A Gospel Church Described, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. A Particular Church Describ'd. 1. In its Nature, 2. In its Parts, 3. In its Ministry and Officers.
1. LEt us consider a Particular Church in its Nature.
Now, forasmuch as the Militant Catholick Church can never Meet alltogether in one place to Worship God; It is distinguished or divided into particular Churches, or lesser Societies: and these are either National, Provincial, Diocesan, or Congregational. A National Church is, when the Inhabitants of one Nation and Kingdom, living under the same Government, and joyntly Professing the Christian Religion, may be called a Church; the same may be said of a Province, or Diocess, as the Church in England, or in Scotland, Holland, Geneva, &c. But, when the Term, Church, is thus used, it must not be understood, as if all the Christians in such a Nation, Province, &c. were one Individual Congregation, immediately under the same Church Guides; but only several Particular Congregations, each being under the Rule and Inspection of their Bishop, or Bishops, and Associated together by Consent: but, as Mr. Troughton well observes, a Parochial, or Congregational Church is the only Organical Church, Directly and Immediately Appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ: And these are the Churches we shall now consider.
Now a Particular Church may be thus Defined.
A Particular Church is a Society of Persons Professing Christianity, or Regeneration, living in the same Neighbourhood, so as conveniently to Meet together in the same place, who are, by Mutual Covenant, ingaged first to God, and then to each other, to Worship God in Purity, and perform Mutual Duties of Church Members one to another, Walking together in a due Obedience to all God's Ordinances, and to the Pastor, or Pastors which are set over them in the Lord.
Here Observe,
1. That a Particular Church should have no more Members than may conveniently Meet together in the same place, nor than the same. Church-Officers can comfortably …e form a Pastoral Charge to: And that the Members of the same Church may perform the Mutual Duties of Church-Members one to another.
Those particular Churches we Read of in the New Testament, were such as lived in the same City, Town or Village, and so could con…eniently Meet, and have Personal Communi… one with another.
Churches, either so Numerous, and so Di…ant one Member from another, as neither …an the Minister Inspect, Watch over, and O…ersee them all; or their Habitations so Re…ote, as not to Meet frequently for Personal …ommunion, we have no Account of in Holy …cripture.
2. Note here, That the Members of a par…cular Church, are ingaged by Covenant to …od, and one to another; to God, as the A…ostle hints, 1 Cor. 8.5. They first gave …emselves up to the Lord; as in our Baptism, …e Seal to the Covenant of Grace; so, when … Riper Years, we are Admitted to the Lord's …upper; we Seal to, and Renew our Baptismal …gagements to be the Lord's for ever.
And then, one with another, to walk toge…er in all God's Ordinances, and in the Mu…al Performance of the Duty of Church-Mem…rs one to another, as is hinted, 2 Cor. 8.5. —And then to us, by the Will of God, to … Governed according to Gospel Order.
And its to be observed, that all Particular …hurches have an Intrinsick Power, of first …rming, and then Governing themselves ac…rding to the Laws of Christ.
Now, particular Churches, as they are …rts and Members of the Ʋniversal Catholick …litant Church on Earth, so they are more or less Pure, according to the Time in whic… they Live, and the Place where they are: for… the Church being in the World, and the Wor… being an Unclean World, and there bein… sad Remains of Ignorance and Corruption i… the very best of God's Children, even Min… sters and Church-Rulers being subject to Ignorance, Pride, and many Corruptions as we as others, it unavoidably follows, that th… Church is still in a state of great Imperfection… nay, sometimes bad Men, that have no Vit… Union with Christ, nor are Members of th… Church Invisible, yet Intrude themselves int… the Visible Church for base ends, and great… hinder its Reformation: thus it happens, th… there is so great a difference in the Purit… and Reformation of Particular Churches, som… being much more pure and better Reforme… then others.
Now, as it is in a Town or City, some… the Inhabitants are Sound and Healthful, others are labouring under some Indispositi… yet not so great as to hinder Business, wh… others are in a dying condition, gasping… Breath. So it is in the Visible Church, fo… Particular Churches be much more Sound a… Pure, keeping closer to the Rules of the G… pel, both in Holy and Sound Doctrin, and… Evangelical Discipline.
And yet in these purer and best Reforme Churches, there is, and will be, in this Worl… something amiss, as may be seen in the Pure… …d best Churches that ever were, or, I be…ve will be, those Recorded in the New …stament, and planted by the Apostles them…ves.
That Famous Church of Corinth, that did … abound in Spiritual Gifts, that, when they …me together, there was not room for to Ex…cise them, 1 Cor. 14.26. One had a Psalm, …nother had a Doctrin, another the Gift of speak…g in an unknown Tongue, another the gift of In…rpreting Tongues, another a Revelation, &c. …he Members of this Church were filled with …he Spirit in an extraordinary way; yet there …as much amiss in this Church, there was …ividing and making Parties, and setting up …ne Minister above another, 1 Cor. 1.12. One was for Paul, another for Apollos, and others …or Cephas, &c. and this was the occasion of …reat Contentions. There was also some in …his Church who deny'd the Resurrection from the Dead, 1 Cor. 15.12. And great disorders there was among them in their approaches to the Lords Table, Chap. 2.
And so likewise in all the other famous Churches, as Ephesus, Galatia, Smyrna, Pergamos, &c. and others were yet much more corrupt, as Sardis, Laodicea, Rev. 3.1, 2, 3. and 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. And from hence I would draw an Inference or two.
1. It is hence Evident that there may be very much amiss in a Particular Church, and yet it may be a Church of Christ. And here I shall give the words of that Learned Fre… Protestant, Lord Plessis Mornai, There ar… saith he, in his Treatise of the Churc… Page 31. Erring Churches, which Err eith… Heretically, or Scismatically, either in Fai… or in Charity, against the Right Rule… Christ; and yet, for all this, both the o… and the other are truly Churches, i. e. A… semblies, that make Profession of Chri… but they are not Pure Churches, not servi… God in Purity; even as a Lying Person… truly a Man, tho' not a true Man; or… Person under some Disease, is a Man, th… not a Sound and Healthful Man. We… not presently conclude that Churches are n… Churches, because there is much amiss in them
2. That in Seperating from any Churc… it must not be with the breach of Charity… from the Sin and Corruptions of any Churc… we may, nay, we must Seperate: We m… have no fellowship with the unfruitful works t… darkness. But yet, we are not hastily and m… ly to Unchurch a People for some remaini… Corruptions amongst them; but still to mai… tain the Unity of the Spirit, in the Bonds… Peace, and to depart from none further the… they depart from Christ; but still to ho… Communion with them in all lawful things.
Object. But suppose a Church make… things the Terms of her Communion, as are either really Sinful, or doubtful; And so Impose them on me, that, if I conform not t… them, I am Suspended, Excommunicated, or … off from the Communion of that Church.
Answ. In this case I do not wilfully or …lingly Seperate my self from them; I …uld gladly yet hold Communion with …m, in all lawful things, I would con…m and comply so far as God's Word, …d my own Conscience will allow me: But … they make Laws and Canons, that, unless I …me up to such an height of conformity …ich God's Word and my Conscience con…mns as Sinful, I am depriv'd, Suspended, …communicated, and thereby deny'd Com…nion, it is my Duty to Worship God else…ere; nor am I any Schismatick, nor guilty … any Schism, or breach of Charity, for …aching, if I am a Minister, or joyning for …istian Communion, if I am a Private Chri…n, to another Congregation, where these …ngs are not Impos'd upon me. Mark what … Apostle saith, Rom. 16.17. Mark them … cause Divisions and Offences, contrary to the …ctrin that ye have learned. So that those …ch make unwarrantable Terms of Church …mmunion, that impose things as necessary … Church Unity, that God's Word disallows, … thrust me out for not complying; these … the true cause of the Schism. But a Learn… Gentleman, a Justice of the Peace, and one … liv'd and dy'd in the Communion of the …rch of England, Mr. Polehill of Burwash, …, in a Discourse of Schism, in Print, so Learnedly cleared the Protestant Disse… from being guilty of this Sin, that I need… no more but desire the Reader to Read… small Treatise, if he want further satisfa… in this matter: See all the VII. Chapte… this Book.
3. Altho' I am thus, by unwarran… Terms of Communion Imposed upon… forced to joyn with another Congrega… yet, as I dare not Unchurch that Church… whence I am driven, so I dare not cal… Church, to which I am now United, a… distinct or several Church, any otherwise… as it is a part or Member of the Uni… or Catholick Church; and, upon this gr… I am yet willing to hold Communion w… other Churches, tho' less Pure, and mor… reform'd, provided they yet hold the fo… tion, so far as I can do it without o… and consenting to their Corruptions.
II. Next let us consider a Particular C… in it's Parts.
Now every Particular Church may b… … sider'd as consisting of two Parts, wh… Scripture thus represents, Acts 20.28.… Ministers are called foreign, Bishops,… dred Overseers in our Translation… the rest of the Church, as distinguish… it's Officers, are call'd foreign, a Fa… little Flock; so here are the two p… Parts of the Church.
1. The Overseers, the Ministers,… … Rulers of this Flock, or Church of God.
2. The Flock, as distinct from its Officers, …ich are to be Overseen, Fed, Ruled, and …vern'd according to God's Word.
1. I begin with the first, viz. The Churches …ficers, and these are such as God hath Law…y called, and whose Ministry he useth in … gathering and governing of the Church, … these are either, 1. Extraordinary, or … Ordinary.
1. Extraordinary Ministers are such whom …d raised up, upon extraordinary occasions, …er to establish a new Government in the …urch, or to repair the Old Government, …en it was decay'd: And such an Extraordi…y Ministers have always Extraordinary …, and Extraordinary Gifts; such as Pro…cy, Tongues, and Miracles; such were the …phets in the Old Testament, who were …ed up, and immediatly sent of God; and … was John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, and the …stles, in the New Testament.
Now these Extraordinary Ministers, to…her with Extraordinary Gifts, continu'd so …g as it pleased God, and the Churches ne…ty requir'd them, and is now wholly …sed; for none are now thus Extraordina… called, nor Miraclously Gifted, for the …rk of the Ministry.
…. Ordinary Ministers are such who have …inary Gifts, and an Ordinary Calling, are …e continued in the Church to the end of … World.
And of these Ordinary Church-Off… there are Two sorts.
1. A lower and Inferior sort of Off… whose proper Work and Business is to… the Alms and Collections, or other Pro… made by the Church for the Poor; and… distribute them to the Poor.
And, tho' this be an Inferior Office to… Tables, as the Apostle terms it, Acts 6.2.… the Power of Ordaining these doth not… the People; they, indeed, make choice of… Persons, Acts 6.3, 4, 5. but the Apostle… dained them by Fasting, Prayer, and Imp… on of hands, v. 6.
2. A higher, and more noble Order… Church-Officers, whose work principally… in Prayer, and the Ministry of the Wo… the Apostle tells us, v. 4.
Now these Church-Officers are call'd foreign, Bishops or Overseers, Acts 20.28.… foreign, Presbyters or Elders, v. 17.… Eph. 4.11. Pastors and Teachers, two N… as is most probable for one and the same O… Now, in discribing these Church-Office… shall answer these five Questions.
I. Whether Scripture Bishops, Presbyt… Elders, and Pastors, are several distinct Of… in the Church, or one and the same?
II. Whether now, under the Gospel… Ministry be a standing Ordinance, and… sters set apart, from all others, for the…
III. Whether a meer Layman, that has …fts, and is desir'd to Exercise them, may …rdinarily Preach, and Administer the Sacra…ents?
IV. Whether Ordination of Persons, to …inister in the Church, be to be perform'd … Fasting, Prayer, and Imposition of hands, … not?
V. Where this Ordaining Power is lodg'd, … Jesus Christ, whether in a Diocesan Bishop, … in the Elders, Presbyters, all Pastors of the …urch, or in the Body of the People, i. e. … the graver Members of a Particular …hurch?
I. Whether Scripture Bishops, Presbyters, or …ders, are several distinct Officers in the …urch, or several Names for one and the …e kind of Church-Officers?
Now that a Bishop, and Presbyter or Elder, … the New Testament, are but several Names … one and the same Church-Officer, is abun…ntly Evident,
1. From Acts 20.17. St. Paul sent to …hesus for foreign, the Elders, or Pres…ers, for the Word signifieth both; these …ere the same 28. are call'd foreign, Bi…ps. Take heed to your selves, and to the Flock …er which the Holy Ghost hath made you foreign, Bishops, or Overseers, those he terms …ders, v. 17. he calls Bishops, v. 28.
2. 'Tis clear from Phil. 1.1. Paul and Ti…theus, the Servants of Jesus Christ, to all the Saints in Christ Jesus, which are at Philip… with the Bishops and Deacons: here are in… Church but two sorts of Church-Officers,… Bishops and Deacons; Deacons were to… after the Poor, so that by Bishops must… be meant the same Church-Officers as… Acts 28.17. called Elders. Therefore, in… Syriac Version, its rendr'd Presbyters and … nisters; the Word Bishop and Presbyter … Promiscuously used for one and the… Church-Officer. Again, in 1 Tim. 3 1.… Apostle speaks of the Office of a Bishop, … makes no mention of any other Church-Of… till he comes to that of a Deacon, v. 12.… makes it evident the Apostle knew of… ther then to be Ordain'd in the Church;… by Bishops must needs be the same Of… meant as are before called Presbyters or … ders.
3. This is also evident from the Fa… and Learned Protestant Divines, Mr. C… gathers many Testimonies from Antiqui… prove a Bishop and a Presbyter all one;… Corbets Remains, Page 111. and Learned … lanus tells us Presbyters *Polan. Sigtag. lib. 7. cap. 11. Presbyteri… copi sunt jure divino pares, i. e. Administrant in… cium, eodem modo et codem Autoritate.and Bishops are… by Divine Right, both Ministring the… …ice in the same manner, and by vertue of … same Authority. Of the same Mind are …st of our English Protestant Divines.
Quest. 2. Whether now, under the Gospel, the …inistry be a standing Ordinance, and Ministers … apart, from all others, for Gospel Work.
Answer this Affirmitively, and prove it … these Arguments.
Arg. 1. The Ministry's a standing Ordi…ce; for, from the Beginning of the World …d had a certain Order of Men set apart … the Ministry. Under the Law, every one …ght not be a Priest, the Priesthood belonged … the First-born, Gen. 25.31. Which was af…wards conferr'd upon the Levites, Numb. …5, 16, 17. The Priesthood rested in the … be of Levi, they were Ordained and set …rt by God to Serve in the Tabernacle: thus …ested till the coming of Christ; and those … Invaded it were severely punish'd by …d; a dreadful Instance we have in Numb. …2. They rose up before Moses, with certain of … children of Israel, 250 Princes of the Assem… famous in the Congregation, Men of Re…n, Vers. 3. And they gathered themselves …ther against Moses and against Aaron, and … unto them, Ye take too much upon you, see… all the Congregation are holy, every one of …, the Lord is amongst them: Wherefore then …e up your selves above the Congregation of … Lord. Now observe, that the Priesthood …, by God's own Appointment, fixt in Aaron and his Sons; now, this they… on to be Pride and Usurpation in Mos… Aaron; they crying out, they take too… upon them; the People are all holy, every… them, i. e. The whole Congregation are all… dom of Priests; and have as much Rig… Minister in the Priests Office as Aaron a… Sons have: So the Controversie was, whe… Aaron and his Sons only were to be Pries… whether all the Congregation had not as… Right to it as they: But, behold how… decides this Controversie; Moses orders… Aaron and all his Sons, on the one part, and … rah and all his Company on their Part, to… each one his Censer, and appear before… Lord, that God might shew who he… Chosen, Vers. 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18… But behold the Dreadful Judgment of G… all these that were not content to Serve… in their Place, but would Invade the O… of the Priests; the Earth Opens and Suc… them up, Vers. 31: 32. together with all… Company, Wives, Children, Goods,… that pertained to them, see Vers. 33,… Terrible Example upon the Invaders… Ministry.
And tho' when Christ came he took the Priesthood of Aaron; yet the Gospel… stry was set up in the Room of it, to co… to the end of the World. Christ Twelve Apostles; these, together with… Disciples, he sent forth to Preach, Luke … …nd these, by Fasting, Prayer, and Imposition … Hands, Ordained, and sent forth others, as … evident, Acts 1.24, 25. Acts 6.6. Acts … 4.23. And thus it was all along in the …rimitive Church, and was never Controvert…d till in the last Age, by those Furious Inno…aters in Germany, Servetus, Knipperdoling, …on of Leiden; together with the Socinian …est: from whence those in England, that …e for Denying, or Invading the Ministry, …ve borrowed all their Arguments.
Arg. II. That Ordinance, to which many …recious Promises are made, must certainly …ontinue until those Promises are fulfilled; but …ere are many Promises to Ministers, and the Ministry of the Gospel; And these Promises …e not, nor will not be all fulfilled till the end … the World; therefore a Gospel Ministry …ust so long continue.
God, long before Christ's Coming, Promised …e Gospel Church a Distinct Order of Men to … Ministers, Isa. 52.7, 8. How beautiful upon …e Mountain are the feet of him that bringeth …od Tidings of Good, that publisheth Salvation. …at saith unto Zion, thy God Reigneth. Thy …atchmen shall lift up their voice, &c.
Now, that something more is here design… then the Deliverance from Babylon, is evi…t; and that it is a Promise of a Gospel …istry is clear from Rom. 10.14, 15, 16, 17.
Again, in Isa. 62.7. I have set Watchm… upon thy Walls, O Jerusalem, which shall ne… bold their peace day nor night, &c. So Isa. 3… 20, 21. and Jer. 3.15. I will give you… stors after my own heart, Jer. 23.4. I will… up Shepherds over them. Now, these, and… ny more, that might be Quoted, are Prom… of a Gospel Ministry, as most, if not all, Ort… dox Divines Interpret them.
Again, Mat. 28.20. Go Preach and Ba… (saith our Lord Christ) and lo I am with y… to the end of the World.
Arg. III. If the Ministry was appointed… Christ, for the Perfecting the Saints, the… must continue till the Saints are Perfected a… that will not be till all Saints are gather'd… Heaven; but the former is true, Ephes. 4.… therefore the latter.
Arg. IV. If Jesus Christ in the Gospe… … made Provision for a Gospel Ministry, the… Gospel Ministry is God's Ordinance. But… former is true, Gal. 6.6. Let him th… Taught in the Word, communicate to him… Taught him, in all good things, 1 Cor. 9.… The Lord hath ordained, that those who… the Gospel should live of the Gospel.
Arg. V. If the Gospel call the Minist… Office, it certainly is an Office; but the… doth call the Ministry an Office, and M… the Officers of Jesus Christ, 1 Tim. 3.1.… Man desire the Office of a Bishop, he desires… work.
Quest. III. VVhether a meer Lay-man, or Private Christian, who has Parts and Gifts, and is desired by any Church, or Number of Christians, to Exercise them; may ordinarily Preach, and Administer the Sacraments?
But here, to remove Mistak s this Question doth not concern,
1. Such, who are bred up, and designed for the Ministry, and Preach sometimes before Ordination, ad probandam facultatem.
2. Nor what may be done where no Ministry may be had.
3. Nor what Persons Extraordinarily called, as the Prophets and Apostles were, may do.
4. Nor what Private Christians may, and ought to do in their Families.
5. Nor whether a Company of Christians may not, out of the time of Publick Worship, on the Lord's Day, or other Days, meet together to Pray, Sing Psalms, and Repeat Sermons, and tell their Experiences one to another.
All these things are granted to be the plain Duty of Christians.
But, the Question is, Whether it be lawful or Private Christians, how well soever Gifted (tho' they are desired) to Exercise those Gifts in a Ministerial Way, to take a Text, …aise Observations, Preach, and Administer the …araments in Publick Church Assemblies?
To this Question, the Answer is, That it i… Sinful and Unlawful for any Private Christian, except as before Allowed, how well soeve… Gifted, tho' desired, in any Well Ordere… Church, for to take upon him the Preachin… of the Word, and Administring the Sacr… ments.
This I Prove by the following Arguments …
Arg. 1. Such who undertake to Administe… any Gospel Ordinance, without Precept, P… mise, or Example in God's Word, Sinneth in… doing: But, for a meer Private Christi… (except as before excepted) to Administ… any Gospel Ordinance, Peculiar to the Ministr… he doth it without Promise, Precept, or Allo… Example in all God's Word; therefore he… greatly in so doing.
Now there is nothing more plain in… New Testament, then this, viz. That Gosp… Precepts require, and Gospel Presidents… forth, That all those that Preach the Gos… should not only have Grace and Parts, and… desired to Exercise them, but that they… Solemnly set apart for the Work, as is e… from Tit. 1, 5. For this cause left I thee in Cr… that thou shouldest set in order those things that… wanting, and Ordain them Elders in every City… I had appointed thee.
By Elders, here is not meant Gifted Bret… simply, but Bishops and Presbyters, as Vers. 6,… 8, 9, 10, 11. and these must be Ordained… I shall shew anon.
Another Command is, 1 Tim. 5.22. Lay on hands suddenly on no Man. q. d. Ordain Ministers to Administer Gospel Ordinances, but do it with great Deliberation; have a care thou dost not Ordain unmeet Persons to that Office. This is plain from the Context, v. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.
Another Precept is in Acts 13.2, 3. And 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 hands on them, they sent them away.
Here 'tis very observable, that tho' Paul and Barnabas were Extraordinarily called to the Ministry, and had Miraculous Gifts; yet God …ommands them to be solemnly set apart for …he Work, by Fasting, Prayer, and Imposition of Hands. Thus Scripture Precepts require such …s Preach, to be Solemnly set apart.
So, in like manner, if we eye Gospel Exam…les, we find, that such as were sent out to Preach, were thus Solemnly set apart, and none …ent out without it.
For, the Apostles themselves had, besides …itness for the Work, a Commission from …esus Christ, Mat. 28.20, 21. and, in Acts 6. …ou have Men full of the Holy Ghost; yet …ey must be Solemnly set apart by Ordination. This was the Order in all Churches, none were …nt out till Solemnly set Apart, Acts 20.17, …8. 1 Tim. 5.17.
Arg. 2. For any to take upon him an Act of Office, being no Officer, is Sinful; but for Gifted Brethren to take on them to Preach, &c. is an Act of Office, therefore Sinful.
Now Preaching the Gospel is an Act of Office, proper to Ministers, as is clear fro… 1 Tim. 5.17. Tit. 1.5, 9. Acts 20.17, 28. 1 Cor. 4.1. 1 Tim. 2.7. 2 Tim. 2.11. Nor when a Private Person shall do an Act o… Office, it is Sinful, even in Civil Affairs: Suppose a Private Person shall take upon hi… to do the Office of a Constable, Recorder, M… jor, Justice of the Peace or Judge; How Cr… minal would this be? And is it not much more so in Religion.
Now Preaching the Gospel is the Princip… and chief Part of a Ministers Office; the very first thing in the Commission, Mat. 28.20.… Paul lookt on Preaching to be his great Work, 1 Cor. 1.17. 2 Tim. 4.2. Preach the Word,… instant in Season and out of Season.
Arg. 3. If God was angry, in the time… the Law, with those who did usurp the Pri… Office; then God, being the same for ever,… will be angry, in the days of the Gospel, w… those who usurp the Ministers Office.
But God was angry with such in the time… the Law, &c.
Ergo, he will be angry with such as, in… days of the Gospel, usurp the Minister Off…
The Major is clear from Heb. 13.8. God …s Immutable, the same yesterday, to day, and for ever.
The Minor is prov'd from,
1. The Example of Ʋzzah, 2 Sam. 6.6, 7, 8. He dy'd for meddling with the Ark, which none might do but the Priests only, as is evident, Num. 4.16. Ʋzzah's intention was good; the Oxen stumbled, he lays hold on the Ark to prevent its falling, but he had better have let it alone; the Lord smites him dead on the Place for touching it. Good Intentions can never justify Irregular Actions: O that such who thrust themselves into the Ministry, would remember Ʋzzah; Are your intentions and aims good, so was his, but God smote him for it.
2. 'Tis clear from the Example of King Ʋzziah, 2 Chron. 26.16, and 20. He pre…um'd to burn Incense in the Temple, which alone belong'd to the Priests, and the Lord smote him with a Leprocy.
3. But especially this is clear from the Ex…mples of God's very remarkable Judgment on Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, Num. 16.1, 2, 3, 4, and 39. these Men thrust themselves …nto the Priests Office, and would offer Incense …hemselves; And what was their Pretence? Why, vers. 3. Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the Congregation is holy, every one of them, &c. therefore they may offer Sacrifice, Preach and Pray as well as you: And is not this the very Controversy at this day, all may Preac… any that have Gifts may Preach.
But oh that such would remember the en… of those Men, whose design was to level bo… Majestry and Ministry, by crying down M… and Aaron, the Lord shew'd a dreadful Judgment on them; the very Controversy… the same then as now, Korah and his part… said all might offer Incense, all were holy: Our Brethren now say the same, every o… who hath Parts may Preach, &c.
Oh let the Lord himself decide this C… troversy between us. And 'tis here done… such an awful manner, that might make the bold Invaders tremble.
Arg. 4. If none may Preach but such… are sent, then every gifted Person may… Preach. But none may Preach but such… are sent, Ergo, &c. This is prov'd Rom.…15. How shall they Preach except they be se… All that Preach Authoritatively from Ch… must be sent Immediatly from God or Chris… and then they much prove their sending… Miracles; or else mediatly by Men, i. e. … such whom Christ hath appointed to seper… set apart, and ordain them to this Work.
Now, without such sending, how can th… Preach? i. e. they cannot do it duly, prof… bly, and by Authority from Christ; for otherwise there were, and still are, some… run before they are sent, Jer. 23 1. I h… not sent these Prophets, yet they run, &c.
Obj. Gifting is sending.
Answ. I deny it, Gifts are one thing, and …nding another; many Thousands are Gifted …at are not sent to Preach; Paul and Barna… had singular Gifts, yet they must be Or…in'd, Acts 13.1, 2, 3, in Mat. 10.1. Christ …ifts the Apostles, but, besides this, they must … sent, therefore, vers. 5. Christ sends them, ….
Arg. 5. If all that have Gifts may Preach, …en all that have Gifts may Baptize, for none …ay Preach that may not Baptize; the Com…ssion is to do both, Mat. 28.19. Go Preach …d Baptize. To Preach is the greater Work, … Baptize the lesser Work; now he that may … the greater, may undoubtedly do the Jer, 1 Cor. 1.17. Christ sent me not to Bap…, but to Preach, &c. i. e. Comparatively, …t so much to Baptize as to Preach.
If you have no Commission to Baptize, as … Layman hath, then have you none to …each, &c. but few Laymen pretend a Power … Baptize, &c.
Arg. 6. If none may Preach but such as … Ordain'd; then every one who hath Gifts …y not Preach.
But none are to Preach but such as are Or…n'd, as is clear, Acts 13.3. Acts 15.22. … 14.23. but more of this by and by.
Arg. 7. That which springs from Pride, …f-conceitedness within us, or from Hereti… and Schismatical disturbers of the Church without us, cannot be of God; for Q… causa, talis effectus, as is the Cause, such is… Effect.
Now that one Man invades anothers Pl… and Office, is from Pride, the thing pro… it self; suppose I should intrude into the King Privy Council, or the Judges Seat, or… Place of a Constable, or Justice of the Pe… it would be evident that Pride was the Ro… &c.
Again, this Opinion, That all, that… Gifts, may Preach, was first invented, bro… ed, and set on foot by Socinians, Armi… Quake…s, Antipedobaptists, and such like,… the last Age, in Germany and elsewhere, th… fore a Sinful and dangerous Practice, & … Now that this Opinion had such an Orig… is evident from their own Writings, as… the Reformed Divines of Germany, that… the History of that time, &c.
Arg. 8. That which is contrary to al… Reformed Churches, Principles and Pract… in every Age and Place in the whole W… must be very Sinful, but this Practice of… men Preaching, is so contrary, Ergo, &c.
Read you all the Ancient Fathers, L… Divines, they all condemn this Practice;… all the Canons, Decrees of Councils:… Foreign and Domestick Divines, s… Calvin, Luther, Occulam Padius, Bucer, C… nitius, Pool, Hammond, Perkins, Burgess, wolds, Scudder, and a Thousand more;… …p all Confessions of Famous and Reformed Churches of Piedmount, France, Geneva, Hel…aetia, Scotland, England, &c. All, as out of one Mouth, condemn these Lay-Preachers as not sent of God, &c.
Objections Answered.
Error hath always something to say for it self; so have our mistaken Brethren: They Plead,
Object. I. The Lord commends Abraham for Teaching his Family, Gen. 18.19. therefore Private Persons may be Preachers
Answ. 'Tis a non sequitur, that, because Abraham taught his Family, therefore Laymen may Preach: 'Tis the Duty of every Christian that hath a Family to instruct them in the fear of God; but it follows not that therefore they may Preach: The one is a Private Christians Work, the other an Act of Office, nay, let it be granted Abraham Preached Publickly, yet it helps not the Objectors, for Abraham was a Prophet, Gen. 20.7.
Object. II. Eldad and Medad Prophecy and Moses wishes all the Lords People were Prophets, Num. 11.25. and 30. Therefore we may Preach.
Answ. You Err, not knowing the Scripture, these Seventy Elders were Extraordinarily Called, and Miraclously Gifted, so are not you.
Again, This was only a Spirit of Government; the Lord hereby convinces the Whole Congregation of Israel, that he had Chose these to Assist Moses in the Government▪ What a Wild and Far-fetcht Inference is it to conclude, that because God chose 70 Elder to Assist Moses in the Government, therefore any that have Gifts may Preach.
Object. III. 'Tis said, 2 Chron. 17.7, 8, 9 Compared with 2 Chron. 19.6, 7, 8. That Jehosaphat and Hezekiah sent Judges and Pri… to Teach the People. Therefore such as are out… Office may Preach.
Answ. A pretty sort of Logick; That because Judges, or others, Employed by the King, in Reforming the Disorders of a Kingdom, go from City to City, Teaching and Instructing the People in the Nature of the Law, therefore Gifted Men out of Office may Preach. D… not our Kings give Instruction to the Judges? And do not the Judges at every As… give a Charge to all present, especially Magistrates? And is not Religion oft the Subject they give in Charge? Would not this be wild for one to Argue; I may Preach, because the Judge speaks of Religion? Moreover, …e… it be consider'd, that the Civil Laws, whereby the Jews Common wealth was Govern'd, was the Holy Scripture; So that it was impossible to Reform the Common wealth, but the… … open the Nature of the Divine Law: and yet we have no assurance that this was done otherwise, then by their Commanding the Priests and Levites, that went with them, to do their Duties, in Preaching and Expounding the …riptures.
Object. IV. Elisha was called from the Plow, … King. 19.19. and Amos from the Heards; … may we, &c.
Answ. These, as they were Miraculously …alled, so they were Miraculously Qualify'd; …d when Amos was forbid to Preach, he does …t Plead his Gifts, but his Commission, Amos. …15.
Object. V. The Apostles were mean Men, ne… br…d Scholars, &c. They Preached, so may ….
Answ. Jesus Miraculously fitted them with …fts; even the Gift of Miracles; and then …ve them a Commission: Hath he done so by …u? Prove it, and we will heartily own you, …at. 10.1.5.
Object. VI. The Scribes and Pharisees were … Persons in Office, yet they Taught, so may …
Answ. I deny it: They were either Priests …d Levites, as John 1.19, 24. or else Prophets; …d so of any Tribe.
Object. VII. Stephen being a Deacon, and Pastor in Office, yet Preached, so may we.
Answ. Stephen was an Ordained Church…icer, &c. And what he said was no Ser…n; but, being accused of Blasphemy, he …kes an Apology for himself; as the Martyrs …. This Proves nothing.
Object. VIII. Acts 8.4. They that were scatered abroad, went every where Preaching t… Word; Ergo, we Lay-men may Preach.
Answ. In all Persecutions, the Rage of th… Enemy falls first and foulest on the Ministry there were now Multitudes of Preachers bredge… sides the Apostles; we connot suppose the… and other Ordained Ministers, should conti… Peaceably in Jerusalem, when all the Priva… Christians were Banish'd: nay, To what purpose should the Apostles stay in Jerusalem, wh… the Multitude of Private Christians were driven thence; it should rather seem they wer… Ministers, and such as were set apart to Prea… the Gospel, that were driven away, and th… Preached every where: However, if any o… them were not Officers before, they we… made so then; for the hand of the Lord… upon them, Acts 11.21. i. e. They were E… traordinarily called, and Inabled to Work M… racles to confirm them, as this Phrase I… ports, Ezek. 3.14. 2 Kings 3.15.
Object. IX. Apolos Taught, and knew… the Baptism of John, &c. Acts 18.24, 25.
Answ. Apollos was a Minister, 1 Cor. 3 Who is Paul, or who is Apollos but Ministers? He was an Eloquent Man, mighty in the S… ptures, excellently qualified by God in an… traordinary way.
Object. X. 'Tis said, 1 Cor. 14.31.… may all Prophecy one by one; So may w…
Answ. They are deceived by the Word all] here: Who are the [all] here?
Not All the Saints: for Women and Children are Saints, yet they may not Prophecy: but, by [all] here is meant, all the Prophets: for, in that Famous Church of Corinth, there were many Prophets, and some disorder in the Exercise of their Gifts; the Apostle here directs them to Order, to Prophecy not together, but one after another, as Vers. 29. Now, What Logick is this, because 10, 20, or more Ministers, or Prophets in a Church may Prohecy and Preach, one after another; therefore Lay-men may Preach, &c.
Object. XI. Heb. 5.11. When for the time ye ought to Teach others, &c.
Answ. There is a kind of Teaching, the the Duty of every Christian; as Parents, Masters; and one Christian another; 'tis such, and not Ministerial Teaching the Apostle speaks of.
Object. XII. Christians are a Royal Priesthood, Kings and Priests, therefore they may Preach.
1. This is spoke of all Christian Saints, Men, Women and Children; but all such may not Preach.
2. Every Christian is a King; May he then Invade the Throne? The meaning is, every Child of God is brought nigh to God, to offer the Sacrifices of Prayer, Praise, &c. to God. What's this to the purpose.
All the rest of their Objections are of as like force, prove nothing to the purpose; I am weary with Answering them.