The Remains of John Corbet, Section 23 – Section 24
§ 23. The Validity of Presbyterian Ordination.
IF a Biſhop and Presbyter of divine inſtitution be the ſame (as hath been before proved) the controverſie about ordination by Presbyters is at an end. And if the Biſhop that now is, be another kind of officer than the Scripture Presbyter, there is no proof of his divine inſtitution.
That the Presbyter that now is, hath the Paſtoral or Epiſcopal office, hath been already proved by the form of their ordination, and by the nature of that power of the keys that is granted to reſide in them. If the Prelates have inveſted them with an office that is truly Epiſcopal, it matters not whether in expreſs terms they gave them the power of ordaining or no, or whether they expreſly excluded the power of ordaining: for not they, but Chriſt makes the office, and not they but Chriſt gives the power that belongs to the office, from which they cannot detract.
The ordination of Timothy is ſaid to be by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery, 1 Tim. 4.14. If it be ſaid that by the Preſbytery is meant a company of Biſhops; it it granted that Presbyters and Biſhops were all one. If it be ſaid, they were a company of none but Dioceſan Biſhops, that had ſubject-presbyters of an inferior order under them, let it be proved from Scripture.
It is ſaid by ſome, That only the Dioceſan Biſhops ordain authoritatively, and the Presbyters concomitantly, founding the diſtinction on thoſe two Texts, 2 Tim. 1.6. and 1 Tim 4.14. it being ſaid in the one, That Timothy received the gift by the putting on of Paul's hands; and in the other, by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery. To this it is anſwered, 1. That the impoſition of hands mentioned 2 Tim. 1.6. might be in confirmation; for the firſt receiving of the Holy Ghoſt after Baptiſm, and the following effects of the ſpirit of love, power, and of a ſound mind, argue ſo much. 2. If any of a higher ſtate than Presbyters laid hands on Timothy in his ordination, yet the phraſe of Presbytery argues that they did it as presbyters. 3. If it was Paul that ordained Timothy authoritatively, and the presbytery but concomitantly, our biſhops cannot thence claim the ſole authoritative ordination, for Paul was of an order above them, and was no otherwiſe a biſhop than as having Epiſcopal power eminently contained in his Apoſtolick office. 4. If the presbytery there mentioned be a company of biſhops of an order ſuperior to presbyters, it will follow by this diſtinction, that ſuch a biſhop ordains not authoritatively but concomitantly. 5. The ſaid Texts afford no ground for the diſtinction of authoritative and concomitant ordination.
According to the hierarchical principle, the biſhop is enabled to give orders, not by his power of jurisdiction, but by his power of order. Now a presbyter hath as much of the Character and Sacrament of order, as a biſhop; and the conſecration of a biſhop is not held a diſtinct Sacrament of order from the ordination of a presbyter; and the truth is, the form of conſecrating a biſhop according to the Engliſh Ordinal, is expreſſive of no more power of order than is given to the presbyter in the form of his ordination in the ſaid Ordinal.
The conjunction of Presbyters with the Biſhop in the preſent form of ordination, ſhews that the order is conveyed by them as well as by the biſhop. Their impoſition of hands is an authoritative benediction, and dedication of the party ordained. Let any inſtance be produced of the impoſition of hands by any ſuch as had no power of conveying that which was ſignified by that ceremony, I mean of conveying it ſo far as mans act can reach unto. To ſay it is only a ſign of their giving conſent, is a poor evaſion, for the people give conſent alſo.
If presbyters are at any time allowed to ordain by commiſſion from a Biſhop, they cannot do it rightly, if they have not an intrinſick power of doing it. For the Biſhops commiſſion or licenſe cannot give a new ſpiritual power to a Presbyter, which was not in him before, at leaſt radically or habitually.
§ 24. Of a valid Miniſtry.
AS Chriſt allows the Church to receive ſuch to Baptiſm and the Lords Supper, as he doth not receive; ſo he allows the Church to call ſome to the Miniſtry, whom he doth not call. For it is his prerogative to be the Searcher of the Hearts, and men can judg but by appearance.
Such as Chriſt doth not allow the Church to call to the Miniſtry, may by his permiſſion, through the Churches mal-adminiſtration, be called thereunto; and being ſo called, they abide therein by his permiſſion, till they be caſt out by due reformation, and ſo long their calling is valid as to external order.
And ſuch are Miniſters to others, tho not to their own good; and Chrſts ordinances by them adminiſtred are valid and effectual to thoſe intents for which he appointed them. The whole current of Scripture ſhews that Gods ordinances are not made void by the cloſe hypocriſie or groſs impiety of the diſpenſers thereof; and the contrary opinion tends to unchurch Churches, and to deny the Chriſtendom of the Chriſtian World for the moſt part.
As we muſt diſtinguiſh between miſcarriages in admiſſion, and the nullity of the office, ſo between defects or corruptions in the office it ſelf, and the nullity thereof. The Prieſthood and Worſhip in the Temple at Jeruſalem was often much corrupted, yet it was true for the ſubſtance thereof; but the Prieſthood appointed for the Calves at Dan and Bethel was falſe for the ſubſtance, and a nullity.
Tho the ſacrificing Prieſthood at Dan and Bethel were a nullity, yet the Ten Tribes had the ſubſtance of the true religion, and ſome external acts of worſhip true and valid, as circumciſion, and ſo retained ſomething of a Church. So now among the Papiſts there is the ſubſtance of the Chriſtian Religion, and ſome thing of a Church, and Miniſtry, and ordinances. The Miniſtry of the Popiſh Prieſts with reference to the Sacrifice of the Maſs, is a nullity: but as ordained to preach the Goſpel and Baptize, and to any other parts of the proper work of the Miniſtry, it is not a nullity, but their adminiſtration in thoſe things is valid.