A Trial of Church-Forsakers, Section 14
SECT. 14. The Browniſts ſecond opinion upon▪ which they forſake our Church, becauſe we have not a true miniſtery.
WE are now (by Gods favour) come unto their ſecond opinion, upon which they ground their ſeparation from us to be juſt, and neceſſary; that we have not a true miniſtery, and therefore (alaſſe) they pitty me and others of my brethren. They doe, or ſhould know, that the beſt miniſtery, now, is the opening and applying the word by them that are ſent, that which Paul ſaith of prophecying, that it is a ſpeaking unto men for exhortation, edification, … Cor. 14.3.and comfort, is this ſame with the beſt miniſtery. And if they that doe it be ſent, Rom. 10.then ſurely it is right as it ſhould bee. Now, to the ſending of this miniſtery there muſt bee three acts: the act of Chriſt; the act of the Church; and the act of the parties ſent. To Chriſt all authority and power is given, Matth. 28.and he uſeth a double act: an immediate act when he doth, in calling, extraordinarily fit men with knowledge, and power to do his work, ſo he fitted the Prophets, Apoſtles, and Evangeliſts. A mediate act, when he doth it the ordinary way, by meanes, and degrees. Men (by his grace) take heede to doctrine, and to themſelves, give attendance upon reading;1 Tim. 4.16.13. and attaine to theſe foure things: integrity of life,1 Tim. 3 7. 1 Tim. 2.2. 1 Tim. 3.2. 2 Tim. 3.16. 1 Tim. 3.2 1 Pet. 5.2. by which they get a good report even of thoſe that are without: Soundneſſe in chriſtian Doctrine; by which they are able to teach, exhort, reprove, correct, and inſtruct thoſe committed to them. Dexterity in teaching, by which they are apt to teach, and communicate their knowledge to others.Joh. 21.15, 16, 17. And laſtly, willingneſſe, by which they feed the flocke of God willingly and of a ready minde, out of love and zeale to Chriſt. Of all theſe no ordinary man can judge: but hee that findes them in himſelfe may ſay, I thank God, I find this act of Chriſt in ſending me which opens the doore. The act of the Church is the Porter that doth let us in:Joh. 10. and ſtands in foure things, preſentation, probation, ordination, and election. Preſentation is when thoſe that are to be called are preſented.Act. 1.23. Thus the Diſciples preſented or ſet before the Apoſtles Ioſeph, Barſabas, and Matthias;Act. 6.6. as after they ſet before them the Deacons that were to be called. Probation is a triall of their gifts and life: as Paul ſaith,1 Tim 3.10. 1 Tim. 4.14. Act 6.6. Act. 13.3. Tit. 1.5. Let them firſt bee proved, and then let them miniſter if they be found worthy. Ordination is when they are conſecrated and ſet apart with impoſition of hands, and prayer. Thus Paul and Barnabas ordained the Elders in every Church, and Titus was left in Creta for this end. Election and calling is when they are aſſigned for execution of their Office to their particular titles and allotments, as Matthias to his Apoſtolicall juriſdiction, and Timothy, and Titus to Epiſcopall in Epheſus and Creta; which Election though it may bee conceived to goe before Ordination in reſpect of the office to which they are elected, yet not in reſpect of the execution of it in their particular places. The Act of the party ſent, is a deſire of the Office for the glory of God, and a purpoſe to ſpend and to be ſpent upon that ſervice. They muſt have (ordinarily) a deſire of their office, 1 Tim. 3.…. 1 Cor. 1….…and to addict themſelves to the Miniſtery of the Saints as the houſe of Stephanas. If it ſeeme to be unlawfull for a man to deſire it, becauſe Moſes and Ieremy were unwilling to undertake ſuch high ſervice;Exod. 4. Jer. 1.6. and all the Apoſtles were called without their owne ſeeking, and above their deſires; yea and ſome ancient worthies have been found to hang backe when ſuch offices have beene tendred? yet when wee conſider the willingneſſe of Eſay, here am I ſend me, Eſ. 6.we muſt learn to judge aright. If any deſire it when they are not meet and qualified,How the M…niſtery may be deſired. it is a wickedneſſe againſt juſtice and charity: againſt juſtice in taking the hire when hee is no labourer; and againſt charity in not feeding the ſoules committed his truſt. If any qualified man deſire it in a wicked way, as ambitions ſuit, ſlaviſh flattery, or the like, it is ſtained to them who make gaine their godlineſſe. 1 Tim. 6.But if they deſire it out of notice and teſtimony of ſufficiencie to bee Chriſts inſtruments (as they are able) to further the worke of the Lord,1 Tim. 4.16. 1 Tim. 3.1. Joh. 21.15. and the ſalvation of ſouls, as Eſay, it is both juſt and charitable. It is a worthy worke, and full of charity, and to bee deſired: Yea God moves the heart of ſome to it, and he never doth that to what is unlawfull. As for Moſes, Ieremy, and ſome others, it proceeded out of a too backward modeſty, upon conſcience of their owne unworthineſſe: and as for the Apoſtles their caſe was different; they knew of no ſuch ſervice to be done, and therefore they could not deſire it. Againe, the partie ſent hath a purpoſe to ſpend, and to be ſpent in the ſervice of Chriſt.Act. 20.28 1 Pet. 5.1, 2. 2 Tim 4.2 Matt. 28.20. 2 Tim 4.7, 8. Dan 12.3 They know it to bee a worke; yea, and to bee a worthy worke too; becauſe hee never laboureth without Chriſt his Lord and maſter: hee laboureth for the ſaving of ſoules, in whoſe hearts they have honour, as well as with God in Christ: and therefore hee reſolves to ſay as Paul, I will very gladly ſpend, 2 Cor. 12.15.and bee spent for you, though the more abundantly I love you, the leſſe I bee loved.
This they doe or ſhould know to make up the beſt Miniſtery of Chriſt.Object. Sol. But (ſay they) where is this to be found? Certainly in our Church, in thoſe that are ſent according to the true meaning of our Lawes and Canons both eccleſiaſticall and temporall. It is their true intent and meaning, that none ſhould enter (when they can be had) but ſuch as are ſuch and thus qualified. If it bee otherwiſe, it falls out as betwixt Ahimaaz and Cuſhi: 2 Sam, 18.19. ad finē.Ahimaaz was forward and would goe carry newes to the King: Ioab denyes him, and ſends Cuſhi; yet Ahimaaz preſſeth, and would goe, and went with much a doe, and came to the king firſt. But when hee came there, hee could onelyonly ſay, I ſaw a tumult, but I know not what. It was Cuſhi that did the meſſage to purpoſe, who was the meſſenger intended. So in the intention of our lawes and governours, the beſt able, inſtructed, and worthy ſhould ſtill be ſent: but when they are deluded with unworthy preſentations; falſe teſtimonies, ſeeming appearances of learning and gravity,1 Tim ….2… (for ſome mens ſinnes goe before, ſome follow after) and with popular importunities, which ſeldom proves to the beſt, the leaſt worthy runne faſt…ſt, to the ſcandal of good lawes, and bleſſed orders. But for all this, why ſhould wee not have a true miniſtery?
O no (ſay the Browniſts),Object. excuſe what you can, you have not the true miniſtery of Chriſt. Indeed we have not Prophets,Sol. Apoſtles, and proper Evangeliſts:Eph. 4. Marks o… true teachers. but have we not Paſt…rs and teachers? Look upon Chriſts formal markes of true ſhepheards. Firſt, they are not the miniſters of the Pope of Rome that ſpiritual Babilonian; no more are wee. They are proper ſacrificing prieſts for the quicke and the dead, ſo are not wee. They are his by doctrine, oath, obedience, which …s the true marke of a ſervant: ſo are not wee.Ro. 6.16 Ioh. 8.34 They are imbraced by him as his ſonnes, we are diſclaimed, and perſecuted by him with fire and fagot.Ioh. 15.19 If wee were of him he would love us, for the wor…d love her owne. Secondly, they publiſh ſound doctrine, which is the trial of a true miniſter. Such as ſtand not in his counſel, Ier.23.22.and declare not his word, are not ſent of God as they ſhould:1 Tim. 4.6 but if they bee nouriſhed up in the words of faith, and of good doctrine, to which they have attained, of which they put the brethren in remembrance, I hope they are true paſtours. It is true that all truth is not ſit at once;Ioh▪ 16.22 1 Cor. 3. there muſt be firſt milke, then ſtronger meate: and ordinary paſtours have not all truths ſo revealed as they cannot erre in ſōething:1 Cor. 13. Phil. 3.15, 16. yet if they walk according to the ſame rule, minding the ſame thing, and humbly expect, though they bee otherwiſe minded then ſome other of their brethren, in ſome things, till God reveale even that unto them, by the ſcriptures, and publicke diſcuſſions, and lawfull definitions of the Church, I hope they are the true miniſters of Chriſt.
Ioh. 10.2.7Thirdly, they have the true properties of a good ſhepheard given by Chriſt. They goe in by the doore, verſ. 3.that is, Jeſus Chriſt who calleth them by his Church. The porter openeth to them, that is, not the wh…le houſe, multitude, and congregation; this cannot but bee a vaine dreame: but partly the holy Ghoſt who openeth to them by gifts, and partly the governours of the Church, who are delegated under Chriſt for their admittance. They call their ſheep by their names, Verſ. 3. Pro. 27.23labouring to know the ſtate of their flocks, that they may draw out of their treaſury things, Mat. 13.52both new, and old, and miniſter to them according to their need. They lead them forth, Verſ. 3.from paſture to paſture,Pſa. 92.14 from milk to ſtrong meate, that they may be ſat and wel-liking before Chriſt. For though many of their people are ignorant and wicked (becauſe they will not come to Chriſt that they may be ſaved) yet as the Shepheard leades his cattell to greene paſtures and waters,J…hn 5. though they will not eat or drink of them: ſo our good Ezekiels are leaders of their people, though the wicked, that follow not, periſh. And laſtly, they goe before their flockes, Jo…. 10 4.in ſound Doctrine and good life, both according to the intention of our Church in ſending them, and very often in plaine examples. And are not theſe true Miniſters that doe thus?
Fourthly, they have an ordinary and daily aſſiſtance of Chriſt for the converting of ſoules. For though it cannot be ſaid of every particular true Miniſter:Eſ. 4….4. for I have laboured in vaine and ſpent my ſtrength for nothing, ſaid Eſay; The bellowes are burnt, the lead is conſumed, the Founder melteth in vaine, Jer. 6.29.for the wicked are not plucked away: yet is it true, of a true Miniſtery of a Church, in generall; for if they ſtand in Gods counſell, Jer. 23.…2.and declare his Word to Gods people they ſhall turne them. And is it not thus with our Miniſtery?Ro. 1▪ 16. Hath not the Goſpel beene the power of God by it to many that have beleeved it? Can they not truly ſay,1 Cor. 4:15. In Chriſt Ieſus wee have begotten thouſands through the Goſpel?Object. Let it be ſaid, that our Miniſtery hath converted none from Heatheniſme and Judaiſme to Chriſtianity, as the Apoſtles did; yet hath it beene by Chriſts bleſſing,Sol. powerfully ſealed by plucking away thouſands from lewd courſes, by no compulſion, but by the feare of God wrought by the preaching of the hammer and fire of the Law and Goſpel,Jer. 23.29. by us; and by converting them to holineſſe of life.Object. If it be ſaid that none can be converted but Infidels, ſuch as the Apoſtles converted in the firſt planting of the Churches of the Gentiles:Sol. It is certaine that it is as true a converſion from any ſinne to ſanctification, as from infidelity to faith. For Iohn Baptiſt was ſent to turne the diſobedient Iewes:Luk. ….17. Luk. 22.32. Jer. 31.18. and Peter after his fall was to be converted: and Ephraim was to ſay, turne thou me and I ſhall be turned: and the remnant of Iacob was to returne to the mighty God.Eſ. 10.21.
Object. Joh. 4.But (ſay they) this may be done by private perſons, as by the woman of Samaria, and by the good wife, who winnes her husband by her converſation. 1 Pet. 3.1.Who doth doubt that as the baſe carriage of Chriſtians doth make religion blaſphemed: ſo the faire carriage of thē doth win aliens to like it? Who doubts but the perſwaſions of others may draw men to Chriſt or his followers to bee informed in good wayes?Act. 18. Who doubts of Aquilas and Priſcillas taking Apollos (a man mighty in the Scriptures) and making him underſtand the wayes of Chriſt better? Yea and Chriſt (if hee pleaſe) may uſe them as meanes for thorow converſion. But what is Chriſts ordinary way? hee hath now given Pastors and Doctors, not onelyonly for the ſetting of the Saints in joynt, Epheſ. 4.11.12.and edifying of the body of Chriſt, but for the worke of the Miniſtery: and what is that? It is to open mens eyes, and to turne them from darkneſſe to light, Act. 26.18.that they may receive forgiveneſſe of ſinnes and inheritance among them that are ſanctif…ed by Faith in Chriſt. Therefore our Miniſtery having done thus, are not theſe true Miniſters?
No (ſay the Browniſts) and therefore doe they make exceptions againſt us.Object. They like not our ordainers, our titles, our callings, our infirmities, nor our maintenances: therefore we are not true Miniſters.Sol. Let us follow them with Chriſts light. It is as if they ſhould have ſaid, though we cannot overthrow the ſubſtance of your Miniſtery, yet we reject you becauſe of the circumſtances of it, as the children of Iſrael who could not out-face Eliſhaes calling from God, yet could in ſcorne ſay come up thou bald-pate, 2 King. ….23thou art not without thy blemiſh, till the Beares ſtopt their mouthes. Let them take heede. If a King have all the ſubſtance of right and Kingſhippe, yet if in his inauguration hee have not a pleaſing …nnointer, title, acclamation, maintenance, or have ſome infirmities, is hee not a right King? I doubt, if theſe ſpirits had power in their hand, neither true King, nor true Prieſt, nor true people, ſhould ſcarcely be found to ſtand before them.
Object.But to the particulars. They ſay, wee are ordained by Biſhops,Sol. who are (as they are ſuch) the very limbes of Antichriſt. That they are the bleſſed governors of our Church, according to the patterne, and rules Apo…tolicall, of Timothy and Titus, I have ſhewed before. And by whom ſhould wee be ordained but by ſuch? Can a good man dreame that the body of a people of men, and women, have a power to ordaine and conſecrate preſbyters, when if he runne thorough the whole new teſtament, he can never find but bresbyters ordained by presbyters? If ours bee Biſhops, yet they are presbyters and more. They have an order, and jurisdiction, by right above us,Tit. 1.5. as Titus in Creta, yet I hope, that doth not exclude presbyterſhip from them. The inferiour orders may ſtand alone, but the ſuperiour comprehends all. A Biſhop may reade, adminiſter ſacraments, and doe other offices of the inferiour orders, and often doth: whereas the other inferiour offices have no jurisdiction over their brethren, where the bleſſing of Biſhops may by the favour of times, and Princes bee ſetled according to the word of God. That which is their weapon heere, I ſuffer to runne unto my heart, not to wound it, but to comfort it: that I have not beene brought up in other Churches, to receive my ordination from the presbytery (which yet is good in caſe of neceſſity, when our way cannot be had): but that I have received it by the hand of a Biſhop, as well as presbyters, which makes the practiſes and rules of ſcriptures about ordinations the leſſe defective, the more compleat.
But theſe Biſhops of ours (ſay they) doe ordaine us Prieſts, Object. Sol.which is not a miniſtery of the new teſtament. And what if we be ſo called in our ordination? Is it ſo contemptible a name which is put upon all Chriſtians, Apoc. 1▪ …both kings and beggars? may not we be called ſo as miniſters, as well as we, and they too as Chriſtians? Indeed, popiſh Prieſts had an ill name, when they ruled our people, which made it a name of diſgrace: and proud and ſcornefull people will caſt it upon us, with diſgrace, who doe deſerve better: but by Chriſts helpe, I ſhall never bee aſhamed of that name which I muſt labour to anſwer in my office, if I will bee found faithfull.Ep…. 1. Phil. …. Col. 1▪ Chriſt as a Prieſt maketh interceſſion; and I as a Prieſt muſt pray for my people, as Paul did often. Chriſt as a Prieſt did offer a ſacrifice; & I as a Prieſt muſt miniſter the Goſpel of God, that the ſacrificing of my people may be acceptable, Ro. 15.16.as Paul of the Gentiles. And why ſhould any bee offended at that name by which the holy Ghoſt calls us? for when Eſay ſpeaketh of the miniſters of the new teſtament, hee ſaith, of them will I take for Prieſts, and Levites; ſaith the Lord.Eſ. 66.21. What matters it what wee are called, ſo long as wee offer no idolatrous ſacrifice, but onelyonly in our office commemorate the ſacrifice of Chriſt, and doe other ſervices for his honour?
Object.Put caſe wee may bee Prieſts in name, and Presbyters indeed, yet (ſay they) wee are not called by the people, whoſe ſouls we feed, but are put upon them by lawes and Canons. This is in part true,Sol. but not fully: for while Presbyters are put into pariſhes by law, they come unto them by their owne conſent. For have not the people choſen knights, and Burgeſſes to draw up, and to conſent to lawes for them? And have not Presbyters choſen clarkes, ſynodically to meete, to make rul…s and Canons for them? And doe not both theſe ſettle Presbyters in every pariſh. Therefore they are inducted by all miniſters and peoples conſent. But put caſe it were fully true, were wee not therefore true miniſters? Did we never heare of a man and woman that were married together againſt the will of one party (by the power of parents) who yet, being married, were true man and wife, and by an after combining, lived lovingly together? ſo may it bee in this caſe: a free conſent of miniſter and people after, in the true worſhip of God may ſupply and make up that defect. But is it certaine that the people have ſuch a right in calling their Presbyters? Let us looke into the ſure word of God. I ſee the right of Chriſtian Magiſtrates in chooſing them unto their places.Ex 28.1… Ex. 40.16 1 Chro. 23.1, 2, 3, &c. 1 Kin 2.27 2 Chro▪ 8.14. 2 Chro, …9 24. Take thou unto thee Aaron for the Prieſts office, ſaith God: and thus did Moſes. See alſo how David did ſort, and divide the Prieſts and Levites for their ſeverall workes. Did not Solomon by ſoveraignety deprive Abiathar, and induct Zadoch, yea and appoint the Prieſts and Levites to their ſeverall ſervice, as David? Did not Hezekiah the ſame, and that not by inſtinct, as a type of I know not whom, but ſtill after the example of David, who was not checked for it? Why then ſhould our Chriſtian kings loſe their rights, which they partly execute by themſelves, and partly according to the lawes by their delegates, and officers, both in Church, and Common-wealth? It is true, we may reade of the people to have ſome hand about Church officers in the ſcriptures,Act. …, 15. &c. Act. 6.2. as when Matthias was choſen, and when the Deacons (as they call them there) were: yea and in after times too, till uproares, tumults, and ſeditions followed for want of thoſe graces, which the people in the Apoſtles times had: but let them duely weigh, that Chriſt hath left no precept for that, no nor eſtabliſhed practiſe in all Churches. Yea, ſuch elections never were but when the Apoſtles were preſent with them, yea the people muſt be confeſſed then to have extraordinary gifts (they were baptized, Act. 2.38. Act. 10.44and the Holy Ghoſt came upon them) and ſo to bee able to be aſſiſtant in choyce. Yet theſe people did never aſſume it as a right in themſelves, but come to it upon the Apoſtles exhortations for the time being. How ſlender therefore are ſuch grounds, which fell out in unimitable caſes, and when there was no Chriſtian Magiſtrate, to carry with them a continued right, let good conſciences guided by the Word of God, judge▪
I know not what the Browniſts will ſay to this; but I am ſure they loade us with freſh burthens which preſſe us downe from being a true Miniſtery, at leaſt in the guilty. They finde in many of our congregations wicked and ignorant Prieſts,Obiect. who pollute the whole worſhip of Chriſt; and are theſe the true Miniſters of Chriſt?Sol. They are true Miniſters of Chriſt, if they miniſter the things of Chriſt truely: true Word, true Sacraments,Eph. 47. true Prayers according to the meaſure of the gift of Christ. There is a difference betwixt a good man and a true man: ſo betwixt a good Miniſter and a true Miniſter. I wiſh from my ſoule that this diſtinction need not: and that all Presbyters and Biſhops were both unreproveable in life, 1 Tim. 3.and able to teach; that ſo neither Browniſts nor Atheiſts may have occaſion to ſtumble at them. But ſo long as Satan and hypocriſie are in the Church,1 Sa. 2.24. there will bee ſuch annoyances: Yet Gods people muſt not abhorre the ſacrifices for the wickedneſſes of Elyes ſonnes;Joh. 3.22. Joh. 4.2. Joh. 6.70. if they doe they ſinne as God hath ſaid. Put caſe they be wicked Prieſts, yet may they performe the true ſervice of Chriſt. Ieſus Diſciples baptized ſufficiently (I hope) and Iudas was one of them, yet himſelfe was a Divell. The Prieſts and Levites of old offered ſacrifices, celebrated Sacraments whereby the faithfull had their faith confirmed, yet too many of them were too wicked. Chriſts ordinances have their efficiencie from him, not from them that ſerve about them. The garden may bee watered and made fruitfull by water that runs thorow a woodden gutter, yet that not a whit the better, but the worſe for it. The Sunne may give us comfortable light thorow a ſluttiſh and noyſome window, yet that never the better by it. The field may bring forth a goodly crop though ſowed with a durty hand. The Bell may call us to the Church though it never enter it ſelfe but by the ſound. The Well may yeeld excellent water though it have much mud. Therefore though ſuch Preachers are odious, yet how can the people refuſe the holy things of God which come truely from them. They will if they deſerve hanging, receive the Kings pardon whoſoever writes or brings it to them. They have deſerved worſe, Hell, will they refuſe the ſeale of a pardon from a wicked Prieſt? Put caſe they be ignorant Prieſts (though, bleſſed be God, that cloud was never better blowne over) I hope they know how to preach the Word and adminiſter the Sacraments truely. The Diſciples were not ſuch excellent Clearkes when they baptized. Though they were initiated in Chriſts Schoole, examine whether they did not doe it before they were ſent to preach:Joh. 3.22.24. Mat. 4.12.17. They baptized before Iohn was caſt into priſon: and Chriſt did not begin to preach himſelfe publikely before Iohn was impriſoned, and after that he ſent his Diſciples to preach: what they were that went with Peter to Cornelius let them certainly tell me. The Text calls them certaine brethren;Act. 10.23. verſ. 48. yet when Peter had preached to Cornelius and thoſe about him, hee commanded them to be baptized: who baptized them? As yet there was no communion betwixt the faithfull and the Gentiles, and onelyonly certaine brethren went with Peter, and no Deacons choſen but them at Ieruſalem. I doubt they will not find ſuch clearkſhip in them. Thus I anſwer them, not to uphold an ignorant miniſtery, I abhorre it from my ſoule: or to beare with private perſons medling with the holy things of God; for our Church government is againſt it. But partly becauſe the Word ſaith,1 Cor. 12.28. that God hath ſet in the Church helps or helpers to be aſſiſtant in reading and in miniſtring of the Sacraments to teachers, and partly becauſe none ſhould thinke no Sacraments true Sacraments, except adminiſtred by learned Clearkes fully able to teach.
But now, to let all things paſſe which are gone for this time, the Browniſts will have about with our Miniſtery if it be but for our maintenance. Our maintenance is a Jewiſh and ceremoniall maintenance; namely,Object. Tythes, which are fitter for the miniſters of Antichriſt, whoſe Religion hath a mixture of Judaiſme in it, then for the Miniſtery of Chriſt.Sol. 1 Cor ….… ▪ verſ. 8, 9.10▪ 1…. They will not deny that they that preach the Goſpel, ſhould live of the Goſpel: this Chriſt hath ordained, and not man. Nor will they deny that the Apoſtle proves by the Law and Leviticall practice, that the Miniſters of the Goſpel muſt have maintenance from the Church. Neither will they deny that he that laboureth in the Word and doctrine is worthy of double honor, 1 Tim. ….17▪ 18. Gal. 6.6.& muſt be communicated unto by him that he teacheth in all good things: But yet they doe not love to heare of theſe Iewiſh Tythes. I would aske them this one queſtion: They ſay they muſt doe nothing about the worſhip of God, or for the ſupport and maintenance of it, but what they muſt have a particular warrant from the Word of God for. Well then, ſeeing God doth require that Paſtours ſhould bee maintained honourably by a communicating in every good thing, let them tell me, how they will ſatisfie their conſciences in the particular quantity they muſt beſtow upon them: Some men will ſay one thing, ſome another, but how will conſcience be ſatisfied, that it may dye in the peace of juſtice and charity? The Scripture ſpeakes not of any other particular quantity but the tenth part, what therfore elſe can ſatisfie conſcience that it erre not?
Object. Sol.But (they will ſay) that …thes are Jewiſh ceremonies which are abo…iſhed. It is eaſie to ſay ſo, but not ſo eaſie to prove. For Jewiſh ceremonies are ſhadowes of things to come, Col. 2.17the body whereof is Chriſt. Let them ſhew from Gods word that tythes are ſo accounted. I am ſure than God blames the faulty performance and reſting in ceremonies:Eſ. 1. but hee never blameth the neglect of ceremonies, as of tythes, when hee ſaith, ye are curſed with a curſe, for yee have robbed me, Mal 3.9even this whole nation, in not paying tythes. Yea we never read that ever Chriſt ſaid ſo much of any Jewiſh ceremony as of tythes,Matth. 23 Object. theſe things ought ye not to leave undone. If it be ſaid, that this maintenance cannot be proved out of the new teſtament. I ſay,Sol. that this wil trouble any man to prove: for when Paul proves out of the law, that the miniſtery of the new teſtament hath maintenance due, doth he not ſay, (ſo) hath the Lord ordained, 1 Cor. 9.14that hee that preacheth the Goſpel ſhould live of the Goſpel? and how is that? As they of old lived at the altar by tythes, ſo we now. Againe, doth not the Apoſtle ſay, that tythes are due to the miniſtery of Chriſt that lives, Heb. 7.6, 7, 8▪ 9.becauſe they were due to Melchizedech, to whom Abraham payed them as a Prieſt, and tythe-taker, and type of Chriſt? who therefore ſhould receive them,2 Cor 5 20 but thoſe that are in his ſtead to beſeech you to be reconciled unto God? The ſame reaſon that God gives why Levi ſhould have Gods portion, (becauſe God is his portion) is it not true, of miniſters whom alone hee hath taken to bee ministers of the new teſtament? It is true,2 Cor. 3. they are not Prieſts after the order of Melchizedech, as Chriſt was, yet the High-prieſt of our profeſſion, hath ordained us to live out of his portion, which muſt bee his tythes due to him, or elſe our conſciences can never bee ſetled what it is. Let them duely weigh this, and when they can ſalve it up well, as in the ſight of God, then may they heare of much more; we hate Judaiſme as much as they, but we cannot beare that title, except it be inflicted by Chriſt himſelfe. And thus (by the helpe of God) I have cleared their ſecond exception, upon which they ſeparate, becauſe wee are not a true miniſtery.