ihew anone. But a fourth fenie,^^. 1 he prophefying of gifted Brethren, (not fifters) out of office, and that publickly, and by an ordi¬ nary gift,. I can finde no where •, andifwegoe either higher or lower, then the ordinary Paftorall preaching, women as well as men might prophefie in the Scripture language, Pro- phetefles, as well as Prophets* p. The Apoftle plainly di- ffinguiflieth, Prophefie^ both from the word of knowledge^ and from the word ofwifdom, i Cor. 12,8 .p. r o, For to one is given hy theSpiritythe word of wifdome^ to another the word of knowledge by the fame Spirit^ to anotherprophepe 5 now what is that gift and manifeftation of the Spirit, which is fuppofed to be given to gifted and prophefying-members,mu ft ir not fall under that e- mimeration, i Cor. 12.7,8, p, 1 o, 11. Is it then theinterpre- tation, or opening ofScripture, that is the Teachers part, word of know I dgex Is it both to interpret, and.) pply Scripture, that is the paftorspart, thewordof wifdome\ - \s it to propheftc, that is more nor cither the word of knowledge, or the word ofwifd( me, and is thcref rediftirgilifhcd from both. 10, Inth:;tText laftc ted, prophefleis menritmed, notonly as a gift by which ihe Spirit workerh, fort! eprofite and edifi¬ cation of the Church, butasaMi^iftery fun^ion and admi- niftration in the Church , k.r veff. \^.-'^y6. The Apoftle tea^htihus, that there are divcrfici s; i Of g fts. 2. Ofadiriniftrations, g. Of operations, thereafter in reference to all ihcfe tbree> he addeih the enume¬ ration 72 whether thefe Prophets or Prophef Ch a p . tion of the particulars^wr.S.p,! o.In aProphet htercfore there is tovtA OHm/sJermmj as well as Xctpi(r^/.c6, and or Eyepg/Hf**. Now letKovia. is frequently ufed in the new Teftament for the Miniftery, not onely of ruling Elders and Deacons, Romiiz^ 7. ofpaftorsand Teachers5 yea, of Evangelifts andApo- flles, Ephef:^,}2»Col: ij, iTim: A^s i^ij,2^^ and 12. 2 and 20. 24. and 21. ip, Rom, ii, 15* 2 Cor: 4. i, and 5.18. and 5 .3. and p. i, and elfe where the Englifli tranf. lators in thefe places render it fometimes iMlmfierie , fome- times ofice^ fometimes indeed =r/w/is is ufed in the new Tefta¬ ment for any Miniftring to the neceflitics of thepoore Saints, by charity and almes. But no body that I know doth imagine orcanimagmethacthisis the fenfe ofthe word, i Cor: 12J where ctiaxoy/ais joyned with Xctp/crw.«6 and Therefore I conclude that the Prophets in thefe primitive times, had an of¬ fice or Miniftery in the Church. II. The word Prophefying isoften ufed in the new Teftamer-t, for that which is extraor¬ dinary, and by Revelation, cMat, 26*68, Rev: 1.5. 21. 9, Lithe I. 57. Revel, 2%* 10. ip. Revd, 10. ii. LMark: 7. 6* 1 Peter 1.10, Jud: 14. ^ohn Baptift is called a Prophet, Luke I, y6, and 7.28. Matth: 21. 26, and 14.5. Chrift him- felfeis called a Prophet, CMAtth, i^. 57, Luke 7. 16 and 24J 19. "joh^e^. Ip. and p. 17. the Sorcerer is called a falfe Prophet, Ads, 1^,6* Prophefyingin the name of Chrift, is joyned with other miraculous, gifts, OlLat: 7. 22. ejiimy will fay to me in that da)^ Lord^ have we notprophefied in thy name*, and in thy namehave caH out devils , andinth) name done man^ won* derfullworkes^ ACts 19, 6, And when Ptmllaidhis hands on them^ y the holy Ghofi came on them^ and they fpake with tongues y and pro- phefied^ In this fence is the word ufed, when *tis faid that \ CajaphaspYoiphQfiQdy johnii.')!, the fame word is ufed for propheticall prediction, i Tim: 1.18. accordingtothepropheftes wh.ch went before onthe Rev. 2. 22. Jezebel did call her felfe a C If A p , ' m the Primitive Chnrch^ 7 j Prophetejfe.i^ Prophecy (as Pad fpeakesofit^ isib farrefrom -being a common privilcdge of gifted Saints out of office^ that it is one of the fpcciall and rareft gifts which the Apoftles them felvcs had or could have, i Cor, 13.2. And though i have, thegiftofprophefie ^ and under Hand all myf cries ^ and all know ledge^ which hands there between the gift of tongues, and the faithofmiraclcs: again, \Cor:i/^,i.6, Nowbrethrenytficome unto youfpeaking with tongues ^ what fall Ifrofite jou^ except! f allfpeakuntoyou^eitherhj Revelation, or by knowledge, or by Prophefjing.or by DcHrine, The firn:two,/?eW4/w»,and know* ledgeare immanent in the Apoftle; Theother two Prophefy- ing and Do(5b:ine5 are tranfient from theApohle to theChurch,! What fball my gift of tongues profite you, faith hej or how fhall you be edified or fatisfied thereby, unlefic^ either I ^tter fome Revelation unto you by Prophefying, or utter mjf^ knowledge unto yoa by Do( 5 frine, fo diftinguifhing Prophe- iyingfrom Dodfrine as greater then it 5 becaufe Prophefying , proceeds from Revelation, Dodfrinc from knowledge, in him that teacheth^ 13. I have yet another reafon, which ! think will be a hard knot to our difienting Brethren, the Apo- ffle.compareth in that 14. Chap: thegifts oftongues, and the gifts of prophefie. He comraendeth both, as defirable, verfz I. and wifheth tothemallboththefcgifts, verfiS, butrather. prophefie as comparatively the better for edifying theChurchJ £t magis ^ minus^ non variantfpedem. There are both good and defirable gifts of the Spirit, ttx to profite withall^ i Cor, 12.7,10^ II. The Apoftle alfoalloweth as many to fpeak with tongues in the Church, as hee alloweth to prophefie in the Churchy that is,as two orthreeofthe Prophets may fpeak by courfein oneAfrembly,fo may two or three fpeak by courfc inaftrangeton ue, fo that one interpret, i Cor: 14. 27, 19• Moreover, whereas it is fuppofed by our drflenting brethren, that allor moft oftheChurch,womenexcepted,did prophefiej / I K,: “ tfiey whether thefs Trofhetser Profhefyihgs Ch ap . 5« they muft upon the very fame ground, fuppofe that all or in oft of the Church, women excepted 5 fpake ftrange tongues in the Church. For in the fame place where ’tis faid, that e- very one ofthenrhad a Do(ftrine and Revelation, ’tis faidalfo that evciy one of them had a tongue and an Interpretation, I. Cor: 14. 26. Which tongues confidered and compared to- getlier, it will be found, that if the reafons hold good, and the confequences be valid, which are brought for the prophe- fyingofgifted members out of office, and that therein they have the Church o^Corinth a prefident, the like reafons, and aisftrong confequences will prove, that any two or three of a Church, who ft:all happilie have the gift of ftrange tongues, may fpdak by courfein the Church, fo that one Interpret,and that the Church Corinth is as good a prefident for this,as for the other 5 Let our Brethren therefore, either make both thefe gifts(prophefie, and tongues'in the Church of Corinth , to bee extraordinary and miraculous, and fo neither of them to bee an ordinary prefldent/or otherwife, they muft make them both to be fet forth for ordinary Patterns and prefidents, and fo begin to cry up tongues, as well as prophefying, for if the gift of prophefie, be fuch as men may attaine by induftrie and ftudy, fo is the gift of tongues; I know no way to loofethe knot without acknowledging, that both the gift of tongues and that of propheftc, were extraordinary and miraculous, which is the truth* Theft are the reafons which I lean to in this matter. I come next to anfwere, Ohje^ions, The firft three Objections I ftnde in the^'^t^p/Cn concerning Ordination; But I lliall anfwere other Objections alfo omitted there, but which have been objected by others. i.-TheProphets,iCcstrof5 let every one of you in particular, fo love his Tvife 5 that is^cvery one of you husbands, Ifa: p . 17. every one that is^every wicked perfon who cometh to wor- Ihip before me 5 Luke Boeth not each one of yon on the Sabhah^ loofehis oxe or bis ajfe^ that is , each of you who hath an ox oranaflfc.’many other fuch inftances might be given from Scripture. 7, Bullinger noteth out of the Greek Scholi- afl:, that the Apoftlehere, iCor: 14. i6. ufeth«'''^s'«fjfor that is, one of you hath a Plalme, another a Dodrine, another a Tongue, c^c, Be\a gives us the fame fence, and re¬ fers us to I Cor: 1.12. which is a notable clearing of this Text, fbrthe very fame phrafe: is there ufed: Bver) one of you faith i I am ^^Paif, and I aftscommendedy A^ 17. n. for proving and trying the Do-- < 5 irine of the Apoftles themfelvcs by the Scriptures 1 2 . Al¬ though fuch as had the gift of prophefie, didnotj nor could not erre, fo farre as they were infpired by the holy Ghoft in* prophefying, much lelTe in writing ScripturCjyet they might have, and fome had their owne miftakes and errors in particu¬ lar cafes 5 whereof I fliall have one inftance in Ellas’^ who laid, he was left alone: But rvhat faith the anfve/e of God umo h\m^ I have ref ^.rved to felfe feven thoufand^ ^c. He fpake from' hisownlpirit, when he faid he was left alone, but theanfvver: of God corre^^s his miftake. Another inftance in thole prophelying Dilciples, A 5 ts iit 4. Who faid to Paul through the Sfirit, that he (houldrtotgoe up to Jerufalem^ Therefore fore¬ telling and foreknowing of danger at Jerufalem,wasfrora thelpiritof prophefie, but the confequcnce they did draw from hence,that therefore Pauli[\m\d not go up to Jerufalemi This dmerpreters conceave, was only from their own fpirirs^ though they misfathered it upon the Spirit of God. 5. *Ti$ Well oblervedin the Englifti annotations upon i Cor. 14.53. ^hat although thofe ffophefes rvereinfu^ed by the holy Gho ^, that eannot erre,yet all things an not ahvayes revealed to one , and that, which is not revealed to one, is oftentimes revealed to more, and fometimes in clearer manner. 'Th/ re might he alf1 fome thing min^ gledmth that which the Prophets receaved ^. and it might fall out, thsftihatvohich they added of their own., bjwajof confrfnation^il- 7 r"'“ ^ ' “* lujlratioft. Chap♦5 * htheTrtmitheChurchy luflration or ap^lUation,might hejuftlj fubje 5 i t$ cenfure, wheher it mufl he trj ed and judged bj others^ whether the prophejles proceed fretn the inspiration of the hol'j Spirit , and according to the rule of faith y Efa, 8. 20. objeSl: 6.The Apoftle diftinguifLeth Prophefie from mini- (lery3/?i>w»i2.657.thereforethey who prophefied, were gifted perfons out ofoftice.t^;?/’v.* i.Diverfe refolve that Text thus, tliat firft the Apoftle maketh a generall divifton of Eccleftafti- call offices, Frophefe, comprehending thefethat labour in the word and dodime^Miniftery comprehending thofe that labour not in the word and doro much oppofed by fome at AnHoh,A^s 15 . and being accu/ed forgoing in to the uncircumcifedj, was put to make, his defence to them at Jerufalem, A^sii, then a fortiori^ it doth much more become ordinary Paftors and Teachers5to fubmittothe judgment of an Affembly of Pa¬ llors and T eachers-j And generally as in civil juftice,., 'tis a good and cquall rule^. that a man be judged per pares ^ fo pro- portionably in Churchcenfures, it will hold among Church officers or Minifters, that they fhould be judged per pares ^ an Apoflleby the Apoftles, a Prophet by the Prophets, an El¬ der by the Elders. ohjeB. 8 . ^udas and Silas are called Prophets, ABs 15.32 * and they exhorted the Church, yet they were outofoffice^ for they are diflinguifhedfrom the Apoftles and Elders > and faid to be chiefe men among the Brethren, verf: 22 . Anfm 1. This prefident will carry the prophefying Brethren very high, {or Silas is reckoned by Divines to have been an Evan- gelifl, which may be colle( 5 led from his travelling through fo many places with Pauly for fpreading the Golpcll, Acts 16^ 17. Act: 17.4,1 o . 2 4,15. Act. 18.5. others think hec had a MinifterialPcharge at Jerufalem, but the former opinion feems to be better grounded. 2. The word Brethren and Bro» ther.^ does not ever note fuch as were out of office in the Church, but *tisdiverfetimesiifed, (andfol take it here) ©ffueh as Were neidicr fixed as Elders,'nor fo eminent in the Church as Apoftles, but had fpeciall and extraordinary em¬ ployments^ oradminiftraciqnsin thc Churchy as a Cjn 8.18. Chap. 5* in the primitive Churth^ 85 2115 23 I Cm 1 5 .12. 2 Cor\ I. I, Heh: 13. 25^ i Ctf;*/ i, r. Ephefi 6 , 21» Col: 4.7. Thilem: 1,20. From which places it is manifeft, that the Apoftles fellow labourers in their extraordinary adminiftrations, are often called Bre^ thren, and among thefe Brethren, and were chiefe men, either for the greatnelTe of their gifts, or more aboun- (dam labours. And now in the clofe, my advife and exhortati ^nis unto fuch Brethren as take upon them to preach, or prophc/Ie, nei¬ ther being nor intending to be ordained to the Miniftery, that they would yet take them to ferious fecond thoughts of this bufinclfe, and feeing chat prophefying which they take for their prefident , hath been fo clearly proved to have been ex¬ traordinary, feeing alfoChrifl: hath appointed Pallors and Teachers for the ordinary work of the publicke teaching, edi¬ fying the Church, and perfedlingthe Saints, Ephef : 4^ 11.12. ( which ordinance is fufficientfor that end ), thofe Brethren fiiould do well to improve theirgifts in another way, by wri¬ ting, and by occ^fionall exhorting, admonifliing, inftruding, reproving, comforting others, in that fraternall manner,which is futabletoChriftians out of office: Ifthey defire any other work in the Church, let them defire the Paftorall office, and offer themfelves to tryall in order thereunto, for zs Greg: NAzUn^^enizith^orati-j* Chrifi: hath appointed this order in his Church, that the flockc may be one thing. Pallors another thing; And again, 'tis a gr€at buftnefe to tea^^ but it iifafe and harmlejf r to learn , xohj makejl thou thj felfe a Pajlor , when thou ^rtmofthefiock^ f n CH A p; S6 Ch A C H A P, vr. whether dnj other hut a (JMiniHer^ Uwfullj called and ordained^ may admmjler the Sacraments^ Bapttfme and the Lords Socmans and the EraJiian Crutch-maker before mentioned, fo pleadagainftthe neceflity of Ordina^ ^^^^ tion, that they held it lawfulland free to gifted per- fons not ordained, not oncly to preach, but to ad- minifterthe Sacraments, whether they extend this to women as well as men, 1 know not. Peradventure they will borrow fiom the Pagans thole Hiee priefts whom XJellms out of Cicero^ cals Antifiitas^ not AntiHites , or happilie they hold with the o\d Pepu'^ansy nthat women may both preach aiidadminifter the Sacraments, at leaft, if they may notlpeak in the Church, ( bccaiifc that is forbidden, i €or^ 14,3 2. although fome are fo hold as to reflri(ftthat prohibition tomarried women, where¬ of they think they have fome colour from the context) that yet they may both preach and adminiftcr the Sacraments in private places. And if there be no more neceftary to one that preacherh or miniftereth the Sacraments, but onely gifts and abilities, how can they avoid to allow gifted women, as well as gifted men to performe thefe holy things ^ But it is juftly held by the reformed Churches, and ordered in the Direeftoric of Worlhip agreed upon by both Kingdoms, and mentioned alfo in the late ConfeiTion of faith, chap 27. that neither Baptifmenor the Lords Supper m.iy be difpenfed ' by any, but by a Miniftcr ofthe Word lawfullie ordained; Nay ( fay the foundeft Proteftant writers^ not upon pretence of whatfoever neceilitie be it among /en’s^ TtijkSy Pagans^ or to children dying, or the like. The G H A p. (5. lawfully called and ordained^ 87 The arguments I leantOg arc thcfe. r. God bath appointed the Minifter of the wordjiawfully called and ordained ^and no other to bee the ftewards and difpenfers ofthemyfteries of Chriftj I Con 4.1. Let a man f1 account of 06 ^ a ^6 of the Mi nifers ofchriU^ andStewards of the myjleries of God, M oreove^ it is required of Stewards^ that a man be fund faithfully Which the Apoftle docth not onely apply to himfeIfeando^p<5//(7, verf 6. (where by the way^dt may be remembred that Apllo was neither an Apoftle, nor Evangelift, but a povverfull Minifter of the Go^ell) and to SoHhenes ( as appearcth by comparing the Text new cited with i Cor: r, i .) buthealfo applyeththe fame to every lawfull Bifliop, or ordinary Mini¬ fter, 7 », I. 7. fora Bifliop muft beblameleffeasthefteward of God, and thisfteward is ordained, verf: 5, $0 Zul'c 12.42. PVho then is that faithfulland wifejleward^ whom his Lord jball make ruler over his houjholdy to give them their portion of meat in due feafon, ’Tis not Chrifts will that any one of the houfhold, whoisfaithfull, wife, and difereet, may take upon him the ftowardsoffice, to difpenfe meat to the reft. But there is a fteward conftituted and-appointed for that purpofe. There are ftewardsappointed in the Church, which is the houfe of the living God, and thofe to continue till the coming of Chnik,ibidiverf: 43.4^. and there is nothing which more properly belongeth to the^ Ecclefiafticallftewards, then the difpenfation ofthe Sacraments* 2. Minifters lawfully called and ordained, and none other hath Chrift appointed to bee Paftors or Sheepherds, to • feedtheflockcofGod, len 3. 15. Efh: 4. ii. dll: 20. iS. I /’^/j 5.2 .Much of this feeding confiftech in the difpenfation of thcSacraments^ And hee who hath appointed this food to be receaved by fome, hath alfo appointed to be given, and ad- miniftred by others. Surely hee who is fo much difpleafed ’withiPaftors, who feed themfelvcs and not theftocke , will 88 whether mpther hut' Chap. 5 , not be well pleafed with the flocke which Will be their ownc feeders onely, and will not be fed by the Paftor* Grotius had an extravagant notion of communicating, where there areno Sacramcntall Elements, or where there are no Paftors to ad* miniftcr, yetalthoughhe wenttoofarre, thofe againfl whom I now argue, doe farre outreach him, for where there are both Elements and Paftors to adminiflcr, they hold there may be a Sacrament without any Paftor 5 Yea, this Socman and Am • bapifiicall way, takes away the very diftindionof Paftor and flockc in the Church, as if any oftheftiecp were to feed the flicepherd, as well as he them. 5, B'^ekkls vifton concerning the new Temple, is generally acknowledged to bee an Evangelical! prophefte, v?hich I have alfo elfe wheredemonftrate by infalliblereafons: But I con ^ ceave the Sedaries of this time, who cry do wne the Miniftery and Ordination, doe not nor will not deny if. Sure I am fuchamateriallTempIeasis deicribed in that vifton, never yet was. Now among other things, it is there prophefied concerning the Minifters of the Gofpell, Ex^ek: 44.1^. They JJjall enter into my San^uarie^ and they Jhall come near unto my table to MiniUer unto me ; and they jhall kee^ rny charge. W here6f we can make no Gofpell fence, except it belong to the charge of Minifters, lawfully called and entered into thn work , to adminiftcr the Sacraments,and namelie that of the Lords Sup¬ per at his Table, Thcfe Minifters are alfo in that Chapter plainly diftinguiOicd from the people, or children o£ Ifrael^ verf: IJ. ip, 22, 2^, 28. 4, TheSacramentsarefealsoftherighteoufncfle offai h, ‘ or covenant ofgrace, as Divines commonly fpcak;, borrowing thephrafe from Rom: 11. Thistruely hath been juftly ac¬ counted fo ncceffiry,that both the Houfesof Parliament after confultation, bad with the Aftemblie of Divines , did by the Ordi 'ancedated, O^obi 20. i 545 ’, appoint that who ever ‘ ^_ ‘ . doth^ Ch a?, 6 , Uwfull) called and ordained, ^Ci 8 p doth not know that the Sacraments are fcalsofthe Covenant of grace, (hall not be admitted to the Lords-Iupper, but (hall be fufpended from it, as an ignorant perfon. Now ifit were an intolerable ufurpation among men, if a privat perfon fhould take the broad Seal of the Kingdome, and append it to fuch Signatures as he thinks good j yea, f put cafe ) to thefe Sig¬ natures onely, whcreunto it is to be, and ought to be put by thofewhoareintruftcd with the keeping of it; Now much more wereit a provoking finne, and ufurpatioii againft Jcfus Chrift (who is jealous of bis glory, and tender of his ordi¬ nances^ tomakebold with his Seals, without being called, and appointed thereunto. 5. Chriff gives a commiflionto the Apoftles, to Teach^ and Baptize, and extends the fame commiifion to all Teach¬ ing Minifters , to the end of the world, ^at: 28. ip.20#' from which place’tis plaine; i . That Jefus Chrift would have the diftindion of 'Teachers and Taught : Bafti'^rs and Baptiz ed to have place in the Church alway,cven unto the end. 2 .That the commiifion to Teach and Baptize, was not given to all who beleeve in Jefus Chrift > but to fome onely. 5. That thdtfome who receaved this commiifion, are not only the A- poftles,but ordinary Minifters,asis manifeftedby the explain* ing of the commiifion, and promile to theend of the world. ^ 60 Chrift hath diftinguilhed between MagiftracyandMini- ftery, between civil and facred vocations. Mat: 22.21. Mati Id. Ip. &c. 18. 18, &c: 28. Ip. 20. 23. 1 Tim: 2.2. i Pet: 2.15,14. compared with Rom: 12, d, 7,' , 8 , I Or; 12. 28. II, i Thef:^^ 12. Hebi 15.7,174 So that as Minifters may not aftiime civil dignities and admi- niftrations, norexercife'fecularepower, 12,14. ^<^.22. 2 5 * 2d. "^oh: 18. 3d. 2 Cor: 10.4, 2 Tim\ 2, 4. Itis nolellc Contrary to the ordinance of Chrift, that Magiftrates (or any ?ther civft perfons) ftretch themfelves beyond theirlyne, and ---- ^ ^ get _ . ^ .. __I __ a Wikther other hat ItOiimJle/y Ch a p . 6 : ga(mthPomfey)into the holy of holies^or mthVzziah to the turning ofincenfc, in both which examples, fuch intrufi- on was examplarily punidied. As it may be faidto a feculari- eed Minite, who made thee a Judge, or a civil Magiftrate: foit may belaid, to a Miniftcriali^ed civil perfon, who made thee adifpenfer of the Word and Sacraments^ 7^ Wee have cleare and convincing examples in the new Teftament, that the Sacraments wereadminiftred by publicise Minifters,called and appointed thereunto,asBaptirmeby ijeh: 1.35. hehathfentme to haptt^)2Lnd frequently by the A poftles in the ftory of the T he Lords fupper admini. flredbyGhrift himfelf, (whofe example in things imitable weare'bidden follow, who alfo himfelfe then commanded s-uro^o/i/T?, this doe). And by the Apoftle Paul^ Acis 2 o. 7,1 fi the breaking of bread is joy md with Apojlles doSirine and fellorvfhip^ A< 5 ts a. 42. Minifters being alfo called the ftewards and difpenlers of the myfteries of God, where of before.- So thata lawfull Miniftcr may in faith adminifter, and the recea- vers receavefrom him in faith the Sacraments, having Scrip¬ ture warrands for fo doing. But there is neither any commif- lion from Ghrift,. to luch as are no Church officers, toad- miniftcr the Sacraments r Nor can there any cleare example befound in thenewTeftament, of adminiftering either the one Sacrament or the other,by any perfon who canbeproved, »ot to have been aMinifter lawfully called & ordained.There¬ fore fuch perfons cannot in faith adminifter, npr others in faith receavefrom them, cither Baptifme or the Lords flip- j|er. 8. ThatoneTcxt, Efh:/^,ii.iit is enough to put tolilence t hefe gainfayers ^ %^.nd heeg^vefome i^poft/es, urdfeme Prophets ^ and fome Mvangelijls ^ and fome Pafiors and teachers ^ for the perfecting ofthe Sainlts^ for the tvork of the Mi- »ifiery^ for the edtfjiug the hodj of chrifi ^ till wee^U come^ .&c. Ciiap.7* Is notthe adminiftration of the Sacraments a part of the per- fe( 5 ling ofrhe Saints^ofthe work ofthe Mimftrie, of the edify- in^ofthebody ofChrift^ Andare wenottold that thisfhall continuetilhhe whole number ofthe Eled be fulfilled^ Anj whom hathChrifl: given here to his Church for thisworL^ Hath he given any other but Paftors and Teachers (fetting afide the extraordinary officers) and who are the Paftors and Teacheis appointed hereunto/’ All, or whofoever will/’ Naj^ nocalljbut/^Ti^^/aiththe Text. CHAP. VII. of Profhets and Evangelifis Jnrvhat fenfe their Work andvoat^ tion might be called octraordinary 5 and in xobatfenf ? ordinary. t Queftion appeareth to be very perplexed and I® thornie, yet I am led upon it both by the contraver- aijfe lies of thetimes, concerning the ncceffity of Million anej Ordination unto allMinifters of holy thingSjand likewife by occafionofthat which is maintained by fome men of Learning that there are ftill or may be Evangelifts in thd Church, ci/w?? holds indeed that in that age ofhiSjGod raifed up Evangelifts to refeue the Church from Popery,4. caf \ 3. § 4 * and Hooker in his Ecclefiafticall polici ’, lib. yi Seel: y8. telsus out of Eufebinaecclef \ hifi: lib, ^,cap- 34. that in TV.- t.i2, colls-^fimemdes a Prophet of the Cretians^ quiquajlprafenferit futurafimh. Eraf • mw. As like Wife faith hejbecaufet at hooko^ Epmenides ont of which that veife is cited hath its title Tepi to;/ oracuUs'l But in the Church notion ^the word which the Fathers took from Scripture: Prophecy isapredi( 5 ^ion of things to come from a fpicial infpiration of thv* holy Ghoft. But what is the diftirguilhing work and charaderifticall propertyof an Fvangelih,that which an ordinary Pallor and feachermightnotdo, and which none clfe could do but an Apollle or a Prophets That I may fpeak to this more clear¬ ly ^’tis to be remembred, that the word Evmgelifi is not heere taken in chat reftri( 5 led vulgar fenle, fora pen-man ofthe holy Gholl writing Gofpel'j for in that fenle there were but foure Evangelills, and two of them Apoftles. But this is not the Scripture notion of the word, which tels us that and Timoth(e\vi:xchvongc\ii\s,A6f, 21. 8. iTim.e^*^, And that Ghrift hath given EvangeJills to his Church for the work of theMiniftery. ii,i2^Nowifwetakethe word as the Scripture doth, the proper work of an Evangelift i: e, that which none but an Evangelift as an Evangelift, or he who was morethen an Evangelift could do, I conceaveto ftandintwo things: the firft is, ro lay foundations of Churches, and to ' preach Chrift to an unbelieving people, "who have not yet re- cieved the Golpcll,oratieafl: who have not the true Do(ftrine of Chiift among them. So Philip the Evangelift preached ' Chrift tothc citie of S'amarU^ and baptized them before any of the A poftles came unto them. 8.5.12. And if the 70 Difciples Z'M/l .io were Evangelifs ('as many think, and CaL 'vinln^iMibi Of, cap: 3. 4^ thinks it probable) their proper work as Evangelifts,was to preach the Gofpel to thofe cities which had not received ir. Their fecond work is a traveling and negotiating as Meftengers and Agents upon extraordinary M 3^ ' ^ occafiqns ^4 of Prophets md livdngelijls] Chap^ occafions,and fpeciall emergencies which isofc times between one Church and another, and fo diftintfl: from the firfi which is a traveling among them that arc yet without. Of* this fecond ihr re are ciivcrreexampk sin Scripture,as 2 Cor, 8.23. Fhihi. ip.25.2 12 Jet: 12 25. In this lafl exam¬ ple, although fome are of opinion that Si^as was of Jerufalcm, and had an ordinary Minifteiiall fundion there, yet the beft writers do commonly reckon Silas among the Hvangelifts, ard I do not doubt but as he was a Prophet, j.32. fo alfo an Evangeliff, which may appearebyhis traveling through many places, in the work of preaching the Gofpcl, fomecimss with/W, as his fellow labourer and helper: A 5 i 16 ip &c. 17. 4. lo. fomerimcswithT'i?»^?/^7, A51: 17.14,15. & 18 ly. Now when I call thefe works and adminiftrations ofPro- ph .tsand Evangeliftsextraordinary,my meaning is nor, that they arealtogcthci and etery way extraordinaryevenas Apo- fflelhip. For 1 dare not fay that fince thedayes ofthe Apoftles there hath never been, or that to the end of the world there fliall never be any raifed up by God with fuch gifts, and for fuel) adminiffrations, as I have now deferibed to be proper to PiophetsandEvangeIifts,/.^;the foretelling ofthingstocome, the traveling among Unbelievers to convert them by the preaching ofthe Gofpeli, and between one Church and ano'* thcr, upon extraordinary errands. But I call the work of PrOf phets and Evangelifts extraordinary in Calvins fenfefexpref^ fed by him in the place before cited) it is not ordinary like that ofPaftors and Teachers, which hath place conflantly in the beft conffituted and fetled Churches. Shortly, I take the word Extraordinary here, not for that which ceafed with thefrn: age of the Chriftian Church, but for that which is notjneither needeth to be ordinary^ And fo much of their work: As for the vocation of Prophets and Evangclids, 1 .1 can¬ not paffe wicI\out an animadverfion,a p^ffage Ecclefiafticall 1 Chap.7 * fenfe their Wor 1 i Ecclefiafticallpolicie.//’^.- 5 fe^: 78, where he will not have the Prophets mentioned, i Cor, 1228. to be reckoned with thoiewhom he calleth (after the then common idiome ) the C lergy, hecau^f ? no mans gifts or qualities can make him a Jlerof holy things, unlejfe Urination dogivehimforver',and we no rpherefnde Prophets to have been made by Ordination. Jf we ihall taketheword Prophets fo largely as to comprehend all who have any gift of Prophefie, and fo Propheteffes alfo,! fliali not contend againft that which he faith, but if we Hiall under- ftand that the Apoftle in that place doth enumerat not only di~ verfittes of Gifts fciwx. diverftties of Adminijirations, whichCod hath appointed in the Church (and this may eafily appeare by- comparing V, 28* with 'I/. 4.5^0 and fo take prophefiefor ati Adminiftration or Service in the Church alswell asaGift^ Purely it was not without a Miffion or Vocation thereunto.' Tor as they were extraordinary Minifters, fo they had an ex¬ traordinary Million or Ordination alswellas the Apoftles, Luke I i.4p*Ghrifl: faith, I willfend them Prophets and Apoftlcs, and 1 Cor.’ 12 28.God hath fet or appointed Prophets in the Church. Yeaastheir work was partly ordinary and common to Paftors and Teachers, foa Prophet was examined and al¬ lowed by an A/Tcmbly of Prophets,as well as an Elder by an Aflembly of ElderSjwhich I gather from i Cor: 1432. And the Spirits of the Prophets are fubje^tothe Prophets^ Touching the Vocation of an Evangelift, the Author of the Queries concerning Ordination, queft, 19. to elude our argu¬ ment for the ftanding ordinance of Chrifi:, for Ordination of ^ Miniftersdrawnefrom i Tim. 4» 14. anfwereth among other thingSjthat Timothy being an Evangelift, and EvangelifiS being (bycommon confent)extraordinary by Calling,he had no need' to pafle through the common dooreof Ordination. Theex- traordinarinefle of Evangelifts is not fomuch without con- troverfie, as he would bear his reader in hai\d, as may appear ' ■ ■ ■ .. -- ■ ■ by, I of Prophets and ^vmgelifis] Chap, yi by what T have but now faid; Ncittitr can he prove that at that time, when the I resby . ery hid hands onT tmothj^ he was even then an hvangelift or more then a Presbyter* However this I will fay, that as the workjfo 'alfo the Vocation of Evan- gelifts, was partly extra irdinaryand partly ordinary, and as there may be flill occafion for .fome of their extraordinary work, fb there ought to be a fpeciall Million and Vocation thercunto,not only inwardly from the Spirit of Gods ftirring up unto and enabling for the workjbut outwardly alfo and or¬ derly intheChi rch The 70 DTciplcs were ordained byChrift Luke iQ,i.The Lord appointed other feventj alfo^andfent themtrvoandtrvo, AnAngell oftheLord fpake unto Philipmd. called him from one place to another, A5is 8. 25 . The Apo- flle Paul fent Ep4phroditm and refolved to lend Timothie to the Church ohht Philippians^ Phil: 2.25. 28. Thefe are examples of extraordinary Milfion, fuch I mean as ceafed with that age^ none being now imniediatly fent byChrift or his Apoftles, But thereare other examples of a Milfion or Calling to fome- what of the proper work of Evangelifts, which are not to be reft ri C H A f. 8 • holdeth forth mtd US for m imitAtton^ ^cl -py Church ought to be approved, and authorized by a national! Sy nodjor (when i hat cannot be had, & if there be withal great danger in the delay) by a provincial! Synod, or at leaft, (where this cannot he had) by a Claflis. CHAP. VIII. That the primithe Apofolic all pattern holdethforth unto us for our imitation^ a Preshy terie. i. e. an AJfembly of Elder Sp having power of O rdimt'ton^ with laying on of hands ^ gather from Timi/^, 14. negle< 51 : not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophe- iie, with the laying on of the hands of the Presby- terie I I have already evinced from this Text, the iiccellity of Ordination. Let us now fee, whether it doth not alfolhew us the right hands, unto which Chrift hath com¬ mitted this power. It is a Text moft milcrably darkened and obfeured by controver fall GlolTes, put upon it by Popilh and Prelaticall writers: Some would have ^rpstriSvTSf/op here to bee a company of Biihops, who were both Elders, and more then Elders as they hold. This Interpretation had fo little proba¬ bility of reafon to ftrengthen itjthat it was abandoned by fomc of the ableft friends of Epifcopacy 5 Camero:pralell • in Mat: 18. 17. D*". Forbefe Irenic: lib; 2. cap: ri« pag: 161, And why (hould wee undcrfland by Presbyterie, a company of Bifliops, when it is yeeldcd even by writers ofthat fide, that in thefe Cities where the Apofiles planted the Gofpel, there >vas Collegium Presh)terorum^ a Colledge or company ofPref- byters. So Thorndike^ of thegovernment of Churches, cap. i. The author of the Hiftory of Epifcopacy^ part: 2.pag: as. Both of them in this following Hooker, It was qKo ; N “ ■ acknow- g *thAe the jrimittve AfoHoUcaUpitttem Chap, acknowledged by them, that this Colledgc of Presbyters did together with the Apoftles lay on hands in Ordination, there¬ by contributing their blciTing and alTifting with their prayers, Whence(as was alledgedj came the cuftome ofthePresbyters, their laying on of hands in the Ordination, together with the Biihop, cone: Cmhag: 4. fo that even themfclves fay as much as may make us underhand by in this Text, Concefm Presbyterorum as Camero cals iu The footfteps of Ordination by Presbyteries might be feen , not onely in that Canon of Carthage ^ .hwt in the Canon law it felf, which ap- pointech the fame thing, 2 >;^: 23 .cap: 8• Both Ambrofe in Ephef: 4. and Aiigufiine in quaU: ex ntroque Teji' 4* 101,bear vvitnefle , that Presbyters did ordaine in Egypt^ when a Bilhop was not pre/ent. Dr. Forbefe lrenie:lib\ 2,pag. ijj. citethout ofi*4- mrmitan^ O lim Presbyteri in commmi regebant Ecclefiam or-^ dinahant facerdotes. Thcie is anothev GlofTc which theEra^/ans f who love not the name of Presbytery, with any power at all jure divino) are glad to take hold off, *Tis that which Bilfon, Stutlivius and other Epifcepall writers made ufeof, diftrufting ( as it fhould feeme ) that other Interpretation lah mentioned: And they had it from Bellarmine^ and fome Popilh expofitors. Sec Corranus upon the place .* Iconfefle it was alfo one of Calvins few (for they were but very few^ mifl:akes,and ’tis diligently catchtatbythofe who fetat nought judgement in 0* ther things. But qu.mdoyue dermitatHomerus. I'think it worth the while to examine this Glofle. And I ihallofFerthefereafons following, to make it appeare that is not here thcoifice ofan Elder, but the Affembly ®f Elders, commonly called the Presbytery, i. The word rrfZffBvTiftov is no where ufedby the holy Ghoff, for the office it felf, or degree of an Elder: But 'tis ufed in two other places inche new TcflamcntTFor an Affembly or Counfellof Elders^' ' '^"7 . ' . .. . ' ' ' . . . .. . - Chap.^* ^oUethforthunteU5fofOurimkat:h'n\^C4 Luke 22. 66 , A6is 22. 5. in which places kAHos(J li&ntanta* 'XQnd^ttthlihy SenatH4, in the firft of the/e places, retain¬ er h the word Presb)terium,\n. the other place, both his verfton and the Tigurimhdxhtotus Seniommordo, But the old Eng- lifh tranflation, readech tkecompan'j of Elders, However both places are clearly meaned of the company of Elders, not of the office it felfe, for the office of Elders could not meet together,' as in that place of Luke: Neither could the office of Elders bear witnelfeto as in that place of the A6ls, Seldem in his u^onEbraicd ^ lib: 1. cAp: i’), underftands the word a-p5?/3t/Tse/o;'in both rhefe places to be tiled by I forthegceac Sanhedrin, thehigheft AlTcmbly of Elders. Nowthen,why lliall wc not underhand the fame word, i Tim: 4.14. to be the AlTembly, not the office it felfe of Elders. And 1 Ihallaskc thofe who think the Apoftle means the office of Elders, upon what imaginable ground can they conceave that this is the A- poftles meaning, or how come they to divine this thing, or how could the Apoftles words be underftoodin that fenfe.? The holy Ghoft never uleth the word in that fence. The Se/* tmgint never ulc the word in that fenfe, for they ufe it not at all. No Greek Author that lived before can be found to have ufed the word in that fenfe, for the word itfclfis not found in heathen writers. Hfinde onely one placewhere the word is conceaved to be ufed for the office of an El¬ der. And that is in iht Apocrjfha {iovy o{SufanmvQvr: 50*' But H: iitepbafjus.tom: pag: 545. makes a doubt whether it fliouid not bee written in that fignification Tpso/2i;T£pS/0f) a^.d fup. pofe it beto be read there yet that Geek is not fo old as for it is aferibed to Thcodotioy as Mb Seldon u 11 s us in that place laft cited out of him. Y ea, the Jefuits of the EngL (h Colledge oiBoway in their Bible acknowledge, that this Eory is tran(latedout of Theodo tuns edition, and this is the oldell Ori¬ ginal! which they can alledge for it, And bcfidcs this it may Na, • ---- too T^attkfrtmiti^eJfofiolkallpdtf^^ Chap;§; be uodcrftood of the AfTembly of Elders, when the Elders fay to Da/tiel,oTi (xai J^cf^aKSy 0 d-&os to which tholc JcfuitS of D0way render l\\\xs^hecm[e Godhathgiv€nthee the honour of old Age, Others the honour of an Elder, or an ancient. But I Enow no reafon why the word may not here Egnifie there Af- fembly of EXdtxs.God hath given thee the Ajfembly of Eldersy^hat is, God hath given thee thy petition, and thy defire, which was the meeting again of the Aflembly of Elders, as isplame by the verfes preceeding? Even as Gcd gave to his praying children this prefent Parliament, 2* Ifthe Apoftle had meant to expreflTe the dignity or degree of an Elder, hee would rather have ufed the wordor rrf,70imy which Greek writers ufe pro fenum homre veldignitatem then which is not ufed in that fence. 5* And ifhehadmeanttofl:irreup 7 />w^t^y from the ho¬ nour or dignity of that office and degree,which was conferred upon him he had rather mentioned the degree of anEvangelift*, than of an Elder. Even as he faith to him elfe where , doe the work of an Evangeli ff. 4. The very Popifli Interpreters are forced to confefifethat the Apoftle means an AfTembly of Elders, Plttrium Preshyte- yorum, faith tMariana: cattss Presbyterorurn ^ fahhSalmeronl Eflhim upon the place noteth, thatimpofition of hands, was iiplwikm adhibit A ^ according to that Canon of Hu^ go cardindism noteth here the great honour of PresbyterS| that three of them at leaft, laid on hands in Ordination. Wherefore I can fee no fenfe which can agree to the iText^ but that vj^hich is the Grdinary> and known fenfe ofthc word; . ^P5cr^u7gp/6j-^that is an AfTembly of Elders. In which fenfe irisal- Ib frequently ufed by ancient writers, whereof^ he that will, may read good ftore of examples in DiBlondelli Apllogiaprtp fententia Hieronymi. pag: 8p 90. It hath been objedled by fome, that 1 4* 14* bolds.. ' - '. - “ -- ' , forth Ghap.S. hUethforth unto mfcrmr^nitAtlon^d'c', loT forth no prefident for ordinary Presbyteries, becaufe i, Here is mention of prophefie which was an extraordinary thing, 2. Timothy ordained by the laying on of the Apoifile Pmt his hands, 2. Tim: i. 6, Laftly Timythy was an Evahgelifi-, and how could a Presbyter ordain an Evangelift An[w\ I. Thofe very things which areobjeified, to deprefle the Presbyterie, doe put upon it fomuch the more aboundanc honour. Akho prophefies had gone before concerning 7 V- mothy^md fomeextraordinarpredidions, i Tim: 1.18. Altho likewife the Apoftle PWhimfelfis fappoled to have been pre- fent, and to have laid on hands at thefametime, yet neither the extraordinary prophefies, nor the laying on of the hands of an Apoftle, didfwallow up, takeaway or hinder the ordinary power and right of the Presbyterie, to beaeftedand put forth in the ordaining oiTimothy^ or did exempt Timothy from en- tring by that ordinary doore, and paffage, through thofe or- dinaiy hands of the Presbytery. a. ’Tisnotcertaine, thateitherthepropheticallpreditfti- ons concerning ( whicii the Apoftle calls fr^grejf or qua fracejf^runt) or the laying on of Pauls hands, was at the fame time with the laying on ofthe hands of the Presbyterie .* But whether thefe things were done together, o r at feverall times, 'tis very obfervable, that to thefe the A- po ftle prefixeth hy, but to the laying on ofthe hands of the Presbyterie, yxriwithy 1 Tim: 1^6, thatthouUirre the gift which is in thee^ hy the futting on of my hands, i Tim: 4. . the gift which wasgtventhee hy prophefe: thenheaddeth (not hy) the laying on ofthe hands of th&Preshyterie: By this c hange ofthephrafe on purpofe intimating, that the prophefie a^d laying on Pauls hands, were things extraordinaiy, becaufe by thefe the gift, aptitude, and ability of parts, or the cfVwu/s was given to but the laying on ofthe hands ofthe Presbyterie,\yas according to the ordinary rule then and i here - fetied. Jpeslolkaf/faftern -> C^iap *8 . fctlcd, being a rite ufed in Ordination/o xhzxTmothj had not by the a( 5 i: of the Presby tcriCjany gift or S'yvautf, hut or 'a poteftative, authoritative Minideriall MiiTion f for to what other ufe or end could there bee a laying on of the hands of the Presbytericc' ) Therefore Athanajiu^s in aplogu adimper: Con^ citing this Text, and applying it to ordinary Mini- fici s, h -lives out that part concerning prophefie, and the refl of the Text he applies thus, ^'Tro^oxoi rravKOf S'l^ Td ixecd-nrS KiyfoVi ahdy.dKzi idh'jo) y^etp'iTfxaTof y o <^oi (xif iTTid-i^ianrav tk 7rp43-,5iiT£pi?. 'The Apoflle Paul hath t(mmanded each one of u^s in his difriple^ ftj'mg^ neglect not the gift that is in thee,, which was given unto thee with the laying on of the hands of the rresh)tery.- 3. Ifitbefaid that the laying on of the hands of the Pref- hycery was onely to (he tv their confenr, and joyning in pray¬ er, and hearty willies with the Apoflle £0^ Timothy : The anfwer is readyjlet thele who alledgethis fhew us from Scrip¬ ture, where laying on of hands was ever ufed, for a bare tefti- inony ofeonfent, or ofjoynt prayers and wilhes. I know impofition of hands hath been ufed in prayers, of blelling, or benedidionby fuchas had afpeciall power, authority and priviledge, asC7c»:48. Jacob wdien hee blelfed thefonnesof Jofephj laid his hands upon them, but we read not that Jofeph^ or any other, whofe heart joyned in prayer and hearty wiihes for them, did therefore lay onhands together with Jacoby MaU jp. 15. Mark: 10,16. When Chtift blelfed the little children, he laid his hands upon them; But will any man imagine, that they who brought the children to be blelfed by him,did toge¬ ther with him lay their hands upon them <* And generally if we conllderthe ufe of laying on hands in Scripture, wee mull conclude that the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery, was an authoritative add, not a tefliraony of confeming and joyning onely. 4. ’ Tis thought by fomc Epifcopall writers, thdiTimothy ' ^ ' ' was Ch a p . 8. koldeth forth unfo us for our imitation^ '^c, i was twife ordained, firft to be a Presby rer, and after to be? aBifliop* Seethehiftory ofEpircopacy^y/f^, 117. I fiioald rather fay, peradvtnturc he was hrft ordjined a Presbyter,by the Presbyterie*And after ordained an Bvangelift by the Apo- ftle Paul, However the Presbyteries ad: needs to be extended no further, but to the ordaining him a Presbyter, what was more, Ordination to the office of an Evangeli(f,j might proceed from the Apoftie; I mean, fuppofehe was ordained once, bothPresbyter and Evangeliff, and that both the Apo- ftle, and Presbyter did lay on their hands together, in this mixeda(^ion, we may very well diftinguiffi what was ordi¬ nary, what was extraordinary, aferibing that to the Presby-^ tery, thistothcApoftIc. 5. And ifrhe Presbyterie had ordained, and Pent forth 7 /^ mothj as-an Evangeliff, whatinconfiffcncy, or abfurdity had been in it i You will objc( 5 f the leffe is blelfed of t he greater, and not thegreater of the leffe, Hebi 7,7.1 anEver^although T/- mothy as an Evangeliff, was greater then a ffngle Presbyter,‘ yet that proves not,that he was ('even in that capacity,)greater then the whole presbytery, one ofthe houfe of Lords, is great¬ er then one of the houfe of Commons, but he is not therefore greater then thehoufe of Commons. When a King and his peopleis compared together, wenfetofay, that he is major fmgulisy minor untverfis. Moreover, he that bleffeth, is not c- very way greater then he who is blelfed, .but he is greater tails, in fo far as he bleffeth. And why might not the Presby¬ tery be greater then an Evangeliff, not fimply and abfolutly, butinfofarreasthey Weffedand ordained him/ So Ananias put his hands upon Paul, £ts g, 17. and afterwards certain Prophets and Teachers at Antiuchlxid Ii^nds on him, and mhos, 15.1, 3. And in fo farre there was a majo¬ rity and preeminence in thofe who laid on their hands though fimply and abfolutly they were the greater, on whom j 04 ^ Primitive A^foHoUcaU f 4 tperi 9 Ch a p . whom the hands were laid. This takes otf fome of the chief exceptions brought by the Author of the Queries concerning Ordination, qtiefl:\g^ which done,his other exceptions are the more eafily maftered. He himlelf pafTeth from one of them, as not being very confl- derable,'y/:^.thatPresbyterie there is ufedto fignifie not a com-, pany of tldcrs,butthe Ordinance or office it felf. Of which before.There are but two other anfwers of his. One is that TV- mothq being an Evangelift had no need to pafTe through the common door of Ordination. Of which hereafter. Theother is a conjecture of his own, which ifitbea light, I confefleitisa new light./r feemes more probable (faith he) be farrethat when Paul laUhis hands on Timothy,2Tim: i. 6 J here were fome other Apofi Us yOr Apojiles fellowes that ]ojmd with him . in that a^ien^ c-/d nd that Aposites [Imld be called Fresh > ters or El¬ der Sy and a company of them a Presbytery or Elderfnpytsanexpref^ fion confonant to other Scriptures where the appellation of Elder is attributedunto themyi Pet: 5 i,z^Epiji: Joh: Epijl: i,Anf:i In thelaft two Scriptures which he citeth, the word Elder is a name of age not of office,and we are to underftand, in thofe places to be only a degree more then^'^pJ^^^^”^:^///, to FhilemontV* g, Paul the aged^So John the elder» i. e» now full ofyc ares and very old. For which reafonalfo fome have no¬ ted that frequently inhis firft Epiftle he ufeth this compellati- on,^w^ lisle children, 2. Peter indeed fpeaketh of himfelf as one of the Elders by office, wherein we ought rather to obfervehis •humility,condefcenfion,and prudent infinuation, then make any fuch ufe of it as this Queriftdoth.lt had been more for his purpofeifanother hadfaidit of Petety and not he of himfelf. Forasommm^s^upontheplace telsus, P^r^rcals himfelf fo formodcftiescaufejand the better to enforce the following exhortation, that the Elders fliould not lift up themfelvcsa- .bove others, as he did not lift up himfelf above them. Sure ‘ .- -- - - ^pofles^ jGhap*^* holdethfoYthnnUusfvit 6 uriinitMloH,(^cl ^poftles and Elders were ordinarly diftinguiftiing names, as it is inanifeftfrom 15.2,4.6,22; 25. Why then would the •Querift leave the ordinary Scripture notion oftheword,£/^/^^’> and ground his own interpretation of the word Presbyterie^' upon Ftf/fr/calling himfclf an Elder: he might als well argue, that the believing Homans who arecalled thclervantsofGod, 6.22. or ihefc believing Strangers who have the fame name, i ?et: 2.16. were A poftles^and that we are to underftand by thefervanrs of God in thefe Texts, Apoftles, becaufe T/>; i. I. The Apoftle ?Wcalleth himfelf afervant of God. By the like Logick hemay argue that the ordaining of Elders,itfi:7:i4 25. 7 / 7 :1. 5. is meant of ordaining ApoftIes,-bccaufe the Scrip¬ ture calls the Apoftles Elders. 3 . Teter calls nothimfeife 7rps?^t/T«pof, an EIder,but The fenle ofthe word is ex* plained two wayes,both are mentioned by W.SttphanMin Thefi iing: Cr: Tcm: 3, pag: 54 5. and both of them make againfl: thaC which this Qnerift drives at. Firii the fenfe is conceived to be thh,quifum(^ ipfe Preshpen fothe Tigurine, who amalfo a» Elder fo the Englilh I ranflators. Now the Text running thus,' The Elders who art among yw I exhort^ who am dfo an Elder^ i, e, 1 who give this exhortation unto you Elders,as I am anApoftle, To my Apoftlefliip doth not exclude me from being one of you, for I am alfo an Elder: Thus (I fay) this very Text makes againlhheQueriftjforevcn here we fee that^they who were commonly called Elders, were not Apoftles. But there is a fccond fenlc, which maks yet more againft thc Querift; For Stephanies exprefteth the fenfe of thus, qui & fpfe c feniorum ^ Presbperorum Ccllegie efi, he who is ofthe Aflembly or Colledgeof Elders commonly called the Pres¬ bytery; HiercmednA happily intend the fame thing by the word Compreshper, And likewifeT^z-^i by his r endenng ego ma?ref hperp^e. I who am together with you a Presbyter, or you and 1 being Presbyters all of us together. And fo the Text -• ’ Q < -- - - i'65 Vrimithe AppUcAltfdaim ' Ch ap'. may* be red thus. The Elders who are among you I exhort^ who am ^fo of your Presbyteries, There were Presbyteries among or AiTemblies of Elders properly fo called, and of thefe Ptesbyteriesf^rrr was alfo a member, and when he was pre- feht in any ol the Presbyteries in PontttSy Gallacia^ Capadocia^ ai dJ^^/^wrfjhe joyned andadrd as an Elder, andasina Presbytery. This fenfelpreferre to the other. For ifhehad intended no mere bur to tell them that be alfo was an Elder,I fliouid think he wold have cholen another & plainer ex predi¬ on as 'TT^za^vifof «////. The Elders who are among you I exhort^ f^or Ialfb am anElder. orthiis,'^p5*J'^t^7epa; t«sp vfj^iv TApAKoAa afKxi du* Tof a>v “wp 5(7/Sw4p®- The Elders who are among'joul exhort^ as being my felf alf'oan Elder* Or thus Kait aOThf lyco 'zrp^r^vnpof vjis notfimply^hewhois alfo a gueft jorwhoisalfo a companion but he who is a gueft in the fame InncjOr a cham¬ ber-fellow;is not any who everhebe,. that doth alfb lodge,Iive,& cat,but he who liveth together & eateth together; rva'Tf«^of,orffyf^^p5S'i3t/Tw?^mayoGtbe rendered, he who is alfo an AmbafTadour, but he who is a collegue in the fame Embaffy, 'Oiollega in legatione, is not Citn^ly he who alfbisawit^ fies(for then he whois a thoufand miles offbeing witnesin ano¬ ther caufe is amAApj^p) but he who bears wirneire together in the fame thing,or he who joynerh in the fame teftimony, as Rom,^ i'6.Pollux hath ^\{Oy^[^M^”i,^uieJlejufde decuriayViot he W'ho is Stlfo ofa band or company,but he who is of the fame band or #oin’pany/‘'f^/^«'>»iT»5-^is not he who is alfo aDifciple, (for then a ^ ~ Scholler C » A p. %oUetl}forth mft ns for enrimtt4ttoit,^c^ t6j Scholler among our Antipodes is but acondifciple in the fame fchoole. And if we fpeak properly we will nor call everyMinifter of holy things>^w^«‘«^,^yww/4, but he who,is ourcolleguejOralTociatoraMinifter of pur owne company* 5 o cvyL'^hiiova u, Ste^hams well explaineth com^lures fmul collect not ufed for a counfell which isalfotakenjbutforacoimleltaken joyntlyor together.Many like inftances might be given both in the Greek, <7V{M7rfvT*iv/i:, sri///.ipwvof, (Tvu^vhvrtf?, tjtSu'pvTof, or putting onofmy hands,Uan Afscrnbly ofApoftles had laid hands on Timothy^ and fofoyned in that adlion with/’4«/,astheQueriftrupporeth5/4«/ had not thus diftinguifhed his laying on of hands, from that of his fellow Apoftles, as ifthe gifts of the holy Ghoft had been given to T imothy only by the laying of his hands,, and not hy^ but voith the laying on of the hands of his fellowApoftles.Of this diffe¬ rence of the phrafeinthe one.Texc and in the other, I have fpo- ken before,which indeed fitly exprefseth the difference twixtthe laying of Pattis hands, and the laying on of the Lldcrs hands, but there could be no fuchdiflfercnce among the Apo- ftles thcmfclves, or Apoftles fellowes. But I h avc not yet done with the vindication and clearing of this Text, which holds forth a prefident for ordination by a Presbytery. It may bee further objected, i. If this-Text muftbe underftoodof Ordination by a Presbytery, then the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery is necefsary to Ordi- nation^ and then, what fhall become of thefe who were not or¬ dained by a Prefsbyteryj and what fliallalfo become of that which fo many proteftant writers have pleaded againft the Popifh Sacrament of Orders.’ that the rite orfigneinOr- dination,/.f.impofitiori of hands,isnotinftituted or command¬ ed by Chrift or his Apoftles.? To the firft I anfwer, i. although I hold the Jmpofitiomof the hands ofthe Presbytery to be no Sacrament,.nor efficaci*- ous and operative for giving of the holy Ghoft,as the laying on of the Apoftles hands was: nor, 2. necefsary to Ordination, ne(c^itate medii vel as if Ordination were void and no Or¬ dination without it,or as ifthey who were not-ordained with thclaying on ofthe hands of the Presbytery, were therefore tobe thought unordained, pr unminifteriated; ^jhoughlike- Ohap, holdeth forth unto US pr eur Imitation lo^, wife 3.1 not hold the laying on of hands to be the fub* ftantiallpartorad: ofOrdinationfwhich I have before prooved to be effentiall to the calling of a Minifter; but only the rituall part in Ordination. And although, 4. 1 hold the laying on of hands to be fuch a rite^whereunto wc ought to be very Iparing toafcnbe myfterious fignifications, wherein fomehave gone too firre, and taken too much liberty, yet I hold (with thege- neralityof protcftanc writers , and with the beft reformed Churches ) that the laying on of hands is to be ftill retained in Ordination.! hoklalfo that this laying on of hands is an Ordi¬ nance ofthe new Teftainent (and fo do our difsenring Bre- thren ofthe Independent way hold alfo)and that ’tis necefsa- ry by the necefsity of precept, and Inftitution, and in point of d\XQty, Fcr although there is no certain precept extant^ concerning laying on of hands ^yet becauft we fee the Ape files did alwajes ufeit^ their fo accurat ohj erving of it ought to be unto us in fead of a Pre^ cept^imhCal'uinJnfiitJib^.cafi'ii^^ 5 *For thcHxampks ofthe Apoftles or Apoftolike Churches, in approved things which have a Banding rearon,are binding, and in Bead of Inditutions* 1 he laying on of thchands of theApoftles info far as the holy Ghoft was given thereby, was extraordinary, and ceafed with thcmfelvcs,yetinfbfarasthe ApoBles, yea and the Presby¬ tery too, laid on hands in their ordaining of Minifters,there is 3 Banding reafon why we fhould do in like manor: the laying on ofhandsbeingariteproperly belonging to the praying over thtfe whom we blefse in the name of the Lord, with atiautho-' ritati ve benedi(Bion,as ismanifeftby thefe examples of laying on of hands,in 5 Welling FphraimtmdLManafieh, Gen* 4S.andin Cbriftsblesling and praying over thelittle Chil¬ dren, 19,15. Mark: 10 16, Looking thus upon laying on of handsel, as a rite in blesBngand prayer over; a. as a rite for pubhk deiignation andfo'emne fetting apart offuchapeifon; and ifyouwillj?, as a rite ofgivingup, dedicating and offering ...... .. . 'l l o' w%Ai: h mmt in Scn^tnrk ' Chap.pJ unto the Lordjofvvhichufe of laying on hands there are di- veiTe examples in the Books of iJMofes: In thefe refpe( 5 fs and iindcrthcfc confiderations we ufe Jaying on ofhands in Ordi¬ nation, and ought to do lb in regard of the Primitive pattern. I.47 thinks that the negative precept. 2 2. li) hands juddenly cn no man^ doth alfocontaine nn affirmative 5^0 lay hands upon fuchas are worthy and ap- CHAP. IX. what is meant in ScrtpiiYehy the word Hcreftes^ and how we Hre to mderjldnd, that there rmU be Herejies^for making mantfeH the the godlie fartic or thefe that are approved, I Qot: it. 19, theremuft he alfo Heresies among you ^ faith the Apo- ^ file, that thej which are approved maj be made manifefi among yoUf or as others read, that they which are appro¬ ved among jou may be manifefi, ByHerefies here fome underhand no more butdivifions andSeds, and conceave thatHerefies in point of opinion or. ^do( 51 :rinG 3 arc not here meant. So ChrxfoHome , Erafmus and others. If fo, then the very divifions and fe( 5 i:s, will make a difeovery who are approved, who not, before it come to He- rcticall opinions, i. e. Sectaries are not approved , end thefe who are indeed approved, are none of theirs, but keep them- fclves iinfpotted, and free from them. So T/V. 10. aipir/Kovis rendered in theTigurinBiblcfiec^arum authorem^and in the maf- [gh'i fictiofum j i,e, txm-\X\thai is an author of feUs (or fdciions ) [after the pirfi and fee ond admonition^ re]eff^ and i Cor: rx 19* they read, dpportet enim ^ Sedhas in vobis efie. Sometimes the word, is taken in the nevy Teft’ament for a fe(h, yet (to note Chap 5 * hy thtwdrd ^ lii note that by the way ) onely for fuch a fcdl:, as cither was iti- deedj or was efteemecl to be of fbtne herctkall opinion, as ASi, 5.17. and [ J. 5^ and24. 5. and z 6 . 5. and28.22, The Apo?- fl-lehaththe word*"^F« 3 '/f, twifcinhis fc pifUes, and in both pla¬ ces he makes fome difference, and diftindion between herejfles, ^nddivifionsj ox jlrifesm^ variance, i Cor: ii. lo, ip. Gal: 5 r 20. For every divifion^ftrifcjor variance, is not Herefie. There ¬ fore in the Text which I now fpeak to, I underftandfierefie to befome what more then divifion. The j^ralicl: i Cor: 14. 2* that is in the Greek, and ourTranflations, i Cor: u. ip. re- peateth the wordSchifmes out of the precedent ver/^ 8c- addeth moreover the word Hercfics, reading or there mojl arife Schif ms and Herefies amongpts , that thef ’ of you who are godly may be known: it feems that they who under Itand,only divifions to be meant by the word Hercfics,do not obferve the rifing ofthe Apoftles fpeach, for after he hathfpoken oftheir a-x‘VaTa,or Schifmatical divifions contrary to the rule of love; TeituM; he addeth ya} Kal ^c. For there mujl bee alfo Herefes a- mongjou, I partly beleeve it, faith he, that there are divifions veS^bx- among you, for there mufc be,not onely Schifmes, but worfe then that, there muft bee Herefies alfo I If you aske now, what isHerefie.^ 1 fhall without any implicit following oF«t (Apo- Writers, ground my anfwer on Scripture it fclf» And I an- scWf^iJ. fvver firft negativelie, then pofitively. Negatively, bus & du- I. Herefieis neither to befo fane taken at large, as to bee extended to every error,which may be^confuted by Scripture, fcilicet ctfa although happily fuch an error be too tenacioufly maintained- am iia-rcfes Nor yetis it to be fo farre referided, as that no error flrall be accounted Heretical', but that which is deftrudiveto fome ftendke- fundamentall Article ofthe Chriftian faith, if by afundamen- tall Article, you underhand fuch a truth without the know- refpectu^de ledge andfaith whereof, his impoflibic to get lalvation.When ^defiiKS Herehe>he mak^s no mention ofa funda- credidi^ ■ v?;!. ' “ mentah,. __ I r2 What U meant in Scriftm Gh apI p; mcntall error, but of an error contr-arie to the Scriptures, let: €om. claff \ 2. cap: 4.^50. So Calvin: Insiit: Itb: 4. cap: 2,^ iindcrltands all fuch to be Herctiks, as make a breach in the Church by falfe Do( 5 trines. WaUna , tom: i, pag: jy. faith, Herciicall Churches do either erre in the foundation, or onlie infome other things built upon the foundation. When Peter fpcaks of fuch Herefies, as take away the very foundation, Je^ '^fusChriJl^ he thinks it too little tocallthem fimple Herefies, but he cals damnable Herefies. But if you underftand by -fundamental! truths, all the chief and fubftantiall principles ( I donot mean onely the firft Rudiments, or A,B, G, of a Catechifme, which we fifft of all put to new beginners, but mean all fuch truths as are commonly put ;n the cohfellions offaith, andin the more full and large Cateclnfmes oft e re¬ formed Churches, or all fuch truths,as all and every one who live in a true Chriftian reformed Church, are commanded,and -required to learn and know , as they exfped in the ordinary difpenfationofGod to be faved, ) in th.s fenfe, I may yeeld thatHcrefie is alwayes contrary to fome fundamental! truth. kTis one thing to difputc oftheabfolute foveraigne power ot God, and what are the truths, without thebelcif whereoPtis abfolutly, and altogether impoflible that one can be fared.* Which queftion(I doubt)is hardlydeterminable by Scripture, nor do 1 know what edification there is in thecanvafling ofit: furelam’ris a quefrion much abufed* ’Tis another thing to difputc what are thefe truths, which in a Church where the Gofpellistruely preachedjall and every one, fcome to years of knowicdgcanddifcrctionj and having means and occafions to Jearnejarcbound to know, (and according to the revealed will and ordinary difpenfation of God ) muft learne, as they defire orcxfpecflto have arruefellowfliip with Chtifein the Sacra¬ ment of the Lords fuppe^ or to bceacccpted of God, andia - ved eternally; _ Ch Api 9 h &c;, X I j 2^ Wemuftflot thiak that no man is a Hererick, but he who is confillorially or judicially admonifhed,andthei'eafter con- unuerhpertinaciouflyinhis error. For where'tisfaidT^^-3, 10.^ mm is m BereticJi after the f rfi and ftcmd ^dmoni^ tiOft,rejeB: 'Tisintimated that he is an Herctick before fuch admonition. Pofitively, I concieve that theie fix things* doc concurre to make a Kcrcfie. i. Tis an error held by fomc Minifier or member of a Church, I mean either a true Church or an afsembly pretending and profelfing to be a true Church. For both feter and Paul where they foretell that Herefies were tocomCji Pet: 2.1*. i Cor: it, ip. they among you Chriftians. So A£t: 10, ^o. dfo of your mne f •hespa/l mm arife caking ^erverfe things* The^-efore the Scripture gives not the name of Hereticks to the/e who arc altogctherwithoutthe vifibleChurch, butitcaJleth fuch by the names ofHcathens or unbelievers, or they that are with- out,or the like. 2. Tis an error r olunntrrlie and freely ebofea, both in the firftinvention and broaching ofit, (which is ptOr per to the Hcrcfiarchs,)and in the maintaining of it, or adher ^-ingroit,(which is common to all Hereticks,) This I colledl from the very name which the Scripture gives toitfor,*'?®^'^' comes from I choofe. 1 herefore we give not the name of Hereticks to fuch Chriftians as are compelled in time of pcrfccution to profefs fuch or fuch an error, which peradven- cure were a formal-Herefiejifvoluntarly and without compul- fion profefsed. They ought indeed to die, and to indure the greateft toimentSjbeforcthey profeise what they know to be an error: but this their finis not properly called Hcrefie,for an H^retick doth freely and vcluntarily hold that which is his errpr. Andintbis refpedfandconfideration, lertullian thinks £ ip; ad- ■ veil; hx- grxcavoce ex interpretatione eledionis, quia quis five ad iaftitiiendas five ■adfufcipiendajcas uutur«Itleo &libi damnatiun dixit H-gsmicum; in quo datnnacwrJ £Hsl=6it . "1 - - -■ » Wt'- that ..a 1 X4' n^haiis meant in Scripture Ch ap, that anHetctick Is faid to be^yToxctTcap/To^^ condemned of himfelf^ Tit: 3.1 o .becaufe he hath of himfelfchoofcd that which doth condemne him.The Apoftle there hath commanded to reject aft Heretick.If lreje6^him(mightonefay)thenI loofehim, I deftroy his foule. Nay f faith the Apoftle) his perdition is of himfelf/or he hath chofbn hisown wayes,and hisfotildelighN eth in hisabominations.This interpretation is much furerand fafer, then to fay that a Heretick is called rtuWaraxpToj.or felf- condemned, becaufe he goes againft his own lights and a- gainft the principles received and acknowledged by himfelf/ Which fenfe is accompanied wirh many dangerous conle- qiienccs. 3/risfucha choolfng of error as is accompanied with a ( ejeiSiing of Truth.A Hercticke puts lightfor darkneflCj and darknes tor lightj goodfoi eviil, and eviH for good,hc chv olcth er ror as truth, and rtf feth truth os error, they that give heed to (edpcirg Ipirits ai.d dodnnes of Devi/s, do alfo depart from the faith, i i^im»o^»i, refill the truih^ 2 Tim ^. 8 , and turne away their ears from the tratt^ 2 their courfe hath ^tetmintisa quo a.'s well as ad quem, 4. *Tis an error pro- fefled and maintained, and which by that means become s a fcandal and fnare to others.For although there may be Herelic (als well as other kinds of fin; lurking and hid in the thoughts, yetthat belongs to I adde, and woealfotohimwho.doth not according to his place and cal¬ ling, endevour the extirpation of them. The Text which I nowipcakto, 11.17. hath not reference to-the will of Gods commandcment,which is the ruleof our duty,but to the will of Gods decree , or the fee ret counfrli of his will. ’Tii Gods purpofeto permit Here/ics, and to oyer rule them for this end •, that his graces in his children may the more fhinc forth, and that even Herefies (con trade to the intentions of S than and Hereticks) may make manifefl: who are approved, fciluet quos nonpotuerint depravarefiwh Tertullian^oipcning this Scripture. De prefer:advihar: to wit (faith he) Juch as Hc' refus couldnnpervert anddef rave ^ no other are the approved ones. ■ Btt therearetwothingsmay behereobjedled; May not onechofenand jiiftified, and regeneratbe drawn away ^ and infe< 5 led with Herehe through the /light ofmen, and cunning crafdnefle, whereby they lie in wait to deceave'i' If fo, thpn Herehes, doe not make manifefl: who are approved, who not. 2, May not many who are not approved of God be preferved from the infedions W Here/ies 5 Yea, be forward in refiding and oppo/ing them Iffo,then pre/ervationfrom, and reflftingof Herefies cannot make manifefl: that one is ap¬ proved of God. Thefc objedions are no more againfl: mee, ahenagainft the Text of Scripture. To the firft, I anfwerc, ©'regcncratperronmay'be tempted and drawn oyer toHcre- fie, as he may be tempted and drawen over to other great fins. Hcrefie doth no other wife confifl with the Hate of grace in an^ p^i'fon pcrfon, then other works oftheflefh, adultery ^ iottncaxioriy -drunkenncfle, or the like. Look upon an ele,yct furely the word of the Lord hath been and fhall be fo far fulfilled, that in a great meafureand according to the knowledge which the church can have ofher members in this lifcjthereis in times of Heredesand Schilmes a difeovery made who are the ap{)roved Ones^who not. 2. Wemuft re¬ member tis not the icope ofthis Text togiveusa note ofdi-. ftin( 5 iion between thefe who are approved, and all counterdts or unapproved ChriftianSjbut between thefe whoare appro- ved^and thefe who are the fomenters or followers ofHeredesJ Thus they who are indeed approved of God continue in the truth of Chiidjgrounded and fctled^and (land fafl: in the faith and contend for It .-and this is one of the charaders, found in* all fuchas are approved. And thus, fatjfaith ^ugujim '^are He- reticks prodtab’e to the Church, for by thei; meaoes,. rhofe who are approved of God andA>i itual men, are ffirred up to vindicar, open,and hold foorth the truth, whereby they bc«^ come more manifeft then other wife, they could have been. Upon the otlier parr, who ever turne aw'ay from the truth,, ^d from the Doctrine of Chrift, and turne afide after Here- fies, do thereby infalliblely declare themfelves to be unap¬ proved, what foever profelfion or fhew of holinCiTe they have: Whatfoever become of the white mark of thefe who are ap¬ proved (which alfo holds true as I have expLinedit j moft certainly,this black mark cannot fail upon the other fide, and he who fuppofeth any perfon who isofa Heredcall belief and faction, to be holyjfpiritualL mortified,and approved, or onethatwalkethiutbefpirir,andaotin the flefh,doth but fup- poferthat which is impoffibIe,Ana Ido not doubt,but God is (bytheHerefiesandSchifmesofthefe rimes)maUnga difeo¬ very ofmany unapproved, unmortified Profefrors,who pre- terded to.Piety So that I may transferre to our time what- Ci/ryfofhme ohfcived of his ownd>/i^, i. aieosqm fcandali^ Horv many an tksn clothed mthajhadorv and^ ♦Chap: 10 ffVithgelitherupntheChafjhdis^^^^^ ■JhewofgodlwepfhorvmAny who have acounhrfit meekneffeyhow ^any who were thought to he feme great OneSy and they werenot fo, have boenin this time {whenfo mmjfall ojf and m^e defection) qmckly manifefted, and their Hjpocrifie deteBed , they have appeared what they were, not what they feigaed them- ielvesiand moft falfly pretend to be/* Neither is this a fmaJi niatter, but very much for the profite and edification of thefe that will obferve it, cvenro know diflinguilliingly thefe who are clothed in fliccps €lothing,& not to reckon promifcuoufly thofe WoolvtsCfohidj among the true fheep. For this timeis l>ecome afornacedifcovering thcfalfe Copper coyne, mel¬ ting the lead,burning up theChafre,making more manifeft the precious Mettals. This alfo to/fignified when he faid.- For there muft be alfoFlerefieSjthatthcy who are approved, may be made manifefl among yvu^ Vincentim Lirinenfs doth alfo record to this purpofe, that j. _ when almoft the whole world was infected with the Arrian i-in.zdvJL Herelic,fome being compelled to it,others cheated into it,yet every true lover and worlhipper. of Chiift was preferved pure from ito mator & cultor exftitit timif/yw^,univerr.llatonementby thedeath of Chrift, univcr- fall falvation,a temporall and earthly kingdomc of Chrift,and the Saints liberty of co* fcience &c. have been maintained and confuted alfo before this age. Independencyitfelf,if itbea light, yet it is no new one lately ftruck out, for it was long fince aknovyn tenent ofthe^rw/w4/?f,that Synods orCoun- fels ought only to debate, deliberat, confulr, andadvife, but not to excrcife any Jurifdi(ftion,f o any cenfure, or to in- joynany thing under pain ofccn%re. Seethcpropolitions of¬ fered by the ArminUns in the 2 5th Sefion of the Synod o\Dort^ See alfo Epifeepiidifp:Theol:part: 2 difp: 54. Thef: p, 10. & part. ^,dtfp: 4.5, ii. Buticcmc to thcparticular cautions concerning newLighrs. Firft, it is but a falfe new light which expelleth not only the olddarkneflcjbut much of the good old light.As inMedecins the \fflhtirrgthherufontheChar^hdts 127 the Paracelfian way is moft dangerous when it is deftrudive to the Galenik way,' and oveithroweth the old approved principles, yet tis of very good ufe when prudently, and skil¬ fully managed, for perfedfing the Gaknik way, and for doing things more fpeedily^eafily, and pleafantly^ than the Galemk waycoulddoe: Soin Divinity, fuch new Lights as do not expell, but retaine, improve, and perfed the old, may be of fingular good ufe : but thofe new Lights which are deftrudive and expulfjve of the old true Lights, thofe new wayes which lead us away from the old and the good way, are to be utterfy difliked and avoided, ^ Epifl: of Johft verfrS. Lcokteyour ~ fehes , that rve lofe not. thofe things which we have gained, Hec fpeaks it againft thofe. deceavers who would have fediiced them from the Dodrine of Chrifl:, as is evident both from the prcceedir g verf and from that which followeth: Whofoever iranfgrejfeth and abfdeth not in the Do Brine of Chrifl , hath not iGod^ Kom* \ 6 17. ' Now I befeech you brethren ^ mark them which cauftdiviflons and offences ^contrary to the DoBrine which ye have learned, and avoid them, A Bifhop,faith Paul,w»i? hold fall the fait!full word^ as he hath been taught, 1 it I. p.Phil* 3. 1 5 . Nevertheleffe, whereto we have already attained^ let us walk by the fame rule , let us beofthefameminde. This he addes as a prevention of a dangerous miftake,and abule of that which he had faid immediatly before: And if in any thing ye be^other- wife minded, Godfkallnvtaleeventhis unto you, behold, a re- ferve for any new Light,mighl fome fay; Nay but take heed faith the Apoftle, you do n^t ilmt forth , but keep" faft the light you have already attained unto, you rauft norunderpre-* tmee of new light, loofc what you have gainf'd, O/. ?, 6,7^^* As re have therefore receaved chrifl. Jefusthe Lord, fowalkyein him, rooted and built up in him,andflahlijht in the faith ^as y ee have been taught, abounding thereidwith thankfgiv, ng: Bewhre leaf anj manfpoilyou through Philofophic, and vain deceiE^^c, Theie .. '7 ■ Apollo:- >> of Cm \?.ibj Apoftolicallrules, are very far contrary to the Accademicalli yea, Pyrrhenimdtmwnttmd. dubitation, by which fome call in queftion the moft received Dodlrincs in the Chriftian Church, if Skepticifm bee to'lerable iti the Chriftian faith, why arc we bidden Jiandfafi inthefaith^ i Cor: 1and again Heh^ 10.23. let ffs holdfa(i the ^rofejlion ofour faith with(mt njeringp And why did Jefus Chrift himfelfe v. rite to thofc whohadnotreceaved the falfe Dodlrincs of that time, that which ye have already, hold fail till I come, Reviz,i\^ It was a fowieerror in 5 4/4rnot holding fall what he had receaved from God but taking in a new falfe light from the old Prophet, was moft exemplally and fcvcrly punifhed for ir. This is the firft caution moft ncceflary for theSe