The Pulpits Patronage Against Unordained Usurpation, Part 2 · Chapter 4

The Pulpits Patronage Against Unordained Usurpation · Part 2 · Chapter 4

p. 187CHAP. IV. Shewing what power people ought to have in Ordination.

THat we may not be injurious to thoſe, for whom we are, and to whoſe good our labours and endeavours tend; for we may ſay as Paul doth, (a)(a)2 Cor. 1. 6.2 Cor 1:6whether we be afflicted, it is for your conſolation and ſalvation, or whether we be comforted, it is for your conſolation and ſalvation; Whether we be well, or whether we be ill, it is the people that are prejudiced, or profited therein; it were therefore very improper for us, to depreſs the people, that we might preſſe them, to deny them what we purpoſe and reſolve to give them; in this deſign and vindication of our Miniſtry, our ſcope and purpoſe is, to ſave the people from obtruders and invaders, to furniſh them with able paſtors, to ſhut out ſuch as would ſeduce them, & may truly ſay with the Apoſtle, (b)(b)1 Joh. 2. 26.1 John 2:26theſe things we have written to you, concerning thoſe that ſeduce you. We ſhould not therefore be true unto our ſelves, if we ſhould in any thing intrench upon the peoples Intereſt, oppoſe their good, or interpoſe unto their prejudice and dammage. What God alowes them, the Lord forbid that we ſhould diſallow, or any way diminiſh: we ſhall therefore ſet down our ſenſe, in theſe ſucceeding propoſitions and particulars, and be (as we preſume) their Advoca…es and p. 188Patrons, make out unto them, what the Scripture doth in title them unto, and barre them from preſuming beyond their bounds, unto their own and others ruine.

1. People are under manifold capacities; what ever was entailed upon them, and they might challenge by creation, they loſt and were deprived of in Adams fall, for that good was all conditional, and a nomine poene annexed to the failing; (c)(c)Gen. 2. 17.Gen 2:17for in the day that thou eateſt theeof thou ſhalt ſurely die. By which tranſgreſſion of the firſt man, all was forfeited, that God hath offered in that Covenant. And though its true, and we acknowledge that there was another Covenant made, in which there was a reſtitution, yet that was limitted according to the will and wiſdom of the maker; for Adam and his iſſue in the ſecond Covenant, did not treat as parties, but took ſuch termes as the Lord was pleaſed to allow them, who having forfeited, did yield unto diſcretion, and were willing and glad to take ſuch Articles, as an abſolute offended Lord was now in mercy pleaſed to afford. And they were not alike abundant, in reſpect and favour unto all the Sons of Adam.

All had a freedom from that inevitable doom, of periſhing and dying preſently, denounced to them in the Covenant, as we have ſhewed before, and were reprieved, and admitted unto an after-game, and Heaven promiſed unto the winners, in termes obſcure and dark at the firſt publiſhing (d)(d)Gen. 3. 15.Gen 3:15; but after expounded, and known to p. 189be a promiſe of eternal life, to ſuch as ſhould believe on Ieſus Chriſt, obſcurely then expreſſed by the womans ſeed; (e)(e)Joh. 3. 16.John 3:16for God ſo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth in him, ſhould not periſh, but have life everlaſting. Now a conditional Covenant, becomes excluſive to the non-performers of the condition, and therefore until men do either actually believe on Ieſus Chriſt, or become the Children of believing Parents, whereby a Covenant or federall holineſs is gotten, as the Apoſtle ſhews (f)(f)1 Cor. 7. 141 Cor 7:14, they are excluded from any priviledge reſtored in the ſecond Covenant; and in this caſe, were all the Nations but the Iews, before our Saviours comming in the fleſh, who in times paſt, ſuffered all Nations to walk in their own wayes (g)(g)Act. 14. 16Acts 14:16, and ſo at that time, they were without Chriſt, being aliens from the Common-wealth of Iſrael, and ſtrangers from the Covenants of promiſe, having no hope, and without God in the world (h)(h)Eph. 2. 12.Eph 2:12; and in this condition, it will eaſily be granted, they had no right, no more then ſtrangers have, to make the Conſtables and Third-burrows in Towns and Pariſhes wherein they dwell not; but when they do repent and turn to God, and are baptiſed, and admitted thereby members, they have the right belonging unto Covenanters, and viſible Saints, and members of the Church of Chriſt; and that not only for themſelves, but for their iſſue and poſterity, according to the Covenant made with Abraham, (i)(i)Gen. 17 7, 8.Gen 17:7Gen 17:8to be a God unto thee, and to thy ſeed after thee; and ſo baptiſed Infants come to have a right, to whatſoever priviledge p. 190they have capacity for to enjoy, and uſe, and that is receptivity of what infuſions and ſprinklings of the grace of God, he ſhall be pleaſed to beſtow upon them (k)(k)Ezek. 36. 25, 26, 27.Ezek 36:25Ezek 36:26Ezek 36:27; but this will not inable them, to chuſe their Miniſter, or act at all therein, until they have the uſe of reaſon, and it doth appear by their cariage and behaviour, that their reaſon is maſtered by the grace of God, and they taught to deny ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, and to live righteouſly, ſoberly, and godly in this preſent world (l)(l)Tit. 2. 11, 12.Titus 2:11Titus 2:12.

2. When men are grown up, and have reaſon to believe they are converted, they may not only work out their own ſalvation (as the Apoſtle ſpeaks) (m)(m)Phil. …. 12.; but alſo take to heart, the good and welfare of the Church, may mind the good of all their Chriſtian friends and Brethren, if I forget thee (O Jeruſalem) let my right hand forget her cunning, if I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the root of my mouth, if I prefer not Jeruſalem above my chief joy (n)(n)Pſal. 137. 5, 6.Ps 137:5Ps 137:6: and becauſe they may quickly finde ſome places ill provided for, they may be ſory for them, and wiſh them better; if they ſee the harveſt to be great, and the Labourers to be few, they may pray to the Lord of the Harveſt, that he would ſend forth Labourers into his Harveſt (o)(o)Mat. 9. 37, 38.Matt 9:37Matt 9:38; and if they be acquainted with any ſuch as be deſigned and intended by inclination, education, purpoſe, diſpoſition, or deſire, for that great work of miniſterial adminiſtrations, they may take more eſpecial notice of them, and inquire into them, and by talking, queſtioning, diſcourſing with them, may trie, whether p. 191there be any work of grace upon their ſouls, whereof they may be proper Iudges; for ſavory ſpeeches, are good ſignes of grace (p)(p)Eph. 4. 29.Eph 4:29, and there will quickly be a ſympathy, and ſence between them, as the Prophet, (q)(q)Mal. 3. 16.Mal 3:16then they that feared the Lord, ſpake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared the Lord, and thought upon his name; and when they have ſearched and ſeen into them, they may record their names (if they pleaſe) or make ſuch other obſervation of them, as may occaſion them to ſpeak of them, and when any body doth enquire of a good Miniſter, to recommend and offer them to thoſe that want ſuch; for if we may and muſt mark thoſe that cauſe diviſions and offences, contrary to the Doctrine we have learned, to avoid them (r)(r)Rom. 16. 17.Rom 16:17; yea, note them, and ſet them down, and have no company with them, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks (s)(s)2 Theſ. 3. 14.2 Thess 3:14: then may we note and mark them alſo, that are apt and likely to do good, that we find inclined and diſpoſed to ſo good a work; yea if we find them not ſo well provided and inclined, we may incourage and perſwade them to it; we may read and ſtudy men, as well as books, ye are our Epiſtle written in our hearts, known and read of all men (t)(t)2 Cor. 3. 2.2 Cor 3:2, and may put forward any good deſire, a duty expreſly required of us, (u)(u)Heb. 10. 24Heb 10:24and let us conſider one another, to provoke unto love, and to good works, and ſo we may be ſerviceable to the Church of God.

p. 1923. Being thus provided and furniſhed with Intelligence, we may acquaint the Officers, and ſuch as are imployed to make enquiry, with what we know and have obſerved; for Eccleſiaſtical, as well as Civil Governours, muſt ſee and hear, with the eyes and ears of other men, and muſt receive Certificates, and informations from other men, and ſhould deſpiſe none that ſpeak innocently and ſincerely, how weak ſoever, aliquando eſt olitor opportuna loqutus, the ſtander by may ſee more then the Gameſter, a little Maid, that was carried captive out of Iſrael, tells Naamans Wife of the Prophet in Samaria, that would cure her Maſter of his Leproſie (w)(w)a King. 5. 2, 3.; and we find the moſt able ſeers in the Church, make uſe of other mens abilities, to find out fit materials for theſe holy Veſſels: (x)(x)Act. 6. 3.Acts 6:3look ye out among you ſeven men of honeſt report, full of the holy Ghoſt, whom we may appoint over this buſineſs; for they may ſooner and better finde, what reputation men are of, then thoſe that are the Officers, and muſt ordain them; for a Miniſter muſt have a moſt unblemiſht reputation, a good report of them that are without, leſt he fall into reproach, and the ſnare of the Devil (y)(y)1 Tim. 3. 7.1 Tim 3:7. Although its true, that God may, and ſometimes doth take thoſe up that are not well reported of (z)(z)Act. 9. 13, 14, 15.Acts 9:13Acts 9:14Acts 9:15, becauſe he can ſee through it, perceive a Saint under the ſhape and out-ſide of a perſecuting ſinner, yet we muſt not adventure; they muſt in this be like unto a Demetrius (a)(a)3 Joh. 12.3 John 1:12, that had good report of all men, and of the truth it ſelf. How great an Inſtrument was David to the Church of God? yet the firſt ground of all p. 193his greatneſs, flowes from a good report he had abroad among the Courtiers, and ſervants of Saul; when Saul enquired for a skilful Harper, one of his ſervants tells him, behold I have ſeen a ſon of Jeſſe the Bethlemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of warre, and prudent, in matters, and a comly perſon, and the Lord is with him (b)(b)1 Sam, 16. 18., a report that none of his own Family would give the Prophet, when he came on purpoſe to make enquiry (c)(c)v. 5, 6.: ſo that good ſouldier ſends unto Chriſt the Elders of the Jews, who give him ſuch a teſtimonial, as did incourage Chriſt to heal his ſervant (d)(d)Luk. 7. 4, 5.Luke 7:4Luke 7:5.

4. He may be preſent, and aſſiſt at Ordinations, for that is not done in a corner, but praeſente, & aſſiſtente plebe, in the preſence, and by the aſſiſtance of the people, in open Aſſemblies and Congregations of the Saints and people of God, attended with faſting, praying, preaching, wherein the people may concur; yea ſo far was this influence and concurrence of the people weighed and conſidered, that Ordination was confined and limitted to four certain times, called therefore the ember weeks, and appointed times of faſting and prayer, to crave a ſpecial bleſſing upon thoſe that were then to be ordained; which though they be not now obſerved, yet the ſolemn meetings and Aſſemblies are, wherein the people may be and are a part, where they may faſt and pray, may lift up holy hands without wrath or doubting (e)(e)1 Tim. …. ….: may ſay Amen, to what they ſee and hear, if they approve of p. 194it, which is the proper buſineſs of the private perſon, as the Apoſtle ſhews (f)(f)1 Cor. 14. 16.1 Cor 14:16; if he have any juſt exception againſt any one that is to be ordained, he may, in an humble modeſt way, declare and make it known, and ought for to be heard, and his exceptions weighed: and this is ſomewhat, which God gives the people in this great work of Ordination.

5. Having thus far acted, as a Member of the Catholick and univerſal Church of Chriſt, he is yet inabled unto ſomewhat, as he is capable of being planted into ſome ſociety, or particular Congregation; for if his habitation be not fixed, he hath a liberty to plant himſelf, where he ſhall think there is an able paſtor; for doubtleſs, thoſe that are at liberty, may uſe it (g)(g)1 Cor. 7. 211 Cor 7:21, as well for the good of their ſouls, as the conceniency of their outward man; when Abraham comes again into the Land of Canaan, he faſtens on a place that had an Altar (h)(h)Gen. 13. 4.Gen 13:4; though men be bound to have a Miniſter, and will not grow and thrive in grace without one, for they were given for the perfecting of the Saints, and the edification of the body of Chriſt (i)(i)Eph. 4. 12.Eph 4:12; yet they may make their choice. Clothes are an addition, or perfection of our bodies, and therefore we are willing to have a Workman make them, that neither he nor we may be aſhamed of it: how much more careful ſhould we be, to chuſe one for to make the Garments of our ſouls, that is a Workman that needeth not to be aſhamed, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks (k)(k)2 Tim. 2. 15.2 Tim 2:15? as Doves and Pigeons chuſe the faireſt p. 195and cleaneſt houſes, to make their neſts in, and to adventure and breed their young ones in, ad candida tecta columbae, and the Prophet ſets out believers flocking to the chiefeſt or Mother-Church, by this ſimilitude, (l)(l)Iſa. 60. 8.Isa 60:8who are theſe that flie as a Cloud, and as the Doves to their windows? and in this ſence, there is no doubt, but a ſervant and ſaint of God may chuſe his Paſtor; Chriſts ſheep may chuſe their Shepheard, as Chriſt ſhews, (m)(m)Joh. 10. 4, 5. lJohn 10:4John 10:5the ſheep follow him, for they know his voice, and a ſtranger they will not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of ſtrangers: here the Election of the people is ſufficient, for it only doth appropriate that to me, that was before eſtabliſht in the Church.

6. If the Paſtor of the place they live in die, or be removed to another charge, the godly party in that Aſſembly and ſociety, may look out for another, under whom they may be willing to continue, and unto whom they may be willing to ſubmit, or they may compromit, and make their voices over to ſome one among them, whom they think have better opportunities, and abilities, to chuſe one for them, and may treat with him of ſuch concernments, as doth belong unto accomodating his aboad, & exerciſe of his abilities among them, may go or ſend to hear him, may enquire of him, and if they do agree, may move their Governours to ſettle him, and fix him with them, by ſuch proviſions as are then and there uſed: as when Judas by tranſgreſſion fell from his Apoſtleſhip, to p. 196go to his own place, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks (n)(n)Act. 1. 25.Acts 1:25: they ſhew the neceſſity of having another in his room, to be a witneſs of his Reſurrection, and by concurrent and joynt conſent, pitch upon two, that wer ſo qualified, as an Apoſtle ſhould be, to the beſt and utmoſt of their power, yet withall, conſidering that they did not look into their hearts, nor could not, and therefore after all their care might be deceived, for humanum eſt errare, they appeal by lot to him that could not be deceived, and when God had appeared in it, he was accounted an Apoſtle, as it is (p)(p)Act. 1. 26.Acts 1:26: here there appears a joynt concurrence and aſſent of all that Company, wherein there were ſome common Chriſtians, that were not Officers, as may be gathered (q)(q)Act. 1. …4.Acts 1:4: and certain it is, plus vident oculi, two eyes ſee more then one; and the peoples information upon experience and intelligence may be of uſe, and muſt not be neglected where it may be had. But if they know of none, already entred and ordained, they muſt repair unto their Officers, and crave their aid, in furniſhing their vacant place, either by removing and fixing one among them, that is already an ordained Miniſter; or if they know of none ſuch, they muſt intreat them to look among the Candidates, and perſons qualified and willing to be imployed, for ſuch an one, and to ordain and ſend him to them, as God in his providence, in that Viſion doth ſeem to ſhadow out unto us, (r)(r)Act. 16. 9.Acts 16:9There ſtood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, ſaying, Come over into Macedonia and help us: and ſo the Grecians, when they ſaw their Widows were neglected, do p. 197murmure their requeſts and ſupplications to the Officers, to be ſupplyed (s)(s)Act. 6. 1.Acts 6:1; and if the people ſhould herein be ſlack and careleſs, the Officers may look to it, and make proviſion for them; for what elſe is it to take the over-ſight of them, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks (t)(t)1 Pet. 5. 2.1 Pet 5:2, or be made over-ſeers as the Elders of Epheſus are ſaid to be (u)(u)Act. 20. 28.Acts 20:28? for ſo when Antioch was diſturbed about the point of Circumciſion, the Apoſtles and Elders at Jeruſalem, do not only determine and decide the doubt, but ſend Judas and Sylas to confirm and ſettle them (w)(w)Acts 15. 32.Acts 15:32; as at their firſt Converſion they had done Barnabas (x)(x)Act. 11. 22 23, …4.Acts 11:22.

7. If the Governours do chuſe one for them, that in their judgement may be ſerviceable to them, and ſupply them, yet they are not preſently for to impoſe him on them, but they muſt ſend him to be made acquainted with them, and they with him; where the people may conſider of the loudneſs and cleerneſs of his voice, of the unblamableneſs of his carriage where formerly he did converſe, of the grace of God in him, and the Work of Grace upon him, for the godly people muſt be Judges, where they may be; and in point of voice and utterance, Judicium eſt penes auditores, the ear trieth words, even as the mouth taſteth meats (y)(y)Job 34. 3.Job 34:3; there is a reliſh in a good man that will quickly find the ſavourineſs of our diſcourſe, or teaching, for though the Officers be over-ſeers, yet Lords they muſt be not, the people are Gods heritage (z)(z)1 Pet. 5. 3.1 Pet 5:3, and muſt be treated fai…ly, and as becometh p. 198ſuch; its truly ſaid, Non diſputamus de guſtibus, it might be taken for a freſh-mans act, if two ſhould argue whether drink were ſweet or ſoure, ſtrong or ſmall; thoſe that ſell cheeſe do not declaim about the ſharpneſs and keenneſs of their cheeſe, but keep a piece cut by them for him that cheapneth to taſte; for as the buyer ſaith, it is naught (a)(a)Prov. 20. …4.Prov 20:4, ſo the ſeller, it is good; laudat venales quas vult obtrudere merces: a taſte or tryal is the beſt decider of the doubt, and umpire in it, and he that is ſpiritual judgeth all things (b)(b)1 Cor. 2 151 Cor 2:15.

8. Becauſe all are not good and ſpirituall that would be thought ſo, nor all good mens palates uninfected and undiſtempred, there ſhould be in the Church a power fixed to determin doubts that do or may ariſe; Superintendents are retained in many places where the Biſhops are removed; the Officers and Over-ſeers may over-ſee, and ſo may people; where ſhould one look for an impartiall and unſtained judgment if not in Paul and Barnabas? yet theſe good men were not unbiaſſed, for Barnabas reſolves to take John Mark, with them, and Paul would not (b)(b)Acts 15. 37, 38, 39.Acts 15:37Acts 15:38Acts 15:39; where was the bias? Mark was Barnabas ſiſters ſon, as ye have it (c)(c)Col. 4. …0.Col 4, and therefore Barnabas would not part with him; our Saviour Chriſt had need be very mercifull, or that expreſſion be blotted out, (d)(d)Luk. 14. 26Luke 14:26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and ſiſters, yea, and his own life alſo, he cannot be my Diſciple, for we find few of thoſe that have the power of preferring Miniſters, to be p. 199thus rude, ungratefull, and uncivill to their kindred and relations. Its ſaid indeed of Levi, in that terrible Criſis about the golden Calf, (e)(e)Deut. 33▪Deut 33Who ſaid unto his father and his mother, I have not ſeene him, neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children; but we have not read it of any other Tribe; Relations, and reſpects bear ſway with good men many times, look after able men, but enquire, whether he will let them have good penyworths, whether they be able any way to go beyond him, or prey upon him; therefore there ſhould be ſome uninte…eſted power to over-rule and keep the ballance even, to prevent this partiality, and preferring of the body be…o…e the ſoul. Paul had in his time experience of this ſelf-ſeeking, (f)(f)Phil. 2. 20, 21, 2….Phil 2:20Phil 2:21Phil 2:2I have no man like minded, who will naturally care for your affairs, for all ſeek their own, not the things which are Jeſus Chriſts; when therefore he had le…t him in his turn at Epheſus, he gives him a moſt ſolemn charge not to preferre one before another, to do nothing by partiality, to lay hands on no man ſuddenly, neither be partaker of other mens ſins (g)(g)… Tim. 5. 20, 21, 22.: it is of much concernment with whom we live, of much more with whom we feed, moſt, of whom we ſuck and are relieved and nouriſhed.

Object. 1. Miniſters are ſervants to the Saints and People of God, (h)(h)2 Cor. 4. 5.2 Cor 4:5For we preach not our ſelves, but Jeſus Chriſt the Lord, and our ſelves, your ſervants for Jeſus ſake; it will be eaſily acknowle…ged, that Miniſters are Chriſt, (i)(i)1 Cor. 4. 1.1 Cor 4:1let a man ſo account of us as of the Miniſters of Chriſt, and that he may therefore p. 200diſpoſe of them, and give them to whom he will, for what may not I (ſaith he in the parable) do what I will with mine own (k)(k)Mat. …0. 15? and we find he hath given them already to Gods people, for when he a…cended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men (l)(l)Eph 4. 8.Eph 4:8; for the opening of this, two things muſt be demonſtrated, 1. What thoſe gifts were, 2. To whom he gave them; for the firſt of theſe, the gifts undoubtedly were Miniſters, for ſo he ſaies, (m)(m)Eph. 4. 11Eph 4:11he gave ſome Apoſtles, and ſome Prophets, and ſome Evangeliſts, and ſome Paſtors and Teachers, and its apparent that he gave them to the Saints and People of God, for ſo it follows, (n)(n)v. 12.for the perfecting of the Saints, the work of the Miniſtry, for the edifying of the body of Chriſt, that is, for the uſe and ſervice of Gods people, as the Apoſtle doth more plainly and properly expreſſe himſelf, (o)(o)1 Cor. 3. 21 22.1 Cor 3:21let no man glorie in men, for all things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollo, or Cephas, for it was, and ſtill is the manner of the Eaſtern Countries to give Servants, as Laban gave unto his daughter Leah, Zilpha his maid for an hand maid (p)(p)Gen. 29. 24Gen 29:24, and Pharaoh to teſtifie the great reſpects he bore unto Abraham, gave him men ſervants and maid ſervants (q)(q)Gen. 12. 16Gen 12:16. It is the top and ac…me of the Miniſters preferment, that they are called Angells, (r)(r)Mal. 2. 7.Mal 2:7for he is the Meſſenger or Angell of the Lord of Hoſts; ſo our Saviour, (s)(s)Rev. 1. 23.Rev 1:23the ſeven ſtars are the Angels of the ſeven Churches, and the ſeven Candleſticks are the ſeven Churches, yet even theſe, are miniſtring Spirits, ſent forth to miniſter for them who ſhall be heirs of ſalvation (t)(t)Heb. 1. 14.Heb 1:14.

Now all will grant, a man ſhould chuſe his p. 201Servants, as Saul, when he ſaw any ſtrong man, or valiant man, he took him to hm (u)(u)1 Sam. 14. 52.1 Sam 14:52, and we have Statutes in every County, where men may go and chuſe their Servants, as Officers do Souldiers, (w)(w)2. 7.that he may pleaſe him who hath choſen him to be a Souldier: Its a unſuall brag for men to ſay they have been ſo long in the ſervice of the Parliament, and when a party is overcome, to take ſervice under him that is the Conquerer, and its undoubted, for the people are they who do maintain them, and be it better or be it worſe, be ruled by him that bears the purſe, he that gives pay hath power.

Sol. 1. Thoſe that will leane hard, and put their weight and ſtreſſe upon a conſequence, had need to make it very ſtrong, and that it cannot be, if it be not drawn and flow from an antecedent that is ſimple, uniform, determinate in ſenſe and ſignification; for if you can diſcover in the antecedent, homonymous, uncertain, ſignifications, it will deceive you; if the ſence and ſignification you have truſted do miſcarry, your pile & fabrick will tumble down about you, as the houſe on which the Philiſtins were gotten, to behold, while Samſon made ſport, for at laſt he plaid them ſuch a trick, as they had little reaſon to rejoyce in (x)(x)Jud. 16. 27, 28, 29.Judg 16:27Judg 16:28Judg 16:29, for the conſequence is the effect or product of the antecedent, and hath all its ſtrength, determination, and reſolution from it, and cannot have more then it receives, nor the antecedent give more then it hath, for nihil dat quod non habet; if therefore in the antecedent there be miſtakes and ambiguities, p. 202the conſequence will not be certain; there was a Ship that in the North-weſt paſſage, had ventured very far, and had many ſick and fe…ble perſons in it, and came at laſt unto a pretty little Iſland, (as they thought) and the ſick perſons were deſirous to be a little put a ſhore upon the Iſland to comfort and refreſh themſelves; the Captain of the Ship agreed, and put them out, when they had walked up and down a little, it being cold, they needs would kindle a little fire, when that was done, their Iſland was a Whale that was on ſleep, but being wakened with the fire, turned himſelf upon his ſide, and tumbled the new Plantation all of them into the Sea. Men muſt be well aſſured of their ground before they build upon it, otherwiſe it will ſerve them as the Image, when it was ſmote upon the feet whereon it ſtood (y)(y)Dan 2. 34, 35.Dan 2:34Dan 2:35; our adverſaries could not have pitched upon a more ambiguous uncertain tearm to build ſo vaſt a conſequence upon, for a ſervant is a word ſo various, that the Law admits it not for an addition to any perſon, how poor and mean ſoever; a Laborer, or Spinſter they may be called, but not a Servant, becauſe a Servant lies expoſed to ſo many ſeverall ſignification…; no great man thinks it an unbeſeeming complement to ſay your Servant, Nabal was very great, and his Wife a very underſtanding woman (z)(z)1 Sam. 25. 2, 3.1 Sam 25:21 Sam 25:3, yet when David was a ſuter to her, by his Servants, (a)(a)1 Sam. 15. 40, 41.1 Sam 15:401 Sam 15:41ſhe aroſe and bowed her ſelf on her face to the earth, and ſaid, Behold, let thine handmaid be a ſervant, to waſh the feet of the Servants of my Lord: Kings are the Servants of the Commonwealth, p. 203Rex propter regnum, non contra, as Zedekiah to his Princes, (b)(b)Jer. 38. 5.Jer 38:5Behold, he is in your hand, for the King is not he that can do any th…ng againſt you, he is indeed, ſingulis major, but univerſis minor, as the ſaying is, yet the people do not alwayes chuſe him, ſome Kingdoms are and have long been Hereditary, nay, the Pope who weares a triple Crown, and doth exalt himſelf above all (c)(c)2 Theſſ. 2. 4.2 Thess 2:4, yet if he may be believed, is the greateſt ſervant in the world, for he is, ſervus ſervorum Dei, Gods Servants ſervant. If now a godly man ſhould go to Rome, and pray admittance into the Conclave, becauſe every man ought to chuſe his ſervants, and the Pope was ſervant unto him, he would be ſoon diſtinguiſht out of that fools paradiſe, and ſent home by weeping croſs; certain it is, that our Saviour Chriſt was the greateſt Servant in the world, for he made himſelf of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a Servant (d)(d)Phil. 2. 7.Phil 2:7, yet the people did not chuſe him: The Emperour of Germany is elective, yet is not choſen by the people, but by certain Princes, who are therefore called Electors; ſo the Kings of Poland are elected, but not by common, but by the great men; but our Saviour was not elected by the Princes, his own Apoſtles choſe him not, but he them, (e)(e)Joh. 15. 16.John 15:16ye have not choſen me, but I have choſen you.

2. Servants are either meniall, ſuch as make up the Family, and attend upon the drudgery and ſervice of it, and may be counted among our chattles and poſſeſſions, as its well ſaid, ſervi inter opes p. 204connumerandi, as Abrahams ſervant ſayes to Bethuel and Laban of his Maſters goods, (f)(f)Gen. 24. 35Gen 24:35that God had given him flocks and herds, and ſilver and gold, and men ſervants, and maid ſervants, and camels and aſſes, and theſe we may take and leave, chuſe and refuſe as we think good, but Miniſters are not ſuch Servants, for they have families and houſes of their own, as the Apoſtle ſayes, (g)(g)1 Tim. 3. 41 Tim 3:4one that ruleth his own houſe well, having children in ſubjection, with all gravity.

Or Magiſteriall, that ſerve indeed, but in an honourable and magiſterial way, that tutor and teach our ſelves or children, as the Muſick-maſter, the Dancing-maſter, that will not ſtoop to mean mechanick vile imployments, that are ſervants in one ſence, yet Governors and Maſters in another. It fell out when Athens was ſurpriſed, that among others Diogenes was taken captive, and carried away, and the Souldier that had taken him, bad him do this and that, and go and run, but he would do nothing but tell his Maſter of his faults and errors, and that with ſo much patience and reſolution, that the man at laſt began to value him and look into his worth; yet being not reſolved to follow his directions, he brings him to the Market for to ſell him to ſome body that had more leiſure then he had to be wiſe, and writes over his head, ecquis vult emere dominum? that if any man would buy a Maſter there was one for him; the truth is, the Miniſter is ſuch a ſervant, that is more then quarter Maſter; (h)(h)Heb. 13. 17Heb 13:17obey them that have the rule over you, and ſubmit your ſelves, for they watch for your ſouls, p. 205they are watchmen for your ſouls, and ſo are Servants, but muſt be obeyed and ſubmitted to, and ſo are Maſters; and ſo in another place, (i)(i)1 Theſ. 5. 121 Thess 5:12to know them, which labour among you, and are over you, and admoniſh you; they may be labourers, & yet be Governours and Overſeers, as a Steward or Surveyor is. As it was ſaid by Epimanondas, that he indeed waked, and walkt the rounds, that the Thebans might the more ſecurely ſleep.

3. The Apoſtles words, if well conſidered, ſpeak but a Complement; he doth not ſay, in poſitive, and ſerious termes, we are your Servants, but we preach not our ſelves, but Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, and our ſelves your Servants, for Jeſus ſake (k)(k)2 Cor. 4. 5.2 Cor 4:5, as if he ſhould ſay, we do not crack and glory of our place and power, how much we are your betters and ſuperiors, as ſometimes he doth (l)(l)1 Cor. 4. 151 Cor 4:15, but humble and debaſe our ſelves below you, as Paul plainly in another place, (m)(m)1 Cor. 9. 191 Cor 9:19though I be free from all men, yet have I made my ſelf Servant to all, that I might gain the more; So to Philemon, If he have wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account, I will repay it, albeit I do not ſay to thee, how thou oweſt unto me, even thine own ſelf beſides (n)(n)Phil. 18. 19; neither will it ſerve, to prove the point, that people pay them, for they did, and were bound to do, the Apoſtles (o)(o)Mat. 10. 9, 10. Luk. 10 7.Matt 10:9Matt 10:10Luke 10:7, yet did not chuſe them, The people do, and ought to do the Magiſtrate (p)(p)Rom. 13. 6.Rom 13:6, yet do not chuſe them, did not to be ſure, the Roman Officers, but had them ſent unto them and therefore their wages is not called pay, but tribute (q)(q)Mat. 17. 24, 25.Matt 17:24Matt 17:25, nor the Miniſters, wages, but p. 206honour (r)(r)1 Tim. 5. 17, 18.1 Tim 5:171 Tim 5:18, a Language that we uſe not to our Servants.

4 We ſay, ſuch of the people, as have capacity, do chuſe their Miniſters, for they judge of the goodneſs of their voice, of the integrity and unblameableneſs of their lives, of the peace of God in them, and the work of grace upon them; and of all the reſt, by thoſe that are their Officers and Governours: ſo all the people are ſaid, to make Saul King (s)(s)1 Sam. 11. 15.1 Sam 11:15; yet he was made before by lot, and by the Prophet, and the great Officers (t)(t)1 Sam. 10. 24.1 Sam 10:24. The Kings of England in their Coronation-Oath, do bind themſelves to make ſuch Lawes, quas vulgus elegerit, yet the people chuſe their Lawes, by thoſe that are Truſtees, and actors for them in the Parliament.

Obj. 2. What Gods people did in the firſt Church, they ſhould do now; for they had ſpecial influences and aſſiſtance then; for not only the Apoſtles, but the whole Company were filled with the Holy Ghoſt (u)(u)Act. 4. 31.Acts 4:31; yet they choſe Officers, Mathias was choſen by them (w)(w)Act. 1. 23.Acts 1:23, and ſo were all the Deacons afterward (x)(x)Act. 6. 5, 6.Acts 6:5Acts 6:6, moſt of whom, were Preachers quickly after; therefore the people ſhould do ſo ſtill, for they have not forfeited their priviledges, by any thing ſince done.

Sol. 1. We have not ſaid, the people ſhould not chuſe their Officers; for we have ſhewed, that they may do ſomething in it: We only ſay, their p. 107choice is not, nor never was accounted and eſteemed Ordination, whatſoever they did, about the election of Mathias, ſure we are, it was not Ordination, for that was done by lot, the whole diſpoſition whereof, is of the Lotd (y)(y)Act. 1. 26.Acts 1:26, as the wiſe man ſpeaks (z)(z)Prov. 16. 33.Prov 16:33, they conſented and approved, and ſo they may do ſtill. And ſo the Deacons were ordained by the Apoſtles, and not by the people (a)(a)Act. 6. 3, 4, 5, 6.Acts 6:3Acts 6:4Acts 6:5Acts 6:6.

2. They did but nominate, and that alſo by the direction, and according to the Rules preſcribed by the Officers and Rulers; for Peter proves, that Judas place muſt needs be filled up, and ſets down qualifications to guide their ſearch, and ſhutteth up all, by acknowledging Gods unerring Judgement in the lot. And for the Deacons, they pitch upon the number, confine them to ſuch qualifications as they thought beſt, and then conclude the action (b)(b)Act. 6. 3:Acts 6:3: give out the patterns, as David did to Solomon (c)(c)1 Chron. 28. 11, 1…, 13.1 Chr 28:111 Chr 28:11 Chr 28:13, and bids the people ſee them fitted, and that was all they did.

Obj. 3. But the people ought to have an hand in Ordination, for ſo we find they had, in the firſt Churches planted by the Apoſtles, among the Gentiles, (d)(d)Act. 14. 23.Acts 14:23when they had ordained them Elders in every Church, and had prayed, with faſting, they commended them unto the Lord, on whom they believed: for every body knowes, that the word there uſed, namely, foreign, doth ſignifie the election of the people, by holding up their hands, as they do p. 208at Guildhall, in the choice of the Lord Mayor of London, and ſo Calvin and Beza on the place; both tranſlate it and expound it, and what then they had, we muſt not take away from them.

Sol. 1. Its a good Cuſtom, that many School-maſters now have, to make their Scholars parſe, and explain their leſſons firſt in Engliſh, find out the principal verb, and ſet the nominative caſe before it, and ſo the ſubſtantive unto the adjective; and ſure the people will not now repine, and take it ill, to be reduced to their Engliſh Rules; ſeeing they are willing to be reputed Scholars, as well as Teachers, here is a very proper and plain example; for according to the Engliſh, the verb muſt be ordained, and the nominative caſe, that comes before it, they, for if one aske them, who ordained? they muſt ſay, they, now who theſe they were, muſt be determined, by finding out the antecedent unto they: and for that they need not go far to find it, for they have Paul (e)(e)Act. 14. 19, 20.Acts 14:19Acts 14:20in the nineteenth verſe, and Barnabas goes with him to Derbe in the twentieth, and to theſe two, all the theyes muſt be referred that go before; for when they had preached the Goſpel to that City, and had taught many, they returned again to Lyſtra, &c. and then it followes, when they had ordained them Elders in every Church, and had prayed, with faſting, they recommended them to the Lord on whom they believed (f)(f)V. 21. 23.: the people had not preached to that City, nor returned unto Lyſtra, &c. confirming the ſouls of the Diſciples, and exhorting; therefore the people did not ordain p. 209them Elders in every Church; and if they will appeal unto the Greek, wherein ordained is a participle, and muſt be read, and ordaining them Elders, it will be all one; for they muſt be the ſubſtantive unto ordaining, and ſo it will return to Paul and Barnabas, and leave the people out.

2. Though it be truly obſerved by thoſe reverend men, Calvin and Beza, that the word is taken from the cuſtom of giving voices in the popular ſtates, and Common-wealths of Greece, by lifting up their hands, yet its not confined unto that Grecian Cuſtom; for its acknowledged, that Luke was a good Grecian, yet uſeth the ſame word (g)(g)Act. 10. 41.Acts 10:41, for ſuch an act of God, as could not be performed by lifting up of hands, as it is taken properly, and its not improper to uſe it for ordaining Miniſters, where impoſition of hands is alwayes uſed; for they cannot lay their hands upon a tall mans head, unleſs they do foreign, extend & ſtretch them out; and if this word was born, & drew its firſt breath in Athens, or elſe where, where Thucidides doth uſe it, yet certain we are, it died not, nor was not buried there, but uſed in thoſe Canons, that for their reverend and great antiquity, are called the Apoſtles Canons, and that not for any action of the people, but for Ordination, as it was performed by the Biſhops, and that uſe of it is juſtified by Balſamon, in his notes upon that Canon, who was afterward the Patriarch of Antioch, where it was uſed by Paul and Barnabas, and could not be unskilfull in his Mother tongue.

p. 2103 For Calvin and Bezas tranſlation and expoſition of the word, we muſt conſider, that they were newly come out from Popery, and laboured what they could for to oppoſe the papal Tyranny, who uſed to impoſe what Miniſters they pleaſed upon the people, againſt not only their conſent, but ſafety, authoriſing the Monks and Friers to invade mens Pulpits, and to preach unto them what they pleaſed, yet both of them acknowledge, that the word is uſed for laying on of hands in Ordination, ſcriptores tamen Eccleſiaſtici nomen foreign alio ſenſu uſurpant, nempe pro ſolemni Ordinationis ritu, qui in ſcripturis vocatur manuum impoſitio. So Calvin and Beza to the ſame purpoſe, quidam hoc referre malunt ad manuum impoſitionem, quae & ipſaſit prorſus neceſſaria. That is, ſome had rather refer this unto impoſition of hands, which it ſelf is altogether neceſſary.

4 But we grant, that people ought to have an hand in Ordination, for it is not done, but in the preſence of the people, as we have ſhewed, and with faſting and prayer, where they may ſtretch out their hands to God, as that good man, (h)(h)Pſal. 88. 9Ps 88:9Lord I have called daily upon thee, I have ſtretched out my hands unto thee, and we know how powerful the ſtretching out of Moſes hands, and holding of them up was (i)(i)Exod. 17. 11, 12.Exod 17:11Exod 17:12, Gods people therefore may and ought, in this kind, to lift up pure, or holy hands, as we ſhewed before, and likewiſe they may and ought to ſay, amen, to what is ſaid or done, if they approve of it, which is the proper buſineſs of the p. 211unlearned, or private man in ſolemn meetings and Aſſemblies, as the Apoſtle ſhews (k)(k)1 Cor. 14. 16.1 Cor 14:16, and in very ſolemn meetings, that uſually was done, with lifting up of hands, as we find it in the practice of that great Aſſembly, (l)(l)Neh. 8. 6.Neh 8:6and Ezra bleſſed the Lord, the great God, and all the people anſwered, amen, amen, with lifting up of their hands. And in this ſenſe, we willingly allow Gods people, (though they be not Officers) to have an hand in Ordination; but they muſt have not only holy, but alſo humble hands; for if they lift them up too high, they may offend, & be tranſgreſſors in an high degr…e. Poor Ʋzzah, did but foreign, (m)(m)2 Sam. 6. 6, 7.2 Sam 6:62 Sam 6:7put forth his hand to the Ark of God, and took hold of it, for the Oxen ſhook it, and the anger of the Lord was kindled againſt Uzzah, and God ſmote him there for his errour, and there he died by the Ark of God: We may lift up our hand too high, Jeroboam was the greateſt ſinner (one of them) that ever was, for it became an addition and title to him, that he made Iſrael to ſin (n)(n)2 King. 10. 31.2 Kgs 10:31, which was never ſaid of any body elſe, yet he began with lifting up his hand (o)(o)1 King. 11 26, 27.1 Kgs 11:261 Kgs 11:27. When a Shoomaker takes meaſure of a pair of ſhooes, his hand muſt not be lift above the ankle, ne ſutor ultra crepidam, as in the Proverb; ſo good people in taking meaſure of a Miniſter, if they keep not ſtrictly to the bounds and limits ſet unto them, may have too high an hand, in chuſing of their Miniſters; for as their ears will ſtill be itching after new ſounds, ſo their fingers after new Teachers, till they have heaped them up unto themſelves, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks (p)(p)2▪ Tim. 4. 3.2 Tim 4:3, they muſt therefore be knockt off in time.