The Diatribe Proved to be Paradiatribe, Part 1
Foure Propoſitions: Whereof three are proved by the Holy Scriptures, and atteſted unto by the Reformed Churches, in their Confeſſions of Faith, and Books of Diſcipline; the fourth is a juſt Conſequence from the reſt. Very neceſſary for all men to conſider of in this juncture of time, eſpecially for thoſe who have ſworne to Reform according to the Word of GOD, and the example of the beſt Reformed CHƲRCHES.
PROPOS. I.
THE Office of Miniſters is alwayes neceſſary in the Church of GOD, as an ordinary meanes of His inſtitution to effect the ſalvation of the Elect.
Let theſe Scriptures be compared & weighed Jer. 3. 15. Epheſ. 4. 11, 12. 1 Tim. 3. 1. 1 Cor. 3. 9. chap. 4. 1. 2 Cor. 3. 5, 6. ch. 5. 20. ch. 6. 1. Mat. 28. 19, 20.
The judgement of the Reformed Churches touching this
The latter Confeſſion of HELVETIA, ch. 18.
God hath alwayes uſed his Miniſters for the gathering and Deus ad colligendam vel conſtituendam ſibi eccleſiam, eandem que gubernandā ac conſervandam, ſemper uſus eſt Miniſtris, ilſ que utitur adhuc, & utetur porrò quoad eccleſia in terris fuerit. Ergo Miniſtrorum origo, inſtitutio & functio vetuſtiſſima & ipſius Dei, non nova aut hominum eſt ordinatio.—Proinde ſpectandi ſunt Miniſtri, non ut Miniſtri duntaxat per ſe, ſed ſicut Miniſtri Dei, utpote per quos Deus ſalutem hominum operatur. Corpus Conf. par. 1. p. 56.erecting up of a Church unto himſelf, and for the governing and preſervation of the ſame; and alwayes will uſe them ſo long as the Church remaineth on Earth. Therefore the firſt beginning, inſtitution, and office of the Miniſters, is a moſt antient Ordinance of God himſelf, not a new device appointed by men. Miniſters are to be conſidered, not as Miniſters by themſelves alone, but as Miniſters of God, even ſuch as by whoſe means God doth work the ſalvation of Mankinde.] Harmony in Engl. printed in 4. Anno 1643. pag. 233.
The FRENCH Confeſſ.
Seeing that we are not made partakers of Chriſt, but by Credimus, quoniam non niſi per Evangelium ſimus Chriſti compotes, oportere ſacram & inviolabilé foreign ejus authoritate in Eccleſia ſancitā conſervari: ac proinde requiri in eccleſia Paſtores, quibus onus docendi Verbi, & adminiſtrandi Sacramentorum incumbat.—Ita que fanaticos illos omnes deteſt…ur, qui qu…rum in ſe eſt, ſacrum Miniſterium, ſive praedicationern Verbi, & adminiſtrationem Sacramentorum, abolita cupiunt. Corp. Conf. par. 1. pag. 107.the Goſpel: We believe that that good Order which by the authority of that Goſpel is confirmed, ought to be kept ſacred and inviolable. And that therefore Paſtors are neceſſarily required in the Church, upon whoſe ſhoulders the burden of teaching the Word, and adminiſtring the Sacraments, doth lie.—Therefore we deteſt all thoſe fanaticall ſpirits, who, as much as in them lieth, deſire that both this ſacred Miniſtery, or Preaching of the Word, and the Adminiſtration of the Sacraments, were utterly aboliſhed.] Harm. Eng. p. 253.
PROPOS. II.
Beſides the internall Call of GOD, and due qualification through the Spirit; an Externall mediate Calling by men (in the ordinary ſtate of the Church) is neceſſary to put a man into the office of a Miniſter, and to enable him for the Work.
Proofs out of Scripture. Jer. 14. 14. ch. 23. 21. 1 Tim. 3. 2. Rom. 10. 15. Heb. 5. 4. 2 Cor. 3. 1. Act. 1. 21, 22.
The FRENCH Confeſſion, Art. 31.
We believe that it is not lawfull for any man, upon his Credimu… nulli fas eſſe ſuapte autoritate invadere Eccleſiae gubernacula, ſed legitim… electione, quoad ejus fieri poteſt, & quamdi… Dominus ejus rel poteſtatem facit, praeeunte, adſciſci unumquem que oportere. Corpus Conf. par. 1. p. 108.own authority, to take upon him the government of the Church; but that every one ought to be admitted thereunto by a lawfull Election, ſo neer as may be, and ſo long as the Lord giveth leave.] Harm. Eng. pag. 253. & 254.
The Auguſtane Confeſſion, Art. 14.
Concerning Eccleſiaſticall Orders they teach, that no man De Ordine eccleſiaſtico docent, quod nemo debeat in eccleſia publice docere, au… Sacramenta adminiſtrare, niſi rite vocatus. Sicut & Paulus praecipit Tito, ut in civitatibus Presbyteros conſtituat. Corp. Conf. par. 1. p. 16.ſhould publikely in the Church teach, or miniſter the Sacraments, except he be rightly Called: according as St. Paul giveth commandement to Titus, to Ordain Elders in every city.] Harm. Eng. p. 258.
The latter Conf. of Helvetia, chap. 18.
Furthermore, no man ought to uſurp the honour of the Nemo autem honorem Miniſterii eccleſiaſtici uſurpare ſibi, i. e. ad ſe largitionibus, aut ullis artibus aut arbitrio proprio rapere debet.—D…mnamus hic omnes qui fua ſpo… currunt, cum non ſint electi, miſſi, nec Ordina…. Corp. Conf. par. 1. pag. 59.Eccleſiaſticall Miniſtery, that is to ſay, greedily to pluck it to him by bribes, or any evill ſhifts, or of his own accord. We do here therefore condemn all thoſe which run of their own accord, being neither choſen, ſent, nor Ordained. Harm. Engl. p. 236.
The Conf. of Wirtemberg, Art. 20.
Neither is it unknown, that Chriſt in his Church hath Nec eſt obſcurum qd. Chriſtus inſtituerit in eccleſia ſua Miniſtros, qui adn…ncient Evangelium ſuum, & diſpenſent Sacramenta ejus. Nec permittendum eſt cuivis, quamvis ſpirituali ſacerdoti, ut ſine legitima vocatione uſurpet publicum Miniſterium in Eccleſia. Corp. Conf. par. 2. pag. 164.inſtituted Miniſters, who ſhould Preach his Goſpel, and Adminiſter the Sacraments. Neither is it to be permitted to every one, although he be a ſpirituall Prieſt, to uſurp a publike Miniſtery in the Church, without a lawfull Calling. Harm. Engl. p. 265.
The ENGLISH Conf.
Further we ſay, that the Miniſter ought lawfully, duly, Credimus Miniſtrum legitime vocari oportere, & rectè at que ordine praefici eccleſiae Dei; neminem autem ad ſacrum Miniſtetium pro ſuo arbitrio & libidine poſſe ſe intrudere. Corp. Conf. par. 1. pag. 116. See alſo the 23 Art. among the 39. and Corp. Conf. p. 131.and orderly to be preferred to that office of the Church of God; and that no man hath power ro wreſt himſelf into the Holy Miniſtery at his own pleaſure. Harm. Eng. p. 255.
PROPOS. III.
In Calling to the Miniſtery, beſides Election, Ordination is to be uſed, where it may be had. (Act. 6. 2. ch. 13. 2. ch. 14. 23. Titus 1. 5. 1 Tim. 5. 22.) And beſides the uſuall way of Ordaining by Prayer, Faſting, and Impoſition of hands; there is no other ſpoken of in any Confeſſion of the Reformed Churches.
The Conf. of Helvetia, quo ſupra.
And thoſe which are choſen, let them be Ordained of the Elders, with publike prayer, and laying on of hands. We do here therefore condemn all thoſe which run of their own accord—as before. Harm. Engl. p. 236. See alſo the former Conf. of Helv. Har. Eng. p. 242. Corp. Conf. par. 1. pag. 90.
The SAXON Confeſſion.
We do retain in our Churches alſo the publike rite of Retinemus igitur & in noſtris eccleſiis, publicū ritum Ordinationis, quo comendatur Miniſteriū Evangelii, verè electls, quorum mores & doctrinam prius exploramus. Corp. Conf. par. 2. pag. 99.Ordination, whereby the Miniſtery of the Goſpel is commended to thoſe that are truly choſen, whoſe manners and doctrine we do firſt throughly examine. Harm. Eng. pag. 225.
The BELGICK Confeſſ. Art. 31.
We believe that the Miniſters, Seniors, and Deacons, Credimus Miniſtros, Seniores, & Diaconos, debere ad functiones illas ſuas vocari & promoveri legitimâ Eccleſiae electione, adhibitâ ad eam ſeril Dei invocatione, at que co ordine ac modo qui nobi… Dei verbo praeſcribitur. Corp. Conf. par. 1. pag. 179.ought to be Called to their functions, and by the lawfull Election of the Church to be advanced into thoſe rooms; earneſt prayer being made unto God; and after the Order and manner which is ſet down unto us in the Word of God. Harm. Eng. p. 258.] Note here, that beſides Prayer, they ſpeak of an Order and manner ſet down unto us in the Word of God; which, for Miniſters and Deacons, relates to laying on of hands, or Ordination, if I underſtand them.
The Confeſſion of BOHEMIA, ch. 9.
But Miniſters ought not of their own accord to preſſe D…cent Miniſtros Eccleſiae, quibus adminiſtratio verbi & ſacramentorum demandatur, ritè inſtitutos eſſe oportere, ex Domini & Apoſtolorum praeſcripto. Atque hi probentur prius, tum demum factâ precatione, per man…um impoſitionem confirmentur. à Senioribus,forward in that Calling; but ought according to the example (or commanded rather, for ſo 'its in the Latine, ex praeſcripto) of the Lord, and the Apoſtles, to be lawfully appointed and Ordained thereunto—They teach alſo, that above all things they be proved and tryed by examination; and ſo afterward, Prayer and Faſting being made, they may be confirmed or approved (or rather, as it ſhould be tranſlated, Let them be confirmed; thoſe words [or approved] have nothing to anſwer to them in the Latine) by laying on of hands.] Harm. Eng. p. 246.
Let the Reader obſerve, that he who publiſhed the Harmony of Confeſſions in Engliſh, was no friend to Ordination and Impoſition of hands: as appeares, not only by his Notes upon every paſſage where Impoſition of hands is mentioned; but by his Tranſlation here. But that the ſenſe of the Bohemians may be the better underſtood, I ſhall here adde the words of the Waldenſes out of their moſt antient Confeſſion, the firſt that ever was extant againſt Popery.
Ad plenam Preſbyteri gradationem, tria eſſe neceſſaria Ba…. L…d. Wald. to. 2. p. 14.approbamus. Primum, probatio vitae, fidei, donorum, fidelitatis quoque in exilioribus negotiis creditis. Alterum, orationes cum jejuni…. Poſtremum, contributio poteſtatis, aptis ad hoc verbis, & manuum impoſitio, adcorroborationem.
For the Church of SCOTLAND:
In their Second book of Diſcipline, ch. 2 & 3. The Divines of that Church ſpeak clearly, fully, and moſt accurately to all the former propoſitions. To the firſt in the 2. chap. to the ſecond and third in the 3. chap.
Without lawfull Calling it was never leaſome (i. e. lawfull Doct. & Diſc. of the Church of Scotl. p. 81.) to any perſon to meddle with any function Eccleſiaſticall. There are two ſorts of Calling: one extraordinary by God immediately, as was of the Prophets and Apostles; which in Kirks eſtabliſhed and well already reformed hath no place. The other Calling is ordinary; which, beſides the Calling of God, and inward teſtimony of a good Conſcience, is the lawfull approbation and outward judgement of men, according to Gods word, and order eſtabliſhed in the Kirk. This ordinary and outward Calling hath two parts, Election and Ordination. Election is the chooſing out of a perſon or perſons, moſt able, to the office that vakes, by the judgement of the Elderſhip, and conſent of the Congregation to which ſhall be the perſon or perſons appointed.—Ordination is the ſeparation and ſanctifying of the perſon appointed to God and his Kirk, after he be well tryed, and found qualified. The Ceremonies of Ordination, are Faſting, earneſt prayer, and Impoſition of hands of the Elderſhip.
Let it be obſerved here, that Impoſition of hands is no otherwiſe made a ceremony, then Faſting and earneſt prayer.
PROPOS. IV.
The practiſe of thoſe in theſe dayes, who commonly Preach, and receive maintenance for ſo doing, refuſing or neglecting to be Ordained; is not to be juſtified by the Scripture, or by the doctrine of, or approved example in any of the Reformed Churches; but forbidden in their Books of Diſcipline, and condemned by their Divines, as the opinion and practiſe of Anabaptiſts, Libertines, Arminians, and Socinians.
Towards the clearing of this, examine theſe Quotations following.
Crocius de Eccl. Pont. praejud. Diſſert. 6. num. 9. pag. 139. Synopſ. puri. Theol. diſp. 42. num. 6. & ſeq. Joſhua Stegman. Photinlaniſ. diſp. 53. qu. 1. & 2. p. 608. 613. Balthazar Mentzerus, in Exegeſi Auguſtane Conf. ad ar. 14. pag 639. & ſeq. Fredericus Balduinus lib. 4. cap. 4. de caſibus conſcientiae, Caſu 1. pag. …009. Idem in brevi Inſtit. Minist. cap. 6. pag. 40, 41. & cap. 9. pag. 79. Johannes Ge…a…dus, L. C. in fol. de Miniſt. Eccleſ. cap. 3. ſec. 1. num. 54. & à num. 64. ad finem ſectionis.
Among the Eccleſiaſticall Canons ratified in the laſt Synod of Dort, this is the Third. Nemini fas esto, quantumvis Doctori, Seniori, vel Diacono, miniſterium Verbi & Sacramentorum exercere, niſi legitime ad ea vocato Contra ſiquis fecerit, & aliqu…ties admonitus non abſtinuerit, penes Claſſem judicium eſto, utrum Schiſmaticus ſit declarandus, an aliâ quadam poena coercendus.