Apology for the Ministry and its Maintenance, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. The Doctrine is applyed in an Vse of Information.
THe Corrolaryes issuing out of the bowells of this Doctrine, thus explicated and demonstrated, will serve for Information, Instruction, Consolation, Reprehen…ion, Exhortation.
1. For Information. There is then a Ministry in the Church. To what purpose are all these Names, and honourable Titles, if there be no such Order, as Ministers, in the Church? Which Order is not of a moneths, a years, or an Ages standing, but must be contemporary with the world, even in its last Ages▪ There is, and shall be a Ministry in the world, so long as there shall be a world for it to be in; which we shall prove by Arguments; 1. Confirming the truth. 2. Infirming and confuting the Cavills of the Anabaptists.
1. It is plain, by those Evangelicall Prophesies and Promises, by which God hath made himself a debtor to his Church. He standeth engaged to his people, in all ages, as well as to those of the Primitive times, to give them Pastors according to his own heart, who shall feed them with knowledg and understanding, Isa. 30. 20. Ierem. 3. 15. and 23. 4. Ezech. 44. 23.
2. It is plain by the Promise of Christs presence, and help with the Ministry of his Word, to the end of the world; the enrollment of which Promise we may see Matth. 28▪ 20. Loe, I am with you (not a day, nor a year, but) alway, even unto the end of the world. Although it may be shaken sore in this world, yet it shall not be pluckt up by the roots; although many may, and do gnash their teeth against it, yet shall they not be able to devour it; for Christ will build his Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it, or its Ministry. Neither did our Saviour make this Promise only (though chiefly) to his Apostles, but to all his Ministers also in generall, that either in times past have been, to us who now are, and to them that shall be after us▪ even to the end of the world.
3. The Offices of Ministers, and the works of the Ministry, shall be perpetuall, Therefore shall the Ministry it self last also. The Preaching of the Word, and the Administration of the Sacraments are Offices of Ministers, and works of the Ministry; but these have a long-liv…d Char…r, a promise of perpetuity, and an injunction that they be perpetuated. A Ministry was given, not for one age, but for all ages; …ot for the Edification of one man, but of the whole body of Christ, the Church, Eph. 4. 11, 12. The Administration of Sacraments must extend it self to the utmost times, and last age of the Church, Matth. 28. 19▪ 20. 1 Cor. 11. 2…. Now whilest the Office continues, they must needs continue that execute it. Where there is any Religion, there must be some set apart to maintain it. Baal himself, if he be a God, must have his Priests. The same may be found in Scripture concerning the fictitious crew of all those devilish De…ies, which the Phili…ines, Egyp…ans, M…abites; and Ammonites worshipped.
4. It is plain from the necessity of this Calling: VV…hout faith no Salvation, Iohn 13. 1…. VVithout the preaching of the word no faith, Rom. 10. 17. VVrithout Preachers no preaching▪ and without a Ministry there can be no Preachers; For, How shall they preach except they be sent▪ So then, without the ministry and Ministers no Salvation. So long as there shall be any to be saved, God will provide some, by whose hands he will save them▪
5. Whilest there shall be a Church, there must be a ministry of the Church; But God will have a Church militant upon earth whilest …un and moon endure, …. 31. 36. Matth▪ 16. 18. Eph. 3. 21. It is necessary therefore, that as there ever hath been a ministry, because there ever hath been some …ct, so there should be a ministry for ever, because there shall ever be some Elect, who…e Salvation shall be carryed on thereby; that it should be commensu…able with the Churches necessi…ies, Whilest God shall have upon earth a Church to be built, a Vineyard to be planted, a field to be tilled, a Flock to be …ed, an harvest to be reaped, and soules to be saved; so long will he have builders, planters, tillers, shepherds, reapers, Saviours, and a Ministry for the accomplishing of these things; see Act. 1…. 10, 11.
6. It appears▪ in that it is said to be the priviledg, and is rep…esented as the Property of the New Ierusalem, to have no Temple in it, Rev. 21. 22. The Church Triumphant is the Church, and the onelyonly Church, that needs no ministry, ministers, or ordinances; For God is all this to them; Instead of the word of God, they read in the God of that Word; instead of the representation of Christ in Sacraments, they have the enjoyment of him without the help of shadows or types. The immediate enjoyment of God in this life, without the means, is sure then a fancy onelyonly beseeming the heady brains, or rather brainless heads of Anabaptists. It is the proper Priviledg of the Church Triumphant to serve God immediately, without Temple or Ordinances; Amongst them it is, that Prophes…s shall fail, 1 Cor. 13▪ 8. But in the Church militant they are to be highly esteemed, 1 Thes. 5. 20…
7. It appeares by the care of the Apostles for the continuation of their Successors, and the perpetuation of a Ministry in the Church. Paul commands Titus to ordain Elders and Bishops in … city, describes the persons to be ordained, and prescribes rules for the ordaining of them, Tit 1. 5, 6, 7, 8, &c. He command…, and cautions Timothy also about the same thing; and …ds him keep the commands relating to this Ministry till the appearing of the Lord Iesus Christ; which Injunction is not onelyonly laid upon Timothy in his own person, but upon all the Ministers of Christ that shall be in succession to the end of the world.
8. It appeares by that honor, reverence, and submission, which, by vertue of the command, is due to the Successours of the Apostles, 1 Thes. 5. 12, 13. Phil. 2. 29. Heb. 13. 17. Which things, so long as they are due, must needs have, and prove Ministers of the Gospel to whom they shall be given. And if you take a way them that are over you in the Lord, your Messengers, them that have the rule over you, and that watch for your soules, I pray you tell me, where will you bestow the high estimation and love, the reputation, obedience, and submission which the great Apostle commands to be given, in the fore-quoted Texts.
9. It appears by that constant provision that God has made for his Ministers, ordering them honourable stipends for their work, Gal. 6. 6. 1 Cor. 9. 13▪ 14. 1 Tim. 5. 17, 18. which provision is laid up in the store-house of the Gospell, not onelyonly for the Apostles sake, but all theirs that are Ministers of Christ in succession. Now to what purpose should these commands of God remain in the B…ble, if there should not be a remainder of Ministers still in the Church. God needed not to have provided meat for his Ministers, if he had been minded that men should have sewed up their m…uthes.
Away with the doting crew of Anabaptists then, that despising the Word of God, and Ministry of that Word▪ and Ministers of that Ministry, gape for the downfall of Revelations into their mouths, and stare after New Lights. Away with them to the Law and the Prophets. Why stand ye gazing up into heaven for new discoveries? to the Law, and to the Testimony; If they be not according to this Word, it is because your new Lights have no light in them▪ Isa. 8. 20. God hath ordained and established a publick Ministry, and forbids the consulting of Diviners, Observers of times, Enchanters, Charmers, Witches, Wizards, Necromancers, Deut. 18. 10, 11, 12. No, nor must mens own Fancies lead them, their own inventions be set up to give Oracles; But in all doubtfull matters, consult the Ministers of God, vers. 15. Is there no light in the Word of God? or, whether are your eyes out that ye cannot receive it? Is that nothing but a dead letter now, which in S. Pauls dayes was so quick and spirituall, Heb. 4. 12. Is there no God, but in the still voice of your spirituall conceivements and Revelations now adayes? Well, let's hear what your spirit has to say against our Christ, who has bidden …o▪ and teach and baptise.