Priests and Levites 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diversities of gifts of God of administrations and operations By Gods appointment and gracious dispensation the high Priest had the chiefe place other Priests were under him the Levites inferiour to these had one chiefe in every degree the rest under them had their different administrations some were Singers others Porters Some of these were gifted by God for exposition of Scripture or Prophecy or making sacred hymnes and other holy imployment So in time of the Gospel There were b 1. Cor. 12.4 5 6. diversity of gifts by one and the same Spirit diversity of administrations by one and the same Lord diversitie of operations by one and the same God Of the Disciples and scholars of Christ some were called to be Apostles and Teachers and Workers of miracles c. some to be Evangelists some to be Prophets These trained up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Attendants Deacons fellow workemen fellow souldiers These according as the Apostles pleased and saw expedient for the Churches use grew up from Schollars or Disciples to be helpers or Deacons and then afterward to be fellow workmen and fellow souldiers with the Apostles themselves for they of inferiour gifts were to endevour to obtain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the c 1. Cor. 12.31 more excellent gifts This Paul commands In the Law the chiefe places of the Priests and Levites over their brethren came to them by succession of bloud so that the hoary head found in the way of a faithfull and right performance of the charge entrusted unto him upon the death of the Sar or Nagîd prince or chiefe man in the high priesthood or any of the 24. Courses and the other places was preferred and succeeded the deceased But in time of the Gospel the Apostles and Apostolicall men by their appointment having the dispensation of matters under their Lord Christ committed to them and observing in severall persons the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gracious gifts bestowed by the divine power upon them whom they instructed destinated them to administrations and imployments accordingly which were diversified as was requisite for the building of Gods Church For as in the d 1 Co. 12.12 naturall body there be divers members of more noble or meaner use and all even the meanest very usefull so 't is in the Church or body of Christ And in regard that the Church is here militant under Christ the chief captain he hath his under and subordinate Captains they inferiour captains under them and lastly the common souldiers namely each private Christian who all in their places civill or sacred war under Christs banner for God hath not gifted men with an equality of courage and indowments and therefore intended not a parity either in Civill or Ecclesiasticall places There were of old among the sacred officers Sarim Negidim Nesiim Chieftains Rulers Princes of the sanctuary for the well ordering of the Priests in their severall administrations according to their faculties who were under them and doth not the equity of the matter require the same subordination in the Church of God now yea it appeareth that the Church of God was so ordered in the Primitive times for Christ ascending into heaven sate there as King of kings to preserve his people notwithstanding all Roman tyranny and appeareth there as high Priest for ever He sent twelve Apostles Bishops under him into severall parts of the world they disposed of such scholars as Christ in his life time or themselves did educate and instruct and planted Apostolicall men Presbiters Deacons their fellow workmen and the rest under other titles as they found the occasions of Gods Church to require and people fitted and ready to receive them This was put in practise in the seven Churches of Asia at Philippi Corinth and elsewere For see what course was observed in some few Churches the like we may conceive of the rest for their generall carriage The Epistles in the Apocalipse are directed to the e Apoc. 2. 3. Angel of each Church of the seven in Asia as denoting one principall man in each for so The Lord of the vineyard The Lord of the House The Lord of that servant elsewhere speeches in form like these imply one speciall Lord and not many Lords one equall to another Besides in those times there were some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not men which seemed to be eminent and were not but who were such as they seemed men f Gal. 2.6 9. of chiefe place above others dignified both by God and men pillars in Gods Church not pillars in the same rank as all good Christians are that is standing stedfast in Gods truth but pillars in regard of eminency and administration above others such were James Caiphas John And Paul and Barnabas taken unto them Again God who is * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Architection The chief builder of the Church vouchsafeth the title to St. Paul that he is called an Architecton g 1. Cor. 3.10 a chiefe builder which intimates that the other Apostles were chiefe builders also and if Paul may well be stiled an Arch-builder he may also rightly be called an Archbishop Also St. John the Apostle was an Archbuilder an Archbishop under Christ The Archbuilder and the Archbishop For if Paul was so the same cannot be denyed to John Quia similium similis est ratio Christ supreme in authority gives order to John John sends the Epistles to the Angels of the Churches the Angels receive them for their own and the other Teachers for there were other Teachers besides the seven Angels and the peoples instruction This also is deducible from the equity of the Law and the order settled among the Priests of old for while Aaron the Type of Christ was alive Eleazar his sonne was stiled Nasi Nesiim Prelate of prelates or Chieftain of chieftains and the chief fathers in the 24. courses are Roshei Aboth Archpatriots and Patriarchs And seeing the new Testament doth often borrow not onely doctrine but termes of speech from the old and that very usually may we not judge that we have Architecton and Patriarch Bishop and the like borrowed from the old Testament and conceive that in the Grecian Eastern and African Churches as well as in the Roman Western Churches these titles and a like subordination of governours have taken place seeing Paul calleth himself Architecton this warranteth the rest of like nature Only a care must be had that they who have these titles 1. must not love a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 23.6 the title or preheminence belonging thereunto nor earnestly affect to be great in dignity but being call'd to any high place becom as Moses meek men and be truly fathers and overseers performing usefull service for the whole Church where they are thus dignified for Christ forbidding men to be called b verse 8 9 10 Rabbi Father Doctor yet in Scripture stileth men by the same c
occasion of sicknesse wounds wearinesse or otherwise may supply the place of the superiour The like care was of old taken among the Priests for Aaron had Eleazar and upon Aarons death Eleazar had Phinees their seconds In each of the foure and twenty Orders or Courses of Priests and Levites there was one chiefe and each of the chiefe had a second * 1. Chro. 24.8 9 10 18. adjoyned to him such it seemeth was our Ancestors care who to a Bishop subordinated a Dean and to a Rector of a Parish a Vicar 9 To some Christ gave ability to speake divers tongues By this gift of God many were converted at Pentecost after Christs ascension many afterwards This gift was fore-prophesied of as appeaeth Acts 2. from Joel 2. and 1. Cor. 14. from Esay 28.11 Some use there was of divers tongues before Christs time for then many Proselytes were won out of Nations differing in speech from the Jewes yet not by any miraculous gift of tongues but by the Hebrew or some other tongue attained in an ordinary way No one person had all these gifts for Paul saith Are all Apostles are all Prophets are all Teachers 1. Cor. 12.29 are all Workers of Miracles and so forth Each one had such indowments as God pleased to give and occasion incident seemed to require Some one had many of these gifts though no one man all Saint John was an Apostle an Evangelist a Prophet a Teacher Saint Paul was an Apostle a Prophet a Teacher had ability to speake many tongues these two might have som other of the gifts above-named so might other of the Apostles Deacons Presbyters in like manner have divers of the administrations and operations Other titles which are elsewhere in the new Testament given to such instruments as Christ pleased to imploy for the propagation of the Gospel doe fall within the compass of these and are co-incident with some of them here above specified For Bishops Presbyters Deacons Angels of the Churches Embassadours Builders of the Church husband men in Gods field are of like nature with these Of these titles no one is wholly new but every one of them upon some occasion lesse or more serviceable in the times under the Law and made use of heretofore Hence it may be that Saint Paul saith that hee did in the ministration of the Gospel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do the part of a sacrificing Priest Rom. 15.16 that is in some part of their sacred office not in sacrificing but in preaching praying and the like Only as John Baptist was greater then any Prophet before for he did say This Jesus whom here you see is the Lamb of God who shall dye for you He taketh away the sins of the world so that in him all Nations of the earth shall bee blessed so these other messengers sent forth gifted by Christ were greater then he in this that they could say Christ hath dyed and rose againe and taken away the sins of the world and extends his mercy both to Jewes and Gentiles Thus Jesus Christ the King of kings and the Priest after the order of Melchisedech and according to the times before the Law given to Moses and coming of the Tribe of Judah to which the Priesthood did not belong by the ordinances of Moses Law did provide notwithstanding the Romans tyranny Deputies to instruct and to take order for the instruction of the people These Deputies he chose not out of Aarons Tribe but Jews without respect unto any other Tribe in speciall and called them not Hieries Sacrificers as of old but by other titles not unknowne to the Jewes and such was the nature of these titles that they expressed their mission oversight teaching administration and their manifold care to be diligently imployed for the good of the Church Of these some were fishermen and unlettered as Andrew and Peter and others that the Gospels propagation might be knowne to be of God and not to depend on or subsist by humane wisdome others had parts more eminent for learning as Paul brought up at Gamaliels feete and Apollos commended for his eloquence and other the like that when extraordinary gifts should cease the helpe of Arts and humane learning and education if christianly and religiously managed might be knowne to be of good use However were Christs instruments literate or unlearned he furnished them with gifts for discharge of their callings He prescribed that the Apostles whom the holy Spirit led into all truth and who under Christ had each of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Bishoprick and that Apostolick men approved and appointed by them should as a Titus left by S. Paul in Crete a Tit. 1. ordaine Officers in Gods Church who should be in many respects religiously qualified able to teach convince c. and to ordaine things which were wanting So in the beginning of the world men gratiously qualified and walking with God as Enoch and Noah were Gods Prophets and Teachers and Cains wicked sons of the elder house passed by so Japhets the elder brothers sons were dispersed at Babels building and Sems the younger brothers b Gen. 9.27 tents conspicuous for religion So Abraham Isaac Jacob were pious men and Gods Priests and Nahor Ismael and Esau the elder brethren passed by So now Christ as he hath no speciall Tribe of Israel so neither to any prerogative of birth but in the ordinary course requireth that men be chosen into sacred offices who be well gifted for the discharge of the same And to this end the Apostles took to them one or more of the Christian Disciples to accompany them and to minister unto them that these seeing the Apostles practice and hearing their doctrine might in due time be serviceable to Gods Church as of old the Prophets of God had done by educating some sons or schollers under them and as out of the persons which accompanied the Apostles in Christs life time Matthias but here Christs authority by a religious lot was used because hee immediately called the other Apostles was chosen As the sacred offices were correspondent and in great part the same with those in Moses and the Prophets so the doctrine taught in the new Testament is the same in substance and not much differing from that which formerly was openly or in types or closer significations delivered by Moses the Prophets Things done to Christ were foretold by Moses and the Prophets Luk. 18.31 24.25 Christ restoreth all things spoken of by the Law and the Prophets Act. 3.21 All the Prophets witnessed that by his Name salvation should come to the Gentiles Act. 10.43 The sum of the Law was The loue of God above all and the love of our neighbour as our selves salvation by faith in Christ and that which is the effect thereof holiness of life 1 Pet. 1.9 10 and 16. The new Testament treateth upon the same Theames Besides As Israel of old was Gods people a Kingdom of Priests an
God was much enlarged The Church is now and ever was a Body consisting of severall members some in this a 1 Cor. 12. Body are eyes some hands some feet c. some b Luk. 22.26 are greater and chiefe some lesse in the Kingdome of Christ The lesse have a lesse service or charge the greater and chiefe are or should bee of greater service and imployment for the good of the whole and so they are indeed though it may seeme otherwise A prudent and considerate man will not judge the belly in the Roman Apologue to bee idler then the other parts nor the Master of the Ship sitting at the Sterne a lesse actor for the welfare of the passengers then they which tug at the oares or hoyse or strike saile As the hand and foot are content with their owne offices so should each member in the Church but yet there is a difference in some regard for one of inferiour place in the Church may desire the improvement of his talent and abilities may desire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as was said above As Saint Paul approves this so the practice of the primitive times shew it then to have beene usuall Matthias of a Disciple was made an Apostle Philip of a Deacon became an Evangelist Furthermore concerning the performance of these Ecclesiasticall offices Saint Paul speaking of and particularly reckoning up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the diversities of Gods gifts sheweth a more excellent way to use them namely That whatsoever gift of God in this kinde any one hath hee should above all make use of Christian love without which tongues prophesie knowledge faith and all other gifts and graces are nothing and with which Christian love if any ones heart bee truly enflamed hee will apply himselfe to doe good in the Church in whatsoever kinde hee can as Pastor as Deacon as a fellow-workman as a Presbyter as an helper c. yea doe any usefull service in the Church as God gives ability and occasion is offered So Saint John being an Apostle did as a Prophet write the Revelation and as an Evangelist also his Gospel a divine supplement to the three other Gospels and then his Epistles Paul sent forth to preach did sometimes baptise performed the part of a Deacon and Evangelist yea became all things to all men But how may it appeare that any one as a Bishop had many Presbyters and Deacons under him or had a Diocesse or a large circuit of a country to be overseen by him Answer Wee may observe that the Apostles in regard of thepaucity of labourers in the great harvest of God had large as I may call them Diocesses and that each of them settled Presbyters in many Cities as we conceive by that which we read of some of them It is also manifest that there were many Presbyters at once in a Act. 20. Ephesus Acts 20. in Jerusalem Act. 11.30 in Antioch Act. 13.1 b Act. 11.30 at Caesarea there were at one time Philip the Evangelist Paul c Act. 13.1 and the companions of his travels Agabus and Luke These would not have stayed there but that there was worke for more then one of them Seeing professours of Christianity much increased and the Apostles endevoured to hold them in the true faith and still to convert more Proselites it necessarily followeth that they would not see them want any needfull supply of Teachers and Instructors but sent their Ministers and helpers to any Church as any present occasion required and that they call'd them back as they found necessary and expedient for any other place And seeing some Cities were large and had many a Act. 13.5 Synagogues which the Apostles made use of and so probably such as were by them sent or left there to preach it was requisite that they should have more then one Presbyter for the same over which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Angell of the Church was left When the rest of the twelve Apostles were dead and Saint John onely left alive but aged he not able to visit some remote Churches in his own person by writing to the seven Churches of Asia informed every one who had an eare in any Church whatsoever to heare their duties These Angels might according to the example of Titus left by Paul in Creet ordaine Presbyters in every of their Cities They might also try those who said * Rev. 3.9 Rev. 2.2 they were Jewes that is Christians and might examine them who pretended to be Apostles and were found lyars Had not these seven Churches more then one Teacher entertained in them no stranger would have fained * Say he was an Apostle a mission unto any of them and if the Angell of a Church exercised his power to examine and reject false pretenders we see thereby what his authority was for he who could do thus by a stranger might doe as much by a Presbyter bred up in his owne Church As for Diocesses the thing is ancient For the great Cities of old had some Pagi or villages neer adjoyned and subordinate to them Hence we read of a Jos 15. Gilead Ekron c. and their villages of Jerusalem b Ezek. 16. and her daughters Of this there is no need to doubt because it is usuall in all Countries whatsoever as being a thing for many reasons expedient and therefore wee may well grant that Ephesus Smyrna Philadelphia c. had some villages depending on them and subject to them and that therein some free men of the chiefe Cities did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inhabit And thus the thing is ancient how late soever some affirme the name to be Men also have used of old 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to dwell together for mutuall defence and comfort one of another so that the thing here also is ancient and was fitted of old for the name of Christian Parishes Suppose there were such adjacent villages to the great Cities and that the retired persons and shepheards there harkned as soon or sooner to the Gospel then the richer and greater Citizens who were cumbred with worldly imployments burdened with the weight of honourable places because also the shepheards of Bethlehem and Joseph of Arimathea and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coasts neer adjoyning to the more noble Cities were often more attentive to the Gospel then the great men in Jerusalem and other large Cities suppose all this yet how will it appeare that these Angels or chief Overseers of the Churches had such large revenues as some Bishops in these our dayes Answer To this an answer is easily made No man can expect that a river should have so great a stream at or neer the spring head as it hath after many miles running 'T is not possible that a Lords or Knights house in New-England should be as well built furnished and attended as a Lords or Knights house usually in Old-England The Angels and Presbyters of the primitive times found stronger
Elders of the Tribes c Num. 11.16 Deut. 1.13 14 15. known to be men of courage fearing God and hating covetousnesse and to make them Roshim heads of the people and Sarim captains over thousands hundreds fifties tens This is further put in practise Num. 2. where each of the twelve Tribes hath Nasi one chiefe captain and the foure captains of Judah Reuben Ephraim and Dan have not onely the command of their own Tribes but each of them two other captaines and their Tribes subordinate unto them God then also appointed Aaron high Priest a type of Christ our high Priest This Aaron d Exod. 22.28 Act. 23.5 was also Nasi a Prince of the people and chief Ruler over the Priests Eastward by the Tabernacle The sons of Levi e Num. 3.21 c. divided according to their families into the Gersonites Coathites and Merarites had three Nesiim captains over them and f Num. 4.28 32. over these Ithamar and Eleazar son of Aaron This Eleazar was * Num. 3.32 Pakid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and is called Nasi Nesiim Praelatus Praelatorum Captain of captaines Also Roshei Aboth the heads of the fathers or chiefe fathers of the Levites are by the seventy Interpreters g Jos 21.1 1. Chro. 24.31 call'd Archpatriots and Patriarchs The same Hebrew words come elsewhere in speech of the Priests and Levites and may not unfitly be so translated Againe when God took David from as meane imployment as Moses before and deputed him King of the twelve Tribes and settled him on the throne David tooke some chiefe Elders of the Tribes to be his Princes and Counsellours and appointed captains of thousands and hundreds and fifties and tens and made some of his sons when they were grown up Cohenim h 2. Sam. 8.18 chiefe Rulers or Princes The High Priest held his place as in Moses his time The Priests were by David divided into 24. Courses 16. Courses for the sons of Eleazar and 8. for the sons of Ithamar who were fewer in number then the sons of Eleazar Among these i 1 Chr. 24.5 there were some Sarim Princes of the Sanctuary and Princes of the House of God In each of the Courses was one Sar chief Governour another k 1 Chr. 24.8 9 10. 18. second to him the rest were under them For this term Sar is used as of the l 1 Chr. 27.22 chiefe Rulers over the other Tribes so of the chiefe Rulers of the Tribe of Levi and those were chiefe in place in these Courses and in the 24. Courses of the Levites who in regard of their many yeers and fatherly m 1 Ch. 15.22 experience and ability to direct and instruct the inferiour sort did dispose of them which were of their Courses according to their faculties and knowledge in the Priestly and Leviticall imployments So that some were Poshei Aboth Patriarchs or chiefe fathers in each Course others of their kindred subordinate to them Solomon as a prudent Deputy under God and a worthy Successor of a blessed Father continued these Courses setled by his Father and performed all things in order according to the n 2 Chr. 8.14 Commandement of David the man of God T' is also the commendation of other good Kings as of Asa Jehosaphas Ezekiah Josiah Zorobabel that they did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord as did David their father and as Moses had prescribed Jehosuah and Ezra Priests and Nehemiah a religious noble man still had an eye to o Ezr. 3.2 10. 6.18 8.16 20. Neh. 12.7 12 22 24. the Law of Moses and ordinances of David and gave Roshei Cohenim the heads of the Priests their places Ezra 7.25 Ezra also had authority according to the wisdome of God given him to set up Judges being men who knew the Law of God and could teach others to know it and had power to punish refractory persons with death banishment confiscation of goods imprisonment In times which the sacred Story but briefely toucheth or where Kings and Rulers were not so carefull as Gods deputation required or when tyranny somewhat interrupted or violently stopt the observance of Gods Law the practice of this deputation is not so expresse or cleare yet some footsteps thereof even in the worst times are discernable In the first times of the world the Story whereof being of many hundred yeeres is very briefely declared we finde Adam Gods Deputy Hee ruled not onely over the rest of the creatures here below but over his sons and posterity For if Cain had hee been an obedient son to Adam and a faithfull servant of God was to rule a Gen. 4. over Abel and Abel was to submit to him because Cain was the elder it necessarily followeth that Adam their father was in the same regard to rule over both of them and their children and when hee dyed to leave this deputation of authority to the Patriarchs according as they were Elders of their Families Noah by Gods command and his fatherly authority took his three sonnes and their wives into the Ark with him To him and them was the government of the new world committed So then hee in like manner was Ruler over them and their children and did performe sacred offices for them as a Priest or Sacrificer and a Preacher of righteousnesse Sem Noah's second sonne but more eminent for piety then the other two is called Melchisedech and was Gods Deputy and both King and Priest of the High God How * Heb. 7 4. great he was we are bid to consider Abraham who is stiled Nasi a Prince of God by the Hittites and as a Prince Captain marched forth with his souldiers to rescue Lot his kinsman taken captive did often sacrifice and yet did acknowledge his subordination to Melchisedech an higher Priest then himselfe for to him hee paid the tythe of the spoils got by conquest The Patriarchs Isaac and Jacob succeed Abraham in the same deputation Job b Job 1.1 29.7.22 also was a Prince and the greatest of the sons of the East he sate in the gates and streets as Judge he often sacrificed his words were waited for as the raine as the later raine his speeches as it is spoken of the Prophets and Priests dropped into his hearers In these times the way of instruction for doctrine and for resolution in case of doubt was to c Deut. 32.7 enquire of their fathers who should shew them and of their Elders that is their Priests who should tell them for this duty in speciall manner belonged to the Fathers and Elders as they were Priests And that some religious Elder was made Priest in these times appeareth because Abraham upon some thoughts of his d Gen. 15.2 dying childless said that of all the soules which he had got to the Lord Eleazar of Damascus e Gen. 24.2 the eldest servant in his house and manifestly a religious man should bee his