The Pulpits Patronage Against Unordained Usurpation, Part 1 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. The Queſtion ſtated.
IT is well ſaid, minimus error in principio, erit maximus in fine, a line diſtant but a very little, in the centre, at the circumference, will be a great way off: and therefore in foundations, men muſt be very wary how they erre: when the doubt or queſtion is not ſtated well, there is muc… …rangling to little purpoſe: the Apoſtle ſeem… to make that the ground of their vain jangling, that they underſtood not whereof they did affirm, (h)1 Tim. 1. 6, 7.that is, did not ſtate the queſtion well, whereabout they wrangled, and moved doubts; that we therefore, may not erre this errour, nor loſe our way in ſetting out; we deſire our ſenſe, may be conceived, and taken in this enſuing theſis, propoſition, aphoriſme.
That in every ſetled, well-ordered Church, there ought to be ſome perſons ſet a part, to attend and act in holy things, with more aſſurance and Authority then others; beſides the labours and endeavours of godly, well-affected, private Chriſtians.
1. We ſay, Church; that is, aſſembly and ſociety of Chriſtians, for ſpiritual and religious ends; for though the word may ſignifie, any called or aſſembled Company, though for externall civil ends: as that meeting is called: (i)Act. 19. 52.yet we uſe it here, in an eccleſiaſtical and ſpiritual ſenſe, for religious meetings and Aſſemblies, as the Apoſtle doth, (k)1 Cor. 14. 23.to ſhew, that we intend not civil meetings; but confine our ſelves to thoſe that are divine and ſpiritual: but we take it in the utmoſt Eccleſiaſtical, and ſpiritual latitude; for we think, what we affirm and ſet down, is true, of the Catholick Church of Chriſt, and of every Member, diviſion, and ſub-diviſion of it, from univerſal to particular, from national to provincial, and from thence to parochial, and congregational; for in every one of theſe, there ought to be ſome ſet a part.
2. We ſay, ſetled: that is, grown up, and come to ſome maturity and ripeneſſe; for though a rude unpoliſht company of two or three, may in ſome ſenſe be called a Church: (l)Mat. 18. 20.as an Embrio conceived, but not faſhioned in the womb, may be called a man, as the Pſalmiſt ſeems to intimate: (m)Pſal. 139. 16.yet we mean not, ſuch a young unformed Company, as the Church in Adams and the Patriarks Families: or if grown up, yet in diſtemper, or unſetled, by ſome external accidents, as the Church yet in the Wilderneſſe, (n)Act. 7. 38.and as it was in that confuſion, which the Prophet doth allude to; (o)2 Chron. 15. 3.but we mean, a Church enjoying ſome external quiet, and communion with her ſelf and others: as that was, after Saul was turned preacher, (p)Act. 9. 31.and of a Lion was become a Lamb, though it be not every way accompliſht, and accomodated, though it be liable to troubles and perſecutions.
3. Well ordered, we acknowledge, this might be implied, in ſetled, yet think it good for plainneſſe, to expreſſe it; for a thing may be ſetled ill, or out of order, as all materialls belonging to an houſe, may be comported, and brought together, and layd down on an heap, and ſo far ſetled: yet is not property an houſe, till it be coupled, and joyned together fitly; and ſo ſtuffe, and all neceſſaries to make a Garment: ſo there may be a rude, promiſcuous unpoliſhed Company that may be ſetled, that is, reſolved to live and act together: yet undiſtinguiſhed, and placed unjoynted and unordered, as they ought to be, and muſt be, before they can do buſineſſe, and encounter difficulties; for action ſuppoſeth and requireth order, a broken tooth, and foot out of joynt, may not be truſted to, nor any ſtreſſe laid on them, as the wiſe man ſpeaks: (q)Prov. 25. 19.We mean therefore, a body joynted as it ſhould be, having Head and Members, orderly diſtinguiſht and complying, by the nerves and ſinues, with one another, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, (r)Col. 2. 19. Eph. 4. 12, 13.not that we think it needful and eſſential, to the being of a Church, that this order be exact and perfect here, but that we think it ſhould be aimed at, and laboured for, and ſome degrees attained; as a Ship muſt have ſome tackle, and accomodations, before it can be put to Sea, and make a voyage; for though it be not neceſſary to the being, yet it is to the beauty and well-being, (s)Col. 2. 5.joyning and beholding your Order: and though he could not order all things, in the Church of Corinth, when he was with them, yet he promiſed to do it at his return.(t)1 Cor. 11. 34.
4. We ſay, ſome; for the Church is a body, that hath diſſimilar, and heterogeneal parts, is integrum as well as totum, and hath offices diſtinct, and divers from one another; (u)Rom. 12. 4, 5.for as we have many Members in one body, and all Members have not the ſame Office; ſo we being many, are one body in Chriſt, and every one members one of another. A body is not a lump of fleſh, unorganized and undiſtinguiſhed; but orderly accomodated with Members, anſwerable unto the functions needful for it; (w)1 Cor. 12. 14.for the body is not one Member but many: ſome therefore muſt be ſet a part, not all, its t…ue, all ſhould be Saints, at leaſt in ſhew and in profeſſion; (x)Eph. 4. 12but all the Saints ſhould not be Governours and Rulers in the Church, (y)Heb. 13. 24ſalute all them that have the rule over you, and all the Saints: Gods people in the old adminiſtration, under Moſes, had as fair a title unto Saint-ſhip, as ever any people in the world had: (z)Exod. 19. 5, 6.ye ſhall be a peculiar theaſure unto me, above all people; for all the earth is mine, and ye ſhall be unto me a Kingdom of Prieſts, and an holy Nation. So that they were not without book, when they ſaid, that all the Congregation were holy, every one of them, and the Lord was among them: (a)Numb. 16. 3.yet Aarons Prieſthood was aſſerted againſt thoſe oppoſites. Men may be holy, and yet not high; graced with favours, and endearements of great concernment, yet no… ſet up in Moſe… Chair, nor beautified with Arons Ornaments: all are not overſeers in a Congregation, nor Captains and Commanders in a Company: ſo God hath ſet ſome in the Church, firſt Apoſtles, ſecondarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers; (b)1 Cor. 1…. 28, 29.and therefore might well ask, are all Apoſtles? are all Prophets? are all Teachers? if all were Teachers, who ſhould be taught? if all Shepheards, who ſhould be ſheep? where all are ſet apart, none are ſet apart, eadem eſt nimia, & nulla diviſio.
5. Set apart, that is, deſigned and devoted to the work betimes, as Aarons Sonnes were, (c)Exod. 28. 1.and Samuel, whilſt yet an Infant, (d)1 Sa. 1. 11.that ſo they may be trained up and educated, anſwerably; for if that great King would have none about him, to attend and wait upon him till they were qualified, and fitted for it: (e)Dan. 1. 3, 4, 5.how much more may the great God, require a training up, and education anſwerable to the place and ſervice they are intended for; its true, Gods ſpirit and the graces of it, are the main endowments that are required, that they be holy, godly men, that they be full of faith and of the Holy Ghoſt, as Stephen was; (f)Act. 6. 3.for they will never do the work of God well, that have not firſt Gods work done on them: will hardly labour and endeavour ſeriouſly▪ to make their hearers and Scholars better then themſelves; but that's not all, they muſt have fitneſſe for the ſervice, which all Gods people have not: in former ages, when God did more immediately endow and qualifie for that great work: yet, education and inſtruction was required, how to diſcern thoſe viſions and apparitions which they had, God called Samuel, (g)1 Sam. 3. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.but he runs unto Eli, & thought it had been he: ſo God ſends a Prophet unto Jeroboam & bids him come away & not accept of any entertainment that ſhould be offered him: & upon this ground, he doth refuſe the Kings; (h)1 King. 13. 8, 9.but another Prophet comes unto him, and pretends a Meſſage from an Angel, for his going back: (i)v. 18, 19.the young Prophet obayes the old Prophet, and believed the latter order did ſupercede the former: yet for this his weaknes & miſtake, for this credulity & inability for to diſtinguiſh, calls & orders, a Lion meets with him in his return, and kills him: (k)v. 24.therefore in thoſe times, there were not only Prophets, but Prophets Sonnes, that had diſtinct and proper education, that dwell together in one place, (l)2 King. 2. 3. 5.and had one over them, for to inſtruct and guide them in the knowledge and cariage of thoſe great affairs: (m)1 Sam. 19. 20.that as the Prieſts Sons had their Fathers and Brothers to inſtruct and bring them up, in the knowledge of what they were to be imployed in, when they were men, ſo the Prophets had Fathers alſo, deſigned and appointed unto them: (n)1 Sam. 10. 12.by whom they were directed and inſtructed, how to underſtand and anſwer thoſe celeſtiall influences; which ſhews that holineſs and ſanctifying grace was not enough.
So much more now, when there is more required from thoſe Servants and attendants, and leſſe beſtowed; for in the Apoſtles times, there was not only required ſanctifying grace, but alſo many other qualifications and endowments, to inable godly men for Offices, and publick adminiſtrations, as the Apoſtle ſhews at large: (o)1 Tim. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Tit. 1. 6, 7, 8, 9.which, if godlineſſe had bin enough, might have all bin ſpared, nam fruſtrâ fit per plura, quod fieri poteſt per panciora: as he ſaid, when they were debating an Embaſſadors inſtructions, mitte prudentem, & nihil dicito: ſo Paul might have ſaid, ſee they be godly men, and care for nothing elſe. The Apoſtles were not only holy, godly men, but had alſo their breeding and education under Jeſus Chriſt, for ſome years, yea had been uſed & accuſtomed unto the work, yet when they were to go alone, to encounter with the great and common enemy, they are commanded to tarry at Jeruſalem, until they were endued with power from on high.(p)Luk. 24. 4.
6. Set apart, that is, examined and tried, by men inabled and appointed thereunto; for they are not to be the Judges of their own abilities; for all are partiall to themſelves, and apt to think their own Geeſe Swans, Ante omnia videndum, ne ſuprà vires quid aggrediamur, quia ferè plus nobis videmur poſſe, quàm poſſumus: (q)Judg. 9. 28. 29.who is Shechem, that we ſhould ſerve him, and would this people were under my hand, then would I remove Abimelech: yet he found it not ſo eaſie, when he came to act it: every body can rule a ſhrew but he that hath her: its fit, mens forces ſhould be conſidered, before they be intruſted with great adventures: when David offered himſelf to go againſt Goliath, Saul takes a good account of him, upon what grounds he durſt adventure, upon ſuch a duel: and puts him not on, till he had given ſatisfaction: (r)1 Sam. 17. 33, 34, 35, 36.the very Deacons muſt be proved, before they be admitted Officers, (s)1 Tim. 3. 10much more the Miniſters: Timothy was dedicated and devoted to the work of God, by education under a godly Grandmother and Mother, (t)2 Tim. 2. 1. 5.and by prophecy, (u)1 Tim. 1. 18.and by the hand of Paul: (w)2 Tim. 1. 6yet all this would not ſerve, but he muſt have hands impoſed by the Presbytery: (x)1 Tim▪ 4. 14.and accordingly, he was to charge others, that they ſhould teach no other Doctrine, (y)1 Tim. 1. 3.nor lay hands on no man ſuddenly, (z)1 Tim. 5. 22.and Titus was left in Creet for the ſame reaſon: (a)Tit. 1. 5.both of them being able and confiding perſons: of whoſe fidelity and skill, the Apoſtle had had much experience, as he ſpeaks of Timothy.(b)Phil. 2. 22.
7. To attend: God ſayes, he is a great King, (c)Mal. 1. 14and muſt be waited on accordingly, as Solomon, that great King was: (d)1 King. 10. 5.never did God appear, without a great train and retinue: (e)Iſa. 6. 1, 2, 3, 4. Dan. 7. 9, 10.his Miniſters muſt be attendants on him, not come and go, when they ſee cauſe; but fixed and annexed to their Office, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, (f)Rom. 12. 7.God will not have his work done by any body, that can do it, but by thoſe that are deſigned and appointed, as that man called his own Servants to diſtribute and give his goods unto, (g)Mat. 25. 14and they muſt not be out of the way when they are called, but attend continually, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, (h)Rom. 13. 6.cannot depute and ſubſtitute another in their ſtead; as the Keepers of the Great Seale, at every ſealing muſt be preſent; ſo the Officers and Prieſts of God were to attend, and if a Stranger offered to come neere, though in good will, he was to be put to death, (i)Num. 1. 51.and if they were more ſlack and negligent, in putting this ſevere decree and rule in execution, God did it for them, as in the caſe of Ʋzzah, (k)2 Sam. 6▪ 6, 7.not that God intended they ſhould be drudges, and haraſs out themſelves, till they were ſpiritleſſe, and fit for nothing; for we ſee, he ſuccoured and relieved Moſes, when he did complain, (l)Num. 11. 16 17.according to the good advice, that Jethro his Father in law, had given to him, (m)Exod. 18. 19, 20.and though the Prieſts were to attend, and wait upon the ſervice in their courſes, as Solomon, by Davids direction, had appointed, (n)2 Chron. 8 14.and Zacharias doth accordingly attend: (o)Luk. 1. 8, 9yet there were four and twenty courſes, (p)1 Chron. 24. 18.ſo that it came unto their lot to attend, but one monethmonth in two years: and therefore Paul enjoyneth Timothy, to give himſelf wholly up to that attendance, (q)1 Tim. 4. 13, 15.and as now the caſe is with Miniſters, & thoſe that are to wait upon the holy things of God, all is too little: ſo much work to be done, ſo few to do it, ſo many lets within us, and without us: ſo few encouragements, that we may well ſay, with the Apoſtle, (r)2 Cor. 2. 16who is ſufficient for it, though he do nothing elſe.
8. And act: the Church without her Officers, is like the hulk and body of a Ship without her Tackle, Marriners, and Sea-men, and cannot move nor act no more then that can. The Church in Chriſts time was pretty wel equipped and accomodated, could move and ſaile within view of the Shore, and ſo were ordered to do, (ſ.)Mat. 10. 5.Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any City of the Samaritans enter ye not; they were not fit for buſtles and encounters yet, and therefore when their Pilot was departing and going from them, he bids them tarry at Jeruſalem, till he provided them a better and a fitter equipage: (t)Luk. 24. 49one ſayes a Ship is avis lignea, a wooden Bird, and a Bird we know cannot flye ſwiftly, except her wings and feathers be dry and ſmooth. God therefore, that he might inable the Church, his Arke, or wooden Bird, to fly the better, and encounter difficulties; ſends down according to his promiſe, wind and fire, both for to dry her moyſtened and ruffled feathers, and beare her up above the ſcornes and calumnies of popular and vulgar breath; (u)Act. 2. 2, 3, 4.And ſuddenly there came from heaven a ſound, as of a ruſhing mighty wind, and it filled all the houſe where they were ſitting; and there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it ſat upon each of them: and they were all filled with the holy Ghoſt, and began to ſpeak with other tongues, as the ſpirit gave them utterance. Fire is the moſt active element, and therefore was predominant in this accommodation, to ſhew that Miniſters ought to be active, are often in the Scripture called Angels, (w)Rev. 1. 20.the ſeven ſtars are the Angels of the ſeven Churches, and we know what's ſaid of them, (x)Pſal. 104. 4who maketh his Angels ſpirits, and his Miniſters a flaming fire; its true, God is to be attended with more then are to be imployed; (y)Pſal. 68. 17, 18.the charets of God are twenty thouſand, even thouſands of angels, ſo (z)Dan. 7. 10.ten thouſand times ten thouſand ſtood before him, yet all of them are to be Agents, able and apt to act what ſhall be ordered and appointed to them; ſo that if he ſay unto one go, he goes; to another come, and he comes; and to his ſervant, do this and he doeth it. (a)Luk. 7. 8.They ſay the Ruſſian Emperour, when any ſolemn entertainment is to be made, hath many Citizens, mechanick perſons arrayed and ſet out, to ſtand as Mutes in the ſolemnitie, and looke on; but God will have all his ſervants and attendants to be vowells, will have no blemiſhes that diſable unto action, will have no Idolls in the Church his holy Temple; that have mouthes and ſpeak not, eyes and ſee not, they have hands and handle not, feet have they and walk not, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks, (b)Pſa. 115. 5, 6, 7.and therefore that is eſpecially put in, that he be apt to teach, (c)1 Tim. 3. 2.and an unfitnes here, begets a nullity, as it doth in a knife that is not apt to cut, in an inſtrument that is not apt to ſound; as Ariſtotle ſayes, perforatus calix, non eſt mutilus, ſed nullus: an hole in an earthen veſſell, deſtroyes not onelyonly the beauty, but the being of it.
9. In holy things, that is the things of God, ſuch as the Temple and Altar were among the Jewes; (d)1 Cor. 9. 13and ſuch as the word Prayer, Sacramnt…s, and Cenſures, are among the Chriſtians; for as there were Guides and Overſeers in the Temple, to attend and order at Adminiſtrations, & the ſtranger that came nigh was to be put to death; (e)Num. 3. 38ſo in the Goſpell Adminiſtrations, ſome muſt be ſpecially provided and devo…ed unto theſe attendances and adminiſtrations; the Church of God is compared unto, and called the houſe of God, (f)1 Tim. 3. 15.as therefore in a ſettled well-ordered houſe, there alwayes is and muſt be, ſome body to overſee and act in all domeſtick adminiſtrations; ſo in the Church, the Apoſtle makes the parralel, (g)1 Tim. 3. 4, 5.One that ruleth well his owne houſe, having his children in ſubjection, with all gravity; for if a man know not how to rule his own houſe, how ſhall he take cart of the Church of God? The Miniſters of the Goſpel are and ought to be Maſters of the Aſſemblies, as the wiſe man ſpeaks, (h)Eccl. 12. 11.that the meeting may not be confuſed, and the more part know not wherefore they come together, as it is ſaid of that confuſed company; (f) for though the Scriptures (i)Act. 19. 32be the Word of God, and able to make us wiſe unto ſalvation, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, (k)2 Tim. 3. 15.yet without a guide all cannot underſtand them; (l)Act. 8. 30. 31.there is eternal life involved and bound up in that Book, but they muſt be ſearched before that can be found, (m)Joh. 5. 39.they muſt be opened and divided by a Work-man, (n)2. Tim. 2. 15.that every Son and Servant in the houſe may have his portion, and allowance in convenient time, (o)Luk. 12. 42that there be no plaiſtering and daubing over with untempered morter, as the Prophets ſpeaks; (p)Ezek. 13. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.that is, becauſe with lies they make the hearts of the righteous ſad, whom the Lord hath not made ſad; and ſtrengthened the hands of the wicked that he ſhould not return from his wicked way, by promiſing him life.(q)Verſ. 22.
So for the Sacraments, Gods Great Seales, as Circumciſion is expreſly called; (r)Rom. 4. 11.and by a reall and juſt proportion, the other may be: that they be not ſet unto a Blank or to a Patent, that is not warrantable and authentick; and therefore may be confided in the hands of ſuch as God hath ordered and autberized to be keepers of them: (s)Mat. …8. 19, 20. 1 Cor. 11 23.and ſo for Prayer, another great part of miniſteriall office, (t)Acts 6. 4.that it be offered up to God, by one that is an Advocate in Office, in the ſtead of Chriſt, (u)2 Cor. 5. 20Gods mouth unto the people, as the Prophet is expreſly called, (w)Jer. 15. 9.and th… People likewiſe unto God, as Moſes is expreſly ſaid to be; (x)Deut. 5. 27▪ Exod. 19. 8, 9.not that we think a private godly Chriſtian may not pray, no, we acknowledge that he may and muſt; (y)1 Theſſ. 5. 17.but we thinke there is a Publique Service, or Sacrifice of Prayer, that muſt not be offered up without an Officer, (z)Jam. 5. 14, 15.repreſenting Jeſus Chriſt, who is our onelyonly effectual authentick Advocate and Interceſſor to his Heavenly Father. (a)Heb. 7. 25.For as the Judges of the Courts at Weſtminſter, will not have ignorant unskilfull perſons plead before them, becauſe the Termes a…e ſhort, and Cauſes many. So God loves thoſe ſhould pray to him that doe ſpeake ſence and come unto the point; and therefore our Saviour Chriſt hath expreſly ſaid, (b)Mat. 6. 7, 8.foreign, uſe not vain repetitions as the Heathen do; and eſpecially Baltus a Poet, infamous for his empty and unſeemly repetition…; one may ſay much in few words, and little in many, if he be not carefull and intent on what he ſpeaks; as Tacitus, Druſum paucioribus lauda…nt, ſed intentiori, & fida oratione.
And for the Cenſures, no doubt a Rod in School, is not more needfull then in the Church; for its as true of Gods Servants as of ours, that they will not be corrected with words, for though they underſtand, they will not anſwer; (c)Pro. 29▪ 19but the extreames are very hard to be avoided, Paul had it ready, and lets them know ſo much, (d)1 Cor. 4 21offers them which they would; a good Phyſician is not willing for to lance and burn, but is ſome times forced by his Patients inordinateneſſe, intemperans aeger crudelem facit medicum, makes him do that which if not forced to it, would be accounted cruelty. God loves his Children as well a… we do ours, but dotes not on them, non ut mater, ſed ut pater, diligit Deus; and ſo if they provoke him, and put him to it, can and will correct and chaſten them, (e)Heb. 12. 6, 7but it ſhould be in the Church, as it is in many Grammar-Schooles; many devices and inventions found out to keep off whipping, that the commonneſs of it bring it not into contempt, and blunt the edge of it; for if the ſhame and terror of the cenſure be grown familiar, the ſhame and terror of it will abate, as he ſaid well, videbis ea ſaepius committi, quae ſaepe puniuntur, the ſpur oft uſed will make the Horſe neglect the uſe of it; our preaching therefore ſhould rebuke our hearers, as the Apoſtle orders, (f)2 Tim. 4. 2.and private admonition ſhould ſucceed, and ſecond that, as our Saviour hath directed, (g)Mat. 18 15, 16.and the cutting off, ſhould be reſerved for extream neceſſity.
10. We ſay, with more aſſurance, he that adventures on thoſe dangerous and great attempts, that is, to turn men from darkneſſe, unto light; from the power of Satan, unto God, as the Apoſtle ſpeakes, (h)Act. 26. 18.had need be very well aſſured of his Call, his Miſſion, and Commiſſion; its well ſaid, ad pauca reſpicientes, facile pronunciant, they leap eaſily that look but a little way before them; its an eaſie matter to ingage and undertake, but not to execute and come off. The Duke of Savoies Fool chanced to be preſent at a Debate about invading Switzerland, and on a ſudden fell into a great laughter; and being aſked why hee laughed, told them, becauſe every body adviſed how to go in, but no body conſidered how they ſhould come out, in caſe the enter priſe ſucceeded not: we like thoſe Leaders in an Army, that conſider how they ſhall eſcape in caſe they ſhould be worſted; our Saviour therefore doth inculcate, ever and anon, and reiterate, and mind them of their call; they had his promiſe and aſſurance in it, that they ſhould catch men as now they did fiſh; (i)Mat. 4. 19. Luk. 5. 10.yet he calls them over again, and gives them more aſſurance of their being Officers, (k)Mat. 10. 1, 2. Luk. 6. 13.and they found his preſence with them in a ſpeciall manner in the execution of their office, which was a great aſſurance and ſecurity; (l)Luk. 10. 17.yet after he was riſen from the dead, he gives another miſſion and aſſurance, (m)Mat. 28. 19 20. Joh. 20. 21, 22, 23.and as if that ſtill were little and defective, and did not ſufficiently aſſure and ſettle them, againſt thoſe great encounters they were to undergo; he bids them tarry at Jeruſalem untill they had a greater power afforded to them, (n)Luk. 24. 49.and becauſe Paul was to encounter with more enemies then any of them, and had not his Commiſſion ſealed ſo ſoon as they; he had ſucceſſive promiſes at his converſion, (o)Act. 26. 17.delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles unto whom now I ſend thee, and when he was come to Jeruſalem, and the diſciples were all afraid of him, yet he was by Barnabas commended to them, and received, (p)Act. 9. 26. 27, 28.yet when he had preached fourteen years among the Gentiles, he is received by James, Cephas, and John, who gave to him & Barnabas, the right hand of fellowſhip, (q)Gal. 2. 9, 10which was another confirmation, ſo a man would think he was ſufficiently aſſured and encouraged; yet when he was at Corinth, the Lord himſelfe again appeared to him, and aſſured him that he was with him in the work; (r)Act. 18. 9, 10.ſo that he had warm cloathes continually brought to him, to encourage and ſupport him: So when he writes to Timothy of the great Apoſtacie, and falling off, that was like to follow in the laſt dayes; he ſettles him upon this ground, that he was well aſſured of what he was inſtructed in, (ſ)2 Tim. 3. 14continue thou in the things which thou haſt learned, and haſt been aſſured of, knowing of whom thou haſt learned them. It is as dangerous to b…ing men home to God, as to rob a Beare of her Whelps, and he that goes to fetch the Beares Whelps from her, had need be very well aſſured of his Call. (t)Pro. 17. 12.When ſtormes at ſea indanger all, their comfort and aſſurance is, the lawfulneſſe and good aſſurance of their Call; but if a man ſhould put himſelfe into a veſſel for wantonneſs and curioſity, and ſhould be driven ſuddenly into the ſea, & ſeized by Pyrats, it would be ſad to beare that cruell bondage upon ſo ſlender an account; yet here the danger is greater, becauſe they do tranſgreſſe the bounds which God himſelf hath ſet, and ſeldom is their puniſhment without ſome mark of terrour and aſtoniſhment, as Corahs was, and his Aſſociates.(u)Num. 16.
11. We ſay, with more authority then others, aſſurance and authority eſtabliſh one another; for if one be aſſured of his Call, he hath authority: when Chriſt ſent out his Twelve Apoſtles, its ſaid expreſly, (w)Luk. 9. 1.that he gave them authority over all Devils, as if before, ſome Devils were at liberty: as that kind, that came not forth, but by faſting and prayer; (x)Mar. 9. 29but after they had this Commiſſion, none ſtood before them, and a very full authority it was, they had, and therefore he aſſures them before, that he had a plenipotency: (y)Mat. 28. 18all power in Heaven and Earth; and what his Father gave him, he gave them, as far as they were capable, and could receive and entertain it, (z)Joh. 17. 22.and what was needful to their Office, they did and could receive, not for them only; but alſo for their ſucceſſors, unto the worlds end; for he cloſeth his Commiſſion, with this aſſertion, and aſſurance, that he would be with them, unto the worlds end. (a)Mat. 28. 20It falls out often here in this world, that many promiſe fair, whilſt they are in purſuit, of ſome enjoyment and ſatisfaction, that is in their eye; but when they have atchieved and attained, what they proſecuted, forget their promiſes; as Pharoahs Butler, did his promiſe and engagement unto Joſeph; (b)Gen. 40. 23.but Chriſt forgets not what he promiſed his Servants, but when he had attained what he aimed at, was ſetled and poſſeſſed of his Kingdom, aſcended up on high, was out of danger, now himſelf: had led captivity captive, had all his enemies his foot-ſtoole, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks, (c)Pſal. 110. 1.yet he gives gifts to men, ſome Apoſtles, ſome Prophets, ſome Evangeliſts, ſome Paſtors and Teachers; for the perfecting of the Saints, the work of the Miniſtry, the edifying of the body of Chriſt, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſſe of Chriſt, (d)Eph. 4. 11, 12, 13.that is, till we be come to Heaven, and are paſt faith and hope, all Acts and Ordinances, that help us in the way, and ſuppoſe infirmity and imperfection: and this Authority, Paul and the reſt, not only exerciſed and uſed themſelves; but give directions unto others alſo, for to uſe, as unto Titus, (e)Tit. 2. 15.theſe things ſpeak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority: let no man deſpiſe thee. And becauſe Timothy was but a young man, and wanted that authority, which age and gray hairs give, he gives direction to make that up by converſation, which courſe of years gave not, (f)1 Tim. 4. 12let no man deſpiſe thy youth; but be thou an example of believers, in word, in converſation, in charity, in ſpirit, in faith, in purity. Theſe graces he was ſure would purchaſe and beget authority a little ſooner then the ordinary time and courſe of years, would bring it: and it was not ordinary to admit of young men, an Elder and a Miniſter, being in the Scripture of the new Teſtament, of great affinity, becauſe their very years procured ſome authority to what they ſaid; and it is as needful and as uſeful now, as ever, that a Miniſter ſhould be a man of gravity and ſeniority, that they may, by that means, have ſome authority annexed unto what they ſay, which an ordinary perſon, that hath never been abroad, that was never from the place of his nativity, can hardly have: whereas thoſe that have ſpent their younger years in ſtudy, and have been out of ſight, have by their very abſence and diſtance, gotten ſome opinion and reputation; nam major reverentia, è longinquo, they would not entertain our Saviours Doctrine, becauſe he was their Neighbour, and bred among them; (g)Mat. 13. 54, 55, 56, 57.but when a man hath been abroad, hath been in ſome great famous Univerſity, annum jam audientem Cratippum, id que Athenis, and then is ſifted and examined, and afterwards admitted, and made a Miniſter, it carries reputation with it, and more authority then another can have, though of equal parts and gifts: as the ſame words, to a priſoner, by one that is a Judge, and hath Commiſſion of Oyer and Terminer, have more authority and influence, then if ſpoken to him, by one not in office. Though the private perſon, be the abler Orator, and have more dexterity, in expreſſing of himſelf: Women can ſpeak well many times, and their affections make them eloquent and apt to ſpeak, yet the Apoſtle calls it uſurpation, to exerciſe this faculty of theirs, in publick meetings of Gods people, (h)1 Tim. 2. 12.becauſe they could not do it, in the hearing and ſight of men, with that authority that was required.
12. We ſay, that all this ought to be in every ſetled, well ordered Church, beſide the labours and endeavours of godly, well-affected, private Chriſtians: theſe are diverſa, but not oppoſita: divers, but not diſſenting or oppoſing one another: Church-work, is for the moſt part ſlow, and many hands may be imployed, provided that they be ſubordinate to one another, that the Maſter-builders be allowed to give directions: as in an Army many hands may, yea muſt be imployed; but ranks and files muſt be obſerved: the Officers muſt give out Orders and Commands, and the common Souldiers execute: as in the body there are many Members, yet all ſubordinate unto the head: in a Ship there are many Marriners and Souldiers, yet all under one Generall, and duly diſtributed into different, diſtinct, and ſeveral ſubordinations: ſo in the Church, good people may have uſe enough, of all their parts and gifts, of all their faculties and graces, and yet need Miniſters, to guide and lead them to teach in publick, and with more authority then they; for the Church conſiſteth, and is made up of many ſmall ſocieties and bodies; and every little body hath ability to govern and direct it ſelf: yet in ſubordination to the whole. In a Grammar-School, the upper forms, can order and direct the lower, yet there is uſe of, and need of Maſters: in a Town there be ſome that have good medicines for the ſtone and tooth-ach, yet there muſt be Phyſitians: in a Ship, there be many that can ſteere, and underſtand the Card and Compaſſe, yet there is uſe of Pilots: ſo in a ſetled and well-ordered Church, there may be many that can ſpeak of good things, that can inſtruct and catechiſe their families, that can admoniſh one another, and exhort and comfort, as there is occaſion offered and afforded: yet for all this, in thoſe very places ſome ſhould be ſet apart, to attend and act in holy things, beſide the labours and endeavours of theſe godly, well-affected, private Chriſtians.