A Just Defense of Hearing the Sermons, Answer to preface · Section 18
Sect. 18. The Ministry of the Gospel is a true Ministry of Christ.
Thirdly, He enquires whether there can be a true Ministry in a false Church, which he supposeth a national Church to be as not of Divine institution, and consequently the Ministry of the Church of England, in that it is the Ministry of a national Church, cannot be a true Ministry. Before the query be resolved it is necessary, that it be considered what is the Ministry of which it is enquired, whether it be true or false; what is the Ministry in a Church, and the falsehood of the Church, which may be a cause of the falsehood of the Ministry. For explication whereof we are to observe. 1 That the Ministry is all one with the imployment of a Minister, and a [Minister] is a Latin word answering to foreign, from whence comes the English word [Deacon] and notes the office of one, reaching to another that which he wants, or doth any other act whereby he gratifies or helps another, and it is for the most part the work of a servant, and implies inferiority, whence those speeches of our Saviour, Luke 22.26. he that is chief as he that serveth, Mat 23.11. he that is the greatest of you shall be your Servant or Minister, Mat. 20.29. the Son of Man came not to be ministred to, but to Minister, sometimes to acts which imply no inferiority of condition, but freeness or readiness, as it is said, that when some women ministred to Christ of their substance, Luke 8.3. There is another word, which is used for the most part of them, that do publick offices, foreign and foreign, and so it is said, Phil. 2.25. the minister of my need or, he that Ministred to my wants, sometimes both are joyned, 2 Cor. 9.25. the administration of this service, or the ministration of this Ministry, and the higher powers are termed, Rom. 13.4. foreign and foreign v. 6. that is, the Minister or Officer of God. In ecclesiastical matters both words are used, and are applied to Christ, who is termed the Minister of the Circumcision, Rom. 15.8. a Minister of the Sanctuary, Heb, 8.2. and to Ministers of Christ, Acts. 13.2. 2 Cor. 11.23. the word foreign is oft restrained to the office of a Deacon, Phil. 1.1. 1 Tim. 3.8. But the Ministry we are enquiring of, is neither that of a Servant, that waits on his Master, nor of a contributor that supplieth anothers wants of outward necessaries, nor the performing of the function of a Magistrate, by doing acts of publique justice, nor the ministry of Christ, which was, and is peculiar to him, nor the Ministry of Angels, who are also termed Gods Ministers and Ministring Spirits, Heb. 1.7, 14. Nor the office of Deacons as their office is termed serving tables distinct from the Ministry of the word, Acts. 6.1, 2, 4. But that Ministry to which Matthias was elected, Acts 1.25. and of which it is said, 1 Cor. 3.5. who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but Ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every one, and is meant, Ephes. 4.11, 12. where it is said, that Christ gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers for the work of the Ministry. This Ministry was performed by the Apostles, Prophets and Evangelists somewhat extraordinarily either in respect of their gifts or their commission, which are now ceased. That Ministry, we now enquire of, is that of ordinary Pastors and Teachers as now sent. To these sundry Ministries are usually assigned, to … Ministry of the word, of Baptism, of the Lords supper, of confirmation, ordination, government by admonitions, censures, and if there be any other work allotted to those whom the Scripture terms Bishops or Elders. But our quaerist in this his writing, medling only with that part of Ministry in this main question disputed by him, which is by Preaching I understand his quaerie to be meant of that part of the Ministry. Now this Ministry is usually expressed by the Ministry of the word, Acts 6.4. the Ministry of the Gospel of God, Rom. 15.16. the Ministry of the New Testament, not of the letter but of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 3.6, 8. of righteousness, v. 9. the Ministry of reconciliation, 2 Cor. 5.18. Stewards of the Misteris of God, 1 Cor. 4.1. and sometimes our Ministery without any other adjunct, 2 Cor. 6.3. and an Oeconomy, or dispensation, 1 Cor. 9.17. more fully, Acts 20.24. the Ministery, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God. Which shewes the Author of this Ministry, whereupon he requires, 1 Cor. 4.1. Let a man so account of us as of the Mynisters (foreign translated Minister, Acts 13.5.) of Christ, and Stewards of the mysteries of God. The finis cui, or those, for whom this Ministry is appointed, are the Saints, and therefore it is said to be for the perfecting of the Saints, or joynting together of them, and the edifying of the body of Christ, Ephes. 4 12. wherefore St. Paul saith of himself, that he was made a Minister of the Church according to the dispensation of God, which is given to mee, for you to fulfill the word of God, Col. 1.24, 25. which shewes, that he was not a Minister for one particular Church, but for any part of it where his lot was to Preach, and that he was not Minister of the Church by their election or mission, or direction (for these were of God, and Christ Jesus) but for the Church, or Saints, as the subjects to and for whom he was appointed to fulfill the word of God, even the mystery which had been hid from ages and from generations, but then was made manifest to his Saints, to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you the hope of glory, v. 26, 27. to which purpose he speaks also of himself, Ephes. 3.6, 7, 8, 9. which yet is not to be restrained so to the Saints, but that the Ministry of the Gospel was to be to them that were not Saints, I am a debtor, saith he, Rom. 1.14. both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians, both to the wise and to the unwise, and 1 Cor. 1.23. We preach Christ unto the Jewes a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness, and 2 Cor. 2.14, 15. Thanks be to God which alwayes causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish. So that the Ministry of the word though it be primarily for the Church and the Saints, yet is the preaching of the Gospel the Ministry of Christ, even to unbelievers, as Ezekiel was a Prophet to the rebellious Nation of Israel, when he spake Gods word, whether they did hear or forbear, Ezek. 2.5. And hence I inferre that there may be a true Ministry not only in, but also out of a Church of believers.