The Sum of Christian Religion, Aphorisms · Article 7
ARTICLE VII. Of the miniſtery of the Church.
I. COncerning the miniſtery of the Church in the New Teſtament, we beleeve and teach, that it is the office of publick teaching and governing the Church by the voice of the Prophets and Apoſtles, inſtituted by Chriſt, for finiſhing the ſalvation of the (a) elect.
Teſtimonies of Scripture.
(a) Matth. 28.19. Goe and teach all nations, baptiſing them in the Name of the Father Son, and holy Ghoſt.
Mark 16.16. Preach the Gospel to all creatures, he that beleeveth and is baptiſed, ſhall be ſaved, but he that beleeveth not, ſhall be condemned.
Epheſ. 2.20. You are built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apoſtles.
Epheſ. 4.11. He gave ſome to be Apoſtles, ſome Prophets, ſome Evangeliſts, and ſome to be paſtors and doctors.
II. And that it is an effectuall meanes, by which the holy Ghoſt ſtirs up, confirmes, and (a) operates faith and converſion in the hearts of the elect.
Teſtimonies of Scripture.
(a) Rom. 1.16. The Gospel is the power of God to ſalvation, to every one that beleeveth. Rom. 1.17. Faith is by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Acts 10.44. While Peter yet ſpake theſe words, the holy Ghoſt fell upon all them that heard this ſpeech.
Acts 16.14. A certaine woman named Lydia, who ſold purple in the city of the Thyatirians, fearing God, did heare us, whoſe heart the Lord opened, that ſhe ſhould heare what was ſaid by Paul.
2 Tim. 3.16, 17. The whole Scripture is inspired by God, and profitable for doctrine, for reproofe, for correction, for inſtruction in righteouſneſſe, that the man of God may be perfect, and perfectly furniſhed for every good worke.
III. Yet that internall power and efficacie, by which we are ſanctified, is not the Miniſters, nor is it tied to, or ſhut up with in their words & actions; but it is the holy (a) Ghoſts. The externall miniſtry is (b) mans, which the Spirit of God makes uſe of, for moving the minds and hearts of the elect, when and how he (c) pleaſeth: Not as if he could not doe otherwiſe, but becauſe it pleaſed his divine wiſdome, by the fooliſh preaching of the Croſſe, to ſave ſuch as (d) beleeve.
Teſtimonies of Scripture.
(a) Eſay 43.25. I, I am he that blotteth out thy tranſgreſsions.
John 3.8. The wind bloweth where it liſteth, and thou heareſt the ſound thereof, but thou knoweſt not whence it cometh, or wither it goeth: ſo it is with every one that is born of the ſpirit.
1 Cor. 12.11. All theſe things are done by one and the ſame ſpirit, diſtributing to every one apart as he pleaſeth.
(b) Matth. 3.11. I indeed baptiſe you with water to repentance, but he who cometh after me is ſtronger then I, he will baptiſe you with fire, and with the holy Ghoſt.
John 1.23, 33. I am the voice of him that crieth in the deſart: But he that ſent mee to baptiſe with water, he it is who baptiſeth with the holy Ghoſt.
(c) 1 Cor. 3.5, 6. Who then is Paul, who is Apollo, but ministers by whom you have beleeved, and as God hath given to every man? I plant, Apollo waters, but God giveth the increaſe: Therefore neither is he that planteth any thing, nor he that watereth, but God who giveth the increaſe.
(d) John 3.8. The wind bloweth where it liſteth, and thou heareſt the ſound thereof, but thou knoweſt not whence it cometh, nor whither it goeth, ſo is every one that is borne of the ſpirit.
1 Cor. 12.11. But all theſe things are done by one and the ſame ſpirit, diſtributing to every one apart as he pleaſeth.
1 Cor. 1.21. But after that, in the wiſdome of God, the world by that wiſdome knew not God, it pleaſed God by the fooliſhneſſe of preaching to ſave beleevers.
IV. But theſe Tenents are partly impious, and partly too hyperbolicall: 1. That God immediately doth infuſe faith and converſion: 2. That the miniſterie is a dead letter, but the exerciſe only of the outward man: 3. That the faith which we have by hearing of the word, is not juſtifying, but hiſtoricall onelyonly: 4. That ſaving power is in the voice, and under the voice of the miniſterie; and that Chriſts part is internall, but miniſters partly externall, partly internall.