The Pulpits Patronage Against Unordained Usurpation, Part 2 · Chapter 5
CHAP V. Shewing what Ordination is.
IN the former Chapters, we have endeavoured to ſhew, what Ordination is not, We come now to ſhew you what it is; for howſoever negatives may clear the way unto a truth, yet they do not teach it; when men are in the dark, as the Diſciples at the Reſurrection were, its ſomething to be told as they were; (q)Mat. 28. 6.he is not here: the firſt matter, and the firſt mover, were very dark enquiries, among the ancient, and it was long before they got any poſitive, and fixed notions of them: could ſay of the matter, that it was, nec quid, nec quale, nec quantum, nec eorum aliquid, quibus ens determinatur, nothing determined and fixed, but ſomething in the dark, and at a diſtance, which they laboured to diſcover and deſcribe. So the firſt mover they beheld afar off, called him, ens entium, movens non motum, could ſay, he was natura naturans, ſimpliciſſimus actus, but all this while, he was unknown unto the beſt of them, as Paul profeſſeth to them, (r)Act. 17. 23to the unknown God; ſo we that have the Scripture-light for to direct us, come to the knowledge of him by degrees, per viam remotionis, as the School ſpeaks, find that he cannot lie (s)Tit. 1. 2., that he cannot deny himſelf (t)2 Tim. 2. 13, that he dwelleth not in Temples made with hands (u)Act. 17. 24, which are all negatives, & ſhew us rather, what he is not, than what he is; but we are not to ſit down and acquieſce in theſe removals, a ſyllogiſme made all of negatives, will not conclude in any figure, and therefore we proceed to things more poſitive; a learned Doctor of this Land, pleaſing himſelf with theſe removals, and negations, in opening Gods nature and attributes, came at the laſt to ſay, that God was nothing, that is, that nothing beſt reſembled him, and ſet him out, which was all one, as if he had ſaid, he was not, which was ſo contrary unto his being, as nothing could be more; we find amongſt the Poets, a God that was called foreign, but none that ever was called foreign: and when God was deſired to give out unto Moſes, a notion or deſcription of himſelf, he doth not ſay, that he was not, or that he was nothing, but rather that he was all, that he was being, (w)Exod. 3. 13, 14.and God ſaid unto Moſes, I am that I am, and he ſaid, thus ſhalt thou ſay unto the Children of Iſrael, I am hath ſent me unto you. Something (we ſay) hath ſome ſavour. When men intend a building, they firſt deſire to find a bottom; and ſeeing much depends in this debate on Ordination, we have need to determine it, and fix it well, that the weight upon it ſink it not.
And though it would be ſuitable to our proceedings in the former part, to approach and come unto it by degrees, yet having d…ne already much that way, we are conſtrained to fall abruptly on the definition, or deſcription of it, and affirm,
That Ordination is a ſacred, ſolemn dedication, and inveſtiture of a qualified & fitted perſon, with Authority to attend and act in holy things, by thoſe deputed there unto by God.
For the opening and unfolding of this deſcription, we deſire theſe few particulars may be conſidered.
1 We affirm, it is a Dedication: that is, an alienation, ſeparation, or devoting of a man to this attendance; for no man (ſaith Chriſt) (x)Mat. 6. 24.can ſerve two Maſters, eſpecially when the ſervice is attending: When men come theref…re to be ordained, they come to be divorced, and divided from what they were before; Chriſt findes ſome that he had a mind to, fiſhing, but calls them off (y)Mat. 4. 18, 19, 20., and they immediatly leave that Trade, and devote or dedicate themſelves unto another. Paul was a very buſie Servant to the High-Prieſts, and becauſe Jeruſal…m did not ſuffice him, he gets Commiſſions for Damaſcus, but Chriſt removes him to a better Maſter, (z)Rom. 1. 1.Paul a Servant of Jeſus Chriſt, called to be an Apoſtle, ſeparated to the Goſpel of God: and we find he left all preſentlie, (a)Gal. 1. 15. 16.immediately I conferred not with fl…ſh and blood: and this no doubt, was Ordination to him, and did devote and dedicate him to the work; Yet that it might appear, how much God valued him, and truſted him, there is another ſeparation mentioned (b)Act. 13. 1, 2; becauſe he was now to go unto the Gentiles, his miſſion and Commiſſion is repealed and renewed. Thus were the Levites dedicated and devoted to attend the holie things, inſtead of the firſt-born, who formerly had been imployed, as God ſayes expreſly (c)Numb 3. 12, 13., ſo Hannah dedicates her ſon unto the ſervice of the High-Prieſt (d)1 Sam 1. 11, and ſo Timothy gave up himſelf to Paul, to ſerve and wait upon him in the holy things of God, (e)Ph. 2. 22.ye know the proof of him, that as a Son with the Father, ſo hath he ſerved with me in the Goſpel: thus Ordination doth devote and dedicate a man to this attendance.
2 We ſay, inveſtiture; Dedication doth deſign and ſeparate the perſon from what he was before, but doth not properly impower and put h…m in, therefore for plainneſs ſake, and explication, we add inveſtiture; for if the Genus in a diſtinction be not compleat and full, the definition will be imperfect; and we ſay inveſtiture, becauſe the word is metaphorical, and relates unto the mode and uſage formerly of appointing and transferring Offices, (f)Eſa. 22. 20, 21, 22.and it ſhall come to paſſe in that day, that I will call E…iakim my Servant, the Son of Hilkiah, and I will clothe him with thy Robe, and ſtrengthen him with thy girdle, & will cōmit thy Government into his hand, and he ſhall be a Father to the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, and to the houſe of Judah, and the key of the houſe of David will I lay upon his ſhoulder, ſo he ſhall open, and none ſhall ſhut, and he ſhall ſhut, and none ſhall open. So when Eleazer was to ſucceed his Father in the Prieſthood, he is put in by an inveſt ture, (g)Numb. 20. 25, 26.take A…ron and Eleazer his ſon, and bring them up unto Mount Hor, and ſtrip Aaron of his Garments, and put them upon Eleazer his Sonne.
Its true, that Chriſt in the new Teſtamen…, do…h not eſtate his Miniſters, and put them into Office, by inveſtiture, yet he doth ſomething like it; the Apoſtles were deſigned and ſent into all the world, wherein there was, and is, a very great variety of faſhions, Garments of different and various ſhapes; it was not therefore fit, the Apoſtles ſhould be tied to any one Garb, but left at liberty to vary as they ſaw occaſion, and in ſuch things, to pleaſe and gratifie their hearers: as Paul, when he was to go unto Judea, and to converſe a while with them, he puts himſelf into a Garb and Habit ſuitable; for when he was for to take ſhipping, he ſhaves his head, and undertakes a vow (h)Act. 18. 18.; yet what was common to all Nations, our Saviour forgets not, and that was locks and keis; for unto Peter he ſayes, (i)Mat. 16. 19.I will give unto thee the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatſoever thou doſt bind on earth, ſhall be bound in Heaven, and whatſoever thou ſhalt looſe on earth, ſhall be looſed in Heaven. And when this promiſe was made good unto them, though we find not mention of the keyes, yet we find the effects, and operations of them, the binding and looſing given to them (k)Joh. 20. 22, 23., and this is that the Apoſtles mean by conſtituting and appointing, (l)Act. 16. 3.whom we may appoint over this buſineſs; for though the perſons may be dedicated and deſigned by other means, as thoſe Elders were (m)Numb. 11. 24, 25., yet were they not impowered till the Spirit reſted on them: ſo the Deacons named (n)Act. 6. 5., were not impowered till they had laid their hands upon them (o)v. 6.: ſo Paul enjoyneth Titus, to ordain and conſtitute ſuch as were fit, by this inveſtiture (p)Tit. 1. 5., though otherwiſe expreſſed.
3 Sacred: We have ſaid before, it is not civil, and therefore muſt be ſacred; and indeed a perſon thus devoted and ſet apart, is ipſo facto ſacred; a field or houſe if dedicated unto pious uſes, was therefore ſanctified, as appears (q)Lev. 27. 14, 15, 16, 17.: thus the Levites were ſaid to be offered up, by Aaron, unto the Lord (r)Numb. 8. 11; and every offering was ſacred, and becauſe the Prieſts came nearer unto God, they had a more exact and ſpeciall conſecration, (s)Exod. 29. 35.and thus ſhalt thou do to Aaron and his Sons, according to all things which I have commanded thee, ſeven dayes ſhalt thou conſecrate them, which things are there at large expreſſed in the Chapter. The buſineſs of a Miniſter, as we have ſhewed, is to attend and act in holy things, and holy perſons are moſt ſuitable to ſuch attendance, and therefore Ordination hath alwayes been attended, and accompanied with prayer; for though we find not, that Chriſt our Saviour did ordain by ſolemn invocation, and calling on the name of God; yet we find, he ſpent the whole night, before he choſe and ſetled his Apoſtles, in prayer unto God (t)Luk. 6. 12. 13, 14, 15, 16., that God would pleaſe to give a bleſſing to his labours, and to that deſign; ſo the Apoſtles, when they did ordain the Deacons, uſed prayer (u)Act. 6. 6., and though (no queſtion) Paul and Barnabas were in Commiſſion, and ordained before, for they are called Prophets and Teachers (w)Act▪ 31. 1., which in a ſet and ſolemn way, they could not be without this Ordination, yet when they are again devoted and ſent abroad unto the Gentiles, they pray again (x)v. 2., that it might appear the work was totally, and altogether holy; for though the Deputies, and actors in this work, be never ſo careful to examine and exhort, yet if God help not and aſſiſt, much may eſcape, that ſhould not, in the Act.
4 Solemn: There is ſomething of ſolemnity in holy actions, how ſecret and retired ſoever they may ſeem to be, for they are done to God, who is a great King, and his name is dreadful among the Gentiles (y)Mal. 1. 14.; yet there is more ſolemnity in ſome then others of them: the Paſſe-over was a ſolemn fe…ſt unto the Lord for ſeven dayes; but yet the firſt and laſt dayes were more ſolemn (z)Lev. 23. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8., all holy things are ſolemn, but Ordination more ſolemn then the reſt: there were ſet times for many ages in the Church obſerved, which in your Almanacks, were called the ember we…ks, in which times faſting and prayer, were eſpecially enjoyned, for Gods bleſſing upon Ordination, which then was wont for to be celebrated. When the Levites were to be ordained, it was made a very ſolemn buſineſs, as appears (a)Numb 8. 6, 7, 8, &c.; ſo when Barnabas and Saul were to be ſent abroad unto the Gentiles, the Lord appoints it on a very ſolemn day, as they miniſtred to the Lord and faſted, the holy Ghoſt ſaid, ſeparate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have appointed them, and when they had faſted and prayed, and laid their hards on them, they ſent them away (b)Act. 13. 2, 3: there are 2 things in the words that argue great ſolemnity, fi…ſt faſting; Prayer we acknowledge is a ſolemn duty; but when faſting is annexed, it is more ſolemn; when the King of Niniveh ariſeth from his Throne, and layes aſide his Robes, and enjoyneth man and beaſt to faſt, and cry, it was a ſolemn buſineſs (c)Jonah 3. 6, 7, 8., ſo when God calls the Nation to faſt and pray, they knew it was a ſolemn buſineſs, as it is likewiſe called (d)Joel. 2. 15.: a faſt was never ordered and appointed by the Lord, but it was made a very ſolemn buſineſs.
The ſecond thing obſerved in the words, was, that they laid their hands upon them, which ever argued ſolemnitie; in that grand Character, given out upon their going into all the world, impoſition or laying on of hands is put in (e)Mark 16. 18., a ſolemn Ceremony, to be (no doubt) retained in the Church for ever; for otherwiſe we ſee not why it ſhould be ranked and numbred among thoſe l…ſting and ſolemn duties, and points of Doctrine, of repentance from dead works, and faith towards God, the Doctrine of Baptiſme, and laying on of hand…, and of reſurrection of the dead, and of eternal Judgement (f)Heb. 6. 1, 6.: ſome uſe there will be therefore of laying on of hands, until the day of Judgement, and other uſe of it now we do not know, but only this of Ordination; for that of doing it unto the ſick, was extraordinary, and is ceaſed long ſince, and was left out of the direction by the Apoſtle, before it ceaſed (g)Jam. 5. 14, 15.; but in this of Ordination, commanded and uſed to the laſt, Timothy was a man of very rare endowments, yet Paul layes hands upon him, for an augmentation of his gifts (h)2 Tim. 1. …, and again the whole Aſſembly and Colledge of the Presbyters, neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given there by Prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery (i)1 Tim. 4. 14: yea, Paul makes ſuch account of this peece or parcel of ſolemnity in ordination, that he puts it for the whole act (k)1 Tim. …. 2., lay hands on no man ſuddenly, that is, ordain not any, till he be tried and examined for his fitneſs unto that great work. And ſeeing Ordination is a kind of dedication and inveſtiture, there ſhould be ſomewhat ceremonial and complemental in it, ſomething that leaves a Character, and an impreſſion on the perſon thus ordained; for though Ceremonies are circumſtantialls, and come not within the eſſence or being of the thing they are annexed to, yet they be foſtering and ſaving Circumſtances, to lift up hands in prayer, is but a Circumſtance; yet had that influence in Moſes Prayer, that when it ceaſed, the enemy prevailed (l)Exod. 17. 11, 12.; to waſh ſeven times in Jordan, was but a circumſtance, yet healing was annexed to it, in the caſe of Naaman (m)1 King. 5. 10.; the bark upon the Tree, is but a Circumſtance, yet ſuch an one, as cannot well be ſpared: and ſo effectual have Circumſtantials in Religion been found to be, that they grew in the Papacy to very great exceſs; and the great enemy to goodneſs, now that is thruſt out, would thruſt out all that may be uſeful alſo, when he cannot cumber us, and clog us with them, would leave us nothing that might admoniſh and diſtinguiſh us; a barre Gown and a Cap, are counted Circumſtances in a Lawyer, and ſo the Coifs and Robes unto a Judge, yet they are not willing to leave them off; we have been willing to part withall, that were offenſive, and were not juſtified in the word of God, but we are loath to part with this, that hath ſurvived all the Reformations that ever yet were, and in a manner is the only Ceremony remaining with us; And hath more for it in the Scripture, then many other things of great account.
Its good for to be gentle, eaſie to be intreated, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks (n)Jam. 3. 17.; but yet we may be remiſs; there are ſome things that we muſt hold faſt, the Apoſtle would not have us to be eaſily intreated out of thoſe ſound and ſober truths we have been taught, (o)Tit. 1. 9.holding faſt the faithful word as he hath been taught; for if we grant them this, which hath ſuch footing in the word of God, and practice of the Church of God, for all the ages of the Church, we know not what they may deſire next; for yielding ſometimes makes an adverſary inſolent: as (p)1 Kings 20. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.the King granted Benhadads firſt demand, though his gold and his ſilver, his Wives and his Children were required in it; but that did but excite and exerciſe their inſolency, as it is ſaid, mendico ſi detur, magis mendicat, The more you give, the more he thinks it fit to aske. The Ceremonies and forms retained in this Nation, when Religion was reformed in King Edwards & Queen Elizabeths Reignes, were not directly popiſh, but well known to have been received and uſed in the Church, in purer times, before that Popery was thought of; Saint Ambroſe, and St. Chryſoſtom are named in the Rubricks; and by the ſubſcriptions of very many godly Miniſters, were known to have nothing in them contrary to the word of God, yet we were willing for to part with them, and let them go; but we have found, that ſince they went, there have been other things demanded; we were told, that Ceremonies were the Guards and out-works of the Church, and if we pull'd them down, or ſuffered them for to be taken from us, the City walls would be aſſaulted, if we let the circumſtances go, they would ſtorm in time the very ſubſtance; for what have not theſe ſturdy beggars adventured ſince to ask? how boldly have they asked Infant-Baptiſm? ſinging of Pſalms and Hymnes, as the Apoſtle calls them (q)Col. 3. 16.; a liberty of interpoſing and oppoſing whatſoever they miſliake, or underſtand not in a Sermon; nay a Pulpit-liberty and licence; and where it is refuſed and denied, uſurp it peremptorily, and invade it? yea, at the laſt demand our breeding and good manners, and becauſe themſelves were bred up rudely in Northumberland and other Northern Counties, would have all people as uncivil as themſelves: there is therefore a neceſſity to make a ſtop, and put a period to our yielding, leſt if we part with Laying on of hands in Ordination, they quarrel at our lifting up our hands in prayer, and other acts of decency, expreſly commanded by the Apoſte, where he ſayes, (r)1 Cor. 14. 40.let all things be done decently, and in order: and in a little time, our Families will be converted into the Cabins of the Leſtrigonians in Cicily, in the Poets time, where every body were at liberty, and none regarded or reverenced their ſuperiors: and Noah will be extremely cenſured, for curſing the unmannerlineſs and rudeneſs of his Son (s)Gen. 9. 24. 25.; and that will come upon us, which the Prophet threatens, as a grievous curſe unto the Jews, namely, that the Lord will take away from Jeruſalem, and from Judah, the ſtay and the ſtaffe, the mighty man, and the man of warre, the Judge and the Prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, the Captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the Counſellor, and the cunning Artificer, and the eloquent Orator, and I will give Children to be their Princes, and babes ſhall rule over them, and the people ſhall be oppreſſed every one by another, the Child ſhall behave himſelf proudly againſt the ancient, and the baſe againſt the honourable (t)Eſa. 3. 1, 3, 4, 5..
5 Of a qualified and fitted perſon; for however the ſolemnities and duties of faſting and praying, wherewith Ordination is, and ought to be attended, are powerful Inſtruments and Engins, to pull a bleſſing down upon the party to be ordained, yet becauſe much fitneſs is required, we dare not truſt to that alone, but muſt have perſons qualified and fitted for it firſt; and howſoever we acknowledge, there is a latitude in fitneſs, as there is in the ſervice they do attend on, yet every one muſt have ſo much as may ſuffice unto the work, and ſet him up above the other ranks of men, that are imployed in meaner mechanick works.
For there muſt be a natural and ſpacious wideneſs and capacity in every one of theſe attendants, that may receive the Rules and precepts that muſt guide him in his work; you cannot poure a qua…t of wine into a pint pot, nor make Hercules ſtatue of a little ſtone; the work man may hew off and pare, but cannot add, amo quod amputem, is here a good Rule, and that of the Poet true, nec ſtudium ſine divite vena; a Sowes ear (they ſay) will never make a velvet purſe: it was Pauls great wiſdom to pitch on Timothy, becauſe he had a natural fi…neſs unto that he was imployed about, (u)Phil. 2 20.I have no man like minded, who will naturally care for your affairs, foreign, implies a fixed diſpoſition in his very nature; for what hath a foundation in our natures, will not be eaſily expelled, ſed uſque recurret fixa, & mutari neſcia; what was the reaſon Paul was ſuch a Giant, and mighty Conqueror in all his actings, that he laboured more abundantly then they all, (as he ſayes) (w)1 Cor. 15. 10.? no doubt the grace of God was the great cauſe, as there he ſpeaks; but how came Paul to hold ſo much grace, to be capable of, and able to receive ſo great a quantity? no doubt it was, becauſe he was a choſen Veſſel, as he is called (x)Act. 9. 15., a ſpacious wide capacious inſtrument, that held more grace, and had more vigour in him to put it forth, then others had, as he ſayes of Caeſar, ſed vigor inillo, & virtus neſcia ſtare loco: Pompeie was a great ſpread Oak, hung all with Trophees, and ſigns of Victory, but now upon decaying, but Caeſar, young, and comming into the world, able, & apt for any thing he was imployed about.
But rude unpoliſht nature is not enough, there muſt be art and exerciſe. Divinity (no doubt) is ſtrong meat, and that is for them that are at full age, who by reaſon of uſe, have their ſenſes exerciſed to diſcern both good and evil, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks (y)Heb. 5. 14.: Where there is good ſoyl, a depth of earth, as our Saviour calls it (z)Mark 4. 5, 6., there are more weeds and thiſtles, then in barren grounds, unleſs by tillage the ſoil be conquered and ſubdued: ſo where there are good ſolid parts, good natural abilities and depths, there is moſt commonly a ſoure and crabbed animoſity, and moroſity attending on it, untill by art and induſtry they be ſubdued and overcome; it is well ſaid, didiciſſe fideliter artes, emollit mores, nec ſinit eſſe feros, a well tutored and trained education in the Schools and Univerſities, will ſoften and ſweeten thoſe harſh and rugged Juices, into a fitneſs to be uſed, and ſometimes a pleaſantneſs. There came into the place, where Socrates was, a fellow that had skill in phyſiognomy, but was a ſtranger, they prayed him, that he would well conſider and declare unto them, what he thought of that man, meaning Socrates, but not naming him who did accordingly peruſe his countenance, and all his lineaments, and told them, that he was a very naughty man, moroſe and rigid, and auſtere, one that did care for no body, nor never would do any good. The company knowing Socrates to be another kind of man, fell a laughing at him, and ſome of them reviled him, and told him, he had no skill; but Socrates himſelf reproved them all, and told them, that the man had ſpoken truly; for he was naturally ſuch an one as he had ſaid, but Philoſophy had cured him; and as it cures and heals bad natures, that is concocts, and vanquiſheth their ſoureneſs and moroſity, ſo it mendeth and helpeth good ones; Moſes had ſomething in his very conſtitution and complexion, that wan affection, firſt in his own Parents; for they hid him three moneths, becauſe he was a proper Child (a)Heb. 11. 23.; and afterward in Pharaohs Daughter, and the Midianites, yet God would not imploy him, till he had learning (b)Act. 7. 22.; ſo Daniel and his fellows had ſomething in them, that did commend them to the Officers that were imployed (c)Dan. 1. 4., yet were not uſed, till they were inſtructed and trained up in all the skill and knowledge of the Nation. The Steward is for to divide and diſtribute (d)Luk. 12. 42, 43., and therefore muſt know how to do it, which without art he cannot. And they are beſt tried in the Univerſities, where envy findes them reall oppoſites, ſi injuria nullos tibi fecit Inimicos, faciet invidia multos.
But its not enough to have good parts, improved and encouraged by art and exerciſe, except they be ſubdued by the grace of God. Good parts improved, may make them ſo much the more able to reſiſt the grace of God, and to defend themſelves, againſt the great guns of admonition and exhortation: if the devil keeps poſſeſſion, and commands in chief, the more fortified the houſe is, the worſe it is; that was a very ſubtle fellow, as Paul truly ſayes of him (e)Act. 13. 10., but was withall the Devils Child. The Ci…tadel was in the Devils keeping and poſſeſſion, and ſo the harder to be taken. David was glad of Achitophels advice, that he had an Oracle for to attend and wait upon him, as he is called (f)2 Sam. 16. 23.; but when he was revolted unto Abſolom, he was as much afraid. How terrible was Paul, before the grace of God ſubdued and ſetled him? great care muſt therefore▪ be taken to find this work of grace upon the ſoul, before they be ingaged in the imployment. Paul ſees in Timothy, unfeigned faith (g)2 Tim. 1. 5., and then doth ſeize him for this ſervice, as we finde (h)Act. 16. 1, 2, 3.; its true, that many times this work of grace is not ſo viſible in young men, who have peculiar luſts and paſſions of their own, to tempt and trouble them, yet cannot be admitted into this imployment, till there be probability thereof obſerved in them. And indede, when young men ſee and finde, that grace is valued and asked for, and men are not preferred, until they have it, they will regard it more, and ſtrive to get it, as Maids do that, which they find commends them unto Husbands▪
6 With Authority; Inveſtiture implyes an indument or garb, and a perſon ready to be ordained, ſhould be provided with all things but Authority, he ſhould have skill and wit, ability and aptneſs for the work, and ſhould want nothing but authority and opportunity to act and exerciſe it, this Ordination offers and exhibits, as Timothy had grace and gifts deſcended lineally from his Grandmother & Mother (h)2 Tim. 1. 5., and wanted nothing but authority to uſe it, and therefore Paul hath him to the Presbytery, and they confer it on him (i)1 Tim. 4. 14.. There be ſome Garments, that an ordinary Taylor cannot make, (k)1 Pet. 5. 5.be cloathed with humility, the Taylors many times do make men proud, but ſeldom humble, humility is a Garment, that ſeldom is in faſhion: Authority is ſuch a Garment, (l)Eſa. 22. 21.I will clothe him with thy Robe, and ſtrengthen him with thy Girdle, and will commit thy Government into his hand: when Eliah was to leave the world, he is appointed to anoint Eliſha, prophet in his room, that is, to commit his Government unto him, as appears by thoſe other that are joyned in Commiſſion with him (m)1 King. 16. 15, 16, 17.. Now how doth he effect this anointing or ſurrogating of Eliſha to be a Prophet? we ſhall find he doth it, by throwing his Garment on him only (n)v. 19, 20, 21: and when he begged a double portion of his ſpirit, becauſe he was his eldeſt ſoone, which was by the Law, to have a double portion (o)Deut. 21. 15, 16, 17., he lets it fall down in his mantle to him (p)2 Kings 2. 13, 14., which he took up: ſo when qualified and fitted perſons, are to be veſted with Authority, to attend and act in holy things, it is conveyed by Ordination to them, and ſetled on them.
And therefore, in all the forms of Ordination, that have been uſed ſince the Reformation in theſe Nations, that hath been alwayes ſaid, take thou authority to preach the word, and adminiſter the Sacraments; for it is not needful, that God from Heaven ſhould come down, to give this power and authority to men; but it is enough, that it be done, by his appointment; there is no queſtion, but Aaron had authority and honour, and was called thereunto by God (q)Heb. 5. 4., yet had it from the hands of thoſe, whom God deſigned and appointed thereunto (r)Exod. 29. 5, 6, 7.; ſo there is no queſtion but thoſe Elders had authority, whom Paul ſends for unto Miletus (s)Act. 20. 28., yet they had not any extraordinary impoſition or inveſtiture, but what was given by the Preſbytery, as the Apoſtle doth imply (t)1 Tim. 4. 14..
7. To attend and act in holy things, that is, in the things of God, as we have ſhewed before at large in ſtating of the Queſtion; namely, in preaching the Word, and adminiſtring the holy Sacraments, and exerciſing of that Diſcipline which in the Scriptures is allowed; and without which, confuſion cannot be barred out, and the Saints enjoy that ſweet Communion that is their due, and the beſt part of their joy and comfort here in their abſence and diſtance from the greateſt good.
8. By thoſe deputed thereunto by God; for as we ſaid before, God doth not need to leave his Throne, and come down in perſon, to ordain and conſecrate men unto his ſervice and attendance, but it ſufficeth if it be done by thoſe that are deputed thereunto by God, as Aaron was, and after him the Levites (u)Numb. 8.; ſo that this enquiry is determined unto that one point, who thoſe ſhould be that God hath thus deputed and appointed unto his ſervice.
For we acknowledge, its a great power to give authority to men over the Houſe, which is the Church of God, as Paul doth unto Timothy 1 … 15.over the holy things of God, to make one a Steward of the Myſteries of God, as they are called (x)1 Cor. 4. 1., to deliver unto him the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, as Chriſt doth promiſe unto Peter (y)Mat. 16. 19., ſo that none ſhall go in or out, without his leave; and this power may be, and hath often been miſplaced and unduly given; but yet it muſt be done by ſome body, and who thoſe are, is now the thing to be enquired.
We are apt to find fault with whatſoever wee our ſelves have not a hand in, quae non fecimus ipſt, vix ea noſtra voco; Abſolom finds great fault with all Adminiſtrations in Davids Government (z)2 Sam. 15 2, 3, 4.and could think of no reformation and relief for the abuſed people, unleſs he were made Judge; ſo we are apt to think nothing well done, but what is done by us; every body can reform and form a State, but they that are imployed about it; as every body can rule a Shrew, but he that hath her. It wa… ſaid of Galba, Omnium conſenſu capax imperii niſi imper aſſet. Let us therefore ſee to whom this power is committed to give authority to men to attend and act in holy things, that no mans right or claim may be prejudged or prejudiced, but all pretenders have their liberty to plead; and that we think will beſt be done, if we proceed by ſuch degrees and demonſtrations as cannot be refuſed; any therefore we ſay,
1. There is in ſome Chriſtians, and in ſome perſons in the Church, ſuch a power; for certain it is, that Paſtors and Teachers are to continue in the Church, untill our Saviour come again, (a)Eph. 4, 11. 12, 13.And ſome Paſtors and Teachers, till we all come in the unity of the faith, & of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man; now we are ſure, thoſe very men that then were Paſtors could not continue: There went a rumour concerning, John, that he ſhould not dye, as its ſaid (b)Joh. 21. 25., but it was grounded in a miſtake, as there its ſaid, for ſure we are that he and all the reſt are dead, as they ſaid to Chriſt, (c)Joh. 8. 52.Abraham is dead, and the Prophets; ſo may we ſay, Paul is dead, and Peter is dead, and all the Apoſtles and extraordinary Prophets are dead, and how ſhall Paſtors and Teachers be preſerved, but as all other men are, by propagation and ſucceſſion? ſo Chriſt himſelf, Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the world (d)Mat. 28. 20, with whom? not with the men to whom he ſpake, for they are in their graves, but with them in their Seed and Off-ſpring, their fellow-Servants and Succeſſ…rs from age to age; if therefore children muſt continue, there muſt be fathers; if there be Harveſt promiſed, there muſt be ſeed-time, as its ſaid ſaid (e)Gen. 8. 22..
2. They muſt be more than one; Its well obſerved by our Brethren of London, that hands are laid on, in the plurall number, nor in the ſingular or dual, and the hands, not of the Preſbyters, for that might beſaid of one or two, but of the Presbytery, wch was a Coleg or Society of Preſbyters, (f)1 Tim. 4. 24., for though Paul did confide this power into the hands of Titus, who was a ſingle perſon, yet he never meant he ſhould put it in execution without aſſiſtants, for in the exe…ciſe and execution of it, he reſtrains him to the manner as he appointed him (g)Tit. 1. 5.; now ſure we are, that Paul would never appoint him to ordain, otherwiſe than himſelf was ordained, when he was ſent abroad about the Converſion of the Gentiles (h)Act. 14. 2, 3, where all is in the plurall number, or than Barnabas and he himſelf di… practiſe, when they ordained Elders in every Church, as it is ſaid (i)Act. 14. 23.; for Ordination is not only a ſacred, but alſo a very ſolemn thing, as we have ſhewed, and therefore ſhould have many hands, multorum manibus grande levatur onus, yet Timothy and Titus are pitched upon to be the guiders and leaders of the action, the preſidents and patrons of it.
3. They muſt be ſtrong and able Chriſtians; Ordination is the preſervation, or propagation of the kind or ſpecies, a kind of Spirituall Generation; Paul every where calls Timothy his Son, not becauſe he had begotten him unto the Faith, for he found him a Diſciple (k), his faith was in a (g)Act. 1▪ 6. 1.ſort extraducè deſcended to him from his Grand-Mother and Mother, but he had ordained him with others, and ſo he was his Son; now generation implyes perfection, perfectiſſimum naturae opus eſt generare ſibi ſimile; if one muſt be of age before he can beget a Son, what muſt he be before he can beget a Father? if one muſt be ſtrong before he can beget a Child, what muſt he be before he doth beget a Man? and therefore when Paul enjoyneth Timothy this act of propagating, he bids him firſt be ſtrong in the Grace that is in Chriſt Jeſus (l)2 Tim. 2. 1., for Ordination is a work that doth not only require maturity and ripeneſs of ſkil and parts, to make an eſtimate and judgement of thoſe they do admit, to try their knowledge and underſtanding in the things they are to teach, but alſo to reſiſt temptations, and bear the frowns and favours that would otherwiſe be able to bias him, and bend him from his duty.
4. They muſt be Officers; propagation doth ſuppoſe ſimilitnde, nam partus ſequitur ventrem, do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thiſtles (m)Mat. 7. 16.? Its poſſible a Propagator may fall ſhort, and act below his ſphear, but never above; a mountain may bring forth a mouſe, but a mouſe never yet brought forth a mountain; and its moſt true in this particular of generation & propagation, that nihil dat quod non habet, we cannot propagate and give what we never had; an Officer therefore he muſt needs be that makes an Officer▪ Our Bretheren of London have obſerved out of Jewiſh Writers, that the Jewiſh Sanedrim or Counſell of ſeventy, was perpetuated and continued from age to age, by Ordination or laying on of hands; and it is the leſs marvel, becauſe great care was taken at the firſt in the choiſe of thoſe that were deſigned to it; for God expreſly commandeth Moſes, that he ſhould chuſe none but ſuch as he knew to be the Elders of the people, and Officers over them (n)Num. 11. 16., and whereſoever in the Goſpel this is mentioned, its always ſpoken unto Officers, as unto Timothy, Lay hands on no man ſuddenly (o)1 Tim 5. 22., ſo unto Titus, For this cauſe left I thee at Creet, that thou mighteſt ſet in order the things that are w…nting, and ordain Elders in every City (p)Tim▪ 1. 5.for ſeeing its a propagation, or preſervation of the kind, as ſoon …ay a Jack-a-napes or a Monkey, preſerve and propagate Mankind, as theſe now Officers, the Paſtors and Teachers in the Church.
5. Head-Officers; Paul was a Head-Officer (q)1 Cor. 9. 1, 5., yet hath an hand in Timothies Ordination, as we have ſhewed be ore; the loweſt that we read of, were Pr…phets, and Teachers in the Church at Antioch (r)Act. 13. 1., in that Presbytery that Paul ſpeaks of (s)1 Tim. 4. 14, its very like there were Apoſtles, for Peter, none of the meaneſt, thinks not himſelf too good to be a Presbyter, the Elders which are among you, I exhort, who am alſo an Elder, that is, a Presbyter (t)1 Pet. 5. 1.; and it is no wonder that the higheſt did attend it, for it is the h…gheſt work, a conſecrating or devoting one unto the higheſt honor and imployment in the Church, the matching and eſpouſing one to Jeſus Chriſt, the putting of ones hand unto the Plow, from which he never muſt look back again (u)Luk. 9. 62.; that there are orders and degrees of Officers appears, becauſe the well-uſing of the Office of a Deacon was foreign, a good degree or ſtep unto another place, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks (w)1 Tim. 3. 13., and the Apoſtles were the firſt or higheſt order or degree, as appears from that enumeration that is ſet down (x)1 Cor. 12. 8., yet they think not themſelves too good to ordain the meaneſt Officer, for ſo the Deacons alwayes were accounted, and that in a buſy time, when they had renounced ſecular Imployments, as below them, and confined themſelves to Prayer, and the Miniſtry of the word (y)Act. 6. 2, 3, 4.: ſo Paul and Barnabas were the great Apoſtles of the Gentiles, yet thought it not enough to Preach the Goſpell, and convert men to the truth, but did alſo carefully ordain them Elders in every Church (z)Act. 14. 23; good people therefore muſt not think much to leave this unto Preaching Elders, that was never practiſed by any of Gods people, either in the Scripture, or after ages of the Church, and which is really above their ſphear, even a great deal more than they can mannage, or tell how to weld, and be content thoſe ſhould perform it, that are by God deputed thereunto.