The Wise Gospel Preacher, Sermon · Part 47
The ſecond Ʋſe is Vindication or Juſtification.
A ſecond Uſe of this Point may be for Vindication or Juſtification of all ſuch Goſpel-Miniſters and Miniſtrations as proceed from the Will and Authority of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, manifeſt by his Word to be Divine and Warrantable, notwithſtanding they are unapproved by humane Authority, (nay though they ſhould be by them forbidden); my Reaſon is this; If ſuch Miniſtries, Miniſters, and Miniſtrations, be given and allowed by the Lord Jeſus, whom alone God the Father hath intruſted with theſe Affairs; then they have Allowance and Approbation from him, whoſe Allowance and Approbation is only eſſential and ſufficient for their Encouragement and Vindication; and it very little matters, as to their Juſtification, whether ſuch perſons which are unconcerned in this Affair, do approve or diſapprove, while the Lord, though not man, hath approved them. This the Lord told Ezekiel, Chap. 2. And he ſaid unto me, Son of man, I ſend thee to the Children of Iſrael, to a rebellious Nation, that hath rebelled againſt me; and their Fathers have tranſgreſſed againſt me unto this very day; For they are impudent Children, and ſtiff-hearted; I do ſend thee unto them, and thou ſhalt ſpeak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, Verſ. 2, 3, with 5, 7.
To the Vindication of a Miniſter in his Work, it little matters whether men of what rank or degree ſoever they be, do allow, permit, or diſcourage him, whilſt his Lord and Maſter hath but ſent and commiſſionated him, he need not much be troubled with the prohibitions and oppoſitions of his fellow Servants: Nay, if he will not be rebellious like them, he muſt go on his Errand, and neither fear them, or be prohibited by them, but remember what is further added in that paſſage of Ezekiel, But thou, Son of Man, hear what I ſay unto thee; Be not thou rebellious, like that rebellious houſe, open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee, verſ. 8. And therefore Chriſt's Goſpel-Miniſters may warrantably anſwer any that inquire, by what Authority do you thus Adminiſter? Be it known unto you, that by the alone Name and Authority of the Lord Jeſus, we thus adminiſter; and if any of their Mothers Children ſhould be angry with them, and threaten them with their thorney Arguments of perſecution and affliction, they may, as others have done before them, ſay, O Nebuchadnezzar, We are not careful to anſwer thee in this matter, Dan. 3.16. with Acts 4.
Query.
But ſome may ſay, How ſhall a State or People know who are ſuch Miniſters, and what are ſuch Miniſtrations as are truly Chriſt's, and ariſe from him, miniſter to him, and depend upon him?
Anſwer.
I Anſwer, By doing that which God enjoyned all the Kings of Iſrael to do, in Deut. 17. And it ſhall be, when he ſitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdom, that he ſhall write him a Copy of the Law in a Book, out of that which is before the Prieſts, the Levites; And it ſhall be with him, and he ſhall read therein all the dayes of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this Law, and theſe Statutes, to do them, verſ. 18, 19. By thus doing, by Reading, and Learning what God hath written in his Book of the Scriptures may they come to know, who are the true Spiritual Goſpel-Miniſters of the Lord Jeſus. Thus did that great Reformer Nehemiah, when he would know who were the Lord's true Prieſts and Miniſters; He ſearched into the Regiſter, and ſuch of the Prieſts as could not produce and ſhew their Genealogy, he put, as polluted, from the Prieſthood, Chap. 7.64, 65.
Therefore if any profeſs themſelves Miniſters of the Lord Jeſus, and you would know whether they be Chriſt's, or Antichriſt's Miniſters; ask for their Genealogy, and let them ſhew their Line from Judah, not from Levi; I mean, from Chriſt, and not from Men, whether Pope or Presbyter; for our Lord took care of this Concern, when he ſpent forty dayes with his Diſciples in ſetling the Things of his Kingdom, Acts 1.3. And before he aſcended upon High, he gave Gifts unto Men for the Work of the Miniſtry; ſome Apoſtles, ſome Prophets, ſome Evangeliſts, ſome Paſtors, ſome Teachers, Epheſ. 4.8, 11. But we read not of any Pope, or Vicar-General; no Cardinals, Arch-Biſhops, Lord-Biſhops, Fryers, Monks, Deans, Doctors, Batchellors, Parſons, Curates, or the reſidue of theſe Locuſts; theſe never came into the World by Chriſt's Charter, or Deed of Gift, made over to the Church before his Aſcention. No, no, theſe came in the back way, through the opening of the bottomleſs Pit, Rev. 9.1, 2, 3. That wiſdom of the Father, even our Lord Jeſus, who builed his Houſe, killed his Fatlings, alſo provided his own Maidens, or Virgin-Servants, which are but few, yet not too few to do all his Work. As his Houſe ſtands upon ſeven Pillers, even ſo he provided but ſeven ſorts of Miniſters, or Miniſtries, beſides the Widdows, thoſe helps to Government, as the New Teſtament teſtifies: and an Old Teſtament Iniſtitution, can give no beeing to a New Teſtament Miniſtration; and in all the Records of Chriſt's Acts and Inſtitutions, we read not of any other Miniſtry ordained for the Church than the Miniſtry of Apoſtles, Evangeliſts, Prophets, which three were extraordinary and temporary, and are ceaſed, and there remains only now to be enjoyed the Miniſtry of Paſtor, Teacher, Elder, and Deacon; with the fore-named helps to Government, as ſufficient to all Ends and Purpoſes in Chriſt's Kingdom; and of theſe we read Rom. 12. Having then Gifts, differing according to the Grace given to us, whether Propheſie, let us propheſie according to the proportion of Faith or Miniſtry. Let us wait on our Miniſtry; he that teacheth, on Teaching; he that exhorteth, on Exhortation; he that giveth, let him do it with ſimplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence, Verſ. 6, 7, 8. Now ſuch who have neither Name nor Nature of theſe Miniſtries, can be none of Chriſt's, but Man's, or Antichriſt's.
But again, ask all ſuch who pretend to be Miniſters of Chriſt, by what Door or Way they came into the Miniſtry. For they, who ever they be, that come not in by Chriſt's Door into his Sheepfold, are Theeves and Robbers, John 10.1. Now Chriſt's way for men to become his Miniſters, is by, firſt, joyning and accompanying themſelves with the Church or Congregation, whoſe Miniſters they are to be; as appears by Acts 1.21. where we read Peter tells the Church, That of theſe men that have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jeſus went in and out among us, beginning from the Baptiſm of John, unto the ſame day that he was taken up from among us, muſt one be ordained to be a witneſs with us of his Reſurrection, Verſ. 22. And thus they choſe Miniſters, Acts 6. according to Apoſtolical Direction, who ſaid, Wherefore Brethren, look you out from among your ſelves ſeven men of honeſt report, full of the Holy Ghoſt, and Wiſdom, whom we may appoint to this buſineſs, verſ. 4.
Again, ask thoſe who profeſs themſelves Chriſt's Miniſters, Who put them into their Miniſtry, the Church, or any particular ſort of men diſtinct from the Congregation, whoſe Miniſters they are? For none but the Church (I mean, a particular Church) can make a Man a Miniſter of any of Chriſt's particular Churches, or Golden Candleſticks; It was the Church, not the Apoſtles, choſe, accepted, and admitted thoſe into the Office of Deaconſhip, which we read of Act. 6.5, 6. And they choſe Steven, a man full of Faith, and of the Holy Ghoſt, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenos, and Nicolas a Proſelyte of Antioch, whom they ſet before the Apoſtles. And if the Churches of Chriſt ſhould not have this power, to give the Beeing and Ordination to their own Servants and Miniſters, without dependance on others, then ſhould the power and priviledges of Chriſt's Churches, be leſs than of civil Corporations, or private Families, which were abſurd to imagine. Not to grant this to every individual and particular Church and Congregation, were to maintain, That Chriſt's Churches are in Bondage, and not Free States, or Politick Bodies, which were derogatory both to Chriſt and to his Church.
Further, either the Church, or perſons leſs than the Church, muſt make Miniſters; but the Text tells us, The leſſer muſt be bleſſed of the greater. Therefore every Church of Chriſt, and not any diſtinct ſort of Perſons there-from muſt make Miniſters for themſelves. Heb. 7.7. we read, And without all contradiction, the leſs is bleſſed of the greater, yea, and ſubjected to the greater, even every Goſpel-Miniſter to his Congregation, who may not only, when occaſion requires, ſay to Archippus, Take heed to the Miniſtry thou haſt received of the Lord, to fulfil it, Col. 4.17. But likewiſe if Archippus will not here reform, and obey them; as they gave him admittance into their Fellowſhip, and into his Miniſtry, they alſo may take from him both the one and the other; and let him be unto them as an Heathen and a Publican, Mat. 18.17.
Again, ask theſe what Miniſters of Chriſt they are? Apoſtles, Evangeliſts, and extraordinary Prophets they cannot be, who-ever they be, for they ceaſed with Foundation-work, and Dayes; and as they were raiſed up, and filled with Gifts and Grace, ſuiting ſuch who were to lay the Foundation of Faith, Church-Worſhip, Miniſtry and Miniſtrations, according to commiſſion from Chriſt, Mat. 28.19, 20. So they were to be but twelve in number, as Acts 1. with Rev. 21. where it is ſaid, And the Wall of the City had twelve Foundations, and in them the names of the twelve Apoſtles of the Lamb, Verſ. 14. The laſt Viſion John ſaw, and the moſt glorious City that upon Earth the Saints ſhall ever ſee, will have but twelve Apoſtles names in the Foundation thereof; wherefore try them that ſay they are Apoſtles, and they will be found lyars, Rev. 2.2. And for Evangeliſts to aſſiſt Apoſtles in writing Scripture, and ſuch like Services, there being now no Apoſtles to aſſiſt, or Scripture to write or fill up, there is no need of theſe, as no way to attain theſe, for all theſe extraordinary Officers came not into the Church by the Door or Way that ordinary Miniſters or Officers do, but by a more immediate way from Heaven; as Paul witneſſeth, Gal. 1.1. Paul an Apoſtle, not by man, nor of man, but by Jeſus Chriſt, and God the Father who raiſed him from the dead. And for extraordinary Prophets, as we have none, ſo all that are acquainted with the Scripture, know they were immediately made Prophets by the Lord: All therefore that ſay they are Chriſt's Goſpel-Miniſters, muſt profeſs or acknowledge themſelves to be either Paſtors, or Teachers, or Elders, or Deacons and Deaconneſſes.
Now he that is a Paſtor, cannot at the ſame time be a Teacher, that is, an official Teacher, whoſe Work and Office is diſtinct, as well as his name from the Paſtor, and the Elder or Ruler is diſtinct in Name and Work from both the former, and the Deacon from all the reſt, as the formentioned Scriptures declare.
Now if they have neither Name, nor Gifts of Chriſt's Miniſters, then can they be none of Chriſt's but another ſort of Miniſters: I do not ſay that a bare aſſuming, or owning a Man's ſelf to be a Paſtor, or Teacher, or Elder, will prove him one of Chriſt's Miniſters; but try what men are called into the Office and Miniſtry of.
Objection.
And if any ſhould Object and ſay, But are not theſe common names, viz. Paſtors, Elders, Teachers, Biſhops, and the like?
Anſwer.
I Anſwer, In a common acceptation and uſe of the term they are, and may be ſo improved; but yet theſe names, are properly the names of Chriſt's diſtinct and peculiar Miniſters; and anſwerable to their proportionableneſs thereunto are they to be choſen into that very Miniſtry they are moſtly fitted and adapted for: As he whoſe Gift and Spirit moſtly diſpoſes him to Exhortation and Application of Principles, received and believed, ought to be choſen into the Paſtor's Office; and he whoſe Gifts and Qualification bends moſt to Expound, Interpret, and open the ſenſe and meaning of the Word, is meeteſt to be choſen into the Office of a Teacher; and ſo he that is wiſe, zealous, grave, vigilant, and moſt diſpoſed to ſee the Churches Affairs done decently, and in order, is moſt meet for the Office of …uling-Elder, or Governor in the Church of Chriſt: And he that is moſt inclined to mercy, kindneſs, charity, bountifulneſs, liberality, and giving, is meeteſt of all the Church for the Office of Deaconſhip in the Church. For as Adam called every thing by its proper name; even ſo would the Second Adam have his Miniſters called by their proper, not improper names; from their fitneſs and ſutableneſs to their Work choſen, and called either Paſtors, Teachers, Elders, or Deacons.
But, laſtly; Would you know whether Perſons pretending to be Chriſt's Miniſters be ſo or no? ask them whoſe Servants they are, and whom they obey, Chriſt and his Will, or Man and his Will? For you know who ſaid it, His Servants ye are, to whom ye yeeld your ſelves obedient, Rom. 6.16. Now try whoſe Will and Mind Miniſters obey, Chriſt's or Man's; whoſe Word they walk by, Chriſt's or Man's; whoſe Worſhip they offer up, Chriſt's or Man's; For by their Fruits, ſaith our Lord, you ſhall know whether men are true or falſe Prophets, Mat. 7.15, 16. Chriſt's Miniſters offer no ſtrange Fire, nor make any compoſition to anoint God's Kings, Prieſts, or Prophets with, but according to divine Direction and Inſtitution; remembring that word, See that thou makeſt all things according to the pattern ſhewed to thee in the Mount, Heb. 8.8. compared with Exod. 25.40. Chriſt's Miniſters are to adminiſter according to Chriſt's appointment, not Man's, for they are His and not Man's Servants, and therefore muſt teach themſelves and the People to obſerve all things that Chriſt hath commanded, and nothing which he hath not commanded to be obſerved or taught; Dare they obſerve or teach others to obſerve, as our Lord teacheth, Mat. 28.20. and Paul practiſed, 1 Cor. 11.23. ſaying, That which I received of the Lord, that delivered I alſo unto you, and nothing elſe?
Chriſt's Miniſters are not to ſeek what to do in the Adminiſtration of their Office, but have all things plainly written in the Tables of the Scripture, that he which runneth may read his Duty; their Rule, is Scripture; their Help, the Spirit; their Work, Chriſt's inſtituted Will and Worſhip; and their Ability and Sufficiency, the Grace and Gifts of the Spirit, and their Wages only the good Will of Chriſt's People, among whom they Iabour, they need not any man to teach them, but as that Anointing teacheth them all things; they can Pray without a Prayer-Book, and Preach without Common-Places, or the help of Commentators, and Adminiſter Sacraments and Cenſures without a Directory or Book of Canons of Man's making, being throughly made wiſe, and ſufficiently furniſhed unto every good and Goſpel-Work, by Grace and Scripture, without any of Saul's Armour; they need no Garments of Diſtinction, nor ſhews of Piety, or Purity, or Gravity without Subſtance. Neither want they any vain unwarrantable Ceremonies or Geſtures of Man's deviſing, to make their Adminiſtrations appear beautiful, and prove edifying; and yet all their things to be done decently, and according to due or Goſpel order.
Now if thus you pleaſe to try, and prove, or meaſure Chriſt's profeſſed Miniſters, and their Miniſtrations, by the Golden Reed of the Scripture, you may certainly know who they are, that ſay they are Apoſtles and are not, but do lie, and as polluted; let all ſuch be put from the Prieſthood.
'Tis theſe Wiſe-Preachers, and Goſpel-Miniſters that I only aſſert, ſpring from the good Will of Chriſt, and appertain to Chriſt; the reſt are but Apocrypha-Writing, and as groundleſs and uſeleſs, meet to be of all that belong to Chriſt the Lord rejected.
And this I ſuppoſe may be ſufficient for Goſpel-Miniſters, and the Miniſtrations Vindication, againſt any that ſhall dare to traduce or ſlander them as Incroachers and Intruders into other mens Work, and none of Chriſt's Miniſters, but a ſort of Factious, Schiſmatical and Heretical Perſons, diſobedient, and turbulent or troubleſome to the Government.
Yet let what hath been ſaid be but weighed and conſidered, and it will appear, that they are given forth from the one great Shepherd of the Sheepfold. And, O how beautiful are the feet of ſuch who bring glad tydings of peace!
So much for this Uſe, in which I have been the larger, becauſe of the weight and conſequence of theſe things.