The Remains of John Corbet, Section 19
§ 19. Of Election belonging to the Miniſterial Call.
THAT Election which belongs to the ſetting up of Government, is not always an act of government, but ſometimes of meer liberty, as when a people elect a Ruler over them.
Meer Election to the Miniſtry made by men, doth not confer the office, nor apply it to the perſon; but the moſt that it doth, is to apply the perſon inveſted with the office to a certain company in the relation of their proper Miniſter.
Much controverſie hath been about the right of Election, to whom it belongs. The peoples electing of their own Miniſter is juſt by the law of nature, if it be not otherwiſe ordained by poſitive law; as naturally all men chooſe Phyſitians for themſelves, and School-maſters for their Children, yet in ſome places and caſes it is otherwiſe ordained, and guardians are appointed by the Supreme Power, and Phyſitians and School-maſters in like manner, yet ſo as none be conſtrained to uſe them.
It doth not appear that the divine law hath preſcribed any certain way of election to the miniſtry as unfixed, beſides the mutual conſent of the ordainer and ordained. No proof of any, as to the general miniſtry, being choſen by the people appears in the New Teſtament. The Apoſtles and the Seventy had a divine election; Timothy was elected by Propheſie; and it doth not appear, Act. 1. That the multitude, but the Eleven Apoſtles ſet forth two, whereof one was choſen by lot to the Apoſtleſhip; and the word foreign doth not there ſignifie a numbring by common ſuffrages, for God made choice of Matthias.
Indeed the election of thoſe ſeven Deacons, Act. 6. is expreſly declared to have been by the people: But to this it is ſaid, that it was for the avoiding of offence, and the better to quiet the murmuring among the people. It is alſo ſaid, that the peoples electing of them to that office was a matter of ſpecial equity, becauſe the work thereof, as far as is there expreſſed, was the diſtribution of maintenance as there was need in that extraordinary time; for which end there was a truſting of the common ſtock in the hands of them that were choſen.
But in whatſoever hand the election of a miniſter lies, the peoples conſent is of great importance: For he cannot perform the work of a Paſtor to any people without their own conſent; it is plain that he cannot guide and rule them in a paſtoral way againſt their wills.
Yet I know not, but that (ſometimes) they may be obliged to conſent that he be Paſtor, when he is by ſufficient warrant, and upon good grounds choſen by men for them, tho their refuſal may render themſelves uncapable of receiving benefit by him, and him uncapable of doing the work of his office towards them.
But foraſmuch as the peoples conſent gives the miniſter the opportunity of diſcharging the duties of the relation, which otherwiſe cannot be done; it is much to be regarded in the call of a miniſter to any people, and the freer the conſent, the better it is in reſpect of the ends of the paſtoral relation, and conſequently their conſent before his admiſſion is moſt deſirable; yet where there is not a conſent before, an after conſent may ſuffice.
The people in electing their Paſtors, (if they have the liberty thereof) or in conſenting to the election made by others, ought ordinarily to be directed by the judgment of other Paſtors.
N. B. That we may carry the Queſtion from the meer name Paſtor to the matter, all theſe things muſt be diſtinctly conſidered. 1. What Qualifications make a man capable of the ſacred office, ſine quibus non? 2. What maketh a man (ſo capable) a miniſter as related to the uncalled world, and the univerſal Church, obliged indefinitely to do his beſt for them: and this is Chriſts miſſion. 1. By his Word. 2. And his Spirit giving him a true willingneſs and conſent. 3. And by authorized ordainers inveſting and ſending him. 3. What maketh a miniſter to be ſuch a one, as the congregation is bound to conſent ſhall be their proper paſtor? And this is, 1. His ſpecial fitneſs. 2. His ſpecial opportunity. 3. And theſe ſo judged by the Magiſtrate, and Biſhops, or other Paſtors who are meet diſcerners: and if they be peremptory in their impoſition, he hath the greater advantage: In all theſe aforeſaid, the peoples election or conſent is no neceſſary cauſe. 4. What maketh the man and the Church (or any perſon) in eſſe relative, formally related as their Paſtor, and his flock? and that is mutual conſent; if he conſent not, no Magiſtrates or Biſhops command maketh him their Paſtor, tho it may oblige him to conſent; nor yet if they conſent not: As a Father may make it a Childs duty to marry ſuch an one, but its no marriage without conſent. 5. What is neceſſary to the exerciſe of the office; and that alſo is mutual conſent, as to every proper part, which is a priviledg; which an unwilling perſon can neither have right to, nor poſſeſs, nor uſe.