THE IVS DIVINVM OF PRESBYTERIE OR A TREATISE Evidently proving by Scripture All true Ministers or Embassadours of the Gospell to be rightly called Divines OR JVRE DIVINO Hebr. 5. 4. No man taketh this honour unto himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron PRINTED In the Year 1646. Certain probable Collections From Scripture proving the Divine right OF PRESBYTERIE By way of Quere proposed to the serious consideration of all ingenuous and free spirited men Scripture Ephes 3. 8 9. UNto me who am lesse then the least of all Saints is this grace given that I should preach the unsearchable riches of Christ among the Gentiles And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mistery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God Col. 1. 25 26. Whereof I am made a Minister according to the dispensation of God which is given me for you to fulfill the Word of God The mistery which hath been hid from ages and from generations but is now made manifest to his Saints 1. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected That the Gospell is that mistery which from the beginning of the world was hid in God untill the comming of CHRIST in the flesh and his declaring it to his Disciples Scripture Mark 16. 15. Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature Coloss 1. 15 16. Who is the image of the invisible GOD the first born of every creature All things were created by Him and for Him 20 And having made peace through the blood of his crosse by him to reconcile all things to himself whether they be things in earth or things in heaven 23 And be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which ye have heard which was preached to every creature which is under heaven whereof I Paul am made a Minister Rom. 8. 19 20 21 22. The earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the Sonnes of GOD for the creature was made subject to vanitie not willingly but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope for the creature it self also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of GOD for we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth together untill now Acts 3. 21. Whom the heavens must receive untill the times of restitution of all things Rev. 21. 5. And he that sate upon the Throne said behold I make all things new 2 Pet. 3. 13. We according to His promise look for new heavens and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousnesse Esa 45. 17. Ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end Psal 93. 1. The Lord reigneth the world also is established that it cannot be moved Joh. 3. 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne John 6. 5. And the bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world 1 Joh. 4. 14. We have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Sonne the SAVIOUR of the world 2. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected 1 That God by Christ hath reconciled to himself all things in heaven and in earth 2 That the Gospell which Christ after his Resurrection commanded his Disciples to publish in all the world appertained to all the world viz. to every creature in heaven and in earth or under heaven 3 That God by CHRIST will restore all things viz. make new the heavens and the earth deliver the whole creation from corruption into a glorious and incorruptible state and so to make it abide for ever a world without end 4 That Gods loving the world reconciling the world Christ giving his flesh for the life of the world his being a Saviour of the world with many the like phrases are not to be understood of the world of the Elect nor of the world of believers as some fondly imagine no nor yet of the world of Mankinde as others more reasonable do deem but of the whole universall created world the heavens and the earth and all things therein Scripture Luk. 24. 49. Behold I send the promise of the Father unto you but tarry ye in the City of Jerusalem untill ye be indued with power from on High Acts 1. 4 5. And being assembled together with them commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem but wait for the promise of the Father which ye have heard of me for John truly baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many dayes hence 8 But ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth 3. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected That notwithstanding the former command of Christ to his Disciples to go into all the world and preach the Gospell aforesaid yet they were not to attempt the doing thereof untill they were enabled thereto by the comming down of the Holy Ghost from Heaven upon them Scripture Acts 2. 2 3 4. And suddainly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty winde and it filled the house where they were sitting and there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire and it sate upon each of them and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance Vers 43. And fear came upon every soul and many signes were done by the Apostles Acts 4. 29 30 31. And now Lord behold their threatnings and grant unto thy servants that with all boldnesse they may speak thy Word by stretching forth thy hand to heal and that signes and wonders may be done by the name of the Holy childe Jesus and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spake the Word of God with boldnesse Acts 5. 12. And by the hands of the Apostles were many signes and wonders wrought among the people and they were all with one accord in Salomons Porch 15 Insomuch that they broughe forth the sick into the streets and layed them on beds and couches that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might over-shadow some of them 16 There came also a multitude out of the Cities round about unto Jerusalem bringing sick folks and them that were vexed with unclean spirits and they were healed every one Acts 8. 5 6 7. Then Philip went down to the City of Samaria and preached Christ unto them and the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which PHILIP spake hearing and seeing the Miracles which he did For unclean spirits crying with loud voyces came out of many that were possessed with them and many taken with Palsies and that were lame were healed Likewise Acts 9. 33 34 35. 41 42. Acts 11. 21. Acts 28. 8
thereof also given him to profit the body withall Scripture Acts 6. 3. Wherefore Brethren look ye out among you seven men of honest repute full of the Holy Ghost 8. Quer. Whether from this Scripture may not be collected That Deacons were to be men full of the Holy Ghost that is eminently furnished with these gifts How much more then ought those who take upon them to be superiour Ministers of the Gospell to be such Scripture Joh. 16. 7 8 9 10. If I go not away the comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you And when he is come he will reprove the world of sinne and of righteousnesse and of judgement of sinne because they believe not in me of righteousnesse because I go unto the Father and ye see me no more 9. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected That no ministry of the Gospell since the assention of Christ had power so to convince their hearers as to bring the sin of unbelief upon any that rejected their ministry nor to give any certain and undoubted ground of faith unto them without this witnesse of God by signes and gifts of the spirit which may be another reason why the Disciples themselves were cōmanded to stay untill they were indued with power from on high by the comming down of the holy Ghost upon them Scripture Joh. 5. 31. If I bear witnesse of my self my witnesse is not true 33 Ye sent unto John and he bare witnesse unto the truth 34 But I receive not testimony from man 35 But I have greater witnesse then that of John for the works which the Father hath given me to finish the same works that I do bear witnesse of me that the Father hath sent me Compared with Joh. 15. 24. If I had not done among them the works which no other man did they had not had sinne but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father Joh. 10. 37. If I do not the works of the Father believe me not 10. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected That Christs own Ministry witnessed both by himself John the Baptist or any other man or men was not sufficient so to convince his hearers as to bring them under the sin of unbelief unlesse it had been also witnessed by the mighty works which he did in their sight being such as none could do but by the speciall power of God Scripture 1 Cor. 2. 4 5. My speech and my preaching was not with inticing words of mans wisdome but in demonstration of the spirit and of * That is God povverfully vvrought vvith him confirming his preaching vvith signes and miracles c. as Act. 19. 11. 12. Heb. 2. 4. power that your faith should not stand in the wisdome of men but in the power of God 11. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected That that faith which is grounded upon any word Scripture or doctrine convayed to us by the hands or ministry of any men whatsoever not being also witnessed and confirmed by demonstration of the spirit and power of God as aforesaid stands in the wisedome of men and not in the power of God nor is such faith as the Church of Corinth had and therefore can be no true faith of the Gospell For all divine newes or doctrine such as the Gospell is requiring belief and obedience upon penalties as the Gospell doth ought to have some divine evidence and demonstration to confirm it otherwise it is no sufficient ground for true faith but may be waved without sinne because whatsoever is but uncertainly or fallibly evidenced as all in this case delivered meerly upon the credit of men is may as uncertainly or fallibly be entertained without any sinne yea it were folly if not sinne to do otherwise Scripture Joh. 16. 12 13 14. I have many things to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now howbeit when the spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that he shall speak and he will shew you things to come he shall glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you Acts 20 29 30. For I know that after my departure shall grievous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things Acts 21. 10 11. There came down from Judea a certain Prophet named Agabus and when he was come unto us he took Pauls girdle and bound his own hands and feet and said Thus saith the Holy Ghost so shall the Jews at Jerusalem binde the man that oweth this girdle and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles 1 Tim. 4. 1. Now the spirit speaketh expresly that in the later times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits Acts 8. 29. Then the spirit said unto Philip go near and joyn thy self to this Charet Acts 10. 19 20. While Peter thought on the vision The spirit said unto him behold three men seek thee arise therefore and get thee down and go with them doubting nothing for I have sent them Acts 13. 2. As they ministred to the Lord and fasted the Holy Ghost said separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them 1 Cor. 14. 29 30. Let the Prophets speak two or three and let the other judge if any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by let the first hold his peace for ye may all prophesie one by one that all may learn and all may be comforted 2 Tim. 4. 3 4. The time will come when they will not indure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves Teachers having itching ears and they shall turn their ears from the truth and shall be turned into Fables 12. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected 1 That the gift of prophesie is not a power of utterance enabling a man to speak the space of an hour two or three and therein to declare some notions or doctrines contrived by Arts and learning or gotten by reading studying or the like which is as falsly as commonly stiled preaching the word of God when indeed it is farre more likely to be that Ministery of Fables foretold of by St. Paul unto which the people should give up themselves and as we see evidently is come to passe 2 That the gift of prophesie was an expresse revelation by the spirit of the minde of God for their direction in things of speciall concernment to the Church in generall or to some member thereof in particular and a fore-telling things to come 3 That whensoever any thing was thus revealed by the spirit to any of the Members the same was to declare it for the mutuall edification and exhortation of the Church that all might learn and all might have comfort Scripture Matth. 3. 11.
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance but he that commeth after me is mightier then I whose shooe I am not worthy to bear he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire Joh. 1. 33. He that sent me to baptize with water the same said unto me upon whom thou shall sec the spirit descending and remaining the same is he that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost Acts 1. 5. John indeed baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many dayes hence Acts 11. 15. As I began to speak the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us at the beginning 16 Then remembred I the Word of the Lord how that he said John indeed baptized with water but yee shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12. 13. By one spirit are we all baptized into one body Matth. 21. 25. The baptisme of John whence was it from heaven or of men Acts 1. 22. Beginning from the baptisme of John Acts 18. 25. Acts 19. 3. Mark 1. 4. John did baptize in the wildernesse and preached the baptisme of Repentance for remission of sinnes Luk. 3. 3. And he came into all the Country about Jordan preaching the baptisme of Repentance for the remission of sinnes Acts 13. 24. Acts 2. 38. Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sinnes And ye shall receive the gifts of the Holy Ghost For the promise is to as many as shall be called Acts 8. 14. 15 16 17. They sent unto them Peter and John who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost for as yet he was faln upon none of them onely they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost Acts 19. 5 6. When they heard this they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus And when Paul laid his hands upon them the Holy Ghost came on them and they spake with tongues and prophesied Ephes 1. 13. After ye believed ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance 2 Cor. 1. 22. Who hath also sealed us and given us the earnest of the spirit in our hearts Matth. 28. 18 19. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Mark 16. 17. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved And these signes shall follow them that believe c. 13 Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected That there were two severall baptismes appertaining to the true Ministery of the Gospell plainly distinguished in these four particulars 1 In their Authors the one JOHN the other CHRIST 2 In their matter the one Water the other the Holy Ghost 3 In their form the one In the Name of the Lord JESVS by dipping the subject into water The other In the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost by laying their hands upon the subject 4 In their ends the one the Baptisme of Repentance for the remission of sinnes the other the baptisme or seal of the Spirit for an earnest of the everlasting inheritance Scripture Hebr. 6. 1 2 3 4. Therefore leaving the principles of the Doctrine of Christ Let us go on unto perfection not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith towards God of the Doctrine of Baptismes and of laying on of hands and of resurrection from the dead and of eternall judgement and this will we do if God permit For it is impossible for those who were once inlightned and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made pertakers of the Holy Ghost c. if they shall fall away c. 14. Quer. Whether from these Scriptures may not be collected 1 That the Doctrine of the aforementioned Baptismes and of laying on of hands is part of the principles of the Doctrine of CHRIST 2 That the doctrine of these Baptismes and of laying on of hands was laid by the true Ministers of the Gospell as a part of the foundation upon which only the faith of all true Believers of the Gospell and Christian visible Churches were and ought to be built Objection All the learned and able of all sorts do agree in expounding Matth. 28. 19. To be the institution of the baptisme with water or at least that the baptisme with water is there only meant Whose authority you crosse in expounding it to be meant of the baptisme with the Holy Ghost As is intimated in the different formes of baptisme in your 13th Quere and 3d. Distinction Answer Authorities in this case ought not be measured by numbers or votes of men though never so learned and able but by Scripture and weight of sound reason And now that by this Text is meant the baptism with the Holy Ghost and not of that with water I shall prove by these following Arguments 1 From the institution it self Christ after his resurrection when he had declared to his Disciples that all power in heaven and in earth was given unto him commanded them saying Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Hence I argue That this being an institution of a Baptisme it is either the institution of the Baptisme with Water or of the Baptisme with the Holy Ghost but it is not of that with water because the baptisme with water was instituted and administred long before that time by John the Baptist who had authority from God so to do Joh. 1. 33. Christ himself Mark 1. 9. The Discip'es and many hundreds more being baptized by John with the Baptisme with water long before this institution of Christ or any administration thereupon And for one and the self same Baptisme to have two institutions and these severall and different and yet true is most unreasonable to imagine 2 It is not the institution of the Baptisme with water nor was the baptisme with water here meant because the baptisme with water would then have been tearmed Christs Baptisme as well as Johns But the baptisme with water was never tearmed Christs baptisme but alwayes tearmed Johns both before and after this institution of Christ Whereas on the other side the baptisme with the Holy Ghost was in like manner alwayes tearmed Christs 3 It is not the baptisme with water which was there meant because then the Disciples afterward would have so proposed and administred it to wit In the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost according to the command but they did not afterward so propose nor so administer it but clean otherwise to wit In the Name of the Lord Jesus and for remission of sinnes Acts 2. 38. and 8. 16. Even