Church Concord, Chapter 8
Chap. VIII. Difference VI.
THE sixth Difference is, whether a Pastor of one Church, may do the work of a Pastor in other Churches when he hath their consent and call? Some have made a stir about this, and dream'd that a Pastor may Preach out of his own Church, but only as a private man, and therefore may not Baptize, Administer the Lord's Supper, or exercise Discipline in any other Church. But the Learned and Sober part of the Dissenters, are become Consenters in the most of this, so that here is little work for a Reconcilement. For they confess that Ministers may as Ministers Preach and Administer the Sacraments to otherSee Mr. Norton at large proving that a Minister of a particular Church, may (not only by virtue of his Gifts) and the common bond of Christian Charity, but also by virtue of his Calling, exercise in another Church the acts of his Office, Charitativè non Authoritativè, p. 76. c. 6. Churches. Indeed they say, that this is only Charitativè, not Authoritativè. Herein they mistake: For though such have not a stated Authority over another Church, yet have they a temporary Authority, asOf this see my Disput. of Ordination, and 3d of Episcopacy. they are called. For he that hath the Call and Power of Office, and a Call pro tempore to exercise that Office, hath Authority to exercise it, and doth exercise an Authority (for the Office essentially is an Authority.) But every true Minister of Christ that pro tempore is called to the Ministerial work in another Church, hath an Office (which is Authority) and a call to exercise it. Therefore,
But saith Mr. Norton, p. 83. [Hence it would follow either that there are occasional and partial Ministers pro tempore, or that the same man is the fixed Minister of many Churches at once, or that he is not the Minister of that Church where yet he hath Ministerial Authority.] Ans. None of all these will follow: But only this, that he that is either a stated Minister in the Church Universal, or also a fixed Pastor of a particular Church, may also be the temporary Pastor of another particular Church. As a fixed Physicion of one Hospital, or Schoolmaster of one School, may upon a Call both Charitativè & Authoritativè, be for a Day or a Week the Physicion of another Hospital, or the Schoolmaster of another School. It is a contradiction to say, [He may exercise his Office, and not Authoritatively.]
Obj. But saith Mr. N. the Minister of this Church, is not the Minister of another Church by the constitution of the Holy Ghost, by whom every Minister is tyed to one certain Flock.]
Ans. 1. A great Errour. There should yet be general Ministers in the Church that should be itinerant, and no more fixed (where the Churches state so requireth it) than Paul, Barnabas, Apollo, Titus, Timothy, and abundance more then were. Your own Argument is, Pag. 80, 81. [Ex analogia Potestatis Ministrorum erga alias Ecclesias cum Potestatè Ministeriali erga omnes gentes, sive omnem Creaturam: Si Ministri Ordinarii virtute instituti habent Potestatem Ministerialem, non Ecclesiasticam modo debito, erga omnem creaturam, habent aliquam Potestatem Ministerialem Ecclesiasticam modo debito erga omnem Ecclesiam. At, &c.] What need we more? Is not Potestas Ministerialis Authority? Then I know not what Authority is! Authority is either Rational ex virtute & aestimatione donorum; or it is Imperial or Official, which in all subordinate Officers is Ius agendi actus ejus Officii. Ministerial Power is Ius Ministrandi: Ministerial Authority is Ius Ministrandi: Therefore he that hath Ministerial Power, hath Ministerial Authority. 2. No Minister is so tyed by the Holy Ghost to one certain Flock (any more than one Schoolmaster or Physicion) as not to exercise his Office by Authority pro tempore in another Flock when he hath a Call. Charity and Authority go together. Charity obligeth him to exercise his Office, that is, his Authority. The rest of the Objections there an ordinary Reader may answer without help.
But yet here is nothing to hinder our Communion. For, 1. They grant us in Substance what we desire, that is, the temporary exercise of the Ministerial Office, to the World, or to other Churches according to their Capacities. 2. If yet there be any difference in Principles, let them that think Ministers have no Power out of their Congregation, practice accordingly, and stay at home: Let them give us our Liberty in this, and take theirs, and the matter need not hinder our Communion.