Christ Victorious Over the Powers of Darkness, Welcome
THE Right Hand of Fellowſhip.
THE HANDS OF THE PRESBYTERY having thus been laid upon the Perſons now ordained to the Goſpel Miniſtry; I am appointed by the Eccleſiaſtical Council here convened, to Give Them the RIGHT HAND OF FELLOWSHIP. But inaſmuch as the Ordination of this kind of Officers has been very rare, and may therefore ſeem to be new among us; It may be requiſite to prevent Objection, and convince you of the Warrantableneſs of theſe Proceedings, that I Firſt lay before you the SCRIPTURE GROUNDS upon which we go: and if you pleaſe to allow me a little Patience; I doubt not but ſoon to ſatisfy you, both that Theſe are proper SCRIPTURE OFFICERS, and that in this affair, we rather act in a more preciſe Conformity to the SCRIPT…RE INSTANCES both of Laying on of Hands and of Giving the Right Hand of Fellowſhip, than in other Ordinations.
For, if we review the State of Mankind at our Bleſſed SAVIOUR's Ascenſion; we ſhall ſee that almoſt the whole World were periſhing in Ignorance of the Way of Salvation, and under the deluding Power of Satan, who led them captive at his deſtructive Pleaſure. To redeem them from this wretched Ignorance and Bondage, our Bleſſed SAVIOUR ſet up his Spiritual KINGDOM among them: And this Kingdom was (1) to be extended to Thoſe who knew Him not; and (2) to be continued among Thoſe who were brought to know and embrace Him.
In the Propagation therefore of this Kingdom, there were theſe Two things to be done; that it might be thus extended and continued: (1) The Goſpel muſt be Preached among the Ignorant, both Jews and Gentiles; that they might be turned from Darkneſs to Light, and from the Power of Satan to GOD, and ſo receive the Forgiveneſs of their Sins and an Inheritance among the Sanctified through Faith in CHRIST: (2) Theſe enlightened Converts were to be gathered into Particular Congregations or Churches, for their own further Edification and Perſeverance, and the more ſure Tranſmiſſion of this happy Kingdom to their Succeſſors.
Whoever therefore are now able to lay aſide their Prepoſſeſſions for the particular … they have aſſumed, and with an impartial and … Mind▪ ſearch into the Now Teſtament …, will …; That agreable to this State of the World and theſe … of Our SAVIOUR's Kingdom, there were … of Officers … in the primitive Age of Chriſtianity: (1)The Buſineſs of SOME was to go forth and Preach the Goſpel among the Ignorant, both Jews and Gentiles, to Baptize them upon their embracing it, and Gather them into Churches, to begin the Adminiſtration of the other Ordinance of the Lord's Su…p…r, and ſee a ſuitable number of ſtated Officers engaged in the Care of them, for their further Edification and Continuance: (2) The Buſineſs of the OTHER ſort of Officers, was therefore to take the ſtated Charge of the Particular Churches thus gathered & ſettled.
Of the former ſort of Officers were the APOSTLES, and EVANGELISTS: of the latter ſort were the BISHOPS, that is, in the plain, ancient ſenſe of the Word, the OVERSEERS or ELD…RS of particular Churches, who were to take … Charge of the Spiritual Part; beſides the DEACONS, who were to take the Charge of the Secular.
The peculiar Character of the Twelve APOST…S, was to be the Eye-witneſſes of a Riſen JESUS,*Acts i. 21, 22. wh… They had a Power to prove by working Miracles. And their great Buſineſs was to Go forth into all Nations, †Mat. xxxviii. 19, 20.to Preach, Convert, Baptize, to Gather them into Churches, and ſee well qualified … or Elders placed in them for their farther Edification, Safety and Continuance.
But inaſmuch as it was impoſſible, that Twelve Men ſhould be ſufficient to Preach the Goſpel and Gather Churches in every Town or City of every Country; therefore both the Neceſſity of Mankind and the Kingdom of CHRIST required, that Others duly qualified, ſhould be added to them, in their great Buſineſs of the Propagation of the Goſpel among the Nations: and for this End therefore, were employed Others, who were diſtinguiſhed from them by the Name EVANG…LISTS.
By which Name was meant in thoſe ancient Times, not only the Writers of the …, to which the Modern Ages have reſtrain'd the common Uſe and Meaning of the Word. As indeed the Modern Ages have wonderfully ch…ng'd the ancient Senſe of ſome other Scripture …, in order to ſupport their particular Conſtitutions, which could not be maintain'd from Scripture otherwiſe.
But by EVANGELISTS were eſpecially meant, that ſort of Spiritual officers, whoſe Buſineſs was the ſame with the general Part of the APOSTLES Office; viz. the EVANGELIZING the Jews and Gentiles; i. e. the Preaching the Goſpel to them, the labouring by all proper means for their Converſion, Gathering Churches among them, and Committing the Care of thoſe gathered Churches to well qualified Overſeers or Elders.
Such an EVANGELIST was not only MARK, the Writer of the Goſpel that bares his Name; who was a Preacher of the Goſpel alſo among the Gentiles; as both the New Teſtament ‡Acts xil. 25 …v. 37,—39. Col. iv. 10. Philem. 24.and … have inform'd us.
But ſuch an EVANGELIST was PHILIP likewiſe: Who was at firſt one of the ſeven Deacons choſen by the Brethren of the Church at Jeruſalem, to take care of the Po…r ‖That they were … and ordain'd to Take care of the Poor; both the HOLY SCRIPTURES inform us, Acts vi. 1,—6, and … alſo expreſly aſſures us, in his Eccl. Hiſt. Book III. Chap. 29.But upon that Church being diſperſed by the Perſecution at the Death of Stephen; there being no further occaſion for his attending his Deacon's Office, and being full of the Holy Ghoſt and duly qualified; He becomes an EVANGELIST: and ſuch a one He is expreſly called, Acts xxi. ….
Such EVANGELISTS were great NUMBERS OF OTHERS of that Church alſo; which were by the ſame Perſecution diſperſed abroad: as we read in Act, viii. 1. At that time there was a great Perſecution againſt the Church which was at Jeruſalem: and they were all Scattered abroad, throughout the Regions of Judea and Samaria, except the APOSTLES: ver. 4. Therefore They that were Scattered abroad, went … where Preaching the Word: and ver. 5. Then PHILIP went down to the City of Samaria, and Preached CHRIST unto them. For that this was not Philip of the twelve Apoſtles, but the ſame that was before the Diſperſion, a Deacon, is plain, by comparing the vi, viii, & xxi. Chapters of the Acts together.
Such an EVANGELIST was TIMOTHY: as appears moſt plainly from a great Number of Scripture Paſſages concerning Him; wherein we find that He went …: and Preached the Goſpel both to the Epheſians and Coloſſi…ns in ASIA, and to the Theſſalonians and … in EUROPE. And in the ſecond Epiſtle to Him, …he Apoſtle Paul exhorts Him, To PREACH THE WORD, to be inſtant in Seaſon, out of Seaſon, to Reprove, Rebuke, Exhort with all Long ſuffering and Doctrine: Chap. iv. 2. and in ver. 5. To Watch in all things, to DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST, and (foreign) Fulfil his Miniſtry.
Such an EVANGELIST was TITUS: as fully appears from 2 Cor. viii. 6, 23. Gal. ii. 3. 2 Tim. iv. 10. and from the Epiſtle of the ſame Apoſtle to Him, compared together.
In ſhort, ſuch EVANGELISTS were BARNABAS and SILAS, APOLLOS and SYLVANUS; as appears from ſo many Scriptures as the Time will not allow me to mention: and 'tis likely MANY OTHERS named in the New Teſtament, whom the Apoſtle PAUL calls HIS FELLOW-LABOURERS—had we Leiſure to enquire into their Hiſtory.
Agreeable to this, the ſame Apoſtle, ſpeaking of our Bleſſed SAVIOUR, ſays Eph. iv. 8,—12. When He aſcended up on High, He led Captivity Captive, and gave Gifts to Men: and he gave ſome Apoſtles, and ſome Prophets, and ſome EVANGELISTS, and ſome Paſtors and Teachers; for the Perfecting of the Saints, (i. e. the compleating their NUMBER*So Vatablus in Pol. Synopſ.) for the Work of the Miniſtry, for the Edifying of the Body of CHRIST.
And agreeable to all this alſo, Euſebius not only calls MARK,†Eccl. Hiſt. Book II. Chap. 16 & 24. but alſo THADDAEUS,‡Book I. Chap. 13, & Book II. Chap. 1. an EVANGELIST; becauſe they Preached the Goſpel among the Heathen. Yea, in the ſame Places, He calls them APOSTLES; for which He had given the Reaſon in Book I. Chap. 12. Where He tells us, that, MANY beſides the twelve APOSTLES, were call'd APOSTLES (foreign) by way of IMITATION, i. e. Becauſe, like Apoſtles. They went about, Preaching the Goſpel to diverſe People, Converting them to the Faith of CHRIST, and Gathering them into Churches.
In Book II. Chap. 3. He has theſe remarkable Paſſages— Thus by the Co-operation of the Divine Power, the comfortable Word of GOD, like the Beams of the Sun, on a ſudden enlightened the whole World: and preſently agreeable to the Divine Scriptures, the Sound of the Heavenly EVANGELISTS and APOSTLES went out into all Lands, and their Words to the Ends of the Earth: and in a ſhort time, throughout ALL CITIES and VILLAGES, there were CHURCHES gathered; which like a Threſhing Floor fill'd with Corn, were throng'd with infinite Multitudes. And in Book III. Chap. 3…. He ſays, that, MANY OTHERS were alſo famous at that Time, having obtain'd the firſt Place among the SUCCESSORS of the APOSTLES—Promoting greatly the Doctrine of the Goſpel, and Scattering the Salutary Seed of the Kingdom of Heaven, at large over the whole World—Travelling abroad they perform'd the Work of EVANGELISTS to thoſe who as yet had not heard the Word of Faith—And theſe Perſons having only laid the Foundation of Faith in remote and barbarous Places, and CONSTITUTED other PASTORS, committed to them the Culture of thoſe they had (foreign) lately †I rather render it [lately] and not [perfectly] as the Engliſh Tranſlation of Valeſiu…'s Euſ…bius …t it, which I otherwiſe chuſe to keep to. And Valesius more agreeably renders it, tho' He vary's the Phraſe into [Novellae Plantationi…] i. e. the Culture [of the New Plantation] departed again &c.introduc'd to the Faith, departed again to other Regions and Nations —And in the cloſe of the Chapter— It being impoſſible to recount by name, all Thoſe, who in the Firſt SUCCESSION of the APOSTLES, were PASTORS or EVANGELISTS in the Churches throughout the World.
By PASTORS He plainly means the ſtated Overſeers or Elders of the Churches gathered: and by EVANGELISTS, Thoſe who Firſt Evangeliz'd and gathered them into Churches.
Not but that the One ſort of Officers might be changed into the Other, as the Occaſion of the Kingdom of CHRIST required. For the KINGDOM of CHRIST could not be made for theſe Officers, but They for this KINGDOM: and therefore juſt according to the Demands of this Kingdom, They might be ſet up, remov'd, or continued in one Place or other, or reciprocally change their Offices. Thus, upon the Diſperſion of particular Churches, or other weighty Occaſions, whereby the Kingdom of CHRIST might be the more advanced, the ſtated Paſtors of thoſe Churches might become Evangeliſts, to Preach the Goſpel and gather Churches in other Places. And ſo, the Evangeliſts, thro' Age, Infirmity, or the weighty Occaſions of particular Churches, might become the ſtated Paſtors of one of the Churches They had Gathered, or of any other.
From all theſe Premiſes, we may fairly draw theſe three CORROLARIES—
(1) That 'tis therefore a great Miſtake, which the Generality of Learned Men have inadvertently fallen into; in ſuppoſing that EVANGELISTS, or Miniſters to Preach the Goſpel … gather Churches among the Heathen, were an extraordinary ſort of Officers, peculiar to the Primitive Ages.
They were extraordinary Men indeed in thoſe ancient Times, and had extraordinary Gifts: and ſo had the DEACONS alſo, as thoſe Times required. But as meer Evangeliſts, they were no otherwiſe extraordinary than the Occaſions of their Office. That is, ſo long as there are Heathens to be Evangelized, to be Converted to the Chriſtian Faith, to be Baptiz'd and gathered into Churches; ſo long do both the Kingdom of CHRIST and Neceſſities of Men require the Office, as well as in the primitive Times; and ſo long do they call aloud for Perſons duly qualified and ſpirited to be engaged in it, until all the Nations are Converted and gathered into Churches: and then indeed the End of their Office ceaſing, the Office will therefore fail, and no other Spiritual Officers remain but the Stated Paſtors of particular Churches.
And the contrary narrow Conception, laying aſide thoſe Evangelical Officers and confining the Chriſtian Miniſtry to the Paſtors or Elders of Particular Churches, has not only a plain natural Tendency to hinder; but has alſo doubtleſs been a principal Mean of hindering the Propagation of the Goſpel thro' the World. To this it ſeems in a great meaſure owing, that the Religion of CHRIST has not made a much farther Progreſs in the Eaſtern Hemiſphere, than it had about 1400 Years ago, in the Days of CONSTANTINE the Great. Whereas had this Order of Miniſters, from thoſe ancient Times been conſtantly kept up and emitted among the Heathen Nations; by the common Bleſſing of Heaven, it ſeems to be likely, that all the Ends of the Earth, in a far more extenſive Senſe than Euſebius is to be taken, had long before now been Evangeliz'd, and happily ſeen the Salvation of GOD.
Nor can I imagine, that the Reformed and famous Churches, either of FRANCE or SCOTLAND ever intended to militate this ſort of Officers thus deſcribed: For tho' They diſcountenance a Vagous Miniſtry *See Quick's Synodicon, & Steuart's Collections; I preſume they only mean in thoſe Parts of the World, where the People are Chriſtianized and Churches gathered.
(2) From hence we likewiſe plainly ſee, that EVANGELISTS, or Preachers of the Goſpel and Gatherers of Churches among the Heathen, are much more properly and ſtrictly, the SUCCESSORS of the APOSTLES, than the ſtated Biſhops or Elders of particular Churches: the Office of the former much more reſembling that of the APOSTLES, than the Office of the latter.
(3) and laſtly, Theſe EVANGELISTS thus Preaching among the Heathen, Converting and Baptizing them, Gathering them into Churches and then Conſtituting ſtated Biſhops or Elders over them; They, the Evangeliſts, cannot therefore poſſibly be an Inferiour Order of Officers to thoſe Stated Biſhops or Elders whom▪ They thus ſet over the Churches▪ They have converted and gathered. Tho' their Ordaining ſuch Biſhops or Elders will on the other hand no more infer a Superiority in the Evangeliſts; than one Stated Biſhop of a Church ordaining another Biſhop, will infer a Superiority in the Ordainer.
And for your farther Satisfaction in the ſtrict Propriety of Laying our Hands upon, and Giving the Right Hand of Fellowſhip to ſuch ſort of Officers as have been now ordained; I ſhall only obſerve theſe Two things—
(1) That they were ſuch ſort of Officers, upon whom HANDS WERE LAID in the primitive Times, when they were ſeparated to this peculiar Service.
Thus we read of BARNABAS an EVANGELIST, as well as of PAUL an APOSTLE, in Acts xiii. 1,—3. Now there were in the Church that was at Antioch, certain Prophets and Teachers—as they miniſtred to the LORD, and faſted, the HOLY GHOST ſaid, SEPARATE me BARNABAS and SAUL for the Work whereto I have called them: and when they had faſted and prayed, and LAID THEIR HANDS on them, they ſent them away. And ſo were the Hands of the Presbytery laid on TIMOTHY, another EVANGELIST, when the Gift of Preaching the Goſpel, which was at firſt among the Jews or Heathen, was communicated to Him. 1 Tim. iv. 14.
(2) That they were alſo ſuch ſort of Officers, to whom the Apoſtles at Jeruſalem gave the RIGHT HAND OF FELLOWSHIP; when they were going to Preach among the Heathen.
So the Apoſtle Paul himſelf aſſures us, in Gal. iii. 9. And when JAMES, CEPHAS and JOHN, who ſeemed to be PILLARS, perceived the Grace that was given to ME; they gave to ME and BARNABAS the RIGHT HAND OF FELLOWSHIP; that WE ſhould go to the HEATHEN &c.
And thus we ſee that the Scripture Inſtances both of Impoſition of Hands and Giving the Right Hand of Fellowſhip, are firſtly in Favour of Such ſort of Officers; and are by Inference or Imitation only, applied to Others.
But how extreamly agreable is the laſt mention'd primitive INSTANCE, to the Caſe before us!
For beſides, that thoſe Five Miniſters were then at JERUSALEM, the Seat of the principal Chriſtian Church in that Age and Part of the World; from whence were Miniſters ſent continually to Preach the Goſpel and gather Churches in all the Countries round about:—What I would chiefly obſerve is—(1) That this was done upon their Perceiving the GRACE of GOD given to Paul as well as Barnabas—i. e. not only the Miniſterial Gifts and Graces of the HOLY SPIRIT, but alſo their evident Call of GOD to engage in this Office, and their unqueſtionable Inveſtiture therein. (2) That this was done at the …arting of theſe Chriſtian Miniſters; viz. Paul and Barnabas, to … ou… of Jeruſalem among the GENTILES, while the … Miniſters were to continue to Preach among the Jews. (3) That tho' they were all inveſted equally with the Miniſterial Office; yet now at their Parting, Thoſe who were Prior in the Miniſtry and ſeem'd to be PILLARS; i. e. were ſo conſpicuous … the Chriſtian Church, as they were every where known and own'd as Miniſters of CHRIST, and were alſo to remain among the Jews, if not in or near Jeruſalem—were tho't moſt proper to Give the Right Hand of Fellowſhip to Thoſe who were going to a greater Diſtance and among another People.
And from theſe Obſervables we may now eaſily collect the ſingular INTENTION of theſe wiſe and inſpired Miniſters in this Significant Action. For no doubt They meant thereby—(1) To teſtify their Approbation of them as true Miniſters of CHRIST, both duly qualified for this Sacred Office, rightly called to it, and inveſted and employed in it; that all might own them as ſuch, and none diſpute their Miniſterial Power. (2) To ſignify, that tho' they were now to Part; yet They were ſtill United in the moſt … Affection and in the ſame Deſign, embarqued in the ſame Holy Cauſe of CHRIST, and were to Propagate the ſame pure Religion in different Places. (3) To ſignify their continued Con…n for each other, with their hearty Readineſs and Reſolution to aſſiſt each other, both by conſtant Prayers, Advices and Endeavours, as there might be Occaſion. (4) and laſtly, to exp… therewith, their earneſt Recommendation of Them to the Providence and Grace of GOD, that they might be greatly aſſiſted and proſpered in their Miniſtry.
In Imitation of theſe agreable EXAMPLES, in the midſt of this Metropolis, at the Deſire and in the Name of the Paſtors and Deleg…s of the Churches here Convened, and in the Sight of this great Aſſembly,
I Do therefore,
Dear and Reverend Brethren!
At your Parting from us, to carry the Goſpel among the Heathen, now Give you heartily the RIGHT HAND OF FELLOWSHIP.—And it is to Signify—Our Approbation of You as true Miniſters of CHRIST; furniſhed for this Sacred Office, rightly called to it, and fully inveſted in all the Powers and Authorities of it, wherever the Affairs of His Kingdom may call you, and now eſpecially for the Propagation of it among the Heathen:—That we account you ſtill to be United with us in the ſame General and great Deſign and Intereſt of our common LORD; to carry on that happy Kingdom in the World, which conſiſteth not in carnal Ordinances impos'd on Men, but in Righteouſneſs and Peace and the Joy of the HOLY GHOST:—That we ſhall be continually concerned for You, mindful of You in Prayer, and be ready to aſſiſt You as Occaſion requires.—And finally, We commend You to the GRACE of our LORD JESUS CHRIST: That He would fill You with His SPIRIT: Inſpire You with Light and Zeal; ſupply you with Faith and Patience, Courage, Wiſdom, Self-Denial, Meekneſs, and Humility; Touch You with the moſt tender and condeſcending Pity for thoſe wretched Natives; Excite You to Your Duty, guide You in Your Work, defend You from every Evil, ſuppor… and comfort You in all your Trials; and proſper Your Endeavours for the Advancement of the Kingdom of our Bleſſed LORD, in the Salvation of many Sinners periſhing in Ignorance and Wickedneſs.
May Your Eyes be always to Him, Your Dependance always on Him, and His mighty Grace be ſufficient for You. May You from Him give Light to them that ſit in Darkneſs and in the Regions of the Shadow of Death, to guide their Feet into the Way of Eternal Peace and Bleſſedneſs: May You faithfully diſcharge the Office of the EVANGELISTS of CHRIST among them: and from Preaching the Glad Tydings of Salvation to them on Earth, may You at length aſcend the World above, and carry the News of their Converſion thither; to highten the Joy of the Heavenly Hoſts, and increaſe the Praiſe of our Great REDEEMER. Amen.
N. B. The Right Hand of Fellowſhip being thus Given; the Sixty-ſeventh Pſalm was Sung, and the Rev. Moderator diſmiſs'd the Aſſembly with the uſual Bleſſing.
FINIS.
CORRIGENDA.
PAge 38. in the Margin; for xxxviii, read xxviii. p. 39. line 21. for which, r. who. p. 40. l. 2. r. make full Proof of, or Fulfil his Miniſtry▪ l. 25. r. like the Apoſtles,
End of the text · Joseph Sewall, Christ Victorious Over the Powers of Darkness (1733)