The Covenant of God Entered with Mankind, Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII
An orderly way of admiſſion of men, into the Mininiſterial function neceſſary.
AS men for the Miniſtery are to be trained up for the work, So there muſt be an orderly way of admittance to it,Self-conſecration to the Miniſterial work unwarrantable. the way which Scripture traces out to us. Self-conſecration is alone beſeeming the Prieſts of Jeroboam, 2 Chron. 13 9 the loweſt of the people that have neither inſpiration, nor education, that have been taught of men (not any thing that may conduce to the dividing of the Word aright; but) how to keep cattel, Zach. 13. 5. or ſome anſwerable employment, in its due place commendable, but no introduction to the Miniſterial honour. Theſe run, and ſtay not for ſending, and going without commiſſion, they go without aſſiſtance, and ſoon runne themſelves into thoſe bogges, in which without ſpecial grace, they are irrecoverably plunged; they want home-reproofs, the wounds of friends, Zach. 13. 6. that they may no longer wear a rough garment to deceive; When the Apoſtle layes down the greateſt neceſſitie of preaching, he puts the queſtion, How ſhall they preach, unleſſe they be ſent? Men that go upon this work, muſt be able to make good their call. The Miniſtery of the Goſpel being of divine inſtitution, as well as the Prieſthood of the Law; there muſt be a call from God for the one as for the the other; Heb. 5. 4. No man taketh this honour unto himſelfe, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. There is none that expect not a call from God in this work, but have their brand in the Scripture, Jerem. 14. 14. The Lord ſaid unto me, The Prophets propheſie lies in my name, and I ſent them not; yet they ſay, ſword and famine ſhall not be in this land: by ſword and famine ſhall thoſe Prophets be conſumed, Jerem. 27. 15. For I have not ſent them, ſaith the Lord, yet they propheſie a lie in my name, that I might drive you out, and that ye might periſh, and the Prophets that propheſie unto you. A call from God to the Miniſterial work muſt be expected.And as they runne on their own heads, ſo they vent their own tenents, and propheſie out of the deceit of their owne hearts, Jerem. 23. 26. Thoſe ſhall never finde comfort in the work, that are not able to ſay with the Apoſtle, Chriſt ſent me to preach the Goſpel, 1 Cor. 1. 17.
1. The work is Gods, the advancement and ſetting up of his Kingdome, the ruine and demolition of the Kingdome of Satan, Acts 26. 18. The whole of all that they do is of high concernment to him; Each man will ſee to his own buſineſſe, and finde labourers for his own work; God hath no leſſe care, Jeſus Chriſt is no leſſe mindful, Harveſt-Maſters provide harveſt-labourers; The Maſter of this harveſt provides labourers for his work, and gives them commiſſion, Mat. 9 38.
2. All neceſſaries for the work, inward, outward, are to be ſupplied from him. They muſt have livelihood and proviſion from heaven, they muſt receive inſtruction from heaven, They muſt be taught of God, that they may teach; God muſt protect; he muſt encourage and embolden, he muſt command ſucceſſe, and give encreaſe. They are agents in his hand, and muſt be appointed by him; it is no marvel, if they that be not ſent of him, be left deſtitue of all
3. He is a God of Order, and he will have Order obſerved, and in no way is Order ſeene ſo comely, as when all know their places, and ſtations; When in a great houſe or a mighty Army, each man will do what work he pleaſes; undertake what place of truſt and command he pleaſes; each Souldier in an army will be a Commander, each ſervant in a family a Steward, there muſt needs be high and great confuſion. The manifold abſurdities that will unavoidably follow, in caſe each man may thruſt himſelf into this work, and ſo drive on his own intereſts, ſee in Maſter Hall his Pulpit guarded, Argument. 5. This power of putting men into this work, equally concernes the whole Trinity, Each one of the perſons hath his hand in the ſeparation of men for it; Jeſus Chriſt in a viſion, ſent Paul upon this errand, Acts 26. 18. ſee further, 1 Cor. 1. 17. Eph. 4. 11. He is, an Apoſtle by the will of God, Col. 1. 1. which is underſtood of the Father. God ſet in the Church, firſt Apoſtles, ſecondarily Prophets, 1 Cor. 12. 28. The Holy Ghoſt hath here an hand, Acts 13. 2. The holy Ghoſt ſaid, Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them, Acts 20. 28. Take heed therefore unto your ſelves, and to all the flock over which the holy Ghoſt hath made you overſeers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchaſed with his own blood. And this ſending or authorizing, is, as their gifting,The call of God is either extraordinary and immediate, or ordinary and mediate by the Miniſtery of men. or fitting, either extraordinary and immediate, nothing of man intervening; or elſe mediate by mans Miniſtery and his approbation. Paul had both an immediate way; both his authority, and ability for the work; he profeſſes that he is an Apoſtle; not of man, nor by man; he owes it not to man as the Authour, ſo may any Miniſter of Chriſt ſay, he owes it not to man as an inſtrument; ſo only Prophets and Apoſtles can ſay: As his Calling was thus immediate, ſo in like ſort was his inſtructions for it, Gal. 1. 12. For I neither received if of man, neither was I taught it; but by the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt. They that divide theſe, are exceedingly to blame; aſſuming authority without man, but confeſſing that for abilities, as they muſt look up to God, ſo they muſt make uſe of man, muſt apply themſelves to reading, and make uſe of the helps of others.
The immediate Call is by Viſion,The immediate call is by viſion, revelation, &c. Revelation, or whatſoever otherway God pleaſes to manifeſt himſelf. Thus in a viſion Paul was called; where that is not, the mediate Call only remains, which is the way of all that attaine to gifts by education, ſtudy, and the bleſſing of heaven on their endeavours. This is called, as in Scripture,The mediate and ordinary call is by Ordination. ſo in Church-writers, by the name of Ordination, and the whole work (containing as well that which is eſſential to it, as the adjuncts of it) may be thus deſcribed. An act of men in a Ministerial function, Ordination deſcribed, and in the ſeveral parts of it explained.aſſociated in a Presbytery; ſetting ſome apart upon proof and examination, as Presbyters and Elders in the Church, by faſting and praying with impoſition of hands. We find no other, but men in Miniſterial function, in all the holy Scriptures acting in it.Men in Miniſterial function are to act in it. Paul and Barnabas ordaine Elders in every Church, which in their journal they viſite, Acts 14. 23. Timothy is directed in the way of it. 1 Tim. 5. 22. Lay hands ſuddenly on no man. Titus is enjoyned to ordaine Elders in every City in Creet, Tit. 1. 5. He is named alone, but the naming of one excludes not others, and therefore it appears, that in Timothies Ordination, a Presbytery, or a combination of Presbyters did joyne, 1 Tim. 4. 14. which way in our Church hath ever been held. The Biſhop (ſuppoſed by ſome, to be veſted in the whole power of Ordination) never had authority to ordaine alone; but grave Presbyters according to the Canon, were to joyn with him, though by reaſon of greatneſſe, his vote ordinarily did overmuch ſway in it. Some would have the people here to have their hand, in that the word foreign in that place of the Acts, chap. 14. 23. implies a lifting up of the hand. But whatſoever the word in its Etymology may imply, the uſe is not ſuch, as is plaine by comparing Acts 10. 41. where the immediate Ordination of God, by the ſame word is held forth unto us. They know the weight of the Miniſterial function, and they are beſt able to judge of requiſite abilities. One that is willing to give as much to the people, as may be, yet confeſſes that in Grammatical conſtruction, the word foreign can agree with no other but Paul and Barnabas, and that it was only their act; and therefore he would finde it in the word foreign, which (ſaith he) doth not ſignifie in every Church, as it is tranſlated, but according to the Church inſtancing in the Orators phraſe, Faciam ſecundumte; I will do it according to thy minde: So they (viz. Paul and Barnabas) ordained them Elders, according to the Church, that is, according to the minde and will of the Church. If this were granted, it would only conclude an acquieſcency in the people, and that they had ſatisfaction in that Ordination, carryed on by Paul and Barnabas. Yet this phraſe here, can no where prove that the Church or people; made choiſe of them, then we man prove from that injunction of the Apoſtle, Titus 1. 5. to ordaine Elders in every City, that the whole City had there their vote in Elections; As much ſtreſſe may be laid upon foreign in every City, or according to the minde of the City, in this of Paul to Titus, as upon foreign in every Church, or according to the minde of the Church, in that of Luke in the Hiſtory of the Acts. What power the people or the faithful may have in Election, and how farre it may be convenient that they may be overborne for their good, I will not here diſpute. I only conclude, that we finde not the people any where ordaining we read of Ordination in Churches, for the Churches uſe, not Ordination by Churches, taking it in that ſenſe, for the whole community of Beleevers.
Theſe,This Ordination is of Preſbyters and Elders. in a Miniſterial function in this act of Ordination, ſet ſelect men apart for Presbyters, or Elders; ſo Acts 14. 23. Titus 1. 5. Titus is enjoyned to ordaine Elders in every City in Creet, who are the ſame with Biſhops, as appeares in Titus 1. verſe 5. 7. compared.Theſe Elders are the ſame with Biſhops. The qualification of Elders is there preſcribed; and the reaſon is given, for a Biſhop muſt be blameleſſe, which will hold no congruity, if an Elder be not the ſame with a Biſhop, Which alſo may be ſeen, Acts 20. comparing ver. 17. and the 28. together. The Apoſtle there ſpeaks to the Elders of Epheſus, and he gives them a charge, to take heed to all the fl…ck, over which the Holy Ghoſt had made them Overſeers; that is, had given them an Epiſcopal charge, as the word ſignifies. Elders muſt ſet apart men for Elders, and Presbyters are to be ſet apart by a Presbytery.
This Ordination of Elders is to be in the Church,They are Elders of the Church univerſal. or for the Church, which may be taken either for the univerſal Church viſible, or for ſome particular Church, and that either congregational or claſſical. Miniſterial functions are appointed of God, for the Church univerſal viſible. God hath ſet ſome in the Church, firſt Apoſtles, ſecundarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers, &c. 1 Cor. 12▪ 28. No one particular Church, congregational or claſſical, enjoys all the particular kindes there enumerated, yet ſo as the exerciſe of this function, is to be with limit to one particular only. They are Miniſters of the Church univerſal; yet ſo as orderly to exerciſe their function, only there, where God by his providence ſhall deſigne them. There are ſome functions (as I may ſay) Catholick, what ſuch a one doth any where in his function, is good every where, as a publick Notary, or Maſter of the Chancery, that which they do any where, is every where valid, within the limit of that power under which they act; It is of force through the whole Nation. Some functions are topical or local, as Juſtices of Peace, a chief officer in a Corporation, Sheriff, or Conſtable, who are without power out of their own limits. A Miniſter or Presbyter is a Catholick or Univerſal Officer, he hath jus in re, in the whole Church viſible, for all Miniſterial actions, whether of Word or Sacraments, he hath jus ad rem, in the place aſſigned and appointed him, where alone he is regularly to officiate, and ſo, hath the title of an Aggel, or Elder of ſuch a particular Church to which he is called, Rev. 2. 1, 7, &c. Acts 20. 17. He hath a firſt right every where, a ſecond right only where he is orderly placed.
This is to be done by examination or tryal,Ordination is to be paſt on examination or trial. if no word of Scripture did mention it, yet the thing it ſelf evinces the neceſſity of it; Scripture layes down the requiſites or qualifications in Miniſters. Firſt, for years, not a novice, 1 Tim. 3. 6. Some are old young, which may anſwer ſome want of years, more fit at twenty foure, then others at thirty. Secondly, for converſation; Blameleſſe, as the Steward of God; not ſelf-willed, not ſoon angry, not given to wine, no ſtriker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hoſpitality, a lover of good men, ſober, juſt, holy, temperate, Titus 1. 7, 8. Thirdly, for parts and gifts; 2 Tim. 2. 15. A workman that needeth not to be aſhamed, rightly dividing the word of Truth, Tit. 1. 9. Holding faſt the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by ſound doctrine, both to exhort and convince gain-ſayers. Fourthly, for graces of the Spirit, they ſhould be as Barnabas, full of the Holy Ghoſt and of Faith, Acts 11. 24. From which gifts of nature muſt not be excluded, as ſtrength of body in its meaſure, that the body may in ſome ſort keep pace with the ſoule. The gift of utterance, that not only his head, but his lips may preſerve knowledge, that he may be able to ſpeak, to edification, exhortation, and doctrine; of theſe ſuch that act in Ordination, ſhould have knoweldge, of each of them ſo far, as they may come to cognizance, of ſome of theſe by letters of commendation from faithful perſons, 2 Cor. 3. 1. of others by proof and examination, 1 Tim. 3. 10. The Apoſtle having laid down the qualifications of Biſhops, and proceeding to that of Deacons; hath theſe words, Let theſe alſo be proved, and then let them uſe the office of a Deacon; both Biſhops and Deacon muſt undergo examination. Timothy muſt lay hands ſuddenly on none, 1 Tim. 1. 22. He muſt then lay on his hands no otherwiſe, but upon proof and trial, which the context (ſpeaking of ſins, ſome open going before to judgement, others following after) ſeems to evince, ſuch cautiouſneſs cannot ſtand; without all poſſible wayes and means of proof and trial
All this is to be ſolemnized by faſting and prayer; in which we have Scripture-precedents,To be ſolemnized with faſting and praye…s. Act. 13. 2. When they had faſted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they ſent them away, Acts 14. 23. When they had ordained them Elders in every Church, and had prayed with faſting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they beleeved. This I take not, to be of the eſſence of Ordination; not neceſſary to the very being; but the better being of it in imploring Gods aſſiſtance and bleſſing. It is a great work, a work of glorius concernment; it is a work above our ſtrength to manage, more weighty than our ſhoulders can bear, there is more than parts, gifts and endowments, (whether natural or acquired) required in it. All ſupplies being (as before we heard) to be expected from heaven, heaven muſt be implored, God muſt be earneſtly ſought in it. Faſting ſhould add wings to our prayers, that our voice may be heard on high. A ſhadow of this ſtill remained in the Church, as appers, by thoſe Jejunia quatuor temporum at the times of Ordination; which indeed, was almoſt brought to a meer ſhadow.
The laſt thing mentioned in the Definition,Impoſition of hands to be uſed in Ordination. is impoſition of hands; A rite or uſage in practice before the Law, Gen. 48. 14. held in the time of the Law, Levit. 1. 4. and continued in the dayes of the Goſpel, as conſiſting with the ſimplicity of it. It was uſed in bleſſing, Gen. 48. 14. Iſrael ſtretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraims head in his bleſſing of them. Matth. 19 13. They brought children to Chriſt, that he ſhould put his hands on them and pray; which accordingly he did, Mark 10. 16. He put his hands upon them, and bleſſed them. It was uſed in Offerings, Levit. 1. 4. If any man bring an Offering unto the Lord, he ſhall put his hand upon the head of the burnt-offering, and it ſhall be accepted for him, to make atonement for him. It was uſed in bearing witneſſe, as Levit. 24. 14. Where the Lord gives charge concerning the blaſphemer; Bring forth him that hath curſed, without the Camp, and let all that have heard him, lay their hands upon his head. It was uſed in conferring extraordinary gifts, Acts 8. 17. Peter and John laid their hands, on thoſe that beleeved in Samaria, and they received the Holy Ghoſt. It was uſed in miraculous cures, Mark 6. 5. Chriſt could do there no mighty works, ſave that he laid his hands upon a few ſick folke, and healed them, Acts 28. 8. It was uſed in deſigning men for office, and that either civil, for the work of the Magiſtracy. Deut. 34. 9. Joſhua the ſon of Nun was full of the Spirit of wiſdome; for Moſes had laid his hands upon him, and the children of Iſrael hearkened unto him, and did as Lord commanded Moſes. Or Eccleſiaſtical, and that for the work of the Lord in the time of the Law, Levit. 8. 10. and alſo in the dayes of the Goſpel, Acts. 13. 3. And from this rite of impoſition of hands, (in uſe in this work of Ordination) the whole work hath ſometimes its denomination, 1 Tim. 5 22. Lay hands ſuddenly on no man; An Objection anſwered.where impoſition of hands is put for the whole work. Some I know would take all this off, as to Ordination by laying on of hands, by the objection of extraordinary gifts, which were this way conferred, as was before confeſſed, of which they will have that Text underſtood, 2 Tim. 1. 6. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou ſtir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. But this is too weak to avoid, it for though we have already ſaid; that when the Holy Ghoſt was given in thoſe extraordinary endowments, hands were impoſed, yet whole Presbyteries cannot ordinarily be conceived, to be veſted with that power, yet they joyntly in this work laid on their hands, 1 Tim. 4. 14. And that advice of Paul to Timothy, 1 Tim. 5. 22. plainly contradicts it, lay hands ſuddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other mens ſins. In caſe Timothy had had that power to have conferred with the calling, qualifications for the calling, he had no need to have been in that way adviſed, to uſe ſuch circumſpection. Why ſhould he be ſo careful to ſee them firſt fit, in caſe his laying on of hands would fit them? There need not ſuch trial whether they were gifted in caſe a touch of the hand would be the gifting of them. And for Timothies Ordination in the place quoted, 2 Tim. 1. 6. it followes not from our grant; that extraordinary gifts are there ſpecified, that authority for the Miniſterial work is denied. It is plain that Moſes authorized Joſhua, for ſucceſſion in his place; by laying on of hands, Deut. 34. 9. The people upon that took him for his ſucceſſor, yet it is as plain in the Text, that the Spirit of wiſdom was then conferred upon him: Authority and power are ſometimes given at once, yet all that are in power to authorize, cannot impower for this buſineſſe, he that will ſee more, may read Dr. Seamans Treatiſe on this ſubject, and jus divinum Miniſterii Eccleſiaſtici.