The Divine Institution of Congregational Churches, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Of a Call to a Church Miniſtry.
How a Church is regularly furniſht by Call and Ordination: A Call immediate or mediate: What each is: How a Church comes to a Call: And how made: The conſummation thereof no Ordination: A Perſon called being not a Member, ought to be joined to the Church calling him, before Ordination: None can or ought to be Ordained to the Catholick Viſible Church.
§. 1. A Church of Chriſt comes to be regularly furniſhed with a Miniſtry for its Edification, by a due Call aHeb. 5.4.of ſuch as are qualified thereto, and Ordination of them. A Church Calls, when after waiting upon God for Directions bPhil. 4.6 Mat. 9.38., and coming to be acquainted with the Grace and Miniſterial Gifts of a perſon or perſons, which having tryed c1 Joh 4.1 1 Tim. 3.10, they are inclined to apprehend him or them ſuitable for them, the Church gives him or them a ſolemn invitation to a Miniſterial Charge.
§. 2. A Call to a Miniſterial Charge or Work, is either immediately by God himſelf in a more than uſual way or manner aGal. 1.1.12. 1 Tim. 1.1., or mediate by the Church of God; and every one that undertakes ſuch holy ſervice muſt have one of theſe two Calls, or elſe God ſends him not bRom. 10.15.: The immediate Call is when God doth qualifie and call a Perſon to a Miniſterial Service without the inſtrumentality of Men or Churches; and ſuch was the Call of the Prophets and Apoſtles, whoſe Call was their Ordination and Infallible.
§. 3. A Mediate Call is that which Chriſt makes by the inſtrumentality of a Church walking after Chriſt's commands a1 Pet. 5.2 2 John 6., but is not infallible, but eventually may not anſwer the Churches end in Calling, becauſe the Perſon called may not be ſuitable, or for ſome reaſons may refuſe to ſubmit thereto. Hence God anſwers a Churches Call, by ſending to them a Perſon fit and willing, whereby it moſt times proves happy and ſucceſsful bJer. 3.15 Mat. 9.37, 38..
§. 4. The Church having wiſely and duly debated the whole matter, with all ſecrecy, and keeping things within the Church, and asked counſel of God and Neighbour Churches (ſo far as may be needful) and come to ſome reſult among themſelves, all, if poſſible agreeing without ſtrife and murmuring aPhil. 2.3, 8. 1 Pet. 3.8., or at leaſt if any not ſo well ſatisfied, do conſent to acquieſce in the mind of the Church, the Call is agreed upon; but by ſuch only who are actual Members, not by Members of other Churches, that communicate upon recommendation only.
§. 5. The conſummation of the ſaid Call is made by the free acceptance of the Perſon called a1 Pet. 5.2; but ſuch Call and Acceptance (though neceſſary as Preliminaries) do not conſtitute a Perſon in a Miniſterial Office, any more than a private Contract doth conſtitute Man and Wife, but Marriage by a Publick Covenant before ſufficient Witneſs: So that the Perſon Called, is not conſtituted in Office without Ordination, which is a Publick and ſolemn ſetting him apart.
§. 6. If the Perſon called be not a Member, where he is to take his Church-Charge, he ought now, upon the ſaid Call and Acceptance, to join as an actual Member to the Church aAct. 6.3. 1 Cor. 5.12: For to conſtitute a non-Member in Office is contrary to all the Rules of any Corporate Society.
§. 7. A Perſon may not be Ordained a Paſtor or Church-Officer at large, or before he be called to a particular Congregation: For relates and cor-relates are co-eſſential to each other, and have reciprocal relative affections: Ordination alſo is a ſolemn recognition of a Contract before made, which is done in the Call: Moreover, to make a Paſtor before a People call him, is to make a Paſtor to no body; and to Ordain a Paſtor upon ſuppoſal ſome People will chooſe him, makes him not only precarious, but null ipſo facto; for being Ordained upon a ſuppoſed futurition, makes his preſent Ordination void, not being a capable ſubject till called to a Relation. And if it be ſaid, Such an one is Ordained Paſtor to the Catholick viſible Church. Then 1. Why did not that Church call him? 2. Why may not Deacons be Ordained to the Catholick viſible Church? 3. If he be Ordained Paſtor to the Catholick, how can he be Paſtor to a particular Church? unleſs he become a general and particular Paſtor, a double Paſtor; which is abſurd. 4. What power have a few Paſtors or Churches to Ordain any Man to be Paſtor to the Catholick Church? as much power as an incorporated People, or the Mayors of ſeveral Corporations meeting together, have to appoint a common Mayor to all Corporations, or to make one another ſo.