A Scripture Catechism, Chapter 22
Chap. 22. Of Miniſters.
Q DID ever God appoint men to miniſter to him in, and about holy things?
A. Yes. Ex. 28.1. And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his Sons with him, from among the children of Iſrael, that he may miniſter unto me in the Prieſt's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's Sons.
Q. Were the Prieſts of old cald God's Miniſters?
A. Yes. Jer. 33.21. Then may alſo my Covenant be broken with David my ſervant, that he ſhould not have a Son to raigne upon his throne; and with the Levites, the Prieſts, my Miniſters. Joel. 1.9. The meat offering, and the drink offering is cut off from the houſe of the Lord; the Prieſts, the Lord's Miniſters, mourne.
Q. Did our Lord Jeſus, the high Prieſt of our profeſſion, the great or chief Shepherd, and Biſhop of our ſoules, did he ordaine any men, and ſend them forth to preach?
A. Yes. Mar. 3.14. And he ordained twelve, that they ſhould be with him, and that he might ſend them forth to preach.
Q. Did he call theſe 12 Preachers Apoſtles?
A. Yea. Luk. 6.13. And when it was day he called unto him his Diſciples, and of them he choſe twelve, whom alſo he named Apoſtles. Math. 10.2. And now the names of the twelve Apoſtles are theſe, the firſt Simon, who is called Peter, &c.
Q. Did Chriſt never ſend any to preach but the twelve Apoſtles, did not he alſo ſend 70 diſciples?
A. Yes. Luk. 10.1, 9, 16. After theſe things the Lord appointed other 70 alſo, and ſent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himſelfe would come. And heal the ſick that are therein, and ſay unto them, the Kingdome of God is come nigh unto you. He that heareth you, heareth me, and he that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth me, and he that deſpiſeth me, deſpiſeth him that ſent me.
Q. But were not theſe all the followers of Chriſt, had he any that believed on him beſides th… 12. & the 70?
A. Yea. 1 Cor. 15.6. After that he was ſeen of above 500 brethren at once.
Q. Did the Apoſtles give power to others to ordaine Elders?
A. Yes. Tit. 1.15. For this cauſe left I thee in Crete, that thou ſhouldeſt ſet in order the things that are wanting, and ordaine Elders in every City, as I had appointed thee. 2 Tim. 2.2. And the things that thou haſt heard of me among many witneſſes, the ſame commit thou to faithfull men, who ſhall be able to teach others alſo.
Q. Are Preachers of the Goſpell to be called and accounted Miniſters of Chriſt, or of the State?
A. 2 Cor. 11.23. Are they Miniſters of Chriſt? I ſpeake as a fool, I am more. 1 Cor. 4.1. Let a man ſo account of us, as of the Miniſters of Chriſt, and Stewards of the myſteries of God. Col. 4.17.
Q. But ought not Miniſters to be of ſome other calling beſide, muſt not they neceſſarily worke at ſome trade on the week dayes, and preach on the Lord's day?
A. No. 1 Cor. 9.6. Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Matth. 4.20. And they ſtraight way left their nets, and ſo followed him. So verſ. 22. And they immediatly left the ſhip and their father, and followed him.
Q. If Miniſters doe not work &c. How ſhall they live or be maintained?
A. 1 Cor. 9.13, 14. Do ye not know, that they which miniſter about holy things live of the things of the Temple, and they which wait at the Altar, are partakers with the Altar? even ſo hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the Goſpell ſhould live of the Goſpel. 1 Tim. 5.17, 18. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, eſpecially they who labour in the word and Doctrine: For the Scripture ſaith, Thou ſhalt not muzzle the Oxe that treadeth out the corne: and the Labourer is worthy of his reward.
Q. What, may miniſters take wages or hire for their preaching?
A. Mat. Yes. 10.9, 10. Provide neither gold, nor ſilver, nor braſſe in your purſes, nor skrip for your journey, neither two coates, neither ſhooes, nor yet ſtaves (for the workman is worthy of his meat) 2 Cor. 11.8. I robbed other Churches, taking wages of them to doe you ſervice. 2 King. 8.9. So Hazael went to meet him, and took a preſent with him, even of every good thing of Damaſcus, fourty Camels burden, & came & ſtood before him, &c. 1 Cor. 9.7. Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
Q. Did our Lord Jeſus Chriſt ever receive any thing while he went up and down preaching?
A. Yes. Luk. 8.3. And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's Steward, and many others, which miniſtred unto him of their ſubſtance.
Q. Did the Church of old ordaine officers with Faſting, Prayer, and Impoſition of hands?
A. Yes. Act. 6.3, 5, 6. Wherefore brethren look ye out among you ſeven men of honeſt report, full of the holy Ghoſt and wiſedome, whom we may appoint over this buſineſſe. And the ſaying pleaſed the whole multitude; and they choſe Stephen, a man full of faith, and of the holy Ghoſt, and Philip, &c. whom they ſet before the Apoſtles, and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 1 Tim. 4.14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery. So chap. 5.22. Lay hands ſuddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other mens ſinnes. 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.
Q. Did the Apoſtle Paul labour in his calling alwaies, and in all places preach gratis; or did he take hire or wages of ſome Churches, although he preached freely among the Corinthians?
A. 2 Cor. 11.8. I robbed other Churches, taking wages of them to doe you ſervice.
Q. Was that commandement of Chriſt to the Apoſtles, Mat. 10.9, 10. only temporary, or perpetuall? was it only for the firſt expedition, and afterwards reverſed by the ſame power that made it?
A. Yea. Lu. 22.35, 36. And he ſaid unto them, when I ſent you without purſe, & skrip, & ſhooes, lacked ye any thing? And they ſaid, Nothing. Then ſaid he unto them, But now he that hath a purſe let him take it, and likewiſe his ſcrip; and he that hath no ſword let him ſell his garment, and buy one.
Q. How did godly ones of old carry themſelves to the Prophets of the Lord?
A. 1 King. 18.3, 4. Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly: For it was ſo when Jezebel cut off the Prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took an 100 Prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.
Q. How did Idolaters carry themſelves to their Prieſts?
A. 1 King. 18.19. Now therefore ſend, and gather to me all Iſrael unto Mount Carmel, and the Prophets of Baal 450, and the Prophets of the groves 400, which eate at Jezebels table.
Q. Did God provide for thoſe that fed any of his Prophets?
A. Yes. 1 King. 17.15, 16. And ſhe went and did according to the ſaying of Elijah; and ſhe, and he, and her houſe did eat many dayes, and the barrel of meale waſted not, neither did the cruſe of oyle faile, according to the word of the Lord, which he ſpake by Elijah.
Q. Was it the cuſtome of the Nations in extremity to ſell the Prieſt's portion?
A No. Gen. 47.22. Only the land of the Prieſts bought he not: for the Prieſts had a portion aſſigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them, wherefore they ſold not their lands.
Q. How did the Saints of the new Teſtamēt entertaine the Preachers of the Goſple?
A. Gal. 4.14, 15. And my temptation which was in my fleſh ye deſpiſed not, nor rejected, but received me as an Angel of God, even as Chriſt Jeſus. I beare you record, that if it had been poſſible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, & have given them unto me.
Q. Were tithes ever given or received any other way, then by vertue of the Leviticall law?
A. Yes. He. 7.1, 2, 9. For this Melcheiſedeck, King of Salem, Prieſt of the moſt high God, who met Abraham, returning from the ſlaughter of the Kings, and bleſſed him, to whom alſo Abraham gave a tenth part of all. And as I may ſo ſay, Levi alſo, who receiveth tithes, payd tithes in Abraham.
Q. May a Son or Daughter of Abraham without ſinne pay tithes, or ſhall not a man ſubject his neck to the yoke of legal ceremonies, in caſe he pay tithes?
A. Heb. 7.1, 2. For this Melchiſedeck &c. Gal. 6.6. Let him that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Q. Were tithes firſt paid to the Prieſthood of Aaron, or to him, of whoſe order Chriſt was a Prieſt?
A. Heb. 7.1, 2. For this Melchiſedeck, King of Salem, Prieſt of the moſt high God, who met Abraham, returning from the ſlaughter of the Kings, and bleſſed him: to whom alſo Abraham gave a tenth part of all. Heb. 5.5, 6.
Q. Suppoſe a man think himſelfe not bound by the law of God or man, may a man lawfully pay that, from which he is free by right, provided that he be not bound by oath to the contrary?
A. Mat. 17.25, 26, 27. What thinkeſt thou Simon, of whom doe the Kings of the earth take cuſtome or tribute? of their own children or of ſtrangers? Peter ſaith unto him, Of ſtrangers: Jeſus ſaith unto him, thē are the children free: notwithſtanding, leſt we ſhould offend them, go thou to the Sea &c. That give for thee and me.
Q. May a Miniſter lawfully have a ſet manitenance?
A. 1 Timothy. 5.17, 18. compared with Math. 20.1, 2. Luk. 10.7. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, eſpecially they who labour in the word and Doctrine. For the Scripture ſayth, thou ſhalt not muzzle the Oxe that treadeth out the corne: and the Labourer is worthy of his reward. For the Kingdome of Heaven is like unto a man that is an houſholder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he ſent them into his vineyard.
Q. Is it lawfull to preach in a Pulpit?
A. Neh. 8.4. And Ezra the Scribe ſtood upon a Pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpoſe &c.
Q. Is it lawfull to read in the book of the Lord, although no expoſition immediatly follow?
A. Jer. 36.6. Therefore goe thou, and read in the roll, which thou haſt written from my mouth, the words of the Lord in the eares of the people in the Lord's houſe upon the faſting day: and alſo thou ſhalt read them in the eares of all Judah, that come out of their cities.
Q. Is it lawfull to read and expound in the Congregation, or make them to underſtand what is read?
A. Neh. 8.8. So they read in the book, in the law of God diſtinctly, and gave the ſence, and cauſed them to underſtand the reading. Act. 28.23.—to whom he expounded, and teſtified the Kingdome of God, perſwading them concerning Jeſus, both out of the law of Moſes, and out of the Prophets. Mark. 4.34. Luk. 24.27, Act. 8.30.31, 35.
Q. Is there any warrant to pray before reading and expounding?
A. Neh. 8.6. And Ezra bleſſed the Lord the great God: and all the people anſwered Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands; and they bowed their heads, and worſhipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Q. What warrant is there for the people to ſay Amen at the end of the Miniſters prayer?
A. Ne. 8.6. And all the people anſwered Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands. Pſal. 106.48. Bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael from everlaſting to everlaſting: and let all the people ſay Amen.
Q. May we pray the Lord's prayer?
A. Luk. 11.1, 2. And it came to paſſe that as he was praying in a certaine place, when he ceaſed, one of his diſciples ſaid unto him, Lord teach us to pray, as John alſo taught his diſciples. And he ſaid unto them, when ye pray ſay, Our Father &c.
Q. May we pray other prayers?
A. Act. 4.24. And when they heard that, they lift up their voice to God with one accord, and ſaid, Lord thou art God, which haſt made heaven and earth, and the Sea, and all that in them is &c.
Q. Is there any thing to be ſaid for the lawfulneſſe of writing of Sermons after the miniſter?
A. Jer. 36.4. And Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord, which he had ſpoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.
Q. May we preach upon a text?
A. Luk. 4.20, 21. And he cloſed the book, and he gave it againe to the Miniſter, and ſate down, and the eyes of all them that were in the Synagogue were faſtened on him. And he began to ſay unto them, This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your eares.
Q. May Miniſters make uſe of books and give themſelves to reading?
A. 2 Tim. 4.13. The cloak when thou comeſt bring with thee, and the books, but eſpecially the parchments.
Q. Is it lawfull for a Miniſter to make uſe of humane learning?
A. Tit. 1.12. One of themſelves, even a Prophet of their own, ſaid, the Cretians are alway lyars, evill beaſts, ſlow bellyes. 1 Cor. 15.33. Be not deceived: evill communications corrupt good manners. Act. 17.28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certaine alſo of your own Poets have ſaid, For we are alſo his off-ſpring.
Q. Had any of the Prophets or Apoſtles any humane learning?
A. Act. 7.22. And Moſes was learned in all the wiſdome of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. Act. 22.3. I am verily a man, which am a Jew, borne in Tarſus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the Fathers &c.
Q. May a Miniſter marry, and take care of wife and children?
A. 1 Tim. 3.4. One that ruleth well his own houſe, having his children in ſubjection with all gravity.
Q. May a Miniſter keep a Servant?
A. 2 King. 5.20. But Gehazi, the ſervant of Eliſha, the man of God, ſaid, my Maſter hath ſpared Naaman this Syrian &c.
Q. Is it lawfull for a Miniſter to ſuffer himſelfe to be called Sr, or Mr?
A. 1 King. 18.7.—That my Lord Elijah—Act. 16.30. Sirs what muſt I doe to be ſaved? 1 Sam, 1.16. And ſhe ſaid, oh my Lord! as thy ſoul liveth my Lord, I am the woman that ſtood by thee here, praying unto the Lord.
Q. What ſay you unto Mat. 23.10. Neither be ye called Maſters, &c?
A. i. c. Doe not ye ambitiouſly affect great titles of Fathers and Maſters, or Governours, or Guides, as the Phariſees doe; but account God your Father in heaven, and me your maſter on earth, and be ye content with the title of my diſciples.
Q. Doth the holy Scripture ever give any titles of reſpect unto the diſciples or Miniſters afterwards?
A. Yes. Act. 20.28. Take heed therefore unto yourſelves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghoſt hath made you overſeers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchaſed with his own blood. 1 Tim. 5.17. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, eſpecially they who labour in the word and Doctrine. Eph. 4.11. And he gave ſome Apoſtles, and ſome Prophets, and ſome Evangeliſts, and ſome Paſtours and Teachers. Heb. 13.17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and ſubmit yourſelves, for they watch for your ſouls, &c.
Q. Is the title or office of a Preacher diſhonourale for any?
A. No. Eccleſ. 1.12. I the Preacher was King over Iſrael in Jeruſalem. Rom. 15.8. Now I ſay, that Jeſus Chriſt was a Miniſter of the circumciſion for the truth of God, to confirme the promiſes made unto the Fathers.
Q. Was it a diſparagement among the Jewes to match with a Prieſt?
A. 2 Chr. 22.11. So Jehoſhabeath, the Daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoida the Prieſt, for ſhe was the Siſter of Ahaziah, hid him.
Q. May Preachers lawfully ſuffer themſelves to be taken up into the coaches of Nobles? did not Elijah gird himſelfe, and run by Ahab's chariot?
A. Act. 8.28, 31. And ſitting in his charet, &c. He deſired Philip that he would come up, and ſit with him. verſ. 38. And he commanded the charet to ſtand ſtill, and they went down both into the water.
Q. Might the Prieſts of old have any temporall eſtate in Lands of their owne?
A. Act. 4.36, 37. And Joſes—a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land ſold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the Apoſtles feet.
Q. What may be done with Scandalous Miniſters if they will not reforme?
A. Mat. 5.13. Ye are the ſalt of the earth, but if the ſalt have loſt his ſavour wherewith ſhall it be ſalted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be caſt out, and to be troden under foot of men. 1 Sam. 2.30, 35. Wherefore the Lord God of Iſrael ſayth, I ſaid indeed that thy houſe, and the houſe of thy Father, ſhould walke before me for ever: but now the Lord ſayth, be it far from me; for them that honour me, I will honour, and they that deſpiſe me, ſhall be lightly eſteemed. And I will raiſe me up a faithfull Prieſt, that ſhall doe according to that which is in my heart and my mind, and I will build him a ſure houſe, and he ſhall walke before mine anointed for ever. 1 King. 2.27. So Solomon thruſt out Abiathar from being Prieſt unto the Lord, that he might fulfill the word of the Lord, which he ſpake concerning the houſe of Eli in Shiloh.
Q. May we allow thoſe who are deprived a fifth part to live on?
A. 2 King. 23.9. Nevertheleſſe the Prieſts of the High places came not up to the Altar of the Lord in Jeruſalem: but they did eate of the unleavened bread among their brethren.
Q. May Another lawfully be put into the place of ſuch as are lawfully thruſt out?
A. 1 Kin. 2.35. And the King put Benaiah the Son of Jehojada in his room over the hoſt, and Zadok the Prieſt did the King put in the roome of Abiathar. Act. 1.20, 25. For it is written in the book of Pſalmes, Let his habitation be deſolate, and let no man dwell therein, and his Biſhoprick let another take. That he may take part of this miniſtry, and Apoſtleſhip, from which Judas by tranſgreſſion fell.
Q. Who did put in and put out under the old Teſtament?
A. 1 King. 2.35. And the King put Zadok the Prieſt in the roome of Abiathar.