longer we live the wiser and more knowing we may and ought to be yet withall considering the exactnesse and ambition of every age that thinks it needful to out-doe what ever went before we are as much to seek as those that went before us the Scripture-times made but a very little progress in dilating and expatiating of the truths proposed in the word of God and the next three ages after were wholly entertained and exercised in bearing witness to the truths propounded to us in the first The fourth was a laborious and learned age wherein those great lights shone unto the world Ambrose Austin Chrysostom Jerome the Gregories and Athanasius but were imployed and taken up for the most part in encountering and repelling of the Arrian Nestorian Eutichian and Pelagian Heresies their worth and piâ—h so buried in voluminous and vast replies unto those enemies that the succeeding ages from that unto the eleventh were wholly drowned in monastick contemplations and devotions in the eleventh the Schoolmen rose and put the Fathers sense and sayings into a method and body of divinity but that Text of Lumbards who began and was acknowledged their School-master was by his Scholars that succeeded so dilated beaten thin and wire-drawn that distinctionum minutiis senteniarum frangebant pondera by the subtilty and smallness of the thred they wrought with they buried the beauty of the work as one observes And though in these late Gospel glorious times Divinity is much recovered and restored unto its force and purity proportioned unâ—o the practices and lives of men made vulgar and familiar yet withall it s stretched by the eloquence and strains of Rhetorick in popular and common auditories unto such exactnesse height and bravery that it is not easie for to reach it nor safe to fall short of it so that if men be not helped by education art and industry they shall be sure to meet with scorn contempt and contumely if by their care and labour they make their Sermons strong and well wrought they are accounted Orators and over-doers if tune their Instruments unto the plain song of their Auditors that every body may conceive and carry all away they are accounted vulgar and contemptible and every Cobler Taylor Tinker thinks he can do as much and as well So as it was wont to be in Cambridge if a boy had been at Gog-Magog-hills he was esteemed a Rachel if he had not a fresh-man Yet all this art and excellency is not sufficient without a supernatural and efficacious influence of the holy Ghost upon the powers and parts of men (x) 1 Cor. 2. 14. for the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Now who can come by all these excellencies and accomplishments have wit and art and elocution and acumen enough for these things yet those will only speak him an able Orator a Tully or Tertullus make him facundus sed malo publico for if unto all these gifts he have not grace he is become as sounding brasse and as a tinkling Cymball as the Apostle speaks (y) 1 Cor. 13. 1. there is a wisdom which the holy Ghost teacheth a tincture and relish that is put upon it by the Spirit of God that makes it penetrate and prick as Peters Sermon when the holy Ghost was visible upon him (z) Act. 2. 37. Set all together and it will appear that the most able eloquent improved man is much below the work and business of a Gospel-Minister which was the third step or stayr in this enquiry but we proceed unto a fourth 4. That at every gate avenue entrance of the Temple or house of God there be established a solid rigid acurate exact enquiry scrutiny and examination of such as do attempt to go in and attend these holy things The Apostle hath restrained women and enacted a kind of Salick Law that this Scepter and the distâ—ff should not be coupled (a) 1 Tim. 2. 11. I suffer not a woman to teach but it s not enough to be a man for they mustal so be so qualified as God would have them not only men but work-men and not work-men only but work-men that need not be ashamed (b) 2 Tim. 2. 15. Hence it will follow that there must be Porters at the doors to whom the keyes must be committed as they were unto Peter for when Christ had told him that he would build his Church upon that Rock and the gates of hell should not prevail against it he adds and I will give unto thee the keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven (c) Mat. 16. 18 19. for should the doors stand open there might get in so many enemies that would be able to prevail against it When the Theeves in China had resolved to besiege Peking the Metropolis or royal City their Captain sent before hand a great number of his Army and gave them mony to buy Commodities and so pretend occasions to continue as sojourners and strangers and when he had begirt and did assault it to make insurrections and disturbances within it whereby he mastered it with much more case then otherwise he should have done this hath been often acted in the Church (d) Gal. 2. 4 5. because of false Brethren unawares brought in who came in privily to spie out our liberty that they might bring us into bondage To prevent these narrow Guards are to beplaced on all the entrances that such may be kept out nam durius ejicitur quam non admittitur hospes it s easier to keep them then thrust them out All men are very fearful of Witches and very careful to keep them from their habitations and places of abode because of the mischief which they are able for to do false Teachers in the Apostles judgement are no better (e) Gal. â— 1. O foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you these venefici or Witches were wont to have their venom or hurting power in their eyes as in the Poet nescio quis teneros oculos mihi fascinat agnos but now it is faln down into their tongues and its all one to say your Child is bewitched and to say he is under an evil tongue and therefore we should be very careful to keep such out for he that enters ill will haâ—dly act well qui intravit ut vulpes regnabit ut leo as it was said of Hildebrand when the Apostle had suggested to them that Wolves would enter he bids them watch (f) Act. 20. 31 and the reason is given by our Saviour (g) Mat. 7. 15. becâ—use they come in the habits and garbs of sheep till they are in they do not nor will shew their teeth There was never any body or society of men that gave immunities and liberties but had some kinde of tryall and examination at their admission Plato writes on his Academy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no man might
and he shall be a father to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the House of Juda and the key of the House of David will I lay upon his shoulder so he shall open and none shall shut and he shall shut and none shall open for as God doth not require us to act and exercise before we have abilities and instruments so when we have them he would not have us idle wherefore I put thee in remembrance to stirre up the gift of God that is in thee by the putting on of my hands for God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power of love and of a sound mind for its truly said use legs and have them so as truly have legs and use them But God hath furnished and fitted Ministers as well for Discipline as Doctrine for the Word of God which Ministers are to mannage and apply serves for the one as well as the other is profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in right eousness that the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works where hee is furnished and fitted for Discipline we see as well as Doctrine reproof and correction aâ—e tearms of Discipline howsoever words are counted wind yet the words of Ministers are more (r) Jer. 5. 14. behold I wil make my words in thy mouth fire and this people wood and it shall devoure them some men have very sharp tongues he that was famous for abuses stript and whipt had nothing but his tongue to whip them with and the Holy Ghost assures us that there be some whose teeth are spears and arrows their tongue a sharp sword (s) Psal 57. 4. and therefore it was no Soloecism nor improper Phrase when the Apostle bids Titus rebuke them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cuttingly that they may be sound in the faith (t) Titus 1. 13. Peter was a good Sword-man as did appear when he cut of Malcus ear although he was not on the Pillory and he was not dull in handling of the Spirituall Sword for when Ananias and Saphira would adventure to jest with edge tools to play the Hypocrits in so select and sacred a Convention they found that Peter did loquill apides spake like the piercing of a Sword as the wise man expresseth it (u) Pro. 12. 18. they found his doom and sentence was quickly followed with execution (w) Acts 5. 3 4 5. what did Paul mean think wee when hee threatens the Corinthians to come unto them with a rod (x) 1 Cor 4. 21 was it not the same that a School-master doth mean when he calleth for a rod or ferula its true that School-masters should study all diversions and wayes of ordering their Scholars and Disciples without this open execution but if the rod be not expected they will do nothing they will be baffled and despised which will evacuate all his instructions he shall find his Doctrine quickly sleighted if it be not edged and improved by Discipline as Paul to Titus (y) Titus 2. 1 these things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority let no man despise thee as it is said of Kingdoms and Commonwealths that contempt is alwayes the fore-runner of insurrections and confusions as in the Fable of the Frogs and the Beam that Jupiter let fall among them at first they trembled and durst not look at it but when they sound they might approach without danger that they might lacessere impunè they wholly fell into disorder and cast off all respect and care of duty to him some School-masters have thought it proper instead of whipping Boyes to restrain and lock them up in the School when all their Fellows go to play where they shall lye if they will not learn Gods Ministers are furnished for this way have given to them the Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven that Key of David that openeth and no man shuteth and shuteth and no man openeth (z) Revel 3. 7 whereby they are enabled to shut out those that are unruly and unquiet in the Church Christ promised those keys to Peter (a) Mat. 16. 19. not only the Key of Doctrine to open and explain the Scripture to them but also the key of Discipline to open and shut remit and restrain their faults as the Master when a Scholar cannot say his Lesson or hath committed some notorious crime locks him up in the School untill he have expressed his remorse and reformation so Gods Ministers when any of their people are exorbitanâ— restrain and bind them to their good behaviour exclude them from communion or enjoyments of the Ordinances untill repentance do solicite their release and therefore when Christ did give the Keys unto thâ—n he used those tearms of bâ—nding and loosing remitting and retaining whose soever sin ye remit they are remitted to them and who soever sins ye retain they are retained which is not onely a declaring and discovering whose sins God doth remit or not remit but God hath vested in them power and authority to do it as proper Judges in the Case as at the Assizes there is almost no body but can tell who is cast or quit who is to dye and who not yet none have power to order execution but the Judge himself who is in Commission and hath authority derived to him for that end Peter did but declare what was resolved by the Holy Ghost in the Case of Ananias and Saphira but he did it as a Judge and execution followed so Paul with that in destuous Corinthian doth not only discover and declare what was to be effected and done by God but doth it shuts him up in a Dungeon and sets the Devill to be his Gaoler untill by true repentance he moved compassion in the Apostle and was released and let out not that this power in the Minister is absolute and independent for if he walk not according to his rule judge not according to that Royall Law that is to guide him it bindeth not but is reversible and lyeth open to an appeal but if he walk according to his rule and shut up alave non errante there is no man in the world can release him or let him out The Commissioners at Lambeth had their Prisons for mens bodies and Lollards Tower is yet remembred but had they acted according to the rules of Christ and set the saddle on the right horse they had not needed corporall and carnall prisons had the weapons of their warfare not been carnall they would have been more mighty than they were but leaving their rule they lost their efficacy Argu. 7. What was given by the Bishops unto such Ministers as they Ordained and laid their hands upon should not be grudged or denied to them by any body for they were never accounted lavish or over liberal unto them especially in point of Jurisdiction that was alwayes a very tender point and had a guard and centry alwayes on it for conceiving themselves the
they should fall but rather that through their fall salvation was to come unto the Gentiles to provoke them to jealousie as the Apostle speaks (y) Rom. 11. 11. that though the bricks were fallen yet he would build with hewen stones though the Sicomores were cut down yet he would change them into Cedars (z) Isa 9. 10. though the City and Temple were destroyed yet he would raise a greater and more glorious structure among the Gentiles (a) Isa 54. 11 12. I will lay thy stones with fair colours and thy foundations with Saphires and I will make thy windows of Agates and thy gates of carbuncles and all thy borders of pleasant stones that is I will erect and raise my Church and Temple among the Gentiles and adorn and deck it with lustre and variety of precious graces But it was not now enough to say but shew words would not be took therefore he gives them deeds describes and sets out another house and sets it down in all the parts dimensions and respects that they might see he was not now in jest that he would not nugas agere tanto conatu take pains and care to pourtray and describe what never was intended and the Priests even the Sons of Zadock are expresly mentioned (b) Ezek. 40. 45 46. neither may we think it was intended for a directory to the building of the Temple of Zerubbabel for the directions given unto Solomon by God were on record and there were many yet alive that saw the former Temple and could have given sufficient directions if that had been required and if it be true that this in Ezekiel was ordered in relation to that of Solomon then was it not a pattern to Zerubbabells for they differ not only in the direction Cyrus gives (c) Ezra 6. 3. but in the event and execution also (d) Ezra 3. 12 13. and therefore must relate unto that Spirituall House which God had then determined to build among the Gentiles as the Apostle called those believers (e) 1 Pet. 2. 9. a chosen Generation a royall Priest-hood an holy Nation a peculiar People that ye should shew forth the praises of him that hath called you out of darknesse into his marvelous light CHAP. XVI The tenth Argument THat ought to be in every setled well-ordered Church that was in the first Christian-Gospel Arg. 10 Church that ever was in that Church that was to be the pattern and copy to all succeeding Christian-Gospel Churches for the copy must be well writ decipit exemplar vitris imiâ—abile that was to be the root and Mother-Church of all the rest for if the root be not holy the branches cannot be if the Mother be an Hittite the issue is not of the Holy Seed because the first woman was to be as she is truly called the moâ—her of all living (f) Gen. 3. 20. therefore God takes especiall care to build and frame her as she ought to be (g) Gen. 2. 22. wherein no error can be imagined for his hand was rectitude and could not fail in the essentials to be sure nothing was wanting or superfluous now what Eve was to all the race of mankâ—nde that the first Christan Church was unto all succeeding Christian Churches for Jerusalem was the Mother Church as our Saviour sayes (h) Luk. 24. 47 and that repentance and remission of sins be preached in his Name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem and as it was the Mother-Church so it was modelled by Christ who was Gods bosome-friend (i) Joh. 1. 18. and could not but know his minde in every thing and neither wanted skill nor will to do the will and minde of him that sent him and to finish his work as he sayes (k) Joh. 4. 34. what therefore Christ set in the first should be in all as what Moses set in the first Tabernacle or Jewish Church was afterwards in all succeeding imitations and augumentations of it in after-times Now Christ was the Son and Moses but the Servant Christ every way as faithful and as exact as Moses (l) Heb. 3. 5 6. and had an eye unto his pattern as well as Moses and Solomon had to theirs (m) Heb. 8. 5 6 what we finde therefore in the first Church should be in all But in the first Christian Gospel-Church we finde some set apart to attend and act in holy things for it is manifest that Christian or Gospel-Churches began in John the Baptist (n) Mat. 11. 13 14. he was designed unto this attendance in his Mothers womb (o) Luk. 1. 14 15 16 17. was not received and acknowledged among the Jews until by express authority of Scripture he had assured and ascertained his calling (p) Joh. 1. 22. 23. and after that his very enemies durst not oppose for all acknowledge him a Prophet (q) Mat. 21. 26 our Saviour Christ succeeded John in some respect though in some respect he was before him (r) Joh. 1. 30. and we are certain he was set apart to attend and act in holy things for though the Church was his inheritance and he might have stept into possession without any sacred or solemn ordination and admission yet he would not till he was baptized declared by a voice from Heaven to be their teacher (s) Mat. 3. 15 16 17. and because few heard this testimony it is again repeated in their hearing that were designed to be witnesses thereof unto the worlds end as the Apostle doth expresly shew (t) 2 Pet. 1. 16 17 18. and so that made good the Apostle speaks of him (u) Heb. 5. 5 6. Christ being now established the Master and Doctor of the Christian Congregation erecteth and ordaineth others as well he might for he was the Apostle and high Priest of our profession (w) Heb. 3. 1. For the Evangelist expresly sayes (x) Luk. 6. 13. he called his Disciples to him and of them he chose twelve whom also he named Apostles there is their election but ordination follows (y) Mark 3. 14 15. and he ordained twelve and sent them forth to preach and to have power to heal sicknesses and east out Devils and when they were in orders he gives unto them their Commission with orders and instructions for their deportment and government therein (z) Mat. 10. 1. and because he knew very well the Harvest was great and the Labourers but few he therefore sends forth others after them and gives them the same security he gave unto the twelve (a) Luk. 10. 1 2 3 4 c. and they found a blessing on their labours which they ingenuously acknowledge (b) v. 17. Now if in the first and Mother Church some were designed and set apart shall after-Churches think to be excused and at liberty shall the Daughter plead a priviledge the Mother had not the issue what the Parent was not possessed of shall any body now be wiser in his
so advance and dignifie those Elements that transubstantiation and the carnal and corporal presence of our Saviour in the Sacrament was for many hundred years undoubtedly believed and the like we finde of many other points that have been controverted but we are not ambitious of any such advancement we are content that Ordination be esteemed an instituted Ordinance of Jesus Christ the door of the sheep-fold as our Saviour speaks whereby the Shepheard entereth (w) Joh. 10. 1 2. the only way to propagate the ministerial power and having gotten that shall be content to wave all garnishes dresses that set it out for we observe that the more simple and single any Jewel is the more illustrious to clutter a deal of gold about a Diamond doth but obscure it its true of this that 's said of vertue in the general divitiis animosasuis shines by the lustre of its own worth and needs not borrow Clothes to go abroad in therefore we do not say its a Sacrament but we say it is a sacred thing When Hercules came into a Temple he found the Image or Statue of Adonis in it but pull'd it down with this expression certè nil sacriâ—es we would not labour to erect and set it up in the Temple and Church of God but that we know and do believe it is aliquid sacris but omnia sacra non sunt sacramenta We shall not strive to lift it up above it self and put a valew on it that is not native and essential The apocryphal Books are many of them very good and may be very well commended to be read and used but because the Papists would have thrust them into the Canon they have been slighted and despised more then they needed as Jacobs eldest son had divers priviledges but because he went up to his Fathers couch his excellency was abated (x) Gen. 19. 3 4. 4. We do not say it doth confer and contribute internal sanctifying saving grace that one that was before a carnal unconverted unregenerate man is thereby made a spiritual converted regenerated person were it a Sacrament as properly and really as Baptisme and the Lords Supper are yet we durst not ascribe so much unto it for however great effects are by the ancient and some modern Writers ascribed to baptisme yet that was supposed to be in non ponentibus obicem in such as were not able to barre the door against the power of it which here is not to be supposed for these must be adulti to be sure grown men as the Apostle speaks (y) 1 Tim. 3. 6 not a novice and therefore able to oppose the work of God upon them but yet it may be said for to confer grace upon such as come provided and prepared for it for the Office and Ministry it doth confer is numbred among those graces that are given by God unto the Church (z) Rom. 12. 6 7 8. and by the Apostle in another place is expresly called grace (a) Rom. 1. 5. by whom we have received grace and Apostleship where the Office of an Apostle is called grace that is a faculty and power to attend and act in holy things which others have not and though Ordination do not confer and contribute a fitness for the service but prerequire it and suppose it for an internal call must qualifie the person to be ordained he must believe and be perswaded that he hath inward grace and fitness for the work and is willing and desirous to be imployed and used in it yet we know not what God may do in such a case whether the fasting praying laying on of hands that must be used in Ordination may not bring down a showre or at least a sprinkling and dew of grace upon the souls of them that are there ready to be ordained for if we do believe that the putting up of bills in an ordinary Congregation to the Minister may bring a blessing down upon the parties that are prayed for why should we not think that when many Ministers and people meet on purpose to beg a blessing upon persons set apart for the work of God that God will hear and answer and do something more then otherwise had been If people did not think God might be moved they would not put up bills for people that were undertaking a voyage by Sea or Land that were like to be very dangerous And besides these general grounds that justly move us to desire the prayers of believers we have special and particular assurance that laying on of hands in Ordination doth give something that may be called grace or a gift in some particular and special manner (b) 2 Tim. 1. 6 7. and it was undoubtedly believed for many ages in the Church that Ordination did imprint a Character on him that was ordained that never could be blotted out which if true could not be any thing else but internal saving grace for if any private godly man may be assured that if he aske he shall receive if he seek he shall finde if he knock it shall be opened unto him and that our Saviour giveth an universal and common reason for it namely that every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened (c) Mat. 7. 7 8. much more when divers Ministers and other godly persons do assemble and meet on purpose to fast and pray for such persons that are now lanching out into the Ocean and undertaking a dangerous and tedious voyage for to turn men from darkness unto light from the power of Sathan unto God that they may receive the forgiveness of their sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in Christ as he speaks (d) Act. 26. 18 for Ordination is a very great work and must be carried on multorum manibus both extraordinary and ordinary Officers imployed in it (e) 1 Tim. 4. 14. neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by Prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery for when any Company agree to ask some special favour of God for the glory of his name and the service of his Church they are more likely to attain it as Christ expresly saith (f) Mat. 18. 19 0. that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall aske it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven for where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them so that there is all the reason in the world to wait for and expect a blessing upon such a meeting All know that the high Priests Office in the times of Christ was very much degenerated and decayed for besides that it was often bought and sold as in the story of the Maccabees it doth appear and in Josephus it was now worse then ever for whereas the High-Priest was but one nor ought
had it from the hands of those whom God designed and appointed thereunto (r) Exod. 29. 5 6 7. so there is no question but those Elders had authority whom Paul sends for unto Miletus (s) Act. 20. 28. yet they had not any extraordinary imposition or investiture but what was given by the Presbytery as the Apostle doth imply (t) 1 Tim. 4. 14. 7. To attend and act in holy things that is in the things of God as we have shewed before at large in stating of the Question namely in preaching the Word and administring the holy Sacraments and exercising of that Discipline which in the Scriptures is allowed and without which confusion cannot be barred out and the Saints enjoy that sweet Communion that is their due and the best part of their joy and comfort here in their absence and distance from the greatest good 8. By those deputed thereunto by God for as we said before God doth not need to leave his Throne and come down in person to ordain and consecrate men unto his service and attendance but it sufficeth if it be done by those that are deputed thereunto by God as Aaron was and after him the Levites (u) Numb 8. so that this enquiry is determined unto that one point who those should be that God hath thus deputed and appointed unto his service For we acknowledge it s a great power to give authority to men over the House which is the Church of God as Paul doth unto Timothy 1 〈…〉 15. over the holy things of God to make one a Steward of the Mysteries of God as they are called (x) 1 Cor. 4. 1. to deliver unto him the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven as Christ doth promise unto Peter (y) Mat. 16. 19. so that none shall go in or out without his leave and this power may be and hath often been misplaced and unduly given but yet it must be done by some body and who those are is now the thing to be enquired We are apt to find fault with whatsoever wee our selves have not a hand in quae non fecimus ipst vix ea nostra voco Absolom finds great fault with all Administrations in Davids Government (z) 2 Sam. 15 2 3 4. and could think of no reformation and relief for the abused people unless he were made Judge so we are apt to think nothing well done but what is done by us every body can reform and form a State but they that are imployed about it as every body can rule a Shrew but he that hath her It waâ— said of Galba Omnium consensu capax imperii nisi imper asset Let us therefore see to whom this power is committed to give authority to men to attend and act in holy things that no mans right or claim may be prejudged or prejudiced but all pretenders have their liberty to plead and that we think will best be done if we proceed by such degrees and demonstrations as cannot be refused any therefore we say 1. There is in some Christians and in some persons in the Church such a power for certain it is that Pastors and Teachers are to continue in the Church untill our Saviour come again (a) Eph. 4 11. 12 13. And some Pastors and Teachers till we all come in the unity of the faith of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man now we are sure those very men that then were Pastors could not continue There went a rumour concerning John that he should not dye as it s said (b) Joh. 21. 25. but it was grounded in a mistake as there it s said for sure we are that he and all the rest are dead as they said to Christ (c) Joh. 8. 52. Abraham is dead and the Prophets so may we say Paul is dead and Peter is dead and all the Apostles and extraordinary Prophets are dead and how shall Pastors and Teachers be preserved but as all other men are by propagation and succession so Christ himself Behold I am with you always even to the end of the world (d) Mat. 28. 20 with whom not with the men to whom he spake for they are in their graves but with them in their Seed and Off-spring their fellow-Servants and Successâ—rs from age to age if therefore children must continue there must be fathers if there be Harvest promised there must be seed-time as it s said said (e) Gen. 8. 22. 2. They must be more than one It s well observed by our Brethren of London that hands are laid on in the plurall number nor in the singular or dual and the hands not of the Presbyters for that might besaid of one or two but of the Presbytery which was a Coleg or Society of Presbyters (f) 1 Tim. 4. 24. for though Paul did confide this power into the hands of Titus who was a single person yet he never meant he should put it in execution without assistants for in the exeâ—cise and execution of it he restrains him to the manner as he appointed him (g) Tit. 1. 5. now sure we are that Paul would never appoint him to ordain otherwise than himself was ordained when he was sent abroad about the Conversion of the Gentiles (h) Act. 14. 2 3 where all is in the plurall number or than Barnabas and he himself diâ— practise when they ordained Elders in every Church as it is said (i) Act. 14. 23. for Ordination is not only a sacred but also a very solemn thing as we have shewed and therefore should have many hands multorum manibus grande levatur onus yet Timothy and Titus are pitched upon to be the guiders and leaders of the action the presidents and patrons of it 3. They must be strong and able Christians Ordination is the preservation or propagation of the kind or species a kind of Spirituall Generation Paul every where calls Timothy his Son not because he had begotten him unto the Faith for he found him a Disciple k his faith was in a (g) Act. 1 6. 1. sort extraducè descended to him from his Grand-Mother and Mother but he had ordained him with others and so he was his Son now generation implyes perfection perfectissimum naturae opus est generare sibi simile if one must be of age before he can beget a Son what must he be before he can beget a Father if one must be strong before he can beget a Child what must he be before he doth beget a Man and therefore when Paul enjoyneth Timothy this act of propagating he bids him first be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus (l) 2 Tim. 2. 1. for Ordination is a work that doth not only require maturity and ripeness of skil and parts to make an estimate and judgement of those they do admit to try their knowledge and understanding in the things they are to teach but also to resist temptations and
Scholars that he was faint and weary with fetching Rods they would beleeve he might if hee had pleased have spared his paines our people are herein become as very children (h) 1 Cor. 3. 1. I could not speak unto you as unto spiritual but as unto carnal even as unto babes in Christ Discipline is now imagined a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Bug-Bear and frighteth those that are not willing to be counted Children Tribunalls of the lowest and meanest rank are counted Tyrannies for men are apt to think that power cannot bee contained velle putant quodcunque potest that every body will do all the injury and villany they can and that it is not want of will but of ability that makes men honest and indeed it may bee said of most men as was of one nil boni quia non vult nil mali quia non audet the Jesuite that framed the answer unto that Book called Deus Rex sayes if the Writer had not intended really to be a Tyrant it was ill done of him to bee the Patron and Protector of such a Peece when Ecclesiastical Discipline and Government was but discoursed of by them that were in power before it was formed in the womb or had any lineaments or features bestowed on it it was traduced and opposed yea though as innocent as the child that is unborn yet was arraigned and condemned under the odious nick-name of Persecution wee have heard of some that have beene crowned in their Mothers belly but never of any that were Arraigned and Condemned as this was untill now We make no doubt but the Infants of Beleeving Parents may be admitted Members of the visible Church of Christ before they be able to give a rationall account of their Regeneration for Christ hath said (i) Mat. 19. 14. suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven that is the visible Church of Christ consists of them and such as they be and if any body shall imagine that these that are called here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were grown up unto some maturity and ripenesse because that word is used for a Maid that was about 12 years of Age (k) Mar. 5 42. yet Luke saies they brought unto him Infants that hee should touch them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which word is never used but for very little children (l) Luk 18. 15. and the Apostle doth assure us that they are holy (m) 1 Cor. 7. 14. that is within the Covenant and pale of Christs Church and this makes Government so hard and heavy to us when wee must look to all that are brought down to us in the streams of Baptism the Apostles in their times admitted none that could not give some probabilities of their beleeving as the Eunuch did (n) Act. 8. 37. and though their Families did crowd in with them and were accepted (o) Act. 16. 15. yet they were sure one of the Governours were good which was a very great advancement of their Work and eased them of much care if we admitted none but such as Timothy was who had learned the Holy Scripture from a Child (p) 2 Tim. 3. 15. what a deal of pains and labour would be saved and yet our Congregations governed with ease and honour facile est imperium in bonis an easie thing to mannage well-tutored and trained people quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem testa diu the liquor will have some relish of the Cask a long time but alas with us all is Fish that comes to the Net the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Net that was cast into the Sea and gathered of every kind (q) Mat. 13. â—7 we cannot pick and chuse but must own and receive both strong and weak untill they do discover and seclude themselves Our Brethren of the Congregationall way have herein much advantage of us that they take none but such as have some evidence of goodnesse in them can take an estimate of their opinions and dispositions and if they find them like to be untractable can sleight them and reject them but we with the Apostle think we are bound to receive those that are weak in the faith (r) Rom. 14. 1. we think with our Saviour that we may not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoaking flax (s) Mat. 12. 20. refuse no offers that are made us though little profit be like for to accrew for if they will come in and take the Yoke of Christ upon them we know not but they may be taught in time to draw for this we find to be the Shepeards duty in the Prophet (t) Isa 40. 11. he shall feed his Flock like a Shepheard and gather the Lambs with his arms and carry them in his bosome and shall gently lead those that are with young therefore wee cannot make such speed as those that have none but fat and lusty Weathers in their Flocks Esau was urgent that his Brother Jacob would mend his pace and they would go together but Jacob said My Lord knoweth that the children are tender and the Flocks and Heards with young are with me and if men should over-drive them one day all the flock would die (u) Gen. 33. 13 Hence is it that our Government goes on so flowly Geneva was a small but well compacted Common-wealth more independent and accomplisht than any other of her neighbour-hood yet what a while was it before she could be settled in a church way Scotland a poor remote neglected Northern Nation where Papacy and Prelacy did never flourish yet long before it could be settled in her Ecclesiastical and Church way Magnorum rerum tarda molimina great businesses move slowly when there are many wheels some will be alwayes out the Israelites when in the Wildernesse were so assured of Gods power and presence that the Government was Divini Juris of Gods own ordering and appointing and that in all particulars and circumstantials that nothing could be more apparent and conspicuous yet the mixed multitude that was among them so disordered all that Moses is discouraged and impatient (w) Num. 11. 1â— 1â— 13 14. and was not pacified untill assistance were allowed him We do beleeve and are perswaded that every Pastor by his place and calling is a Governour and Ruler as afterward we think we shall demonstrate but we do not think that every Minister is presently a Moses made up of governing and ruling parts all ages bring not forth such when one told the Duke of Parma that he had shot Sir Philip Sidney in stead of a reward he cursed him for that he had destroyed a man that England had not parallel'd in former ages A States man is not bred Extempore non omnis fert omnia tellus are all not made of one mould for to one is given by the spirit the word of wisdom to another the word of knowledge by